For 26 years, breakfast hub Coffee Cup in La Jolla got people up and at ‘em with breakfast, pastries, and coffee however you like it. When it closed earlier this year, much wailing and gnashing of teeth ensued, but early risers need not fret any longer. Comedor Nishi, a new concept from Shōwa Hospitality, is coming to 1109 Wall Street on Monday, July 8.
Julian Hakim and Aram Baloyan run Shōwa Hospitality, the group behind other local concepts such as The Taco Stand, Convoy Music Bar, Himitsu, and Showa Ramen, and are intimately familiar with the space.
“We used to go there all the time for breakfast,” explains Hakim. “We know how good that little spot is, then it became available… We thought, ‘Wow, this could be a super good fit.’”
He says they plan to keep the same 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours as Coffee Cup before them and will emulate (but not replicate) the breakfast and lunch concept. “We’re hoping in the future, six months or so, to start doing dinner as well,” he says.
In the meantime, their menu will focus on Mexican-Japanese fusion without leaning too far in either direction. “It’s not going to be extreme one way or another,” promises Hakim, adding they plan to offer simple dishes with twists from chef Pancho Ibañez, former chef de cuisine at Pujol in Mexico City (which earned two Michelin stars in the first Michelin Guide to Mexico).
“Eggs, a version of his French toast, maybe Japanese pancakes, probably a version of chilaquiles and enchiladas…” he says, adding the menu is still in progress, but hopefully one that will fill the void Coffee Cup left behind. “It’s keeping what was there—same hours, breakfast and lunch—and doing our take on that.” Hakim adds that while chef Ibañez mainly works on The Taco Stand, after setting up Comedor Nishi’s menu, he’ll hand the reins to a sous chef who is also coming from Mexico.
“‘Comedor’ is basically a dining hall in Mexico… and ‘Nishi’ is a Japanese word that means ‘west,’ like West Coast,” says Hakim. “We always have some sort of a tie to Japan, and in this case, keeping a very simplistic approach to the menu and just letting the ingredients speak for themselves.”
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
SD Beer Weekend Returns June 21–23
Launched in 2022 by the San Diego Brewers Guild, SD Beer Weekend is a pint-sized party to tide over beer lovers until San Diego Beer Week every November. Starting on Friday and running through Sunday, beer lovers can bop around town to find new favorites and rediscover old friends. There are no tickets or RSVPs for this low-key event—just an appreciation for fresh, local craft beer made in the Capital of Craft.
Beth’s Bites
- As of today, Punta Mar is soft open at 345 S. Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas, serving mariscos, micheladas, and more. I’m all about ceviche, but I have my eye on their “pizza birria” and whatever this is.
- Belmont Park has made some significant improvements getting ready for its Centennial celebration next summer, adding new food options like Pizza Port, rebranding Belmonty’s Burgers (which uses Brandt beef for their burgers), and Cannonball’s first menu refresh since opening in 2015. Lily Williams, director of food & beverage for Belmont Park, says sourcing as local as possible will remain a cornerstone of the park’s future. “We want to be known as the gateway to San Diego,” she says, offering everyone value and fun. “Come here and feel like you’re having the ultimate San Diego day.” Sign me up for a ride this summer on the Giant Dipper.
- Calling all crab heads! Duck Dive in Pacific Beach is hosting a crab boil on Thursday, June 20, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. For $42, you can get 1.5 lbs. of snow crab prepared Cajun style, plus the requisite Andouille sausage, corn on the cob, shrimp, and potatoes. For a little extra, you can also get drink specials from Humboldt Distillery. Snag a ticket ahead of time right here.
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