The Best Eats, Treats, and Meats for Super Bowl 2022 in San Diego

Updated February 2, 2024

Hosting a Super Bowl party is hard work. All of the food prep, clean-up, and rowdy houseguests can make this day into a nightmare. So why not go out and enjoy some drinks, eat some great food without the clean-up, and cheer on your team? Whether you root for the 49ers or the Chiefs, spend February 11 at one of these San Diego hotspots to watch Super Bowl LVIII. Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, so we made the list for you. Kick off is at 3:30p.m., and all you have to do is pick which spot sounds best.

If You Want a Place with 20 or More TVs

Barleymash

Head downtown to Barleymash and watch the game on one of their 45 TVs. Sports Illustrated even once hailed it as one of the best places in the country to watch the Super Bowl, so call ahead to reserve your spot or arrive early to secure your spot.

600 Fifth Ave #6916, Gaslamp Quarter

Slater’s 50/50

If you’re planning on steering clear from the downtown chaos, Slater’s 50/50 in Liberty Station is home to over 50 beers taps and 22 screens to enjoy the game. Attend their Big Game Watch Party for $90 and receive one entree, one appetizer, and access to their open bar throughout the duration of the game.

2750 Dewey Rd #193, Point Loma

Draft Republic

For North County fans, Draft Republic locations in Carlsbad and San Marcos both has over 70 TVs to choose from and hundreds of beers on tap. Grab a seat anywhere because chances are good that you’ll be facing at least one TV. Enjoy Draft Republic’s all day Super Sunday Special offering $8 appetizers and Draft Republic beers, $2 off their pound of wings, and their Half Time Happy Hour Blitz offering 50 percent off well cocktails and selects pints and wines.

5958 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad and 255 Redel Rd, San Marcos

If You Want a Comfy Chair

Harrah’s Resort SoCal

Take a little trip up to Funner, CA, go to Harrah’s Resort Southern California and settle into one of their plush recliners located in the Events Center. Opt for their VIP Viewing Package featuring Topgolf Swing Suites transformed into exclusive viewing theaters for the big game, along with a bucket of beer and a private cocktail server upon reservation. Tickets are $150 which includes a table for two and entry at 2:30 p.m.

777 S Resort Dr, Valley Center

San Diego Bars for San Francisco 49ers Fans

Moonshine Beach

Don yourself in scarlet and gold before making your way to Moonshine Beach in PB for their Super Sunday Party, featuring special offers like five Bud Light or Budweiser beers for $32, $8 Tito’s or Jack Daniel’s, and $10 sliders. Doors open at 2:30 p.m., there is no cover, and it’s first come, first served, so don’t be late!

1165 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach

Saddle Bar

North County 49ers fans can gather at Saddle Bar in Solana Beach, a cozy 1920s bike-shop-turned-sports-bar. For the ultimate Super Bowl watch party, don you’re Patrick Mahomes or Joe Montana jersey and join the fun at this 49ers hub.

123 Plaza St, Solana Beach

San Diego Bars for Kansas City Chiefs Fans

Kansas City Barbeque

The name of this spot says it all: Kansas City Barbeque. Known for it’s appearance in Top Gun, this Gaslamp watering hole is the ideal spot to revel in another Chiefs Super Bowl win with quality BBQ, local craft beers, and fellow Chiefs fans.

600 W Harbor Dr, Gaslamp Quarter

Home and Away

Make your way over to Home and Away to be greeted by friendly faces dressed in red and white on Super Bowl Sunday. This popular Old Town sports bar serves as the home field for local members of the Chiefs Kingdom.

2222 San Diego Ave, Old Town

Super Bowl Sunday Specials in San Diego

Manchester Grand Hyatt

At Manchester Grand Hyatt‘s The Landing, football fans can watch the big game on a large projector screen while indulging in their game day menu consisting of loaded nachos, BBQ candy, and buffalo chicken sandwiches with $2 off draft beers.

1 Market Pl, Seaport Village

Morena Provisions

Bay Park’s Morena Provisions is cooking up a modern twist on stadium favorites this year for takeout and delivery. Their special Super Bowl Sunday menu includes salt and pepper chicken wings, pigs in a blanket, onion dip, baby back ribs, and so much more.

1122 Morena Blvd, Bay Park

Nason’s Beer Hall at the Pendry

Celebrate the end of the NFL season downtown at Nason’s Beer Hall at the Pendry Hotel. The hotel’s brewery is home to 23 televisions to catch every moment and is offering fans $10 Don Julio Tequila drinks along with $30 buckets of Modelo Especial or Pacifico beer.

570 J St, Gaslamp Quarter

Village Pizzeria

Coronado’s Village Pizzeria is offering a to-go Super Bowl Party Pack that caters to six to 10 guests. Meal packs come with 10-piece wings, 10 mozzarella and zucchini sticks, and a 12-pack of Diablo garlic knots for $60. Add on a large single-topping pizza or a family salad for an additional $12.

1206 Orange Ave and 1201 1st St, Coronado

Fairmont Grand Del Mar

Scramble over to The Clubhouse Grill at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar for a Super Bowl buffet for the books for $89 per person with the option of bottomless beers for an addition $49. Buffet starts at 2 p.m. and ends once the game clock stops. Reserve your spot here.

5200 Grand Del Mar Way, Carmel Valley

Del’s Hideout

Swing by this Del Cerro Texas BBQ joint to catch the pigskin game or an order of pigskin to go. Swing by the restaurant for tailgate specials including $25 and $30 buckets of domestics and import beers along with plenty of game day bites like their tri trip nachos or pulled pork sliders. For those hosting your own watch party, check out their catering offerings for groups of eight to 80.

5351 Adobe Falls Rd, Del Cerro

The Rabbit Hole

Located on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights, The Rabbit Hole is your destination for the big game. Their game day specials include $7 bloody Marys, $30 Nütrl hard seltzer buckets, and savory bites like their loaded fries topped with bacon bits, or their fried pickles.

3377 Adams Ave, Normal Heights

Food is a notorious diva to photograph. The wrong lighting can make José Andrés’ paella look like a jaundiced grain bowl. You could be staring at the best sandwich of your life, but shoot it from above and—hey, congrats on that abandoned piece of lettuce bread. A cottage meme industry has been built around the hilariously bad photos on review sites that make Michelin-star food look like Michelin tires.

Especially in a visual modern media world, food culture depends on great photographers capturing the painstaking work in equally deserving ways. We asked four of San Diego’s top food photographers for their favorite shot from another year of documenting what we eat.

Kimberly Motos

Birdman Sandwich at Chick & Hawk

Getting this kind of shot takes a bit of yoga. Asana yourself into the corner, hold your breath, pray that a chef on the move doesn’t back into your light stand.

“You’re stepping into someone’s workspace during their busiest moments, so it’s a balance of being present to get the shot and being invisible to not slow anything down,” Kimberly Motos says.

The subject here is the Birdman sandwich from Chick & Hawk—hot fried chicken thigh, tangy slaw, kimchi comeback sauce, sweet and spicy pickles, potato brioche bun—getting a hearty dousing of its difference-maker seasoning. Motos captures the parts of the process that diners don’t usually see: the chaos behind something that looks so simple.

Lucianna McIntosh

Oysters + Jewel of the Sea Martini at The Fishery

“I love this image because it feels like a moment you want to step into,” says Lucianna McIntosh. A warm, sunny day at The Fishery in PB with oysters, caviar, and martinis. Yes, please.

The little details—the glass sweating a little, the direct afternoon light creating stark shadows, the oyster glistening on the tray—are the main characters. Instead of trying to overly control the setup, McIntosh “followed the light and lines that draw you in more,” she says. “This was one of those moments where everything lined up on its own for a second. I love it when the shadows end up being just as important as the food itself.”

Eric Wolfinger

Herb-Roasted Golden Chicken at Fleurette

La Jolla native Eric Wolfinger—who won a James Beard Award for Tartine Bread, one of the most stunning bread books of all time—says he doesn’t have a signature style. His style is a conduit.

“I see my job is to translate the chef’s point of view into something you can feel,” he says.

For this shot, Fleurette chef Travis Swikard had one directive: cuisine du soleil (“cuisine of the sun”). With a spread of leeks vinaigrette, herb-roasted golden chicken, and beets, Wolfinger wanted to create a scene that felt straight out of the French Riviera, relaying the light, bright style of Swikard’s new spot.

Some bonus additions here: Extra lights—to add lots of warmth—and a clipping from an olive tree.

Dee Sandoval

Espresso Ice Cream at Lucien

Timing and light are everything in food photography. In Lucien—La Jolla’s tasting-menu-only restaurant with moody ambiance—a single strobe flash creates the ideal spotlight.

Dee Sandoval says she uses the “natural, just-plated energy” of the dish to “create a portrait of moment and craft.” That’s why this Mostra Ghost Bear espresso ice cream—with San José dark chocolate mousse, soy-miso caramel, and koji shoyu chocolate sauce—looks like it might dissolve halfway to your mouth.

I peel myself off my couch, crack my back, and force myself to the bar (23 years old, by the way). It’s a Friday night, and my smart watch is already informing me my body battery is critically low.

Nevertheless, party we must.

Because, to be fair, one of the best things about going out—dive bar, velvet-clad cocktail lounge, or anywhere in between—is the performance of it all. Watching a bartender shake and stir like it’s choreography, finishing the drink with a sprig or petal placed just so, feeling like your collection of mixers and spirits is worth pouring into the Holy Grail.

One of the worst things about going out, though? Being out.

So I thank God for the home bar.

No lines, no cover, no shouting your order over someone named Kyle who just discovered the AMF. No $19 cocktails that taste suspiciously like juice. Just me, my apartment (where I can play whatever music I want), and the quiet confidence of knowing I can make something decent without putting on real pants.

A home bar, I’ve learned, doesn’t have to be impressive. It just has to be intentional—a few bottles you actually like, some tried-and-true tools, and at least one drink you can make without Googling. That’s it. That’s the barrier to entry.

To create the ultimate home bar collection, we tapped the folks at San Diego cocktail supply shop Collins & Coupe to give us some of their recommendations. Pick and choose what you need, and start cocktailing.

The Must-Haves

Shaker Tin

You won’t get very far in your cocktail-making-journey without shaker tins. Boston shakers (two pieces, tin-on-tin) and cobbler shakers (three pieces with a strainer and cap) are the most classic styles, but if you want to avoid the tins getting stuck (or creating a mess on the floor), Boston shakers are the way to go.

Essential: 28-ounce Koriko Weighted Boston Shaker Tin

“Koriko Tins by Cocktail Kingdom are the gold standard for every bar worth their salt. Every new bar we help outfit with tools insists on this brand and model,” says Collins & Coupe co-owner Gary McIntire.

Splurge: Sertodo Solid Copper Boston Shaker Tin Set

“These are handmade, 100 percent solid copper and will last a lifetime,” McIntire says. “Because they are solid, there is no plated finish to wear off, and they will only look more beautiful with age.”

Bar Spoon

According to the pros, don’t even bother getting bar spoons shorter than 12 inches. One foot long is the magic length to get the best stirring results: “Rule of thumb is at least 50 percent of the spoon should be out of the glass,” says McIntire.

Essential: 12-inch Stainless Steel Bar Spoon

Splurge:

Sugar Skull Bar Spoon
Cocktail Kingdom Enamel Lucky Cat Bar Spoon

Strainer

Pulp in your orange juice? We’ll allow it. But in your cocktail? Smooth and strained is optimal. You have two choices here: Hawthorne strainers have a spring that attaches snugly to shaking tins; julep strainers have no tabs or springs (originally created to drink mint juleps before straws became commercially available).

Style Choice:

Bull in China Julep Strainer, Brushed Stainless Steel
Barfly Two-prong Heavy Duty Hawthorne Strainer

Jigger

We’ve all seen those seasoned bartenders with the arm tats and haughty demeanors who can assemble perfect drinks with their eyes shut. The rest of us, however, need training wheels. Jiggers—those hourglass-shaped measuring tools—make consistent cocktail-making easy, although cheap versions tend to be inaccurate. Don’t skimp out on these.

Essential: Superfly Jigger

“Heavy-duty and made of one piece,” McIntire says. “We use [this jigger] in our classes and at home. It comes in a bell-shaped version and a Japanese version, which is tall and narrow.”

Splurge: Bull in China Japanese Jigger, Mother of Pearl

Glassware

“Glassware is always essential to the cocktail experience,” says McIntire. The martini glass is an avatar for American hair-loosening for a reason: sleek, viciously “V,” and highly spillable (danger always looks good). To start, look for a coupe glass (the fancy cat bowl-looking thing), a highball (glassware with posture), and a rocks glass (the blue collar hero).

Style Choice:

Milo Crystal Rocks Glass by Viski
Savage Coupe by Nude Glassware
Meridian Highball with Gold Rim by Viski

The Next Level

Mesh Strainer

You know how Caesar dressing tastes way better when you don’t think about the fact that there are anchovies in it? The same goes for cocktails and raw egg whites. Some of your favorites rely on the frothy ingredient to shine (whiskey sours, gin fizzes, etc.). Mesh strainers help make that magic happen. According to McIntire, always get the conical version; the round, bowl style could cause spills.

Essential: Coco Conical Fine Mesh Strainer by Cocktail Kingdom

Splurge: Fine Mesh 2 Prong Hawthorne Strainer, Stainless Steel

San Diego’s coffee industry has yet to hit its ceiling. There are at least 850 coffee shops across the county (possibly over 1,000 at this point) and more specialty cafes and roasters seem to join the roster every other week. 

Some newcomers, like Chance’s Coffee, focus on specialties like Vietnamese coffee; other stalwarts, like Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, have helped put the local coffee scene on the map with internationally acclaimed beans and baristas for 20 years. You can get a classic pour-over or an ultra, whipped cream–topped strawberry lavender basil blueberry matcha latte sprinkled with unicorn glitter—whatever your coffee style, San Diego’s got it… somewhere.

Steady State Roasting falls more in the former category, focusing on traceable, sustainable sourcing and no-nonsense roasting (no unicorn glitter here, sorry!). Founder and lead roaster Elliot Reinecke first started Steady State in a garage behind his house, roasting small batches until expanding slightly to a shared and not-quite-permitted space before landing in a lucky spot on State Street in Carlsbad. 

Now, eight years later, Steady State is scaling up once more, opening its second cafe in San Marcos next to their roastery. The new location offers the same food and drink menu as the original Carlsbad location, and Reinecke says he plans to add an onsite bakery to bake items like English muffins and country loaves to supplement Prager Brothers’ more specialized pastries. 

He doesn’t plan on opening more cafes, though. Rather, Reinecke plans to expand roasting operations and strategic sourcing. Currently, he sources beans from Colombia, Panama, across Africa, and as of this year, Costa Rica. “We’ve had Costa Rican coffee before, but we went to origin a few months ago and bought six different lots from there, all from really good high-end local farmers,” he explains. 

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The rising cost of sourcing does present some challenges, as does changes within coffee culture itself. Coffee has moved from a mass-market beverage to a highly personalized artisanal experience, but the current feeling is moving back towards focusing on quality over flashiness, says Reinecke. 

If Reinecke’s prediction is right, coffee is headed on a similar trajectory to craft beer. Ten years ago, no one knew what Citra hops were. Now, even casual beer fans are versed in hop varieties, and that attention to detail is spilling over to coffee as well. How many of San Diego’s 1,000 coffee shops will remain once the unicorn glitter’s luster fades? My bet is on anyone remaining steadfast to sourcing, sustainability, and simplicity. 

Steady State San Marcos is now open at 1320 Grand Avenue, Suite #9, San Marcos. Initial operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

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San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

Beth’s Bites

• Sake lovers would do well to keep September 27 open. The 10-year anniversary of the San Diego Sake Festival is coming to Julep Venue in Mission Hills with over 150 different sakes and shochus from across Japan, plus VIP tickets get special access to unlimited tastings from Michelin-starred Soichi Sushi. VIP opens at 2:30 p.m. and general admission is 3:30 p.m., but early bird tickets are limited to the first 40 people. I mean c’mon, sushi and sake? If you’re even remotely interested in learning more about sake (or already know you’re a fan), this is the event of the year. 
• The uber-luxe spa The Golden Door in Escondido has been rejuvenating guests for over six decades, even winning Best Bathhouse Remodel in our Best of San Diego 2023 for its multi-million dollar overhaul. Now, you can try making the property’s signature nourishing cuisine at home with Chef Greg Frey, Jr.’s debut cookbook The Golden Door Table. There are over 100 recipes ranging from potassium broth to miso black cod, plus desserts, breakfast items, and a ton more to inspire your own wellness journey. The book hits shelves on September 15, but preorders are available now. 
• Love her or hate her, Gwyneth Paltrow has undeniably created a wellness dynasty with Goop, her blog-turned-brand with locations across California. Soon, San Diego will get its own shot of Paltrow-power when the first Goop store opens in One Paseo later this year, followed by an on-campus location at UCSD’s Triton Center. Charge your crystals and send out good energy to the construction and permitting entities…

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Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

Every culture has its own comfort foods—cozy dishes that nurture the soul as much as the body. In the US, dipping a grilled cheese sandwich in a bowl of tomato soup can feel as satiating as pulling a warm sweater out of the dryer. In China, a steaming bowl of congee is basically a miracle remedy for anything you can imagine. I’m pretty sure Italian carbonara could achieve world peace. And in Japan, katsu remains one of the most universally satisfying inventions of the past century.

Katsu was originally invented as a riff on côtelette de veau, the classic French veal cutlet coated with breadcrumbs and pan-fried in butter. In 1899, a Western-style restaurant called Rengatei in Tokyo decided to put their own spin on the dish by pounding the cutlets until thin, then coating them with softer panko and deep-frying versus pan frying (like tempura) for a crispier, lighter, crunchier bite. Today, pork—called tonkatsu in Japanese—tends to be the most common base for katsu.

The dish has yet to achieve the same mainstream status as say, chicken nuggets, in the US. But Little Kiki Katsu & More hopes to change that, when the katsu-focused restaurant opens in Carlsbad on June 15.

Created by the team behind Harumama and Blue Ocean, Little Kiki will focus on premium katsu dishes paired with sake and around a dozen small bites like miso soup, karaage, edamame, and Japanese pickles. Executive chef James Pyo, who co-owns all three restaurants with his wife Jenny, created a menu that features proteins like Berkshire Kurobuta pork, Jidori chicken, salmon, scallops, and dry-aged Pacific cod for the katsu and grilled stone selections. (Note: the grilled stone options will be offered for dinner only.)

The lunch menu includes Japanese-style sandos like a tonkatsu sandwich with pork, housemade bread, and tonkatsu sauce (available regular or spicy). Dessert options are simple to start—yuzu cheesecake, matcha crème brûlée, and mango/yuzu mochi ice cream. The Pyos curated a selection of premium sakes as well, specifically for pairing purposes, as well as offering some beer and cocktails.

Little Kiki, which is named for Jenny’s cat, seats 25-30 guests inside with room for only a few more on the small outdoor patio as well. Designer and assistant Yoojin Jang says the vibe is meant to be warm and welcoming but modern, using colors like olive green, cream, and pops of orange against Japanese-style wood slats.

Initially, Little Kiki will only be open for dinner service, but aims to introduce lunch hours for the grand opening on July 1. Due to the limited seating, Jang encourages guests to make reservations, and while the restaurant will offer takeout, it will not be available on food delivery apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash to motivate guests to come experience it for themselves.  

“Come in curious and leave satisfied,” says Jang. And keep your eyes open for subtle cat motifs—she promises they are hidden all over the place. Whimsy, it seems, is also on the menu. 

Little KiKi Katsu & More soft opens on June 15, 2026 at 2958 Madison Street, Suite 101 in Carlsbad. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for dinner; Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner; closed Tuesday. 

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

Beth’s Bites

• The Cygnet Theater in Liberty Station roared back to life last summer and hasn’t slowed down since. Their current show, The SpongeBob Musical, runs through July 12, and anyone who wants to enjoy a meal from a Michelin-recognized restaurant before the curtain drops need only pop next door to Solare Ristorante. The local Italian favorite just nabbed multiple accolades in this year’s Best Restaurants issue (Reader’s Pick for Top Five Restaurants, Critic’s Pick for Best Gluten-Free Menu, and runner-up for Best Wine List in San Diego) and is offering a prix-fixe menu for the show for $59 per person. With choices like “Bikini Bottom Bruschetta” and “Squidward’s Shell City Risotto,” parents and kids can both enjoy a cheeky evening out. 
• It’s the most wonderful time to eat—or at least, it’s coming soon. San Diego Restaurant Week returns September 13 through 20 to celebrate everything delicious the area has to offer for eight gloriously gluttonous days. Over 120 restaurants in every corner of the county will have pre-set menus to showcase their crème de la crème dishes, so at three meals a day, that’s at least 24 meals you can check off your list. But if you decide to go for triple-digits, I certainly won’t judge you. 
• Following Vanguard Culture’s 10-year anniversary dinner series, artist Ben Guerrette will once more take over The Chapel at Liberty Station for Ritual:SOLSTICE, an immersive dining experience to celebrate the summer solstice. On June 20, he’ll light up the chapel with his signature illumination experience, with Riva providing the smooth sounds of jazz, Beth Guerrette and company showcasing their choreography and dance, and Snake Oil Cocktail Company on hand for specialty cocktails. What better way to commemorate the sun’s slow retreat than with an explosion of creative energy to carry you through the next seasons?

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Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].