San Diego offers plenty of beautiful spots for romantic outings, but sometimes all you need for a memorable Valentine’s Day is some good food. And you’re in luck—there’s no shortage of San Diego restaurants offering up everything from comforting fare in a cozy atmosphere to intimate candlelit dinners and upscale dining experiences. Here are 30 restaurants around the county that will set the stage for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day meal with that special someone.
Pali Wine Co.
This Valentine’s Day, Pali will offer special wine flights and pairings, featuring their own Santa Rita Hills–sourced wines, especially the holiday-inspired blush and sparkling wines. Pair the flight with a choice of a curated charcuterie board or chocolate-covered strawberries. Round out the meal with bites from Pali’s kitchen, like bluefin tartare and mission fig caprese. The wine bar and restaurant will feature live music from local jazz musician Matt Hall at 6 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, followed by another local band on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Hours: 2 p.m.-12 a.m. Address: 2130 India St, Little Italy Reservations:OpenTable
With a stunning view of the La Jolla coastline, you and your loved one can indulge in a curated four-course prix fixe menu for $95 per person. The restaurant’s newly appointed executive chef created the menu using locally sourced ingredients to represent land and sea—crudites with ramp ranch and caviar, beef short rib wellington, and local halibut. Round out the meal with a sommelier wine pairing for an additional $50.
Price: $95 per person | $145 with wine pairings Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Address: 7955 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla Reservations:OpenTable
Courtesy of Brickman’s
Brickman’s Restaurant & Bar
The San Marcos resort’s main dining outpost is dishing up a three-course prix fixe menu, featuring dishes like Chilean sea bass, short rib croquette, Brandt Beef 6 oz. filet, and your choice of peach cobbler tart or lemon berry cake for dessert. The $82-per-person meal is complemented by scenic lakeside views. Extend the night with a stay at the resort by booking one of three Valentine’s Day getaway packages.
Price: $82 per person Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Address: 1750 San Pablo Dr, San Marcos Reservations:OpenTable
Rumorosa
Surrounded by Harbor Island’s marina setting, experience a Cali-Baja-inspired three-course menu crafted by local chef Cesar Oceguera. Before the meal, enjoy the inventive “edible sangria” amuse bouche served alongside an edible candle bread service. The menu features selections such as roasted beet tostada, lobster torreja and red velvet heart dessert.
Price: $99 per person Hours: 6:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Address: 1380 Harbor Island Dr, Point Loma Reservations:OpenTable
At San Diego’s only waterfront steakhouse, you’ll overlook the San Diego skyline and Coronado from Harbor Island as you enjoy a special “lovers-themed” three-course menu. Choose from seafood and steak options, then finish with a shared dessert as you cozy up to your valentine.
Price: $100 per person Hours: 4:00 p.m.-10 p.m. Address: 880 Harbor Island Dr, Point Loma Reservations:OpenTable
Rancho Valencia’s the Pony Room
If candlelit dinners and upscale dining are more your speed, then treat your special someone to the coastal ranch cuisine of The Pony Room inside Rancho Santa Fe’s Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa. This year, the restaurant is offering a $195-per-person three-course candlelit dinner for two, featuring dishes like black truffle risotto, chateaubriand, Maine lobster tail and baked Alaska. For an extra touch of luxury, opt for the oyster or caviar accompaniments. Make the celebration last all weekend with a stay at the hotel, a Champagne welcome and breakfast in bed.
Price: $195 per person Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Address: 5921 Valencia Cir, Rancho Santa Fe Reservations: Call (858) 759-6246 to reserve
Vintana Wine + Dine
On the penthouse level of the Escondido Lexus dealership (it’s nicer than it sounds), you’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows and a memorable dining experience. On Valentine’s Day, enjoy a specially curated three-course menu with menu options such as seafood salad, bucatini lamb sugo, filet mignon and red velvet trifle. Add on a wine pairing for $35, or imbibe signature vodka cocktails from the restaurant’s 125 vodka selections.
Price: $75 per person | $110 with wine pairings Hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Address: 1205 Auto Park Way, Escondido Reservations:OpenTable
Marisi
On February 14, head to La Jolla for a romantic dinner at Marisi with your favorite person. Helmed by executive chef Cameron Ingle, lovers can enjoy a four-course Valentine’s Day dinner offering menu items such as king crab carbonara, steamed saffron mussels, and pasture-raised New York Strip paired with a glass of sparkling rosé. Finish the night with a baked Alaska and an espresso martini.
Price: $162 per person Hours: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Address: 1044 Wall St., La Jolla Reservations:OpenTable
Photo Credit: Diana Rose
Garibaldi
Celebrate amore at the Italian-inspired restaurant on the third floor of the InterContinental San Diego, offering a special three-course menu on Valentine’s Day. Enjoy sustainable seafood dishes, including fresh oysters, tuna tartare and local baked halibut, before finishing with a tiramisu for dessert, all while staying cozy on the terrace with blankets, heaters, and breathtaking bay views.
Price: $82 per person Hours: 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Address: 901 Bayfront Ct Suite 1, Downtown Reservations:Resy
The Prado at Balboa Park
Nestled in the heart of Balboa Park, you and your special someone can take in the Spanish Colonial architecture while enjoying the special three-course preset menu and a sparkling wine toast. Be seated inside surrounded by vibrant tile work and rich wood accents, or overlook the lush gardens on the heated outdoor terrace.
Price: $80 per person Hours: 11:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Address: 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park Reservations:OpenTable
Mister A’s
If you’re looking to impress your significant other, Mister’s A’s is offering a four-course Valentine’s prix fixe menu overlooking the city with its 180-degree views. The menu will feature French onion soup, Maine scallops poêlée, Snake River Farms rib chop for two, and butter toffee cheesecake. Plus, check out their 15-page wine list or impressive handcrafted cocktails to pair with your meal. Business casual dress code required.
Price: $175 per person | $250 with wine pairings Hours: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Address: 2550 Fifth Ave., 12th Floor Reservations:OpenTable
Kingfisher Cocktail Bar and Eatery
At this Golden Hill gem, which combines authentic Vietnamese French influenced food with a California vibe, you can experience a four-course prix-fixe dinner at the intimate 23-stool oval bar. For $150 per person, menu options will feature ahi spring rolls, diver scallop, and ribeye served with a truffle vinaigrette, lap cheong and grated comte. Finish the meal with pavlova served with California olive oil ice cream. Add on a wine pairing for $65.
Price: $150 per person | $215 with wine pairings Hours: 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Address: 2469 Broadway, Golden Hill Reservations:Tock
Photo Credit: Robert Reyes
Temaki Bar
The popular Encinitas sushi bar, known for using only sustainable seafood and locally sourced seasonal ingredients, will offer a “Cupid’s Catch” special on Valentine’s Day—an eight-piece nigiri shared platter for two, priced at $65, features premium ingredients like bluefin tuna, Hokkaido scallop and surf-and-turf beef tataki with king crab and truffle butter. You can also head to the PCH on Feb. 13 for a Galentine’s two-for-one drink special, which applies to house sake, wine, and beer on tap.
Price: $65 per platter Hours: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. Address: 575 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas Reservations:Temaki Website
Black Radish
This raved-about tiny bistro in North Park will give you a cozy, intimate atmosphere for a meal that mixes locally sourced California cuisine with French technique. Enjoy the special Valentine’s Day five-course prix fixe menu, using fresh seasonal ingredients, for $152 per person, and add a wine pairing for $68.
Price: $152 per person | $210 with wine pairings Hours: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Address: 2591 University Ave, North Park Reservations:Tock
Café Sevilla
Immerse yourself in a celebration of Latin music and Spanish cuisine at this Gaslamp restaurant and tapas bar. The four-course prix fixe menu, priced at $75 per person and accompanied by live Latin music, features Spanish charcuterie, lobster cake and pan-seared duck. Or enjoy a special Valentine’s Day flamenco dinner show that includes a three-course Spanish lobster paella dinner, priced at $119 per person.
Price: Dinner – $75 per person | Valentine’s Dinner & Show – $119 Hours: 4:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Address: 353 Fifth Ave, Gaslamp Quarter Reservations: Call (619) 233-5979 for dinner reservations | Eventbrite for Valentine’s Day Dinner & Show
Cucina Urbana
This Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant is offering a Valentine’s Day special for groups of 2–5 people this year. Their four-course prix fixe menu includes beef tenderloin tartare, grilled shrimp gnocchi, halibut, and Champagne-poached pear. Feeling bougie? Add a half-dozen oysters and a glass of Champagne for an additional $23.
Price: $85 per person Hours: 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Address: 505 Laurel St, Bankers Hill Reservations: OpenTable
Photo Credit: Mandie Geller
Puesto
Invite your loved one or Galentines for a festive Mexican feast at one of Puesto’s three San Diego locations (downtown, Mission Valley or La Jolla). Try the short rib quesabirria or baja fish tacos, served with vibrant red tortillas, dyed with vegetable juice in honor of the holiday and pair your meal with craft cocktails like the serrano margarita.
This cozy North Park restaurant is where you go for Russian-Georgian grub in San Diego—bring your loved one for a homey, candlelit dining experience and try traditional dishes like beef stroganoff, khinkali, adjaruli khachapuri or a variety of salads, dumplings and stews.
Price: A la carte Hours: 5:00 p.m.-10 p.m. Address: 2312 El Cajon Blvd, North Park Reservations: Call (619) 298-4007 to reserve
Bob’s Steak & Chop House
If your ideal Valentine’s Day meal is a cut of fine corn-fed, Midwestern prime beef or local line-caught seafood, head to La Costa for this award-winning restaurant’s classic steakhouse meals. You can connect over a glass of wine with your loved one while you enjoy a “Romeo & Juliet” five-course prix fixe menu for two, priced at $300 per couple.
Price: $300 per couple Hours: 5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Address: 2100 Costa Del Mar Rd, Carlsbad Reservations:OpenTable
Artifact
Wrap up a romantic day in Balboa Park with Valentine’s dinner at Artifact, located inside the Mingei International Museum. The restaurant is offering a four-course prix fixe menu featuring duck breast, scallops, rock shrimp gyoza, and Valrhona dark chocolate cake for dessert.
Price: $80 per person | $40 deposit for reservation Hours: 5p.m.-8 p.m. Address: 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park Reservations: OpenTable
Courtesy of L’Auberge Del Mar
Adelaide at L’Auberge Del Mar
Inside the luxury resort L’Auberge in the heart of Del Mar, you can enjoy a four-course prix fixe Valentine’s Day dinner alongside Pacific Ocean views. The menu features dishes such as smoked salmon carpaccio and caviar, butter poached lobster penang soup and Wagyu Manhattan cut, priced at $125 per person. Upgrade your meal with a sommelier-selected wine pairing experience for $55 per person.
Price: $125 per person | $180 with wine pairings Hours: 5:00 p.m.-9:45 p.m. Address: 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar Reservations:OpenTable
Casa Guadalajara
Ignite the “Latin lover” inside you by treating your special someone to a Valentine’s Day meal at this Old Town restaurant. Not only will you get a taste of Old Mexico with the lively ambiance and strolling mariachis, but you’ll also enjoy a four-course meal for two that features selections such as guacamole, sizzling fajitas and traditional caramel flan.
Price: $50 per couple Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Address: 4105 Taylor St, Old Town
Ali Baba Mediterranean Cuisine
Indulge in authentic Mediterranean cuisine at this family-owned establishment in Escondido. The casual Ali Baba serves up generous portions of Middle Eastern dishes like baba ghanoush, labneh, shawarma, kofta kabobs and lentil soup.
Price: A la carte Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Address: 421 E Main St, El Cajon Reservations:Ali Baba Website
Moe’s Steakhouse
If you’re near Mission Beach this Valentine’s Day, head to Moe’s for a classy steak dinner. The cozy steakhouse is offering couples a special menu from chef Christopher Osborne, featuring wagyu beef carpaccio, a “Dozen Roses” martini, and a heart-shaped chocolate mousse cake.
Price: A la carte Hours: 4p.m.-2 a.m. Address: 3768 Mission Blvd, Mission Beach Reservations: OpenTable
Photo Credit: James Tran
Paradisaea
Experience a four-course dining experience at the Michelin-recognized Paradisaea in La Jolla. Housed inside the historic Piano Building in Bird Rock, Paradisaea offers not only stunning décor but a memorable meal featuring options such as Japanese yellow tail crudo, lemon and Parmesan risotto, and grilled black cod.
Price: $140 per person Hours: 4:00 p.m.-10 p.m. Address: 5680 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla Reservations:OpenTable
Oceana Coastal Kitchen at The Catamaran
Toast complimentary champagne before your three-course prix fixe menu as you enjoy views of Mission Bay. The Pacific Beach in-hotel restaurant offers champagne cocktails alongside dishes such as kingfish crudo, petite filet mignon and butter-poached prawns served with a truffled potato croquette.
Price: $99 per person Hours: 7:00 a.m.-11 p.m. Address: 3999 Mission Blvd, Mission Beach Reservations:OpenTable
Solare Ristorante
This family-owned Italian bar and lounge in Liberty Station has become a San Diego icon since it opened as the sole restaurant in the historic NTC Promenade. Enjoy a special four-course Valentine’s Day dinner and a rose for each couple.
Price: $89 per person Hours: 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Address: 2820 Roosevelt Rd, Point Loma Reservations:OpenTable or Call (619) 270-9670
Photo Credit: Cole Novak
Volare
This family-owned Point Loma restaurant offers classic home-cooked Italian favorites at affordable prices in a relaxed atmosphere. The cozy, unassuming little spot, which has a loyal local following, serves up classics like lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, ravioli, seafood pasta, meatballs and pizza.
Price: A la carte Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Address: 3528 Barnett Ave, Point Loma
El Patio
Family-owned and run for more than seven decades, this popular Chula Vista restaurant serves up from-scratch Mexican recipes every day. Bring your valentine for a laid-back meal of enchiladas, fajitas and signature margaritas.
Price: A la carte Hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Address: 410 Broadway, Chula Vista
The Café at Alma
The Café at The Alma Hotel in downtown San Diego is offering festive specials for Valentine’s Day. The centrally located restaurant will serve its Sweetheart Specials, featuring oysters, seared scallops, lobster ravioli, and chocolate truffles with dipped strawberries. The bar is also mixing up Valentine’s Day cocktails, including the Love Potion, made with vodka and strawberry Aperol; and Mint to Be, Alma’s take on a Grasshopper. Additionally, the hotel will host a paint-and-sip event from 6 to 9 p.m. for $45 per person.
Price: À la carte Hours: 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Address: 1047 Fifth Ave, Gaslamp Quarter
Bethany Mavis is a writer, editor and aficionado of hiking, crafting and thrifting. She is an adjunct professor in journalism at Point Loma Nazarene University, and she lives in Escondido with her husband and three daughters.
Before, during, and after the Fourth of July, San Diegans can commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with an abundance of stars, stripes and local celebrations. America The Beautiful: 250 at The Rady Shell and Lamb’s Players Theatre’s revival of American Rhythm will look back at the many songs which define our country. Liberty Station’s Anchored in Freedom celebration and the Independence Day Carnival offer community-centered fun and loads of family-friendly activities. And who can possibly forget the Big Bay Boom, which will resume its reign over San Diego Bay as the state’s biggest fireworks show. Outside of the holiday festivities, this week brings the yearly return of Little Italy’s Summer Sera and the Athenaeum Summer Festival, as well as a slate of championship matches for All Elite Wrestling.
Sip on refreshing beverages and savor a panoramic rooftop view this Friday from 6-8 p.m. during the 21-plus Sunset & Spritz at Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar. There will be a live DJ (until 9 p.m.), appetizers, pool and cabana access, a photo booth, and a cash bar (until 11 p.m.). To accentuate the summer theme, guests are invited to dress in white, pink, and orange attire. Tickets are $29 and come with a welcome aperol spritz.
616 J Street, Gaslamp
The 250 Grand Tasting Menu at Amaya
July 3 & 4
Bring a patriotic palette to the Fairmont Grand Del Mar for The 250 Grand Tasting Menu at Amaya this Friday and Saturday from 5-8:30 p.m. Patrons will be treated to a five-course tasting menu, curated to exhibit a selection of standout regional flavors and culinary concepts that have shaped our country’s distinct food heritage. The meal will also include beverage pairings with each course, such as wine, cocktails, and artisanal drinks. Reservations are $330 per person (with tax and 20% gratuity) on OpenTable.
Don Toliver thrives at being the life of the party (and the “After Party”). His fifth album Octane, released in February, is indicative of his thrill-seeking nature. As with his earlier releases, Octane sees Toliver operating in the space between hip-hop and R&B, with warbling vocals and blaring beats that are best heard at a high volume. This Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Toliver will play at Pechanga Arena, with rappers SoFaygo, Chase B and SahBabii—who had a guest verse on Octane standout “K9”—as special guests. Tickets start at $156 for this concert.
What makes musicals like Wicked, Cats, Chicago, and Jersey Boys so timeless is the legion of excellent songs that makes fans out of those who’ve never even watched the show. This Friday at 7:30 p.m. during Blockbuster Broadway! at The Rady Shell, conductor Evan Roider, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and veteran vocalists Alex Getlin, Jessica Hendy, Scott Coulter, and John Boswell (also on piano) will perform an all-star theater soundtrack. In addition to the shows named above, audiences can expect songs from A Chorus Line, The Phantom of the Opera, Annie,and more. Tickets range from $57 to $129 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
America The Beautiful: 250 at The Rady Shell
July 4
One night after recognizing the brilliance of Broadway, The Rady Shell will ring in the United States’ landmark anniversary with America The Beautiful: 250 this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Conductor Byron Stripling, joined by a five-performer ensemble and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, will lead a night of ballads that best resemble the red, white, and blue, including songs sourced from the Great American Songbook. After the show, concertgoers are invited to watch the nearby Big Bay Boom from their seats. Tickets range from $71 to $139 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
Athenaeum Summer Festival at Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
If you’ve ever squeezed yourself into a pair of black skinny jeans with a studded belt, sported a track jacket under a band t-shirt, or swept your Manic Panic-hued hair so far to the side that your part got caught in your cartilage earring, I have good news: Ocean Beach will get a shot of emo and pop-punk nostalgia when Drink 182 opens this July.
The pop-punk bar and pizza spot comes with bonafide scene points. Co-founder Jay Nightride runs the music production studio Nightride Visuals, has worked with artists like Steve Aoki, Lil Jon, and Fall Out Boy, and also plays in Death Cab for Karaoke, a live karaoke band that performs every month at Soda Bar (among other venues). His partner Tony Jaw is easier to spot—he’s the guy with the sky-high mohawk manning the karaoke booth at Redwing Bar & Grill who’s been in the local bar and hospitality business for over a decade.
Nightride says he’s had the idea for an emo enclave for years, but it wasn’t until after Covid that he partnered with Jaw and got the funding to move forward. “What I was looking to build was a place that I would want to be, where would I want to go to remember these nostalgic songs,” he says.
Pending permits and final inspections, Drink 182 is slated to open the second half of July. The vibe will be dive bar meets emo night, with memorabilia from different bands who have supported the project splashed across the walls, plus a few arcade games, TVs, and (I assume) a decent sound system. The hours are still undetermined, but Nightride says they tentatively plan to be open until 2 a.m. on weekends and Wednesdays for the OB Farmers Market. In the mornings, they’ll serve fresh pastries and coffee from the similarly music-aligned James Coffee Company (whose co-owner David Kennedy is a member of Angels & Airwaves with blink-182’s Tom DeLonge).
But it’ll be the pizza that really stands out—or at least, they hope. “We’re doing New England beach pizza… a really niche pizza that not a lot of people would know about, unless you’re from North Shore, Massachusetts,” says Nightride, a former Bostonian. “It’s a thin crust, very sweet sauce, very simple, fast, go-to-the-beach kind of thing.”
“Beach pizza” is characterized by its rectangular shape, very thin crust, sweet tomato sauce, and slices of Provolone cheese with minimal toppings. Drink 182’s version will feature homemade dough and sauce, as well as freshly sliced Boar’s Head Provolone. And yes, they are aware there are already a lot of pizza options in the area. It won’t be the same, Nightride promises.
“Everybody’s first reaction when they hear ‘pizza’ is like, ‘Oh great, another pizza place in OB,’” he laughs. “But we’re trying to do something different, just enough to differentiate it and give people another option.” If you’re not keen on the style, try one of their “drunkables,” another nostalgic riff they hope the pop-punk and emo crowd will appreciate. And if you still need a reason to give Drink 182 a try, I have more good news—you don’t actually have to break out your old skinny jeans. (In fact, please don’t.)
Drink 182 opens July 2026 at 5049 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach.
Courtesy of Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Beth’s Bites
If the steak hype wasn’t hot enough already, The Heritage Steakhouse in Santee just announced Meredith Manée will serve as executive chef of the New York-style steakhouse when it opens in August. Her star-studded kitchen resume spans over 25 years, with stints at the Hotel del Coronado, the Four Seasons, and The Ritz-Carlton Maui, so I think it’s safe to assume we’ll be in good hands.
Rather than waste away in Margaritaville, you have the chance to support the San Diego Music Foundation at the annual Jimmy Buffett-inspired Day of Service at Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. On September 4 starting at 5 p.m., the rooftop bar will be rocking with live music and plenty of flowing cocktails, plus a silent auction and other activations to raise money for the local music education organization. I’ll drink to that.
The early bird gets the worm and you can get the early ticket to Celebrate the Craft, the annual culinary festival that takes place at The Lodge at Torrey Pines on October 18. If you snag your ticket before the end of June, you can save $50 (which is nothing to sneeze at), plus you’ll be helping support the San Diego Food Bank.
Mani e Grani, the pizza spot from the same people behind Ciccia Osteria, seems to be inching ever closer to opening its doors in Barrio Logan. I know I’m not the only one anxiously awaiting sinking my teeth into some wood-fired, chewy but crispy, hot-from-the-oven, authentic Italian pizza.
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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
If absence makes hearts (and stomachs) grow fonder, then shuttered restaurants quickly become the hottest tickets in town—something a number of iconic institutions found out after taking very public hiatuses after historically long runs. For instance, following a lengthy (and extremely flip-floppy) closing process after 92 years in business, Las Cuatro Milpas reopened two blocks away in Mercado del Barrio. Similarly, Carlsbad butcher shop Tip Top Meats reopened in the same location (albeit a smaller space) after the death of founder Joachim “Big John” Haedrich in 2023. Finally, after a whopping decade out of business, Sami Ladeki and chef Alfie Szeprethy brought back Roppongi to its original Prospect Street space, where it was the talk of the town in the late ’90s. All came back under the same proprietors, so they weren’t third-party nostalgia-licensing deals. The algorithm may have ravaged our attention spans away from all but the newest and shiniest, but this proves there’s still hope for our collective prefrontal cortex.
Other local eateries honored their pasts by bringing in new perspectives. The Lion’s Share in Embarcadero, Milton’s Deli in Del Mar, Dudley’s Bakery in Santa Ysabel, and J-K’s Greek Cafe in La Mesa handed over the keys to new owners willing to take on a big task: maintain the soul of icons through particularly rough economic circumstances for restaurants, navigate big feelings from longtime regulars (who often don’t take kindly to change), and make some necessary changes to keep going for another few decades. Taking over a project in process can be a lot harder than starting from scratch. But building that feel-good nostalgia doesn’t happen overnight, so it sure helps to have a well-established playbook of success passed down from those who came before.
Courtesy of Sugarfish
The Expansion Class Arrives
It wasn’t just restaurant groups from Los Angeles that decided to put down roots en masse, although San Diego saw plenty of LA transplants recently (Sugarfish, Mr. Charlie’s, For the Win, Katsuya Ko, Bacari). Global brands like Chef Fei, Zuma, and Pepper Lunch have locations of their own on the way, and upscale Canadian eatery Joey joined to the inescapable gravitational pull of Westfield UTC’s culinary cosmos for its first spot in America’s Finest City. Good to see the rest of the world is catching up with what we’ve been seeing the last few years—San Diego is a dining destination already on the rise.
Choosing To Not Choose
Between the never-ending news cycle of doom and perimenopause brain fog, I’m at the stage in life where I’m more than happy to let someone else make a decision for me, especially when it comes to what’s for dinner. And based on the way a lot of menus look right now, I’m not alone. It seems like half the places I visit offer some version of a prix fixe, omakase, or tasting menu. Restaurants are embracing the curated experience to solve the problem of affordability (a fixed menu reduces food and labor costs, guarantees an acceptable check average, etc.) and critical thinking in one fell swoop. Omakase (meaning “I leave it up to you”) is far from a new concept in high-end Japanese sushi culture, but now that it’s popping up everywhere from coffee experiences to grab-and-go sushi and sandwiches, it’s gone from somewhat niche to nearly omnipresent.
Courtesy of Rikka Fika
Local Coffee Hit the World Stage
The world got an up-close look at San Diego’s coffee industry when we hosted the premier specialty coffee expo World of Coffee for the first time this April. San Diego’s long and rich coffee history stretches back to the late 19th century. Things percolated fairly quietly for around a century before really picking up steam. Today, there are nearly 200 specialty roasters and cafes across the county, with many earning national accolades like the Good Food Award (Steady State Roasting, 2020; Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2016), Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine (Mostra Coffee, 2020; Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 2012), and the Specialty Coffee Association Coffee Design Award for packaging (Rikka Fika, 2026). Now that we’ve moved past the comically insufferable coffee snob era of the early 2000s, even java newbies can feel comfortable walking into pretty much any coffee shop in San Diego, asking questions, trying a few things, and feeling confident they’re going to get great service and a great beverage.
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Implementing a farm-to-table model hardly deserves acknowledgement these days. It’s not a stretch. It’s not innovative. “It’s the bare f**king minimum,” says Herb & Sea‘s executive chef Aidan Owens.
When I arrive at the Encinitas restaurant, I’m ready to talk sustainability, farm-to-table stuff, with Owens. “Did you see the chin on that?” he says of the extra big jiggly chin on the sheephead that just arrived with the day’s fresh catch. I did. It was Jay Leno adjacent.
I learn quickly that he somehow oozes both charm and stone-cold honesty. Maybe he could construct a new dish with chin goo, like he did when he had a bunch of tuna scraps and voila’d it into a smooth and crowd-pleasing ‘nduja. “I want to know what’s in there,” he says.
Courtesy of Herb & Sea
The instinct to look closer, to dig into what others might discard, says a lot about the chef’s approach. I guide him back to our topic, but he has something else on his mind. “We’re overcomplicating food—what happened to just cooking good food and having fun with it?”
Owens grew up on a farm in Byron Bay, Australia, where sustainability wasn’t a concept you chat about so much as a way of life. Think dirt roads, backyard chickens, pulling vegetables straight from the ground, and a mother who believed that if you couldn’t pronounce the ingredients on a package, you shouldn’t eat what was inside.
Food wasn’t precious or performative. Making it was what you did because you were hungry and that’s still what inspires Owens today. “I like to cook good food because I like to eat good food,” he says.
His approach to sustainability at Herb & Sea began so naturally that it felt just like instinct. “I was just like, ‘Let’s order food from the people who live and work here,’” he says.
Courtesy of Herb & Sea
And why wouldn’t he when lives in San Diego? Cities all over the world vie for our goods. Our tuna is sent overseas. Our spiny lobsters hit dinner plates in China and Japan. Not to mention California’s producing a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts.
“Why would we outsource when it’s all here?” Owens asks.
Sustainability, in this context, is about cooking what exists in abundance, nearby, right now. “I love the local fish here. It’s f**king delicious and San Diego citrus, I mean, it is so f**ing good,” he says.
Instead of importing ingredients, Owens also looks for nearby alternatives. “You can find really cool things in the local waters,” he says, pointing out that stingray cheeks taste similar to scallops.
Courtesy of Herb & Sea
Whatever he finds in that sheephead chin might just be the next substitute for marrow. But to make this work, it means getting diners amped up about the slightly unfamiliar.
Tasting menus, where diners are completely in his hands, become an opportunity to gently push boundaries. “I’ll serve mackerel, because people think they hate it,” Owens says, noting that the abundant local fish can have some fishiness. “But when it’s fresh, it’s arguably one of the best fish in the ocean.”
He also tweaks the language on the menu so people might feel more compelled to give dishes a try without preconceived notions. He might use “lengua” instead of “tongue.” “Whelk” instead of “snail.” When he puts “stingray throat” on the menu, he disarmingly calls it “skate.”
To reduce waste, scraps aren’t always discarded but rather turned into something new. Sometimes they’re smoked, cured or fermented. Apples going bad turn into apple ponzu. Lemons turn to marmalade, which stretches their usefulness far beyond peak season. “And it’s super tasty on our pizza,” he says.
What makes the food even richer, is the relationships he’s built with farmers. Though it didn’t always feel natural, Owens sought personal connection first. He recalls approaching a fisherman at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. “I was awkward,” he says. “I went up to him and said, ‘I like your fish.’”
Owen’s is now so close to his suppliers—like fishermen Ryan Sebo and Joe Daly—that he gets texted pictures of fresh catches right as they flop on the boat. The messages always ask if he wants first dibs. “I say yes to a lot of fish,” Owens says, noting that Herb & Sea can go through 2,000 pounds of seafood a week.
Courtesy of Herb & Sea
The next evolution of sustainability, in his view, will be chefs working directly with producers such as his alliance with Sebo, cutting out middlemen and purveyors where possible. “It will put more money in the pockets of the people doing the work,” he says.
It will mean that chefs can’t just know their local farmers and producers, but they’ll choose to work with the ones who have the best practices. Dining and sustainability will become much less about the final plate. “It will be more about the impact that plate has on the Earth,” he says.
Ultimately, he believes sustainability doesn’t need to be loud. It doesn’t need hashtags. It just needs to be honest.
“We aren’t saving lives. We’re feeding people good food,” he says.
And yet, in feeding people well—simply, thoughtfully, responsibly—something meaningful happens. Guests leave satisfied. Ingredients are respected. Local ecosystems are supported and food returns to what it has always been at its core: nourishment, pleasure, and a quiet reflection of the place it comes from.
Summer has officially kicked off, and San Diego is celebrating the sunny season with a myriad of fun events. From San Diego Pride week and a fairytale performance at Civic Theatre to a Santigold concert and Comic-Con, there are dozens of opportunities to make memories worth adding to your scrapbook. Here are all the best things to do in San Diego this July:
Divine inspirations, operatic ballads, and symphonic pop production elevate Rosalía’s Lux to heavenly levels. Hear angelic vocals ascend—in up to 13 languages—during her performance at Pechanga Arena.
Enjoy a night of feel-good indie rock and sing-along anthems at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre courtesy of Young the Giant and special guest Cold War Kids.
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Santigold collects genres like gold stars: musical accouterments that brighten her uniquely alternative sound. See her live in concert with dancehall producer Troy Baker Sound at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay.
Two male government workers pursue a secret romance amid the Lavender Scare in the San Diego Opera’s production of “Fellow Travelers” at the Balboa Theatre.
Audrey Hepburn. Marlon Brando. Salvador Dalí. What do these icons have in common? Each was the enigmatic focus of a Cecil Beaton portrait. Step inside Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World, an alluring showcase of 20th-century style at San Diego Museum of Art.
Courtesy of San Diego Pride
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month
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The Little Italy Mercato will trade morning rays for golden-hour glow through its free Summer Sera, an expansion of the neighborhood’s farmers market with live music, artisanal finds, and a fetching amount of pet activities.
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San Diego Pride week starts with a Dyke March and ends with the two-day “Pride Shines On” festival. The days in between? Run a 5K, march in the parade, visit the rainbow-lit St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, and more.
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Dress up for a Mediterranean-themed tea time at the Estancia La Jolla, a laid-back yet refined afternoon planned for the resort’s monthly Tea in the Garden series.
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Nerd culture’s biggest gathering returns to the Convention Center. San Diego Comic-Con welcomes fans of everything from comic book cinema to ultra-rare collectibles for panels, exhibits, sneak peeks, and much more.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Omakase and fixed-price menus are one way hospitality businesses are addressing our collective food decision-making fatigue. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, some restaurateurs are offering a bonanza of totally unrelated options for people ordering on a whim. Why not pair a lobster grilled cheese sandwich, açaí bowl, and ridiculously loaded hot dog?
Starting June 27, diners can satisfy their spur-of-the-moment appetites at Global Fork in Little Italy, the latest food hall from Southern California-based Tiger Hospitality.
Six different food concepts will be featured in the 4,685-square-foot, indoor-outdoor space along the Piazza della Famiglia promenade. The space’s inaugural lineup includes a mix of Tiger Hospitality-owned concepts (Cosmos Burger, La Vida, Lobster Lab, and Prik Ki Nu Thai) and outside operators (Seattle-based Moto Pizza and Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream). The space next door, Good Enough Cocktail Club, is another Tiger-backed brand, operated by the team behind Same Same and Amor y Magia in Carlsbad.
Cosmos Burger serves smashburgers stacked with classic toppings, while Lobster Lab focuses on seafood favorites including lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, and lobster mac n’ cheese. Prik Ki Nu Thai adds Thai street food to the mix, with traditional noodle, rice, and stir-fry dishes. And for those looking for something on the lighter side, La Vida offers things like smoothies, salads, and wraps.
Courtesy of Global Fork Food Hall
Moto Pizza focuses on Detroit-style square pizza with Filipino influences and, despite the name, is not affiliated with Mr. Moto Pizza. Handel’s, which began in Ohio in 1945, will offer dozens of flavors ranging from staples like chocolate and vanilla to rotating specialties packed with candies, cookies, and other mix-ins. (Handel’s already has a number of locations across San Diego, with a La Mesa store coming later this year.)
Some of these vendors already operate at Miramar Food Hall, the other Tiger-owned food hall in San Clemente. And some of them will also appear in Station8, the next food hall slated to open in UC San Diego’s Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood later this fall. But if you ask me, reviving the space that housed the Little Italy Food Hall before its closure last February is a far better outcome than leaving empty suites smack in the middle of an area saturated with fantastic food options. Plus, where else can you order a slice of beef adobo pizza alongside squares of caviar toast and a banana split?
Global Fork opens June 27 at 550 W. Date Street, Suite B, in Little Italy. Initial operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, but vendor hours may differ.
Courtesy of Holland Partner Group
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Beth’s Bites
La Jolla is reviving one of its own shuttered spaces this August with Tacos & Jarros, coming to the space on Wall Street that formerly housedComedor Nishi and Coffee Cup. The all-day Mexican restaurant is the latest project from the family behind Cazadores Mexican Grill in Santee and Cotija’s Taco Shop, and will offer wine, beer, tacos, traditional breakfast dishes, as well as lunch and dinner. Some concepts may have hit their ceiling (craft beer, anyone?), but thankfully, it seems that Mexican food still has a long way to go before that.
In the latest hilariously-named collaboration, on June 9, The Lion’s Share will host executive chef Tara Monsod from Animae for a one-night event called Animaeniacs. (Millennials who know, know.) The three-time James Beard Award Semifinalist Monsod will work with Lion’s Share executive chef and co-owner Dante Romero to create a multi-course, family-style dinner inspired by Romero’s Mexican background and Monsod’s Filipino heritage. Tickets get you a seat at the table, plus access to an afterparty in the Marina neighborhood hotspot’s loft, with seatings at 5 p.m. for the early birds and 8:30 p.m. for the night owls.
Thanks to my son’s lifelong obsession with boba, I’m always on the lookout for the latest bubble tea place to check out. Next on my list is Tera Tea House, a boba, matcha, and fruit tea joint coming this month (maybe?) to City Heights near the Copley-Price YMCA. Will I go because their logo is a cartoon dinosaur sipping on boba tea? No, but it sure doesn’t hurt.
After opening their latest outpost in North Park, Moniker Group announced plans to open their third Moniker General later this year inside West, a 37-story mixed use building coming to downtown at 1011 Union Street. The space will continue the group’s signature menu of coffee, cold brew, matcha, small bites, wine, and beer, and founder Ryan Sisson says they identified downtown for their next location due to the area’s “tremendous amount of momentum.” I’ve never lived in a building with a built-in coffee shop, but I’ve got to admit, it does sound like a pretty nice perk.
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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
National Philanthropy Day, presented by PNC Bank, Celebrates the Best of Philanthropy in San Diego
The 53rd Annual National Philanthropy Day Takes Place on November 21. Join us from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center!
Once yearly, AFP San Diego joins with others worldwide to celebrate National Philanthropy Day (NPD), a special day set aside to recognize the great contributions of donors and nonprofits that enrich of our community and the world. San Diego’s NPD is one of the largest and most successful in the U.S., attracting nearly 900 participants, including philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, CEOs, board members, development professionals, and business, community, and civic leaders.
Sponsorship proceeds from National Philanthropy Day are reinvested in education, training, scholarships, career development, and the advancement of fundraising professionals throughout San Diego. These resources and training provide fundraising professionals with the tools necessary to support our region’s diverse array of nonprofit organizations, which rely on charitable giving for close to half of their annual revenues.
The National Philanthropy Day Honorees are selected by the NPD Honorary Committee, a group of highly respected, diverse nonprofit and business leaders. Our 2025 Honorees include:
Outstanding Development Emerging Leader – Taylor Thompson Self-Nominated
Outstanding Development Professional – Sharyn Goodson Nominated by: AJ Steinberg & Jeanne Schmelzer
Outstanding Organization for IDEA – Accessity Self-Nominated
Outstanding Philanthropic Institution – Life Science Cares San Diego Nominated by: Blair Search Partners
Outstanding Philanthropist – Dan & Phyllis Epstein Nominated by: CSU San Marcos & KPBS
Outstanding Student Volunteer – Camden Hall Nominated by: Curebound
National Philanthropy Day San Diego provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and to celebrate the selfless contributions of individuals and organizations across the region. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available. Please visit www.afpsd.org for more information.
