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The San Diego Border Report
El Mejor Pan de Tecate
El Mejor Pan de Tecate
San Diego suffers no shortage of Mexican panaderias, or bakeries (try Hilda’s in City Heights or Panchitas in Barrio Logan). But an international pilgrimage in the name of Baja’s best bread? It’s worth it.
Run by two sisters who arrived from Guadalajara in the 1940s, Panaderia La Mejor is a small shop in the southern corner of Tijuana’s urban core. It requires a slight veer off the beaten path but its stacks of fresh empanadas, conchitas, and galletas have had locals lining up outside the door since since 1962. Plan an early arrival—often only breadcrumbs are left by late afternoon. Avenida Constitucion and Calle 10, downtown Tijuana â¨â¨
Ask any bajacaliforniano about Tecate, and they’ll tell you it’s not the cowboyish mountain town’s namesake beer they crave, but the bread. The stock at El Mejor Pan De Tecate,
founded in 1969—just four blocks south of the border crossing—bakes 180 different varieties, everything from “ox’s eyes” to “elephant ears.” Their secret? A brick vault oven and a 24-hour schedule, enough reason for National Geographic to brand it a must among Tecate to-dos. Avenida Juarez 331, downtown Tecate, elmejorpandetecate.com
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Panaderia La Montaña lies just east of Tecate on the free road to Mexicali. Smack dab in Mexico’s version of the middle of nowhere sits this lonesome roadhouse bakery, whose only neighbors are a gas station, a tamale stand, and the occasional horse in the middle of the road. It’s a haul, but folks come from kilometers around for its bolillos and birotes. Carretera Libre Mexicali–Tecate Km. 71, La Rumorosa
Pick up a bottle or plan a tasting from these esteemed Baja wineries featuring everything from organic pours to a century-old icon
With more than 100 wineries in Valle de Guadalupe, knowing where to go and which to try can feel overwhelming. Luckily, we took the guesswork out of the task and put together a list of our favorite wines in the region from organic pours to a husband-and-wife team, and a century-old icon, here’s what to drink in Valle.
The first organic and biodynamic winery in Mexico (with certifications from CCOF and the USDA) is best known for its Árbol line—the 2021 grenache rosé is fresh and acidic, with notes of strawberries and red fruit.
A highlight of winemaker Phil Gregory’s vision is the 2020 Ambar, a skin-contact chardonnay that is aged for two months in neutral oak barrels, yielding a smooth trip toward the tannic pleasures of an otherwise hackneyed grape.
This husband-and-wife team does it all, from concept to harvest. Try their 2023 sauvignon blanc—its stainless fermentation gives way to a taught acidity.
Started by ex-veterinarian Pau Pijoan, this sleeper hit of the valley is best known for “El Carbónico,” a playful take of the known grapes of the region—grenache, tempranillo, and syrah—fermented through carbonic maceration.
Channeling the body and depth of Super Tuscans, the 2018 Petite Sirah from this nearly 100-year-old icon is a hearty red whose grapes hail from the Rhône Valley in France but feel just as at home in the arid landscapes of Valle de Guadalupe.
Danielle is a freelance culture journalist focusing on music, food, wine, hospitality, and arts, and founder-playwright of Yeah No Yeah Theatre company, based in San Diego. Her work has been featured in FLAUNT, Filter Magazine, and San Diego Magazine. Born and raised in Maui, she still loves a good Mai Tai.
With buzzy bars, restaurants, shops, and stays, the Baja California city is carving out an identity of its own
Longtime popular cruise ship destination, the port of Ensenada has been known more for its animated tourist bars and trinket shops than as a cultural and culinary hub—but all that is changing. These days, the city is holding its own against Tijuana, Valle de Guadalupe, and other nearby food hot spots. A population of young professionals, many who work in the wineries and fine dining restaurants of Valle, are choosing to live in the more affordable Ensenada and making it their own with moody bars, contemporary restaurants, and a slew of new specialty shops.
The Plaza Santo Tomás is a great example of this new energy. Built originally for Santo Tomás winery’s warehouses, the plaza and its buildings have been converted into a dozen or more locales that include the tiny Loca mezcal bar, high-end fishmongers De Garo Pescados Y Mariscos, the Tanto Santo pizza kitchen, and local cheese shop Fromagerie. La Morocha Resta Bar is a collaboration between some of the region’s biggest names in food, including David Castro Hussong, chef of Valle’s famed Fauna restaurant.
Here, comfort food like grilled cheese or arroz a la tumbada is served in a casual, Sunday-dinner-with-the-family ambiance. On the other side of the plaza is La Bête Noire, a cocktail bar and listening room dropped into a space that looks more like a secondhand shop. In the dimly lit basement speakeasy, you can sip a negroni and vibe to electronic beats.
Off the plaza, Ojo Cameleón—opened in late 2024— is filled with locals who come for the craft cocktails and guest DJs that spin all night long on the weekends. The bar Matilda is a mellower scene with outdoor tables and a cozy dining room.
Opened in 2021, it may have the best cocktails in town, with both classic and inventive options. Try the La Margaret with gin, St. Germain liqueur, sake, watermelon radish, rice vinegar, and mirin. The bar also serves a concise menu of delicious tapas and small plates.
Sakanaya Murajiro is a brand-new project highlighting the bounty of local seafood as well as imported delicacies from Japan, with an omakase menu designed by chef and owner Daichi Sato. A hospitality crowd favorite, Da Toni has become the restaurant of chefs and sommeliers on their night off. The menu weaves together dishes from northern Italy and the local influences of Baja—think tagliarini with sea urchin or calamari in anchovy and chiltepín chile sauce.
The flavor of Ensenada cannot be truly appreciated with just the new and exciting. Seafood salad tostadas at La Guerrerense or a few oysters on the half shell at El Güero are required eating here. Also, stop by Hussong’s Cantina for a margarita and a heartfelt bolero from the restaurant’s musical trio, a 133-year tradition. If you’re open to making a meal yourself, stroll through the city’s tiny fish market that sets up near the waterfront for fresh-from-the-sea abalone, shrimp, and mahi-mahi.
In contrast to the luxury hotels in nearby Valle, you will find places in Ensenada that fit the more laidback style and lower price point of the city. There are several fantastic Airbnbs, but for something a little more personalized and cozy, stay at La Villa De Adelina, a small, five-room boutique hotel with both a bar and bakery on site.
Hotel Punta Morro on the waterfront has dramatic seafront views with chic, modern décor. For some nostalgia, the midcentury Las Rosas Hotel & Spa with its pale pink façade has been lovingly maintained throughout the years and draws back many returning visitors.
Ensenada serves as an incredible base for exploring the nearby vineyards, but it also has its own collection of attractions. From mid-December to April, whales swim and play along the shores, and charter boats offer a chance to catch them in action. For active travelers, there’s sport fishing, kayaking, surfing, and hiking along the coast. Though Ensenada’s downtown is dominated by the waterfront, several nearby beaches are perfect for a picnic.
Estero Beach is mellow for swimming and paddle-boarding, while the shorelines near La Bufadora are great for strolling. Northern San Miguel Beach has a volcanic rock shoreline and waves that make it a top surf spot. And, now, it’s even easier to go from San Diego to Ensenada—the Azteca Express, a ferry traveling between the two cities, officially launched last month.
Lydia Carey is a travel and food writer based in Mexico City, who has spent the last 20 years traveling the Americas and sampling its bounty. She has been published widely online and in print and is the founder of the Mexico City Streets tour company.
From taco stands to speakeasies, two locals share their favorite ways to experience the real Tijuana
Tijuana is a city shaped by movement. Home to the busiest border crossing in the world, TJ is astir like nowhere else. Despite being a place countless people travel through, the city is no stopover; it’s a destination in its own right. Just make sure you arrive hungry.
Better known as “Nana,” Sánchez is a proud Tijuanense and the founder of walking tour company Nana en Tijuana, with which she showcases the real Tijuana, far beyond border town clichés. We asked her for her insider’s view.
Tijuana native Kevin Gómez’s pandemic project, Aruba Day Drink, quickly became a West Coast cocktail destination, landing on The World’s 50 Best list for North American bars in 2023 and 2024. Gómez knows what new spots are worth trying and which underground classics still warrant a trip, so we hit him up for where to go when touring TJ.
Sánchez says to start in Zona Centro (downtown) or Zona Río, the city’s main hubs for food, shopping, and entertainment. The Cacho neighborhood is the go-to spot for trendy cafés and bars, while Hipódromo offers a bustling stadium and the massive Casino Caliente. Sports fans should visit between January and May to catch a Xolos soccer match, a Toros baseball game, or a Zonkeys basketball showdown, she adds.
Want the ultimate introduction to the city? Book a walking tour with Nana En Tijuana. Stroll through Avenida Revolución, explore the Pasajes for unique local shopping, and visit the history museum in the Antiguo Palacio Municipal. Tijuana’s Cultural Center is the heart of the city’s arts scene, hosting free exhibits and performances. Looking for something quirky? Check out the The Taco Museum for an interactive food experience.
Tijuana is a foodie’s paradise, starting with tacos. Sánchez’s top picks? Birria Sí for rich, flavorful birria tacos; Mariscos El Mazateño for fresh seafood tacos; and Tacos La Pasadita De La 20 for unbeatable carne asada. Want a sit-down experience? Lion Fish serves up incredible seafood, La Casa Del Mole is a must for traditional Mexican cuisine, and Misión 19 delivers a high-end dining experience.
Gómez digs Tacos El Francés‘ carne asada and adobada tacos and recommends that you “make a reservation at Oryx to try the tasting menu and the signature taco negro”—a tweak on the classic Ensendada-style fish taco. Still seeking more tacos? “You can’t go wrong with Las Tres Salsas, Tacos El Vaquero, Vicky’s Tacos, or Taco-N-Todo,” Gómez points out. For seafood, try the ceviche at Mariscos Raúl.
Of course, it’s not only Mexican fare in TJ. To explore other cuisines, “I’d go to Chan’s Bistro for Chinese food, grab a burger at 80/20, or have a pizza slice at Mr. Wink,” Gómez says.
And, there’s Caesar’s, where its namesake salad was invented just over a century ago. “Order half a salad and some snacks from the tapas menu,” Gómez advises. “Trust me, it’s not a tourist trap.”
When it comes to caffeinated bevs, Gómez is partial to Pichino’s Coffee & Crew, Montenegro Café, and Unity Coffee House.
For boozier concoctions, Gómez often heads across the street from Aruba Day Drink to Minimal, an appropriately sleek cocktail bar doing creative and sciencey things with traditional Mexican ingredients. And more mixed drinks await at Nórtico, a speakeasy behind Oryx. Or drop by Dandy Del Sur for its frozen marg. “Order it with Cascahuín Blanco or Orendain,” Gómez suggests.
If craft beer is more your style, try Farland Aleworks, Madueño Brewing Co., and Cervecería Insurgente.
And many of these spots can slake a thirst for cultura, too. “Lately, the jazz scene has been growing in different bars and coffee shops around the city,” Gómez says. “It’s a fantastic midweek option.”
Sánchez starts her day with coffee—recent favorites include Serenne Café for a chagaccino, Brewja Barra De Café for cold brew, or Container Coffee Roaster Co. for house-roasted beans. For breakfast, Carmelita Molino Y Cocina (and its in-house coffee shop Jacinto) is a must, while Inspiración 9 offers a delicious vegan lunch. Dinner? Keep it casual with Los Muñecos’ tacos de papa. To end the day, explore Tijuana’s nightlife— join a free dance lesson, catch a lucha libre match, or do an impromptu bar crawl through Zona Centro.
Mateo Hoke is a journalist and author. His books include Six by Ten: Stories from Solitary, and Palestine Speaks: Narratives of Life Under Occupation.
Amelia Rodriguez is a writer and journalist and winner of the San Diego Press Club's 2023 Rising Star Award and 2024 Best of Show Award, she’s also covered music, food, arts and culture, fashion, and design for Rolling Stone, Palm Springs Life, and other national and regional publications. After work, you can find her hunting down San Diego’s best pastries and maintaining her five-year Duolingo streak.
The annual event honors middle market companies creating jobs, scaling up, and investing in the region
San Diego is known for its startup culture and innovation economy, but what happens when the company moves beyond its early-stage years? The San Diego Business Impact Awards aim to answer that question, spotlighting the middle market businesses helping drive the region’s economy.
Hosted by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards celebration takes place on Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are expected to attend the networking and cocktail event honoring some of San Diego County’s fastest-growing companies.
Businesses headquartered in San Diego County that have operated for at least two years are encouraged to submit their nomination by Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Companies across industries—from technology and life sciences to tourism and consumer products, as well as pre-revenue startups—are eligible for recognition.
For EDC President and CEO Mark Cafferty, the event is as much about building connections as celebrating success. “We’ve had a longtime partnership with JPMorganChase; their work aligns with our efforts to support underserved communities and drive talent development,” says Cafferty. “And the networking was invaluable last year. I’m still in touch with people I met at last year’s awards.”
EDC is an independently-funded nonprofit that works directly with San Diego companies to help them grow the local economy, make the region as a whole more competitive, and attract and retain top-tier talent with quality jobs. Through EDC, companies can get help starting or expanding their business with support for things like site selection, permit navigation, and regulatory guidance, plus connections to local resources and potential business collaborators.
The San Diego Business Impact Awards began as an idea with one of EDC’s longtime strategic partners, JPMorganChase. The two organizations share a commitment to San Diego and are dedicated to bolstering middle market businesses.
“We’re blessed with a robust innovation economy and startup community,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager for JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Bank and vice chair of the firm’s’ San Diego Market Leadership Team. “But one of the segments of the business community we felt was overlooked was emerging middle market companies—the businesses that are no longer small but not yet large.”
Ryan says supporting those companies is critical as they scale and decide where to invest, hire, and grow.
San Diego’s high cost of living remains one of the region’s biggest business challenges, making talent recruitment and retention increasingly competitive. But local leaders point to the region’s quality of life, climate, and collaborative business community as advantages that continue to attract employers and workers.
“In order to support thriving households, there has to be enough high-quality jobs for people to be able to afford to live here,” Cafferty says. “Once a company grows and excels past that middle market point in their growth cycle, they become much more likely to pay higher wages and compete globally.”
Both Cafferty and Ryan proudly tout the unique collaboration that exists among San Diego County businesses. Bringing together top universities producing high-quality talent, cutting-edge research institutions, a robust military and defense presence, leading ocean science and environmental organizations, and a binational, cross-border identity creates a distinct business ecosystem that defines and strengthens the San Diego region.
Last year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards celebrated nearly 60 honorees from 49 industries, representing a total of 8,232 jobs across eight sectors, including: software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods, professional services, finance, construction and manufacturing, defense, and hospitality and tourism. On average, honoree companies doubled their revenues over the previous year, employed more than 145 San Diegans each, and offered an average annual compensation of $192,415.
Top honorees included defense contractor Innoflight, environmental consulting firm Bancroft Construction Services, life sciences startup Element Biosciences, defense technology contractor GALT Aerospace, organic grocery store chain Jimbo’s, and biopharmaceutical company LENZ Therapeutics. During the event, Innoflight Founder and CEO Jeff Janicik held a fireside chat offering his insights on investing in the community and embracing San Diego culture.
This year, organizers hope to continue highlighting the middle market players driving economic impact across the region. Nominations are now open through June 18 at 4 p.m. Get your tickets to the San Diego Business Impact Awards celebration to enjoy drinks by Snake Oil Cocktail Co., light bites, live music, and networking.
Here's our coast-to-coast guide with over a dozen itineraries that will make you want to book a ticket ahora.
There’s never been a better time to explore our next-door neighbor. It’s now a breeze to hop on a flight out of Tijuana airport, and Mexican airlines have launched many new nonstops, making much of the country more accessible than ever to San Diegans. That’s why we went beyond Baja to cover the country from coast to coast. It’s not a comprehensive guide, but a good jumping-off point to experience the magical parts of the country. Through these pages, take a quick tour of Mexico starting at the jungles and shores on its Caribbean side, then work your way west back home. ¡Vámonos!
Cancún || Oaxaca City || San Miguel de Allende
Mexico City || Guadalajara || Mazatlán || Puerto Vallarta
Los Cabos || Loreto || Ensenada || Rosarito || Valle de Guadalupe || Tijuana
There’s more to this Caribbean paradise than clubs filled with spring breakers—if you know where to stay.
Guide to Mexico – Cancún
“Just play it cool, Letchworth,” my wife says as we exit our airport shuttle. “You belong here as much as anyone else.” I immediately fail this test when a bellhop asks if he can take my heavy suitcase, and on instinct I say, “Oh, no thanks! I can manage.” To his credit, he nods and waits until I’m distracted—by the two glasses of Champagne at check-in—to whisk it off anyway. We’re not at the Interstate Frontage Road Super 8 anymore, Toto.
This is just the first taste of a consistent standard of luxurious attendance at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach (rooms from $347). Kohleun and I pride ourselves on being seasoned travelers, but as our 20s waned, so did our capacity for sleeping on the floor of the Amtrak observation car. On our first trip as a couple, it took only one night sharing a hostel room with six backpackers to realize we could afford to raise our standards a little.
And yet, stepping into our king-size suite, which could hold both my old studio apartments and opens onto a perfect Caribbean horizon, I’m still out of my depth. We’ve gotten the resort’s new premium package, “Ú,” whose amenities are so numerous we keep stumbling across their brochures like a scavenger hunt.
“Complimentary 30-minute WaveRunner ride for two?” I boggle.
“Unlimited access to the Gem Spa!” Kohleun prioritizes.
And just as I tear into the minibar’s unlimited supply of peanut-butter crackers, she waves the room service menu at me and says, “Let’s think bigger.”
It’s easy to imagine how differently this trip might’ve gone back when we were living on barista and adjunct-professor money and still had iron livers. We passed by that scene on our way in: the all-night Señor Frog and Friends party district. Since the drinking age in Mexico is 18, Cancún’s Hotel Zone is notorious for attracting American coeds looking for a spring break they’ll never remember.
But we’re here to give Cancún a second look, from the perspective of someone who can appreciate finer things at a more deliberate pace. And the Grand Fiesta Americana doesn’t disappoint: Its philosophy of service is to anticipate their guests’ every need.
Overhearing us mention wanting to go into town, a lobby rep offers a primer on local public transit. At Le Basilic restaurant, the servers not only place our napkins in our lap but replace them whenever we leave the table. In the “Grand Club” VIP beach section, an attendant bounds up with fresh towels whenever we emerge from the sea. There’s even somebody waiting by the back doors to wash the sand from our feet. Middle-class guilt flaring, it’s all we can do to make it rain with tips.
They must be on top of Quintana Roo’s reported seaweed problem, too, as both the hotel’s private beach and the closest public one are equally pristine. I embark on the Gem Spa’s Ten-Step Hydrotherapy Program with an open mind (and a stomach full of carbs, which step one, The Steam Room, expressly warns against). Kohleun loves step three, The Clay Room. I’m skeptical of step six, The Ice Room (aka “rub a snowball on yourself”), but the uninterrupted device-free time to be present, the hourlong massage add-on, and the concluding nap under a warm blanket turn my biological clock back a year.
Granted, you don’t have to leave the country (or even the county) to vacation like royalty. So what does Cancún have for the over-30 crowd that you can’t see anywhere else? The Mayan cities of Chichen Itza and Tulum are 138 and 84 miles away, respectively, but since we can’t spare a day trip on our brief stay, we get our archaeology fix at the nearby Museo Maya and at El Rey, a village with surviving temple walls, lintels, and colonnades from the sixth century, now home to an iguana kingdom.
What better time to indulge in tacos, tequila, music, and Mexican culture?
What better time than Cinco de Mayo to indulge in tacos, tequila, music and Mexican culture? From a traditional fiesta in Old Town to family runs at Lake Poway, there is no shortage of ways to spend the day—or the entire weekend. Join in on the most colorful, most delicious, and most memorable ways to celebrate Mexican heritage.
Where: Old Town
When: May 4-6
Every year, thousands of visitors flock to Old Town for the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration in San Diego. Bring your friends and family to this free weekend-long fiesta featuring live music, lucha libre wrestling, and lowrider car shows. Keep an eye out for food and drink specials at local restaurants. Danz Arts will provide Mexican and Spanish dance performances. Enjoy the sounds of traditional mariachi, salsa, and flamenco music as you sip margaritas and indulge in endless bites.
Where: Lake Poway Trail
When: May 4
Looking to earn those tacos and burritos? Look no further than the 5K and 10K Cinco de Mayo Trail Run on the Lake Poway Trail. Compete or bring the whole family just to enjoy a beautiful morning in nature. Additionally, The Kathy Crafts Young Memorial Kids Race is a great fit for kids ages 7 and under who want to burn off some excess energy. Ticket prices range from $10-$40. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. All participants will receive a race shirt and virtual swag.
Where: Grape Street Pier
When: May 5
Party aboard the Hornblower Inspiration yacht’s three levels of music from hip-hop to Latin hits. DJ Esco will spin the tunes, so grab your pals and head over to the harbor. Ticket prices range from $45-$70. Event is from 4-8 p.m.
Where: Coronado Community Center
When: May 5
Support this local nonprofit organization while you dine, dance and participate in silent and live auctions. FOCUS Cinco de Mayo Fiesta takes place at the Coronado Community Center from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and include appetizers and a buffet dinner as well as dancing. Proceeds go toward Friends of Children United Society (FOCUS), a nonprofit that supports battered, abused homeless, disadvantaged, and foster children in San Diego County. Tickets are $100 per person.
Where to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo 2019 in San Diego
Photo: Fiesta Old Town
Scripps study shows that some patients may be able to taper their dose and maintain results
While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.
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