Ready to know more about San Diego?

Subscribe

Inside Le Coq’s Revival with Brian Malarkey and Chris Puffer

We sit down with San Diego’s longtime restaurant power duo to unpack their two-decade partnership and their latest La Jolla project

On this episode of Happy Half Hour, Troy Johnson catches up with chef Brian Malarkey and restaurateur Chris Puffer to explore the story behind their newest venture inside the iconic former Herringbone space, now reborn as Le Coq. The trio rewinds through the early days at Ocean Air, the explosive rise of Seersucker, and the city-shaping impact of Herb & Wood—while reflecting on the hard work, near-misses, and creative friction that have defined one of San Diego’s rare enduring restaurant partnerships.

By Jackie Bryant

Jackie is San Diego Magazine's and Studios' content strategist. Prior to that, she was its managing editor. Before her SDM career, she was a long-time freelance journalist covering cannabis, food/restaurants, travel, labor, wine, spirits, arts & culture, design, and other topics. Her work has been selected twice for Best American Travel Writing, and she has won a variety of national and local awards for her writing and reporting.

Share this post

LATEST EPISODES

Podcast

Andrew Zimmern Stops By to Talk Future and Myths of Seafood

Listen now

Podcast

Spinning Spanish Wine Into Magic at Finca

Listen now

Podcast

...

Viral TikTok Star Katie Brooks on Hand-Making Gnocchi on a Plane

Listen now

Podcast

...

How Craft Beer Built San Diego’s Food Scene and What’s Brewing Next

Listen now

Podcast

Lana Puts a Fresh Spin on Coastal Dining in San Diego

Listen now

Podcast

...

San Diego Restaurant News, Chefsgiving & Claudette Zepeda Makes Moves

Listen now

Podcast

Crashing The Marine Room’s High Tide Dinners

Listen now

Podcast

...

Restaurateur Sami Ladeki Shares His Unlikely Career Path to Food

Listen now

Podcast

How to Earn a Michelin Star in Only Six Weeks

Listen now

Podcast

...

Inside City Farmers Nursery’s 52-Year Legacy in City Heights

Listen now

Podcast

Chef Carl Schroeder on What's Next After The Market

Listen now

Podcast

...

The Ultimate Burger Draft with Monarch Ocean Pub & Bebemos Tequila

Listen now

Podcast

...

Kindred’s Kory Stetina on His Next Chapter with Dreamboat & Vulture

Listen now

Podcast

...

The Story of San Diego’s Young Rising Star Chef, Aidan Owens

Listen now

Podcast

Eat With Your Hands

Listen now

Podcast

En Fuego Turns 30 & Launches Hidden Cocktail Bar

Listen now

Podcast

...

“Yes, Chef!” Winner Emily Brubaker Talks Cooking for Martha Stewart

Listen now

Podcast

Bebemos Takes Us Inside Cardiff’s Best Brunch Spot

Listen now

Podcast

...

Jason Mraz Is Now a Part-Time Barista (& Co-Owner) for Jitters Coffee Pub

Listen now

Podcast

Inside Veranda, The Del's New Coastal Californian Restaurant

Listen now

Podcast

The Must-Try Dishes at the New Nobu Del Coronado

Listen now

Podcast

The Local Couple Upping San Diego's Taco Game

Listen now

Podcast

The 5 Best Foods at the 2025 San Diego County Fair

Listen now

Podcast

The Best Dollar Oyster Deal In Town

Listen now

Contact Us

1230 Columbia Street, Suite 800,

San Diego, CA