Page 5 – San Diego Magazine

Tastemakers 2025: Solare Ristorante

Denice Grande, Executive Chef “Her focus has been Italian food for 24 years, with a special love of making pasta from scratch,” says Solare owner Randy Smerik of his long-serving chef, Denice Grande, who is helming this Michelin-rated Liberty Station treasure of authentic Italian cuisine. Since Solare’s opening 12 years ago, Grande has cooked under […]

Tastemakers 2025: La Gran Terraza

Marbi Becerra, Chef de Cuisine, La Gran Terraza La Gran Terraza, the University of San Diego’s signature restaurant, has been a campus favorite for over 15 years, offering California cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. This summer, its gastropub, O’Toole’s, opens for evening service for the first time—perfect for sunset bites and drinks. At the helm […]

Tastemakers 2025: Amalfi Cucina Italiana

Giuseppe Annunziata, General ManagerEmiliano Muslija, General ManagerMarcello Avitabile, Executive Pizza ChefJoseph Serra, Pizza Manager At Amalfi Cucina Italiana in San Marcos, dining is more than a meal—it’s a celebration of tradition, passion, and artistry. General managers Giuseppe Annunziata and Emiliano Muslija have cultivated a culture where hospitality feels like family, and every glass of wine […]

Tastemakers 2025: Nomad Donuts

Sarah Carithers, Chef, Nomad Donuts Nomad Donuts offers an eclectic yet approachable selection of donuts and sandwiches served on San Diego’s only Montreal-style bagels. Chef Sarah Carithers combines her nearly 10 years of professional cooking experience with her multicultural upbringing and commitment to using diverse cooking techniques and locally sourced ingredients. The result is a […]

Tastemakers 2025: Sushi Maru

Chef “Maru” Tsuyoshi Maruyama, Owner & Chef, Sushi MARU Stop by Sushi MARU for a 20-course meal of omakase sushi and warm dishes unlike anything else in San Diego. Chef Maru’s menu is filled with traditional yet creative courses that showcase his more than 35 years of experience. With each bite, you’ll taste the passion […]

Tastemakers 2025: Ciccia Osteria

Mario Cassineri, Owner & Chef Chef Mario Cassineri’s Ciccia Osteria offers the best of both worlds: It has the intimate, low-key coziness of your favorite neighborhood restaurant and food so thoughtful and delicious it earned a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction. Ciccia Osteria serves authentic, original Italian dishes you can’t find anywhere else in city. […]

Tastemakers 2025: Roy’s Restaurant

Jacob Sandoval, Assistant General Manager Welcome to Roy’s Restaurant at the Marriott Marquis. The San Diego location of Roy Yamaguchi’s iconic Hawaiian-fusion restaurant offers an intriguing menu of Roy’s classic dishes, signature sushi, and chef creations inspired by local ingredients and the freshest seafood. At the helm, Jacob Sandoval, a Hawaiian native, brings Roy’s Aloha […]

Tastemakers 2025: Arlo

Peter Kennedy, Chef De Cuisine Chef de Cuisine Peter Kennedy mixes culinary innovation with fresh, locally sourced ingredients at Mission Valley’s ARLO. The result? Delicious, made-from-scratch dishes that celebrate San Diego’s vibrant culture and lifestyle. With over 20 years of hospitality experience, chef Kennedy uses every detail to elevate your meal and create a memorable […]

Tastemakers 2025: Cocina 35

Cesar & Paulina Chaidez, Owners If you’re seeking the best chilaquiles in the city, look no further than San Diego’s chilaquiles masters, Cocina 35. Known as the perfect place to celebrate your special occasions with loved ones and friends, this family-owned business began more than 30 years ago in Sinaloa, Mexico. It came to San […]

Tastemakers 2025: Sushi Gaga

Shinnosuke Otsuka, Head Chef Sushi Gaga offers an intimate, relaxing atmosphere that transports guests directly to Ginza, Japan. Every detail—from the sophisticated décor to the exquisite dishware—enhances the authentic Edo-mae sushi experience. Limited to a single seating each evening of just 10 diners, Sushi Gaga lets guests enjoy a leisurely, unhurried 18-course culinary journey where […]

Tastemakers 2025: Menya Ultra

Daiki Endo, Executive Head Chef & Takashi Endo, Executive Sous-Chef, Menya Ultra Since 1994, Menya Ultra has served handcrafted ramen rooted in tradition and precision, starting in Akita, Japan. Known for house-made noodles and MSG-free broth, the restaurant highlights the natural umami of each ingredient. Menya Ultra has earned three Michelin Guide mentions, four first-place […]

Tastemakers 2025: El Sueño

Pietro Busalacchi, Owner Pietro Busalacchi is a San Diego–born restaurateur who blends hospitality instincts honed in his father’s kitchens with design-savvy flair shaped by years in LA, including a stint at TomTom with Lisa Vanderpump. A co-founder of The Vibrant Project, Busalacchi brings narrative, mood, and music into every concept he touches. His trio of […]

Tastemakers 2025: So Saap

Carrie Pongphila, Chef & Owner, So Saap So Saap treats San Diegans to authentic Thai and Lao cuisine with an emphasis on vegan specialty dishes. Owner Carrie Pongphila created vegan and gluten-free options for classics like pad see ew and pad thai. And no trip to a Lao restaurant is complete without a platter of […]

Tastemakers 2025: Rosemarie’s

Nicholas Balsamo, Founder, Executive Chef & Managing Partner, Rosemarie’s Buns & Brews “Turning guests into regulars, and regulars into family—that’s our success story,” says Nicholas Balsamo, founder, executive chef, and managing partner of Rosemarie’s Buns & Brews. The restaurant is named after his Sicilian grandmother who inspired his passion for cooking. What began as a […]

Tastemakers 2025: Michi Michi Bakery

Arely Chavez, Executive pastry chef, Michi Michi, Baking Collective Located in the heart of Bankers Hill, Michi Michi is a community-focused baking collective where creativity rises daily (just like its dough). Built on the idea of collaboration over competition, it offers a space for small businesses to share their craft and connect with new customers. […]

Tastemakers 2025: The Marine Room

Ananda Bareño, Executive Chef Perched at the edge of La Jolla Shores, The Marine Room has been an icon of coastal fine dining since 1941. Renowned for its dramatic oceanfront setting—where waves crash against floor-to-ceiling windows during high tide—The Marine Room offers a dining experience unlike any other. Under Executive Chef Ananda Bareño, the restaurant […]

Tastemakers 2025: Échale

Jon Rhinerson, Owner Jon Rhinerson wants his restaurants to push limits while still feeling accessible to all. At Échale, Rhinerson’s first San Diego venture, he and his team went from food truck to a brick-and-mortar location in Encinitas and can’t wait to share the eatery’s next act in a new space. Serving up small plates […]

Tastemakers 2025: Grant Grill

Mark Kropczynski, Executive Chef, Grant Grill at the US Grant Hotel Nestled in the heart of San Diego, Grant Grill blends tradition with innovation. With over 45 years of expertise, Executive Chef Mark Kropczynski crafts a dining experience rooted in French and European techniques, infused with California’s vibrant flair. Every dish showcases classic methods—rich stocks […]

Tastemakers 2025: Choi’s

Jiwoo Choi, Chef & Owner At just 23 years old, owner and chef Jiwoo Choi opened Choi’s, a Korean-fusion restaurant that reflects both his roots and his surroundings. Having emigrated from Korea with his family in 2007, Choi blends the familiar flavors of his upbringing with the vibrant mix of Asian, Mediterranean, and Hispanic influences […]

Tastemakers 2025: Comedor Nishi

Pancho Ibáñez, Chef, Comedor Nishi Casual eatery Comedor Nishi offers up Mexican-inspired cuisine with nods to Japanese and European flavors. The restaurant makes the most of Chef Pancho Ibáñez’s decades of culinary experience. Originally from Xalapa, in Veracruz, Mexico, Chef Ibañez’s impressive resume includes serving as chef de cusine of Mexico City’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant Pujol. […]

Tastemakers 2025: The Fishery

Mike Reidy, Executive Chef Whether you’re after a causal night of halibut and chips or ready to splurge on a nice bottle of wine with rock crab fettucine, The Fishery prides itself on being a place where all dress codes and palates are welcome, says Executive Chef and Partner Mike Reidy. “There’s a real neighborhood […]