Looking for the next new restaurant hitting SD’s food scene? Check out these buzzy places to eat and drink in San Diego — plus, some spots coming soon. Keep tabs on this list to stay ahead of the cuisine curve. And don’t forget to bookmark it.
June
Tacos El Franc, 3030 Plaza Bonita Rd., Space 1108, National City | Mexican taqueria | We’re tearing up. Tijuana’s iconic, Michelin Guide-recognized Tacos El Franc debuted its first US location at Westfield Plaza Bonita on June 11, 2025. The eatery featured on Netflix’s “Taco Chronicles” specializes in savory street tacos — we can taste those crispy adobada tacos fresh off the split now. Tacos El Franc owner Roberto Kelly confirmed to SDtoday that he’s opening a second US location in July 2025 in downtown San Diego (check out the pic at the bottom of this story), so taco ‘bout great news.
Jan’s Health Bar, 3722 Paseo Pl., Ste. 1440, Del Mar | Fresh, healthy eats | The Orange County-based fast-casual eatery debuted its first San Diego County location at One Paseo. The menu features health-forward salads, sandwiches, wraps, and signature drinks like the Peanut Butter Banana Date Smoothie.
Jan’s Health Bar is now open at One Paseo — the brand is known for their health-forward dishes and power smoothies.
Photo via Jan’s Health Bar
Bianchi Pizza & Pasta, 998 W. Mission Bay Dr. | Italian | Reservations | Tucked inside the Bahia Resort Hotel in Mission Bay, this restaurant specializes in Neapolitan-inspired cuisine + wood-fired pizza created by Chef Ignazio Tagliavia.
Destiny Coast, 8604 La Jolla Shores Dr. | Brunch with an ocean view? Say less. This gorgeous La Jolla spot boasts brunch, lunch, and stunning views daily, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. There’s more on the horizon — a Sunset Menu will debut on Wednesday, Aug. 6 that will be available Wednesday-Sunday, 3:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Lana, 437 S. Coast Hwy. 101 | Reservations | This upscale California comfort food restaurant in Solana Beach is open for dinner Wednesday-Sunday. It also offers a weekend brunch menu that includes wood-fired morning harvest flatbread and tres leches brioche French toast.
Bosforo, 3201 Adams Ave. | Turkish | Reservations | The menu for this modern Turkish restaurant + bar in Normal Heights includes cold and hot appetizers, wood-fired pizzas, salads, kebabs, and desserts.
Vulture, 4608 Park Blvd. | Vegan fine dining | Reservations | This “reimagined continental-style fine dining” concept hails from the team behind SD’s buzzy hot spots Kindred and Mothership. The dinner menu focuses on elevated vegan dishes, handcrafted cocktails, and wine.
Hankering for a bagel? Roll through this new Spill the Beans in OB, the local brand’s first-ever drive-thru location.
Photo via Spill the Beans
Spill the Beans, 4805 Newport Ave. | Coffee + bagels | This OB spot is the homegrown chain’s fifth SD location and features a walk-up window, outdoor seating, and its first-ever drive-thru. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again — for a delicious breakfast experience, order the Basic Sitch and a bagel of your choice with cream cheese.
Madeleine, 1776 National Ave. | French | This new concept from the team behind Café Madeleine in South Park and North Park will open in Barrio Logan on Wednesday, June 25. The menu will feature French and Latin-inspired offerings like the serrano ham benedict, crepa con rajas, and tortillas españolas.
Did we miss a restaurant that opened in June? Let us know.
Witherby at The Beau is giving 1886 vibes.
Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
May 2025
Witherby, 927 Sixth Ave. | Contemporary American | Reservations | This gorgeous cocktail bar and restaurant (once known as The Bar at The Beau) is housed inside the Gaslamp Quarter’s renovated Beau Hotel — a boutique hotel inside a brick building that dates back to 1886. The restaurant’s name is a nod to the building’s first tenant, Henry Witherby. Part of the building served as a speakeasy during Prohibition, so the cocktail menu features a few nods to its colorful past. Pro tip: don’t miss Chef Robin James’ duck pot pie.
Nobu del Coronado is the latest addition to The Del’s $550 million revitalization.
Photo via Nobu del Coronado
Nobu del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave., Hotel del Coronado | Sushi | Reservations | The Del debuted this beautiful Japanese restaurant as part of the final stretch of the iconic hotel’s multi-year, $550 million revitalization. Founded by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro, this is SD’s latest celebrity restaurant.
Treehouse, 9945 Pacific Heights Blvd. | Coffee + lunch | This daytime dining collective in Sorrento Valley offers coffee and lunch options, from sandwiches and salads to burgers and bowls for dine-in or to-go. It’s open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
New in the house — Slice House by Tony Gemignani is now open in SD’s Little Italy neighborhood.
Photo via @slicehousesd
Slice House by Tony Gemignani, 2100 Kettner Blvd. | Pizza | Also joining SD’s celebrity restaurants scene, this Little Italy pizza spot hails from restaurateur, author, reality TV personality, and World Pizza Cup Champion Tony Gemignani. The menu offers New York, Detroit, Sicilian, and grandma-style pies.
Roppongi Asian Bistro is back, this time in Imperial Beach.
Photo via Roppongi
Roppongi Asian Bistro, 800 Seacoast Dr. | Asian fusion + sushi | Reservations | This bistro debuted alongside a new Sammy’s Woodfire Pizza in the remodeled spaces of Pier South Resort in Imperial Beach. Roppongi once had a location in La Jolla from 1998 to 2015, so locals might recognize the menu’s fresh takes on dishes like the crab stack, onion rings, and Mongolian shrimp.
Sonny’s Pizza & Fine Foods, 1728 Madison Ave. | Pizza | Hailing from the team behind Madison on Park and the brunch hot spot Madi, this Brooklyn-inspired restaurant in University Heights serves 12-inch pizzas cooked at 600°. The space rocks, too — it pays homage to the rise of the 1980s punk rock scene.
Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center is home to 12 dining concepts.
Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
Old Hickory Steakhouse, Trēō Kitchen + Bar, Growlers Sports Bar & Taproom, and more restaurants at Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center | Various cuisines | After decades of planning, the $1.3 billion resort debuted along the Chula Vista Bayfront with 1,600 guestrooms, a 4.25-acre waterpark, and 12 dining concepts spanning everything from Japanese food to Mexican cuisine.
Tabac+, 2215 Kettner Blvd. | Mediterranean | Reservations | This Little Italy restaurant specializes in Turkish-Italian fusion cuisine, plus creative mocktails, Turkish coffee, and hookah.
Did we miss a restaurant that opened in May? Let us know.
Inside 6th & G Breakfast Co., a new brunch spot in East Village.
Photo via 6th & G Breakfast Co.
April 2025
6th & G Breakfast Co., 695 Sixth Ave. | Brunch | This East Village restaurant — which replaced Fig Tree Cafe — features a lively lineup of morning meals like the Blueberry, Maple Bacon + S’mores Waffle Pops, Shrimp Katsu Benedict, and Grilled Birria Sandwich. Don’t skip the over-the-top Smoke Bubble cocktails.
Carbonaro’s, 5120 College Ave., Ste. 125 | Pasta | The menu at this fast-casual eatery near SDSU focuses on scratch-made pasta, including spaghetti, rigatoni, fusilli, and gnocchi topped with sauces like pomodoro, bolognese, alfredo, and pesto.
Piedra Santa in Little Italy — happy hour, anyone?
Photo via Piedra Santa
Piedra Santa, 555 W. Ash St. | Steakhouse | Reservations | This Argentinian steakhouse in Little Italy specializes in premium dry-aged steaks grilled over an open flame, Argentine wines, and craft cocktails. Don’t miss the deals on bites + drinks during happy hour Sunday-Thursday, 4-6 p.m.
An’s Electronics Repair, 1861 Bacon Street | Gelato | The latest extension of An’s Gelato keeps in theme with the beloved brand’s affinity for turning former ho-hum storefronts into buzzy, small-batch gelato shops. The quirky menu at the new OB location features flavors like No Signal inspired by sticky toffee pudding, the dairy-free coconut Bluetooth, and Power Supply made with milk-brew coffee from OB Beans Coffee Roasters.
Did we miss a restaurant that opened in April? Let us know.
Chef Phillip Esteban’s latest venture is Wildflour at Liberty Station.
Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
March 2025
Wildflour Delicatessen, 2690 Historic Decatur Rd., Ste. B | Deli and bakery | Renowned local Chef Phillip Esteban debuted his latest project in Barracks 19 at Liberty Station just before spring. It’s a deli, bakery, coffee shop + cocktail bar all wrapped into one, with a blend of Scandinavian, New York City, and SoCal influences. Try the Buttermilk Panna Cotta with miso caramel, passion fruit, and togarashi crumble, and ask about the natural wines.
Milk and Cookies, 445 Tenth Ave. | Cookies | Grab a sweet treat at this East Village shop near Petco Park — the menu specializes in warm cookies, homemade ice cream, and milk in fun flavors like banana, root beer, and orange cream.
Bock, 1521 30th St. | Beer hall + pub | This new neighborhood watering hole + restaurant features 30+ beers on tap and German-inspired dishes with a Cali twist. Bock is part of South Park Commons, a buzzy hub in South Park that’s also home to new locations of Stella Jean’s Ice Cream shop and Pop Pie Co.
Starlite, 3175 India St. | Reservations | Icons live forever. After a revamp by CH Projects, Starlite reopened in March 2025 — with original GM Jack Reynolds, no less — and has been shining bright ever since.
The Remedy Lounge, 9700 N. Torrey Pines Rd. | Located inside the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, this “apothecary-inspired elixir bar” features eight curated beverages meant to rejuvenate mind and body. The drinks are crafted with herbs, florals, and spices, and the menu also features food pairings.
Did we miss a restaurant that opened in March? Let us know.
February 2025
Leu Leu, 466 N. Coast Hwy. 101, Encinitas | Global-inspired cuisine | Reservations | “Top Chef” alum and Imperial Beach native Claudette Zepeda opened this chic, 60-seat restaurant with “girl dinner” vibes as her latest venture into the local celebrity restaurant scene.
Did we miss a restaurant that opened in February? Let us know.
Coming Soon
Daffodil Cafe, 4747 Executive Dr., La Jolla | Projected opening: Summer 2025 | This cafe will debut at La Jolla Commons in the UTC area with “nourishing food and beverages.”
PopUp Bagels, Locations TBD | Bagels | Projected opening: Late 2025 | NYC’s cult favorite bagel shop will roll into SoCal later this year, including San Diego County, although exact locations and further details have not yet been released. The brand is known for its bagels that don’t come with schmear — you order the cream cheese on the side and rip + dip your bagel.
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