June 6, 2023

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Today’s Forecast

🥑 It’s easy eating green

Donna Jean is known for its 100% vegan and vegetarian dishes. | Photo via @donnajeanofficial

Eating meat-free hasn’t always been easy, but in San Diego County, it’s a piece of (vegan) cake.

Our local food scene is as vibrant as ever, so it’s no surprise there are a slew of local spots serving up fresh, vegetarian bites across town. From vegetarian brunch dishes to scrumptious vegan tacos, here are 30 restaurants serving meat-free fare in the San Diego area.

SD The Plot Restaurant Vegetarian Guide — The Plot is a 100% plant-based, no-waste restaurant in Oceanside.
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Photo via @israelpalacio + @theplotrestaurant

🌱 100% vegetarian/vegan eats

Donna Jean, 2949 Fifth Ave. | “Seasonal, sustainable, plant-based, rustic, and comforting.” Come for weekend brunch (we see you, Breakfast in Bread) or opt for dinner (give us all the pizza, please).

The Plot, 1733 S. Coast Highway | This plant-based, no-waste Oceanside restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, and even offers a mini menu just for kids.

Grains Cafe, 2201 Adams Ave. | This cute cafe in University Heights has a standout menu that includes Kale Tempura, Tofu Nuggets, and tofu Pad Thai and Chow Mein.

SD Phatties Vegetarian Guide — The Veggie Birria at Phatties is unforgettable.
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Photo via @phattiesfoodinc

🌮 Mexican Food

Phatties Vegan Mexican Restaurant, 242 W. Mission Ave., Ste. D | This Escondido gem specializes in plant-based Mexican food — from Taquitos de Papa and tamales, to its California Burrito with adobo soy meat and Vegan Birria with mushrooms.

Tacotarian, 4332 30th St. | It’s all about the tacos at this Mexican eatery. Try the Carne Asada and Al Pastor variations made with seitan, or the Barbacoa made with chili-braised jackfruit.

SD Civico 1845 Vegetarian Guide — Start with the Chips di Pasta at Civico 1845.
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Photo via @jtran_photos + Civico 1845

🍸 Date night

Civico 1845, 1845 India St. | This Little Italy restaurant is billed as the first in the US to offer a full vegan Italian menu. Find classics like Ragu Di Funghi and Vegan Lasagna.

Mothership, 2310 30th Ave. | Make contact with the out-of-this-world menu, which includes incredible cocktails and some vegetarian “Earth Foods” like Potato (scallion latke) and Tofu (banana leaf + Otak tofu).

23 more recs this way

Asked

Have you eaten at a local vegan or vegetarian restaurant recently?

A. Yes
B. No, but I have considered it
C. No

Spill the tea

Events

Tuesday, June 6

San Diego Padres vs. Seattle Mariners | Tuesday, June 6 | 6:40 p.m. | Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego | $23-$95 | Welcome to Slam Diego, Seattle.
Greg Puciato | Tuesday, June 6 | 7 p.m. | House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego | $32.50 | Rock out with this metalcore musician.
ALT 949 Presents: lovelytheband | Tuesday, June 6 | 7:30 p.m. | The Observatory North Park, 2891 University Ave., San Diego | $32.50 | The indie pop-rock band takes the stage.
Shelby Stanger: “Will to Wild” | Tuesday, June 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla | Free | The author discusses and signs her new book.

Wednesday, June 7

2023 San Diego County Fair | Through Tuesday, July 4 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar | It’s opening day of the San Diego County Fair, and this year’s great outdoors-inspired theme is “Get Out There!”
Quintessa x Serẽa Wine Dinner | Wednesday, June 7 | 5-9 p.m. | Serẽa, 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado | $175 | The upscale restaurant at Hotel del Coronado teams up with Quintessa Winery for this 5-course, family-style dinner and wine pairing.
Mighty Cool Pinot | Wednesday, June 7 | 6-8 p.m. | JRDN Restaurant - TOWER23 Hotel, 723 Felspar St., San Diego | $65 | Taste your way through 50+ California-grown pinot noirs expertly paired with food.
Al Di Meola | Wednesday, June 7 | 7 p.m. | The Magnolia, 210 E. Main St., El Cajon | $35-$65 | The jazz fusion guitarist who began his career as part of Return to Forever shows off his solo chops.
“The Wedding Singer” | Through Friday, June 23 | 8 p.m. | Moonlight Amphitheatre, 1200 Vale Terrace Dr., Vista | $14-$58 | A musical based on the hit Adam Sandler movie all about the love that blossoms between Robbie and Julia in the wedding music scene of the 1980s.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

The San Diego Registrar of Voters has sent ~400,000 postcards to registered voters in District 4 outlining the Special Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 15. If you live in communities like Balboa Park, City Heights, La Mesa, College Area, Mission Valley, North Park, and more — check your mailbox.

Announced

San Diego International Airport announced its first round of restaurants flying into the New T1 in 2025 and 2028. The new terminal’s local lineup will include Puesto, Parakeet Café, Kettner Exchange, Better Buzz Coffee Roasters, Mostra Coffee, and Cutwater Bar and Restaurant — and more concessionaires are en route.

Development

SANDAG’s planning project to study 11 at-grade crossings near downtown San Diego for separation or elimination is one of 63 major projects receiving funding from the federal government’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. The study will be awarded up to $1,096,800 — and SANDAG will provide a 20% non-federal match.

Traffic

Mission Trails Regional Park says Father Junipero Serra Trail is closed to vehicles through Friday, June 30, while the East County Water Authority works on the Regional Residuals pipeline. Pedestrians can still use the road to access the park and other trails.

Edu

TheNat’s research collections yielded a turtle-y cool find: a piece of fossilized sea turtle shell found in North County 35+ years ago that fills a 40-million-year gap in history when sea turtles were thought to have died out. In this new paper, paleontology researchers suggest sea turtles may have been there all along.

Outdoors

We know you love our local hiking trails — and with good reason. A new list from LawnStarter ranks SD the No. 6 best hiking city in the US based on factors like trail access (San Diego scored No. 12 here), safety, and climate (No. 3, no biggie). (LawnStarter)

Sports

San Diego’s new MLS team is looking for a name “that clearly states who we are, and weaves all 18 cities in San Diego together.” Based on the team’s outreach, some locals want simplicity — like San Diego FC — while others want more pizzazz. What’s your idea?

Watch

AMC Theatres is hosting its Summer Movie Camp, offering $3-$5 tickets on select family films on certain Wednesdays and Saturdays through late August. Participating San Diego County locations include AMC Fashion Valley 18, AMC Mission Valley 20, AMC Plaza Bonita 14, AMC Chula Vista 10, and AMC UTC 14.

Eat

Little Italy Food Hall is in the running to be named the top food hall in the US in 2023 by USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice. You can vote once daily through 9 a.m. Monday, July 3, for the local hub anchored by Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien’s tasty concepts. (USA Today 10Best)

Active

First responders will compete in 35+ sports — from pickleball to golf — across ~30 venues in San Diego this Saturday, June 10-Saturday, June 17, in the 56th annual US Police & Fire Championships. There’s still time to register or volunteer.

Seasonal

The Harney Street Market in Old Town has rolled out its summer hours — open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. every weekend through September. Pro tips: get there early to find parking near Congress Street, shop local, and then hit Old Town Urban Market for lunch, and Societe Brewing for a craft beer.

Travel

It’s time to plan that last summer hurrah for Labor Day weekend. May we suggest a coastal getaway to the Outer Banks? Or maybe your dream destination is a rustic treehouse in the Adirondack Mountains. Wanna splurge? This modern farmhouse in Napa Valley is sure to be unforgettable.*

Arts

🏠 Home is where the art is

The Hubbell Home is an architectural and artistic gem tucked in east San Diego County’s mountains. | Photo via Laurel Costa + Ilan-Lael Foundation

With its stunning structures, winding paths, gardens, and mosaic masterpieces, architect James Hubbell’s home and art studios in Santa Ysabel near Julian are awe-inspiring.

But did you know you can visit the historically designated compound in the spring and fall each year?

Hubbell’s Ilan-Lael Foundation offers annual open house tours where visitors can wander through the living spaces the artist designed for his family against the backdrop of nature.

A few dates remain for this season — Monday, June 12, Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17 — with tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The docent-led tours last about two hours. Tickets start at $220 for two people, with proceeds supporting the Ilan-Lael Foundation’s ongoing mission to preserve the property.

If you can’t make it this month, the tours will return in the fall, though those dates have not been announced. You can check out the property virtually, too.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Monica

From the editor

Sure, “June Gloom” is in full effect, but little spurts of sunshine broke through last weekend and it was the perfect time to enjoy lunch outside.

My family and I headed to Angry Pete’s Pizza on the dining deck at Santee Lakes. The Detroit-style pizza was tasty (those crispy, caramelized cheese edges were *chef’s kiss*) and the lake views were pretty as always.

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