Taste of College Area Returns for Year Two With Trolley Rides Between Stops
The College Area Business District is bringing back their Taste event for a second year, and they’ve kept the one element that made last year’s version work so well: complimentary trolley rides between all the stops.
The self-guided tasting tour runs from El Cajon Boulevard and 54th Street all the way to 73rd Street and the SDSU campus, covering enough ground that walking the whole thing would be a commitment. The trolley solves that problem and adds a bit of novelty to the experience.
What’s on the Route
The participating spots include Scrimshaw Coffee, SciEats, The Luau, The Mesa Bar & Grill, and several other lesser-known places that don’t always get the attention they deserve. This year’s lineup features several new College Area eateries that weren’t part of last year’s event, so even if you went in 2024, there’s fresh content to explore.
The food spans globally inspired dishes, sweet treats, and artisan coffee—enough variety that picky eaters in your group should find something that works.
The College Area doesn’t get as much play as neighborhoods closer to the coast, so events like this are a good excuse to actually spend time there and see what’s developed over the past few years.
VIP Option for 21+
General admission tickets are $40 in advance or $45 day-of, which gets you access to all the tastings and the trolley service. For anyone 21 and over, VIP tickets run $50 and include discounted drinks at select “oasis” bars and pubs along the route, plus a commemorative shot glass while supplies last.
It’s not a massive upgrade, but if you’re planning to drink anyway, the discounts could make it worth the extra ten bucks.
There are also some solid early bird discounts available: 20% off with code EARLY20 through July, or 10% off with EARLY10 through August. Groups of 10 or more automatically get 5% off, and that discount stacks with the promo codes if you’re organizing something larger.
Supporting the Neighborhood
Jim Schneider, Executive Director of the College Area Business District, emphasized that this event is about celebrating the people and businesses that make the area what it is. It’s not just a food crawl—it’s designed to spotlight establishments that might not be on everyone’s radar yet and showcase the diversity of what the College Area has built up over time.
See you there!
The trolley element keeps this event from turning into a logistical headache, and the mix of established spots with new additions makes it worth checking out even if you went last year.
📆 Sunday, September 28, 11 AM–3 PM
🎟️ Purchase tickets here
ℹ️ More info here
See you there, San Diego!
