Oceanside’s Swell Plates Series Returns With Creative Dishes and Harbor-Fresh Ingredients

Oceanside’s culinary scene is having a moment, and the second annual Swell Plates Series gives us a solid reason to explore it.

This month-long celebration brings together some of the city’s most notable restaurants – including Michelin-starred Valle, Bib Gourmand Dija Mara, and over a dozen other beloved spots – for a showcase of locally sourced, chef-crafted dishes.

How It Works

Participating restaurants create a special “swell plate” that captures Oceanside’s coastal spirit through ingredients like harbor-fresh fish, produce from South Morro Hills farms, and handcrafted local spirits. Each dish gets marked with the Swell Plates logo on menus, making them easy to spot.

This year’s lineup includes more than 18 restaurants, from Michelin Guide-recommended spots like 24 Suns to neighborhood favorites like Odie’s Pizza Co. and Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen. The Privateer and Frankie’s are also mixing up special Swell cocktails.

Dishes Worth Trying

Some standout plates lean into collaboration and creativity. The Plot and Jitters Cafe teamed up on a zero-waste Banana Peel Torta that reimagines coffee grounds and banana peels into barbecue sauce and vegan “carnitas.”

Matsu is serving Sheepshead Tartare made with locally caught fish from harbor fishermen, dry-aged using the ike jime technique, and paired with raspberry ponzu.

Odie’s Pizza Co. combines Craft Coast’s award-winning birria with their signature sourdough crust. At Piper, Chef Marvin Maldonado’s Braised Lamb – inspired by his childhood barbacoa – comes served on ceramic plates handcrafted by local artist Lydia Kardos.

New Food Tours and Passport Perks

This year introduces Swell Plates Food Tours, running Saturdays and Sundays throughout the series. Each tour hits four tasting stops with chef introductions and local history insights from hosts.

Tickets are $99 per person and include a Swell Plate at each location. For those exploring on their own, grab a Swell Plates passport at the California Welcome Center or any participating restaurant.

Collect three or more stamps for a chance to win a $50 restaurant gift card. Tagging photos with @VisitOceanside also enters us into a drawing at the end of the series.