The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of October 12, 2026

The Craving is ThereSanDiego's weekly guide to what's worth eating and drinking in San Diego right now. Every Tuesday, we surface new restaurant openings, standout happy hours, limited-time menu specials, and upcoming food events across the city - so you know what's happening before everyone else does.

University Heights Summer Mixer at Park & Rec

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Come Hang Out at the University Heights Summer Mixer

Park & Rec

University Heights is getting together for its annual Summer Mixer, and honestly, there’s no better excuse to trade the couch for a night out with...

Corkfire restaurant at Temecula Creek Inn

Get a Taste of Wine Country’s New Live-Fire Menu at Temecula Creek Inn

Temecula Creek Inn just opened a new chapter in wine country dining, and it’s the kind of update that makes you want to clear your...

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Enjoy 100 Sakes at the 10th Annual San Diego Sake Festival

Julep Venue

Experience the San Diego Sake Festival with more than 100 top sakes, food options, and knowledgeable brewers to guide your tasting.

Upcoming

Celebrate Día de los Muertos With Unlimited Tacos at SDMA’s Taco Party

San Diego Museum of Art

The San Diego Museum of Art is throwing a taco party in its sculpture garden, and honestly, it’s one of the most fun things on...

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Hunt for Rare Finds at the Inaugural Frontwave Arena Collectibles Expo

If you’re a collector of pretty much anything – sports cards, Pokémon, TCG, memorabilia – this is a big one. Frontwave Arena is hosting the...

Meet Wild Tide, the Hard Ginger Beer Making Waves in San Diego

If you’ve been reaching for hard seltzers out of habit but wishing they tasted like something, Wild Tide might be exactly what you’ve been looking...

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Celebrate Chula Vista’s Lemon Heritage at the 29th Annual Lemon Festival

Downtown Chula Vista
Third Avenue Village

Downtown Chula Vista has a fun one coming up. The 29th Annual Lemon Festival takes over Third Avenue for a full day of lemon-inspired food...

Spend Your Last Weeks of Summer at Andaz San Diego

From rooftop wellness to surprise comedy and a taste of the Wild West, Andaz San Diego is closing out summer with a stacked lineup, and...

Get Outside With Nature Collective’s Free August Events at San Elijo Lagoon

Nature Collective is making it really easy to spend August outdoors, and we’re here for it. They’ve lined up four free events plus a documentary...

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Taste Your Way Through Logan Heights at the Taste of Imperial Avenue

Logan Heights Community Development Corporation, alongside the Greater Logan Heights Small Business Advisory Group, is inviting the community out for the fifth annual Taste of...

Fill Your Basket at the Chula Vista Farmers’ Market

Visit the Chula Vista Farmers’ Market for a delightful Sunday filled with local food, flowers, and artisan crafts from over 100 vendors.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa Dog Days of Summer

Take Your Pup to Dinner and a Movie at Omni La Costa This August

Bring your dog to Omni La Costa Dog Days of Summer. Enjoy themed events and outdoor movie nights for a pawsitively great time.

Rooftop crowd at Margaritaville's Day of Service celebration

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Give Back and Get Tropical at Margaritaville’s Day of Service

Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is turning good vibes into a great cause with its annual Day of Service, a celebration honoring the legacy...

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Grab Your Putter and Bar-Hop Through North Park at Putt-Oberfest 2026

North Park Mini Park

Mini golf and bar hopping in one event? North Park really did that. Putt-Oberfest is back, and it’s exactly as fun as it sounds –...

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Discover Original Art From 15+ Women Artists at Guest List Volume 001

Guest List Volume 001 is turning Good Night John Boy into a contemporary gallery for one night only, showcasing original work from 15+ women artists...

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Celebrate 40 Years of Little Shop of Horrors With Ellen Greene at Balboa Theatre

Balboa Theatre

Little Shop of Horrors is turning 40, and Balboa Theatre is celebrating the only way that makes sense: with a screening hosted by the woman...

Pull Up to Gillie’s Auto Lounge for Cars, Coffee, and Good Company

Join the fun at Gillie's Auto Lounge events this summer! Experience the Cars & Coffee series for car enthusiasts in San Diego.

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Catch George Thorogood’s Baddest Show on Earth at Humphreys

Humphreys Concerts by the bay

Discover the legacy of George Thorogood & The Destroyers as they tour with classic anthems and electrifying live performances.

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Spend a Bayfront Sunday With the Gipsy Kings at The Rady Shell

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Get ready for an amazing night at the Gipsy Kings Rady Shell Concert and enjoy timeless hits that resonate with everyone.

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Spend the Day in Hillcrest at San Diego’s Biggest Free Street Festival

Hillcrest Sign

Celebrate San Diego's LGBTQ+ community at Hillcrest CityFest, a memorable summer event filled with music, food, and joy.

Tedeschi Trucks Band performing live on stage

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Come Feel the Soul at Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Rady Shell Show

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Tedeschi Trucks Band is bringing its Future Soul 2026 Tour to The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, with special guest Lukas Nelson along for the...

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Ride, Run, or Walk for Cancer Research at the Curebound Cancer Challenge

San Diego comes together for a lot of great events, but this one carries a different kind of weight. The Curebound Cancer Challenge – formerly...

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Crack Into Fresh Maine Lobster Trackside at Del Mar’s Inaugural Turf & Surf Festival

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Lobster at the racetrack? Yes, that’s actually happening. The Turf & Surf Festival is coming to the Seaside Cabana at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, and...

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Take the Leap at San Diego’s 35th Annual Scripps Pier Jump

There are bucket list items, and then there’s jumping off Scripps Pier. The 35th Annual SDJG Pier Jump is one of San Diego’s most unique...

Toast 40 Years of Busalacchi at The Feast

October 11, 2026

5:00 pm

Little Italy

The Busalacchi family is turning 40, and they’re celebrating the way any Italian family would: with a massive dinner in the middle of the street....

Little Italy

Enjoy Endless Coffee at the SD Coffee Festival on Broadway Pier

October 10, 2026

9:30 am

Broadway Pier

Explore the best coffee at the San Diego Coffee Festival. Sample brews from renowned roasters at Broadway Pier this fall.

San Diego

Take Oktoberfest Out on the Water With the Mission Bay Party Cruise

October 9, 2026

8:00 pm

Bahia Resort Hotel

Lederhosen is optional. A good attitude is not. The San Diego Oktoberfest Party Cruise is back for its fourth year, boarding the three-level William D....

San Diego

Jack Johnson performing live on the Jack Johnson SURFILMUSIC Tour

Get Your Tickets to Jack Johnson’s Chula Vista Show

October 9, 2026

7:30 pm

North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Jack Johnson is hitting the road again with his SURFILMUSIC Tour, and Chula Vista is one of the stops. With more than 25 million albums...

Chula Vista

Dive Into 29 Underwater Films Over Two Nights in San Diego

October 9, 2026

7:00 pm

Qualcomm Hall

Celebrate marine adventure with the San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition, presenting unique films from reefs and open waters around the globe.

San Diego