The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of August 17, 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.

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Stand Up for Service: ASAP’s Military Comedy Showcase at Mic Drop

Mic Drop Comedy

San Diego has one of the largest military communities in the country, and the Armed Services Arts Partnership – ASAP for short – is doing...

Siblings, Secrets, and Stepping Back Into the Ring at La Jolla Playhouse

Some of the most complicated relationships in our lives are the ones we were born into. The Monsters, a West Coast premiere coming to La...

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Free Hip Hop Night is Taking Over North City in San Marcos

North City

San Marcos has a street party going on, and you’re invited. North City’s “Dancing in the Street” series is back with a full summer lineup...

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US Police & Fire Championships Return to San Diego for 59th Season

San Diego has always had a deep connection to the men and women who serve in public safety, and every June, that connection gets a...

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Shop Local and Handmade: The San Diego Spring Market is Back

Port Pavilion Broadway Pier

Two days, one waterfront venue, and plenty of reasons to fill a tote bag. The San Diego Spring Market is taking over Port Pavilion at...

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Heritage Fire Brings San Diego’s Best Chefs to Ingram Plaza

Ingram Plaza

There’s something about live-fire cooking that just hits different – the crackle, the smoke, the smell of something incredible coming off the grill. Heritage Fire...

Carté Hotel May Events Lineup Includes Watch Parties, a Pool Party, and Live Music

Carte Hotel May Events Lineup for Your Weekends

From rooftop house music and poolside BBQs to an intimate live music showcase and a Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon finish line party, Carté Hotel is...

Lofty Coffee’s 15th Anniversary Means Free Coffee for Everyone

Some coffee shops are just coffee shops. And then there’s Lofty. The Encinitas-born café that started as a single neighborhood spot in 2011 has spent...

Pacific Beach Nonprofits Launch New Summer Camp for Young Creatives

Pacific Beach has always had a strong creative current running through it, and this summer, two local nonprofits are putting that energy to work for...

Super Girl Surf Pro Takes Over Oceanside Pier for Their 20th Anniversary

Upcoming

The Supergirl Surf Pro is Turning 20 and Oceanside is the Place to Be

Oceanside Pier

One of professional surfing’s most celebrated events returns to Oceanside this summer for its 20th anniversary – and it’s shaping up to be the biggest...

La Jolla Music Society is Closing Out its 57th Season With a Lineup Worth Catching

The final stretch of La Jolla Music Society’s 57th season is here, and it’s going out strong. From free outdoor concerts to jazz phenoms and...

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Explore Encinitas’ Public Art Scene on Foot: Free Walking Tours Debut at Cyclovia

Downtown Encinitas

Encinitas has always had art woven into its streets and sidewalks – murals, mosaics, sculptures, and surf-inspired installations that most people walk past without knowing...

7 Reasons to Head Up to Big Bear This Summer

When the heat starts creeping in across Southern California, Big Bear Lake is always the answer. At over 6,700 feet of elevation, it’s cooler, quieter,...

Enjoy Live Music and Fun at Grand Social this Summer

Fairmont Grand Del Mar is Kicking Off Summer With Live Music Every Weekend

The Grand Social Music Series is back at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, bringing live music to the resort’s outdoor lounge every Friday and Saturday night...

The Gaslamp Just Got a New Rooftop to Love

Perched atop Alma San Diego in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, Leave of Absence is opening for the summer season – and it’s already...

North Park Music Fest at North Park Mini Park

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North Park Music Fest is Back With 30+ Live Acts

North Park Mini Park

North Park has always had one of the best music scenes in San Diego, and once a year it turns the whole neighborhood into one...

A Hidden World Opens in Coronado: The Baby Grand Crown City is Here

If you know CH Projects‘ work – Born & Raised, Ironside, Polite Provisions, The Lafayette Hotel & Club – you already understand that they don’t...

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What Does “Craft Tequila” Actually Mean? San Diego is About to Find Out

San Diego gets a front-row seat to one of the more interesting conversations happening in the spirits world right now – and yes, there’s tequila...

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Dinner by the Sea: Gather Returns to Del Mar Village

Monarch Ocean Pub

Gather – Del Mar’s seaside pop-up dinner series – is making its return, and it’s kicking things off at one of the village’s best spots...

7 Things You Need to Know if You’re Going to the San Diego County Fair

Planning a trip to the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar? Here’s what you need to know before you go. Because we want to...

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KEX Fest is Back for its 8th Year and the Lineup is the Best Yet

Kettner Exchange

Kettner Exchange’s annual food and beverage festival returns to Little Italy for its eighth edition, and if you’ve been before, you already know what a...

Frontwave Arena Debuts Minor-League Ice Hockey

Professional Hockey is Coming to Oceanside This Fall

North County San Diego is getting a professional hockey team. Frontwave Arena has announced the arrival of a new Federal Prospects Hockey League franchise set...

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Good Food, Good Vibes, and a Great Cause: WILDCOAST’s Baja Bash is Back

Montbleau Estate

There’s something genuinely special about an event that combines an all-star chef lineup, ocean views, mariachis, and a mission worth rallying around. WILDCOAST’s 14th annual...

Join the barleymash Burger Brawl for a Month's Worth of Free Burgers

Think You Can Build a Better Burger? barleymash Wants to Find Out

May is National Burger Month, and barleymash is marking the occasion with something a little more interactive than a limited-time special. The barleymash Burger Brawl...