The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of August 31, 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.
Chef Alex Carballo
Grand Restaurant Group Partners With Chef Alex Carballo to Revitalize Alejandra’s Cantina
Grand Restaurant Group just made a move that could reshape their entire portfolio by bringing Chef Alex Carballo on as Chef Partner. This isn’t just...
Encinitas Oktoberfest
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Encinitas Oktoberfest Brings Bavarian Vibes to the Coast
  • Mountain Vista Drive
Encinitas Oktoberfest 2025 is happening this weekend and we’re already planning our Sunday around bratwurst, beer gardens, and dogs in lederhosen. This 29th annual celebration...
Ilan-Lael's new weekly tours
Ilan-Lael Foundation’s Expanded Tours Open James Hubbell’s World to Us
The Ilan-Lael Foundation just made it way easier to experience James Hubbell’s incredible compound near Julian. They’ve expanded their docent-led tours through the end of...
Music Director Inon Barnatan
La Jolla Music Society Locks in Inon Barnatan Through 2030
La Jolla Music Society just announced they’re keeping Inon Barnatan as SummerFest Music Director for another five years, and honestly? Best news we’ve heard all...
Bella Vita Fest Street Chalk Art in Little Italy
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Bella Vita Fest Brings Italian Culture to Little Italy’s Streets
  • Little Italy
Bella Vita Fest 2025 is taking over Little Italy, and we’re already planning our Saturday afternoon around wine tastings and pizza slice-offs. This free festival...
Father Joe's Villages' Golf Classic
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Father Joe’s Villages Golf Classic: Swinging for San Diego’s Veterans
Father Joe’s Villages’ 5th Annual Golf Classic is happening at Grand Golf Club in Del Mar, and this tournament goes way beyond just a good...
music festival
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Same Same But Different is the Lakeside Festival Escape We Need
Same Same But Different 2025 is happening at Lake Perris, and we’re already counting down the days. This isn’t your typical massive festival experience—they cap...
Dmitry Shishkin
La Jolla Music Society’s October Lineup Brings Jazz Legends to The Conrad
La Jolla Music Society’s October lineup is looking absolutely incredible this year. We’ve been keeping an eye on what’s happening at The Conrad, and honestly?...
Wellness Experience at MCASD
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Breathe, Move, and Be Inspired at the Wellness Experience at MCASD
  • Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
The Wellness Experience at MCASD is happening, and honestly, this is the perfect way to ease into your weekend. Picture doing yoga with the Pacific...
Chef Jose Cepeda
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: 3 SD Chefs Leading the Way
Hispanic Heritage Month gives us the perfect excuse to spotlight the culinary leaders who are bringing authentic regional Mexican flavors to San Diego, and the...
sunset scripps pier walk
Scripps Pier Opens Its Gates for Science and Sunsets
Birch Aquarium’s Sunset Scripps Pier Walks are back, and honestly, this new guest experience might be one of the coolest ways to see La Jolla’s...
A Beer Lover’s Ultimate Guide To La Mesa Oktoberfest
Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest in San Diego
Dig the lederhosen and dirndl out of the closet and grab your best stein. It’s that time of year again for the most famous German...
Best Restaurants in Old Town San Diego - Tahona
Guide to the Best Restaurants in Old Town San Diego
In this guide, we share the best restaurants in Old Town San Diego for every occasion—whether you want giant margaritas and mariachi bands, more sophisticated...
The dance floor at Bloom - one of the best nightclubs in San Diego Gaslamp.
The Best Nightclubs in San Diego: Gaslamp and Downtown
In the bustling streets of Gaslamp and Downtown San Diego, your nights are limited only by your energy and curiosity. From sports bars to speakeasies...
10 of the Best Coffee Shops in San Diego Where You Can Actually Get Work Done
Hey there, San Diego! It’s time to celebrate our favorite legal stimulant because National Coffee Day is just around the corner on September 29. So...
Wine Bar san diego
Wine Girl Brings Its Instagram-Ready Wine Bar Concept to the Gaslamp
Wine Girl is finally making its way to San Diego after building a solid following in Scottsdale and Napa Valley, opening in the Gaslamp in...
Nerissa Sounds Jazz Brunch Cruise
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Nerissa Sounds Brings Jazz Brunch to San Diego Bay
There’s something about September in San Diego that makes dining outdoors feel essential, and the husband-and-wife team behind Zolna Yachts gets it. Shari and Amos...
East Village Oktoberfest
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East Village Oktoberfest Transforms Quartyard Into Downtown’s Beer Hall
  • Quartyard
East Village Oktoberfest is back for its ninth year, and honestly, Quartyard knows how to throw a party that actually feels like you’ve been transported...
Grass Skirt Annual Tiki Luau
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The Grass Skirt’s Tiki Luau Returns With All-Inclusive Island Vibes
  • The Grass Skirt
The Grass Skirt in Pacific Beach is bringing back their signature summer send-off with an all-inclusive tropical celebration that’s become a local tradition. This eighth...
Aldea La Jolla
Guide to the Best Restaurants in San Diego’s Little Italy Neighborhood
In this guide, we share the best restaurants in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood for every occasion—whether you want to grab a quick coffee and...
Outdoor patio in San Diego
8 Hidden Gem Restaurants in San Diego You Need to Discover
If you’re anything like us, you love discovering new restaurants throughout our beautiful city. But to be honest, searching online ends up showing the same...
grainbakers pretzel workshop
Grainbakers Brings Week-Long Pretzel Workshop Tour to San Diego Breweries
The nationally traveling breadmaking school that’s become a local favorite is returning for another intensive week of hands-on pretzel workshops across San Diego County breweries....
USS Midway dear doc
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USS Midway Museum Honors WWII’s 80th Anniversary Through Letters
  • USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum is hosting an evening that brings history to life through the personal words of those who lived it. “Dear Doc” uses...
Alfredo Castaneda_Nuestra espera, 1999
San Diego Museum of Art Unveils Ambitious Fall-Winter Season
The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) is launching six new exhibitions across its Balboa Park locations that showcase the breadth of global artistic movements...
Upcoming Events
Beach Sport, Craft Beer, and Food Trucks: The OTL Beer Fest is Back at Mariner’s Point
May 16, 2026
7:00 am
The 10th Annual Over the Line Beer Fest and Tournament is one of those only-in-San Diego days that’s hard to explain until you’ve been. Hosted...
Curebound Concert for Cures
P!NK Headlines Curebound’s 2026 Concert for Cures at Petco Park
May 15, 2026
7:00 pm
  • PETCO Park
Global music icon P!NK is headlining Curebound’s 2026 Concert for Cures at Petco Park, and ticket sales will fund cutting-edge adult and pediatric cancer research...
Family Style Spread at Kona Kai
The Kona Kai Clam Bake is Back for Another Round
May 14, 2026
5:30 pm
  • Kona Kai Resort and Spa
If you loved last year’s seaside feast, get ready, because Kona Kai San Diego is bringing back its Clam Bake for another round. And this...
The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton
The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton Bring Something Special to the Rady Shell
May 10, 2026
7:30 pm
  • The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is a great venue on a normal night. Add The Avett Brothers to the bill – and then throw...
Mother’s Day with The Gondola Company
Celebrate Mother’s Day With a Scenic Gondola Cruise in the Coronado Cays
May 10, 2026
10:00 am
If you’re looking for a memorable way to celebrate Mom, a peaceful gondola ride through the Coronado Cays offers a charming escape without ever leaving...