The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of August 3, 2026
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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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This Week’s Feature
Origen Has Found Its Crowd in University Heights
Stepping into Origen in Hillcrest feels a little like discovering one of those effortlessly stylish restaurants tucked away in Puerto Escondido or Oaxaca City. That transportive quality is no accident. Origen was designed around the team’s shared love of travel, adventure, and the Mexican coast, bringing those influences together through vibrant seafood dishes, smoked tuna flautitas, ceviches, aguachiles, tacos, and seriously good cocktails.
A couple of years in, it feels like Origen has truly found its audience. We stopped by over the weekend, and the place was packed, with fantastic energy and a stylish, international crowd that fit the setting perfectly. It was lively, attractive, and just a little escapist, the kind of place where dinner easily turns into another round and nobody seems eager to leave.
📆 Tuesday-Thursday 4-10 PM | Friday – Saturday, 4-11 PM | Sunday 4-10 PM
📍 3831 Park Boulevard, Hillcrest
ℹ️ Visit their Website
Insider Move
Honor Bar Very Quietly Brings Its Signature Polish to Del Mar
Yes, it has literally been 10 years since Bully’s in Del Mar was closed and construction began on the new parking garage and restaurant space that is now the home to Honor Bar. But we are calling it now…it was worth the wait!
We happened to walk by on Sunday about an hour before they were set to open, and they were nice enough to invite us in for a quick look and chat with the chef. We weren’t allowed to take any pictures, but the space is absolutely beautiful.
Polished and undeniably nice, it still feels relaxed, informal, and ready for a lively crowd. It is the kind of place that works just as well for a casual drink at the bar as it does for a proper night out. Parent company Hillstone Restaurant Group may have kept this one under wraps, but we have a feeling the secret will not last long. Honor Bar is going to be a big hit in Del Mar.
We suggest getting there before the crowd finds out.
📍 1404 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
ℹ️ Follow them on Instagram and visit their website
New This Week
Zuma is Opening Its First West Coast Location in Downtown San Diego
One of the most celebrated Japanese izakayas in the world is landing in San Diego, and it’s setting up inside The Guild Hotel. Zuma‘s first California location features a main dining room, bar, and terrace right in the heart of downtown – and the restaurant’s arrival coincides with a renovation of The Guild’s public spaces.
Contemporary Japanese cuisine, a serious bar program, a room worth dressing for. Reservations are open.
📆 Opening Monday, August 10
🎟️ Secure a spot now
Maranello Lands on Kettner
A new Italian spot just opened in Little Italy, and it’s already one to know. Maranello takes its name from the northern Italian town Ferrari calls home – not to play up the racing connection, but because Maranello the place runs on hospitality and long meals.
The menu moves through northern Italy’s regions, from gnocco fritto with speck to candy-shaped ravioli stuffed with mortadella and pistachio, to pasta finished tableside in a Parmigiano Reggiano wheel.
The cocktail list is just as considered – the Pepperoni Negroni (pepperoni-infused gin, Campari, sweet vermouth) is already a talking point, and Maranello is one of the first spots in town to pour Sarti Rosa, the European aperitivo that just arrived stateside. Finish on a high note with the Tiramisu Espresso Martini, a rich, indulgent sip that blurs the line between cocktail and dessert.
Fill Your Basket at the Chula Vista Farmers’ Market
There’s a particular kind of Sunday that only happens on Third Avenue, and the Downtown Chula Vista Farmers’ Market is the reason: cafecito in one hand, flowers under the other arm, a tote getting heavier at every stall.
What started four years ago with a handful of vendors now fills more than 100 tents along Park Way and Third Avenue – Scorpion Farms produce, Hidalgo Flowers blooms, Dancing Crow rosé, and pop-ups like Bomb Bibimbap and Sam’s Bread.
With National Farmers’ Market Week landing this August, there’s no better week to make a morning of it. Bring cash for the flowers.
📆 Sundays | 10 AM – 2 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
New Restaurants Opening in San Diego in 2026
19 new spots just landed on our 2026 Openings list: CHAGEE Modern Teahouse (La Jolla), Candy Land Café (San Diego), MAKE Café (Normal Heights), Drums Beatstro Jawn (East Village), Board & Brew (Midway District), The Polished Pigeon (East Village), Moniker General (Downtown), Coffee Dose (Encinitas), SunLife Organics (Coronado), Silver Hoof Creamery (Old Town), Sugarfish (Little Italy), Anigma (Encinitas), Verise (Carlsbad), Georgette’s (North Park), Queenstown (Del Mar), An’s Gelato Gate D5 (Oceanside), Telefèric Barcelona (UTC), The Heritage Steakhouse (Santee), and Black Mizu Café (Little Italy) all got added to the running tracker.
Bookmark the post – it’s the master list of every notable opening, organized by month, updated at the start of each month so you always know what’s new and what’s coming.
Quick Bites & Special Offers
Cloak & Petal just launched a Chef’s Table. The Michelin-recognized restaurant is running pop-up dinners with Executive Chef Robert Cassidy – single seating, a fixed menu built for that night, no à la carte, no upsells. Just Chef Robert cooking what he wants for people who came to pay attention. Join the mailing list; they sell out fast. Join the mailing list for advance notice of the dinners.
Wild Hare Bar Garden launched weekend brunch. The Gaslamp spot is now serving Bananas Foster French Toast, a Cali Breakfast Burrito with chorizo, potato hash, and salsa macha, and cocktails like the cucumber-forward French Lop and espresso-infused What’s Up Doc? Happy hour runs weekdays 4 to 6 PM with 50% off. Secure a table now.
Topside Terrace just dropped its new summer menu. Hotel Republic’s rooftop serves a Baja-Mediterranean menu with summer additions: Lobster Tacos with mango habanero salsa and avocado silk, Chilean Seabass with citrus beurre blanc, and Chipotle Goat Cheese Cavatelli with grilled chicken, corn, and goat cheese crema. View the full menu.
Wild Tide has a new hard ginger beer. The San Diego brand uses an orange wine base – a canvas for organic ginger juice and fruit juices, with results closer to a well-made cocktail than a sparkling water with ambitions. Three flavors: Original Ginger Lime, Grapefruit Jalapeño, and Pineapple Passionfruit, all 5% ABV and gluten-free. Read the full story.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is getting a Saturday SPAM Musubi Day on August 8. Swing by any San Diego location and grab a free SPAM Musubi, no purchase necessary, while supplies last. It’s grilled SPAM over rice wrapped in nori, a Hawaii staple ever since the post-war years. A few spots are also tossing in entertainment, giveaways, and extra menu perks to celebrate. Check out the full menu.
Lana’s new summer menu has arrived, timed perfectly to Del Mar Racetrack season. It’s the work of chef David McIntyre, who designed Lana’s original menu and is now staying on full-time after 22 years cooking under Wolfgang Puck at Spago and Cut. Think sweet corn soup, peach bruschetta, and a burrata-topped prosciutto pizza worth the drive to Solana Beach alone. View the menu.
Karl Strauss is releasing a collab hazy IPA. Field Trip is a collaboration with Fieldwork Brewing, available at Karl Strauss brewpubs. The 6.7% ABV pour is full-bodied with juicy citrus and tropical flavors, discounted to $6 on National IPA Day. $1 from every pint goes to Restaurants Care, supporting food and beverage workers. Find Field Trip Hazy IPA near you.
Mark Your Calendar & Make Reservations Now
Three Chefs, One Night at Valle Oceanside
Roberto Alcocer is pulling in two of Mexico’s most exciting culinary voices for an evening that’s hard to top. Valle Oceanside becomes the stage for La Singularidad de las Estrellas – a one-night collaborative tasting menu with Chef Edgar Núñez of Sud777 and Chef Sheyla Alvarado of Lunario Valle.
The three chefs are drawing from the landscapes, traditions, and ingredients that define modern Mexican cuisine, paired throughout with wines from Lomita MX and Finca La Carrodilla – two producers doing something remarkable for organic viticulture south of the border.
📆 Thursday, August 6
🎟️ Secure your spot
ℹ️ Get more details
A Night of Food, Music, and Community on Imperial Avenue
Taste of Imperial Avenue is back for year five, and it’s bringing more than 20 local food vendors with it. Grab a self-guided tasting map and sample bites and drinks that show off Logan Heights’ mix of cultures.
There’s live entertainment and family-friendly activities between bites, and once you’ve had your fill, the party regroups at Gilliam Place for a beer garden, live music, and a small business marketplace.
It’s hosted by Logan Heights CDC and the Greater Logan Heights Small Business Advisory Group, and it’s really about shining a light on local entrepreneurs. Tickets run $30 for food only or $40 with the beer garden, with a few left at the door.
📆 Friday, August 7, 2026 | 4 PM – 9 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
Fresh Maine Lobster and Steak, Trackside at Del Mar
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is kicking off its first Turf & Surf Festival, and the setup is hard to argue with: fresh Maine lobster cooked on-site via the world’s largest kettle steamer, Brandt Beef steak, and five drink tasters (cocktails, wine, or craft beer) included with every ticket.
Add the Lobster Feast and you’re getting a full 1.25lb lobster with all the fixings – servers do the cracking. Pre-order online to lock it in; availability at the door isn’t guaranteed.
📆 Saturday, August 8 | 1 PM – 6 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
Eat Your Way Across the Mediterranean at Garibaldi
Garibaldi at the InterContinental just reworked its Sip & Savor series, and the new format is a good one: a full month devoted to a single Mediterranean country, each with a chef-crafted entrée and a cocktail built to match.
Morocco, from Executive Chef Franck Tasic, means a braised duck tagine in Ras el Hanout jus with confit fennel, green olives, preserved tangerines, and an almond-harissa crisp over couscous, paired with a fig-spirit julep.
Lebanon, from Sous Chef Darwin Leobrera, brings a fried rockfish sayadieh over seven-spice basmati with caramelized onions, pine nuts, and tahini-lemon, next to a rye-and-arak pour called the Manhattan to Beirut. Italy, Greece, and Spain round out the trip through fall.
📆 Morocco (July) | Lebanon (August) | Italy (September) | Greece (October) | Spain (November)
ℹ️ Make reservations
Three Themed Tea Parties are Coming to Estancia La Jolla This Summer
Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa is transforming its garden into an immersive high-tea destination across three themed Sunday afternoons this summer and fall – and each one has its own distinct personality.
A Gilded Garden Tea on August 23 sets the tone with golden-hour elegance and a polished garden party atmosphere. Harvest and Herb Tea on September 27 eases into early autumn with fresh herbs, late-summer fruits, and a cozy yet elevated feel.
A Curious Mad Hatter Tea Party on October 18 leans into the whimsical side of things – the most playful of the three and arguably the most fun to dress for. Tickets are $75 per person per event. Pick one Sunday or come to all three.
📍 9700 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla
🎟️ Secure your spot
ℹ️ Read the full story
Ada Limón, Dinner, and Art in Julian
The Ilan-Lael Foundation’s fourth annual Harvest Moon Dinner heads to the Julian back country, and the lineup is kind of a dream.
Ada Limón – the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate – takes the mic for a reading, then a silent auction opens on original works by the 2026 Visiting Artist Fellows. Dinner is chef-driven long-table-style with regional produce and wine pairings, and the property stays lit for wandering before we sit down.
Best part? Every ticket goes to the foundation’s artist programs. Throw a layer in the car and point east.
📆 Saturday, September 26 | 3 PM – 8 PM
📍 930 Orchard Lane, Julian
ℹ️ Read the full story
Unlimited Tacos in SDMA’s Sculpture Garden for Día de los Muertos
SDMA is turning its sculpture garden into a taco party for Día de los Muertos, and it’s a good one.
Local vendors – Blanco Cocina + Cantina, El Indio, Panama 66, La Puerta, The Craft Taco, and more – set up stations throughout the May S. Marcy Sculpture Court, with every ticket covering unlimited tastings plus a Panama 66 margarita, Mujeres Brew House beer, or agua fresca.
Both museums are free and open all day. Tickets fill fast.
📆 Sunday, November 1 | 12 PM – 4 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
Looking Ahead
Cloak & Petal is Getting its Own Coffee Shop
We’ve got another reason to swing by Cloak & Petal. The Little Italy favorite is opening Black Mizu Café this summer, bringing a dedicated coffee concept right to the front of the restaurant.
The new spot will serve beans from Torque Coffee along with a simple menu that’s perfect for an easy morning stop or midday pick-me-up. Later this fall, Executive Chef Robert Cassidy will roll out a Japanese and Pacific Rim–inspired brunch, giving us yet another reason to linger.
Black Mizu will have its own entrance and large retractable doors that create an airy, patio-like feel. When the café isn’t open, the space will double as a private dining room – a smart move that keeps this Little Italy staple evolving.
📆 Opening summer 2026
ℹ️ Read the full story
Moniker General is Opening Downtown
Moniker General – the coffee and cocktail concept that helped shape Liberty Station and North Park into the neighborhoods they are today – is opening its third location on the ground floor of WEST, a new 37-story mixed-use tower in downtown San Diego.
The 1,830-square-foot space pairs Moniker Coffee Co.’s specialty coffee and café offerings with craft cocktails, wine, and beer from The Bar at Moniker General, built to flex from morning coffee through after-work drinks. True to form, every inch is being handled in-house – design, construction, and operations all by the Moniker team that’s been at this since 2010.
📆 Opening late 2026
ℹ️ Read the full story
Coronado’s Newest Coastal Restaurant is on its Way
Coronado is getting a new coastal escape. By The Sea, the newest project from husband-and-wife duo Doug and Lara Hamm of Black Swan Hospitality, brings Mediterranean flavor to the island, drawing from the couple’s travels through the Amalfi Coast, French Riviera, and Greek Isles.
Tecture Inc. designed the space with reclaimed wood beams, imported cobblestones, lush greenery, and a sun-soaked patio with glimpses of the Pacific just steps away.
Expect a menu of coastal cuisine and seasonal Mediterranean cocktails, with ingredients sourced through local farmers and fishermen and a dynamic lineup of starters, salads, pastas, and mains.
The wine list showcases small, family-run producers embracing organic, sustainable, and natural practices.
📆 Opening soon
📍 1300 Orange Ave, Coronado
ℹ️ Follow along on Instagram for updates
See you there, San Diego!
