The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of July 13, 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
Tuesday Night: Chef Akira Back Comes to Lumi for One Night
Lumi is bringing Chef Akira Back to San Diego for a one-night dinner on the rooftop this July. Back runs 30-plus restaurants worldwide, including Michelin-starred DOSA in London, and Lumi is his local expression of Nikkei cuisine – Japanese technique, Peruvian influence, and panoramic Gaslamp views.
The evening opens with a welcome reception of passed bites and a specialty cocktail, then moves into a multi-course seated dinner with featured sushi, nigiri, and a dessert finale. Back will be present throughout the night. Tickets are $150 per person, with an optional sake pairing for $35.
📆 Tuesday, July 14 | 6 PM
ℹ️ Visit their website
📍 366 Fifth Avenue, San Diego
🎟️ Make your reservation
Insider Move
Let Nonna Show You How to Make Lasagna the Palermo Way
Solare Ristorante, which holds a spot in the MICHELIN Guide, is opening its kitchen for a hands-on lasagna class led by the restaurant’s 81-year-old Nonna Chef Maria.
She’ll be working alongside Executive Chef Denice Grande, walking us through her original family recipe from Palermo, Italy – the technique for baking pasta, the layering, all of it.
This is a real cooking lesson, not a demonstration. The $108 per-person ticket (plus tax and fee) covers a welcome cup of Italian-style coffee, wine, and lunch. Parking at Liberty Station is free.
📆 Saturday, July 18 | 10 AM
🎟️ Grab your tickets
New This Week
CUCINA urbana is Rethinking What a Great Meal Should Cost
CUCINA urbana has been doing farm-to-table Italian with a neighborhood price point since 2009, and the MICHELIN Bib Gourmand-recognized restaurant is doubling down on that philosophy with a few new ways to dine.
The Sunday Supper feeds four for $145 – fresh focaccia, chopped salad, spatchcock chicken, creamy polenta, a pasta choice, and housemade tiramisu. The Antipasto Quattro brings four signature starters to the table on one tray for $35 to $49. And the Pizza + Bottle special pairs a Margherita or Pepperoni pizza with a featured bottle of wine for $45 daily at the bar.
For private events, CUCINA Pizza on the Go brings wood-fired pizzas and portable ovens directly to backyard parties and weddings across San Diego.
📍 505 Laurel St, Bankers Hill
🎟️ Reserve a table
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
Nobu Del Coronado just made lunch worth the drive. The new Summer Bento Box brings together a Matsuhisa salad, chef’s choice uramaki and nigiri, Rock Shrimp Tempura, and the legendary Black Cod in one $70 midday spread. Available daily from 12 PM to 3 PM. Indoor dining, a covered patio, pagoda bar, and a dedicated sushi bar all come with ocean views included. Reserve a seat.
CHAGEE Modern Teahouse opens its first San Diego location at Westfield UTC, and as the first pet-friendly CHAGEE in the country, the outdoor patio is open to dogs. The summer menu features Citrus Teafreshers, CHAGEE’s teas paired with fresh, hand-muddled citrus, plus a Puptea made for the four-legged crew. View the full menu.
OX Coffee Roasters in Mission Valley just dropped three new drinks for summer. The Ferrero Rocher Latte pairs actual Ferrero Rocher chocolates with espresso for a rich chocolate-hazelnut cup, the Lavender Espresso Tonic is citrusy and effervescent with just enough lavender to register, and the Tropical Cream Matcha layers smooth oat milk matcha with a fluffy orange foam. All coffee is roasted in-house. The shop opens at 5:30 AM weekdays and 6:30 AM on weekends. Explore the drinks.
City Tacos is running the Shank You Taco as their July taco of the month: slow-cooked beef shank with mushrooms and garlic, topped with onion, cilantro, and semi-spicy green salsa on a crispy corn tortilla with asadero cheese, for $4.95 at all six San Diego locations (Encinitas, La Mesa, North Park, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, and Sorrento Mesa). On Tuesdays, take 10% off your entire food order and grab Mexican bottled beers for $2.50.
Daffodil Café is turning one and celebrating all July. Daffodil Cafe is marking their first anniversary with a month of specials: $1 custom “1” cookies, $5 confetti lattes, $1 off any entree just for mentioning the anniversary, and weekly merch raffles with custom Daffodil apparel and accessories. The celebration runs alongside a refreshed summer menu from Chef Sarah Palomares. Take a peak.
Union Kitchen and Tap is going Pokémon for Comic-Con Weekend. The Gaslamp spot is hosting a hidden Secret Pokémon Speakeasy, six Eeveelution-inspired cocktails each served with a Poké Ball containing a surprise figurine, a Pokémon Brunch Buffet, a Pack and Pint special with a house beer and trading card pack for $17, and a cosplay contest on Saturday, July 25. Read the full story.
Better Buzz Coffee just dropped a new seasonal menu worth checking out this summer. The Cookies & Cream collection puts a nostalgic spin on their signature drinks – cookie crumbles, rainbow sprinkles, and Cookies & Cream Cold Cream across four variations. New house-made egg bites in carnitas and veggie round things out, both built around roasted poblanos, Mexican cheeses, and salsa verde. View the full menu.
Mark Your Calendar & Make Reservations Now
Raise a Glass to Barbusa’s 10th Anniversary
Since opening in Little Italy in 2016, Barbusa has earned its place as one of San Diego’s most sought-after tables, and this July, the Busalacchi family is celebrating a full decade of handcrafted pastas, bold Sicilian flavors, and the kind of hospitality that feels personal rather than polished.
The family has been bringing Sicilian food to San Diego for more than 40 years, with Sicilian-born Joe Busalacchi Sr. founding the legacy and his sons now running four Little Italy concepts: Barbusa, Nonna, Lala, and Café Zucchero. Ten years in, it’s still one of the best reasons to make a reservation in this neighborhood.
Congrats on ten great years! 👏🏻
📍 1917 India St, San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
Check Out the Final Chef Pop-Up Night From J. Brix Wines
J. Brix Wines closes its chef pop-up series with a Filipino-Hawaiian night. The final summer evening at the San Marcos tasting room brings MabuHI’s pork BBQ, kalbi short ribs, and chicken katsu, with natural wine by the glass or bottle ($4 to $26) and DJs on the decks.
The evening is walk-in only, with food and wine available by the glass or bottle ranging from $4 to $26. Free parking on-site makes it an easy call for a Saturday in North County.
📆 Saturday, July 25 | 4 PM – 9 PM
📍 250 N City Dr #10, San Marcos
Bivouac Ciderworks is Celebrating Pride Week With Rainbow Flights and Drag Bingo
Bivouac Ciderworks is marking Pride Week at their North Park locations with two events worth knowing about.
The Sparkly Rainbow Pride Flights are back for their seventh consecutive year at the Taproom & Restaurant – five handcrafted ciders, including Cosmo, Mango Tajin, Lemon Ginger Supergreens, Guava Spirulina, and Blueberry Rosemary for $20 a flight, no reservation needed.
On Sunday, the Adventure Lodge hosts the debut Drag Queen Bingo & Brunch with Queen Billyanna, live drag performance, hosted bingo, an à la carte brunch menu, and bottomless mimosas available. Tickets are just $5.
📆 Pride Flights: July 16 – 19 | Drag Queen Bingo & Brunch: Sunday, July 19 | 11 AM – 1:30 PM
🎟️ Grab your Bingo brunch tickets now
Where to Land Between Panels at Comic-Con
Comic-Con week rolls into town with superhero cocktails, an alien-themed cantina takeover, a Toy Story rooftop menu, anime-inspired handrolls up in Encinitas, and a $20 Wagyu-and-caviar combo steps from the Convention Center.
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 here
ℹ️ Read the full story
Looking Ahead
Telefèric Barcelona is Bringing Spanish Tapas to La Jolla
La Jolla is about to get a taste of Spain. Telefèric Barcelona is expanding to San Diego this spring with a new location at Westfield UTC, adding vibrant tapas and paella to one of the area’s go-to shopping and dining hubs.
Founded in Barcelona more than 30 years ago, the family-owned concept is led by the Padrosa family and a team of Spanish chefs. Known for colorful pintxos, signature paellas, and a curated Spanish wine list with more than 100 selections, Telefèric delivers a lively, communal dining experience that feels festive from the first bite to the last sip.
📆 Opening July, 2026
🎟️ Reservations coming soon
ℹ️ Follow here for updates
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
An’s Gate D5 is Coming to Oceanside
An’s Gelato – two-time winner of USA Today’s 10 Best “Best Ice Cream Shop in America” – is opening its next concept inside the historic Top Gun House at Mission Pacific Beach Resort, right on the Oceanside waterfront.
Gate D5 transforms the 1888 cottage into a full airport terminal experience: walk through a “security” checkpoint, order at a flight-style counter, and choose between a “carry on” or “checked bag” serving size.
Seven rotating destination-inspired gelato flavors (think Milan pistachio) swap out every few weeks, alongside sorbetto, coffee drinks, and affogato. If you’ve been to any of their North Park, OB, Del Mar, or Petco Park locations, you already know this one’s going to be good.
📆 Opening summer 2026
📍 250 N Pacific St, Oceanside
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
Pear Plum is Bringing a World-Class Wine Program to a Neighborhood Café
Downtown San Diego has a new all-day café, specialty coffee shop, and wine bar opening steps from the New Children’s Museum and the waterfront.
Pear Plum owners St. Elmo and Christina Crawford are bringing a bottle list that reflects a lifetime of serious collecting – Bordeaux, Burgundy, rare vintages from the ’60s and ’70s, and pours from producers like Kistler, Taittinger, and Château d’Yquem, with glasses starting at $10. St. Elmo is a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, which explains a lot.
They’re also pouring their own house wines made in partnership with Violin Wines in Oregon, named for their daughters. The food menu comes from the team behind The Handmade Chef Meal Prep Co. One to watch.
📆 Opening January 2027
ℹ️ Read the full story
See you there, San Diego!
