On April 21, 2025, we gathered together 89 of San Diego’s Michelin stars, scrappy upstarts, bartenders, bakers, brewers, farmers, fishers, ranchers, innovators, scene-making lightning bolts at Leila in North Park for a cover shoot.Captured by San Diego’s star food culture photographer James Tran, th

This is by far the most emotional reinvention of a San Diego icon in a long while. Starlite was the brainchild of three San Diego music scene vets: The Casbah owner Tim Mays, musician Steve Poltz, and multi-hyphenate musician and artist Matt Hoyt. Matt ran the day-to-day, playing host and fixer and

This 60-year anniversary wasn’t supposed to happen.Three years ago, Ryan Thorsen found out the iconic Mister A’s was scheduled to close. The lease was up, and there were plans to turn the god’s-eye restaurant into penthouse offices. Legendary run, good night. Thorsen had been GM and right-hand to re

Enjoy the custom of Toro Nagashi by floating a lantern to honor those who have passed. In addition to the 12+ merchant booths, the festival includes a wide variety of performances in the Inamori Pavilion. There will be food vendors serving in the lower garden, as well as a beer and sake garden.What

Swimming above a thousand bluefin tuna in the deep waters of the Pacific, one feels a dizzying calm. Below, the fish move in endless, unhurried loops, slowly growing plump in their monotony. Weighing around 170 pounds each, the fish in this net-pen are considerable. Heavy as a man and as wide as a s

Daiki & Takashi Endo, Executive Head Chef & Executive Sous-ChefSince 1994, Menya Ultra has served handcrafted ramen rooted in tradition and precision, starting in Akita, Japan. Known for house-made noodles and MSG-free broth, the restaurant highlights the natural umami of each ingredient. Menya Ultr

Owners, Cesar & Paulina ChaidezIf you’re seeking the best chilaquiles in the city, look no further than San Diego’s chilaquiles masters, Cocina 35. Known as the perfect place to celebrate your special occasions with loved ones and friends, this family-owned business began more than 30 years ago in S

Head Chef, Sushi Gaga, Shinnosuke OtsukaSushi Gaga offers an intimate, relaxing atmosphere that transports guests directly to Ginza, Japan. Every detail—from the sophisticated décor to the exquisite dishware—enhances the authentic Edo-mae sushi experience. Limited to a single seating each evening of

Executive Chef, Ananda BareñoPerched at the edge of La Jolla Shores, The Marine Room has been an icon of coastal fine dining since 1941. Renowned for its dramatic oceanfront setting—where waves crash against floor-to-ceiling windows during high tide—The Marine Room offers a dining experience unlike

Denice Grande, Executive Chef “Her focus has been Italian food for 24 years, with a special love of making pasta from scratch,” says Solare owner Randy Smerik of his long-serving chef, Denice Grande, who is helming this Michelin-rated Liberty Station treasure of authentic Italian cuisine. Since Sola

Assistant General Manager, Jacob SandovalWelcome to Roy’s Restaurant at the Marriott Marquis. The San Diego location of Roy Yamaguchi’s iconic Hawaiian-fusion restaurant offers an intriguing menu of Roy’s classic dishes, signature sushi, and chef creations inspired by local ingredients and the fresh

Giuseppe Annunziata, General ManagerEmiliano Muslija, General ManagerMarcello Avitabile, Executive Pizza ChefJoseph Serra, Pizza ManagerAt Amalfi Cucina Italiana in San Marcos, dining is more than a meal—it’s a celebration of tradition, passion, and artistry. General managers Giuseppe Annunziata and

Mario Cassineri, Owner & ChefChef Mario Cassineri’s Ciccia Osteria offers the best of both worlds: It has the intimate, low-key coziness of your favorite neighborhood restaurant and food so thoughtful and delicious it earned a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction. Ciccia Osteria serves authenti

Chef De Cuisine, Peter KennedyChef de Cuisine Peter Kennedy mixes culinary innovation with fresh, locally sourced ingredients at Mission Valley’s ARLO. The result? Delicious, made-from-scratch dishes that celebrate San Diego’s vibrant culture and lifestyle. With over 20 years of hospitality experien

Jon Rhinerson, OwnerJon Rhinerson wants his restaurants to push limits while still feeling accessible to all. At Échale, Rhinerson’s first San Diego venture, he and his team went from food truck to a brick-and-mortar location in Encinitas and can’t wait to share the eatery’s next act in a new space.

Communal Coffee owner and founder Jen Byard knows you can’t force a community to come together. But she tends to do it organically. Byard launched Communal in 2015 in North Park. Since then, it’s become one of the county’s most popular craft coffee hubs, with locations in Oceanside, South Park, and

I’m three sips into my second handcrafted, small-batch, single-origin, barrel-aged cocktail of the evening. It’s delicious, of course; my date is gorgeous and chatty; the night is going well… and all I can think about is my wallet. Is $19 dollars a cocktail the price of meeting someone new? I think

Surviving life in hardscrabble San Diego with any joy in your heart requires a list. On it lives your favorite taco/sushi/burger/fries/stiff-but-drinkable drink in town. This is ours—from the readers (who offered a record 138,300-plus votes) and longtime food critic Troy Johnson. We chose the must-t

This is, by far, the most ambitious thing we’ve ever done.Eighty-eight obscenely talented people in one room, surrounded by some of the best damn photographers and filmmakers and storytellers in the city. I watched an 83-year-old uni diver—the backbone of our fishing culture—talking to North Park’s

Founded in 1979, Interfaith Community Services operates more than 75 programs supporting North County residents experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, addiction, mental health challenges, and poverty. The nonprofit collaborates with over 250 faith communities and regional agencies, and thousand