At the Encinitas 101 MainStreet Association, supporting our vibrant community of local businesses is at the heart of everything we do. Our MainStreet wouldn’t be the same without the passion, innovation, and neighborly spirit that small businesses bring to downtown Encinitas and the North County coa

How does a pop-up pizza concept go from slinging pies at metal shows to being the official summertime food vendor for the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park in less than a year?Training at Nine-Ten under chef Jason Knibb helps. Caravan Pizza co-founders Ethan Ritenour and Jarrett Wright took their fine

How does a pop-up pizza concept go from slinging pies at metal shows to being an official summertime food vendor for the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park in less than a year?Training at Nine-Ten under chef Jason Knibb helps. Caravan Pizza co-founders Ethan Ritenour and Jarrett Wright took their fine

The ornate, sensory-lust-farm restaurant—an ostrich-patterned dinner table floating on a neon lily pad in the middle of a hard kombucha lake that flushes into a subterranean speakeasy—is thriving. The bare-bones, “here’s some awesome food in a bag” restaurant is also thriving (The Friendly, Bica, Th

On April 21, 2015, we gathered some of the top names in the food and drink industry in San Diego for one epic photo shoot. During the afternoon, local photographer Matt Furman capture portraits of many of the top chefs, drinkmakers, and restaurateurs shaping San Diego’s food scene. Click on each ima

This is the front line: flour-dusted, grease-slicked, knife-sharp. It’s fire and steel, instinct and invention, a glorious symphony of flavor. Chefs, renegades, restaurateurs—these Tastemakers are conjuring flavor from talent, turning gut instincts into cult followings. From sushi that sings to past

Festivals big and little are happening all over San Diego this weekend, from a Latina vendor marketplace in Barrio Logan to the music and author showcase of North Park Music Fest to the inaugural Artivál, which will feature all sorts of makers. At the Queer Mvmnt Fest, aspiring dancers and performin

Elaborate vegan Mexican dinners in coffee shops (Pixán), cheffy smash pitas in bars (Pirate Pita), Mexican-Vietnamese tasting menus in wine shops (Gemelos), bagels out of a guy’s apartment window (Desperado)—pop-ups appeared like little food rainbows across the city throughout the last year. Here to

A couple decades ago, San Diego’s food scene had too much ho in its hum. A handful of standalone restaurants and chefs were doing good work (like Bertrand Hug at Mister A’s, Michael Stebner with Region, Trey Foshee of Georges at the Cove, and Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grille), but most world-c

In a world of endless emails, breaking news alerts, family responsibilities, work obligations and more, stress is understandable. Feeling stressed sometimes is a normal part of life—with an emphasis on sometimes. With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day around the corner, it’s a good time for women and me

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

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

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

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.