Every year for the Best of San Diego issue, we ask readers to nominate and vote for a San Diego classic restaurant they want food critic Troy Johnson to review. Whichever they vote for, he goes. Last year, they sent him to Rocky’s Crown Pub. This year… Mexican classic, El Indio. The Perfect Order: T

I’m a terrible home cook. But when I watch J. Kenji López-Alt’s cooking videos, I feel like, just maybe, I’m not a complete failure in the kitchen.  Under his guidance in The New York Times cooking section, I’ve learned, but not yet perfected, how to boil an egg (it’s not as easy as it looks!), adde

They’re called the sandwich generation, those in their late 30s to 50s juggling teenagers and aging parents, and they’re feeling the pressure when it comes to digital safety. Connecting the Digital Dots: Online Habits and Safety Concerns Across Three Generations, a new survey from Cox Mobile shows t

The Padres were supposed to be a mess this year. But thanks to an unstoppable start, star power veterans, and some of the best young talent in the league, this has been a season to binge. When it comes to a World Series run, fans may still sometimes feel like cats in a room full of rocking chairs, b

The bagel hits keep coming. Over the past few years, San Diego has gone from a dearth to an abundance of options, from dense and chewy New York-style to California sourdough bagels, with more on the way (New Wave in Leucadia, Marigold Bagels in North Park, PopUp in La Jolla).  Never one to miss a pa

A Launchpad for Local Leaders BBB’s Breakthrough Accelerator focuses on helping local small businesses scale their operations and strengthen their foundations. With a flexible format and access to real-world guidance, it gives participants something many early-stage entrepreneurs struggle to find: s

What do fresh sandwiches, frosty lemonade, and a sun-soaked afternoon all have in common? They’re the holy trinity of a perfect picnic—and San Diego just happens to be the ultimate stage. With rolling green lawns and cliffside ocean perches, America’s Finest City is basically a picnic paradise. Whet

We asked, you answered. Here are the winners our readers chose as the Best of San Diego 2025. Click on the categories below to jump to your favorite lists. Beauty & Cosmetic | Fitness | Food & Drink | Health & Wellness | Home & Garden | Kids | People | Pets | Professional Services | Shopping | Trave

I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel butterflies for someone again. When my long-term relationship ended last year, I couldn’t have imagined that in several months’ time I’d be trading messages and stories, laughing over new inside jokes and finding so many points of connection with someone like Robin (not h

Ramona sounds like a country song come to life: dusty backroads winding through mountain hollows, feed stores and barns dotting the hillsides, the steady hum of tractors, and a thriving population of beefy pickup trucks. Nestled in the foothills of the Laguna Mountains, where Route 67 meets Highway

From revamped icons, FOMO-inducing bakeries, and booze-fueled workouts to legendary local athletes, mega retail openings, and ways to get your kids out of the house, here’s our annual guide to the best of the best in the city, according to us and you. Click the photos below to see our full list in e

From revamped icons, FOMO-inducing bakeries, and booze-fueled workouts to legendary local athletes, mega retail openings, and ways to get your kids out of the house, here’s our annual guide to the best of the best in the city, according to us and you. Click the photos below to see our full list in e

Best Place to Shop for a Cause Thread Spun Much as you’ll want to, you can’t move into Thread Spun, a sustainably minded Encinitas boutique on North Coast Highway. But you can stock up on beautifully made, thoughtfully curated homewares, apparel, accessories, personal care items, and goodies for kid

Best Place to Shop for a Cause Thread Spun Much as you’ll want to, you can’t move into Thread Spun, a sustainably minded Encinitas boutique on North Coast Highway. But you can stock up on beautifully made, thoughtfully curated homewares, apparel, accessories, personal care items, and goodies for kid

Best Semicentennial San Diego Foundation The San Diego Foundation (SDF) celebrated its 50th anniversary with proclamations from 15 cities and the County of San Diego, declaring May 28 as San Diego Foundation Day and launching a new campaign. It was also named Nonprofit of the Year by State Senator A

Best Semicentennial San Diego Foundation The San Diego Foundation (SDF) celebrated its 50th anniversary with proclamations from 15 cities and the County of San Diego, declaring May 28 as San Diego Foundation Day and launching a new campaign. It was also named Nonprofit of the Year by State Senator A

Best New Star Lilo Some restaurants toil for years on the path to a Michelin star. But not Lilo. The 22-seat, tasting-menu-only concept opened in Carlsbad in April. Two months later, it had secured one of the most coveted culinary honors on the planet. (Not to say its chef, Eric Bost, hadn’t paid hi

Best New Star Lilo Some restaurants toil for years on the path to a Michelin star. But not Lilo. The 22-seat, tasting-menu-only concept opened in Carlsbad in April. Two months later, it had secured one of the most coveted culinary honors on the planet. (Not to say its chef, Eric Bost, hadn’t paid hi

Best Place for Athletes to go Clubbing Club House Encinitas Need to baby your muscles after a marathon or sweat out the bad decisions you’ve made in the last decade? Club House is your spot. A 50-minute session at this wellness destination in Encinitas gets you access to tools like red light therapy

Best Place for Athletes to Go Clubbing Club House Encinitas Need to baby your muscles after a marathon or sweat out the bad decisions you’ve made in the last decade? Club House is your spot. A 50-minute session at this wellness destination in Encinitas gets you access to tools like red light therapy