Restaurants, Food And Drink

June 6, 2025 at 10:26 a.m.

The company says one out of four cakes sold in the U.S. comes from Walmart.

San Diego beer walkers Christopher and Clare Harrington. (Peter Rowe)

Brewery Rowe: San Diego retirees are now beer-walking hobbyists

June 6, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Also this week, Madfriars hosts hop run tours, beer events an quick-sips, early summer brews

Employees at Buona Forchetta in South Park were back to work in the early afternoon Wednesday, serving lunch to restaurant patrons, after having been shut down for two days in the aftermath of the ICE raid several days earlier. (Lori Weisberg / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Buona Forchetta reopens 5 locations and keeps 2 shuttered for now

By Roxana Popescu

June 4, 2025 at 4:56 p.m.

The restaurants had closed following an immigration raid Friday that resulted in four arrests.

The Firebird chicken sandwich at The Crack Shack, a San Diego-based restaurant company that opened a new location March 5 in Pacific Beach. (Kimberly Motos)

Check out these 7 new restaurants and where to get free pizza on Saturday

March 21, 2025 at 2:26 p.m.

Crack Shack comes to Pacific Beach, Veranda and Nobu head to Coronado, Teddy's Treats opens...

The Dirty Flattop Cheeseburger Pie, a collaboration with Pop Pie Co. and The Friendly SD. It has grilled burger meat, butter-braised onions, banana peppers, American cheese and garlic aioli. (Pop Pie Co.)

Foodie Forecast: Pi Day pies, Taste of Third, green beers and Irish coffees

March 17, 2025 at 10:23 a.m.

The latest in dining news from across San Diego County, as well as some events...

The more than 30-year-old Fish Market on San Diego’s embarcadero has been sold to the Brigantine group, which also owns the nearby Portside Pier dining complex on the waterfront. (Fish Market)

Port of San Diego OKs Brigantine takeover of Fish Market lease

By Natallie Rocha

March 13, 2025 at 5:05 p.m.

Local Brigantine restaurant group got the green light from the Port of San Diego to...

Chef Maeve Rochford’s Guinness Beef Stew, served with a slice of soda bread, is a hearty dish that will taste even better the next day. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

This St. Patrick’s Day meal is the real deal

March 12, 2025 at 3:57 p.m.

Menu from chef-owner Maeve Rochford of Sugar and Scribe harkens back to her Irish grandmother's...

What makes involtini so special is the interplay of soft eggplant, creamy ricotta and marinara sauce. (Tom McCorkle / For The Washington Post)

When you’ve got eggplant, ricotta and marinara, just roll with it

March 12, 2025 at 5:31 a.m.

Hearty vegetarian dish born in southern Italy combines the silky vegetable with a rich ricotta...

Kidney Bean, Lentil and Tempeh Chili. (Rey Lopez / For The Washington Post)

Vegan chili with beans, lentils and edamame floods the protein zone

March 12, 2025 at 5:11 a.m.

With legumes in multiple forms, plus two kinds of seeds, it proves that plenty of...

The salmon is mostly cooked on the skin side, then the flesh side is gently poached in a creamy
sun-dried tomato sauce. (Armando Rafael / The New York Times)

A simple salmon to tell someone you love them

March 12, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

This 30-minute recipe for “Marry Me Salmon” feels special but is easy enough for a...

Cornish Cross hen, radicchio and chestnut, one of chef-owner Elijah Arizmendi’s proposed dishes for Lucien, a fine-dining restaurant set to open in mid-May in La Jolla. (Lucien)

An alum of multiple Michelin-star kitchens steps into the spotlight in La Jolla

March 12, 2025 at 7:02 p.m.

Lucien, founded by chef Elijah Arizmendi, is set to open in downtown La Jolla in...

Julio Regalao, center, laughs with friends at a pajarete location in Muscoy. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Raw milk jitters? In this immigrant LA subculture, they spike theirs with alcohol

March 8, 2025 at 6:16 a.m.

Drinking unpasteurized milk is an old custom in dairy-producing regions of Mexico.

Fritzi Lara Lino, small batch brewer at Sapporo-Stone Brewing, with the company’s new female-crafted She’s the Brewer beer. (Sapporo-Stone Brewing)

Brewery Rowe: Sapporo-Stone debuts new IPA crafted by female brewers

March 7, 2025 at 4:28 p.m.

Also this week: Punts & Pint, the Shamrock festival and the 'Can’t Wait for Spring'...

False Idol’s new cocktail menu is divided into five categories: tiki classics, drinks made with rum, False Idol originals, punch bowls and mocktails. (Shannon Partrick)

Foodie Forecast: Tequila tasting, beer-battered fish tacos and new cocktails from False Idol

March 6, 2025 at 1:32 p.m.

This week's foodie forecast for San Diego features new cocktails and mocktails from False Idol,...

An artist’s rendering of the main dining room for Lana restaurant, opening this spring in Solana Beach. (Workind Studio)

The Dish: Check out these four new restaurants, and Lana coming soon

March 12, 2025 at 7:03 p.m.

Lana will soon Rustic Root, Better Buzz, Burger Bench and Taco Stand, and James...

An artfully plated dish at newly opened 24 Suns restaurant in Oceanside. (24 Suns)

Former Addison chefs are exploring Chinese cuisine and culture at Oceanside’s 24 Suns

March 12, 2025 at 7:04 p.m.

Nicholas Webber and Jacob Jordan have turned their longtime pop-up concept into a full-fledged restaurant-bar

A glass of sangria and the polpette, which is traditional house-made meatballs in a pomodoro sauce topped with a parmesan cheese fondue at Trattoria da Sofia in Kensington. (Carlos Rico / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

8 San Diego restaurants and bars to visit for weekend happy hour

March 7, 2025 at 4:01 p.m.

Our guide to recent happy hour food and drink options in San Diego County includes...

Much of the Kitchen Herb Frittata, with a creamy mustard sauce and sumac pickled red onions, can be prepped ahead. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

3 weekend breakfast dishes worth lingering over

March 7, 2025 at 3:33 a.m.

Family-style recipes from chef Wesley Johnson of Urban Kitchen Group can be prepped ahead for...

Pan-Seared Pork Tenderloin With Tarragon features the “filet mignon of pork.” (Scott Suchman / For The Washington Post)

Pork tenderloin is a midweek dinner helper

March 5, 2025 at 5:30 a.m.

The underrated protein deserves to be the star of your next meal

A chopstick makes a handy mold for a pretty orange peel twist. (Justin Tsucalas / For The Washington Post)

How to use all those takeout chopsticks in your miscellany drawer

March 5, 2025 at 5:15 a.m.

Try the disposable utensils when cooking, twisting orange peels or cleaning those hard-to-reach places.

While this recipe for Turkey Tetrazzini calls for turkey, leftover chicken (especially rotisserie chicken) works beautifully, too. (Dreamstime / TNS)

Turkey Tetrazzini the perfect potluck dish go-to

March 5, 2025 at 5:05 a.m.

By Beth Dooley The Minnesota Star Tribune Perhaps it was the “exotic” name — turkey...

German blueberry streusel cake – horizontal. (Milk Street via AP)

Blueberries bring fruity tartness to streusel-topped German cake

March 5, 2025 at 5:01 a.m.

By Christopher Kimball For The Associated Press Classic German Streuselkuchen is a lush, fine-crumbed, yeasted...

Spiny lobster will be featured at Vistal Bar + Restaurant for a four-course dinner and demonstration in partnership with Chula Seafood on Feb. 28, 2025.
(Kimberly Motos)

Foodie Forecast: A lobster dinner, holiday-themed cocktails and half-off meals

March 4, 2025 at 6:37 a.m.

This week's foodie forecast for San Diego features a lobster dinner, discounts on entrees, a...

The dining room of Origen, a contemporary Mexican restaurant opening Sunday in Hillcrest. (Origen)

The Dish: Check out these five new restaurants in San Diego County

March 1, 2025 at 8:48 a.m.

In this week's dining news, Origen, Buca di Beppo, Chef Jun, Urban Plates and Urth...

Chick-fil-A is opening in Liberty Station on March 6. (Chick-fil-A)

San Diego’s newest Chick-fil-A is opening close to its first location, with one touching twist

By Roxana Popescu

February 27, 2025 at 3:10 p.m.

Liberty Station's latest restaurant addition is Chick-fil-A. It opens March 6 and will specialize in...

Junior’s Cheesecake, in a recipe adapted for home ovens, has a thin bed of lemon-flavored sponge cake that s the cream cheese layer. (Kelly Marshall / The New York Times)

What puts the ‘New York’ in New York cheesecake?

February 26, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Cream cheese may have Philadelphia name, but dessert's history is deeply rooted in the Big...

Three healthful and colorful salads you’ll want to eat this winter: clockwise from top left, an Orange-Miso Mukimami Salad, Jennifer Aniston’s Quinoa Salad and a Six-Fruit Winter Salad. (Gretchen McKay / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via TNS)

3 winter salads you’ll actually crave (Just ask Jennifer Aniston)

February 26, 2025 at 5:16 a.m.

Tasty and healthful, dishes likely to banish season's chill

Cabbage rolls with sauerkraut leaves, beef and rice in a tomato sauce, from the cookbook “Kapusta: Vegetable-Forward Recipes from Eastern Europe” by Alissa Timoshkina, from Quadrille, Penguin Random House UK. (Laura Edwards via AP)

Eastern Europe’s traditional ingredients get star treatment in ‘Kapusta’

February 26, 2025 at 5:01 a.m.

Cookbook celebrates the versatile potential of cabbage, other vegetables

North African Lamb Chickpea and Bulgur Soup. (Milk Street via AP)

Ramadan inspires a Moroccan-spiced lamb-chickpea soup

February 26, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Savory dish adapted into a quick, midweek-friendly meal

Five years after a devastating fire, China Max restaurant has reopened on Convoy Street in San Diego. (Kimberly Motos)

Five years after devastating fire, China Max has reopened on Convoy, but with a twist

February 25, 2025 at 7:08 a.m.

New owners have moved the menu away from Cantonese cuisine to focus on dumplings and...

A scene of The World Ballet’s “Great Gatsby,” which plays March 1 and 2 at the Balboa Theatre in San Diego. (Will Bucquoy)

New ballet based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ heading to San Diego

By Marcia Luttrell

February 24, 2025 at 8:28 a.m.

World Ballet Company's version of the 1925 story features ballet with jazz influences along with...

Feeling the winter blues? Bold, tangy flavors like kimchi, miso and sauerkraut can brighten your plate – and your mood. Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Fermented foods: The winter blues cure hiding in your fridge

By Food Drink Life

February 22, 2025 at 6:06 a.m.

Fermented foods are having a big moment, and it’s not just because they’re trendy.

Ken Grossman, co-founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing, was inducted into the inaugural class of the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame on Feb. 15, 2025. (courtesy of Sierra Nevada Brewing)

Introducing the first-ever American Craft Beer Hall of Fame

By Jay R Brooks

February 21, 2025 at 12:41 p.m.

From Fritz Maytag to New Albion, these are the inductees of the inaugural American Craft...

Taco Bell partners with Milk Bar on a Birthday Cake Churro

By Fielding Buck

February 21, 2025 at 12:27 p.m.

The dessert is filled with birthday cake frosting and sells for $2.99 at participating locations.

Erik Fowler is the executive director of the San Diego Brewers Guild. (Erik Fowler)

Brewery Rowe: Diversity celebrated in San Diego’s beer industry

February 21, 2025 at 6:02 a.m.

Also this week, Girl Scout cookies 'on tap," beer events and and Quick Sips,...

An assertive mustard vinaigrette dresses crunchy radish and greens, a perfect pairing to smoky shrimp. (David Malosh / The New York Times)

Midwinter meal starring smoky, buttery shrimp is ready in no time

February 19, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Impress your friends with this effortless dinner party menu, started with a mustardy arugula salad...

Steak au Poivre for Two. (Armando Rafael / The New York Times)

The best steak dinner can be one you make at home

February 21, 2025 at 4:40 p.m.

Choose the right cut of meat and follow these easy tips to prepare Steak au...

Deconstructed Wonton Soup (Pork Meatball Soup With Wonton Noodles). (Peggy Cormary / For The Washington Post)

Deconstructed wonton soup yields flavors in a fraction of the time

February 19, 2025 at 5:15 a.m.

Skip the dumplings and make pork meatballs to channel the best of the beloved soup.

Salt-and-Pepper Tofu, a classic Chinese preparation with deep-frying, isn’t just for firm or extra-firm varieties of the bean curd. (Tom McCorkle / For The Washington Post)

Yes, you can fry soft tofu — and give it the salt-and-pepper treatment

February 19, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Frying soft tofu creates an unbeatable contrast between crispy and custardy

The entrance to a KFC restaurant in Vallejo

KFC is leaving its ancestral home as parent company moves its corporate office to Texas

February 18, 2025 at 2:23 p.m.

Yum and the KFC Foundation will still maintain corporate offices in Louisville.

Claudette Zepeda poses for a portrait in her new Leu Leu by Claudette Zepeda restaurant-lounge in Leucadia. (DsngdbyV)

‘Top Chef’ alum Claudette Zepeda is ready to cook for San Diego again

February 18, 2025 at 9:43 a.m.

The Imperial Beach native will soon open the 60-seat Leu Leu restaurant-lounge in Leucadia

Chocolate eggs dry in the workshop at The Chocolate Line in Bruges, Belgium, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Chocolate love has its price on Valentine’s Day as cocoa costs make hearts shudder, not flutter

April 4, 2025 at 7:15 p.m.

The price of cocoa beans may turn the gift of love into a bigger financial...

A Wizard of Oz mural is a focal point at the Hob Nob Hill, a Bankers Hill mainstay for decades. (Ariana Drehsler / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Hob Nob Hill, a Bankers Hill icon, has been sold. What’s next?

By Lori Weisberg

February 13, 2025 at 7:34 p.m.

Longtime Hob Nob owner Tania Warchol said that after more than 30 years, it's time...

The new Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill at Oceanside’s Brick Hotel. (Brick Hotel)

Check out Oceanside's new tiki bar

February 16, 2025 at 7:22 a.m.

Also this week, Sammy's does heart-shaped pizzas, Puesto has a new creative chef and Pechanga's...

Filled thickly with jam, dusted with cinnamon sugar and baked in a Bundt pan, the cake looks like a giant doughnut. (Linda Xiao / The New York Times)

The secret to summery desserts in winter

February 12, 2025 at 6:01 a.m.

Two easy jam-filled desserts satisfy the craving for bright, bold berries when they’re far from...

Red curry paste adds nuance to a creamy tomato sauce of ground beef and carrots in this spicy, creamy weeknight Bolognese. (David Malosh / The New York Times)

A quick Bolognese more than a pasta sauce — it’s a balm

February 12, 2025 at 5:30 a.m.

This hearty, reviving recipe isn’t just fast and budget-friendly, it’s full of deep, rich flavors

Leftover Roast Chicken Soup is satisfying on its own, especially for young children or someone with a very sore throat. (Rey Lopez / For The Washington Post)

Make this speedy chicken soup to help you through cold season

February 12, 2025 at 5:16 a.m.

Simple recipe calls for rotisserie chicken leftovers, stock, vegetables

The tender, Barolo-braised short ribs can be served over polenta or with mashed potatoes. (Milk Street via The Associated Press)

Short ribs braised in wine and aromatics make for an elegant dinner

February 12, 2025 at 5:01 a.m.

By Christopher Kimball For The Associated Press Brasato al Barolo, or beef braised in Barolo...

The House Special, a beef spare rib pho noodle soup, at PHOnomenal restaurant in National City. The family-owned restaurant has been named to the No. 4 spot on Yelp’s 2025 list of the Top 100 Places to Eat in America. (Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

National City pho spot ranked No. 4 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat list for 2025

February 14, 2025 at 8:13 a.m.

Seven other independent mom-and-pop eateries in San Diego and La Mesa also made this year's...

A Van Leeuwen's shop in Brooklyn. San Diego's first shop opened recently, and it is celebrating with $1 scoops. Here, its founder and CEO, Ben Van Leeuwen, is scooping ice cream. (Associated Press)

How to score $1 ice cream scoops at Van Leeuwen

By Roxana Popescu

February 11, 2025 at 2:19 p.m.

Van Leeuwen's opening in San Diego. Plus, a cute Valentine's idea for steak lovers and...

Enjoying his Turkish coffee, owner Erol Kozoglu at the Pacific Bean Coffee located near Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

San Diego café among America’s top-rated independent coffee shops

February 8, 2025 at 4:06 p.m.

Founded more than 30 years ago near the Pacific Beach boardwalk, this family-owned café best...

Restaurateur Phillip Esteban inside his new restaurant and bar Wildflour, opening later this month at Liberty Station in Point Loma. (Shannon Partrick)

White Rice restaurateur Phillip Esteban readies his latest culinary project: Wildflour

February 11, 2025 at 11:17 p.m.

The all-day restaurant and bar will open later this month in Barracks 19 at Liberty...

Matt Rattner, left, and Chris Cramer are the cofounders of Karl Strauss Brewing Company. (Bruce Glassman)

Brewery Rowe: Karl Strauss marks 36th year with renewed optimism, refreshed brewpub

February 7, 2025 at 8:25 a.m.

Also this week, the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest is back, sips for Super Bowl-watcing...

Fettuccine al Burro, Parmigiano e Tartufo Nero (Fettuccine With Butter, Parmigiano and Black Truffle) incorporates grated truffle in the made-from-scratch pasta and shaved truffle on top. The recipe is a classic by chef Accursio Lota at Cori Pastificio Trattori. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Truffles for your true love: Recipes to pamper that Valentine

February 5, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

Cori Pastificio Trattoria chef shares two pasta recipes showcasing fungi’s decadence

Chicken Breasts in Tomato Cream Sauce. (Peggy Cormary / For The Washington Post)

Chicken in creamy tomato sauce is an easy dish that’s company-worthy

February 5, 2025 at 5:31 a.m.

All you need is 30 minutes to prepare these chicken breasts in a creamy tomato...

Winter greens, from left: mustard, chard, collards and curly kale. (Scott Suchman / For The Washington Post)

Winter greens are versatile and nutritious. Here’s how to cook them.

February 5, 2025 at 5:01 a.m.

Collard greens, mustard greens, chard and kale are excellent in all kinds of cooked (and...

Nuggets of dough with cinnamon and nutmeg make Buttermilk Monkey Bread a hands-on guilty pleasure that’s fun to eat. (Milk Street via AP)

Pull-apart monkey bread gets a subtler update that keeps the fun

February 5, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

By Christopher Kimball For The Associated Press Monkey bread gets an update that makes the...

Cesarina and Elvira restaurant co-founders Niccolò Angius and his wife, chef Cesarina Mezzoni, left, and their business partner Giuseppe Cao. (Arlene Ibarra)

San Diego spot named the No. 1 most romantic restaurant in America

February 5, 2025 at 10:22 a.m.

Three local eateries made Yelp's top 100 list of the nation's best date night restaurants...

This restaurant was named the No. 1 most romantic spot in America

February 8, 2025 at 3:17 p.m.

Three local eateries made Yelp's top 100 list of the nation's best date night restaurants...

A Super Bowl in New Orleans is a great excuse to make shrimp po’boy sandwiches

February 4, 2025 at 9:33 a.m.

Po’boys were invented in New Orleans during a streetcar strike in 1929.

Oaxacan tlayudas feed a Super Bowl party or any crowd with ease

February 4, 2025 at 9:33 a.m.

For ease, the tlayudas are baked in a hot oven rather than cooked over a...

A bowl of chicken wings with a bowl of ranch.

Winging it for the Super Bowl? Broccoli might be a cheaper party snack this year

February 4, 2025 at 9:33 a.m.

Here's how much you'll pay for Super Bowl party staples this year.

The downtown nightclub Oxford Social Club is turning its venue into a Super Bowl watch party. (Clique Hospitality)

At these Super Bowl watch parties in San Diego County, fans can find more than just the big game

February 9, 2025 at 6:40 a.m.

If you cannot travel to New Orleans to see Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9,...

Placing the filling in homemade dumplings before broiling them. (Benjamin B. Braun / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via TNS)

Jumping into dumpling making

January 29, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Chinese takeout favorite even more fun to eat when you make it at home, family-style

Velveting, as seen in this Butter-Soy Chicken and Asparagus Stir-Fry, tenderizes the chicken in a cornstarch marinade before it is blanched and then stir-fried with vegetables in a savory sauce. (Linda Xiao / The New York Times)

The simple trick to silky, juicy chicken breast

January 29, 2025 at 5:30 a.m.

Velveting, a Chinese culinary technique, makes lean meat tender and succulent

Quinoa is an ancient grain originating in the mountains of Bolivia, Chile and Peru. It’s also considered a complete protein, which means that it contains all nine of the essential amino acids. There are hundreds of different types of quinoas. (Linda Gassenheimer / TNS)

Quinoa stars in vegetable-studded salad

January 29, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Grain high in protein, cooks in 15 minutes for a hearty, healthful meal

Whether you need cupcakes to be vegan, can’t find eggs on store shelves right now or are balking at the prices, there are a few easy replacements. (Christopher Testani / The New York Times)

With egg prices still up, here are 5 easy substitutes

January 29, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

No one ingredient can replace everything an egg can do in a recipe, but these...

Longtime San Diego chef to represent U.S. at world’s biggest cooking contest

January 27, 2025 at 8:19 a.m.

Stefani De Palma, competing Jan. 26-27 in the Bocuse d'Or in , spent 15 years...

Tara Monsod, chef of Le Coq restaurant in La Jolla, is a semifinalist in the 2025 James Beard competition in the Best Chef category for California for the second year in a row. (James Tran)

Two San Diego chefs and one local bar named 2025 James Beard Award semifinalists

January 23, 2025 at 9:27 p.m.

Chef Roberto Alcocer of Michelin-starred Valle s two-time nominee Tara Monsod of Animae, and Roma...

Callie restaurant chef-owner Travis Swikard and his chef team at their first Feeding San Diego Pairings With a Purpose dinner on Feb. 29, 2024. The second annual event is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2025. (Amanda Schroeder)

Callie chef-owner Travis Swikard has a heart for L.A. fire victims and San Diego’s hungry

January 30, 2025 at 9:03 a.m.

The chef-owner of the Michelin Bib Gourmand-honored restaurant in East Village is among the most...

Chef Violette Lewis spoons tzatziki sauce over Mediterranean chicken skewers during a hands-on cooking class at Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center in National City. With help from local professional chefs, youths in the Chef Angels program can learn about sometimes unfamiliar foods in an engaging setting. (Hayne Palmour IV / Photos for The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Chef Angels’ cooking lessons help foster youths envision a better future

January 22, 2025 at 6:59 a.m.

Underserved kids learn about healthful food prep, culinary career paths from nonprofit's outreach via dozens...

The cake, made with two types of cocoa, is gluten-free. (Milk Street via AP)

Italian chocolate cake skips the flour yet stays light

January 27, 2025 at 10:05 a.m.

Rich 'torta Barozzi' incorporates ground almonds, whipped egg whites, cocoa, espresso and rum

Yachae Bibimbap (Roasted Vegetable Bibimbap). (Rey Lopez / For The Washington Post)

Roasted vegetable bibimbap brings balance to every bite

January 22, 2025 at 5:15 a.m.

A sheet pan bibimbap recipe from 'Korean Made Easy' is visually, texturally and nutritiously vibrant

A squeeze of lemon juice adds freshness to any hearty blend of grains, beans and greens. (Linda Xiao / The New York Times)

An easy one-pot method for vegetarian meals

January 22, 2025 at 5:01 a.m.

This technique for cooking grains, vegetables and proteins all at once will help make plant-based...

One of the most creative dishes in Visit Oceanside’s Swell Plates Series is 24 Suns restaurant’s Bycatch Choux Farci, Cheung Fun with Abalone Mole. (Visit Oceanside)

Chefs at 18 North County coastal restaurants unveil special dinner events

January 17, 2025 at 1:58 p.m.

Oceanside hosts Swell Plates series, Fox Point Farms launches dinner series; and Herb & Sea...

The interior of BoujieMana restaurant in San Diego’s Serra Mesa. It was recently named No. 8 on Yelp’s list of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2024. (Timothy Gonzalez)

Is San Diego’s BoujieMana the best restaurant you’ve never heard of?

January 17, 2025 at 11:19 a.m.

Quietly tucked away in a Serra Mesa office building, the Mediterranean eatery was named America's...

Chicken Shio Ramen, made with a long-simmered chicken bone broth and roasted pork, is a superb home take on the restaurant favorite. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Reveling in ramen, at home

January 15, 2025 at 6:01 a.m.

For The Union-Tribune When you think of ramen, it wouldn’t be surprising if your first...

Fennel, citrus and olives — a classic Sicilian salad trio — simmer with sauteed onion, garlic and a can of diced tomatoes. (Scott Suchman / For The Washington Post)

Channel Mediterranean sunshine with this skillet-braised chicken

January 15, 2025 at 5:30 a.m.

Saucy chicken gets a flavor boost from fennel, lemon and olives

Content creator Violet Witchel started making dense bean salads as a solution to nutrition qualms. (Scott Suchman / For The Washington Post)

How dense bean salads became a protein-packed recipe sensation

January 15, 2025 at 5:02 a.m.

Adaptable bean salads are a make-ahead hit for vegetarians and omnivores alike

Vegan and vegetarian ramen dishes, like the one pictured, can feature everything from tofu to bamboo shoots and bean sprouts. (Brent Hofacker)

These San Diego County restaurants serve savory vegan or vegetarian ramen dishes worth trying this winter

January 20, 2025 at 5:04 p.m.

10 shops and restaurants with vegetarian and vegan ramen, for those who don't eat meat...

Shortage leaves Dunkin’ stores without any doughnuts in Nebraska, New Mexico and other states

January 10, 2025 at 4:39 p.m.

Dunkin’ stores in at least two states had no doughnuts in their cases and put...

Burgeon Beer Company owners, from left, Derek van Leeuwen, Anthony Tallman, and Matthew Zirpolo (Tori Bleher/Burgeon Beer)

Brewery Rowe: San Diego’s Burgeon Beer aims to buck the trend

January 10, 2025 at 7:56 a.m.

Also this week, an SDSU alum has big success with Tennessee brewery, Quick Sips, Oregon...

A breakfast sandwich at Wildland all-day restaurant, bar and bakery in Carlsbad.(Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Review: Eating our way through newly opened Wildland’s all-day menu

January 10, 2025 at 1:57 p.m.

Carlsbad's huge no-reservations-needed restaurant, bar and bakery has been a smash since it opened Dec....

People dine at Seaport Village's Edgewater Bar and Grill, which will be closing within days to make way for a new restaurant, Gladstone's. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Gladstone’s at Seaport still not open after more than 2-year wait but construction starting soon

By Lori Weisberg

January 9, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

The high-profile venue will take over the space now occupied by the Edgewater Grill, which...

These vegetarian tostadas are stacked with two layers of smashed pinto beans, lettuce, pico and roasted sweet potatoes and bell peppers. Crumbled queso fresco and lime crema add the crowning touch. (Gretchen McKay / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via TNS)

Roasted vegetables hit the sweet spot

January 8, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Caramelizing root vegetables brings sugar to the fore, making them a hit with kids

Chopped Salad With Shrimp and Avocado Green Goddess Dressing. (Rey Lopez / For The Washington Post)

A chopped salad is a catchall that’s easy to adapt

January 8, 2025 at 5:46 a.m.

This shrimp salad with green goddess dressing can be modified with whatever herbs and protein...

A breakfast of Salmon and Egg Scramble helps you start your day right, with 27 grams of protein in just one serving. (Tom McCorkle / For The Washington Post)

How much protein do you really need?

January 8, 2025 at 5:30 a.m.

Most Americans get enough, but more should spread it throughout the day

Puesto’s new mocktail lineup featuring a cold brew coffee, a nonalcoholic michelada, alcohol free tequila soda and a virgin margarita. (Mandie Geller)

6 bars and restaurants where San Diegans can savor mocktails during Dry January

January 7, 2025 at 11:55 a.m.

For those who are looking for cocktail alternatives, here are six places to look for...

Chef-director William Bradley at Addison by William Bradley, a Michelin three star restaurant in San Diego’s Carmel Valley. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

San Diego’s Michelin three-star restaurant Addison has a new name, and here’s why

January 6, 2025 at 9:07 a.m.

William Bradley, the chef-director who has guided the restaurant since its 2006 opening, has put...

Sophia Estudillo (right) and Erica Gonzalez cook up fresh stacks of handmade flour tortillas at Las Cuatro Milpas in Barrio Logan. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Las Cuatro Milpas vows to reopen after county finds vermin infestation

By Lori Weisberg

January 3, 2025 at 6:04 p.m.

Family-owned restaurant in Barrio Logan says it will pursue a "deep cleaning" and pest control...

Brunch dishes at newly opened Flora in North Park. (Arlene Ibarra)

Four restaurants open, two close in recent weeks

January 3, 2025 at 12:56 p.m.

Flora, Tajima and Cava locations have opened, Wildwood Flour and Fig Tree close, Aldea welcomes...

Rouleur Brewing Co. in Carlsbad is one of several brewery businesses to shut down in 2024. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Brewery closures in San Diego County rise in 2024

By Brandon Hernandez

January 2, 2025 at 2:35 p.m.

Economic challenges and negative consumer trends are catching up with brewers, but local beer industry...

How Pamela Anderson rediscovered herself in the kitchen

January 1, 2025 at 11:08 a.m.

With her debut cookbook, “I Love You,” the Hollywood star pays tribute to the women...

Scallion oil, called pa gireum in Korean, gently poaches white fish, leaving behind little smell and rich flavor. (Linda Xiao / The New York Times)

The low-smell, low-stress fish recipe of your dreams

January 1, 2025 at 5:30 a.m.

Concerned about odors and splatters? This simple dinner, infused with a silky scallion oil, is...

A lot of meals taste better if they are prepared and allowed to rest a day before serving, and this warming meal for a winter’s night of Lamb Stew With Rosemary and Olives, plus Endive and Arugula Salad, lets you enjoy the feast, all while flavors develop and textures improve. (David Malosh / The New York Times)

Warming winter feast can be largely made ahead

January 1, 2025 at 5:16 a.m.

Early prep on savory lamb stew and fancy-feeling crepes ease the load on busy host

The phyllo sheets create flaky layers. (Peggy Cormary / For The Washington Post)

Phyllo is the key to an off-the-cuff, flaky ‘pizza’

January 1, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Recipe exemplifies the Mediterranean approach to meals — and simple entertaining

Giacomo Pizzigoni, left, and Andrea Burrone outside their La Jolla fine-dining restaurant Ambrogio by Acquerello, when it opened in 2022. The restaurant will close its doors Dec. 31. (Ambrogio15 Restaurant Group)

Owner of Ambrogio by Acquerello restaurant plans to refocus efforts in Pacific Beach

February 12, 2025 at 1:15 p.m.

Co-owner Giacomo Pizzigoni said the fine-dining concept wasn't viable, but its Italian-born chefs will stay...

An artist’s rendering of Lilo fine-dining restaurant, opening in Feb. 2025 in Carlsbad. (Lilo)

San Diego’s 50 most anticipated new restaurants of 2025

January 10, 2025 at 1:58 p.m.

From Oceanside to Chula Vista, new fine dining, casual, drive-through and walk-up restaurants are arriving...

Greg Koch, left, and Steve Wagner, right, with an unidentified employee in the early days of their company, Stone Brewing, which they launched in 1996 and sold in 2022. (Stone Brewing)

Brewery Rowe: ing the torch not so easy at family-owned breweries

December 27, 2024 at 5:01 a.m.

Also this week, Jeff Bagby has left Green Cheek, brewer Kyle Fjalstad ing Original 40...

The Ponyboy Deviled Eggs and the Three-Cheese Fondue, with dipping items, from executive chef Josh Reynolds. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

New Year’s Eve: Get the party started in your own kitchen

December 25, 2024 at 6:02 a.m.

Retro-inspired modern recipes from Ponyboy will stir up New Year’s Eve

Home Brew Mart owner Jim Johnson holds up a beer in front of a row of fermenters used for brewing beer at Home Brew Mart in San Diego. Johnson self-financed the purchase of the storied space and has spent the past six months working to restore Home Brew to its roots. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Home Brew Mart launches a comeback with a familiar face leading the company

By Brandon Hernandez

December 25, 2024 at 6:01 a.m.

Former Ballast Point Brewing employee purchased the homebrew shop with ambitions of restoring it to...

A miso marinade caramelizes onto the pork and keeps it juicy and tender. (Christopher Testani / The New York Times)

You can’t mess up this holiday roast

December 25, 2024 at 5:30 a.m.

Want to impress with a glistening, delicious centerpiece this holiday season? This miso-marinated pork will...

For the Olive Oil Challah With Golden Raisins, a water roux helps prolong the bread’s shelf life.. (Milk Street via AP)

A water roux keeps challah tender and fluffy