L55 Tacos & More Shutters At San Diego's Westfield UTC, Marking Another Setback For Lola 55’s Scalability Strategy

After just 15 months in operation, L55 Tacos & More has closed its location within San Diego's Westfield UTC mall, marking an abrupt end to to what was intended to be the scalable evolution of the Lola 55 brand. 

City Of San Diego Abruptly Ends Longstanding Media ID And Parking Placard Program, Raising New Questions About Access, Accountability, And Press Rights

The City of San Diego has abruptly discontinued its Media Identification Card (Press Pass) Program and the blue parking placards that for decades helped local journalists cover breaking news safely and in real time. The change, effective February 13, is being framed by San Diego Police Department as an administrative modernization effort. But to many working reporters, photographers, and editors, the practical effect is simple: less access, more friction, and a new discretionary landscape in which on-scene decision-making can tilt against the press, especially when coverage is critical.

San Diego Doesn’t Need More “Food Content”, It Needs A Real Food Critic

San Diego loves to call itself a “world-class food city,” and on paper, it has the raw material to back that up: serious chefs, tons of money, eclectic neighborhoods, and a dining scene that can compete with bigger markets on talent alone. But there’s one thing we still don’t have, and until we do, we’re going to keep getting treated like a sunny outpost where restaurants are marketed, not evaluated. San Diego needs a real food critic.

Oceanside Fish Shop Opens On Coast Highway In San Diego's North County As Expanding Seafood Chain Navigates Past Controversies

Oceanside has officially reeled in a new seafood player as the Fish Shop brand opens its fourth San Diego County location along South Coast Highway.

Surf Bowl Co. To Open In Former Northside Shack Space In San Diego's Point Loma, Marking A Generational Transition For The Location

A familiar Point Loma address is preparing for a fresh start. Surf Bowl Co. is set to open on Rosecrans Street in the former Northside Shack space, bringing superfood bowls, blends, and brews back to a location that spent more than a decade serving açaí and smoothies to a loyal neighborhood following. The new concept is being launched the son of Northside Shack's founder, marking a generational transition rather than a simple revival.

Sumo + Sushi Bringing Live Japanese Wrestling And Dining Experience To San Diego's Del Mar Fairgrounds

San Diego won’t need a passport to experience one of Japan’s oldest sporting traditions this winter. Sumo + Sushi, a traveling live exhibition that blends professional sumo wrestling with curated Japanese dining, is set to take over the Wyland Center at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for two weekends, February 20–22 and February 27–March 1. The immersive 90-minute experience combines cultural education, live exhibition matches, and interactive audience elements, all hosted by one of sumo’s most legendary figures.

County Approves Zoning Update Allowing Amplified Music at Boutique Wineries in Unincorporated San Diego

San Diego County boutique wineries located outside city limits will soon be able to turn up the volume. On February 11, 2026, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved amendments to the County Zoning Ordinance allowing amplified live music at boutique wineries operating in unincorporated communities. The move is aimed at strengthening the rural economy while maintaining compatibility with surrounding agricultural and residential areas.

After Nearly Five Years In Development, LA-Based Mama Por Dios Finally Opens In San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter

After years of construction pauses, stalled timelines, industry skepticism, and a string of concept failures downtown, Mama Por Dios has officially opened in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.

San Diego's La Fachada Taqueria To Close After More Than Three Decades, Marking Another Loss For Barrio Logan’s Culinary Legacy

Another longtime pillar of San Diego’s Mexican food landscape is preparing to close its doors, as La Fachada taqueria will soon end its run in Logan Heights after more than 30 years in business.

Atmosphere Proves Longevity Isn’t A Gimmick At Sold-Out San Diego Show At The Observatory North Park

There are rappers who survive eras, and then there are rappers who quietly outlast them. On Tuesday night at a sold-out show at San Diego's The Observatory North Park, Atmosphere delivered a reminder that endurance in hip hop isn’t about chasing relevance, it’s about never losing your voice.

San Diego Crime Stoppers Offer Reward As Balboa Park Parking Machine Vandalism Grows Into A Political And PR Crisis for City Hall

San Diego County Crime Stoppers and investigators from the San Diego Police Department are now offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of whoever vandalized more than 50 parking pay stations across Balboa Park, a crime spree that has escalated into one of the most symbolically loaded acts of protest the city has seen in years.

Ironside Fish & Oyster In San Diego's Little Italy To Close Briefly For ‘Ironside 2.0’ Reset Ahead of March Relaunch

One of San Diego’s most influential seafood restaurants is preparing for a short but significant pause. Ironside Fish & Oyster will close after service on February 16 for a near one-month reset, reopening March 10 with what chef Jason McLeod is calling “Ironside 2.0.”

San Diego’s Legendary Red Fox Room Steak House & Piano Bar Seeks New Steward To Write Its Next Chapter | Historic Restaurant For Sale For More Than $3 Million

One of San Diego’s most storied dining rooms may soon be turning the page again. The Red Fox Room, the historic steakhouse and piano bar that has anchored North Park’s El Cajon Boulevard for decades, is officially being offered for sale for nearly $3.5 million, with brokers describing the moment as a search for “the next steward” to guide the institution forward.

Award-Winning Slice House By Tony Gemignani Pizzeria To Open North County San Diego Location

San Diego County’s pizza scene is getting another dose of championship-level dough, as Slice House by Tony Gemignani is officially expanding north, with a second county location planned for Carlsbad.

Pacific Beach Community Mourns After Another Hit-And-Run Death, Tavern At The Beach Temporarily Closes

A tight-knit San Diego beach community is in mourning after a devastating hit-and-run took the life of a beloved local, sending shockwaves through Pacific Beach’s hospitality scene and prompting Tavern at the Beach to temporarily close in grief. As friends and neighbors search for answers, the tragedy has also reignited urgent questions about street safety in a neighborhood already scarred by recent traffic deaths.

Salt & Straw Scooping Into Coronado With New Orange Avenue Ice Cream Shop

One of the country’s most recognizable craft ice cream brands is officially headed to Coronado. Salt & Straw is preparing to open a new location this spring along Orange Avenue, adding another high-profile food and drink name to the island’s primary commercial corridor.

Palm Springs’ Ponzu Sushi Expanding To San Diego With New Liberty Station Location

Ponzu Sushi, the Palm Springs–based sushi restaurant that has earned acclaim for its high-quality fish, creative Thai-influenced Japanese cuisine, and chef-driven omakase experiences, is opening its first San Diego location at Liberty Station in Point Loma.

OP-ED: F*ck You If You Support Flecha Cantina: Why Patronizing A Mark Wahlberg Mexican Restaurant In San Diego Is A Betrayal Of The City

This is one of the most important Mexican food cities in the United States, built by generations of local families, immigrant labor, and deeply rooted cultural tradition, not by Hollywood elites looking to slap their name on a tequila brand and call it authenticity. When Flecha Cantina opened in San Diego's North County, it wasn’t just another restaurant launch. It was a cultural insult hiding behind celebrity branding and polished marketing, so F*ck you if you support a Mark Wahlberg–owned Mexican restaurant in San Diego. 

San Diego-Based Skateboard Legend & Restaurateur Tony Hawk Pushes Back After Epstein Files Spark Claim About Wedding On Private Island

San Diego-based skateboarding legend and restaurateur Tony Hawk is publicly shutting down a wave of allegations after newly released federal documents related to Jeffrey Epstein sparked claims that one of Hawk’s four weddings took place on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.