From Jason Janececk, who also co-owns nearby Corner Pizza, Leu Leu is more than just a restaurant—it's an intimate lounge where atmosphere and experience are as integral as the food. The space accommodates up to 65 guests, offering a menu that fuses Zepeda's Mexican-American heritage with Mediterranean, Moroccan, and other global influences. The restaurant’s culinary team is made up of several cultural, ethnic and gender differences, including women of Mexican descent, a reflection of Zepeda’s long-standing emphasis on matriarchal influences in the kitchen.
Diners can expect creative dishes such as a duck confit tamale, a Fabergé egg of sushi rice and beef tartare, masa koji roasted beets with Lebanese garlic sauce, and a fusion of Mexican and Jewish cuisines with masa ball soup. The menu also includes a "rip and dip" section featuring various breads and sauces, alongside crudos and salads. For dessert, the restaurant serves sundaes from Oceanside's indie shop Little Fox Cups & Cones, which is in the process of opening a new location in Cardiff. A selection of beer and wine is also available, with a program highlighting female winemakers. A champagne and caviar offering is also in the works.
The ambiance at Leu Leu is designed to be both chic and relaxed, featuring an outdoor patio with vine-covered arches courtesy of Janececk, a landscape architect. Partner Britt Corrales, a Leucadia native with a passion for community gardening, has helped shape the space with floral decor reminiscent of Georgia O’Keeffe’s art. The eclectic and inviting design was crafted in collaboration with Design 4 Corners, ensuring a cozy, community-centered feel.
Leu Leu marks a new chapter for Zepeda. Raised between San Diego and Tijuana, she started her career as a pastry chef with stints at Sea180 in Imperial Beach and the since-closed Jsix in East Village. She later joined acclaimed chef Javier Plascencia as the opening chef de cuisine of the short-lived Bracero Cocina de Raiz in Little Italy in 2015.
In 2017, Zepeda competed in the second season of Top Chef Mexico, followed by Top Chef Season 15, where she was portrayed as the season's villain. She later opened El Jardin in Liberty Station under the Rise & Shine Breakfast Group but was ousted when the restaurant rebranded in 2019 before closing. During her time at El Jardin, she was a semifinalist in the 2019 James Beard Foundation Awards Best Chef: West category.
Leu Leu marks a new chapter for Zepeda. Raised between San Diego and Tijuana, she started her career as a pastry chef with stints at Sea180 in Imperial Beach and the since-closed Jsix in East Village. She later joined acclaimed chef Javier Plascencia as the opening chef de cuisine of the short-lived Bracero Cocina de Raiz in Little Italy in 2015.
In 2017, Zepeda competed in the second season of Top Chef Mexico, followed by Top Chef Season 15, where she was portrayed as the season's villain. She later opened El Jardin in Liberty Station under the Rise & Shine Breakfast Group but was ousted when the restaurant rebranded in 2019 before closing. During her time at El Jardin, she was a semifinalist in the 2019 James Beard Foundation Awards Best Chef: West category.
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| Chef Claudette Zepeda inside Leu Leu. |
Leu Leu Lounge is now open at 466 North Highway 101, Suite 1, in the Leucadia neighborhood of Encinitas. For more information, visit leuleuleucadia.com.
Originally published on February 17, 2025.
