Hot San Diego Restaurant Openings You May Have Missed, May 2025
Each month brings a new slate of exciting new restaurants to San Diego, whether it's a splashy new restaurant helmed by an iconic chef, a low-key neighborhood spot, or a pop-up settling into a permanent location. Consider this monthly rundown a go-to guide for the newest and boldest debuts across San Diego.
National City — The first stateside location for the Michelin-recognized Tacos El Franc is opening at the Westfield Plaza Bonita by May 30. Famous for its adobada and carne asada on corn tortillas, the taqueria originally debuted in 1974 when Javier Valadez sold Tijuana-style tacos out of a street cart; he later opened his open-air, brick-and-mortar taqueria in 1996. The 6,000-square-foot restaurant will carry the same dishes with additions like fries cooked in beef tallow. The cheve bar will be serving up Mexican beer, micheladas, clamatoes, and caguama, which are large bottles of beer. Their second location will open at 528 Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter in late June. 3030 Plaza Bonita Road, Space 1108, National City, CA 91950.
Coronado — Anchoring the highly anticipated $550-million revitalization project at the Hotel Del Coronado is the Nobu Coronado, which held its soft opening on May 7. The 150-seat indoor-outdoor restaurant with panoramic views of the Pacific includes an eight-person sushi bar and a 12-seat pagoda bar with Japanese whiskeys, sake, and cocktails. The menu includes the iconic miso black cod, squid pasta with garlic sauce and A5 Wagyu, and sashimi plates. Special dishes for the Coronado location include lobster truffle tempura, beef kushiyaki skewers, and tai sweet shiso. 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118.
East Village — A vibey brunch spot with bookcases and bespectacled roosters lining the walls opened downtown. Look for plates like the matcha and strawberries waffle pops, shrimp katsu Benedicts, guavas and cream French toast, and The Bucket, a hearty meal of fried chicken and buttermilk waffles in a familiar red-and white-striped bucket. Opened by the Rise and Shine Hospitality team, 6th & G Breakfast Co. is the team's first foray into an elevated brunch arena, complete with imaginative cocktails like Cotton Candy Sugar Rain, made with gin, elderflower, and raspberry tea, topped with cotton candy cloud. 695 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101.
University Heights — A retro 1980s-Brooklyn-style pizza shop has opened in a 100-year-old building. Madison chef Tony Gutierrez partnered with Jose 'Franky' Pereyra to launch Sonny's, featuring a menu with dishes like pizzas like No Sleep Till Brooklyn (mozzarella and mushrooms) and Smoke on the Water (rapini, Italian sausage and smoked provolone). Other non-pizza items include Sonny's burger, baked clams, and chicken Francese. Music vibes extend to the cocktail menu with drinks like Run DMC, made with Drambuie, mezcal, and cynar. 1728 Madison Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116.
Gaslamp Quarter — A new restaurant and bar debuted in the oldest hotel in San Diego, the Beau Hotel, formerly known as the Leland Hotel, which first opened in 1886. The original bar serves as the centerpiece at Bar at the Beau, featuring a wide range of cocktails paying homage to the hotel's history. Menu highlights include duck pot pie, grilled oysters, and braised pork shank. 927 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101.
Chula Vista — A dumpling restaurant that's been honored with a Michelin Bib Gourmand for consecutive years has opened its first San Diego location in Eastlake. Luscious Dumplings got its start in San Gabriel in 2001 before branching out to other locations. Given that it's best known for its Northern-style handmade dumplings, first-timers should be sure to order the boiled chive, pork, egg, and shrimp dumplings, pan-fried pork dumplings, steamed soup dumplings, and stewed Angus beef noodle soup. 872 Eastlake Pkwy Suite 413, Chula Vista, CA 91914.
Midway District — Opening in mid-June is Pho Leo and Grill, a Vietnamese restaurant with an open-concept grill center where meats will be made to order, a tradition commonly found in Vietnam. In addition to the grilled meat and 24-hour marinated rack of ribs roasting in a customized rotisserie, pho noodles will be made with rice flour each morning and com tam, a broken rice plate with grilled pork chops and steamed or fried eggs, will also be made to order. Owner Johnny Le will handle operations and Leo Truong brings his culinary expertise from Cu Chi, Vietnam where he owned a restaurant. Replacing Yum Yum Buffet, the renovated 6,300-square-foot restaurant can seat up to 150 people. 2855 Midway Dr, San Diego, CA 92110.
Serra Mesa — From the family behind Cross Street Chicken and Beer, Grandma Tofu and BBQ, and Sunday Ice Cream, Edi Coffee is opening in Kearny Villa Square, next door to Pho Duyen Mai. The Korean-style 'Anju' café will serve small bar plates, along with coffee, natural wines, beer, and soju cocktails in a mobile cart style. The casual bar will also serve small Korean appetizers, like chicken wings, to accompany the drinks. 5375 Kearny Villa Road, Unit 113, San Diego, CA 92123.
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