Three San Diego Restaurants Make Esquire List of Best New Restaurants in the US
A trio of San Diego restaurants have made it onto Esquire Magazine’s list of the 50 best new restaurants in the United States.
This year, Esquire Magazine’s culinary team visited around 200 of the top restaurants around the country. From there, they whittled the list down to 50 of the best new restaurants in the country — a list that includes three San Diego restaurants.
Beyond excellent ratings and top-tier cuisine, the Esquire team said that the magic factor in getting a restaurant on the list was “radical authenticity.” More specifically, a chef’s willingness to be honest and put their personal stories on each plate.
“Honest innovation doesn’t always work in the kitchen, but when it does, it’s like rocket fuel for the soul,” Esquire wrote. “You leave not just full, not just filled with delight, but with a spark. It’s a rare thing, but it’s worth chasing.”
Mabel’s Gone Fishing
The first of the San Diego restaurants that made the list was Mabel’s Gone Fishing, a North Park eatery that blends California and Iberian cuisine with a healthy dose of down-to-earth “neighborhood bar and restaurant” vibe.
- Menu: https://www.mabelsgonefishing.com/
- Address: 3770 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
- Phone: (619) 228-9851
- Hours: Mon – Sat, 4 – 11 p.m., Closed Sundays
Hitokuchi
Next on the list was Hitokuchi, which is located on San Diego’s famed Convoy Street — a local hotspot for all types of Asian cuisine. Technically a sake lounge with hot small bites, Esquire writes that the unassuming restaurant features “some of the most exquisite cooking in San Diego’s Convoy District.”
- Menu: https://www.hitokuchisd.com/
- Address: 4764 Convoy St Suite B, San Diego, CA 92111
- Phone: (858) 371-9584
- Hours: Fri – Sun, 5 – 10 p.m.
Closed Mon – Thurs
Valle
Lastly, Esquire named Oceanside restaurant Valle as one of the best new restaurants in America. The Michelin starred restaurant features unique and innovative takes on Mexican classics, and is inspired by the Valle de Guadalupe wine region in Baja California.
- Menu: https://valleoceanside.com/menu/
- Address: 222 N Pacific St, Oceanside, CA 92054
- Phone: (866) 723-8906
- Hours: Wed – Sun, 5 – 9 p.m.
Closed Mon – Tues
Although San Diego has not historically shared the same reputation for culinary excellence as other California cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, that’s changing. In fact, San Diego was recently voted the second best city in the U.S., thanks in no small part to its blossoming culinary scene.
Want to experience some of that culinary excellence? In addition to the restaurants on this list, check out our guide to La Jolla restaurants and food.
Media credit: Image of dish courtesy of valleoceanside.com
Mike Peterson is a writer, editor, and strategist based in San Diego. When he’s not writing and editing the La Jolla news, you can often find him practicing yoga, rock climbing, or exploring the outdoors with his wife and dog.
