San Diego's Hot New Restaurants - January 2025

Author

Nenad Sapungin
January 07, 2025

The New Year is officially here… Now, LET’S EAT!!

Le Coq - La Jolla

Le Coq -  Animae chef Tara Monsod, a James Beard Award finalist, has been entrusted by Puffer Malarkey Collective to lead the group’s latest restaurant, a 7,500-square-foot “new wave French steakhouse” in La Jolla whose menu contains French classics along with dishes that reflect modern Parisian gastronomy and Monsod’s expertise in working with Asian ingredients and flavors. Executive pastry chef Lauren Warren takes on the role of boulangère and pâtissière, turning out baguettes with caviar butter and pistachio Paris-Brest.

7837 Herschel Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037

Yakitori Tsuta - Convoy Street

Yakitori Tsuta - San Diego’s first omakase yakitori restaurant has landed on Convoy, where chef Tatsuro Tsuchiya, an alum of industry favorite Yakitori Hino, showcases his skills through a multi-course menu that includes seasonal appetizers, silky chawanmushi, and a rice or noodle dish along with the main event: skewers of expertly grilled chicken, from hearts and gizzards to deconstructed chicken wings and a sensational tsukune (chicken meatball). The tiny, elegant space has just enough room for eight to ten guests to be seated at the dining counter.

3860 Convoy Street, San Diego, CA 92111

The Whaling Bar - La Jolla, CA

The Whaling Bar - Though the return of the Whaling Bar to the La Valencia Hotel is a departure from its charmingly retro origins, the new version — operated by SDCM Restaurant Group (Waverly, the Grass Skirt) — is an appealing glamourous boost to La Jolla’s nightlife scene. The menu from Brian Redzikowski includes favorites like Kettner Exchange’s duck meatballs and the chef’s signature bao along with playful dishes such as a Caesar salad with parmesan-filled “Twinkie” croutons and a picture-perfect “hamburger” made from cake and ice cream. Cocktails from beverage director Eric Johnson are fittingly luxe for the setting, including the Parm to Glass which features parmesan fat-washed vodka, fino sherry, housemade dry vermouth, and olive brine.

1132 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037

Quixote - San Diego, CA

Quixote - In a dark and moody church-like space within the newly-resurrected Lafayette Hotel, Quixote applies a modern outlook to Oaxacan cuisine with a compelling menu that includes tetela —triangle-shaped masa pockets filled with duck confit — grilled octopus with mole pipian, crab corn doughnuts with burnt chile emulsion, and Oaxacan cheese fondue. Overseeing the open-hearth kitchen is chef José Cepeda, who cooked at contemporary Mexican spots like Mirame in Beverly Hills.

2223 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, CA 92104

Bica - San Diego

Bica - Two local chefs, alums of casual standouts like Tender Greens and LA’s Gjusta, are behind this daytime cafe with an ultra-seasonal menu whose dishes change on the regular. Tartines of local sourdough bread might be topped with ricotta and fresh fruit preserves or soft scrambled eggs and salmon roe, sandwiches could be filled with housemade porchetta or tuna conserva, and salads and soups rotate depending on prime produce. Keep an eye out for occasional dinner dates, too.

3569 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116