Although most San Diegans would say tacos are the region’s most popular food, a recent national study ranked San Diego only eighth on its taco passion list.
The list’s top 10 cities are: Austin, followed by San Jose, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, San Diego, Phoenix and Riverside.
According to the data-driven study published by Clever Real Estate on Sept. 29, San Diego fell far behind seven other cities based on the percentage of revenue each city’s restaurants chalked up to taco sales, among many other factors.
The study also compared the number of taquerias per 100,000 residents, Google trend scores on taco-related searches online, the number of taco trucks in the city, the price and affordability of taco supplies and the number of star-rated taco shops on Yelp.
If it’s any consolation, the research-gatherers found San Diego is the No. 1 city in the nation for celebrating Taco Tuesday and for Google searches of fish tacos and carnitas.
San Diego-based City Tacos, which Gerry Torres founded in North Park in 2014 and now boasts six locations countywide, recently marked the milestone of serving its 3 millionth taco.
“I just happened to stumble across this fun milestone while going through my records,” Torres said in a statement. “While I certainly can’t say that all San Diegans have had a City Taco taco, I am proud that my vision and passion has extended to nearly the same number as the population here.”
Torres is originally from Mexico City, and he moved to San Diego in 1992. This past June he became a U.S. citizen in a ceremony held at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Downtown San Diego. Visit citytacossd.com.
The Gärten, an outdoor beer and wine garden that brings together four local businesses, will hold its grand opening this weekend in Bay Park.
The 2,500-square-foot shared vendor space is a collaboration between next-door neighbors Lost Cause Meadery and Deft Brewing, as well as Pizza Cassette and Oddish Wine. Designed in the style of a German biergarten, the project features communal tables and will offer live music and entertainment more than 150 nights each year.
Deft Brewing was awarded the Co-Champion Brewery title at the 2021 San Diego International Beer Competition and a silver medal at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival. It specializes in classic Belgian, German and British beer styles. Pizza Cassette, launched this year by pizzaiolos Chris Herko and Jimmy Terwilliger, specializes in wood-fired, scratch-made pizzas and sandwiches that include a three-meat Italian, a banh mi and Philly cheesesteak. Pizza Cassette plans to host pop-up pizza classes and prix-fixe dinners at the Gärten.
Lost Cause Meadery opened in 2017. It makes a variety of meads and ciders. Oddish Wine is a new concept from Lost Cause Meadery. It makes sparkling wines, ciders and other brewed fruit beverages. The Gärten has been set up in a former parking lot adjacent the commercial and tap room spaces of Lost Cause, Deft Brewing and Pizza Cassette.
Grand opening festivities will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 5322 Banks St., San Diego. Events will include live music, autumn craft beers, limited edition ice cream and more. For details, visit facebook.com/lostcausemeadery.
Tahini, a Middle Eastern street food restaurant in Clairemont Mesa, opened its second location on the campus of University California San Diego on Monday.
Founded in 2013 by longtime friends Osama Shabaik and Mahmoud “Moody” Barkawi, Tahini specializes in the homestyle foods they grew up eating. Shabaik, whose heritage is Egyptian, was born in Baltimore and grew up in San Diego. Barkawi, who’s Syrian, was born and raised in Paterson, N.J., and moved with his family to San Diego in his mid-teens. They met in high school and have been friends and budding entrepreneurs ever since.
At Tahini, diners choose from three proteins — chicken or beef shawarma or vegetarian falafel — in either a pita, a rice bowl or a salad, with choice of seven house-made tahini sauces and dips. The chicken shawarma is marinated and cooked rotisserie-style in-house with all-natural, cage-free halal chickens and the beef shawarma is also made in-house with all-natural halal Angus beef. Pitas, which are baked in-house daily, and the herb-rich falafel is Egyptian-style, made with fava beans rather than garbanzos and fried to order.
The new location on the UCSD campus is at 9625 Scholars Drive N., Suite 0113, La Jolla. For details, visit tahinistreetfood.com.
Beeside Balcony, a 4-year-old global Mediterranean restaurant with French influences in Del Mar, will open its second location later this month in La Jolla.
Beeside executive chef-owner Christophe Cevasco has taken over the former Sushi on the Rock restaurant space at 1025 Prospect St., Suite 250, in La Jolla. The La Jolla location will duplicate the Del Mar restaurant’s menu, but it will have an onsite speakeasy called The Hive with its own cocktail menu.
Cevasco is a third-generation chef of Spanish and Italian heritage who learned to cook as a teen in his father’s Pasadena restaurant. In 2011, he became managing partner of Eddie V’s Prime Seafood in La Jolla, then left in 2018 to open both Beeside Balcony and, later, Cevasco’s, restaurants in Old Del Mar.
“After working seven years at Eddie V’s in La Jolla and then being away in Del Mar for four years, it’s time I come back to La Jolla,” Cevasco said.
During the month of October, LAVO San Diego restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter is donating $1 from every order of its Oreo Zeppole with Pink Malted Milkshake dessert to the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. To further the initiative, Lavo’s parent company, Tao Group Hospitality, will have team members in seven cities, including San Diego, taking part in the annual Making Strides fundraising walks. Over the past 13 years, Tao Group has helped raise more than $1 million for the American Cancer Society, including $165,525 last year, when 650 team members took part in walking events. Lavo is at 611 Fifth Ave., San Diego.
This month, Paru Tea Bar is offering a a selection of matcha tea-infused chocolates by Deux Cranes, a Bay Area chocolatier that got its start in San Diego.
The products featured this month are Deux Cranes’ KOI Deep Matcha Bar, Raspberry Almond Matcha Bar and Matcha Sablés shortbread cookie. They’re priced from $8 to $15. All three can be purchased together in a bundle for $35.
Paru, with locations in La Jolla and Point Loma, was co-founded by Amy Troung and Lani Gobaleza as a way to celebrate their international roots. They were inspired to collaborate with Deux Cranes founder Michiko Marron-Kibbey, because its chocolates are also inspired by her Japanese heritage. The chocolates are available at both stores and online at paruteabar.com.
To celebrate the opening of California spiny lobster fishing season earlier this week, up to 10 local fisherman will bring in their overnight lobster bounty for Tuna Harbor Dockside Market’s third-annual Lobsterfest sale. Last year, the fishermen sold 1,492 pounds of lobster in just under three hours. Chef Marcus Twilegar will also be serving lobster meals on the dock during the event. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until sold out) Saturday. 598 Harbor Lane, San Diego. (619) 278-8275. thdocksidemarket.com
This ocean-view Carlsbad restaurant is now offering $2 off wines by the glass and half off select bottles from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays. Live music is also presented on Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. 5240 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad. 7milekitchen.com
Kona Kai Resort & Spa hosts its second annual celebration of San Diego beers to raise money for the SEAL Family Foundation. The event will feature local and regional craft beers, food items and live entertainment. Participants include Ballast Point, Coronado Brewing, Bivouac Ciderworks, Ricava Tequila, Eppig Brewing and JuneShine. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 14. 1551 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego. $79. eventbrite.com (search “Sails & Ales).
Parkway Plaza will host a food festival style competition event where 12 food businesses will compete for a prize package valued at more than $20,000, which includes a business investment and three months rent. Participants will provide samples of their cuisine and one winner will be chosen by “tastemaker” judges. Participants include La Flamme Française, Rollin Roots, Chef Budda Blasain Soul Food, Vwayaj Ayiti, Mia Sorella Chimney Cakes, Baghdad Gourmet, Blendees, Tuggamomma Smokehouse, Chef Diors Creations, Raya’s Sweet Treats, Chef Char Seafood & Soul and Eleazar Catering . Noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 15. 415 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon. $8. visitparkwayplaza.com/taste-for-the-space-tickets
Giardino Neighborhood Cucina and adjacent Zest Wine Bistro will host a ticketed Halloween party for ages 21 and up featuring multiple bars, tarot card readings, horror films, speakeasy rooms, DJs and light bites. 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 31. 8131 Broadway, Lemon Grove. For tickets, visit giardinosd.com
Kragen writes about restaurants for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Email her at pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com.
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