Are we getting closer to the return of indoor dining? We talk about that on our Scene in San Diego podcast this week. Eater San Diego also shares these top stories of the week from our local food and drink scene: the arrival of a ramen hotspot in Hillcrest, Instagram-worthy French fries in Pacific Beach, the rise of Baja cuisine and the debut of a takeout butcher shop in Little Italy.
Restaurant Workers Get Vaccinated As San Diego Inches Closer to Red Tier
San Diego County is closer to moving into the red tier, which would allow restaurants to reopen for indoor dining at 25 percent, or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Ben Clevenger, a local restaurant owner and president of the California Restaurant Association's San Diego chapter, joins the Scene in San Diego podcast to talk about restaurant workers' new vaccination eligibility and what red tier status would mean for the restaurant industry. Listen to our podcast here or below.
Listen/subscribe to the Scene in San Diego podcast to get the latest local lifestyle stories and news from our local food and drink scene. As we continue to adjust to life (back and forth, back and forth) in these times of the coronavirus pandemic, the way we enjoy our city has changed. We’ll keep you up to speed on how those changes impact the things you love to do in our city. Tap here to find Scene in San Diego wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Popular Ramen Shop Sets Opening in Hillcrest
Menya Ultra Ramen, one of San Diego's standout ramen specialists, will launch its third location on March 12 in Hillcrest. The new University Avenue restaurant is debuting with takeout and delivery of its DIY ramen kits as well as new menu items exclusive to this outpost that include Japanese-style fried chicken and shio tonkotsu ramen.
LA Street Food Sensation Expands to San Diego
Mr. Fries Man started as a street food vendor in South Los Angeles before its huge Instagram following helped the eatery to open its first storefront. Now, the eatery is coming to Pacific Beach, where it’s set to open this spring. Specializing in loaded fries, Mr. Fries Man offers a customizable menu that includes toppings like steak, crab, chili, and mango habanero sauce.
Eater San Diego Round-Ups and The Scene
Acclaimed Valle de Guadalupe Chef Opening Oceanside Restaurant
Chef Roberto Alcocer of the acclaimed Malva restaurant in Valle de Guadalupe will be bringing his brand of farm-to-table Baja cuisine to the new Mission Pacific hotel in coastal Oceanside. Due in May or June, the signature restaurant will showcase local produce, seafood, and more alongside wine and beer from the Baja region.
Butcher Shop and Takeout Eatery Landing in Little Italy and Bankers Hill
As we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, takeout is king right now. Blue Box Butcher Shop is a new concept launching in Little Italy this month that features butcher shop services geared towards takeout and delivery, with online ordering of a la carte steaks and chops or pre-boxed, restaurant-caliber meals to cook a home. Another location is scheduled to open in Bankers Hill by the end of the year.
Candice Woo is the founding editor of Eater San Diego, a leading source for news about San Diego’s restaurant and bar scene. Keep up with the latest Eater San Diego content via Facebook or Twitter, and sign up for Eater San Diego’s newsletter here.
