Restaurant Openings in San Diego County

Last verified: October 16, 2026.

Five real openings across San Diego County this cycle, checked against source reporting rather than press-release language. Here’s what’s actually open, what’s still coming, and what to know before you go.

Michele Leocadio creates restaurant content for Elev8ed Table. We decide who’s featured on merit alone and never sell placement or ranking — nobody in this guide paid for inclusion.

Encore Sushi — Chef James La and partner Chris West are opening Encore Sushi at 112 S. Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach, with a grand-opening celebration set for October 23. Confidence: Verified (San Diego Union-Tribune, Oct. 15, 2026).

Modern Kabob — An Iraqi-American family-run restaurant opened in early September at 1118 Morena Boulevard in Linda Vista, serving Middle Eastern kabob plates. Confidence: Verified for the opening (Eater San Diego); exact opening day not published — Needs validation.

Swells Sourdough Bakery — Founders Pamela Peraza and Erik Hobbie moved their naturally fermented sourdough bakery out of the farmers-market circuit and into its first permanent location at 2254 India St. in Little Italy, officially opening October 1 after a soft open on September 26. Confidence: Verified (WhatNow San Diego, Sept. 25, 2026).

Zuma San Diego — The international Japanese restaurant group, known for locations in London, Dubai, and other major cities, opened its first San Diego restaurant inside The Guild Hotel at 500 W. Broadway on August 10. Confidence: Verified (Axios San Diego, Aug. 20, 2026; San Diego Magazine, Feb. 17, 2026).

Chula Tacos — Founder Rigo Munoz, who started the business as a taco stand, opened his family business’s third San Diego-area location at 4994 Newport Ave., Suite A, in Ocean Beach on August 1. Confidence: Verified for the opening (San Diego Magazine, July 17, 2026, confirmed open per Axios San Diego, Aug. 20, 2026); exact location count across the brand is unclear from public reporting — Needs validation.

What to ask before you go

• At Encore Sushi, book ahead for the October 23 grand-opening celebration — it’s likely to draw a crowd.
• At Modern Kabob, call ahead to confirm hours; exact opening-day details weren’t independently published.
• At Swells Sourdough Bakery, go early — bakeries selling fresh sourdough tend to sell out of popular items by midday.
• At Zuma San Diego, reserve ahead through OpenTable; hotel restaurants from major international groups book up fast in their first months.
• At Chula Tacos, ask which location you’re at — the brand has had several locations open, close, and relocate around San Diego.

FAQs

Is Zuma San Diego part of a larger restaurant group?
Yes. Zuma is an international restaurant group with locations in cities including London and Dubai; this is its first San Diego restaurant, inside The Guild Hotel downtown.

Is Encore Sushi open yet?
The grand-opening celebration is October 23, so confirm hours before a special trip until then.

Is Chula Tacos independently owned?
Yes. Founder Rigo Munoz started it as a single taco stand; the Ocean Beach location is its third.

Where is Modern Kabob located exactly?
At 1118 Morena Boulevard in the Linda Vista area of San Diego.

Does Swells Sourdough Bakery still sell at farmers markets?
The reporting we found covers its move into a permanent Little Italy storefront; we haven’t independently confirmed whether it kept its market stands.

Keep reading

• Restaurant Openings in Los Angeles County — Marée, Rumi's Kitchen, Swingers Silver Lake, Lucky's Steakhouse, and The Arepa Stand.
• Restaurant Openings in Orange County — Ambitious Ales, Maleza, ROL Hand Roll Bar, Champagnes Kitchen, and Darkroom.
• Restaurant Openings in Riverside County — Orange Tree Tables and Taps, Notebook Cafe, Mikey G's, Shake Shack, and Lalo Urban Kitchen.
• Restaurant Openings in San Bernardino County — Primecut Taqueria and Angry Chickz, with more to come as coverage catches up.