Overview: Local culinary scene for Pride
At only seven months into 2025, our local culinary scene is enjoying a robust year in terms of recent restaurant openings.
At only seven months into 2025, our local culinary scene is enjoying a robust year in terms of recent restaurant openings.
They’ve arrived just in time for July’s massive
San Diego Pride
celebration, bringing diverse sustenance that will fuel the minds and bodies of more than 100,000 revelers traversing Hillcrest and its surrounding neighborhoods.
While we fully support our city’s well-established kitchens, we encourage Pride-goers to also fork into these newcomers, which are locally owned, LGBTQ-friendly and promising contributors to our city’s economy.
Dreamboat (and Vulture)
From the owners of the ever-popular
Kindred
in South Park is their next vegan venture, but with the styling of a cozy old-fashion diner.
Dreamboat features a lunch counter that seats about 10 people. Along the wall behind it are a few table shelves with space to stand.
Nowhere on the menu does it indicate that the food is 100 percent plant-based, which can be misleading when you see listed dishes such as sausage breakfast sandwiches and double-patty cheeseburgers. But their vegan recreations are flavorful and wholesome.
Dreamboat also houses Vulture, a secret backroom bar and restaurant accessed from a doorway at the end of the lunch counter. Expect crafty cocktails and an elevated bill of fare once inside.
4608 Park Blvd., University Heights
-
Park Boulevard
(619) 790-8587,
dreamboatdiner.com
Frenchy’s Hideout
If you’re looking to regroup and catch your breath from the jubilant hustle of Pride weekend,
Frenchy’s Hideout
offers a Parisian-style escape.
The elegant bistro was launched recently by sommelier and Paris native Michael Simpson, who brings to the table fine wines and a menu that includes classic French favorites. Dishes include house-made pate, ratatouille, escargot and steak frites. Patrons can also enjoy table-side flambe desserts.
In addition, happy hour offers price breaks on select dishes and drinks. It’s held from 3 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and 3 to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
142 W. University Ave., Hillcrest
-
West University Avenue
(619) 539-7248,
frenchyshideout.com
Nomade
A menu of internationally inspired tapas sets the tone for music played on turntables. The cafe’s vast collection of albums adds to the chic but unpretentious interior design, which features a roomy bar and tables along the front windows.
An extensive wine list complements small plates featuring classic patatas bravas, shrimp skewers, shishito peppers and more. The establishment was recently launched by Juan Carlos Gomez, who owns the long-established
El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria
in Old Town.
3027 Adams Ave., North Park
-
Adams Avenue
nomadetapasandrecords.com
Taqueria Tijuanense
With seven locations in Tijuana, this taqueria has become all the rage since opening in the gayborhood earlier this year.
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It’s where you’ll find authentic south-of-the-border fare such as vampiros on corn tostadas; popular mulitas involving a choice of meats sandwiched between two tortillas; and a large variety of torta sandwiches using fresh Mexican-style rolls. The menu extends also to tacos, burritos, quesadillas and refreshing agua frescas.
406 University Ave., Hillcrest
-
University Avenue
(818) 309-0117,
taqueriatijuanazo.com
Cherries & Batter
With the goal of opening shortly before Pride weekend, Cherries & Batter will give consumers a big taste of breakfast with a focus on pancakes—from the standard buttermilk variety to unspecified versions described on the website as “something more adventurous.”
The eatery is the brainchild of Jose Roberto of Roberto’s Taco Shop fame. He took over the shuttered Au Revoir restaurant in the heart of Hillcrest for this anticipated venture.
420 Robinson St., Hillcrest
-
Robinson Avenue
(619) 230-5071,
cherriesandbatter.com
Bosforo
Since opening in spring, foodies have flocked to Bosforo for its marvelous Turkish cuisine found commonly in kitchens throughout Istanbul.
Music usually fills the air as chef Seckin Sage Anlasbay woos diners with wood-fired kabobs, Turkish-style pizzas and an array of other small and full-size dishes. For groups of three to four guests, the dazzling kebap platter is the way to go.
Turkish coffee, yogurt drinks and fermented turnip juice called salgam are some of the traditional beverage choices in addition to Turkish spirits and cocktails.
3201 Adams Ave., Normal Heights
-
Adams Avenue
(619) 634-9646,
bosforosd.com
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Urban Plates
Even though it was founded 14 years ago in Del Mar, this wholesome-food restaurant recently opened its first metro San Diego location in Mission Valley, which is a short jaunt from all the Pride activities. It sits conveniently on the San Diego Metropolitan Transit’s green trolley line at the Mission Valley Center station.
The chic-industrial atmosphere offers spacious indoor-outdoor dining areas, which are for the choosing after placing your order at the front counter. Expect an affordable menu of substantial salads, bowls, sandwiches and plate meals—with many of their ingredients organic. If you make it to dessert, the pineapple-banana “hummingbird cake” with orange cream cheese frosting is a must-try.
1620 Camino de la Reina, Mission Valley
-
Camino De La Reina
(619) 877-0026,
urbanplates.com
Sonny’s Pizza
Local restaurateurs Matt Sieve and Jeff Fink (of Madison and Madi restaurants) opened this pizzeria with “Brooklyn vibes” in May inside a century-old structure that used to house San Diego trolley cars.
The 3,500-square-foot space is now home to picnic tables and Italian-inspired décor that includes photographs of well-known New Yorkers. Twelve-inch pizzas, baked clams and pasta dishes rule the day.
Sieve describes Sonny’s pizza as “a hybrid between Neapolitan and New York-style.”
1728 Madison Ave., University Heights
-
Madison Avenue
(619) 432-1838,
letsgetsonnys.com
