Kingfisher Chef David Sim’s Perfect San Diego Day

Kingfisher made a striking entrance into San Diego’s dining scene in 2022 when it opened in the quaint Golden Hill neighborhood near Balboa Park, drawing attention with its gilded interior, inventive cocktails and modern Vietnamese menu. A standout dish — the smoked and dry-aged duck, served tender and crispy with vibrant sauces and garnishes for building your own lettuce wraps — quickly became a favorite and still sells out every night. 

Kingfisher quickly earned national acclaim when it was featured in the Michelin California Guide as a culinary gem, and it continues to attract diners with dishes that reinterpret traditional Vietnamese flavors, herbs and cooking techniques in fresh, creative ways.

Leading the kitchen is chef David Sim, who is of Cambodian heritage and grew up in San Diego. He started his career at the iconic In-N-Out Burger before rising through the ranks at local fine-dining restaurants. Though he didn’t cook Asian cuisine early in his career, developing dishes at Kingfisher has allowed him to reconnect with his roots through research and exploration of Southeast Asian flavors. 

“Vietnamese and Cambodian food are pretty similar. I went back and thought about my favorite dishes growing up, asking my mom about them — what’s in them, how they’re prepared and whether that preparation was traditional or not,” he said. David’s favorite dishes on Kingfisher’s current menu include the stinging nettle egg noodles, which feature herbs from the lauded Chino Farms that are blanched and incorporated into the dough, mixed with a lot of garlic, and topped with a slow-poached egg and a spicy peanut-lemongrass sate. 

When he’s not in the kitchen, David enjoys dining at his favorite restaurants or spending the day in the sun. He gives us the scoop on how to have the perfect day in San Diego, and where to find the good stuff. 

Morning

I’ll start at Paris Bakery (in the City Heights neighborhood, grab a bánh mì and a Vietnamese coffee. Paris Bakery, and the nearby Vien Dong Supermarket, are staples in the Vietnamese community. Everyone who lives in City Heights goes to Paris Bakery for bread and to Vien Dong for produce. I’m very proud to serve products from both businesses at Kingfisher.

Early Afternoon

Bica (in Normal Heights) is my favorite spot for a working lunch. I usually bump into industry friends there, so it’s a nice place to say hi to people. My favorite thing on the menu is the salmon lox tartine on Companion bread. It’s phenomenal! I love lox and bagels, and I don’t know of another place in San Diego that does it as well. Sometimes I’ll switch it up and order the tuna conserva sandwich. I’ll also get a cortado for another caffeine kick, and then a Shrub soda to sip on. Otherwise, I’ll go to Fish Guts (in Barrio Logan) and order the smoked fish dip served with Ritz crackers, beer-battered fish tacos and blackened swordfish taco. The Xteca Mexican Lager is always a must for me when I’m there. 

Late Afternoon

I’ll either head to Balboa Park or the beach (usually La Jolla Shores) to read, and maybe smoke a small cigar somewhere.

Evening

I usually like to eat dinner early, and Mabel’s Gone Fishing (in North Park) is where I tend to frequent — the food is simple but delicious. I always get their crudos — I won’t even ask what type of fish it is that day and will just order it. If it’s late and I want a good meal, I’ll go to Le Coq (in La Jolla) for a burger. 

Night

I enjoy Realm of the 52 Remedies and Convoy Music Bar (both in the Convoy District). I love the inventive cocktails and the vibes are stellar, and these are places I bring out-of-town guests to. I also enjoy Princess Pub in Little Italy for a Guinness — it’s a no-frills, laid-back place that has one of the best pours of Guinness in San Diego. The neighborhood is also pretty lively, so you can just sit outside and people-watch.  

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.