San Diego’s food halls give visitors a convenient way to explore the city’s flavors

Food lovers hungry for unique and diverse culinary experiences need look no further than San Diego to satisfy their cravings. A recent surge of creativity from local and transferred chefs, plus an ongoing boom in food halls and artisan markets, has quietly transformed San Diego into a major dining destination.

San Diego’s food halls give visitors a convenient way to explore the city’s flavors by providing a range of options under one roof. The following are current and upcoming food halls that visitors should try during a visit to San Diego. 

Liberty Public Market
Located inside Liberty Station, a former Naval Training Center in the historic Point Loma neighborhood, the 6,000-square-foot space opened in 2016 and continues to add vendors to its roster of more than 30 local artisan merchants. Visitors and locals alike sample culinary offerings like Argentinian empanadas at Paraná Empanadas, artisan cheese from Venissimo Cheese, fresh pasta at Pasta Design, handcrafted ice cream and treats at Scooped by Mootime and American comfort food at Stuffed. Fresh produce and seafood can also be purchased, as well as spices, jewelry and holistic pet supplies. For beer lovers, Bottlecraft, a local beer shop, serves up to 24 rotating craft beers on draft. Liberty Public Marketis open daily 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sundays local bands liven up the dog-friendly patio from 1-4 p.m.

Little Italy Food Hall 
The Little Italy Food Hall opened summer 2018 in the heart of what has become San Diego’s hottest epicurean neighborhood. The cozy food hall has six local food stations including Not Not Tacos, culinary celeb Sam the Cooking Guy’s first restaurant venture. Other delicious food finds include Milan-style pizzas from Ambriogio15, Japanese inspired seafood bowls from Single Fin Kitchen, Asian fusion at Mein St. Asian Kitchen, meat cuts and sandwiches at Roast and East Coast favorites at Wicked Maine Lobster. At the center of the Little Italy Food Hall, an expansive bar mixes Italian inspired cocktails and serves a curated wine menu and craft beer on tap. The food hall’s patio faces the Piazza della Famiglia, a European-style public square where the popular Little Italy Mercato sets up every Wednesday and Saturday. Throughout the year the plaza showcases concerts, special events and movie nights, giving visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in the neighborhood’s charismatic vibe. 

The Windmill Food Hall 
San Diego’s North County will soon have its first food hall. Slated to open in Carlsbad in spring 2019, The Windmill Food Hall will occupy the former Pea Soup Andersen’s windmill building located near the Carlsbad Premium Outlets. This unique food hall will house 11 artisan food vendors, including Notorious Burgers, Thai Style Kitchen, Cross Street Chicken & Beer, Bing Haus, Taco Lady and Belgium Delights. The concept is being developed by local restaurateur James Markham, who will bring in three signature eateries: Crackheads, specializing in breakfast sandwiches; Doughballs Pizza, a new take on all things pizza; and Rolled Up , an eatery serving burrito-sized sushi rolls. With vintage décor inspired by the 1930s and 1940s, the Windmill Food Hall will also boast an entertainment area with video games, table games, a kids’ area and a full-service indoor and outdoor bar with late-night hours and special events. Rotating murals by local artists will be displayed throughout the food hall, and there are plans to add a speakeasy after the food hall’s opening. The experience will include innovative technology with a mobile option that will allow guests to pay through a bracelet or key fob. 

The Outpost
Another food hall setting up shop in North County is The Outpost, which broke ground in September 2018 in Poway. The Outpost is a $35 million, three-building development comprising a 57,840-square-foot residential area, fitness center, pedestrian pathway, underground parking, a town center and a two-story structure that will house the food hall and an outdoor patio. The Outpost will have 15 local artisan food vendors including several concepts from locally-based 3 Local Brothers, which operates The Barrel Room, Urge Gastropub, Brothers Provisions, Mason Ale Works and Mason Coffee Works. The project is slated to open its doors in fall 2019 and is part of a city plan to create a vibrant live, play and work atmosphere for downtown Poway. 

Park Commons
In summer 2019, Park Commons will open in Sorrento Valley, a residential neighborhood 17 minutes north of downtown San Diego. The 10,000-square-feet food hall is a project by Whisknladle Hospitality, a local hospitality group behind Catania, a coastal Italian eatery, and Whisknladle , bistro with an elevated comfort food menu in the seaside village of La Jolla. The group’s culinary director and partner, Ryan Johnston, and managing partner, Arturo Kassel, developed six counter-service food stalls specifically for this venture. Visitors and locals will be able to indulge in south of the border flavors delivered by El Parque, locally caught seafood at Slow Poke, crafted soups and salads from Best Dressed, artisan deli sandwiches from Dr. J’s, fried chicken and burgers from Fricken Burgers and Middle Eastern fare from All Spice. Park Commons will occupy The Park, a 36-acre development with a 7,000-acre center park, which will include green spaces, bocce ball and sport fields. 

Pan y Sal
Bread & Salt, a former commercial bread-making facility converted into a unique experimental art center, will soon be baking bread again. Slated to open in spring 2019, Pan y Sal will occupy 1,5000 square feet of Barrio Logan’s Bread & Salt, whose current tenants include a brewery, art galleries and workspaces for local artists. A bakery and deli will be helmed by Tijuana’s Jorge García Flores from Tres Fuegos brewery, and Marcela Corrales from La Ventanita del Pan pop-up. Bread, baked goods and tortas, prepared with ingredients from an in-house edible garden, will be part of the menu. Other additions include a coffee bar, a brewery from Baja, a wine store and a 120-seat outdoor patio. A kitchen classroom setup by current resident Via International, a nonprofit which provides microfinance loans to small producers, will host cooking classes for adults and children. Special workshops with guest chefs from Baja and San Diego will add to San Diego’s Cali-Baja experience.
  
Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority’s website at www.sandiego.org.