clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Where To Eat Right NOW; Updating The Eater Heatmap

View as Map

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have just one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot and what to try. And while the Eater 38 is a great resource that covers old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it's not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment.

Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to highlight the latest openings that are generating serious buzz. Let's see who made the list in the latest Heatmap update.

Know of a new restaurant with a good amount of heat that should be added to the list? Send us a tip!


03/06/14: Added: Juniper & Ivy, Jsix, Juke

02/06/14: Added: Croce's Park West, Blue Ocean, Encore Champagne Bar & Dining Room, Cafe La Rue, Lucky Liu's, ACME Southern Kitchen

01/02/14: Added: Brabant Bar & Cafe, SEA180° Coastal Tavern

12/05/13: Added: Pizzeria Mozza at The Headquarters, Puesto at The Headquarters, MARKET Del Mar

11/07/13: Added: BO-beau Kitchen + Garden; Ballast Point Tasting Room and Kitchen; Waypoint Public

10/03/13: Added: Fogo de Chao; CUCINA enoteca; American Voodoo

08/01/13: Added: Sea & Smoke; Searsucker Del Mar; Bang Bang

07/11/13: Added: Southpaw Social Club, Tender Greens Downtown, Blue Ribbon Artisan Kitchen, The Hake

06/06/13: Added: Salt & Cleaver, Magnolia Tap & Kitchen, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station

05/02/13: Added: Queenstown Public House, Hubcap.

04/04/13: Added: The Haven Pizzeria, Amaya La Jolla.

03/07/13: Added: Soda & Swine, Great Maple, Heights Tavern, Project Pie.

02/07/13: Added: Eclipse Chocolat, Buona Forchetta and Fathom Bistro.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Sea & Smoke

Copy Link

Matt Gordon's third restaurant, a stylish and sprawling showpiece in Del Mar, is getting good marks for its wood fired oven-powered all-day menu. Don't miss the shell-baked Diver scallops with black olive crust.

CUCINA enoteca

Copy Link

This latest addition to the Urban Kitchen Group is a beauty, and the accessible Italian-inflected menu offered here is already a proven hit at their CUCINA urbana.

BO-beau Kitchen + Garden

Copy Link

The Cohn Restaurant Group brings their eclectic bistro concept to the restaurant landscape of La Mesa. Find three renditions of mussels and fries, flatbreads and a new craft cocktail program

Ballast Point Tasting Room and Kitchen

Copy Link

Ballast Point's first brewery restaurant is a certified hit, thanks to its Little Italy location, 50 taps of beer and a beyond the traditional brewpub menu by chef Colin MacLaggan.

Waypoint Public

Copy Link

The craft beer list, in bottles and on tap, is well-curated to pair with chef Amanda Baumgarten's menu that include house made charcuterie, burgers, fried oyster tacos and more.

Pizzeria Mozza at The Headquarters

Copy Link

Reservations are essential at this bustling eatery with a celeb chef pedigree. The kitchen is getting increasingly deft in their handling of the pizza oven and desserts, from their famous butterscotch budino to the housemade gelato, are a must.

Puesto at The Headquarters

Copy Link

Puesto provides a seriously stunning setting for a menu that showcases its signature tacos as well as Mexican small plates and inspired craft cocktails.

Market Restaurant & Bar

Copy Link

A just-redesigned dining room and a newly-installed pizza oven mean it's about time to revisit this chef-driven restaurant, which has reopened after a quick redo in November.

Brabant Bar & Cafe

Copy Link

South Park's newest beer destination has Belgian flavor that extends to the draft and bottled beer selections, the food menu and cocktail list.

Croce's Park West

Copy Link

The legendary local haunt starts a new chapter in Bankers Hill with a menu that mixes longtime favorites and new creations. Live music provides a soundtrack for your meal.

Blue Ocean

Copy Link

North County gets a great-looking space that might just be your new favorite cocktail bar or your latest sushi find. The menu's rounded out by yakitori and other Asian-inspired plates.

Encore Champagne Bar & Dining Room

Copy Link

A sparkling new spot that's serious about food; keep it light and luxurious with champagne and caviar or dig deeper into a menu of shared plates and more substantial mains.

Cafe la Rue

Copy Link

La Valencia Hotel replaced the Whaling Bar with a European-inflected bistro doing casual food with chef-driven intent. Housemade chorizo flavors the paella, the burger's features a custom grind of three cuts of beef and the hand cut fries come with duck fat mayo.

Lucky Liu's

Copy Link

Downtown finally gets a dose of Chinese food from this "elevated Asian diner" where you can order dim sum all day long and drink a craft beer with your kung pao.

Acme Southern Kitchen

Copy Link

The latest charmer from Terryl Gavre (Bankers Hill, Cafe 22) conveys Southern hospitality through a down home menu that features fluffy house-baked biscuits and a quirky, country-fied decor.

Juniper & Ivy

Copy Link

Early word on Richard Blais' San Diego debut has been encouraging, with most diners responding positively to his seasonally-driven "left coast cookery". Excitement's building towards the launch of the chef's tasting menu and the full unleashing of his bag of tricks.

Jsix Restaurant

Copy Link

Jsix's new recipe for success includes a bright new dining room, a competitive cocktail program and a playful, craveable menu from chef Christian Graves. It's a welcome downtown dining destination.

JUKE @ Bottlecraft

Copy Link

The farm-to-table foodists of MIHO Gastrotruck are behind this eatery nestled within North Park's Bottlecraft bottle shop. They're making stuff you want to eat; the considerate and accessible menu highlights flavors from Baja, Asian and Mediterranean.

Sea & Smoke

Matt Gordon's third restaurant, a stylish and sprawling showpiece in Del Mar, is getting good marks for its wood fired oven-powered all-day menu. Don't miss the shell-baked Diver scallops with black olive crust.

CUCINA enoteca

This latest addition to the Urban Kitchen Group is a beauty, and the accessible Italian-inflected menu offered here is already a proven hit at their CUCINA urbana.

BO-beau Kitchen + Garden

The Cohn Restaurant Group brings their eclectic bistro concept to the restaurant landscape of La Mesa. Find three renditions of mussels and fries, flatbreads and a new craft cocktail program

Ballast Point Tasting Room and Kitchen

Ballast Point's first brewery restaurant is a certified hit, thanks to its Little Italy location, 50 taps of beer and a beyond the traditional brewpub menu by chef Colin MacLaggan.

Waypoint Public

The craft beer list, in bottles and on tap, is well-curated to pair with chef Amanda Baumgarten's menu that include house made charcuterie, burgers, fried oyster tacos and more.

Pizzeria Mozza at The Headquarters

Reservations are essential at this bustling eatery with a celeb chef pedigree. The kitchen is getting increasingly deft in their handling of the pizza oven and desserts, from their famous butterscotch budino to the housemade gelato, are a must.

Puesto at The Headquarters

Puesto provides a seriously stunning setting for a menu that showcases its signature tacos as well as Mexican small plates and inspired craft cocktails.

Market Restaurant & Bar

A just-redesigned dining room and a newly-installed pizza oven mean it's about time to revisit this chef-driven restaurant, which has reopened after a quick redo in November.

Brabant Bar & Cafe

South Park's newest beer destination has Belgian flavor that extends to the draft and bottled beer selections, the food menu and cocktail list.

Croce's Park West

The legendary local haunt starts a new chapter in Bankers Hill with a menu that mixes longtime favorites and new creations. Live music provides a soundtrack for your meal.

Blue Ocean

North County gets a great-looking space that might just be your new favorite cocktail bar or your latest sushi find. The menu's rounded out by yakitori and other Asian-inspired plates.

Encore Champagne Bar & Dining Room

A sparkling new spot that's serious about food; keep it light and luxurious with champagne and caviar or dig deeper into a menu of shared plates and more substantial mains.

Cafe la Rue

La Valencia Hotel replaced the Whaling Bar with a European-inflected bistro doing casual food with chef-driven intent. Housemade chorizo flavors the paella, the burger's features a custom grind of three cuts of beef and the hand cut fries come with duck fat mayo.

Lucky Liu's

Downtown finally gets a dose of Chinese food from this "elevated Asian diner" where you can order dim sum all day long and drink a craft beer with your kung pao.

Acme Southern Kitchen

The latest charmer from Terryl Gavre (Bankers Hill, Cafe 22) conveys Southern hospitality through a down home menu that features fluffy house-baked biscuits and a quirky, country-fied decor.

Related Maps

Juniper & Ivy

Early word on Richard Blais' San Diego debut has been encouraging, with most diners responding positively to his seasonally-driven "left coast cookery". Excitement's building towards the launch of the chef's tasting menu and the full unleashing of his bag of tricks.

Jsix Restaurant

Jsix's new recipe for success includes a bright new dining room, a competitive cocktail program and a playful, craveable menu from chef Christian Graves. It's a welcome downtown dining destination.

JUKE @ Bottlecraft

The farm-to-table foodists of MIHO Gastrotruck are behind this eatery nestled within North Park's Bottlecraft bottle shop. They're making stuff you want to eat; the considerate and accessible menu highlights flavors from Baja, Asian and Mediterranean.

Related Maps