FEAST YOUR EYES:
Your culinary dream trip starts in Oceanside
An unmissable destination for those who travel to eat, North County San Diego is the next great foodie hotspot. And we’re not just talking about our own Michelin Star at Valle, which the signature restaurant earned earlier this year.
When you look at US culinary destinations—New York, LA, Miami and Chicago are the obvious players. But if you’re keen to uncover the gems and make a sun-dappled road trip of it, we compiled the ultimate road map here. With Mission Pacific Beach Resort as your home base, we set your culinary compass to the most memorable trip ever.
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THE DESTINATION: MATSU: OCEANSIDE, CA
There’s a reason Chef William Eick has caught the interest of international food reviewers with his acclaimed Matsu. Well, make that 10 reasons. Guests of the restaurant are treated to a 10-course tasting menu, showcasing the seasonal bounty from regional farms while marrying the traditions and techniques of Japanese food. Having initially started as a pop-up restaurant, Matsu has become a permanent fixture since 2021 with a 6-course tasting menu also on offer. The restaurant has received several awards for its Japanese-SoCal fare and sublimely reductive presentation. It was included in Food & Wine’s “Best Cities for Food in the U.S,” and food critic Brad A. Johnon recently said it was “one of the best restaurants in California and a strong argument for putting Oceanside on your to-do list.”
THE DESTINATION: WRENCH & RODENT: OCEANSIDE, CA.
The highly creative Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub is essentially a playground for maverick Chef Davin Waite. The sushi and omakase menus are focused on hyper-local ingredients that are transformed and paired with playfulness top of mind. It never gets old here. And that’s the point. For ten years, Waite keeps things fresh for locals, tourists and sustainability enthusiasts. A pioneer in sustainability, Waite has received global accolades for whole species utilization and his dry-age fish program, which reveals nuances of textures and flavors. Waite has created a mini culinary empire, which includes Brine Box on Oceanside Pier, 100% plant-based, zero-waste The Plot in Oceanside and The Plot Express at The Cottages in Carlsbad
THE DESTINATION: JEUNE ET JOLIE, CARLSBAD
Smart and pretty. It sums up the French nouvelle sensibility of this high-designed Carlsbad restaurant, which embraces indoor-outdoor dining to the max. Inside, rose-colored velvet banquettes are front row seats to the open kitchen, where dining is most certainly theater. Don’t be fooled by the too-pretty-to-eat plating. Executive Chef Eric Bost has earned accolades for his unique combinations and mature treatment of Cal-French fare with lively flavors. Named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America, the exuberant space blends Parisian polish with the casual, California culture. Its sister restaurant, Campfire, is two blocks south on State Street, utilizing wood fire and seasonal ingredients. Together, these two eateries established allure in the now- buzzy Carlsbad Village.
THE DESTINATION: VALENTINA, ENCINITAS
You can’t head south without exploring Hwy 101 in Leucadia where restaurateur Mario Guerra is methodically building a tasty little monopoly. The neighborhood slogan is “Keep it Funky” but this stretch has certainly been elevated by Guerra’s Leucadia Co.
Valentina is his casual neighborhood European-style bistro and wine bar. Pro surfers and musicians feel right at home alongside local families and tourists swirling glasses of Burgundian Brut. The Steak Frites are a serious contender alongside Wiener Schnitzel, Mussels Mariniéres and a crispy paella. Wander down to his other establishments on The 101; they include Corner Pizza, Hamburger Hut, Moto Deli and next up, Nacho’s Oyster Bar, an oceanic experience inspired by Mexico, The Mediterranean and Japan.
