San Diego claims the title of America’s Finest City. With its ideal climate, rich history, and melting pot of cultures, it’s no wonder that this southernmost point of Southern California is a prime tourist destination. It’s not just the city of San Diego that’s worth visiting, though. San Diego County as a whole is a cultural hub, full of unique locales and a distinct regional identity. Cuisine is a big part of that regional identity.
The CRA is America’s oldest restaurant association and has supported restaurateurs for over a century while enriching the state’s communities through the hospitality industry. Through membership, restaurants have access to helpful online resources, the latest industry news, and community-building events, like SDRW.
Any restaurants in the San Diego Chapter of the CRA are eligible to participate in SDRW. This time, the sponsor is Specialty Produce, a family-owned premium provider of fresh groceries in San Diego.
During these eight days, over 120 restaurants in 30 different neighborhoods, from Oceanside in coastal North San Diego County to Chula Vista near the border of Mexico, will participate. The SDRW website lists all participating restaurants, including a profile of each establishment and the special menus it will offer.
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SDRW is more than just a week to enjoy good food and discover new restaurants, though. It’s also a chance to support struggling restaurant workers. Since 2017, SDRW has partnered with Restaurants Care, a nonprofit organization that supports restaurant workers with basic needs and aid during times of crisis.
How to Participate
Participating in SDRW is easy; just go to one (or more) participating restaurants. Reservations are available on the SDRW website and the individual restaurants’ sites through OpenTable. While not required, diners are encouraged to make reservations, especially if they plan to dine during peak hours. You don’t have to order off the special SDRW menu, as other offerings will usually still be available, but what’s the point of that?
Plates of food on a table. Courtesy of San Diego Restaurant Week
In the weeks leading up to SDRW, various restaurants released their prix-fixe menus. Some restaurants are offering specialized lunch and dinner menus, with lower prices and sometimes fewer courses for lunch. A few even have separate brunch menus. Others offer one or the other, depending on their regular hours of operation.
Here’s how it usually works. For a set price, ranging anywhere from $20 at lunch to $60 plus at dinner, each diner can choose from a short list of menu options. Often, you’ll have a choice of two items for lunch, which could include an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert, and a choice of three items for dinner. Each section typically has two to five items, with different offerings to cater to guests’ unique palates. Some restaurants are also offering drink pairings for a higher price.
2 Seasonal Ingredients
To further highlight the creativity of San Diego chefs, the September 2026 SDRW is spotlighting two seasonal ingredients. Provided by Specialty Produce, these ingredients are Huitlacoche and Artisan Romaine. Both are in peak season during SDRW.
Artisan Romaine is easy to understand; it’s a favorite lettuce among culinary connoisseurs for its crisp texture and fresh flavor, and is most commonly associated with Caesar Salad.
Huitlacoche is a less familiar ingredient. Called the Mexican truffle, this unusual ingredient is actually a fungus that grows on ears of corn. Similar to a mushroom, it’s a Mexican delicacy for its smoky, earthy flavor. It’s frequently used as a flavoring to add body to a variety of dishes, often in Mexican cuisine.
Many of the restaurants participating in SDRW are incorporating one or both of these featured ingredients into their prix-fixe menus for the week. This event offers a unique opportunity for diners to try new ingredients, like Huitlacoche, or familiar ingredients used in new ways, like Artisan Romaine.
Plates of food on a table. Courtesy of San Diego Restaurant Week
Finding New Favorites
Southern California residents and travelers can find amazing restaurants through the SDRW website and filter results by neighborhood, cuisine type, lunch vs. dinner, dietary options, and price. So you may finally find the excuse to try that restaurant you’ve been eyeing for months. You may be reminded of a great café just down the street which you’ve been meaning to revisit for years. You may discover your new favorite place just because that seasonal salad on their prix-fixe lunch menu looks irresistible.
The best thing about events like SDRW isn’t the restaurants themselves or the food. It’s the chance to try new things and go on adventures without overspending. It’s the chance to be part of your local community and discover the memories you can make in your own backyard. It also may be just the excuse you needed for a special meal with your family, spouse, overworked friend, or that co-worker you’d like to get to know better.
Here’s to more delicious real-life experiences.
