In the last year, La Jolla was treated to some truly delectable new restaurant and cafe openings. We round them all up and preview your 2026 eats.
La Jolla is known for its sleeper culinary scene, and the new La Jolla restaurants added to the community in the last year have only added to the prestige. With seven new eateries now serving, La Jolla is a foodie destination as much as anywhere.
Below, our picks for the best new restaurant openings in 2025 – and a peek of what’s coming in 2026:
1. Destiny Coast
A summer entrant, Destiny Coast opened at the Ted and Jean Scripps Marine Conservation and Technology Facility on La Jolla Shores Drive, just east of the Scripps Coastal Meander Trail.
Destiny Coast is a community gathering place for La Jollans, researchers, hikers, students and more, serving dramatic scenery with fun and thoughtful fare.
2. Dora Ristorante
Images courtesy of Dora Ristorante
We could rave about Dora Ristorante, but we’ll let the experts do it: just three months after opening, the UCSD Theater District upgrade earned the prestigious Tre Forchette (Three Forks) from Gambero Rosso.
Curated lovingly by chef Accursio Lota and a star-studded team, Dora Ristorante’s menu leans into Lota’s Sicilian heritage with contemporary technique and seasonal California ingredients and a design that’s artful, dramatic and inspiring.
3. La Jollita
Stylish flavor abounds at La Jollita, which opened last fall and instantly imbued The Village with color, experience and nautical fun.
La Jollita, “the jewel of the sea,” serves Mexican seafood in tacos, tostadas and much more, paying homage to its La Jolla location and its owners’ breadth of expertise with vibrancy and a coastal flair.
4. Lucien
Image courtesy of Lucien
Fine dining to talk about? The word is Lucien, which opened atop Girard Avenue in July with an ever-changing showcase of local ingredients influenced by chef Elijah Arizmendi’s global experience in a high-touch service setting.
A table here is hard to get, as there are only 30 seats and two seatings per night for the 10- to 14-course tasting menu, which focuses on hyper-seasonal, hyper-local food highlighted in a dynamic, unforgettable dining experience.
5. Pepino
Approachable, fun and downright delicious, Pepino opened in November with chef and La Jolla native Sebastian Becerra’s Peruvian-influenced menu.
From breakfast to lunch and special orders, Pepino might mean “cucumber” in Spanish but in La Jolla, it means your new go-to spot for reliably interesting meals.
6. PopUp Bagels
Image courtesy of PopUp Bagels
Grip, rip and dip: If you know, you know, and those who know have gotten their hands on PopUp Bagels, which opened in November and still commands long weekend lines for its popular East Coast-style bagels and schmears.
The first West Coast spot for PopUp Bagels is less a restaurant and more a jumping-off point for brunch at the beach or an unbeatable coffee companion., with hot-out-of-the oven goods that will have you salivating for more.
7. Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge
Images courtesy of Roppongi
Not new, but … new! Roppongi Restaurant and Lounge reentered the La Jolla foodscape in December after closing ten years prior and owner Sami Ladeki listing to local clamor for its return.
Roppongi’s relaunch presents Asian cuisine and immersive design in a familiar but fresh experience, with an innovative menu that features signature dishes, sushi, wok-fired creations and more.
Coming attractions
This year, we’re anticipating five more eateries to open their doors in 2026, and we’ll bet more La Jolla restaurants have yet to announce.
Cala La Jolla Cafe
Coffee, pastries and more will get a local spin when Cala La Jolla Cafe opens in April on Girard. Owned by La Jolla Realtor Amy de Leon and named for La Jolla Cove, Cala promises to be a bright spot in the community.
Cazadores Mexican Grill
Cazadores Mexican Grill is opening a La Jolla location this year on Wall Street, adding its menu of traditional favorites like enchiladas, tamales and tacos with smoky chipotle and mole sauces to the robust list of Mexican food spots in The Village.
El Pueblo Mexican Restaurant
El Pueblo opens its Mexican restaurant on Pearl Street in April, bringing its traditional recipes with premium ingredients to La Jolla. Billed as a sit-down, fast casual vibe, El Pueblo intends to serve great food at great prices.
Icaria
The renowned team behind La Jolla standouts Marisi and Puesto will open Icaria this summer, a new Mediterranean concept for One Alexandria Square in La Jolla. Diners can expect clean, vibrant flavors with a Middle Eastern influence.
Roseacre
Highly anticipated and drawing peeks from all who walk by its prominent Girard Avenue location, Roseacre is a multi-venue dining experience founded by Paul Basile and Jules Wilson, with Michelin-starred chef Erik Anderson as culinary director.
Looking for more La Jolla restaurants? Browse all the listings here.
