San Diego’s dining scene saw a few notable goodbyes this summer, with both established concepts and newer ventures shuttering across the county. The persistent challenges for local restaurants, from rising costs to labor shortages, continue to shape the region’s culinary landscape.
Up in Oceanside, Matsu, an elegant Japanese restaurant known for its omakase dinners and monthly tsuki nights featuring A5 wagyu, closed its doors on May 31, 2026. Having opened on October 1, 2021, Matsu spent nearly five years bringing fine dining to the beachside town. Chef-owner William Eick stated in his farewell newsletter that his current lease had ended, and he is "actively searching for a new home."
Further south, in North Park, Chef Drew Deckman’s U.S. debut, Deckman’s North at 3131, served its final dinner on June 27, 2026. The restaurant had been open for less than a year, launching in August 2024. Deckman, celebrated for his two Michelin-recognized restaurants in Baja California’s Valle de Guadalupe—Deckman’s En El Mogor and Conchas de Piedra, which remain open—had brought his distinctive cooking to the city. Diners can still find his Baja-inspired fare at Ballast Point inside Petco Park, with menu items such as fish tacos and scallop aguachile.
Hillcrest also saw a shift as Cellar Hand shuttered on July 19. Open for just over two years, the restaurant focused on local ingredients from farmers, fisherfolk, and ranchers, aligning with California’s microseasons. Its space will soon become the new home for Pali Wine, a Santa Barbara-based operation from the Perr family. Pali Wine had been a beloved wine bar in Little Italy for a decade, featuring a small restaurant and rooftop patio. However, according to its Instagram, a "dramatic rent increase made staying in Little Italy unsustainable" for the family, prompting their relocation to the former Cellar Hand spot.
Lastly, the only San Diego outpost of Potato Powder Love Noodle Shop quietly closed its doors in May. Located in the 99 Ranch Market food court on Balboa Avenue, this Chinese restaurant specialized in noodles made from potato powder for a chewier texture. While the San Diego spot is gone, the chain’s two other Southern California locations in San Gabriel and the City of Industry remain open, serving its dedicated fanbase. The space will be taken over by Cluck N Sip, a take-out counter offering halal fried chicken with seasonings like crispy, Szechuan-style, or salt-and-pepper. This will be Cluck N Sip’s second outpost, following its Hillcrest sister location which opened in September 2023.
