UC San Diego is getting a food hall that’s actually worth paying attention to. STATION8 Public Market, opening in August 2026, is being billed as one of the first true on-campus food halls in the United States – and based on who’s behind it and what they’re planning, this isn’t going to look or feel like a typical college dining hall.
What Makes This Different
Tiger Hospitality is handling the project, a group led by Berke Bakay, Eren Unur, and Brett Johnson who first connected at the Windmill Food Hall in Carlsbad. They’ve also launched concepts like Lobster Lab, Cosmos Burger, and La Vida, so they know how to build food businesses from scratch.
For STATION8, they’re skipping the national chains and quick-service restaurants entirely, instead bringing in 10 globally-inspired, mostly locally-rooted culinary experiences that reflect the diversity of the UC San Diego community.
The 20,000-square-foot space includes a main level, a 5,122-square-foot mezzanine that will have its own distinct concept (to be revealed later), two bars, and a 2,643-square-foot patio. Total capacity is 278 indoor and 34 outdoor seats, which is substantial but still feels intentional rather than cavernous.
Design That Actually Matters
BASILE Studio is handling the design, and if you know their work – Born & Raised, Raised by Wolves, the forthcoming RoseAcre – you know they don’t do anything halfway.
They’re known for theatricality and innovation, and the goal here is to challenge what a dining hall can be. That approach should translate into something more immersive and visually interesting than rows of tables under fluorescent lights.
The location matters too. STATION8 sits on the ground level of the Survivance 11-story residential tower in UC San Diego’s Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood.
It’s positioned as a public gateway to campus, welcoming students, staff, faculty, and the broader community, including the 100,000+ annual patrons of La Jolla Playhouse.
A Complement to DORA
While DORA elevated the on-campus dining experience for students, STATION8 is meant to be more inclusive and approachable – a place where the on-campus and off-campus communities can actually converge.
It’s not trying to be exclusive or upscale. Instead, it’s aiming to function as an anchor for community and cultural exchange, which is ambitious language but could work if the execution follows through.
Tiger Hospitality is launching three design-led, community-centered food hall concepts across Southern California in the coming year – La Jolla, Little Italy, and San Clemente – so STATION8 is part of a broader vision rather than a one-off project.
Why It’s Worth Watching
Food halls have become increasingly common, but doing one on a college campus that’s designed to appeal to both students and the surrounding community is a different challenge.
If Tiger Hospitality and BASILE Studio pull this off, STATION8 could set a new standard for what campus dining can be – not just functional, but genuinely destination-worthy.
See You There!
Keep an eye on this one as it develops – by the time it opens, La Jolla will have a food hall that’s worth visiting whether or not you’re affiliated with UC San Diego.
📆 Opening August 2026
📍 9165 S Scholars Dr, La Jolla
ℹ️ More info here
See you there, San Diego!