Here is some of the dining news from across San Diego County, as well as some upcoming events for foodies.
McDonald’s giving away fries: In honor of National French Fry Day on Friday, guests who visit participating McDonald’s restaurant locations on July 10 will receive a free medium order of fries with $1 minimum purchase. The giveaway is only redeemable with purchases made through the McDonald’s app with opted-in “Rewards.” It doesn’t include applicable taxes, and it’s limited to one free fries per order.
Saint James hosts patriotic dinner: Saint James French Diner will host a celebratory Bastille Day dinnner menu on Tuesday with four specialty a la carte menu items, plus $10 martinis, oyster bar and gin pairings and happy hour. The dishes, ranging in price from $16-$31, include Dover sole meuniere, coq au vin, roasted bone marrow and escargot and sticky toffee pudding. Bastille Day, celebrated each year in France on July 14, is a national holiday commemorating the 1789 storming of the bastille (prison) in Paris that launched the French Revolution. Palihotel, 830 Sixth Ave., downtown. saintjamesfrenchdiner.com/
Beginning July 23, award-winning sushi chef Mark Correa will host monthly omakase dinners at Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge in La Jolla. (Roppongi)
Roppongi to host monthly omakase dinners: To celebrate its sushi chef Mark Correa’s Reader’s Choice victory in the 2026 Omakase Open last month, Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge will now host a monthly six-course omakase tasting experience at 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month, beginning July 23. The communal experience will seat diners at tables of four to eight. Cost is $114. Optional beverage pairing is $45. 875 Prospect St., La Jolla. Reserve at opentable.com/r/roppongi-restaurant-and-lounge-san-diego.
Brunch at the Nat: The San Diego Natural History Museum will host a rooftop brunch service on Sunday in collaboration with Hash House a Go Go. From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, first-come, first-served seating will be available with an a la carte menu of Hash House favorites, including its chicken and waffle, wild boar chilaquiles, biscuits and gravy, mini French toast, smoked salmon and focaccia and sides. Diners can also reserve a VIP brunch, which includes a cocktail and museum tour. Non-members of the museum must purchase one-day admission to enter the Nat ($16.95-$24.95). Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Nat, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. sdnhm.org/calendar/brunch
Lumi hosts Akira Back dinner: International chef Akira Back will return to his Lumi location in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter for a multicourse rooftop dinner at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Courses will include Nikkei style sushi, nigiri and more. $180 for dinner. $38 for optional sake pairing. 366 Fifth Ave., San Diego. opentable.com/restaurant/profile/1042162
J. Brix Wines hosting culinary pop-up parties: This month, the J. Brix Wines tasting room in the North City development in San Marcos will host two pop-up street food events with live DJ parties. On Saturday, The Heights pop-up will be serving tacos, quesotacos, quesadillsa and nachos. Then on July 24, MabuHI food truck will serve Filipino and Hawaiian cuisine including pork BBQ, kalbi short ribs and chicken katsu. Food and glasses of wine will range in price from $4 to $26. Both events run from 4-9 p.m. 250 North City Drive, Suite 10, San Marcos. northcity.com/places/jbrix
Plot launches weekday lunch menu: The Plot, Oceanside’s plant-based, zero-waste restaurant and garden, has launched a new weekday lunch menu served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Inspired by the summer season’s produce, the menu featured dishes including shakshuka, pesto campanelle, fried tofu chicken with cornbread, panko-crusted charcoal-roasted eggplant, bean tartine sandwich, carrotfish tacos and the OG reuben sandwich, made with pastrami-cured and smoked beets with house sauerkraut. 1733 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside. theplotrestaurant.com/menus-oceanside
Restaurants raising funds for Venezuela: Three San Diego restaurants — Allegro, Romanissimo and Vincenzo Cucina & Lounge — are raising money this month for Venezuela earthquake relief efforts. Five percent of alcohol sales at all three locations will be donated to the charity Direct Relief. Diners can also make a donation of any amount and 100 percent will go to the relief effort. Allegro and Vincenzo are in Little Italy and Romanissimo is East Village.
Casa de Lobster special: Casa de Reyes Mexican restaurant in Old Town is offering several lobster-infused specials through July 31, including ceviche, guacamole, quesadilla, tampiquena, mar y tierra (surf and turf) and a Puerto Nuevo-style lobster meal. Prices start at $24.99. 2754 Calhoun St., San Diego. casadereyesrestaurant.com
Cellar Hand celebrates Pride: Cellar Hand restaurant in Hillcrest is celebrating Pride Week on July 18 with an all-day celebration from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., starting with a special brunch menu, block party with Hillcrest brewing, DJ and more. The San Diego Pride Parade will pass by the restaurant. 1440 University Ave., San Diego. cellarhandhillcrest.com
Spill the Beans’ summer flavors: In honor of National Blueberry Month, all five Spill the Beans locations in San Diego are serving a blueberry bagel with sweet lemon cream cheese through July 31. Also this month, the shops are serving a Lemon Bar Latte, made with house lemon bar syrup, milk, espresso, lemon bar cold foam and a water cookie crumble. spillthebeanssd.com