{"id":31899,"date":"2025-10-31T14:04:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T14:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/31899\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T14:04:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T14:04:17","slug":"fall-flavors-festive-finds-san-diegos-must-try-sandwiches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/31899\/","title":{"rendered":"Fall flavors, festive finds & San Diego\u2019s must-try sandwiches"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Caesar Chicken Wrap. (Photo courtesy of Urban Plates)<\/p>\n

Crisp air (at night anyway), pumpkins on porches, and cozy seasonal dishes signal that fall is in full swing in San Diego. From sweet pastries to bold sandwiches, craft beers, and even pet-friendly fun, the city\u2019s food scene is serving up plenty of reasons to get out and savor every bite.<\/p>\n

Oct. 31 \u2013 Nov. 1: D\u00eda de los Muertos Treats
Spill the Beans<\/a> is honoring D\u00eda de los Muertos <\/a>with its traditional Pan de Muerto ($4.20) at all five locations \u2014 Gaslamp, Seaport Village, Mission Valley, Pacific Beach, and Ocean Beach. Chef Karina Orozco explains that the round bread symbolizes the cycle of life, the dough strips represent bones and tears, and the cross marks the four cardinal points. Traditionally placed on altars to guide spirits home, this sweet, aromatic bread is also perfect to enjoy with coffee or cocoa at home.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Pan de Muerto. (Photo courtesy of Spill the Beans)<\/p>\n

Late October: Lunch, Pastries & Small Plates
La Mesa Village\u2019s Tour de Tapa<\/a>s has launched lunch service Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., pairing its European-inspired small plates with four new sandwiches: Chicken Delight, Roast Beef Deluxe, Mozzarella Caprese, and Smoked Salmon \u2014 all served on rustic sourdough with hand-cut potatoes.<\/p>\n

Nov. 1: Taco Centro Little Italy Grand Opening
Taco Centro <\/a>will open its second San Diego location on Saturday, Nov. 1, in downtown\u2019s Little Italy neighborhood. The modern Mexican street food concept from owner Adrian Gutierrez originated in November 2022 in the Gaslamp Quarter. Saturday\u2019s grand opening will take place from noon to 5 p.m. and feature a \u201cbuy two tacos, get one free\u201d special along with live entertainment.<\/p>\n

The new Taco Centro is located at 2171 Kettner Blvd. at the corner of Ivy Street, on the ground level of the AV8 apartment building, which was most recently occupied by Bun & Patti. The menu features 13 tacos, as well as burritos, quesadillas, taco bowls, nachos, and fries. Signature Taco Azul comes on a blue corn tortilla with grilled angus steak, fresh cheese, black beans, avocado, cilantro, onions, and house salsa.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The signature Taco Azul. (Photo courtesy of Taco Centro)<\/p>\n

Other tacos include carne asada, birria, carnitas, pollo asado, and seafood options such as grilled mahi mahi and camar\u00f3n enchilada (spicy grilled shrimp), plus vegetarian options \u2014 mushroom and nopal (cactus). Birria offerings include quesabirria, birria ramen, and birria pizza, along with volcan (crispy corn tostada with melted cheese) and mulita (double-decked corn tortilla quesadilla) with carne asada or al pastor. Sides include shrimp ceviche, Mexican street corn, and chips & guacamole, while desserts include churros con tres leches, bu\u00f1uelos, and paletas. The drink menu features draft beer, bottled beer, micheladas, margaritas, palomas, and hard seltzers.<\/p>\n

Following the grand opening, Taco Centro will open at 9 a.m. daily beginning Sunday, Nov. 2, with breakfast burritos and chilaquiles, staying open until 10 p.m. Sunday\u2013Wednesday, 11 p.m. Thursday, and 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The location is a 10-minute walk from the County Center\/Little Italy Stop on the MTS Trolley\u2019s Blue and Green Lines. The original Taco Centro remains at 539 Island Avenue.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Taco Centro. (Photo courtesy of Taco Centro)<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, East Village welcomes Relic Bakery & Kitchen,<\/a> where European-style baking meets French comfort food. Expect naturally leavened, wood-fired breads, flaky pastries, and inventive Midwestern twists \u2014 ideal for brunch, lunch, or grabbing an artisan loaf to go.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Delights at Relic Bakery & Kitchen. (Photo courtesy of Samantha Bird)<\/p>\n

Bar Bites & Craft Beers
North Park\u2019s Louisiana Purchase is serving bar-exclusive bites Monday\u2013Friday from 3 to 5 p.m., featuring Fried Pickles & Beer, Links & Spiked Sweet Tea, and Mozzy with Cava or Sauvignon Blanc, along with Bayou-inspired dishes like gumbo, oysters Rockefeller, thin-cut catfish, wings, and beignets.<\/p>\n

On the beer front, Karl Strauss has teamed up with Orange County\u2019s Beer Girl Brewing<\/a> to distribute two new lagers \u2014 a lighter version and an amber \u2014 both brewed with corn for naturally sugar-free, gluten-reduced options.<\/p>\n

Nov. 3: National Sandwich Day<\/a>
Nov. 3 is the perfect excuse to celebrate one of the world\u2019s most versatile foods. San Diego\u2019s sandwich scene shines across the city.<\/p>\n

At Urban Plates,<\/a> the popular Caesar salad becomes the Caesar Wrap ($13.75), with crisp romaine, Caesar dressing, grape tomatoes, croutons, parmesan, and garlicky cream cheese spread in toasted lavash \u2014 with a choice of crispy or grilled chicken or grass-fed steak.<\/p>\n

For indulgent creations, head to barleymash i<\/a>n the Gaslamp for the Crispy Chicken Sando, drizzled with whiskey buffalo sauce, bleu cheese, tomato, lettuce, and house ranch.<\/p>\n

In Mission Beach, Miss B\u2019s Coconut Club<\/a> serves El Cubano, stacked with lechon asado, smoked ham, gruy\u00e8re, pickles, spiced mustard, and cilantro garlic aioli.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>El Cubano (Photo courtesy of Miss B\u2019s Coconut Club)<\/p>\n

Seafood fans will find two standouts at George\u2019s at the Cove in La Jolla<\/a> \u2014 the Grilled Albacore Sandwich with jalape\u00f1o cabbage-fennel slaw and tartar sauce, and the Fried Chicken Sandwich with mojo sauce, dijonaise, spicy pickles, and Swiss cheese.<\/p>\n

In Carlsbad, PRK 101 <\/a>offers the Big BBQ Sandwich piled high with smoked meats, coleslaw, and BBQ sauce on a brioche bun. <\/p>\n

Breakfast Republic<\/a> keeps mornings lively with its Breakfast Sammie: Jurassic Pork bacon, sunny-side-up eggs, tomato, herb spread, and house potatoes.<\/p>\n

For Southern-inspired flair, The Smoking Gun <\/a>in the Gaslamp showcases a Smoked Brisket Sandwich with au jus, pickled onions, tomato, spinach, and BBQ mustard.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Smoked Brisket Sandwich with au jus. (Photo courtesy of The Smoking Gun)<\/p>\n

The Duck Dive<\/a> in Pacific Beach serves a comforting Turkey Melt with cheddar, house slaw, tomato, and green onion on a pretzel bun.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Turkey Melt (Photo courtesy of The Duck Dive)<\/p>\n

Nov. 6: Military Appreciation Event at the Armed Services YMCA
Chick-fil-A<\/a> restaurants in San Diego are hosting a private Military Appreciation Event in partnership with the Armed Services YMCA. The Chick-fil-A Mobile Kitchen will feed more than 1,200 invited military families. With roughly one in four military families experiencing food insecurity, Chick-fil-A is proud to support this community event and provide a moment of care for those who serve our nation. The event will be emceed by Paul Rudy of FOX 5 San Diego and KUSI News, co-host of \u201cGood Morning San Diego,\u201d who will bring added energy and celebration to the day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Chick-fil-A<\/p>\n

An Evening with Priya Krishna
Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m., Price Center East Ballroom, UCSD
Acclaimed New York Times food reporter and author Priya Krishna<\/a> (Indian-ish, Cooking at Home) shares her journey in food and culture journalism. In conversation with UCSD\u2019s Tamara Cunningham, she\u2019ll discuss growing up surrounded by bold flavors, storytelling, and how food connects people, places, and identity. The evening includes a Q&A and book signing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Priya Krishna. (Photo courtesy of UCSD)<\/p>\n

Tickets: $42 general admission; UCSD students limited free via SSO.
Doors: 6:30 p.m.
Info: artpower@ucsd.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

Nov. 9: Shelter to Soldier\u2019s Salute to Paws 5K & Gratitude Festival for Dogs
Dog lovers can look forward to a full day of fun on Nov. 9 at Fox Point Farms in Encinitas<\/a>. The event includes yoga, a 5K run, adoptable dogs from The Animal Pad, live music by Dorian Tide, food from Huerta Taco Stand and wood-fired pizza, Tito\u2019s Handmade Vodka cocktails, and VIP experiences featuring custom pet picnics. Tickets start at $50.<\/p>\n

Nov. 2\u20139: San Diego Food + Wine Festival Returns<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The event is considered one of the nation\u2019s top culinary and cultural events. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Food + Wine Festival)<\/p>\n

Capping off the week, the San Diego Food + Wine Festival <\/a>returns for its 21st year, Nov. 2\u20139. One of the nation\u2019s top culinary and cultural events, the festival features chefs from San Diego, Baja, and beyond \u2014 including Suzette Gresham, Roberto Alcocer, Elijah Arizmendi, and Mexico\u2019s first Michelin-starred chef, Carlos Gayt\u00e1n.<\/p>\n

Local highlights include Josh Reynolds of Pony Boy, Cohn Restaurant Group\u2019s Con Pane, and Denice Grande of Solare. With new partnerships with the James Beard Foundation and Southwest Airlines, this year\u2019s festival celebrates Latin, Asian, and BIPOC culinary traditions that shape Southern California\u2019s food culture. Drawing more than 11,000 guests annually, the weeklong event blends creativity, sustainability, and community through tastings, workshops, and special dinners across the city.<\/p>\n

Have Fun and Get Going<\/p>\n

With Pan de Muerto for D\u00eda de los Muertos, inventive lunch sandwiches, hearty BBQ and brunch bites, craft beers, a dog-friendly festival, and the return of San Diego Food + Wine, the city\u2019s food and community events make this a week worth savoring \u2014 whether you\u2019re a foodie, pet lover, or sandwich enthusiast.<\/p>\n

Got any food news you want to share? Please drop me a note at DebbieS@timesofsandego.com.<\/p>\n

READ NEXT\n\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Caesar Chicken Wrap. (Photo courtesy of Urban Plates) Crisp air (at night anyway), pumpkins on porches, and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":31900,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[232,23243,22660,23244,1461,23245,23246,17386,584,23247,23248,23249,23250,1282,23251,23252,23253,412,74,23254,76,75,23255,23256,23257,21643,23258,23259,23260,23261],"class_list":{"0":"post-31899","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-232","9":"tag-an-evening-with-priya-krishna","10":"tag-bakeries","11":"tag-barleymash","12":"tag-breakfast","13":"tag-breakfast-republic","14":"tag-chick-fil-a","15":"tag-eat-beat","16":"tag-events","17":"tag-georges-at-the-cove","18":"tag-karl-strauss-brewing","19":"tag-louisiana-purchase","20":"tag-miss-bs-coconut-club","21":"tag-new","22":"tag-oct-31","23":"tag-prk-101","24":"tag-relic-bakery-kitchen","25":"tag-restaurants","26":"tag-san-diego","27":"tag-san-diego-food-wine-festival","28":"tag-san-diego-headlines","29":"tag-san-diego-news","30":"tag-sandwiches","31":"tag-shelter-to-soldiers-salute-to-paws-5k-gratitude-festival-for-dogs","32":"tag-spill-the-beans","33":"tag-taco-centro","34":"tag-the-duck-dive","35":"tag-the-smoking-gun","36":"tag-tour-de-tapas","37":"tag-urban-plates"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}