{"id":510874,"date":"2026-10-28T18:08:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T18:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/510874\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T18:08:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T18:08:08","slug":"the-saddest-restaurant-closures-in-san-diego-fall-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/510874\/","title":{"rendered":"The Saddest Restaurant Closures in San Diego, Fall 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the current dining landscape, San Diego restaurants face challenges like the rising cost of goods<\/a>, labor shortages<\/a>, and evolving customer expectations. Everything from longtime city institutions to newer places unable to find their footing can succumb to a combination of obstacles, although San Diego restaurateurs and chefs remain resilient \u2014 just check out Eater\u2019s hot new restaurants map<\/a> for proof. This column keeps track of all the closures you may have missed.<\/p>\n

California English \u2014 Celebrity chef Richard Blais shuttered his British gastropub, California English<\/a>, on September 25. The restaurant debuted in February 2023 in Sorrento Mesa, serving fish and chips, prime rib roasts, Cornish pasty, and boozy tea-based cocktails. Blais\u2019 steakhouse, Ember and Rye, remains open in Carlsbad at the Park Hyatt Aviara, and he\u2019s publishing a cookbook, Sauce Life, with his wife, Jazmin Blais. Izola Bakery<\/a> has taken over the space with plans to open later this year once the bread ovens arrive from Europe. Owners Jeff Brown and Jenny Chen told Eater they\u2019re excited to expand from East Village to North County, making it easier for guests to pick up items like chile crunch, cheese-filled sourdough loaves, and bibimbap croissants. Izola\u2019s all-day menu will also include coffee and sandwiches.<\/p>\n

Choi\u2019s \u2014 East Village Asian fusion restaurant Choi\u2019s<\/a> served its final meal in September 2026. Open for less than three years, the minimalist restaurant abruptly shut; NBC News reports former employees allege the owner failed to pay them more than $100,000 in wages before its closure<\/a>. Choi\u2019s, which served charred gochujang octopus and pork belly bossam based on the owner\u2019s grandmother\u2019s cooking, opened next to Petco Park, and the neighborhood saw little foot traffic when there wasn\u2019t a Padres baseball game or event at the stadium. The owner told Eater that Korean fusion \u201cwasn\u2019t the right concept for the location.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kokoro Restaurant \u2014 Longtime Japanese restaurant Kokoro<\/a> closed on August 30. Sushi chef Taisho Ishito announced his retirement on social media<\/a> after serving sushi and kappo cuisine in San Diego for 12 years and in Los Angeles for 15 years. Kokoro catered meals to the LA Dodgers\u2019 Japanese players, like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. Chef Akio Ishito, who owned a sushi restaurant in LA and led the kitchen at Robata-ya Oton<\/a> in Kearny Mesa, opened Kokoro in June 2014<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sweetfin \u2014 San Diego\u2019s last Sweetfin<\/a> outpost has pulled up anchor in Carmel Valley\u2019s One Paseo. The LA-based chain launched by a Top Chef winner slings gluten-free poke bowls with options like keto, plant-based, and high-protein bowls. The first San Diego fast-casual restaurant landed in the Westfield UTC Mall<\/a> in February 2018 and closed in late 2024. The North County branch opened in July 2019<\/a> and closed in August 2026. The remaining 13 Sweetfin outposts remain open in LA and Orange County.<\/p>\n