In the current dining landscape, San Diego restaurants face challenges like the rising cost of goods, labor shortages, 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 — just check out Eater’s hot new restaurants map for proof. This column keeps track of all the closures you may have missed.
Matsu— Oceanside’s elegant Japanese restaurant Matsu closed on May 31, 2026, after nearly five years in business. Specializing in omakase dinners and monthly tsuki nights, which featured communal izakaya dishes like A5 wagyu beef, the North County restaurant was one of the first to introduce fine dining to the beachside town when it opened on October 1, 2021. In chef-owner William Eick’s farewell newsletter, owner and chef William Eick announced the current lease had come to an end and he was “actively searching for a new home.”
Deckman’s North at 3131— Chef Drew Deckman’s restaurant served its final dinner in North Park on June 27, 2026, less than a year after opening in August 2024.Deckman’s North at 3131 was the first U.S. venture for Deckman after building his reputation in Baja California, Mexico. Over the last 15 years, Deckman opened two Michelin-recognized restaurants in the blossoming Valle de Guadalupe: Deckman’s En El Mogor and Conchas de Piedra in Valle de Guadalupe, which remain open. Diners can still find his Baja-inspired cooking in San Diego at Ballast Point inside Petco Park, where the menu includes fish tacos, fried oyster tortas, and scallop aguachile.
Cellar Hand— Cellar Hand shuttered on July 19, but the Hillcrest space will reopen as aPali Wine restaurant and shop. Both businesses are owned by the Perr family behind Pali Wines in Santa Barbara. Since Cellar Hand opened a little more than two years ago, the restaurant worked closely with local farmers, fisherfolks, and ranchers in dishes that leaned heavily into California’s microseasons. For the last decade, Pali Wine has been a beloved wine bar with a small restaurant, compact kitchen, and a rooftop patio in Little Italy. When Pali Wine was negotiating the lease renewal with the landlord, the “dramatic rent increase made staying in Little Italy unsustainable for our small, family-owned winery,” according to itsInstagram account. The steep spike drove the family to relocate Pali Wine to Hillcrest and take over the former Cellar Hand space.
Potato Powder Love Noodle Shop— The only San Diego outpost of Potato Powder Love Noodle Shop quietly closed in May. Located in the food court of 99 Ranch Market on Balboa Avenue, the Chinese restaurant focused on noodles made from potato powder to create a chewier texture. The chain has a strong fanbase in China and its two locations in San Gabriel and the City of Industry remain open. Taking over the former food court destination is the second outpost ofCluck N Sip, a take-out counter offering halal fried chicken with seasonings such as crispy, Szechuan-style, or salt-and-pepper. Cluck N Sip has a sister location in Hillcrest, which opened in September 2023.
