On the record, not deleted
90 San Diego places Roger recommended or liked that have since gone dark — some for good, some just for now. Every status here is sourced, same as everywhere else on the site; nothing is marked closed on a guess.
Gone for good
88 places Roger won't be able to go back to.
Now closed. Roger's Mira Mesa hot pot pick praised an easy, accurate reservation system, roomy seating and a sukiyaki broth built around fatty American wagyu and kurobuta pork, with a self-serve veggie bar and a senior discount.
Now closed. Roger's opening-week visit to this Convoy newcomer highlighted made-to-order stinky tofu with a perfect crisp, offal options like duck head and pig ears, and well-marinated squid.
Roger rated this 5 stars, calling it the spot for legit Afghani food and describing it as a low-key place away from the busy plazas.
A Solana Beach happy-hour stop Roger caught on the way to the fair, with a strong apps menu and Mexican-spirit cocktails like Oaxacan old fashioneds, outdoor and dog-friendly seating only during HH.
A Convoy District boba shop in Kearny Mesa that Roger began reviewing in 2021, in a Yelp draft that trails off after a single word; the Convoy Street location has since closed for good.
Roger rated this Convoy District churro shop 5 stars, calling it one of the freshest and most hipster churro joints in town.
A taco spot in the back patio area of Border X Brewing in Barrio Logan where Roger found the sauces legit — including a free guac sauce — and the al pastor still juicy with generous portions.
A Kearny Mesa tea house where Roger's five-star visit centered on the service from a staff member, Matt, before the shop closed.
A Third Avenue restaurant whose 72-hour braised short rib earned five stars from Roger.
Roger caught this Hillcrest donut-and-coffee shop mid-construction at the old Wienerschnitzel site and liked the fresh, hot donuts and strong-brewed coffee at the outdoor patio.
Now closed. Roger's go-to for legit, fast-service Taiwanese-style personal hot pot in Kearny Mesa: a spicy Sichuan pepper broth, roomier seating than Little Sheep or Tasty Pot, and HK-style skillet platters on the side.
The East Village outpost of The Patio Group's health-focused Harvest concept, which Roger visited as a longtime fan of The Patio restaurants generally.
Roger rated this 4 stars, saying he first discovered the brand at their original Pasadena location and was happy to find them now in San Diego, calling the food on point and the pour over selection great.
Roger rated this 4 stars, calling it one of the few Chamorro spots in town and saying that with a location now in Point Loma (versus the original in Oceanside) he'd pop in from time to time when the craving hits.
Now closed under this name (the space later became Hunan Kitchen, then Village Kitchen 家湘味). Roger's review compared the menu directly to Xi'an Kitchen and pointed newcomers to the biang biang noodles, cumin meat dishes, big plate chicken and pumpkin cake.
Now closed. Roger tracked this Convoy spot's shift into a full Sichuan dry pot (麻辣香鍋) joint, comparing it favorably to Qiwei Kitchen/Sizzling Pot King, while it kept a few older items like Taiwanese personal hot pot and boba.
A cozy, recently opened Hillcrest date spot with a limited but tasty tapas-style menu, where Roger called the shishito toast a must-have alongside a medium-rare flank steak and shrimp surf 'n turf.
Roger called this his favorite Taiwanese-style hot pot in San Diego, better than Boiling Passion and QT Pot, with a thick, flavorful lamb broth on the traditional Taiwanese base.
Roger missed the bento boxes after this Bankers Hill spot converted to ramen, but liked the tonkotsu base and the seafood ramen's generous scallop, shrimp, mussel and squid; earlier on he'd recommended the chicken skewers or miso salmon.
Now closed. Roger's opening-week review of this Clairemont hot pot spot covered a handpicked skewer bar (veggies, seafood, organs like duck gizzard) and the option to add ramen to an extra-spicy pot, shared or individual.
Roger gave this University Heights comfort-food restaurant 4 stars and an enthusiastic one-word 'Bomb' in 2016.
Roger rated this 3 stars after checking it out for live music; he noted a decent crowd, though many were friends of the jazz group playing, and said the server was quick to get drinks and food out.
A Golden Hill burger and comfort-food spot; Roger's short, garbled draft note mentioned crab, though the specific reference is unclear.
Roger rated this 3 stars, describing how, after deciding on tacos for dinner, he and his group first considered Tacos El Gordo before ending up here.
An East Village gastropub and brewery Roger liked for its Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, chicken wings, and beer, before it closed in 2018.
A Kearny Mesa Korean restaurant with private karaoke rooms, where Roger called out the samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) before it closed.
A short-lived Little Italy spin-off of the longtime Bonita restaurant Romesco, serving Mexican-Mediterranean ("Mexiterranean") dishes; Roger ordered octopus, sopes and half chicken.
A Hillcrest waffle-sandwich-and-craft-beer spot Roger liked for its bomb waffles and strong sour beer selection; it has since closed.
Roger rated this 4 stars, calling Harar one of the better spots for Ethiopian food in town, praising the family-owned business for consistently top-notch service and food that never disappointed.
Roger rated this 3 stars, praising the bacon-wrapped hot dogs, calling out a great sour beer selection, and saying the lobster roll was the bomb.
Roger rated this Convoy District seafood spot 4 stars for its 50%-off nightly specials, recommending the cold apps and a chicken/pork soup big enough for four -- and steering diners to order off the Chinese-language 'red menu' rather than the English one.
Roger rated this 3 stars, calling it one of the better dim sum spots in town and saying the quality was much better than sister restaurant Emerald despite sharing an owner, though he noted it's super far from most of San Diego.
Roger rated this 3 stars, liking the mango cheesecake shaved ice but noting the small space and a bit of a wait, since only two people were working.
A Hillcrest sandwich counter and wine spot Roger liked for good service, decent sandwiches, and a solid wine selection.
Roger compared this Kensington scoop shop favorably to Fosselman's in Alhambra, naming taro and horchata as the go-to flavors and wishing they'd bring over Fosselman's green tea flavor too.
A Kearny Mesa hot pot spot Roger likened to Boiling Point in the San Gabriel Valley, praising the Taiwanese-style broth and fast, efficient service.
A Hillcrest Indian-Pakistani spot Roger was sad to see close, remembered for a full three-course meal for $15 and attentive, guiding service.
A short-lived East Village coffee bar and lounge Roger caught soon after it opened, known for strong cold brew and DIY s'mores over personal-sized bonfire stoves.
A no-frills, cash-only Little Italy taco shack Roger leaned on for a quick burrito fix, built around an Al Pastor burrito he called the bomb.
Hammond's Pacific Beach shop, caught by Roger soon after its soft opening, known for rotating flavors like rose vanilla and a standby Thai tea he called his favorite.
A North Park kombucha tasting room Roger rated five stars, framing it as a tasty way to get some probiotics in; it has since closed.
Roger rated this longtime Pacific Beach bakery-restaurant 4 stars, praising a hilarious, attentive server and calling its San Diego Restaurant Week menu on point.
A Mission Hills New American restaurant Roger visited for San Diego Restaurant Week, praising great, friendly, and helpful service.
A colorful, custom-dessert shop in Little Italy from pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury; Roger found it super sweet, a bit pricey, but liked the cool dry-ice effects.
Roger rated this 3 stars, praising the curry and the selection of Indian beers, and noting the dosa was their specialty but came out a bit small if you were hungry.
Roger rated this 4 stars, calling the crepes great and the wine selection good, planning to go back for the savory crepes next time.
Roger rated this 4 stars, calling the Sichuan-style dry hotpot quite legit, drawing on his own experience eating dry hotpot numerous times in mainland China.
Green Flash Brewing's Poway barrel-aging facility and tasting room, which Roger recommended to sour beer lovers.
Roger rated this 4 stars, calling out the quinoa meatballs and dirty fries at this University Heights gastropub.
Roger rated this 4 stars, describing the Northern Chinese style dumplings as made by ethnic Koreans born and raised in China.
San Diego's first tabletop gaming bar, in Hillcrest, where Roger found it packed even on weeknights.
A family-run Pacific Beach spot blending Peruvian and Brazilian cooking, which Roger flagged as a standout for the combination of both cuisines under one roof.
A value-priced Clairemont sushi spot Roger flagged as 'cheap' on a 3-star visit; it closed in January 2023 after 16 years.
A 55-year Fairmount Park institution on Home Avenue Roger praised for massive portions and a dish cooked to order, permanently closed in 2021.
Roger rated this 5 stars, saying chef Akinori was a protege at Ota, calling it a great omakase deal with awesome uni and overall fresh sushi, plus cloudy nigori sake for just $6 during happy hour.
Now closed. Roger's review of this North Park vegan spot praised the "chicken" and dumpling soup and loaded nachos as tasty enough for carnivores, while noting the food wasn't exactly "clean eating" despite being vegan.
A 100% vegan and organic Little Italy cafe where Roger was won over by the Liberated and Transformed bowls and by the restaurant's affirmation-based ordering concept.
A Kearny Mesa Sichuan spot Roger returned to about three times for friendly service and food that was less greasy than most of the competition, best ordered with a group of four or more.
An early Kearny Mesa entry in San Diego's Northern Chinese scene that Roger liked for its fresh big plate chicken and handmade noodles.
A loud, beer-forward North Park pub pouring Automatic Brewing's house beers from sister spot Blind Lady Ale House, where Roger liked the cheese-baked oysters and bratwurst.
A Gaslamp Turkish restaurant Roger calls one of the best in town, built around a massive 4-person feast combo of meats, rice, bread and tzatziki, finished with pistachio baklava.
San Diego's only proper Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng, per Roger, worth it for the baked rice, pork chop and black-pepper steak-and-pasta dishes despite hit-or-miss milk tea and rough Convoy parking.
The Hillcrest branch of the Tajima Ramen chain, which Roger found surprisingly better than the original Clairemont/Kearny Mesa locations, with more generous portions, real flavor in the broth, and cheap late-night drink specials.
Now closed. A laid-back Normal Heights cafe Roger liked for shaded, vintage-table outdoor seating, cold brews and raw cookies, run by an owner (April) he says knew her coffee.
Now closed. A Barrio Logan cafe Roger praised for the best service he'd found at any coffee shop, with knowledgeable staff, strong cold brew, a bold Japanese-style iced coffee and tasty muffins.
Now closed. Roger's review of Hammond's North Park shop, a welcome dessert spot for the neighborhood, praised the Kona coffee and chocolate macadamia flavors and recommended a 6-scoop flight to share.
Roger's 3-star take on Pacific Beach's original pour-it-yourself beer-and-wine bar, visited in 2014; the Garnet Avenue location permanently closed in August 2022 after nine years.
A no-frills Normal Heights Thai spot Roger rated an ok stop, memorable as much for its eccentric owner Tam as for the food.
A North Park Vietnamese cafe Roger visited in 2011 -- one of his earliest documented meals -- calling out the good deals before it closed.
Roger gave this Rolando Jamaican patty-and-jerk spot 4 stars and a cheerful 'Ya mon!' — real enthusiasm for the jerk and patties on El Cajon Blvd.
Roger rated this 4 stars, calling it one of the best Chinese joints in San Diego, great for dim sum and also for large family dinners.
Roger rated this Mission Valley outpost of the Corner Bakery Cafe chain 3 stars, calling the food decent, generously portioned, and a good value.
Roger rated this 4 stars, praising the awesome service, great quality, and very nice culinary artwork on the plate presentation.
Roger rated this 4 stars, excited that Lolita's had opened a downtown East Village location so he no longer had to drive to Chula Vista or Clairemont for a fix.
Roger rated this Washington Street diner 4 stars, a regular stop he said never disappointed on food quality, portions, or its huge menu -- praising the breakfast, french toast, and honey-battered fried chicken 'n waffles, which he said beat Roscoe's in LA.
Roger rated this 5 stars, calling the food awesome and the ambiance great, and saying he loved the bonfire table out on the patio.
Roger rated this 3 stars, calling the happy hour decent with good appetizers and beer prices, and a solid spot to watch football.
A goth-tinged Gaslamp Quarter nightclub that also ran a tapas-style food menu; Roger's 3-star visit found it just okay.
Roger rated this Little Italy bistro 3 stars, praising the food, reasonable prices, and wine selection, though he flagged slow service.
Roger rated this 3 stars, calling the pizza pretty good at competitive prices and singling out the 2-slices-and-a-brewskie deal as a great value.
A Rancho Bernardo sushi spot Roger praised for awesome service, great food, and a very fun atmosphere.
Roger rated this North Park sushi spot 5 stars, saying he'd walked past it for months before finally trying it, despite typical skepticism about sushi around the North Park/South Park area -- and that chef Ed made a delicious New Zealand tuna for the table.
A Gaslamp sushi bar Roger rated 4 stars in a 2009 Yelp draft that trails off before naming a dish; the restaurant, also known as Sushi Bar Nippon, has since closed.
A long-running East Village dive bar Roger enjoyed for its laid-back vibe, good beer, and pizza, before its original 10th Avenue location closed.
Roger rated this 3 stars, calling the Cali burritos decent, though he admits he'd just left SandBar and wasn't totally sure if it actually tasted good or if that was just the night talking.
The Gaslamp outpost of the once-expansive, La Jolla-born Sammy's Woodfired Pizza chain, now closed along with most of its other San Diego locations.
Roger rated this Gaslamp cafe/lounge a full 5 stars, calling it the best cafe/lounge in San Diego where he'd come for coffee, hookah and cigars since 2003 -- until the city forced the owner out for a hotel project that was never built, leaving the site a parking lot for years.
Now closed. In 2022 Roger's Liberty Station coffee tip was to let the barista build an espresso drink of their own design here.
Might be back
2 places currently dark, not confirmed gone.
Roger rated this 4 stars, saying the shop had come a long way since it first opened a couple of years earlier.
A University Heights restaurant where the cocktail program is a genuine reason to stay for dinner, not an afterthought to the food.