As a 38-year resident of Vista, I can say with some expertise that my hometown has never been known as a major foodie destination.
Cafés, taco shops, pizzerias and chain restaurants have dominated the city’s dining offerings for decades.
But in the past few years, that has begun to change as the city has revitalized its downtown area, built more apartment housing and parks along the now-thriving Santa Fe Avenue corridor and become a hub for breweries.
Advertisem*nt
Many new owner-occupied restaurants have opened over the past year, with more in the works. Here are some of the city’s newest culinary destinations to check out on your next Vista visit.
Spaghetti Bolognese at Pizza & More in Vista.
(Pam Kragen/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Pizza & More
No new restaurant has generated more buzz within Vista community social media pages than this new Italian restaurant, which last summer took over a former pizzeria space in the Stater Bros. shopping center at North Santa Fe Avenue and Bobier Drive.
The new owner is Lola Craviotto, who previously ran a restaurant in La Jolla’s Bird Rock community for many years.
Pizzas and pastas are still a mainstay at the small restaurant, but each night executive chef Jair Santos prepares several entrée specials like roasted rabbit, baby back ribs, lobster ravioli and quail.
On my visit, an enthusiastic couple at the next table who said they dine there weekly recommended we order the spaghetti Bolognese, penne with vodka sauce, oven-roasted cheese-stuffed artichokes and bread knots. So we did. Everything was cooked to order and served in large portions. The Bolognese was the standout dish, but the bread knots were dry and chewy.
The food at Pizza & More is good and plentiful, but the repeat customers I spoke to say they especially appreciate Craviotto’s friendly and welcoming service and the chance to chat with the other “regulars” who are working their way through the extensive menu.
1461 N. Santa Fe Ave., Suite 103, Vista. (760) 615-3545, pizzamoreofvista.com
An al pastor quesa taco at newly opened Frida’s Taqueria in Vista.
(Pam Kragen/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Frida’s Taqueria
Frida’s Tacos, named in honor of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, is a fast-growing, family-owned taqueria and catering business owned by Grace and Robert Ayala.
They opened their newest outlet in February in the former Madera Kitchen space on South Santa Fe Avenue. The Ayalas started their business as a farmers market booth in 2017. In the years since, they have expanded to multiple farmers markets countywide and have recently begun opening brick-and-mortar locations in North County, including Oceanside and Escondido with a Ramona location coming soon.
Their menu has just five items — street tacos, burritos, quesa tacos (with fried cheese on the tortillas), loaded fries and tortas — but there are seven varieties of protein from carne asada to birria, cabeza and soyrizo. Diners order from the cashier, then take a paper ticket to the taquero (taco chef) where they can watch as their food is quickly prepared to order, including a choice of toppings and salsa spice level.
The reason for Frida’s success is the high quality and freshness of their food. The street tacos, priced at $3.49, are small, but loaded with fresh guacamole and come with two tortillas. The quesa tacos, priced at $5.99, are more of a meal. The specialty of the house is the al pastor quesa taco, where rotisserie-roasted and seasoned pork adobada is trimmed in thin slides and served with piles of fresh white onions, cilantro, guacamole and salsa. Not sure which tacos to order? Visit on Tuesdays, when all tacos are $1.99.
1250 S Santa Fe Ave., Suite O, Vista. instagram.com/fridas.taqueria
The restaurant area at Prey Brewing Co. in Vista.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Prey Brewing
In 2022, Justin Stambaugh revamped the business model for their Stave & Nail brewery in San Marcos and re-emerged with a new name, Prey Brewing Co., and a new food-forward focus, which includes a gastropub that opened last fall in downtown Vista.
The Prey Brewing restaurant, located on the bottom floor of the upscale The Rylan apartment building at Main Street and North Santa Fe Avenue, has been a big success with its eclectic American/Asian/Mexican menu, large portions, expansive weekend brunch menu and creative co*cktail menu. Some of the menu highlights are the 1/2-pound Angus cheeseburger, the oxtail birria fries, crispy pork belly bao burger.
110 Main St., Vista. (760) 283-6446, preybrewing.com
A vaca frita Cuban sandwich with fried sweet plantains at the Modern Churro restaurant in Vista.
(Pam Kragen/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Modern Churro
This quick-service sandwich, sweets and coffee outlet opened last August at the corner of Camino Patricia and Vista Village Drive. Its entrance is on the back side of a small hut-like office building with cloth awnings.
The shop sells both Mexican and Spanish varieties of churros (the Mexican variety is rolled in a cinnamon-sugar blend, but the Spanish version has no cinnamon), as well as filled churros piped with a choice of Nutella, sweet cream cheese or dulce de leche. There’s also soft-serve ice cream, shakes and hot and iced coffee drinks.
But the real surprise here are the Cuban sandwiches and snacks on the menu. There’s a traditional Miami-style Cuban sandwich, with pork, ham, Swiss cheese and mustard; a Vaca Frita sandwich with flavorful crispy flank steak; and the Ropa Vieja, with marinated and seasoned flank steak. All three are served on pressed Cuban sandwich buns and come with fried sweet plantain bites.
376 Vista Village Drive, Unit C, Vista. (760) 536-3944, themodernchurro.com
Other newer Vista spots to try
Harumama Noodles + Buns — Open since January, this Vista outlet of the San Diego-based chain serves ramen, noodle and skillet dishes, salads, sides and character buns (that look like pigs, cows, rabbits and more). 40 Main St., Suite 110, Vista. harumamasd.com/vista-menu
Mariscos El Pacifico — The Baja-style Mexican seafood sit-down restaurant serves an extensive menu that includes ceviches, fried and grilled fish, oysters, soups, tacos and tostadas. Breakfast and children menus are also offered along with bar service. 702 S. Santa Fe Ave., Vista. mariscoselpacificovista.com
Primo Market — Since 1994, Vista has been home to a Primo Foods market, which sells grocery products from Mexico as well as ready-made meats, tacos, vegetable dishes and aguas frescas. Five months ago, its new store opened in East Vista. Right inside the front door there’s a hot foods table, where free samples of smoked beef, ceviche and aguas frescas are served. But the store’s biggest seller is its 99-cent street tacos, which drop to 69 cents on Tuesdays and Fridays. They’re mini tacos, but two are a filling lunch with fresh cilantro, onions, lime wedges and choice of sauces. Some of the protein options are carne asada, adobada, carnitas, chicharron, fish and birria. 868 E. Vista Way, Vista. primofoodsinccom
pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
