Part of my experience of eating at the fabulous Moto Deli is when my friend, chef and co-owner Andy Halvorsen, comes out to talk about our culinary hits and misses in the area. It’s always a lively debate, and I always respect his opinions.
Andy is one of the more accomplished chefs in the area, cutting his culinary chops at stellar joints like AR Valentine, Blue Ocean, Stone Bistro and Chile Co Catering, and his opinions carry some weight. Andy is a Buffalo, New York, native and turned me on to beef on weck, the amazing regional roast beef delight found here.
With that, I thought I’d share my favorites of 2025 with Andy to get an insight into where he is eating these days when not providing us with some of the best sandwiches in North County.
I’m going to lead it off, then hand it over to Chef Andy.
I’ll start with Haven at Fox Point Farms. This oasis in the middle of upscale coastal suburbia has a full-on farm and one of the best new restaurants around in Haven. Check out the $20 Monday Happy Hour menu for a selection of solid chef-driven entrees with wine or beer, making it one of the best values around.
I’ve been back to Ernie’s Craft Deli & Wine Bar several times since I featured them in LTP, and my love keeps growing. Get the Meatball Sub, well-done with extra cheese, and the Italian Sub, and eat half of each for two meals. Oh, and get a couple of bottles of Dr. Pepper with cane sugar to go with it.
Johnny Rad’z brought back the spirit of Pandora Pizza with a skater edge, sourdough crust and a solid meatball sub, and all that is worth celebrating.
The Henry at the Forum in Carlsbad takes the prize in my fine dining category. It was a delightful experience all around with well-educated servers and a menu that impressed.
“This Musubi Love is for real” was the headline for my feature on this fabulous new microenterprise home kitchen (MEHKO) founded and operated by Roger Post on Vulcan in Leucadia — and folks, it’s the real deal. His versions of Musubi — Nori-wrapped Spam — are all worth trying.
Fish 101 always makes my list, and this year it’s because of the Katsu sandwich. It’s a toasted Sadie Rose brioche bun, Fish 1001 island spread, panko-crusted Alaskan cod, shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes and pickled onions, and oh man, is it good.
After years of buying bait from the Everingham Bros. Bait Co. barge in Mission Bay with Boundless Boat Charters Captain Mark Mihelich, we set up a super fun interview/BBQ on the barge with bait barge supervisor Jonas Chavira and his crew. A memorable afternoon with great food and stories ensued, and one I will never forget.
I’ll wrap this up with my contribution to the book by Tracy Sabin called “Tuesday Nights at the Calypso: A Decade of Inspired Entertainment by Jack Tempchin & the Rocket Science Band,” featuring sketches he produced over a decade during the Tuesday night gigs of the prolific songwriter and musician.
He asked to repurpose my 2011 “welcome back” column about Calypso, which had closed due to a fire, as an introduction to the book. Given my affinity for Calypso and those Tuesday nights, my answer was an enthusiastic yes, and it was a blast!
I’ll turn this over to Chef Andy now for some of his regular stops in 2025.
Most of my favorite meals in 2025 came from within Encinitas. I live and work in the middle of town, so I rarely need to stray too far.
I’ll start with Chick & Hawk. After waiting for several years and having only the occasional pop-up to satisfy my cravings for arguably the best fried chicken sandwich anywhere (like really, anywhere), so glad these guys finally opened. I don’t really need anything more than the huge sandwich, but their Eyrie Fries are solid, too.
Leu Leu is up next. I love the whole vibe of this spot. They recently hired a new chef, Jason Ambacher, from Dija Mara, another restaurant I really love, and I’m excited to see where he takes the menu.
Agave Birrieria, adjoining the Ways Market and Chevron on Orpheus Avenue, has become my go-to burrito stop. The Chili Verde Burrito is my favorite, but the birria is excellent, and I’ve worked my way through most of their burritos without being disappointed.
Hamburger Hut has a great bar to pop into for a smash burger and a cocktail when I’m flying solo and hungry, but they also have a great patio, so it works for a whole group and is family-friendly.
Speaking of burgers, some others I enjoy include The Roxy, which has my favorite “restaurant style” burger, nothing fancy, just a well-executed Brandt prime beef with all the basics.
The newly opened Rosemarie’s Buns & Brews has a great variety of sliders, but they are not tiny, and I’m looking forward to working through the whole menu, which has not only burgers and chicken but soft-shell crab and several veggie options.
And of course, Valentina in Leucadia is another spot with a great bar to pop into for some quick bites. They always have great oysters, and while they have cocktails, the highlight is their wine list. It’s also a great spot for date night, not only because the food is excellent, but also because the staff is always on their game.
Corner Pizza is my go-to pizza, and they are opening a second location in Encinitas — they also have locations in Oceanside and Bressi Ranch. My favorite is the Killer Bee with tomato sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzola, soppressata, pepperoni, rosemary and chili honey — it’s really all about that chili honey.
Thanks, David and Lick the Plate, it was fun! You can hear our extended conversation at www.lick-the-plate.com.
