‘Top Chef’ and ‘Iron Chef’ contestant Claudette Zepeda opened Leu Leu just this past spring, right in the heart of Leucadia. Here, dishes are inspired by the chef’s travels around the world, but based on her Mexican American heritage. The menu’s uniqueness, attention to detail, and the overall spectacular flavors, are what landed Leu Leu on Resy’s brand-new “top 100 restaurants around the country that define dining today.”
Leu Leu – ‘ A love letter about a love story, imagined’
Leu Leu is where Executive Chef and Partner Claudette Zepeda brings her world travels and roots in one place. Back in the day, in the 1930’s, this space was a motel – which makes it an unusual place to find a prestigious celebrity chef, who stole everyone’s hearts on Top Chef, Top Chef Mexico, and Iron Chef.
The design is a mix of California coastal with modern touches, which can also be seen on Leu Leu’s menu. The chef says it ‘drifts from the shores of the Mediterranean to the spice markets of Morocco and the faraway wonders of the East.’ You’ll find an amazing raw bar, mixing flavors from Peru, Japan, and Mexico’s Pacific coast. Start with delicious mezze. Explore braised meats with tortillas. Don’t miss the star of the show: lemongrass coconut blue fin tuna crudo. Ready for the main? Try the crispy chicken with a tomato mole, or their famous pibil lamb shank.
Another highlight at Leu Leu’s is their wine menu, where you’ll find a plethora on women winemakers. You can sip on Californian wine, or take a trip to France or Italy.
With exceptional food, an inviting vibe, and an elite wine list – it’s no wonder this spot made Resy’s top 100.
About the chef
Claudette Zepeda is a San Diego based chef and culinary innovator, recognized with numerous awards for her daring style and unique take on regional Mexican food. Zepeda brings over two decades of restaurant experience and a wealth of knowledge, heavily shaped by her global journeys and explorations across Mexico. Her work highlights the richness of native ingredients, but also showcases the intersection of diverse culinary traditions.
Resy’s top 100
This is the team’s first ‘top 100’, in which they wanted to highlight the true scope and richness of those restaurants. The task wasn’t easy – keep in mind there are nearly 10,000 restaurants in the Resy family!
They dug into nearly every market where Resy partners operate and leaned on almost two dozen local contributors nationwide. Each shared the places that excite them most: the restaurants that inspire, surprise, and raise the bar for dining. As a result, we’ve got a curated list of restaurants that deliver unforgettable experiences. You’ll find spots serving food that can comfort or challenge, honor tradition or reimagine it.
Leu Leu is the only San Diego restaurant that made this list.