Tony Hawk grew up in sunny San Diego, and he didn’t just become the world’s most famous skateboarder – he became the face of SoCal skate culture. His hometown still means a lot to him, and a while back, he shared some of his favorite local spots with Visit California. From great steaks to standout coffee and even his own fried chicken sandwich, here’s a look at his go-tos.
1. Animae
ANIMAE’s distinctive menu focuses on cooking with a coal-fired oven and a Japanese robata grill, resulting in an exciting fusion of American and Asian flavors. The offerings include impressive dishes like Palabok, a sophisticated take on chef Tara’s childhood favorite, featuring bucatini, local lobster, crispy chicharrón, and trout roe. Other notable selections are Szechuan-inspired lamb, Taiwanese chicken, and tuna crispy rice.
Here, Tony Hawk loves the Wagyu Steaks, seared with their signature Robata coal-fired grill.
2. Roberto’s
Roberto’s Taco Shop is an iconic San Diego institution, recognized as a pioneer of the “Mexican taco shop” concept in Southern California. It dates back to 1964 when Mexican natives Roberto and Dolores Robledo opened a tortilla factory in San Ysidro. At the request of customers, Dolores began making and selling burritos, which quickly led the family to open San Diego’s first traditional-style taco shop. Roberto’s became famous for its commitment to large, satisfying portions, simple recipes, and quality ingredients. That would spin off countless imitators, all identifiable by the “-berto’s” suffix (like Alberto’s or Filiberto’s). Some even credit Roberto’s for the birth of the California burrito (but we don’t think that’s true – more about it here).
When stopping by here, Tony loves to grab a couple of rolled tacos with guacamole. Many San Diegans would absolutely approved of this order.
3. Lofty coffee
Every sports legend needs a legit coffee spot that they know they can count on. When it comes to Tony Hawk, he goes to Lofty coffee for that extra shot of energy. The place began in 2011 as a simple corner cafe on the historic Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas, and it quickly evolving into a prominent San Diego coffee roaster and community hub. The company is renowned for their careful sourcing of global beans and a simple but meticulous roast philosophy to bring out the inherent “sweet spot” of each coffee’s flavor. They are particularly popular for their elevated drinks like the Turkish Latte, Salted Caramel Latte and the Aztec Mocha. Don’t sleep on their bakery goodies, neither!
P.S. check this article for top 15 coffee shops in San Diego.
4. Hidden Fish
Hidden Fish holds the distinction of being San Diego’s first omakase-only sushi bar. The restaurant brought the “speed omakase” trend, popularized in cities like New York, to San Diego, offering a high-quality, focused sushi experience in a condensed timeframe. They are known for their curated tasting menus of nigiri, which often feature 12 or 18 pieces. The kitchen sources top-level, seasonal ingredients from around the globe, including direct shipments from Japan’s Toyosu Fish Market. It’s no surprised why this spot has made the list. If you try it out, it will probably make your top list, too.
5. Chick & Hawk
Okay, this wasn’t on Tony Hawk’s list – though he did proudly speak about it back then, when it was just a pop-up and a plan in the making. Chick & Hawk is the skateboard’s legend own restaurant, owned together with Chef Andrew Bachelier (Campfire, Jeune et Jolie*, Atelier Manna). It just opened its doors in mid-November in Encinitas, serving a small but mighty menu. Their signature dish is ‘The Birdman’ – a Nashville inspired spicy sandwich, with hot fried chicken, tangy slaw and kimchi ‘comeback’ sauce. There’s a crazy hot version of it, for the brave ones. If you’re feeling fishy, go with ‘The Seabird’ instead. Oh, and grab a taxi to reach it…cause you should really also try their super unique cocktails.