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Artwork for San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour

San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour

San Diego Magazine
San Diego
San Diego Food Scene
Restaurant Industry
Michelin Star
Bebemos
Oceanside
Tequila
Truffles
Chef Brad Wise
Ozempic
Dining Culture
Jitters Coffee Pub
Tacos
Sustainable Seafood
Bali Hai
Trust Restaurant Group
Fort Oak
Thanksgiving
Thompson Heritage Ranch
24 Suns

The weekly guide to San Diego's food + drink scene, hosted by award-winning food writer and Food Network host Troy Johnson and San Diego Magazine's culture brain, Jackie Bryant. Field notes and perspectives on restaurants, bars, and chefs—including dishes and drinks you gotta try, restaurant openings and closings, events worth your time, and laugh-cry interviews with chefs, restaurant owners, farm... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes340Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & CultureFood

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Artwork for San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour

Latest Episodes

The chef and owner of Luigi's shares his journey from opening a small bar above Lake Como to lines forming around the block in Golden Hill for his pies.

At 23, Luigi Agostini left his hometown of Varese, Italy for America, finding his way to San Fr... more

YouTube

The border is a huge part of why San Diego's food culture took off. The kitchen exchange of chefs and ideas and burning wood and seafood acid parties across San Ysidro built a Mexican-American style that's unlike anywhere else in the US.

That bord... more

YouTube

Leucadia's charm is in no small part because someone planted eucalyptus trees for railroad ties, but that wood turned out to be useless. So they just let those peely giants grow and grow, which is why the Leucadia stretch of PCH is now a majestic lea... more

YouTube

On this episode of Happy Half Hour, Relic Bakery owners Samantha Bird and Derek Hadden pulled up with a selection of their best fare including Crunchwrap Supreme croissants, paté en croûte, an XO sausage wrapped in laminated dough, and a tahini straw... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Claudette Zepeda
Chef and author of Cooking the Borderlands
Bracero; Top Chef Mexico contestant; Food Network personality
Episode: From Tia's Pozole to Top Chef—Claudette Zepeda Books It
Eric Lessing
Owner of Moe's (Soska's successor) in Mission Beach
OMG Hospitality / Moe's
Episode: Why Valentina Is the Most Leucadia Restaurant in Leucadia
Derek Bryant
Co-founder of Relic Bakery
Relic Bakery
Episode: The Wild Tale Behind Relic Bakery's Origin Story
Benji Weatherley
Pro surfer, podcaster, owner of Breakers Cafe/Breakers CBG
Breakers CBG / Breakers Cafe & Bar
Episode: Pro Surfer Benji Weatherley Credits Cooking With Saving Him
Eric Lightstein
Owner/operator of Moe's and Bebemos integration
OMG Hospitality / Moe's, Bebemos
Episode: The Steakhouse That Replaced Saska's Is Worth the Hunt for Parking
Peter Oliver
Co-founder of Gator by the Bay; Cajun/Zydeco advocate
Gator by the Bay
Episode: 10,000 Pounds of Crawfish & One Big Accordion-Fueled Fever Dream
Travis Swikard
Chef-Owner of Cali and Fleurette, San Diego native returning to grow the city's dining scene
Cali, Fleurette
Episode: French Food Isn't Just Butter and Cool-Sounding Words
Accursio Lota
World Pasta Champion, owner of Dora Ristorante and Cori Pastificio
Dora Ristorante; Cori Pastificio
Episode: San Diego's Accursio Lota Has Won Italy's Highest Chef Award
Tony Gwynn Jr
Special guest planned for appearances; representing Bebemos and family connection
Bebemos; Tony Gwynn Jr. family
Episode: The Best Hot Dogs in San Diego

Hosts

Troy Johnson
Host of the show; award-winning food writer and Food Network host; San Diego Magazine contributor.
Jackie Bryant
Co-host with a culture lead role; frequent moderator and segment lead in episodes.
Lauren Lau
Co-host introducing segment and guests; contributes to show's cultural framing.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 195 ratings
  • Stoners

    Really disappointing the Juniper & Ivy episode was ruined by all the stoners talking about pot.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Lastoeck
    United States2 years ago
  • Great podcast for SD locals!

    TROY YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU SPEAK! I get it, you get excited, but it’s so hard to listen to this podcast in normal speed. I’m an avid podcast listener and this is the only one I need to slow down to 0.75 speed.

    Other than that, this is a great resource for people that love food in San Diego! I love listening to the show and getting insight on great spots to check out. San Diego is such a foodie town - there’s a never ending supply of great spots to check out!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Nsaadi
    United States3 years ago
  • Love it!

    One of my favorite podcasts! Love hearing about all the great eats in SD. Also enjoy 2 people $50, have discovered so many new places because of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kcwhite86
    United States3 years ago
  • “wing it” is arrogant + annoying

    Please remind her she is not always going to be a “milennial.” I am not easily offended, but her comments are very obnoxious. Us “old people” do not care what you think my dear. Please give David a mic instead. He always steals the show when he is allowed to speak.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Dfales
    United States5 years ago
  • I find Troy to be an annoying bro

    Hard to listen to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    plantsanimalsfoodtv
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise timely SD food scene coverage and engaging guest lineups.
Mixed feedback on pacing and guest balance, with fans of local food appreciating the content.
Several comments note strong insider access and useful restaurant recommendations.
Some critique audio levels and host dynamics.

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Radio RentalTenderfoot TV & Audacy
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Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Humans
HumansHank Green

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Tia's Pozole to Top Chef—Claudette Zepeda Books It
Q: How did the border influence Claudette's approach to cooking and food storytelling?
The border taught her to embrace hybridity, to use a wide range of ingredients from across cultures, and to tell stories through food that reflect movement, family, and resilience.
From Tia's Pozole to Top Chef—Claudette Zepeda Books It
Q: What did Bracero mean for San Diego's culinary scene and for Claudette's career?
It represented a seismic shift where cross-border cooking could thrive publicly, elevating Mexican-American cuisine and enabling Claudette to push boundaries in her own career.
Why Valentina Is the Most Leucadia Restaurant in Leucadia
Q: What prompted Bebemos Golden Hour's recent expansion and what can guests expect on Bebemos Mayo day?
Preston explains Bebemos started as a celebration of tequila and community, and the annual Cinco de Mayo crawl now includes multiple stops with Bebemos shirts, a bus, vintage cars, and a celebratory finale, spreading the Bebemos brand across North County and beyond.
Why Valentina Is the Most Leucadia Restaurant in Leucadia
Q: What makes Moe's stand out as a beachside steakhouse with a legacy?
Eric Lessing describes Moe's as a modern evolution that honors Soska's history while maintaining a neighborhood, wood-lined atmosphere with a strong focus on carnivore-centric dishes like a signature brie burger and a house-made steak program.
San Diego's Roast Beef Awakening
Q: What has been the hardest day in your restaurant journey?
Opening a restaurant with a dream and not a bankroll, living week to week through passion.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour

What is San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show leans into San Diego's food and drink landscape through in-depth chef interviews, restaurant evolutions, and local hospitality stories. Episodes frequently center on cross-cultural influences, sustainability, mentorship, and the business realities of launching and running notable concepts, with live-fire cooking, regional ingredients, and community-building as recurring threads. Notable strengths include candid founder and chef journeys, a pulse on openings and closures, and a knack for unpacking how local history and culture shape menus and experiences. A standout element is the mix of insider discourse with celebratory profiles of San Diego's culinary scene, often featuring prominent local operators and emerging talents, making ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour:

1. Things Bakers Know: The King Arthur Baking Podcast
2. She's My Cherry Pie
3. In the Test Kitchen
4. The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters
5. Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

How many episodes of San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour are there?

San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour launched 10 years ago and published 340 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour?

Recent guests on San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour include:

1. Claudette Zepeda
2. Eric Lessing
3. Derek Bryant
4. Benji Weatherley
5. Eric Lightstein
6. Peter Oliver
7. Travis Swikard
8. Accursio Lota

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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