San Diego Chef Takes Me To Her Favorite Food Spots
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I spent the day eating across San Diego with James Beard finalist chef Tara Monsod, following her to the local spots that inspire her cooking. From hidden neighborhood gems to creative bakeries, authentic Lao cuisine, and bold New Mexican flavors—this is a true “day in the life” of a top chef in San Diego.
We kicked things off in East Village at Relic Bakery, an artistic bakery known for its beautiful, inventive pastries. For lunch, we headed to Lincoln Park to eat at Harborside Cuisine, where we explored deeply authentic Lao food—one of the most underrated cuisines in Southern California.
We wrapped up the day in Mission Hills at Wolf in the Woods, diving into rich, New Mexican-inspired dishes packed with flavor. Along the way, Tara shares her insights on food, culture, and what fuels her creativity as one of San Diego’s top chefs. If you’re looking for the best food in San Diego, this is a chef-approved food tour you don’t want to miss.
Featured San Diego Food Locations:
1. Relic Bakery – Artistic bakery with creative, modern pastries.
2. Harborside Cuisine – Authentic Lao food and bold traditional flavors.
3. Wolf in the Woods – New Mexican-inspired cuisine with deep, rich flavors.
FOLLOW TARA: https://www.instagram.com/tara.monsod
BEST FOOD IN SAN DIEGO CHECKLIST: https://bit.ly/GarethEats-Checklist
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——— WHO IS GARETH LEONARD? ———
Hi! My name is Gareth Leonard, an American Travel YouTuber with a passion for slow, meaningful solo travel. I have spent the past 15+ years traveling around the world while creating travel vlogs to help educate and inspire people to “Travel Deeper.”
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29 Comments
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, here's a few others you might like from my main channel👇
🇵🇭 Day in the Life of a San Diego Chef: https://youtu.be/oyF7P3Ncw9I
🌮Ultimate Tijuana Taco Tour: https://youtu.be/SK29HnOKmQ0
🍗 Inside the BEST BBQ in California: https://youtu.be/G8bR7qGjLOs
Hey Gareth Im a San Diego local also! Im Mexican but I tried this Peruvian spot by Mission Valley called "Mama G's" BROTHER!!!! Its sooo good! You need to try it. I have nothing to do with the place but I just think its so good. Its a really small spot but its delicious!! 👍👍👍👍👍😁
Love Chef Tara’s Baguette Tattoo! 🔥
I live close to that Lao place and always thought I should try it so now you've convinced me!
U Guyz ROCK😋😍🐖
Tried Animae last night for the first time. Costly, but the food was excellent. Plan to go back to try a couple more dishes. Service was outstanding.
Of course love you Gareth but also am enjoying Chef Tara and glad you introduced her to me! She also needs to post on YT. Going to try the mayo. Sharing your channel too! Love it!
Gareth is so damn dreamy. Who else agrees? 🫠
Wow! Wonderful to see all your excitement/enthusiasm just plain joy at eating al this interesting food with your chef friend in San Diego. Gareth you are a treasure. Please make more travel Content Videos! Thanks!
Spend four years in California (SD). Absolutely the worst.
I love how she stuffs her face so full she has to cover her mouth with her hand. She reminds me of me.
YUM!
Everytime your videos come across my fyp I think it’s Matt Leinart.
This was such a cool episode. Can you guys do a Part 2 and hit up the other places Tara suggested?? Would love it. Haha, also dying over here at the end of the episode, "That's La Jolla rich."
This was wonderful. I always want to know where the chef eats at. They all looked amazing. The polenta and mushrooms are a wow. Thank you for doing this.
GARETH thanks for this. You have no idea how awesome your videos. Watching my 91 year old mom. Dad is in rehab after neck surgery
So this taste of life… is so refreshing
God Bless you G
All solid spots
Love your work man!!! Wolf in the woods is so ridiculous. Fiancé and I go regularly…the corn soup, polenta mushrooms and pork & fry bread are all 10/10.
Ain't no fucking vinegar in that papaya salad.
Thanks for highlighting Lao food! Month of April is our new year!
Harborside cuisine is my spot.😃 Wasn't at all surprised it was on the list. Delicious food.
Why show an item on your video that isn't on a restaurants menu? The chicken galantine is nowhere to be found on Relics menu.
Awesome video! Keep up the great work!
What is the opposite of a "food desert" … bc that's what SD is! Great video Gareth, thanks Chef Tara 🤙🏼
We are eating at Harborside Cuisine right now Garreth. 🙏🏽
We've been to Wolf in the Woods and had pretty much everything you two did. It was outstanding.
Looking forward to trying the other two, especially the Lao place.
LOVE Wolf in the Woods!!!
Garet i know u missed a lot Philippines try pilipino empanada at jnc infront of southwestern college u got 2 choices original or sisig empanada yummm😊😊😊
Love this channel, thanks for being awesome and highlighting all the good food here in SD!
“Chef Food Tours” is a great series idea Gareth, so many high tier chefs here now, go eat with them!
Let the channel highlight their local spots, it would give the spotlight to knowledgeable culinary pros from all over the county.
If it works out and gets popular, why not extend it to actual food tours people can book too? Food tours would be a great dimension to all of this, they’re huge in other cities, make them chef led. Easy way to grow reach and make the channel (and the spots) some extra cash.
Win win win.