A Family Affair: Karina’s Mexican Seafood Celebrates 40 Years in San Diego | Restaurants
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Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! This week our special guest is David Contreras Curiel of Karina’s Mexican Seafood, a San Diego institution that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week. David and his siblings run the family business his parents started in Spring Valley in 1981 and tell us the story of Karina’s humble beginnings. David’s father, Don Arnulfo Contreras, and his mother, Maria Ines Curiel, founded the restaurant (named after their eldest daughter) to help their six children lead a better life. Don was a good cook, so he built the business by preparing fish dishes that he had enjoyed in his home state of Sinaloa, such as ceviche. The whole family lived above the restaurant for a short time, and David started working there when he was six years old. Today Karina has multiple locations in the county, and the family also runs Savoie Italian Eatery, Taka Sushi, and Saffron Thai. David has 25 nieces and nephews and he says they have all been or are currently working in the restaurants. We learned how they source their fresh seafood, the company’s future goals, and David’s expert advice on what to order when you visit.
There’s a lot of talk about the Michelin Guide at Hot Plates this week (and that’s big news!). Michelin announced it was giving four-star restaurants in San Diego: Addison was promoted from one to two stars, and Jeune et Jolie, Soichi Sushi, and Sushi Tadokoro each received one star. Earlier this month, five local restaurants received the Bib Gourmand award from Michelin: Callie, Cesarina, Ciccia Osteria, Dija Mara and Morning Glory. What do you think of the results of the awards? Let us know! In the last message, Andrew Bachelier, formerly with Jeune et Jolie, confirmed that he and professional skater Tony Hawk are opening a new chicken restaurant called Chick N ‘Hawk in Encinitas.
In Two People, $ 50, David Contreras Curiel recommends the quinoa and chicken bowl at the Little Lion Cafe in Ocean Beach and all of the starters at the Harbor Breakfast in Little Italy. My choice is the Papa Rellena at Too Sabrozo Delicatessen, a new Colombian food stall at local farmers’ markets. David Martin says he should get the royal pho at Pho Ca Dao, and Troy’s pick this week is the crispy chicken rolls and coconut prawns at Sbicca Del Mar.
Thank you for listening! As always, we want to hear from you. Do you need a restaurant recommendation? Is there a guest we should book for the show? You can call us at 619-744-0535 and leave a voicemail, or if you’re too shy email us at happyhalfhour@sdmag.com. We meet next week!
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