This year, Hanukkah runs from Thursday, December 7 to Friday, December 15, when traditional food plays an important role in the Festival of the Lights along with customs like lighting menorah candles and exchanging gifts. Find dine-in or take-home specials at these local restaurants, delicatessens, and bakeries.
Read MoreWhere to Find Hanukkah Dishes Around San Diego
These local spots will help with celebrating the eight nights of Hanukkah
Gelson's La Costa/Carlsbad
The market’s locations in Carlsbad, Del Mar, and Pacific Beach are offering a wide assortment of holiday dinners and a la carte items are available for pickup to be reheated at home including traditional beef brisket and barbecue chicken. Traditional tzimmes and chopped beef liver with egg dishes are also available.
Ranch 45 Local Provisions
The Solana Beach restaurant and butchery is rolling out chicken matzo ball soup, braised short ribs, and potato latkes for take-home dinners. For dessert, try the vegetarian sufganiyots or chocolate caramel truffles. Items are ordered a la carte for pick-up on December 8.
Milton's
The longtime deli and restaurant is running a Hanukkah dinner special with brisket, potato latkes, vegetables, and festive donuts for $39.95. The Del Mar establishment also offers a catering menu for the Hanukkah dinner along with their popular Reubens and matzo ball soups.
A.R. Valentien
Executive Chef Kelli Crosson leads the flagship restaurant at the Lodge at Torrey Pines into the holidays with panache. Themed libations from cocktails to root beer floats are on offer, along with holiday cookies and fruitcakes. There will be a special Hanukkah menu offered from December 7 to December 14, alongside regular dinner favorites.
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SusieCakes - Del Mar
The bakery is offering an array of decorated desserts. The Hanukkah vintage decorated cake or menorah decorated cakes can be ordered with marble, chocolate, or vanilla options. Flourless or regular cupcakes are decorated with festive frosting. There are also Hanukkah gingerbread cookies and Star of David sugar cookies, along with a DIY cookie decoration kit.
Lilian's
The newly reopened Rancho Santa Fe stunner is featuring Hanukkah meals from December 7 to December 14 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Highlights include smoked pastrami and sauerkraut, wagyu brisket stroganoff, and sufganiyot beignets for dessert.
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Morena Provisions
The newly revamped outlet of Urban Kitchen Group (CUCINA urbana, ARTIFACT, Gold Finch) is offering a variety of options for Hanukkah. The store adjacent to the catering kitchen hosts a dine-in café along with provisions for pickup or delivery. Restaurateur Tracy Borkum is featuring her grandmother’s recipe for matzo ball soup with vegan and non-vegan versions, along with latkes and beef brisket.
Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine
The Gaslamp restaurant will offer special Hanukkah dishes, along with its regular dinner menu, from December 7 to 15. They’ll have challah bread with apple spice butter along with a latke and lox dish with caviar and smoked salmon for $25.
Ben & Esther's Vegan Delicatessen
Located near San Diego State University, the vegan deli has a selection of kosher foods available for a more casual Hanukkah celebration. They have “beef” brisket sandwiches, potato latkes, kugels, and festive cookies.
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D Z Akin's
At this New York-style deli, the traditional Hanukkah dinner will be offered every night as a three-course meal for $31.95 for dine-in or take-out. Main course options include stuffed cabbage, roasted chicken, and brisket. End the meal with sufganiyot, or jelly donuts. An extensive catering menu is also available for ordering
Gold Finch Modern Delicatessen
Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, the Torrey Pines mesa restaurant regularly offers a slew of options like pastrami and matzo ball soup. Don’t miss the impressive latke tower, which includes latkes, tzimmes brisket, and chicken schnitzel for $48.