As vibrant and eye-catching as its namesake bird, Kingfisher opened its doors in early 2022 in Golden Hill, a mostly residential urban neighborhood just east of downtown San Diego. A modern and elegant showcase for Vietnamese cuisine, Kingfisher has earned Michelin Guide recognition along with numerous local and national accolades.
Kingfisher’s owners designed the restaurant with shimmering lotus-print wallpaper that glints of gold to celebrate their Vietnamese culture. In the hands of Executive Chef Jon Bautista, a veteran of fine-dining kitchens, family recipes retain a connection to their original inspirations while being made new.
His menu begins on a fresh note, with offerings that could include a chilled interpretation of Vietnamese hot-and-sour soup, or canh chua, presented here as a diver scallop crudo poached in salt water and chilled before being served with a pineapple broth, tamarind gelée, ginger-cured tomatoes, celery, rice-paddy herbs, and seaweed.
A luxe version of congee, a comfort food eaten in many Asian countries, is augmented with wild chanterelle mushrooms, crispy garlic, chives, and cilantro; a molten egg yolk adds extra richness to the already velvety rice porridge.
Sourcing from local farms means that some elements swap out with the seasons: Spring and summer’s sweet corn and strawberries give way to sunchokes and chicories in the fall and winter.
