July 4, 2025

San Diego Comic-Con Brings Themed Dining Experience in 2025

News Summary

San Diego Comic-Con is set to return with a variety of themed dining options in 2025, featuring restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter. The restaurant guide highlights unique menus aligned with the convention theme, offering exciting specials and events from July 24 to July 27. Attendees can enjoy an array of culinary delights, including cocktails and themed dishes from local favorites. Several venues are poised to transform their spaces to create a dynamic dining atmosphere for fans, ensuring a memorable experience during the convention.

San Diego, CA – The popular convention, San Diego Comic-Con, is set to return in 2025, and with it comes an exciting array of dining options for attendees. This year marks the third installment of the restaurant guide specifically designed for Comic-Con attendees, showcasing a variety of restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter and nearby areas offering themed menus and special events from July 24 to July 27.

Several restaurants have tailored their offerings to align with the entertainment theme of the convention, ensuring a dynamic dining experience for fans. An updated list of participating restaurants will continue to grow as the event approaches, providing attendees with plenty of choices to satisfy their appetite during the convention.

Dining Highlights

barleymash

Located just 0.5 miles from the convention center at the corner of Fifth Ave and Market St, barleymash will undergo a complete transformation into a nostalgic video store for its “Barley’s Blockbuster Weekend.” This restaurant is poised to offer a variety of food specials inspired by popular movies and characters, including:

Krabby Patty Deluxe Sliders ($22)
Shell Shocked Flatbread ($22)
La La La Lava Nachos ($20)
Botrogger’s Defiance Chocolate Cake ($8)

Additionally, there will be exclusive cocktails available and a karaoke event, Comic-Con Kickoff Karaoke, scheduled for July 24 from 9 PM to 12 AM.

Donut Bar Pop-Up at the Pendry San Diego

Just 0.3 miles from the convention center, Donut Bar will be popping up at the Pendry San Diego, welcoming attendees starting at 7 AM each day of Comic-Con. The star attraction will be the WILD Minecraft Chicken Stuffed Donut, featuring a chicken strip and maple glaze. At 5 PM, an “Encore Opening” will feature themed drinks and mystery brews for adults.

El Chingon

Another favorite, El Chingon, located 0.4 miles from the convention center at 560 Fifth Ave, will serve a Joker-inspired cocktail, “Madness Like Gravity”, priced at $14, as well as a higher-tier version for $27.

Havana 1920

At Havana 1920, guests can find a Bane-inspired cocktail, “I Broke the Bat”, for $15, alongside another enticing cocktail named “Poison Ivy” also priced at $15, all within a 0.4-mile distance from the convention center.

Hasta Mañana Cantina

Located even closer at 0.2 miles from the convention center, Hasta Mañana Cantina promotes a lucha libre theme, providing themed drinks, tasty bites, and daily giveaways to guests throughout the event.

Lionfish

Dining at Lionfish, situated 0.4 miles from the convention center at 435 Fifth Ave, will include a limited-edition lineup of pop culture-inspired cocktails priced at $18 each.

Mezé Greek Fusion

Located at 345 Sixth Ave and 0.4 miles from the convention center, Mezé Greek Fusion will feature Batman-themed food and cocktails, such as:

Caped Crusader cocktail ($19)
Two Face Taquitos ($14)
Birds of Prey meatballs ($16)
Bat Signal jumbo shrimp dish ($26)

Prohibition

Also situated 0.4 miles from the convention center, Prohibition will introduce the Gentleman of Crime cocktail priced at $18.

Local Favorites Worth the Trip

Some local favorites, while situated further from the convention center, are still noteworthy. City Tacos (7.6 miles away) will host a Comic-Con trivia night on July 23, and Din Tai Fung (14.3 miles away) will launch a new dessert just before the convention. Karl Strauss (1.3 miles away) is a historic brewpub known for its craft beer and food menu, while Ortega’s Bistro (3.3 miles away) specializes in Puerto Nuevo dining experiences. The Whiskey House (0.4 miles away) is celebrated for its extensive whiskey selection and popular happy hour.

Themed Events and Additional Information

In addition to the dining offerings, themed events, trivia games, and immersive decorations in participating restaurants will enhance the Comic-Con experience. The restaurant guide is not exhaustive, and additional local establishments wishing to be featured can do so through a contact form provided by the organizers.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Paramount+ Returns with Interactive Experience at Comic-Con
San Diego’s Culinary Renaissance: New Dining Hotspots
San Diego’s Culinary Scene Experiences Transformative Revival
San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog Launches Patreon Support
Shipping Begins for San Diego Comic-Con Badges
Malibu Barbie Café Opens in San Diego
Comic-Con Attendees Share Their Favorite Dining Spots
Malibu Barbie Cafe and Roller Rink Coming to San Diego
Malibu Barbie Cafe Set to Open in San Diego
San Diego’s Culinary Scene Flourishes This Summer

Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER

SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.

STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER

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