Pacific Beach has a new spot for late-night cravings and grab-and-go dinners, as Los Angeles-born Mediterranean street-food chain Spitz has slipped into a busy stretch of Garnet Avenue with a doner-focused menu and a flashy, neon-lit bar. The counter-service joint leans into Old World street-cart flavors while layering on California-friendly touches, like vegan and gluten-free options and a busy happy-hour lineup. Locals say it has already turned into a dependable option for both late-night bites and quick takeout.
Owners Shealin Brennan-Law, Aidan Brennan-Law and Chris Burnthon, who say they live in Pacific Beach, opened the franchise last fall and now run the neighborhood outpost, according to the The San Diego Union-Tribune. They told the paper they are bringing in breads and meats from top producers and are already eyeing additional Spitz locations around the region.
Spitz’s website lists the Pacific Beach shop at 967 Garnet Avenue and shows weekday hours running from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with longer hours on weekends. The brand also offers delivery, takeout, a loyalty program and catering. Spitz posts its menu and weekly specials on its site and social channels, so regulars can keep tabs on deals before heading in.
Menu and secret orders
The kitchen leans heavily on doner wraps, gyros and bowls, but the lineup gets playful. Items like the Doquitos, which are lavash rolls stuffed with zesty feta, onion and garlic aioli, and a build-your-own Berliner bowl rank among the house favorites, the owners told the The San Diego Union-Tribune. There is also an off-menu spicy modified street cart doner for those who know to ask, and most sauces are made in-house, with vegetables chopped fresh each day. Aidan Brennan-Law summed up the vibe for the paper, saying, "It's fun, colorful and different, with great happy hours."
Where Spitz came from
Spitz started in Eagle Rock in the mid-2000s as a doner-kebab riff on European street food, created by founders Bryce Rademan and Robert Wicklund, before growing into a multistate operation through local franchise partners. Industry write-ups point to the brand’s steady expansion as it builds out its so-called "fam-chise" model with community-focused operators like the Pacific Beach crew, as reported by the Park Record.
The Pacific Beach restaurant took over a Garnet Avenue storefront during a wave of new openings and shuttered spots along the corridor, according to local listings, and adds another option for late-night dining in the neighborhood. SanDiegoVille and neighborhood guides have been tracking the turnover on Garnet and the steady stream of new concepts landing on the strip.
