Compared to other neighboring cities in California, San Diego has a reasonably priced cost of living. With a thriving economy, the state’s second-largest city offers residents and business owners plenty of opportunities. San Diego is known for its beautiful neighborhoods, lively restaurants, and vibrant communities. If you are an entrepreneur considering opening up your business here, we have shortlisted the best restaurant contractors in San Diego to help you start your journey.
Finding the right contractor to build your restaurant may be daunting for most business owners, especially if you need help knowing where to start. In this guide, we selected six contractors based on their experience, expertise, successful build-outs, and reputation. These contractors equip themselves to handle simple to complex build-outs, layouts, and structures. They also know the local codes, guidelines, and requirements for commercial establishments.
Richard & Richard Construction Company, Inc.
234 Venture St., Suite #100, San Marcos, CA 92078
San Marcos-based Richard & Richard Construction is a full-service general contracting company offering complete construction services for San Diego business owners. Founded in 1991, the firm specializes in restaurants, tenant improvements, hospitality, mixed-use, and multifamily units. For more than 30 years, the commercial builder has designed and built many of the finest establishments in the region. With a service-oriented approach, the firm provides clients with creative yet efficient solutions customized to fit their needs and requirements.
Over the years, Richard & Richard Construction has won numerous awards, including the 2021 Project Excellence Award for its outstanding work on Mesa Rim. It has worked with major brands and companies like the Hilton, Marriott, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army. One of its prominent projects is the Piacere Mio in San Diego, where the firm took on the challenge of building a full kitchen, bar, wood-fired pizza oven, and outdoor area for the Italian restaurant. According to data from the City of San Diego Development Services, in 2020, the company was also assigned to develop a commercial construction project valued at $6,500,000, which included a 28-unit apartment, basement-level parking, and common areas.
Jaime Partners of California
925 B St. Suite #601, San Diego, California, 92101
Founded in 2002, Jaime Partners of California offers comprehensive construction services serving various restaurant, office, retail, and industrial industries. For more than 20 years, the general contractor has delivered high-quality projects throughout Southern California. It focuses its services on general contracting, construction management, design-build, cost management, off-site construction, planning, and consulting. Composed of a group of skilled and talented professionals, the firm provides clients with cost-efficient building solutions thanks to its network of designers, subcontractors, and suppliers.
Founder Alfredo Jaime, who has decades of experience in commercial construction, leads Jaime Partners. His expertise in and dedication to maintaining high standards of excellence and providing exceptional craft have helped the company grow into one of the most reliable general contractors in the region. Over the years, the company has worked on different types of projects, and one of its notable projects is the Bracero restaurant. The restaurant owners hired Jaime Partners for this establishment to build an elegant and functional space representing the brand’s values. The firm also holds 26 building permits, according to the San Diego Development Services Department.
Level 3 Construction
1230 Keystone Way, Vista, CA 92081
Located in Vista, Level 3 Construction offers a full scope of general contracting services. Since 2006, the construction firm has consistently delivered top-quality builds across different sectors, such as restaurants, offices, retail, hospitality, mixed-use, senior living, and multifamily units. Offering a broad range of services, the firm has produced a handful of multi-million dollar projects. From tenant improvements and renovations to ground-up construction, the commercial builder caters to businesses in San Diego, Oceanside, Vista, Palo Alto, Tiburon, and La Jolla.
Since its inception, Level 3 Construction has been on top of the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in construction. Its impressive work on the Blend restaurant in La Jolla is especially noteworthy. The firm’s main task for this project was to build a warm, inviting restaurant with custom furnishings. We checked with the local building department and confirmed that the firm had acquired 71 building permits at 9700 N Torrey Pines Road over the past 11 years for a total valuation of $60,000.
White Construction, Inc.
1808 Aston Ave. Suite #100, Carlsbad, CA 92008
White Construction is a leading construction company based in Carlsbad. Since 1983, the company has provided customized building solutions for commercial and residential projects. The firm has extensive experience building large-scale projects across various sectors, such as restaurants, healthcare facilities, manufacturing, auto dealerships, industrial, life science laboratories, and offices. Serving clients throughout San Diego, the firm has delivered more than $500 million in projects and has gained a strong reputation as one of the most trusted general contractors in the area. Its services include design-build, preliminary budgeting, and preconstruction consultation.
The Napatini Wine Bar, located in Carlsbad, is a noteworthy firm project. White Construction built a sophisticated wine bar and restaurant using an open-space layout for this project. Its past notable clients include top brands such as Tesla, Mercedes, Jaguar, and Honda. In the past, the firm acquired 19 permits for its work at 1722 Coast Highway, according to records from the City of Oceanside. These projects have a total value of $4,218,200.
Creative Builds
925 B St., Suite #601, San Diego, CA 92101
Creative Builds is a premier construction company in San Diego specializing in general contracting, construction management, design-build, project management, and preconstruction services. Since establishing the firm in 2012, it has delivered top-notch projects from the restaurant, office, retail, hospitality, industrial, and government sectors. Located in Little Italy, the general contractor has experience in restaurant, hospitality, industrial, retail, office, and government projects. Over the years, the commercial builder has earned praise from past clients for its high-quality craftsmanship, professionalism, and cost-effective solutions.
Located in downtown San Diego, Searsucker is a notable client of the firm. The clients assigned the restaurant builder to manage the project for this restaurant efficiently. The result is an elegant open kitchen and lounge. We also learned from the San Diego Development Services that Creative Builds received 23 permits for its work at 5275 Market St. in San Diego. The company will have a total valuation of $267,600 in four years. Some of its prominent clients include MAC Cosmetics, Seaport San Diego, and the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Hunter Group
12770 High Bluff Dr., San Diego, CA 92130
The Hunter Group is one of the top restaurant contractors in San Diego, specializing in designing, building, and planning commercial spaces for commercial projects throughout the Southwest. The construction company, founded in 1986, is committed to providing clients superior general contracting and project management services. Operating for 38 years, the firm maintains the highest standard of excellence regardless of project size or scope, ensuring clients fulfill their vision and needs from inception to completion.
With a client-focused approach, the firm pays close attention to the smallest details, thanks to a dedicated and talented group of builders, designers, project managers, and staff. Under the guidance of owner Jeremy Hunter, the general contractor provides clients with the most practical solutions without compromising design or quality. The Comun Taqueria is one of the company’s most notable restaurant projects. For this restaurant project, The Hunter Group built a modern, functional, and practical space that diners can enjoy.
