The owner of Sipz Vegetarian Fusion is in the process of rebranding Kearny Mesa's Trade Winds Tavern to become HI Street Kitchen & Tap, a modern Hawaiian bar and restaurant with a separate menu devoted wholly to plant-based dishes.
Opened in early 2017 by Sylvia Le - who also operates Sipz Vegetarian Fuzion Café locations in Claremont Mesa and North Park (with another coming to La Jolla) - Trade Winds Tavern was a chef-driven gastropub serving upscale bar food with an Asian twist and 26 beers on draft.
"My goal is to open a place where there are Hawaiin dishes designed with vegans in mind but not just exclusively with vegan options," said owner Sylvie Le. "HI Street will be that place where our carnivore friends are happy to come because we have great wings, tacos, and craft beers, too!"
The restaurant is in the process of transforming into HI Street Kitchen & Tap, which will offer a hybrid menu featuring Hawaiian-inspired dishes with a completely separate vegan menu. Chef Chris Mahon - who long operated the popular Shark Pit food truck on Maui and recently worked with Scott Slater to develop the menu at TBS Tavern in Mission Valley - consulted on the menu for HI Street Kitchen.
"One of my personal goal this year is to give back or contribute more to the community, so at HI Street, we will host at least ten fundraising events for local non profit organizations," continued Le. "I will seek help from my family and customers to bring awareness of what is personal and important to them. For example, I am a mom, kids’ safety is very dear to my heart. I will reach out to organizations like Border Angels or Father Joe Village and ask them how we can help with a focus on kids. I would love to help local organizations and their mission by hosting fundraising or even asking people to drop off specific items and get free beer or free appetizers."
HI Street Kitchen & Tap will soft open in early February at 7767 Balboa Avenue in San Diego's Kearny Mesa. Check out the menu changes below.
