China-based seafood stew restaurant chain Fish With You, which has over 2,000 locations, will open its first California branch in San Diego.
Fish With You was founded by culinary entrepreneur Zhang Wei in Beijing, China, in 2005. Zhang's inspiration came from his childhood memories of enjoying "suan cai yu," a traditional stew made with white fish and fermented cabbage, seasoned with Sichuan peppercorns and Chinese chili peppers. This dish became the cornerstone of the restaurant's menu, highlighting the unique flavors and techniques of Chinese cuisine.
Within a few years, the restaurant expanded rapidly across China. By 2010, Fish With You had opened its 100th location, and by 2015, it had grown to over 1,000 outlets nationwide. In 2017, Fish With You embarked on its international expansion, opening its first overseas location in Toronto, Canada. The move marked the beginning of the brand's global journey, which quickly extended to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Fish With You entered the U.S. market in 2019 with its first location in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, NY. The success of the Queens location paved the way for further expansion, with new branches planned for major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. While some of the initial U.S. locations operated under the name Wei’s Fish, the brand decided to unify its identity globally as Fish With You.
The first San Diego branch of Fish With You will open in the space that last housed Shentan BBQ in the Convoy District of San Diego's Kearny Mesa. The menu will include new dishes like Princess' tomato fish and vinegar-pepper golden fish soup, as well as classics like laotan boiled fish with pickled cabbage and chili. There will also be a buffet of side dishes including unlimited Wuchang rice imported from China and freshly dried pickled cabbage to enhance the flavor of its dishes. The beverage selection will include milk teas, fruit teas, local beers, Tsingtao, and soju.
The San Diego restaurant will offer seating for 34 guests and employ a unique technique of drying pickled cabbage overnight to intensify the sour flavor of the "sauerkraut fish," as it is known in English. Owner Vicky Huae has plans to open a second location in the San Diego area in the future.
Fish With You is expected to open in October at 3904 Convoy Street, Suite 101, in San Diego's Kearny Mesa. For more information, visit fishwithyouny.com and check out the draft menu below.
