Developed in partnership with Areas USA, Novecientos Grados - Spanish for "900 Degrees," a nod to Hawk's iconic aerial spin - is designed to reflect both the urban aesthetics of skate culture and the bold flavors of modern Mexican cuisine. The nearly 5,000-square-foot venue, situated in the departures wing of the airport's new terminal, features floor-to-ceiling windows with tarmac views, a vibrant patio overlooking the downtown skyline, and a show-stopping island bar inspired by skate ramps. The architecture, helmed by Akarstudios of Santa Monica, seeks to evoke both San Diego’s coastal cool and the textures of Old Town heritage.
Chef Claudette Zepeda, a James Beard Award semifinalist and "Top Chef" alum, will oversee the kitchen. Her menu blends coastal Baja inspirations with California produce, offering a slate of small plates built around fire and flavor - think open-kitchen seared meats, bright seafood bites, and pork dishes that marry street food soul with high-end technique. The menu is expected to reflect Zepeda’s hallmark style: deeply personal, unapologetically bold, and rooted in her cross-border upbringing.
Zepeda has had a busy year. In addition to preparing for Novecientos Grados, she launched Leu Leu in February - a critically acclaimed Encinitas restaurant housed in a 1930s bungalow, where she experiments with global flavors in an intimate lounge-like setting. Now, with the airport opening on the horizon, she’s doubling down on cementing her legacy in San Diego's culinary landscape.
Hawk, meanwhile, continues his expansion into hospitality, even if not all of his ventures have gone smoothly. His long-awaited Chick & Hawk chicken restaurant in Leucadia was originally teased in 2021 and only recently began showing signs of life. Despite plans to open in June 2025, that date has come and gone with no soft launch or firm opening on the books. The "fast-fine" fried chicken spot - developed with chef Andrew Bachelier - is now anticipated to open this fall, pending final inspections and permitting. The repeated delays have left fans skeptical, though anticipation remains high, thanks to Hawk's enduring popularity and Bachelier’s fine-dining credentials.
Hawk, meanwhile, continues his expansion into hospitality, even if not all of his ventures have gone smoothly. His long-awaited Chick & Hawk chicken restaurant in Leucadia was originally teased in 2021 and only recently began showing signs of life. Despite plans to open in June 2025, that date has come and gone with no soft launch or firm opening on the books. The "fast-fine" fried chicken spot - developed with chef Andrew Bachelier - is now anticipated to open this fall, pending final inspections and permitting. The repeated delays have left fans skeptical, though anticipation remains high, thanks to Hawk's enduring popularity and Bachelier’s fine-dining credentials.
Back at the airport, Novecientos Grados joins an elite roster of food and drink vendors transforming Terminal 1 into a culinary destination in its own right. Alongside the Hawk-Zepeda collaboration are new outposts from Puesto, Kettner Exchange, Mostra Coffee, Cutwater Spirits, and Herb & Air food hall by Cutthroat Kitchen host Brian Malarkey. Once completed, the redesigned terminal will feature over 70,000 square feet of dining and retail space, a major upgrade from the current 17,000 square feet.
For now, Novecientos Grados looks to be one of the flagship offerings, combining San Diego’s two most bankable exports - skateboarding and elevated Mexican cuisine - into one travel-worthy experience.
San Diego International Airport's new Terminal 1 is expected to debut its first phase this year, with full completion scheduled for 2028. Novecientos Grados will be located at 3225 N. Harbor Drive within Terminal 1.
For now, Novecientos Grados looks to be one of the flagship offerings, combining San Diego’s two most bankable exports - skateboarding and elevated Mexican cuisine - into one travel-worthy experience.
San Diego International Airport's new Terminal 1 is expected to debut its first phase this year, with full completion scheduled for 2028. Novecientos Grados will be located at 3225 N. Harbor Drive within Terminal 1.
Originally published on July 29, 2025. Information first reported by Joey Reams of What Now.
