The search for epic sourdough pizza in Encinitas is about to end. Johnny Rad’z Pizza, a new restaurant from radical restaurateur Johnny Rad and skateboarding legend Mike McGill, is currently under construction on North Coast Highway 101 and is expected to open later this year.
The upcoming pizzeria, which will also serve salads, local brews, and wine, is being built out by the Leucadia-based McTwistin’ Tile Company, a nod to McGill’s own invention of the “McTwist” aerial trick that cemented him as one of skateboarding's most influential pioneers. The space at 828 North Coast Highway 101 was last home to Osteria Tavi, and construction crews have already begun transforming it into a casual neighborhood hangout.
For McGill, Johnny Rad'z Pizza represents the latest extension of his deep roots in Encinitas. Born in 1964, McGill made skateboarding history in the 1980s as a member of the iconic Bones Brigade team, alongside Tony Hawk, Lance Mountain, Rodney Mullen, and others. His McTwist became a benchmark in vert skating and later crossed into snowboarding, performed most famously by Shaun White at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Beyond competition, McGill has long been a fixture in the community through McGill’s Skateshop, his Encinitas-based retail hub for boards, gear, and skate culture.
Johnny Rad’z Pizza also joins a growing list of extreme athlete-backed restaurants shaping Encinitas’ dining scene. Earlier this summer, pro surfer Benji Weatherley opened Breakers Café, Bar & Grill, reviving surf nostalgia with Hawaiian-inspired fare and salvaged décor from the beloved dive Captain Keno’s. Next month, Tony Hawk is set to debut Chick & Hawk, his long-delayed fried chicken venture with chef Andrew Bachelier, following four years of anticipation. Together, the trio of openings underscores the city’s unusual convergence of sports stardom and culinary ambition.
McGill’s collaboration with Johnny Rad aims to tap into that same crossover energy. While full details of the menu remain under wraps, the promise of sourdough pizza paired with a relaxed, beer-and-wine-driven atmosphere suggests Johnny Rad’z will cater to both longtime locals and visitors exploring Encinitas’ Highway 101 corridor.
Johnny Rad’z Pizza aims to open later this year at 828 North Coast Highway 101 in San Diego's North County city of Encinitas. For more information, follow @johnnyradzpizza on Instagram.
For McGill, Johnny Rad'z Pizza represents the latest extension of his deep roots in Encinitas. Born in 1964, McGill made skateboarding history in the 1980s as a member of the iconic Bones Brigade team, alongside Tony Hawk, Lance Mountain, Rodney Mullen, and others. His McTwist became a benchmark in vert skating and later crossed into snowboarding, performed most famously by Shaun White at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Beyond competition, McGill has long been a fixture in the community through McGill’s Skateshop, his Encinitas-based retail hub for boards, gear, and skate culture.
Johnny Rad’z Pizza also joins a growing list of extreme athlete-backed restaurants shaping Encinitas’ dining scene. Earlier this summer, pro surfer Benji Weatherley opened Breakers Café, Bar & Grill, reviving surf nostalgia with Hawaiian-inspired fare and salvaged décor from the beloved dive Captain Keno’s. Next month, Tony Hawk is set to debut Chick & Hawk, his long-delayed fried chicken venture with chef Andrew Bachelier, following four years of anticipation. Together, the trio of openings underscores the city’s unusual convergence of sports stardom and culinary ambition.
McGill’s collaboration with Johnny Rad aims to tap into that same crossover energy. While full details of the menu remain under wraps, the promise of sourdough pizza paired with a relaxed, beer-and-wine-driven atmosphere suggests Johnny Rad’z will cater to both longtime locals and visitors exploring Encinitas’ Highway 101 corridor.
Johnny Rad’z Pizza aims to open later this year at 828 North Coast Highway 101 in San Diego's North County city of Encinitas. For more information, follow @johnnyradzpizza on Instagram.
Originally published on August 25, 2025.
