The first MOTO Pizza location will open at 550 West Date Street, Suite B, inside the revived Little Italy Food Hall in Piazza della Famiglia. That space, dormant since abruptly closing in early 2025, is undergoing a full transformation under Tiger Hospitality and is expected to relaunch with a fresh lineup of dining concepts in May 2026, with MOTO among the early tenants.
A second location is planned for Station 8 Public Market, the large-scale food hall currently under construction on the UC San Diego campus. The UCSD outpost, located at 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, is scheduled to open in Fall 2026, placing MOTO inside one of the most ambitious campus dining projects in the region.
Founded in West Seattle by Lee Kindell and Nancy Gambin, MOTO Pizza emerged during the pandemic after the pair pivoted from operating a hostel into launching a compact pizza operation. The concept quickly gained traction for its thick, Detroit-style-inspired square slices, airy interiors, crispy edges, and globally influenced toppings. What began as a single neighborhood shop has since expanded throughout Washington state, with locations in Seattle, Bellevue, Bellingham, Edmonds, and specialty placements at venues like T-Mobile Park and the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
In San Diego, both locations are expected to follow MOTO’s established model, offering dine-in seating, outdoor patios, beer and wine, and dessert options alongside its signature pizzas. Menu staples typically include pies like Beef Adobo, Mr. Pig, and Plant-based options, as well as sides such as black garlic cheesy bread and rotating soft-serve “MOTO Swirl” desserts.
In San Diego, both locations are expected to follow MOTO’s established model, offering dine-in seating, outdoor patios, beer and wine, and dessert options alongside its signature pizzas. Menu staples typically include pies like Beef Adobo, Mr. Pig, and Plant-based options, as well as sides such as black garlic cheesy bread and rotating soft-serve “MOTO Swirl” desserts.
While the name may sound familiar to San Diego pizza fans, MOTO Pizza is a separate concept from local chain Mr. Moto Pizza House. The two are unrelated, operate different styles of pizza, and originate from entirely different regions - a distinction that will likely become clearer once MOTO establishes its own presence in the market.
The openings also highlight Tiger Hospitality’s rapidly expanding influence across Southern California. The group, founded by Berke Bakay, Eren Unur, and Brett Johnson, is behind Station 8 Public Market, the reimagined Little Italy Food Hall, and multiple other food hall and bar projects across the region. Their developments emphasize chef-driven concepts, architectural design, and curated tenant mixes rather than national chains.
With two high-profile openings planned in dense, high-traffic environments, MOTO Pizza’s San Diego arrival signals another step in the city’s continued appeal to out-of-market restaurant brands — particularly those seeking visibility through destination food halls. How the Seattle favorite resonates with local diners will become clearer once slices start hitting plates next year.
MOTO Pizza is expected to open in May 2026 at 550 W Date Street in Little Italy and in Fall 2026 at Station 8 Public Market on the UC San Diego campus. For more information, visit motopizza.com.
The openings also highlight Tiger Hospitality’s rapidly expanding influence across Southern California. The group, founded by Berke Bakay, Eren Unur, and Brett Johnson, is behind Station 8 Public Market, the reimagined Little Italy Food Hall, and multiple other food hall and bar projects across the region. Their developments emphasize chef-driven concepts, architectural design, and curated tenant mixes rather than national chains.
With two high-profile openings planned in dense, high-traffic environments, MOTO Pizza’s San Diego arrival signals another step in the city’s continued appeal to out-of-market restaurant brands — particularly those seeking visibility through destination food halls. How the Seattle favorite resonates with local diners will become clearer once slices start hitting plates next year.
MOTO Pizza is expected to open in May 2026 at 550 W Date Street in Little Italy and in Fall 2026 at Station 8 Public Market on the UC San Diego campus. For more information, visit motopizza.com.
Originally published on February 3, 2026. Information first reported by Joey Reams of WhatNow.
