For owners Nathaniel Cadsap and Megan Ly, the plan was always to open front doors of 86’d to the San Diego community, but the Asian fusion pop-up concept came first. After its quick success, that dream is becoming a reality this fall when the two will open at 3914 30th street under a new name: Common Table.
“It’s like a dream for us,” Ly tells What Now San Diego in an interview. “We never expected it to be this quick, but I think we put in a lot of effort into what we do, and we sacrificed a lot.”
Debuting in July of 2024, 86’d dished up items loosely based on some of their favorite dishes. Those unique items, and now crowd favorites, include a katsu-style chicken sandwich and tacos with an Asian twist.
The two San Diego natives didn’t put out any feelers to find a home for 86’d at inception, staying on the road and dishing out their best until it piqued the interest of SD restaurant owner and operator, William Sutjiadi, according to San Diego Magazine.
Sutjiadi owns Matcha Cafe Maiko and had the 30th Street spot in the heart of North Park open for vacancy after his partnership with the Rising Sun Collective fell through.
But when one door closes, another one opens, and Cadsap and Ly walked through those doors with gusto.
It could be said that Cadasp and Ly have already become household names in “America’s Finest City.” The trajectory of their 11-year career includes established positions at Yokohama Yakitori Koubou, Underbelly, and Animae, to name a few.
The restaurant industry is a small world, and thank goodness for that, because the two met in the kitchen, shared their love for Asian cuisine, and brought that passion and culture to the streets of San Diego in the form of a kitchen on wheels.
86’d enthusiasts can rest assured that two rave dishes won’t be “86’d” off the Common Table menu. In fact, they’ll be expanded upon.
“Chicken sandwich and taco to start,” Cadsap tells What Now San Diego. “We want to expand on those two things, especially the tacos. We’re thinking about trying out some Korean-fusion tacos and Filipino tacos.”
While the menu will be limited once doors open at Common Table, it will include its famed sandwiches and tacos, along with small plates like fried shisito peppers and something completely new for them: dessert! Later on down the line, the two shared that they’d like to offer wine, beer, sake, and soju to Common Table’s menu.
But all in due time. Right now, the focus is on getting the doors open for its grand opening on October 17th. But with work to be done, this date may move.
In the meantime, you can still catch the 86’d weekly pop-up residency at the La Jolla Open Aire Market every Sunday. That’s, of course, until Common Table opens. The two shared that they will likely take a break on pop-up operations during the restaurant’s soft opening phase.
Forging ahead, Cadsap and Ly are tapped into what the North Park community in San Diego desires and hope to bring that vigor from 86’d to Common Table come October.
“We couldn’t be more excited,” Ly said.
