Lobster Lab, a seafood-focused restaurant specializing in lobster rolls and coastal-inspired favorites, is preparing to open two new San Diego County locations in Del Mar and at UC San Diego in La Jolla.
The company’s expansion includes a fourth location at Sky Deck in Del Mar at 12841 El Camino Real, Suite 200, and a fifth location planned for UCSD’s Station 8 food hall at 9145 Scholars Drive South, co-owner Eren Unur tells WhatNow San Diego. Lobster Lab currently operates one location in Carlsbad, which remains the brand’s only open restaurant, while additional openings are rolling out across Southern California, including San Clemente this week at the Miramar Food Hall. The Del Mar location is expected to open during the second week of July, while the UCSD opening timeline has not yet been announced.
Both new locations are part of Tiger Hospitality’s broader expansion across Southern California as the group continues to build out its portfolio of fast-casual and food hall concepts. Tiger Hospitality operates several brands, including Cosmos Burger and La Vida, and is actively developing multiple food hall projects across San Diego County and beyond.
In San Diego, Tiger Hospitality is also behind several major food hall developments, including the redevelopment of the former Little Italy Food Hall at 550 W. Date Street, which will also feature a Lobster Lab location. Unur tells WhatNow that the project will reopen later this month as a reimagined dining destination featuring multiple concepts, an expanded bar program, and an indoor-outdoor layout designed around Piazza della Famiglia. The company is also spearheading Miramar Food Hall in San Clemente and Station 8 at UC San Diego, both of which will introduce a rotating mix of regional and global food vendors.
Sky Deck in Del Mar Highlands Town Center continues to grow as a curated dining destination, bringing together a variety of independent restaurant concepts in a shared communal setting. Lobster Lab will join an existing lineup of operators already drawing steady traffic from across North County. The UCSD Station 8 location will place the brand inside a student and community-focused environment with a strong built-in customer base.
Lobster Lab’s menu focuses on premium seafood served in a fast-casual format, built around lobster, crab, and shrimp. Signature items include traditional lobster rolls, the Cali Roll featuring bacon, lettuce, and avocado, lobster grilled cheese, seafood salads, smoked salmon items, and classic soups like clam chowder and lobster bisque. The concept also includes specialty offerings such as caviar service.
As Lobster Lab continues expanding under Tiger Hospitality, both the Del Mar and UCSD locations represent key steps in bringing the brand deeper into the San Diego market. The mix of a high-traffic dining district and a major university setting provides two distinct environments for growth while reinforcing the company’s broader regional rollout.
