Escape to a Tulum-inspired culinary experience at Craft House in Fashion Valley.

The decor will take you into a jungle with rope, wood, basket lighting, and tree trunk/live-edge tables. The food is a “New American cuisine with a Mexican twist.” The cocktails are unique to the concept. The music is specifically selected for the restaurant.

Caesar Huerta, executive chef and co-owner, like many passionate and successful chefs, began his culinary education at age five in his grandmother and mother’s kitchens. From then on he was hooked. He studied at the Art Institute Culinary School and hasn’t looked back. After years of working with local mentoring chefs, he started Monster Crafts Food Truck and won awards at the Del Mar Food Truck Festival. His food truck success propelled him on to the Sky Deck in Del Mar and most recently, looking for a more central location opened a second location in Fashion Valley.

“People eat with their eyes; we also focus on the beautiful plating of our dishes. We like to say that our food is elevated, fast casual, and shareable,” Huerta said.

“Our monster burgers put us on the map and continue to be popular. We have five different burgers,” said Huerta. The Blue Dream Burger has applewood bacon, gorgonzola, onion rings, arugula, and bourbon BBQ. Shrooms and Truffle is another crowd-pleaser with roasted shiitake mushrooms, black truffle, smoked gouda, arugula and onion jam.

Another house specialty is the Charred Octopus.

This dish is a piece of art and is garnished with pistachio pesto, romesco sauce, fingerling potatoes, Longaniza sausage (a Spanish sausage similar to chorizo), crispy chickpeas and micro greens.

Diners are also talking about the Fisherman’s Stew. One fan said it is a celebration of seafood at its finest with impeccably cooked fish, mussels, shrimp and other shellfish. Sop up any juices with grilled sourdough bread.

The starters could be a full meal too. Short Rib Mini Tacos with chipotle aioli, avo-poblano crema, pickled onions, and micro cilantro. Tuna Tostadas with fresh raw ahi tuna, cucumber, cilantro, red onion, serrano, sesame seeds, charred pepper ponzu, sesame oil, chipotle aioli, mini corn tostada.

Another tasty delight is the Pork Belly Bites with Achiote-chipotle mezcal glaze, pickled onions, avo-poblano crema, radish, and micro cilantro.

“We have a lot of fun with our cocktails, which pair nicely with our cuisine. Our signature drink is a Nautilus Old-Fashioned infused with smoke from our custom smoker,” Huerta added.

Located on the back side of Fashion Valley Mall in the food court area, 7007 Friars Road. Call for reservations at (619) 314-4574.

For the current menu and special events go to: https://crafthousefashionvalley.com/.