After Surf Eats: A Hidden Kitchen in Encinitas

Post-Surf Plates at Peachy’s

LOCAL BREAK'S HIDDEN GEMS SERIES BY: ERIN BRENNAN

(Note: No sponsors, no handouts — just good food we actually eat.)

Tucked into a modest strip along El Camino Real, Peachy’s Market & Grill is one of those places you could drive past a hundred times and never notice — until you do. Part Middle Eastern grocery, part cozy Mediterranean kitchen, it’s the kind of local spot that rewards curiosity. The shelves are packed with Persian staples, spices, and fresh produce, but the real draw is in the back, where everything is cooked with care and feels unmistakably homemade.

My go-to order is the #15: basmati rice topped with grilled Cornish chicken shawarma, paired with char-kissed veggies and a simple house salad. It’s fresh, flavorful, and hits like a proper home-cooked meal after a long day in the water. The menu runs deep with classics — falafel, hummus, kabob wraps, tabbouleh — and the portions don’t mess around. Save room for dessert though. The baklava and Persian ice cream are non-negotiable.

Peachy’s offers dine-in, takeout, and catering for family gatherings and group get-togethers, and it’s also one of the best places in town to stock up on quality produce and authentic Persian goods. Every visit feels less like stopping into a restaurant and more like being welcomed into someone’s kitchen.

...like being welcomed into someone’s kitchen.

Before you leave, make sure to check out their sister spot, Just Peachy Market in Leucadia. Stocked with locally sourced produce, baked goods, and Julian pies, it’s another North County staple that reflects the tight-knit, community-driven spirit that keeps Encinitas feeling like home.

Address:

362 N El Camino Real

Encinitas, CA 92024

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeachysMarket/