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Dubu tofu chain gains beer and wine license for Clairemont Mesa expansion

Dubu tofu chain gains beer and wine license for Clairemont Mesa expansion

Money Moves San Diego, CA local

Korean soft tofu restaurant secures ABC license for former Ajisen Ramen space

August 20th, 2026: ABC approves beer and wine license for Dubu

Overview

Updated 58 minutes ago

Dubu San Diego Tofu Company moved a step closer to opening its second location. California's Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) approved a beer and wine license for the Korean restaurant at 7398 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard on August 20, 2026.

The license is one approval among several; it doesn't clear the restaurant to open. The site was home to Ajisen Ramen, a Japanese chain that closed its San Diego outpost there. The new spot sits in the Convoy-Kearny Mesa dining corridor, one of San Diego's busiest Asian food districts.

Why it matters

The approval clears beer and wine service for a new Korean soft tofu spot in San Diego's Convoy corridor, one of the region's busiest dining districts.

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Key Indicators

2
Dubu locations in San Diego
Rancho Bernardo is open; Clairemont Mesa is licensed but not yet open.
Type 41
ABC license type
Beer and wine for on-site consumption at a bona fide eating place.
Active
License status
Approved August 20, 2026; other permits and construction still required.

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Organizations Involved

Timeline

February 2017 August 2026

4 events Latest: August 20th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. ABC approves beer and wine license for Dubu

    Latest Regulatory

    California ABC grants type 41 license for Dubu at the Clairemont Mesa address.

  2. Signage spotted at former Ajisen space

    Development

    Local food blog mmm-yoso reports Dubu signage up at 7398 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

  3. Dubu opens Rancho Bernardo location

    Opening

    Dubu's first San Diego location opens in soft launch with a partial menu.

  4. Ajisen Ramen draws crowds at Clairemont address

    Review

    San Diego Free Press describes a line at 2pm and a 116-item menu at this location.

Scenarios

1

Dubu opens Clairemont Mesa location by end of 2026

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Local food blog mmm-yoso and its commenters, who noted strong soft-launch demand at Rancho Bernardo

The ABC license was the main regulatory step. The operator already runs a location drawing full houses, which suggests a working concept. If construction and final inspections go smoothly, the Clairemont spot could open within weeks to months.

2

Dubu Clairemont opening slips into 2027

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: mmm-yoso commenters who noted soft-launch gaps, including a partial menu and mixed panchan reviews at Rancho Bernardo

Restaurants commonly face construction, inspection, and staffing delays. The operator is also managing the new Rancho Bernardo location, still running a partial menu. If the Clairemont build-out hits setbacks, the opening pushes well past the license date.

3

Dubu Clairemont closes within 18 months of opening

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2028

Discussed by: San Diego Free Press coverage of restaurant turnover in the Convoy corridor

Restaurant churn in the Convoy-Kearny Mesa corridor is high; even well-reviewed spots have closed. If the location underperforms, the operator could consolidate on Rancho Bernardo. The soft-launch reviews at Rancho Bernardo, with mixed panchan and a partial menu, suggest some execution risk.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1996-present

BCD Tofu House's US expansion (1996-present)

BCD Tofu House started as a single Korean soft tofu restaurant in Los Angeles' Koreatown in 1996. It grew to multiple states, becoming one of the most recognized Korean tofu chains in America.

Then

BCD became a go-to for soon tofu across California and beyond.

Now

It set the template for Korean tofu chains expanding within and beyond one region.

Why this matters now

Dubu is attempting a similar second-location expansion within San Diego, a smaller-scale version of the BCD playbook.

February 2017

Ajisen Ramen at this address (2017)

Ajisen Ramen, a Japanese chain with 700+ locations, operated a single San Diego outpost at 7398 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. A February 2017 review in San Diego Free Press described a line at 2pm on a Saturday and a menu with 116 items.

Then

The restaurant drew steady crowds in its early years.

Now

The location eventually closed, leaving the space vacant until Dubu signed on.

Why this matters now

Shows this address can host a chain restaurant, but also that steady traffic doesn't guarantee long-term survival.

2010s-present

The Convoy District food boom (2010s-present)

San Diego's Convoy-Kearny Mesa corridor, a cluster of Asian strip malls built in the 1980s, gained national notice as a food destination. Restaurants open, thrive, and close here at a rapid clip as rents rise and competition intensifies.

Then

The district draws diners from across Southern California.

Now

High rent and heavy competition mean many restaurants in the corridor don't last five years.

Why this matters now

Dubu's Clairemont location sits on the edge of this corridor, where location alone doesn't guarantee survival.

Sources

(3)