Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine, a longtime Lebanese restaurant in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood, has rebranded as Maisa Lebanese Cuisine at 3900 Vermont St.
The restaurant’s name change follows a highly publicized Salmonella outbreak tied to a separate Aladdin Mediterranean Café location in Clairemont, according to SanDiegoVille. County officials confirmed the health investigation was limited solely to the Clairemont restaurant, and the Hillcrest and Clairemont establishments were always separately owned and operated, sharing only the name. The Hillcrest location publicly clarified in spring 2025 that it had no connection to the outbreak.
The Hillcrest restaurant originally opened in 1998 and was purchased in August 2004 by Camille Bsaibes, a native of Zahle, Lebanon. Bsaibes has owned and operated the location for 22 years. After early success, the Hillcrest restaurant expanded in 2006 to accommodate growing demand. The rebrand marks a new chapter for the long-running neighborhood establishment.
Chef Mark Bsaibes, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, Napa Valley, is taking over day-to-day operations as part of a leadership transition. Camille Bsaibes is beginning to step back from active management as his son assumes a larger role. The new name, Maisa, reflects the generational shift from father to son while maintaining the restaurant’s Lebanese roots. The team has stated that the recipes will remain unchanged.
The restaurant recently completed an interior remodel, refreshing the dining space while keeping its familiar atmosphere. The menu continues to feature shawarma, kebabs, falafel, mezze plates, garlic sauce, and other traditional Lebanese dishes. The focus remains on family recipes passed down through generations.
Located in the heart of Hillcrest, the restaurant has been part of the neighborhood’s dining scene for more than two decades. The rebrand to Maisa Lebanese Cuisine allows the business to clearly distinguish itself while continuing to serve the community it has built since the late 1990s.
Dining and Cooking