Dear readers,

This year, we are celebrating our 26th annual San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll, which recognizes the best San Diego has to offer. What better way to keep our community strong than to recognize local businesses for all they do? Thank you for making that possible.

As we have done for 26 years, we opened nominations to you, our readers, and let you select your favorite businesses. After narrowing the list to those businesses that received the greatest number of nominations, we opened the voting phase to determine the top choices in more than 200 categories as the "Best" in San Diego County.

This section includes a comprehensive list of the top choices and is a great reference for places to shop, dine and visit. We also included San Diego's "Favorites,” exceptional businesses that made it through the nomination phase and onto the final ballot but did not receive the most votes.

Again this year, we are also spotlighting a few Community Heroes — organizations that have distinguished themselves during the challenges of the past few years. They are being recognized for going above and beyond to help the community and their employees during often difficult circumstances. We thank the Union-Tribune's Community Advisory Board, the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Business Association of San Diego for their help in the nomination and selection process for this special recognition.

Finally, we congratulate all local businesses recognized in this section. They truly represent what makes San Diego so special.

From all of us at The San Diego Union-Tribune, we appreciate your loyal readership and your participation in San Diego’s Best.

Enjoy!

LINDA WILLIS

Special Projects Manager