On the Menu: Realm of 52 Remedies San Diego

Welcome to On the Menu, where we explore what makes a bar’s menu unique, intriguing, and all-around delicious.

Have you ever fallen in love with a cocktail at your favorite bar only to have it wiped from the menu never to be seen again? This clean slate practice originated in restaurants and has been disappointing bar-goers ever since it was adopted by bars keeping up with the seasons. Fortunately, there are a few bars that give in to the fan outrage, offering popular drinks a permanent spot on the menu. At San Diego’s Realm of 52 Remedies, a 2026 James Beard semifinalist and Tales of the Cocktail honoree, the most beloved cocktails even get inducted into the bar’s Eternal Remedies menu.

Opened in 2018, the speakeasy-style bar, whose Chinese apothecary entrance can be found within brewpub Common Theory, leans on Asian flavors and ingredients in their cocktails. The Jade Empress, for example, combines baijiu, green tea shochu, and matcha, while the bar’s recent summer menu featured a Japanese lager-inspired cocktail with hojicha-infused shochu, carbonated sake, and barley tea foam.

Initially, beverage director Chris Lee insisted that the menu be updated seasonally and that guests had to be there to enjoy the cocktails—”akin to theater and art that happens ‘in time,’” says lead bartender Brian Prugalidad. But it wasn’t until 2020, when the Saigon Dreamer, a clarified Vietnamese coffee-inspired milk punch, was introduced, that their approach changed. We caught up with 52R’s beverage director Chris Lee to learn more about the bar’s acclaimed cocktail program and the importance of holding onto fan favorites.

Imbibe: What’s the approach to building 52’s cocktail menu?

Chris Lee: I would say it’s just a few principles. One: Stay true to yourself, and work with flavors and memories you are fond of or can relate to. Two: Always work on details—spec isn’t everything. And three: The bartender should be stirring, shaking, putting work into the menu. Don’t give 90 percent of the work to the prep team and have the bartender just pour and serve. To me that’s not bartending. That’s the same as eating instant cup noodles.

Why was it important to keep old favorites on the menu?

I have to give all of the credit to Pdad [Prugalidad] and the rest of the staff. I was very firm for years in not keeping anything from an old menu. They convinced me to keep a few of the bestsellers for returning guests. Their point was that, for some guests, it brings memories back of being at 52R for the first time. Or it is a reason for them to keep coming back and introduce 52R to their friends and family. People like to share their favorite moments, like to revisit their favorite bars and drinks. But I was more focused on challenging myself and the staff. And I was a bit disconnected from the guest experience part.

This has allowed us to focus more on small scales and be more detailed about doing new seasonal menus. It gives us time to dial it in more, be more creative. Returning guests know that there always will be something new to try. But also they can finish with their favorite cocktails from years ago. For new guests, it gives more options from which to choose. They get to experience 52R’s style of cocktails back in 2018 up to how our style has changed in 2026.

What was the Saigon Dreamer’s role in creating a favorites menu? 

There was a Reddit page asking for the Saigon Dreamer specs. My boss received random emails from a few guests that they’d like to see Saigon Dreamer stay on the menu. Guests at the bar mentioned keeping it on the menu. That was the moment the staff started to convince me about the importance of keeping some popular ones for the guests. And, if it wasn’t for them, we would still be flipping everything every six months.

Out of the Eternal Remedies, which is the most popular cocktail?

Saigon Dreamer, Earl Grey, Kasato Maru, 13 Assassins, and Seoul City Hipster—these are probably the most steadily selling drinks for 52R.

How do you choose which cocktails go on the Eternal Remedies list?

Guest feedback is the first thing we consider. Then we discuss which cocktail makes the most sense to be on Eternal Remedies. Does it fit well in 52R’s concept? Does it truly represent our bar? Are we all happy to add one specific cocktail on the menu? Do we have any duplicated styles on our menu? After all of that discussion, ultimately, I will decide what gets added and what gets removed.

How often do you update your menu, and how long does it take you to develop it?

We’ve been changing every six months. It varies, but it usually takes two to three months to get everything dialed in. And last year we made a bold move of changing it every season and tried using more seasonal ingredients. Every season was fun but challenging. It was tough because everyone’s schedule limited sourcing for seasonal produce. So we are back to every six months again starting this spring/summer.

What’s a drink or an element of the menu that you wish got more attention and why?

We recently decided to remove the classic cocktail section. That was bit of a sad moment for me. I wish guests got to experience the root of the beginning and got to know how many specialty cocktails we are experiencing today are based on classics. I personally spent a lot of time putting some classic cocktails on the menu. But after COVID it was definitely overshadowed by the seasonal and Eternal Remedies sections. Hopefully I can bring that back again.