The server gentleman wasn't very welcoming, first off. But it was a beautiful day, and the sunshine was enough to bring some positive energy into the dining area. The food: was lacking... I couldn't taste any garlic in the garlic rice. The lumpia were ridiculously thin (hardly any meat), and greasy. The pork sisig and the tofu sisig didn't have enough of a vinegar taste and the dish consisted mostly of vegetables. All-in-all, I'd say you're better off going down to Mira Mesa, or National City to get what you pay for...with flavor. I will include a picture of their lumpia and a picture of lumpia from JJ's Island Grill (went there later on that day because we were still hungry), so you can see the difference. read more

CARiN de RiA - Carin de Ria's lumpia vs... - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

A perfect day for food that approached perfection in a simple but perfect atmosphere, with warm and friendly service. When our first choice for lunch wasn't available we decided to try Carina de Ria. I had the Longanisa, which is on the not so secret menu. My husband had the Caldereta (beef stew). I love the simplicity of sausage, garlic rice and eggs, the eggs were...well... perfect, the longanisa was a sweet, succulent, porky delight and the garlic rice just the way I like it. My husband loved the beef stew, probably the best he has had (so said he). I would have to agree, moist and in a rich broth, not over cooked, not dry, the flavor was spot on. We finished with an order of Turon, made fresh, hot and crispy with dulce de leche adorned on top. Everything was just perpekto! read more

It's refreshing to see a Filipino restaurant in North County. After returning from Los Angeles we had lunch here to celebrate my friends birthday. We continued the theme of eating international food and I wanted to introduce her to Filipino cuisine, a healthier version. Parking, lots of public parking There are seats indoor and outdoor Clean space Variety of selections on the menu and there is a bonus lunch special. We had the: Spicy chicken adobo with pancit, veggie lumpia and brown rice Pork adobo with garlic fried rice ($1.00 more) with veggie lumpia and pancit. The lunch dishes are filling, both flavorful and delicious. We ordered the mango float and bibinka. I was a little disappointed because the bibinka was small and didn't have so much flavor for $4.00 and usually it's cooked in a banana leaf. The mango float was delicious, however, the mango was more like a Purée and I when had it with Manila mangos. However, The gem of a prize dessert is the halo halo with ube ice cream. I will return back here with more friends and family. The prices are reasonable and the food is very good quality and authentic flavors from my home country of the Philippines. Service, was great thou very slow. It wasn't packed when we got their stuff 11:30am, thou by 12-1pm the place was packed which was great to see. Please support your local Filipino restaurant and enjoy the taste of the islands and Filipino warm hospitality. Mabuhay! read more

See all

Living more north has proven to challenge me with finding some good and authentic Filipino food. The thing about being Filipino and raised by a wonderful cook is that one tends to have a higher expectation. Carin de Ria has really impressed me, though the service at first seem a bit slow, the resulting food showed that each dish is cooked fresh. The lechon kiwali was excellent, not too chewy and not break your teeth crunchy, the perfect balance with all purpose sauce and vinegar dips! The pork sinigang reminded me of my moms, the generous chunk of pork mixed with classic veggies like radish and tomato and the sharp tamarind were awesome. The lumpia are the Shanghai style, I'm used to my family making longer slightly thicker ones but these were a decent appetizer. My fiancé loves pancit and was obsessed with their chicken one and we ended our hearty meal with the turon (banana fritter). I'm sure to fatter more crystallized sugar turon but their more modern take wasn't disappointing and all in all was great dinner. read more

See all

Cute little spot right off the main 101 drag. Not much of a welcome when we 1st arrived, but was able to get a seat inside after waiting a few minutes. From the outside I was not really expecting much, but once inside the place had a nice clean feeling about it. Plenty of selections on the menu. The food was very tasty. The Chicken BBQ with the garlic rice was incredible. Nice spot to get some good traditional food. read more

See all

Carin de Ria is a charming restaurant with the same warmth and kind service that you would expect from any restaurant in the Philippines. I had dinner here yesterday with my wife during a brief visit to Encinitas, and I felt like I was transported back to the Philippines and we were on our honeymoon again. And that's not even mentioning the food, which was all delicious. We had the chicken inasal and pork adobo. Adobo is the national dish of the Philippines and just like BBQ here in the US, everyone has their opinion on who does it best (the correct answer is mom/grandma), and Carin de Ria has a delicious version of it that hits all the savory, tangy, garlicky notes that you'd expect from a great adobo. The inasal, which is essentially Filipino bbq, is also excellent. The chicken is so fresh and the tangy, citrusy bite goes perfectly with the garlic rice (which is worth upgrading to). I find myself being a little more critical with Filipino restaurants, probably because I feel like the cuisine is still underrepresented so we better come correct to let unfamiliar people know how good our food can be, and Carin de Ria is one of the best I've had. If you've never experienced the flavors of Filipino food, and the warmth of Filipino hospitality, definitely stop by and see for yourself. read more

See all

First visit. I was craving pancit canton and halo halo and that's what I ordered without looking at the menu. Pancit Canton $14 - 3.5 star. Halo-halo $10 - 3.5 star. It lacks evap milk and more ingredients. Service - 5 star I wish I had ordered the lunch special $13 but I didn't know they had one. Lunch special has all my favorites - Pancit, lumpia, rice and a choice of dish. The restaurant is very cute, nicely decorated. Good for date night and family meals if you don't feel like cooking. They also serve wine. Street parking on a Monday was easy. I gave a total 5 star rating despite 3.5 rating for the food I ordered because they have other things on the menu that is worth trying and the restaurant is charming. Highly recommend. read more

See all

The food was good and service was friendly. Was a bit disappointed that the pancit only had 5 pieces of shrimp in it. Overall a good place for Filipino food. read more

See all

Our first time trying this restaurant. Came here on a Sun lunchtime. Parking is hard. We ordered the garlic peanuts ($4), veggie lumpia (2 for $4- needs a little more fillings, it was so thin that when you bite into it's oily,) and oxtail Kare Kare ($24- was ok, beef was tender). read more

CARiN de RiA - Ordered garlic peanuts ($4), veggie lumpia 2 ($4), and oxtail Kare Kare ($24) - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

Parking: Street parking. Ahhh the disappointment is REAL. Bathroom : Can't say since I only ordered for take out. Ordered items: 1. Sizzling Lechon Sisig - $15. Nothing to return to. 2. Oxtail Kare Kare - $22. $$ not worthy with the bland sauce. Not to repeat according to my taste buds. 3. Mango Float- $4 each. Sauce container is where they put a $4 Mango Float for take out. Honestly, $4 IS TOO MUCH for such a teensy tiny piece milk, Graham Crackers & probably 1 Itty bitty pinky tip size of mango. 4. Classic Lumpia - $4 for 4 pieces. Skinny lumpia, can't seem to wrap my mind around it. Plus the sauce isn't approved by my taste buds. Sorry, I failed to take a photo of these lumpia, but considering it was very skinny, probably would t even show on the photo. In conclusion.... Sad... Sad... Sad.... not worth it for me. A different Filipino might have a different conclusion. And definitely different taste buds. read more

See all

Absolutely delicious meals, very authentic! Small hole in the wall that's amazing !!!

My family of 4 ordered Chicharon, Chicken Tinola, Lechon Kawali, & Sinugba (inihaw na baboy). We are very much satisfied with their food. It's a little pricey, but we thought it's worth it. The flavor of their food (esp. the sinugba) brings back so much memories from our hometown in the Philippines. Will definitely be coming back to try more of the other items in their menu! Way sama ka lami! read more

As someone who has grown up surrounded by a considerable amount of Filipino friends since high school, I have had my fair share of pork adobo's and sinigang's. After having moved to San Diego from NorCal, I noticed a shortage of GOOD Filipino restaurants here, but I am always on the hunt for one. Carina de Ria is a little far from where I live, but I was having a baaaad craving for pork adobo so I made the 15-minute drive for takeout. I ordered a simple yet classic Filipino dish as my first experience here. ===========PORK ADOBO + GARLIC RICE=========== The immediate reaction I had when I came home and opened the container was BRUH. The portions are DUMMY SMALL. Like, I'm a petite Asian girl and I don't need to eat much... But the containers were the size of my palm. As for the taste, it wasn't terrible... The pork adobo was pretty greasy and the garlic fried rice wasn't that flavorful. Perhaps I already had a bias bc I was off-put by the portion size. I guess for the price, I expected more... With that said, my hunt for good Filipino food--with decent portions--continues. read more

CARiN de RiA - Pork adobo with garlic fried rice - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

Food was amazing! Small quant restaurant off the main road. The Lechon Sisig is to die for!! Portions are decent and pricing is expected in Encinitas. Friendly atmosphere and good vibes! read more

See all

Amazing customer service from this place! I didn't get the chance to get her name but our server was great! She was super sweet & was very attentive despite it being busy and she was the only server. We got the beef and vegetable lumpias and they were okay, kinda pricy for the amount they give you. The pork sisig was amazing and flavorful. The oxtail kare kare was especially delicious, they provided a lot of meat in the bone. They also had garlic green beans and they were amazing paring with the dishes we ordered. They reminded me a lot of the green beans from Din Tai Fung. The halo-halo was alright as well, it was very pricy for it to lack a lot of the ingredients that halo-halo usually comes with such as sago, red bean (or was it sweet chickpea?) and coconut. Overall, I would come again if I was around the area. read more

See all

We ordered sinigang the baboy too sour, but the rest are tasty, the owners are very nice. We might go there again if we passed by the areas. read more

Found this place kind of on a chance but so happy we did. They have many vegetarian options and I was able to try a few "traditional Philippine dishes." Everything came out piping hot. I've already returned again to try some of their other dishes. For me the green beans are nonnegotiable and must be ordered!! The pancit was bomb and is heavenly with a lemon spritz. I cannot wait to try even more dishes read more

It was great..good service, food and ambiance. Was our first experience with Philippene food and we'll go again often

Great, traditional Filipino food in Encinitas! I had the Pork Belly Sisig, which was delicious and came out sizzling. My friend had the Pork Sinigang. The service was fantastic - very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. My friend asked for hot water in case the sinigang was too salty for her palate, which the waiter was happy to provide. The ambiance is homey - it's just a small, almost hole-in-the-wall eatery. Outdoor seating is available, and it's usually a beautiful day out in Encinitas! read more

The Chicharron came out fresh and sizzling! It was light and wasn't too greasy. It came with a side of vinegar and was a perfect appetizer before our meal. The serving was larger than we thought it would be! The lumpia was nicely fried, and very tasty. The Bistek was tasty as well! It has a nice citrus calamansi flavor to it as well. The beef was very tender and juicy. Our favorite out of all our dishes. We paired our entrees with garlic fried rice. It was very garlicky and had nice flavor. I wish the portions were larger though (for the price we're paying). We were a tad disappointed in the pork sisig. The meat was not that crunchy and lacked flavor a bit. The presentation was nice but underwhelming. The pieces were bigger than traditional sisig. The bangus or milkfish was more over cooked than we thought. It was okay. It would be good served with calamansi or vinagar to add flavor to the dish. The ambiance is nice, I love the location and how it's right next to the beach! Overall, it's a nice place with friendly service-- a great place to try out if you're new to Filipino cuisine! A little pricey, but worth the visit here! read more

See all

Highly recommend! Their food is delicious and customer service is warm and welcoming--I felt at home eating here. Their Pancit, Lechon Kawali, and Classic Lumpia (Veggie) were all fantastic. I also appreciate how their menu caters well to vegan/vegetarian/gluten free diets because that is difficult to come by at a Filipino restaurant. read more

CARiN de RiA - Pancit, Lechon Kawali - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

Wow what great food and amazing service! I've never had food from the Philippines before and this was a great first experience! They had a small outdoor seating area but the inside also felt very open. read more

See all

Local GEM. The yellow curry, classic lumpia, garlic rice, Banana Turon, and Bibibgka were so good!!!

Great warm service, food, and ambience. I like the homey feel of the place, the nice midday breeze coming through the windows. We had the pancit canton, chicken tinola, and salmon sisig. Exactly how it's like if cooked at home. I thought the sisig would be similar to Max's bangus sisig. The salmon version had its own charm. So good! I highly recommend this place. I would love to try what else is on the menu. Another good reason to visit this part of SoCal. read more

I love food... If it comes to food I get out of my box and be open minded. We went to Legoland walked all day consumed ok food so we were looking forward to something really good and savory and decided for our native food... Filipino Food.. We were hungry and you may agree or disagree... when you are hungry, everything you eat normally tastes so good... We ordered 4 items ... the filipino regular lumpia which was a plus was good. The shrimp pancit canton was ok shoved it in my mouth... should have stayed with classic filipino pancit.. cant go wrong with that... Vegetable Kare Kare... has really good flavor but what happened? Did they forgot the bagoong that normally comes with it? Or was it separate? It was to go.... so should have been there? The pork belly sisig.. was not a fan of it my husband normally loves those things but did not comment on it... read more

See all

Heard a lot of great things about Carin de Ria, so had to check them out. Located in Encinitas, they're close to water for that nice ocean breeze. They serve traditional Filipino food so we ordered some of the classics. Chicharon, lumpia, Sisig, Kare Kare, Lechon, ginataan, bulalao, halo halo, and Turon. Everything was delicious. Their chicharon came out crackling and popping, and the Sisig was sizzling. Lechon was cooked perfectly, crisp skin and tender meat. They're worth the drive up north. If you haven't had Filipino food, I'd highly recommend read more

See all

Good Filipino restaurant in San Diego with a nice, cozy feel to it. Not the best dishes, but a few good comfort food if you're craving for Filipino food. The Kare-Kare is very good. read more

Authentic Filipino food. 5 stars! Reminds me of my grandmas cooking growing up. Every time I come this way I'm making a stop here.

Carin de Ria is a charming little family-owned restaurant with fantastic authentic Filipino food. Their hand-made lumpia is the BEST I've ever had, they taste fresh and pack lots of good flavor. We also tried their chicarron which came in so fresh that it was still popping when it arrived at our table. The flavor of their dip and the chicharron are a great flavor combination. We tried their garlic green beans and they were perfectly cooked and perfectly seasons as well. We had their whole fried milk fish and their sizzling sisig with Lechon, and again dishes that were really nicely cooked, well seasoned, and had good texture as well. We also tried their Palaweno Brewery (woman-owned brewery) and I don't even like beer, but this one was great, not very bitter, light, and refreshing. I highly recommend this little Encinitas gem. read more

See all

A lovely, casual spot that is being slept on! The grilled chicken was juicy, the sizzling lechon was the perfect balance of meat/fat, and the lumpia are crispy and meaty. The pork bun made an excellent breakfast the next day before we left. Service was quick and kind. Don't forget to always opt for garlic rice! read more

See all

The garlic rice. I would like to eat this every single day. Everything else was delicious but I could happily eat a pot of this rice.

OMG, Encinitas. You have to try this. Authentic and amazing comfort food. Everything was so good. A quaint place with the owners serving and explaining the food. This will be a new regular spot for us. read more

See all

Pleasant experience. The owner was very friendly and the food was delicious. Parking is a challenge but in case you wonder about parking in the back, you can. I did not see any sign from the restaurant that parking in the back was okay, moved my vehicle in the metered area in front of the restaurant instead. After my interaction with the owner, I find out it was fine to park behind the building, he just has not posted the sign. My whole family had a great experience. Halo- Halo is a must dessert to try. Had lunch here with family plus friends. We also had food delivered for dinner to our hotel and food was delicious as well. Will be returning in the future when re- visiting Legoland and family members in the San Diego area. read more

Delicious Filipino food. Oxtail kare kare is a must try and the flavor of the pork sinigang is amazing. You will not be disappointed. read more

See all

I gave this place a chance thinking it was going to be good, but was disappointed by the food. Flavor was lacking in both pancit and pork sinigang. Pancit had tiny chicken crumbs couldn't even find them. Lumpia didn't have enough filling inside of it. Definitely agreeing with those that critiqued this place before me. Service was good but I guess I should have picked a better place if the ambiance was dead. Sorry chef but put love in the food I may not be Filipino but I can definitely find better place to try authentic Filipino food. read more

I love the beef stew and the owner is super sweet! The dairy free version of the ice desert is fabulous. I enjoy the decor at your restaurant in that cozy Encinitas neighborhood. Thanks for being a great little spot. read more

Slow service is definitely a trend down here. The restaurant closed at 8pm and we arrived a little before 7:30. The restaurant was not at all busy. Took a while to be seated and took forever for the food to come out. We prob didn't finish dinner until past 9. The food were mediocre. The lumpia had a little too much peppers in it. The pork belly sisig was ok, big chunks of meat and bell peppers. Not the normal sisig I normally have. The buttermilk fish was a lit dry and salty. As for the pancit, it was more moist than pancit I had at other restaurants and could only taste soy in it. The bbq chicken was tender and moist and had a good flavor to it. The food weren't bad but I would not come back here. read more

See all

The restaurant is in the heart of downtown Encinitas, and serves Filipino food cooked traditionally, and served family style.the dishes range from rich and creamy, to savory and spicy. The food at Carin de Ria is authentic, and the family that owns it are friendly, and helpful: We ordered: Chicharon (crispy pork cracklings with vinegar) Garlic peanuts (stir fried and served warm with the skin on) Classic lumpia (with minced pork, cabbage, carrots served with sweet chili) Vegetable lumpia Pancit (pan tossed bean thread glass noodles with vegetables) Pancit canton (pan tossed egg thick noodles with vegetable) Lechon Kawali (twice cooked crispy pork belly) Sizzling salmon sisig Fried Whole Milkfish (marinated in garlic and vinegar deep fried) Grilled pork skewers read more

See all

This was my first time eating Filipino food. And it won't be the last! Started with the Classic Lumpia (egg rolls with minced pork). Excellent flavor, and the sweet chili dipping sauce was the perfect complement. For the main course, I ordered Pork Adobo with white rice; the pork was super tender and the broth very flavorful. read more

CARiN de RiA - Classic Lumpia (minced pork) - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

Stopped in to check it out and stayed for dessert! Got the Mango and Coconut Sorbetes. SO good. Also got the Mango Float and it was delicious. Staff was very nice and welcoming. It was also cozy and cute/ relaxing! Highly recommend trying the dessert! read more

CARiN de RiA - Coconut Sorbetes and Mango Sorbetes - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California