What a great place. I walked from my hotel and it was about a 10 min stroll. I was craving some…read moreAsian food and this is a small quaint place. The food was awesome and so was the service! I had the chili pork dumplings and Mongolian beef. It all came out freshly made and super hot. She recommended the chili pork dumplings and they were fire!! So good. The flavor, spice, and sauce were on point. I would have 5 orders of these. I forgot the pic but I had the Mongolian beef lunch deal and it was also great. Portion was good the flavor was on point, not too much sauce, great spices, The service was quick, the two ladies were so nice and respectful and funny. Great time and meal before I headed out.

I got food to go. We got an appetizer, Hong Kong BBQ pork bun, which neither of us liked. It is a…read morefluffy soft bun filled with pork. We ordered a Pad Thai Shrimp and Thai Drunken combo- beef, chicken and shrimp. These dishes were good. I liked the flavors of the Thai Drunken combo. My boyfriend ate his whole dish, the Pad Thai shrimp, so I didn't get a taste. He said we probably won't order from them again, but it is close by and it tasted good. The staff was friendly and quick. The guy after me asked for hot sauces. So then I knew to ask for them. They didn't offer, but once I asked, they gave them to me.

My friend and I came here for lunch after a Pilates workout in Carlsbad Village. It wasn't too…read morebusy, and we decided to try the Sushi Omakase Box. It was beautifully presented, fresh, and delicious! For the price, I thought it was a great deal. It came with three thick slices of seven different types of sashimi, plus uni and seaweed salad. My favorites were the albacore, salmon, and yellowtail. We also tried the caramelized eggplant as an appetizer, and it was so good and addicting! We were completely stuffed by the end of our meal. We sat outside on the patio and loved the bright decor and chill atmosphere. Service was quick, and our server was super sweet and attentive. It was the perfect lunch after a good workout. I would definitely come back!

Blue Ocean deserves the right to go into my Top 10 list of Sushi restaurants. Everything we…read moreordered was amazing. Each plate had its own design, everything was so beautiful. It's a little more expensive here compared to other Carlsbad sushi restaurants. But with your very first bite, you'll immediately realize why this sushi is a bit more expensive. It's worth it! It was a great day. The sushi melted in your mouth. Each plate of sushi was decorated by a sushi master. I've had my fair share of sushi in my life. I stated eating sushi in 1984, I'm 66 now and I still love a sushi restaurant with a bit of flare. Blue Ocean checked all of the boxes. Nothing, not one thing we ordered disappointed us. It was just the opposite, everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. It really was perfection on a plate. The service here was a level up from other sushi restaurants. It's an amazing day when great food gets combined with stellar service. Then and only then, you know it's going to be a great night out. It only takes one bad bite to send you reeling. The ambiance and the decor of Blue Ocean is top notch. I don't think anyone else can truly compete with them. We moved East 18 months ago. We have not found a sushi restaurant that can even boast reasonable sushi. But Carlsbad can. Well done Blue Ocean, you all made my day! From start to finish, your team was spot on with whatever we needed. It was the perfect storm. Sushi for everyone! We ordered the Earthquake cut role, Padres, 3 cuts of Blue Fin belly sushi, Sweet Shrimp, spicy Yellowtail cut roll, Albacore sushi, and there's more that I can't even remember right now, but we enjoyed every single bite. I highly recommend Blue Ocean. You will not be disappointed.

We had such a great experience at Sago! The ambiance is beautiful and makes it the perfect date…read morenight spot. The cocktails were amazing, and every dish we tried was so fresh and flavorful. Our favorites were definitely the tuna tartare and the lobster bao buns but everything was absolutely delicious. We'll definitely be back!

We ate dinner here for our friends bachelorette and Kate is the best server we've had. So many good…read morerecommendations, treated us the best and the sweetest girl ever. If you come by ask for Kate!! She's the best. Food and drinks both 10/10, will definitely be back.

for nearly two years, Scout, my orange, husky-looking mut and I have been driving by their…read morenow-shuttered Encinitas location four times a week after playdates at Power Lines Dog Park. every time we do, I think "we gotta back there for another visit." pretty sure CHIKO has aged out of my draft queue. now that I've finally gotten around to finishing the review, they've been closed for months. in the draft, I suggested CHIKO might not be a destination restaurant, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, it's definitely a place worth stopping by for eats. if you wait long enough, like I did, the nearest ones are in the DC area and probably not worth a cross-country trip. sad.

Post-mortem... I was sad to hear that CHIKO permanently closed their doors at the end of last year…read more It's rare for an East Coast based Asian chain restaurant to migrate to California, but that was what CHIKO did. As noted by its name, this place served a fusion of Chinese and Korean cuisines. Their Encinitas location took over what used to be a roadside diner along N Coast Hwy 101. The seating capacity was less than 40 people which included a few high-top counter spots. At my last visit, I came for a late dinner before their closing time. A large menu was posted on the wall behind the service counter that listed about two dozen food offerings. The items seemed to be comfort food like pot stickers, spring rolls, fried rice, and chicken wings but flavored with unique combinations of seasonings and spices. I started my meal with the Marinated Beef Tri-Tip Skewers which came as a set of three and a Chinese mustard for dipping. The meat was very tender and well-seasoned. I also ordered the Cumin Lamb Stir Fry which the cashier said was medium spicy. After tasting a couple of bites of the noodles from the serving bowl, I agreed that the heat level was moderate, even for my palate. I thought the portion size should have been more for the price. That was my main criticism for both items, otherwise the food was solid for an Asian fusion eatery.

This place was SO delicious and great quality. The workers were super nice and the food was…read moredelectable. The service was excellent even on a friday night the workers are so fast! Arigato gozaimas i had SUCH a good dinner today.

Gonzo Ramen is literally the best restaurant to ever exist. Their atmosphere offers unique decor,…read morenot to mention they have the best food, and the employees there are really nice. I always enjoy dining there with my family because they have good food that we can all enjoy together. Every year for my birthday I go to Gonzo! I simply love eating at Gonzo. First of all, I can't get over how scrumptious their food is, it is so tasty and packed with flavor. If you stand in line to order, as soon as you sit down you will have already been served. I don't know how Gonzo prepares their meals so fast, yet so delicious. Also the fact that they cook their food fresh daily is crazy to me. I've been to many ramen restaurants and no one compares to Gonzo's. My go to on the menu is the tonkotsu ramen with gyoza and chicken karaage. Gonzo also offers a very unique atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in Japan. They have waving cats, a big banana neon light, posters and a floating ball on top of the water station. The ball is so cool but I am still puzzled on how it works. Their decor can not be matched. They also have a TV that is always playing Anime. You can also sit inside or outside so if you feel like sitting inside, sit inside but if you want to sit outside, sit outside. Gonzo also does not offer reservations so there is always a place to sit. If there is nowhere to sit just get It to go, truly there is no other ramen stop better than Gonzo. Lastly, the people there are super nice, and always check up on you, they are very polite, and they always say your welcome. While you wait, you can enjoy your appetizers until your main meal arrives. Also if you ask them for a free ticket to their store, they will give you one, each member of the family gets one. You can go next door and trade them in for tokens, these tokens can be used to play claw machines so you can win stuff. But what tops that off is that all of the employees are welcoming and happy. Gonzo Ramen is the best restaurant in the world. They offer good food, an amazing atmosphere and the people there are super nice not to mention the location is very conveniently located near my house. I seriously think about Gonzo all the time. Gonzo is that go to place for me and my family.

We came in for a late dinner while in the area. I've had it bookmarked for a while so it was…read moreserendipitous that we happened to be in Vista for a birthday party just around the corner. The restaurant is small, cozy, welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. It isn't well suited for larger parties as most tables are tables for 2 unless tables are pushed together. They do have patio seating and heaters outside, but it didn't appeal to me being so close to the street/loud traffic. Gabriel checked us in, seated us, took our order, served our food and waited on us for majority of our visit, I would give him 10 stars just on his impeccable service. The food though? The food was AMAZING!! Everything we ordered was the best we have ever had anywhere. The buns were very kawaii (and we ordered ever single one to try). The fillings were savory, but we also loved their seasonal panda bun with ube filling while the kids preferred the nutella bunny. Best chicken karaage we've had by far, the coating almost tasted like it was rolled in kinako powder. The ramen broth was "chef's kiss" with so much flavors, the crab rangoon were jumbo and the filling was delicious, but the chicken katsu was also the best we have had anywhere (including Hawaii). The breading was just top tier crunchy while the chicken was thick and juicy. There isn't one bad thing I could say about this place, from the service to the food, I would make the drive out here again. Super duper, highly recommend, don't sleep on this little place, you'll regret it!

Okay, I found out Harumama Ramen + Sushi was in my neighborhood so I had to check it out. I wanted…read moreto see if it's the same as another one I've been to about 20 minutes away. Since I'm a lover of information, I looked up "Harumama". It's a combination of two words: the Korean word haru, which means "day," and "mama". Together, it translates to "mom's daily food". The name reflects the restaurant's mission to serve dishes prepared with the same love, care, and attention that a mother gives to her family's everyday meals. How lovely is that?! Anyhow, I was able to find street parking and walked into a clean dining space with a nice atmosphere. It wasn't too busy. Again, the staff was very attentive and provided stellar service. My food came out pretty fast. I loooved how my Drunken Noodles had the right amount of chicken and peanuts. Overall, another fun flavorful time. I'm still a Harumama fan. I can't wait to try more dishes. I highly recommend this location to the Yelp Community!!

I loved the food. It was soooooooo good. My family and I downed everything, so we didn't need to…read moreuse any to go boxes. A staff member interacted with us at our table. We had a really good time there! Standouts: beef noodle soup, Shanghai style fried noodles, spicy beef and tofu noodle soup, onion pancakes

I placed an online order for delivery to our hotel since it was late and I was craving Dim Sum!…read moreThe restaurant has authentic Shanghai style dishes including Dim Sum, various types of soups, pancakes, fried noodles, noodle soup, fried rice, appetizers and more. We ordered the following: - Shanghai Xiao Long Bao 5/5 - Shangahai Grilled Pork Bun 5/5 - Green Onion pancakes 4/5 - Shanghai pork potstickers 5/5 The food was delicious, Xiao Long Bao and Pork Potstickers were flavorful and juicy. The grillef pork bun was savory, loaded with rich and juicy pork filling. The bun itself was soft and fluffy. Green onions pancakes were okay but not flaky. The service was fast. Everything was wrapped well. Definitely, I will dine in next time.

Chef's are extremely good. Food fresh and delicious. Fabulous service staff and Fatima is…read moreexceptionally skilled attentive and pleasant. Great experience!

Kiana is an excellent server; she brought everything we asked for and was extremely polite. The…read morefood is great; many traditional options as well as specialized takes on sushi. They also have Spanish mackerel which is very hard to find.

Our 20th wedding anniversary was spent at our true guilty pleasure: Dija Mara…read more We would have loved to get everything on the menu but honestly we get stuffed really quickly and tried to stick with the perfected dishes: Grilled Roti with Lamb Jus Curry Sea Bream Ceviche Actually we noticed the menu didn't mention "Sea Bream" anymore and just said "Local Ceviche". Did they change fish? Tasted the same basically. Still amazing as always. We also tried some new dishes: Beef Tartare Chicken Thigh Skewers Green Curry Mussels The Beef Tartare was just okay. It's the only dish I probably would not ever order again. It wasn't bad, but compared to every other banger on the menu, it's last. Something has to be last. The Chicken Thigh Skewers were AMAZING! OMG, so much flavor in the chicken but the sauce really drove it overboard. Wow. These are a must try, you won't regret it. And lastly, the Green Curry Mussels blew us away. I love mussels and always order it whenever I see it on a menu. We devoured all of the mussels (and added the $9 Roti) and even got a container to-go to save the broth, lol. Truly another banger from Dija Mara. I really appreciate that the menu changes periodically without removing the veteran dishes we continue to enjoy. Just want to mention something besides the culinary spectacles. Dija Mara's decor is every bit as memorable as its food. The artwork isn't an afterthought--it's part of the experience. The dining room manages to feel both trendy and intimate at the same time, while the graffiti-covered back wall adds a playful, street-art feel that contrasts beautifully with the polished food and cocktails. The result is a space that feels creative, unpretentious, and genuinely cool. The industrial concrete and reclaimed wood elements give it a modern edge, while the Indonesian-inspired art creates a sense of place that feels completely unique in North County. This is really our happy place and I hope it never changes.

What a gem. We have been wanting to try this spot for the last two years and haven't gotten the…read morechance. Located on South Coast Highway in Oceanside, unassuming on the outside inside it is a cozy colorful spot for some delicious food. The restaurant is not large, but has a good amount of seating that does not feel too squished. There is a small bar and the dining seating consists of some high tops and regular height tables. I highly suggest making a reservation although you may get lucky and be able to snag a table or a bar spot. For drinks, they have agave wine cocktails, beer, and wine plus other N.A. options like Mocktails. We opted for a bottle of wine. They are clear that the items come out as they are ready, so if you want to course things out or expecting individual dishes to come out together, that will not be the case. This style lends itself to sharing which has the added benefit of being able to try a bunch of dishes and their unique flavors. When we came, there were only two of us, so we did our best to try a lot. We started with the Grilled Roti which can be served with the lamb jus curry dipping sauce and/or the vegetarian rendang curry. The roti was good and tasted fresh but it was really just the delivery vehicle for the delicious curries. The Lab Jus was good had that au jus feel as it should, but the vegetarian rendang curry was so flavorful. Definitely the star of this dish. Next we had the Sea Bream Ceviche which was seasoned with Makrut lime, hijau, Herb oil and coconut cream served with cassava chips. So refreshing and flavorful. Definitely crave-able and perfect for summer or as a palate refresh. The charred eggplant. My BF had heard amazing things about this dish. I am not much of an eggplant person but if it's good, I need to try it. It was chunks of charred eggplant served under fried shallots and basil and mixed with a tomato sambal and lemon labneh. I thought it was very good and went back for multiple bites. He thought it was amazing and practically scrapped the plate. Next up we had the Pork Belly Skewers which were served with sambal matah, black garlic, and peanut aioli. We really enjoyed this dish too and it had completely different flavors than the previous dishes. So flavorful. We finished our tour through the menu with the whole fried market fish with a tamarind glaze. Today they had branzino. It was prepared extremely well. The fish was crispy and flavorful. As warned, it does have the little bones throughout as it is really the whole fish. So be aware in case that is not your thing. Little bones everywhere. But we thought it was worthwhile to try and my BF loved it. We definitely need to come back as I still have my eye on the beef rendang and the chicken thigh skewers.

I came to this place with my husband after being out all day. I was pretty hungry so we were happy…read moreto find a decently priced ayce restaurant. I like that this place uses the Yelp waitlist because I put my name down as we were on our way over and arrived just in time. We were seated quickly on a Saturday evening around 6 pm. There are a good amount of tables inside. They also had some TVs showing baseball games around. The service was amazing here. It felt like the waiters and waitresses were constantly eyeing our table to see if we needed anything or were ready to order more. They refilled our water carafe before it was completely empty, changed our grills before we asked, and took away empty plates as soon as we cleared them. I also appreciated that they put salt or something on the ground so it wasn't too slippery. The only complaint I had about the place was that it was really hot but I could see the waitresses were also really hot as they fanned themselves walking around. The food were was actually pretty solid for an ayce restaurant. We got the deluxe plan which is the cheaper option for $30.99. The brisket came with some salt and pepper on it and looked like a better cut than I've seen at other places. We also got some kalbi which came without the bone which is so nice because we didn't have to cut it off and have little meat left over. My husband and I also really liked the marinated steak. I typically like non marinated meat better but the steak was tender and the marinade wasn't too sweet. I used the salt to help cut the sweetness and wrapped it in a lettuce with some radish. I really liked all the meats we tried here. They also have really good sides here that you can't get anymore at a lot of kbbq places like the steamed egg or corn cheese plate. All of the food options were so good and I left very stuffed. I would definitely recommend then kbbq ayce restaurant to anyone in the area!

Sonu BBQ is a great place for Korean BBQ! The premium menu offers excellent quality and a wide…read morevariety of meats and appetizers. The service is fast and attentive, even when the restaurant is busy. Be sure to put your name on the waitlist ahead of time, as it can get crowded. There are plenty of delicious options to choose from, but my favorites are the finger garlic beef and the shrimp tempura. If you're looking for tasty food, great service, and lots of variety, Sonu BBQ is definitely worth a visit!