Dija Mara
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Service, food, and ambiance were all awesome at DM last night. I sat at the bar and came an hour or so before closing. Loved the ceviche and the spicy noodles. Would recommend it to anyone and I hope to be back soon to try more of the menu.
Dija Mara is a trendy Indonesian restaurant in downtown Oceanside with a warm, well-designed interior and friendly service. Nearly everything we tried was bursting with flavor, well-deserving of the Michelin Bib Gourmand designation the restaurant has earned the past five years. The food is served family style, and the cocktail menu is unique. Conveniently, there is also a good amount of street parking around the restaurant, even on bustling weekends. To start, I had the black rose, an agave wine cocktail with black sesame, rose orgeat, and egg white. I'm not sure the blend of flavors worked, but it was certainly unique. We also tried the gypsy king (their version of a spicy margarita) and the pandan, lime, and coconut mocktail, both of which were decent. For the small plates, we agreed that the charred eggplant and sea bream ceviche were stellar. The sambal shined with the eggplant, and the cassava chips paired perfectly with the makrut lime and coconut cream in the ceviche. The roti was just alright - nothing to write home about. The pork belly skewers were juicy and well-flavored, although we had finished all our small and large plates by the time the skewers came out (we had to ask about them - the waiters/kitchen likely forgot about our skewers, as multiple tables seated after us received theirs before we did). The ayam penyet, nasi goreng, and beef rendang were delicious and well thought-out dishes. We agreed that while the menu is heavily Indonesian-inspired and the food features the flavors of Southeast Asia, the dishes are quite Americanized. Dija Mara shines in presenting a typically uncommon cuisine in the U.S. in an easily accessible manner, which is laudable. Would recommend everyone try at least once.
This place is quite unique! Full of spice and flavors! I would highly recommend a visit here if you are looking for a unique dining voyage, atleast once. Their dishes definitely have more of a kick so it's not for the faint or be sure to request less spicy . Cute little spot very intimate so I wouldn't suggest a big party here but a reservation instead.
Girls' night out on a Friday. The place had that street style going on. We were excited to try this Indonesian fusion place, especially since I've always loved Indonesian food when I was overseas. But... wow. I left more confused than satisfied. Where were the Indonesian spices? The flavors? And the portions? Tiny!!! Fun night with the girls, but this place? We won't be back.
My brother got my partner and I a gift card here for Xmas, and we were stoked to try it out having just moved to Oceanside and this being one of the nicer restaurants in the area. 1) atmosphere was cute, cozy, and unique, felt like a great date spot vibe 2) the sparkling wine I had was noteworthy, really loved it and I don't usually mention wine in these reviews so it truly stood out! 3) they had a dedicated menu for allergies (something small that really stands out to me at restaurants as someone who has a bad gluten allergy) 4) and for the food - it was super yummy! I agree with fellow reviews that it maybe wasn't the most "authentic" style of Indonesian food I have had, but it still tasted delicious to us. We got the ceviche, tartare, and short rib beef rendang, which was enough to fill the 2 of us up. We will be coming back!
5/5 Prawn skewer + ceviche + mie goreng. 2/5 roti and beef rendang Saw this place on Michelin guide's bib gourmand 5 years in a year row so decided to try it this weekend. Easy to find parking, always a plus! Somehow avoided ordering any of the most recommended dishes haha but the whole experience is still quite amazing. Went for the spicy noodle prawn skewer, sea bream ceviche, MIE GORENG, short rib rendang and grilled roti. Liked them in that order The prawn came with exotic and rich southeastern Asian seasoning, but the shrimp's freshness and sweetness still shines. Best ceviche I've had. It's a powerful sensory stimulant, enchanting pretty and dangerously delicious. Beautifully presented in starry blue plates with luscious herbal oil and comforting coconut cream. The sea bream has no strong flavor, so it mixes so well with the herbal oil. Verdant and relaxing aroma from the herbal oil arrives first. It's then followed by mouthwatering and refreshing lime. Coconut cream and the sea bream soon offered sweetness relief. In a short 10 seconds, I felt like I just had a fun roller coaster Not so much to say about the roti. The beef rendang is quite disappointing as it came out majorly lukewarm. Also not saucy enough to let the coconut rice soak up any flavor. Couldn't figure out what exactly the dessert is. But 5/5 recommended. Flurry of textures. Chewy base with natural sweetness from rice or flour. Airy lemon cream on top and fruity sauce at the bottom. Seriously creative. Big believer in bib gourmand.
I have never had Balinese food before and these selections were great. Especially loved the pork belly skewers and the beef rendang. The mochi dessert was also very delicious. Theres a parking lot adjacent to Dija Mara thats about 6 dollars for two hours. Make a reservation for the restaurant online. For four people you should order around 4-5 dishes, each of them have portions that are on the smaller side.
Wow this place is incredible!! I recommend making a reservation as seating is somewhat limited. We seriously loved everything we got. The only dish I found lacking was the beef rendang. It was a bit on the dry side and the taste wasn't as robust as I'm used to for the dish. I'm from Malaysia so I know my rendang! Some standout dishes for me were the skewers both pork belly and chicken and probably the best dish was the charred eggplant! It's cooked so well and the sambal on it just makes it perfect. It's a flavor explosion of sweet, sour, spicy, salty and that perfect melt in your mouth eggplant!!! In terms of authenticity I'd say it doesn't hit the highest but it's a fusion place too. The service is great. Ambiance is good but a bit more on the dimly lit side.
Oceanside, what a beautiful place with some fire cuisine. Michelin Bib Gourmanded (gourmanded? bibbed? idk bro) Dija Mara fits that bill. It was easy to get a reservation on a Thursday night, 6:30pm. We actually got there 20 minutes early but they already had a table for us, so... cool, let's eat! Ambiance is perfect for a date night. It's cozy and intimate, although the tables are placed close enough together where you can hear other conversations quite clearly. The table to my right seemed like they were on a first or second date; I really wanted to dap up the guy and thank him for lending me his lambo for the weekend, but y'know... there's a time and a place, and dinner at Dija Mara wasn't that. With all that being said, it's probably not a great place for a group outing as the biggest table I saw only sat 4. Served family style, we ordered sea bream ceviche, pork belly skewers, grilled roti, and beef rendang. Note: dishes are served as they are made, there is no traditional appetizer & main order of delivery. Sea bream ceviche was marinated with a markut lime and placed in some herb oil and coconut cream. Delicious, no complaints. The pork belly skewers was the star of the show, but I mean pork belly skewers are always a hit for us. It was well marinated and tender. The black garlic and sambal matah sauce was so good. The grilled roti was perfect, soft and chewy. We actually didn't care for the lamb jus, mainly because we don't like lamb as much. The vegetarian rendang curry was good though. The only main dish of the night, beef rendang, was good, but nothing world shattering. The short rib was tender and fall-apart. The fermented veggies and coconut rice was good as well. Service was attentive and not overbearing. I believe it was the manager that helped us and other servers just ran food and plates. But it was pleasant all the way through. Yelp Adventures 2025 - 12 of ??
Pretty cool little spot located off the 101 in Oceanside. They have very unique Balinese fusion style food which shines in both spice and flavor. The service is solid and the menu is totally unique. I'll for sure come back and try more things on the menu!
Great flavors! The cocktails were unique and pretty tasty. For food we ordered to share for 3 people. The hostess recommended we added another dish, but that overstuffed us. What we ordered: grilled roti (yum!), papaya salad (yum), gado gado (interesting yum!), pork belly skewers (yum!), mi-goreng noodles (yum!), nasi goreng (good but we could've done without this), ayam penyet fried chicken (so juicy, but came last and we were so full), prawn crackers (can skip this). Service was pretty fast though there were a few tiny hiccups - We made a reservation for 8:30, got there early and was told we had to wait although there were many tables available. Turns out our table was ready, the hostess was just confused. Total came out to be ~$250. Great experience, I'm glad I went but it'll be just a 1 time visit for me
Exquisite, eclectic and romantic Dija Mara earns my praise, hence the Michelin nod - Bib Gourmand 2021-2025. Dija is a small 68 max customer seating. Restaurant setting has a soft dim lighting, with various levels of background music. Depending on the night, Walk-ins come with a slight wait time of 30mins and likely seated at the bar. Reservations are preferred. My favorite part was eating family style and your whole party can try little bit of everything. The menu is just right with a handful of Small Plates and Large Plates and Skewers that can be interchangeable. We tried dishes from sea to land including Sea Bream Ceviche, Gado Gado, Charred Eggplant, Pork Belly Skewers and Nasi Goreng. The ceviche was marinated in a tart markut lime sauce in a beautiful hijau that was vibrant and colorful. The charred eggplant was flawlessly cooked topped with fried shallots and baby thai basil leaves. This was one of our favorite dish of the night. Pork Belly Skewers was perfect for a party of four. Dipped with peanut sauce and enjoyed with pickled shallots! Party in the mouth! Nasi Goreng was a hearty fried rice with bay shrimp topped with sunny side up fried egg. Gado Gado a seasonal mixed vege dish with tofu and quail egg topped with peanut sauce left us wondering what we were eating. I am happy to add the service was decent, courteous and prompt. We didn't feel rushed nor were there many people waiting behind us on a Saturday night.
I've been coming here for years to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and even just the end of a long work week--and it never disappoints. On this last visit, we had the chance to meet the owner and chef, and they, along with the entire staff, were incredibly kind and attentive. It was my first time dining at the bar counter, and the experience was just as lovely as ever. We ordered some of our go-to favorites, but also tried a few new dishes like the beef tartare, which was fantastic. The chef's special with green mussels and spicy coconut curry both looked amazing and tasted even better. We finished with a dessert that was light and perfectly balanced between tart and sweet. As always, an incredible experience--we'll definitely be back again soon.
Our 20th wedding anniversary was spent at our true guilty pleasure: Dija Mara. 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. read more
2 months ago
What a disappointment. I had high expectations due to the Michelin bib Gourmand award, but the flavors fell extremely short. The restaurant was fairly empty although Resy wouldn't take reservations. Plenty of bar seating. The service was fair, not particularly warm or engaging, which was fine. The food was alluring and beautiful, but the flavors were salty, flat, and mushy. Starting with the Paloma, it was nothing special. Just something you could get with a well happy hour special. Serviceable but unremarkable. Very Instagrammable, however. The pork belly was nicely charred and had nice bite sized morsels on the skewer, good texture, but the sauce was very salty, almost bitter. Forced myself to eat the 2nd skewer, but could not push through the last 2. In contradistinction, the beef rendang was almost bland, like a microwaveable peanut butter Hormel beef stew, and the cardinal sin - the rice underneath was mushy. That was what sealed the nail on the coffin. Bland, albeit tender short rib, on top of smushy rice. Dead. I barely ate one of the 2 pieces of ribs and couldn't do more. The staff wanted to see if I wanted a take out container. When you see a customer that disengaged with the food, you'd better be wary. Being Asian, I don't like to waste food, but when it's so not good, I'd rather walk away and get something else than to finish a terrible meal. Many diners have a millennia of choices in this price point. Sadly, not sure how this restaurant got recognition because it's half as delicious as your typical neighborhood Thai restaurant. Banana Leaf at the Original farmers market in LA is better, though humble and homely. Just very disappointing. Hope it was an off night and that others have a better experience. read more
Parking: free 2hr street parking Reservation: recommended but we walked in and got seats for 2 on Wednesday 7:30pm. Service: slow and not very friendly. Fyi, this is NOT an authentic indonesian restaurant, even though it receive 2025 Bimbindam Michelin acknowledgement. We ordered: Ayam penyet - this is not bad actually, very moist inside, crispy on the outside. But the sambal is so wrong. Gado gado - not even close. Gado Gado is normally a mixed of steamed veggies covered with a delicious traditional peanut sauce. Whatever they use for sauce, it is wierd sour taste, it doesn't match the description on the menu. Pork belly satay - this is good, we can taste the charcoal grill, very moist meat. Ambiance is loud and dark. This restaurant is more like bar. read more
Service, food, and ambiance were all awesome at DM last night. I sat at the bar and came an hour or so before closing. Loved the ceviche and the spicy noodles. Would recommend it to anyone and I hope to be back soon to try more of the menu. read more
7 days ago
Dija Mara is a trendy Indonesian restaurant in downtown Oceanside with a warm, well-designed interior and friendly service. Nearly everything we tried was bursting with flavor, well-deserving of the Michelin Bib Gourmand designation the restaurant has earned the past five years. The food is served family style, and the cocktail menu is unique. Conveniently, there is also a good amount of street parking around the restaurant, even on bustling weekends. To start, I had the black rose, an agave wine cocktail with black sesame, rose orgeat, and egg white. I'm not sure the blend of flavors worked, but it was certainly unique. We also tried the gypsy king (their version of a spicy margarita) and the pandan, lime, and coconut mocktail, both of which were decent. For the small plates, we agreed that the charred eggplant and sea bream ceviche were stellar. The sambal shined with the eggplant, and the cassava chips paired perfectly with the makrut lime and coconut cream in the ceviche. The roti was just alright - nothing to write home about. The pork belly skewers were juicy and well-flavored, although we had finished all our small and large plates by the time the skewers came out (we had to ask about them - the waiters/kitchen likely forgot about our skewers, as multiple tables seated after us received theirs before we did). The ayam penyet, nasi goreng, and beef rendang were delicious and well thought-out dishes. We agreed that while the menu is heavily Indonesian-inspired and the food features the flavors of Southeast Asia, the dishes are quite Americanized. Dija Mara shines in presenting a typically uncommon cuisine in the U.S. in an easily accessible manner, which is laudable. Would recommend everyone try at least once. read more
This place is quite unique! Full of spice and flavors! I would highly recommend a visit here if you are looking for a unique dining voyage, atleast once. Their dishes definitely have more of a kick so it's not for the faint or be sure to request less spicy . Cute little spot very intimate so I wouldn't suggest a big party here but a reservation instead. read more
9 months ago
Girls' night out on a Friday. The place had that street style going on. We were excited to try this Indonesian fusion place, especially since I've always loved Indonesian food when I was overseas. But... wow. I left more confused than satisfied. Where were the Indonesian spices? The flavors? And the portions? Tiny!!! Fun night with the girls, but this place? We won't be back. read more
My brother got my partner and I a gift card here for Xmas, and we were stoked to try it out having just moved to Oceanside and this being one of the nicer restaurants in the area. 1) atmosphere was cute, cozy, and unique, felt like a great date spot vibe 2) the sparkling wine I had was noteworthy, really loved it and I don't usually mention wine in these reviews so it truly stood out! 3) they had a dedicated menu for allergies (something small that really stands out to me at restaurants as someone who has a bad gluten allergy) 4) and for the food - it was super yummy! I agree with fellow reviews that it maybe wasn't the most "authentic" style of Indonesian food I have had, but it still tasted delicious to us. We got the ceviche, tartare, and short rib beef rendang, which was enough to fill the 2 of us up. We will be coming back! read more
5/5 Prawn skewer + ceviche + mie goreng. 2/5 roti and beef rendang Saw this place on Michelin guide's bib gourmand 5 years in a year row so decided to try it this weekend. Easy to find parking, always a plus! Somehow avoided ordering any of the most recommended dishes haha but the whole experience is still quite amazing. Went for the spicy noodle prawn skewer, sea bream ceviche, MIE GORENG, short rib rendang and grilled roti. Liked them in that order The prawn came with exotic and rich southeastern Asian seasoning, but the shrimp's freshness and sweetness still shines. Best ceviche I've had. It's a powerful sensory stimulant, enchanting pretty and dangerously delicious. Beautifully presented in starry blue plates with luscious herbal oil and comforting coconut cream. The sea bream has no strong flavor, so it mixes so well with the herbal oil. Verdant and relaxing aroma from the herbal oil arrives first. It's then followed by mouthwatering and refreshing lime. Coconut cream and the sea bream soon offered sweetness relief. In a short 10 seconds, I felt like I just had a fun roller coaster Not so much to say about the roti. The beef rendang is quite disappointing as it came out majorly lukewarm. Also not saucy enough to let the coconut rice soak up any flavor. Couldn't figure out what exactly the dessert is. But 5/5 recommended. Flurry of textures. Chewy base with natural sweetness from rice or flour. Airy lemon cream on top and fruity sauce at the bottom. Seriously creative. Big believer in bib gourmand. read more
I have never had Balinese food before and these selections were great. Especially loved the pork belly skewers and the beef rendang. The mochi dessert was also very delicious. Theres a parking lot adjacent to Dija Mara thats about 6 dollars for two hours. Make a reservation for the restaurant online. For four people you should order around 4-5 dishes, each of them have portions that are on the smaller side. read more
Wow this place is incredible!! I recommend making a reservation as seating is somewhat limited. We seriously loved everything we got. The only dish I found lacking was the beef rendang. It was a bit on the dry side and the taste wasn't as robust as I'm used to for the dish. I'm from Malaysia so I know my rendang! Some standout dishes for me were the skewers both pork belly and chicken and probably the best dish was the charred eggplant! It's cooked so well and the sambal on it just makes it perfect. It's a flavor explosion of sweet, sour, spicy, salty and that perfect melt in your mouth eggplant!!! In terms of authenticity I'd say it doesn't hit the highest but it's a fusion place too. The service is great. Ambiance is good but a bit more on the dimly lit side. read more
Oceanside, what a beautiful place with some fire cuisine. Michelin Bib Gourmanded (gourmanded? bibbed? idk bro) Dija Mara fits that bill. It was easy to get a reservation on a Thursday night, 6:30pm. We actually got there 20 minutes early but they already had a table for us, so... cool, let's eat! Ambiance is perfect for a date night. It's cozy and intimate, although the tables are placed close enough together where you can hear other conversations quite clearly. The table to my right seemed like they were on a first or second date; I really wanted to dap up the guy and thank him for lending me his lambo for the weekend, but y'know... there's a time and a place, and dinner at Dija Mara wasn't that. With all that being said, it's probably not a great place for a group outing as the biggest table I saw only sat 4. Served family style, we ordered sea bream ceviche, pork belly skewers, grilled roti, and beef rendang. Note: dishes are served as they are made, there is no traditional appetizer & main order of delivery. Sea bream ceviche was marinated with a markut lime and placed in some herb oil and coconut cream. Delicious, no complaints. The pork belly skewers was the star of the show, but I mean pork belly skewers are always a hit for us. It was well marinated and tender. The black garlic and sambal matah sauce was so good. The grilled roti was perfect, soft and chewy. We actually didn't care for the lamb jus, mainly because we don't like lamb as much. The vegetarian rendang curry was good though. The only main dish of the night, beef rendang, was good, but nothing world shattering. The short rib was tender and fall-apart. The fermented veggies and coconut rice was good as well. Service was attentive and not overbearing. I believe it was the manager that helped us and other servers just ran food and plates. But it was pleasant all the way through. Yelp Adventures 2025 - 12 of ?? read more
Pretty cool little spot located off the 101 in Oceanside. They have very unique Balinese fusion style food which shines in both spice and flavor. The service is solid and the menu is totally unique. I'll for sure come back and try more things on the menu! read more
Great flavors! The cocktails were unique and pretty tasty. For food we ordered to share for 3 people. The hostess recommended we added another dish, but that overstuffed us. What we ordered: grilled roti (yum!), papaya salad (yum), gado gado (interesting yum!), pork belly skewers (yum!), mi-goreng noodles (yum!), nasi goreng (good but we could've done without this), ayam penyet fried chicken (so juicy, but came last and we were so full), prawn crackers (can skip this). Service was pretty fast though there were a few tiny hiccups - We made a reservation for 8:30, got there early and was told we had to wait although there were many tables available. Turns out our table was ready, the hostess was just confused. Total came out to be ~$250. Great experience, I'm glad I went but it'll be just a 1 time visit for me read more
Exquisite, eclectic and romantic Dija Mara earns my praise, hence the Michelin nod - Bib Gourmand 2021-2025. Dija is a small 68 max customer seating. Restaurant setting has a soft dim lighting, with various levels of background music. Depending on the night, Walk-ins come with a slight wait time of 30mins and likely seated at the bar. Reservations are preferred. My favorite part was eating family style and your whole party can try little bit of everything. The menu is just right with a handful of Small Plates and Large Plates and Skewers that can be interchangeable. We tried dishes from sea to land including Sea Bream Ceviche, Gado Gado, Charred Eggplant, Pork Belly Skewers and Nasi Goreng. The ceviche was marinated in a tart markut lime sauce in a beautiful hijau that was vibrant and colorful. The charred eggplant was flawlessly cooked topped with fried shallots and baby thai basil leaves. This was one of our favorite dish of the night. Pork Belly Skewers was perfect for a party of four. Dipped with peanut sauce and enjoyed with pickled shallots! Party in the mouth! Nasi Goreng was a hearty fried rice with bay shrimp topped with sunny side up fried egg. Gado Gado a seasonal mixed vege dish with tofu and quail egg topped with peanut sauce left us wondering what we were eating. I am happy to add the service was decent, courteous and prompt. We didn't feel rushed nor were there many people waiting behind us on a Saturday night. read more
4 months ago
I've been coming here for years to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and even just the end of a long work week--and it never disappoints. On this last visit, we had the chance to meet the owner and chef, and they, along with the entire staff, were incredibly kind and attentive. It was my first time dining at the bar counter, and the experience was just as lovely as ever. We ordered some of our go-to favorites, but also tried a few new dishes like the beef tartare, which was fantastic. The chef's special with green mussels and spicy coconut curry both looked amazing and tasted even better. We finished with a dessert that was light and perfectly balanced between tart and sweet. As always, an incredible experience--we'll definitely be back again soon. read more
Being this place is a 2021-2025 MICHELIN BIB GOURMAND and was so close to our hotel we had to make a point of stopping here. I started off with one of their cocktails, PANDANY DROPPER. It was very tropical, quite sweet and delicious. We ordered the sea bream ceviche so fresh, tuna and pork belly skewers, they were phenomenal and oh so flavorful. The braised short ribs were very tender. The desert was fresh, tart, sweet and creamy. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner! read more
Found this place via Resy and was lucky enough to score a reservation booked the day prior(i Amex concierge as they can make magic happen with tough reservations). I've Never had Indonesian food before I sorta thought it would have this Malaysian, Filipino, Thai type flavors, which were my best guesses, but basically I had no expectations. Through yelp I did some research and had a good feeling on what I wanted to try and I kept some wiggle room open for recommendations from the staff. My eyes definitely was hungry as I poured over the food photos but I had to respect my stomach. Not hard to find as its name strongly contrasts against the off white painted exterior on the street front and the south side of the building. It's been years since I've strolled through Oceanside...the good old days of being the with the Marines, getting cheap harcuits, fast food, and beers at the dive were long gone as well as the homeless, drug addicts, and seedy elements...I've grown up and so has Oceanside! Stepping in from a bright sunny day to the slightly dim interior my eyes took a few seconds to adjust. First thing I see is the gigantic mural spray painted on the back wall along with touches of Indonesian art pieces displayed it was giving modern bohemian urban vibes. Super intimate seating with majority of seats for two but I can tell they could easily adjoin tables to accommodate a larger party. Hosts, servers, and staff were attentive and quick to seat us for our reservation. First we Ordered drinks singha beer and lychee cocktail along with an appetizer, vegetarian curry with grill roti. honestly, I could've been served drinks and this scrumptious grilled roti flat bread all night and I would've been beyond satisfied. The roti had a subtle crisp texture and for being so thin a nice chewy bite in the center. Singha beer always hits but god damn the Dija Lychee Martini slaps, beautiful presentation with the flowers and the sweet lychee ooooweeee so good! Mie Goreng with chicken was amazingly well balanced with savory salty basil and spice, noodles with perfect with a nice bite and the perfect amount of sauce. A must order! The pork belly skewers I was nervous as they seemed dark in all the photos I wasn't sure if it was being over cooked/charred but when they arrived and I took the first bite I understood! It was the sauce as it was perfectly cooked no burnt flavor, there was this wonderful Smokiness which added amazing depth to the flavor of the pork, paired with the peanut aioli sauce and the squirt of lime it was perfection with every bite. Chicken thigh skewers were an audible as we initially wanted to go with the Ayam Penyet fried chicken meal but wanted to give the chickenskewers a shot as the waiter recommended it. I typically avoid chicken skewers as I feel they tend to be over cooked and dry but not here not today. The chicken was juicy, well seasoned/sauced, and the grill job was spot on with the nice subtle char for flavor. If you were to chose between skewers I'd go with the pork. I'm definitely gonna give the fried chicken a go next time. At this point we were full and the Short rib beef rendang arrived. And even though my stomach was physically done the amazing flavors of the beef rendang signaled my stomach to open up for shop. Being Filipino it gave comfort food! A stewed meat over a bed of rice, but this went above and beyond. The salty and subtle spice and beyond tenderness of the short rib with the coconut rice was screaming elegance. I love how they have sliced lime to add acidity to each bite. The pickles egg was another twist that added more depth with the it's addition. Overall i loved the entire experience which explains the Michelin nod! I am a Indonesian food lover convert now! I'm not sure if it was a good idea to have my first Indonesian food experience to be such a high level in flavor, presentation, and execution. I hope all other Indonesian meals aren't ruined from this. Lol I'm definitely coming back! read more
Ambiance..cute spot..no ac..small but love the decor Service.mfast and friendly Food..the chai is authentic..the charred eggplant..chicken skewers..and chicken plate were so full of flavour and tasted authentic. I loved the spices sauce thet came with it. read more
Updating my review because it's been a while since I reviewed them last. We took my son here for his graduation trip because we've held them is such high regard for so many years. Everything was great except for the nasi goreng. The first time I ever had nasi goreng was here, 7 years ago. Because of Dija Mara, I went on a nasi goreng quest to find the best recipe, and make my own at home. It's since become one of his favorites of mine. I was so excited to bring him back to try where I first got my inspiration and it just fell flat. Dija Mara, if you can possibly go back to how you used to make it, I know people would be so happy. Other than that, keep doing what you're doing because everything else is great. read more
6 months ago
Everything about this place is brilliant! Decor, service, food, etc was perfect from start to finish. Without hesitation, the ceviche was the best I've ever had! Make a point to visit, it is definitely worth it! read more
Nasi goreng? Yes, legit! Ayam penyet? Yum, legit! Sambal Terasi? Kurang rasa terasi but still super tasty. Randang sapi? A definite no, I would never try it here again. No doubt it was slow cooked for a long time, but the spices presented as bitter and almost sour leaving an odd lingering taste which was not pleasant at all. I lived in Indonesia for a decade and cook my own rendang, so this was a huge disappointment. We wanted to order the Soto ayam to go but were advised as a soup they were unable to fulfil that request. Service was lovely, seemed most staff helped serve others tables which is refreshing. Would help if staff are able to help guests with pronunciation of their Indonesian dishes, but with a staff that cannot pronounce their dishes or understand when I said the names, understood only by pointing, it leaves a lot of room for improvement. We will come back but not in a hurry. It's a nod to Indonesia but far from authentic for those that know. read more
This place has been on my foodie list for a while and it lives up to all the great reviews I've read. The place may be small (so make reservations if your party is more than 2!) but that's what makes this a hidden gem. So unassuming is the front entrance that I almost walked right past it. But once inside, my eyes were darting all over the place soaking up the cool urban art and dynamic vibes. And I haven't even shared about their fantastic, belly-stuffing dishes. Or our awesome patient server! We had a party of 8 so we ordered 2 of most dishes. That gave everyone a taste of everything (thanks to our wonderful server's suggestion). My favorite was the spicy noodles and the lychee martini (see pics below). Beyond YUM!! Overall, this local spot is absolute fire! Don't hesitate, GO! read more
7 months ago
1 month ago
5 months ago
We enjoyed the whole experience... starting with drinks off the specialty menu, sharing the chicken, shrimp & pork belly skewers, tasty salad & finishing with a creamy fruity dessert. Just all so yummy. Female staff were all so attentive & helpful, too. We will definitely go back again! read more
Okay, Dija Mara... wow. Just wow. Went for a girls night out dinner and holy fkn airball--Every single dish we tried was so good we were literally passing plates around like, "Wait, did you try this yet?" From the bright, zippy ceviche to the melt-in-your-mouth eggplant and that coconut fried chicken? Unreal. Yes, it's a bit of a splurge especially compared to your average local spot but this is not your average dinner. The portions are small (they're meant for sharing), and we definitely could've kept going, but honestly, the flavor, the vibe, the whole experience? Worth it. I'll 100% be back, probably dreaming of that chicken until then. read more
8 months ago
First time here and was not disappointed. We had a reservation at 5pm so we were the first ones in. Service was very fast and attentive. The food was delicious and I could not get enough. I have recommended it to multiple people and they have all enjoyed it too. I will definitely be coming back! read more
15 days ago
I would say that there are some highlights and low lights to the spot. One of the things I would like to highlight is that you have a unique flavor variety in Oceanside and you get to try Southeast Asian food. I think the highlights were definitely the fish and the Portobello skewers and the fried chicken but overall everything else tasted a little bit too salty for me and too much of the paste and the sauce so that feeling left me with like a 3.5 however the service and the ambience and the risk to take on new flavors I would say pushed it over to a 4 star. I came with coworkers and we literally ordered the whole menu so I would say we tried pretty much everything and again go for the recommendations try new things and you might be more of a salty palette than me. I literally took pictures of everything and I would say the roti bread was a pretty good highlight also . read more
8 months ago
I am not Indonesian food expert but this place seems sort of overrated. The food didn't taste all that fresh to me. The service was fine but we were seated at a table near the restroom, which was bothersome. We got a good assortment and nothing was memorable to me. Do yourself a favor and go to convoy for the real thing. I think this is heavily "fusion" in this case. read more
Heard so much about Dija Mara and was missing some Malaysian/ Singaporean/ Indonesian food that we had to try. We ordered gado gado, grilled roti, Chinese bok choy, charred eggplant, pork belly skewers, shrimp chips, fried chicken, nasi goreng and beef rendang. Although the food is similar to its Asian counterparts, it wasn't 100% authentic (beef rendang was not spicy enough and gado gado was missing pineapple). But we appreciated the effort and creativity. Hands down....you must order the pork belly skewers. That was so delicious! Service and ambiance were good. Small establishment so reservations recommended. Street parking only. read more
1 year ago
Solo dining on a Thursday evening and sat by the bar. Service was great: servers were nice, greeted and checked on me timely. Food arrived promptly but didn't feel rushed. Loved that the details of the restaurant were thoughtful, modern, and balanced. I ordered a lychee martini, grilled roti served with lamb jus sauce, and a beef rendang dish. They were all really delicious. The martini was dangerously good: the lychee was prominent and not too sweet. The roti tasted fresh and great texture; I didn't really care for the lamb jus. The beef rendang was definitely a favorite: the meat was so tender; the dish was seasoned perfectly but had a lot of deep flavors, balanced with the pickled vegetables, egg, and fresh mint. The coconut rice though was not cooked well or at least to my liking where it was a tad bit al dente. It can be a little pricey but I think worth a try in the area. Will definitely be going back soon to try their spicy mi goreng or just order the beef rendang again. read more
How this place has so many high ratings is beyond me! We went on a day that was a bit humid and warm and there was no AC inside. Ambiance felt like a casual street food cafe with the indoor and outdoor noise and an air mixed with various aromas. We ordered quite a bit-nasi goreng, gado gado, papaya salad, pork skewers, ceviche, roti, charred eggplant, and mie goreng. The dishes all fell somewhere between barely mediocre and good. The overall theme was overly seasoned and overpriced for the portion. How people are ok paying $21 for a thin layer of fried rice the size of my palm is astounding. There were no expensive ingredients that justify a tiny portion of rice for $21. I'm sure a native Indonesian visiting this restaurant would have a heart attack. Service was passable and standard. Nothing was worth the hype and price. read more
Industrial yet intimate space and mood lighting set the stage perfectly for date night! The Balinese-inspired menu meant for sharing is practically an aphrodisiac in and of itself, and our server helpfully recommended 3-5 dishes for a party of 2. We decided on the following: CHARRED EGGPLANT (TOMATO SAMBAL : LEMON LABNEH : FRIED SHALLOTS : BASIL) PORK BELLY SKEWERS (BLACK GARLIC : SAMBAL MATAH : PEANUT AIOLI : MINT) NASI GORENG (WOK-FRIED RICE : BAY SHRIMP : SUNNY EGG : & OUR DAILY PROTEIN) GINGER & CHOCOLATE PANNA COTTA : BLACK SESAME ICE CREAM : SPICED SHORTBREAD : BLOOD ORANGE Fabulous flavors in all! My standalone favorite was the eggplant which so well-balanced and also surprisingly generous in size for a small plate. Our server warned us that dishes come out whenever ready, but I do wish I'd waited for the nasi goreng before devouring the pork belly, as the latter - while still delectable - was rather salty when eaten by itself. read more
I liked this place, but I wish they had more variety in flavor. I absolutely loved their sea bream ceviche 10/10 and their pork belly skewer. The eggplant was also great but the tomato taste tasted very similar to the migoreng so I thought it was okay. They have decent amount of tables but recommend making a reservation ahead of time via Resy or they will ask you to sit at the bar! read more
5 months ago
Delicious, the Dina Lychee Martini, skewers pork belly, the roasted eggplant, Gado Gado, and sea Bream ceviche! Wow delicious. Already full then we got the Sato ayam. Excellent food and service. Coconut pudding with fruit and condensed milk. Just yum! read more
Dim setting restaurant. Great for date night or group hangout. They have a bar with fusion cocktails. Small dishes here and is great to share. Very tasty food here. Started off with the roti that was fluffy and comes with 2 sauces. The curry sauce has a lingering flavor. The ceviche has a pungent lime flavor. The mie goreng has a good sauce. The charred eggplant was my favorite dish of the night. I don't usually eat egg plant but the sauce and fried onions go amazing with the egg plant. Service was nice. Servers checked up on us multiple times. It is a small restaurant, I would make reservations for this place. read more
2 months ago
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More info about Dija Mara
232 S Coast Hwy
Oceanside, CA 92054
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(760) 231-5376
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http://dijamara.com
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Ask the Community - Dija Mara
Does anyone answer the phone here? Trying to make a reservation and nothing..
Not sure about the phone reservation, but online reservation through Tock was so easy.
Would it be safe to bring someone with a severe peanut allergy to the restaurant? She can't have ingredients that even touch the same cutting board that a peanut had previously touched.
No. Peanuts are common
Is this restaurant still open? I've been calling for the past two evenings with no answer and a voicemail that states that the memory is full ...?
They're closed on Mondays. I've found that they don't answer their phone sometimes (I don't know why), but to answer your question, yes they are open. You can make…
Are there gluten free options?
Yes! They even have a gluten free menu if you ask (items that are safe from the regular menu).
Do they have Happy Hour? Their hours state 5pm- but Happy Hour is 4:30pm, so I am confused
No happy hour. They open at 5pm. I called yesterday and asked.
Are they offering outdoor dining right now, during Covid-19, in July?
Yes, I believe they are doing it next door at what used to be Exhale (which I believe temporarily closed). I've seen signs up that they are still open and using that patio across from LTH.
Was this place used to be all vegan? What happened to the menu?
There are vegan options!
What are some of the vegetarian-friendly options on the menu at Dija Mara? (doesn't need to be vegan, just vegetarian)
There are many! The Grilled Roti Flatbread is vegan itself and can be served with a vegan curry. The Papaya Salad can be vegan, the Gado Gado vegetable dish in peanut sauce can be vegan, Eggplant in Smoked Tomato Sambal can be vegan and they even…
Can they make gluten free laksa and can I avoid peanuts there?
I don't know about gluten but you can avoid peanuts. The staff can point you to peanut free dishes (they did this for me) however there is the possibility of cross contamination because there are a lot of dishes that use peanuts there.
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27 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Dija Mara - indonesian - Updated August 2026
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