Last time I was thinking of a 3.5 star rating if Yelp allowed it, but in trying Edwin's again, it's now a solid 4 if not a 4.5. We were looking for some lighter eats and Edwin's provides some great options there. Service was improved and very welcoming (I think last time they hadn't been open long). Once again we had the Lumpia-style Crispy Rolls and the Crispy Chicken Strips, and again they were delicious. My wife also had the Apple Salad which was also very good. I chose the Singapore Chili Prawns, which was not overly spicy, and very flavorful with perfectly cooked shrimp. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass. We were only going to have a quick meal and then head back to the hotel to relax, but it turned out to Open Mike night (basically Karaoke). The two hosts were engaging and good singers, so we stuck around as they were taking requests and had an appreciation for 80's music. Eventually other patrons and singers arrived, and we ended up sticking around for 2 hours. It was a lot of fun, and the manager brought us a couple of Coconut Macaroons on the house, that were yummy. One piece of constructive criticism for the owners is that they need to upgrade the space to give it more of a tropical resort vibe, which would make it a really unique option in Carmel along with the menu. The space as is, is a good foundation. Just a few new light fixtures and some larger plants would create a really cool space. As an example, they should look at pictures of Khaluna in Minneapolis. read more

I hope I came here on an off-day. First time exploring Carmel and the big Filipino flag drew me to this place. Menu looked promising and from what I smelt, it was gonna be a good experience. Not sure if they're understaffed but I waited for almost 10 minutes to be seated. For context, I was the only one in line, plenty of tables available but none of them were bussed. Finally sat down and service was just bad. I think he was a new guy but no water was given and he wasn't attentive to anyone. Dexter had to step in to take my order. During my time there, I had noticed that they bus the tables LONG after the former customers leave, which led to more people getting delayed in sitting, which was super confusing to watch. The food was genuinely good but the overall experience just overshadows it and I don't know if I'll be back. read more

Edwins Carmel - Lunch Special (Longanisa and Pork Belly) - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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I really wanted to love this place. We came across this cute corner spot in Carmel flying a Filipino flag, and as a Filipino myself, I was so excited to see Filipino food represented here. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to that excitement. After being seated with menus, we waited about 15 minutes without anyone checking in, offering water, or asking for a drink order. It honestly felt like we had walked into a private gathering, as staff were engaged in long conversations with other tables. Since we were already pretty hungry and hadn't even received water, we decided to leave, so I can't comment on the food itself. This is a bit of a late review, as the visit happened just shy of New Year's Eve. To be fair, they may have been understaffed or we came on an off day, but it was still disappointing. I hope others have a better experience. read more

Let me preface by saying, if you are looking for native Filipino food this is not it. This is a restaurant offering Filipino fusion dishes. We almost gave up as street parking, although free, was so hard to find. Later on I found out there was public parking available a few blocks away. Our party of six was seated after the party of 4 who came before us. Pedro our server, was friendly and sang to the Filipino songs playing in the background. He sang and spoke better Tagalog and he's from Brazil. We ordered Farmer's Market Vegetable Curry, Calibonara, Singapore Chili Prawns, Salmon Tropikal, Kare Kare, House-Made Crispy Rolls (lumpia shanghai), Island Kawali appetizer, not my fave as the meat was bland and dry, with a side order of steamed rice. The steamed rice wasn't what we were expecting and used to, it was fried, with a spicy kick, and the rice was slightly al dente. The hits were the Calibonara, Singapore Chili prawns, and Salmon Tropikal. The Calibonara had bacon, my son liked this dish. The Singapore chili prawns were a hit all around, the prawns were plump, juicy, and cooked perfectly. My mom liked that the salmon was cooked to her liking- grilled perfectly. My brother liked his order of Farmer's market veggie curry with the sliced fried aubergine, and stewed carrots, broccoli, and celery. I was disappointed with the lumpia Shanghai which were mostly crispy wrappers. Most other dishes had interesting concepts of Filipino fusion. Edwin was there and visited our table to check on us. He had us try the lechon which was a secret item and not on the menu. We opted for the kare-kare to be boxed and taken to go as we were pressed for time. There was a mistake in our order, but the items were not included in our bill. We also got complimentary desserts of Ube ice cream with soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie. Street parking was free for 2 hours max. read more

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This Filipino and Indonesian restaurant in Carmel is not to be missed! The Balinese Fried chicken is a must; their take on a classic dish is up there as one of my favorites. Pair that with a delicious Apple and Arugula salad and you've got a five star meal. Looking forward to returning and trying more (or just getting the same fantastic meal all over again)! read more

Edwins Carmel - Apple and Arugula Salad - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Made my yearly visit to Monterey Car Week and had to try Edwin's per my wife who visited earlier this year. Highly recommend! Delicious Filipino fusion food with flavors spot on. The interior decor has Carmel vibe but Filipino culture touches (being Filipino) Love! Ample seating with an additional seating around the bar. And there's live music! It's a Filipino thing! Will be back and recommend. read more

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Tbh it's not HORRIBLE. But this place is so severely overpriced and the food was mediocre, that I don't have any enticement to come back. the lumpia was very meh but so expensive. The "Balinese fried chicken" was also fine/okay but again just soooo pricey. Our food took soooo long to come out that we were starving. The service was slow and very inattentive for this price point. As someone who has had these cuisines previously, this place neither hits the authentic mark nor a creative/innovative take on these cultural dishes. This place reflects a $15-25 price point but for some reason think they fit in with $30-40+. Live music is a plus I guess...? read more

Edwins Carmel - Lumpia. Meh - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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This restaurant definitely passed our Filipino palate. We ordered kare-kare, tuna ceviche, Balinese fried chicken, and halo-halo. The Filipino dishes stayed true to their flavor. The tuna fusion highlighted the Filipino flavor more than the Mexican side of it. The Thai flavor of fried chicken was amazing, as well. The halo-halo was not overloaded with toppings and the candied sweet potatoes and bananas added another layer. This halo-halo is a fusion of two other cold sweet desserts which are the sweet potato and banana. The ambiance was homey. I particularly love their dining tables which elevated the food shots I took. I am just saddened to hear about the negative reviews. Please do give this place a second chance. The food is great and the staff offered good service. I will definitely come back again. read more

Edwins Carmel - Kare-kare, garlic fried rice, tuna ceviche, Balinese fried chicken with egg, stir fried vegetables, and kropek (chips) - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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This is hands down best restaurant in Carmel, with the most wholesome and welcoming atmosphere! We had a reservation at a different restaurant that was overly crowded and didn't seat us on time so we wandered and stumbled upon this GEM!!! We were seated immediately and the vibes were off the charts, we felt so lucky! They had a great selection of wine and the service was so friendly and welcoming. Saturday night also has live music which was so fun by Lolah! We ordered lumpia which came with 7 small rolls which had a delicious ground beef filling, as well as the clam chowder which came with FRESH STEAMED CLAMS in shell!! I've ordered a lot of clam chowder and never had it presented like that, I was very impressed. For entrees, my friend ordered the ceviche and crispy chicken strips (both technically appetizers), the Balinese fried chicken, and the prawns. The fried chicken was delicious, topped with some magical sauce... and came with garlic fried rice and pickled veggies, favorite dish!! Overall, 10/10 experience and can't wait to come back here for a delicious filipino meal! Would recommend for anyone looking for a great dinner with exceptional service and entertainment! (Heard we have to come back for open mic night on mondays) read more

Edwins Carmel - Balinese Fried Chicken, Singapore prawns, Crispy Chicken Strips, ceviche, garlic fried rice - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

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Went here on a whim as we got to Carmel late. Without reservations, we were seated quickly, although there were only 3 other tables besides us. Good chill ambiance for a Thursday night. There was live performance as well. We were still able to converse without speaking loud or over the music. Food was above average. Ordered pork belly and soup of the day for appetizers. Kawali didn't have the crunch you would expect. Soup was prawns in ginger based tinola soup, which tasted like glass noddles in clam broth. Entrees were Nasi Goreng and Seafood Curry with fried rice. Nasi goreng was good, needed more fried onions. Curry was good, but coconut cream was a bit overpowering. The accompanying fried rice was okay. Seemed like they used basmati rice for it. Overall, flavors tasted toned down. Dessert was turon with ube ice cream and was good. read more

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I usually only do positive reviews, but I had to share how put-off I was with my family's experience here. When we originally walked in there were very few parties seated. We had a party of nine. Shortly after we were seated, a party of well-dressed ladies that the employees seemed to be familiar with, so I can only guess they were "regulars", arrived. When we first got there, it was fine, but once the other party arrived, we were completely cast aside. We ordered two cups of coffee that we observed an employee walk around with for 20 minutes, stopping to chat , before he plopped it down on a counter before our server brought it to our table. Needless to say, it was already cold. As far as other drinks, we didn't order any. We all drank water and we weren't offered a refill literally until the end when we were almost done with our meal. They were tending to the other party the entire time. When I saw that the other party received all their meals before we did - even though we were there, seated and ordered before they were, I stopped what I can only guess was the manager (dare I say an owner?) and said, "Excuse me sir, we got here before the other party and they've already gotten their food, and we're still waiting." His response was not, "I'm sorry it's taking so long. Let me check on it." Or "I know it's been a while, your food is coming right out." He actually said to me in an irritated tone, "Well because they got all fried food and you got all grilled!" And walked away. And here's the kicker - all our food wasn't grilled. Most of us ordered salads. Granted one had chicken and one had salmon, but who says this to a customer? I honestly wouldn't have cared so much about getting our food after the other party had he responded differently but for someone in the food service industry to treat a customer that way is just gross; for someone to run a business that way is just gross. I wanted to walk out of there without paying, because honestly, the food was gross and the service made it even worse. We got an order of egg rolls (that were all lumpia wrapper with no meat, by the way), my Caesar salad? Every piece of lettuce in my salad was the core, so I pretty much picked out the chicken, and to top it off we ordered clams, which wasn't even part of the delay because they forgot to include it in the order all together. Don't even get me started about how he couldn't answer the question about the menu. I'm Filipino, and that was an insult to Filipino food and to Filipino hospitality. I have so many family and friends in the food service industry and for this reason, I have never given less than 20% gratuity. I cringed doing that here, but I honestly wanted to leave nothing. That's how bad the taste Edwin's left in my mouth. Do better next time. No matter who enters your restaurant, treat all your customers with some warmth, no matter who they are, even if they aren't your regulars, don't make out-of-towners feel like you're doing THEM a favor by LETTING you feed them. Everyone who enters your doors helps keeps your doors open. They have a lot of restaurant choices in the area. Don't make them regret choosing yours. read more

We were looking for a brunch place with more interesting food and found Edwins. I read on eater that the chef's family joined him to spin the prior restaurant off into a tribute to their family's Filipino roots, which sounded really meaningful. Bonus: they were open for lunch on the 4th of July and took reservations. The space is not that big, and it seemed like mostly Filipino guests when we walked in, which I took to be a good sign. - Lumpia: traditional thin lumpia, freshly fried, served with an aioli - Singapore chili prawns: with sambal and garlic, available as an appetizer or an entree with garlic rice + veggies. The appetizer portion was a hot deal: 4 shrimp for $18 vs 5 shrimp and the garlic rice for the entree version at $38. The shrimp were very plump and flavorful. - Local vegetarian plate: seasonal vegetables with curry, garlic fried rice, a good vegetarian option - Calibonara: like a carbonara but with local mushrooms - Balinese chicken: fried chicken breast with a special gravy - a big piece, served with garlic rice (menu said nasi goreng) Unfortunately, they were short staffed on the holiday (a cook no showed!), but the whole team was trying to step up and make up for it. Things took longer than expected, but they threw in the lumpias on the house, which was really nice. Note: they offer a cash discount when you pay. read more

Oh wow! Food was amazing. Chicken adobo, island kawali, Shanghai lumpia - topped off w/ a bottle of Rose. Great service, music, great vibes! Fun & friendly crew! We met up w/ some family - Cheryl Rositano, and her smile and spirit definitely lights up the restaurant. . We'll be back for the live music on a Sat. night and the grinds! The area is pretty busy. There's street parking as well as parking lots in the area. Great to walk around. read more

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A wonderful Friday night dinner stop for a birthday event. My friends opted for a bottle of the Noble Wines Sauvignon Blanc at $50 a bottles versus $15/glass. I had the Kare Kare plate featuring three good sizes of Oxtail in coconut cream sauce with garlic fried rice and mixed sautéed vegetables. The service was excellent and attentive. One of my guests asked for an off the menu (secret item aka Chicken Adobo) and they were able to accommodate her. We arrive for a later dinner reservation so that we could hang out for the live music after dinner. It did not disappoint. Reija was incredible with her vocals and piano skills. She was also energetic and wanted to dance too. Edwin's is a must stop dining opportunity in Carmel. read more

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First of all, it's Christmas Eve. The town is out of power and this is one of the only restaurants open. With that said, it shouldn't have been open either. Food was great but there was only one poor server in charge of the entire restaurant, and he clearly had very little experience. I blame the owners for having the restaurant open without the proper wait staff. We watched several tables walk out and a couple people at the counter wait 30 minutes for a cup of coffee. It only hurts the restaurant when it's allowed to be open under these circumstances. I bet the owners were at home enjoying their Christmas Eve while the restaurant is going down in flames. We felt very sorry for this server who was lost. read more

Def a place you could miss since it's not on the main road, but that's also good since it won't be too crowded. One of a kind in the area too since it's a fusion place between Filipino and Indonesian food. Don't go in expecting your Mom and Dad's cooking, go into this place expecting your Mom and Dad's cooking but with presentation in mind. Because the way they plate their food is honestly an art form. We had ordered the Lumpia Shanghai that comes paired with fried minced garlic and green onions with a drizzle of a chipotle sauce which was our favorite. They also pair that sauce with the Roti which honestly looked like a small dish, but the layers of the Roti will surprise you. For main entrees, I wanted to grab the Island Kawali, but since they just opened at 12:30pm. They didn't have any ready for serving. Which doesn't make sense to me. So I ended up grabbing the Fried Chicken which also didn't disappoint as it was served with a nice salad, shrimp chips, long grain garlic rice and the main star Fried Chicken. Honestly would get again. I also appreciate the server who gave us the extra sauce and even showed us what it was so we could find it later. read more

What a gem stumbled into Edwin's they weren't open but the kind Dexter let us in to use the restroom and order halo halo to go! Heading back for Father's Day can't wait! Spotted the Filipino flag waving proudly and knew we had to stop in on our family roadtrip! read more

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THE BEST PLACE IN CARMEL!!!!!! Between the amazing owner & chef, Dexter, the phenomenal food & wine, ambiance, it doesn't get better. Live music every night is the icing on the cake. If you're here, you have to come by and dine at Edwin's. read more

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We visited Edwin's to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, and it ended up being one of the most memorable nights we've had together. He's fallen in love with my Filipino culture, so I thought this cozy spot tucked into a corner of Carmel would be perfect -- and it exceeded our expectations in every way. From the moment we walked in, we were charmed by the laid-back, welcoming vibe. The hostess sat us at a lovely window-side table near the piano, and though we didn't know live music was on the agenda, that surprise turned out to be a highlight of the night (more on that soon!). We started with drinks -- a beer for him, rosé for me -- and while they don't offer cocktails, their beer and wine selection was thoughtful and well-curated. Then came Mac, our server, who was incredible. Warm, attentive, and genuine, Mac took the time to learn our names, asked if we were celebrating anything, and made us feel like we were being hosted by a friend. Coming from a hospitality background myself, that kind of care means everything. We ordered the large Island Baskets so we could try a bit of everything, and let me just say -- wow. From crispy Shanghai and veggie lumpia to tender New York steak, juicy fried chicken, and perfectly seasoned garlic rice, every bite was packed with flavor and cooked with love. As we were enjoying the food, the live performer, Much, started singing -- and that's when the night really came alive. He took the already chill energy and elevated it with classic bops from Poison to Return of the Mack, instantly turning dinner into a mini dance party. My boyfriend and I couldn't resist -- we were singing, grooving, and eventually up dancing with the rest of the room. When we thought the night couldn't get better, Mac checked in as we were closing out and asked if we'd be staying. We were having so much fun we honestly didn't want to leave -- so he surprised us with a complimentary round and encouraged us to stick around. We ended up laughing, dancing, and singing with locals like we were regulars. By the end of the night, we were already dreaming about hosting our engagement party there -- with Much on the mic, of course. If you're looking for amazing food, heartfelt service, and a place that feels like a second home, Edwin's is it. This hidden gem has officially stolen our hearts, and we can't wait to keep celebrating life's milestones here. 1000/10 would recommend. read more

Edwins Carmel - Large Island Basket - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

The location was great, and the restaurant itself had a nice ambiance, though it's on the smaller side. Unfortunately, the overall dining experience didn't live up to expectations, especially considering the price point. We spent over $550, including drinks and desserts, but the portion sizes were quite small and not worth the cost. The food arrived at our table lukewarm, and many of the dishes were overly salty. The vegetables were especially disappointing--overcooked to the point of being mushy. While the concept of serving everything in a large woven basket was fun and made for a unique group experience, it couldn't make up for the lackluster food quality. Desserts were tasty but again, extremely small for what we paid. Will I eat here again? Probably not. The experience was memorable for the company, not the cuisine. read more

Love the whole vibe here. The welcoming staff and the atmosphere. Music sets the mood for a perfect dinner. Came here with a group friends and tried a little bit of everything. Food was excellent and our server Jason was awesome and tentative throughout. Definitely will return, just make sure you have reservations because it gets really crowded. You have to try the Filipino dishes, Kare-Kare and the Turon with ice cream. Highly recommended read more

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My wife is Filipina and always looking for good restaurants when we go on vacation. Edwin's didn't disappoint. Live music was fantastic while enjoying our Thursday dinner date. (The vibe felt like Saturday night.) Appetizers: Island Kawali - super tasty with a fresh homemade tomato salsa garnish. Ginger prawn (soup of the day) - freakin DELICIOUS! Three butterfly prawns presented in a tasty broth, heavy on the ginger. Entrees: Kare Kare - expensive compared to where we get it in the Bay Area, but done very well. My wife loved the bagoong. Singapore Chili Prawns - perfectly cooked butterfly prawns in a delicious creamy sauce. Presentation was great, the food portioned onto rustic wood cutting boards. Simple salad with a nice tart dressing and yummy fried rice as sides. Tip: don't let the 9pm posted closing time keep you away read more

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We visited this Filipino/Indonesian fusion restaurant on the "Perfect Storm" weekend (At&T / Valentine's Day / President's Day). Even with a 4.30 dinner reservation, it took 35 minutes to find parking a few blocks away. We were a party of four and sampled a variety of dishes from the menu. For appetizers, we ordered their uniquely imagined clam chowder, which was flavorful, , as well as a paratha style bread and Shanghai style lumpia. We also sampled a delicious Singapore Chili prawns dish, which was a standout. The chowder and bread were both delicious. The lumpia were hand rolled, but minimalist in size - about the size of small cigarillos. The Singapore chili prawns were one of the stars of the show. For main courses, we had KareKare, Mary's Balinese fried chicken, and a seafood curry course. Although the chicken was slightly overcooked, the spices used complimented it well and was quite tasty The KareKare, a Filipino dish of braised oxtails in a peanut sauce, was good. It is difficult to compete with home cooked pinoy versions of this dish, but theirs was very acceptable. The seafood curry was quite good as well., Service was very good and the decor and vibe in the restaurant was casual and relaxing. One odd feature was a large flat screen hung on a back wall that was playing a college basketball game with no volume. Like a sports bar, the game was left on throughout our meal, even after a young woman began playing piano and singing. It seemed a contradiction to the atmosphere. Jason, the manager, may have worn out a pair of Nikes between supporting service and checking on customers...he was very gracious and accommodating in support of the menu. The one negative for this restaurant is shared by many dining spots in Carmel...parking was an Olympic sport. On this particular weekend, even driving into town from Hwy 1 took 20 plus minutes. Leaving at around 6:30 took equally long. read more

Edwin's is a great, fun place with amazing food too! It's always fun to go dancing here. I always love seeing Dexter read more

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Filipino fusion food spot located in downtown Carmel. The Kamayan Platter looks show-stopping - it's recommended to call ahead and order this. Pinot Pork Chop ($30) - Crispy, flavorful, and the sauce on top was great. Javanese Prawn Pasta ($38) - Amazing creamy, coconutty, and sweet. Giant prawns on top. A delicious, VERY rich dish. Kare Kare ($42) - 3 pieces of oxtail in peanut sauce, topped with parmesan cheese (that flavor combination was a bit strange). Vegetable were nicely seasoned and the garlic rice was flavorful. Not sure how authentic it was. A bit on the pricier side given the portions but I guess you pay for the unique presentation and creative menu. Very friendly staff! They had live music for Christmas Eve :) read more

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Terrible service. We arrived 5 minutes before 5:30 for our reservation. The door wasn't locked and so we opened and went in and got yelled at by someone in the kitchen that they are not open till 5:30 and we literally chased us away. We almost left because we were so offended. Ina minute or so. The footnoted and I think he might be the owner invited us in and seated us but service was slow and food was way overpriced. Definitely won't be back again! read more

Have some snack before hitting this place. It would take 1hr and 30 min, actually almost 2 hrs to get your main dish. Don't be hangry just enjoy live music with drink. And don't be mad even if you get food after the table who came after you. Be generous to be here unless you would ruin your precious time. read more

I was excited for this place since there's not a lot of Filipino/Indonesian food collabs, came on the Monday before Thanksgiving and was looking forward to trying all the dishes. When I called to ask about a reservation our server said that there was no wait and when we got there it wasn't too busy. Noticed it was 2 people/mostly only 1 person waiting on all the tables which was still a pretty good number of parties, including a bigger party of like 6 people. There is live music which is fun! The singer didn't know a lot of songs that people were recommending but the vibe was chill and everyone was a good sport about it which was nice. I was disappointed in the food, the portions are small and it took a really long time to get our order. I saw that there was only one cook and it took about 45ish minutes to get the appetizers and then additional 30-40 mins to get our actual dinner. I think it was just an off night but definitely something to keep an eye on. read more

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Had a reservation but according to the host, we couldn't be seated because a big party had come in. He told me he wasn't sure when our party of 6 could be seated. What's the point of reservations if they don't hold tables for the people who made them? I used to like this place but I feel like they haven't figured out how to manage their newfound popularity. We went up to Vesuvio where they were able to seat us right away. read more

Walking through Carmel by the Sea, we were interested to try Edwins, as this has to be the only Filipino fusion restaurant in the area. Loved the vibe of the modern rustic feel. Came in for lunch without reservations and were seated immediately. Service was super friendly and ended up talking to the co-owner. He was explaining that they had changed the concept of the restaurant to Filipino fusion as an homage to the chef and co-owners late father, Edwin. You can tell a lot of love went into the menu and food. We ordered the Apple & Arugula salad $14. Super fresh and light, with fresh apples, roasted walnuts, arugula and a tasty vinaigrette. 5/5 Ed's Clam Chowder $19 Fantastic!! Made fresh to order with fresh clams, potato, carrot and celery in a creamy broth with garlic bread. So much love was put into this chowder. 5/5 Island Kawali $30 The marinated pork belly was incredible. Super flavorful! The Indo fried rice was delicious. Everything on the plate paired really nicely. 5/5 read more

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This is an amazing venue located in Carmel with live music on the weekends. A very inviting atmosphere is filled with music, singing and even dancing as people gather around the bar. The food was delicious and the service was great. Very friendly and personable staff. Small and quaint and worth a visit. read more

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My mom kept insisting that we come here for dinner because her friend told her they serve Filipino food. Filipino food in Carmel?! Yeah, we were surprised too and excited to try it. The service was terrible. Our food took so long to come and they had forgotten two of our appetizers. By the time our appetizers came out, we finished our entrees and had it boxed to go instead. Their Filipino food wasn't 100% hella Filipino. There was a modern/fusion twist to each meal, which is what makes it thrive in this community in Carmel, but don't expect to eat greasy, comfort Filipino food, if you know what I mean. Small portions, expensive dishes. Likely will not come back when we are in the area and will opt to try a different restaurant. (This review is long overdue. When we came, I was pregnant and hangry. Unfortunately, it did not satisfy my cravings for Filipino food.) read more

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Excellent food ... excellent service and music. Owner Dexter is a WONDERFUL HOST and JASON is a "GREAT" server. This is a "MUST" try establishment we had a great time and will definitely come back here when we return next year from SF for our annual anniversary celebration. ‍ This is their own "Cheers" from Carmel By The Sea... Edwin's get a "10" for food, service and ambiance.. read more

I use to absolutely love this place until the last few times i felt like someone put something in my drink. im starting to think it has something to do with the owner. I will continue to go after writing this post to see how bold folks are and if they've learned their lesson. If it keeps happening im going to write reviews like this on every platform until it reaches international news. You shouldnt have one glass of wine and feel like you're going to pass out. Its not normal to have a lot of bubbles in wine after a few minutes. read more

First impression of the owner? Nice ... after talking to him casually? hella' rude, judgmental, and disrespectful. All he wants is your money while providing inconsistent product and service. Would rate minus 0 stars if available. read more

Maybe our arriving soon after opening time and it not being busy helped our experience, but regardless, we'd be happy eating at Edwin's anytime. Service was fine, the fried chicken was great, and the calibonara (yes, spelling is correct -- it's their take on a carbonara-type pasta sauce) is so yum. Have had better lumpia, but it was fine with the sauce. Price was on-par for anywhere in Carmel, i.e. on the expensive side, but we'll be back next time we're in town. read more

Awesome location & very friendly staff and love that they have fun live music for entertainment and a homey vibe. This place is always very busy and lively so it's a fun place to dine. I've come here twice and loved the food better the first time I came but will definitely give another try. First time around food was very flavorful, fresh, tasty and presented beautifully. Second time around didn't leave feeling that way but will try again because I do like the vibe and staff a lot. Not a fan of the way food presented on the wooden boards as I prefer to have my food plated on an actual dish. read more

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Food 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Staff 5/5 NYE 2021 Such a gem! In the sea of upscale Mediterranean, cozy pub fare and mediocre sushi we stumbled across the treasure that is Edwin's. We were biding time on a sushi place nearby right off Ocean that offered patio dining but was very cramped and up to 1 hour wait. For some reason Edwin's didn't pop up in our yelp searches but I wish it had. The menu offerings in the front caught our eye: pan-asian flared short ribs, seafood, organic chicken and a spacious, bright, and oddly empty dining room with a bar and grand piano. Edwin's looks upscale, beach chic and prices were on par with many Carmel restaurants at around $10 for apps and $25-40 for entrees, so I was a little concerned schlepping our double stroller in. However, what made Edwin's truly shine (above the memorable Singapore chili prawns and heavenly creamy seafood curry pasta) was the hospitality. We were beckoned in, tired toddlers and all by the owner's mom, the sweetest lady ever, who treated us and our kids like family. She put us at ease and they easily spaced out a table to pull our stroller into. The restaurant is pretty spacious by Carmel standards and shortly after we were seated a couple more families came in, and by the time we left they were pretty busy. Service from every member of the staff was so friendly, fast and the food was absolutely delicious. Dishes and recipes were obviously assembled with pride and came with large, fresh portions of seafood and organic meats so it didn't hurt the wallet quite as much as it could've to pay fine dining prices for comfort food. Can't recommend this place enough, especially for families navigating dining options and those looking for a nice twist on some familiar Asian flavors. read more

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I wanted to like this place but their were a few things that didn't do it for me. Getting the good out of the way. The ambiance is nice. They have live music and it is located in downtown Carmel. Parking can be an issue depending on day of the week so keep that in mind. Food is a hit or miss. Some of the plates were delicious and unique. Service is also decent. Now, the bad is that some plates are good and others aren't. The rice, in my opinion, wasn't that great - very bland for it being fried rice. Rice comes with every plate unless it ain't pasta. My friends salmon wasn't as special as the price makes it out to be, kind of dry. Service is meh. Tried to call ahead to modify reservation and no answer. Called multiple times and cancellation fee is $10 per person on Open Table which was stressful. Beer selection is small. Appetizers feed one or two persons MAX! No desert menu when I rarely ask for dessert and they only had one deep friend banana option - turon. Ultimately, would I come again? Probably not. read more

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Can one restaurant make you want to move across the country to a seemingly inhospitable and ungodly expensive place? Yes. It can. We made reservations here because I just wanted some Filipino food. We walked around Carmel a bit before we got there. (Cool place) we checked the menu and Angela saw pork belly and I knew we were going. (Though it was a bit dry, would've loved some vinegar/chili pepper mix). Bartender was awesome. My chicken awesome. The lumpia really good. The atmosphere, the people, the music. Ten out of five stars. Go. Have fun. Enjoy the moment. read more

Edwins Carmel - American Near Me - Carmel-by-the-Sea, California