This review is simply for the food... The brew selection here is simply amazing, but again, this is just for the food! First off, I had a Trio Burger, which was paired with fries and the experience was rather disappointing. Although the presentation was great, the beef patty just wasn't very flavorful. Additionally, it didn't seem to have any condiments spread on the bread nor were there any available to add to taste. read more

We were only supposed to stop in for a quick bite and a drink or two, before walking over to another venue for a show. It was only supposed to be an hour or so. Three hours later, we were still there, contemplating ending the night at our table, instead of at the venue that brought us up to Encinitas in the first place. We sat down at a small table in the back and were waited on by the super friendly bartender/waiter (whose name I just can't remember...) He was great when recommending beer options for us, and for making us comfortable. I went with the Ale House Grilled Caprese sandwich with the fries, and my husband got the Paia fish sandwich with onion rings. Both were fantastic - the caprese was perfectly portioned with a really good balance of flavors (though the ciabatta bread was a bit much to chew through). My husband thoroughly enjoyed his fish sandwich, which he admits took him by surprise. He said everything worked well within the sandwich itself, and the beer battered onion rings were so good. We'd definitely come back for both the beer options and the food..if only it weren't so far away... read more

Encinitas Ale House - Paia fish sandwich with onion rings - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

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This is a little local hole in the wall. It tiny, cramped, dark, and loud. And I love it. The wait staff always makes you feel like you belong. The burgers are particularly good, and of course they have a nice selection of beer on tap and hard ciders available too, of course. read more

Stumbled upon this place when walking to another spot in the area. The food everyone was having looked delicious so we came in for dinner and a drink. The beer menu is very extensive. They have a ton of local craft beers as well as selections from all over the place. I did not expect to see so many options and was pleasantly surprised. I went with the beer battered shrimp and steak fries. It was very very delicious. I would definitely recommend to anyone. The shrimp were huge and came with a sweet chili sauce that was delicious. Steak fries were yummy and on point. The place is small but the bartenders were always quick to see if we needed anything and made great suggestions on drinks. We will be back for sure. read more

Encinitas Ale House - German lager - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

This place was great! We had the chorizo fries, Mac & cheese, and chicken strips and all were fantastic. The service was also good, we were well taken care of and our beer glasses were never empty! read more

Today was our first experience at Encinitas Ale House. What. A. Fantastic. Time. From the first interaction with the bartender to the mouthwatering burger and the best garlic fries I have ever tasted (and I'm a garlic adorer), the entire experience was amazing. Patrons were talking across tables to each other, and servers were laughing, visibly excited to be working. The atmosphere was jovial, and a bit of hope in humanity was restored. The beer, cider, Trio burger, fries, and meatball sliders were at the top of their own categories individually. The service was incredible; we all felt like neighbors, just enjoying a Saturday out on the beach town. Highly and thoroughly recommend! read more

Encinitas Ale house is a quaint bar with a local flair. It's a one stop shop for great food, a large variety of tasty brews, and a pleasant location to watch sports games. The burgers are very sizeable which can take up very valuable beer real estate in your stomach but it's worth it. As for the beer menu, saying that the menu is massive might still be an understatement since there are multiple pages filled with different beer selections to choose from all over the world. To address the sports junkies, with only two TVs available, you're limited to watching only two games simultaneously in which local games will take precedence. Since this is a local bar, local patrons need not worry. =) I really enjoy the low key vibe this establishment exhibits along with the mellow yet charismatic personalities the bartenders present. They must have eagle eyes since whenever I'm getting low or have just recently finished my beer, an offer for another comes forth very promptly and who am I to be rude and say no? At least not while the game is still going on =P Parking can be a rarity in the lot but finding street parking along the neighborhood isn't too difficult if you don't mind a little walk. The bathroom is in the alley adjacent to the building but don't worry, it's not one of those scary, dark alleys you're probably thinking of (you're watching too many scary movies). read more

Encinitas Ale House - Surf and Turf burger add bacon. - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Amazing selection of beer. Absolutely hole in the wall, but great place. Friendly staff and great experience. I didn't have any food so can't speak for that. Only complaint and reason for not being 5-stars is the beers are $$$$ (expensive). I know it's in Encinitas, but it just feels wrong to go to a dive bar and pay $10-$12 when including tax and tip. read more

Tuesday is BOGO free burger day...and that explains the crowds! A friend and I arrived around 6:45, put our name on the clipboard list (and please- write your name down, don't just scope out tables!) The burgers here are fantastic as is their beer! Get the flight, you won't be disappointed! Our server was delightful and didn't miss a beat. The portions are huge and I devoured my burger like I was in training for an eating competition. I think I would've won. I'll be back! read more

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I have driven by this place so many times when cruising down the 101. When I see that sign, "Locally World Famous Burgers", it really makes me smile and sticks in the memory. Well, I finally got the chance to come down and put that slogan to the test. First off, great atmosphere. The place itself is tiny, but very open up front, pleasantly soft lighting, clean surfaces, and a nice look behind the bar with every old beer tap hung from the ceiling like an alcoholic memorial to those who drowned their sorrows and are now long gone. We came for lunch, sunny afternoon, and the Ale House was nice and cool with a fair breeze in the side alley. I had the Surf and Turf Burger, a thick patty, with swiss melted on top, and a few, plump, jumbo shrimp floating in the tomato béarnaise smothering the whole of it. It was messy, it was a little under salted (which is fine, easier to salt it to my liking as opposed to scrunching up my face like a I sucked on a lemon smothered in alum), but it was very tasty. The béarnaise was a bit overpowering, the flavor of it turning the shrimp into a texture instead of an experience, but it was still a good flavor that brought a bit of sour to the meat that I enjoyed. My lady love had the New Zealand Grass Fed Kobe Wagyu Burger, something she described as "absolutely delightful." It was salty from well crisped onion straws and the two cheeses melted into a moist creaminess which helped to keep the beef from being too dry. About her only qualm was that the heat of it all wilted the baby greens slightly, otherwise it was a damn near perfect burger in her eyes. Our son had the Baked Mac & Cheese Started, a fresh made appetizer with penne, real cheese, and a bread topping. He actually ate it up, impressive when having a pasta he wasn't familiar with and enjoyed more than two thirds of the entire platter. "Local World Famous," I'd have to say that is an apt description. As far as the hamburgers here go, they go out of their way to take chances with the styles, and it does pay off well. We very much liked our experience and will probably come back to try a few other things off their menu; especially now that we've heard about BOGO Tuesdays ... this may become a regular thing. As of now, a very strong four stars in our eyes. read more

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My friend and I recently decided to check out Encinitas Ale House for dinner. Although the restaurant is much smaller than I expected, and thus quite loud, I was so impressed with the food that I'll likely bring my boyfriend here in the future. I checked out their extensive beer list and found a few cider options, which made me happy. Since I was driving and am a major lightweight, I was pleased to see that they offered 5 oz. tastes of their drafts for just $2.50. I can't remember which cider I tried though and the online menu has been updated since my visit. It seems that they regularly swap out their draft options. For dinner, we decided to share the margherita pizza and the grilled chicken, apple and havarti sandwich with garlic parmesan fries. The pizza was the clear winner of the night. Everything from the sauce to the chunks of mozzarella cheese was perfect and I'll definitely be ordering it again in the future. The chicken sandwich was good but didn't blow me away like the pizza. It seemed odd at first to have apple on a sandwich but it provided a surprisingly crunchy texture that was a nice change of pace. The fries were wonderful and I'd recommend upgrading if you love garlic as much as I do. As I briefly mentioned above, my only complaint is that the space is small so the noise volume is pretty high. read more

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This place has the best burgers!! I can't have dairy but even without cheese their burgers are great. I also love the strawberry beer they have. The service is always friendly and quick. It's a smaller bar but people are always talking to each other as they watch sports. Great little spot. read more

7/11: Oooohhh Interesting... Here's the experience: We walked in and it was dark, kind of scary dark in my opinion, but when I say scary, I wasn't scared it was just a bit darker than a pub or bar should be. Anyhoo, we sat at the bar and everything seemed so woodsy even though not everything is woodsy, the vibe just gave me that feeling. So we stare at this heavy menu before opening it thinking I wanted a beer menu. Sure enough when we opened it, it was the bar menu. Ah Ha! It was HUGE! Plenty of pages in this book and plenty of different types of beer to choose from. I was super excited. So we ordered some flights to test it out. Can't get a full glass without knowing what we will commit to. Everything was good. I didn't find a beer to that I liked based on the tasters but it was good enough for me as I wanted to save my belly for food. I was a bit snacky so I ordered their crab cakes. I wasn't expecting alot of food and when it came out it was just the right size of crab cake. Hmmm how to describe this, it was like any other, didn't stand out in any way. It was food to eat. I kept reading reviews about the burger and I was super tempted to order a burger from here but we wanted to explore and go to other places. So I will definitely note, next time try their burger. Come check out their big beer selection...OoooHHH ahhhh.. read more

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Found this spot on a ride along the coast. Food was good, beer selection outstanding. However a bit unorganized. My card was charged twice for the same transaction(still not sure how you forgot if you swiped the card already).... Just a bit unprofessional and unfortunate for travelers just stopping by as they pass through Encinitas. read more

I've eaten here back when I still ate meat and now that I'm more plant based. Overall this place is a great stop for a glass of beer and great food! It may not look like it from the outside, but this place is a hit. Atmosphere 4/5 This place is styled like a whole in the wall type of setting. Beer taps everywhere from the bar to the ceiling. This truly is beer heaven. It is a bit small so it does tend to get crowded. There is a large bar that wraps around one side of the restaurant and high tables reside in the front while larger tables are in the back. Most of the time you just find a seat so if it seems busy, sometimes there tends to be some open tables in the back. Bathroom is outside and around the corner, which isn't bad just not too convenient. Service 5/5 Our server was super sweet and was very knowledgeable about the menu, I really wish I remembered her name to give her proper recognition. She really helped me pick narrow down on something to drink, the drink menu was so large it was difficult for me to pick one! Food came out quick, all together, and perfectly cooked! The drink menu was almost too large and super confusing. It's not easy to pick since the beers aren't really categorized by beer type (IPA, Belgium, Pale Ale, etc). I ended up just going with a cider, the glass presentation for our drinks were on point though. Made me want to go buy fancy glasses for home. Food 5/5 We started the meal with a couple bowls of soup. I got the tomato basil, it was a good texture but not the most flavor. I almost wished there was more pesto on top to mix in. The croutons were super soggy by the time the bowl got to the table, so that was a bummer. My husband got the clam chowder. It was good but wasn't the best. But we came for the burgers! The burgers here are out of this world. They have a veggie patty that I believe is the gardien brand. They also have the impossible burger! So I ended up getting the SantaAna style with the impossible patty (no cheese, no aioli). The bun was a bit too big for the size of the patty but that was the only downside to the meal. The hot peppers weren't crazy Spicy and the heat was soothed by the avocado. The onions were caramelized to perfection! I got the onion rings for my side, they were okay but not amazing. Next time I'd probably stick with French fries, but that's only because I'm not always the biggest fan of beer bartered onion rings. My husband got the 33.0384*, 117.293*W Cheeseburger, without the cheese. He said the burger was delicious and the bun had great texture, the burger patty was large but wasn't oversized. It was such a simple burger but all the ingredients (lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup, pickles) were a perfect combination for a great burger. The cook of the patty was perfect and juicy. The only negative is the presentation, maybe having a knife through the middle, to help with easier cutting. But that burger made him interested to go back and try different styles on the menu. read more

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This place is a beer lovers dream. Their menu is constantly changing and I love coming here for the calamari appetizers and trying something new (and there is ALWAYS something new). Sit at the bar and admire the handles from beers that they have carried in their past. Last time we were there I got a beer and was able to take the gold-rimmed glass that it was poured in. Great food, fantastic beer selection, and even souvenirs...I'll have another, thankyouverymuch! read more

Encinitas Ale House is my go to for burgers and a good Belgian beer. In my opinion, they have the best burgers in north county, I would advise anyone to give them a try, I don't think you'll be disappointed... The staff is always friendly and suggestive with their tremendously large beer menu. You won't find Budweiser or Coors on the menu here, only smaller authentic beers on draft and a ton of bottles! It is very very small, so Fridays and Saturdays are a bit crowded. Great spot just kick it with some friends, watch a game, drink a beer and eat a burger. Pros- BURGERS! Beer Ambiance Atmosphere Service Location Cons- Small and crowded Table wait can be long Loud read more

Cute small swanky bar with craft beers on tap. I'm a north county beer drinking kind of girl and this tavern really hit the spot. It's off coast highway passing J street heading south. It's small, on the right but it's set up pretty nicely. The food looks amazing (didn't try it but it looks like they have some pretty awesome burgers & salads) and the beer list is countless!! New little drink spot :) read more

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We have always come here even pre-fire. Food is great, beer selection far beyond anything around here or anywhere! Max is amazing!! Sam who is also an addition on the staff! Knows everything! Come and enjoy the food and chill! read more

We'll get to the beer, but --- One of the best burgers I've had. Wide, cooked a perfect medium, flavorful patty, fresh bread.. really satisfying all around. Tuesday, so they had 2-for-1 burgers (with 2 drinks) and that's an unbeatable combo right there. Go with someone you can sit close to, then get one with fries and one with a salad and live well! The bottle list is a mile long. I could stay here all night rolling tasters of their draft list -- good mix of solid stalwart beers and eclectic finds. At $4 or $5 a taster, they can add up. The place is super casual.. a crowd forms at the bar near the entrance, but they have tables further back. It's loud, relaxed. Friendly service -- beers come quick and food comes as it's ready. read more

For a long time now this has been my favorite spot in Encinitas. The food is truly delicious...a nice addition considering the reason to come here is for the epic beer. I have tried 20 or so new beers here and each time I am more impressed than the last. Stop in and give them a try! read more

Encinitas Ale House - On the 101 hidden by Philz coffee at the end of the Encinitas strip - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

I love this place. I was texting with a friend of mine and they said they were there having the 'best burgers of their lives' here and I was in north LA. I called Alehouse on a busy Thursday night hoping they weren't too busy for me to surprise my friends on their date night. Both Max, the bartender, and their server Amelia were sososo accommodating! Took their time to ring it up and were really sweet about it. Made their date night a great night and also - mine as well. Fan for life :) read more

Fire! Let's Go! Who doesn't love the Locally World Famous Encinitas Ale House. Great staff, great food, great beer, great owners!

Staycation is on and poppin with Encinitas Ale House. My son and I are on a hunt to find the BEST burgers in SD county and we can DEFINITELY add this place to the list! I called ahead and had a pleasant chat. There are no reservations at this place because it's super tiny and only has a few tables. But I've rarely met a hole in the wall that I haven't liked and this place was no exception. Although the clientele is clearly more of a kick-back-house-beer type of place, the food and service is OUTSTANDING. Allison helped us to be seated almost instantly and sweetie pie Austin took our order and was so great with my son. This place is definitely packed, noisy, and busy and clearly a neighborhood favorite and it's easy to see why! My burger was finger licking good and I literally licked them a couple of times, forgetting myself and where I was. The price is definitely reasonable for two and I can't wait to come back! read more

Encinitas Ale House - Patty Melt Burger...or what's left of it - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

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My experience was meh. The place is really small and dim, as you would maybe expect an ale house to be. Service was okay, but the bartender wasn't friendly. I ordered the fish tacos which were underwhelming despite their nice presentation. The fish was hot but the tortillas were cold and rubbery, which wasn't a good combo. It came with a side salad but the salad was overdressed and didn't taste that fresh and I couldn't even finish it. Maybe I'd feel better about this place if I had come mainly for the beer. read more

This place is EPIC!!!!! The food was absolutely incredible. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was blown away at how delicious everything was. We got the poke starter and I could have eaten that forever. And then we had the most popular burger (bootlegger? I forget the name) The buns are fresh made in house. So so so so so good!!!!! I can't rave enough. The beer selection was amazing. We tried a few different things. So much variety and loved it all. The people that work there are soooooo awesome too which always helps the experience. All in all, we will be back again and again!' And we definitely want to support in these difficult times! read more

Second time my girlfriend and I go to this place and the burgers are super delicious!!!! Definitely recommend it!! Saludos from Vista . read more

Encinitas Ale House - The Santana Burger super yummy!!! - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

Came here last weekend when our planned trip to Union Kitchen and Tap failed, but I was not disappointed at all. I got a mushroom pizza, and my bf got a veggie burger, and we both really enjoyed our meals. The crust on the pizza was very good, and any place that puts a mushroom pizza on their menu is ok in my book. A herbivore gets tired of ordering mushroom and sausage pizzas without the sausage, so I appreciate a place that gives mushrooms the true respect they deserve. I am sure we will be back. What to know before you go: -This place is small. We arrived around 5:30pm before the place starting getting really packed, but by the time we left there were quite a few people standing around waiting for a seat. It sounded like they had some kind of waitlist going, but I am not really sure how it worked, cause there didnt really seem to be a designated hostess around. -They have a few table outside along the sidewalk, but they arent allowed to serve beer out there. I think the food is tasty enough to try even if you dont want to get a beer, and you are probably more likely to find a seat out there if you can live without alcohol. -They have a lot of Belgian style ales on tap and in bottles, and they dont have much of a selection from local breweries. Just be aware of that before you go. -They have a taster flight. 4 beers for $10. I totally missed this when I ordered my beer, and was sad when I found out. I did order one after I was done with my beer though. Then I wasnt sad anymore. read more

My go-to spot in North County SD! Great list of beer, delicious food and the friendliest staff in all the land! P.S. Order the grilled cheese with tomato bisque soup. It is the bomb. read more

Encinitas Ale House - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

Best burger in Encinitas (Kobe beef). Still very much a bar atmosphere (you get what you came for), but manages to offer great service and limited chaos read more

Sometimes you end up at restaurants with zero clue what to order. Luckily, the day I went to Encinitas Ale House I had no problem selecting my menu item- the World Famous Angus & Kobe Wagyu Burger!! I dined at this gem on Father's Day so naturally, it was a burger and fries kind of celebration. This creation is HUGE (I had to take 1/2 home) and full of so much flavor. I loved the dressings that were paired with the beef because they compliment the flavors in such a subtle, yet tasteful way- two thumbs up! The space is small, super quaint, and perfect for winding down after a day at the beach or strolling around. The staff were very kind and helpful- even during the dinner rush. I will def be back to explore more of their menu, but the burger was the PERFECT place to start! Enjoy :-) read more

Encinitas Ale House - The World Famous Angus & Kobe Wagyu Burger!! So good- two thumbs up!! - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

Great surprise for food. Awesome beer selection. We will stop here on our next visit to Cardiff by the sea. read more

Encinitas Ale House - Nitro Burl nut brown with coffee - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

My bf's dinner Sunday night, we're both from LA and this is definitely a place to come when we're in SD, good ambiance, great food and service. read more

Encinitas Ale House - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

Mellow vibe, great staff, excellent cooks, tons of beer and the best burgers I've ever had in my life. 10/10 would recommend read more

One star is generous. Walked in on a Saturday night around 8:00 and sat at the bar. There were only a handful of people in the place, and multiple servers/bartenders. We sat there for about 10 minutes, waiting for the two servers in front of us to finish their conversation. We were never acknowledged or offered a menu, so we left. Terrible service, bad vibe, won't be trying again. read more

The food here is amazing!! I had the flat iron steak with chimichurri sauce and it tasted much better than the steaks at Born and Raised. All food was excellent according to 3 of us and the atmosphere is appropriate for an ale house. I like the music and Amelia was a great server and helpful. This is a hidden gem! Come here and try out the awesome food! read more

Service was the only thing good here. The burgers are overpriced and really not that good. Soggy and over cooked . Wish it was better but not going back. read more

The bar itself is small and cozy, casual and a local favorite. The beer menu is actually larger than the food menu by a long shot. I discovered I have a thing for Grapefruit Radler here - best summer drink of all time, hands down. I've never come here when I had to park (I walk), and I would imagine that parking in the area isn't going to be super easy, but there is usually street parking within a block or so of this area. Pros: Intimate, good service, HUGE beer selection, relatively good access to TVs if you want to watch whatever game is on. My friends are obsessed with the Mac n Cheese here, and have stated that the burgers are the best. I cannot vouch, but they rave. Cons: Small and sometimes hard to get a table, and the veggie burger left a lot to be desired. Kind of a bummer because my friends and I would probably come here more if there was a better vegetarian/vegan offering. Guess us veg-heads will stick to the beer menu. read more

Encinitas Ale House - Grapefruit Radler from Austria - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

Wagyu burger is one of the best I have ever eaten, anywhere, anytime. Fantastic!! Love the ambiance.

Tons of beers on draft and in bottles, so if beer is your jam, come here! Also a decent menu and daily specials. It's kind of small in terms of seating, but easily got a seat around lunch time. The staff were nice and friendly, service was quick too. read more

Encinitas Ale House - Pubs Near Me - Encinitas, California

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