Went to lunch today (Saturday) and surprisingly wasn't busy at all. Walking in, we love their tropical, beach and surf theme throughout. We were able to be seated right away and Blake was our server. He was kind and very efficient. We ordered the Hawaiian Burger and Bleunami. Both came with fries. Both our burgers were picture perfect, absolutely mouth-watering and delicious. We also had the Prickly Pear Tropical Soda that had just the right amount of sweetness and an Unsweetened Passion Fruit iced tea which was refreshing. This has got to be one of the best visits we've had at any Islands. They've definitely upped their game and we're glad! read more

See all

GETTING HERE: Located on Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad, between Avenida Encinas and Paseo Del Norte. MOOD: Cautiously hoping for a good meal as this is my 2nd visit ever to an Islands. REVIEW: It was OK. Hopes weren't dashed but they weren't exceeded either. It was quiet when we arrived so we were seated promptly. The server took our order promptly also and my guest and I split the Toucan with Sweet Potato Fries. The fries stole the show; unfortunately the chicken wasn't done enough for my preference. I should have sent it back but we powered through to get on our way. Solid 3.5 dining experience. Recommendation: Sure. If you need a vibe pick me up and some great sweet potato fries. read more

See all

I love islands. I love the vibe, the nostalgia and the burger bowl and a side of fries. Perfectly filling and healthy-ish. The staff is always attentive and friendly and the restaurant is always clean. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burger Bowl with jalapeños - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Because I'm a Caribbean gal, I'm down with anything tropical. I was happy to see an Islands Restaurant in Carlsbad and gave it try. It's easy to get to especially from I-5 via the Palomar Airport exit. Plus, there's plenty of parking. Inside, the beachy-surfy decor made it laid-back and very casual. I appreciated how clean it was kept. I was seated promptly. The very friendly and attentive staff made my dining experience positive. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. I'll be back again. Definitely recommend this Islands location to the Yelp Community! read more

See all

Islands is a great spot for Happy Hour Always busy. Ample parking. Friendly servers. Both counter & table seating available. Drinks are very fair priced. Service is usually good. Yummy nachos. We like the Kannapali Cobb saladHappy Hour is from 3:00-6:30. Close to home too read more

Islands Restaurant - Kannapali Cobb salads - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

The service is always friendly and quick. The menu has plenty of choices for everyone. This is a kid friendly restaurant with an island surfer motif. A great place to meet with friends. Has a bar area for drinks and food. It's a favorite lunch spot of mine. I love their tortilla soup. The sandwiches are great too. I had the MOA CRISP, a chicken sandwich with melted Swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce, red onion and hickory bacon. It was delicious! You could taste the freshness of everything on this sandwich. And the fries here are really good too. They have a salt, pepper, garlic spice on the table which you can add to them. The only con to this restaurant is no outdoor seating, and therefore, is not dog friendly. read more

See all

Improve everything! Order taking is horrific. Unable to accommodate large groups. Management gets you in but no organization. Not worth your time or effort. read more

It's bold, it's messy, it has no business being that good for a chain restaurant. Came here on a lunch run expecting nothing special and that burger genuinely surprised me. Fresh-cut fries on the side, still hot when they arrived. Service was fast and easy. Will be back for that burger specifically. read more

It would be five stars because the people, service and food quality are all exceptional. The reason it is only two stars is because they reduced the amount of a serving; specifically the artichoke dip. Literally thought it was a joke when they brought it to me. Manager came over and apologized, stating it was a corporate decision. Are they trying to drive business away, or they think the cost per ounce is so high, it will affect the bottom line? Pretty short sided. read more

Islands Restaurant - Shot glass for the artichoke dip. - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Food portions are bigger than what you expect and fries aren't that salty. I like watching the tv's around the place.. it keeps me entertained while eating. Everyone is super nice, including our server Rainy! I love the surf decor and beachy aesthetic. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Looked at the menu before going and knew exactly what I wanted. Went in, plenty of seating. Casual. Fun. Ordered everything I planned. Food came out quick. Fish tacos were amazing. Burger bowl, excellent. Drinks were huge. We had a great server and everything was really good. read more

We ordered a Maui burger, a teriyaki beach bowl, and a Kona pie. The burger was very yummy and had a bun that was toasted to perfection. The guacamole is also very tasty. The beach bowl was also very good! It came with the perfect amount of each ingredient (maybe could have gone with double protein) and just the right amount of teriyaki sauce. We also ordered a Kona Pie. We were not expecting the ice cream to be coffee flavored but it was a perfect complement to the chocolate crust. We wish the crust was a little thicker. Overall pgood food. The service was spotty. We had quick service when we arrived and were sat and greeted quickly. Nobody had told us that menus were at our table until they had already taken drink orders, and after the drinks came out our waters were not refilled and nobody visited our table again until we received our food. After we received our food, we were finished and waiting to order desert for a little while before our server returned. Not sure why this may have been our experience because it was not overly busy. The ambiance was nice and exactly what we had expected for this type of restaurant. Plenty of comfortable seating and the bar area was seperate so that there is a place for those who have the kiddos to sit. Although it also has a bar, the restaurant is not too loud and is still very lively. read more

Islands Restaurant - Beach Bowl - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

See all

After years of loyalty and countless meals here, this experience completely ruined it for us. We ordered a burger and an "endless" soup. I had a few bites of my fiancé's soup--something completely normal--and the waitress told us we would not be allowed a refill because of it. Nothing on the menu says that. It felt petty and embarrassing. We asked for a manager. We were told they'd come. They never did. After waiting about 10 minutes, the waitress came back saying they'd "just give another bowl." The second bowl came out cold. And they dropped off two spoons like some kind of passive-aggressive move. What should've been a simple, relaxing meal after a long day turned into a frustrating and uncomfortable experience. Do better. read more

The service here was amazing! The servers really went the extra mile. The restaurant was clean, and the staff was friendly and helpful. We will definitely stop by here again when shopping at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets! read more

See all

Always a good experience at this Islands! Our server was very kind and attentive. The food is consistently good classic Islands quality. I was craving a wrap that is no longer on the menu, and our waiter happily had it made for me anyway. Pro tip: ask for the hot chicken it takes it to the next level! read more

Islands Restaurant - Chicken wrap (ask for hot chicken) - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

See all

TRUST THOSE WHO YELP REGULARLY... Today, we came in for lunch. The music is always too loud (we forgot), our server (Rainy M) was not friendly or helpful at all. Maybe she should stay behind the scenes. The large fries can feed 4+ people (far too much for 2). The sliders are nice size and the Beach Bowl is always terrific (I recommend doubling down on the edemame). To-go containers "appear" to be compostable, which is nice. No charge for soda water. Not my favorite place anymore, due to staff. Meh. read more

Nick and Autumn were fantastic tonight!!! They helped make my hunnys birthday so special. The food was good as always and having the games on is always a plus. Thank you again guys!! read more

This restaurant surprised our expectations in service and quality of food. We were in need of something local to dine in at that would be kid friendly and Islands caught our eye. The kids got a couple of kids meals - mac and cheese and tiki tenders, each of which come with milk and your choice of sides. For me, I started off with a small bowl of their chicken tortilla soup and then got a China Coast salad for my main. The soup was warm and delicious. Sometimes at restaurants the soup can be overly salty but that was not the case here. The salad was cool, crisp and refreshing and had the right ratio of all the ingredients in it. I also paired my food with a flight of their island cocktails, which came with the mai tai, big island iced tea, deep blue sea, and shipwreck. It was a visually pleasing colorful palette of drinks that came out and they were all yummy in their own way, although my personal preference was for the big island iced tea. Happy hour specials are only available if you sit in the bar. read more

We haven't been to an Island's in a hot minute and was on our way to the outlets so we stopped at this location. Just like any Island's, same same. I'm giving them a 4 coz the service was pretty prompt and she checked on us all the time. Tried the new agua frescas and must say, sooo yummy. Their fish tacos hit too. Was not disappointed. read more

See all

Island is island. great franchise all over california but I LOVE this location because of the staffs. All of the servers are just so kind and accommodating. Love dropping by after work for a quick grub and drinks. read more

Let me start off by saying I was almost nervous to come here based on previous reviews but I'm so glad I decided to come in. My son had asked if we could go to lunch after church and I was up for trying something different. Our waiter was great and very attentive. We were in the mood for burgers and they did not disappoint. This burger was cooked perfectly and so juicy , lots of flavor . I was NOT expecting this place to have one of the best burgers I've had in a while . I got the Hawaiian burger and every bite was so good . I love pineapple and teriyaki so couldn't go wrong . Fries were good as well, I guess my only complaint was the ranch . If you're a ranch lover , this was not it :( . It was thin and runny . My son got the longboarder with a gluten free bun and he ate it up quick haha . He said the gluten free bun was good , sometimes they aren't so good at other places he said . I'll come again for that same burger ! read more

Islands Restaurant - Hawaiian Burger - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Happened to win a gift card to Islands in a silent bid auction so after a quick trip to Legoland, decided to stop here for dinner. I always get a little weary of restaurants that are not as "big" as others cause I worry about quality of service and food, but this Islands did not skip a beat! With no reservation we were quickly seated within 15 minutes on a busy Saturday night. Quickly ordered a couple burgers and chicken tenders and they came out quickly and were all pretty decent! Service was good and waiter was friendly, no issues there. We don't frequent Islands and probably haven't been in 15 years or so, so it was nice to have a good experience after such a long time! read more

See all

Above-average outlet of this Polynesian-themed chain restaurant. I like islands, though it's probably the epitome of the joke, 'How do you make a burger Hawaiian? Just add a slice of pineapple.' Good location especially if you're visiting the Carlsbad flower fields. It's the classic chain decor, colorful and with comfortable booths. This location is clean, and the service is friendly. The 'rents always order the safest option on the menu, which are the juicy, well-portioned hamburgers. I like the fried fish tacos, which are thankfully served with corn tortillas and lots of cabbage and pico de gallo. It's not what I'd call adventurous fare but it is very good and served in a nice environment. This place scores a 4 out of 5 on the 'CTJ Scale', as noted below. 5 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Jesus good. Would be OK passing away after finishing a plate here. 4 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Mary good. Would be OK having a nosh here with Mother Mary. 3 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Joseph good. Would be OK having a beer here with Jesus' Dad. 2 out of 5 stars: Come-to-the-Apostles good. Meh. Wouldn't have my last supper here. 1 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Nobody good. I wouldn't have my penultimate supper here, either. read more

Islands Restaurant - The fish tacos! Worth your time to sample. - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We have always enjoyed Islands, not this time/location! Fries were lukewarm, hard and horrible! Ranch sauce watery doesn't taste the same! The sauce on the fish tacos was terrible, didn't taste fresh at all. One meal ok Kilueah burger was spicy-good. Did quality go down overall? Super disappointed! We definitely will pass on this place next time. Thanks to the server as she was friendly and good. read more

Great service and good prices !!! Ordered a 10 dll burger with fries and it was what I needed that day read more

Island has a great theme. Laid back and easy. The burgers are great but have you tried the salads? Really good if you ask me. Plenty of flavor. Service is usually great depending on how busy they are. read more

It's been a solid two decades since I've been here. A school fundraiser brought us back this evening. What a pleasant surprise! Let's start with the happy hour-- there's a great selection of inexpensive drinks and food. Next-- our waitress Emily was so nice, appropriately conversational, and, honestly, just what we needed after a long day. Lastly, the manager Mike was amazing! He looked after all the customers and checked in on everyone throughout the evening. He went out of his way to make sure all. Us timers were not only satisfied but happy! read more

I'm literally posting a 5 star review both because they were friendly and fast, but also to combat this ridiculous review. Who praises a place and even uses the phrase "sooo yummy" just to give them a 4 star rating?! read more

Islands Restaurant - What's wrong with Kara's math? - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I'm a mother of three under 4yo, so places like Islands are a godsend for me. They are pros when it comes to small humans - crayons and paper kid's placemat on the table right when we're seated, children's order comes with milk, and screens everywhere because, let's be honest, parents go to Islands for dinner to have a mental break and a cold drink. Food is exactly as I remember it from my high school days, which is to say it's fine. I was always a fan of the never ending soup. Solid burgers, salads are fine, shakes are excellent. I'm such a fan of the entire vibe. Host is such a sweetheart. Thanks for a consistent, pleasant dining experience, guys. read more

Food: I was craving their fish tacos bit noticed a lunch special with spicy chicken tacos, so I ordered that with side of fries. The chicken sauce is definitely not spicy, more like ketchup-ee with a bit of water. Definitely should have went with the fish tacos. Fries were perfect as usual. Service: Excellent, server is friendly and professional. She was on top of it, noticed my drink was almost empty and brought me another drink. Ambiance: fun and family-friendly. I was by myself, so if you are in the area for business like I was, good for lunch, they have a bar area. Total: $18-$20 for lunch with tax & tip read more

Islands Restaurant - Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We spot by this location this summer and was pleasantly surprised. This location is close by Legoland, so if you are staying in the area it's a decent spot to grab lunch or dinner. Food was pretty good actually cause we had tried another location before (which has since closed) and wasn't as into it. I got the kuala pork tacos $14.99 which were yummy and so filling, I had to take one home. The only complaint was the tortillas were a little oily. My oldest got moa crisp sandwich with fries $17.39 ( which we were happy to see they are serving fries with the burgers and sandwiches again) she really enjoyed the sandwich . The younger two got the kids , grilled cheese $8.95 and the jr. wave burger $8.95 which was ok but not the best. Overall the place seemed clean and not a option when in the area. read more

See all

Love this restaurant! Great burgers and you feel like you're in Hawaii. Even though they're known for their burgers they have yummy tacos and the best guacamole and chips. Their sides include onion rings and cheese fries which we love. They have TV screens to watch your favorite sports teams or surfing. They have a reward program and you can get discounts with your points. read more

Islands used to be a staple in my life living in Vegas, until the sadly shut down a few years back. Imagine me and my boyfriends surprise when we saw one in Carlsbad. We were so excited. We obviously decided to stop in for dinner and we were blown away with nostalgia and how great everything was. Our server Tanner was awesome. He made sure everything came out great and checked on us throughout the night. We started with Spinach Artichoke dip and a flight of beer for my boyfriend. He ranked the beers and didn't have anything bad to say about them. For entrees I got the Longboarder and my boyfriend got the Kilauea. We were in heaven. The fries were perfectly crispy and the burgers were amazing. We mentioned to Tanner that we were celebrating our anniversary and he was so kind and brought us out a HUGE dessert. Overall, the experience was amazing. I'm left feeling disappointed there isn't a location in Vegas, because we missed it soooo much!!! read more

See all

Iv'e always loved islands but this time they went above and beyond. My daughter has trouble eating due to medical reasons. I've tried 20 different bottles and cups to get her to drink by mouth. She would only eat one to two bites by mouth. She had great success with the islands kid cup and the special lids. I ask at the end if I could have a few extra lids for the cup and explain that she has trouble eating and drinking. The gentleman that served us brought me more. He then grab his manger who brought me a whole sleeve of the lids. It's been two weeks and she is doing a lot better at drinking and especially eating by mouth. Thank you both so very much. read more

For our family of 8 along with 2 more to join us it was a 30 minute wait. This place is popular and appears to be a last stop for Legoland visitors since the park closes at 6:00 PM. Thank goodness we beat the crowd! We were seated in a large booth and our server Amber came over to introduce herself and promptly took our drink and appetizer orders. The chips with the warm spinach & artichoke dip was yummy! Several of us ordered their Passion Fruit tea. It's really tasty & refreshing served with an orange wedge. Most of the food orders were hamburgers, fries, and tacos. I ordered the Beach Bowl with grilled teriyaki chicken with rice and veggies. Portions were huge so bring an appetite or ask for a to go container like I did! We all enjoyed the food thoroughly and the outstanding, attentive service by Amber. My phone was dead so I couldn't take any photos! The interior has a fun, kitschy beach type vibe with several televisions on the wall featuring surfers and waves. The place was clean and bright. Dining here reminded us we need to make more visits to our own local Islands restaurant. Food is flavorful and well-prepared. The reason for one star off was that my bowl took a while to get to me. I took a photo of my awesome bowl in the compostable container today. All in all a wonderful dining experience! read more

Islands Restaurant - Beach Bowl with grilled Teriyaki chicken with rice and vegetables. It was huge so I had yummy left overs! - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Visiting from another state and we were wanting a home style meal. I got my bowl, can't remember what it's called but I switched out the white rice for their cilantro rice. Everything was fresh! No canned fruits or veggies. I'm thankful for the real food and attention to detail. The menu was a little more expensive than I wanted to pay for but I understand why after getting my meal. The burgers were so juicy and again, Patties made in house. Such a great spot for whole families. We had the kids sit in their own booth and the adults in another. Our server Jacob was so attentive. He treated the kids respectfully and made sure to fill all of our drinks without us having to ask. There's a lot of parking and the restaurant itself is very large. I'm sure they get lots of business. We got there about 2 hours before closing so it was a less busy time. Meaning more attention from our server. Thanks for helping this flag football team feel full and satisfied. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Very delicious quality burgers! Our server was quick and attentive!! I noticed they removed all the beautiful plants and animals around the restaurant that gives it the island vibe, a little sad. But nevertheless, delicious food. read more

Stopped by the local Islands restaurant today for dinner. My wife had the Big Wave with gluten free bun and I had the new burger bowl. Both meals were spot on and very tasty! The food quality at this location is very consistent. It's also evident that management here promotes a positive employee culture. Keep up the good work! We'll be back! read more

Islands is a chain and I have eaten at several of their locations in CA and AZ but mostly San Diego. This location is right off the 5 on Palomar airport road and is very convenient with that freeway access. Parking is convenient and there is a decent size lot. I had some gift cards to use so I ordered up 2 burgers and fries to go. The service was fast, efficient, friendly, and thoughtful. Multiple people checked to make sure that I was helped and the person who took my order came back to check on me to see if I needed any utensils or sauces. When I got home I had the sauce and no utensils, exactly as I had requested. I got the mushroom burger and fries, I think it is called the Hula burger. Both were tasty but the fries were very salty. Hopefully that was just a mistake and not their new process. The mangers were nice and helpful, and checked on me as well. read more

After a full day of shopping and trying on new Crocs, my girl and I decided we needed to refuel with some good food. We hadn't been to Islands Restaurant in Carlsbad in over a decade, so it seemed like the perfect time to reacquaint ourselves with this spot. As we walked in, we were instantly reminded of the laid-back, tropical vibe that Islands is known for. The bar area caught our eye since it's open seating, so we grabbed a cozy corner booth, ready to unwind. The first thing we did was order a flight of margaritas. It was a fun way to start the evening, and each drink in the flight brought its own unique tropical twist--perfect for setting the mood. Along with the drinks, we decided to go for some wings. I was in the mood for both BBQ and teriyaki, but was a little disappointed to learn that I had to choose just one flavor. I opted for teriyaki, and let me tell you, they did not disappoint. The wings were crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and the teriyaki sauce was just the right balance of sweet and savory. I'm definitely coming back to try those BBQ wings because if they're anything like the teriyaki, I know they'll be a hit. As we were enjoying our drinks and wings, the atmosphere around us was just what we needed after a long day. The bar area had a great energy, with sports playing on the TVs and the buzz of conversation filling the room. The service was prompt and friendly, which made the experience even better. Then, the main event arrived--our burgers. I had forgotten just how big Islands' burgers are. When the plates were set in front of us, we couldn't help but laugh at the sheer size of them. These burgers were enormous, piled high with fresh ingredients and cooked to perfection. I had to physically press mine down just to fit it in my mouth, but it was worth every messy bite. The flavors were on point, from the perfectly cooked patty to the fresh toppings and soft bun. As we continued to enjoy our meal, I found myself appreciating the overall experience more and more. The food was not just filling but genuinely delicious, hitting all the right notes of comfort and quality. The margaritas, with their strong tropical flair, were the perfect complement to the hearty burgers and wings. The only thing that kept the experience from being absolutely perfect was the fact that I couldn't mix and match the wing flavors, but honestly, that's a small quibble. Everything else--from the drinks to the food to the ambiance--was spot on. Islands Restaurant has definitely earned its place back on my list of go-to spots for a satisfying meal, and I can't wait to return and finally try those BBQ wings. read more

Islands Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Carlsbad, California