I've been here a few times and I really like this Brewery and I'll tell you why. It's situated right under the Normal Heights sign and actually has a small parking lot in the side. If you get there early enough, parking there is easy. Once inside you have the option of indoor bar or regular table seating and a big plus is the upstairs patio. All dog-friendly. In fact, I saw many dogs there and the staff are so friendly to them. The casual laid-back feel is great for groups, big and small and they have a pretty great menu available. My favorite is the happy hour from Wed-Sun! The drink menu is also varied with beer, wine, wine spritz and non-alcoholic. And every time I've been here, service has been quick, including taking our orders and food coming out. This visit was for happy hour where I ordered the duck confit gravy fries, classic burger & mini spritz blood moon. The only thing I'd critique on is I wish there was more gravy on the fries but other than that everything was delicious and prices were just right. The other super cute thing I wanted to mention is their glassware. Some of the beer glasses have dogs on them which once again shows their dog-friendliness and I wanted to take one home! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Duck confit gravy fries, classic burger & mini spritz blood moon - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here for an IRL event and had a great time! The event was upstairs on their rooftop bar and its a lovely space. Tons of places to sit down and a really nice bar area. I had one of their mini spritzers, TNT, and that was very well made. I then also had a blood orange witbier and that was good too. I haven't tried any food here yet so don't know what that's about. Parking can be a challenge here but I got a spot right across the street but I was lucky and kept my eyes open. I'd definitely come back here when in the University Heights area! Its a great rooftop bar with good drinks and good selection of beers. read more

came in for a quick drink at the rooftop bar. beautiful open air deck and "indoor" bar. the bar is long with ample seating for a large group. amazing happy hour menu. ..wish i was hungry because it looked amazing! i opted for one of the spritz on happy hour and it was tasty. 100% need to come back to check it out more read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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One of my favorite hidden rooftops in the city. Come in for a Saturday beer after brunch or come in for happy hour, either day you won't be disappointed! Had a great time sitting at the bar, chatting with the bartenders, then went to sit in the sun. It was the perfect afternoon with a glass of vinho verde and the puppies read more

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Amazing roof top brewery vibes. They have Happy Hour everyday, so make sure to hit that up! So many drink and app options. On the weekends they even have poke nachos, yum! I was able to try a duck smash burger here for the very 1st time and it was delish and very unique! Next time I have out of towners visit, this will be the brewery to stop by. So many different drinks of beer and cocktails to choose from! read more

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Beautiful location in University Heights with 2 floors of seating that include a rooftop outdoor patio. We got a table corner on a Friday night without a wait and a great sunset view. The space is pet friendly and has tvs at the bar playing sports games. The menu is clearly labeled with allergens and the variety of gluten free dishes is great. The lamb fries were absolutely delicious. The meat was shredded and the fries were thick cut to accommodate the toppings. I tried the blood moon drink mocktail which was refreshing on a warm summer evening. Definitely recommend visiting! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Lamb fries - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Pretty large restaurant with a rooftop and a lower level. Sat at the lower level in front of the bar and the waitress was attentive and answered all my questions. Got the New Zealand IPA and it was solid. Would come back to try other beers if I am ever back in the area. read more

We've been here for a couple of SD Wave watch parties and we really enjoy the space and vibes. There are several TVs, high top seating, and plenty of space both downstairs and upstairs. The HH menu is great and is also available on Saturdays. The food itself is good and playful - we've enjoyed everything we've tried for the most part. The service is also good despite busy events. Parking, just like everything in this area, will be street parking only. read more

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Been to this brewery plenty of times. The most beautiful outdoor patio award goes to y'all. I love how they host events like Momo Craft Club's 2 Year Anniversary! The bartenders and staff are kind, friendly, and good at what they do. Highly recommend if you are looking for high quality beers, wines, cocktails, mocktails, and foods. The veggie spring rolls with Thai peanut sauce on the side is my favorite appetizer along with the vegan mac and cheese (added fried chicken for protein). My hubby enjoyed the barbacoa lamb fries. He also enjoyed the holy ghost sandwich. I'm thinking to try the girl dinner next time for the plot. Enjoy! Thank ya! read more

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Kairoa is such a gem in Normal Heights - i'm not sure how it hasn't blown up yet. It boasts one of the only rooftop views in this area fit with a downstairs brewery vibe as well. The rooftop would be perfect for events. I've really only had good experiences at this spot. I do think it's weird when restaurants add a random charge (however small) to bills without notifying you. I'm happy to pay the extra fees but a heads up would be nice! read more

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While one would expect that when taking a trip to California, several breweries would be on the list to stop at. However, Kairoa was the only one that I ended up going to; and I was extremely happy that I was lucky enough to have this be the spot that we were all taken to. Not only was the several beers I had the opportunity to try while I was there absolutely mastercrafted, but the food was not only outstanding, but loved by our entire party of seven people. When we arrived there was even live stand up comedy going on, which made our short wait for a table at the rooftop seating even better. Everyone we encountered both at the bar downstairs and our servers on the rooftop were great. It was a bit chilly when we did get seated, but they even took the time to set up propane heaters to keep our group warm from the nice breeze blowing into University Heights that evening. They also have much more than just beer with signature champagne cocktails made with fresh squeezed juices that were out of control good and made specifically for the season, and I believe that they rotate weekly. Despite all of the wonderful food that we ordered and the multiple things that we shared, the highlight for me was definitely a delicious salad. I specifically had the fish and chips, which were made very well, but were probably the only thing we had all night that was not all that amazing. It was still good, just not up to snuff with the rest of the over-the-top brilliant offerings at Kairoa. One standout that really shined that we all agreed on were the Carolina BBQ chicken sliders with a giant slice of delicious white peach dripped right on top of the pulled chicken...just juicy and delicious! Do yourself a favor and get over there as soon as you can, even if you're not a beer fan, they have so much more to impress you with. Zoridia Fry Index: very poor. Far too oily and tastes only of fryer oil. read more

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Came with a couple of friends for their weekend happy hour. Most bars don't have this so it was nice that we came when so many great drinks and food were available. I ordered the chimichuri chicken skewers. They were juicy and seasoned well! Also recommend sitting on the rooftop for a great sunset and view of Park Boulevard. read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Beautiful views of university heights! Only one West Coast IPA right now, but plenty of Hazy IPAs and other options, including wine, for the non-beer drinkers. Our server was very kind and attentive! Beers are definitely expensive though, so keep that in mind. read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Rooftop seating - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Dropped by for a lecture event that was held in the first floor of the brewery. I enjoyed a draft beer and a risotto for dinner - both of which were tasty! The service was very quick, attentive, and helpful as I chose my meal. Loved another trip here and the various local events that are hosted here! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Social study event - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Great atmosphere, very inclusive and such a Kiwi vibe I loved it. Great beer and food too! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Cute decor - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stopped by for the Pitch-a-Pet event today and had a great experience. Bartenders and food runners were super kind and helpful, food came out quick and it was really tasty. I got the birria breakfast burrito that's on their brunch menu and it was yummy! Beautiful upstairs patio and there's some screens at the bar so I even got to see a little football. Parking can be tough in this neighborhood so plan on walking a couple blocks but all in all I had a great time and I'll definitely be back! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Birria breakfast burrito - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

We stumbled upon this hip brewery with Rooftop seating after being told that the Parkhouse Eatery was going to be an 1 hour wait. Kairoa is modern and hip. I love the outdoor Rooftop seating area. Inside is also hip and modern with the brewery barrels as the main decor. Our waitress took care of all 11 of us which can be difficult. Only thing she got wrong was my dish which I wanted vegan chilaquiles not chicken. I didn't want them to waste the food so I took the chicken. It was good. It wasn't amazing but it was good. I would give this place another try. Their service was good. The serving size was smaller for the price. read more

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If you're looking for a place ran by people with zero basic human awareness, this is it. My friend and I were refused service because the clueless people working there decided we were "belligerent drunk"?? Here's the actual reality: I literally said three words to tell them how many people were in our party, and went upstairs straight to the bathroom, and didn't interact with anybody else. When I came out, they randomly informed us that my friend and I were being refused service because we were "slurring our words" when walking in. Mind you, I wasn't even drinking yet, so when we were told this me, my husband, and our friends were completely confused to the point we thought they were joking. We had just gotten pizza at Sonny's and wanted to start our night here. Apparently, ordering a Diet Coke at dinner warrants being treated like a menace. To make matters worse, my friend has a speech impediment. Instead of taking two seconds to use their brains, these people jumped to lazy conclusions. Mistaking a speech condition and a soft drink for public intoxication is a special level of stupidity. They have no business working in customer service, especially when they have an attitude and roll their eyes for having to do their job. Find employment elsewhere, no one is forcing you to work there. Avoid this place until they hire people who actually know how to interact with the public. read more

Their rooftop is such a cute place to hang out with friends and your pup when it's a nice day out. The decor is very modern/trendy and quintessentially San Diegan. Love their doggy spotlight along the stairwell! The food and drinks are pretty reasonably priced (most under $20), but kind of average. They also have a small doggy menu in case you want to treat your pup! I ordered the truffle blanco burger ($20) and while it was tasty, I did not taste the truffle or onion jam at all and visually it was not impressive. I ordered a chicken and veggie bowl ($5) for my dog and was very unimpressed by what we received. The food was cold (like they pulled it straight from the fridge) and it was 70% veggies that you can tell are from a bag of frozen mixed veggies. I actually cook my dog's meals for him, and it was significantly worse than what I prepare for him at home (at least I heat his food up before I feed him). Overall a cute place to grab drinks and yap with friends, but I would probably dine somewhere else afterwards or eat out beforehand. read more

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I recently hosted a milestone day at Kairoa's semi-private function area and we couldn't have had a better spot! Everyone raved about the ambiance, setup, drinks and the great food! We had trays of spring rolls, vegan bulgogi fries and chicken wings brought up as requested. The fries and spring rolls were devoured even by the meat lovers of the group! They were so delicious! The beer was great(specially the POG sour and the coffee one) and I loved my wine coolers! They tasted like juices and smoothies and were so refreshing. We really were so thankful for the amazing service and the super helpful staff! THANK YOU! read more

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I'm not usually a brewery type of person but Kairoa Brewing Company was a great place to hang out in University Heights while we waited for our dinner reservation. The rooftop venue was spacious and seated a lot of people, we had no line to get a table and our drinks came out fast as well. We ordered the POG Dreamsicle, Acid Fog IPA and Rosey Buggah. My favorite was the Rosey Buggah 6/5 as it had vibrant strawberry notes and light sweetness! I was somewhat disappointed with the POG (3/5) as I couldn't taste the passionfruit or guava due to the dominant citrus flavor which masked everything else. I'm not a beer person but the Acid Fog (4/5) tasted like other IPAs in the past, and I preferred it over the POG. It was a great place to grab a quick drink with friends. Would be down to come back in the future! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Upstairs outdoor seating area - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Definitely a place the locals like to take out of town friends to. Been here a number of times with friends to share the wonder of University Heights with the blue sky backdrop and the endless sunshine. You don't need to be by the ocean to feel the ocean. You feel me? Kairoa's rooftop is amazing it welcomes all. They are big dog lovers, with a wall on the staircase of the some of the fave local dogs. Thank God for the open air bc you know allergies. The drinks: Big beer list Wine cocktails Hard kombucha Cider A little bit of everything The food: In the past really enjoyed their, sashimi, wings and carnitas tacos. Tried their lamb fries- good Vegan spring rolls- really good!! Good service. Kairoa is a solid choice for couples, groups, etc... Highly recommend!! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Vegetarian spring rolls - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Kairoa is such a great spot in University Heights. Every time I come, I always sit on the second floor. The deck area has a nice view of the area and the open air seating makes for such a perfect San Diego evening. They have some lounge seaters as well as regular tables and you can order food and/or drinks. I think this place is really about the ambiance more than the actual meal. It's always what's most memorable. Parking in the area can be a pain, but it's a great spot to stop into whether you want to make a thing out of it or go bar hoping. read more

Stopped by and had a great time vibes were on point, beer selection was solid, and service was fast and friendly. Definitely coming back! Music was elite!!!!!! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Stopped by and had a great time vibes were on point, beer selection was solid, and service was fast and friendly. Definitely coming back! - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Stopped in to Kairoa Brewing for dinner on Friday evening. There was a 20 minute wait for their upstairs outdoor area (which is gorgeous and spacious), so we opted for an immediate table downstairs. The upstairs has couches around fire pits, bar seating, and regular tables. They are very dog friendly both upstairs and downstairs. My husband enjoyed the beers! Service was good. My son loved the kids grilled cheese (it was a large sandwich) with fries. We ordered the chili coconut Brussels small plate to start, which were decent. My husband and I split the mango fish taco trio and wagyu burger, both were super tasty. Burger was juicy and well seasoned and the fried fish on the tacos was perfectly crisp. Would decently return to try some other items and hang out upstairs. read more

This is a great spot in university heights to get together with friends for drinks, food, chatting, watching a game.... They have a full food menu (including Sunday brunch specials) and also do tacos. The downstairs is big and open, and the rooftop seating is varied. Love sitting up there with a glass of wine. $7 pints during padres games Partnership with One of Us Bar for women's sports games watch parties read more

Everything...from the host mtg & seating us in the upstairs patio and our meal.The food was served HOT which my wife demands. read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Lamb fries. Wow! - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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80% of your brews don't seem worth trying. Lionheart and Supermoon were solid, so credit there. Kitchen menu is simple but the execution is there... Food definitely as much of a draw as the drinks. The wait staff seriously should stop circling for plates and picking up dishes patrons are still working on. read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Lionheart Helles - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been wanting to come to Kairoa for a while now! I came in on a Thursday around 5pm with my husband and pup. They are very dog friendly! If there is availability and if the weather permits, I suggest sitting up on the rooftop and enjoy the view of University Heights. We were greeted with friendly faces, the waitress answered any and all questions we had, and it was just the perfect time to come in when we did. We ordered the bulgogi mushroom fries and the fish and chips to share. I didn't realize we ordered double the fries but both were good options. Our favorite were the fish and chips! We also ordered the guava drink and a cucumber drink. The guava one was delicious - the cucumber/calamansi one was in question. The cucumber taste overpowered all other ingredients. Overall, I would come back to try more of the menu! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Kairoa has been my Numero Uno place to dine since this New Zealand-flavored rooftop sky-view restaurant and brewery opened. Lots of lamb dishes (of course!), vegan, too, and love their veggie-laden bowls. Feels like sitting on top of the world under the umbrellas in uptown San Diego sunshine. Great personnel, pup friendly, no wonder it is so popular. read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - If you dream of visiting New Zealand, you must taste Kairoa. - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

Vary spacious and room for medium-large size parties. The downstairs brewery and upstairs rooftop were both great places to hang. It was not very crowded during the early evening on a Friday night. The service was fine and the food came out quick. I liked the fresh spring rolls and the French fries with garlic aioli. Approx. $70 for 2 drinks, 1 starter, 1 side and a dessert. The only part that was disappointing was that after 1.5 hours of waiting for a table upstairs, they lost the reservation and didn't even have our name on the list. I'm guessing that doesn't happen often though. read more

Stopped in to waste some time before a burlesque performance across the street. I was met by some very smiley people on a Thursday evening. I sat by the bar and mostly mind my own business but really appreciated the bartender, bar backs and even servers who was passing by, flashing me a smile. There wasn't a ton of people in the place which had musical bingo happening at this time (in lieu of trivia night I believe). Maybe around 15 people. Which made for nice background noise as I sipped my beer and watched Thursday night football on the 6 tv screens they have by the bar. Only thing I wished they had was closed captions on the tv. Otherwise it was a chill spot and I would actually come back. Beer was 6 dollars for a 8oz pour and 10 for a pint. They also have crowlers and 32ozs to go. They also have wine and cocktails, ciders, and booch. Didn't try the food but they have small plates, brunch menu, salads and bowls, short ribs, tuna bowls, spring rolls and other appetizers. read more

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My husband and I came here for an event and the drinks and the view of university heights on the second floor made us wanna go back again! I can't believe we've never been here before but it's such a great hang out spot. We haven't tried the food but wanna try it out next time. read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

The cheeseburger was good and the french fries could not have been better super crispy on the outside and we like mashed potatoes in the middle. The appetizer was good nothing great the bread was burnt and hard which made eating the dip difficult. The service was nice and the patio was great. We arrived at 4 PM And there were like three or four tables by 5:15 when we were leaving the patio was nearly full. read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Crab dip. The bread was burned. I would not recommend. Nothing special. - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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I have been to Kairoa multiple times over the past month and they never disappoint. My go to is the rosey buggah ( the strawberry beer) and kiwi wings. The beer is always on point and it's not sweet as you would think very light too. The wings are never dry always juicy, it's paired with ranch and has the perfect combo of sweet and savory. Service is awesome we usually go week nights when it's less busy. Weekends maybe difficult to get seats outside depending on when you go. You can also submit your dogs to be featured on their dog of the week which is a huge plus! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here to celebrate someone's birthday. It's a great place to watch a game! The padres were playing that day and a lot of people were watching at the bar. You have to order up at the bar and they bring the food to you. The drink options are great. A fan of their cider. The food was good but it was rather meaty. We had their burger and their sausage roll bites. The party loved the sausage rolls and we got plenty of them. It was kinda heavy and oily which didn't sit well with our bellies after so may pass on them in the future. The rest of their menu is super vegan and green so that may be the move next time. There are two levels. The bottom part is more of a brewery. The top area is more rooftop bar/outdoor area. There is a small parking lot behind it. Otherwise there is street parking. We went at around 4:30 on a Saturday and parking wasn't a problem. read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California

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Parking in this area is not easy to find during peak time. Best to show up early or ride share. We got here at 6pm on a Saturday and sat upstairs at the bar. It was empty in the patio with a few people at the bar watching sports. Their menu is not only beer. I got wine cocktails. My first was Garden Party. It's green and tastes just like a cucumber cold pressed drink. I loved it. Made me feel like I was healthy. Also tried the Hasselhef. I'm not a beer drinker but I can drink wheat German Beer. This drink won many awards. At about 6:30 we moved to the patio to meet a group of friends. My second drink was Coco Rosie. Tasted like punch. We had a group and didn't have to reserve the patio seating. It was more like first come first serve. Great atmosphere on the roof top. Service could be more friendly. read more

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Great beer, great rooftop deck and great food. The vibes of this place are great and we had great waitstaff too. I'm coming back!

What a great place! Service is friendly and the food is really delicious!! Surprisingly good. We arrived in time for Happy Hour. I was with a larger group and we ordered several things. Duck confit gravy fries (not the best, but they sure do have delicious fries), chimi chicken skewers (another miss, skewers a little dry), fish nugs (delicious and great tartar sauce), corn & crab fritters (delicious, but no crab taste), lamb slider (server said it was delicious...it was ok), mushroom bulgogi fries (absolutely delicious!). Then came the veggie risotto bowl-amazing and so delicious! Fish & chips, delicious and a generous portion. Double duck smash burger was good but underwhelming, and smokehouse bacon burger also good. Beware though!!! They add an additional 3% surcharge, and without mentioning it, they charge an extra 3.5% for using a credit card. We had 8 people so they automatically added an 18% tip. We sat upstairs on the open patio, dogs are allowed. Will returned, but I sure do hate those additional charges. Unfortunately I was so busy tasting all of the food that I forgot to take pictures!!! read more

This NZ inspired brewery (& wine bar) restaurant located in University Heights is a must visit! The upstairs open layout is my favorite. An airy, modern, plus dog friendly atmosphere with nice views of the neighborhood. What more could one want. Comfy seats, check. Well maybe some delicious food to go with the great drink selection as well, check check. Perfect place to spend an afternoon. Oh, there's a happy hour too! read more

Kairoa Brewing Company - Lamb fries - Brewpubs Near Me - San Diego, California