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Kettner Exchange

4.2 (2.5k reviews)
Closed 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

Kettner Exchange Photos

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KETTNER EXCHANGE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Trendy
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Kettner Exchange

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Reviews With Photos

szechuan fried chicken
Daniel D.

My wife wanted to come here for Sunday Brunch because the menu looked interesting and because of the dining credit on our Chase card. We had a reservation around noon and were seated immediately. Our server was friendly and informative and the rest of the staff were very attentive in clearing the table and refilling out water. Ambience of the restaurant was pretty modern with a nice view of the harbor from Grape street. There is plenty of seating with two levels and a few different bar areas. This place is supposedly famous for their drinks, but we don't really drink so we ordered plenty of food. The crispy rice and spicy tuna was tasty but was not spicy at all. The sushi rice patties were fried like hash browns and were crispy and fluffy. The fried chicken was two pieces of breast meat and one thigh. Very crispy with a tasty mild numbing spicy peanut sauce. The lamb noodles were savory and not too gamey with a hint of numbing spice. Overall the food, service, and ambience was fantastic, but the portion size to price was just ok. Definitely worth a visit if you're not looking for value!

Christina L.

I ended up really liking this place. From the moment I walked in Sean was so pleasant. Great presence. I recommend making a reservation if you plan on coming here beforehand. The service here is impeccable. The wait staff are really on top of things. Food is good. I had duck meatballs they were delicious. The food is mostly appetizers. So what I recommend is getting a couple of plates and then you share it with another person your with so you can try multiple things. They have drinks as well. Great vibes. Parking is a bit of a pain so I recommend a lyft or an Uber down here.

Crispy Weiser Farms Potatoes
Samara S.

The ambiance inside was stunning with moody lighting, warm wood details, and such an elevated atmosphere. The outdoor area was just as beautiful and made the whole place feel cozy yet upscale. Our server was also amazing and checked in on us throughout the night to make sure everything was perfect. They were super helpful with recommendations and made the experience even better. I loved that it was tapas style because we got to try so many different dishes, and every single one was packed with flavor. The drinks, food, and desserts were all beautifully presented and tasted incredible. This is definitely not just a restaurant, it's a dining experience. One of the most memorable spots I've been to in a while.

Swordfish wraps
Alex E.

Had a great night out here, with really good food and a nice atmosphere. Ambiance was nice, not too loud where you couldn't carry a conversation, but still lively in the lounge area. Tapas-style servings, which we liked so we could try out a few different dishes. Started out with the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, followed by Spicy Shrimp. Both were delicious. Next up, we had the Swordfish Wraps, which were good. The swordfish was wrapped in lettuce and they had a nice taste. We finished off with Grilled Mary's Chicken, which was a great dish for sharing. Our server provided timely and courteous service the entire evening and made sure we were taken care of. Parking as always is tough in Little Italy, but valet parking is offered at 15.00. We will return!

Whipped ricotta (it also comes with bread but we forgot to take a photo before digging in)
Chelcea F.

This place was so awesome. They have a super cute rooftop patio/lounge with a bar. You can even rent a "cabana" For larger groups. I highly recommend making a reservation. The food was all super delicious, and the service was amazing. The staff was all super kind and knowledgeable.

Budino
Katelynn T.

The menu is tapas-style and best for sharing. I tried two of their Michelin-recognized dishes (duck meatball and spicy tuna sushi rice) as well as their whipped ricotta. Our favorite was the duck meatball: smooth, almost effortless to eat, nestled on creamy soft grits with marinara. Comforting, rich, and balanced. We enjoyed the deconstructed spicy tuna crispy rice, too. The rice cake had a perfect bouncy, chewy texture without being overcooked, the tuna was fresh and silky, and the avocado was creamy and ripe. I wouldn't say it was mind-blowing. The ricotta was inconsistent--too salty on some bites, oily on the other. I liked the bread as it was smoky but parts of it were burnt. The dish ended up feeling heavy rather than indulgent. Also, the Kex cocktail leaned very coconut-forward and tasted like a college student whipped together Malibu and pineapple juice. I can see it being a crowd-pleaser, just not my personal preference. The space itself is a major win. Nautical ship-inspired with a striking deconstructed eucalyptus tree at the center, the interior feels modern, vibrant, and effortlessly cool. The crowd was lively which is perfect for date night or a friends' get-together. Service was attentive and smooth throughout. Shoutout Patrick!

Pork Katsu Sandwich
Pauline S.

I've only ever been to Kettner to get drinks so I was curious to try out the restaurant for their actual food. We came for Sunday brunch on Super Bowl so there was no wait for a party of 2. Parking: As with any other downtown establishments, be prepared to drive around to snag a paid street parking-- unless it's Sunday, then most meters are free. Vibes: It's a huge 2-story restaurant with lots of outdoor and indoor seats. They can seat a large group party. We were seated upstairs on the patio since it was a nice day out. They had at least a couple TVs. There were regular tables, bar seats, and low tables with couches on the patio. Service: Huge shoutout to Zach who was our great server! He was personable, explained the menu well, and gave us a great experience. Food: The brunch menu is mainly tapas style. There were only 2 of us so we were limited on the dishes to try. If you have more people, you'd be able to try out more. -Caesar Twinkies ($15): 3 pieces of brioche crouton filled with mascarpone. Absolutely delicious. You'd think that the crouton would be too hard to bite but it was the perfect crunch consistency with the flavors of the mascarpone. A must get!! -Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice ($22): comes with 4 pieces of crispy rice and the spicy tuna is on the side topped with half an avocado. Generous servings of spicy tuna since it was served as a whole mound. The taste itself was nothing special, however. -Szechuan Fried Chicken ($25): 3 big pieces of juicy thighs. The flavor was great. Not too spicy for me (but I like really spicy food). I'd get this again only if we had more people. -Honey Butter Toast ($13): 1 piece of thick toast topped with creme. I enjoyed the taste but it didn't wow me as much. But what we enjoyed more was the Budino: crème fraiche topped with caramel! Overall: I can attest that their brunch menu is pretty good. Perfect place to enjoy a nice sunny day meal. I'd love to come back to try their dinner menu sometime.

This was really good whipped ricotta grilled bread
Trilby T.

Beautiful restaurant , good service .. food comes out very very very fast !! Swordfish lettuce wraps - would not order again Bok Choy - so so small and just ok Ricotta whipped w toast - this was Good one of the best things we had Kale salad - delicious Tuna w fried rice cakes - yummy Hot oil seared salmon -meh Spicy shrimp - nothing special I would go more toward 31/2 stars Atmosphere and service very good Nothing blew my mind

Molten chocolate lava cake, budino
Natalie C.

Kettner Exchange - what a dinner! It was our first visit to San Diego and KEX made our list of places to visit. Highly recommend for those who have never been. Our waiters were absolutely fantastic- super knowledgeable and helpful with making our food selections. Here are the fan favorites from our meal: - Spicy tuna crispy rice: little circles of crispy rice, with a nori-covered avocado and tuna (LOVE the presentation and just as delicious) - Butternut squash dumplings: as expected and with a great flavor - Duck meatball: MASSIVE single meatball in a little skillet with grits and tons of sauce. The meatball was the perfect texture, consistency, and flavor which isn't the easiest feat. - Molten chocolate lava cake: ah-MAZING. The perfect consistency of melted chocolate, and how can you pass up a vanilla McFlurry ice cream!?! The answer is you shouldn't. Fantastic meal. Cannot wait for our next trip back!

Spicy tuna crispy rice
Justine H.

After many nights at the rooftop bar here, I got to treat my friend to a birthday Sunday brunch also on the rooftop. It was nicely shaded yet open and the music was not too loud so we could chat the whole time. It didn't seem to be busy at 11am which was perfect for our group and we felt we had the place to ourselves. The drinks were all tasty but the food even better! My friends LOVED the crispy fried potatoes and even combined it with the spicy tuna crispy rice. I personally loved the lamb noodles and could have eaten it all myself! Not to mention they really nailed the simple double double burger, cooked to a perfect medium. The birthday budino was a great ending to it all as well. Our waiter had the best energy and great recommendations. Overall a really nice experience and the birthday girl had a great time being celebrated.

Philly toast
Stacey M.

Kettner is one of our favorite places to go when we want a great meal - the mapo is a go to and always delicious and the fried chicken for brunch is out of this world!! This place also offers lots of their cocktails as virgin mocktails and throughout this pregnancy the virgin dirty verde has made me feel like I'm not missing out!! The salted caramel Budino is also amazing - im not even a huge caramel fan but it's one of my favorite desserts!

Butternut  squash dumplings. Very good. Portion a little small.
Christina H.

What a fantastic experience! We ordered 11 dishes and they paired them and coursed them out really well. For drinks we got the painkiller which was fantastic. I'll get that next time. The oddessy and the rosemarys baby was very good. I preferred the rosemarys baby We started with the big eye tuna sashimi which was excellent. And the butternut squash dumplings. That portion was a little too small. The eggplant was awesome! So different. Then we got the duck meatball and the puquillo pepper and peanut dip with focaccia bread. You would never know there were peanuts in it. The duck meatball comes with a creamy polenta. Yum! My husband loved it. The Caesar Twinkie was very rich and delicious. But a little too oily for me. I loved the lamb noodle dish. Next time I'll ask for the chili oil on the side. The spicy shrimp and the Szechuan frogs legs were my favorite. When you order that get the cucumber salad at the same time. The coolness of the cucumbers pairs really well together with it. Of the 3 desserts the honey butter toast was my favorite! I would come back again just for that! Our server, Eric was excellent. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We will come back here again for sure! Can't believe this is the first time we have been here They have and upstairs and a downstairs. We sat in a booth downstairs. But upstairs looked like a lot of fun!

Marcos R.

Leave it to San Diego to constantly impress. I'd already heard the buzz about this restaurant, so expectations were high--and they were met and exceeded. From the moment you enter, whether it's the live DJ or the open fire features, the space feels welcoming and inviting. The design is undeniably upscale. The food is even better. The plating feels like art, and the flavors--especially the spicy shrimp and other dishes--do not disappoint. I'll definitely be back.

Harland Japanese beer 1014/25

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Kettner Exchange Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Kettner Exchange

What is the counter seating?

It is high counter upstairs which overlooks the light sculpture. It does NOT look at the kitchen.

Tried booking reservations on their website but no luck. Do they take walk-ins?

Yes, I would reserve on busy nights.

Do you take walk-ins for a party of 6 around 530p on a Saturday?

No, we had a group of three to walk in at 5:45pm on a Saturday and wanted a table upstairs. The hostess said upstairs was only for people with reservations. We were there for food and drinks, but she only offered us the lounge tables downstairs and… Read more

Do they offer take-out/pick-up orders?

Hola

Can you enjoy a cigar in your patio while sipping on a cocktail?

Hi Jonathan, unfortunately we don’t allow cigar smoking at our venue. Hope this helps.… Read more

Will be in San Diego in mid February thoughts on a cabana or inside table?

The cabanas are cool. I guess it depends on how many people are in your party I think most of them have TVs in them… Read more

How large of a party can you accommodate on a Friday night?

Hi Tasha, We can accommodate parties up to 12 people on Friday nights. If you want to make a… Read more

Do you offer reservations for the rooftop bar area?

Hi Agnes, Guests can request rooftop seating with their hostess, however, we can't guarantee… Read more

For cabana reservations on a Friday night, how long do we get the cabana for? How late can we order from the lounge menu?

Hi Alex, cabanas have a 3-hour limit and the lounge menu is available until 10pm.

I am trying to make a reservation for a party of 9 for my daughters 21st. The website doesn't allow reservations over 6. I have tried emailing & calling during business hours for several days now and no one picks up. How should I go about making one?

Have you tried sending a DM through IG? They are pretty active. https://www.instagram.com/kettnerexchange

What time does your kitchen close on Friday night?

Hi Sarah, the kitchen closes at 10pm.

Do you need a reservation?

Hi Jennifer, reservations are highly encouraged. We also allow walk-ins, however, we cannot guarantee availability during peak hours due to limited capacity.

Crispy fried garlic prawns?

Hi Mark, our Crispy Fried Garlic Prawns are plated with shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and delicious coconut curry.

Will the rooftop be open on Sunday?

I went on a Sunday two weeks back and we were sat on the rooftop.

Is the rooftop currently open?

Yes!

Is this place wheelchair accessible?

Yes

Where should we request a table, downstairs, bar area, cabana? Saturday night group of four women, trendy and young vibe

If you have a group there is a private space upstairs/inside. If a small group, to eat I would still prefer upstairs in the main dinning space. Outside upstairs gets very crowded with people out for drinks.

Do they have a dress code for dinner?

I don't think they do but everyone was dressed very trendy when I was there.

Can I take my 20 year old niece and get a cabana on a Sat night at 7pm? Not sure if this was 21+ up at a certain time.

I would give the restaurant a call.

Is there a happy hour, what days?

No they do not have a happy hour menu.

View All 45 Questions

Review Highlights - Kettner Exchange

and that wasn't the specific dish was was given the Michelin star (the duck meatball and spicy tuna & crispy rice were).

Mentioned in 130 reviews

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Starlite - Bar area after entering

Bar area after entering

Starlite - Starlite Burger

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Noble Experiment - Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

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Noble Experiment - Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

Noble Experiment - Bartenders creations.

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Part Time Lover - Bikini Kill (Serrano tequila blanco, mango, guava, tamarind, xila, lemon)

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Part Time Lover - Record store to the left. Bathroom straight ahead

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Part Time Lover - Bar area

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Realm of the 52 Remedies - Sitting area

Sitting area

Realm of the 52 Remedies - Main dining area

Main dining area

Realm of the 52 Remedies - View from my table

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View from my table

Kettner Exchange - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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