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    Kinchana

    4.8 (64 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Kinchana Photos

    KINCHANA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

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    Han L.

    This spot is cool. really nice owner. interior decorated well, good vibes. prices are decent. pho burger was interesting, never had something like this before, creative. good fries. garlic parm wings good. hidden gem vibes

    Nick P.

    I found this place online and wanted to check it out. This is from 3/28/26. You can find free parking in the neighborhood. You order at the window and then they bring the food out to you. They also have water available that you can refill yourself. There is a room where you can play video games while waiting or when you're done. They also have books and physical media (movies and music). There are some merchandise for sale as well. We ordered yuzu lemon pepper wings, horchata bites, oyama burger, and diego burger. Fair prices and good size portions. They have restrooms in the back. Overall, this is about a 4 to me. It's worth checking out if you're in the area. -yuzu lemon pepper wings 5 - these were very tasty, no complaints. The lemon was not overpowering at all. I also liked that the wings were very meaty. -horchata bites 3.5 - they were not bad. Since they were called horchata bites, I wanted more of that horchata flavor to hit my taste buds. -oyama burger 5 - I only had a bite of this since my girlfriend ordered this. I actually prefer this over the diego burger. -diego burger 3.5 - this one was okay. I had plenty of sauce on mine, but I felt like the burger was overshadowed by the arugula. The burger should be the star of the show but I had too much arugula. It masked the flavor of the burger.

    Shani C.

    For when you want a burger that is loaded with flavor. Came by on a Saturday afternoon between errands looking for a good burger. I found my joy in the Highland with its sweet, spice and savory blend of flavors. Normally I would have ordered without the jalapeño, but I'm actually glad I didn't. Husband ordered the Kogarashi and liked it, but like mine better. They Cypher wings were good, but next time I'm aiming for the Yuzu Lemon Pepper or Taijin Dry Rub (why yes, I am planning my next visit already. Thanks for asking) Back to our first time... we shared the curry fries, a craving I have at least once every other month. So glad they're so close. Ordered the 5 year old some chicken wings and lemonade. So good. Bonus is we got to me the husband and wife team working this little dream spot and y'all know I'm a sucker for families leaping into the make the dream real, they set out to create a restaurant that didn't exist... and I think they did. Did I mention the attached lounge?!? Such a cool spot, video games, vintage clothes, used cds and more for sale. My kid loved it here (the 5 year old and the one I call hubby)

    Highland burger
    Roman B.

    Let's kick off this review by saying....wow! The flavor profile for the highland burger is off the charts. The patty was super crispy, Crunchy, and delicious. If I had to pick something to "complain" about, I would say maybe add another patty to make it more "filling". Otherwise this burger is spectacular. I also tried the Diego burger this one was okay, felt like it was heavy handed on the arugula with very little aioli sauce. I did try the Mexican Poutine fries and I'll say that the mole was a nice touch. I really enjoyed them. If you want to experience a bunch of flavors definitely try this one out. As for service, it was good. Asked how our order was, checked in on us from time to time, but person was on his phone majority of the time. Besides that fact, I would go back to try out monthly specials and other items. Keep up the great work.

    Outside Area
    Vivian

    It was so hard not to order one of everything on this menu. From creative burgers to unique fusion appetizers and small bites, everything sounded delicious. I really wanted everything to taste as good as it sounded, but there were more flaws than pros. What pushed this from a 3 star to a 4 star for me was the service and ambiance. When we were leaving, the employee asked how our food was and I honestly didn't have the heart to tell him I didn't enjoy my meal as much as I thought I would because he was so kind and welcoming. The concept of this restaurant is awesome. It's a Cali-Asian-Mexican fusion restaurant known for creative burgers, wings, and fries, with vegan options like jackfruit sandwiches. The space is also shared with other vendors like a matcha pop up on Wednesdays and Thursdays and a comedy show on Thursdays. There's even a lounge loft area with vinyls and video games. In the main dining area there are a variety of hot sauces from placed around the restaurant. I loved this because you get to try new sauces. There is also a small side dish bar with kimchi, bamboo shoots, hot carrots, nopales, and jalapenos for complimentary enjoyment. They have a happy hour wing special where five wings are $5. Some of their snack items are also $1 off during happy hour which runs from 2-5pm dine in only. Drink options are limited, mostly canned sodas and bottled drinks. I ordered their lemonade. After the hardest decision making of my day we ordered the kogarashi burger, highland burger, cypher wings, and mock duck papa fritas. Lemonade Definitely watered down. A very light lemonade flavor, but surprisingly it helped balance some of the stronger food flavors so I wasn't too mad about it. Kogarashi Burger This burger comes with crispy fried spam chips, house sesame slaw, sliced daikon, teriyaki glaze, furikake, and spicy mayo. Unfortunately this was a letdown. The sesame slaw overpowered the entire burger and even with all that sauce the burger still felt dry. The patty and spam chips were cold when it reached the table which made me think they might have been pre cooked and assembled later. The bun was also dry so the whole bite lacked moisture. I barely noticed the daikon. Highland Burger This one was much better. It comes with American cheese, bacon, jalapenos, fried wonton strips, whipped cream cheese, and sweet Thai chili sauce. We asked to hold the cream cheese. All the flavors worked well together and the burger had a great grilled flavor from the patty and bacon. Cypher Wings These wings are tossed in a Thai chili chimichurri sauce. I expected more spice but it tasted more like a traditional chimichurri. That said the wings were perfectly cooked and very meaty for $1 per wing. Super juicy and flavorful. I would come back to try another flavor like the yuzu lemon pepper. Mock Duck Papa Fritas I love mock duck when I get Thai food so I was curious about this dish. It starts with crinkle cut fries topped with mock duck, cabbage, onions, jalapenos, Thai chili chimichurri, spicy hoisin crema, and an avocado citrus drizzle. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this. The fries were soggy and undercooked. Some fries, on the inside, had the texture of undercooked frozen French fries. The sauces clashed with each other and made the flavors confusing. I think this dish would have worked better with fewer sauces and crispier fries. I really wanted to love this place. The concept is fun, the space is unique, and the service was great. Unfortunately the food didn't live up to how good everything sounded on the menu. Flavors either clashed too much or fell short. About five minutes after finishing my meal I got a pretty bad stomach ache and I am still nauseous right now.

    Ben R.

    We were in the mood for hamburgers and our trusty Yelp search aligned us with this place. It happens to be right down the street from our house and is a really neat restaurant. They have burgers that are Fusion of Mexican and Korean flavors. My 5-year-old got chicken fingers that were delicious, my wife and I each tried a different Burger both were scrumptious. Pro tip the curry fries are amazing . There is also very cool Loft area set up with vintage video games as well as some merchandise for sale. After lunch we played some rock band , some Mario Kart and bought a vintage Red Wings hat and a vintage Hang Ten shirt. This cool little gem will soon become a regular stopping point for us to have lunch. The owners were very down to earth and just great people, l and I'm excited to have this new restaurant in the rotation.

    Loft area
    Nghia L.

    I've tried the highland, kimgogi, and kogarashi burger. They are all pretty unique burgers with the highland being my favorite. Kimgogi could be a close second but I'd like a heartier bun to keep up with the juicy kimchi in the burger. The meat was perfectly smashed and crispy and salty. Each table had a variety if hot sauces which was a nice addition, away from just siracha and cholula. Tried wings my second time there and they were well fried and it was an it was topped with an herbal and spice green sauce which was delicious and unique. They have a cute sticker that they have a new design for each month and it's free for customers. The loft is fun filled with nostalgia. The service is welcoming and helpful. Might be my new neighborhood hang.

    Vegan and sides menu
    Madeline B.

    We came today and tried more menu items. We didn't leave any crumbs and also bought a t-shirt for $5. The Oyama burger was delicious; the wasabi mayo subtle. I will order this again or the Highland. The Diego burger was light and fresh and also tasty. I noticed the burgers are best eaten when first served hot - in case like us you tried a bit of everything and then came back to them. The mexican fries were great. The crinkle fries don't need any toppings- they stand out on their own. For the poutine, I would have liked melted cheese vs cold, but the mole flavor was good and overall it's a very good dish. I think even nicer than the curry fries. Partner liked the wings and is going to try another flavor next time, working through their rotation of flavors. I dont know if it's salt or flavoring on the outside of the cauliflower dippers, I told my partner they were too salty but just like a well seasoned tortilla chip, I came back for more! The lemon pepper dip was yummy. They paired well together. Service was great again. It's a nice place to come and have a relaxing casual meal.

    Alan L.

    I had the Oyama Burger and the wasabi mayo was different and thought i was going to regret it, but it was good. The wings on the other hand was really salty and had to wipe the outside of the wings with napkin to get all the excess salt out. The service was great and there is a game room in the next room over so if you want to dine and then chill to play games, here is where you can come. Also, they have game board and crayons for coloring. Good burger and service, but the burger was not like wow wow and just alright.

    Sweet Thai chili vegan wings
    Emily B.

    We are a vegetarian and meat-eating household, so this place is a dream for us! I tried the Thai sweet chili vegan wings and K-Town jackfruit hoagie, and both were delicious! I'm amazed at the crisp and crunch of the vegan wings. Sweet Thai chili was good, but I can't wait to try more of their sauce options! The jackfruit hoagie was a good combo of sweet and spicy with the kimchi and gochujang sauce. 10/10 - would come back and take a tour through the rest of the menu! Service was very quick and friendly, and the shop shares a cute game room with some gaming systems.

    Soo H.

    I visited this place in years past when you could get Jamaican food.  It was ok.  Now you can get burgers and it's called Kinchana. I ordered a burger with bacon, lettuce, and tomato.  Bun was soft with a mild flavor.  Lettuce and tomato were fresh.  Beef had a mild beef flavor.  Bacon was crunchy and was cooked to the point all the moisture was removed.  Too dry for my taste.  This burger was ok. Crinkle cut fries were crispy and I loved the flavor.  Alot like Shake Shack fries. Guy in charge was nice and service was speedy.

    Suite sign
    Emmett T.

    Kinchana has put down roots in the Rolando neighborhood after operating a food truck in the East Village part of downtown. They took over a space that used to house a Caribbean eatery as well as the next door suite which has been turned into a loft. It's essentially a gaming lounge where you can relax and play old-school video games on vintage televisions. The main dining area could seat about two dozen customers. The menu featured Cali-Asian-Mexican burgers of which there were eight choices. Three vegan hoagies were also available that used jackfruit as "pulled pork." Happy hour chicken wings, french fries, and a mac salad were the rest of the main offerings. I picked the Kimgogi Burger that was dressed with kimchi, Korean BBQ glaze, kojuchang, furikake, pickled lotus root, radish slaw, and avo citrus sauce. The flavors were neither too spicy nor overwhelming which was my worry. I also selected the Curry Fries that were the crinkle cut variety topped with house Japanese curry, sesame slaw, pickled radish, and togarashi. I liked this item even more than the burger because the mild curry over the fries provided a warm comfort food feeling when I started consuming it. The slaw and radish added some acid that cut through the carbs from the potatoes. The creativity of these fusion burgers was evident. I would consider returning to try a different selection as the prices were reasonable for the quality and uniqueness. The worker (owner?) who took my order was pleasant and very welcoming. I enjoyed my meal from Kinchana enough to give it a four star rating.

    Yuzu wings
    Scot H.

    Bomb burgers(Goth Topic is my current favorite), fries, and wings(Yuzu, Buffalo, K-BBQ)! Fast friendly service and restaurant is fun inside.

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    thank you so much! can't wait to serve you again!

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    thank you so much! can't wait to serve you again!

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    thank you! can't wait to serve you again.

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    thank you so much!!! hope to see you again soon!

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    Paul K.

    Thank you so much! We will always have wings here waiting for you!

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    thank you! can't wait to see you again!

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    thank you! your feedback means a lot.

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    Thank you! We are stoked you enjoyed it!

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    5 months ago

    This place was very fun and delicious! Be blessed with the customer service and flavors.

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    thank you so much! stoked you came by!

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    Thank you!!! Can't wait to serve you again!

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    Fun place. Great food. Love the tajin wings and my daughter loves the kids burger & fries.

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    4.3(708 reviews)
    4.9 miGolden Hill

    I am so happy I was able to make last minute reservations to Kingfisher for right when they open at…read more5pm on a Saturday! They only had a table for 5 but we ended up having 6 people in our party. They were so kind to be able to accommodate the additional person! They had personalized menus that greeted my party and it wished my friends a happy birthday!! They actually got to take the menus home! This was really a nice touch, I appreciated the details. We family-styled everything which is honestly the way to go so everybody can try a little of everything! It was majority of our party's first time dining there. We started off with some drinks, I got the Non-alcoholic Guava Mocktail and I got to try what was the equivalent to an espresso martini too. Definitely liked the guava drink better because it tasted like guava nectar juice (kind of like Kerns or Jumex). The Expresso Martini had fresh mint in it and it tasted earthy which wasn't my cup of tea. For food we started off with the Heirloom Tomato Salad which was DELICIOUS!! I don't know what they put in the Vietnamese Green Goddess (probably fish sauce since all the dishes basically had this) but it was magnificent and one of my favorite dishes of the night. Then the Scallops and the Black Cod came out. The Scallops came in a set of 3 and we cut them in half so we could all have a taste. The sauce on this was DIVINE!!! It was citrusy but still really flavorful bursting with umami. I'm literally starting to drool reminiscing about it xD We wanted to keep it to use on other dishes because it was so good. The Black Cod was also delicious. It had fried skin attached and a sesame soy glaze. Next up came the Beef Tartare and the Wagyu Steak. The Beef Tartare was probably the least flavorful out of everything we ordered, but it was still well seasoned. My friend said it was really spicy but it might have just been her bite because I didn't think it was spicy at all. I like that the give you the option of leafy greens or shrimp chips to eat it with. The Wagyu though, was an all-star dish. It was the crowd favorite for sure, we all enjoyed not only the steak but the picked baby eggplants that come with it, and the sauce was phenomenal!! Lastly came the Dry Aged Duck which is what they're known for. It was definitely the biggest fish out of all. You were able to eat the duck with two different sauces, one they called a "Fish Sauce Chimichurri" and "Vietnamese XO sauce" which is more so satay. My friends liked the XO sauce but I liked the Chimichurri better. They had actually forgotten about the side of Buttered Rice but I was told it was incredibly flavorful on its own so we still asked for it. It had more than just butter in it, there was dried shrimp and sesame seeds, and it was made with coconut milk or something because it had a sweet but savory taste to it. I saved some of my duck and Wagyu to eat with it which was actually pretty good. Overall I liked that they brought out the dishes from lightest to heaviest and especially after they brought out out 2 sides of Buttered Rice we were all satisfied and full. It was the perfect amount of food. Honestly EVERY dish was different but amazingly dank and I think it's the fish sauce in everything. They were also sweet and kept the cake we brought in the fridge, placed the candles on it for us, and even after we sang they cut the cake for us!! 10/10 would recommend coming here for not only the food but the impeccable service!! Since we had a larger party there's an automatic 20% gratuity already added to the bill, which came out to be $555! (Look at that angel number!)

    Came here in December of 2024, to celebrate receiving an award with my friends before going to turf…read moreclub. Near closing so we all got one drink and the kitchen was closed (we were all seated at the bar). Wouldn't let us to pay for our own drinks and we had to pay as a group; so they could hit us with the auto gratuity. Then they had the audacity to ask to tip the kitchen staff as well. Like excuse you, your kitchen is closed, why would I tip the kitchen staff on top of the 20% automatic gratuity when I'm seated at the bar. We couldn't even order food if we wanted to! Now I'm writing this review 2 years later because it rubbed me the wrong way on what was supposed to be a night to remember after winning an award. And I do remember and anytime asks if I would recommend coming here, they get a solid no.

    Photos
    Kingfisher - Interior

    Interior

    Kingfisher - Crispy chicken wings

    Crispy chicken wings

    Kingfisher - Hokkaido scallops $39

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    Hokkaido scallops $39

    Dao Fu

    Dao Fu

    4.3(1.5k reviews)
    2.8 miNormal Heights
    $$

    Dao fu. You enter this cozy establishment and the first thing you notice is writing on the wall…read more And it's true the writings on the wall, that this place is amazing. You're greeted by a lovely waitress whose smile is a pleasant surprise. It is then you realize how much of a treat you'll be in for. For starters a complimentary salad is provided. This salad will set the standards of the rest of the dishes you will receive. We had the miso soup for our appetizer. Which was a plentiful serving for the both of us. The soup carried with chunks of dried garlic which gave it a very garlicy yummy miso soup taste. Mmm yes me so soup you so soup... very health conscious which we love. On to the next dish, Spencer ordered the pat thai. Plate was PHAT. The portion they provide are very substantial and the price is well worth it. If you're a sauce person it was drenched in a sweet savory sauce. BEWARE... order level zero spice level. Even a level one will set a small campfire on your tongue. Now Carina's dish. Drunken noodles. Plate also PHAT. Veggie roasted to perfection. Noodles brown and soft. Very savory and earthy with hints of garlic. At the end you get a sweet complimentary ice cream. The choice is yours, pineapple mango or cookies n cream. So bomb so fresh so clean. 10/10 !!!

    I recently tried this restaurant, named "Dao Fu," in the Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego,…read moreCalifornia. I must say, I never would have stumbled upon this restaurant by myself, but it was highly recommended by my friends who live nearby. My daughter and I were visiting San Diego for a one-week trip because I was required to come here for work. My workdays were pretty packed, but my daughter and I also took advantage of this trip by filling our evenings with lots of fun activities. One thing we did was visit some wonderful friends who live in San Diego. My friend, John, told us that he found an amazing restaurant in San Diego a few decades ago, and he was really sad to find that it had closed down. Several years later, and more recently, he was surprised to find that this same restaurant owner reopened his restaurant in a new location, which is here on Adams Avenue in the Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego. He was overjoyed to find that this restaurant had reopened in a different location, and he says that this is his favorite restaurant in San Diego. After a story like that, I had to come here to experience this place for myself! We parked on Adams Avenue, and I paid the meter for a reasonable amount of time for us to enjoy our dinner together. I would imagine that parking here can be a bit congested and tricky at times, so I would just suggest that you're patient and careful with where you decide to legally park. We had a party of five for our dinner together, and it was an absolutely wonderful evening with good friends and delicious food. Our waitress was Jun, and she was friendly and professional, as well as attentive to our dinnertime needs. The owner also came out to say hello to us, and he took the time to chat with us for a few minutes during our meal. He was so incredibly nice. I always appreciate it when an owner is willing to devote some time to connect with their customers. For an appetizer, I ordered the "Japanese Pork Gyoza," which are pan fried dumplings filled with pork, fresh ginger, onion, green onion, cabbage, garlic, and soy. It was absolutely delicious, and I had to resist the temptation of eating too many of them so that our friends could enjoy some too. For my meal, I ordered the "Katsu Chicken Curry," which is chicken thigh meat battered in Panko breadcrumbs, deep fried until golden brown and crunchy. I got my meal with a half-and-half mix of white rice and brown rice. My meal was prepared perfectly, and it was incredibly delicious! My meal was concluded with some of their delicious ice cream, which satiated my post-meal sugar cravings. Our evening with friends was special and memorable, and our meals and service at Dao Fu made our evening even more pleasant and enjoyable. Thanks to the owner, our waitress, and the staff for making our evening a wonderful one. The next time I'm back in this area, I'll be sure to come here again!

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    Dao Fu
    Dao Fu
    Dao Fu - Free dessert

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    Free dessert

    Dalbam Moon Night - bulgolgi

    Dalbam Moon Night

    4.6(158 reviews)
    6.4 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    A thousand times YES. Cozy, comforting Korean food and good music and vibes is what makes me keep…read morecoming back here. Along with their service as they are friendly and accommodating. For a laid back night to enjoy drinks with friends and food or even just a date night the vibes will be there. Their BOSSAM PAMUCHIN is on a whole different level that also has me itching to order every time I go there, but so torn cause I want to try other things on their menu haha.

    Came here late after a concert and THANK GOODNESS they were open because this place ended up being…read moresuch a spot! The vibe is very hole-in-the-wall chic :) Loved the glowing moon wallpaper and walls covered in soju bottle caps. My expectations were pretty neutral... until the food came out. We ordered the tteokbokki, seafood pancake, and chadol gui beef brisket ... honestly, if I had a heaven, all three would be waiting for me there. Everything came out super fast and was SO GOOD. My husband was equally impressed: his favorite was the seafood pancake, especially the sauce it came with. We loved it so much that three days later, after having a disappointing anniversary lunch at a completely different restaurant, we came back here for dinner to redeem the day! And it absolutely did! I can already picture myself coming here whenever I need Korean comfort food. This place is VERY high on my go-to list!

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    Dalbam Moon Night - Inside | tiktok & insta: @trinhiesworld

    Inside | tiktok & insta: @trinhiesworld

    Dalbam Moon Night - Fried dumplings

    Fried dumplings

    Dalbam Moon Night - Seafood pancake

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    Seafood pancake

    Kinchana - burgers - Updated September 2026

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