Loved visiting Kindred for cocktails! Super cute decor and had great energy to it. Great selection of different cocktails for everyone! Including this 6 months preggie lady who enjoyed this amazing pineapple, cinnamon, N/A rum drink (literally looked and tasted like a real cocktail. We had a group of 6 with us and grabbed some drinks before a dinner we had in the area. We liked it so much, that we ended up going back after dinner for a night cap! Will be back! Also can't wait for a few months from now to get a real cocktail!! read more

Kindred - Cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Came on a weekday night with friends and was immediately seated. I really enjoyed the unique variety of drinks, and the heavy pours. I loved the vegan twist on Mac n cheese and appreciated how flavorful it was. I love that they give the checks here in books, very enjoyable touch! read more

Kindred - Mac n cheese - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Food: 5/5 Drinks: 3.5/5 Service: 3/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Kindred is a staple in my rotation of "something for everyone, at almost any time" spots. It's bold, edgy, and wildly impressive where it counts most. SERVICE: 3/5 Starting with the biggest downside: service can be really spotty here, with some important caveats. If you're seated at the bar, things are usually great. If you're seated at the high-top tables near the bar, don't do it. Those tables require you to order directly from the bar, and since the bar is often understaffed and already serving seated guests, it can feel like you're inconveniencing someone just by ordering. There simply isn't enough manpower for those tables, which makes it a lose-lose situation. If you're seated at a table, service might be slow but not terrible. My first table experience, with six people at the communal table, was excellent. The second time, it took about 20 minutes to get water and menus in a half-empty restaurant. After that, service improved, but we had to be very intentional about ordering everything we needed as soon as we saw the server. If you're here to slow down, chat, and linger, this may not bother you. Just don't come here in a rush. FOOD: 5/5 I want to be extremely clear about this: they serve witchcraft. No joke. The way Kindred makes vegan "meat" and "dairy" dishes taste identical, and sometimes better, than their animal-based counterparts is pure sorcery. My first visit included the mac and cheese and the grilled cheese with tomato soup, which sent me into a multi-hour Reddit and Google spiral trying to find proof that this restaurant wasn't actually vegan. The grilled cheese was genuinely one of the best I've ever had, and you're telling me it's not real cheese? I still don't believe it. Here are some items I've had across recent visits: Mind Melt and Good Soup: 5/5 Their grilled cheese and tomato soup. Refer back to the witchcraft section above. Still unbelievable. Still exceptional. Charred Remains: 5/5 Perfectly crispy broccoli with a herbed "ricotta" that adds a great creamy contrast. Baked Noodles N Chz: 4/5 Their take on mac and cheese. If I didn't know it wasn't real cheese, I wouldn't question it, though there are slight textural differences compared to dairy versions. Still very good. Purgatory: 5/5 Their brunch-only shakshuka-style dish. Warm, cozy, and comforting with a rich flavor profile. The chickpeas add great texture. This is my go-to brunch order. Synonym Rolls: 4/5 Their cinnamon roll interpretation. Great for sharing. The vegan puff pastry doesn't quite puff the way I'd hope, and the margin between undercooked and dry feels narrow. Both times I've had it, it's been good, just not as standout as the rest of the menu. DRINKS: 3.5/5 These are hit or miss, but I give them an extra half-point because they rotate and innovate their drink menu often, which keeps things fun. Spinal Tap: 3/5 Basic fruity drink. Safe, but nothing memorable. Espresso Martini: 3.5/5 Good, but very coffee-forward and a bit basic. Not as rich or bold as I prefer. Kiss of Steel (Non-Alcoholic): 3/5 Essentially a fancy cold brew. Fine, but not exciting. Palace of Certainty: 4/5 Refreshing and enjoyable. I'm not usually an Aperol fan, but this worked. Prince Wednesday: 5/5 Dangerously good. Delicious, which is exactly what makes it dangerous. Radiant Dawn (Non-Alcoholic): 4/5 More layered and interesting than the Kiss of Steel. Still some fancy fruit-juice energy, but the cinnamon and NA rum add depth. A solid NA option when you want something fun. ATMOSPHERE: 5/5 Love the location, decor, and overall vibe. One of my favorite touches is the wolf/ram altar on the wall that doubles as a donation center. Any money placed in the wolf's mouth gets matched by Kindred and donated to the California Wolf Center, which is incredible. TAKEAWAY Amazing food, decent drinks, a unique and edgy atmosphere, and a great spot for a casual hang or low-pressure date with friends. Just be strategic about where you sit, and definitely come hungry. read more

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Well, we gave the Restaurant a try today. If you prefer your food, overcooked tasteless and not well present it, go ahead try. I won't be back. read more

Kindred - This is a faux steak with french fries. The vegan steak rubbery with no flavor. The french fries were like cardboard. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Oh how I love Kindred and wish that we could have nice things in San Francisco. I've really enjoyed all the food I've had here. As someone who has been vegan for 25+ years, a lot of what I see on menu's today at fully plant-based joints doesn't really excite me. Kindred's menu has a good blend of options and it's all really well made. Yes, there are things like burgers, but they also have delicious bowls, vegetable forward small plates, and larger savory plates. And if you're into it, they have a large menu of inventive cocktails. Service has also been very strong. The servers are all friendly and helpful. It can get busy, so sometimes you have to be a little more proactive to flag people down but that's to be expected. And of course, the ambiance. I really just love that the theme is so different and playful. With the bustling chats and sound of the restaurant, you almost forget about it until you enter the restroom ;) read more

Kindred - Warlock and Caesar's Palace - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Fascinating! All of them are delicious & creative. It was first time to visit there for celebrating special day. The noisy level is usual as most of bar ambiance so it's not an ideal place to have such a long conversation. However, it's fun and energetic place to stay. We were going to order many dishes so moved to a bigger table. It's pretty but also wild place at the same time. I love that interior decoration. The flavor is fantastic. I like the fact that foods are not salty as usual bar foods. It's such a fine dining flavor. Delicate & clean but with a twist. Lucky to find this place read more

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I love the bold decor! The food and drinks were delicious. We ordered margaritas and palace of certainty and they did not disappoint! The baked noodles and chz was flavorful and the skewer battle offered variety of flavors profile. The staff was awesome and when they saw our drinks getting low they would ask if we wanted to ordered another drink. I love this place! read more

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A pretty unique place for a vegan restaurant with varieties of drinks and foods. Lots of heavy metal and cats decorations around the place even in the restroom. The drinks are well made and tapas are pretty delicious. We like the bbq yuba skewer which is made from tofu skin and baked with bbq sauce and looks like bacons. Great choice to go if you want a different type of dining or quick snack experience in South Park area. read more

Kindred - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Full vegan spot, mostly fried food but taste for vegan. Would get the skewers and dough balls again. Bomb drinks too, clean higher aesthetic read more

Kindred - Skewers - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Oh my good. The food here was phenomenal. 1. Doom Bloom - fried mushrooms w/ a dill sauce. My god, the best fried mushrooms that I have ever had. I love that they did a variety of mushrooms and they were all soooo meaty. Some places have too much batter and too little mushroom, but there was mushroom in every bite. The sauce was also delicious. 2. Chimichurri Skewers - they were so generous with the sauce! The skewers were flavorful/tender. I think it was tofu based? 3. Carbonara - to DIE for. The best vegan carbonara that I've ever had. The citrus from the lemon really balanced the dish. 4. Cosmo Knots - it was interesting that this used puff pastry instead of dough. Flavors were great, you could really taste the garlic. I was a little sad that you didn't get the chew you would with dough for a garlic knot, but it was still enjoyable. 4. Double cheeseburger and Good Soup - my friends ordered these and enjoyed both! read more

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Yummy drinks and food. Get the steak Fritas. Burger was good but had lots of mustard. Bartender was very knowledgeable. read more

Kindred - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Great place to grab a handcrafted cocktail before going to Buena frochetta (right across the street). Cocktails are between about $13-$18, worth it for the area and quality. The whole restaurant has a cool vibe to it, have never eaten here but great place if u want a unique cocktail. read more

Kindred - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here with my vegan friend. It's really nice interior and staff is friendly. I'm not vegan myself but there were definitely delicious options for non vegans! I had the tomato soup with bread and it was yummy. read more

Meet up with SIL and BIL and asked that they choose a place that's different. They suggested Kindred, noted that it's vegan food, and they've only been here for brunch. I love trying new places and this one did not disappoint. Started with the Cosmo Knots - great starter! The Doom Bloom (fried mushrooms) and Hot Potatoes were also both good - served hot, crispy, and perfectly seasoned. Couldn't decide between the Double Cheeseburger or the Mind Melt. After asking for recs between the 2, the Mind Melt was it. Soo good! Also ordered the Carbonara - the pasta was a bit too al dente for my liking but it was another good dish. I enjoyed all the dishes. Would've liked to try one of the spirit free drinks, but they were on the bit too pricey side. The staff were friendly and attentive. Great place and can't wait to return. read more

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I really enjoy this bar. The drinks are so cool and inventive and the food is delicious. I love that the menu changes and the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. The decor is kind of grungy spooky but also elevated and inviting. I always recommend! read more

This restaurant is a whole vibe. It's moody, Victorian, but also heavy metal. The music is metal which makes it more edgy. The bathrooms have cat photos everywhere which is incredible to me! The staff is beyond friendly and happy to answer questions. The drinks were delicious and so refreshing. The mind melt was so filling and delicious, unfortunately I was unable to remove the kale but thankfully it was not overwhelming at all and the apples were so fresh! The carbonara was perfection. The bacon the noodles it was just the best balance. Now let's get to that cheesecake - I am speechless. I have never had a dessert so tasty. It was the perfect balance of blood orange with white chocolate and I just couldn't get enough! read more

Kindred - Spirulina pineapple drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is so unique, it's always such a treat to come here. my husband is a huge meat eater and he still loved the cheeseburger. there's definitely something for everyone read more

I've had Kindred on my list of places to try for a number of years now. I finally had the opportunity to drop in for a quick drink and took the chance. The atmosphere is super unique in that it's a classy, polite provisions-adjacent spot, but it has a hard rock/metal twist. The cocktail choices were unique but didn't have a ton of options I'd typically choose. Service was unfortunately slow but they were nice and helpful, too. Kindred wouldn't be my first or second cocktail bar of choice with all of CH's options, but it was still cool to try. read more

Kindred - Pyroclasm (Left), Blood Trance (Right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Every few years I go to this restaurant and for me it's about a 3-3.5 star experience. This time around, I went during dinner time, which was a first for me. I was especially drawn by the mocktail list, since I'm doing dry January this year. I ordered the Three Exes, which is a new drink with a more cocktail forward flavor. This was pretty good but very disappointed with amount of ice they put in their drinks! They literally pack the drinks with pebbled ice! I sipped this drink slowly to stretch it throughout the night. I also ordered the Skewer Battle, which was tasty (loved the sauces) and the Hot Potatoes, which were the perfect dipping sauce size! Food did take forever to come out. The brownie cheesecake was overpriced for the small size and this was just okay. Love the combo of goth and girly decor. It works! Very popular spot since it got crowded real quick. This visit was a solid 3.5 stars. It may be awhile until I come back again. read more

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This was probably some of the most phenomenal concept vegan food I've ever had! My friend brought me here because the drinks were good (but we were both doing dry jan so we got mocktails) and the whole menu is awesome. This is the first time I haven't regretted getting a mocktail lol. The highlights of this meal was the shumai egg roll burger, the flavors, the textures, SO GOOD!!! We also got skewers, which I wish the dish came with a little more than it did but the bite was delicious! Overall, the folks who work here are kind and the vibe in this place is crazyyy good. Perfect for a nice date or evening get together with friends. read more

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I'm not a vegitarian so I can't rank it on that level. I won't. I will rank this as an overall restaurant and its a 10/10. It's not a 10/10 it's a 1,000/10. The decor is so legit. It's less rowdy and loud such as born and raised. Kindred is like quant, modern, hip, old school. It's very very nice in here. We sat in one of those small triangular table things. Those are unusual. Service was decent, could have been better but our waiter was pretty busy. When she came around she was great. Food here is a 1,000,000 / 10. The skewers are the star. They are petite in size so I'd order 1 per person. It's soaked in amazing sauce. The mushroom thing is huge. My wife and I ate maybe 1/3 of it and then we were basically food. I would recommend this dish for 4 people. I would skip the tomato bisque. It's pretty but the flavor is straight up tomato. It could use some cream or maybe an exotic spice to spice it up. Overall Kindred is amazing. Come come come.. read more

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Crab cakes were the best thing we had. We loved the atmosphere and will definitely return.

So cute inside and the drink menu is so fun but the food was just ok - good for a cocktail spot but I would skip a dinner reservation! Service was also quite slow and the restaurant was not that busy, but it was a weekday so maybe they just didn't have many people on staff. read more

Hands down my favorite spot in San Diego. Delicious food, cat decor, amazing service, great drinks...I love it all! My personal favorites are the chimichurri skewers, the cosmo knots, and the doom bloom. read more

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- [ ] Fast, friendly service! Ambience was great! Nicely appointed, great fun familiar rock music playing in the background that just made you feel good. - [ ] Camino Muerto: we ordered one of this specialty drink on the recommendation from the mixologist/bar tender. A slightly Smokey Mezcal Toquilla, slightly briney drink. This drink was delicious and very balanced. We had to order another. - [ ] Cosmo knots: These were yummy. Crispy, buttery, pastry knots served with a smear of garlic aioli and marinara. Would definitely order again. - [ ] Doom Bloom: Deep fried mixed mushrooms (I think trumpet, shitake, and something like Bunashimeji) Very tasty with the dip they provide. Lightly breaded and fried just enough to be crispy on the outside and firm chewy on the inside. Another instant favorite for us. - [ ] Chimichuri Skewer: house made seitan kind of surprises. The texture was softer than I expected but the texture was complemented by the thick Chimichuri and harrisa styles sauces on top. - [ ] Grilled cheese: Great crunch, nice cheesy flavor. We had it without the optional patty just to experience it in its purest form. The flavor was awesome and the bit of béchamel that they use on the inside keeps the sandwich creamy even while it cools. I am sure the patty version would be great too! - [ ] French onion soup: served in a special purpose bowl with the classic melted burnt cheese layer on top. A savory soup thick with onions and sour dough chunks. Yum! My wife and I crave this dish but it is rare to find. - [ ] Egg roll burger: a sort deconstructed eggroll crispy/crunchy egg roll wrapper deep fried layered in to the burger with a pile of egg roll ingredients layered on top with all that sandwiched by a sesame seed bun. This was an amazing experience. Will definitely order this again. A new favorite we didn't even know existed. - [ ] As you can probably tell, we had a LOT of leftovers to take home to savor the next day. - [ ] From the staff, we had Nick(mixologist), Raya(server), and Dee(expressor). Thanks Kindred and team for doing what you do! You made our 40th anniversary day trip to San Diego memorable. read more

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It is a very nice and clean restaurant. We ordered fried mushroom--a little overcooked. We got the vegan steak(4oz) with fried. The steak was very good with the home made graveyard--it also looks realistic like steak, the texture is also very good. When the fries got cold, they weren't very good.. we also got the tofu skewer work bbq sauce--they were quite good. The miracle cure drink was very good( a little pricy w/o alcohol ) . We also got cannoli take out-- very good. The waiters and waitresses were very friendly and helpful in explaining the menu and dishes) overall, a good experience. Too many fried dishes. Cory was a great help. My wife forgot her Chase Saphire card and he allow us to use another CC but did not run the tab. We gave him the driver's licensee and CC info and he told my wife to call when we got home to give him the correct CC no. I give. A 10 to Cory for his trust in us!!!! read more

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May well be the coolest restaurant/bar you'll find. Can't even wrap my head around a vegan Metal restaurant but that's what Kindred is. It's a great atmosphere all around. And the music was, mercifully, not as loud as anticipated. I ordered at the bar and got the Good Soup (tomato soup) and small Caesar. I asked for the Gardein schnitzel with the salad but the bartender probably missed it. No problem as I didn't miss it. The soup and salad was enough. The soup was indeed good, just short of great. The salad was as good a Ceasar as I've had anywhere with the Parmesan crunch as a real standout. I also ordered an Endsong bourbon drink in the takehome zombie glass. Both were pricey and the ingredients were pretty obscure for me, but the citrus taste was great. I need a full set of those glasses. Lol. The bartender wrapped up an unused glass to take with me, vice the one I drank out of. That was appreciated. Of course the bill comes in a Choose Your Own Adventure book. Also very cool. The drink alone was more than my meal, but that's the price you pay for coolness. Great fun, great people watching. Probably better in a group. I give it a 4 for the food and 5 for the sheer awesomeness. 4.5 rounds to 5. read more

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Looking for a vegetarian option? Wait, a cool option? Well, I am recommending this awesome place. Ambiance is so cool, I really enjoyed how the place is decorated. Music was a little loud for my test, but maybe you don't mind. Service was also nice and food... was great. They definitely added their own twist. If you are in the area, try them out. Is definitely an experience. Happy meals! read more

Kindred - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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I come here specifically for the double cheeseburger and the baked noodles n chz. They have one of my favorite vegan mac n cheese from anywhere! Also, love the darker lighting, creates a nice ambiance to enjoy a nice dinner. And the servers are friendly! read more

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The salad that I had here was so good, I still think about it years later. That's when you know the food is incredible!

Kindred excelled in all facets except one (sort of, more on that later.) Cocktails. Fuuuuu. So good. Violent Dove as well as Lambgrass slaps harder than a lambs diet and just may set you free. Food: stellar. Vegan, yes. Fatty, hell yeah. Eat that s**t up. Baby Caesar was good and the carrots with the burnt remains were amazing. Vibes: as stated in description: every goth girls delight. And goth dudes. Okay. Generally anyone interested in metal or hardcore will care deeply about the contrastive decor of punk and dead flowers with marble counters and brass fittings. Bravo. Music. Damn. Okay. Look. I'm not into metal. This is a metal music spot so it's not my type BUT dude, if you can appreciate appropriate and holistic design and intent like me then yes, the music is so f-ing fitting, I just wouldn't listen to it outside of here. Kudos read more

Kindred - Roof mirrors to make you feel in an upside down world IMO - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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I absolutely loved this place. Our vegan friend introduced us to this place last year and it's just great. We love the entire vibe of the place, the music, the beautiful decor, the great photos in the bathroom... And of course, the food and drinks! Every time we've gone service has been great. Would happily come back and try some more vegan goodies. :) read more

Such a cool spot. I had reservations which I recommend. I sat in front of the 3D lion in the cool boat/s-like seating area. They have food here, but I only had some drinks which I enjoyed a lot. Made reservations so seating wasn't an issue. read more

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I love kindred. I have for years and it is still one of the best spots in San Diego. We basically had the entire brunch menu today. You won't be disappointed. read more

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O!M!G! What a find! It's been ages since I spent quality time in South Park. But we were off to Balboa Park and wanted breakfast out and wanted to try something new so we Yelped a bit and ... This might be hard to convey because as good as the food was and as good as the service was, it's what the youth call "vibe" that make Kindred special. We sat at a glorious marble table on the penumbra of indoor/outdoor space. Facing the interior, I could see the ancient fixtures, the old-timey wallpaper, the marble and iron and brass and tile and inlay and wonderfully witchy posters that managed to wink at Kindred's gothic depths without even a hint of insincerity or disrespect. I'm telling you, the heavy bleakness of the music (it was nice being just outside of its boom and roar) and the crystal service and the Haunted Mansion decor and the high, open, airiness worked together like chocolate and peanut butter. Oh, and it's a bar. And it's 100% vegan (which was not entirely obvious to me from the menu or the Yelp page). And really, thanks and praise to the excellent servers. You made it feel like coming home again! read more

Kindred - Sign in the men's room speaks volume about the vibe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Maybe we didn't have the best experience because we went a bit late. It wasn't even 15 or thirty minutes 'til closing. We were within the last 2 hours and they basically ran outta food. Being that they didn't have many choices we (the two other members of my party and I) were forced to order the same things-fries and the egg roll burger. Egg roll burger-this was really good and it's not something you'd find everywhere. I'm a burger aficionado and have never come across another egg roll burger. Only issue is it's more slider size than that of a full-sized burger. The ambience is pretty nice as well. It's a cool gathering spot. So why 2 stars? Well, 2 stars means "could've been better." What could've been better? For starters, I've never dined in at a place and been presented with ketchup packets. Small thing? I absolutely hate being given those packages when getting take out. Definitely don't expect to have them when dining in. Tearing each packet, squirting out a bit of ketchup and little by little, having enough for my fries or whatever I'm using it for. In 2024, only Chic-Fil-a gets it right by giving a pouch where you can dip or pour. But this? I certainly don't expect it and never have encountered it at a dine-in establishment. There were places outside for dining and waiting but during the chillier time of the year when we were here, there was no heat! Maybe Kindred has less money than I imagine-it appears to be a really nice place-but we weren't expecting to be cold. We even had our sweaters and jackets. In addition, there were a few other things I won't bog down this review with that my party and I just could not get over. The food is great! I'd certainly have the food again and most likely for takeout. If dining in, I'd probably try lunch time and bring my own condiments. read more

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Was excited to try kindred, unfortunately had a terrible experience. First off we were seated at a high top table that had not been cleared, we sat there with the previous customers dirty plates for about 15 minutes and when nobody ever came to clear the table we went up and asked a bartender who seemed very unhappy we even spoke to her, she did come around and clear the table without saying a single word. After that we went back up to the bar to put in our order we ordered the skewer battle and the carbonara. After about 35 minutes the carbonara came out and was pretty good but I went and asked another bartender for salt and pepper and was told to give him just a moment, we ended up finishing the carbonara before ever getting the salt and pepper but eventually he did bring some over. After about another 15 minutes after finishing the carbonara our skewers had still not arrived so we asked someone if they were still coming and about five minutes later they finally arrived and were cold when they did. With that being said I thought the skewers would come out first as they were what I believed to be an appetizer but that was not the case. The whole operation seems unorganized and the staff just seemed to not really care at all and unable to show any trace of hospitality. The food was about a 5/10 and service and hospitality were definitely 0/10. I would not recommend going here and definitely would not return myself to say the least. read more

Kindred - Carbonara - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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We love this spot! All the food is so good! The cocktails are amazing too. It's a great spot to bring your Vegan friend or even those who aren't. The flavors are so good especially given it's all plant based! We have never had something we didn't like! We love the metal vibe and music. It can be loud, so if that's not your thing just a heads up. Servers have always be great, and give wonderful recommendations. Plus has not to love about the Southpark neighborhood?! Definitely a great date night spot as well, as the dim lighting has such a cool vibe in the evenings. read more

Some of the best vegan food I've ever had. The cocktails are delicious. The servers are always helpful and quick. Honestly, one of the best restaurants in San Diego. Stop by and make an offering to the four eyed wolf. read more

Kindred - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Had to wait a bit for a table at the bar. This is still a popular spot on a Friday night. I have been wanting to check this place out for years. Didn't realize it was a vegetation or vegan joint. Ambience was nice and so were the staff. Very informative about drink and food. I ordered chicken tenders and a chimicurri skewer. Flavor was good on both with the tenders slightly lemony and skewer having a unique flavor. My body felt nutrient deprived or maybe not used to imitation meat. I am not sure I would return for food here. Maybe to hangout and drink at the bar. read more