Now we don't do fancy often but when we do we make it count. This is a spot for that. Love kingfisher. You know the rules...one quick review: Food: top tier for sure. Great great all around Service: attentive and we went for a celebration and they made custom menus. Love that Ambiance: elegant but inviting, simple but upscale. It was perfect. Worth the trip, the money and the time. Go... read more

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Kingfisher serves some genuinely delicious food. The scallops were outstanding, the fried rice was flavorful, and the black cod was also excellent. The kitchen clearly knows how to prepare quality dishes, and the food is the reason I'm giving this restaurant 4 stars instead of less. That said, I deducted one star because of the location and overall environment. I chose Kingfisher because I was looking forward to Vietnamese cuisine, but when I arrived, my first impression was disappointing. Right by the entrance there was a strong urine smell, and because the restaurant has an open-air layout, it affected the dining experience. I also found myself concerned about the surrounding neighborhood and the overall setting. For me, a great restaurant is about more than just the food--it's also about feeling comfortable, relaxed, and enjoying the atmosphere. Even if a restaurant serves amazing food, the experience isn't complete if the location makes guests feel uneasy. I understand that Kingfisher has earned Michelin recognition, and the quality of the food certainly shows why. However, I hope the overall dining environment can improve because the talented kitchen deserves a setting that matches the excellent dishes they serve. I would gladly return if this establishment were located in a cleaner, more welcoming area without the homeless encampments nearby. read more

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Kingfisher has become more than just one of our favorite restaurants--it's our son's favorite place to eat, and every visit feels like coming home. The food is consistently exceptional, but the duck and the pasta are absolutely must-orders. Every bite reminds us why we keep coming back. What truly sets Kingfisher apart, though, is the people. Rick and Jennifer always go above and beyond to make us feel like family. Their kindness, hospitality, and genuine care make every meal special, and they always make our son feel so welcome. Great food brings you in, but it's the incredible staff that keeps you coming back. We can't recommend Kingfisher highly enough. read more

Came here on a Friday with a reservation for a party of 4. There is no parking lot available so you will have to find street parking. The restaurant is very trendy and a perfect spot for a date or intimate dinner with a small party. For appetizer we ordered house-made baguette and French butter, duck liver pate, and kanpachi crudo. The baguette with the French butter was so fresh and tasty. It was hard to stop eating it. The pate was also delicious and the kanpachi crudo was one of my favorite dishes of the night. We also ordered the crispy chicken wings, house made egg noodles and smoked dry aged duck for entrees to share. The winds were very flavorful and the sauces that came with it were a great pairing. The noodles the smoked duck was a great size for sharing and came with lots of veggies and sides. The duck was perfectly cooked and delicious. The noodles were yummy but were outshined by the rest of the dishes. We ordered the pickled papaya and marinated cucumbers for sides. In hindsight we definitely had too much food and probably didn't need the sides but both were great compliments to the other dishes. For cocktails I ordered the nuoc mami but ended up preferring the water buffalo. Both were good but I did really enjoy the clarified pho reduction in the water buffalo. Service was friendly and attentive. They packaged up our menu nicely as we were celebrating birthdays. Overall I had a great first time at Kingfisher and would definitely recommend a try. read more

Kingfisher - Crispy chicken wings - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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It was fate that brought us here. Our original dinner plans fell through, and this spot happened to be just down the street from our hotel. Let me tell you--it did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, everything was exceptional: the service, the food, and the ambiance. Our server, Tanya, was amazing--patient, attentive, and happy to answer all of our questions. The only downside was that we wanted to try their smoked dry-aged duck, but it had already sold out. Tanya mentioned that it typically sells out every night by 6:30 PM, and we didn't arrive until 7:30 PM. That's just another reason for us to come back the next time we're in San Diego. Everything we ordered was outstanding--elevated Vietnamese cuisine at its finest. We also tried the banana bread dessert with toasted banana ice cream, and it was absolutely delicious. Honestly, I would have bought the entire banana loaf if they had been willing to sell it to me! Definitely give this place a try. They're also kid-friendly, which makes it an even better dining experience for families. read more

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Amazing dinner at Kingfisher! This was the first restaurant when i typed in Vietnamese and saw it was Michelin Guide recommended. Their crudo, congee, egg noodles and dry aged duck stood out to me the most upon first glance. They do require a $20 per person deposit to book the appt but it gets refunded as soon as ur seated. They have a beautiful and elegant indoor to outdoor set up with booths as well as tables and covered patio seating. We were initially sat at the booth which were so nice with the leather but it got a little cold and they were so kind to help us find a warmer location next to the window. It was perfect! We ordered the blufin crudo, the handmade egg noodles, and the dry aged duck. They recommend u put in the full order first but they send out each course one after the other and time it for u which is nice. Bluefin crudo 5/5: so fresh and that sauce is so bright and refreshing w avocados and veggies. Egg noodles 4.5/5: they were delicious, unique flavors ive never had before in Vietnamese cuisine but it was so good! Just one note it was a lil on the tangy salty side but i still enjoyed it! Spicy as well. Didnt finish the pork bc it was a bit salty. Dry aged duck 4.5/5: this was also so good! Love all The veggies that come with it and some cooked noodles. The sauces r to die for. There were just some pieces that were harder to chew bc of the medium rare and thick slices and as it cooled down, but there was so much meat and perfectly medium cooked can't really complain! The dessert we got was the Banana bread with banana ice cream. It was so warm and soft and the ice cream delicious! The service was so attentive and felt very fine dining with very reasonable price for everything we ordered. Also a note automatic 20% gratuity shared with everyone including back of house which is so nice and u can give addl tip for the waiter which we did! Def recommend when in area! read more

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Took my mom and gma out for a celebratory birthday dinner. They gave us a personalized menu which was such a nice touch! The interior is beautiful and the service was amazing. Or course we came here for the duck which did not disappoint in its amazing complexity of flavors. We also LOVED the eggplant! read more

Kingfisher - Eggplant - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Another unreal experience at kingfisher! I got to try a bunch of new plates and cocktails and I think this might be my favorite experience yet. The NƯỚC MẮMI cocktail was a favorite and all of the dishes we tried were amazing - but the stars were the eggplant, crudo, and of course the congee. 10/10 as always! read more

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Came here for a family celebration. First of all the service is fantastic. Exceptional. They made sure we had a great night. Started off with a few drinks and their famous highball. The highball was interesting and we recommend it! Other than that had the wings, house made egg noodles, and their smoked dry age duck. Honestly I was kind of surprised that the duck was my least favorite. Not sure it warranted the price but with that said the chicken wings and the egg noodles were phenomenal! Highly recommend. They also had a spin on flan that tasted more crème brûlée-y. Very tasty way to end the night. Definitely get reservations as this place got busy quickly. This is a great place for a date or a night out with your friends or a family dinner. Please note that street parking is the only option which isn't a problem. This is a hidden gem in a rougher neighborhood but don't let that turn you away. read more

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Four years later & four check ins. Needless to say, I adore this place. Anytime I get a chance or an excuse to come here for dinner & to blow my friend's minds on how good their dry age duck is. Without hesitation this will always be the first item I will ask if they have any available & you better believe I will order this! read more

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I throughly enjoyed my dining experience at Kingfisher. My partner and I had a reservation here and was seated promptly after we arrived. The hostess had a note for our anniversary celebration. They also printed a little celebatory note directly on the menu - a great personal touch. Our server was friendly and answered any questions we had. We ordered the beef tartare, smoked aged duck, and the deep fried sand bass. For the drink we ordered the Seasame Soirée. While our food came out pretty slow, I'd say it was worth the wait. We also enjoyed 2 complimentary glasses of bubbly while we waited as part of our anniversary celebration. The restarant itself is decorated beautifully with a jazzy ambiance. The interior had bits of gold and green with a beautiful pearlescent leafy wallpaper. The bar is located in the center and also doubles as a centerpiece to the restuarant. Restrooms are located in the back - there we many private, clean and spacious rooms. Below is a summary of the food we ordered: Beef Tartare (5/5) - Savory, sweet and spicy beef tartare dressed in fish sauce and thai chilis. Paired alongside fresh herbs like cilantro, shiso, argula and radicchio. The sesame rice crackers were light and airy. Smoked Dry Aged Duck (5/5) - Perfectly cooked, sweet and salty aged smoked duck paired with rice noodles, herbs and 2 different sauces. I appreciated the many ways you can wrap and enjoy the duck. I do wish the slices of duck were either smaller or thinner - it's hard to eat in one bite. Whole Fried Sand Bass (4/5) - I'll always order a whole firied fish wherever I go and this was no expection. I loved the sweet & sour ginger sauce. The fish was a bit over-fried in my personal opinion, but the inside is still very soft and tender. Sweet & Sour Rice Noodles (5/5) - Aboslutely delicious! Slippery and cold rice noodles dressed in fish sauce and other seasonings. It's not overpowering at all and goes great with the Whole Fried fish as well. Seasame Soiree Cocktail (5/5) - A very unique drink made with gin, ginger, coconut, seasame seeds and more. It was very fragrant in the best way. The flavor really develops after the first sip. I love how nutty and decadent yet light this drink is. Overall, I had a great experience here and this is one of the top restaurants I've had the pleasure of enjoying in SD. Highly reccomend especially if you like Vietnamese food / fish-sauce forward dishes. (At least for the dishes I ordered) read more

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Some notes: Service was fantastic and thr staffs are nice. Parking was horrible but not new news for downtown SD. Not busy for a Friday 6 p.m. dinner. Restaurant makes it to be fancy than they really are. Must put down a hefty deposit for rsvp I assumed they must have trust issue with cancellation. Food just not worth it and family style. Very expensive most likely have to order full menu or eat lots of rices to be full. See the menu yourself. Majority are taste testing sizes. Overall, no Wow factors. read more

Kingfisher - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Really delicious drinks and food in a beautiful setting. We were seated basically immediately upon arrival which was nice. Our waitress was very friendly and gave us a good rundown of her favorites. To order, we ended up going with the beef tartare, the artichokes, and the baguette. The baguette was fresh, warm and delicious. The beef tartare was a standout and had a yummy amount of spice. The artichokes were pretty good but aren't a must get. A point was lost here for the time between receiving those starters and our mains (the scallops and half chicken). They were both delicious, but the gap in time was so large that we had to take most of those two to go to meet our next reservation. Had they came out about 20 mins sooner, we would have had more time to enjoy. Recommend nonetheless though! The cocktails were great as well. read more

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went for happy hour. Loved the vibes but it was lowkey still very expensive bc the portion sizes were pretty small... drinks: over all ok. Prefer kingfisher spritz over no disco. The latter drink was too strong imo and didn't really taste tropical. nothing to write home about kanpachi crudo (8.5/10): $21 for a SMALL ass bowl. Really loved all the flavors tho and would get again crispy pig ear salad (9/10): $21. soooo fresh and crispy! Would get again crispy chicken wings (8/10): $18 for 4pcs. Really solid but not the best I've had House made egg noodles (9/10): I loveddddd this dish sm! Pork lap cheong was really nice and crispy. Wish the black truffles were a little stronger but overall great dish would get again!! read more

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We came on a Saturday evening to celebrate a birthday and had picked a reservation for their stunning bar. The interior looks amazing with great wallpapers, atmospheric lighting features, and a nod to the heydays of art deco. Service was equally impressive, very attentive, polite, and helpful. We loved the concept of French-Vietnamese food, as it promises sophisticated cooking techniques with strong flavors. We were certainly not disappointed with our first choice. The beef tartare was truly excellent, the beef was of high quality, the fried shallots added some interest, but the real stars were the selection of fresh herbs that were used to wrap the beef in. The sesame rice crackers provided some additional crunch. The drinks were another highlight. We opted for the Cielo Alto (Mezcal, Tamarind), the Nuoc Mami (Mezcal, Fish Sauce), Water Buffalo (Gin, Pho Reduction), and the Mekong Martini (Vodka, Cilantro). Our second starter was the congee, which we did not enjoy. It was bland, there was no attempt to provide sufficient interest in terms of texture or flavor profile, and knowing that in some cultures congee is consumed when under the weather, maybe that's the only acceptable way that I would recommend this dish. For us it was a disappointment and did not keep up with the rest of the menu. For our main we picked the fried rock fish, which was bathed in a sweet ginger sauce and came with rice noodles, a cucumber salad, and some green papaya. The fish was executed perfectly, was soft and delicate. The sides, however, felt less balanced and special. For dessert, we had the flan with coffee syrup, which was done very well, however, I was hoping-in alignment with the theme of the restaurant-to have some more Vietnamese dessert options and flavors. All desserts seemed western-focused. Overall, we liked the experience and we are keen to come back to try some of their other dishes. read more

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Michelin recognized restaurant and bar, Kingfisher, is serving creative cocktails and innovative Vietnamese French cuisine. AMBIANCE Blends replicas of nature (kingfisher bird at entrance, lotus wallpaper) with a refined modern interior SERVICE Friendly, attentive, helpful DRINK 5/5 DUCK AROUND (assertive and direct) Duck Fat-Washed Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky, Cognac, & Benedictine, Sweet Vermouth, Herbs de Provence. FOOD 5/5 BEEF TARTARE (hits all the senses) Toasted Quinoa, Pickled Ramps, Crispy Shallots, Thai Chilies, Cured Egg Yolk, Sesame-Rice Crackers, Watercress, Lettuces, and Herbs. 4/5 KANPACHI CRUDO* (bright) Makrut Lime & Bell Pepper Emulsion, Avocado, Zucchini, Condensed Milk, Fennel. 5/5 LOCAL BLACK COD (tender, so flavorful) Caramelized Fish Sauce, Mustard Greens, Green Onion, Crispy Shallots, Buttered Rice, Toasted Shrimp. 4.5/5 BLACK TRUFFLE ICE CREAM (very sweet) Truffle Caramel, Shortbread Cookie (lemony) 5/5 WARM BREAD PUDDING (aromatic, decadent) Condensed Milk Anglaise, Roasted Banana Ice Cream. read more

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Unfortunately super disappointed with this restaurant! I came with a part of 4 on Friday night. Plenty of free street parking around. The restaurant is well decorated and clean. The service was ok, they didn't check on us. The food however, came out veryyy slowly, we were seated for 3 hours and we weren't even full by the end of the meal. The appetizers were the real star - I liked their duck pate and beef tartare. The entrees were sooo salty though across the board. We ordered the egg noodles, skirt steak, and whole fried rock fish. None stood out to me, but nothing bad about them. Long wait times for small portions and pretty pricey dishes. I wouldn't come back! read more

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For my boys birthday I went to My Favorite restaurant., Kingfisher. I love this rest. The ambience is always pleasant. The service excellent I love sitting at the bar where Mikey helps us and serves us and makes us feel always as VIP. I always try something new however this time I I just ordered the fried fish that is exceptional and delicious. I believe that this place will be my favorite for a while. Definitely check it up. You will not be disappointed. read more

Kingfisher - Thank you, Mikey for an excellent experience at Kingfisher - Vietnamese Near Me - San Diego, California

Cute spot for a night out! We especially loved the Spiny Lobster and Kurobuta Pork--both dishes were incredibly unique and delicious, and honestly worth returning for on their own. The egg noodles were solid as well, though not particularly memorable. Unfortunately, we're knocking off a star for the $14 bread and butter. They had run out of their house-made baguette and substituted it with a "similar bread" that turned out to be a section of a Paris Bakery loaf--the kind you can easily find at a grocery store for very little--yet it was still charged significantly for it. While the butter was excellent, the bread substitution felt disappointing and left a bit of a sour note at the end of an otherwise great meal. read more

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Kingfisher is a classy Vietnamese-French restaurant situated in the Golden Hill neighborhood. The restaurant has been listed in the Michelin Guide for the four years it has been open, and this consistency is well reflected in the quality of the food and the extensive bar space. Executive Chef David Sim and his team serve vibrant, family-style dishes alongside an extensive cocktail and wine program. THE FOOD * Chicken Wings: Marinated in fish sauce, fried, and coated in a sweet and sour tamarind glaze. Served hot with crumbled peanuts and garlic on top. The accompanying toasted coconut ranch, chili sauce, and house-made pickled vegetables provide a nice contrast. * House-Made Egg Noodles: These noodles have a good chew and body. They are prepared with a lemongrass peanut sa te sauce, a light amount of chilis, green vegetables, Chinese sausage, and sliced green onions. The dish is finished with a soft-poached egg in the center and thin, dried black truffle slices. * Smoked Dry-Aged Duck: The duck is aged for 14 days and then smoked before undergoing a final treatment that produces a crisp, flavorful skin. It features both a crispy leg confit and a sliced, juicy, tender breast. Served with cilantro, lettuce, and rice noodles. The dish includes peanut and fish sauces, and the duck pairs notably well with the lemongrass peanut sa te sauce from the egg noodles. ATMOSPHERE & SERVICE During a late afternoon visit, the vibe was relaxed and comfortable. The dining room is very trendy, built around a large, decorative bar featuring striking copper-colored light arches and accents. Service was attentive and observant; Maria, our server, managed the meal very well. Note: A 20% service fee is automatically applied to all checks and is split evenly among the restaurant staff. OVERALL A good place for a special date night or occasion for diners who enjoy Vietnamese-French cuisine and an extensive bar space. read more

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Amazing restaurant! The vibe is really nice and the decor is fun yet modern. The staff are all really nice and the service was great. Really enjoyed the food as well - I was worried it was going to be typical expensive but mediocre small plates but was wrong. Everything was unique and delicious, and we didn't leave hungry. The eggplant, noodles, and congee were particularly standout. Would definitely recommend / go back! read more

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I spent a couple of days in San Diego and my brother wanted to take me to one of his favorite place to hangout. It's best to make reservations but it was a last minute for us and we managed to snatch some seats at the bar. This place is certainly instagram able, upscale, romantic and also loud. For food, we had: duck liver pate, beef tartar, house noodle, congee and passion fruit sorbet. My brother and I really like the pate, it's creamy, smooth, simply delicious. We all love dessert. There were also many drinks in between. Our bartender was pleasant and helpful. Overall, the food and cocktails were great. And we had a lot of fun. read more

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FOOD: Eggplant (5/5) Rockfish (5/5) Duck breast (5/5) SERVICE: Server was knowledgeable and answered any questions we had. I liked that even though she was extremely busy, she looked over to see if we were OK. The busser made sure to clean out any dirty dishes. PARKING: Street parking only. read more

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First time I came here I was disappointed. Hardly remember anything about the food I ordered. I know we got the steak and mushroom congee. But nothing stood out. Came again this weekend to give it another go and damn blown away. Crispy pig ear salad: extremely refreshing and loved the nuoc mam in it. Crispy pig ear was delicious but I wish there were more of it Chicken wings: this was alright. The ranch seemed sour cream based and the hot sauce just tasted like sambal. Did give us wet napkin to wipe hands off later which was nice and a bone bowl. Black Cod: by far the favorite. Never had I eaten fish that was so moist and flaky. Even other upscale restaurants they overcook it and dry it the fish. The buttered rice was delicious. Kurobota Pork collar: great flavors and I loved the grilled green onion. Some end pieces were dry though. I appreciated the nuoc Cham broth that wasn't too fish sauce-y. Cocktails: got the sesame soirée, red envelope, and the water buffalo (pho) cocktail The sesame soirée was the BEST COCKTAIL I HAVE EVER HAD. The ginger and sesame worked so well together. Red envelope my favorite part was the banana foam so good. Pho cocktail was alright. Glad I gave this another go and will definitely be back. Please do not get rid of the sesame soirée. I will literally be dreaming about it. read more

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Kingfisher is one of our favorite stops in San Diego. It's a wonderful Vietnamese-French upscale restaurant that has a great sense of both flavor and smart vibes all across its menu. For us, we usually come to Kingfisher via rideshare which is a quick ride from downtown SD, but if you do drive, there usually does seem to be street parking. We also commit to reservations each and every time as well although it has been a bit easier to nab a reservation in recent months. Coming into the restaurant, it's a beautiful area with a bar in the center and tables surrounding the area. It feels like a modern interpretation of Metropolis - art deco vibes with moody lighting. There's also a small patio area which is where we sat in our first visit with heat lamps during the colder months. When it gets noisy inside, I think the patio is a great option. Service is also pretty great across the board. Our server on our first visit (apologies, we forgot your name!) was amazing. He walked us through the menu and gave us nice food hacks throughout when possible. We've hit a lot of different menu items now with our various visits - here are some highlights: *Dry aged duck: This is a dish we had to actually go back a second time because they sold out. Would come either early or try to denote in your reservation notes. We thought it was definitely worth getting and meaty. Love the crisp of the skin. Love that you can construct your lettuce wraps with lots of fun side dishes. *Kurobata pork collar: This was the entree we went with our first visit as the duck had sold out. And we were pleasantly surprised. Definitely the easier dish to eat between this and the duck - gotta love the tamarind puree and herbs to really give the dish a wonderful vibrancy. *Tail snapper crudo: A really solid appetizer to start with. Love the acidity and brightness of the dish. *Beef tartar: Also amazing. It has a slight kick to it as well as a crunch that is a bit different than the typical beef tartar. Loved that it came with sesame rice crackers and watercress. *Duck liver pate: A solid pate dish with a tiny bit of spicy/kick. The baguette is delicious as well as the wonderful fruit. *Vanilla flan: Such a freakin' good dessert - a delicious play on Vietnamese flan. I love the Vietnamese coffee the they pour all over the flan and that you can use throughout the entire meal to continue and coat the dessert. Best of all, you can ask for ice as well to truly get the Vietnamese feel. We've also gotten many of the cocktails which are all pretty good. Believe my favorites are the Sesame soirée and Saigon Moped. What a wonderful treat to find in San Diego and can't wait to come for many more visits. read more

Came here with family and had a great experience. Kingfisher offers a modern twist on Vietnamese and French cuisine, and everything felt thoughtfully done. The drinks were especially creative, and the food matched that same level of care and originality. The atmosphere was stylish and made it a great spot for a nice dinner out. Our server was fantastic and really added to the overall experience. Definitely a place worth checking out if you're looking for something a little different. read more

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Amazing. Just amazing. Ambiance 10/10. Service 10/10. Food 10/10. Cocktails 10/10. I haven't been this impressed in so long. I've never had Vietnamese food with this kind of elevation & creativity. Let's jump right in! Cocktails: Dried By Wind-This was very unique. I never would've thought tequila, black tea, miso & Chinese five spice would go together. Everyone at the table had a sip & loved it. I ordered 2 because I enjoyed it a lot Duck Around-First of all, love the name. My sister got this & she really liked it. I mean, I'm a huge fan of duck fat.. who isn't?! But to make it into a drink is genius Water Buffalo-Did someone say clarified pho reduction?! My brother got this & was skeptical. He thought it might taste like cold pho broth, but the way they did it, it worked well. We were all taken back by how delicious it was Kanpachi Crudo-A great appetizer to start your taste buds. At first when I read condensed milk, I thought EW. However, it was SO good! I never would've thought condensed milk would go with any kind of crudo. Simple, light, & well balanced. Duck Liver Pate-YUM. I swear I could eat that whole slab of pate by myself & not get sick of it. The kumquat mostarda complimented the pate. Beef Tartare-I will always say yes to beef tartare, but this with the sesame rice cracker was amazing! The entire table finished this quick, definitely a top favorite. Crispy Pig Ear Salad-Don't let the pig ear scare you, it's crunchy, lightly savory, & was a great addition to the lotus stem salad. I'm super picky with salads & this was DELICIOUS. Crispy Chicken Wings-My sister absolutely loved this dish! She says it's probably the best chicken wings she's had. That's a huge statement considering San Diego has quite a bit of "the best wings" spots sprinkled around. I didn't get a chance to try, but it's a great excuse to come back Grilled Japanese Eggplant-First of all, I don't like eggplants. However, this was GOOD. Really good! House Made Egg Noodles-Anything with black truffle, sign me up. My husband was impressed by this dish & he is really particular! Noodles are so easy to over cook, but these were perfect. Everyone at our table agreed this was also one of the top favorites. The perfect amount of spice & not overwhelming. Whole Fried Rock Fish-This was served with pickled veggies & a side of noodles. You NEED to eat the fish with the noodles & side veggies together. The rock fish alone is like any other fried rock fish. However, the flavors & texture of everything together are a match made in heaven. Kurobuta Pork Collar-AMAZING! Top favorite for sure. It was SO tender, I wrapped it in the lettuce with the noodles & herbs like a real Vietnamese should & it was fire. I was thrown off at first because I'm so used to roasted pork, but this way was really good. Letting it soak in the Nuoc Cham broth was a great way to really let the flavors get in there. Smoked Dry Aged Duck-I think this was the star of the show. We had a tough time choosing which was better, this or the pork collar, but for me I think this was the winner. This dish sells out fast & I can see why. We were lucky & now I need to book another rsvp specifically to experience this dish again. Vanilla Flan-What is a good meal without finishing strong with something sweet? Big back festivities done right. This was DELICIOUS. Flan can easily be overly too sweet, but not here. The flan was the perfect texture & well balanced with a Vietnamese coffee syrup. It was a good portion too! We wanted to try to bread pudding, but we were so full. Another great excuse to come back for round 2! We had the pleasure of meeting the owner at the end of our meal to personally thank him. He was very nice, humble, & had a great sense of humor. We had a huge group & I give kudos to our server for dealing with us. Thanks to everyone who made our night amazing! read more

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This was my 5th time at Kingfisher and it continues to be one of my fav spots in SD. Every person I've brought here has enjoyed the food, including my extremely picky parents, which says a lot lol. We started with cocktails then shared the duck liver pate and crispy pig ear salad, both are must order for us. The menu rotates but the pate and the smoked dry aged duck dishes are always our go to. This time we also had the spiny lobster which was well prepared and full of flavor. Dessert was the warm bread pudding with banana ice cream, perfect way to end the meal. Service was friendly and welcoming, though the dishes came out a bit staggered. That said, they're always busy and the quality of the food makes up for it. I highly recommend giving them a try and will definitely continue to come back. Everything mentioned reflects the menu as of 12/12/25. read more

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Spent a weekend in SD and was recommended to try this place. This has definitely become one of my favorite restaurants in the area. I came with a large group so we were able to try a wide variety of their courses so by the end of the night we were all happily stuffed. The staff were very friendly and accommodating to our large group. Some of my favorite dishes that you need to try include their Duck Liver Pate served with a toasted baguette, their Crispy Chicken Wings with a delicious tamarind glaze, their Baja Striped Seabass, and their Snake River Farms Wagyu Skirt Steak! I can't wait to come back again! read more

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Nice upscale feel in golden hill. This place has been on my list to try and was able to try as I had some family in town. Love the atmosphere and staff was nice and knowledgeable. I also enjoyed some of their dishes but I think our noodle dish wasn't cooked enough as some of the pieces were drive. I did like some of the unique viet fusion flavors as they were unique. It was a bit pricey for what we got but still a nice meal. read more

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I loved: Kurobuta Pork Collar I really liked: Baja Striped Seabass I liked: Chanterelle & Corn Congee Crispy Chicken Wings Toki Highball This was ok: House Made Egg Noodles The congee is definitely elevated. It's tasty, though a lot of the flavor gets muted when mixed together. The crispy chicken wings have a tamarind glaze that tastes like a subtle fish sauce wing. The flavor is there, but I wish they were crispier. The Kurobuta pork collar is super tender and flavorful, especially awesome in the wrap. The house made egg noodles are okay, but the flavors blend together a bit too much and the spice overpowers the truffle, which feels like a missed opportunity. The Baja striped seabass is solid, super tender with great flavors, but the greens are a bit overdone and strong. Service is good. They provided moist towelettes between courses and kept our table clean. Overall a solid spot for elevated French Vietnamese #goodeats. read more

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I can't say more than check out this restaurant. They have a beautiful bar, indoor and outdoor seating. The service was great! Every staff member who came near us was courteous, kind and seemed genuinely happy to be there. Our waitress knew the menu inside and out and helped identify some key items to order. I started with the Kit Fox drink. I loved it! The wings are glazed with tamarind. I'm not one to like earrings wings at a restaurant but I'm so glad that we ordered them. Unforgettable unique flavor! It comes with dipping sauces but I didn't want to take away from the flavor. The noodles were so good. We ate every bite. The duck was cooked to perfection. Safe to say I will be back as there was more on the menu that I still want to try. Thank you to everyone at Kingfisher for a great experience. read more

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We made a reservation here to celebrate our anniversary, & they did not disappoint! They printed out our party's name onto the menu & gave us complementary champagne to celebrate this special milestone. The service here is phenomenal & very attentive. The restaurant was beautifully decorated inside, with lots of spacious seating. This is a perfect restaurant for special occasions or a nice dinner out. * Beef Tartare - 8.7/10 (the texture of the beef tartare was very buttery & smooth. it had a really nice spice to it from the chili peppers. you can really taste the southeast influence in this dish. we like how it came with sesame rice crackers that added a nice crunch, & the fresh herbs to wrap the beef in) * Snake River Farms Wagyu Skirt Steak - 8.2/10 (the meat quality of the steak was good, & the sauce on top added a nice sweet tangy flavor. in our opinion, the saltiness of the mushrooms did not pair too nicely with the steak. we also wished the steak was cooked slightly more medium, & came with a bowl of rice for balance) * Whole Fried Rockfish - 8.5/10 (the fish was fried nicely, & the presentation was very extravagant. the inside of the fish was juicy & the meat was soft, but there were many bones that made it a bit harder to eat. maybe catfish would have been a better choice for this dish. we were very fond of the sides it came with. the papaya was crunchy & refreshing. the cucumber salad added a slight acidity to complement the rockfish. the noodles added a sense of familiarity to the dish, reminding us of Vietnamese bún) * Mekong Martini - 7/10 * Ms. Ho - 8.3/10 read more

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Went to kingfisher when they were celebrating new year and had the collaboration with le coq! The fried rockfish was absolutely incredible. The bold flavors connected so well together. The eggplant was probably one of my favorites as well. The service was so great and we loved our waitress. She made great recommendation and of course the ambiance of this restaurant is definitely a vibe. All around great meal and would return! read more

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We dropped by this Azn fuzn place on Golden Hill, North of DT San Diego. Overall, the food was very good. However, there were some big drawbacks that result in an overall 3 rating (but not necessarily mediocre). First of all, the eggplant and clams & mussels were really good. The eggplant was really fresh, and had a little kick from the Thai chilis in the sauce. Nonetheless, this dish was pricey w/o protein (a common theme on all items). Secondarily, the clams & mussels were fresh, and had a nice sauce for dipping with a baguette. However, this dish was also overpriced IMHO. Thirdly, the noodles were very tasty, and the richness of stirring in the soft boiled egg was nice. But the small pieces of lop cheung didn't match the price point. I thought the lop cheung would be more noticeable. Lastly, the duck was the star of the show. The confit leg was executed perfectly. The remainder of the meat was moist and nicely seasoned. Regardless, at $86 this cost more than Peking duck that I believe tastes better. Our waiter, Ricardo was friendly and informative. The rest of his team were nice as well. What I didn't like is there is mandatory 20% service charge. I don't mind tipping this much. However, the customer should be notified when making the res. I found out about the service charge when I was perusing the menu b4 the date of the dinner. Secondarily, the prices are already high here. Its hard to imagine the prices don't cover the staff. Lastly, I didn't like the waiter asking for more than the mandatory service charge. In addition, I had to put down a $40 deposit via Tock when I made the res. I am unaccustomed to this practice bc I go primarily to Open Table restaurants. My profile on Open Table shows that I rarely if ever cancel a res. Regarding the ambiance, its nice in here and there is a cool bar in the center. But its hard to hear, and we were seated at a small table. Other couples were seated at tables of four. A positive food experience, although at a very high price point. I would not return though bc of the downsides I mentioned above. read more

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elevated vietnamese dishes and cocktails in a modern, moody setting. had a reservation for 2 on sunday evening for their golden hour. we sat at the bar and ordered drinks (ms. ho, red envelope, saigon moped and water buffalo) and some appetizers (crispy pig ear salad, tai snapper crudo). everything was delicious, the food was fresh and the cocktails were superb. it was intricately layered, flavorful and a modern take on classic vietnamese dishes or ingredients. read more

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We came here to celebrate our anniversary with two friends. Our reservation was for 4 at 5:15pm, and we were seated right away. Luckily we found a street parking spot, though I can imagine parking gets much tougher later in the evening. I also really appreciate that they seat you immediately instead of making you wait for your whole party. One of our friends was running late from work but since the menu is family style, we were still able to order for her. The restaurant offered us champagne for our anniversary which was really thoughtful. I chose this restaurant for their Nurong Nights event, a collaboration with Realm of the 52 Remedies, featuring special skewers not usually on their regular menu. We each ordered two cocktails to try, and my favorite by far was the coconut coffee, it was so smooth and well-balanced. What we ordered: - Dry-aged duck (4/5): A little too dry for my taste. It came with lettuce and radicchio for wraps, but the bitterness of the radicchio didn't pair well. We ended up just using the lettuce. - Tai snapper crudo (4/5): Fresh and light, a solid dish. - Crispy chicken wings (5/5): Perfectly crispy and paired with a delicious white umami dipping sauce. - Striped sea bass (5/5): Cooked beautifully with a crisp sear on the skin. The buttered rice topped with shallots and shrimp was such a thoughtful and tasty addition. (I may be biased since I love sea bass, but this was excellent.) - Japanese eggplant (4.5/5): Flavorful and satisfying, though definitely overpriced for what it was. - Whelks from the Nurong Nights menu (3.5/5): Interesting but missing something, would have been much better with a dipping sauce. read more

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Wow!! If I could give this place 20 stars I would. We ordered 7 different dishes (liver pate, eggplant, broccoli, skirt steak, scallops, egg noddles and butter rice), and every single one was AMAZING, an absolute flavor explosion. Each dish was carefully curated and the quality of the ingredients was immaculate. The service was fantastic too. This restaurant is a true gem and is one of my top three restaurants in all of San Diego now (besides Ken's Sushi Workshop and Steak 48). Highly, highly recommend!! read more

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This place is so phenomenal!!! Great ambiance , great. Flavors blend together , the staff is amazing !!! Maria was just a pleasure tonight can't wait to be back again in love the food , place and people !!! read more

I came here on my birthday and am so happy I did!! I had high standards for this place and my standards were def exceeded. The interior itself is lovely and well decorated. There patio seating as well for nice warm days. Me and my BF went pretty crazy on the menu here and loved it all. House made baguette with butter: so simple right? wrong, the bread was actually fantastic and the butter was heavenly. I was hesitant at first because $14 for bread and butter is steep, but truthfully I would order it again and again. Tai Snapper Crudo - super unique flavor with the condensed milk. very much enjoyed it! Wagyu Skirt Steak - truly truly fantastic and amazing. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. Cant say anything more. Smoked Dry Aged Duck - honestly this is what we came for and what I will CONTINUE to keep coming for. Never had duck cooked in this way, once u try it, u cant go back. read more

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