Great food, Great service, Thank you Ivy Took care of my family and nieces birthday with great hospitality, blessings everyone read more

I have enjoyed countless wonderful lunches and dinners at La Papagayo. Just very few at this location. And after my last visit, there is no need to return. I stopped in for a quick drink and dinner at the bar. I was immediately greeted and served a beer. After about 10 minutes of silence, I asked one of the bartenders for a menu. Meanwhile, the other bartender is deep in conversation with the guests next to me. Another 3-4 minutes - I request again - same guy. He looks at me like he want to tell me to pound sand. And he essentially did. After another 5 minutes, I just asked for a check and walked to Nicks for a great dinner. Right after I paid, the lame bartender walks over my way, and I asked, would it have been that hard to just get me a menu?" His response? "You can't have your dog on the chair". We had been there over 20 minutes. Obviously, he was clueless to his surroundings. Too many good options in Carlsbad. And I'll still make an occasional drive to Leucadia. But my 1x week visit to Carlsbad Leucadia has ended. read more

I've gone to Le Papagayo many times over the past several years, but I think going to give it a break for a while. A friend and I went for lunch today and the patio was lovely as usual, and the food was fine. Fine means just that. Nothing exceptional about it. My friend got the Cuban sandwich with slaw, and I ordered the BLT without the Parmesan crust and upgraded to sweet potato fries. The bacon was chewy and hard to get through but the flavor was good. The patio was busy, but the inside was empty and our server was obviously in a hurry and if he gave his name I didn't catch it. We only ate half our sandwiches because we decided to splurge on the Churro Cronut dessert. It sounded fantastic but unfortunately didn't live up to our expectations. We received 4 small pieces of 'cronuts' which looked more like beignets. To our dismay, only 1 out of the four had flaky layers like a cronut should, while the other three were doughy inside. The caramel served with them was delicious, the chocolate sauce so-so, but the berry swirl on the plate looked pretty but had an off flavor. I will say that the menu has changed over the years and I preferred the old one. Also, it sort of sets me off when there are so many upcharges on the menu for customization. Take a look at it and you'll see what I mean. I understand they may be trying to please everyone by offering so many customizations, but maybe they could state it in a different way, or calculate the menu item price differently to cover the available options. Just my opinion. read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - Churro Cronuts served with caramel and chocolate sauces. - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Ordered the meat paella, trio taco carne asada, pollo and carnival, and the petit filet mignon. The paella was a little salty for me but liked that the rice was crispy. Tacos were good, do not recommend the carnitas though, it was bland. Tacos seemed like it was missing sauce or something. Filet mignon was also a little too salty for me. Overall the food was either salty or bland. They do have live music as well which was cool. read more

3/7/26: Daddy Daughter Day! A lovely Saturday morning. Sun is out. Rocking out to some Matt & Kim. Why am I running errands? At the very least, I have my baby girl to keep me company! She's off to a farther college soon, so I will take any & all the time that I can w/ my princess! We decided to drive home down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) for a scenic detour, but our stomachs decided to intervene on that idea. Should not have skipped breakfast. D'oh. Hello Le Papagayo! And thank you stomach! The place seemed busy, but not packed. Thankfully, we were seated rather quickly. Choose the outdoor seating, if you like people watching. Some interesting folks walking about. Say hi! It's San Diego. We will smile & say "Hello!" back. My feisty first born went right for the sweet spot, literally! The Skillet Cinnamon Roll Pancakes were a bold choice. I think I got cavities just looking at this ode to confectionary excess! As if it was not sweet enough, here's some candied pecans! The house vanilla cream cheese glaze gave the pancake some panache. I could never, but was no match for her appetite. Did I mention the breakfast sandwich? Basically Breakfast Between Brioche Buns! (say that 5x fast). Kids. Stomachs of steel! Yes, chilaquiles. It's brunch. And I am on a mission to try them all everywhere! Like Pokemon, but instead Chilaquilemon! The beef birria addition for additional protein (costs extra) is most definitely worth it. The jalapeño cilantro crema made my dish stand up & speak it's name! THIS IS CHILAQUILES!! We only had an espresso & water to drink. Nothing fancy on that end. Another great day with my little girl. Off to find more adventures! If you fancy a journey, visit Le Papagayo. TL:DR - Spend quality time with your kids. They love it. read more

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This spot was decent as far as the vibes of the place go. The service, the location, and the vibes were great. I can't say that I loved the food here. We ordered a handful of apps including the calamari and the artichoke bottoms and those were a bit weird for me. For my dinner, I ordered the short rib enchiladas. They were okay, but the beans in my order were phenomenal. Overall, I'd give them 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong stuff, but hoping to give them a try again. read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Le Papagayo is such a sleek, classic spot right in the heart of Carlsbad Village! I loved the vibe and can't wait to sit out on their patio next time. For drinks, I tried the Sweet Caroline - their twist on a strawberry lemonade with basil and sparkling water. Super refreshing! For food, we ordered the short rib birria enchiladas, sweet potato fries, and poke nachos. The enchiladas were outstanding, with super tender birria and beans that had a subtle smoked flavor. So decadent! The sweet potato fries were perfectly crispy, topped with honey, feta, and served with chipotle ranch. I couldn't stop eating them!! The staff were amazingly friendly and checked in just the right amount to make sure our meal was great. Everything was fantastic, and I'll definitely be back! read more

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Came here for brunch on a Monday and it was not too busy and service was very friendly. The drinks were good and not too sweet- we tried the martini flight and watermelon sugar cocktail which was a sort of watermelon margarita. The food was delicious and would recommend the chicken fried steak, potato cakes and prime rib dip. read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - Espresso Martini Flight - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I have been wanting to check out this spot for awhile now as I have heard great things about their brunch and live music but dinner it was for the first time. I have to say I was a little surprised with the menu because it was kind of all over the place but all of the options sounded really good which also makes it more difficult to really decide what I want. I love chicken picatta it is one of my favorite dishes so that is what I went with. I will say the inside was much larger than I expected after driving past it so many times. We were with a large group and ordered a variety of apps and all of the apps were a little all over the place and not my favorite. I really want to check out this spot for their brunch because I have heard great things. read more

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We visited Le Papagayo for the first time during the 52nd Village Faire, and it was easily the highlight of our day. We originally had a 6:30 PM reservation, but after walking the fair and getting hungry early, we decided to see if they could seat us sooner. The staff graciously accommodated us at 4:30 PM. A huge shout-out to the hostess, who deserves massive props for her friendliness and hospitality; she made us feel welcome the moment we walked in. The three of us (my wife, our pup, and me) were initially a little bummed to find out only the Happy Hour menu was available, but that feeling didn't last long. We ended up ordering quite a spread: the Smash Burger with Truffle Fries, Mahi Mahi Tacos, Carne Asada Tacos, Calamari, and the Short Rib Birria Nachos with Guacamole. They even looked after our service dog with a dog patty and rice! Everything was delicious. I also really enjoyed trying a local IPA, the Burgeon Treevana, which was excellent. We were incredibly impressed with the quality of the food and the top-notch service. While we came for the dinner menu, the Happy Hour completely won us over. We will definitely be back next time we're in Carlsbad to try that dinner menu, we have no doubt it'll be just as satisfying! read more

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I came to El Papagayo (90 minute drive) for one very specific reason... tacos with shells made out of fried / grilled cheese. Yep. Cheese...no tortilla I gerrymandered a bike ride down in the area and timed it perfectly with my hunger kicking in. Grabbed a seat on the patio (great vibe out there) and ordered the famous cheese shell tacos. Honestly, I couldn't even picture how they'd hold together. I expected crispy cheese that would fall apart the second I took a bite. But nope. They were more like a hard shell with just enough structure to stay together while still being crisp and cheesy. Super flavorful, super fun, and totally different from anything I've had before. It's basically that fried cheese you sometimes get inside tacos... just minus the tortilla and all cheese instead. Felt a little health guilty. Didn't care. Worth it. Great atmosphere, great service, and really tasty food. This is one of those places you're glad you tried -- definitely checking it off the list, but also definitely coming back. If you're in the area, sit on the patio, try the cheese shell tacos, and enjoy something unique. Highly recommend. read more

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Been past this place a trillion times, and finally came on a Friday night because it's the only place that I know that serves sangria in downtown and I was really craving one! We planned to get food elsewhere at first but the vibes were good and we were comfortable at the bar so we ended up ordering seafood enchiladas and mahi mahi tacos to go with the sangria. The food was delicious! The seafood enchiladas especially hit the spot, and were drenched in really flavorful green salsa that was just the right amount of spicy. The beans were good too, smokey and delicious. Only thing that couldve tasted better was the spanish rice, it was just alright. The sangria blew my mind! They include mint and black peppercorn in their version, and it's just fantastic. The service we experienced was great, everyone was attentive to our needs and the guy who took our order was very understanding about my husband's gluten allergy / celiac and let the kitchen know, which we appreciated a ton. We are now very eager for our next visit to try more of their drinks and eats very soon. read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - House Sangria - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Ordered: - chips and salsa trio: a great option for shareable apps and each salsa gives a different taste - elote: really good char on the corn and good texture to the crema - asada burrito: kinda dry but I guess that's why there are beans and salsa on the plate so it all works out in the end Service was quick and the drinks were well balanced. Good open area in the back for larger parties. Parking along the back of the cluster of storefronts. Cheers, Le Papagayo! read more

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Had a great breakfast earlier this week. It was pretty busy with the World Cup games going on, but our server Sydney was very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. My mom has some food allergies and she was very accommodating and helpful, which can be challenging eating out. Would dock half a star for the clear short staff - but with that being said, you could tell everyone was working really hard. Will be back to see her when we're back in town as it was the best meal out of the trip! Thanks Sydney read more

After having wine at a local wine bar, we were walking by and the music drew us in. We decided to stop for a light meal and to listen to the band. We were able to be seated right away, not far from the band. Several people checked on us as we were indecisive about what we wanted to order. We finally decided on a Mexican Caesar and posolé. We watched the band who was playing cover tunes and really enjoyed them. Our order didn't take that long and we both enjoyed the dishes. The band was well received by the audience and we enjoyed our time there. I would definitely come back. I've been when it's been ridiculously crowded and it's not fun. On this night it was perfect. read more

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Wonderful meal last night in Carlsbad at La Papagayo! The service was fantastic and food delicious. We started with Justin cabernet wine and the Artichoke bottoms stuffed with spinach and cheese. The bottoms were cooked to perfection and so tasty! I had the filet mignon and truffle fries for my main course and was pleasantly surprised on the flavor of the meat and sauce. Though the filet seemed a bit thin, the flavor and texture were wonderful! My companion had the steak sandwich and said it was the best they have ever had! Thank you La Papagayo for a nice meal, great service and wonderful ambiance. read more

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I love the identity crisis that the Le Papagayo menu has. It's all over the place in the best possible way and I'm a fan. What do I mean? Well, the person across from me was eating fish tacos while the person next to me was eating filet stroganoff and I was eating kalua pulled pork. Believe me, there are even more random selections on this menu truly making it the best place to bring a large party to satisfy just about everyone. We also had the lobster dip, calamari, fried shrimp, artichoke bottoms and a few other things at our large table and everything was super good. Bring a friend or ten and taste the world! read more

Great spot for live music, light bites or a sit-down dinner! Le Papagayo delivers with nightly entertainment and a fusion of Mediterranean flavor. I'm a big fan of their calamari strips and the house salad. On Tuesdays their a la cart tacos are definitely worth trying. I usually opt for the mahi taco with a Pinot Grigio. The staff is great and the layout is spacious with plenty of seating. It's the type of place where you want to stay and hangout a while. That's why I keep returning. Pro Tip: Head in on Tuesday evenings for a la carte tacos and Happy Hour specials all night long. read more

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Way bigger than their Encinitas location but equally as good. Went there for brunch/breakfast and ordered biria Benedict with hash browns and mocktail. Delicious, wonderful staff and lots of seating outside. read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Wanting to find a dog friendly restaurant and a menu that could please a few different tastes, La Papayago fit the bill. On a late Saturday morning, we didn't have to wait long for a table for three on the patio with our pup. The menu had lots to choose from, my daughter and I decided to split the whipped feta dip and sweet potato fries with goat cheese crumbles...both were delicious! She also got a flatbread pizza and my husband got the strawberry salad with fried goat cheese (he isn't really a salad guy, but hasn't stopped talking about it a week later). It was warm and friendly on the patio, the ball game was on and there were several groups with dogs. We loved this spot and look forward to returning. read more

One of my most favorite breakfast steak and eggs. My husband and I love to come in for our morning dates here!! They have absolutely delicious lattes and the food is also finger licking good. Look at those perfect eggs . Service is fast. Our server was absolutely amazing. read more

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We were seated immediately. It was a busy Tuesday night ( happy hour only on Tuesdays). Live music was great. Service was prompt and server was friendly read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - We split the Mexican Caesar salad and Mel ordered happy hour carne asada tacos. The truffle fries were delicious - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This is a really cute place aesthetic wise but the food and drinks weren't really the best to be honest. The happy hour is from 3:30-5 and has an okay selection , the house margarita was good same with the sangria. Food wise we ordered the single smash burger, nothing too special about it although i got it with onion rings and i couldn't even eat them because they were dry and tough and we also ordered this lobster dip which smelled incredible and the first couple bites were good but not really any lobster flavor it mainly tasted like chorizo and was super salty. This is my second time trying this place first time at a different location but i don't think i will be back again read more

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Haven't been here in a while. Came here today for a birthday lunch with my best friend. The food and service was amazing! And our server was kind enough to give us a free butter cake for my birthday! Very sweet. We both went home with leftovers. The servings are so big. I got the filet mignon melt sando. Just delicious. Don't know why we haven't been back sooner... but we will. read more

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Got a loco moco. It was fine. My friends had hyped it up. Me and my wife will probably try again but there is so many good breakfast spots.

"On the first day of Christmas My true love gave to me A purple parrot in a palm tree" (Jimmy Buffett) Why is there parrot artwork all over "Le papagayo"? Simple - "Le papagayo" is French and Spanish for "the parrot." This popular spot in Carlsbad Village is a destination when you're in the area. They have live music every night, a huge adventurous menu, and big spaces for eating and drinking inside and outside. They also have a very nice Happy Hour, and that's where the three of us grabbed a table on their outdoor patio, were entertained by a very cool server named Elen, enjoyed some HH beverages, and a basket of chips and salsa. It was the perfect scenario to sit, chat, and catch up with our California cousin. A Vodka and Soda was $10, a 6-ounce glass of Tizziano Pinot Grigio was $10, a pint glass of Coronado Salty Crew blonde ale (4.5% ABV with 12 IBU) was $8.50, and a big basket of chips (with a big bowl of spicy salsa) was $9. I enjoyed my beer, and it was probably the first one I ever had from San Diego's Coronado Brewing Company. Our visit to San Diego promises some great Mexican food, and that expectation was met right away with that humble basket of chips and salsa. To my palate, the salsa was fantastic, with chunks of tomato, onions, diced jalapenos, and an overall spiced and seasoned flavor that destroyed any salsa I've had in Connecticut. read more

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I think it used to be more interesting food wise. It was more diverse, more world flavors inspired, more original, when today there is more of a modern Mexican flare. Still love the live music, the sangria (although the carafe now costs you an arm and a leg, way more than inflation price hike...). But it is a bit less of a food destination for me. read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - Butter cake - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Great Fried fish tacos. Bursting with flavor and savory salsa. We dined outside In their patio. Our table was a firepit dining table. How amazing to have margaritas and tacos by the fire. The ambiance was definitely elevated with having a great server too. read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - Baja Tacos - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Made a reservation for an even, jose even coordinator easy to work with and answered questions. Food was great, reservation section was great and service was great. read more

Came in on a Saturday and the place had a great energy thanks to the live band playing. The atmosphere was lively but still relaxed enough to enjoy a good meal. We ordered the poke nachos and shrimp tacos, both of which were fresh, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. Service was friendly and attentive, even with the weekend crowd. Overall a really fun dining experience great food, live music, and a cool vibe. I'll definitely be back. read more

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My friend and I came in for dinner Monday night and enjoyed every bite. We arrived around 5:30 and were seated right away. They have live music on the patio that is also streamed inside for your enjoyment. Our server took our order and ensured we had everything we needed. The manager also touched our table a few times to ensure we were ok. My friend loves this place and I can see why. Parking is easy in their private lot outside the restaurant. Food: We shared the butternut squash ravioli- this was the best item we had! The flavors were on point- savory and cooked perfectly. I highly recommend. Great for sharing or for a meal! It comes with six ravioli. Wahine salad- loved the mixed greens with the palm shoots, tomatoes and delicious dressing. Yum!!! Steak frites: steak juicy and cooked perfectly. Fries had a delicious flavor with garlic and a solo dipping sauce. Seafood enchiladas- I didn't love these- it was shredded seafood which I've never seen- no chunks of crab or shrimp. It creeped me out to be honest. I liked these black beans though! I wouldn't order or recommend this dish. Butter cake with fruit- pretty good. Areas to improve: we shared our appetizers and entrees. Having share plates brought out initially would have been a great touch. read more

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Great food. Had steak and carnitas tacos. Wife & I give a 2-thumbs-up. Had their rotating beer and no issues there and wife had a cocktail that was good (some strawberry mint concoction). Sat at the bar and hung out until the market on the street opened-up. Open area that was well kept. Waitress/bartender was prompt initially, but kind of faded in regards to checking-in for any further drinks or to close-out. Had to work to get attention, thus the 1-star deduction (also, wish chips/salsa would be more standard or complimentary versus having to pay for them). Overall though, I would come here again. read more

Le Papaygo in Carlsbad is a delightful spot -- even with their own private parking. We had to park a block away in a side street. Upon arriving on Friday night (e.g., call and make reservations), I can understand their popularity. The restaurant impresses me with its vibrant atmosphere, live band and exceptional food. The entrance is boxed with outdoor seatings on either side. We were quickly greeted and seated. The restaurant offers a unique fusion of flavors and standout in-house pesto olive oil dip! This free appetizer with warm bread is addictive. I see other patrons coming in for casual dinners and special occasions. Our server, Carlos, was amazing. We ordered : 1- Seafood Paella : Am I able to say 6/5?! It's delicious with perfect texture--rice that lightly covered with sauce and burnt at the edges. There was generous amount of sauté seafood and sausages. 2- The mussels are a MUST! There are breads to soak up the seasoned sauce BUT NOT ENOUGH bread so we had to ask for seconds and thirds. 3- Seafood enchiladas were delicious. A bit of kick so delicious. I will certainly bookmark and had made plans to comeback next month. read more

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My wife and I have been here several times and although we really like the place, the food and the music may keep us from going back. We have never heard a good band there and the food is very hit or miss. The manager was very accommodating to our food not being right but they just need to do better. read more

I'm a sucker for a good restaurant, but one that has live music is even better. This one boasts a different band every day. The menu is robust-a good amount of items that will appeal to the masses. I enjoyed a chicken teriyaki bowl for lunch while my wife had the fish and chips. Both were pretty good. Service was ok, but a little slow once we got our food. We had to flag someone down after a while to get our check so we could leave. read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Great spot and consistently good food, service, atmosphere...and happy hour. I have been coming here often and have noticed their shrimp ceviche gets smaller each time and the shrimp doesn't exist - in fact, we joked they took ONE mini shrimp and diced it up - so we had $19 cubed cucumbers...if I hadn't been here before I would give it 2 stars because of this. But yummy fries, burrito bowl, and quick service when ordering drinks. read more

I stopped here by chance on my way to the flower fields. It was mid morning Sunday and though there were plenty of customers we were able to be seated right away. The restaurant is very spacious and offers indoor and outdoor seating. It has a make legends of rock vibe which I wonder if it's related to the name? The hosts were very welcoming and the servers were very friendly and helpful. The breakfast here was so good. We had the chilaquiles with beef birria and huevos rancheros. Both were delicious and hearty. The eggs were so well made. I recommend the green sauce for the chilaquiles. I also had the S'mores Espresso Martini which was yummy. I love that it comes with toasted marshmallow. I definitely recommend giving this place a go. read more

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Had a delightful lunch at Le Papagayo - tasty food (fish tacos and avocado toast), and a lovely outdoor seating area. The blood was delicious. Fish tacos had a really crispy batter and just the right mix of fish, crispy toppings and a light flour tortilla. My friend's avocado toast looked delicious and I know she enjoyed it. The wait staff were friendly and helpful. read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - Fish Tacos - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Offensively overpriced bad food, smelled of mildew in the restaurant, and beware that everything is fried in beef tallow which they make quite unobvious. I ordered the (one and only) vegan/vegetarian dish at the restaurant. Peanut Noodles that turned out to be a child size portion of watery zucchini noodles. One singe bowl of zucchini noodles ran me back $33 dollars total. Genuinely offended and PLEASE go anywhere else nearby there is plenty of good food in Carlsbad. read more

Stopped by Le Papagayo for brunch and it was pretty good overall. The place has a fun, lively atmosphere and the menu offers a nice variety of options. The food was tasty, though not the most memorable I've had, and the drinks were enjoyable. Service was a little on the slower side, but everyone was friendly. Overall, it's a solid spot for a casual brunch -- not amazing, but definitely worth trying if you're in the area. I did enjoyed my coffee though ;) read more

Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - Bars Near Me - Carlsbad, California