Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Le Papagayo - Carlsbad

    3.8 (784 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Le Papagayo - Carlsbad Takeout or Delivery

    Le Papagayo - Carlsbad Photos

    Business Info

    LE PAPAGAYO - CARLSBAD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

    More like Le Papagayo - Carlsbad

    Recommended Reviews - Le Papagayo - Carlsbad

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    My warrior princess and dad.
    Marco A.

    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.

    Margaret P.

    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.

    poke nachos
    Vi H.

    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!

    Espresso Martini Flight
    Krystle H.

    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.

    Carne asada bowl
    Hannah N.

    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.

    Stan S.

    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!

    Bar with combo inside and patio seating
    John S.

    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.

    House Sangria
    Lauren V.

    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.

    Kevin T.

    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!

    Artichoke bottoms
    Toby P.

    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.

    Steak sandwich
    Jamie Z.

    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.

    Wahini Salad with Salmon
    RJ S.

    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.

    Marija P.

    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.

    Vanilla latte

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Margaret P.
    4925
    1507
    15104

    3 months ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 4
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 2
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 17
    Thanks 7
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Stan S.
    15
    98
    140

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Beta T.
    181
    9
    5

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 3
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brad B.
    4934
    1772
    3106

    2 months ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 4
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Michelle J.
    17
    117
    191

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Billie B.
    69
    44
    117

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    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.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ace D.
    325
    107
    147

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Tom M.
    0
    77
    14

    25 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 63
    Thanks 19
    Love this 62
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jerry H.
    2
    120
    188

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim S.
    0
    15
    0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Leo H.
    0
    20
    3

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 20

    Le Papagayo - Carlsbad Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Le Papagayo - Carlsbad

    Are you able to get butter cake at lunch?

    Yes!

    What is the parking situation?

    Free parking lot.

    Is it dog-friendly?

    I've seen customers with their dogs eating outside

    Can I make a reservation?

    Use Opentable

    Do you have bottomless mimosas on the weekend?

    It's every day for 2hs from 8am- 2pm with purchase of a meal! It was on the top left of the menu looking like a stamp, yesterday when we ate there!

    What cheese do they use in the prosciutto Mac and cheese?

    Are we able to bring outside cake if we're having a birthday celebration?

    YES

    Is it kid friendly?

    We sure are!

    Do you take reservations?

    Use OpenTable 🤓

    View All 12 Questions

    Miguel's Cocina

    Miguel's Cocina

    3.9
    (1.9k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Wow, surprised the rating is currently 4 stars only! We made reservations a week or so in advance…read morefor a Sunday night around 730, and it did not seem very busy. Restaurant is very close to the 5 freeway as well as the Carlsbad Flower Fields and Legoland. I enjoyed the food and fancy-casual ambience. Seems like a fairly large stand-alone restaurant with it's own parking lot. Service was attentive and friendly. We came at the recommendation of a local and loved it! We chose this spot also for the queso that comes with the complimentary chips and salsa. So tasty and not too spicy--like a fresher/?healthier/whiter version of nacho cheese. Mango margarita 4.5/5 (with tajin rim) was enjoyable. Strawberry margarita (blended, virgin) 3/5 was good, but reminded me of candy, so probably just not for me. Trio burrito was outstanding. Loved the sourness of the green salsa over the carnitas, the carne asada with red salsa, and even the shrimp burrito (I don't usually love shrimp!). It tasted lighter than typical Mexican food. Portion was impressive, and it came with a side plate of rice and beans. Chile relleno was 3+/5 imo but my fiance enjoyed it as one of the better ones he has had. To me, it just paled in comparison to the burritos :)). Overall high quality, nice-ish (not too fancy) dinner spot for groups and more! Would recommend to others to add to their Carlsbad/SD area trip.

    We arrived and I parked in the first handicap open spot. I was thinking how lucky and next to the…read moredoor. Well, we walked in and it was the "to-go" entrance but we were able to walk to the front of the restaurant and get a seat. We were seated quickly and my picky mom was able to choose where she wanted to sit. It was a little cold for me, and since we opted to sit in the way back it was a little dim. We were seated and served chips, salsa, and queso blanco dip. The sip was a nice touch. The chips were warm. Of course we had a lot of questions about the menu and our server was very helpful in helping us decide. After eating so many chips and queso, I decided on an appetizer for my meal. I had the empanadas. Mom ordered a bowl of albondigas and a combo plate with cheese enchilada and a taco, with the taco on a separate plate. The albondigas came out first. They were not very hot. Maybe lukewarm. We asked for them to be heated. They did. They had a nice flavor. I think I enjoyed the broth the most. For me, it was missing potatoes and had too much tomato, just a preference, there is no wrong way to make albondigas. I asked for all the condiments in the side and they did put everything on the side. The empanadas were okay. Seemed like they were made ahead of time and then slightly warmed. Again, I was missing the potatoes in the picadillo. Mom said her tortilla from the taco was very tuff and hard to eat. It seemed pre fried and old. She opted to eat the inside of the taco with tortilla chips. She's picky about her enchiladas. The cheese in the enchilada was slightly melted. The enchilada looked freshly made which, for me, can be a bad thing because making it fresh and heating in the salamander versus in the oven doesn't allow the cheese to fully melt. Now, the enchilada sauce was good and the rice was very good. Mom did complain about the lack of fullness in her plate. I reminded her that her taco would have sat in that empty spot. . . lol. . . On our way out, we noticed they were making homemade tortillas and wondered why we didn't get any lol. . . I think if I was in the area again I would stop in, especially for the albondigas.

    Photos
    The bar
    The bar
    Sangria, Strawberry margarita, chips, queso and salsa
    Sangria, Strawberry margarita, chips, queso and salsa
    Happy hour all night!!!!

    See all

    Happy hour all night!!!!
    Cancun Mexican & Seafood

    Cancun Mexican & Seafood

    4.3
    (554 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $

    Talk about a HIDDEN JEM. Right next to a gas station isn't usually someplace you find AWESOME food…read morebut this is one of those exceptions. Having set my Apple Maps before reading the description of the restaurant, my wife and I set our course on the way back from the San Diego Zoo. I didn't want to get home too late and the parking situation for the better restaurants near the zoo didn't look promising so we decided to go further away from San Diego to find a place on the way home near the 5 freeway. Cancun may not look like much but the food is pretty freaking amazing. My surf and turf burrito filled with generous amounts of shrimp and carne asada was incredible. Adding sour cream and guacamole just put it on another level. No burritos like this near my home. My wife's shrimp plate was also a winner. Lots of shrimp. My wife's only gripe was not enough rice and beans. Even the side of corn tortillas was moist and tasty. I'm not sure if they make their own tortillas but it seemed like it. Even the french fries are incredible. Nice and crispy but not dry. I thought I'd still be hungry after just the burrito but I had no idea what a monster it is. Even after eating 3/4 of it, the remainder was still heavy. The older lady working the register is so sweet. A little hard to understand since she has a thick accent but very nice and helpful. The cook was cool too. Very happy when I stopped before leaving to tell them the food was "delicioso". Don't let the gas station scare you away. The food is jammin'! I plan on stopping by again when I attend Comic-con next year.

    You can tell the owner really cares about this place! Every dish is made with love. We always get…read morethe #17 fried shrimp and a crispy beef taco.

    Photos
    Awesome food quality service
    Awesome food quality service
    Crispy chicken tacos. Great price!
    Crispy chicken tacos. Great price!
    Carna asada burrito. Soooo goooood

    See all

    Carna asada burrito. Soooo goooood
    Alejandra's  Mexican  Cantina

    Alejandra's Mexican Cantina

    3.8
    (234 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$$

    This place is where Crazy Burros uses to be and other restaurants can't seem to survive here. I…read moresure hope Alejandras does. They have fantastic service and delicious food. I'm a fan of their chicken and rice soup and I love their tacos. Especially smitten with their chili relleno tacos. They have a full bar and make a mean cocktail. I had a wonderful Expresso martini. They have a great ambiance and view. Also a front patio that would be great in the nicer weather. They also have I've music on some Saturdays on the patio. I hope they open earlier once summer starts. Right now they open at 5.

    This is one of the nicest restaurant settings around. The menu is more limited now but the food is…read moregood. The service has been extremely poor on each visit. Tonight we made a reservation. We were seated by the band, as asked. Then we waited... and waited. We went to the host counter and told them we hadn't been seen or ordered a drink in 31 minutes. We had their attention for a bit. Food was good, even though they got my order wrong. Then over an hour and nobody came back. I not the kind to walk out, but was tempted, but we went back to the host station and asked to pay. Timeline: 6:30 reservation, host station to say we had not been seen my a server 7:01pm. Appetizer ordered 7:04pm. Dinner ordered 7:15pm. All served quickly. Then at 9:25pm we walk in to pay. Luckily we were not rushed and we did enjoy the band (even though they kept popping breakers and loosing their mics and amps. I hope they resolve this because the location is premium but their is now way they can survive like this. This has happened to us on the last 3 visits prior to this, as well. On a prior visit my wife had a work party with over 15 people. Many of the group left without ordering as we were not getting attention. I want this place to thrive, I really do...

    Photos
    Ceviche Pescado
    Ceviche Pescado
    Seafood bar
    Seafood bar
    Camarones

    See all

    Camarones

    Le Papagayo - Carlsbad - bars - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...