Banu S.

What a beautiful place. A cute little cottage with outdoor seating in the indoor seating was a gem. The hostess changed our table to inside after we requested due to the cooler weather. Very attentive service. The salad was amazing. The ceviche was a bit salty, but very flavorful. The hummus needed a little bit more seasoning and lemon in my mind. The Keema orzo was seriously, super flavorful and delicious. Overall, an amazing service and I can't wait to come back. A very intimate setting. Thank you team!

Hanna S.

Good little spot. Both indoors and outdoors have a nice atmosphere. Everything was delicious. Big fan of the brisket in salsa verde (the fresh tortillas were the cherry on top!). Will definitely be back - hopefully when they have their live music playing!

Charles C.

It was a touch difficult to locate Leu Leu Restaurant along Coast Boulevard. I passed it a number of times, but then I found it. There is one handicapped parking space available within the small parking lot. It was nice to visit the new home of a chef who formerly worked at Liberty Station. One enters Leu Leu via two tall blue-painted reclaimed-wood doors. There is a charming patio that raps around the structure [apparently the complex was formerly a vintage motel]. The interior is small and equally charming. It is all polished woods inside, recalling being inside a cozy Swiss chalet, which is fun. The resident Disc Jockey also presides from a high booth set in the interior of Leu Leu. The entire experience of my dinner at Leu Leu Restaurant was better than expected. From the kind and professional service to the interesting food, the evening of my visit was five stars all the way. Bravo.

Derek I.

Vibe is dope - a hidden gem nestled next to some small businesses. Never went inside to see the seating, but outside was inviting and had a really cool giant tree (with disco ball) and nice lighting. Food - 4/5. Food is intended to be shared. Crab tostada and shrimp rolls (rolled tacos) were spectacular. Lots of flavor profiles going on. The crispy chicken was a miss (2/5) mainly because it was heavily, and I mean heavily salted. Super crisp, but nearly inedible without the mole - which was more like a masala tbh. Butter rice was also a nice feature. The dessert gets huge kudos for working with Little Fox ice cream in Oceanside - it's top tier local ice cream so happy to see two spots collabing. They've got a nice wine selection, some beers but no spirits - womp womp. Service is good, they explain the menu well. This is a great place to go on a date, have a celebration, or just chill and share plates.

Sway T.

As I took my first bite of the Winter Roasted Vegetable Salad, I immediately texted my best friend in Australia & said "Currently eating the best salad of my life. Details to come." I don't know how to explain it- there is a seasoning in this salad with the mix of veggies that make me want to go full-on vegetarian. We also got the flatbread which was our second favorite dish- the nice touch of burrata and the various nuts and spices were delicate and divine. The crispy chicken and meatballs were good- but nothing to separate their dishes from other places with similar palate. The ambience and character is what makes this cute hideout a gem. We sat on the patio with a disco ball hanging from a tree, candle lighting, and their famous aqua painted door. Inside there is a DJ & dramatic jade green curtains hanging over tables, inviting you to camaraderie amongst friends over wine and good grub. I will literally go there back for this seasonal salad. I am now blue-that everytime I eat any other salad, it will all sadly pale in comparison to my first bites here. We came for an early Valentine's Day Dinner, but we left with an indention for salad delicacy that is simply irreplaceable.

Elizabeth M.

This mysterious spot, a blend of music lounge and fusion restaurant, feels like a secret worth sharing. We finally got lucky and snagged a last-minute table. Tucked away in a mall in Leucadia, it doesn't look like much from the outside, but step in and the vibe shifts immediately. The host was incredibly attentive, turned on the heater for us while we waited and even offered a glass of sparkling wine. A lovely start. We ordered the Rip & Dip (50/50 roasted red pepper butter and toum). The Prager Bros bread and escabeche veggies were the perfect delivery system for the dips. The toum with pistachio dukkha? Bright, bold, and addictive. Then came the Fabergé Egg--Wagyu tartar wrapped in sushi rice and fried, served on seaweed. A clever little gem. (Though I do wish the seaweed had been just a bit crispier.) For mains, the Pibil Lamb Shank was fall-off-the-bone tender. A splash of lime really elevated the flavor and cut through the richness beautifully. The Baja Sea Bass Shawarma hit all the right notes, bright, spicy, and comforting. We finished with Ponyboy, a wild mashup of passion fruit, lime, turmeric, cheesecake, and a miso tahini cookie crumble. It sounded exciting but ended up being my least favorite of the night. A little too chaotic for my taste. Still, the chef is creating something special here--vibrant, cozy, and wildly creative. Worth the splurge. Worth the wait.

Sarah S.

We arrived about 30 minutes before our Friday night reservation, and the hostess was incredibly accommodating, seating us right away. From the moment we walked in, the space felt welcoming and relaxed. The DJ spinning records was a fun touch and added to the overall vibe. The interior is charming--garden-like with mismatched tables and chairs--and the decor is thoughtfully done. Service was truly commendable. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, helpful, and attentive throughout the evening. We were seated inside, which felt cozy and lively, though it did get fairly noisy, especially since we were near a very large group. This would actually be a great spot for a group gathering or event. One thing to note: the website does not reflect the current menu, which was a bit confusing. As for the food, it was good but not particularly memorable. The avgolemono soup was comforting but lacked depth. The crispy chicken was indeed crispy, but flavor-wise it fell flat--it needed much more of the mole sauce, as only a small dash was provided. Without it, the dish felt underwhelming. The fried bread was actually very good, but unfortunately it arrived after we had already finished our entrées, so we ended up boxing it to take home. The drink selection is limited to beer and wine, but the sangria was enjoyable. Overall, there was nothing wrong with the food, but nothing stood out either. With just a few thoughtful tweaks to the menu and execution, this place could really shine, because the atmosphere and service are already doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

Phil B.

Four of us had dinner here and all loved it. Came here with a bit of trepidation because the menu didn't have any sort of a familiar theme. As it turned out it didn't matter because most everything we did have was superb. Fried chicken, sea bass as main courses and three appetizers were plenty for four. The Faberge egg and tostada were both treats and unique. The veggies and dips were the least interesting. Our server was a manager, Natalie, and she was really wonderful. She took time to explain the menu item by item, and you could tell how much she loved the restaurant and everything about it. Her enthusiams was infectuous, but also well deserved and she treated us like honored guests. This was one of those rare dining experiences where everything worked well - the food, the service, the ambience - the entire experience. Can't wait to go back for their winter menu coming soon.

Matthew D.

Was a mixed bag that left me disappointed in Claudette Zepeda's restaurant. The good: ambiance/music and wine selection. The crab tostada I'd recommend. The meh: The pan com tomate was not worth even taking a picture. They put the smallest anchovy I've ever seen on it. Ridiculous $7. For how expensive this place is, the service was lacking. They didn't ever refill our wine or swap our plates between dishes. Not sure what type of service they are going for. The bad: shrimp summer rolls were so salty from the cotija maybe? Like a bad lumpia meets a worse taquito but no taste of shrimp. The white widow salsa came with a warning from the server about how hot it was. Maybe make something more medium for $38 rolls! Only overly spicy hot sauce was available. The brisket was just BAD. Seriously lacking flavor. Tortillas were nothing special. I was shocked. Overall I can't give Leu Leu more than 3/5.

Marcie L.

I dined here on a Wednesday evening around 8 PM with a friend. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and it's beautifully decorated. They had live music playing, which added to the charm. Overall, a very cute and cozy atmosphere. When we sat down, the bartender, who is also the owner, came by to open our bottle of wine. However, the corkage fee was shockingly high at $45. Our waitress never once refilled our wine glasses and had to be reminded to bring water, which she also never topped off. They do serve complimentary cheese-it style crackers while you wait, and they're delicious, a nice touch. The food itself was phenomenal, though a bit overpriced. The portion sizes were ideal for sharing. We ordered: Cold Dishes: *Leu Leu's Fabergé Egg - beautifully presented and flavorful. *Bluefin Tuna Crudo - excellent overall, but the tuna was a bit tough to cut; it would have been better if pre-sliced. Hot Dish (Main Course): *Fried Chicken - generous serving, crispy, and absolutely delicious. My friend thought it was a little salty, but I enjoyed it. Overall, two cold dishes and one hot dish were the perfect amount for two people. One small note: we were warned that the wooden boards outside leading to the restroom and entrance aren't heel-friendly. Considering how upscale this spot is, that's something they should fix. In summary, the food and atmosphere were outstanding, and the owner was very friendly. Unfortunately, the service was disappointing. No one checked in on us during the meal. We had to request clean plates after our appetizers, and we even had to bring the check to the waitress ourselves. For the prices charged, especially that $45 corkage fee, I expected much better service. The food alone is worth trying, but if they want to live up to a five-star reputation, the service needs serious improvement.

JiaJia T.

I was excited to try Leu Leu because I saw an article about its opening and reservation was a bit more challenging because it was mostly through text/phone. Entering Leu Leu felt like entering a hidden door and behind those doors was an eclectically space that took you to a collection of various memories and experiences. I want to come back to experience it with music. Onto the food-had the rip and dip (pistachio dukka and whipped butter with tahini and garbanzo). This was lovely and perfect with some veggies in escabeche and artisan bread. Spicy pan con tomate was a bite bursting with flavor. The pibil lamb shank was falling off the bone tender. The Baja seabass shawarma was interesting but it was a bit dry and made me miss the moist and flaky texture of seabass that I so love. Also at almost $50, the few slices of the shawarma was just lacking. The faberge egg with beef tartar was my favorite. I loved the flavor and the contrasting textures. I didn't know what to make out of the dessert ponyboy and I don't think it knew either. It was just too many flavors that didn't work well together. I would probably come back again when there's music since I love the decor and vibe of the place.

Candace C.

Wow, loved it, thank you Leu Leu's and Chef Zepeda! The Leu Leu's fabergé egg was my favorite hands down (see egg yolk wrapped in rice and waygu tartare with dish of nori to wrap and eat). Plus appreciated all the little surprises and details with the check biscuit not biscuit tin that's all too family in my childhood plus the heartfelt note inside. We were seated on the patio for dinner and the tables were set up beautifully with vintage silverware and fresh flowers. There's a few parking spots in the lot but we found a street spot. Our server Alec was very helpful and provided excellent suggestions and a menu overview. The staff brought up house water with basil and a cheez-its house treat to start. For dinner we got the hot special of the whole Baja golden sea bass that came with sticky rice and a tomatillo type sauce and was cooked to perfection! Lots of wine on the menu beverage options. I was set on two desserts so got the pony sundae with passionfruit turmeric with cheesecake bites ice cream (so refreshing) with nuts and curry leaves and lime leaves. The second dessert was the chef special farmers blueberry bicolor sweet corn cinnamon rolls with ice cream on top which was decadent. Would come back when we're hungry to try more hot and cold mains.

Abby W.

Epic in every way. Locals only. The most charming of places. Service was amazing. Attentive without being over bearing or intrusive. The food was the star of the show.