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    Shan Xi Magic Kitchen

    4.2 (2.3k reviews)
    ModerateChinese, Noodles, Seafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Shan Xi Magic Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Shan Xi Magic Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    SHAN XI MAGIC KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Shan Xi Magic Kitchen

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    Beautiful lights
    Crystal B.

    I visited with a book club group. We were seated about 30 mins after we checked in which honestly wasn't too bad considering how many people were waiting. I ordered the beef brisket hand pulled noodles (mild spicy). The dish was delicious. It had amazing flavor! There was a good amount of beef and lots of noodles! Five stars! I took off a star because we basically had to negotiate to get the bill split into two checks. Apparently, they don't split the checks at all. I know we were in a larger party, and we weren't trying to get out of a larger gratuity (which they added the auto-gratuity onto both checks anyways which was fine). Their system has you scanning a QR code at the table anyways and paying through their online system. Just a pet peeve of mine. I would definitely come back for the noodles with my husband, but I wouldn't even consider it an option with friends in the future.

    Hand Pulled Noodles with Cumin Beef, Sliced Beef in Chili Oil, Boneless Fried Yellow Croaker
    Nathan L.

    While San Diego is a massive foodie destination, Chinese food is often cited as one of the few weaknesses the city skips over. However, Shan Xi Magic Kitchen is an exception, and a great one at that. Impossible parking lot. Tablet waiting list system. QR Code menu. Giant water pitcher. It was the whole Convoy restaurant experience! For a party of two on a Sunday afternoon, we were the fourth or fifth on the list and got called in only 10-15 minutes later. The food came out fast and tasted very fresh! The noodles were chewy and the beef was seasoned well with a light cumin flavor (but not so much that it tasted like taco meat). The beef in chili oil was my favorite; it wasn't too spicy and included bean sprouts and seaweed that were perfectly cooked. The fried yellow croaker was on the drier side, but tasted like if pork rinds were made of fish. The decor was truly magical, and the layout let visitors view directly into the supposed magic kitchen. Not much can be said about the service because there was very little interaction, which may help to those who may feel intimidated by a restaurant like this. My friend, who is a big foodie, said everything he's tried on the menu was a winner, and I am now convinced.

    78. Green Beans Braised Eggplant
    Andre A.

    I would describe this place as good but not great. San Diego does not have that many options for hand pulled Noodles so if you have a craving for biang biang noodle, this would be the place to come to. Overall it's a solid bowl of biang biang but the flavor and texture of similar noodles in LA/OC area are much better. Also would not recommend the crispy spicy chicken as most of the chicken was batter with very little meat.

    Stephanie O.

    Stopped in for an impulsive dinner choice while passing through the area, and I'm so happy we did. We love a good noodle and dumpling spot and this place was absolutely up to our expectations! Like most places on Convoy, parking was an absolute zoo, and the spaces are so small. Once you're in, service is quick and the food arrives in a short amount of time from ordering. We ordered a variety of noodles, dumplings and the beef sticks. It was definitely strong on the seasoning for the beef sticks but cooked well! The absolute star of the show were the noodles. You absolutely must get any of their noodle dishes here. The beef noodles were delicious - chewy noodles and melt in your mouth beef chunks. The Dan Dan noodles were phenomenal. We did ask for the sauce on the side because I have a low spice tolerance, but definitely went for it once it was available. The dumplings are packed to the brim and perfectly cooked! We loved the balance of dumpling filling to skin. Definitely would recommend coming here if you have the patience to deal with the parking lot lol.

    Shylene B.

    This spot is an absolute 1000/10 !  From the moment you walk in to how you order and how fast checkout is, I loved the whole experience. It's pretty much self service they can take your order for you, but the convenience of ordering on your phone is so nice and you call them over to pay at the end. I also like that they leave the whole jug of water at the table ! With the amount of water I drink it was so nice not having to ask for refills. Sooooo FUN FACT this was my first time actually trying dumplings and I must say I'm obsessed ! I literally came back the next day for lunch and ordered dumplings again. I highly recommend this spot.  What we ordered: 12. Hand pulled noodle w cumin - never had these before and they were so good. You can definitely taste the cumin. I added chili oil and vinegar and it made it even better.  78. Dry fried green beans - absolute must try. These have so much flavor and so much crunch 100/10 99. Spicy chili dumplings (shrimp, pork & leek) - OMGOSH pls try these !! 100000/10!  I will def be back and tell everyone about this spot! The restaurant is super clean, parking is free up to 120 minutes and I had no trouble finding a spot around 5:20p. The decor is super cute and felt homey and authentic. They have a QR menu that you scan and a pretty easy ordering system. I loved that they included pictures near each food item. It made my life so much easier! The menu is pretty big, but don't hesitate to ask the staff for help. They were super friendly.

    73. Spicy Sauteed Cabbage Pork
    Mercy H.

    Came here craving something refreshing but still satisfying, and their liang pi cold noodles absolutely delivered. The texture is perfectly chewy, coated in a sesame-forward sauce that hits that ideal balance of tangy and savory without feeling heavy. It's the kind of dish you keep going back to bite after bite, especially on a warm day. The standout for me though was the cabbage with dried chili pork belly. So good. The pork belly is rich and flavorful, with just the right amount of heat from the dried chili, while the cabbage adds a slight crunch and freshness that balances everything out. Simple dishes!

    Shrimp, Pork and Leek Dumplings
    Phing T.

    Dear diary Came here for dinner and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere was calm and soothing. We ordered by scanning the QR code. The staff were friendly and helpful. The dumplings tasted light and refreshing. The green beans were amazing mixed with garlic and chili but wasn't too spicy. The hand pulled noodle was thick and the cumin beef was tender with great flavor. The portions are definitely bigger than I expected but I'm not complaining. There are also plenty of parkings. I would definitely go back here to try out other things on their menu!

    29. Beef Hand Ripped Noodles
    Nicole M.

    Definitely one of my go-to spots when I'm not sure where to go for dinner! I really love their beef hand ripped noodles and veggie options. I generally like to pair the hand ripped noodles with the lactuca to get more veggies in but I also really enjoy the green beans and eggplant dishes as well There's a QR code on the table that you scan and it'll take you to the webpage you order on, then the servers will bring your food out once it's ready. All the food comes out hot and fresh with a decently sized portion! There's also plenty of seats inside so it's normally pretty easy to get a table quickly, and I've seen them accommodate large parties inside as well.

    Hand pulled noodles with beef soup
    Ashley T.

    Simply put: overrated. And I hate to leave reviews like this, but it has to be done. Parking is a mess, even on a Monday night. It's tight, people are discourteous (lady in red Lexus stole my spot even when I was waiting first). A little bit of a wait around 7pm. Full house, which was a good sign. Water, plates and utensils served when sat. Ordering via QR code. The wait staff did their best, but there's room for improvement. Dishes came out at random; not just for our table but most tables around us. For example: appetizers/starters came after main dish. Not all dishes came out at the same time; even though requested. My rice was cold before my mapo tofu came. Flavor is there but the mala was too overpowering. Yes, yes, I know, this is a Szechuan restaurant, but man, that was the only flavor profile we tasted. Ambiance: really tight.. I could hear the guy next to us converse the entire time.. and it was a party of 5, and we only heard him.. lol. I guess this is it for SD, but this OC girly has had better.

    18. Cucumber Salad
    Mirei K.

    Their cucumber salad and green beans were really good! It might top din tai fung for me. We didn't wait long for our food and since we had a big party, we got to try so many dishes! The service was very good, they made sure our water was always full and the vibes were very good.

    Erica Z.

    Says open til 10 but last call is actually way before at 9. They should change the time if they don't accept even to go orders after 9.

    Cumin Lamb Biang-Biang Noodles
    Melanie H.

    Ever since my friends brought me here, I've tried to stop by during my trips to San Diego. Shan Xi Magic Kitchen offers delicious Chinese food that is easy to order for takeout using their online platform. Spicy Cumin Lamb Biangbiang Noodles (5/5) - I am obsessed with their hand-pulled noodles. They have the perfect texture, and they soak up the delicious sauce. This dish has the perfect proportions of cumin lamb, vegetables, and noodles. Fresh Three Flavor (5/5) - I love that this dish combines eggplant, potato, and bell peppers in a spicy garlic sauce. Mapo Tofu w/ meat (4/5) - This mapo tofu uses silken tofu with only a couple of small bits of ground pork. This dish hits the spot if you're craving mapo tofu, but I do wish there were a stronger mala flavor. Saute Spicy Chicken Noodles (5/5) - This dish is huge and can easily be shared between 2-3 people. It comes with hand-pulled noodles, braised chicken, and bell peppers. My takeout order was ready at the promised time and was packed securely. The only downside is that parking can be difficult to find on weekend evenings.

    Spicy 86. Shrimp, Pork and Leek Dumplings
    Anna H.

    Exceptional and authentic Chinese cuisine in convoy. We got the spicy pork, leek, and shrimp dumplings along with the green beans and the beef cumin noodles. Everything is fresh and flavorful. Service was also good, the restaurant is really clean. The menu is on a QR code at the table. It's a really diverse menu, there's vegetarian options and soup and dumplings and noodles. I can't wait to come back and try something new!

    Spicy braised beef noodle soup

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    12 days ago

    As aithentic as it gets. Super delicious hand cut noodles. It taste like Food Network should've came here.

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    Page 1 of 59

    Shan Xi Magic Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shan Xi Magic Kitchen

    Is there outdoor seating?

    Nope

    What are their current hours? I called on a weekday at 8pm and no one answered

    11:00 a.m. -8:00 p.m.

    Do they take reservations?

    Do they have gluten free options (ie sub Tamari for soy sauce?

    Not likely. They don't have many dishes that are gluten free, and unless you bring a Mandarin-speaking friend with you, there may be a possible language barrier to finding out when you're there

    Are these all spicy dishes or there are options?

    There are options for non spicy appetizers and entrees

    Are there any vegan options or items that can be made vegan?

    yes, my vegan friend and i eat here all the time.

    Is there outdoor seating?

    There is now.

    Are there any vegan options or dishes that can be made vegan?

    The liang pi and biang biang noodles (the two best dishes, in my opinion) should both be vegan. There are also a number of tasty vegetable options.

    What are the vegan options?

    they have some veggie stir fry options that are great like eggplant. you can probably request for the noodle soups to have no meat

    What type of regional cuisine is this?

    It's mostly from Shianxi and Ninxia/Gansu regions. These are northwest China (west of Beijing). The regions were important as they were on the Silk Road, so the cuisine features a lot of dishes with influence from India/Middle East (ie lamb, cumin… Read more

    Msg or no?

    I can't speak as to the powdered form, but they do use Fish sauce. Soy sauce and soy protein, Mushrooms, Ripe tomatoes, Broccoli, and Peas. All of these items contain MSG.… Read more

    Is this a good choice for a rehearsal dinner? In terms of ambience, size, food quality, and price?

    Probably not. There are small tables and it's not a large place

    I am looking for chilled Liang Pi noodles with cucumber and bean sprouts. Are Biang Biang noodles the same thing?

    No, they're different. Liangpi=chilled flat, slippery wheat noodles that are steamed and often served cold. Biangbiang=thicker, hand-stretched wheat noodles that are boiled and served hot.

    Can we bring our own beer?

    I dunno. They might not like that

    Hello, I'm looking for authentic Saozi noodles, Does this place have them on their menu?

    Yes' this place sell this one. You can try it

    View All 17 Questions

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    C Level - C Level patio

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    4.3(5.5k reviews)
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    OMG! As I stated before, I love to have a dining experience where I know it's gonna be excellent…read moreevery time. We came here for lunch and I am so happy that we did. C-Level never disappoints. We were seated right away after about a five minute wait. I did have a reservation on OpenTable but when we got there, there were several challenges I believe in the seating area. Once we were seated, I noticed Chef Deborah walking around. She was greeting customers and being her very friendly and professional self. I was so impressed. We ordered.: Tempura Artichoke Appetizer, Fish and Chips, and a Chicken Caesar Salad. Everything was DELICIOUS! It was also awesome because Chef Deborah came by to greet us and talk to us and I had a chance to express how much I really like her Casa Gabriella restaurant in La Mesa. I told her how I have been a fan of her restaurants for a long time and I absolutely miss Bo Beau that used to be in Hillcrest, and then Ocean Beach. She updated me that it is now located in Long Beach, which is still good to know. Being able to dine and speak with the actual executive chef of this brand was awesome. Thank you, CRG for providing a wonderful lunch experience and for your consistency and delivering an excellent dining experience. I advise that people join their CRG Dining Loyalty Rewards.

    We went here for their happy hour. We were early before the restaurant got busy so there were a lot…read moreof parking spots available. Reservations are highly recommended! We had reservations and we seated right away on their patio with a gorgeous view of the San Diego skyline. We took advantage of their happy hour specials and ordered the sesame crusted Brie dish that our waiter recommended. We also ordered the Cesar salad and their delicious pistachio and ricotta lasagna. So yummy!

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    Blue Water - Cod and red snapper tacos

    Blue Water

    4.2(4.5k reviews)
    5.5 miMiddletown, Mission Hills
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    If you live in San Diego or visiting like us, Blue Water is a MUST TRY. We have been coming to this…read morelocation for many years now and it never disappoints. Plenty of seating and excellent service. We love their fish tacos, the nachos, their sandwiches, the fried calamari. Taste is always on point. During lunch and dinner it gets busy but it is worth the wait.

    I didn't even know about this restaurant/market - Blue Water - and was brought here by my friends…read morewho reside in this metro area. Since I tend to always ask for Italian or Greek food, I felt it was only right for me to acquiesce to what they wanted to eat that night. Blue Water sits about halfway between Old Town and Little Italy on the side of I-5 opposite from the international airport. There are other restaurants clustered in these few blocks that are also popular. If you are willing to walk a few blocks, you can take the trolley here. One orders at the counter and the food is then brought out to you via a placard with a number you put on your table. The service at Blue Water was unremarkable, but, since there was a constant line, you can't expect them to fawn over you. The prices vary, but, for the more "exclusive" slabs of fish, they run a little on the higher side. The interior has woodsy and somewhat seaside nautical decor. It might also take a little bit of work to find a table owing to its popularity. I will eat seafood, and like some types of seafood very much, but I'd say I don't care for more than half of the seafood out there. Here, they feature many types of seafood, all of which are fresh and you can peruse all the glass cases displaying it. Coming from the kitchen, there are some themed and nuanced presentations of it. I didn't need an entire fish market. I just order pieces of fish that can be presented like a piece of steak and, hopefully, with as little cartilage as possible. Similarly, I also like some smaller fish made to look that way, such as trout. I'm not a big fan of shellfish and don't eat clams, mussels, calamari, and others, but do like shrimp and scallops. They seem to put together some nice platters with scallops. I will also eat lobster, but have probably done so less than what one can count on two hands. If someone wants to treat me to the latter, I'm in. The three platters delivered to the table were enjoyed with my friends hosting me here enjoying the food more than I did. To keep things simple, I ordered a trio of fish tacos. They were fairly good. My friends liked their dishes more than I did. I typically wonder if I'm going astray when I'm not giving a business a rating that's in line with the herd. Three stars does indeed mean that a place is fine and Blue Water is fine. I might be doing this because of the service, the pricing of some items such that you wouldn't want to add much on, and the overall appeal of my selected dish. However, since there are many other four and five star reviews, and if you really like fish, Blue Water will most likely be reliable for you.

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    Ironside Fish & Oyster - CLAMS CASINO Venus CLAMS, BACON, PARMESAN BELL PEPPER, ONION, GARLIC, PANKO $26

    Ironside Fish & Oyster

    4.2(6.1k reviews)
    6.7 miLittle Italy
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    Happy hour $1 oysters always hit! My favorite spot to celebrate loved ones birthdays! Don't forget…read moreto order the clam chowder and biscuit too.

    Have not been since remodel and new chef / menu. Happy to say still one of my favorite "date night"…read morerestaurants in San Diego (dad / daughter date this time) We had the bread (delicious, a hint of citrus in the loaf I think) and the main lobster cocktail to start - lobster was semi-hands on to get to claws to make it interactive. Perhaps a dip or preparation with the tamale would have improved? Mains were catch of the day (halibut and ahi) plus sides. Fish was simply grilled but cooked perfectly, asparagus was a standout side as cooked perfectly crisp with a nice char topped with an amazing green goddess sauce. Mushrooms were surprisingly large portion. Frites were perfect as frites could be. The ambiance is the same as I remember but the place feels a bit more elegant with updated lighting, table side lanterns. and a bit more "swank" to banquettes and brass / wood molding. Service was prompt and fun. All in all everything it has always been as a SD institution. Note to Somm / Bev Mgr: You CLEARLY have an issue with Chardonnay, and I respect that statement (a quirk shared across CH restaurants, try finding vodka or ketchup at C&C). I would only say that if you have an issue with Chardonnay and only have one by glass and one by bottle on the list, it should be French and not CA. (Maybe a Chablis or Pouilly Fuisse by the glass and a 1er cru by bottle?) Seems like if you're going to be bold and snub Chardonnay (at a fish / seafood establishment no less) you should fully commit to your boldness and not pussyfoot with a CA bottle to appease those looking for something assembling a butter bomb (to be fair, the glass selection was an unoaked stainless steel variety) Besides, if you went French you wouldn't even have to have the word "Chardonnay" on your wine list :) PS: I went by the glass with 1er cru champagne and a morgon which was perfect with the grilled halibut and stood up to the asparagus. You're the best, love your establishment and I will be back

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    Water Grill - San Diego - Raw bar tower for 2+ people!

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    4.4(3.8k reviews)
    7.6 miGaslamp, East Village
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    As a local resident and business owner, I have a deep appreciation for spots that deliver premier…read morequality. Water Grill in the Gaslamp (on J St) hits the mark every single time! My neighbor Alyson and I grabbed seats at the far eastside of the bar by the clam shells. First off, the craftsmanship of the space is stunning, the barstools are incredible, heavy, and look like luxurious vintage furniture straight out of a classic Bond movie. Our server, Dave, provided absolute gold-standard hospitality. He kept our cups full, the smiles flowing, and made us feel like old friends within minutes. For dinner, we shared the calamari and each had the beet salad. I am rarely at a loss for words, but the flavors honestly left me speechless. It's authentic, top-tier staff like Dave who make San Diego such a world-class city. Highest recommendation for phenomenal food and unmatched ambiance! Eric Atilano

    I made a dinner reservation for 3 using OpenTable. When we arrived (all separately), it was chaotic…read morein the area due to a Padres game. I wish I had used SpotHero or something to get a parking space. We were hooked up with a corner booth table and it was really nice by the open window. Service was attentive and our water cups were refilled frequently. The servers were quite professional and pleasant. The bread was wonderful. We all loved our food including the brussel sprouts, sea bass, and kiwi sorbet. It was the perfect spot to have a long catchup meal for someone traveling into San Diego for a meeting. I highly recommend!

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    100s Seafood Grill Buffet

    100s Seafood Grill Buffet

    3.9(2.1k reviews)
    3.6 mi
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    Takes reservations
    All you can eat

    Admittedly, in our relationship I am the researcher & planner extraordinaire while hubby is the…read moredriver & enthusiastic follower. But every once in a while, hubby has a special request & we make it happen. His San Diego wish? Thursday night all-you-can-eat lobster dinner at 100s Seafood Grill Buffet. And when I say seafood extravaganza, I mean it. Beyond the lobster, there were crab legs, oysters, sushi galore (maki, nigiri & sashimi), lots of Asian specialties plus plenty of American comfort-food favorites to satisfy just about everyone. Now, full disclosure: my feelings were a little mixed, but hubby? He was living his absolute best life. The lobster is served cut in half & broiled, which unfortunately made the meat sort of melt into the shell. Each half ended up being only a couple bites & you did have to wait in line to grab one when fresh trays came out (one half per person at a time). That said, credit where it is due: the kitchen brought out lobster trays pretty regularly, so the wait never felt unreasonable. Meanwhile, hubby proceeded to eat what I can only describe as his body weight in crab legs. His only critique was that he prefers them served hot rather than cold, although the hot butter on draft definitely helped make up for that. I also appreciated how many unique dishes were available beyond seafood, making the buffet feel more interesting than your standard steam-table experience. And for me, the dessert section was a standout, especially the gelato station, which I may or may not have visited more than once. At $56.99, my personal preference would probably be to spend that money at a really good sushi restaurant. But if your dream scenario involves unlimited lobster, crab legs, oysters & a seafood feast where you can try a little bit of everything, this place absolutely delivers. Final verdict? Maybe not my personal seafood fantasy but hubby was THRILLED & sometimes that's the most important review of all. NOM NOM NOM #YUM

    The food is not good. And $176.93 for 3 because we came in on a Thursday?? Because it's lobster…read morenight. We didn't even get any lobster. That's a disgusting amount of money to pay for diarrhea inducing food!!! Yuck 1 out of 5 stars because YELP won't allow me to score this place any lower. Best part of my meal was the Diet Pepsi and coconut gelato.

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    Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill - Ocean Beach - Bowl of clam chowder with the view!

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    4.3(734 reviews)
    7.4 miOcean Beach, Point Loma
    $$

    Good fresh sashimi. Pleasant service. A bit rustic (read wooden benches) on the patio--where you…read morewant to be, really, as you are at the waterfront. Pricey ($38 for 1pp sashimi plate, side of seaweed, soft drink, and tip), but worth it if you're ok with the wooden benches.

    Best place for fresh grilled seafood!!! We came here today for lunch. Line was not as long which…read moreI'm happy as I read that this place always has a long line. Place is packed though. Sitting is both inside and outside. We ordered several tacos, grilled sword fish, halibut, (2) yellow tail and shrimp. We also ordered a halibut sandwich. We sat in the patio outside. Beautiful outdoor sitting. We waited about 10-15min for our food. Wow their tacos were big!!!. The size of the fish were huge and they packed the shrimp on the taco as well. The fish and shrimp were grilled to perfection. It was moist and tender. The cabbage, red onion, tomato and sauce gave it a nice crunch in every bite. Adding a hot sauce elevated the flavors and it was hard to stop eating. The fish sandwich was also huge and grilled perfectly. My hubby could not stop raving how delicious it is. This meal was worth the wait! It is one of the best, freshest seafood I have had in awhile. It was just yummy and my favorite word, "amazingly delicious". As always we were stuffed!!! Will be back!!!

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    Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill - Ocean Beach - Mimosa flight

    Mimosa flight

    Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill - Ocean Beach - Calamari

    Calamari

    Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill - Ocean Beach - Refreshing Mocktail

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    Refreshing Mocktail

    Tom Ham's Lighthouse

    Tom Ham's Lighthouse

    4.0(3.1k reviews)
    7.4 mi
    $$$

    We had a lovely lunch with the family to celebrate my son's graduation from high school. We arrived…read moreon time after the graduation and were seated right away with a table with the view of the bay. Our waitress Sarah was exceptional. She made sure we were taken care of and even gave my son a complimentary dessert. We had delicious appetizers and the lunch menu had the perfect selections. We got the hamburger, fish & chips, turkey sandwich, lobster rolls and Bbq sandwich. Everything was so yummy and everyone enjoyed the lunch. Everyone at the restaurant were so friendly and we had an amazing experience celebrating my son's graduation.

    Made a dinner reservation for 5PM. Waited a minute to get a table. We were given a corner with a…read moregreat view! Linguine and Clams - fresh clams with delicious sauce but I wish it could have been thicker and linguine is more al dente. Had to request for extra parmesan cheese. Paella - perfectly cooked saffron rice, fresh seafoods and generous chicken and chorizo. Calamari with honey chili lime sauce - crispy outside and soft calamari with delicious sauce. Soup of the Day/ Lobster bisque - smooth, creamy, and well seasoned soup. Glad there's not too much wine added. Some restaurants, wine overpowers the soup. Outstanding customer service from front desk to our servers. We were given a great table overlooking San Diego Bay. Thanks for the free brownies with ice cream. Highly recommended!

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    Tom Ham's Lighthouse
    Tom Ham's Lighthouse - Bayside wedding venue. (ceremony site and 3 reception rooms available)

    Bayside wedding venue. (ceremony site and 3 reception rooms available)

    Tom Ham's Lighthouse

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    Shan Xi Magic Kitchen - chinese - Updated June 2026

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