Delicious!! Parking is kind of tight. We parked near Lowe's. The food was outstanding. Very fresh…read moreand delicious.

Honestly this was one of the BEST meals I've had in such a long time, I had to come and tell…read moreeveryone about it. If you're considering visiting this gem, just do it! I was kind of bummed that I was the only person dining for lunch, they honestly deserve a crowd. The food and service was 10/10. The setup is really cute on the inside as well and I was able to sit comfortably at a table with my daughter's stroller right next to me. Upon entering, I was greeted right away. I already knew that I wanted to order the Khao Soi because I had looked up their menu and pictures way before coming in and it looked like their specialty. I ordered an iced jasmine green tea as well and chose a table to sit at. The woman who took my order was really nice and helpful with ordering. My food didn't take long to come out, and it was DELICIOUS. This was my first time trying this dish so I didn't know what to expect but it was everything and more. It was topped with what I think was fried onion and chili crisp as well for some added spice. The tea was also so delicious, the crushed ice they use is my favorite. The tea was garnished with an orange slice and my toddler decided to much on it. The woman who took my order noticed my daughter eating the orange slice and she brought me out a couple more on the side. You really don't experience that level of customer service anymore, so it was such a sweet gesture. They have a lot of other things on their menu that I would love to come back and try. I also used the restroom before leaving and it was super clean. I honestly have no complaints whatsoever and I hope this business continues to thrive!

What a great place. I walked from my hotel and it was about a 10 min stroll. I was craving some…read moreAsian food and this is a small quaint place. The food was awesome and so was the service! I had the chili pork dumplings and Mongolian beef. It all came out freshly made and super hot. She recommended the chili pork dumplings and they were fire!! So good. The flavor, spice, and sauce were on point. I would have 5 orders of these. I forgot the pic but I had the Mongolian beef lunch deal and it was also great. Portion was good the flavor was on point, not too much sauce, great spices, The service was quick, the two ladies were so nice and respectful and funny. Great time and meal before I headed out.

I got food to go. We got an appetizer, Hong Kong BBQ pork bun, which neither of us liked. It is a…read morefluffy soft bun filled with pork. We ordered a Pad Thai Shrimp and Thai Drunken combo- beef, chicken and shrimp. These dishes were good. I liked the flavors of the Thai Drunken combo. My boyfriend ate his whole dish, the Pad Thai shrimp, so I didn't get a taste. He said we probably won't order from them again, but it is close by and it tasted good. The staff was friendly and quick. The guy after me asked for hot sauces. So then I knew to ask for them. They didn't offer, but once I asked, they gave them to me.

Our 20th wedding anniversary was spent at our true guilty pleasure: Dija Mara…read more We would have loved to get everything on the menu but honestly we get stuffed really quickly and tried to stick with the perfected dishes: Grilled Roti with Lamb Jus Curry Sea Bream Ceviche Actually we noticed the menu didn't mention "Sea Bream" anymore and just said "Local Ceviche". Did they change fish? Tasted the same basically. Still amazing as always. We also tried some new dishes: Beef Tartare Chicken Thigh Skewers Green Curry Mussels The Beef Tartare was just okay. It's the only dish I probably would not ever order again. It wasn't bad, but compared to every other banger on the menu, it's last. Something has to be last. The Chicken Thigh Skewers were AMAZING! OMG, so much flavor in the chicken but the sauce really drove it overboard. Wow. These are a must try, you won't regret it. And lastly, the Green Curry Mussels blew us away. I love mussels and always order it whenever I see it on a menu. We devoured all of the mussels (and added the $9 Roti) and even got a container to-go to save the broth, lol. Truly another banger from Dija Mara. I really appreciate that the menu changes periodically without removing the veteran dishes we continue to enjoy. Just want to mention something besides the culinary spectacles. Dija Mara's decor is every bit as memorable as its food. The artwork isn't an afterthought--it's part of the experience. The dining room manages to feel both trendy and intimate at the same time, while the graffiti-covered back wall adds a playful, street-art feel that contrasts beautifully with the polished food and cocktails. The result is a space that feels creative, unpretentious, and genuinely cool. The industrial concrete and reclaimed wood elements give it a modern edge, while the Indonesian-inspired art creates a sense of place that feels completely unique in North County. This is really our happy place and I hope it never changes.

What a disappointment. I had high expectations due to the Michelin bib Gourmand award, but the…read moreflavors fell extremely short. The restaurant was fairly empty although Resy wouldn't take reservations. Plenty of bar seating. The service was fair, not particularly warm or engaging, which was fine. The food was alluring and beautiful, but the flavors were salty, flat, and mushy. Starting with the Paloma, it was nothing special. Just something you could get with a well happy hour special. Serviceable but unremarkable. Very Instagrammable, however. The pork belly was nicely charred and had nice bite sized morsels on the skewer, good texture, but the sauce was very salty, almost bitter. Forced myself to eat the 2nd skewer, but could not push through the last 2. In contradistinction, the beef rendang was almost bland, like a microwaveable peanut butter Hormel beef stew, and the cardinal sin - the rice underneath was mushy. That was what sealed the nail on the coffin. Bland, albeit tender short rib, on top of smushy rice. Dead. I barely ate one of the 2 pieces of ribs and couldn't do more. The staff wanted to see if I wanted a take out container. When you see a customer that disengaged with the food, you'd better be wary. Being Asian, I don't like to waste food, but when it's so not good, I'd rather walk away and get something else than to finish a terrible meal. Many diners have a millennia of choices in this price point. Sadly, not sure how this restaurant got recognition because it's half as delicious as your typical neighborhood Thai restaurant. Banana Leaf at the Original farmers market in LA is better, though humble and homely. Just very disappointing. Hope it was an off night and that others have a better experience.

Gonzo Ramen is literally the best restaurant to ever exist. Their atmosphere offers unique decor,…read morenot to mention they have the best food, and the employees there are really nice. I always enjoy dining there with my family because they have good food that we can all enjoy together. Every year for my birthday I go to Gonzo! I simply love eating at Gonzo. First of all, I can't get over how scrumptious their food is, it is so tasty and packed with flavor. If you stand in line to order, as soon as you sit down you will have already been served. I don't know how Gonzo prepares their meals so fast, yet so delicious. Also the fact that they cook their food fresh daily is crazy to me. I've been to many ramen restaurants and no one compares to Gonzo's. My go to on the menu is the tonkotsu ramen with gyoza and chicken karaage. Gonzo also offers a very unique atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in Japan. They have waving cats, a big banana neon light, posters and a floating ball on top of the water station. The ball is so cool but I am still puzzled on how it works. Their decor can not be matched. They also have a TV that is always playing Anime. You can also sit inside or outside so if you feel like sitting inside, sit inside but if you want to sit outside, sit outside. Gonzo also does not offer reservations so there is always a place to sit. If there is nowhere to sit just get It to go, truly there is no other ramen stop better than Gonzo. Lastly, the people there are super nice, and always check up on you, they are very polite, and they always say your welcome. While you wait, you can enjoy your appetizers until your main meal arrives. Also if you ask them for a free ticket to their store, they will give you one, each member of the family gets one. You can go next door and trade them in for tokens, these tokens can be used to play claw machines so you can win stuff. But what tops that off is that all of the employees are welcoming and happy. Gonzo Ramen is the best restaurant in the world. They offer good food, an amazing atmosphere and the people there are super nice not to mention the location is very conveniently located near my house. I seriously think about Gonzo all the time. Gonzo is that go to place for me and my family.

I wasn't sure if this place would be overhyped, but it was genuinely so good! The ramen was so…read moreflavorful, and filling. By the way - the spicy is not too spicy

for nearly two years, Scout, my orange, husky-looking mut and I have been driving by their…read morenow-shuttered Encinitas location four times a week after playdates at Power Lines Dog Park. every time we do, I think "we gotta back there for another visit." pretty sure CHIKO has aged out of my draft queue. now that I've finally gotten around to finishing the review, they've been closed for months. in the draft, I suggested CHIKO might not be a destination restaurant, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, it's definitely a place worth stopping by for eats. if you wait long enough, like I did, the nearest ones are in the DC area and probably not worth a cross-country trip. sad.

Post-mortem... I was sad to hear that CHIKO permanently closed their doors at the end of last year…read more It's rare for an East Coast based Asian chain restaurant to migrate to California, but that was what CHIKO did. As noted by its name, this place served a fusion of Chinese and Korean cuisines. Their Encinitas location took over what used to be a roadside diner along N Coast Hwy 101. The seating capacity was less than 40 people which included a few high-top counter spots. At my last visit, I came for a late dinner before their closing time. A large menu was posted on the wall behind the service counter that listed about two dozen food offerings. The items seemed to be comfort food like pot stickers, spring rolls, fried rice, and chicken wings but flavored with unique combinations of seasonings and spices. I started my meal with the Marinated Beef Tri-Tip Skewers which came as a set of three and a Chinese mustard for dipping. The meat was very tender and well-seasoned. I also ordered the Cumin Lamb Stir Fry which the cashier said was medium spicy. After tasting a couple of bites of the noodles from the serving bowl, I agreed that the heat level was moderate, even for my palate. I thought the portion size should have been more for the price. That was my main criticism for both items, otherwise the food was solid for an Asian fusion eatery.

The food was so delicious. I fell in love with the food. The service was amazing, the waitress kept…read morechecking in with us and made sure everything was good. The ambiance was so chill and friendly, the only problem was one bathroom which I understand you can't change it.

We came in for a late dinner while in the area. I've had it bookmarked for a while so it was…read moreserendipitous that we happened to be in Vista for a birthday party just around the corner. The restaurant is small, cozy, welcoming and aesthetically pleasing. It isn't well suited for larger parties as most tables are tables for 2 unless tables are pushed together. They do have patio seating and heaters outside, but it didn't appeal to me being so close to the street/loud traffic. Gabriel checked us in, seated us, took our order, served our food and waited on us for majority of our visit, I would give him 10 stars just on his impeccable service. The food though? The food was AMAZING!! Everything we ordered was the best we have ever had anywhere. The buns were very kawaii (and we ordered ever single one to try). The fillings were savory, but we also loved their seasonal panda bun with ube filling while the kids preferred the nutella bunny. Best chicken karaage we've had by far, the coating almost tasted like it was rolled in kinako powder. The ramen broth was "chef's kiss" with so much flavors, the crab rangoon were jumbo and the filling was delicious, but the chicken katsu was also the best we have had anywhere (including Hawaii). The breading was just top tier crunchy while the chicken was thick and juicy. There isn't one bad thing I could say about this place, from the service to the food, I would make the drive out here again. Super duper, highly recommend, don't sleep on this little place, you'll regret it!

If I could give 10 stars, I would!!!…read more Blue Ocean is easily our favorite restaurant, and my boyfriend and I make the drive to Carlsbad every single month just to eat here. It's become our favorite date night spot, and after all this time, we've never had a bad experience. Our absolute favorite appetizer is the pork belly skewers. They are seriously unreal--they legit melt in your mouth and are packed with so much flavor. We also love the pork belly bao buns, which are just as delicious. The Brussels sprouts are another must-order. They're hands down the best Brussels sprouts we've ever had, and we can't come here without getting them. We also always order the spicy garlic edamame. The sauce is so good that we actually dip our sushi rolls in the leftover edamame sauce, and it's honestly a game changer. (The pricing is also unbeatable for how good the food is). Every sushi roll we've tried has been incredibly fresh and beautifully made. We always end up ordering way more food than we planned because everything is just that good. For drinks, the Cracked Summer is our go-to cocktail every single visit. It's refreshing, delicious, and pairs perfectly with the food. The atmosphere is perfect for a date night, the staff is always friendly and welcoming, and the quality is consistently amazing every time we visit. Blue Ocean has become more than just a restaurant to us--it's one of our favorite monthly traditions. If you're anywhere near Carlsbad, do yourself a favor and eat here. We recommend it to everyone, and we'll definitely be back next month for another amazing meal.

Came on a Thursday lunch and there's plenty of seating yet somewhat busy. Nice ambiance even had…read moretheir own parking lot They have a pretty extensive menu and I appreciate the lunch special items I was looking forward to a fresh poke salad but this was a big miss, mostly just cilantro and onion with little bits of albacore that didn't taste fresh So we ended up getting some cooked items such as padres roll which was baked and friend and their hot stone beef Perhaps location and ambiance is what u go for but def not for a true Japanese restaurant

I placed an online order for delivery to our hotel since it was late and I was craving Dim Sum!…read moreThe restaurant has authentic Shanghai style dishes including Dim Sum, various types of soups, pancakes, fried noodles, noodle soup, fried rice, appetizers and more. We ordered the following: - Shanghai Xiao Long Bao 5/5 - Shangahai Grilled Pork Bun 5/5 - Green Onion pancakes 4/5 - Shanghai pork potstickers 5/5 The food was delicious, Xiao Long Bao and Pork Potstickers were flavorful and juicy. The grillef pork bun was savory, loaded with rich and juicy pork filling. The bun itself was soft and fluffy. Green onions pancakes were okay but not flaky. The service was fast. Everything was wrapped well. Definitely, I will dine in next time.

I'm awfully surprised with all good reviews of this place. I honestly thought it was quite…read moreterrible. The spicy pork wontons were not at all spicy and it tasted like there was peanut sauce in it. The meat inside was also a bit odd and it had a funny taste to it. Even the potstickers weren't good and had juice in them that completely burned the roof of my mouth when I bit into it. Worst of the worst, the white rice wasn't even good. It tasted old. It was dry and mushy at the same time. Every time I come across a set of plastic chopsticks I wipe them with the napkin to rid of any excess dirt and to my surprise, the napkin had black residue left on it after I did. I don't think it was dirt, I think it was the chopstick rubbing off. Don't think I'll ever return.