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    The Islander

    3.9 (220 reviews)

    The Islander Photos

    THE ISLANDER ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Fish & chips
    Cindy C.

    The Islander was a fun restaurant. Service was excellent and fast. Food was amazing! The Wagyu smash burger was juicy and delicious. The fries were very fresh. Fish and chips were also yummy. Portion size was huge! The drinks were also fun, but didn't care for the coconut mai tai. We also had the spiked mango lemonade and hibiscus margarita which were very good. Enjoy! Highly recommend!!

    Stephanie W.

    How this place has 4 stars is beyond me. I came here with my parents and aunt and everyone was shocked at how awful this place was. Like my mom said, you wouldn't expect this from how it looked on the outside. Not only was the food super expensive. (Burger was $23) But all the food came out cold!! My dad eats anything and he didn't eat his food! They even saw his burger get placed on someone else's table and the guy said it wasn't his, and then the waiter just took it back and brought it to him so late and cold. The bathrooms, both men and women were extremely disgusting. It shows how much they take care of their place. My family had an awful time. I'm so sad they picked this place and weren't able to enjoy a good restaurant in San Diego. Do not come here. Anywhere else would have been better.

    Menu
    Julio S.

    Chill sports bar in Coronado. Super friendly staff. Several TVs. Reggae music in background. Incredible weather while hanging out with friends. Several fish and Mexican menu options. I had the chilaquiles and the poke tacos. Friends also ordered a California burger, fried chicken sandwich, and Kailua pork plate. All were good. Beer list filled with local beers. Street parking only. I'd recommend this place when in town.

    Big Trouble in Little Watermelon
    Andrea R.

    The vibes, the food, the music... eating here feels like vacation. It truly transports you to a laidback tropical destination (I've never been to Hawaii so I can't compare it to there). It even slightly bothered me because our dining experience there made me wish I was on vacation, but it was only an average weekend Saturday . We had a warm and sunny Saturday for one of the first times in a while in San Diego, so my boyfriend and I decided to split a meal here and started off with the Big Trouble in Little Watermelon drink. Such a fun presentation and very refreshing. I'm obsessed with anything watermelon, however the tequila was a bit strong for my liking, but my boyfriend really loved it and said he could've ordered another all to himself. The Kalua Pork Sliders were tender and the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. My wish is that there were more... since there were only 3 we were fighting over the last one. The Ahi Poké was fresh and FILLING! I'll be the first to say that poke never really satisfies my hunger, but this portion size was actually perfect for 2. Every single ingredient in it just made it better, just total flavor burst in every bite. Last but definitely the star of the show... Hula Bula Pie. I have been dreaming about this since the first bite. Apparently it's made by their nextdoor neighbor (which the waitress actually let us know that The Islander owns them) MooTime! So you already know the ice cream is to die for. The salty of the macadamia nut ice cream in contrast with the Oreo crust and decadent fudge surrounding it set fireworks on my tastebuds. An absolute must! Especially now that the warmth is returning to SD. Will be back and cannot wait!

    Wings & Mai tai!
    Claire J.

    Okay - a definite go-to for us in Coronado!! The classic Mai-Tai is greatttttt, as well as the other drinks. The bartenders are great to chat with and fun to sit at the bar. Now WHY did they take the wings off their menu !! They were fab... especially the chili oil ones. Hoping they bring them back. Overall a nice place, and they are pretty quick to get you your orders even when it's pretty busy.

    Nyssa B.

    Not gonna lie this place wasn't my first choice, the restaurant I wanted to go to had over an hour wait and your girl was hungry. We weren't going to be waiting that long. And it's not very often you stumble across a new restaurant in this area. So you know I had to give it a try! It's got a cute little tiki bar vibe which I'm a sucker for. I didn't have a cocktail this time but when the waitress passed by them they looked super cute and yummy (will definitely get one next time) hehe. Staff was super friendly and attentive. Food was freaking great! This place definitely has potential to be around for a while. I'll be a returning customer for sure. Keep up the great work! :)

    Crab Rangoon Dip
    John T.

    We stopped by here for a little "something-something" during our day in Coronado. Like my wife said, "best crab dip she had ever had" here at the Islander. The Crab Rangoon dip was outstanding and second to none. Also had the Stone Buenavista Salt and Lime Lager. It was ice cold and refreshing. Ambiance is obviously "island like" but would also say it's warm and welcoming. Great service from the bar was provided by Taylor. Recommend you sit at the bar if she is tending it. PS - We had the Hawaiian Poke too, just as good at the Crab Rangoon.

    Poke bowl
    Kelly L.

    Came for a quick dinner before heading out to see the Coronado Christmas lights. The portion sizes are pretty generous. The Hulu Hulu chicken tasted more like bbq chicken, not the traditional Hawaiian bbq flavor. The poke bowl had good flavors. The garlic shrimp tacos were just ok, not too much garlic flavor, mostly just the cream sauce flavor.

    Huli huli chicken
    Kevin T.

    TL;DR: Relaxed vibe and decent food. Good service and pet-friendly. Came for a bite while walking the doggo and was pleasantly surprised with the food Ordered: - Hanalei Hippie - added tuna and it was definitely the move despite the upcharge. Fresh seafood on top of a bed of crisp greens. Not much more to ask for - Huli Huli Chicken - the chicken entree took a little longer (server let us know beforehand which we appreciated) but totally worth it. The skin was flavorful and crispy. Balanced out the juiciness of the chicken. The Mac salad was alright - wish it was a little more balanced (too sweet for me). All in all, a good meal and a huge plus that they're pet-friendly! Will definitely be back - cheers, Islander!

    Did not take a photo of the food
    Cydney M.

    THE SERVICE WAS GOOD ==================== I have decided I really need to stop listening to my husband when he has a food craving. He wanted some kind of fried chicken within walking distance and this place popped up. My husband ordered some kind of fried chicken tacos. I ended up with fish tacos. We weren't thrilled with either. Maybe trying to find a good restaurant on Coronado wasn't my best idea. We should have gone to Little Italy instead. The Islander was cute with lots of surfboards on the ceiling. It definitely has potential, but the food wasn't good.

    Bacon smash burger and fries
    Kimberly E.

    Ok first time here and it has a tiki vibe with a bar and tables and lots of TVs to watch sports. Now it was hot and they should have had the air on better than what it was . Flies were a problem once our food arrived but it was hot so what can you do. Food was good my only complaint would be if you give ketchup let the consumer know it's spicy and not just regular ketchup. They give you a glass pitcher of water for your table which was nice. Price seemed a little high but the area of town and near the bay it's understandable. I had fish n chips which was good and my son had a bacon smash burger . He usually eats all of his hamburgers but he said the bun was soggy so he only had less than half. Their lemonade is 8.00 and no free refills. But server was nice and place is clean. Parking is bad because there are so many shops. Not much else to say.

    The care and quality into doing prep work, repurposing the pineapple, even saving the prawns to put in drinks just so much quality care
    Loretta Lola S.

    Server Karen is exceptional. I hope she gets recognized for all her hard work. She is very kind and attentive.

    Lea D.

    This place was so good, my coworkers and I wound up coming back multiple times! The vibe was very cool, very island-y. I loved the decor and the overall style. The service was great. The servers were all really friendly and offered suggestions on what to get. The food came in big portions and the presentation was perfect. Everyone really enjoyed their options. The drinks were strong, tasty and large. We, of course, had to do the big volcano bowl drink one night (dangerous!). 10/10 would come back if I was in town!

    Pineapple rice

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Islander

    Are dogs allowed?

    I think they would allow them in the outdoor seating area.

    Are you open this weekend and can zi make a reservation for 2 people?

    They are open on the weekends and I think it's first come first serve, but try calling to make reservations.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    False Idol

    False Idol

    4.4
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    2.5 mi
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    Went here with advance knowledge of the place during our PHX to SD whirlwind vacation to see Bob…read moreDylan at the Rady Shell. Had to put in our names, as there is only so much space on an early Saturday evening. Took all of 10 minutes before entry was granted. Led inside to a standing room-only table. Lady friend got the Saturn, myself the 151 Swizzle. I probably did the wrong thing and didn't allow the ice packed on top of the swizzle to melt thoroughly enough into the drink to dilute the 151 overproof black Demerara's rum. Nae worries, brah. It was delicious. Affordable tiki-theme cocktails, decor(!) and atmosphere is why this place will remain popular and a must visit when in Sandy Eggo. Top notch!

    What a fun nightlife spot! If you're looking for a fun place to grab cocktails, this is definitely…read morea spot worth checking out! **Located inside Craft & Commerce Walking into False Idol honestly feels like you've been transported somewhere else. It's hidden behind Craft & Commerce, and once you step inside, the immersive tiki atmosphere really sets the mood. The decor, lighting, and sound effects all come together to make the experience feel fun and memorable. Just know, if you are hoping to sit down, good luck! A lot of reservations are made in advance. However, at the bar, if you see a reservation sign and they're not there yet, staff will let you sit down once it's time to get up for the reserved party. DRINKS: 9/10 The cocktails were creative, well crafted, and definitely strong enough to make you feel like you were getting your money's worth. I also loved how much attention they put into the presentation. Every drink looked like a piece of art and added to the whole tiki experience. SERVICE: 9/10 The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. They took the time to answer questions and made great recommendations without making us feel rushed. AMBIANCE: 10/10 This is easily the highlight of the experience. The entire space is beautifully designed, and every little detail makes it feel like you've escaped into a hidden tropical bar. It's cozy, intimate, and unlike any other place I've been to in San Diego. Reservations are definitely worth making since the space is on the smaller side and fills up quickly. The only reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is that, while the experience and ambiance were amazing, the drinks are definitely on the pricier side. I understand you're paying for the craftsmanship and atmosphere, but it's probably not somewhere I'd visit regularly because of that. It's common for tiki bars to be pricey so it was to be expected. Overall, I'm really glad I finally got to experience False Idol. If you're in San Diego and enjoy creative cocktails in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, I'd definitely recommend checking it out at least once!

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    Mothership

    Mothership

    4.3
    (952 reviews)
    4.2 mi
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    This was a serendipity find and it gives off enigmatic vibes, they had amazing selection of vegan…read morefood especially their scallion pancakes, loved the vibe and the place Menu is intriguing and has a speak easy kind of entrance, must try for vegan people! The server helped us understand the menu and they accomodate all dietary restrictions

    Celebrated my teenager's birthday at Mothership, and it was definitely an experience! The…read morespace-themed speakeasy vibe is so creative and immersive--it honestly feels like you've stepped onto another planet. The kids had an absolute blast, especially with the fun non-alcoholic drinks that fit the theme perfectly. The menu is pretty limited, so if you're coming for dinner with a group, you'll likely end up ordering almost everything to make it a full meal. We tried the Potatoes, Sandwich (aka Jackfruit Bao Buns), Paella Rice (our family's favorite!), Lemon Pepper Tofu, and the Charred Zaatar Roti. The Paella Rice was the standout dish for us. Service was warm and attentive, and they made the birthday celebration extra special by surprising the birthday boy with a complimentary dollop of soft serve, which was a really thoughtful touch. The only reasons for 4 instead of 5 stars: the limited menu (in addition to this food menu, wish they would include also include some more appetizers from their sister establishments, so guests can sit back and enjoy their creative and in some cases strong cocktails! And the fact that they can't accommodate parties larger than six due to the seating layout. If you have a bigger family or group, that can make celebrating together a little tricky. Overall, such a unique spot that's worth visiting at least once for the atmosphere alone!

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    Noble Experiment

    Noble Experiment

    4.5
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    2.3 mi
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    I'm not an often a cocktail drinker. So when the bartender asked what I'm looking for I was ill…read moreprepared. From his view, it probably sounded like "I'm Ron Burgundy?" (It definitely did). His questions guided my indecision towards a Berkshire Old Fashioned that was fantastic despite my fumbling to get there. With the warm up round over and the old fashioned loosening up my creativity, round two was set to be a knockout. I love coffee (specifically strong espresso drinks), so I asked for a strong, coffee infused, punchy cocktail, but with a different base of alcohol from the old fashioned. What came out was the best cocktail I will probably ever have in my life. The bourbon cocktail with coffee liqueur (and a number of other garnishes I will never remember) hit the bullseye. Flavorful, strong, bold, delicious all at the same time. Unfortunately (?), this was a noble experiment so I'll forever be chasing the white whale of what this drink was. But that's the allure.

    My brother-in-law and I were looking for places to drink....And we just wanted somewhere chill. We…read moreknew that any bar by tacos el gordo would be too wild for us, so we walked a couple blocks and approached Noble Experiment. I would say this was probably our highlight of our trip in San Diego. Garrick, the bartender there, was super accommodating. Not only was he and the other bartender were making damn good drinks, they would legit talk to you. The ambiance of the place is cool too. Felt like I was going inside some continental room like John Wick. Definitely my vibe and definitely coming back. But if you ever get Garrick as your bartender, you're in for a treat!

    Photos
    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail
    Bartenders creations.
    Bartenders creations.
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    The Islander - tikibars - Updated July 2026

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