My wife is Filipina and wanted to surprise her with authentic Filipino food. Wow , wow and wow . I am a chef for over 25 years and the food was so good . I am not crazy on reviews usually but I had too , as the flavors brought her back to Manila and me too , we went in vacation not to long agoz Salamat po Maria and the family. We will definitely come back !!!!! Lechon, pancit, sinigang , lumpia, all was amazing and can't wait to try all items in the menu !!!! read more

Best Filipino food in North County and the service is very friendly. Very cozy home like feel to the dining room. If you're in the area, check them out... their chicharon sings while on the plate. read more

We were looking for a place to eat Filipino Halo-Halo. My niece found this place. Not only did we order Halo-Halo , we added siomai (too bad only an order was left IT IS SO GOOD!), added lumpia shanghai, chicharon bulaklak and of course let's not forget garlic fried rice. Service was fast. Amazing SATINE remembered what we ordered - which was a lot! A memorable time and being satisfied with our food. For sure the décor looks FILIPINO Place if so relaxing and one would really enjoy the food. Thank you! read more

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Surprisingly authentic! If you're craving Filipino food and far from the usual spots, this might just satisfy your palate. Food came in hot and appetizing, the portion size is enough for 2-3 people. Service was decent and the restaurant has Filipino flair. read more

CARiN de RiA - Oxtail kare kare - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

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This is clean and super chill spot where you can relax and enjoy some pretty good Filipino food. We had 3 lunch specials (one pork adobo, one bistek tagalog, and one kaldereta). Each came with rice, lumpia and pancit. We also had camamansi juice, Turon, and halo halo. The Calamansi juice was five star, flavorful but softened with the right amount of sweetness. The entrees were all good, but the portions were kind of skimpy. It was the smallest portion of pancit I've seen in my life. Also the bistek was mostly onions in sauce with a few pieces of meat. Flavor in everything was pretty good. The pork adobo had the most flavor of anything we got. The halo halo was a huge wtf moment. It's like the craziest halo halo I've ever had. It was somehow fluffy and dry with not much to mix. The ice cream was pretty good. But I'd pass on the halo halo especially at the price they charge for it. Probably the most disappointed I've been in a halo halo ever. Don't get me wrong, I ate the whole thing. The turon was much better, nice and crispy with a caramel drizzle. We got kind of a sticker shock on the price (near $100 for during the lunch special, after tip). Usually when I think Filipino food I think either pretty generous portions or pretty good value. This felt like a restaurant hurting for money, which I hope isn't the case. The service is laid back, low key, totally chill. They aren't going to pressure you or bother you, but if you need something you need to ask. I'd eat here again. If I did the lunch special (probably wouldn't but if) I'd try the spicy chicken adobo. But most likely I'd be back to try the sisig or kare kare. Most people around us today were ordering sisig or chicheron appetizer. read more

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Called ahead to order lunch for Monday, the food was ready in 15 minutes. I got the weekend lunch special ($14) with pork adobo, which also came with garlic fried rice (+$1), pancit, and 2 classic lumpia. The pork was tender, a little on the oily side, and savory with a heavy garlic flavor--delicious. Would skip the garlic fried rice next time because the garlic flavor with the meat was sufficient. Portion size was reasonable, I finished all of the food and felt decently full. Street parking was relatively easy. read more

CARiN de RiA - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

This is an unassuming location for solid Filipino food, but yet a welcoming addition. Oxtail Kare-Kare ($28): flavorful garlic peanut butter stew. This version has more of a curry / soup consistency that I adore, 4/5 stars. Bistek (braised beef) Tagalog lunch ($14 + $2 upgrade): the beef is tender and the sauce has umami flavors. This was easy to finish, 4/5 stars. Chicken bbq lunch ($14 + $1 upgrade): the marinade is slightly sweet that went well with the tender chicken. However, this would have vastly improved if they used juicy chicken thighs instead, 3.5/5 stars. Nonetheless, I'd return if I was in the area and craving for some Asian soul food =) read more

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We've been coming to this restaurant for years. Mom loves their food as do I. The food is exquisite, service attentive, and the chicharon is out of this world. Took mom for take out yesterday as we used to pop in for the lunch specials a lot. The noodles were fantastic, longanisa plate wonderful. I live out of state but come here when I can - it's that good. A large group dining in yesterday were singing praises as well. read more

CARiN de RiA - Best Filipino resto in San Diego! You HAVE to try their chicharron - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Such a beautiful spot to enjoy Filipino food favorites. Absolutely love the simple decor with Filipino woven touches and the wide open windows that let you enjoy the sunny Encinitas weather. Came here with family and we really enjoyed our food, both on the "Not So Secret Menu". We ordered the Jeprox (dried fish) & Tapa (beef rib eye) Plates and absolutely loved the familiar but CARiN de RiA take on them. Everything was well seasoned. Highly recommend the freshly fried classic lumpia and garlic peanuts as a starter. My only complaint is that the Turon was a little thicker so we get more banana and jackfruit flavor or that the crispy wrapper had more of the caramel/condensed milk. Otherwise, everything was very delicious! Service was very friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back next time I'm in the area! read more

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Encinitas has a beautiful hidden gem. It's a delicious little Filipino spot, not even on the Main Street, but tucked away on West I street. If you didn't check Yelp, or not a local (apparently) you'd miss it. Even late in the afternoon past lunch hour there was still a steady stream of takeout orders, which means the locals know where to go! The owner speaks Tagalog (as do the friends I happened to be traveling with) and we had the best experience here. All of the food was delicious - I couldn't tell you the names of all the dishes that we tried (my friend helped me label the food photos attached to this review). They also made a few menu suggestions that were all so yummy - perfect little portions, with great flavors and seasoning. Fantastic service. All so good that my friends also ordered takeout to bring back to their families in LA! Definitely have to come back here! read more

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Get the Chicken Tinola, Pancit, Lumpia, Fried Rice! Their dining area is comfortable and lovely. I love the staff here also. They're super friendly and helpful. Most especially, highly recommend their Halo Halo. read more

CARiN de RiA - Kain Na: Let's Eat! - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

I've heard about this Filipino restaurant for quite some time but just didn't have the chance to visit until this week. And oh my, this place didn't disappoint. Came here for lunch and they have lunch specials for only $14 and it comes with 2 pcs lumpia, rice (garlic rice is +$1) small scoop of pancit and your choice of entree. I picked chicken bbq and it was delicious. They use boneless chicken thigh and portions were pretty good. The chicken bbq was very tasty and they really captured the Filipino taste and palate just like back home when I used to buy these bbq from street vendors. I mean for $14 it was such a steal!! Then I ordered their halo halo and a side of their veggie lumpia. The halo halo was yummy. Love the fact that they used shaved snow ice and got Ube and coconut ice cream. It was very well balanced and not too sweet. I truly love the simplicity of the halo halo. Well done! Service was quick the place is clean and lots of street parking. I will definitely come back again and try their other dishes!' read more

CARiN de RiA - Menu - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Phenomenal Filipino food. Nothing o had was sub par, and tastes very home made. Highly recommend trying it for yourself!! BBQ pork skewers, pork adobo, lumpia, leche flan, ALL OF IT DELICIOUS! Service was solid, and a very chill atmosphere. Looking forward to my next trip!! read more

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This was our second time visiting from NorCal, and I have to start with the Kare-Kare -- definitely the highlight of our visit! We grew up eating Kare-Kare since it's our mom's specialty (she's a chef!), so we're very particular about this dish. After trying it during our first visit, I texted our family group chat saying I might've found one that could go head-to-head with hers! The Kare-Kare here is so good. It's all in the sauce -- rich, nutty, and flavorful, with little chunks of peanut that give it an extra crunch we really loved. We made it a mission to bring the whole family the next time we were in town -- and on our second visit, everyone was impressed... even Mom! Not just with the Kare-Kare, but with all the dishes we ordered. Service was also top-notch, the server was attentive the whole time, and the owner was incredibly warm and accommodating, which made our experience even more memorable. Definitely a hidden gem in Encinitas -- and now one of our must-stop spots whenever we're visiting! read more

Food was good! Really annoying white kid in the kitchen though. Kept on saying unfunny jokes in a Mexican accent borderline harassing his coworkers. Someone needs to teach him some manners lowkey. We really liked the sisig and cheese ice cream. Would recommend! read more

Just moved to Encinitas! Needed a taste of my family's culture. Fantastic Filipino food. Going to be coming here a lot.

Ok had a great experience the first time that I had to come back. Although most of the flavors were as good as I remember, we did try some new things. The pork belly sisig was a bit of a miss. The lechon kasal I was a hit as well as the Bangus. However the halo halo was a big disappointment. They changed the recipe and it was sooo not worth it. It was missing a lot of the stuff they had last time like the red beans, the jackfruit, etc. I was really sad b read more

Carin de Ria Filipino food in Encinitas: This is our 1st visit and tried this restaurant based on very good ratings. We Loved having dinner here- the food was DELICIOUS. So Many great choices with veggies and meat. Everything we ordered tasted So Good, perfectly seasoned, and good sized portions. Try their Halo-Halo dessert- looks and tastes Amazing! The owner Archie was super pleasant and helpful with giving us input on what to order. The restaurant is located in a very nice spot in downtown Encinitas. Highly recommend to try this restaurant! read more

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Wow, this place hit the spot! My husband and I came for Saturday lunch and it was chill, not too busy, so we got seated right away. Service was super nice too. We kicked things off with the chicharrons (SO fresh and crispy) and dipped them in vinegar sauce. Also grabbed the garlic peanuts which came out hot and crunchy. For mains, we split the lechon kawali (crispy pork belly heaven) and then each went for adobo...I had pork adobo with white rice (so comforting, I could eat it every day) and he went for spicy chicken adobo with garlic rice. That garlic rice was so good! Everything was delicious, filling, and just felt like comfort food made with love. read more

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A small hole in the wall Filipino restaurant with outdoor seating. Relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a serbesa (a crisp house lager) with crispy pata and park spare ribs. The Liempo was delicious (grilled pork belly). Don't forget to have the halo halo for dessert. Friendly service. read more

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The restaurant was in a cute location-- inside was simple and welcoming. We had great service-- he was really nice and got to know us! Out of everything we tried, our favorites were the siomai, pork sinigang, bistek, and the karekare! Some of the food was okay but it definitely brought that Filipino feel back to us! read more

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Soon after our hike at Annie's Canyon Trail in Cardiff, we were surprised to see a stand-alone Filipino-American cuisine restaurant nearby in Encinitas called Carin De Ria. At first, the name of the restaurant did not register with me and I thought it might be a case of morpheme segmentation. But as I read it repeatedly, it clicked, and I realized it actually read as "carinderia," which is a popular term for a Filipino restaurant that serves simple, affordable and locally inspired home-cooked food. We thought that this place took a bold stance by situating its restaurant away from the demographic norm, but we were not surprised to see people welcoming and enjoying the food, as the cuisine is quite appetizing. We were impressed with the presentation of the food we ordered; everything came in style and was colorful. The appearance was one thing, but we were fully satisfied with the taste as well. Everything we ordered was delicious. We tried to order all the Filipino signature dishes like kare-kare (beef curry), afritada (beef stew in tomato sauce), pansit, pork ginataan (meat in spicy coconut milk), BBQ chicken on a stick and lumpias, all of which did not disappoint our palates. Highly recommended and we will definitely stop by again in the future. read more

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Delicious. Highly recommend just making a reservation because by 7pm the place was bussin'

What a great hidden secret in North county we ordered adobo , pancit , lumpia's and dumplings w a Filipino beer very nice meal and good service read more

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I love me some authentic Filipino food. When I found out there was a restaurant in Encinitas, I was like FINALLY. We need some Filipino restaurants in North County. I don't have to drive down to National City or Chula Vista just to name a few popular places. I actually waited to review this restaurant. I've been there twice...ordered the same thing hoping to leave a 5 star review but I thought I'd share my experience with the Yelp Community anyway. Importantly, I was always received with a warm welcome. The staff are stellar when it comes to customer service especially when they know it's your first time. I had to give them a star for their professionalism. The ambience was really nice both times and a major plus, it's open to the outside so another star. Now for the real deal - the food...I couldn't give them more stars because I've eaten Filipino food at work potlucks and been to a few well known restaurants/food trucks. The flavor of the food at CARiN de RiA...well let's say...taste different. I question who's cooking the food. I'll just leave it at that for now. read more

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Came here cuz my friends came the week before. Service was friendly. We wanted to try a little bit of everything. What we ordered Calamansi Juice - good. Not too sour Lumpia - nice, hot and crunchy Pancit - a little more wet than I'm used to Bistek Tagalog - so good Salmon Sisig - wish there was more salmon and less bell pepper and onions, but did like that the veggies were cooked down Halo halo - is a must have. Yummy Filipino Chicken Curry - I liked it. Had I little kick to it I do wish the portions were a little bigger. We would come back to try other things read more

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Found this place in Yelp and decided to stop by on our way home from Irvine. Good thing we did! The staff were really attentive and accommodating. Food was yum! We ordered the lechon sisig, bistek tagalaog, and lumpia. Their portions are enough for the prices you pay for. You don't feel like you were skimped! There's other Filipino restaurants where you feel like for the amount you paid, the portions are so small. There is outdoor and indoor seating. Both are pretty good options to sit at and the areas are clean and well kept. On our next visit, we will try the kare-kare and more! read more

One of our families favorite restaurants in north county San Diego! We absolutely love the food and the service every time feels like we are greeted by family. read more

Work took me to San Diego. On the way back, we decided to stop by the very same place we stopped at last year, Carin De Ria! This is a Family-owned Pinoy Restaurant. Hi Archie!!!! I've never had the Engkanto Ube Lager and that was sooo good!!! We ordered a Tapsilog from the NotSoSecret Menu! This is Filipino Favorite with thinly sliced Rib Eye Beef, Eggs, and Sinangag which is Fried Garlic rice! We also ordered Sizzling Lechon Sisig! Twice cooked crispy Pork belly with bell peppers and onions, served on a Sizzling plate! This is also eaten with Garlic Rice! Needless to say, we found Carin de Ria on Yelp last year, and we think to make visiting the Restaurant a tradition every time we fund ourselves in the area. Calling all Pinoys! You are missing out if you have not tried them out!!! Definitely a Must Try, Must Visit Encinitas Spot! Thanks Archie for the delightful food!!! #pinoyfood #pinoyfoodie #pinoyako #masarap #sarap #kabayan #familyowned #familyownedbusiness #supportlocalbusiness #smallbusiness #supportsmall #encinitas #california #socal #tapsilog #sisig #sizzling #sizzlingsisig #ube #lager #restaurant #pinoyrestaurant #socalweekendwalkarounds #yelp #yelpelite #august2024 #musttry read more

CARiN de RiA - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

My brother was in town and wanted to try some Filipino food after visiting his fiance's family in the Philippines. We saw this spot had great reviews so we decided to give a try. We decided to split an order of the chicken pancit canton and bbq chicken with garlic rice. All of the food was delicious and I'd happily come back. We sat outside on the sidewalk to enjoy the nice weather but there's a decent sized indoor seating area as well. read more

CARiN de RiA - Chicken pancit canton - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Man! Glad we choose to check this place out! We were able to call ahead and reserve a table. Plenty of parking outside. A lot of alcoholic and NA drinks to choose from and the food was hella good. We were enjoying the food so much that we forgot to take a photo of the turon and halo halo which was hella good! First time ever trying halo halo made this way too! read more

My boyfriend (who is filipino) raved about this place having really good food. He craves the sour/vinegary taste of the sinigang and ordered it for us when we finally went together. I pretty regularly eat non American food, but this was my first time trying filipino. I have to say, I'm very excited to add this place to my favorite restaurants in San Diego. The area is beautiful, as are most places in Encinitas. The parking isn't great, but it isn't terrible. There are regularly people coming and going to it's fairly easy to get a spot within waking distance, and it's not a bear to walk because of how nice the location is. As far as the food. My bf ordered the sisig, I ordered the pancit, we got the sinigang to share, and for dessert ordered the Halo-Halo. I was unable to talk a picture of the dessert because of how quickly we ate it The sheer volume of food that was given was impressive-the pancit I barely made a dent in, and I was already full! read more

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Really wonderful, authentic food. Been wanting to go for a while and finally made it in this week. Thank you Archie and Justin for the warm hospitality. Food was amazing! I got the: Lumpia Pancit canton Spicey chicken adobo Steak Carinderia And enjoyed a San Miguel beer while I hung out. 10/10 highly recommend. Local gem :) read more

CARiN de RiA - San Miguel - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

Seated immediately at 5:30pm on a Saturday, which was great. It did take a while to get drinks and for the server to take our order, but not a huge deal. If only my children hadn't been losing it... We ordered the lumpia, chicharron, pancit with tofu, pork sisig, beef salpicao, garlic rice, and finally flan. Our favorites were the lumpia, chicharron that came out crackling, and the sisig. Lumpia were freshly fried and crispy, good filling. Chicharron came out with a vinegary white pepper dipping sauce that cut the fat nicely, and the sisig was impressively charred on the hot plate with good flavor. I didn't really care too much for the salpicao, but that's likely more due to my personal taste than anything. Also, the pancit was fine, just a little one note. Flan was nice and thick, but I would've liked a bigger portion. Again, not really something I can necessarily fault them for. Service people were all very friendly and checked in with us frequently, especially after the long wait at the beginning. I'd come back to try more if I'm feeling like Filipino food. read more

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This was such a great stop for a family dinner! We definitely over-ordered--everything on the menu looked amazing and we just couldn't decide when to stop We kicked things off with the lumpia and garlic peanuts (both so good), then somehow managed to squeeze the carnideria steak plate, grilled salmon, pork spare ribs, pancit noodles with shrimp, and the vegetable coconut stew all onto our table. The coconut stew totally stole the show. The ambiance was perfect--windows open, letting in the most amazing night breeze, and making the whole place feel so warm and inviting. Service was top notch too--friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. We'll be back--often. So glad we found this family-run gem right here in Encinitas. read more

The food was not my favorite, but I do think it's hard when there's not many other options for Filipino food in North County. The man who served us was nice though, and service wasn't too slow. I like the vibe of the inside. The price for the lunch special is pretty good. read more

Halo halo for the dessert win! We stopped by to try this signature Filipino ice cream "sundae" and loved it! Made with a base of sweet crushed ice slushy and a scoop of ube ice cream and topped with plantains, sweet potatoes, agar-agar jelly, coconut, and flan, the incredibly refreshing dessert hit the spot. Can't wait to return for more halo halo as well as to try the crispy lechon kawali, sizzling lechon sisig, lumpia, and pancit. read more

CARiN de RiA - Halo Halo - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Rating: 4.5/5 CARiN de RiA is a gem of a Filipino eatery in the middle of the Encinitas strip. My wife and I had the pleasure of visiting twice, and the food quality has been consistently great, with standout dishes like the chicken tinola soup and desserts that left us excited to return. On our first visit, we were greeted by the owner, Archie, whose warmth and attentiveness elevated the experience. He took the time to listen to us and even went out of his way to ensure we were taken care of, like offering to warm our calamansi juice without hesitation. It's clear Archie cares deeply about his customers and their experience, which makes the place feel even more special. The ambiance is also worth mentioning. The space has a warm, tavern-like feel, which adds to the cozy, welcoming atmosphere. While they don't have a liquor license, they serve Filipino beers, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy a meal with a cold drink. The food highlights: * Chicken Tinola Soup: Full of flavor, with big pieces of sayote squash--just like how it's made at home. Generous portions, perfect for sharing. * Calamansi Juice: Potent and refreshing, a rare find for us since moving out on our own. * Flan: Thick and creamy, melting in your mouth. * Mango Float: A dessert masterpiece, with layers of mango ice cream, graham crackers, and vanilla ice cream. My wife's favorite! On our second visit, the experience was slightly less engaging. The server was functional but not as personable. At one point, I tried to mention our conversation with Archie the day before, but it felt like she didn't hear me--or possibly ignored me. She also hesitated when we asked to warm the calamansi juice, saying it would need to be microwaved. While there were other customers in the restaurant, which may have made it overwhelming, the service felt a bit rushed and impersonal compared to the previous visit. We also tried the tapa off the Not So Secret Menu during our second visit. While the cut of beef was good and the price reasonable at $22, it didn't quite meet our expectations. We noticed the chef was on his break when it was prepared and heard the server say, "I got it," which makes us think she may have cooked it. While we can't be sure, this could explain why it tasted a bit different than expected. Despite this, we plan to return. CARiN de RiA is a great Filipino eatery, and I'm confident that with a better experience in the future, I'd happily change this review to a 5. It's a place worth supporting, especially with Archie at the helm. read more

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The friend brought me here because it is close to her work and she wanted Filipino food. I've had Filipino food before, but this was my first time here so I didn't know what to expect. We order a set and got to try a lot of different dishes. My favorite was the Caldereta! The beef was literally so tender and melted in my mouth. We got garlic rice and that was also really good. The staff was really nice and I really liked the interior design of the restaurant. It was pretty and definitely a nice date place or good place to hangout with friends. Will come again and recommend :) read more

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Amazing! We loved our dinner. Our server was so kind and helpful. We had a peanut allergy and they accommodated very well!! The food tasted hearty and full of flavor. Filling but light at the same time. 10/10 recommend! read more

CARiN de RiA - Pancit and Spicy Chicken Adobo (Adobo Sa Tanglad) - Filipino Near Me - Encinitas, California