for nearly two years, Scout, my orange, husky-looking mut and I have been driving by their now-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. read more

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Post-mortem... I was sad to hear that CHIKO permanently closed their doors at the end of last year. 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. read more

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First time at chiko, all the servers r so nice here. the food was also surprisingly so good, chef ryan made it for us and the crispiness of the chicken was v impressive. i liked the peanut noodle salad the best, the sauce is delicious ! pudding was good but i think it was too much for me to finish i liked both of the peanuts on the salad and custard they were both so good the place was not too loud but a nice vibe with music. would come back here to try the other food! read more

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The view of the sunset from outside tables was beautiful. We sat inside and the aroma of garlic and spices was intoxicating. We ordered through the QR code (had a $2 service charge) which had different items than what was online. We started with beef skewers which set the tone of the meal nicely. Tender and seasoned to perfection. Whatever the orange sauce served with it was, it had good flavor. We ordered dry spiced wings with sauce on side which were piping hot and perfectly crisp. I didn't like the sauce on the side but I prefer dry wings in general. My friend enjoyed the sauce. They were very big and cooked nicely. My friend got pork fried rice and it was a little spicy for me and very smoky. Not bad just not my preference. She liked it very much. It has some fat chunks of pork in it too. When the orange-ish chicken came we thought it was our 2 orders combined! The picture does not do it justice. It was a pile of delicious chicken with a side of white rice and sauce to pair it with. The scallions, peppers, and seasoning all went great with the crisp outside and moist insides. We had an insane amount of leftovers! Servers were very friendly and the cooks know how to get down in the kitchen! Definitely need to come back and try the brisket! Thanks CHIKO! read more

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Although I had high hopes for this place it was a let down. I ordered one of their dishes and waited over an hour and half and it never came. I asked the personnel if there was a time frame and I kept getting the "it's coming". Various other dishes came for other tables. In the end I requested the order to be cancelled and left. read more

Some friends of mine wanted to take me here. We got a pluthera of stuff off the menu. The orange chicken hands down was the best. Wasn't a huge fan of the kimchi dumplings although I thought I was going to love. The rice was good, the hot pot or bimipap? not sure what it was called, I wasn't the biggest fan. I really only like the orange chicken. Outside patio was too breezy for my friend, but inside is a weird, feels kinda dirty vibe. We were right next to a big freezer. The staff was super nice and friendly. Maybe just not my type of food. I gave it a try. read more

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Chiko is SO yummy, it now bothers me that I don't live closer! But it is also THAT good that I am so willing to drive from Esco back to Encinitas for this delectable food. The orange-ish chicken is an absolute must have! Perfectly juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The flavor is out of this world. While I didn't taste any kimchi in the pork kimchi potstickers, I loved the sauce they were paired with and my partner couldn't have enough of them! Lastly, I'd skip the pork fried rice next time, didn't feel like it was too flavorful. But no hard feelings, just means I can explore more on the menu! Our service experience was a bit odd though. I feel like they were having a very off night, the cashier was trying to resolve a takeout order issue for the customer in front of us. We were never told we could sit down at a table and order from the QR code so we could've saved a few minutes awkwardly waiting in line (as there's not much space to form a line/wait). It sounded like they were experiencing WiFi issues. We brought our dog along so we had to sit on the patio which is totally fine, but it was a freezing evening and they didn't have any of the heaters turned on nor offered to turn them on (none of them had gas tanks in them so we couldn't switch it on ourselves). Although they did offer our pup water twice. Will definitely be back, just hoping the service will be less chaotic next time. read more

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Had an awesome meal at CHIKO! I ordered the orange chicken and the shrimp lo mein--both were packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. The orange chicken had that perfect balance of crispy, tangy, and just the right amount of sweetness. The lo mein was super fresh and loaded with shrimp. What really made the experience next level was the manager/chef. Super friendly, welcoming, and made sure we had an amazing time. You can really tell they care about the food and the people. Will definitely be back--great food and great vibes all around. read more

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We are so disappointed that Chiko closed. It was our Favorite restaurant. The food and staff here were Amazing. Chef's Hunter and Ryan please respond here where you are working now as we would like to support you. read more

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I have loved every single thing I've tried here! You must get all of the sides. Love this place!

The food! Had the orange chicken and love the serving style. Sauce is separate so that chicken stays crispy For some crazy idea we also ordered fried rice which is in our fridge for breakfast. The service was one for the record with a custard that was outta this world. read more

We really wanted to love this place, but it just didn't deliver. My boyfriend ordered the rice cakes with beef and there was almost no beef. Also, it was super spicy. We like spicy food. Dare I even say we love spicy food...but this was like level 4.5/5 spicy. It was bordering on too spicy for me; I can't even imagine what the average person would have thought of the spice level. We got the fried rice and it was our favorite dish of the night. And now for the kicker...I ordered the hot and sour wonton noodle soup. The bowl came out and the broth was thick and congealed. I took a bite and went into a coughing fit. It was beyond spicy. Like, it tasted like pure chili oil. My boyfriend had a bite and also couldn't believe how spicy it was. It was actually inedible. We had to send it back and I absolutely hate doing that because I don't like being a Karen. Someone came out with a new bowl of soup (much more "watery" broth this time) and apologized, saying the kitchen staff had over-reduced the previous batch of broth which resulted in the thick congealed spicy bowl I was given before. At this point I was over it but it tried the soup anyway. Still spicy, but edible. The flavor wasn't that good anyway, unfortunately, and the wonton "dough" was super thick and chewy. Just overall a bummer of an experience for a place with such good reviews. Maybe an off day? read more

Ambiance..cute.placr with a nice outside area to sit Service..fast Food..loved the sides.mgood portion sice..got chicken egg rolls..butter noodles..rice 2ith butter..spiced ginger lemonade..delicious and simple read more

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Gotten takeout from here twice. Food is really good & creative. Service is a bit on the slow side, but it's worth the wait. Be warned, when you order online they add a 5% service charge, but you aren't notified until AFTER they take your tip & process your payment. This deceptive practice loses them a star for me. read more

We dined in this past Sunday. Patrons can either use a QR code or request a paper menu to order . Personally, I'm not a fan of using QR codes to order my food when dining in. Their food was palatable. A very good intersection of Asian flavors. Yet, pricey. Friendly staff. Unfortunately, the tastiness of the food and the welcoming of the staff were unfairly underscored by the atmosphere of the restaurant. The tables were sticky and the floor of the restaurant was dirty . I get it. How do you keep cement clean ? Since it's a place where people eat, you just have to be vigilant about it . Grease lined the walls. The lighting above the area where they prepared the food had spider webs (long strands ) hanging down. And , the staff prepping and cooking the food did not have their long hair in hair nets . I watched a server wipe down a table and not wash his hands afterwards. He went straight back to the table behind where I was sitting. He put on gloves and resumed placing noodles into plastic bags/weighing them on a scale . Needless to say, their flavorful food and kind staff is not enough for me to return. read more

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Get the orange chicken pls!! so yummy. it was my favorite dish. great crunch and the sauce was good flavor service is fantastic!! they're so nice and attentive. the chef brought out the food himself and explained the dishes. he even gave us a free dessert. read more

This is a surprisingly good fast casual spot in Encinitas! I'm not from around the area but had Chiko starred on my list of places to check out if I ever did venture there. I'm extremely glad we went and understand how it ended up on my list in the first place! The space is small but there is outdoor seating. The service is done electronically through their QR code at the table but you can also order up front. The portion sizes were a LOT bigger than we expected so the prices were comparable! Every dish we had was bursting with flavor! We enjoyed everything we ordered and even considered ordering extra to take with us. We ordered crispy shrimp, steamed rice with furikake butter, and spicy cumin lamb stir-fry. If we come back, we will DEFINITELY try to order the orange chicken. read more

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Excellent food that is varied and freshly prepared mostly for takeout. Fried chicken is superb and noodle dishes are delicious. A few tables inside but it seems much of their customers are piking up to go. read more

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Fun concept and a lot of fun options! Came by at a weird hour (3pm on a Friday), so parking was easy and food came pretty quickly. After a difficult few rounds of choices btwn us, we narrowed it down to cumin lamb noodles and the brussel sprouts. Growing up w Chinese food, I thought this was a fun reminiscent dish! Loved the clingy ragu style lamb and familiar flavors. Only con was a little greasy for my taste. That being said, the brussel sprouts were not a great flavor match w the noodles since both were heavy dishes. Would've opted for the noodles and a salad in retrospect. You order through the toast tab and servers bring things out to you. We did have to wipe our table outside down before we ate... Got a little scared by a train partway through our meal, so be aware if you're outside! Overall, I'm glad I came to try! More of a casual pickup/quick meal spot for me read more

CHIKO - Asian Fusion Near Me - Encinitas, California

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TL;DR: fun Chinese/Korean-fusion eats with a cute backyard patio for outdoor dining Ordered: - Full Monty banchan (4/5): really fresh and different style of banchan compared to a traditional Korean restaurant. Big fan of the picked radish and kimchi. Not so much of the rice and furikake butter - Mushroom Juk (4/5): wanted to like this more but would've loved something crunchy to provide a change in texture - Soy Glazed Brisket (4.5/5): Really yummy brisket but way too much rice for proportion - Pork and Kimchi dumplings (4/5): crispy and yummy but missing a lot of the kimchi funk covered by the pork - Korean Fried Wings - dry (5/5): super crispy and flavorful throughout. Exactly what we wanted for wings - House Fried Rice (3/5): didn't find this special especially when compared to the rest of the rice dishes we ordered Overall, good food and relaxed ambiance - always down to come back to try more new dishes! Cheers, CHIKO! read more

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Chiko is a great spot for some unique and delicious food! They have a small menu- but everything they do, they do well. My personal favorites are the fried rice and spicy bulgogi stir fry. Their potstickers are a must! Service is simple- you order at the counter and they will bring out your food. The restaurant is small but they have a cute little patio out back. Fun spot for something a little different! read more

Got takeout and very much appreciate the way they pack the food so that nothing became soggy and staff was incredibly kind. Absolutely love the Orange-ish chicken (just note that it's a little spicy but does come with rice) and the crispy chicken spring rolls. Would skip on the soy glazed brisket (also comes with rice) next time. read more

Don't let the high ratings fool you, this place is not good at all. Out of 5 dishes we ordered, only 2 were decent: Smothered Salmon, and Pork kimchi dumplings. The Chinese broccoli was so bland, that I had to ask for their house made hot sauce, salt and pepper, and it was still lacking depth and flavor. The Beef dumpling was dry and boring, no actual Galbi seasoning flavor at all. Usually, galbi has sweetness, and sesame. They just drenched it in aioli and fried shallots and green onions toppings to add flavor. Peanut noodle salad was packed with cucumber, celery, pears, crunchy peanuts and peanut sauce, barely any noodles and the noodles that was there were soggy. Service was fine, since everything was self serviced from water and ordering directly from a QR code. If you want authentic Asian food with good flavor, skip this place. Would never come again. read more

I'm really sad to be dropping stars, but our last few visits have been disappointing. My boyfriend and I used to look forward to eating here once a month as a treat--the food was always incredible. Lately, though, the quality has dropped significantly. Tonight we ordered takeout. My boyfriend got his usual dish (one we've ordered multiple times both dine-in and to-go), and it was so smoky it was basically inedible. My brother, who always orders the same thing every time, couldn't finish his either and said it tasted worse than ever. It was extra frustrating since we spent about $80, which is a big splurge for us to spend and we had to throw out half the food. The service has never been great, but we never minded--until now. I placed a to-go order at the register like usual, but once we sat down, we were asked three separate times if our order was for here or to-go. The staff seemed annoyed when we clarified it was to-go, even though I had said so from the start. After 30 minutes of waiting and seeing other tables get their food, I politely asked for an update and was met with a snappy response about online orders were placed before ours. I didn't even bother clarifying I was talking about dine-in tables. My boyfriend and I both work in restaurants and totally understand off days--but we save up to eat here and tell everyone about it, and it's really disheartening to see the experience decline so much. I don't want to drop my rating too low, because most of the time when I come here it's great and I love it so much.... but I'm not sure when I'll be back read more

This is a cute location close enough to the beach. I came here hungry on a beach day and the food did not disappoint. The items and tastes were very unique to me since I usually eat Chinese and Korean food separately. Every part of the dishes I tried were well made. The restaurant is pretty much self-service. We paid and ordered through a QR code. Water was self serve as well since water was in a glass beverage dispenser. I'm not a fan of the self service experience when tipping is involved. It also felt weird since the food was pricier. I'm used to getting banchans at Korean places, but the sides here were pricey especially if you'd want a few sides. I came here on a colder day so I got some hot water to drink. I was a bit confused but there was a lot of cooked rice in my water? It tasted like I got hot rice water. Nothing was bad about that, but it was odd. How did chunks of cooked rice get into my water? It was an interesting experience. read more

CHIKO - Soy Glazed Brisket - Asian Fusion Near Me - Encinitas, California

Issue 1: This is a self-serve restaurant in the sense that you order through your phone via TOAST. I hate this kind of order process because you are presented with having to tip BEFORE you are even provided service. Now I think you can get around this if you decide to tip cash but I feel like if they see you didn't immediately tip it can skew the service and the food quality (potentially). We ordered $50 worth of food including 2 sodas (1 each) and one Grape Sac-Sac to try. That $50 included a tip. It's a bit of a dive bar atmosphere, outdoor seating is SUPER close to the train tracks, but no reductions for that... The reduction is due to the tip before you actually provide the service part. (minus 1 star) Issue 2: Our food did NOT come out at the same time, my husband's spicy lamb came out first and when my food didn't immediately follow (not even the appetizer, I'll get to that) I encouraged him to eat while his food was hot BUT what we realized is his side of rice didn't come out either. We figured my food, the appetizer, and the rice were on their way... Except they brought out my loaded bulgogi fries and no rice or potstickers were to be seen! Finally, my husband had to get up and remind them of the rice and pot stickers and the young lady said oh it'll be out momentarily but it was clear they forgot or didn't care. (minus 1 star) Issue 3: The food was very skimpy on the parts that mattered most, the lamb stir fry had barely any lamb or noodles. It was misleading because they piled the good stuff on top and hid the fact that they only put a small portion of the best parts of the dish. Same for the loaded bulgogi tots, what appeared to be "lots" of bulgogi turned out to be a small concentration on top and nothing but filler on the bottom. For what you pay this is disappointing and frustrating. The pot stickers were bland, like they didn't bother seasoning the inside of the meat, the sauce was very delicious BUT sauce is meant to ACCENTUATE not be the star. (minus 1 star) Overall I won't be coming back, I was so excited to try this place as me and my husband are huge fans of Korean and Chinese cuisine respectively, so the idea of a fusion of the two seemed so promising. There needs to be a rectifying of their portions/prices/service. read more

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Chiko is a Chinese-Korean fusion restaurant with a diverse flavor profile that leaves you wanting to try everything on the menu. I suspect that the chefs went into the food lab and experimented with a host of flavors and spices along to find tastes that worked. They hit on most. We tried the Half-A-Cado Salad, Mushroom Juk, Orange-ish Chicken, Spicy Cumin Lamb Stir Fry, Korean Fried Wings, and one more noodle dish that my son ate most of so I can't recall it much. I loved Chiko's version of Orange Chicken. The dipping sauce is on the side and the chicken pieces are very crispy and lighter with a sprinkle of red pepper. The crispier bite makes for a more enjoyable experience. The Mushroom Juk was a surprise hit. It's a Korean porridge (I know, sounds boring), but they mushrooms have a garlicky flavor to it with a slight crunch and it just works. I'm not a big fan of cumin, but my friend convinced me to try the Cumin Lamb. So may spices (medium heat) all come together to give it bite, depth, with varying textures. The Korean Fried Wings weren't bad, but not exactly what I was looking for. I've been told there is a Chiko in Washington, D.C. (I'm an East Coast guy), so we might give it a try if we go into the nation's capital in the future. If you are in Encinitas, you've got to give it a try. read more

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Parking available right in front. Cashier is right when you walk in with seating areas to the left and right of the counter. It wasn't busy so we sat closer to the patio outside. You sit down and scan a QR code to order. We had a hard time deciding and wound up getting the orange-ish chicken and pork/kimchi pot stickers. The chicken was light and crispy, juicy on the inside and the sauce it came with was sweet and spicy. The hot sauce was legit and made opened up our lungs the more we ate it. I love that everything is served in stainless steel, those details did not go unnoticed. We brought home most of the potstickers home and after trying a couple we know they're going to be better later as well. I would come back and try other items like the radish, salad and fried chicken wangs. read more

(edited to add that the half a cado salad and chilled noodles are so delicious, that I got them again today. They are pretty much all I'll be craving this summer! Stay away from the spinach side and you'll be good. But they have such amazing vegetarian options, both hot and cold. We also got the mushroom juk (porridge) which is on the vegetarian brunch menu, and is so flavorful!) Hot night, definitely in the mood for cold food. And Chiko hit the spot! Lots of delicious cold vegetarian choices. I'm having the half a cado salad, which is as tasty as everyone says. Lots of cucumbers and a really good dressing. And I'm having the cold peanut noodles which are quite delicious. Also lots and lots of vegetables including celery and cucumbers. I got the spinach salad side but it is a lot blonder than I remember and less interesting than the other two dishes. But so many other great choices here! read more

Conclusion first: The best, most exotic flavors I've ever had outside Asia. Definitely a restaurant to try and return. The mixture of textures, spices and temperatures were amazing. Asian foundation (Chinese & Korean) that takes food to crazy, memorable places. Perfect afternoon outside with the sunset. A very casual place where outdoor seating is necessary just because the huge chicken wings are so crispy yet tender and juicy. Ordered the big appetizers plate of 6 dishes. Also pork gyoza, chicken wings, rib eye with rice cakes and dessert (OMG). The dishes altogether were a fresh, tasty, spicy, crisp compliment of flavors and combinations that truly are five star. Yet the ambience is so casual and eclectic. Great personalized service. Worth the visit and the return. read more

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Have to say that we were around the beach area and wanted Asian cuisine. Chiko stands for CHInese and KOrean fusion. There were some spots up front and a small parking lot in the back. We got the spicy cumin lamb noodles and the mushroom juk. I have to warn everyone, their spice level does get a little heated so be careful when you ask for extra spicy. The inside was nice and clean and the service was nice. Worth a try! read more

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I ordered the Orange-ish Chicken (Dinner size). It was a generous portion and I took the leftovers home. The Crispy Chicken Spring Rolls (Big size) with the sauce was amazing. The Korean Chicken Wings were plain without the sauce provided. The service was good too. The only negative are the chairs/backrest, they are uncomfortable to sit on for longer than 10 mins. I would come back again read more

CHIKO - Orange-ish Chicken (bottom), Korean Fried Wings (top) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Dishes bright with depth Every bite both sharp and rich Balance in the craft Sauces set with care Heat and spice, both bold and deep Guided to explore Menus shift and change New ideas, perfect plates Always worth the trip read more

The food is sub par. I got the orange chicken and the Korean glass noodles with added protein. The breading on the chicken is falling off. The chicken itself tastes great, but the fact that it doesn't stick together is off putting. The Korean glass noodles with vegetables, feels like they gave you the scrap vegetables, all the whites of celery and chard, very few zucchini or carrots and really no flavoring to the dishes, even with the added protein which was clumped together. The lavender kombucha I got was delicious and the outside seating was great. The staff was lovely, but not a place to come to if high quality food is your aim read more

Not authentic Chinese-Korean - very Americanized. The vibe is cute where it's a little restaurant you order at the front and they will bring the food to you. Very nice staff. read more

Highly do not recommend! I door dashed, no utensils, food was cold, and not as described on their website. I was honestly disgusted and threw most if not all of it away. read more

I LOVE that this place is close to the spa I like to frequent. Post massage tasty dinner? Yes, please. I sent my husband some restaurants to try and told him to pick one for dinner. He picked Chiko and I'm so glad he did. Pre-pandemic we were in South Korea and my husband grew up and spent a lot of time in Asia so he loves to try Asian places. Parking: easy. There's a dirt lot right next to the patio and I noticed some parallel spots in front of the place though unsure if that's for takeout etc. Ordering: easy. Scan a QR code on the table. Since it was our first time I was gazing at the menu knowing we wanted to try a bunch of things and ordering at the table took the pressure off. We opted for a table indoors. It was pretty empty when we got there and their patio was mostly full. The weather was gorgeous. But alas my husband is ginger and would perish in the sun. We tried some cocktails as well. I had a lychee cocktail and my husbands was coconut based. Both made of Soju. Both super tasty. Things we tried: Soy glazed double fried chicken wings (5/5). Wings were crunchy and saucy. Spicy but not crazy. Pickled daikon was ordered to pair with this. Great flavor. Wet naps came with. Much needed haha. Pork and kimchi pot stickers (4.5/5). Loved the apple kimchi. The sauce was a little too vinegary for my taste but loved the dumpling filling. XO shrimp lo mein (5/5) big portion. Wish I asked for hot sauce of some sort. Shrimps were charred (I think) and so tasty. All the veggies inside were well cooked. This was tasty. We didn't finish but I attribute that to the range of things we tried. Read: we ordered a lot. Chili garlic cucumbers (5/5). My husbands favorite of the 2 sides we ordered. Excited to try the kimchi next time. Beef skewers with samjang (spelling def wrong)- 100/5. So so good. Meat was juicy. Sauce was amazing. Would order two of these next time. Lovely dinner near the beach and then a force up the coast was perfect. Staff was lovely. Thanks!! read more

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Such tasty, creative, shareable, Asian-fusion-style dishes, delivered by the most courteous servers in generous bowls! Every dish tasted unique to this restaurant. I loved their Brussels sprouts (amazing sauce), and their Orange Chicken, and the others in my party enjoyed beef dumplings, "smashed" salmon with veggies, and spicy vegetable fried rice. Every customer around us seemed as pleased and relaxed as we were. The servers were excellent and extraordinarily helpful when one member of our group accidentally dropped a ring that fell between the floor boards of the outdoor deck: they actually allowed another customer, who happened to be a handyman, to use his own tools to unscrew and lift the deck board to retrieve the ring! The staff graciously moved furniture to make this ring retrieval happen, and they never made us feel like burdensome customers. The outdoor patio is lit with strings of soft lights, and the music was very much in line with my indie rock taste. Aside from hearing the Coaster train twice, this is a very serene meeting place! Can't wait to eat there again, and I highly recommend you try it! Ample free parking in an adjacent lot, and the place is well-situated for a walk into the coastal village area of Encinitas on Pacific Coast Hwy, where the best ice cream, IMHO, at Cali Creamery awaits you just a couple blocks south of Chiko. What a perfect evening! read more

the food is sooo good. I was concerned about the prices but the servings are big! Definitely shareable. We ordered too much but had leftovers for lunch. My fav was their salmon entree. So many veggies and super flavorful. I'll definitely be coming back if I am in the area! read more

Amazing food and amazing service. We come here few times a year from Arizona and the consistency of the food and service is the same each time. Love the flavors and freshness of the ingredients. Amazing dishes for non-veg and vegetarians. Live their half cado salad and tofu baubuns. Their green beans are amazing as well. I love eating this with their spicy home made sauce. Can't wait to go back again. read more

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