Parking: The Pre-Meal Adventure First things first--parking…read moreis a sport here. I mean, it's near the water, so of course there is limited space. It took me a solid half hour to park. By the time I walked in, I felt like I had already burned off dessert. Service with Space The service was chill and patient--no pressure, no hovering. I was offered suggestions, politely declined, and eventually made up my mind like the independent vegan foodie I pretend to be. Food Chronicles I dove into the Mystical Mushroom Quesadilla with walnut meat. Now, let me confess: this was my first time eating walnut meat, it was an interesting experience... a little sweeter than my taste buds were emotionally prepared for, but hey--growth! I'll have to try it without the walnut meat next time. The real showstopper..The kale chips. I'm pretty sure they were kale chips, but honestly they tasted like crispy little blessings from above. Heaven-sent. Then came the Loving Lasagna, and WOW. Extremely good. The sauces were divine, like they'd been whisked by angels with excellent seasoning skills. I absolutely recommend it--10/10, would eat again and again.

Delicious Vegan I…read morehad the Mango Curry and Breakfast Wrap The staff was great and I will be back. The green artwork made our lunch special great work Soph.

I went here the other time the food was mid and they took long to get my food. I don't know if it…read morewas becuase they were short stuff but I might give it another chance soon

Love this place. Great food, service and ambience. The crowd is very cool. The wait staff are…read moreknowledgably and kind.

I've been coming here since 2022, and as someone who's been vegan for over 10 years, this place…read morereally is such a gem to have nearby. I've tried a good portion of the menu, and some of my favorites are the Bam Bam Burger, Jughead Burger, carne asada bowl, and the monster chili dog. The fries are always so good, and the cold mac salad is a must The portions are generous and I almost always have leftovers, which I love. Even my non-vegan husband enjoys coming here, and we've recommended it to friends who have also really liked it Service has always been great, food usually comes out quickly, and the staff is consistently friendly and helpful The space itself has such an eclectic, laid-back vibe with tons of art and character, it's just a fun place to be Sometimes the sauce levels can be a little on the heavier side depending on the day, but the flavors are always really good The hibiscus lemonade is really refreshing, I'd just personally enjoy it even more with ice It's clear everything here comes from a lot of creativity and passion, and I really appreciate the care that goes into a menu that's entirely his own!

My wife and I stopped by Eris in Oceanside on 3/14 and absolutely loved it. The place is small but…read morefull of character -- local artists' work on the walls, pop culture decorations, and a really welcoming, community-forward vibe. The owner took our order and was incredibly friendly, helpful, and informative. He described all of the dishes and you can tell he genuinely loves his resturant and what he's doing there. At one point he mentioned that he's proud of the portions because he thinks a lot of vegan resturants tend to skimp a little. He was absolutely right to be proud. I had the French Dip and it was honestly one of the best sandwiches I've had. The stek was sliced thin and really tasty, the cheze in the sandwich was perfectly gooey (which is rare for plant based cheze), and the aujus was the real star. I've honestly had nothing like it before. It was also a really hearty portion and super filling. My wife had the Jambi sandwich -- a hash brown wafflle with fried chikun, sunflower swiss, seitan bakon between two pieces of french toast -- plus chili fries on the side. The sandwich itself was impressively big and definitely lived up to the owner's point about portions. We've both been vegan for about 10 years and always appreciate finding places doing creative food like this. We live about an hour and a half away, but we're already figuring out when we can make the trek back for another visit.

When my friend with celiac invited me to have dinner at Nectarine Grove I wasn't really sure how I…read morewould feel about a fully gluten-free restaurant, but it certainly exceeded my expectations. To start, the employees here are so sweet! There are so many seating options inside, outside, and even an additional seating area in a more quiet and secluded room. I was a little nervous that the wheat alternatives would be bland or dry and hard, but everything was delicious! I ordered the Veggie Lovers pizza with vegan mozzarella and ricotta on a paleo crust. I was pleasantly surprised by how soft and flavorful the crust was! The vegan cheeses were also exceptional and the entire pizza was cooked perfectly. The tortillas that they use for the tacos are good as well. Whether you are gluten-free, vegan, trying to eat healthier, or simply accompanying a friend, Nectarine Grove has something for everyone!

I came in on a Sunday and the line has been nonstop while eating. I ordered for takeout since I…read moreknow I can never finish it in one sitting. Great service still Great food WiFi available Plug available Indoor and outdoor seating Bathroom 2 Parking in front Parking along the highway available 10/10 recommend!

Haggos absolutely crushed it. Had the steak & eggs plate this weekend and it was unreal, insanely…read moreflavorful while still feeling super clean and healthy. Everything is organic, the beef is grass fed, and they cook with avocado oil instead of all the nasty seed oils you find everywhere else. You can genuinely taste the quality. I feel like people don't realize they do breakfast on weekends because honestly it's one of the most slept on breakfast spots around. The staff is incredibly friendly, the atmosphere is super welcoming, and the owners are some of the coolest people ever. They make you feel right at home the second you walk in. Amazing food, amazing people, amazing vibe. Couldn't recommend this place more.

Love this place! My fav is the nachos with steak (I love that they have a half-nacho option too)…read more The tacos I've tried have all been great and my daughter loves the quesadilla. If you're in the mood for dessert, the churros are a nice treat. I love that they use organic ingredients, grass fed beef/wild caught fish, and no seed oils! I believe they fry with avocado oil. Service is generally good and quick, but we have waited up to 45 min before during a busy weekend visit. They're dog friendly (big patio dining area), and also have lots of fun activities for kids to help keep them entertained (coloring pages with crayons, games, animal figurines). Highly recommend this place if you're in the mood for Mexican food!

I've been to Modern Times a bunch in San Diego, and it's one of my favorite breweries, so I had to…read morestop in while visiting Encinitas. I'll admit it was a little bit of a culture shock when I walked in. Albums for sale, food, coffee, and more of a lounge feel than the classic San Diego brewery setup I'm used to. I guess that explains the fancier name. I liked it though. Good place to sit, people watch, and catch the traffic near the station. There were plenty of Padres fans rolling through that day, which added to the energy. The beer is still Modern Times, still cold, and still refreshing. Fun spot.

I was honestly blown away by Modern Times Bar. The atmosphere and overall vibe of the place were…read morefantastic--such a cool spot to hang out. When I visited there was a party happening, but the staff still made a point to take care of everyone. Multiple bartenders checked in with me throughout the night to see if I needed anything, which really stood out. I ordered the dry cider, which was the only cider available at the time. I would have loved to see a few more cider options, but the one they had was still really delicious. I also got a flatbread pizza and it was excellent--perfect as an appetizer or even a light dinner. There's plenty of seating and the ambiance makes it a great place to relax and spend some time. This will definitely be a must-stop spot for me anytime I'm back in the area.

Lotus Cafe is one of our go-to spots, especially after a walk around the area. The food always…read morefeels so clean, fresh, and nourishing. I almost always order the Nirvana burrito and it never disappoints, it's become my favorite. I've also tried their tofu breakfast burrito and veggie burger, and both were just as good, flavorful, satisfying, and still light. One thing I really appreciate is that they have great options for everyone. I'm vegetarian but my husband isn't, and we both find plenty we love here. I've even brought my parents a few times and it's always a hit. The space has plenty of seating and there's usually good parking nearby, which makes it an easy, relaxed stop. The staff are friendly and the food typically comes out pretty quickly too. Overall, just a consistently great spot with healthy, delicious options. I always enjoy coming here.

Always a great casual place to have a bite of fresh, healthy food. If you are vegan, vegetarian,…read moregluten free, dairy free or even a red blooded carnivore, you'll find something you like. For a Sunday lunch, we enjoyed enchiladas, sandwiches, soup, huevos rancheros, and an acai smoothie. Service is with a smile and fairly prompt. And they've managed to keep the prices of the meals at affordable levels, under $18 on average in 2026. Come back to this Encinitas staple.

Reservations not needed but highly recommended. After we arrived, we understood why: the place was…read morepopulated during dinner time especially on weekends. However, we were immediately seated at a very cozy table for two outside with a nice heater - albeit still a bit chilly considering the day started out quite warm. Our attentive and stellar servers were Candace and Ben. Since it was our first time at Valentina, our attentive and stellar servers recommended appetizers, main entree and dessert. Each course that came did not disappoint as our palate reached nirvana with each and every bite we took. I ordered the pork schnitzel as my main course while my partner succumbed to his eyes that were drawn to the ingredients of the seabass. We both shared squash soup and a separate plate of grilled square shaped potatoes that were a perfect pairing we devoured with satisfaction. Dessert came as a surprise, as we were served not one but two desserts - the latter was an added thoughtfulness, acknowledging my partner's birthday. The taste was divine! The bill totaled at just a little over $100, which we expected for this fine dining experience. Oh yes, we plan to return - even way before the next birthday. In the meantime, happy eats everyone and hope to see around town.

Upscale tapas place - be prepared to leave a lot of money for small plates, but very worthy plates…read more Seafood paella as well as clams were top choices for everyone in our group. Service was also very attentive. Lastly, they have my most favorite soap in the bathroom and I made a point to wash my hands multiple times during dinner service just to experience the scent. Small thing but leaves lasting impression

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.

My friend and I wanted something a little healthier for dinner so we decided to try out goodonya. I…read moregot the "everything but the sink" salad and she got the Thai salad. Both were generous portions and had tons of fun yummy toppings. We also got a small order of the fries to share which we both liked. Our server was super sweet and helpful. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating so you shouldn't have trouble finding a table. We wanted something a little sweet so stopped by the market after and grabbed one of their chocolate chip cookies which was the perfect end to our meal.

Mom and I shared the smashburger and fries and it was very good and juicy. Fries were good, didn't…read moreseem too greasy tasting. Good amount in the small size. I also got the iced mint coffee, very good, with almond milk. I appreciate that they asked my milk preference. Got a cookie and it was small but very good, reminded me of my grandmas cookie. Soft and not too sweet but tasty. My husband got the chicken pesto sandwich and fries and he is a tough critic, but he liked it. He also got the cookie, but he said it wasn't sweet enough for him. Staff was nice and we had a nice spot outside under the umbrella. Perfect SD day. Would like to go back!