Our 20th wedding anniversary was spent at our true guilty pleasure: Dija Mara. 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. read more

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What a gem. We have been wanting to try this spot for the last two years and haven't gotten the chance. Located on South Coast Highway in Oceanside, unassuming on the outside inside it is a cozy colorful spot for some delicious food. The restaurant is not large, but has a good amount of seating that does not feel too squished. There is a small bar and the dining seating consists of some high tops and regular height tables. I highly suggest making a reservation although you may get lucky and be able to snag a table or a bar spot. For drinks, they have agave wine cocktails, beer, and wine plus other N.A. options like Mocktails. We opted for a bottle of wine. They are clear that the items come out as they are ready, so if you want to course things out or expecting individual dishes to come out together, that will not be the case. This style lends itself to sharing which has the added benefit of being able to try a bunch of dishes and their unique flavors. When we came, there were only two of us, so we did our best to try a lot. We started with the Grilled Roti which can be served with the lamb jus curry dipping sauce and/or the vegetarian rendang curry. The roti was good and tasted fresh but it was really just the delivery vehicle for the delicious curries. The Lab Jus was good had that au jus feel as it should, but the vegetarian rendang curry was so flavorful. Definitely the star of this dish. Next we had the Sea Bream Ceviche which was seasoned with Makrut lime, hijau, Herb oil and coconut cream served with cassava chips. So refreshing and flavorful. Definitely crave-able and perfect for summer or as a palate refresh. The charred eggplant. My BF had heard amazing things about this dish. I am not much of an eggplant person but if it's good, I need to try it. It was chunks of charred eggplant served under fried shallots and basil and mixed with a tomato sambal and lemon labneh. I thought it was very good and went back for multiple bites. He thought it was amazing and practically scrapped the plate. Next up we had the Pork Belly Skewers which were served with sambal matah, black garlic, and peanut aioli. We really enjoyed this dish too and it had completely different flavors than the previous dishes. So flavorful. We finished our tour through the menu with the whole fried market fish with a tamarind glaze. Today they had branzino. It was prepared extremely well. The fish was crispy and flavorful. As warned, it does have the little bones throughout as it is really the whole fish. So be aware in case that is not your thing. Little bones everywhere. But we thought it was worthwhile to try and my BF loved it. We definitely need to come back as I still have my eye on the beef rendang and the chicken thigh skewers. read more

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What a disappointment. I had high expectations due to the Michelin bib Gourmand award, but the flavors 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. read more

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Parking: free 2hr street parking Reservation: recommended but we walked in and got seats for 2 on Wednesday 7:30pm. Service: slow and not very friendly. Fyi, this is NOT an authentic indonesian restaurant, even though it receive 2025 Bimbindam Michelin acknowledgement. We ordered: Ayam penyet - this is not bad actually, very moist inside, crispy on the outside. But the sambal is so wrong. Gado gado - not even close. Gado Gado is normally a mixed of steamed veggies covered with a delicious traditional peanut sauce. Whatever they use for sauce, it is wierd sour taste, it doesn't match the description on the menu. Pork belly satay - this is good, we can taste the charcoal grill, very moist meat. Ambiance is loud and dark. This restaurant is more like bar. read more

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Fun vibe. Inspired menu. Friendly service. Local gem. Wine and cocktail menu is limited but very well curated. Definitely add this to your Oceanside bucket list. read more

Dija Mara - Mie Goreng - Indonesian Near Me - Oceanside, California

This has been on our list a LONG time and we finally gave it a whirl for our 26th anniversary dinner: the service from Kaitlyn was impeccable both in terms of her attentiveness & solid recommendations on small plates to try; the charred eggplant was fantastically smoky & creamy; the kerabu salad wonderfully crunchy & acidic; the whole fried branzino worth the work to pull off the meat & avoid bones - so moist & flavorful and the coconut cake dessert was DEELISH! Their Michelin Bib Gourmand nod is well deserved and we will most definitely be back to try other menu items at this little O'side gem. read more

Dija Mara - Whole Fried Market Fish - Indonesian Near Me - Oceanside, California

The food was amazing! We celebrated our 30 year anniversary there for dinner and they did not disappoint! The nasi goreng was so good and the fried chicken with coconut rice was delicious. We ended with the strawberry sorbet with powdered lime and flower petals. This place Def deserves the bib award! read more

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Service, food, and ambiance were all awesome at DM last night. I sat at the bar and came an hour or so before closing. Loved the ceviche and the spicy noodles. Would recommend it to anyone and I hope to be back soon to try more of the menu. read more

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Love everything about this place. The vibe when walking in is cool and artful. You can tell time and effort are put into this place daily. The food is impeccable. This has quickly become one of my favorite spots in Oceanside and I am very familiar with the local food scene. Can't say enough about Dija Mara. Get the Nasi Goreng. You won't be disappointed read more

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Dija Mara was packed tonight, so I'm sure one mediocre review isn't going to hurt them. But for people who actually care about the food and not just whether a restaurant is busy or trendy, our dinner was incredibly disappointing. I remember when Dija Mara was a restaurant I was genuinely excited about. Tonight it felt like a restaurant that has simply decided "good enough" is good enough. I started with the hibiscus-ginger mocktail. There was so much ginger that the drink was overwhelmingly tart and unpleasant rather than balanced. My wife and I then ordered the grilled roti and paid extra to add the vegetable curry. What I didn't understand was that when we added the curry, the portion of the ajus that normally comes with the roti was cut roughly in half. So we paid extra, but part of the original accompaniment seemed to shrink. That made no sense to me. Next came the ceviche. It had clearly seen better days. Even putting the freshness issue aside, there just wasn't much flavor there. The chicken skewers were almost comical. Two of the four skewers had pieces so tiny they had essentially been cooked into little burnt crisps. The remaining two were pretty meager as well. I'd be surprised if there were 3 ounces of chicken on the entire plate, and even that might be generous. The peanut accompaniment certainly didn't rescue it. Then came the pork belly skewers. Same problem. Two sides of the pork were badly burnt. At some point, when multiple grilled dishes arrive burned, you have to start questioning what's happening on that grill. Finally, the $26 fried chicken over coconut rice. This was a chicken leg quarter over a scoop of rice, and half of the breading had already fallen off before it reached the table. The coating still attached to the thigh was separating as well. If fried chicken is one of the main dishes on your menu, you should know how to cook it And that really sums up the evening: eh. What bothered me most wasn't any single dish. Kitchens have bad nights. It was that all of this food made it through the entire restaurant. Someone cooked it. Someone plated it. Someone saw the burnt skewers. Someone saw the breading falling off the chicken. A food runner carried it. And ultimately somebody decided, "Yep, that's good enough to serve." That's the disappointing part. And when I really thought about the bill afterward, it became almost ridiculous. A piece of bread, two meager orders of satay, and a chicken leg quarter over a scoop of rice and 2 hibiscus drinks. $123. Think about that, folks. That's not inexpensive neighborhood food. At that price, execution matters. Portion size matters. Technique matters. And somebody in that kitchen has to care enough to say, "No, we're not sending that out." Dija Mara still has a reputation built on some very good cooking over the years. Maybe that's why tonight bothered me so much. I remember this restaurant being considerably better. North County desperately needs restaurants where people in the kitchen still care about the details. Packed restaurant or not, the food still has to be good. read more

Dija Mara is a trendy Indonesian restaurant in downtown Oceanside with a warm, well-designed interior and friendly service. Nearly everything we tried was bursting with flavor, well-deserving of the Michelin Bib Gourmand designation the restaurant has earned the past five years. The food is served family style, and the cocktail menu is unique. Conveniently, there is also a good amount of street parking around the restaurant, even on bustling weekends. To start, I had the black rose, an agave wine cocktail with black sesame, rose orgeat, and egg white. I'm not sure the blend of flavors worked, but it was certainly unique. We also tried the gypsy king (their version of a spicy margarita) and the pandan, lime, and coconut mocktail, both of which were decent. For the small plates, we agreed that the charred eggplant and sea bream ceviche were stellar. The sambal shined with the eggplant, and the cassava chips paired perfectly with the makrut lime and coconut cream in the ceviche. The roti was just alright - nothing to write home about. The pork belly skewers were juicy and well-flavored, although we had finished all our small and large plates by the time the skewers came out (we had to ask about them - the waiters/kitchen likely forgot about our skewers, as multiple tables seated after us received theirs before we did). The ayam penyet, nasi goreng, and beef rendang were delicious and well thought-out dishes. We agreed that while the menu is heavily Indonesian-inspired and the food features the flavors of Southeast Asia, the dishes are quite Americanized. Dija Mara shines in presenting a typically uncommon cuisine in the U.S. in an easily accessible manner, which is laudable. Would recommend everyone try at least once. read more

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I have been to Dija Mara a number of times over the past several years, and they've still got it. My Sister and her husband were in town from New York. So we decided to take them here. Even though it was a Tuesday, it was very busy and bustling in the restaurant. The server was very helpful and diligent. We ordered roti, mei goreng, eggplant, fried mushrooms and mussels. All the food was really delicious. And really punched in the face with flavor. Highly recommend. read more

This place is quite unique! Full of spice and flavors! I would highly recommend a visit here if you are looking for a unique dining voyage, atleast once. Their dishes definitely have more of a kick so it's not for the faint or be sure to request less spicy . Cute little spot very intimate so I wouldn't suggest a big party here but a reservation instead. read more

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Girls' night out on a Friday. The place had that street style going on. We were excited to try this Indonesian fusion place, especially since I've always loved Indonesian food when I was overseas. But... wow. I left more confused than satisfied. Where were the Indonesian spices? The flavors? And the portions? Tiny!!! Fun night with the girls, but this place? We won't be back. read more

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My brother got my partner and I a gift card here for Xmas, and we were stoked to try it out having just moved to Oceanside and this being one of the nicer restaurants in the area. 1) atmosphere was cute, cozy, and unique, felt like a great date spot vibe 2) the sparkling wine I had was noteworthy, really loved it and I don't usually mention wine in these reviews so it truly stood out! 3) they had a dedicated menu for allergies (something small that really stands out to me at restaurants as someone who has a bad gluten allergy) 4) and for the food - it was super yummy! I agree with fellow reviews that it maybe wasn't the most "authentic" style of Indonesian food I have had, but it still tasted delicious to us. We got the ceviche, tartare, and short rib beef rendang, which was enough to fill the 2 of us up. We will be coming back! read more

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5/5 Prawn skewer + ceviche + mie goreng. 2/5 roti and beef rendang Saw this place on Michelin guide's bib gourmand 5 years in a year row so decided to try it this weekend. Easy to find parking, always a plus! Somehow avoided ordering any of the most recommended dishes haha but the whole experience is still quite amazing. Went for the spicy noodle prawn skewer, sea bream ceviche, MIE GORENG, short rib rendang and grilled roti. Liked them in that order The prawn came with exotic and rich southeastern Asian seasoning, but the shrimp's freshness and sweetness still shines. Best ceviche I've had. It's a powerful sensory stimulant, enchanting pretty and dangerously delicious. Beautifully presented in starry blue plates with luscious herbal oil and comforting coconut cream. The sea bream has no strong flavor, so it mixes so well with the herbal oil. Verdant and relaxing aroma from the herbal oil arrives first. It's then followed by mouthwatering and refreshing lime. Coconut cream and the sea bream soon offered sweetness relief. In a short 10 seconds, I felt like I just had a fun roller coaster Not so much to say about the roti. The beef rendang is quite disappointing as it came out majorly lukewarm. Also not saucy enough to let the coconut rice soak up any flavor. Couldn't figure out what exactly the dessert is. But 5/5 recommended. Flurry of textures. Chewy base with natural sweetness from rice or flour. Airy lemon cream on top and fruity sauce at the bottom. Seriously creative. Big believer in bib gourmand. read more

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I have never had Balinese food before and these selections were great. Especially loved the pork belly skewers and the beef rendang. The mochi dessert was also very delicious. Theres a parking lot adjacent to Dija Mara thats about 6 dollars for two hours. Make a reservation for the restaurant online. For four people you should order around 4-5 dishes, each of them have portions that are on the smaller side. read more

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Oceanside, what a beautiful place with some fire cuisine. Michelin Bib Gourmanded (gourmanded? bibbed? idk bro) Dija Mara fits that bill. It was easy to get a reservation on a Thursday night, 6:30pm. We actually got there 20 minutes early but they already had a table for us, so... cool, let's eat! Ambiance is perfect for a date night. It's cozy and intimate, although the tables are placed close enough together where you can hear other conversations quite clearly. The table to my right seemed like they were on a first or second date; I really wanted to dap up the guy and thank him for lending me his lambo for the weekend, but y'know... there's a time and a place, and dinner at Dija Mara wasn't that. With all that being said, it's probably not a great place for a group outing as the biggest table I saw only sat 4. Served family style, we ordered sea bream ceviche, pork belly skewers, grilled roti, and beef rendang. Note: dishes are served as they are made, there is no traditional appetizer & main order of delivery. Sea bream ceviche was marinated with a markut lime and placed in some herb oil and coconut cream. Delicious, no complaints. The pork belly skewers was the star of the show, but I mean pork belly skewers are always a hit for us. It was well marinated and tender. The black garlic and sambal matah sauce was so good. The grilled roti was perfect, soft and chewy. We actually didn't care for the lamb jus, mainly because we don't like lamb as much. The vegetarian rendang curry was good though. The only main dish of the night, beef rendang, was good, but nothing world shattering. The short rib was tender and fall-apart. The fermented veggies and coconut rice was good as well. Service was attentive and not overbearing. I believe it was the manager that helped us and other servers just ran food and plates. But it was pleasant all the way through. Yelp Adventures 2025 - 12 of ?? read more

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Great flavors! The cocktails were unique and pretty tasty. For food we ordered to share for 3 people. The hostess recommended we added another dish, but that overstuffed us. What we ordered: grilled roti (yum!), papaya salad (yum), gado gado (interesting yum!), pork belly skewers (yum!), mi-goreng noodles (yum!), nasi goreng (good but we could've done without this), ayam penyet fried chicken (so juicy, but came last and we were so full), prawn crackers (can skip this). Service was pretty fast though there were a few tiny hiccups - We made a reservation for 8:30, got there early and was told we had to wait although there were many tables available. Turns out our table was ready, the hostess was just confused. Total came out to be ~$250. Great experience, I'm glad I went but it'll be just a 1 time visit for me read more

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Wow this place is incredible!! I recommend making a reservation as seating is somewhat limited. We seriously loved everything we got. The only dish I found lacking was the beef rendang. It was a bit on the dry side and the taste wasn't as robust as I'm used to for the dish. I'm from Malaysia so I know my rendang! Some standout dishes for me were the skewers both pork belly and chicken and probably the best dish was the charred eggplant! It's cooked so well and the sambal on it just makes it perfect. It's a flavor explosion of sweet, sour, spicy, salty and that perfect melt in your mouth eggplant!!! In terms of authenticity I'd say it doesn't hit the highest but it's a fusion place too. The service is great. Ambiance is good but a bit more on the dimly lit side. read more

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Pretty cool little spot located off the 101 in Oceanside. They have very unique Balinese fusion style food which shines in both spice and flavor. The service is solid and the menu is totally unique. I'll for sure come back and try more things on the menu! read more

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Exquisite, eclectic and romantic Dija Mara earns my praise, hence the Michelin nod - Bib Gourmand 2021-2025. Dija is a small 68 max customer seating. Restaurant setting has a soft dim lighting, with various levels of background music. Depending on the night, Walk-ins come with a slight wait time of 30mins and likely seated at the bar. Reservations are preferred. My favorite part was eating family style and your whole party can try little bit of everything. The menu is just right with a handful of Small Plates and Large Plates and Skewers that can be interchangeable. We tried dishes from sea to land including Sea Bream Ceviche, Gado Gado, Charred Eggplant, Pork Belly Skewers and Nasi Goreng. The ceviche was marinated in a tart markut lime sauce in a beautiful hijau that was vibrant and colorful. The charred eggplant was flawlessly cooked topped with fried shallots and baby thai basil leaves. This was one of our favorite dish of the night. Pork Belly Skewers was perfect for a party of four. Dipped with peanut sauce and enjoyed with pickled shallots! Party in the mouth! Nasi Goreng was a hearty fried rice with bay shrimp topped with sunny side up fried egg. Gado Gado a seasonal mixed vege dish with tofu and quail egg topped with peanut sauce left us wondering what we were eating. I am happy to add the service was decent, courteous and prompt. We didn't feel rushed nor were there many people waiting behind us on a Saturday night. read more

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Being this place is a 2021-2025 MICHELIN BIB GOURMAND and was so close to our hotel we had to make a point of stopping here. I started off with one of their cocktails, PANDANY DROPPER. It was very tropical, quite sweet and delicious. We ordered the sea bream ceviche so fresh, tuna and pork belly skewers, they were phenomenal and oh so flavorful. The braised short ribs were very tender. The desert was fresh, tart, sweet and creamy. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner! read more

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I've been coming here for years to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and even just the end of a long work week--and it never disappoints. On this last visit, we had the chance to meet the owner and chef, and they, along with the entire staff, were incredibly kind and attentive. It was my first time dining at the bar counter, and the experience was just as lovely as ever. We ordered some of our go-to favorites, but also tried a few new dishes like the beef tartare, which was fantastic. The chef's special with green mussels and spicy coconut curry both looked amazing and tasted even better. We finished with a dessert that was light and perfectly balanced between tart and sweet. As always, an incredible experience--we'll definitely be back again soon. read more

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Found this place via Resy and was lucky enough to score a reservation booked the day prior(i Amex concierge as they can make magic happen with tough reservations). I've Never had Indonesian food before I sorta thought it would have this Malaysian, Filipino, Thai type flavors, which were my best guesses, but basically I had no expectations. Through yelp I did some research and had a good feeling on what I wanted to try and I kept some wiggle room open for recommendations from the staff. My eyes definitely was hungry as I poured over the food photos but I had to respect my stomach. Not hard to find as its name strongly contrasts against the off white painted exterior on the street front and the south side of the building. It's been years since I've strolled through Oceanside...the good old days of being the with the Marines, getting cheap harcuits, fast food, and beers at the dive were long gone as well as the homeless, drug addicts, and seedy elements...I've grown up and so has Oceanside! Stepping in from a bright sunny day to the slightly dim interior my eyes took a few seconds to adjust. First thing I see is the gigantic mural spray painted on the back wall along with touches of Indonesian art pieces displayed it was giving modern bohemian urban vibes. Super intimate seating with majority of seats for two but I can tell they could easily adjoin tables to accommodate a larger party. Hosts, servers, and staff were attentive and quick to seat us for our reservation. First we Ordered drinks singha beer and lychee cocktail along with an appetizer, vegetarian curry with grill roti. honestly, I could've been served drinks and this scrumptious grilled roti flat bread all night and I would've been beyond satisfied. The roti had a subtle crisp texture and for being so thin a nice chewy bite in the center. Singha beer always hits but god damn the Dija Lychee Martini slaps, beautiful presentation with the flowers and the sweet lychee ooooweeee so good! Mie Goreng with chicken was amazingly well balanced with savory salty basil and spice, noodles with perfect with a nice bite and the perfect amount of sauce. A must order! The pork belly skewers I was nervous as they seemed dark in all the photos I wasn't sure if it was being over cooked/charred but when they arrived and I took the first bite I understood! It was the sauce as it was perfectly cooked no burnt flavor, there was this wonderful Smokiness which added amazing depth to the flavor of the pork, paired with the peanut aioli sauce and the squirt of lime it was perfection with every bite. Chicken thigh skewers were an audible as we initially wanted to go with the Ayam Penyet fried chicken meal but wanted to give the chickenskewers a shot as the waiter recommended it. I typically avoid chicken skewers as I feel they tend to be over cooked and dry but not here not today. The chicken was juicy, well seasoned/sauced, and the grill job was spot on with the nice subtle char for flavor. If you were to chose between skewers I'd go with the pork. I'm definitely gonna give the fried chicken a go next time. At this point we were full and the Short rib beef rendang arrived. And even though my stomach was physically done the amazing flavors of the beef rendang signaled my stomach to open up for shop. Being Filipino it gave comfort food! A stewed meat over a bed of rice, but this went above and beyond. The salty and subtle spice and beyond tenderness of the short rib with the coconut rice was screaming elegance. I love how they have sliced lime to add acidity to each bite. The pickles egg was another twist that added more depth with the it's addition. Overall i loved the entire experience which explains the Michelin nod! I am a Indonesian food lover convert now! I'm not sure if it was a good idea to have my first Indonesian food experience to be such a high level in flavor, presentation, and execution. I hope all other Indonesian meals aren't ruined from this. Lol I'm definitely coming back! read more

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Ambiance..cute spot..no ac..small but love the decor Service.mfast and friendly Food..the chai is authentic..the charred eggplant..chicken skewers..and chicken plate were so full of flavour and tasted authentic. I loved the spices sauce thet came with it. read more

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Updating my review because it's been a while since I reviewed them last. We took my son here for his graduation trip because we've held them is such high regard for so many years. Everything was great except for the nasi goreng. The first time I ever had nasi goreng was here, 7 years ago. Because of Dija Mara, I went on a nasi goreng quest to find the best recipe, and make my own at home. It's since become one of his favorites of mine. I was so excited to bring him back to try where I first got my inspiration and it just fell flat. Dija Mara, if you can possibly go back to how you used to make it, I know people would be so happy. Other than that, keep doing what you're doing because everything else is great. read more

Dija Mara - If I love the food as much as I love the interior/exterior design, we in bidness - Indonesian Near Me - Oceanside, California

amazing bartender, amazing food, and amazing hospitality! Everyone who worked here is amazing, especially the cooks and the servers. Definitely recommend and definitely a great restaurant and experience. read more

Nasi goreng? Yes, legit! Ayam penyet? Yum, legit! Sambal Terasi? Kurang rasa terasi but still super tasty. Randang sapi? A definite no, I would never try it here again. No doubt it was slow cooked for a long time, but the spices presented as bitter and almost sour leaving an odd lingering taste which was not pleasant at all. I lived in Indonesia for a decade and cook my own rendang, so this was a huge disappointment. We wanted to order the Soto ayam to go but were advised as a soup they were unable to fulfil that request. Service was lovely, seemed most staff helped serve others tables which is refreshing. Would help if staff are able to help guests with pronunciation of their Indonesian dishes, but with a staff that cannot pronounce their dishes or understand when I said the names, understood only by pointing, it leaves a lot of room for improvement. We will come back but not in a hurry. It's a nod to Indonesia but far from authentic for those that know. read more

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Everything about this place is brilliant! Decor, service, food, etc was perfect from start to finish. Without hesitation, the ceviche was the best I've ever had! Make a point to visit, it is definitely worth it! read more

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This place has been on my foodie list for a while and it lives up to all the great reviews I've read. The place may be small (so make reservations if your party is more than 2!) but that's what makes this a hidden gem. So unassuming is the front entrance that I almost walked right past it. But once inside, my eyes were darting all over the place soaking up the cool urban art and dynamic vibes. And I haven't even shared about their fantastic, belly-stuffing dishes. Or our awesome patient server! We had a party of 8 so we ordered 2 of most dishes. That gave everyone a taste of everything (thanks to our wonderful server's suggestion). My favorite was the spicy noodles and the lychee martini (see pics below). Beyond YUM!! Overall, this local spot is absolute fire! Don't hesitate, GO! read more

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Came to Dija Mara with a group of four and had such a great dining experience. We ordered a little bit of everything to share, and honestly every dish impressed -- but the standouts were the Nasi Goreng (rice with a fried egg on top) and the noodle dish, which had a perfect balance of spice and flavor. Other favorites at the table were the beef tartare, the grilled roti with its dips, and the chicken thigh skewers. You really can't go wrong with the menu. The space itself is intimate and stylish with an edgy vibe that fits the Asian fusion concept perfectly. Definitely make a reservation, because seating is limited and you may be waiting otherwise. They don't offer full liquor -- only wine-based cocktails -- so we stuck with beer and wine. The wine paired well with the food. Service was friendly and attentive throughout the night. Be prepared that the bill can add up quickly when you're sharing multiple dishes. With a bottle of wine and several plates, our table of four came out to about $400 including tip ($100/per person). Pricey, but absolutely worth it for the quality, flavors, and overall experience. Will definitely be back! read more

Okay, Dija Mara... wow. Just wow. Went for a girls night out dinner and holy fkn airball--Every single dish we tried was so good we were literally passing plates around like, "Wait, did you try this yet?" From the bright, zippy ceviche to the melt-in-your-mouth eggplant and that coconut fried chicken? Unreal. Yes, it's a bit of a splurge especially compared to your average local spot but this is not your average dinner. The portions are small (they're meant for sharing), and we definitely could've kept going, but honestly, the flavor, the vibe, the whole experience? Worth it. I'll 100% be back, probably dreaming of that chicken until then. read more

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First time here and was not disappointed. We had a reservation at 5pm so we were the first ones in. Service was very fast and attentive. The food was delicious and I could not get enough. I have recommended it to multiple people and they have all enjoyed it too. I will definitely be coming back! read more

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We enjoyed the whole experience... starting with drinks off the specialty menu, sharing the chicken, shrimp & pork belly skewers, tasty salad & finishing with a creamy fruity dessert. Just all so yummy. Female staff were all so attentive & helpful, too. We will definitely go back again! read more

Dija Mara - Shrimp skewers - Indonesian Near Me - Oceanside, California

I would say that there are some highlights and low lights to the spot. One of the things I would like to highlight is that you have a unique flavor variety in Oceanside and you get to try Southeast Asian food. I think the highlights were definitely the fish and the Portobello skewers and the fried chicken but overall everything else tasted a little bit too salty for me and too much of the paste and the sauce so that feeling left me with like a 3.5 however the service and the ambience and the risk to take on new flavors I would say pushed it over to a 4 star. I came with coworkers and we literally ordered the whole menu so I would say we tried pretty much everything and again go for the recommendations try new things and you might be more of a salty palette than me. I literally took pictures of everything and I would say the roti bread was a pretty good highlight also . read more

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I am not Indonesian food expert but this place seems sort of overrated. The food didn't taste all that fresh to me. The service was fine but we were seated at a table near the restroom, which was bothersome. We got a good assortment and nothing was memorable to me. Do yourself a favor and go to convoy for the real thing. I think this is heavily "fusion" in this case. read more

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Heard so much about Dija Mara and was missing some Malaysian/ Singaporean/ Indonesian food that we had to try. We ordered gado gado, grilled roti, Chinese bok choy, charred eggplant, pork belly skewers, shrimp chips, fried chicken, nasi goreng and beef rendang. Although the food is similar to its Asian counterparts, it wasn't 100% authentic (beef rendang was not spicy enough and gado gado was missing pineapple). But we appreciated the effort and creativity. Hands down....you must order the pork belly skewers. That was so delicious! Service and ambiance were good. Small establishment so reservations recommended. Street parking only. read more

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First time in Oceanside, saw this restaurant on my social as a must try. Made a reservation for my birthday and was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, the whole experience was a letdown. We were greeted by the host who showed us to our table. We waited at least 10 minutes as no one acknowledged us or brought us water in 80 degrees weather with no ac. The hostess literally just stood there looking at us while our waitress ignored us. We actually enjoyed the food except for the part where we had to fight the flies from getting to our food. When I washed our waitress about the flies, all she said was sorry and walked away. The restaurant knew it was for a special occasion as it asked what we were celebrating for the reservation but there was no acknowledgment of it. Overall, it was such a disappointing experience that totally ruined my birthday. read more

Solo dining on a Thursday evening and sat by the bar. Service was great: servers were nice, greeted and checked on me timely. Food arrived promptly but didn't feel rushed. Loved that the details of the restaurant were thoughtful, modern, and balanced. I ordered a lychee martini, grilled roti served with lamb jus sauce, and a beef rendang dish. They were all really delicious. The martini was dangerously good: the lychee was prominent and not too sweet. The roti tasted fresh and great texture; I didn't really care for the lamb jus. The beef rendang was definitely a favorite: the meat was so tender; the dish was seasoned perfectly but had a lot of deep flavors, balanced with the pickled vegetables, egg, and fresh mint. The coconut rice though was not cooked well or at least to my liking where it was a tad bit al dente. It can be a little pricey but I think worth a try in the area. Will definitely be going back soon to try their spicy mi goreng or just order the beef rendang again. read more

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