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    Kettner Exchange

    4.2 (2.5k reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Kettner Exchange Photos

    Business Info

    KETTNER EXCHANGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kettner Exchange

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    szechuan fried chicken
    Daniel D.

    My wife wanted to come here for Sunday Brunch because the menu looked interesting and because of the dining credit on our Chase card. We had a reservation around noon and were seated immediately. Our server was friendly and informative and the rest of the staff were very attentive in clearing the table and refilling out water. Ambience of the restaurant was pretty modern with a nice view of the harbor from Grape street. There is plenty of seating with two levels and a few different bar areas. This place is supposedly famous for their drinks, but we don't really drink so we ordered plenty of food. The crispy rice and spicy tuna was tasty but was not spicy at all. The sushi rice patties were fried like hash browns and were crispy and fluffy. The fried chicken was two pieces of breast meat and one thigh. Very crispy with a tasty mild numbing spicy peanut sauce. The lamb noodles were savory and not too gamey with a hint of numbing spice. Overall the food, service, and ambience was fantastic, but the portion size to price was just ok. Definitely worth a visit if you're not looking for value!

    Swordfish wraps
    Alex E.

    Had a great night out here, with really good food and a nice atmosphere. Ambiance was nice, not too loud where you couldn't carry a conversation, but still lively in the lounge area. Tapas-style servings, which we liked so we could try out a few different dishes. Started out with the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, followed by Spicy Shrimp. Both were delicious. Next up, we had the Swordfish Wraps, which were good. The swordfish was wrapped in lettuce and they had a nice taste. We finished off with Grilled Mary's Chicken, which was a great dish for sharing. Our server provided timely and courteous service the entire evening and made sure we were taken care of. Parking as always is tough in Little Italy, but valet parking is offered at 15.00. We will return!

    Whipped ricotta (it also comes with bread but we forgot to take a photo before digging in)
    Chelcea F.

    This place was so awesome. They have a super cute rooftop patio/lounge with a bar. You can even rent a "cabana" For larger groups. I highly recommend making a reservation. The food was all super delicious, and the service was amazing. The staff was all super kind and knowledgeable.

    Pork Katsu Sandwich
    Pauline S.

    I've only ever been to Kettner to get drinks so I was curious to try out the restaurant for their actual food. We came for Sunday brunch on Super Bowl so there was no wait for a party of 2. Parking: As with any other downtown establishments, be prepared to drive around to snag a paid street parking-- unless it's Sunday, then most meters are free. Vibes: It's a huge 2-story restaurant with lots of outdoor and indoor seats. They can seat a large group party. We were seated upstairs on the patio since it was a nice day out. They had at least a couple TVs. There were regular tables, bar seats, and low tables with couches on the patio. Service: Huge shoutout to Zach who was our great server! He was personable, explained the menu well, and gave us a great experience. Food: The brunch menu is mainly tapas style. There were only 2 of us so we were limited on the dishes to try. If you have more people, you'd be able to try out more. -Caesar Twinkies ($15): 3 pieces of brioche crouton filled with mascarpone. Absolutely delicious. You'd think that the crouton would be too hard to bite but it was the perfect crunch consistency with the flavors of the mascarpone. A must get!! -Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice ($22): comes with 4 pieces of crispy rice and the spicy tuna is on the side topped with half an avocado. Generous servings of spicy tuna since it was served as a whole mound. The taste itself was nothing special, however. -Szechuan Fried Chicken ($25): 3 big pieces of juicy thighs. The flavor was great. Not too spicy for me (but I like really spicy food). I'd get this again only if we had more people. -Honey Butter Toast ($13): 1 piece of thick toast topped with creme. I enjoyed the taste but it didn't wow me as much. But what we enjoyed more was the Budino: crème fraiche topped with caramel! Overall: I can attest that their brunch menu is pretty good. Perfect place to enjoy a nice sunny day meal. I'd love to come back to try their dinner menu sometime.

    Budino
    Katelynn T.

    The menu is tapas-style and best for sharing. I tried two of their Michelin-recognized dishes (duck meatball and spicy tuna sushi rice) as well as their whipped ricotta. Our favorite was the duck meatball: smooth, almost effortless to eat, nestled on creamy soft grits with marinara. Comforting, rich, and balanced. We enjoyed the deconstructed spicy tuna crispy rice, too. The rice cake had a perfect bouncy, chewy texture without being overcooked, the tuna was fresh and silky, and the avocado was creamy and ripe. I wouldn't say it was mind-blowing. The ricotta was inconsistent--too salty on some bites, oily on the other. I liked the bread as it was smoky but parts of it were burnt. The dish ended up feeling heavy rather than indulgent. Also, the Kex cocktail leaned very coconut-forward and tasted like a college student whipped together Malibu and pineapple juice. I can see it being a crowd-pleaser, just not my personal preference. The space itself is a major win. Nautical ship-inspired with a striking deconstructed eucalyptus tree at the center, the interior feels modern, vibrant, and effortlessly cool. The crowd was lively which is perfect for date night or a friends' get-together. Service was attentive and smooth throughout. Shoutout Patrick!

    This was really good whipped ricotta grilled bread
    Trilby T.

    Beautiful restaurant , good service .. food comes out very very very fast !! Swordfish lettuce wraps - would not order again Bok Choy - so so small and just ok Ricotta whipped w toast - this was Good one of the best things we had Kale salad - delicious Tuna w fried rice cakes - yummy Hot oil seared salmon -meh Spicy shrimp - nothing special I would go more toward 31/2 stars Atmosphere and service very good Nothing blew my mind

    Molten chocolate lava cake, budino
    Natalie C.

    Kettner Exchange - what a dinner! It was our first visit to San Diego and KEX made our list of places to visit. Highly recommend for those who have never been. Our waiters were absolutely fantastic- super knowledgeable and helpful with making our food selections. Here are the fan favorites from our meal: - Spicy tuna crispy rice: little circles of crispy rice, with a nori-covered avocado and tuna (LOVE the presentation and just as delicious) - Butternut squash dumplings: as expected and with a great flavor - Duck meatball: MASSIVE single meatball in a little skillet with grits and tons of sauce. The meatball was the perfect texture, consistency, and flavor which isn't the easiest feat. - Molten chocolate lava cake: ah-MAZING. The perfect consistency of melted chocolate, and how can you pass up a vanilla McFlurry ice cream!?! The answer is you shouldn't. Fantastic meal. Cannot wait for our next trip back!

    Spicy tuna crispy rice
    Justine H.

    After many nights at the rooftop bar here, I got to treat my friend to a birthday Sunday brunch also on the rooftop. It was nicely shaded yet open and the music was not too loud so we could chat the whole time. It didn't seem to be busy at 11am which was perfect for our group and we felt we had the place to ourselves. The drinks were all tasty but the food even better! My friends LOVED the crispy fried potatoes and even combined it with the spicy tuna crispy rice. I personally loved the lamb noodles and could have eaten it all myself! Not to mention they really nailed the simple double double burger, cooked to a perfect medium. The birthday budino was a great ending to it all as well. Our waiter had the best energy and great recommendations. Overall a really nice experience and the birthday girl had a great time being celebrated.

    Philly toast
    Stacey M.

    Kettner is one of our favorite places to go when we want a great meal - the mapo is a go to and always delicious and the fried chicken for brunch is out of this world!! This place also offers lots of their cocktails as virgin mocktails and throughout this pregnancy the virgin dirty verde has made me feel like I'm not missing out!! The salted caramel Budino is also amazing - im not even a huge caramel fan but it's one of my favorite desserts!

    Butternut  squash dumplings. Very good. Portion a little small.
    Christina H.

    What a fantastic experience! We ordered 11 dishes and they paired them and coursed them out really well. For drinks we got the painkiller which was fantastic. I'll get that next time. The oddessy and the rosemarys baby was very good. I preferred the rosemarys baby We started with the big eye tuna sashimi which was excellent. And the butternut squash dumplings. That portion was a little too small. The eggplant was awesome! So different. Then we got the duck meatball and the puquillo pepper and peanut dip with focaccia bread. You would never know there were peanuts in it. The duck meatball comes with a creamy polenta. Yum! My husband loved it. The Caesar Twinkie was very rich and delicious. But a little too oily for me. I loved the lamb noodle dish. Next time I'll ask for the chili oil on the side. The spicy shrimp and the Szechuan frogs legs were my favorite. When you order that get the cucumber salad at the same time. The coolness of the cucumbers pairs really well together with it. Of the 3 desserts the honey butter toast was my favorite! I would come back again just for that! Our server, Eric was excellent. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We will come back here again for sure! Can't believe this is the first time we have been here They have and upstairs and a downstairs. We sat in a booth downstairs. But upstairs looked like a lot of fun!

    Marcos R.

    Leave it to San Diego to constantly impress. I'd already heard the buzz about this restaurant, so expectations were high--and they were met and exceeded. From the moment you enter, whether it's the live DJ or the open fire features, the space feels welcoming and inviting. The design is undeniably upscale. The food is even better. The plating feels like art, and the flavors--especially the spicy shrimp and other dishes--do not disappoint. I'll definitely be back.

    Wontons
    Alexis M.

    My girlfriends and I celebrated our bestfriend who is getting married soon. The staff at the front were very welcoming and even created a nice postcard with a note for our bride. Our server Juan was very knowledgeable, friendly, and just great overall. His wonderful service contributed to our enjoyable experience. The food was absolutely AMAZING! We loved every item except for the Pig Mac Bao and shrimp/pork wontons. They weren't bad at all, but ranked lower in comparison to everything else we ordered. We ordered: Hot Oil Seared Salmon, Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, Braised Shanghai Bokchoy, Crispy Weiser Farms Potatoes, Pig Mac Bao, Spicy Shrimp, 40oz meyers ranch bone in ribeye. We finished our meal off with all 3 desserts, our favorites being the Budino and Honey butter toast. Amazing experience, highly recommend, & will be returning soon!

    Mary's Chicken
    Kate W.

    Loved the vibes and dishes at Kettner Exchange! We sat upstairs in the indoor/outdoor area which was so pretty. Our server was great and very attentive. Per his recommendation we got several things to share between the two of us. Mary's chicken was perfectly cooked and tasty. The duck meatball with grits was great and we loved the ricotta! The seared salmon and cabbage were good but we definitely preferred the other items we ordered. Molten chocolate cake was a great way to finish the night! We will definitely be back.

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    Kettner Exchange Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kettner Exchange

    What is the counter seating?

    It is high counter upstairs which overlooks the light sculpture. It does NOT look at the kitchen.

    Tried booking reservations on their website but no luck. Do they take walk-ins?

    Yes, I would reserve on busy nights.

    Do you take walk-ins for a party of 6 around 530p on a Saturday?

    No, we had a group of three to walk in at 5:45pm on a Saturday and wanted a table upstairs. The hostess said upstairs was only for people with reservations. We were there for food and drinks, but she only offered us the lounge tables downstairs and… Read more

    Do they offer take-out/pick-up orders?

    Hola

    Can you enjoy a cigar in your patio while sipping on a cocktail?

    Hi Jonathan, unfortunately we don’t allow cigar smoking at our venue. Hope this helps.… Read more

    Will be in San Diego in mid February thoughts on a cabana or inside table?

    The cabanas are cool. I guess it depends on how many people are in your party I think most of them have TVs in them… Read more

    How large of a party can you accommodate on a Friday night?

    Hi Tasha, We can accommodate parties up to 12 people on Friday nights. If you want to make a… Read more

    Do you offer reservations for the rooftop bar area?

    Hi Agnes, Guests can request rooftop seating with their hostess, however, we can't guarantee… Read more

    For cabana reservations on a Friday night, how long do we get the cabana for? How late can we order from the lounge menu?

    Hi Alex, cabanas have a 3-hour limit and the lounge menu is available until 10pm.

    I am trying to make a reservation for a party of 9 for my daughters 21st. The website doesn't allow reservations over 6. I have tried emailing & calling during business hours for several days now and no one picks up. How should I go about making one?

    Have you tried sending a DM through IG? They are pretty active. https://www.instagram.com/kettnerexchange

    What time does your kitchen close on Friday night?

    Hi Sarah, the kitchen closes at 10pm.

    Do you need a reservation?

    Hi Jennifer, reservations are highly encouraged. We also allow walk-ins, however, we cannot guarantee availability during peak hours due to limited capacity.

    Crispy fried garlic prawns?

    Hi Mark, our Crispy Fried Garlic Prawns are plated with shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and delicious coconut curry.

    Will the rooftop be open on Sunday?

    I went on a Sunday two weeks back and we were sat on the rooftop.

    Is the rooftop currently open?

    Yes!

    Is this place wheelchair accessible?

    Yes

    Where should we request a table, downstairs, bar area, cabana? Saturday night group of four women, trendy and young vibe

    If you have a group there is a private space upstairs/inside. If a small group, to eat I would still prefer upstairs in the main dinning space. Outside upstairs gets very crowded with people out for drinks.

    Do they have a dress code for dinner?

    I don't think they do but everyone was dressed very trendy when I was there.

    Can I take my 20 year old niece and get a cabana on a Sat night at 7pm? Not sure if this was 21+ up at a certain time.

    I would give the restaurant a call.

    Is there a happy hour, what days?

    No they do not have a happy hour menu.

    View All 45 Questions

    Review Highlights - Kettner Exchange

    We got the duck meatball and the meat was so soft and tender with the sauce being creamy and tart and perfectly balanced.

    Mentioned in 129 reviews

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    False Idol - Isn't it gorgeous?!

    False Idol

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    0.3 miLittle Italy
    $$

    My False Idol experience was memorable, albeit blurry toward the end! My boyfriend and I had been…read moreon a half-day tour beforehand, but I saw that False Idol was near our hotel and I insisted we stop in for a cocktail before calling it a night. I knew it was a speakeasy but he did not. I was trying to double-check on my phone that Craft & Commerce was the right restaurant its housed in (yes) when he tried to jet set off down the block "to keep looking" rather than listen to me. I yelled, "MOTHER!" by accident and then he did truly leave me hahaha. He resurfaced a few minutes later, and then we walked in. It was 5:15 at the time, so 15 minutes after opening. I had NO IDEA how popular this spot was, nor anything about its nation-wide reputation. I actually didn't know that until two days ago when a Yelp-friend at home here in Richmond, Virginia, exclaimed excitedly when I told her we stopped in. The host who greeted us was kind, informed us there had been a line to get in that day, but that they had one barrel left; we jumped on it of course. It was happy hour, so the first cocktail I ordered was dirt cheap at $9. It was the Imperial Hawaiian with gin, rum, lemon, pineapple, and orgeat. I really shouldn't have ordered a second drink after that one, but I did have the classic Saturn later on in the night and it was absurdly good! Definitely my favorite of the two. The moody tiki vibe was so cool and fun. They even had frogs you could play on the tables. We had some fun neighbors too, which livened up the experience even more. We had a great time and both walked out heavily buzzed. We were asleep by 8 that night, but it was worth it!

    False idol is a tucked away Hawaiian themed speakeasy behind a restaurant. Reservations are…read morerequired so be mindful of that before going. Once inside seating is first come first served so the place is insanely crowded with people trying to get drinks. Service is a little confusing as the waiters will come up to you with a menu asking for your order instead of an order at the bar type of thing. Once we actually got a seat things were okay. The menu is mostly rum drinks since this is a rum bar however since I'm not the biggest fan I ordered the only thing with tequila on the menu. My drink was actually really good, it was refreshing, not too sweet or strong at all. I just wish there would be more variety.

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    False Idol - Tiki themed decor

    Tiki themed decor

    False Idol - Rum barrel

    Rum barrel

    False Idol - Back bar rum selection

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    Back bar rum selection

    Starlite - Pistachio ice cream sandwich

    Starlite

    4.1(2.6k reviews)
    0.8 miMiddletown, Mission Hills
    $$$

    We had an incredible date night at Starlite! The different…read moresections each had a cool vibe, we got sat in the mirrored seating area right next to the waterfall. I enjoyed a delicious mocktail and my husband had one of the house cocktails. The twice baked potato was amazing! Honestly couldn't go wrong with anything off there menu. Would highly recommend. (Definitely get reservations)

    I wish I had the capacity to let y'all get the full experience that I did. I booked my reservation…read morethrough the Opentable app (highly recommend). Please keep in mind, if you do book through Opentable that they ask you to put a card down on file. The reservation was for 5:30, luckily a block away there's a parking lot (you do have to pay) as their personal parking lot fits 5-6 cars. The hostess was a sweetheart and super accommodating, as we were a few minutes late due to the parking situation and we had a great seat that showed the open layout with the chandelier, the back panel by the entrance with all the stars, etc. Overall: Service, exceptional. (5/5) Our waitress: Kelly, was a sweetheart, informative, mindful on consistent check-in's for refills, drinks, going over steps of the menu (e.g. - small bites, entrees, dessert, didn't feel rushed or too pushy, and considerate on time, and promptness). The waiter that came by mid-video to do the torch component of the butters we added on to our meats was great, I love that it's table side because it enhances the experience to the ambiance and you can squeeze a little video in. If you do go for your birthday, as I did, they provide you with a dessert outside of their choices, however, we did overindulge a bit. Overall, I had a phenomenal experience for my birthday dinner, the music/ambiance was great, service was great, and the food quality for both the meat choices we got, sides (caesar salad, broccoli, and macaroni) we're all SO yummy! I will definitely be back!

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    Starlite - Bar area after entering

    Bar area after entering

    Starlite - Herb Scalloped Potatoes

    Herb Scalloped Potatoes

    Starlite - Cocktails are fun!

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    Cocktails are fun!

    Noble Experiment - Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

    Noble Experiment

    4.5(1.9k reviews)
    1.1 miEast Village
    $$

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

    The Noble Experiment: 9/10…read more Aesthetic & Ambiance: 9.5 - This place gives "speakeasy haunted mansion" vibes. You walk into the barrels, down the mirrors, and into the skull room...IYKYK no less. The waits to get very deadly so make sure to put your name on the list early. Service: 9/10 The host was chill, and we had Quintin as our mixologist. There are no menus he told us, he just went off of our flavors, and palate, so I can't really speak for how to order the same drink. First drink: 9/10 (profile) Vodka bases with cucumber and strawberry. Second drink: 8.5/10 (profile) Smokey, deep old fashion. Overall a MUST-GO to if you're in the area stopping by!

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    Noble Experiment - Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

    Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

    Noble Experiment - Bartenders creations.

    Bartenders creations.

    Noble Experiment - Skull wall

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    Part Time Lover - The bar at PTL San Diego

    Part Time Lover

    4.3(506 reviews)
    2.8 miNorth Park
    $$

    Fun speakeasy in North Park. Probably the most popular bar in the area. The DJs are unreal and this…read morespot always has the best music. The drinks are creative and fun. The vibe is immaculate: dim-lighting, wooden furniture, nice wallpaper, and dark curtains. Cute but very overpriced vinyl shop in the back, it's more for show. It gets insanely busy here every night. There will always be a wait after 9 PM. Wait isn't long, but it's essential as it gets PACKED inside. Seating is always full and people will throw hands for a table. There is minimal room to stand. Unfortunately, there is NO DANCEFLOOR :,( The bar lines are INSANE and can be hard to follow. But the bartneders are patient and helpful when it's finally your turn. While I warn about the crowds, this place is awesome. 10/10 one of the best spots in San Diego, the staple of North Park.

    This is a nice establishment, especially for lounging with a date. Very clean and nice drinks too…read more A little pricey however that's the norm in this area for the more popular out of towner type spots. The servers are friendly. But you have to be patient as they are often quite busy. The record store and records theme is what they present online but to be honest that is only a minute section of the establishment. It definitely doesn't describe the theme of the place neither. The worker in the record section simply ignored me when I tried to purchase a record and after a minute I had to ask for him to please ring me up. No apology from him. No biggie, I still had a decent time drinking here.

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    Part Time Lover - Bikini Kill (Serrano tequila blanco, mango, guava, tamarind, xila, lemon)

    Bikini Kill (Serrano tequila blanco, mango, guava, tamarind, xila, lemon)

    Part Time Lover - Record store to the left. Bathroom straight ahead

    Record store to the left. Bathroom straight ahead

    Part Time Lover - Record Store inside the bar

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    Record Store inside the bar

    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Clouds over Thailand

    Realm of the 52 Remedies

    4.4(868 reviews)
    7.3 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    Realm of the 52 has been on my SD bucket list since I've moved here. So pretty hyped to get to…read morefinally go! Its located inside Common Theory. The entrance is pretty cool but I'll let you experience it :). The interior is definitely a vibe and intimate. Its definitely for smaller groups. They actually recommend to stay in your seat unless you need to use the restroom, which I appreciated. The service was all around very good! I got the Saigon Dreamer and it was so good! It had such a good mouth feels with the clarified milk. Highly recommend if its still on the menu. For food, I got the charred gai lan and the KFQ. The gai lan had a nice smoking taste and very tender. KFQuail was succulent and was fried to perfection. The only downside would be it was pretty expensive what you get. Will definitely be back for the cocktails but may get food somewhere.

    A hidden speakeasy tucked inside Common Theory Brewery in Convoy -- such a fun concept. They have…read moretheir own parking lot, so no stress there. The entrance experience is really creative (I won't spoil it!), and our host was incredibly enthusiastic, setting the tone for the whole night. You do need a reservation, and they charge a per‑person deposit. There's also a time limit, which is a bit of a bummer, but understandable given how popular the place is. The space itself is gorgeous -- dark, cool, and atmospheric with tons to look at. Anime is projected on the wall, and the décor is super detailed and immersive. Each table has a QR code so you can browse their extensive drink menu. They do serve food, but our group of six came just for drinks. The cocktails are unique, beautiful, and definitely on the pricier side, but there's something for everyone. You can only order one drink per person at a time, and there can be a bit of a wait, but honestly the presentation makes it worth it. I tried the Kasato Maru and the Seoul City Hipster -- both vibrant, refreshing, and stunning. A cool, quiet, moody speakeasy with memorable drinks and a fun reveal. A great spot for a special night out.

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    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Sitting area

    Sitting area

    Realm of the 52 Remedies - Main dining area

    Main dining area

    Realm of the 52 Remedies - View from my table

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    View from my table

    Kettner Exchange - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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