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The Islander

3.9 (220 reviews)

The Islander Photos

THE ISLANDER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - The Islander

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Reviews With Photos

Stephanie W.

How this place has 4 stars is beyond me. I came here with my parents and aunt and everyone was shocked at how awful this place was. Like my mom said, you wouldn't expect this from how it looked on the outside. Not only was the food super expensive. (Burger was $23) But all the food came out cold!! My dad eats anything and he didn't eat his food! They even saw his burger get placed on someone else's table and the guy said it wasn't his, and then the waiter just took it back and brought it to him so late and cold. The bathrooms, both men and women were extremely disgusting. It shows how much they take care of their place. My family had an awful time. I'm so sad they picked this place and weren't able to enjoy a good restaurant in San Diego. Do not come here. Anywhere else would have been better.

Menu
Julio S.

Chill sports bar in Coronado. Super friendly staff. Several TVs. Reggae music in background. Incredible weather while hanging out with friends. Several fish and Mexican menu options. I had the chilaquiles and the poke tacos. Friends also ordered a California burger, fried chicken sandwich, and Kailua pork plate. All were good. Beer list filled with local beers. Street parking only. I'd recommend this place when in town.

Fish & chips
Cindy C.

The Islander was a fun restaurant. Service was excellent and fast. Food was amazing! The Wagyu smash burger was juicy and delicious. The fries were very fresh. Fish and chips were also yummy. Portion size was huge! The drinks were also fun, but didn't care for the coconut mai tai. We also had the spiked mango lemonade and hibiscus margarita which were very good. Enjoy! Highly recommend!!

Big Trouble in Little Watermelon
Andrea R.

The vibes, the food, the music... eating here feels like vacation. It truly transports you to a laidback tropical destination (I've never been to Hawaii so I can't compare it to there). It even slightly bothered me because our dining experience there made me wish I was on vacation, but it was only an average weekend Saturday . We had a warm and sunny Saturday for one of the first times in a while in San Diego, so my boyfriend and I decided to split a meal here and started off with the Big Trouble in Little Watermelon drink. Such a fun presentation and very refreshing. I'm obsessed with anything watermelon, however the tequila was a bit strong for my liking, but my boyfriend really loved it and said he could've ordered another all to himself. The Kalua Pork Sliders were tender and the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. My wish is that there were more... since there were only 3 we were fighting over the last one. The Ahi Poké was fresh and FILLING! I'll be the first to say that poke never really satisfies my hunger, but this portion size was actually perfect for 2. Every single ingredient in it just made it better, just total flavor burst in every bite. Last but definitely the star of the show... Hula Bula Pie. I have been dreaming about this since the first bite. Apparently it's made by their nextdoor neighbor (which the waitress actually let us know that The Islander owns them) MooTime! So you already know the ice cream is to die for. The salty of the macadamia nut ice cream in contrast with the Oreo crust and decadent fudge surrounding it set fireworks on my tastebuds. An absolute must! Especially now that the warmth is returning to SD. Will be back and cannot wait!

Wings & Mai tai!
Claire J.

Okay - a definite go-to for us in Coronado!! The classic Mai-Tai is greatttttt, as well as the other drinks. The bartenders are great to chat with and fun to sit at the bar. Now WHY did they take the wings off their menu !! They were fab... especially the chili oil ones. Hoping they bring them back. Overall a nice place, and they are pretty quick to get you your orders even when it's pretty busy.

Nyssa B.

Not gonna lie this place wasn't my first choice, the restaurant I wanted to go to had over an hour wait and your girl was hungry. We weren't going to be waiting that long. And it's not very often you stumble across a new restaurant in this area. So you know I had to give it a try! It's got a cute little tiki bar vibe which I'm a sucker for. I didn't have a cocktail this time but when the waitress passed by them they looked super cute and yummy (will definitely get one next time) hehe. Staff was super friendly and attentive. Food was freaking great! This place definitely has potential to be around for a while. I'll be a returning customer for sure. Keep up the great work! :)

Crab Rangoon Dip
John T.

We stopped by here for a little "something-something" during our day in Coronado. Like my wife said, "best crab dip she had ever had" here at the Islander. The Crab Rangoon dip was outstanding and second to none. Also had the Stone Buenavista Salt and Lime Lager. It was ice cold and refreshing. Ambiance is obviously "island like" but would also say it's warm and welcoming. Great service from the bar was provided by Taylor. Recommend you sit at the bar if she is tending it. PS - We had the Hawaiian Poke too, just as good at the Crab Rangoon.

Poke bowl
Kelly L.

Came for a quick dinner before heading out to see the Coronado Christmas lights. The portion sizes are pretty generous. The Hulu Hulu chicken tasted more like bbq chicken, not the traditional Hawaiian bbq flavor. The poke bowl had good flavors. The garlic shrimp tacos were just ok, not too much garlic flavor, mostly just the cream sauce flavor.

Huli huli chicken
Kevin T.

TL;DR: Relaxed vibe and decent food. Good service and pet-friendly. Came for a bite while walking the doggo and was pleasantly surprised with the food Ordered: - Hanalei Hippie - added tuna and it was definitely the move despite the upcharge. Fresh seafood on top of a bed of crisp greens. Not much more to ask for - Huli Huli Chicken - the chicken entree took a little longer (server let us know beforehand which we appreciated) but totally worth it. The skin was flavorful and crispy. Balanced out the juiciness of the chicken. The Mac salad was alright - wish it was a little more balanced (too sweet for me). All in all, a good meal and a huge plus that they're pet-friendly! Will definitely be back - cheers, Islander!

Did not take a photo of the food
Cydney M.

THE SERVICE WAS GOOD ==================== I have decided I really need to stop listening to my husband when he has a food craving. He wanted some kind of fried chicken within walking distance and this place popped up. My husband ordered some kind of fried chicken tacos. I ended up with fish tacos. We weren't thrilled with either. Maybe trying to find a good restaurant on Coronado wasn't my best idea. We should have gone to Little Italy instead. The Islander was cute with lots of surfboards on the ceiling. It definitely has potential, but the food wasn't good.

Bacon smash burger and fries
Kimberly E.

Ok first time here and it has a tiki vibe with a bar and tables and lots of TVs to watch sports. Now it was hot and they should have had the air on better than what it was . Flies were a problem once our food arrived but it was hot so what can you do. Food was good my only complaint would be if you give ketchup let the consumer know it's spicy and not just regular ketchup. They give you a glass pitcher of water for your table which was nice. Price seemed a little high but the area of town and near the bay it's understandable. I had fish n chips which was good and my son had a bacon smash burger . He usually eats all of his hamburgers but he said the bun was soggy so he only had less than half. Their lemonade is 8.00 and no free refills. But server was nice and place is clean. Parking is bad because there are so many shops. Not much else to say.

The care and quality into doing prep work, repurposing the pineapple, even saving the prawns to put in drinks just so much quality care
Loretta Lola S.

Server Karen is exceptional. I hope she gets recognized for all her hard work. She is very kind and attentive.

Lea D.

This place was so good, my coworkers and I wound up coming back multiple times! The vibe was very cool, very island-y. I loved the decor and the overall style. The service was great. The servers were all really friendly and offered suggestions on what to get. The food came in big portions and the presentation was perfect. Everyone really enjoyed their options. The drinks were strong, tasty and large. We, of course, had to do the big volcano bowl drink one night (dangerous!). 10/10 would come back if I was in town!

Vodka Pineapple

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Ask the Community - The Islander

Are dogs allowed?

I think they would allow them in the outdoor seating area.

Are you open this weekend and can zi make a reservation for 2 people?

They are open on the weekends and I think it's first come first serve, but try calling to make reservations.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Tacos El Gordo - Adobada tacos

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Tacos El Gordo is a whole thing. I don't want to say it's "a vibe," because I would never say that!…read moreBut you need to visit knowing that you will be waiting in a long line, and then you'll be waiting in a medium line depending on what kind of food you want, and then in a shorter line to pay. You'll be waiting in lines. And then, hopefully, you will find a table at which to enjoy your food. If you're smart like me, you will bring your children and make them sit at a table while you wait in all of these lines. You will bribe them with promises of great Mexican food. And if you're like me, your children will be sleeping in the booth when you finally arrive with tacos and quesadillas, and they will be feeling cross at you for bringing them to a place that's so crowded and requires them to wait so long to eat. The food is worth the wait, though. My tacos were amazing. I got the specialty, which is the taco de adobada -- spicy pork. You can see the pork on spits in the kitchen, and the people who work here shave it off little by little. I can see why it's the specialty, because it's delicious. The tacos are prepared simply: on corn tortillas with diced white onion and cilantro, and that's it. They have a few other things at the condiment bar, like sliced and whole radishes and lime wedges. I also got an asada taco and asada fries, but you need to get in a different line to get those. Seating is extremely limited. There are some tables in a dining room upstairs, and there are a few tables outside on the sidewalk, but that's it. Depending on how busy they are, you might just have to take your food to go.

The BEST tacos I've ever had in my entire life…read more Food was prepped fast and staff is friendly. Make sure that when you're coming in here, you're ordering in the correct line. The inside is pretty cramped, so make sure you're not standing in the way of people getting by. We got 9 tacos combined and one can of soda and it was roughly $54. All in all, Tacos El Gordo is absolutely incredible Mexican food. Expect authentic, flavorful food and quick service. 12/10!!

Fish Guts - Tacos de espada

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Came here a few minutes before opening and there was still a line! Parking can be tricky because…read moreyou only have the option for street parking. Once we were seated though, our orders were taken fairly quickly considering there was only one person working! We ordered everything on the menu basically, except dessert. The smoked fish was not available that day, but we got to try all the tacos, and we got seconds on the coconut shrimp. The fish n chips was brilliantly reinterpreted with the potato salad, the coconut shrimp was delightfully crispy and coconutty, and the swordfish was also good due to the yummy slaw. I had to ask twice for hot sauce though because it didn't have the heat I needed, but with it, it was superb! Would come back - though earlier next time to beat the line. One wish: (I wish they'd hire more people.) She was extremely professional despite the fact that she was the waitress seating people, taking orders, bartending, clearing dishes and tables, and being the cashier too! For a place doing SO well, I hope the owners would consider hiring more staff.

After several attempts to catch them open, I finally made it to Fish Guts an easy addition to my…read moreSan Diego taco tour and well worth the wait. I'm always drawn to inventive seafood tacos, especially when they showcase different preparations, and this spot absolutely delivered. We sampled the blackened swordfish, the estilo Baja white fish (light, crisp, and exactly what you want from a classic), and started with the smoked fish dip all paired with margaritas that were dangerously smooth, more like fresh juice than a cocktail. Nothing missed the mark: from the rich, smoky dip to the perfectly seasoned blackened taco and the satisfying crunch of the fried option, each bite was thoughtfully executed. A detail I loved each order comes with two tacos, making it ideal for sharing and tasting your way through the menu. The freshness of the fish really shines and sets the tone for a proper taco crawl. Though the space is on the smaller side, with limited indoor seating and a cozy patio, it adds to the charm. It's the kind of intimate setting that invites you to linger, people watch, and take in the vibrant artwork that defines Barrio Logan. The staff is quick and detailed with honest feedback. A couple of notes: they're closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and parking is street-only, so plan accordingly. But once you're there, the flavors more than make up for any extra effort.

Taqueria Los Chuchys - Taco Carne Asada

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Been here multiple times, but came in honor of Cinco de Mayo and love that it actually landed on a…read moretaco Tuesday ! They had the buy 2 get 1 free deal which pushed me to try new meats since I always stick to adobada. ADOBADA HANDS DOWN FIREEE! I love me a good al pastor taco and they make it just right. Super flavorful, juicy and packed w/ meat. I'm always hesitant to try asada because I haven't found a good spot here in SD, but this one was bomb! The meat had great flavor, a smokey taste and was loaded with guac. I'd order one again. The lengua was perfect too, super tender and fell apart just right. They don't skimp on the meats either. Most of the salsas were tasty and had great flavor and the habanero had the perfect kick ! I heard of this spot because my friend had them cater her baby shower and I had to come try the actual spot. Def brought the same energy. Inside is nice and has a good vibe, love all the decor. Service was super sweet! Horchata was bomb too, not to sweet and they said it's homemade! Parking.. good luck, but def worth trying. 10000/10

Little taco spot that I decided to try, and it a no frills type of place. I decided to get a…read moreburrito instead of the tacos. The ordering process was simple enough, quick and friendly service. However I took mine to go, and it was a mess. It was literally dripping oil from the burrito and made such a mess that I didn't even want to eat the 2nd half after eating the first. To be honest it wasn't very tasty either. I didn't even take a pic of the burrito because I was so focused on it not ruining the counter space in the hotel. It served it's purpose of fueling me, but definitely wouldn't recommend it or go back.

The Henry

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Happy find!! Originally the hubby and I wanted to try a restaurant down the street. However, they…read moreswitched to reservations only for the day. So we looked up nearby restaurants and found The Henry. So glad we did. Our first time here and it won't be our last.... The hostess was very kind and welcoming. She took our name down right away. We waited under 10 minutes to be seated. We opted to sit inside. Very nice vibe. Our waiter Enrique was AMAZING. Super attentive and a true asset to this restaurant. Our food came out quickly. Everything was so flavorful. You could really taste the quality. The hubby even got a tea to go. TOP NOTCH!! What we ordered & shared: * Grilled & Chilled Shrimp * Short Rib Potstickers * Roasted Turkey French Dip w/ Salad #DiningWithTheAndersons #HappyFind #TryingNewPlaces #WithTheHubby #SoYummy

Usually this place is recognized for its brunch, but i decided to come by and try their dinner menu…read more! I ordered the following below: *Korean Prime Skirt Steak: 5/5 - I asked for my skirt steak medium rare and man was it cooked so well. Underneath was fried rice,bok choy, veggies and a nice creamy Korean sauce . The sauce really complimented the steak and fried rice really well. I was very pleased on how the steak was juicy and tender ! *Braised Short Rib: 2/5 - Don't get me wrong i love me some good braised short ribs, however, these were very disappointing. Most of the meat was covered by fat, the portion size was insanely small considering its an entree. Not much veggies or sides to compliment this meal very well, definitely need to redo this dish. *Pressed Yellowtail Sushi: 5/5 - Honestly the yellowtail was so fresh ! It had a hint of spiciness but also a hint of sweetness. The sushi was very fresh and almost tasted like a ceviche mix. *Parmesan Truffle Fries: 3/5 - Your average truffle fries. Nothing fancy about them. I really wish they were crispier. The ambiance was very nice and welcoming. You are introduced to basically nice oak wood tables everywhere. The booth we sat in was pretty comfy. The service was exceptional. It is nice to know you are getting some quality dishes, others need some refinement.

The Islander - tikibars - Updated May 2026

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