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    The Islander

    3.9 (220 reviews)

    The Islander Photos

    THE ISLANDER ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - The Islander

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    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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    4 years ago

    The atmosphere is ADORBS!!! I DIG THE TIKIS. The food was fabolicious! I also liked the latte made for me by the busser!

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    3 years ago

    We had excellent service. We ordered garlic shrimp tacos. No flavor. The black beans were bland. Boring meal.

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    4 years ago

    Came for the first time & i loved it!!!! the vibe here is incredible, also server Kevin was SO nice & attentive!

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    4 years ago

    Food was good. We had the tostada which was refreshing. We also at the kalua sliders which were great.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Best fish and chips. Fresh. Delicious/Tasty. Portion size was huge. Crispy. Flaky tender fish.

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    3 years ago

    the tall young busser was so cute!! food was good i guess, service excellent! definetely coming back for him.

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    Page 6 of 6

    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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    4.1(1.6k reviews)
    2.3 miGaslamp
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    Eddies back... back again... Eddies back Eddies back Eddies back…read more I cant drive past this place without stopping. My favorite is still the Al Pastor. So delicious!!!! The Lengua is soooooo tender and delicious. This time i didn't enjoy the Carne Asada tacos, they had too strong of a char/smoke flavor that overpowered each bite. Service was super fast and friendly. Parking downtown always sucks so either deal with it or go to one of their other spots. This location is almost always busy but definitely avoid at night on the weekends. I hate sitting upstairs, feels stuffy, but I do like the window seats on the first level (great for people watching) or the benches on the sidewalk.

    Having been exposed to authentic tacos in East Los Angeles, I was excited to try this place in San…read moreDiego as I heard good things about it. Let me tell you that I was super impressed at the flavors that were bursting in my mouth! The lengua, adobada, and al pastor were cooked to perfection. Pair it with radishes to add to the tacos or as a refreshing "chip" to clear your palate. We ate here multiple times and I can't wait to go back. Located in the heart of Gas Lamp, this place is located on the corner of of a busy street. I love that they are open till 2am so it's a great spot to have some hearty tacos after a long night exploring the town. Service is friendly and fast. It gets super crowded and tables fill up fast but luckily we secured a table either upstairs or in the outdoor area. Definitely would recommend trying this place if you're in San Diego... they also have a Las Vegas location as well.

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    Fish Guts - Tacos de espada

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    4.5(353 reviews)
    2.5 miBarrio Logan
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    Food is good Service is worthy…read moreAmbiance is prevalent Fish Guts is the business! Siempre,

    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.

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    Taqueria Los Chuchys - Taco Carne Asada

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    4.3(632 reviews)
    2.1 miGaslamp
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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.

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    Taqueria Los Chuchys - Standard salsas

    Standard salsas

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    The Henry

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    4.4(1.7k reviews)
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    I was really impressed with the polish and attentiveness of the staff. We were a group of six for…read morebrunch and were seated at a large table in the interior. We enjoyed the open kitchen, the high ceilings, the breeze and the comfort! We didn't have reservations and it was Mother's Day weekend so we expected to wait and I'm glad we did. I had a delicious granola bowl, a few people in my group had the Eggs Benedict on the house-made English muffins (so good) and there was a very happy avocado toast in the mix. We shared an epic French toast with magical cinnamon syrup - really recommend the French toast!! Loved it enough to add it to the rotation when visiting San Diego.

    Came in for dinner on a Saturday with my boyfriend We…read moredidn't have a reservation, it was a 45 minute wait. No problem! There were a bunch of nearby shops to browse in as we waited We wanted to try the pretzels which The Henry is known for, but they were all out by 6:30pm I got the filet mignon. It was cooked to absolute perfection. Finally a restaurant that knows what medium rare is!! My boyfriend got the skirt steak with double egg fried rice. He loved it Also!!! I ordered black iced tea, it was THE BEST iced tea I've ever been served at a restaurant. You can tell it was brewed in house and they use high quality tea We wished the dessert menu had a creme brûlée! Our server was so kind and professional Overall an amazing date night, the Henry is decorated so cute inside and I loved the candlelight touches. We'd come here again! [this review was written in connection with a Toast promotion]

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    The Islander - tikibars - Updated May 2026

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