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    The Switchboard

    4.3 (506 reviews)

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    THE SWITCHBOARD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Intimate

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    Hawaiian Plate - tofu and fried rice (+ $2 extra)
    Allyson D.

    This has taken me a couple of days to think about because I wanted this to be a hit. We just finished watching Lilo & Stitch so what perfect way to follow up the movie, but a Hawaiian lunch that wasn't fast food. However, due to a few things, I think there's potential to improve. 1. The space - its awkwardly small. The bar takes half the space and I'm really unsure how they handle a busy Friday night. The Fin hotel had a lobby, the switchboard restaurant, and then a coffee shop. The restaurant has 3 tables, plus bar seating. 2. Entrance - no one greeted us. We didn't know where to go to get seated. One couple was eating at a table, and another pair of guys were at the bar. My partner eventually walked to the coffee shop to check where to get seated and someone came out to help us. 3. Seating arrangement - at first, my party of 3 was going to be seated in the corner, awkwardly next to the old couple who was already taking up the table snuggly right next to it. We asked if we can sit at the table by the window. A third chair was pulled up and I sat partly in the walkway space. 4. Brunch menu - great selection of food, but limited in vegetarian options. I was excited to see that tofu was an option for the Hawaiian plate. In fact, my whole party of 3 ordered the Hawaiian plate, but we each chose different proteins - tofu, Kahlua pork, and bulgogi beef. I eat tofu A LOT. I cook tofu A LOT. This tofu was WEAK and I was UNimpressed. It was literally cooked on a flat top with maybe a tsp of soy sauce? I couldn't taste it, if thats what made it brown (although it could've been oil). How could you serve 3 slabs of tofu with a touch of furikake and call it $23? It needed more flavor (like teriyaki) or it also could have been made crispy with some cornstarch and panko and turn it into tofu katsu. So much potential! I had a taste of the bulgogi and kahlua (i had hope for this spot), and they actually had flavor. The Hawaiian mac was the best part of my plate. The fried rice was fine; I added the hot sauce they provided. 5. Service - was OK at first, but he didn't ask any one of us if we wanted white rice or fried rice with our Hawaiian plates. For some reason, all three of us got the fried rice. We didn't think anything of it because maybe we misread the menu, but here comes the bill and a $2 extra charge times 3. I didn't say anything because we ate it all, but I warn you to double check the menu options. $25 each Hawaiian plate for us.

    Island Breakfast w fried eggs
    Hanaah F.

    First time here for breakfast, and the main restaurant area was full. There was bar seating for 5, but not an actual table. So they seated us outside in the lobby next door, which was shared with the Fin Hotel. It was quiet. Service was pretty quick. Food was pretty good. We ordered the kalua pork fries (pretty good) and coconut shrimp (6 pieces) as appetizers. Coconut shrimp wasn't worth it though. You only get 6 pieces. The Island Breakfast was decent- can choose how you'd like your eggs. Spam was pretty salty. The Hawaiian plate with teriyaki was good. The mac salad was good and so was the teriyaki chicken (tender and not salty). The Loco Moco was good too. For the chicken and waffles, the chicken was good but the waffles were really sweet. Felt more like a dessert waffle rather than entreé. Parking was on the street.

    Megan C.

    Came here on a Saturday around 3:50pm- was happily surprised they still have happy hour on the weekends but it ends at 4pm! The server was nice and gave us the heads up to put in our orders asap to get the deal. We ordered the crispy dumplings, the kalua pork fries, and the switchboard burger. Everything was super tasty but the appetizers were my favorite. I think the burger was just okay- I wish there was a sauce on there that made it tastier. The dumplings and fries though were soo good! It wasn't busy at this time, the servers were really friendly, and service was quick too. I'd recommend coming during happy hour because the food is more reasonably priced.

    Scott M.

    I'm not surprised to see this place closed. Years ago it was one of my favorites. At our last visit it was actually inedible, not good food at all. The service was also horrendous. We ended up leaving and walking across the street to eat elsewhere.

    Lemon caper salmon (special)
    Haley L.

    A small restaurant attached to the countries smallest Hilton! Love the vibes. My husband and I sat at the bar. Service was friendly and the food was delicious. The bulgogi lettuce wraps was my fav, the flavor was super good and meat was tender.

    Valeri S.

    Been here twice. Correction came here two days in a row. Brunch was amazing both visit with bottomless mimosas. I had a sandwich was was delightful. They had comfy seating and out table was right by the window for people watching. I was I rush in my first visit so I had to go back the next day. Service was in point. Love the theme of the place and right below the hotel. This will be a regular spot to visit. What's. Discovery.

    SPAM Musubi (Great with sauce super savory with a hint of salty)
    Nancy L.

    This Fusion restaurant is easily one of the best places I've ever been to.With quaint and relaxing music, it is an overall calming experience.Additionally, you can work or play a game of theirs (I forgot name of game).The service is great with great servers who are very friendly and try to do their job at the greatest.Finally the food is so good with various options that are infused with both Korean and American Heritage!

    Loco Moco and Mexican Mocha
    Arjay U.

    Memorial Day brunch here today and we enjoyed our meal here The loco moco was on point it was delish, my Mexican mocha is so good Service was friendly and fast and efficient, shout out to our Berber bartender with dreads he was very nice to us Ambiance is a hotel restaurant. Clean and vibey, def coming back again when I'm in OSide

    Hawaiian Plate with Teriyaki Chicken
    Shirley S.

    Searched for a restaurant in Oceanside to have lunch with a friend driving from Torrance. I went by Yelp reviews and a bit nervous about picking a restaurant I never heard of without a recommendation. It didn't look like what I expected but was greeted by a sweet server who was expecting us, The menu lacked items that were on their Yelp page but it did have what I was most interested in. We started with the #BulgogLettuceWraps. It did not disappoint #KaluaPorkFries Amazing with #KimchiAioli #GarlicAioli #CrispyOnions and a perfectly #FriedEggs definitely one of the best #FrenchFriesFusion The only miss was the #HawaiianPlate We picked chicken as the protein but we did ask for it to be fried and it was a bit dry and overcooked. Good slices of breast meat though. The macaroni salad seemed on the healthier side - light on the mayo but not bad. For dessert we had #Turon aka #BananaLumpia. Having turon many times this was the BEST Very crispy because it wasn't wrapped like an egg roll and the banana filling was very delicious it didn't need a side of caramel sauce but I love caramel so nice addition. Accompanied with #AmericanoCoffee a perfect ending, It does have a coffee shop vibe with switchboard decor in honor of the women who worked at this historical site. Service was fast and our server made great recommendations and was a delight throughout our meal.

    Kalua pork fries, Hawaiian plate with bulgogi
    Irene N.

    We swung by here sometime in February on our way from LA to SD. Kiddo was getting hangry and couldn't wait to get to SD to eat. Interesting spot, small and located inside a hotel. There's only a couple tables in the restaurant but they were open to seating us in the hotel lobby, which worked out better for kiddo to sit and eat. We ended up ordering Kalua Pork Fries, Hawaiian Plate with bulgogi. Everything was tasty! The bulgogi was a little salty and the fries were fried crispy well. Service was great, even for us being separate from the actual restaurant, the servers check on us often and tended to us. The bathroom in also located in the lobby. Glad we stopped here to try this random spot.

    K-pop burger and side salad (dressing was amazing!)
    Emma K.

    2 stars for effort. I am highly disappointed. This is definitely not the same quality of food as it was about a year ago. I already knew coming here that the previous owner and chef were gone. We ordered the loco moco and the Hawaiian plate. Both dishes were nothing special. I could probably go to a chain, fast-food Hawaiian place down the road and get the same quality of food. I had the kalua pork w/the Hawaiian plate-it was a bit salty for my taste and spicy! Not sure why they decided to do that. However, let's talk about the macaroni salad-this was not your traditional Mac salad except that it was cold. It was basically cheese Mac w/curdled cheese and no flavor. Just as a reviewer (below), said the same exact thing I was thinking-the minute I looked at the food, I could tell something was different. It was definitely the taste and quality. I agree, it is really sad that they can't or won't, keep up with the past quality and customer service of this place. Good luck, I won't be back.

    Mo' Betta and Garden Party cocktails
    Savanna V.

    Nice spot for Valentine's Day dinner! They had a dinner for two menu but we ordered a La carte. We ordered the bulgolgi lettuce wraps (delicious) to share and the salmon plate for my entree. The bourbon salmon was good, but medium rare was slightly too undercooked for my preference. Service was good even with a full house, and so was my cocktail, The Local Vibe!

    Great Coffee and cocktail
    Lauan C.

    The best loco moco around. The drinks are SO good. And the location is perfect. It very small so make a reservation but it is lovely inside

    Ahi & Salmon Tartare

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    Great location , staff are awesome food and service is great you will love the vibe there

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - The Switchboard

    Do you sell malasadas? Do you sell by the dozen?

    Hi Debbie Unfortunatly we do not sell Malasadas at this time The only place I know of that makes good… Read more

    Do they still have bottomless mimosas?

    It was on the menu when we went within the last month. This may have been the place that put a time limit of 2 hours though. I can't remember

    View All 4 Questions

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    Communal Coffee

    4.2
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    The moment I walked in, there was a line of adorable puppies waiting alongside their owners, so I…read moregot to enjoy a healthy dose of cute pups! I absolutely loved how pet-friendly the place was. They also had a super charming grab-and-go section with goodies and gifts. I ended up picking up a couple of cowboy shot glasses and some chocolates to gift. The strawberry matcha latte was delicious and definitely worth trying. The wait wasn't long at all, and there were plenty of seating options to choose from. The bar area was very clean, and there were lots of cozy, sunny spots both indoors and outdoors. Overall, it was such a welcoming atmosphere, and I can't wait to come back.

    Pretentious? Yes. Delicious? Also yes…read more If you're the type of person who shows up with a MacBook, orders matcha, and appreciates minimalist coffee-shop aesthetics, you'll fit right in here. The hours are great, the space is clean and inviting, and the matcha was okay. One thing I found a little odd: they bring your food to the table, but not your drink. Not a huge deal, just something I noticed. I came here twice in a row because I couldn't stop thinking about the lemon basil burrata toast. The first time was incredible which loaded with toppings and full of flavor. The second time looked noticeably lighter on the burrata and basil. Maybe it was an off day, because I know how good it can be. Overall, I'd still come back. The matcha was good enough, the toast was good enough to bring me back immediately, and despite the slightly curated "everyone here is working on a startup" vibe, the food was worth the visit.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Communal Coffee
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    Carrajillo
    Buccaneer Cafe

    Buccaneer Cafe

    4.4
    (544 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    I love this place! I've been here several times now. To me, it's like a hidden gem with a very…read moreCalifornia vibe! You can sit outside and have the ocean view with a breeze right across the street. The parking is easy in the lot behind it. Otherwise, on the narrow streets parking can be challenging. My favorite burrito so far has been the vegan one with rice! The lattes here are pretty good too. Usually, restaurants have good food, but mediocre coffee. This place has both good food and coffee. I especially like their Cubano espresso! Service is friendly and fast! My dog loves it here too! If you're looking for a simple coffee and burrito- this is the place! Love it!

    I had a memorable experience at the Buccaneer Café, largely because of the incredible staff who…read morewent above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and cared for. From the moment we arrived, Sierra greeted us with her kindness and attentiveness. She was warm, welcoming, and genuinely present, checking in at just the right moments without ever feeling intrusive. It was clear she truly cared about creating a positive experience, and that level of attentiveness made a big difference. Bryce was equally impressive in his approach. What shined was his care and attention to detail, especially when it came to accommodating my allergies. He made a point to ask questions before taking action, ensuring that everything was handled safely and thoughtfully. I appreciated how realistic and transparent he was about what could and couldn't be modified, which helped build trust and made me feel more at ease navigating the menu. His professionalism and awareness were evident throughout. Drea also made a strong impression with her calm and reassuring presence. She approached everything with a sense of patience and understanding, and I felt genuinely understood and validated in my requests and concerns. Her demeanor helped create a relaxed environment, which is especially meaningful when dealing with dietary needs. She balanced efficiency with empathy in a way that felt very natural. As for the food and drinks, my friend really enjoyed the Buccaneer smoothie and even went back for a second cup of drip coffee, which they said was smooth and satisfying. I had an avocado, egg, and tortilla burrito, and I especially liked the house brown sugar coffee, which had a rich, slightly sweet flavor that came through as a highlight for me. Overall, while navigating modifications can sometimes be challenging, the staff made the experience feel manageable and supportive. Their kindness, attentiveness, and willingness to accommodate made a lasting impression, and it's clear that the team truly values customer care. I appreciated the window so we could order outside, sit outside, be right by the ocean and have access to restrooms.

    Photos
    They open at 7 am.  We were there at 6:50. It was worth the wait.
    They open at 7 am. We were there at 6:50. It was worth the wait.
    Burrito and papusas
    Burrito and papusas
    The face does not depict the internal state of this visitor

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    The face does not depict the internal state of this visitor
    Piper

    Piper

    4.0
    (490 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    This restaurant is located inside The Seabird Hotel. We had breakfast here around 9am on a Monday…read moreand the only tables available were outside. It was a little chilly but that's fine. Our servers name was Monse I believe and she was excellent. We had mimosas, an americano, lobster thermidor with cheese grits, and the steak and eggs. Out of the two entrees my favorite was the lobster thermidor which was an egg scramble with chunks of lobster and cheese. The cheesy grits were also delicious. The steak was overcooked so it wasn't doing it for me. Overall I'd say the food is pretty good for being a hotel restaurant I would dine again. The only thing with sitting outside is we saw the occasional transient person threatening patrons. We all just ignored them but it would be nice if they had a little more privacy on the patio from the street.

    Piper changed its breakfast menu significantly by removing most of the items that had been on it in…read morefavor of a $55/ person buffet. What's left are a few à la carte selections that were more expensive and not prepared as well as they were when we went previously, which was a couple years ago. What's super annoying is that the menu change still isn't reflected online, so we had no idea until we sat down. The avocado toast was burnt, potatoes were flavorless and unevenly cooked, and the "poached" eggs were hard in the middle. Prices are higher, service is slow, and overall it just feels like a place that exists now purely to gouge tourists in Oceanside. We won't be going back.

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    Piper
    Piper
    Piper restaurant interior daytime.

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    Piper restaurant interior daytime.

    The Switchboard - hawaiian - Updated June 2026

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