Cherrywine Modern Asian Restaurant & Sushi
8008 Girard Ave #210, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Cherrywine is an excellent place to eat with a unique vibe and approach to Asian restaurants.The server was very patient with my mom who struggles with English and is very particular with her food.We got the chicken and veggie deluxe entree and the golden coconut soup. Both excellent and with plenty of added spiciness.They do Asian food a bit differently than other restaurants. Instead of the traditional short-gain white rice, they used a rice similar looking rice that I usually see in Indian cuisine. Maybe it’s just me, but it was softer and tastes less cheap than other places I’ve been to. Besides that, they also put the food (in our case the chicken and veggie entree) on top of a bed of rice instead of on the side like most Asian restaurants I’m used to (I’m from Minnesota). It’s a small change, but an elegant way of presenting their food to customers.When I was exploring La Jolla, this little place caught my eye and I am pleased I decided to explore it.My only criticism is the misspelling on the menus, the lackluster website, and how we were the only people at the restaurant but it still took a bit of time for the food to come— honestly, still worth the wait though.But as the restaurant’s name suggest, definitely a modern, cozy place to eat. Well done.
4.6
Pho La Jolla
3211 Holiday Ct, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Unfriendliness and poor customer service has ALWAYS been present at this restaurant, but tonight it plain old went too far. As a representative of the customer delivery drivers deserve the same amount of respect and smile as customers. We trust them to have the correct food items packaged in the customers order without question, that same level of trust should be applied to drivers. Trust is a 2 way street. There is no room for them thinking they are superior or in charge of us. The older man owner/manager is rude to food delivery drivers, forcing them to show him their phone when it is an unnecessary and completely redundant step, exclusive to this restaurant, not a required part of our job. Ive already confirmed for them that I am the proper delivery person by knowing the customers name, same EVERY OTHER RESTURANT IN UTC. When our phone batteries are dying, and were waiting 10 mins plus for an order, the last thing we want to do is give our phone to a stranger. Id long sense resigned to having to show him my phone after being annoyed by his time wasting and consuming persistence, costing us drivers precocious additional time to be able to make more than 1 delivery an hr due to customers never being at the location they specify when we arrive. They say meet outside yet take 10 mins to arrive after we do. Because of this, we rarely make minimum wage. if they were present on time upon our arrival we would. This last time, I showed the man my order when he asked, so he could see the name, then I turned the screen off to save battery, then unneeded, yet he continued to demand it. I had already confirmed the order orally before this. In the end he would not give my customers order, no matter how long I showed him all the ordered information for on my phone. Immature, unable to let go of his personal vendetta, unprofessional man. None of the other employees who work there need to see the customers orders on my phone. They have the curtesy of trust and respect which I can find at most UTC restaurants. I will never walk into his place again, after delivering from here for 5-6 years.
3.8
Mandarin House
6765 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Im not Asian but thanks to my wife I have a fine knowledge when it comes to Asian cuisine ranging from Thai to Japanese but this restaurant doesnt not pas par when it comes to Chinese food. The chicken was great tho thats why Im giving it a two star. And the wait time is terrible. It should not take 50 minutes for me to get my food of two dishes. This restaurant has also proven to me that there are not good Chinese eateries in San Diego. Not to mention the lack of manners at the register. I am taking the chow mein home to make it into a real Asian dish. Thanks for saving me a trip to the grocery market.
4.2
Spice & Rice Kitchen
7734 Girard Ave C, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
My family and I were visiting San Diego and went to Spice & Rice for dinner. I used to work here when I lived in San Diego from 1997-1999. The food was great back then. However, it was a different story when I took my family this time around. We order 2 Thai Teas and a Thai Coffee. Those were fine, it was the entrees that were the most disappointing. My 3 kids orders 2 Pad See Yous ($10.95 ea) and a Pad Thai ($10.95), my husband ordered a bowl of Tom Kha chicken ($5.95), and I ordered the Grilled Shrimp Salad ($14.95). The Pad Se Yews and Pad Thai were grossly bland. All you tasted were the rice noodles. Thai food is supposed to have a good balance of saltiness, sour and sweet, and at times, some spice. These entrees did not. It didnt seem like they used any fish sauce at all in the noodle dishes, which in turn made the sweetness from either the sugar or the sweet soy overpowering. As for the soup, it tasted like pure coconut milk and nothing else. Thai soups especially are supposed to have bold flavors. The Tom Kha is supposed to be sour, salty, spicy and sweet at the same time. All I tasted was the coconut milk, and the sweetness from that. Not much else. My shrimp salad was probably the only dish that had any flavor, but the shrimp was extremely overcooked. Grilled shrimp should still be tender and juicy. These were tough and rubbery. Overall, I was extremely disappointing. We paid $186 for an extremely disappointing meal. I did not complain to the waitstaff about the meal because after he took our order, he was pretty absent. He came back maybe once to check in on us. I had to flag down other waitstaff to ask for more rice and to get our waters refilled. As a rule of thump, you should at least check back at your table right after they take their first couple of bites, so that you can attend to whatever concerns or needs they have right away, then maybe a couple of times later to ensure that they acknowledge your presence and know that you are available. We had to flag other waitstaff down to get our food boxed up and to order our desserts. We ordered 2 Sweet Rice and Mangos. The pandas flavored sweet rice was alright. They obviously microwaved the rice again after having prepped it ahead of time because there were areas of the sweet rice that were over cooked and tough. It is fine to rewarm sweet rice in the microwave, I do it all the time at home, but dont do it so long that it causes the rice to harden in certain areas. All in all, the food was bland and the service mediocre. I would not waste my money at Spice & Rice. Everything here is pricey, so think long and hard before you end up spending $12 on a sub par noodle dish or $15 to eat overcooked shrimp.
4.3
Taste of the Himalayas
8008 Girard Ave #170, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Ive truthfully never been so disrespected and infuriated by a staff in my entire life - and at a family run establishment no less... Food was decent, albeit pricey, however I was left with a wretched taste in my mouth that still has me reeling a day after this horrible experience.The three of us sat down to a quarter-full restaurant at 8:30pm on a Saturday. Service was slow but we didnt mind as we were enjoying conversation and our drinks. Around 9:20, we were three quarters of the way through our dinner when we started being asked every 3-4 minutes if we were done, wanted a box, etc. We thought this was odd as the restaurant is open until 10pm on Saturdays and we were clearly still in the middle of our meal. Eventually at 9:35 the waiter dropped off the check without being asked and we knew we were being rushed out the door.At 9:50pm the waiter came up to the table and told us we needed to leave as the restaurant was closed. I still had a full beer in front of me and my friends had half a bottle of wine left. I was absolutely outraged as we had just spent $200 on a meal for three and tipped the waiter generously, and now were being prompted to chug our drinks and vacate 10 minutes before the official closing time. I asked the waiter to remove the tip off the bill as he had not just ruined the meal with this encounter, but also was pestering us nonstop for the previous 30 minutes. The restaurant manager responded by telling me he had already run the check and there was nothing he could do but would remember my face and provide me a discount the next time I came in (still before 10pm at this point.) After that outrageous answer, I told him I would never come back and asked him how he was planning on compensating me for a tip I did not want to pay. He responded by saying there was nothing he could do and to get out.I have never in my life witnessed such a display of deceitfulness, disrespect, and laziness. I implore you not to visit this restaurant and truly hope this family gets out of hospitality before issuing too many more of these experiences to people looking to pay good money for good food and a good time.
3.9
Din Tai Fung
4301 La Jolla Village Dr Ste 2000, San Diego, CA 92122, United States
I fall short of words, man this place is THE BEST ASIAN FOOD I’VE EVER BEEN TO.I heard a lot of hype about this restaurant while visiting San Diego, but I usually dont buy into food hype. However, I have to say, this place exceeded all expectations.I found out its a chain only available in certain places on the West Coast, but Im considering starting a petition online to bring it to Austin, Texas. Id happily visit every month just to satisfy my craving for their incredible dishes.I wont go into detail about specific dishes because everything I tried was absolutely amazing. I was also pleased to see that they offer kid-friendly options, making it a great spot for families.
4.6
P.F. Changs
4540 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92122, United States
Where do I even begin to express my admiration for the exceptional service provided by Ethan at PF Changs? He is the true embodiment of a server who goes above and beyond to make dining experiences memorable. While the restaurant itself may have its shortcomings, Ethan single-handedly turns it into a must-visit destination.From the moment we walked through the door, Ethans warm and genuine smile set the tone for an incredible dining experience. His infectious enthusiasm and attention to detail were evident as he guided us through the menu, offering insightful recommendations tailored to our preferences. His passion for the cuisine and knowledge about the dishes were truly impressive.Ethans exceptional ability to anticipate our needs was uncanny. He effortlessly anticipated when we needed a refill or an extra napkin, ensuring our comfort throughout the entire meal. His attentiveness was matched only by his remarkable efficiency, managing to attend to all of his tables with grace and poise. Despite being busy, he never made us feel rushed, taking the time to engage in friendly conversation and make us feel like valued guests.What truly sets Ethan apart is his genuine care for each and every customer. Its clear that he takes immense pride in his work, as he consistently went the extra mile to ensure our satisfaction. He attentively listened to any special requests or dietary restrictions, making sure our meals were prepared to perfection. Ethans commitment to providing an exceptional experience extended beyond the confines of our table, as he checked in on us throughout the evening, ensuring our happiness.Ethans ability to create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere is simply unparalleled. His infectious positive energy and friendly demeanor lit up the restaurant, making us feel like we were among friends. He effortlessly struck the delicate balance between professionalism and creating a comfortable, relaxed environment, turning a mediocre dining experience into an extraordinary one.In an industry where genuine and remarkable service can be hard to come by, Ethan is a shining star that outshines the shortcomings of PF Changs. His dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to providing a memorable dining experience are truly commendable. It is solely due to Ethans exceptional service that we continue to choose PF Changs as our dining destination.To Ethan: You are the reason we come to PF Changs. Your extraordinary service, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction are an inspiration. Thank you for transforming a lackluster restaurant experience into an unforgettable one. Your impact is immeasurable, and we eagerly await our next visit, knowing that well be in the capable hands of a true hospitality professional.To the management: Ethan is a gem that deserves recognition and appreciation for his outstanding service. Investing in employees like Ethan is an investment in the success and reputation of PF Changs. Bravo!In conclusion, if youre looking for a memorable dining experience at PF Changs, look no further than Ethan. His exceptional service, warm personality, and dedication to customer satisfaction elevate the entire dining experience. Request Ethan as your server, and prepare to be wowed. He truly is the best!Rating:Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Restaurant: ⭐⭐⭐
4.2
Sushi Mori La Jolla
2161 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
This was suppose to be a good place to get sushi from, but their service was horrible. I had to ask to be seated b/c the waiters kept ignoring me, but they quickly sat all the white people that came. I was disappointed to see this behavior at an Asian restaurant. I quickly ordered my food, ate, paid, and left because I could tell they didnt want me there. Other patrons there did look at me like I was out of place but lets be clear, rudeness should never be an acceptable norm.
4.1
Crispy Chicken n Tomato (La Jolla)
8657 Villa La Jolla Dr Ste 103, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
I'm a huge fan of Korean food and this place really hits the spot for when I want to enjoy multiple bites and flavors of my favorite foods.The menu is very well thought out. The chicken goes amazing with the ddeok bokki. They had seaweed rolls and cheese rolls (which is the best cheese rolls I've ever had) to dip into the ddeok bokki to soak up all that savory goodness. Their side dishes of tomato relish, radish with jalapeños, and another similar one was perfect to balance out the chicken so you still feel light and fresh as you eat mountains of all this fried goodness. The shrimp rolls had a very fun texture…it's not like a regular shrimp dipped in tempura. It seemed as if the tempura was drizzled onto the shrimp. There's plenty of vegetarian options and my kids definitely enjoyed it.As far as the fried chicken…I'm normally a wings fan or just anything with a bone because I find boneless to be naturally dry but not these!! They were very tender and juicy..my favorite of the sauces was classic mild. There is a bit of sweetness that gives it a deeper flavor than just hot.I will definitely be coming back often. The price is on point and I can take home something for everyone to love.
4.1
The Bistro at the Strand
9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
I give it 2 stars for the location of the place, 4 stars for the waiters since they try their best. 1 star for the menu and prices. The name of the restaurant is misleading and should be changed, with the name, the Bistro, you would imagine a nice variety of steaks. Instead you are presented with a menu mostly comprised of Asian cuisine, there are exceedingly more variety of sushi platters then there are for steaks(as if this school doesnt already serve enough Asian food on campus). I ordered a steak from the Entree menu, the wait was horrible, approximately, 55mins of wait time, not including the time it took to be seated. We were starving, I had hoped the wait would be worth it but when I received my plate(and it was a big plate) 90%of my plate was smashed potatoes, 5% asparagus, and 5% was my steak, the size of a hockey puck with little to no thickness. It was ridiculous, a big pile of smash potatoes with asparagus is what I was mostly paying for. When I got the bill I was surprised to see that my Entree was $20, $20 for a plate of potatoes and asparagus. I complained at the checkout and was told that the prices were determined by the weight of each plate. Well that explains why I mostly got potatoes and barely any steak, just another example of how this school just loves to rob students.
3.8