American

---

Carlsbad   |   Website

Food Rating: 10/10

The viral Red Chickz is finally in Carlsbad! I get how they became so popular because their hot chicken sandwich was heavenly. Every bite was jam-packed with flavor and each component came together so beautifully. The chicken was fried to perfection and very well seasoned. The sauce and slaw balanced the heat from the chicken. And I loved that the sandwich came with potato wedges. Red Chickz just became one of my new favorite hot chicken places! 

Carlsbad, Encinitas   |   Website

Food Rating: 10/10

Their menu had so many great options, so I went with my server’s recommendation: the Birria Enchiladas. You can never go wrong with birria — it’s so tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, which theirs was. And I loved their enchilada sauce. It had the perfect amount of spice! The spicy refried black beans complimented the enchiladas very well, too. I was also surprised by the big portions. I highly recommend Le Papagayo if you want a slightly fancier dinner and will be back for their steak and ribs! 

Del Mar   |   Website

Food Rating: 10/10

I celebrated my husband’s birthday at Jake’s in Del Mar! We’ve eaten at their sister restaurants in Malibu (Duke’s) and Kauai (Keoki’s) and were excited to try Jake’s! I thoroughly enjoyed the Surfing Steak, which came with sirloin, jumbo shrimp, whipped potatoes, roasted cauliflower, and chimichurri sauce. The sirloin was cooked to a nice medium rare and very tender and flavorful—it didn’t need the chimichurri. I loved how juicy and succulent the shrimp were, and the potatoes were very creamy! However, the star of the dinner was their famous Hula Pie. This is what keeps us coming back to their sister restaurants. It’s a heavenly dessert with macadamia nut ice cream, a chocolate cookie crust, hot fudge, toasted mac nuts, and whipped cream. I’d come back to Jake’s for the Hula Pie alone because it’s that good. The hot fudge with the ice cream is irresistible. Highly recommend Jake’s for a fancy dinner or special occasion!

Carlsbad  |   Website

Food Rating: 10/10

This is my new favorite pork chop dish. I don’t have much to compare it to but it was such a delicious meal. All the elements and flavors came together beautifully, particularly the bacon jam. I also loved the perfectly charred brussels sprouts and creamy mashed potatoes.

San Marcos  |   Website

Food Rating: 10/10

The Carnitas Eggs Benedict blew me away. The carnitas was crispy, juicy, and so flavorful. The salsa verde and pickled onions complemented it so well. I also loved their hollandaise, which was light, creamy, and the perfect flavor. Highly recommend this popular brunch spot!

Escondido   |   Website

Food Rating: 10/10

The Tuscan Chicken Panini was amazing, especially because of the Tuscan aioli. They gave me a hot sauce on the side and it was chef’s kiss — perfect balance of spice and smokiness.

Vista   |   Website

Food Rating: 9/10

This smashburger was amazing! The beef was juicy and well cooked and I loved how soft and caramelized the onions were. The American cheese melted nicely between the patties and the garlic aioli was so full of flavor that the burger didn’t need additional sauces. Highly recommend!

Oceanside   |   Website

Food Rating: 9/10

I love a good happy hour and highly recommend Finney’s Crafthouse in Oceanside! The Carnitas Nachos is a great choice if you’re looking for a delicious bang for your buck starter. The meat was flavorful and moist and the red chilis had a nice kick. Their Cheeseburger was also top-tier. There are so many dishes (and drinks) I want to try here—I’m excited to return! 

Escondido   |   Website

Food Rating: 9/10

They have an eclectic menu with tons of yummy dishes. I went with the Birria Tacos and they exceeded my expectations! The beef was tender and the consomé and tacos went so well together. The Pretzel and Poké Nachos are also great appetizers. And of course, Stone is known for their wide variety of beer. It’s so hard to choose from their beer menu, so we went with the Rainbow Flight. Highly recommend!

Vista   |   Website

Food Rating: 9/10

I’m a huge fan of Tropical Juices & Deli in Vista, a mom and pop cafe serving classic deli options (sandwiches, bagels, smoothies) and Mexican food (tortas, birria). I love their Birria Grilled Cheese and Birria Quesadilla. Their birria is so flavorful and juicy and I appreciate their generous servings of it. The birria paired with their consome is chef’s kiss. I highly recommend and look forward to trying their Birria Ramen!

Encinitas   |   Website

Food Rating: 9/10

Look at that burger! I love obscenely thick burgers. That onion ring was already a beast. This has been one of my favorite burgers in North County.

Vista   |   Website

Food Rating: 9/10

Glutenus Maximus Bakehouse in Vista offers great sandwiches, pastries, and desserts! Their Croissant Sandwich exceeded my expectations. The lemon-garlic aioli was the obvious highlight for me because it was so flavorful. I also loved the crispiness of the hash brown. I’d get this sandwich again and will be back to try their other sandwiches and treats!