Ki's happy hour and sunset menu is unbeatable. 3 courses for $27 and $6 wine with oceanfront sunset views? Food is reliable and easy to find something for everyone, including kids. My two year old loves the grapes that come with the chicken nugs. And we get to watch the choo choo train and the surf break. Old school neighborhood gem!

I met my friends at Ki's Restaurant and ordered, but the food didn't come out even after an hour. Because our order was missing. They apologized to us and made us food quickly. The food was all delicious. We also drank green juice, and it was very fresh. After We checked the bill, there was only the price of the juice charge on the bill. We said it was okay, but they apologized to us again and didn't pay for the food. Thank you for your service. 😍🥰

Most delicious Benedict brunch special and the view upstairs is bomb

Always a favorite of ours! Great food. Great views. Great selection of food from standard American fare to vegetarian and vegan and gluten free! Can be a bit noisy with the hard ceiling surfaces but it's always been that way. Parking can be a challenge but worth the effort. No elevator to 2nd floor that I could find so probably best for ♿ to look elsewhere. We have been here numerous times and have enjoyed the wide food selections! Recommended!

Views upstairs are nice of the beach and coast. One of the best breakfast burritos (in the area) is the Carne asada with bacon.

Ki's is a hidden gem in Encinitas. The menu presented a variety of dishes that should satisfy most anyone. We had Ahi starter and Curry for our main. Delicious. The Lemon Olive Oil cake dessert was just rich enough to leave us wanting one more bite. The dining area is on the 2nd floor, above the kitchen...so dinners have a beautiful view of the ocean just on the other side of the road.

The view is fantastic. I've only been for breakfast but it is great comfort food, the price is even better.

Healthy meals and great ocean views to check out the surf. Great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We met a friend for dinner. We sat on the upstairs terrace. The large window look across the street and out over the surf line and ocean to the sunset. The food was great. I loved the miso salmon, and our friend raved about the cioppino. My wife.enjoyed butternut squash ravioli. With appetizers and dessert, the bill came to about $40 per person. Not cheap, but with the great service and amazing view, it was well worth the cost. We were lucky that night to see a rocket launch, capping a memorable evening.

I have visited this restaurant a few times with my Boyfriend. Each time has been a wonderful experience. The food service is quick, delicious, healthy, and friendly, and the view is unmatchable.

Scenic views, good healthy food options. Was very stuffy on a hot day, ceiling fans would be nice.

TMobil service works here. Great Covid seating. love the Açaí bowls. My fav is the power bowl. You order in the front and they bring your food out to your table.

I have been coming here for almost three decades. As a preschooler, I loved the food, coloring the kid’s menu, and the giant staircase to go upstairs. I always felt like I was climbing through a tunnel to another world. It still feels that way. As a teen, I came here with my grandmother. It was our favorite special place and there was something delicious for both of us. I learned to really appreciate how unique and chill this restaurant is. In college, I brought one of my first dates here. It was sentimental and felt romantic. We had a wonderful time together. Now, almost three decades later, I brought my husband and children to experience the magic of Ki’s. My kids loved their smoothies and food, commented on the plentiful and unbroken crayons, appreciated the beach view while my husband ate in peace, and loved the staircase to another - world just like I did as a kid. My husband appreciated the self-service salsa and necessities bar, how we paid up front, the view, and of course the amazing food. Ki’s is certainly a special place. You could come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick coffee/snack for the road. No matter your reason or timing, you are going to LOVE it. Please continue to support Ki’s so my children can grow up coming here, too.

Order downstairs, then find a table upstairs with an ocean view. It's all self-service upstairs (utensils, water, napkins). Sit and wait for your order to be delivered.

Generous portions, laid back atmosphere. Homely - not pretentious. Lots of flavor and fair prices. Great choice!

I give this place a five star for overall experience. And the only reason why I give four stars for food service and atmosphere is because you order at the counter and go upstairs and wait for somebody to bring it to you. You're on your own to refill your water, tea, coffee, etc. But the food's outstanding and the view of the ocean should not be missed. I've been here three times now on travel and have never been disappointed

Great menu, farmers market caliber fruit and vegetables, good wait staff, all accompanied by an ocean breeze. For us it was the perfect California dining experience; beachy casual with elevated food.

Nice place to have lunch following a nice hike to Annie's Slot Canyon! Great view of the ocean! I had the pull pork sandwich, enough for two however I ate it all! (I did hike after all!)

Best OATMEAL in San Diego. Very friendly staff. Wonderful place for family and friends. So many very tasty, healthy and organic choices at very moderate & affordable prices. You can't beat the location or the view.

Wonderful beach view casual restaurant. Happy hour food and drinks were amazing! Fun, and relaxing atmosphere.

Our company hosted our annual New Years Party at Ki's for the first time this year with a full restaurant buyout and had a fantastic experience! If you're looking for a venue to host a private event and are considering Ki's, don't hesitate to reach out to Jennifer. Their ordering process was great and simple, the food was delicious and appetizers were delicious. We ordered the Sunset Party for our attendees and also had their premium hosted bar option both of which were perfect for our group. Aside from the food and drinks, the 2nd floor of the restaurant was super spacious for our party of 70 and the service was phenomenal! We're so glad we found Ki's and are hoping to host events here in the future! Thanks Jennifer and Ki's team!

Great place! Super good, get the ceviche appetizer super delish! I got macaroni and cauliflower cheese, it was superb! My son got the shrimp curry, again super delicious! Parking a bit tight, but we went on an off day so it was easy!

Good food, a beautiful view of the sunset and the ocean, and the staff was very helpful with our large party, even bringing a knife and extra plates for the birthday cake we brought.

Ahi bowl was great. View was amazing to watch the sunset. The only thing I can suggest is that ALL customers are told about happy hour. I was told about an hour later by another couple sitting at the table next to me. (First visit) (Second visit) Service seems to be lacking when visiting before happy hour (3:30pm). Although ordering downstairs was fine, the counter staff exhibited rude behavior. Upon receiving our food, l asked for utensils and water, but was told to retrieve them myself from the bar area. Our food, which was good, arrived without drinks, requiring an additional request. To avoid similar experiences, consider visiting after 3:30pm when a bartender and wait staff are present.

Family oriented 2 story restaurant, with a wide selection of breakfast meals and a great view of the beach. I recommend trying their peanut butter Acai bowl and their French Toast combo. They also have bottomless mimosas.

Great grub by terrific team. Advice is to get their early in the day so that you don't miss out on some dishes that get gobbled up fast! Also, order a few side drams of wheatgrass & chase 'em down with their bomb smoothies. View from indoors has prescious art from locals and view looking out reminds me why it's super bitchin' being a Californian.

This is one of my favorite places to go! Beautiful view lots of vegan/vegetarian options and happy hour is super fun!

Came here for a healthy breakfast after a long morning run. I had the Healthy Breakfast Bowl. It was Quinoa, tomatoes, fresh spinach, crunchy chickpeas, salsa, avocado and two eggs. I had a large supermix to drink. It was all fabulous! I sat outside on the small patio that abuts the lagoon. I love this place!

Great stop on my way out of town at Ki’s overlooking the ocean! When you arrive, you place your order and they bring it to your table. I was feeling some seafood, so the tuna poke bowl was delicious and incredibly fresh! Great lunch spot.

Best fish tacos in the world. I've traveled all over and lived on the coast. Delicious and they have a white sauce that is so good! If you eat here and need to order something else, also get the tacos. The juices are great, too.

The food is simply amazing. The ordering process is as easy as pie - just head downstairs, then head upstairs and be wowed by the breathtaking ocean view while you savor every last bite of your delicious meal. You won't be disappointed!

One of my favourite beachside restaurants. The food is delicious and healthy. We split a salad and main entry and it was lots of food for two. Can’t wait to go back again. They had live music when we were there which was nice but hard to talk.

The service here was great. Beautiful view and the food was good.

The ordering process is done downstairs at the register, breakfast menu to the right! The staff was very helpful with this, as I was intent on running upstairs immediately. Best French toast I think I've ever had. The combo was ok. Eggs were good and fluffy. But 100% try those Frenchies. Atmosphere was legit. Went for the view and was impressed. There's the ocean! Coffee was good too. They have a coffee bar and they give you a mug. Good stuff. Will be back!

What a place to have Breakfast in the morning. Sit on the 2nd floor overlooking the ocean. Watch the surfers and beach go-ers go about their ways while you dig into your pancake or omelettes or Huevos Rancheros. Nicle clean restaurant. Great service. Wide open spaces. Good clean organic foods. A little gem in Cardiff by Sea.

+6

This was our first time here, but it sure as heck won't be the only time! We ordered a variety of dishes and loved them all. The view of the ocean from the upper deck was amazing. Our server, Spencer, provided us with great service including suggestions.

I love Ki's. The food is always super fresh and healthy and delicious, staff is friendly and knowledgeable and helpful, it's not expensive, and the view is fantastic. I've eaten here several times a year for years and never had a bad experience or poor food. Always worth a visit.

Ki's has always been one of my favorites when I lived here and I make sure to always visit when I'm back. Always great food, view and service.

SO GOOD. was recommended because I'm a vegetarian. Wow. The veg and vegan options were awesome. They also have a ton of fresh seafood which my family loved. You can see the beach from the tables too, it's a cute place.

Ki's is a quite Cardiff institution! Healthy food before it was cool. CAN. NOT. BEAT. the view. I had a fresh juiced juice, The Green Envy and a breakfast carne asada bowl. Literally big enough for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

I love this place! You can always count on getting a great smooth. They have excellent food with plenty of healthy selections from menu. Friendly staff and excellent view of the beach. Walking distance to beach. Can you ask for anything more?

Good menu selection. Vegetarian food available. Large assortment. I chose a grilled turkey sandwich with fries. Delicious and hearty. They used real turkey breast, not pressed turkey. Enough leftovers to take with you, very filling.

We had such an amazing day at Ki’s Restaurant. We went for breakfast/ lunch and loved it so much that we came back later for sunset and happy hour. It was absolutely worth it. At lunch, I had the California Grill and it was delicious. Our friends ordered the French toast and the carnitas scramble, and both were fantastic. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. We returned in the evening for happy hour and to catch the sunset, and the view was perfect. Truly breathtaking. During happy hour, we ordered the seared ahi and crispy cauliflower, and both were incredible. Great flavors and perfect for sharing. A special shoutout to Melody, the manager. She is amazing. She told us the story of the owners (family owned business) and made sure we were having a great time. You can tell she genuinely cares about the guest experience. All of the servers were fun and sweet, creating such a warm and welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to come back again. Between the delicious food, great happy hour, perfect sunset views, and outstanding service, Ki’s is truly a gem. We will definitely be back.

We love Ki’s. The service is excellent with an incredibly friendly staff. The food is always delicious, fresh, healthy, with great portion siEs! Great for adults and children. Be sure to try a smoothie too!

Adrian Sowul

Great ocean side views and fantastic food. I would highly recommend the trying the smoothies.

Courtney Hanson

Had a great date night with my daughter! Seating upstairs makes for a good view of the sunset, ocean waves and relaxed atmosphere. The train runs behind the restaurant which makes it fun to see as well. Bathrooms are clean, very tight space though. Stairs to get up to dining area. Free parking was a huge perk! We loved our waitress and hostess.

Gary Reamer

Gone way down in the last few years. The garden salad is all I ever get so I can tell when it is bad. The lettuce is from a bag. The garbanzo beans are now hard as a brick—a real tooth breaker. There are very few different add ons now. Very disappointing to say the least and the last time I order the garden salad.

Melissa De Yoe (Meli55a)

Driven by it 1000 times and never had the need for a "date night" spot. Little did I realize that this place is like a mullet, fancy on top and casual on the bottom. They have a counter you can order from downstairs (if youre not looking for a sit down restaurant) that feels more like a local deli and I love it. I still ordered food from the restaurant but sat outside w my friend and her dog and we loved it. The views of the lagoon and blackened shrimp bowl were superb.

Been’ there

You have to try to believe it. The atmosphere and the food perhaps become irrelevant because the forces of nature take over. It’s like a vacation on a an island that the island and the vacation both do not end.

+5

Luisa Goncalves

Great breakfast and really inexpensive for all you get. Got the breakfast special which included any breakfast entree with juice plus coffee and tea for under $15! I got the pancakes with eggs and potatoes. I don't know what they put into their breakfast potatoes but they were tasty! And the best part was the views! You have to order first, get a number then a waitstaff brings everything to you. It's a well organized process. Plenty of parking and friendly staff. Will be back!

Monkey Around the World

Probably some of the best food we’ve had in all of Southern California! This restaurant blends traditional seafood platters with some Asian cuisines for incredible results. I highly recommend ordering the “catch of the day” for a fresher and tastier meal. Portions are generous and prices aren’t bad. Oh - and I can’t leave a review with mentioning the amazing sunset views from the second floor!

Daisy B

Really wonderful place, and great food LOTS OF CHOICES! Close to the beach. A must try :) i had the basil chicken salad sandwich and garden salad so deliciously good! Others got delicious omlettes and huevos rancheros! Coffee is a rally great roast and smoothies are yummy too! We got the chocolate hazelnut cookies, also really good. Staff is helpful, in a fun building. You can see the beach and watch surfers.

Hunter Michael

Got the tuna salad sandwich and it was actually really good. Super fresh, not dry or bland like some places make it. Got a side of fries too, they were solid. Chill spot overall, I’d definitely eat here again. Wish I took a picture of my sandwich

Giannina Laffi

The food is delicious, fresh ingredients, service quick, place your order downstairs. The dining area is upstairs, clean, well kept. Very nice ocean view.

+3

SD CARGUY

Always enjoy spending time in Cardiff and one of my favorite places in Cardiff is Ki's. Been coming here for quite some time on Saturdays after Cars And Coffee. Usually without the family. Today, I brought the family and it was unanimous feeling, WE LOVE Ki's. The food is always fresh, the quality is always great and very delicious. Friendly smiles and everyone is attentive and very helpful. As you walk in, you order your food downstairs, grab a designated number and head upstairs to enjoy the very cool panoramic ocean views. The upstairs dining area is very clean and well kept. Staff are always attentive and very helpful. The food came out after 10 minutes of our order, fresh, hot and perfect as we ordered. The condiments area was exceptionally clean and the beverage dispensing area was very clean as well. We ordered the Mediterranean Omelet , the California Omelet , The Mondo Burrito, Avocado Toast and French Toast. Everything from the main dishes to the sides to the fruits, the food was delish.f you are in town and looking for a great breakfast place catch an Uber or Lyft and come try Ki's.

+22

Went there for breakfast. Restaurant located across the hwy from beach. Order and payment on first floor with some outside seating on first floor. Second floor has all the drinks,sauces, etc and food is brought to your table. Views on second floor is outstanding. Good food and choices with fair portions. Busy place. Nice parking lot but not a lot of parking on a busy day.

Ki's brings together good, healthy food, friendly service and a great view for a all in one, wonderful experience.

Amazing ocean surf view at sunset, with a lovely chilled atmosphere and took full advantage of happy hour cocktails and 3 course sunset menu for $27 before 6pm. Incredible portion sizes and would return!

Amazing food. Limited menu options, great music. Little bit cramped space and loud but I still had a good time

Great sunset cocktails. Good food and price

Great American food choices for breakfast and lunch. We had carne asada breakfast Bowl, thai chicken wrap and chopped winter salad. On the first floor entrance you order your food, go upstairs or outside for seating. Then a server will bring your order. Coffee, tea and water is self serve. Nice casual atmosphere with beautiful view of Cardiff beach.

Beautiful view of the sunset while enjoying a glass of wine and some appetizers during happy hour. Good service and friendly staff.

Treated ourselves to dinner here for the first time, as we have eaten breakfast and lunch many times over the decades. Wow, what a dinner! Delicious dinner and dessert, perfect and friendly service, gorgeous views of the ocean right across 101. And, the price is best yet.. just across the street at the C.H the same meal is double the price. Dog friendly outside patio has been recently moved away from the entry parking lot over to the side and now overlooks the lagoon. Great breakfast + lunch outside if you want. They sell their own coffee cups too!

2024/5/16 14:00 2 person diner. Coffee is fine Food is normal View is great

+3

Great place with most of the eating area on the top (second) floor and with views of the surfers and ocean. Great food, drinks, and wines -- see wine list pics I'm uploading. Not cheap, but worth it on occasion. The Mahi with satay and veggies was great !

+1

The food's not bad at all and the ocean view is amazing. We had the ceviche for appetizer and the Salmon and Halibut as main courses. Overall the food was good and service was impeccable.

A nice place to go for a meal by the water along US-101 in Cardiff, just north of Del Mar. Cafeteria-style areas on the first floor, and a sit-down, server style restaurant (after 430pm) on the second floor. If you time your reservation correctly, you should get a nice view of the sunset over the ocean. Good selection on the menu and process are reasonable given its primo location. 4 stars because it gets NOISY.

+1

Location is perfect for seaside dining. Make sure go upstairs windows looking across highway 101 where surfers doing waves from Pacific Ocean. Order downstairs at counter fast food style then they give you a number sign and then choose anywhere to sit. Besides upstairs (best) first floor has indoor and outdoor under the canopy seatings. Had the spicy NomNam bowl $12.50, chose steak which was cooked medium rare and sliced. Healthy dish that has lots of veggies--chopped romaines, cucumbers, shredded carrot and chopped peanuts and rice noodles (wish there's more of that) in an Asian spicy dressing. Cole slaw about $3 don't care for as much. Overall prices very reasonable and service good.

+2

Ki’s has a beautiful location on the water with 2nd story views to see the ocean and all the surfers. The waiter was polite and it mostly run by younger people. The menu had some unique items and good pairings but seemed a little heavy on the sauces. The food tasted good but wasn’t out of this world.

The view was superb. The service was excellent. The food was all very good as well. I had the flatbread with arugula, Roasted peaches, goat cheese and glazed balsamic drizzle - muy bueno!!! Hubby had the California rolls and Asian salmon salad. He loved it - ate every bite. We would come back.

+6

We are regulars at Ki’s. We always order the oatmeal with all the amazing fruit. On Sunday 9/21 we ordered the same. Something went wrong in the kitchen we did not get the usual bowls any the fruit was all helter skelter placed in a round bowl. Not sure what happened but we will still try again.

A very unique restaurant with a “different” menu from most places. Definitely has a “healthy and natural” emphasis and they provide dishes that fit those descriptions in an excellent way. Really nice staff, though very slow on a busy Saturday night. Make a reservation, the place is very popular and fills up fast. They have a bar, as well as plenty of ocean-view seating and accommodations for large groups.

I like that they have gf pasta you can substitute with. The salad that came with my baked penne was good. The pasta, their version of mac and cheese, was served piping hot. The cauliflower made it seem healthier.

Niva Gandhi

I spent my 25th birthday here with family. Their butterscotch bread pudding is AMAZING. I will say though they messed up my boyfriend's sea bass but hes too kind to send something back. I'd come back for sure!!

Cee Fern

Stunning views of Cardiff Encinitas beach. Eggs Benedict special is tasty. I wish they gave better attention to customers. Charged me for 2 coffees. Gave me regular coffee when I paid for Americano. Didn't serve my mimosa, I have to keep asking. The mimosa has little champagne n little cranberry.dudnt give syrup with pancakes. I shouldn't have to ask. Servers looked confused. It's not them bits their system. But love the 2nd floor views.

Le Cretique- Rube in the Hood

This restaurant is NOT disabled friendly. To get to the dinning area one must conquer a flight if steps or go around to the back where there is a ramp. Bathrooms well if you gotta go be prepared to "hold on because that is another round about journey. Restroom were very clean . My beef ribs were delicious. with a White wine. My server made the meal Only difficulty was pronouncing his name I'll call him So.Tall curtailed man who was very patient with me as I made up my mind what to order!! For dessert I ordered a coffee withkahluaha ha ha ha. Food was tasty drinks refreshing. But what made the meal was the excellent service. Word to the wise parking is small and tight.Would I return? YES one of these days.

Emel G.

I love this local gem, used to come for breakfast/ brunch for the view and great healthy food and juices however lately I was introduced to their great music and dinner and it is spectacular. Great dinner selections, curries don’t fail, miso salmon is lovely as well as bread pudding is one of the best in this town I think . Music on Friday nights has been phenomenal. Highly recommend for music, view to music lovers like me !

T

Had the Marrakesh express bowl with tofu, it was delicious! Tasted fresh and had great flavors. I gave atmosphere only 3 stars because we ate outside and there were two tables near us that weren’t cleared or cleaned the entire time we were there, so not the best views.

Heaven Morgan

The ordering downstairs is great. Food is simple. The condiment bar and the upstairs seating with the view is wonderful. Fairly busy when we went and they didn’t have the vegan pancakes which I was really bummed about but the tofu scramble was good. Wish the kids meals had side options. The apples with the cheese pasta noodles was interesting and the portion was fairly small so if you have a kiddo with a larger appetite maybe get an adult entree. But overall nice spot. Great location. Would recommend trying at least once for the experience!

Just a heads up for all the scramble lovers. I've enjoyed their scrambles for awhile. My last one came without eggs. Yep, all toppers, no eggs. Asked a server about it and she said she could see eggs. To her credit, you could see tiny little pieces but you really had to look. I'm thinking maybe because of egg costs... Anyway, the owners might have saved a few bucks on my scramble, but they lost a regular customer.

Standard eatery, nothing fancy. Food is good, but nothing spectacular. Dessert, bread pudding, hardly edible.

It's a really great place for breakfast or lunch. First order your food on the first floor, pay your food, take your number then go up to the second. Pick your table. Either you sit on the balcony or sit inside. Where ever you sit, you always have a nice view of the ocean.🌊 For me, I always pick a table next to the window for a better view of the wave while I'm enjoying my meal, or watch people go by. 🌞🚶‍♂️Beautiful! sounds romantic! But this particular day, I was disappointed. My oatmeal breakfast was cold. I'm not sure exactly how they cook their oatmeal but it looks like they just poured the hot water, put the fruits on top and Wala there's your oatmeal. By the time it gets to your table, it is cold. Your appetite is gone. Totally disappointed. Also, water is self serve. There's a counter with the water jug and stacks of glass next to it. So, my husband brought us two glasses of water on our table. You know when you see a nice and clear glass on the counter, nicely stack together of course you assume that the glass is clean right! WRONG. Better pay attention because one of our glass has lipstick mark on the rim of the glass! Red lipstick! 💋 Gross!!😬 Anyway that was my day.

Food was excellent. There are a few things to consider: 1. The exterior needs remodeling. 2. Plastic chairs are not the best way to go. Not too comfortable. 3. Plastic bins full of silverware, napkins etc. People with their dirty hands are reaching in the box to grab stuff. Not sure how often that gets cleaned. 4. They are advertising organic but the water tastes like tap and other products they have are rich in sugar. Overall a good place to grab the food to go.

Christopher Gorrie

Been here a few times and decided to finally review it. This place is generally hit or miss, but I had an pretty mediocre experience this time. The three entrees my party ordered were beef stew, a California omelette, and a pesto chicken sandwich. The soup that was brought to the table was vegetable soup, and it tasted like someone simmered random veggies in V8 juice for an hour. It was overpowered by canned tomato flavor and required decent post-seasoning to be edible. The California omelette was all right, though the eggs were overdone and the potatoes were very dry. It required ketchup and salsa to be flavorful. Finally, the chicken pesto sandwich was prepared well, but the chicken was semi-dry and there wasn’t a whole lot of flavor, despite there being so many ingredients on the sandwich. The supermix juice and the americano were decent. No complaints there in terms of flavor. However, a large juice was like $11 which seems a bit steep for it simply being juices veggies. It’s an interesting spot due to the view of the beach, but it’s not going on my top lists of San Diego eateries any time soon.

+5

Atmosphere and view are really nice being elevated so that you can see the ocean. Food is descent, nothing special. Service situation could be improved, there's a bar upstairs but you have to go downstairs and order from food line. When inquiring on how to get drinks from said bar, staff had a bit of an attitude. Also subtracting another star for starting their tipping options at 18% (going up to 25%) for an order at the counter, no service provided restaurant. I don't mind tipping at all, but tipping before service is provided defeats the purpose and the way it's expected is getting out of hand.

I waited to write this review so the manager could make up for our dismal dining experience. But she did not. The was food very mediocre ( kind of like a Swanson TV dinner) but also reasonably priced….service was great. The place is run down & dirty. The table we sat at was in a corner of the indoor dining room with windows offering a view of the ocean. I looked over at the windowsill & there was a pile of dead bugs, spider webs & dirt. It was extremely unappetising and brought into question the hygiene/cleanliness of the kitchen & rest rooms. I waited to tell the hostess until after we ate (and I could barely eat my salad) as I did not want to watch them clean it up while we were eating. Later I asked for a credit for the meal & Jennifer the mgr. first offered a gift card, which we could not use as we were leaving the next day. And even if we stayed I would never eat there again. Then she offered 25% off the bill. I requested the entire bill be credited & she refused. Very disappointing when every other place we visited in Encinitas was CLEAN, food was great & employee's customer-centered.

Jonna Ennis

I had high hopes for my birthday dinner at Ki on October 16, but unfortunately, the experience left me feeling humiliated and dismissed. When I arrived, the hostess was warm and accommodating, and she kindly seated me at a beautiful table facing the sunset, a perfect start. However, things quickly turned unpleasant when another table asked to have the blinds opened, causing the sun to shine directly into our eyes. I politely asked the waitress to lower the blinds slightly, explaining the discomfort and that it was my birthday celebration. She refused, saying “the other customer asked for them open,” as though my comfort didn’t matter. I was told, “the customer is always right,” which left me wondering, am I not a customer too? After being ignored twice, I had no choice but to lower the blinds myself, which led to confrontation from another table while the waitress disappeared completely. The manager later brought our drinks, but service lagged, our food took nearly 45 minutes to arrive, overcooked and dry. Even though the manager eventually comped the meal, it felt more like an attempt to end a It wasn’t about the food or the bill, it was about respect, time, and how guests are treated. Despite mentioning twice that it was my birthday, not a single gesture was made to acknowledge it, while another table celebrating received two rounds of recognition. As a local, I had wanted to love this place, but I left feeling embarrassed and undervalued. Beautiful view or not, customer care and empathy should never be optional. Sadly, I won’t be returning.

This was the worst breakfast we've ever had, ever.... Huevos rancheros were two eggs on top of a chewy tortilla. No rice, no beans... nothing. Eggs on a tortilla. The service was less than sucky. Never will eat here again

Lonnggg wait! I ordered take-out but no one was at the front. Ringing the bell several times no one came. My take out bag was on the counter. The smoothie’s I ordered sitting in the blender. It was not a busy day. When we finally got our food, my sons mango smoothie was watery because it had been sitting in the blender.

Autumn O

We’ve been going to Ki’s about once a week, and while the service has always been inconsistent, our most recent visit was by far the worst. After several disappointing experiences, we’ve decided not to return. There’s one server who consistently gives us unpleasant looks, which we’ve tried to ignore. But this last visit around 7pm was a tipping point. It took a long time to receive our food, and we had to go up to the bar just to request drink refills—water wasn’t refilled at all. Despite several tables still dining, the staff seemed entirely focused on closing duties rather than customer service. We debated ordering dessert and eventually did, but after waiting 30 minutes with no update, I went to the bar to pay and mentioned the missing dessert. Instead of removing it from the bill, the staff went downstairs, where we found our server laughing with the kitchen crew. She casually said, “Oops, we forgot!” The dessert was handed to us cold in a to-go box, even though it was supposed to be served warm. I emailed the manager over a month ago and haven’t received any response. It’s clear that customer care is not a priority here. The staff seems more concerned with internal drama and clocking out than with providing a positive experience for paying guests. Sadly, unless there’s a major shift in management or training, we won’t be back. It’s frustrating and disappointing—and not worth your time or energy.