CARiN de RiA

I usually rate my filipino restaurants based on 3 items - lumpia, adobo (not pictured) and the halo-halo. The lumpia (original) was flavorful and wasn't overpowered by the oil they cook it in - some restaurants' lumpia unfortunately comes out completely saturated in oil which takes away the flavor. It's good lumpia when you don't have to dip it in the sauce to get the flavor, but the sauce was good addition. The pork Adobo (not pictured) was soft and tender, and the broth poured over white rice was not too sweet nor too sour. Adobo depending on who makes it can go one way or the other, and this one was just marinated to my tastes. Pork was tender and easy to cut, compared to some restaurants where it can be chard sometimes. The Halo-halo was a bit underwhelming as it lacked the necessary amount of ingredients like milk, sweet beans, and tropical fruits I'm accustomed to from home back in the Philippines. But I can't fully knock it because this dessert is unique to each filipino restaurant that ive visited, so I'll let you be the judge. As a bonus, I did try the nilagang baboy (boiled pork stew), and the broth had the right amount of sour for my taste. The broth wasn't overwhelming, and when poured over white rice, it complimented it well. Good portion of meat to vegetable ratio, and the pork was nice and tender - similar to the adobo. However, I was really aiming for the broth and it did its job. This a nice little restaurant with decent seating and the service was good. Granted I came during the slow period, but nonetheless I had good time eating there. They also had a happy hour special which I wasn't able to partake, but found out after I already ordered. Only one bathroom which could be a situation if the place gets busy. Other than that, I recommend going here.

Cute little Filipino restaurant close to the walkway. Would recommend for those who are looking for good home cooked Filipino food as they have the staples. Portions are small and prices a little high so would keep that into consideration when ordering. Their best thing on the halo halo. Wasn’t a big fan of the calamansi juice, but loved the guanabana juice although pretty sweet.

Unpretentious and authentic Filipino food. The owner teaches the staff how to cook recipes not just for the restaurant, but so they can use them in their personal life. Angel took incredible care of us and shared cooking techniques for the dishes we ordered, to illustrate what makes their food so much, in my opinion, superior. The pork adobo and sautéed green beans were comforting and satisfying. This place should be voted best Filipino restaurant San Diego!

Family owned and run authentic food. I went here when they opened years ago and I was super impressed. I recently started working in the area again and I am glad to see they are still going strong. I went back in for dinner and I can see why. Excellent food excellent service! Get the Red Horse beer with your meal! 5 stars

Encinitas has a lot of your typical places to eat, but we happened to come across this boutique Philippino food spot on a side street off of PCH/101. It features an open storefront, indoor & outdoor seating & a homecooked feel. We had a very tasty chicken soup which they served in a bowl large enough to share (they gave us smaller bowls for that) and we even had leftovers. We also had chicken adobo & a large platter of pancit (noodles) w chicken. Everything was delicious, quick & excellent service. You have to try this one! Oh, we also shared 3 scoops of locally made ice cream.

Very pleased with stumbling upon this gem near the beach! I wanted authentic Filipino food and after reading a few Google reviews, I knew I had to drive and try this place out. The menu is fully stocked with Filipino beers as well as in house. Really enjoyed the Ube coconut Porter, which was suggested by the server. It wasn’t bitter at all, but it did have depth in flavor! We ordered the lumpia and it wasn’t oily at all, I almost wonder if they’re using avocado oil there or maybe a better alternative than vegetable or canola. There were a lot of dishes to choose from, but we got the sizzling sisig which was full of flavor and served up on a hot plate. Definitely need to come back and order some of the main dishes. Will report back and update my review then! Otherwise, go check it out if you’re thinking about it I highly recommend this spot for good service great food and the perfect ambience off of the main road. Oh, and try to walk to the beach afterwards—you’ll be full!

My favorite restaurant hands down. This place has an amazing atmosphere; the owner Archie is extremely friendly, hospitable, and accommodating of the customers and the different workers throughout the years have also been very lovely people. Aside from the absolute love and dedication put into this place, the food is exceptional and comforting. I have overheard customers who visit from LA just to come here, and I truly understand why. This is a gem to Encinitas and North County in general. The chicken BBQ is unmatched. It is soft, tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The pancit (glass noodles) is also a favorite. I personally love the kare kare because I am a peanut butter lover. The lumpia are exceptional (its lumpia, how can they not be?) and the chicharon (pork rinds) are also really good. The adobo is pretty good too, but I especially love the caldereta beef stew. The coconut vegetable curry is also a hit for my family. I definitely would recommend garlic rice! The sizzling dishes are also a fun treat. If you are with a group it is the best because you can get the family feast and sample several! The only thing I am not too crazy about** is the pipian and the chicken in the pancit—they simply don't have the right texture or taste to me and, if that is the only thing you end up trying by chance, you would truly not know how amazing the food is based on those. (**unless you enjoy plain grilled chicken, in which case knock yourself out!) So if you are going to get chicken, I'd say get the BBQ because it is prepared and cooked right. I have gone here at my best and my worst and always leave happy and well fed. I highly recommend this place—it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Food was too salty. Had to ask for lemon to cut the saltiness, water down the soup. I did suggest to the owner to change it. But idk if he'll listen.

After recently traveling to the Philippines, I was craving Filipino food! We came in for lunch and ordered several lunch specials which came with a ton of food for about $14 each. The owner came up to our table and was extremely nice and helpful. The restaurant itself was very casual and laid back, but was clean and stylish. My wife's Filipino family approves of this place so it must be legit!

My brother was in town and wanted to try some Filipino food after visiting his fiance's family in the Philippines. We saw this spot had great reviews so we decided to give a try. We decided to split an order of the chicken pancit canton and bbq chicken with garlic rice. All of the food was delicious and I'd happily come back. We sat outside on the sidewalk to enjoy the nice weather but there's a decent sized indoor seating area as well.

Seated immediately at 5:30pm on a Saturday, which was great. It did take a while to get drinks and for the server to take our order, but not a huge deal. If only my children hadn't been losing it... We ordered the lumpia, chicharron, pancit with tofu, pork sisig, beef salpicao, garlic rice, and finally flan. Our favorites were the lumpia, chicharron that came out crackling, and the sisig. Lumpia were freshly fried and crispy, good filling. Chicharron came out with a vinegary white pepper dipping sauce that cut the fat nicely, and the sisig was impressively charred on the hot plate with good flavor. I didn't really care too much for the salpicao, but that's likely more due to my personal taste than anything. Also, the pancit was fine, just a little one note. Flan was nice and thick, but I would've liked a bigger portion. Again, not really something I can necessarily fault them for. Service people were all very friendly and checked in with us frequently, especially after the long wait at the beginning. I'd come back to try more if I'm feeling like Filipino food.

Love this place. It's lowkey, cozy and good for groups. Happy to see Filipino food, and it was so good. I got the vegetable kare kare with tofu, garlic rice, chicken adobo, pancit, turon and leche flan. Will definitely be back.

What a great find for a cozy meal! I stopped by yesterday during their lunch hour with a friend and ordered the Tapa with Garlic Fried Rice and it did not disappoint! The service was also great! We were greeted as soon as we entered and got to choose where to sit. I definitely want to come back again soon to try the oxtail kare kare and their pancit. Thank you!

Halo halo for the dessert win! We stopped by to try this signature Filipino ice cream "sundae" and loved it! Made with a base of sweet crushed ice slushy and a scoop of ube ice cream and topped with plantains, sweet potatoes, agar-agar jelly, coconut, and flan, the incredibly refreshing dessert hit the spot. Can't wait to return for more halo halo as well as to try the crispy lechon kawali, sizzling lechon sisig, lumpia, and pancit.

The veggie lumpia was tasty - crispy wrapper. The oxtail kare kare- tender beef with a rich peanuty sauce. The chicken adobo- flavorful chicken in a tasty sauce. The garlic rice was scrumptious. Dog friendly outdoor patio. Server was friendly and attentive.

The man attending us gave great service, made us feel at home. The food was delicious, we were very happy with everything. The restaurant is in a prime spot and it's clean and well taken care of.

The family was craving For Filipino food and some of the family members had said this spot was definitely The spot to hit up. They were initially in Escondido but moved to this new location in Encinitas. There was plenty of street parking and there was some outdoor seating available for overflow since the inside wasn't very big. The service very friendly and the items we ordered came out piping hot! I'm not a meat eater so I was happily and excitedly surprised to be ordering vegetarian Kare Kare! I devoured that sucker and if I was at home I'd be licking that bowl. As all other Filipinos will say that their mom or Lola makes it better. This spot was delicious and I can say ... it takes as good as my TITA's and I like my TITA!

How have I not written a review of this place?! I eat here very week and never am disappointed or get tired of the delicious food. I have tried many dishes, and while they are all good. I have my favorites! Always get the Chicharrón! They are so fresh, and will literally be popping when I handed or served to you. I absolutely love dipping them in the spicy vinegar. If it is lunch time during the week, get the lunch special. I choose between the pork adobo and the bbq chicken skewers (extra +$1). My coworkers love the spicy chicken adobo too. I love both the white or garlic( +$1) rice. The special also comes with regular or vegetable lumpia and pancit noodles. All for only $12. They have very many amazing dishes. Some of my favorites are below. The pork rib sinigang is my absolute favorite. The broth is very clean and there are always a ton of pork ribs and many different types of vegetables, including but not limited to green beans, tomatoes, and eggplant. I always order this with a side of white rice. Although it is larger in size and can be shared. I absolutely refused to share this because it is so good. I also am obsessed with the sizzling Lechon sisig. It will be served sizzling hot on a cast-iron plate. There will be pork, Lechon, onions, peppers, and a egg on top with a lemon on the side. My method is to mix up the egg in the dish. And squeeze the lemon all over the top. I also get rice on the side of this entrée as well. A few of my other favorite dishes include the Kare Kare (peanut lovers. This is for you.), lechon kawali (obvi), and the milk fish. All of the dishes I've had here have been great. But these are a few that I can think of off the top of my head. Even though you're very full, you must get dessert. There is no doubt about it. Unbutton your pants and get ready for an amazing dessert to finish up this wonderful experience! Get the HALO HALO! You will not be disappointed. It is like a milky/icy/sundae. It features sweet plantain chunks, sweet potato chunks, jellies, coconut flakes, Ube (purple yam-don't knock it till you try it), flan (silky custard), and a hefty scoop of Ube ice cream! You can share this at the table with your loved ones/friends and you will be very happy with the result. Archie is absolutely amazing and is always a smiling face to see. His restaurant is absolutely phenomenal and exactly what San Diego needs. Stop by and try something new at this delicious Filipino restaurant. You will not be disappointed.

THIS RESTAURANT HAVING A POOR SERVICE THE STAFF AND THE OWNER AS WELL... I been celebrating my wedding venue in this restaurant last May 18,2024 and all of my guests complained their food and their service. The food is tasteless and their staff are mean to my guests... If i can do it again my wedding i will never choose this restaurant... My husband and I are wasting our money to chose this restaurant... Treat the customers bad... Having a food doesn't have a Taste... In general words I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for you to have a party or even gatherings. You will be disappointed at the end...

Delicious Filipino food on a peaceful little corner of Encinitas!! I loved how yummy the sisig was and how it came on a sizzling plate. If you haven't had longanisa with garlic rice, please come here and try it! Their menu has a solid list of authentic Filipino dishes to try out, so I highly recommend coming here! I will definitely be back to try some more!!

Had high expectations based on the glowing reviews and was left underwhelmed, unfortunately. I'm used to Filipino food with robust flavors, and everything here tasted muted, like it had been dialed down several notches. As a group of 4, we shared two orders of lumpia, as well as the pancit with shrimp, sizzling lechon sisig, and the crispy pork belly kare kare. The lumpia was the best thing we ordered, and everything else was just ok. There wasn't much meat in any of the dishes and again, the flavors felt like a whisper. It's cool that there's a Filipino spot in North County, however the typical homey counter serve places in National City are much more satisfying, with more bang for your buck. Our server was also not very helpful and looked like she wanted to be anywhere else but there. A lackluster experience overall.

Cute Filipino restaurant in Encinitas. Stopped in for a quick meal after reading some reviews and I'm v glad I did. Our server was v cute and nice :) Street parking was easy during the week too. Caldereta - braised beef in a hearty, savory stew. The potatoes and carrots were cooked very well and infused with flavor. Beef was nice and tender also. Such a comfort food eaten warm. Pancit (veg) - I prefer a drier pancit, but this was still good. They added a good amount of veggies since we didn't order additional protein. Portion size is also quite large. Can't go wrong w the classic Tofu and Bean Sprouts - on the saltier side, but since we had rice with the caldereta it was perfect. Tofu was deep fried well and still soft enough to chew easily. Portion was slightly smaller (we were told it was appetizer-like). I really don't have anything bad to say about the experience. Regrettably, I was too full to order halo halo, so the next time I'm here, I have to. Would return with a group!

As soon as you walk in, you feel like you're walking into a family member's home who can cook! It's a small cozy restaurant serving authentic Filipino food. We ordered lumpia, lechón sisig, and spicy chicken adobo. All were very good! The servers were also very nice.

Stopped in to check it out and stayed for dessert! Got the Mango and Coconut Sorbetes. SO good. Also got the Mango Float and it was delicious. Staff was very nice and welcoming. It was also cozy and cute/ relaxing! Highly recommend trying the dessert!

Filipino food spot in Encinitas. Cozy little place walking distance by the beach. Ordered salmon sisig, oxtail karekare, beef steak with onions, vegetable kare2, and halohalo. Everything we ate was delicious. The salmon was sizzling when it arrived and it was mixed with onions, spices and belle peppers. The karekare was creamy and had crushed peanuts on top. Oxtail was tender too. Loved the ice texture of the halo halo and their in house ube cream. It had jackfruit, leche flan and assorted mixed jellies with other sweet ingredients. Customer service was fine. We did have to wait a bit but it was understandable, as we had a big party. Overall, had a nice experience. The only thing that could probably improve was to add more vegetables to the "vegetable Kare Kare" .

Super yummy and quaint. My family walked for 3.5 miles around the Bontanic garden which was just 9 mins drive away. We got here with an appetite and we're not disappointed. The server was so punctual and attentive. Since it's was around 2pm the place was very quiet which was super nice. All the dishes were so good.

Delicious!!!! Wow, the reviews on Yelp are spot on. We were looking to try a new restaurant and Yelp once again led us to the right place. We ordered the family feast (medium) and we're amazed by how much food it was. Everything was sooooo good. We did upgrade the rice to the garlic fried rice. You know it's good when you can't pick a favorite dish. Everything was so flavorful and absolutely delicious. We had plenty left over and were all so excited to have it the next day. Excellent food and excellent service! We even had dessert, Flan and the Mango Float, both were amazing!!!

A perfect day for food that approached perfection in a simple but perfect atmosphere, with warm and friendly service. When our first choice for lunch wasn't available we decided to try Carina de Ria. I had the Longanisa, which is on the not so secret menu. My husband had the Caldereta (beef stew). I love the simplicity of sausage, garlic rice and eggs, the eggs were...well... perfect, the longanisa was a sweet, succulent, porky delight and the garlic rice just the way I like it. My husband loved the beef stew, probably the best he has had (so said he). I would have to agree, moist and in a rich broth, not over cooked, not dry, the flavor was spot on. We finished with an order of Turon, made fresh, hot and crispy with dulce de leche adorned on top. Everything was just perpekto!

The pork skin appetizer was still cackling when it arrived. Delicious. The Pork Sisig was so good. The oxtail curry was pretty good. Glad we went! Not to my taste: The halo halo. The sweet sugar drink.

BEST FILIPINO RESTAURANT IVE EVER TRIED. I'm Filipino and have grown up eating my mom's delicious cooking. I would be thoroughly disappointed whenever I tried any of the cuisine at a restaurant because every dish could never compare to a home cooked Filipino meal. We've tried places all over the world and nothing surprised me more than this place. We stumbled here by accident after a drive back to OC/ LA. A different Filipino place we wanted to try was closed so I found this place instead. This place is restaurant quality home cooked meals (if that makes any sense). I called 30 minutes before arriving to see if they could accommodate a party of 10 and they said no problem! The place was very cute and quaint and service was very nice. We tried a ton of things (party of 10). Lumpia: 4.5/5, crisp and fresh but still didn't compare to my mom's Chicharon: 4.5/5 I've never had fresh chicharon before and i was pleasantly surprised Crispy pork belly kare kare: 5/5 GET THIS. Easily the best dish I tried. I'll let it speak for itself (and I've never been a big fan of kare kare); pork belly was so crispy and tender Bangus: X/5, I didn't get a chance to try it but my siblings said it was their fave dish Lechon kawali: 4.75/5, was crispy and soft Pancit: 3/5 noodles were a bit wet but still good Crispy pata: 3/5 just not a big fan in general Sisig: 4.5/5 was tasty, but my dad's is still my fave Pork sinigang: 4/5, good taste but I prefer more sour Bulalo: X/5, didn't get a chance to try but my MIL loved it Turon: 4.75/5, I've never had Turon with caramel but was pleasantly surprised I will confidently make the drive back to Encinitas from OC to eat here again. I will also be bringing my friends and family here when they say they want to try Filipino food. Great family owned business!!

What a hidden gem, definitely some of the best Filipino food I've ever had. I've tried many kare kare dishes and even make it when I have time at home, but this was the best kare kare I've ever had. The sauce was so creamy and peanut buttery, without being oily like how others can be. I literally could have just ate the sauce by itself like a soup if I could. I loved how they used their garlic peanuts as a topping to add a nice, roasted flavor and crunchy texture. The oxtail was so so tender. They weren't kidding with the SIZZLING sisig. I knew it was coming because I could hear the sizzling from the kitchen until it got to our table. The hot plate gave the vegetables and pork a nice char. Though I was so full, I am so glad I did not skip out on dessert. BEST HALO HALO I've ever had. The snowy texture of the ice was so smooth, milky and melt in your mouth. My husband and I appreciated how there were no red beans and how they did not skimp out on the ube ice cream. The leche flan sample in it was so good and silky. Great service, seating available outside and inside, not too far from the water. Luckily Carina de Ria is located a little bit past the busier part of the downtown Encinitas strip, so parking was not hard to find. Definitely coming back!

Good - Delicious Pilipino foods - Must try Sisig- serves on hot stone plates GarlicRice- flavorful Halohalo w/ Ube icecream - not too sweet so it was good!! Request extra flan. (If like it sweet, ask to be more sweet) - Good service Bad - street parking It is a small restaurant. Encinitas Pilipino food!

CARiN de Ria is one of my favorite places to eat Filipino food in San Diego County! It's just steps away from the beach in Encinitas. My go to is the Kristy Pork Belly Kare Kare, which is a peanut butter stew with vegetables and krispy pork. You can never go wrong with Bistek (steak), chicken adobo, Sisig, and pork ribs. But my ultimate favorite is their Halo Halo! Instead of ice, they shave frozen evaporated milk and add a touch of condensed milk. It's topped with Ube ice cream and sprinkled with Pinipig (Filipino rice krispies) for a little crunch. Soooo good! For more photos/short video, check out our You Tube channel @ SweetLifeOfSisters22. https://youtube.com/shorts/QoNYVFAcbo4?si=lXiKSoFlLR6cCm4G

Been here twice. Half a block west from main drag. Indoor or outside, is quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Simple menu, nothing too fancy or elaborate.

I was quite hesitant in coming to this restaurant the family wanted to try. I have had Filipino food before and it didn't suit my taste. Everything I tried I really liked. The vegetarian egg rolls are very tasty. They are super hot when they come out so let them cool if you don't want to burn your mouth. The chicaron were so light and crunchy. We polished off that dish. We had the glass noodles with vegetables. That was delicious! We had the twice cooked pork belly that was excellent!! We had to reorder that one again. We also had the pork belly saisig that was good too. The chicken curry was delicious. The oxtail was tasty. My son in law polished that off. I think we have found a new favorite restaurant to come to when we visit Encinitas.

Super cute and comfy place! I highly recommend for a date night or girls night! We came on a Saturday evening and there was no wait. It was easy to find street parking. We ordered the small family meal with pork adobo, garlic rice, and chicken BBQ plus a salmon sisig. It was all good and plenty of food! We were stuffed. At first, the pork adobo looked like a small portion but it all turned out well. My favorites were probably the lumpia, chicken BBQ, and pancit. The salmon sisig was very hot and sizzling and a bit too spicy for me actually. The service was super nice, and I believe the woman was also an owner and she was super stylish and cool and welcoming. My total was $27 (we split the bill evenly). I definitely want to come back and try more!

I am so glad we have a Filipino place in Encinitas that is so delicious! Our go to is the pancit -- flavorful without being over cooked. We also love the lumpia! Get twice as many as you think because they will disappear quickly!

I love Archie and Chuey! They are the best at providing an amazing experience filled with both hospitality and the exquisite flavors of the Philippines. I will forever love and indulge in their pancit, bistek, lumpia, adobo, crispy pata and garlic peanuts. I literally have never left anything on my place after a meal here. Do not hesitate to stop by and try this place. FJB!

I'm Filipino and I find it extremely difficult to find a decent Filipino restaurant but this place, WOW! One word, incredible! I felt like I was eating my Lola's (grandma) food, everything was so amazing! We had a good assortment of food; we had pancit (noodles), crispy pata (fried pig), and beef oxtail kare kare (beef peanut butter stew) and it was all incredible. So authentic and delicious, I will definitely come back when I'm in the neighborhood. The service was top notch and very warming. They were hospitable and gave great recommendations. Lastly, this restaurant has a cute coastal vibe. I loved the big window which let in such an amazing breeze as you are. I keep using the word because it truly was an incredible experience. Don't question yourself about trying this place and do it. You won't be disappointed!

Crispy KareKare? Tapsilog? Those words would be enough to make any Pinoy's head spin... Missing the Taste of home? Try Carin's! Crispy KareKare was, as promised, Crispy! Served with a side of Shrimp Paste. We asked if they had Tapsilog, which, unfortunately, we did not see on the menu. BUT they do have it as part of the Secret Menu! San Miguel is served too. And my first time ever to taste... San Miguel Lychee Flavored Beer! Driving back to OC from San Diego, CarinDeRia is a Pinoy Restaurant. Found, of course, how else? By Yelp! Family Owned - let's support local and small businesses! Go Pinoy! Socal Weekend Walkarounds recommends! See what we had for lunch and start craving Pinoy Food! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8YKFuKy/

I loved the options, good Filipino food as I know authentic Filipino cuisine. Sadly they don't sell cassava as a dessert option but food was yummy.

Great service. Food took a little long, but it could be because of what I ordered. The Crispy Pork Kare Kare was sooooo delicious and don't forget the shrimp paste! Just add a little bit of the shrimp paste along with your bite of meat and rice. Amazing. This is a MUST order. The spicy adobo could've used much more spice and maybe a little more reduction on the sauce. Other than that it was really good. I'm Filipino and I approve of this restaurant

Finally made it here! I love the staff who was helping us; he very friendly and accommodating to my hubby's diet restrictions. I love a place that can modify their dishes to meet the customer's dietary restrictions.. i.e. low salt, no sauce, etc.... I appreciate you, because if you can understand that a customer would like to try a dish but would want also to adhere to their restrictions, so they can stay healthy, that's a plus for us. That being said, we ordered the lumpia, pancit , and liempo... OMGosh, everything was exceptional! My favorite was the liempo, and i ate it all.. LOL.. it was delicious, meat was very tender, garlic rice was perfect. We will def come back. It's nice to know i don't need to go far to get outstanding filipino dish!

This review is based on 3 dining experiences. This is a gem of a Filipino restaurant in Encinitas where I work. Since discovering it, I've fallen in love. My first time eating here was on a date in October. The woman I went with has a gluten allergy so when I called to make a reservation, I asked about how they cooked their food. I was reassured that no cross contamination occurs so all was good. When we got to the restaurant, we again asked how they cooked the food before we ordered. We were told they would use different cookware when our food was made. Our server was very kind and patient with us as we asked more questions about the menu. We ordered the Kare Kare with lechon (delicious deep fried pork belly) and a side of white rice. Kare Kare is a peanut butter based stew with veggies and protein. I am Filipino and have had Kare Kare many times in my life. This was the first time I've had it with lechon and it was AMAZING. The stew is typically eaten with a shrimp paste (don't knock it till you try it) which adds more umami and saltiness. My date was game and went for the full experience. The restaurant is on the smaller side and the ambiance isn't amazing but the food is the star. Kare Kare rating: 5/5. A pro tip: the I Street Viewpoint is a 4-minute walk from the restaurant so if you go here on a date, catch a sunset and then walk over to the restaurant for amazing Filipino food. I went here a second time a few weeks ago and ordered the lechon sisig (love me some deep fried pork belly!) and garlic fried rice. Sisig is a dish made with a protein (usually pork) which is marinated with calamansi, vinegar, onions, and chili peppers. I've had lots of sisig over the years and this was the most unique version I've had of it. The dish came out on a sizzling platter. On top was an egg that cooked as the food sizzled on the plate. I was impressed. I cracked the egg and let the yolk mix with the white part which is normally how I eat my eggs. For an appetizer I ordered 4 lumpia (deep fried egg rolls) which was served with a tangy sweet and sour sauce. Another amazing choice. You must try both when you go. See my photos for my reference. Sisig and lumpia rating: 5/5. Two weeks ago, I dined at CARiN de RiA a 3rd time because I love their food so much. I can eat breakfast any time of day so I ordered Tocino, eggs, and garlic fried rice. This was on their "not so secret" part of the menu. Tocino is deep fried pork cut into strips and typically seasoned with salt, sugar, and other spices then marinated for a few days before it is prepared. The meat is tender, savory, and slightly sweet. I got my eggs sunny side up which was a good choice. I normally eat pretty slow but the food was gone in minutes. My belly and I were very happy after the meal. 5/5. I intend to come here a 4th time and try all of their delicious food. You should too! Treat yo' self!

The customer service is top notch. Our server was able to consider our allergies and sensitivities. After detailing all the dishes that could be modified to meet our needs, they delivered our dishes perfectly! The food is delicious, the atmosphere is warm and inviting, the menu is diverse, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is outstanding. We will be back often!!!!

Great food and awesome bohol french press coffee! Very good service too! My mom is super happy with this Pinoy food trip!

Overall a good experience. I'm Filipino was born in the Philippines so growing up with this kind of food I'm definitely a harsh critic. Ulam (savory dishes) solid. My only complaint was the halo halo, definitely not enough toppings and the pinipig not freshly toasted lol I would still eat here though :)

Great food and cozy place. I ordered the veggie Kara Kara and it's delicious but the thing I mark them down is because there was hardly any veggie at all in my dish. That was very disappointing. Seems like it's missing the other portion of the vegetable. The garlic rice is really good and halo halo is a two thumbs up! It's not too sweet and I shared it with my two friends. Love the halo halo there. We had to wait a while to get our foods (there were 9 of us) and when we're done we had to wait a while too there was only two ppl there working to take orders and serve. I would confirm back again but pls put more veggies on that veggie Kara Kara and faster service and asking us if we need more water and stuff instead if us having to ask and wait.

Had an amazing meal here of Pork Adobo with fried garlic rice and lumpia. The Adobo was unreal and will haunt my dreams. Chill family vibe to the place.

We started off with Chicharon with vinegar sauce as an appetizer, it arrived to the table crackling hot! We both ordered the lunch special, one spicy chicken adobo and one braised beef stew, each came with garlic rice, pancit and lumpia. Everything tasted like pure cozy comfort and love. Mary was our amazing host, her energy felt super kind, attentive and friendly. Over all, CARiN de RiA was affordable, delicious and had incredibly warm, welcoming vibe. We will definitely be coming back soon and with loved ones in tow!

Just the comfort food we needed on this gloomy, rainy day in Encinitas. Surprised to see a Filipino flag while driving around & decided we needed to try this place. Support your own! We came in for a late lunch and were seated immediately. I love the open air seating. Windows were all open, they have plenty of extended patio seating. We ordered the lumpia shanghai (order comes with 4 pcs), the pork rib sinigang (hits the spot, just the right amount of sour & fall off the bone, tender, pork ribs - just wish they added a little more vegetables), the chicken BBQ inasal was okay (8 oz chicken breast w/ rice & soy sauce for $16 was a little too pricey for the serving size), the lechon kawali is one of my favorites, & we added garlic fried rice as well. Food came in a timely manner. Quite the menu, we will definitely have to come back and try the rest. Truly enjoyed our dining experience. Amazing service.

Pleasant experience. The owner was very friendly and the food was delicious. Parking is a challenge but in case you wonder about parking in the back, you can. I did not see any sign from the restaurant that parking in the back was okay, moved my vehicle in the metered area in front of the restaurant instead. After my interaction with the owner, I find out it was fine to park behind the building, he just has not posted the sign. My whole family had a great experience. Halo- Halo is a must dessert to try. Had lunch here with family plus friends. We also had food delivered for dinner to our hotel and food was delicious as well. Will be returning in the future when re- visiting Legoland and family members in the San Diego area.

So I followed the yelp reviews and found CARiN de RiA and I ordered food to go since we were meeting up with friends at a local park. The lumpia was classic and crunchy. However, there were only 4 or 5 small rolls for $4 then tax so it's like $1 per lumpia. Was it worth it? Yes and maybe...? I would say yes if you don't want to travel a bit for food. I've been to Mira Mesa and there is a reason why they have the nickname as Manilla Mesa. I also ordered the sizzling lechon sisig which came hot and with bell peppers and onions. This was $16 and I would say was all right and worth trying. There were just way too many bell peppers and onions for my liking and I wish the sisig came a bit more fried. I was surprised that a scoop of rice did not come with the dish so I paid extra for that. Overall I would give the extra star for the service which was kind and welcoming. The food was ok and I would say there is not many options in north county San Diego if you are looking for filipino food, I'll look around when I'm up there again but I'll leave my ratings below: Food 3/5 Price 4/5 average for that area. Service 5/5 Decor and cleanliness 5/5

Used to frequent the other location before it unfortunately closed. I'm glad I rediscovered their food at their Encinitas Location! Excellent Filipino Food... Dining isn't difficult with the added patio option. Prices are reasonable and as always, food is prepared fresh! You can't go wrong with their lechon or sisig. Their pancit and halo halo were on point too! Archie and his team always come through with delicious food. The best part about being in Encinitas, you get to walk off your meal afterwards. My family and I will be back for sure.

Oh my tastebuds! I love a good Filipino food in San Diego. I brought my Boston friends here and they absolutely loved the food. We probably ordered like 10-12 dishes and it was gone in a matter of minutes. I don't think any of the dishes we ordered were a miss. The owner was super friendly and it felt cozy like home. Omg the reason I give this place 5 stars is for their halo halo. That thing is out of this world good. It had the flan - it had the crispy rice - we even order more on top of what we had :).

I'm impartial to rating Filipino restaurants only because I know my family can cook better, but this place blew my mind away. It's been years since I've had my Lola make me and my cousins bistek. This place took me back to when my Lola used to make us this when we were visiting. My wife says this is the atypical taste of bistek Tagalog, i guess I've been doing it all wrong. I have posted a picture of the post eaten bistek, which took me back to my childhood. I had to pack this up to keep the memories. In all seriousness, this place is beautiful, it's a small quaint restaurant that has very classical beautiful Filipino food. I think the price of the food is fair, trust me when I say this ain't not turo turo restaurant. We ordered the family meal B with lumpia Shanghai, vegetable pancit, chicken tinola, bistek, one scoop each ube and coconut/pandan ice cream and the mango float. I'm total we paid about $90 with tip since the food and service were good. The second star of our meal was the mango float which was spectacular. Unfortunately we had the last one, but it was delicious. We were actually trying to order 2 more but they said they were out, considering it is a Tuesday. I'll eventually have a follow up to this restaurant and see if it's not a fluke. You guys must try that mango float!

Such a cute place near downtown Encinitas! I've only ever had filipino food once before so that's the basis for my review FIY. The 3 of us decided to go for the family feast which came with your choice of classic or veggie lumpia, choice of pancit with meat or without meat, white or brown rice (or add extra for garlic rice), chicken bbq or pork skewer, and a stew or soup. There were small servings of each but thankfully for us we have smaller stomachs so altogether it was enough to make each of us full. The lumpia came with 4 pieces and the garlic rice came in a bowl piled to the top. I will say that I think my favorite was the chicken bbq because it came with this tangy sauce that complimented the grilled chicken. We also finished off our meal with a halohalo which came with ube ice cream over shaved ice and jello, and sweet potato with shredded coconut sprinkled around it. All in all a cute place with good food and good service. Parking on the street was not bad but we also came on a Thursday night so that's probably why.

I found this place when I was driving around Encinitas. I got the pork adobo, garlic fried rice, sisig, and pancit. The food was not bad, but I did have an issue with some of the food. The fried rice and pancit were good. The pork adobo was dry to my liking, and the sisig is different from what I am used to. I'm used to having sisig with the lechon crispy and having less vegetables. Maybe it's just a personal preference. I would come back and try what other foods they have.