Nestled in Oceanside, Dija Mara pairs industrial-chic vibes with enticing Southeast Asian flavors, featuring a Michelin-recognized menu and creative natural wines.
"In this edgy, industrial-looking Balinese restaurant along Highway 101, the Michelin-recognized dishes are no joke. Come for the sambal tuna crudo, nasi goreng, and cardamom and black tea ice cream during dinner. For brunch, try the Dija hangover roti wrap or kaya jam toast. The restaurant’s all-natural wine program is stellar with rotating selections, including a Gentle Folk Rainbow Juice and or Escondido-based J. Brix Chardonnay." - Helen I. Hwang, Eater Staff
"Oceanside’s Indonesian hotspot also boasts a creative, ever-changing wine list filled with lower-intervention wines made by small growers and winemakers." - Jackie Bryant
"The Balinese-inspired brunch at Dija Mara will rewire your brain's idea of eggs benedict. Their version with confit tuna and green curry hollandaise will live in your head rent-free, along with the kaya coconut jam brioche toast and egg bowls with spicy eggplant. There are so many good options on the food and drink menu that you can't go wrong, especially if you're sipping one of their cocktails, like the Pandan-y Dropper made with pandan-infused agave wine. The restaurant’s interior feels like a trap for people who are unironically obsessed with Banksy, which is to say there’s a lot of concrete and metal clashing with a graffitied back wall. " - ligaya malones
"The Balinese-inspired brunch at Dija Mara will rewire your brain's idea of eggs benedict. Their version with confit tuna and green curry hollandaise will live in your head rent-free, along with the kaya coconut jam brioche toast and egg bowls with spicy eggplant. There are so many good options on the food and drink menu that you can't go wrong, especially if you're sipping one of their cocktails, like the Pandan-y Dropper made with pandan-infused agave wine. The restaurant’s interior feels like a trap for people who are unironically obsessed with Banksy, which is to say there’s a lot of concrete and metal clashing with a graffitied back wall. " - Ligaya Malones
"This industrial Indonesian eatery is every bit as easy-breezy as its Oceanside hometown—imagine cheeky murals, dim lighting and a roll-up garage door entrance. But lest you consider it a divey drinking hole, be advised you’ll find some serious cooking here. Excellent nasi goreng combines fried rice with shrimp, pork belly, chicken and the yolk of a sunny egg, while charred eggplant with smoked tomato sambal and crispy fried shallots is a textural (and flavor-forward) delight.All that spice is sure to put you in the mood for a drink, and their creative cocktails deliver, with unique low-ABV beverages showcasing house-fermented shrubs and other elixirs. On weekends, brunch is replete with inventive, crowd-pleasing eats, like a chili-lime mango tartine." - Michelin Inspector
