Kaluú Upscale Mexican & Lounge

Portions were small. The service was slow. This is not a fine dine restaurant. Atmosphere was more of a sports bar. Drinks were ok. 150$$ for all. Don’t waste your money.

The food and atmosphere were amazing !Definitely a place to go out with your friends and end the night there. Music was a great vibe as well. Chipotle Hummus as an appetizer Is a must 🔥 Favorite drink: Guava Chi Chi

kaluusandiego is an upscale mexican restaurant in the heart of @gaslampquarter has a very elegant vibe and interior. The food is served with big portions and lots of love from the chef 😍

First saw Kaluu on instagram as a new Baja inspired restaurant. Was pleasantly surprised at the modern decor/ambiance as it would serve as a great date night spot. The food was Baja inspired and had great flavor that you would expect across the border. Our server Carmen was attentive and patient answering all of our questions, would request her again! Glad she told us this place will become a nightclub starting January, we will be back!

We got the rockfish tostadas and tacos. The octopus taco is very good with tender octopus cooked to perfection. The rockfish tostadas were great with a spicy sauce similar to the “Lao gan ma” sauce. We also had great service from our server when we wanted accommodations in switching up beans for salads and lactose-free desserts. The ambience of the restaurant was cool.

Nicole was a very nice waitress and took care of our group. The food was amazing, and the drinks were great.. vibe is chill and nice. I really enjoyed it. Daniel, the manager, let us know that 1/4/25 Saturday 9-1 gaslamp Latino place will be vibeing It's definitely a spot to grab a bit and chill.

Had an amazing dining experience at Kaaluu! The ambiance was sexy and inviting, and the food was absolutely delicious — every dish was full of flavor and beautifully presented. The service was top-notch; attentive without being overbearing. I was referred by Nicole Dineolgy, and I’m so glad I took her recommendation — she truly knows the best spots! I’ll definitely be coming back and bringing friends with me next time.

I had an amazing experience here! Came from out of town to visit a local friend~ the food was amazing and so was the service! Carmen and Dani are amazing and the Michelin Star is very much deserved. 100% recommend ~

I had dinner here on Friday at 8 PM. The restaurant was pretty quiet, likely because of the big Padres game, which worked out perfectly since we had plenty of space and a relaxed atmosphere. The service was excellent. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, even adjusting my watermelon margarita so it wasn't too spicy or overly sweet. Another staff member, possibly the manager, also stopped by to help with our order, offering thoughtful recommendations. Everyone we interacted with was warm and welcoming. Here's what we ordered: *Watermelon Margarita - refreshing, balanced, and tailored to my preferences. *Rockfish Tostadas - unique flavor, fresh, and generously topped with fish. *Chicken Enchiladas - came with three, light and flavorful without being heavy or greasy. Since we were celebrating my friend's birthday, the staff surprised us with champagne and a complimentary shot, which really made the evening feel special. The highlight of the night, though, was when a photographer came around taking pictures. He returned with the photo already framed and offered to sell it for $25 (or two for $40). It was so random and funny, but we loved it and of course bought one. Overall, the food was delicious, the atmosphere was inviting, and the service stood out in the best way. I'd definitely recommend this spot--whether you're going for dinner, drinks, or to enjoy the lively nightlife later on.

Came here looking for a place to enjoy food however it was a very interesting experience. The place had a stench that made my gf sick. They first sat our party of 6 in the back--it was a large table next to the DJ quiet and private. After maybe 30 min. It looked the the owner/manager came in and they said they needed the table for a reservation and made a mistake so, they offered a round of drinks for our inconvenience- it was a nice offer for their mistake. The menu was interesting. 1/4 of the menu was breakfast before 3pm so it did not pertain to us. The drinks all sounded underwhelming. They had no draft only an ipa and a "Mexican lager." I asked for a michelada and she came back with my beer with a lime on it and apologized that they didn't have michelada. They didn't have short rib taco. We got the wagyu burger--good but nothing special. Did not come with fries. Fries-delish honestly we were starving Truffle Parmesan fries- the cheese they used made it stinky Tacos-carne, shrimp, pork belly -all good but they came out and we were not expecting them to be bite size. It was literally two bites. Ceviche-delish but a very small portion and a tiny sized portion of chips agua chiles-send this back, the shrimp was gooey , not fresh or edible at all yuck. They were very sweet about it and offered something else instead. Our server was very nice, sweet and was new. She could have studied the menu better before she started. She didn't know many things but did try her best and have the best service she could. Pro: Food came out fast. Everyone was very nice. This is not a place I would come back to eat. I would come back here if I wanted to party, and they got it together with their draft beers and improved their cocktail menu.

My friends and I came here last night to celebrate my 30th birthday. We had a 7pm reservation, and when we arrived, the place was nearly empty--just one other table and a couple of people at the bar. We ordered drinks and a few appetizers, but unfortunately, everything fell short. The ceviche and Parmesan truffle fries were confirmed as shareable apps for six people, but that was far from the truth. The ceviche came with maybe five or six chips total (before we asked for more)--I wish I was kidding. Both the food and drinks took so long to arrive that we ended up eating what little we were given and headed to Tacos El Gordo afterward. While the poor service and underwhelming food didn't ruin my birthday, I'd strongly caution anyone considering this spot for a special occasion.

This review is strictly for their hot girl dinner special. It runs Tuesday-Thursday 5pm-close. The service was a really slow for it being so dead. There were only 2 other tables besides us. The food was okay for what it was. You get to choose from a Caesar salad or fries, 2 tacos (fish,shrimp, or steak), a watermelon margarita for $19. My issue is they don't print out your receipt unless you ask for it. So be aware they TAX the shit out of your bill. A living wage fee 5%, CA TAX, CA COUNTY TAX, and A SPECIAL TAX! There is no where on the menu that states this all the taxes! Just a living wage fee. Please disclose this prior!

Kaluú is a fun place to hang out for girls' nights! The interior gives off night club vibes, but without the dancing. For the drinks, they were all tasty with a good amount of alcohol. We got: -Guava Chi Chi ($17): grey goose, coconut cream, guava lime, pineapple, and cinnamon. This tasted like Hawaii in a cup. -Work Wife ($18): producer mezcal, passionfruit, lychee, yellow chartreuse, lime. My friend liked it, and felt like the lychee was quite a pronounced flavor. -Pisco Disco ($16): pisco, Bombay Dry Gin, lemon, passionfruit, pineapple, and chamomile bitters. -Paloma ($15): patrón, grapefruit juice, simple, and soda. For food, my friend and I shared the: -Wagyu Burger ($25) which came with queso oaxaca, bacon and onion jam, chile aioli and truffle fries. The burger was juicy, and had just the right amount of toppings. The truffle fries had a good truffle flavor, but could have been a bit more crispy. -Pork Belly Chicharrón ($30): salsa verde, ayocote beans, and verdolaga. It also came with two tortillas on the side. The pork belly chicharrón was delicious, and had the perfect texture. The plate had a good amount of verdolaga (parsley), but I wish there were a few more pieces of pork belly. -My other friends ordered the Grilled Octopus Cazuela ($36): fideos secos, queso fresco, mojo verde, and chile güero aioli. They loved it, and thought that the octopus was really tender. Overall, we had a great time here, and the waitress was so sweet to take group photos of us.

I guess this place hasn't had their Grand opening yet. Not sure exactly how long they have been open but they are definitely doing an amazing job adding great drinks and food to the DT scene. Went with a few girls the other night to check it out and I'm so glad we did. My gf ordered so I don't know the names but everything we got was so yummy. Make sure you get the disco ball drink. It's delicious, huge, and enough for 2-4 people. I think the price point is perfect for the location.

A defunct kitchen and bar adjacent to the Lincoln Hotel on Fifth Ave in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter has been replaced by an upscale Mexican cuisine restaurant, Kaluú. The inside was lit up with neon and had a classy nightclub atmosphere without annoyingly loud music, at least during the time of my visit. They are open on Tuesday through Sunday from 5 pm to 2 am so perhaps the DJ in a booth at the back of the room kicks up the tunes as the night progresses. The kitchen is headed by a Michelin star chef from Baja Mexico wine country. The one page menu featured nine appetizers, two salads, one soup, four sides, and seven entrees. A favorite item of mine showed up as an entree. This was the Grilled Octopus Cazuela. Several charred tentacle pieces were mixed with fideos secos seasoned with queso fresco, mojo verde, and chile güero aioli. Fideos secos traditionally uses thin pasta, and in this version the noodles were served in short strands. Four tortillas came on the side that allowed me to make individual tacos with octopus filling. I was worried the contents would be too spicy, however that was not the case at all as the chile was mild. I will have to say that some of the items were pricey including mine that cost $36. The sides like lime rice and mashed potatoes were between $10 and $12. Other than that, I had a solid experience at Kaluú Restaurant and hope they can be successful in a dense area of downtown dining options.

Led by a Michelin-starred chef, Kaluú brings the bold flavors of Baja California to life in the heart of San Diego. I describe this spot as Mexican cuisine meets chic nightlife vibe. From the creamy smashed avocado to the indulgent Bone Marrow & NY Beef Tartare, every dish was delish! Here's what we indulged in: Smashed Avocado 1/2 Dozen Oysters Rock Fish Tostada Bone Marrow & NY Beef Tartare Wagyu Burger Free Range Chicken "Sinaloa Style" Cocktails: Paloma Work Wife They have a live DJ and with bottle service available, it's the perfect spot to celebrate any occasion . Shoutout to Nichole for her amazing service--she and the friendly staff made our night even more memorable! With unique, inviting decor and unforgettable energy, Kaluú is everything you need for a fabulous night out.

Portions: teeny tiny, service: slow af, fees: wrong We came here thinking this would be an upscale elevated Mexican restaurant for my friend's 30th birthday but we left after about 90min only having eaten appetizers and gotten one round of drinks. We were like one of 3 parties at the restaurant yet the service was still super slow. The waiter said that the appetizer was shareable but look at the photo. Does that look shareable for 6 people? The chips and guac/salsa were $18 and the chips came out in tiny little bowls so we had had to literally asked for 8 different bowls of chip refills. The truffle garlic fries we got were literally paler than someone who's never seen the sun and had zero truffle flavor on it. Literally tasted like defrosted potatoes. The drinks were pretty good but then the situation became a bit strange when a guy came up to offer to take photos of us and offered to print them out for us later on. FOR SALE. Isn't this a restaurant? Why are we getting solicited at dinner? I think if the service was faster and the food was more affordable or has bigger portions, this place might be worth revisiting. OH they also overcharged my friend's mocktail ($14 instead of $11) and when she brought it up to them, their attitude was "oh it was JUST $3.50 but we gave it back" like okay it was your mistake so why're you giving your customer attitude? We were so dissatisfied we decided to go to Tacos El Gordo instead to actually fill our bellies with some authentic Mexican food.

@kaluusandiego is an upscale mexican restaurant in the heart of @gaslampquarter has a very elegant vibe and interior. The food is served with big portions and lots of love from the chef

Awesome cocktails and good food. Went for happy hour to try out this newly opened restaurant. They mentioned the chef came from a Michelin star restaurant. Beautiful presentation of food, smaller portions. Affordable happy hour, modern ambience. Knowledgeable bartender.

Kaluú is such an amazing addition to the gaslamp district. The food is so flavorful and the ambiance/interior design creates a fun atmosphere. The service was top notch. We had multiple people check in on us and our waitress was so patient and had great recommendations. I can't wait to come back! What we had: Rock Fish Tostada (2pz) avocado, crispy chili oil. Sinaloan Style Free Range Organic Chicken, fingerling potatoes, grilled green onion &chile güero. Barbacoa Braised Short Ribs 14oz, frijoles charros, chile de arbol salsa. Nobel Hospitality Patron Silver, Aperol, Pineapple, Sweet Vermouth, Mezcal Spritz Kaluú Old Fashioned Angel's Envy, Amaro, Honey, Chocolate Bitters, Orange PeelMake it Oaxacan +$2 Guava Chi Chi Grey Goose, Coconut Cream, Guava, Lime, Pineapple, Cinnamon Casa Rojo Don, Julio Reposado, Watermelon, Lime, Agave, Aloe Patron Tree

Me and my gf were walking around Downtown, when walking by this place the host offered us to try their recently added brunch menu, we decide to come in. Sat at the bar and had a great time, carlos was awesome. We had the green chilaquiles that the manager Alex recommended and they did not disappoint! He told us they have a michelin star chef! What a surprise! Definitely gotta come back for dinner! The restaurant was very nicely decorated in red since its Valentines Day weekend! Upbeat Mexican cuisine, restaurant that turns into a club at night, my kind of place!

Great atmosphere and great drinks !! Very welcoming employees! If you're ever in the gas lamp District I recommend stopping by and having a drink or two!!!

Food was decent, drinks were okay, vibe was super cute, service was great! We ordered things to share here like the caesar salad, ceviche, and aguachiles. All had great flavor! This definitely did not fill us up though. 2 out of our 4 drinks we really liked. Our waitress was amazing and helped us navigate good clubs to go to. I would recommend to share food, but not to go here for drinks.

Walking by with no expectations, I discovered this spot by accident--what an incredible surprise! From the starters to the entrées and drinks, I loved every flavor. For a moment, I felt transported to Mexico City. The chef here is the star! I'll definitely be coming back to try the rest of the menu.

I love this place. We had the dinner and drink and everything was so good. The cocktails are done very good and professional the not too sweet and the bitter is not too bitter lol. Food is top notch made by a Michelin star chef. I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a place to hangout in class and enjoy an amazing experience...

Kaluú was so fun. Walked by and stopped because the music they were playing was so good. Three host Daniel was so kind he invited us in and we decided to get some drinks. Good vibes good music and amazing service. #Daniel #kaluú

The ambiance is amazing! Here for a bachelorette party and vibes are great! The manager has made this special for us!

Kaluu was such a great vibe. We walked by and stopped because they were playing great music. The host was so friendly and invited us inside. We were just stopping by for a quick drink but stayed for more. Drinks are so balanced and delicious!! Definitely recommend. #Daniel

Worst service bartender is rude they do not like anybody that's not local and disrespect any questions that may be asked Service was the worst

Holy mezcal Carajillo???!? Ask Mason for one of these and I promise you it will not disappoint! He knows his drinks!!! If you are looking for low sweetness, tight coffee flavor, with a little tiny bitter, this is it! Glad this place showed up in gaslamp! Ain't no run of the mill restaurant with run of the mill slushee machine drinks!

Service was great for a large party. food was good & drinks were cute ! Overall expensive but worth it

Showed up for our reservation at 7:45. They told us it would be 10 minute wait...an hour went by and we decided to leave. Restaurant across the street sat us with walk in under 10 minutes. Also bartender messed up our drinks twice

The food was great. The service was amazing, our waitress Carmen was very friendly and always checked up on us. The ambiance was great as well. Will for sure be coming back.

Friendliest servers, great location, amazing music, and fantastic happy hour. Special thanks to #Daniel for taking care of us!

Despite the restaurant being completely empty, the service was surprisingly slow. Unfortunately, the food didn't make up for it -- it arrived cold and lacked flavor. I was hoping for a better experience overall.

Loved Carmen to pieces!!!!!! She contributes to the overall atmosphere of kaulú, will be coming back to see her!!! Carmen is a vibe!!

Great food . . . good music . . . Male manager/ host was rude , obnoxious, yelling in my ear, and a bit unprofessional. Turn off during a quick meal.

Excellent service!!!! Great drinks!!!! The punch bowl was fruity & delicious!!! Get the disco ball punch bowl!

The ambience was so cool, and the food was amazing, the tostadas were my favorite! Recommend this spot for a celebration or fun night out! We loved it !

It's really a chill ambiance and music is on point. Came in to try the margarita flight and it did not disappoint. The staff are really nice.

A Bachelorette Brunch Disaster - Completely Let Down We ended up at this restaurant after their sister location failed to honor our reservation for my bachelorette party. Thankfully, Kaluu took us in without issue, which we appreciated. When we arrived, we were the only table in the restaurant a small relief, thinking at least service would be quick with no other guests. Unfortunately, that's where the positives ended. Let's talk about the service We placed our drink orders, and drinks began arriving, staggered, very slowly except mine. I waited 45 minutes for my drink... the bride. It felt disrespectful and sloppy. Every other drink came out like molasses. I've worked in restaurants, so I understand what it's like to be short-staffed, but this wasn't just slow... it was unprofessional. I've never bartended and could've done a faster job. When it came to food orders, the person taking them (who seemed more like a busser than a server) had no clue what was going on. He had to check with the kitchen or someone else about nearly every item and kept mishearing or repeating back the wrong orders. For instance, my cousin said "pancakes," and he repeated "chilaquiles?" how do you confuse those, especially in a silent restaurant with no music to even blame? Food service was just as chaotic. Dishes came out inconsistently and in no particular order. I got my main dish 30 minutes before I got my ceasar salad. Several friends had to ask multiple times for their food, and one of them never got their meal at all. Let that sink in: one person went the entire brunch without being served. How is that acceptable at any restaurant, let alone one calling itself "upscale"? To top it off, the music system wasn't working. They made do with a little speaker someone on staff had which was thoughtful, but it just added to the vibe of a place completely unprepared and poorly managed. The food itself? Surprisingly good. But the service was so disappointing that it overshadowed everything. No amount of tasty pancakes or eggs can fix a ruined bachelorette brunch. This was a day I can't get back, and I will absolutely be warning others. Fix your staff, your systems, your training, and your management -- because this experience was embarrassing for everyone involved.

Super nice ambience and the food was really good. Also the drinks were awesome and the service was fantastic

It's a fun place and we had a great time, the girls doing the bottle service were polite and accommodating. Clearly, there are some women who get jealous of young and cute girls. Leave the girls alone. They study, they work, they have fun and they have to serve You! Be happy and get hydrated! Yes, I'm blond too

Enjoyed some very delicious drinks and the tacos de nada were bomb! Everyone here is super nice! Great place to hang out and enjoy some drinks, food and music!

Aurora was amazing and welcoming she offered us a free shot for my birthday good vibes and great service :)

The service and ambiance were wonderful. Charlie was great! Looking forward to coming back again soon!

I was just walking down the street when one of the staff members caught my attention -- and I'm glad he did! Super friendly, funny, and the perfect person to have out front drawing people in. He definitely sold me on checking the place out. What really sealed the deal? $1 shots and $5 margaritas -- hard to pass up! The drinks were fantastic: not overly strong, but just right, and full of flavor. You could actually enjoy them without being overwhelmed. Unfortunately, the kitchen had already closed upon arrival, so I didn't get to try the food.

Just visited this place with some friends for dinner on a Saturday night. The service was average, nothing over the top but not disappointing either. The ambiance was nice and chic. The food however, was a let down. I ordered the burger with truffle fries. While the burger was decent, the fries were SO bland and dry. Some of the worst fries I've ever had really. Other dishes ordered by my friends: Pork belly Chicharron - not good, struggled to eat it Bone marrow - not horrible but wouldn't order again Ceviche - didn't taste like ceviche at all, had more of a tuna tar tar flavor Sinaloan Style - over all good and the portion side was big Espresso martinis - really bad, struggled to finish them We all collectively agreed this was not a place we would ever come to eat at again. Coming for drinks or a night out might be a gamble since we didn't enjoy our drinks either. For the high price of the dishes you would hope you would get better tasting food. Sadly, this is just another restaurant that focuses on the atmosphere and aesthetic to get business.

Excellent service, modern space.The food was delicious. They have a live DJ, and the music was great! The decor and lights Perfect combination. It was a great time Definitely recommend the burger, tuna tostada, tacos DE NADA and mojito. In general the service was great! and Daniel the manager was so kind!

Excellent service, great attitude and food was good! Didn't wait a long time for the food either. They have a DJ playing all the bangers, excellent ambiance

Great drinks and food! We'll be back soon! Had the steak and aguachile. Also loved the wine options.

Aurora is an amazing worker here! Her service was great and she attended to our birthday celebration so well! I'll definitely be coming back here soon!

Aurora's awesome! Gave my best friend an amazing experience for her birthday :) Very thankful for the fun time.

From the moment I walked into Kalu Bar, I felt instantly welcomed. Mauricio and Mason were incredibly friendly, attentive, and went out of their way to make sure I had a good time (: recommend stopping by if you're in the area!!

What a disaster! The Valentine's Day date turned into a complete sh... show. I show up for our 7:30 reservation to be told that there is a 20 minute wait. One guy standing outside said that they were told the same thing but they've been waiting for 45 minutes. The restaurant had basically overbooked. Many restaurants do this to account for cancellations but Kaluu had gone overboard. It's greed! So I started objecting strongly to the manager and told him that he is mismanaging the reservations. We got our table after 30 minutes. There were people who were still waiting and were not happy that we got our table before them. Food was OK. My sinaloan chicken was actually pretty good but the potatoes were under cooked. My date seems to enjoy her short ribs since she ate every little bit of it. We order two appetizers and two mains. One appetizer showed up followed by my main dish followed by another appetizer and finally the second main dish. So obviously the kitchen was a mess too. I contemplated giving one star but decided on two since they took 30% off the check as a form of apology and our server, the lady from Louisiana, was great and tried to make up for the restaurant's shortcomings. I will not be returning.

Food was fine, service was fine, wine was fine...but the price was insane for what you get. 14 oz short ribs were actually about 6oz for $62!!! A glass of wine for $30, the bottle is $17 at the liquor store. Overpriced, waitresses wear tight short skirts hoping that earns a default 25% tip...please!!!! Do not recommend.

Excellent drinks and even better food. Ask for Janeth's and give her a fat tip. She's awesome!