Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Today, I had lunch with my Aunt and Uncle at Karl Strauss, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the experience! The atmosphere was warm and inviting from the moment I walked in, setting the perfect stage for a delightful meal. Diane greeted us, and she was friendly and patient with my elderly aunt and uncle. Then Melissa took over as our server. She's also very nice, friendly, and attentive. The menu was impressive, offering a wide variety of options to suit different tastes. I started with their Crispy Brussels Sprout, which was incredibly savory. I went with the Ginger Salmon for my main course, and they were absolutely delicious! The fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked, nestled in quinoa, and topped with fresh ingredients that added flavor. To top it all off, I ordered dessert—the Tropical Butter Cake, rich and decadent, the perfect ending to a fantastic meal. Overall, my experience at Karl Strauss was outstanding, and I can't recommend it enough! Whether you're a foodie or just looking for a nice place to enjoy great food and drinks, this is the spot to visit!

Great selection of beer and quality, hearty food. The servers were friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. We ordered beer, fish and chips, grilled fish tacos, pub burger and Caesar salad. It was all delicious. The restaurant was nice and price was reasonable. We'll be back.

Although perhaps not the height of the San Diego beer scene, Karl Strauss offers a laid-back open facility with very drinkable brews and great food to match. We had no issue finding a table and diving straight into some delicious eats. Would be a good place to bring family.

The food is fine. I've been to this location many times, starting from when it opened. The prices are okay, good for beer but high for the food. I just think there is nothing special. It's American bar food that is slightly elevated. This would be a nice place to host a company happy hour or social event focused on drinking. There is usually not a wait and ample parking in the shopping center.

Great place for a dinner. Service is great, but some attention to detail will help. The servers are friendly and attentive. However we felt that even though tables were available, we had to wait. A bit pricey.. Will be here before my next birthday !

I had a good time having dinner at this place. Ordered their Asada Fries and the Follow the Sun beer which was good. The asada came spicier than what I was anticipating. The beer, hats off, really good! A couple things could make it better: Have coloring paper for kids and inform whether plates are spicy.

As usual, Karl Strauss can be busy at any time. Food was excellent as it consistently has a rotating menu. This time, the chicken sandwich was tops - bacon on the side was a good idea, just to be conservative with the flavors. Fries always are nice. Service was great, even when they go on break, someone else steps in to help.

Always a great decision for beer and a bite. Never too busy, their food is delicious and sharable. Friendly staff and excellent service. Tons of parking but most times I just walk over. Their poke is my go to.

Great food great beer. Serena was a phenomenal server and took great care of myself and my parents. Owners give her a raise!!

I sat at the bar tonight with my partner and parents and enjoyed the Pacers game. The ahi poke nachos were a hit, as always. Mikayla was very attentive at the bar, which was greatly appreciated. Drinks were quick, poured carefully, and she offered us a sample to try something new as well. Wreck Alley (I think) was delicious. Thanks for the recommendation and friendly attention!

Great atmosphere and huge space for larger parties. We came on a Sunday and there were plenty of seatings. We got some apps to share, brussel sprouts, boneless wings, and the ahi tuna. We got the chicken tenders with fries for my toddler and I got the seafood stew. The chicken tender was horrible. We didn't like the chicken tender breading. It was not the standard breading, it was ok. My seafood stew was sort of bland, it needed a little more salt and possibly an option of pasta or rice, instead of bread. I took most of it home and ate it with pasta and added some seasoning and it was good. Overall, the food was ok. Beers were good though.

Great spot for craft beer lovers looking for a chill brewpub vibe and solid food. The beer selection is excellent--plenty of house brews and rotating seasonals. Flights are a great way to try a little of everything, and the staff is happy to make recommendations. Food is elevated pub fare. The chili lime fries, pretzel bites, and crispy Brussels sprouts were all flavorful and perfect for sharing. Ahi poke nachos and beer-braised pork belly were standouts. Service is friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere is casual with both indoor and outdoor seating depending on the location. Some spots have a great patio vibe, perfect for groups. Only knocking one star off because the food, while good, isn't mind-blowing--and prices can lean a bit high. Still, it's a reliable go-to for a relaxed night out with good drinks and better company. Would definitely return.

Amazing that we are not alcohol users but have become regulars at the 4-s ranch Karl Strauss location. Mostly we call in an order of fish and chips to take out, perfect for a couple of older folks with smaller appetites. The order never misses for accuracy and I enjoy the pick up, often wear a tee shirt which generates some conversation the price is right, parking is easy and the home plates are set. Nice

Always incredible food, drinks and service at Karl Strauss! We finally got to try their daily happy hour (3:00-5:00PM) and we had an amazing experience! Food was top notch as always and such a good deal, their patio is always wonderful especially during the summer and I couldn't recommend more and can't wait to be back again soon for happy hour!

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is so solid and such a San Diego staple and institution! We thoroughly enjoyed a meal and some beverages here prior to a movie on our date night. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos ~ Super generous chunks of tuna and very yummy! For our mains, I got the Ginger Salmon, and he got the Steak Frites! Both were delicious, but WOW his steak was perfection. We'll certainly be back!

I visited Karl Strauss the other evening with some friends and was excited to try the Birria Beef Dip. Thanks to the hostess's helpful recommendation, I ordered it--and it was absolutely delicious. The sandwich was flavorful, the beer onions were a great touch, and the au jus was spot-on. As a huge fan of sweet potato fries, I was thrilled to see them on the menu and ordered them alongside my meal. But when they arrived, I was shocked--*every single fry* was less than half an inch long. It looked like I was served the crumbs from the bottom of the bag. I even asked our lovely server, Selena, if the chef could be a little more generous. She kindly checked, only to return and say the chef said no because the portions were pre-measured. Really? Not a single person in the kitchen noticed they were serving a sad pile of fry scraps? I couldn't even dip them in the ranch I ordered--they were that short. I hate to leave a one-star review because the sandwich was excellent, and the staff was friendly, but this was just lazy. When a customer is clearly disappointed and politely asks for a small fix, a good restaurant makes it right. Instead, I was told, "No." That's all it took for me to decide to warn others with an appropriate review. Sorry, Karl Strauss. Sometimes it really *is* the little things that count.

We came on a Sunday night and really enjoyed the food and drinks--there's a good amount of space in the restaurant and we were able to get a table for 6. Getting seated was a 20 min wait. Our waitress was attentive and offered suggestions on our entrees and maintained a pleasant, professional and respectful demeanor while checking on us. The food was very good (see photos) with large portions and it was easy to pay by phone using the QR code. Steak was perfectly prepared and flavorful. The Mac on tap had a great top cheesy crust out of the oven too. ----TL;DR---- Pros: really good food and large portions, variety of entrees for everyone and you won't leave hungry Cons: if you're coming for a fun night out, watch out for the rude hostess--she could use some hospitality training Bottom Line: we liked the food, wait staff was great, rude hostess

My team at work has a running joke that Friday afternoon meetings after 3 need to happen at Building K. Which is code for Karl Strauss. There's a reason we chose to make this our go to haunt. The beer selection is fantastic, the food has tremendous variety, and it's reasonably priced. Especially during Happy Hour. I love getting a $6 drink after a solid workday. When it's warm eating outside is fantastic. And if it's chilly, inside is just as great. Big big fan of Building K.

The ahi salad was so delicious. Highly recommend! Great portion size and decent pricing! Would come back again. Very clean and well decorated atmosphere. Nice server

Service was ok, food and drinks were great! The ambiance was nice too, seemed friendly enough to bring my family. The prices were not terrible either

Great food, service a little slow Ahi poke nachos: Pretty good if you enjoy a sweet sauce with your ahi. For me, it was ok because i usually prefer savory sashimi. Mac n cheese, the norm: should be called The Nom. Extra smooth and creamy Turkey cotija avocado burger: lightly seasoned and delicious. It came with chimichurri watermelon, which was interesting to try once. Ribeye steak, medium: was cooked medium as promised and very tender. Also lightly seasoned with a scoop of herb butter. The grilled zucchini that it came with was extra smokey and we loved it too. We did ask for water 3 times before we got it, so that part of the service was a bit slow. But alcoholic drinks always came very quickly. Alcoholic- i didn't drink but my companions really enjoyed the Chai me a river and the boysenberry beer

I've been to a few Karl Strauss's and this location was pretty good! It's situated within a shopping complex in 4S Ranch. There is a large parking lot but it seems to fill up quickly with all the different restaurants and stores nearby. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. We arrived at 6pm on a weekday and they were already pretty busy but got seated immediately outside. We opted for the fireplace table which was nice because we got to eat in front of the warm fire. The food was good and came out pretty quickly (within 10-15 minutes). We enjoyed our salads and truffle fries. Our server was friendly and checked in periodically. Overall, would visit again.

This place is OK... nothing special but nothing bad. The only Karl Strauss I had ever been to was the one in Sorrento Valley, which is incredibly gorgeous, whereas this is your regular bar/restaurant. It is located in the middle of strip mall suburbia, likely a regular happy hour spot, or place for shoppers to grab lunch or watch a game. I met up with about 8 of my friends for a birthday gathering. The location was chosen because it is spacious and has ample parking, as well as being central to all of our friends coming together. All the the staff were friendly, but we didn't really have service, as for large parties, we use an app on our phone to order, so that we can have separate checks. I have seen this at a few other places, but found it hard to ask questions about the dishes or drinks. I had placed a drink order, and then later ordered my meal, but apparently I had forgotten to send the order in, so was waiting around for my food, while my friends' orders were all arriving. I understand this was my fault completely, but it would have been avoided had we had a server. I liked that they had some salads in additon to bar food. I ordered the duck fat pretzels to share with my friends, and then the seared ahi tuna salad for my entree. I thought the food was decent. I ordered rose' wine to drink, as I'm not a beer drinker. They do not have a full bar, so wine, or a few other canned beverages were the only other option. The wine list was small and they had run out of Sauvignon Blanc, the wine that I had wanted. We came at an off time, between lunch and dinner, so there was plenty of space. The staff had no problem with us staying for a long time, and they were happy to refriderate the birthday cake that my friend had baked. All in all, I wouldn't make a plan to go there again, but wouldn't mind going if a group of friends were planning to return.

Daughter and her friend went to eat at this location on Friday night. Both 14yo. I stayed with them to order via QR code, closed out their ticket and left an 18% tip, picked them up an hour later. Beyond being served their food, they were not attended to - no water, no check ups, no takeout boxes....until they walked to the bar to ask for water and boxes, which they walked over back to their table themselves. Otherwise, the food was fine as it usually is, though now overpriced given the 18% premium to eat it indoors. If restaurants wonder why people hate tipping culture, this is one of the reasons why. I gave the tip ahead of time and customers received 0 service beyond what everyone expects from a quick eats shop with indoor seating. I mean, you don't even order at the counter as it's QR code. I contacted Customer service on principle to ask for a refund on the $12 service tip, we'll see if it happens.

The food was never dry nor greasy I recommend the boneless wings either for an appetizer or main course. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the service is wonderful. The people are really nice. And for dessert I ate a Cali Mud Slide

It is disaster. After lunch, we just chatted for 20min before 1 PM, we are kicked out the restaurant. there are half open space. There are still a lot of customers in the restaurant. I never had this bad experience. I will never come back.

I loved this place very big spacious brewery restaurant the beer was great and the food was pretty damn god as well. Carna asada Fries were amazing. If by Lego land stop in it's worth it good vibes. Service was fast and quick as well

My group of close friends, my family, and I have succumbed to participating in the latest sports craze aka Pickleball. Since many of us are past the half century mark, this sport is our way to stay healthy and to get together, which can be difficult with our busy lives. After a few hours of burning calories, we usually decide to chow down at a local restaurant to gain back the lost calories and to catch up. After our Sunday Pickleball adventure, we chose to eat dinner at Karl Strauss Brewing Company 4S Ranch and we had a fun time enjoying each other's company. Karl Strauss has several locations throughout San Diego with this location being one that I had my eye on for sometime, but never tried until we dined here Sunday evening. The restaurant is located within an outdoor shopping center called the 4S Commons Town Center, which houses Ralph's, World Market, Ulta, Miguel's, and Wendy's. There is plenty of parking available. As you enter the restaurant, you'll notice the following: how spacious it is; the bar with its large selection of taps; the brick facade on the wall with the gigantic phrase "Make Beer, Not War"; the colorful light fixtures, and the distressed wood paneling. There is plenty of seating with tables, booths, bar, and outdoor. The young blonde lady, who was our waitress, provided attentive, friendly, and quality customer service. As I stated above, this was my first time visiting Karl Strauss and I was looking forward to grubbing here because I had heard positive things about the restaurant. I don't drink alcohol or beer, so I wanted to know how their food stacked up to other breweries I've eaten at. The menu is pretty straight forward and has a variety of choices for any type of palate. I was un decided between two choices, but I decided to try their Nashville Shrimp sandwich, which comes with crispy shrimp, hot honey, pickled onion slaw, tomato, arugula, and chipotle remoulade on a toasted sesame baguette with fries. This is a hefty sandwich and you're going to need napkins. I really enjoyed the majority of the components of the sandwich and it was really tasty. The shrimp was hearty, it was finger licking delicious, and it wasn't spicy. I really enjoyed the seasoned just right and thick fries. My only qualm was the sesame baguette. It was not soft and a little tough to chew. I recommend that a softer bread is used because that sandwich was the bomb diggity except for the bread. We finished our dinner by sharing two orders of Cali Mud Slides using 8 spoons. It satisfied our sweet cravings. It truly was a blessing to spend quality time with my close friends and my better half playing Pickleball and spending time at Karl Strauss. I definitely want to visit again to try their Beer Sausages main dish, which was the other choice I had in mind.

Amazing this place is so good. My favorite is the Brussel sprouts, absolutely divine. Clean good atmosphere wonderful great service and staff very helpful very quick.

Great beer and service! Had a limited time item, the Birria beef dip. Pretty good for Karl's. I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Emily is an excellent host! She is super welcoming and greeted us right away. She also seated us and let us know the special items on the menu. We had the beer sausages, they were very flavorful, and went incredibly well with my RedTrolley Ale. Music is a bit loud, it was hard to talk at dinner. Otherwise great food, and service.

Karl Strauss, AKA Building K. Everyone at our company loves Karl Strauss. It's where we hold our team events to celebrate completing projects and quarterly parties. Every waiter is kind and wants to please me so I always tip them well. My main complaint is little things... I want mushrooms with my Mac n Cheese, but it's a struggle. I order them but none show, I ask the hostess and get a small cup of cold mushrooms. Whatever, we'll take it to go and FIX YOUR FOOD AT OUR OWN HOME! Well done, Chef.

I live in the Mission Valley area. A very good friend of mine who lives in Carlsbad has met me here for dinner dozens and dozens of times in recent years because it is halfway between where we live and it is dog-friendly (a must). We like the food and the ambiance. Since last summer, however, it's become much less of a treat to come here. One of the women who checks in newly arrived customers and may be assistant manager doesn't grasp that we come to the restaurant to catch up with each other, not spend time with her. Whenever we visit, she walks over to our outdoor table repeatedly and interrupts our conversation to talk about her dogs and my friend's dogs and play with them. Not once -- three or four times. She pays no attention to my body English or to the fact that while my polite friend will talk with her, I have not said a word in months. The last time we were there, to give her an indication of my feelings, I began looking at my phone the minute she approached and physically turned my shoulders and body away to face in another direction. It didn't work. She came back two more times, interrupting our conversation, yes, two more times. I was a waiter and busboy for years. You don't have to be a sophisticated restaurant worker, merely a competent one, to realize that friends who go out to eat do so because they want to spend time with each other. Not with a stranger. I hope the manager or the owner and someone with authority reads this and makes this point to everyone on the restaurant's staff.

I was greeted right away by a hostess and seated instantly. There are a lot of bar stool chairs and high tables. I have a cane so I was a little nervous if there would be accommodations for me but luckily in the back is where they keep normal height table and chairs. The service was all over the place. I had about 5 different waiters and didn't know who was supposed to help me and who wasn't. All of the staff is running every where and it makes it hard to ask for things. My table had a, "clean" sign but it was wet and had food on it. I didn't realize it until after I touched a wet piece of food. We didn't receive any silverware until I had to ask for them. Then we get to the food and drinks. I was disappointed that almost all of their drinks are in cans. Even their cocktails. I was underwhelmed with the small on tap options that were available and almost all of the on tap options were IPAs (which I don't care for). I ordered originally a pomegranate martini but it was in a can and had a very off putting underwhelming taste. Since I only had a sip I had asked for another drink and was told I would get it replaced and not charged for this one. I then ordered a wine which tasted fine. As a starter I got the pretzels cooked in duck fat with a truffle dipping sauce. It was okay. It wasn't the best thing I ever ate, but wasn't the worst either. And for my chicken sandwich it was also just meh. It had nice flavor and had a tiny kick of spice. I have had better at other places. When I got the bill I was charged for the pomegranate drink I was told would be taken off. I then had to flag down one of my five waiters and tell them. At first I was told, "no" but after explaining how I was promised he then had to go to the manager which then said he would take it off. When it came to the bill they use, Toast. You can pay through your phone. I was confused because the tip % was more on the receipt than on the Toast app. I would probably give this place 2 1/2 stars if I could. It was way too chaotic for my taste. If someone invited me here I would try and convince them to take me elsewhere and if they really wanted to eat here I would just stay home. It wasn't worth it to me. For 2 people with an appetizer, 2 drinks and 2 entrees it was about $77. Which isn't too bad in price.

Always a great time here - plenty of options for beer on tap. Ambiance is perfect on a summer day, the windows are usually open for fresh air and a nice breeze. Staff is always friendly and food is good. If you're in a large party, there are many choices to share such as the fries, wings and pretzels.

From taking reservation with Madison to our awesome server Joy. We really enjoyed tonight. I was really impressed with Maddison's touch of "Hello! This is Karl Strauss. We just wanted to ask if you had a preference on your reservation for a high or low table and if you wanted a table with chairs or a booth? Thank you!" Well Thank You we did have a preference and she made it happen Joy was equally awesome. She dealt with my husband's strange humor and offered her insights on the food. She was right the chicken tacos were perfect. We loved all our food, fish and chips, chicken tacos, rice bowl, and of course the beer. Thank you all for a great night

Staff is always friendly and food is usually good (maybe skip the calamari which is no longer the rings and has way too much old bay seasoning).

We liked our visit at Karl Strauss. The steak was good and the beer was great. They have lots of great beers on tap, and a good deal for their anniversary.

Great fun girls night! Makayla was awesome! Super friendly and fun! Made great recommendations about menu!

Came here on a weeknight to check it out, the restaurant tables were all booked but the bar was open inside and outside. The staff is friendly and accommodating, the restaurant is clean and has a good vibe to grab a drink after work. I will say I disappointed in the drink selection but I'm also not the biggest beer drinker so that's fair. The steak and truffle fries were bomb and the poke nachos were great! The prices however, not really worth it unless it's happy hour.

Food was average. Kind of disappointed really. Service was great. The ambiance was loud and seating was too close to other tables.

The food was great and took fish and chips. Service was perfect and ambiance was good. Overall is indeed up and will come back again.

Classic Happy Hour spot in beautiful 4S Ranch! Appears to be a local favorite for post work libations and nourishment. Pleasant service from the front of house. You can order at the counter and food is brought out to your table. Extensive tap list along with wine and kombucha options. The restaurant is clean, with plentiful indoor and outdoor seating. Lots of parking. Solid spot!

I'm disappointed that Karl Strauss won't be showing the Olympics. We were told by the bartender Saturday night, they deemed it Offensive similar to MMA, which is unfortunate as I was looking forward to watching it there. #karlstrauss.

I usually frequent the Karl Strauss near Miramar/La Jolla but was in the area and decided to try this location instead! The vibe is quite different (no pond and not too much greenery here), definitely more of a suburban casual brewery kind of vibe, but still really nice. Super spacious, airy, options for both indoor and outdoor dining. Had the ahi poke nachos which were delicious and were probably my favorite dish I've had at Karl Strauss so far, as well as the buffalo wings!!! Main cons here were that the buffalo wings are boneless with no option for bone-in (if that is your preference), and that the service is a tad slow -- you order at a counter and then they bring the food out to you, but when I was there, there was only one person manning the counter. Otherwise this is a great place for a beer, appetizer or meal in a lovely suburban neighborhood with ample parking!

You would think it's the beer that brings me back, but it's the food. Yes, they have great beer. But I can order almost anything off the menu. The Mahi Tacos, Beer pretzels, Poke Nachos, even their Chicken Sandwich... all awesome. Love coming here.

Have gone twice in one week due to varying work events and had a blast both times! Servers are very attentive and extremely helpful.

Great service, cold beer, and delicious food. Hard to beat that combination. We went during happy hour and had $6 beers and all appetizers are $10. Great deal and the food was delicious. Go check it out. Enjoy!!!

Excellent place to stop in for a great draft beer and catch a game, or unwind after you meetings. Several selections to choose from. Food is fine, although the burgers do need some improvement, may be not over cook them that much and add some seasoning. Ambiance is relaxing and with options for inside and outdoor seating.

Came in between Christmas shopping to have a quick dinner (we had skipped lunch and were pretty hungry), pleasantly surprised at how calm it was! This Karl Strauss sits in a busy shopping center and is usually always packed, luckily we got in on a random slower night. Service starts as soon as you walk in the door directly into the line to order food and drinks with a cashier before grabbing a seat. Since it wasn't busy, we ordered right away, and walked right through it. Order: Beers pretzels, seasonal POG seltzer, and "Mac on Tap" + grilled chicken. POG seltzer was perfectly light but all the flavors were present; nice blend! Island girl, gotta have my flavor fix when I find it on a menu! Beer pretzels are pretty big, were cooked perfectly, and delicious! The cheese dip was my favorite, but the spicy mustard was reallllllly good too. I'm a fan of the Mac On Tap! Cavatappi in a light cheese sauce, parmesan breadcrumb topped and baked just a bit to add some crisp on top. I added grilled chicken, it had a nice char and the chicken still juicy and tender.

My coworker and I tried having lunch here but no one came to seat us. A few servers passed by and saw we were waiting but did nothing. 5 minutes passed and the manager said he'd be right with us but we waited another 2 minutes before deciding we'd be well received elsewhere. Don't try this location, go to any other Karl Strauss in SD.

Great food and great service as always!! Karl Strauss never disappoints every time my wife and I visit!! Shout out to Diana, our server, who helped make our stay even more enjoyable!! Thx Diana

They had great service, and helped out when asked. They had a wide variety of food and an option for all. Food was very tasty. Great for hosting a party or a group event. Great outdoor and indoor seating.

Always a good choice. With the addition of the extended dining patio, this place has more space which means more fun. Whether you're here alone, with family or friends or even your furry friend- this place is available. With fire pits and an updated menu, you're sure to find something you'll like. Remember to tip well! Maybe you'll see me here. First round is on me! Cheers!

One of my go to's after a long day of work. I love their wings and IPA's. Great service and a chill vibe.

We like this place but this time the mahi in the taco was dry and overcooked, almost chewy. We sat at the bar and service was good. I recommend sitting outside.

Had beer sausages and some seasonal drinks. Was great. A server named Ary hooked me and my step dad up on his birthday, really nice guy. Earlier Josh was our server too and he was super accommodating. Had a great time.