Came here for happy hour and sat at the bar.(+) Cocktails were delicious - Kingfisher Spritz, Golden Hour, and Favored Winds.(+) Happy hour salt and pepper fish was very good.(+) House made egg noodles - super good(+) Wagyu smoked beef rib - really good.( ) Service was nice but we got asked how we were doing by like three different people repeatedly and it got a bit tiring.(+) Vibe is cool. Nice bar, ambience is really nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Derek Quackenbush
FINALLY a restaurant that emphasizes sharing plates actually serves plates big enough to share! Great food. Appropriate portions. Amazing cocktails. And super friendly staff. Two of us shared beef tartar, scallops, duck, and a beat salad and it was plenty of food (we happily forced it all down). The duck lives up to everything you may have heard about it. Perfection. I can't say enough great things...we go out a lot and often times the value is not there for what you pay. Here that is not the case. Check it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zachary Lewis
Great atmosphere, good service, and delicious food! Will definitely come back here for their curry!
Jillian Loudermilk
Amazing service and incredible food. We will be back!
One of the best restaurants in San Diego! Amazing seafood dishes and cocktails. We ordered the hamachi crudo, diver scallops, roasted beet salad, house made egg noodles, skull island prawns, Baja striped seabass, vanilla flan, and grapefruit semifreddo. Everything tasted delicious, some of the biggest shrimp I have seen! To drink we had the Singapore sling, cielo alto, nine dragons, Saigon moped, Da Nang Firework, and lemongrass banana gin sour. All equally amazing. Incredible quick and friendly service. They also have a dog friendly patio. Highly recommend!
Very good food and drinks. Portions are very small considering the shared style dining. Quality however very good. Yet a little overpriced overall.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laura Mosqueira
We got 5 dishes total and 4 cocktails. All the food was delicious, however every dish had a spicy and sweet flavor profile. While delicious, compared to other restaurants of this price point, they had quite an overlap in flavor. The beet salad, and clams were outstanding. On the maximalist cocktail menu, all drinks were unique and well presented. Highly recommend the “long season” cocktail. Ambience and decor is beautiful and definitely worth a try.
Went on a friend’s recommendation, 3 persons with no reservation on a friday evening but they took us in as walk-ins and were promptly seated at the bar, super friendly and attentive staff. Food was great, not a traditional vientamese but never saw anything that claimed that they were. We had the chicken wings, beef tartare, smoked wagyu rib and smoked aged duck. We will definitely be coming back for the ribs and wings!! 4 stars on atmosphere because music was way to loud.
Everything here is great. The food, the flavors are awesome with great spices! The wine is great and the cocktails are divine. However, this is a loud space and at times couldn't converse as a table of four.
Food was sublime, drinks were creative and delicious, and service was top-notch. 4 stars for atmosphere since it was super loud, but I highly recommend Kingfisher for a special meal.
Went here with friends and the service was outstanding. Our waitress (didn't catch her name but she has big brown eyes and a star tattoo near her collarbone) was SO HELPFUL with our party needs for dietary restrictions. She knew the menu well and was able to get a few things specifically accomodated for us too We took her advice and ordered the duck and 4 other dishes to do family style with everyone. We had 4 adults eating. We did the whole sand bass, the Vietnamese curry, the chicken wings, the wild mushroom congee & the duck. Everything was delicious and well portioned to share.The interior was so cute and such a vibe. Friendly staff and delicious food made this a 5-star experience. If you love Vietnamese food (or even if you're not sure and you're curious), definitely give Kingfisher a try!Vegetarian options: Vietnamese curry was insane good - definitely worth a try!! And the wild mushroom congee was so creamy and delicious too! Lots of options can be adjusted for meat-free.Dietary restrictions: I loved that they were willing to accomodate dairy-free requests, but go right at 5pm for your best chance at these accomodations. Once they get busy it will be harder to work with you!Parking: Limited spots next door but it was well-lit and easy access.
I grew up in San Diego and used to live in Golden Hill a number of years ago when I was in my mid 20s so it was great to be back in the old neighborhood. Drove down from Los Angeles specifically for this dinner and met a few friends and we all had a great meal. It’s great to see an upscale restaurant being added to the sleepy Golden Hill neighborhood. I would say this has to be the best restaurant in Golden Hill. It’s Asian fusion complete with a really cool and upscale bar. The flavors and item combinations are very unique here. For instance, Beef Tartare is done Asian fusion style so even though I order Beef Tartare all over the place, these flavors were extremely different for this classic dish. It was like that for all the dishes that we tried. They recommend ordering 3 to 4 dishes per person and then sharing as most of the items are share portions, except for a few of the entrées at the very bottom of the menu. They have a very large drink section as well with a lot of great options. Our server was very polite and so was the hostess. We were able to be seated right after arriving and didn’t have to wait for our table. It’s very dimly lit on the inside, but in a very romantic way. It’s definitely the sort of place that is designed for dinner with friends or family or a date. Not so much for a work dinner but I believe it would be possible. Parking in the area is fairly easy although they don’t have a parking lot. It will be free street parking.They have a lot of great options on the menu as mentioned, so it was hard to choose what we wanted. I wanted to order the Beef Carpaccio to start, but they had run out of it an hour before we got there. Instead, I started with the Beef Tartare, which was fantastic. I followed that up with the Duck Liver Pate, and it was very smooth and tasty. Sometimes pate can be a bit too strong flavor wise, but this was light and very rich and flavor. For my entrée, I chose the Striped Seabass and really enjoyed it. The skin was very crispy and the fish was cooked perfectly. The flavor combinations were very unique and it really added a nice new spin on a classic dish that I order often.Overall, I would say that Kingfisher is now my favorite restaurant in Golden Hill and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a great dinner in San Diego. They fill up their reservations fast so I would recommend booking out as far as you can. We wanted to do indoor seating, but it was already filled three weeks prior to making our reservation so we had to sit on the heated patio, which was nice because it allowed us to people watch. I plan to be back during one of my next trips down to San Diego.Parking: street parking only
Kingfisher was such a fun treat to go with my friends on my last night in town! My favorite on their menu was the chicken wings!Papaya MargaritaRoasted Chino Farms BroccoliHokkaido ScallopsCrispy Chicken WingsGrilled and Smoked EggplantVietnamese Curry1/2 Smoked Dry Aged Duck
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Greg Lipper
My new favorite restaurant. Great atmosphere, great staff, great vibe and the food is original, interesting, presented beautifully and insanely deliciousVegetarian options: I had the Japanese eggplant, wild mushroom congee, and Vietnamese vegetable curry. Each an adventure. So, so good.
Came here for happy hour and sat at the bar.(+) Cocktails were delicious - Kingfisher Spritz, Golden Hour, and Favored Winds.(+) Happy hour salt and pepper fish was very good.(+) House made egg noodles - super good(+) Wagyu smoked beef rib - really good.( ) Service was nice but we got asked how we were doing by like three different people repeatedly and it got a bit tiring.(+) Vibe is cool. Nice bar, ambience is really nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
FINALLY a restaurant that emphasizes sharing plates actually serves plates big enough to share! Great food. Appropriate portions. Amazing cocktails. And super friendly staff. Two of us shared beef tartar, scallops, duck, and a beat salad and it was plenty of food (we happily forced it all down). The duck lives up to everything you may have heard about it. Perfection. I can't say enough great things...we go out a lot and often times the value is not there for what you pay. Here that is not the case. Check it out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great atmosphere, good service, and delicious food! Will definitely come back here for their curry!
Amazing service and incredible food. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baja Kampachi Crudo, Duck Liver Pate
One of the best restaurants in San Diego! Amazing seafood dishes and cocktails. We ordered the hamachi crudo, diver scallops, roasted beet salad, house made egg noodles, skull island prawns, Baja striped seabass, vanilla flan, and grapefruit semifreddo. Everything tasted delicious, some of the biggest shrimp I have seen! To drink we had the Singapore sling, cielo alto, nine dragons, Saigon moped, Da Nang Firework, and lemongrass banana gin sour. All equally amazing. Incredible quick and friendly service. They also have a dog friendly patio. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vanilla Flan, Diver Scallops, Hokkaido Scallops
Lauren S is such a great server, we love the environment, food, drinks. Absolutely delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baja Kampachi Crudo, Smoked Dry Aged Duck
Very good food and drinks. Portions are very small considering the shared style dining. Quality however very good. Yet a little overpriced overall.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We got 5 dishes total and 4 cocktails. All the food was delicious, however every dish had a spicy and sweet flavor profile. While delicious, compared to other restaurants of this price point, they had quite an overlap in flavor. The beet salad, and clams were outstanding. On the maximalist cocktail menu, all drinks were unique and well presented. Highly recommend the “long season” cocktail. Ambience and decor is beautiful and definitely worth a try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Baja Kampachi Crudo, Beets Salad
Went on a friend’s recommendation, 3 persons with no reservation on a friday evening but they took us in as walk-ins and were promptly seated at the bar, super friendly and attentive staff. Food was great, not a traditional vientamese but never saw anything that claimed that they were. We had the chicken wings, beef tartare, smoked wagyu rib and smoked aged duck. We will definitely be coming back for the ribs and wings!! 4 stars on atmosphere because music was way to loud.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Chicken Wings, Wagyu Smoked Beef Rib, Steak Tartare
Everything here is great. The food, the flavors are awesome with great spices! The wine is great and the cocktails are divine. However, this is a loud space and at times couldn't converse as a table of four.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled & Smoked Eggplant, Duck Breast, Whole Fried Rockfish
Restaurantji Recommends
Food was sublime, drinks were creative and delicious, and service was top-notch. 4 stars for atmosphere since it was super loud, but I highly recommend Kingfisher for a special meal.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled & Smoked Eggplant, Beef Tartare, Vietnamese Curry
Went here with friends and the service was outstanding. Our waitress (didn't catch her name but she has big brown eyes and a star tattoo near her collarbone) was SO HELPFUL with our party needs for dietary restrictions. She knew the menu well and was able to get a few things specifically accomodated for us too We took her advice and ordered the duck and 4 other dishes to do family style with everyone. We had 4 adults eating. We did the whole sand bass, the Vietnamese curry, the chicken wings, the wild mushroom congee & the duck. Everything was delicious and well portioned to share.The interior was so cute and such a vibe. Friendly staff and delicious food made this a 5-star experience. If you love Vietnamese food (or even if you're not sure and you're curious), definitely give Kingfisher a try!Vegetarian options: Vietnamese curry was insane good - definitely worth a try!! And the wild mushroom congee was so creamy and delicious too! Lots of options can be adjusted for meat-free.Dietary restrictions: I loved that they were willing to accomodate dairy-free requests, but go right at 5pm for your best chance at these accomodations. Once they get busy it will be harder to work with you!Parking: Limited spots next door but it was well-lit and easy access.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Dry Aged Duck, Crispy Chicken Wings, Whole Fried Gold Spotted Sand Bass, Wild Mushroom Congee, Vietnamese Curry
I grew up in San Diego and used to live in Golden Hill a number of years ago when I was in my mid 20s so it was great to be back in the old neighborhood. Drove down from Los Angeles specifically for this dinner and met a few friends and we all had a great meal. It’s great to see an upscale restaurant being added to the sleepy Golden Hill neighborhood. I would say this has to be the best restaurant in Golden Hill. It’s Asian fusion complete with a really cool and upscale bar. The flavors and item combinations are very unique here. For instance, Beef Tartare is done Asian fusion style so even though I order Beef Tartare all over the place, these flavors were extremely different for this classic dish. It was like that for all the dishes that we tried. They recommend ordering 3 to 4 dishes per person and then sharing as most of the items are share portions, except for a few of the entrées at the very bottom of the menu. They have a very large drink section as well with a lot of great options. Our server was very polite and so was the hostess. We were able to be seated right after arriving and didn’t have to wait for our table. It’s very dimly lit on the inside, but in a very romantic way. It’s definitely the sort of place that is designed for dinner with friends or family or a date. Not so much for a work dinner but I believe it would be possible. Parking in the area is fairly easy although they don’t have a parking lot. It will be free street parking.They have a lot of great options on the menu as mentioned, so it was hard to choose what we wanted. I wanted to order the Beef Carpaccio to start, but they had run out of it an hour before we got there. Instead, I started with the Beef Tartare, which was fantastic. I followed that up with the Duck Liver Pate, and it was very smooth and tasty. Sometimes pate can be a bit too strong flavor wise, but this was light and very rich and flavor. For my entrée, I chose the Striped Seabass and really enjoyed it. The skin was very crispy and the fish was cooked perfectly. The flavor combinations were very unique and it really added a nice new spin on a classic dish that I order often.Overall, I would say that Kingfisher is now my favorite restaurant in Golden Hill and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a great dinner in San Diego. They fill up their reservations fast so I would recommend booking out as far as you can. We wanted to do indoor seating, but it was already filled three weeks prior to making our reservation so we had to sit on the heated patio, which was nice because it allowed us to people watch. I plan to be back during one of my next trips down to San Diego.Parking: street parking only
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Chicken Wings, Wagyu Smoked Beef Rib, Whole Fried Gold Spotted Sand Bass, Baja Kampachi Crudo, Beef Tartare, Citrus & Beet Salad, Duck Liver Pate
Kingfisher was such a fun treat to go with my friends on my last night in town! My favorite on their menu was the chicken wings!Papaya MargaritaRoasted Chino Farms BroccoliHokkaido ScallopsCrispy Chicken WingsGrilled and Smoked EggplantVietnamese Curry1/2 Smoked Dry Aged Duck
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My new favorite restaurant. Great atmosphere, great staff, great vibe and the food is original, interesting, presented beautifully and insanely deliciousVegetarian options: I had the Japanese eggplant, wild mushroom congee, and Vietnamese vegetable curry. Each an adventure. So, so good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mushroom Congee, Vietnamese Curry