Carlsbad restaurants you'll love
Top restaurants in Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad is known for Carlsbad City Beach, Legoland California, and The Flower Fields garden. There are plenty of ways to work up an appetite in Carlsbad, from swimming to exploring. Once you’re ready for a bite to each you can choose from anything your taste buds may be craving. Steak, seafood, Italian cuisine, and more are all available in the metropolis known as Carlsbad.
Exit the San Diego freeway and you’ll find yourself in the middle of a food oasis. Decadent French food, Mexican cuisine, and quick takeout are all at your fingertips. Order to go and visit the vast beachfront or visit the downtown area for traditional Irish pubs, bars, grills, and more. There are many locations perfect for family dinners and trendy new restaurants to try for date night.
Enjoy the adventure of restaurants in Carlsbad when you explore the possibilities. Invite your friends for a night on the town or treat your co-workers to authentic soul food. Don’t miss out on happy hour. Choose from the incredible local wineries, extensive breweries, or shake it up with specialty mead. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the sights, tastes, and beverages of this beautiful coastal city.
Carlsbad's top cuisines
Must-try Carlsbad restaurants

GRILL
Grand Avenue Bar & Grill
752 Grand Ave, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Posole | $11.95 |
A delicious Mexican stew with pork, hominy (white corn), enchilada sauce and spices! | |
Blackened Chicken Deluxe | $13.95 |
Breast of chicken blackened with Cajun spices and topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato. | |
Posole | $11.95 |
A delicious Mexican stew with pork, hominy (white corn), enchilada sauce and spices! |

PIZZA • CALZONES • SALADS
Knockout Pizza - Carlsbad
2937 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Bronx Red Pie - 18" | $25.44 |
Whitestone White Pie - 18" | $25.44 |
Knockout Pie - 18" | $25.44 |

TACOS
Casero Taqueria
2674 Gateway Rd #195, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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**Carne Asada Burrito | $13.95 |
Wood-fired carne asada with guacamole, salsa fresca and our Mexican cheese blend | |
**Al Pastor Taco | $4.75 |
Chili-rubbed pork cooked traditionally with onions, cilantro, salsa verde and fresh-cut pineapple. | |
**Guacamole | $9.95 |
Avocado, cilantro, tomato, onion and lime juice served with homemade tortilla chips |

Primo Pizza & Pasta, LLC - 7110 Avenida Encinas Ste 103
7110 Avenida Encinas Ste 103, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Primo Salad | $6.59 |
Mixed Greens, Tomato,Basil,Artichoke,Black olives,Fresh Mozzarella Cheese,Garlic powder,Italian Vinaigrette Dressing | |
Caesar Salad | $3.79 |
Romaine Lettuce,Parmesan Cheese,Croutons,Caesar Dressing. | |
16" Create Your Own | $19.94 |

Fresco Cocina - Fresco Cocina
2858 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Patatas Bravas | $9.00 |
served with chipotle aioli | |
Chivito Sandwich | $18.00 |
braised pork shoulder, black forest ham, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato | |
Organic Mixed Greens | $14.00 |
jicama, pickled red onions, carrots, queso fresco, cilantro vinaigrette, toasted pepitas |

BURRITOS • FISH AND CHIPS • TACOS • SEAFOOD • POKE
FISH DISTRICT - Carlsbad
2675 Gateway Rd, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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BLACKENED SEARED AHI bowl | $13.00 |
(raw) Rice (or quinoa, add 1), blackened seared ahi tuna, lettuce-cabbage mix, tomato, ginger-teriyaki sauce, wasabi-aioli drizzle | |
POKE bowl | $12.00 |
(raw) Sushi rice, choice of poke & sauce, nori, seaweed salad, cucumber, pickled ginger, sesame seeds | |
Taco BAJA style | $5.25 |
(gf) Cabbage-cilantro, pico de gallo, corn tortilla, chipotle sauce |

Torsap Thai Kitchen - Carlsbad
2668 Gateway Road, Suite 170, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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“TOM YUM” Hot Pot | $65.00 |
“Tom Yum” hot & sour soup W/ scallop + shrimp + calamari + pork meat ball + tofu + egg + bok choy + mushroom + egg noodles served in a jumbo hot pot (serves 3-4 people) | |
LAO Sausage | $18.00 |
Laotian style pork sausage + fresh ginger + toasted peanut W/ bird’s eye chili | |
Vegetable Crispy Rolls | $14.00 |
Glass noodles + shiitake mushroom + spring roll skin W/ sweet & sour dip + lettuce |

Casero Taqueria - Catering - 2674 Gateway Road
2674 Gateway Road, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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TJ Caesar Catering | $45.00 |
Hearts of Romaine, roasted tomatoes, croutons and parmesan cheese. Served with traditional Caesar dressing. | |
Taco Pollo Catering | $0.00 |
Wood-fired chicken thigh with onions, cilantro, guacamole and salsa verde. | |
Taco Carne Asada Catering | $0.00 |
Wood-fired carne asada with onions, cilantro, guacamole and salsa verde. |

SMOKED SALMON • SALADS • SANDWICHES • HAMBURGERS
Beach Plum Kitchen
6971 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Buttermilk Pancakes | $12.50 |
3 pancakes served with whipped butter and syrup. | |
Ben's Breakfast Burrito | $11.95 |
Scrambled cage-free eggs with natural cheddar cheese, breakfast potatoes, spicy black beans, and roasted poblano peppers. Served with tomatillo salsa and salsa fresca on the side. | |
Machaca Green Chilaquiles | $15.95 |
Marinated shredded beef, tortilla chips, tomatillo salsa, onions, cilantro, sour cream, salsa fresca, cotija cheese, with 2 cage-free eggs any style. |

Kinaly Thai Restaurant
2508 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Pad See You | $13.00 |
Pan fried flat rice noodle with your choice of protein, egg, broccoli, carrot and sweet dark soy sauce. | |
Drunken Noodle | $13.00 |
Our flavorful noodle dish. Pan fried flat rice noodle with bell pepper onion, carrot and basil leaves with homemade brown sauce. Add your own choice of protein to enjoy. | |
Golden Tofu Fried | $8.95 |
Deep fried to perfection. Served with sweet and sour sauce on top with ground peanut. |

Felix’s BBQ with Soul
5671 Palmer Way, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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JIMMY LEE'S PULLED PORK SANDWICH | $13.00 |
Slow-smoked pork, Pulled, Piled high and topped with Coleslaw | |
SAMPLER PLATTER | $35.00 |
An appetizer big enough to share! Your choice of four meats & four sides. (Serves 2-3 people) | |
BABY BACK RIBS | $19.00 |
"All slow-cooked barbecue in our genuine hickory wood burning pit" Half rack-5 Bones, Full Rack- 10 Bones |

Pure Project - Carlsbad
2825 State Street, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Hops On Repeat (4 Pack) | $25.00 |
Murky Triple IPA w/ Mosaic, Idaho 7, & Southern Cross Hops, 10.2% ABV - 4 Pack | |
Fatewalker (4 Pack) | $22.50 |
Murky IPA w/ Citra, Enigma, & Motueka Hops, 6.5% ABV - 4 Pack | |
Cloud Forest (4 Pack) | $26.50 |
Murky Quadruple IPA w/ Citra, Motueka, & Southern Cross Hops, 13% ABV - 4 Pack |

Cafe Sunfish
2262 Rutherford #102, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Sesame salmon | $11.50 |
Teriyaki salmon filet, house sesame slaw, house sriracha aioli, on toasted ciabatta bread | |
Barrel Burrito | $9.00 |
Egg, bacon, cheddar, potato, served in a flour tortilla with a side of our house made salsa | |
Hot Chick | $11.00 |
Chicken breast, pepper jack, mayo, mustard and jalapeño, pressed on ciabatta bread. Topped with romaine and avocado |

Black Rail Kitchen + Bar
6981 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Tomato Basil Flatbread | $18.00 |
Our housemade dough topped with garlic purée, charred tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, EVOO, parmesan | |
Housemade Casarecce | $24.00 |
The pasta is made in house and is tossed in a traditional roman italian sauce made from red onion, garlic, chili flake, pancetta, and san marzano tomatoes. It is finished with a touch of butter, parm cheese, olive oil, basil, and topped with burrata cheese, micro basil, and parmesan bread crumbs. | |
Moroccan Braised Lamb Meatballs | $25.00 |
Three large meatballs made with a blend of lamb and beef, Moroccan spices, egg and breadcrumbs. They are finished in a harissa tomato sauce and served over basmati rice. The dish is topped with green olives, feta cheese, red onions, and an herb salad. |

SALADS • SANDWICHES • FRENCH FRIES
Tinleaf Fresh Kitchen
6985 El Camino Real, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Asian Chicken Salad | $14.95 |
grilled chicken, asian greens, cucumbers, red bell peppers, orange wedges, crispy wonton skins & toasted almonds with sesame-hoisin dressing | |
Tri Tip Entree | $18.95 |
with homemade tin leaf steak sauce & choice of 2 sides | |
Turkey Entree | $18.95 |
with natural gravy, cranberry relish & choice of 2 sides |

Pure Taco- Carlsbad Village
2742 State Street Suite 102, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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California Burrito* | $10.95 |
Grilled steak with crispy french fries, guacamole, Mexican cheese blend and salsa fresca | |
Green Currry Shrimp Taco* | $4.95 |
Grilled shrimp, organic grilled zucchini, organic green cabbage, Thai basil, mint, green curry and cilantro in a fresh flour tortilla | |
Pastor Taco* | $3.70 |
Chili rubbed pork cooked with diced onion, cilantro, fresh cut pineapple and salsa verde. |

The Wise Ox - TWO - La Costa
7750 EL CAMINO REAL STE R, CARLSBAD
Popular items | |
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Mac Salad | $5.99 |
Elbow pasta, eggs, peppers, pickles and mayo | |
Philly Cheese Steak | $12.99 |
Shaved NY steak , sweet pickled peppers, onions, american cheese, duke's mayo, amoroso roll | |
Dry Aged Burger | $13.99 |
dry aged beef, bacon, havarti, mayo, mustard, house pickles |

Richard Walker's Pancake House - Carlsbad
2656 Gateway Road, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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BAKED CINNAMON PANCAKE | $14.95 |
A cinnamon lover's delight. | |
THICK SLICED BACON & EGGS | $12.95 |
Four pieces of Richard Walker's special recipe thick-sliced bacon, eggs any style, and a side of your choice. | |
THE DANISH HARVEST | $15.95 |
This oven-baked delight is filled with fresh broccoli, onion, tomato, and mushrooms; topped with Havarti cheese from Denmark. |

Village Kabob
550 Grand Ave, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Chicken Kabob Plate | $20.00 |
Char-broiled chicken tenderloin skewer with Mediterranean spices | |
Chicken Shawarma Plate | $19.00 |
Marinated chicken vertically cooked to perfection | |
Beef Shawarma Wrap | $17.00 |
Marinated beef vertically cooked to perfection |

PIZZA
Gregorio's Restaurant
300 Carlsbad Village Dr, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Chopped Wedge | $16.00 |
Romaine, gorgonzola, tomato, bacon, house croutons & ranch. | |
Fettuccine Alfredo | $20.00 |
Pasta with “made to order” cream sauce. | |
Pasta Emilia | $22.00 |
Rigatoni tossed with vodka sauce, peas, mushrooms & plum tomato. |

SALADS • GRILL • HAMBURGERS • FRENCH FRIES
Notorious Burgers - Carlsbad
6955 EL CAMINO REAL STE 107, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Belby Burger | $6.99 |
Angus beef blend, American cheese, Brioche bun | |
Capone | $15.50 |
Proprietary beef blend, pepper jack, crispy onions, pan fried cage free egg, avocado mash, sriracha aioli and toasted house bun. Includes salad or coleslaw. | |
Blackened Blue | $14.95 |
Blackened beef, blue cheese, apricot onion jam, arugula, bacon, balsamic reduction and lemon sriracha aioli. Includes salad or coleslaw. |

Ebullition Brew Works & Gastronomy - Carlsbad
2628 Gateway Road Suite 135, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Classic Burger | $18.00 |
A 1/2 lb patty, lettuce, red onion, tomato, house made spread, hand slice bacon on potato brioche. Comes with fries. | |
Black Lime Wings | $16.00 |
Crispy skin-on chicken thighs tossed with our hatch chile and black lime rub. Served with cilantro ranch. 5 out of 10 spice level | |
Steak and Truffle Frites | $24.00 |
6 oz grilled hanger steak, with our version of an Argentinian Chimichurri (cilantro, parsley, garlic, onion and more) sauce, truffle fries. Recommended cooked medium (pink inside). |

Bushfire Kitchen - LA COSTA
3433 Via Montebello, #166, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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American Burger | $11.95 |
~1/2 pound premium Colorado grass-fed angus beef patty with applewood smoked bacon, aged real cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions, local organic avocado, organic ketchup, and housemade mayo. | |
Chimichurri Tri-Tip Plate (gf) | $19.95 |
100% USDA grass-fed tri-tip topped with housemade chimichurri. Served with your choice of two hot sides and house-baked focaccia and scallion sauce. Gluten-Free (excl. bread). | |
Bushfire Burger | $10.95 |
~1/2 pound premium Colorado grass-fed angus beef patty with aged real cheddar, lettuce, pickles, red onion, and housemade peri mayo. |

SusieCakes - Lafayette
3598 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Popular items | |
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Celebration Cake | $0.00 |
6-layers of vanilla cake baked with colorful sugar confetti, filled & frosted with our signature retro-blue vanilla frosting. | |
Mini Cupcake Assorted Dozen Box | $30.00 |
24-HOUR NOTICE REQUIRED. Bite sized cupcakes topped with our buttercream frostings. Baked from scratch, daily in our on-site kitchen. Decorations may change depending on season or holiday. Available in Red Velvet, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Flourless Chocolate | |
4 Box Cupcake Assortment | $17.00 |
Baked from scratch, daily in our on-site kitchen. Decorations may change depending on season or holiday. |

CUPCAKES • CAKES
SusieCakes - Carlsbad
7610 Via Campanile, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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4 Box Cupcake Assortment | $17.00 |
Baked from scratch, daily in our on-site kitchen. Decorations may change depending on season or holiday. | |
8 Box Cupcake Assortment | $34.00 |
Baked from scratch, daily in our on-site kitchen. Decorations may change depending on season or holiday. | |
Celebration Cake | $0.00 |
6-layers of vanilla cake baked with colorful sugar confetti, filled & frosted with our signature retro-blue vanilla frosting. |

FRENCH FRIES
Tandoori Guys - Carlsbad-La Costa
2675 Gateway Road 101, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Masala Fries | $10.00 |
Curry | $0.00 |
Tikka Masala | $0.00 |

Burgeon Beer Company
6350 Yarrow Dr STE C, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Fresh Hop Treevana IPA - 4 Pack | $20.20 |
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER we are pleased to bring you our flagship West Coast IPA juiced up with the power of Mosaic Frozen Fresh Cryo Hops & freshly harvested Amarillo. Enter the highest state of hop- *ahem* happiness from the first delicious gulp to your final, gently dank & ultra refreshing sip. 7.2% ABV You must be 21 or Older to Order Beer | CRV Included | |
Sixth Mirage IPA - 4 Pack | $16.20 |
This year’s iteration of our phantasmic “Mirage” brew sequence is introducing itself as a West Coast IPA loaded up with immaculate flavors from heavy doses of Nelson, Citra, & Simcoe Cryo hops. 6.8% ABV You must be 21 or Older to Order Beer | CRV Included | |
Delta Sequence IPA - 4 Pack | $16.20 |
Delta Sequence: a progression of celebrated India Pale Ales that, when combined, become a force to behold. Along with our friends at Pure Project and North Park Beer Co., we are pleased to present you with this symphonic collaboration that fuses the recipes of Treevana, Hop Fu, and Pure West IPAs. 6.5% ABV You must be 21 or Older to Order Beer | CRV Included |

Felix's Casa
5671 Palmer Way, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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BIRRIA QUESADILLA | $3.99 |
BEEF BIRRIA WITH JACK CHEESE INSIDE A CORN TORTILLA TOPPED WITH ONIONS AND CILANTRO! RED OR GREEN SALSA ON THE SIDE! | |
HORCHATA | $2.50 |
The smooth, creamy cinnamon taste of Mexico's cold milky beverage, Freshly made! (Cinnamon Rice Water) | |
CHILE RELLENO PLATE | $12.99 |
Green pepper stuffed with Pepper Jack Cheese, Breaded with a special flour mix and fried to perfection! Served with a side of rice and beans. |

AVO Cafe
5808 Van Allen Way Suite 115, Carlsbad
Popular items | |
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Gone To India Wrap | $15.00 |
garbanzo beans, sweet potato, green peas, spinach, savory curry sauce, plant dip, ving hot sauce | |
Bäcon Cësar Salad | $16.00 |
Romaine, chopped kale, garbanzo beans, smoky tofu bäcon, pepitas, microgreens, Plant Cësar* | |
The Frankie | $15.00 |
plant feta, romaine, cucumber, parsley, red onion, kalamata olives, plant dip, ving hot sauce |