Karina's Mexican Seafood — Restaurant in Chula Vista

Greeted with smiles... It was downhill from there. We were a party of 5 adults looking to go enjoy dinner as a family and enjoy conversation. We did not have to wait for a table despite being pretty busy which was great. However we did have to follow the hostess in circles to get to the table, she attempted to seat us twice, when each time another employee would send her in another direction and us to follow to a different table. This was already absolute confusion being it was louder than any sports bar I've ever been to. We were finally seated and our drink order was taken rather quickly. Our drinks came and an alcoholic beverage was ordered, unfortunately the person who ordered it had to leave due to the headache they developed from the TV's being so loud before the drink ever made it to the table. The waitress never attempted to bring that drink, never asked where the person was, if they were coming back, or if we still wanted the drink... It just never came. We were about to leave due to it being so loud, literally having to yell to hear the person across the table loud. Instead One in our party got up and asked an employee if the volume could be turned down. This employee said they're speak to their manager, yet continued to talk with another employee. So upon asking where the manager was, and him being pointed out, we approached him directly. Fortunately the manager did probably turn the volume down to a comfortable level so we could hear each other, and still enjoy what was being shown on TV as well.

When the food arrived all plates came out together, except one, ceviche, which took another almost 10 minutes. Odd being a chilled dish? We then waited about another 5 minutes for silverware. The food was delicious, the hot plates served piping hot, seasoned perfectly. Everyone very much enjoyed their food. Unfortunately about half way through our meals we had empty glasses for the remainder of our meal as our waitress didn't return. Just after our food came we were approached by a very seemingly shy young man offering to take our photos which was nice, and they turned out great! We even purchased a few, although the timing, coming just after our food was served, was not ideal. We did eventually track down someone who was able to refill our drinks after we had finished eating.

Someone did come to take our empty plates rather quickly which was nice. We enjoyed conversation for a while when we realized the check had never come. We had finished eating for nearly an hour at this point. When tracked down once again we did finally get the check which was taken care of table side (gotta love technology).

This restaurant is beautiful, very nice atmosphere, clear attention to details such as gorgeous and inviting decor and quality furnishings. The food was good enough to make you want to return. Unfortunately, given the chance, I have to say I would not return. From it being absurdly loud to such an inattentive wait staff, I have to say I know I can find food just as good at a number of other...

Rightfully known locally as South Bay's "Mexican Hooters," Karina's specializes in quality mariscos and quality young ladies. The heavily-perfumed waitresses strut around in uniforms that flatter certain anatomy, and short skirts exposing as much bare leg as reasonable. I only sometimes feel a tad sleazy eating here.

Aside from the waitresses, this restaurant is primarily known for its ceviches. The "Karina's Ceviche" is my favorite. It contains chopped shrimp, cucumber, and avocado, and is over-the-top in terms of its flavor, with a strong and impossibly tart lime taste and aggressively heat-forward chiles. I'm not complaining, by the way. The shrimp here absorbs the spicy marinade like a sponge.

My favorite thing to eat at Karina's is the "Camarón Burrito with Karina's Sauce," a burrito stuffed with a non-trivial amount of plump shrimp, melted cheese, and a thick sauce called "Karina's Sauce." This mysterious sauce is an addictive green substance of unknown chemical origin - and it needs to be placed on the Schedule 1 narcotic list because, despite my best efforts, I can't quit it. There aren't a lot of ingredients here, and that's just fine, because this thing is a near-perfect burrito.

Speaking of shrimp, Karina's "Taco de Camarón Enchilado" is a nice little shrimp taco. I especially like the char-grilled surfaces and subtle heat from the chile sauce, tamed in a way by the gooey melted cheese and garlic butter. To melt the cheese, they grill their corn tortillas here to a crisp before filling it with all of the good stuff.

The house "Michelada" is made here with clamato, as it should be, and is predictably robust and flavorful. Complimentary thin corn tortilla chips are so-so but the accompanying salsa is awesome; it is that thicker puréed style with a heavy onion flavor and just the right amount of oomph from the chiles. A mirror universe version of me sits around all day on Karina's patio eating tortilla chips and drinking micheladas until he is useless, all while ogling the talent. That guy's living the life.

Parking is limited, even when this place is even slightly busy, and there are all kinds of ominous "yo' car gonna git towed" signs from businesses that share the same parking lot. There is zero nearby street parking. Better to not come during peak times but, if you do, rideshare...

I recently visited Karina’s Restaurant at the Bonita CA location, and I must say, it was a truly disappointing experience. My intention was simple: have a drink and enjoy dinner at the bar. However, the lack of customer service and unprofessional behavior of the staff made me feel unwelcome.

Upon arriving, I was greeted by a female bartender who took my drink order and brought some chips and salsa. So far, so good. I took my time perusing the menu, and that’s when things took a turn for the worse. The female bartender announced she was going on a break and vanished without checking on me or informing her colleagues to take my order.

During her absence, the two male bartenders engaged in absurd and inappropriate behavior. They gossiped about their non-work-related plans, gym routines, and even pinched each other’s midsections to discuss body fat compositions! All this while customers at the bar were ignored, including myself.

After a painfully long wait, the female bartender returned from her break, seemingly oblivious to the lack of service her colleagues provided. I had to approach the male bartender and ask how to place an order. Finally, my order was taken, but there was no apology for the inconvenience caused.

To add insult to injury, when I asked for the check and the management’s contact information, the staff hesitated to provide it. Worse still, I overheard one of the male bartenders making offensive remarks about my appearance, comparing me to another customer. Unbelievable!

I left Karina’s Restaurant feeling disheartened and unwelcome. As a paying customer, I expected much better treatment. The management seriously needs to address the unprofessional attitude and lack of customer service among their staff.

I sincerely hope my review serves as a wake-up call for Karina’s Restaurant to improve their hospitality and professionalism. Until then, I cannot recommend this...