CARiN de RiA — Restaurant in Encinitas

My favorite restaurant hands down. This place has an amazing atmosphere; the owner Archie is extremely friendly, hospitable, and accommodating of the customers and the different workers throughout the years have also been very lovely people. Aside from the absolute love and dedication put into this place, the food is exceptional and comforting. I have overheard customers who visit from LA just to come here, and I truly understand why. This is a gem to Encinitas and North County in general.

The chicken BBQ is unmatched. It is soft, tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The pancit (glass noodles) is also a favorite. I personally love the kare kare because I am a peanut butter lover. The lumpia are exceptional (its lumpia, how can they not be?) and the chicharon (pork rinds) are also really good. The adobo is pretty good too, but I especially love the caldereta beef stew. The coconut vegetable curry is also a hit for my family. I definitely would recommend garlic rice! The sizzling dishes are also a fun treat. If you are with a group it is the best because you can get the family feast and sample several!

The only thing I am not too crazy about* is the pipian and the chicken in the pancit—they simply don't have the right texture or taste to me and, if that is the only thing you end up trying by chance, you would truly not know how amazing the food is based on those. (*unless you enjoy plain grilled chicken, in which case knock yourself out!) So if you are going to get chicken, I'd say get the BBQ because it is prepared and cooked right.

I have gone here at my best and my worst and always leave happy and well fed. I highly recommend this place—it will always hold a special place...

I’d been to this place three times before and had a decent experience. Maybe just one time the bistek was extremely salty. One consistent thing is the not-so-friendly woman who serves the tables. And today was probably the worst vibe I got from her. It was a busy Memorial weekend Sunday. So my husband and I patiently waited at the door until their staff had a chance to greet us. Finally, when she saw us, she said “are you looking for a table?” (Yes, we’re patiently waiting for a table at the front of the restaurant as one normally would) and then points at one inside in the corner that we couldn’t see from the outside the door. So we sat down thinking she was going to come greet us with water and menus. We sat for a couple minutes and decided we can grab the menus ourselves while she’s busy. We decided what we wanted while sitting and waiting for her to acknowledge us again after several minutes. She came in and out of the kitchen, and never looked our way. We decided to finally get up and leave. So disappointed. I’m a Filipino-American and want to support another Filipino-American’s business but this woman comes off so unfriendly and so not warm — opposite of what the Filipino culture is...

Work took me to San Diego. On the way back, we decided to stop by the very same place we stopped at last year, Carin De Ria! This is a Family-owned Pinoy Restaurant. Hi Archie!!!! I've never had the Engkanto Ube Lager and that was sooo good!!! We ordered a Tapsilog from the NotSoSecret Menu! This is Filipino Favorite with thinly sliced Rib Eye Beef, Eggs, and Sinangag which is Fried Garlic rice! We also ordered Sizzling Lechon Sisig! Twice cooked crispy Pork belly with bell peppers and onions, served on a Sizzling plate! This is also eaten with Garlic Rice! Needless to say, we found Carin de Ria on Yelp last year, and we think to make visiting the Restaurant a tradition every time we fund ourselves in the area. Calling all Pinoys! You are missing out if you have not tried them out!!! Definitely a Must Try, Must Visit Encinitas Spot! Thanks Archie for the delightful food!!!

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