Le Papagayo

Fantastic food, great beer selection. Great service! Glad I went there by recommendation from a friend. The macadamia nut calamari and carne tacos were perfect. Very clean inside and inviting atmosphere.

Disappointed. We were enticed by the online menu, but the experience was subpar. My son ordered the Kobe beef sliders plain (specified meat and bun only) and they came with cheese. I ordered the paella. The menu said it had chorizo, but it came with linguicia-​which I can’t eat because linguicia has milk powder in it and I’m allergic to dairy protein. The paella was dry and not very flavorful. If you can eat anything and don’t mind surprise substitutions or them bringing your food not how you ordered it, then I guess it would be OK.

This place is wonderful. The atmosphere is charming and the food is awesome. If you get the chance get the Kobe beef sliders, it comes with truffle fries. It’s so good you won’t want to share.

Eat Here! And eat here twice because your going to swear the first time was a dream. Amazing food, very welcoming staff, and Live music by the «Flounders» will have you singing along Eat Here!

Le Papagayo definitely deserves 5 stars for so many reasons. It is absolutely adorable and is the perfect beachy vibe restaurant/​bar complete with live music and locals in flip flops.
I am surprised that in my 9 years of living in San Diego, I have never been to or heard of this place before, but I’m very glad that friend of mine decided to have her birthday celebration here so that I had a chance to experience the food and ambiance.
As we were there on a Tuesday evening, we were able to take advantage of the all day happy hour and I decided to order the mahi mahi tacos from the HH menu. They were absolutely delicious, and that is saying a lot since I was eating them two days after returning from Hawaii where the mahi mahi is fresh and amazing. The fish was nice a flaky with a nice garnish and the most wonderful sauce smeared on top. I was stuffed after eating the two that came with the meal, but I would have gladly made myself sick to indulge in another!
My boyfriend decided on the spicy macadamia calamari strips and enjoyed them. They are literally strips of fried meat and resemble skinny chicken tenders rather than calamari. Although it isn’t what you expect to receive when ordering calamari, he said that they were really tasty in their own right.
The best part of the evening though, was the ‘dessert’ that was provided for my friend’s birthday. Instead of the usual cake, brownie or ice cream, she was given a huge glob of pink cotton candy complete with a candle to boot! It was hilarious and it was much easier to share amongst the table than a piece of cake would have been.

Came back Saturday night with friends and ordered the Seabass, too salty and lacks flavor, and a curry dish with mashed potatoes. Do not recommend any of these dishes. Food was lukewarm.
Live music and customer service was great.

This was my first time eating here, after being recommended by a local friend. I ordered shrimp and grits and it was soooo good. I’ve had this in New Orleans and Papagayo’s version is even better with 2 poached eggs on top. I’d order it again next time I’m in Encinitas!

I really like this place. The food was good, the music was good and the service was quick and friendly.
It has indoor and outdoor seating, so ideal place to go on those warm summer days.
Recommendations:
1) If you do not like loud music then ask for a table far away from the band.
2) There is plenty of parking across the street from the restaurant.

I recently returned to Le Papagayo to celebrate a friend’s birthday and it continued to be a wonderful experience. We stopped in on a Tuesday night, which features all-​night happy hour. This allowed us to try several new dishes at a discounted price and everything was great.
To start with, my boyfriend and I recommended getting a couple baskets of bread and pesto for the table. I could never have enough of this pesto. It’s seriously the best thing that I’ve ever tasted and I’d be happy if I could live off of it alone.
We then ordered two flatbreads, the pesto margherita and the pear and brie, which are $ 10 each during happy hour. While I stuck to just my pesto flatbread because fruit on a pizza is just strange to me, my boyfriend tried both but seemed to prefer mine to his. Funny how that works, huh?
But even better than the pesto flatbread were the truffle fries. These were melt-​in-​your-​mouth delicious and so flavorful that you didn’t even need the somewhat strange aioli that they’re served with. We honestly couldn’t figure out the aioli because it looked just like mayonnaise and didn’t have much flavor. It’s listed as garli aioli but could have used a bit more garlic.
Le Papagayo retained its position near the top of my list of favorite restaurants in San Diego.

After walking up and down the street trying to find a place to curb our hunger, we moseyed on in here desperate to be fed! Luckily, they got the job done quiet well.
All around the food was on point, I didn’t hear one complaint from anyone… Seared Tuna, delicious! Salmon addition to a salad, also pretty tasty, and not super dry like typical pre frozen fillets… The chicken on the Cobb salad was also on point and the burrito with the flank steak was tasty AF! I know the tacos were also good because I didn’t hear a peep from the person who was chowing down on them… Aka: he was too busy sack ring the flavors.
I’d say, if you’re looking for a quick lunch spot or a place to get completely hammered (apparently this place is known for its drinks) then you need to come here if you’re in town!

This place was great for getting a group together for my birthday. Much larger than I thought, and great prices for happy hour all day on Tuesdays. We were glad to hear that happy hour prices were honored throughout the restaurant, not just in the bar as some places hold you to.
I had the chicken satay, truffle fries and sangria. The sangria comes with berries in it and has a clove-​like flavor that’s really different and good. The truffle fries… yikes. I don’t usually eat my fries with mayo, but I think that’s what it’s served with (some kind of aioli) and wow they were so good. I almost wish I wouldn’t have shared them with hubby.
The chicken satay was really tender and had a nice peanut flavor. I’m not totally sure why they served it with a side of plain cabbage chopped up, though. I would have expected it to be some kind of slaw, but there was nothing on it.
For my birthday they brought me cotton candy with a candle on top, it was adorable. I haven’t had cotton candy since I was a kid, for sure. Nostalgic!
If you go with a group, ask for a table away from the music. The background music from the band was great, I loved the variety, but had we been any closer we wouldn’t have been able to chat due to the noise.

There’s very little not to love about this place. Delicious, flavorful food, good service, excellent cocktail options, nice ambiance with a choice of indoor or outside seating (with heating lamps), live music. Plenty of choices and options all around to suit just about everyone.
I was craving lobster bisque, and it was really good, came with chunks of lobster. However, my husband ordered the Pacific Rim Bouillabaisse. THAT was amazing! Light coconut curry broth and loads of seafood. Presentation was on point too. Ordered their basket of bread with pesto sauce, which was the perfect accompaniment for both soups. I’m so going back for the bouillabaisse.

First off, the sangria was soooooo amazing. I loved the Hawaiian pork dish. My wife loved the halibut. Also, the bread with pesto is incredible. I am surely coming back when I am in town.

My girlfriends and I stopped by here on a Tuesday evening for a little pre-​birthday cocktail sesh. I had spent the ENTIRE day recovering from the worst hangover of my life so unfortunately I only had one glass of the white sangria. However, it was delicious and I would definitely order it again. The restaurant is cute and has a fabulous patio, but the parking situation (probably 8 spaces total) is less than ideal.
We had sangria and shared several small plates (mac & cheese, brie & pear flatbread, and garlic fries). All of the food was good but the brie and pear flatbread was hands down my favorite. Also, the dipping mayonnaise that comes with the garlic fries? I would like to bathe in it please. We were stoked to arrive and find out happy hour is all night on Tuesdays! I believe our total was about $ 60 for 3 plates and 5 cocktails. What a steal!

Not sure what non 5 star folks are eating. Perhaps they have sinus issues and can’t handle the flavor pallet of this amazing cuisine.
We’ve been here numerous times and have tried countless entrees and apps. This place has the BEST CALAMARI I HAVE EVVVVVVEEEERRRR EATEN! Hands down best calamari EVER! Should I say it again? Ok! BEST CALAMARI EVER!!! Seriously your chef needs a pat on the back, a raise, an award of excellence, Iron Chef Decal on uniform. It’s absurd. The sauce… ah I’m drooling.
Mascarpone cheese topped mashed potatoes with beef stew. WTF people! This place will single-​handedly gain me ten pounds this year. Goodness, goodness, goodness!
Carne Asada Tacos — Lordy, I can’t get enough.
Chicken satay — WOWZERS!
Just eat here people. You won’t be disappointed, definitively won’t leave hungry, and surely won’t leave here dissatisfied.

Came here during their happy hour and overall had a great experience. The open windowless walls made the atmosphere more chill, perfect for being next to the beach. However, the food they serve was quite varied and upscale.
Most of the dishes we ordered were delicious with a few misses. The mac and cheese was super delicious. The best mac and cheese I’ve had for a long time. The mahi mahi taco was also delicious with its delicate flavors. The duck taco though unique, wasn’t as mouthwatering as the mahi mahi. The Thai chicken skewers were unfortunately hard as a rock. That was the major failing dish of the evening. The pear & Brie cheese flatbread sounds delicious but was just alright. Perhaps it got too cold by the time I finished the tacos and mac n cheese and finally got to the flatbread.
The sangria was just alright. I’ve never had a glass of sangria halfway filled with berries before. It was more berries than anything and wasn’t that strong.
Despite some misses I really enjoyed the other dishes I had and would love to come back and discover other things on their menu.

Been here a few times and it’s usually been on a Friday night. There’s usually live music and it’s pretty crowded but last night was especially crowded with the aftermath of L Nino and it’s amazing weather. Outside inside and the bar were completely taken up and the environment was very much what you want at the end of a long week.
We had the pair and blue cheese flatbread. It was good except there was hardly any pairs on it or… They were just cut to the point where they scribbled and became very small. The lamb chop appetizer was absolutely delicious. Very tender and juicy and completely hit the spot. The mashed potatoes were forgettable and kind of dry. We also had the spicy shrimp appetizer which were all very good and for filling. Last we had the lobster ravioli which large in portion but small on taste.
Our service was great and there was a very evident come robbery between all the employees. I did not see anyone taking their time with anything. They truly want to meet the customers needs as quickly as possible and as efficiently as possible and that is something I respect very much.

+1 Live music all the time
+1 Great happy hour specials (all night happy hour on Tuesdays)
+1 Nice atmosphere with indoor and outdoor patio seating
+1 Fresh, delicious food
–1 Service can be hit or miss
Not that Le Papagayo needs another 4 or 5 star review, but it is well deserved and has quickly become our group of friend’s go to happy hour spot in Leucadia (or Pandora’s Pizza). I love the salads with unique and gourmet ingredients like mango, hearts of palm, macadamia nuts, beets, etc! There is always live music to set the mood! I love their pesto sauce and bread — although you now have to ask for it and pay for it, but it is worth it. It can be a little expensive outside of happy hour, so make sure you go on a Tuesday night (happy hour all night long) or during that hour or two when everyone is happy :)

Fantastic food. Amazing, fun environment. Indoor /​outdoor seating. Live music. Happy Hour specials. Full bar. And the Sangria =
!!! Decorations are fantastic! Very friendly service. Well illuminated.
My friend and I were helped by a nice female waitress who offered us to try the sangria. When we couldn’t decide between which one to order, she offered to bring us a little sample of both. We both delightfully accepted her offer. She brought a red sangria and a white sangria in adorably small glasses. She then proceeded to take our drink orders. We ordered one but she accidentally brought us two. When I told her that we had only ordered one, she apologized and let us keep the accidental one she brought for no cost — absolutely free! Now that’s what I call world class service! She was very courteous and nice in suggesting what we should try, taking all her time to explain the popularity of certain dishes and their portion size and taste. The service she gave us was exceptional. We had chicken wings and garlic truffle fries with a delicious sauce. The chicken wings were so fat and juicy. She constantly came back to check up on us to ask us how the food was.
I highly recommend this place because of its atmosphere, delicious food, but overall because of its service.

4.5 stars!
Came in for my birthday dinner after having Le Papagayo on my list for a long time and hearing so many good things about it.
Loved our food, loved the local feel, only knocking off ½ a star because service wasn’t that great; a little slow and not super attentive.
We were seated quickly, but it took several minutes to get water and then a few more for a server to take our drink order.
We ordered when our drinks were dropped and the food turnaround from the kitchen was actually pretty quick!
Started with fresh bread with pesto that was homemade and garlicky and delicious, Caesar salad with a great dressing (strong flavor but not too overpowering). For our entrees, I ordered the herb crusted halibut and my husband had the Hawaiian kalua pork– both were delicious and presentation was beautiful! My halibut was light and slightly sweet, perfectly cooked and the lemon beurre blanc was the perfect sauce to compliment the fish. It was served with coconut rice that was subtle and not overpowering but very good. My husband enjoyed the pork, I stole a bite and the sauce was packed full of flavor. The fried plantains were amazing! Warm and soft inside and crispy batter out, yum!
So many of the tapas looked like they would be delicious, both from the menu description and when I saw them being brought out from the kitchen. Would love to go back with a groups and get a bunch to share.
Price point is very good for quality and portion size. The inside has more tables than you’d expect, but I loved sitting out on the patio. It isn’t as nice inside as I would have thought, a little more eclectic and rustic. Love music is great, but it can be a little loud depending on how close you are to the band.

Le Lamb Shank est délicieux, ainsi que le tropical sea bass qui est divin, le tout accompagné d’un mojito … le bonheur absolu.