Guahan Grill

I just recently heard the news that this establishment will be relocating to downtown Oceanside and I just had to give them a try again before they made the move. Guahan Grill is a unique restaurant that serves cuisine from the island of Guam. It is one of the more unique dining experiences in Oceanside and provides a menu that varies away from the typical pizza, tacos, and burgers. The last time I ate here was, shamefully, about three years ago. I remember having a good experience and figured it was about time to familiarize myself with their food before they relocate. Understandably, they want to relocate because their current location is not conducive to foot traffic, and is also not visible from the main road. So this move to downtown will be good for them. Upon entering, I was greeted by their friendly staff and totally immersed by the reggae music playing. Their interior is split into two dining sections, which allows for plenty of seating for big groups & families. I also appreciate the use of wood paneling throughout the design and with their tables to give that tropical bamboo vibe. I was able to sample their chamorrow style fried chicken plate with red rice & cucumber salad. In addition, I had a Guahan Special with short ribs and it's a great deal with a great portion size. The highlight of the night was their Guam Bomb fries with bbq chicken & it was humorous & delicious! I heard their lumpias were magical! The price ranges were from $15-25 for a dish and the size was good for it. Guahan Grill will be missed in the inland Oceanside area, but I hope they thrive in their new Downtown location on Mission Ave.

It's been a very long time since I've gone to a restaurant that not only has amazing, great tasting food but also has outstanding service. Every bite was crafted with such love and passion to the art of how they cook their food. Definitely a 10 out of 5!!! Thank you

Amazing food and service! Love the artwork showcasing Chamorro culture, such a great vibe. Definitely recommend the banana donuts, they’re a must.

A blend of familiar and unique taste experiences make this a good option if you are looking for something new. People I know from Guam also say they do a good job of recreating local favorites from there. Also some of the best poke I have found in San Diego.

The pork spare ribs are bomb 💣 sooo good that we got two orders. These ribs are so flavorful, juicy and a bit crunchy on the outside. You have to try them when you visit. We ordered the Guahan special. It came with pork spare ribs, a chicken empanada, chicken kelaguen, rice and cucumber salad. I loved that I got to try a bit of everything. Chicken Kelaguen was very refreshing. We also ordered Chamorro style fried rice with spam and eggs over easy, and a Poke bowl. There’s plenty of food for four of us to share. Again, we wanted more spare ribs so we ordered more. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. The space was big enough to accommodate big groups. I would def come back when I’m in the area.

The food of my (mom's) people! I haven't had Chamorro cuisine in a long time and this is one of the few times I've had it out since I've only really had it homemade. I've somewhat had this place in mind and I'm happy I finally got the chance to try them out. ITEM'S ORDERED: Locals Deluxe (w/ mac salad & pork spare ribs) Chamorro Style Fried Chicken (w/ mac salad) Empanada TASTE: All the comforting feels for me as I ate my way through all the different items. I already had certain flavors in mind of how specific items would taste and the dishes all pretty much fit that. I had to go with the pork spareribs instead of the chicken option since I always enjoyed them as a kid at all the Chamorro parties. I was already expecting flavors of soy sauce and vinegar in an almost too strong way and these ribs were just that, in the best way. I say "too strong" because I think if you have never had these, you might at first find it a little too flavored, but once you get a bite with some red rice, it's all good. Red rice is a staple with this cuisine and works well with any protein. The vibrant color is more dramatic than the flavor since it's more subtle with just notes of salt & garlic I like to think. The mac salad was simple & good. I like the nicely sized portion of it compared to what you get at the Hawaiian chains these days. Compared to the mac salad at Hawaiian places, this is much less sweet. Also, I was surprised to not see potato salad as an option since I'm more used to having that side dish more. I don't believe I've ever had Chamorro Style Fried Chicken but I'll say it's comparable to fried chicken, minus the breading part. So the crunch is not there, but also comes across less heavy. The Empanada I always view as a specialty item since since whenever I've had it before it was in limited amounts and it always ran out. It's basically a nicely flavored shredded chicken mixture inside a crispy shell. I'm use to a little more spice, which these weren't, but they still were so good. Great freshly fried texture. SERVICE: The one girl who both took the order and brought the food out was very kind and friendly. LOCATION & PARKING: They are located in little shopping plaza which includes an IHOP with lots of parking so you shouldn't have a problem with that. You'll get all the warm, island feels inside with the woody interior and Chamorro styling. I'm partial to this cuisine since I had it so much as a child. If you are looking for a comforting meal or something new and pretty approachable be sure to find your way to Guahan Grill. Cheers!

Decided to stop by to try some Guam food. The food was great and the portions were decent. The size of the restaurant was pretty big for decent size parties. The waiter was great and very helpful. The only thing that bothered me was the price. With the price I paid, I would have hoped for bigger portions or some seafood.