Choi's

Visited Choi’s for a date night and had such an incredible experience. From the moment we sat down till we got our check, the staff were attentive and made sure we were well taken care of. Food was delicious (we had the oysters, octopus, braised short rib, and cod) and we loved their drinks (Busan Diego and danang skies). We were also pleasantly surprised when chef Choi came by to greet us and even knew our names. It was such a nice personal touch that wrapped up a lovely evening. We would definitely be back!

Came for happy hour stayed for dinner and returned for drinks after a concert. Atmosphere and service was incredible. Very cool concept with a fusion of Korean cuisine. Drinks are mostly Soju based but the bartenders will whip you up anything your heart desires or even if you don’t know what you want yet. Great staff great location. You need to add it to the list.

We found this place looking for a gluten free friendly place as I have a severe allergy. We were greeted by friendly staff and a calm, upscale, classy but casual atmosphere that was clean and inviting. Our servers, Gina and Hailey, were attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu, including gluten free options. The manager, Joyce, was friendly, helpful, and attentive as well. We ordered the shrimp crudo, the ling cod, and the crispy chicken. The crudo was fresh and unique, the ling cod melted in your mouth, and the chicken was crispy and juicy with a complex sweet and slightly spicy explosion of flavors. Great quality Asian fusion that was thoughtfully and beautifully presented. We had the "cheesecake" for dessert which was a great not-too-heavy cap for the meal. It was light, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet. Chef Choi and his sous chef Kyler are creative and enthusiastic and it was a pleasure meeting them. I look forward to trying their house infused soju when we bring friends back for our next visit. Would give it 10 stars if I could.

Choi’s lunch service in San Diego presents a notably restrained menu, offering just three main dishes: a build-your-own hot stone bowl, Korean fried chicken, and a single beef preparation, accompanied by two dessert options. The limited scope places greater emphasis on execution and value. Our hot stone bowl arrived composed of jasmine-steamed rice, kimchi, avocado, cucumber, and mushrooms, paired with KBBQ chicken and birria. The dish is thoughtfully assembled and well seasoned, with each component cooked precisely. The KBBQ chicken stands out for its depth of flavor and tenderness, while the birria, though serviceable, lacks distinction. A chimichurri and a gochujang crema were our sauce selections. The chimichurri is vibrant and assertive, leaning slightly more acidic than traditional iterations, which adds lift to the richness of the dish. The gochujang crema delivers a polished balance of savory, subtle sweetness, and gentle heat, its umami depth rounding out the bowl beautifully. These sauces ultimately prove to be the most compelling elements of the plate. At $60 for a single-portion lunch offering, the hot stone bowl challenges expectations of value, particularly given the midday context. While the quality of ingredients and precision of preparation are evident, the pricing feels better suited to a dinner service. Still, the careful handling of vegetables and rice reflects a kitchen attentive to detail and restraint.

From the moment you are greeted to your seat to when you exit the restaurant, there’s a special touch of hospitality. The Chef himself writes a personal card to address each guest and introduce himself and the menu, as time allows. This place blends the beauty of Korean heritage with the flavors of fusion-style food. From sourcing local ingredients to consciously curating close to zero waste, each dish has its own character that you won’t find in other restaurants. The price is also not too endearing for families and friends to enjoy, and the service and atmosphere add that much more to the welcoming and inviting experience. As a customer who visited during the opening and the anniversary, along with the recent revamp, the essence of Chef Choi’s touch still exists. Recommended visit as always! Also, a nice touch with the 2-hour complimentary parking 🙂

Celebrate your birthday or events here! They were amazing before we even Hope called and laid everything out. They accommodated everything I asked for and were so kind the entire time. Food was incredible based on previous reviews I think it’s clearly gotten better.. the octopus was a bit small plated but divine. The pork belly and ahi tuna were amazing. Every appetizer was incredible as well and the crispy chicken. Even with the apps since we were a large party they divided them all and spread them around the table every detail was so thought out. Joyce was the manager on the floor and she served us all night literally so patient and kind. We took photos and they placed us in a kinda cornered area which was sooo perfect to give us space. A coat rack for all our purses and just really incredible service. The drinks were divine as well. Outside of the restaurants control is the homelessness which is kinda all around. The building itself is stunning and very clean. The parking garage is extremely safe and they validate 2 hours of it. But you will drive through some of the worse streets of homelessness so just be mindful of that.

My husband and I went to a concert at Petco Park and were looking for a place to eat for dinner. My husband is very allergic to gluten so we had to choose a place carefully. We walked into Choi’s and were greeted with nothing but smiling faces and kindness. Choi’s has a very classy yet simple feel to it, it’s such a great place for a date night! We had the Saewoojang Crudo, Choi’s Crispy Chicken, Lingcod and I can’t believe it’s not cheesecake. Everything was absolutely perfect and so delicious! The Lingcod melts in your mouth, you have to switch from chopsticks to a fork just to get it all! The Crispy Chicken was able to made gluten free which was so nice for my husband as he can’t usually have fried chicken. It was so tender, crispy and just the right amount of kick to it, you’d never know it’s gluten free! The I can’t believe it’s not cheesecake was the perfect way to end the meal, It’s super light and refreshing! I cannot express how wonderful of an experience we had at Choi’s, it made our weekend so special! To anyone looking to try an Asian Fusion restaurant, look no further! You’ll want to keep coming back, I know we do!