My wife and I were visiting Encinitas for the week and we made reservations here over quite a few other top restaurants and were glad we did. Completely blown away. It was my wife’s first time visiting California so I wanted to show her an authentic experience. Leu Leu came through! The DJ, the wait staff, the interior design, the lighting, the food, even the bathroom. Everything was perfect. Our favorite was the fried chicken (menu staple apparently and for good reason). The short rib was also incredible. Excellent wine and champagne list. Definitely try the dips. I can’t say what will be on the menu when you visit because it changes each week but I can’t tell you will be worth the visit whether the chef is cooking that week. Can’t wait to come back.
Food was overall very good but the prices are definitely higher up there for what it is. On top of that they charged 5% "experience fee" for vibes. I mean the vibes were good, but we had to wait very long for our food and the waitress was very busy so we only saw her when she needed to bring us food or clear the table. We never had our water refilled either, they just took the finished pitcher and never came back. That left a poor taste esp with the experience fee.
I would come again for the good food but maybe on a slower night.
5
Had dinner here with friends and it was an exceptional experience. The food was absolutely outstanding—unique, rare, and full of flavor. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Jason, and hearing the inspiration behind creating this space was truly inspiring. As a fellow business owner, I deeply appreciate the dedication and effort it takes to run a restaurant, and they’ve done an incredible job. The service was attentive and warm, making the evening even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience!
5
Leu Leu was phenomenal - every dish was packed with flavor and beautifully balanced. The RIP & DIP was the clear standout - go for the red pepper butter with whipped tahini and garbanzos. It’s smoky, creamy, and absolutely addictive with their Prager Brothers bread.
The Fabergé Egg was a showstopper - wagyu tartare wrapped in sushi rice with a crispy shell and just the right touch of sweetness and spice. The Rock Crab Ceviche Tostada was bright, fresh, and very crabby in the best way - you can taste that it’s made with real crab, not filler.
And the Pibil Lamb Shank was fall-apart tender and full of deep, earthy spice. Truly one of the best meals in San Diego - every plate feels intentional, creative, and unforgettable.
3
I was looking forward to trying Leu Leu since it opened. Unfortunately I missed the time when chef Zapetta was running the kitchen as it has since changed hands and the menu is much smaller.
I was worried based on some recent reviews that the service would be lacking and I was very pleasantly surprised that we had excellent service. We were seated right away, never rushed and followed up with a few times.
The food was a bit of a miss. The rip and dip bread was great from Praeger brothers, but the dips were not great. The steak tartare was completely drowned in pomegranate molasses and cloyingly sweet and hard to eat. The ceviche was decent. Lots of herby flavor, nothing special though.
The lemon chicken soup was delicious. The first hit of the night. Then the whole
Market fish was also very good. I liked the lemon caper orzo side and the 2 ways the fish was prepared. Again it was heavy on the herbs but good.
Desert was a little cake and ice cream. Again nothing special.
Overall I was a bit disappointed with the meal. It’s expensive for what you’re getting and nothing was a standout to make me want to return.