CHIKO

Visiting from out of town and was heading to my usual stop at the Taco Stand when my colleague pointed out ChiKo and recommended trying it. Chinese-Korean fusion? Why not! It was a quiet evening, my guess is this place does quite a bit of take out food delivery orders. Staff were friendly and welcoming, and didn’t rush us to finish up our meal even as they were closing. Thank you. We shared the Half-a-Cado salad, a bowl of Hot and Sour/Egg Drop/Wonton Soup and the Orange Chicken. The soup was unique…have never seen anything like it. I loved it and wish I could find something similar back home. Orange chicken was also delicious and lacked some heat with the fresno chilis. My only complaint…the Half-a-Cado salad. The flavor was delicious with the cucumber and jicama, but I could find barely any avocado in the entire bowl. Call this thing the Two Avocado Salad and charge more, but it needs more avocado. Will definitely return when I’m in town.

What a great place for fun Chinese/Korean fusion foods! Great outdoor seating area with picnic tables for larger groups and regular tables. Can order at the front counter or from the QR code at your table. Staff was friendly and service was prompt. Parking is limited but available on the north side of the restaurant in a gravel lot. Loved all the foods and flavors and will be back! Also really enjoyed their house made spicy sauce that you can get on the side.

Their food is filled with bold flavors. I got the depth of the cabbage and fish in the kimchi, the sweetness of the corn and tomato salad, and the heft of the potato salad. For the banchan just get the sampler. The gai lan was perfectly cooked. The bulgogi tater tots had smoky sweet grilled meat and decent tater tots. The sausage fried rice was the star of the meal. With plenty of wok hei and bold spices, I would rate that as a must have in San Diego. This was my favorite meal on my weekend in San Diego. Next time I want to try the rest of the menu.

Let me say that I would rate CHIKO 4.5/5 ⭐️. Awesome vibe and tasty food. Sit on the patio if you can.

Service - 4/5
Atmosphere - 5/5
Cleanliness - 5/5
Price - 3/5
Crispy Chicken Spring Roll - 5/5
Crazy Corn - 6/5
Spicy Ribeye & Rice Cakes - 5/5
Sichuan Spicy Cucumbers - 2/5
Smashed Salmon - 1/5
Overall - 4.5/5

Everything had amazing flavor and was wowing us until we got the smashed salmon. Very little seasoning and just lacked something that made me want to cry.

Alas great place. Enjoy!

Enjoyed this casual restaurant. There are QR codes at each table and you simply scan, order and pay on your phone. Service is friendly and efficient. I tried the smashed salmon and broccoli. Enjoyed both- they had nice flavors but a bit too much oil for my liking. My partner had the brisket and Brussels sprouts. He absolutely loved both. Not too many vegan options. Some indoor and outdoor seating