Duke's La Jolla Reviews

We had a delicious lunch at what we view as a Hawaiian treasure! We couldn’t visit the islands this year, but we were excited to visit Duke’s while we were in San Diego, visiting from the East Coast. The Mahi Mahi was amazing, as was the Hula Pie & Mai Tai!

This USED to be my favorite restaurant, but I will NEVER be eating here again and neither will my friends or family. I am a cancer survivor and endured chemotherapy for 4 years. I suffer from severe PTSD and have two service dogs who are ADA certified (SERVICE dogs, NOT emotional support animals). I told this to the two females in front (August 30, 2:30 pm. an abrasive blond and brunette) and they told me I was lying and that my dogs were emotional support animals, not important enough to enter the restaurant and turned my family and I away. I have eaten here multiple times with these dogs and no restaurant has ever treated me so rudely and disregarded me so quickly. I do not appreciate this discrimination just because I do not appear handicapped. You have lost my business and that of everyone I know because of this disrespectful encounter.

Duke's has a great location and lovely oceanside view. The food is just ok. We were seated at our reservation time at a nice outdoor table oceanside as requested. The view is lovely. We've eaten at both this location and the one on Maui. The food was better at Duke's in Hawaii. It's good if you're mostly looking for a nice mealtime view.

Duke’s offers a perfect combo of great food, stunning views, and family-friendly vibes. The Waikiki Chicken and Fish Tacos were fresh and flavorful, and the beer selection was fantastic. My kid enjoyed the tenders and fries, and the kids’ menu with an activity book made the experience even better. Outstanding service—will definitely be back.

The reataurant has a special reservation system. trhey sent us an sms that we should wait on the bar. But after 40 minutes our favorate table was free, however first we did not get the table. later the reserving lady gave us the table afte I mentioned that we flew 10000 miles. The food was really good also the ocean view and the wine. Our service brittney was very nice. We will come agian when we are in San Diego.

Have been to the Hawaii locations and was surprised to find one on California. The food was good, but wow the views were amazing. Great place for a special night out.

My wife had seabass that she said was excellent. I had steak in teriyaki sauce which was very tasty. In the uk I usually have steak medium, but at a previous restaurant in the USA medium was a little raw for me, so here I asked for it to be well done thinking that might be the difference between the 2 countries (similar to in France). Although very tasty, it was done a little more than I like. My fault entirely. Hope this helps other diners choose the right consistency for themselves. Please don't let this comment put you off, I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

On our visit to La Jolla ( San Diego ), the best meal we had was at Duke's. Great choices for vegeterians also. On visit to La Jolla make it a point to eat and drink at this fabulous restaurant.

WE are French. We went to Duke’s yesterday for dinner . The place were you have been sitted was a table for 8 !!! And the dinner was terrible Nothing was good ! The sirloin uneatable ! And of course expensive . A ÉVITER!!

I was disappointed all the way around with this experience. The staff was fairly accommodating but every single thing we ordered was flavorless. The presentation was nice but the food was unseasoned and it was expensive. I come to this area often but will never go back to this restaurant and cannot recommend it. Two appetizers and one plate that we shared was nearly $70 before tip. Nothing worse than a meal you did not enjoy except an expensive meal you did not enjoy.

We have been here before and have to tell you we were really disappointed this time. Love the location and the restaurant is beautiful and has the best view but the service was so poor... They brought my husbands first plate and when he finished it mine arrived. The same thing happened with the entree and the wine arrived when we almost finished all even when we kept asking for it. The food was not as good as I remembered. It’s a shame because it really is a nice place. We have been to the one in Hawaii and this has nothing to do with it.

We had made reservations for a large party months in advance and specifically requested outside. We called the day of the reservation to confirm the tables which we split into a 6 and an 8 and were told they would put our request on their list and that we should be seated at the same time even if not next to each other. When we arrived the 6top was ready but their one 8 too had been given away. They expected that table to be ready in 30 minutes ( we arrived 30 minutes early so we said okay) after 30 minutes it was clear that the table of 8 was not moving. The table of 6 already had drinks and apps and had ordered dinner. At that point we asked if they would put the 2 open 4 tops next to us together so that the rest of our family could be seated and we’re were told no, they wouldn’t do it. So another 30 minutes goes by and still the table of 8 is just sitting and chatting. At this point we asked to speak the manager who was down right rude and condescending and couldn’t have cared any less that half our family hadn’t even been seated and the other half was done. He was a total jerk ( I’m being polite) The food was okay, the server was nice but the rest of the staff were terrible. I will never go back to Dukes and I suggest that others find someplace else to eat. There are many great places that are much better managed.

We regularly go to Duke's in La Jolla (and elsewhere) but this was first during COVID. They were following protocols and we felt safe and the food and drinks were great as always.

Went to restaurant and the deck was closed because of rain. Food was excellent! The server was very attentive to children and helped with gluten free options.

We used to really enjoy this place, but our most recent visit was so mishandled that we left in frustration. The server, who introduced himself as Corey — a thin guy — made the entire experience unbearable. We had a reservation, yet Corey gave us a table with two fewer seats than we needed. Honest mistakes happen, but instead of correcting it, Corey insisted there was no mistake and pushed us into a cramped corner table. What made it far worse was his dismissive tone, unprofessional attitude, and complete lack of accountability. The way Corey mishandled the situation set the tone for the evening and soured the mood for our whole group. It was so bad that we decided to leave altogether. Because of Corey’s attitude and poor service, we will not be returning.

The wait staff was just excellent quite a few selections for beers the food came reasonably fast and it was very very good and like I said in the title the prices were not overwhelming just a great place for lunch

overall this was an incredible place to have lunch. Great view the food was very, very good and the service was fantastic

Met family members here for a late lunch. It was Friday and we had music which was a bonus. We were seated near the water and had a beautiful view. They have a special menu from 3-8 which is much like the lunch menu. Lots of burgers ordered in our group.

Duke’s has a wonderful atmosphere with lovely views! My family went on “taco Tuesday”, which has some really great deals and a special menu. The food was delicious. Definitely stop by here for lunch or a dinner to watch the sunset!

Visited here having read the reviews on trip advisor and being recommended by the hotel too. Beautiful looking restaurant with a beautiful view from the patio. Were seated quickly and acknowledged by friendly and welcoming staff. However the menu was extremely limited - not something that we were expecting having looked online and thinking there was considerably more choice. Nonetheless we were excited by the look and feel of the restaurant and ordered ribs and chicken & a fish dish along with calamari to start. All of the food was good. And the service was delivered by a very friendly waitress. However we did feel incredibly rushed. We had a table booked for 8.30 and whilst we were seated a little early we were out by 9.20! And we had an entree too!! Way too fast for us. We understand there is a time limit of 90 minutes but we had calamari signing about 5 minutes of sitting down! Just spoiled it a bit for us and along with the very limited menu we wouldn’t return.

Went on a busy Friday night, so I was glad we had reservations. It was unseasonably cold for San Diego, but our server, Sean, was very attentive and made our experience so great! They do have heaters on the patio as well (thankfully), but if you’re going on a chilly night then dress for the weather as most of the seating is outside. Food was amazing and the hula pie is the whole reason to go!

After showing up with no ressies, waited about 40 minutes and then got seated. Hit the rooftop around 645 , ordered and waited for the sunset. Food was great. I was there with wife and 3 kids, it being Taco Tuesday, they went with chicken, shrimp and fish. I went with the Dukes classic Cheeseburger. App was carne asada nachos. No plates had food on them when finished. Our waitress was pleasant, patient, and attentive. Only issue we had was the seagull who dropped a bomb on our table, but fortunately, no one suffered a direct hit and it was in between courses. A good story for sure. Prices were reasonable for an Oceanside eatery. Parking is hit or miss but if you’re patient, you can find a street side spot without valet. Highly recommend visiting.

My husband and I had a reservation and were seated outside where there is a beautiful view. My husband ordered the Parmesan crusted sea bass which had a delicious flavor. I ordered fish tacos which lacked flavor to me, but someone else may think differently. There was a young man busing tables and doing a great job. The restaurant was busy and an older gentleman came in to help and cleaned a few tables. There was a spill on the floor and the gentleman cleaned the floor with the same rag/cloth as the table. He proceeded to another table and used that same cloth. This is not acceptable and extremely unsanitary.

Great location and good food. Both indoor and outside seating. Staff was great and service good. Nice views and relaxing.

We have been going to lunch at a variety of restaurants on SD Bay or the ocean, Jakes, Tom Hams, etc. Of them, I felt Dukes had the best menu selection and food quality, great view, and great service. We had the Ahi Tacos and the Roasted Fish (Ono) Lunch Plate. The Lunch Plate fish was delicious and came with macaroni salad, slaw and rice. Tip - ask for some extra sauce for the fish and put it on the rice. For dessert, Hula Pie is super but we also had the Key Lime Pie and enjoyed it greatly.

We came here w/friends on 12/16. We had a gift card we had waited two years to use. When we arrived at 4:10pm we were asked if we had a reservation. I told the hostess no, because I was told reservations are only taken for 5pm or later. Nevertheless, we had a 20 minute wait. One of our friend’s forgot his mask & he asked if they had fur customers. The hostess reluctantly gave him one to use. (For a restaurant of this caliber the attitude was not expected or deserved). I had been waiting for the opportunity to dine on the outdoor patio to take in the ocean views. When we arrived and were seated I was disappointed to find out their patio was closed. (I admit it was cold but later we strolled through town and many eateries had outdoor dining with heaters.) All things being said, the food & service were excellent. The Mai Tai’s were perfect, too, & served in adorable tiki glasses/mugs. For a second I thought we were back in Hawaii!

We stopped in for drinks and ended up getting nachos, too. Drinks were great (wine and Delicious beer) and the nachos were wonderful. It was a gray, windy, cool day and we sat on the upper deck and, well, nothing looks quite as good without sun and with wind. The service was excellent, too.

This was my favorite meal my whole week in San Diego.. and I ate at some really good restaurants. The staff was incredibly nice and the views and decor were beautiful. We got the pulled pork nachos for an appetizer and my husband had the park sandwich for the entire and I had the fish special (plate lunch). I was impressed with the fish and rice but the macaroni salad was phenomenal! I didn’t even know I liked macaroni salad! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!

We came here for dinner in the middle of the week beautiful views right by the water. Good seafood selection, and great service. Definitely make reservations as it gets very busy especially everybody wanting to sit outside on a nice day. Parking could be a little tricky, but there is a parking garage just right next to the restaurant which is good. Service was very good. Definitely recommend the restaurant if you’re in the area for good seafood, and views.

We went to Dukes 2 years ago for out 37th wedding anniversary and had a wonderful table and meal. Good food, good service. This time 39th year anniversary my husband had asked for specific table and we were told it was available at a certain time so we made the reservation for the available time and he told them that it was our anniversary. We arrived on time, mentioned our anniversary and were seated behind the table we asked for. We told them we had asked for the ( vacant ) table right in front of it and they said it was reserved for another guest. Bummer #1. Our waitress expected us to use the QR code to look at the menu, but seemed a tad bothered we wanted paper ones. ( We are sick of phones! ) So we ordered our food. and not once did she mention our anniversary celebration. Bummer #2. Finally when she asked is we wanted dessert, I asked if she knew it was out anniversary and she said no one told her. Bummer #3. Hey, great communication from the hostess! In her defense she offered us congratulations and did not charge for the dessert. We went back because 2 years ago was great, (even during covid!) . We won't be going back. Sorry. It was nice but not worth it. The Duke Burgers were not good. . No beef taste. Fries were mediocre. Bummer #4 BUT, The Hula pie was awesome! Thank you for that!

Great food and a gorgeous view of the ocean! Panko macadamia nut mahi mahi was divine. Perfectly cooked and paired with a delicious rice and broccolini. Our server was excellent and made a special request to the kitchen for a dining companion with food sensitivities. Would absolutely return when in La Jolla.

We ordered the Starters for dinner. The sashimi was very thin, skimpy and tasteless as well as over-priced for what was served. The Korean ribs were a disappointment as they were not tasty. The other starters were okay. Over all, food was very over priced for the quality received.

Excellent setting, great location, solid wine list, and good food. This restaurant is big and almost "corporate" feeling, but they do everything right. The views from most of the tables are outstanding, and the food is great.

Wife and I found ourselves in La Jolla shores for the afternoon looking for a nicer place to eat with an ocean view. Not a lot in the shores area so we got on trip advisor and both found this place. We got online and found they had some last minute open reservations and hightailed it to the restaurant via Uber. Restaurant makes a great first impression. Hosts were friendly and got us seated immediately. Great family friendly atmosphere. Our table was on a deck with a great view of the bay. Server was prompt and super friendly. If you're looking for a quick place to eat, may want to avoid this place, it's about the experience and the views not to hurry up and eat and get out. The restaurant did have a slight 'chain/franchise' vibe so I was concerned that food would be assembly line, run of the mill. I was wrong. They had a 3 course special for $50 so I felt the value was pretty good. Food was great, drinks were great, atmosphere was great. All around great experience. Would recommend and would return if in La Jolla again!

Service was extremely slow and the burgers were awful. We all ordered medium rare and every single burger was dry, overcooked and just terrible. One little dot of sauce on the bun and then just nothing else to add any flavor. The fish and chips was just ok and the Keylime pie was not great. We were pretty upset we spent that much money for such crappy food. We would’ve been better at In-N-Out Burger.

I visited La Jolla for several days to getaway with my 2 teenage sons. We all wanted a local seafood spot nearby. Several friends that lived in the area advised us against this place, but after reading a bunch of reviews we decided to give it a try anyway. We got a fantastic rooftop table, and everyone's meals were fabulous! Great service and reasonably priced too. I'll go again next time we're there.

Great food and great drinks and wow what an absolutely stunning view! It was a little pricier than we would normally spend on a meal, but for the view and ambience it was definitely worth it. We were there with our toddler and a friend who met up with us. Our daughter loved the food too and the beautiful view of the ocean kept her entertained.

Took my grandson and daughters to Duke's lunch while on vacation. Delicious sticky ribs appetizer, good drinks, coconut shrimp, burger, fish tacos. Everyone liked their food, but best part was the flavorful slaw-bok choy?. I could've eaten a bowl of that with shrimp on top! Waiter was A+- attentive, but served us leisurely enough to enjoy the food and ambiance. Gorgeous view on a lovely day!I'd go again!

$45 for 3 scallops? Yikes! Food was just ok. Nothing amazing for the cost! Our whole table was amazed at the cost of the scallop dinner for what was received! Wouldn’t visit again based on food alone. The atmosphere and vibe are great if your just looking for a drink and snack! I’m sure there are better restaurants with a better view in the area for the cost!

Restaurant totally overrated, overpriced. Gluten free options very limited, like 2 options. View is gorgeous but the rest, really???

We had lunch here on a weekday. We had no problem getting a table. It was busy, but not overly crowded. We sat outside and the views were phenomenal. The food, drinks, and service were top notch.

We had a reservation at 3pm. We got there and we were given a 8 people table in a corner by where the dishes are discarded. We were 2 people, and I had mentioned in the reservation that I want a table by the balcony for a special occasion (or at least something similar). They said we could change the table but we need to wait a little longer. We agreed. 40 minutes later we were told that our second table was given away “by mistake” and we either have to wait another 45 minutes for another table, or “there is nothing else they can do”. We saw a bunch of parties being seated while we waited. We left. We just wasted 1 hour of a beautiful Sunday for nothing. For a 5 star restaurant this kind of service should not “be ok”. Thanks.

Did a day trip into La Jolla, and Dukes came recommended. Got an early reservation and was seated at one of the tables on the edge of the deck overlooking the water. What an incredible view! We were celebrating a birthday, so there was a card waiting for us at the table- a very nice touch. The menu red well- no hard copy menus, just QR codes at the table. Had the calamari appetizer and for lunch we had the fish tacos (also recommended) and fish and chips. All were very good. They brought out the Hula Pie for dessert- it was a huge piece, and delicious. Overall it was a great experience. If you can get a table outside it will enhance your experience.

The food was good but pricey. The staff treated us poorly. We requested a table with a view and were willing to wait but the hostess with the braids said everything was reserved but we sat and watched 4 tables open and went and asked again if we could have one with a view, she once again said no but we watched couple after couple be seated by us and then they were moved when they asked. We sat for about 15 minutes with no one approaching us to take a drink order. We spent $100 for lunch but this will be the last time we ever visit this restaurant. La Jolla has many nice places. We felt we were discriminated against.

This place was recommended to me by Dave the bartender at La Estancia Hotel in La Jolla and it delivered, very nice atmosphere and ambiance, good food, reasonable prices, friendly staff and well suited for larger groups.

Great view but the food was not that good. We had the white fish and Jasmin rice that was touted by our waitress. It lacked flavor. The calamari appy was just frozen fried what looked like cheese sticks. For the money I’d go elsewhere. The view was great. The service was good.

This restaurant's terrace has beautiful views of the ocean. The Taco Tuesday happy hour was fun - reasonably-priced, and good. The music was not very good, and was so loud that it was almost impossible to talk at the table. The servers are great. One does not feel rushed. Try to get there early - for an outdoor seat.

The food was excellent. Coconut shrimp. Ribs. Fish n chips. Hula cake at the end served our group of 6. We had a great server. She was quick, and very personable.

The location is nice, but … they make rules I’ve not seen at any other restaurants. We were on the deck waiting for our dinner, sitting in the shade where it was cold, two tables opened up in the sun nearer to the water. The hostess absolutely would not let us switch tables because we’d ordered, even though I told them it was actually uncomfortably cold and those sunny tables sat empty. “Those are the rules” said the hostess, who clearly didn’t care, something most other restaurants would have simply done. It definitely affected our experience there, being freezing while eating. Food is so-so mediocre, except for the coconut shrimp which is good.

Great food in a wonderful atmosphere watching the sunset. The Mac nut crusted mahi mahi and Kino’s Hula pie were the stars!

If you’ve been to Duke’s in Hawaii, you’ll find a similar vibe here. Same tiki glasses and very good, but not outstanding food. Service was spotty both times we ate there during the week. It felt like staff was stretched too thin, but they were trying their best. Food orders for our party of seven came out at different times. The view from the outside deck is amazing. Overall nice ambiance and worth a visit if you’re missing Hawaii.

The last time we went to a Duke’s was in Waikiki back in 2009 and it was great! We recall enjoying amazing local fish, so when booking a trip to LaJolla, we reserved lunch here, hoping for some great fish again! When making the reservation, I requested the patio, overlooking the ocean and the staff didn’t disappoint when we got there… the views were beautiful on the sunny day we visited for lunch! The place quickly packs up and the deck is the first to get booked, so make reservations! (Don’t be like these two young girls we watched move from the back to the rail area to have the best view, when they didn’t reserved it and then argue with staff when they got caught… the actually argued in front of the customers who were about to be seated there as they stood there refusing to move! RIDICULOUS!) The menu for lunch is nice… they offer normal seafood dishes you’d expect, plus many Hawaiian dishes, which all sounded so great, it was hard to decide. We opted for their grilled swordfish and fish tacos. The swordfish was perfectly prepared (tho the sauce was slightly salty) and the pasta salad that came with it was great! The tacos were mahi and they tasted soooo good! Nice, fresh fish with an amazing slaw – yum! Our drink simply consisted of their ice tea, which they put a hint of mashed passion fruit in and it tasted sooo good! Clarissa was our server and she was attentive, friendly, and helpful! Definitely would suggest coming here! But please make reservations!

We ate on the extensive outdoors roof terrace with sea view. The service was so friendly and helpful. The macadamia crusted cod I ordered was perfect and they went out of their way to accommodate my intolerance of onions in the side dishes. Great place.

The food was fabulous, the servers were attentive and the price was on our ballpark. I don’t know what more we could have expected

We were seated quickly upstairs on a Thursday night overlooking the ocean. Shared an avocado burger and the Hula pie. Good service from Felix! Will return.

I have been to many of Duke’s or Hula Grill; this one has a great atmosphere and great view from outdoor patio. Drinks are great and our waiter straight from HI. I wasn’t very hungry and wanted some Hula Pie so he recommended he ahi tacos app. Just not good. The salt level was over the top and over powered the tuna. As a result it tasted one note. Really needed a lighter touch and perhaps some crema. The hubs had the hula chicken and ribs plate and it was excellent. Thankfully he shared. Ribs tasty and fall off the bone, the chicken moist! The Hula Pie as good as ever!! We will be back!

We were seated at a patio table not near the water despite having made reservations days ahead with a request for seating with direct ocean view ( were told this would not be a problem). We arrived early but were seated right away. When 3 tables vacated at the same time & we were not yet eating or drinking, we asked the young hostess if we could move closer to the water.. She refused, stating this was policy & she could summon a manager. We let it go. The ribs were very good but the fish was slightly underdone. We will find other places to dine in La Jolla, when we dine there again.

Fantastic evening. Low key, fun, relaxed venue but with polished food and service, perfect for what we were looking for. Poke tacos were great, ditto Ahi and burger main courses. And of course, stunning views over the bay, perfect!

Sat out on the deck with sea views for a chilled Sunday brunch. We reserved but there were some tables available. We found the food to be good with lots of options of a breakfast, brunch and lunch variety.

We had a casual lunch on the patio. If you can get near the edge, the views are spectacular. We had the Korean ribs for appetizer (so yummy) and a very good burger. The key lime pie was excellent. Service was lackluster, at best.

Never been to any Dukes before this visit. I made sure to book a table for Sunday brunch through their site online the day before. All seating was outside on the patio overlooking the cove. You can see the tiny swimmers and sea lions frolicking in the cove below. I order the Bloody Mary and the Eggs Benedict - which I have never had before. The Mary was spicy and tasty and a nice compliment to the eggs. The Benedicts were amazing, rich and decadent. They use biscuits instead of english muffins and the ham was tender and thinly sliced. They were served with well seasoned roasted potatoes. A very full meal! Definitely a win!

Views were great, service was average and food was worse. Macadamia crusted fish had no taste, accompanied by boring rice and some creamy macaroni ——- serving two starches on one plate !!! Presentation of food also uninspiring. Anyone with reasonable food standards will be disappointed here. Cannot recommend

Will definitely be back to Duke’s! Beautiful views, delicious food, and excellent service. Shannan was an angel! So helpful and sweet. Everyone loved their meals; the mac nut and Parmesan crusted fish was sooo tasty.

Unfortunately, Happy Hour prices only in the bar and not outside where the view is better. Familiar with Duke's since lived in Hawaii and also close to the the Duke's in Malibu. Tacos advertised as Kalua Pig tacos, maybe have shredded pork but not from the imu. Margarita refreshing, tasty for the $4 Happy Hour price,

This was our second time visiting Dukes…once again the food was amazing!!! Get the Fish Tacos, Ribs/Chicken or Fish and Chips!!! The calamari as a starter was perfect!!! They also have a wheelchair lift to allow full access to the spot…eating out on the balcony is awesome….treat yourself or family when visiting La Jolla.

This restaurant has outdoor seating with fabulous views of the ocean and all the activities going on below. There are only four tables with best unobstructed views so reserve one in advance. The food is good but couldn’t say the same about the service, and I would add that it was our waiter that was bad cause the table next to us had a different server and he was on top of it. We never saw our waiter after the meal was delivered and I needed a place setting and never got one. Never checked up on us.

We have been to Dukes in Hawaii so we tried Dukes in La Jolla. The views are awesome and the food was as well. We had nachos as an app, 2 entrees and the hula pie for dessert. All really good plus 2 glasses of wine. I believe the check was $132 which we felt happy about. So the value was there along with the experience!! We will be back!!

So good! Even on a rainy night indoors, there was a chill, beachy vibe. Excellent service and really high quality seafood combined with the atmosphere to make for a memorable evening.

My wife and I have dined here before and are happy to report that the food, drinks and service are still excellent. We had dinner one night and then drinks in the upstairs bar the next afternoon. In both cases we found the service to be attentive and friendly. For dinner we had two fish dishes (Mahi and Ono) and both were well prepared and tasty. For starters we had the Rocket salad and the Ahi tacos – again we would recommend both dishes. The restaurant and the bar were both very busy but the food came promptly as did the drinks we ordered. We look forward to dining here again on a future trip to La Jolla.

We visited Dukes during our trip to San Diego. We enjoyed the Hawaiin atmosphere and the food. We felt very safe visiting during these uncertain times. The Hula pie is a must! Cocktails are tasty and so is the food. We got crab cakes, crunchy shrimp, kids mac and cheese, ravioli and mac nut fish, all were AMAZING! Even though we were there on an overcast day, the view was still amazing as well! I highly recommend Dukes for a fun/special night out.

We are visiting SD from out of state and walked in to Duke’s at about 3:30. Since it’s between lunch and dinner crowds, we were seated on the second floor outside with a great ocean view. All of us enjoyed our meals (burgers, tuna, kids chicken) and it was a relaxing experience even though we had several young children with us.

We visited in April and were lucky enough to snag the best seat in the house! We’ve been to Dukes in Hawaii so this was a real treat for us. Love the Macadamia nut crusted fish and the fish of the day! Cannot go wrong with those choices!! Also, if you don’t drink alcohol, like me, they have great mocktail too! Always appreciated!

Great Seafood Restaurant. Before dinner make sure to go down to the shore and watch the La Jolla seals playing and laying on the beach! Wonderful atmosphere, the outside tables overlooking the Pacific were glorious. I had the Teryaki Sirloin with a Lobster Tail, and it was fantastic. The service was excellent and the meals moderately-priced, but no more than you'd expect from one of the top restaurants in La Jolla.

ordered the Kalua pork sandwich and the chilled shrimp salad and both were great choices. The interior is beautifully decorated in Hawaiian theme although most people want the view of the water.

This place has a great overlook seating area that is right on the edge of a cliff. Don't set next to the glass wall if you're afraid of heights, it's terrifying! If you're not afraid of heights, it is beautiful. The service was good and the fish special for the day was excellent.

The food was so good. We had great service. We sat inside which was perfect because the doors were open to let in the fresh air.

Lovely restaurant overlooking La Jolla beach. Very busy and popular - need to reserve. We couldn't get an outside table. Valet parking just outside or public car park next door. Good choice of dishes with a Hawaian feel - liked the pineapple gremolata. Good rubs. Excellent key lime pie.

We had made reservations on Open Table, but we arrived earlier than planned. We asked if we were able to move up our reservation and they made a nice effort to allow us to change our time..mainly because it was mid-afternoon. We were lucky to be seated at the point overlooking the Cove on the main level balcony. We were treated very nicely by all of the staff who made us feel very welcome. We had noted that we were celebrating our wedding anniversary and they made us feel even more welcome. We dined on the Roasted Duke's Fish and the Macnut and Herb Fish. Both were extremely flavorful and large portions. the noodles and cole slaw served with our meals were also great. Nice choices of beers and wines are available. The bathrooms were clean, however, there wasn't any hand soap in the dispenser in the men's restroom. Free street parking in the area, but spots can be difficult to find.

What a wonderful lunch we had at Duke’s! Parking is a little challenging, especially on the weekend, so we valet parked our car, which was very convenient. We were greeted with a smile and quickly taken out to the patio. We had a beautiful view of the ocean. The weather was perfect! We started off with a Mai Tai for me and a beer for my husband. Our waiter was so friendly and informative. With his help, I chose the Mac Nut Mahi Mahi which was absolutely delicious! My husband had the cheeseburger and said it was one of the best he has ever had! The hula pie looked amazing but we were too full to order it! I can’t wait to return! I recommend Duke’s and make a reservation, it’s a popular place!

After reading about this place, I snagged a reservation for lunch before we left home. We were seated at a table on the patio with an awesome view of La Jolla Cove. Our server Christa was really sweet and helped guide us through the menu. The Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Lilikoi Chili Water starter was outstanding. I had the Kalua Pork Sandwich and savored it with its Mango BBQ Sauce, Onion Straws and Apple Cider Slaw toppings. My wife ordered the Ribs & Chicken Plate and it was fantastic. And then, because it would be our only time there, and we didn’t want to leave our viewpoint, I ordered Key Lime Pie. It was good, but it’s no wonder I gained weight on this trip. Now, for a tip that Christa shared with us. Walk down a few buildings to the big pink hotel, turn right and head down the steps and end up right at La Jolla Cove! Walking back up was not quite as much fun.

We all had a great dinner & drinks. The service was great and the view was awesome. We had to wait almost an hour which is understandable for a Saturday night and there were plenty of shops around while we waited.

Had dinner here to celebrate our anniversary. Our table on the patio was spot on - great water view. I had the Mahi Mahi with the macadamia nut crust, my husband had the filet mignon - both great! Our server was fantastic! NOTE: Based on prior parking reviews ($10 in the underground parking next door to Duke's) it is now $40 no matter how long you stay. Ouch!! Our error - we saw the sign but 'assumed' it was $40 all day and less by the hour. That makes a very expensive dinner!

Booked a table for 7:45pm, arrived at 7pm and asked if we could go for a drink and wait. We were offered a bench! So we went away to be txt when a table or opportunity became available. We were txt at 7:35pm. Upon arrival we were taken to our table by a ‘hostess’ who could not provide the wifi code or a menu. So, our wonderful server did. Dinner was mediocre at best. $35 for a seafood hot pot. It was slop with a couple of over cooked prawns and mussels. Half a small lobster tail. Rice was tepid and the coconut‘sauce’ was pretty much see through. Very disappointing. My partner had the ribs and chicken. Again, very over priced for what it was and how it was presented. We then asked to split the bill due to one of us being on business. This was accommodated, but when we came to leave, we realised we hadn’t gotten 2 detailed receipts. Which is what we needed. We asked the ‘hostess’ to help us who responded with, ‘well that’s all I have’. !!! The lovely server came to her rescue and completed our request without any issue or poor customer service response.

I rarely post reviews but I felt this was very important. So, My family and I decided a night before to drive to San Diego for labor day from Rancho Cucamonga to spend the day. I looked up a few restaurants and cam across Dukes. I have been many times in Malibu and felt that it was the family friendly type of environment that would be comfortable and enjoyable. My aunt arrived first and called saying the staff was rude and would not allow them to sit. I was confused so decided to speak with someone myself as I have worked in the service industry for many years before. As soon as I walked up to the counter they were staring at me like they were afraid and immediately told me we can not be seated because we had a very large group that ended up showing up so we could not sit together which I totally understood, but the manger on staff which he says his name was Chyler or Tyler who did not have a badge on indicating that was his real name or identifying his title as manager never tried to explain. He basically just said we can't be seated. I started questioning things and he gave me major attitude and proceeded to argue with me. I hate to say it but I felt immediately unwanted. My family and I are black and there were no other black people around so I unfortunately felt like we were being treated as if we did not deserve an explanation and they just wanted us to go away. I have many attempts to contact the general manager and left messages with hopes that with everything going on in the world related to racist organizations and people being exposed that this was not the case. The manager looked as if he was of mixed race, but he still treated us with the lowest level of respect that I have ever received. I pray that something is done about this and if anything else, no one of any race is ever treated like this again. Thank you.

All the flavors of Duke’s in Waikiki in SoCal: from the delicious macadamian crusted Mahi Mahi, to the fun Lava Flows and the Hula Pie. We didn’t make it to Oahu this year, and the Duke’s in LaJolla made it more bearable! And the view on the deck of the cove is exceptional!

Staff helpful special Diet got Side dish! Very very pleasant atmosphere! Beautiful layout relaxing got food to go,

This Restaurant overlooks the La Jolla Cove, and some tables on the open deck have beautiful views. Even with reservations for six people made ahead of time, we could not secure a nicer table. We got a semi-circular booth in the middle, and only had partial views of the water. Oh well…! We consoled ourselves that we were there for the food and the company, and luckily got both of that. Between us, we had the Shrimp Tacos, the Barbeque Chicken Sandwich, Fried Chicken Strips on a Bed of Salad, Ahi Tuna Sushi and Kimchi Platter, Burger with Fries, and Macaroni and Cheese with French Fries. Every dish was delicious, and we were all a little too full to even contemplate Dessert. For drinks, I had the Mango Old fashioned Martini, and the rest had Beer or Water. The atmosphere was a happy one with relaxed people enjoying themselves with their families. Our Greeters and Servers were all polite, friendly and courteous. The food was fresh, but the prices were high, but that was expected because of the location. All-in-all, we had a wonderful lunch, and will return if we find ourselves in this area in the future.

Fish tacos and hula pie are very good. We loved the sporks! Beautiful view and pretty entrance to restaurant.

We had our 25th anniversary dinner here with 3 adult kids, it was lovely. The 2 female servers were sweet and friendly (one in training), and the food was good, except the sirloin steak was tough. We had the Hula Ice Cream pie complimentary (their treat for for our anniversary) for dessert, wow it's amazing. Great place to come for a celebration! Too bad that even with a reservation, we couldn't get a table along the water because there were 5 of us.

I booked a reservation here because of the great outdoor patio. The atmosphere was great and had a wonderful Hawaiian Feel. The menu had a good variety, I ordered the Strip and coconut shrimp. Th steak was cooked perfect but it was just so bland... the coconut shrimp were very good, and the potato were just ok. My husband had the Ribs and Chicken, he said the chicken was dry and bland but the ribs were good. So overall the food was a little less the impressive but the location and view are wonderful.

First time at this Duke’s location and the food as always was great. You can’t beat that Hula Pie either. I’d say the best part of this Duke’s though is the unbelievable view. Duke’s Kauai is the only Duke’s that has a better view

I wanted to take my spouse to Duke's for a birthday lunch as the views are so magnificent. While we waited for our reserved table, it started to rain. Even though there are umbrellas outside, it made for a difficult situation. We were first offered a table without an umbrella in hopes, I guess, it wouldn't rain again. Unfortunately, the overhang was dripping and we declined. Eventually the host took us to one of the booths which was just great. Our server was Tyler. He was great. He took really good care of us without being omnipresent. We had a nice chat as it seems he just moved from a small town in Massachusetts which is only ten miles from my home town. We had a selection of appetizers for our lunch - the best was the Poke Tacos. So delicious - can't wait to go back and have more.

This was my first time to San Diego and visiting Dukes La Jolla restaurant. I ordered the classic cheeseburger and a cocktail. The food was delicious and the drink was awesome. I would recommend this restaurant for the food, drinks, and the view.

We arrived on late on Saturday afternoon. We went upstairs and were able to sit on the open air deck at a table overlooking the ocean. The view was the best! The fish tacos were delicious and my partner enjoyed the large Duke's Classic Burger. The staff was great and very upbeat. There was a small group playing music inside; very enjoyable. Only regret, no room for the famous Hula Pie - will come back and get one next time!

We met friends at Duke's in La Jolla for lunch. We asked for a good seat and were seated right in the corner overlooking the ocean. The wait staff were very good in making the experience special and the food was excellent (my wife is still talking about it!) We'll be back to Dukes - both in La Jolla and Oahu

Great food and the prices weren’t bad. Friendly staff and generous portions. Beautiful outside dining with a view of the pacific. They also have gluten free options!

We recently dined at Duke's in La Jolla with friends for a birthday celebration and had a wonderful time! The food was delicious, especially chicken and BBQ ribs with shrimp. And as always you cannot go to Duke's without having the Hula Pie. The Mai Tais were perfectly refreshing, and our waitress was incredibly friendly and attentive. We highly recommend Duke's for a casual and enjoyable dining experience with stunning ocean views.

We have been to Duke’s in Kauai many times. Did not know what to expect at this location. Arrived here one hour before the dinner hour. We waited for a table upstairs. It was outside with a good ocean view. Some of the same menu as Kauai. Of course, lacks the great Hawaiian fresh seafood. We shared the coconut shrimp it was very good but expensive. I had the shrimp and crab salad. Seafood was good and fresh. I would have this salad again. It was great ing here. A California tip that some people do not know or even believe.... if you have one of those “handicap “ plates for you car you can park at ANY meter and not pay. This does not include private property.

They have hostesses who are ableist and rude. They BROKE THE LAW by not allowing a person who has legally certified dogs for physical disabilities and cancer remission. They did not allow her family and her to enter despite legally HAVING TO ALLOW them in.

Such a disappointing experience at what otherwise has always been a local fave for us. We were highly embarrassed after taking friends there by a waiter who not only was snarky and unprofessional but argued with us about one of the dishes and then proceeded to dig his heels in when asked about the order. Such an unfortunate occurrence which sadly, will be carried in our memory now forever.

This was a fantastic brunch spot for a large group. The food was all incredibly fresh and the menu offered lots of healthy options. The avocado toast was out of this world. The views from the deck are outstanding. The service was very good as well. This is a short walk from the La Jolla Cliffs where you can view lots of wildlife.

Dukes is the best! Food is always fresh and tasty. The service is 100% Aloha even in San Diego. Duke’s reputation and food is consistent. If you can get a seat with a view of the ocean, do it!! Book in advance as the resto fills up quickly. I ate at at Dukes on the first and last night of my visit in SD. No need to look further. I highly recommend ordering seafood!

What’s not to like here? Nothing. I can’t decide whether my favorite element is the view or the coffee, which is authentic Kona and dark roast. The mango old fashioned is also a must try. The views from the deck sweep 150 degrees across the beach and ocean. Service was also efficient and friendly, making for a perfect all-around experience.

Very enjoyable dinner experience. The food was really good and they had a really good drink menu. Not able to see much of the ocean or beach from our table, but I guess that's what you get for not making a reservation. I would go there for dinner and drinks.

We had a reservation and were told when we got there, could ask about an outdoor table. We did and were told it would be 30-40 min however within 10 min a fantastic ocean view table along the glass was avails. We had a great dinner and loved watching the sunset here. Service was fairly slow but we didn’t care with those views. Recommend!

Family and I had a great experience at Dukes. We usually visit the location in Huntington beach. The server was amazing along with The food as usual .they did a great job with separating everyone.thanks again Dukes!

Wonderful food, great service and beautiful views. Highly recommend to any one looking for something to eat or drink in La Jolla

Who knew that there was a Duke's in San Diego? Sure glad that we discovered it! The view is almost as great as the Waikiki Beach or Kauai Duke's views. The outdoor patio seating was refreshing on a beautiful Spring day. The Huli Huli Chicken, Mango & BBQ Chicken Salad, and Hula Pie were just as delicious as we remembered. The only negative was our waiter was not at all engaged. Our interactions were short and chilly. Otherwise this would have been a 5-Star review! Duke's La Jolla brought back lovely memories of the islands!

absolutely terrible experience, the hostess was incredibly rude, terrible customer service and broke the law by not allowing an ADA certified service dog

I ordered the panko mac crusted Dukes fish and it was divine. My husband ordered the filet and honestly it ranks in the top 5 things I’ve ever eaten! Wow! And the service? Our waitress Michaela was amazing! We were seated on the balcony overlooking the ocean and enjoyed a magical light show from lightning! A night we’ll never forget!

Dukes is part of the TS group and never fails to offer exceptional food and service. Our fish was cooked to perfection. Don’t forget to order the best Mai Tai in San Diego. The Hula pie is amazing so save room for dessert!

Super friendly staff & great service! We decided to have a few drinks at the downstairs bar while waiting for our table upstairs to be ready. All the staff members at the bar were super nice, talkative, and overall such a nice experience with great conversations. Drinks were great as well! Once seated, we ordered the coconut shrimp & crab wontons - both fantastic! For our main dishes we ordered the Seared Ahi Bowl & The Waikiki Huli Huli Chicken Plate. Both entrees were very filling and so fresh. We loved our experience, food, and great views!

Hubby and I came for dinner. Fish and chips with shrimp for me, burger for hubby. The spicy sauce that came with the fish tipped on my plate and leaked all over the fish, making it soggy and spicy. Our server was nowhere to be found so we couldn't inform him. The coconut shrimp, however was delicious and perfect! Hubby's burger was also delicious. The highlight of our meal was the hula pie at the end. One of the best things I have ever put in my mouth - sooooo good! Service was awful but they were incredibly busy so we forgave it.

Went for dinner. Sat outside with a scenic view of the ocean. Good service. My food ratings below. Teriyaki Sirloin (9.1) great flavor Creamed corn (9.4) Mashed potatoes (8.2) Hula Pie (9.6), ice cream, lots of hot fudge, nuts, cookie bottom

The food was fine, not too expensive. Just not some place you’d want to eat again. The service was awful. Almost nonexistent. Drinks came right after our food - beer and wine. Go elsewhere. But the ambiance and view are lovely.

Beautiful views and delicious seafood! Everything was fresh and delicious! Our server was friendly and helpful! Great vibe!

We came for late lunch and was taken away by the fantastic view. Our waiter was fantastic and helped us decide what to order. At 4:00 live music started. Could have stayed watching the ocean and listening to the music.

Pros: The VIEW is beautiful. I would go just for drinks to enjoy the view. Food was tasty and service was okay. I was greeted upon entering and seated very quickly (had a reservation). Cons: Lack of variety in the menu. There is obviously a theme, so its menu reflects that, but I found myself not excited to try anything. Didnt care for the macaroni salad that comes with most meals. What I ordered: Crab wonton appetizer. Pretty good. Mai thai- just okay; wouldnt reorder. Herb crusted fish(mahi mahi) was delicious. It was cooked perfectly: cripsy outside and tender, flakey inside. I was hestitant i ordering mahi mahi because I dont like that meaty texture, but here it was so tender.

Fun atmosphere with a good dessert but the strongly recommended fish was ordinary and not worth the price. The service was good. Noise level is energetic.

If you're looking for good food with a great view, check out Dukes in the LaJolla Village. We ordered three of their starters Coconut shrimp, black bean nachos and crab wontons. They were all very good and were generous portions. They are known for their Hulu Pie dessert so we had to try it. It was amazing and big enough for several to share! Don't think you'll be disappointed.

Sat on the outside bar on a Tuesday and had the taco special. It was very good. Staff were friendly and always available. We also ate at Eddie v’s and honestly Dukes had a nicer view. The manager also came over to see how we were doing which showed they cared. I would not hesitate to eat here.

We had a wonderful time at Duke's! The restaurant's interior highlights the life and surfing/swimming career of Duke Kahanamoku for whom the restaurant is named. We sat on the outdoor dining terrace with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. The menu has alot of fish options, all of which were fantastic. Save room for their signature Hula Pie which is huge (so share) and worth the calories!

great view nice bar. It’s got the same relaxed vibe you’d expect at Duke’s but with a menu that’s way more exciting and unique.

We looked up the menu before heading to Dukes. My husband was looking for a place to have fish and dine near the water. He had the crab wonton appetizer and fish tacos. I had the chicken and ribs and was able to change out the macaroni salad for a green salad. We sat right next to the glass railing and had a beautiful view of the ocean and some sea lions. The staff was excellent, the food was tasty, and the wait was minimal. We arrived shortly after they opened for lunch.

Most Beautiful place for Lunch and a Drink! Views are spectacular! Great service and food options! I highly recommend this place!

This restaurant had great service, food, and of course, their signature Hula Pie never disappoints. We spent some time walking around the area before dinner which is absolutely breathtaking. Also got a show from lots of sea lions prior to reaching the restaurant. The seafood pot was absolutely delicious! Drinks were also good. Can't forget the Hula Pie - by far one of our favorite desserts in the history of dessert. Watching the sunset from their outdoor seating area was one of our favorite nights in San Diego.

Good food but don’t expect good service. Third time visiting Duke's and every time I've felt like we were imposing on the people who were "working"... From Hostess, to Bartender, to Waitress, and even the Manager - they clearly just want to close up and go home early. My advice for the price? ~ Spend your money on people and establishments who appreciate you... Show less

We were four 'ladies who lunch' that were celebrating one of our birthdays. The hosts escorted us to a wonderful table with the most incredible view! We had cocktails, a shared appetizer of Coconut Shrimp then our entrees. Food was delicious. What made the afternoon so wonderful was our incredible server, Jake. He's gracious, professional and charming. We thoroughly enjoyed his service and I think he enjoyed taking care of us. Clearly he finds joy in his work and made us feel very special. I suspect he makes all his guests feel the same. What a jewel!!

The Server met our needs as our car arrived for the airport, yet the food came out and was prepared to go. The K -Ribs were good and spicy.

We really enjoyed our Tuesday night visit. Reservations were booked for the evening, so we went upstairs (which accepts walk-ins), and found two seats at the bar. Our bartender, Josh, was very pleasant, and the food and drinks were delicious. We ordered the calamari (best calamari I've ever tasted), Taco Tuesday specials (I loved the shrimp taco and my sweetie loved the fish taco), and Prospect Margaritas (highly recommend). Can't wait to visit again, reserve a table with a beautiful ocean view, and try some other things from the menu.

Best meal of the week while in San Diego. I had dukes favorite mac crusted fresh fish. Great flavor and the jasmine rice was a yummy side dish. Thursday is surf and turf night so hubby had the strip steak with pineapple Demi glaze and mashed potatoes. Service was excellent. Great space heaters for outdoor seating. Only thing that would have made the dinner even better was if it was daylight savings time so we could have a view.

This iwas our 4th visit to Duke's in La Jolla. Each visit is a little more disappointing than the last. The food used to be better in the past. The lunch menu is very limited. Fish tacos were dry. Parking next door was $20. The restaurant is beautiful however and the views are gorgeous! Service is always good here also.

Booked a table and we were seated in a few mins, our server Will was very friendly and knowledgable about the menu. We had a lovely dinner, highly recommend the Hula Pie for dessert but it’s definitely something that should be shared! Good kids menu too.

spectacularly well, I was scared because it has a very good location and and normally that doesn't work as far as food but I was surprised how well we had breakfast. Benedictine eggs with crab are the best I've ever tasted.

We visited Duke's (a Hawaiian restaurant). We really enjoyed the food. I ordered the filet mignon with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes and my partner ordered the USDA Prime Sirloin with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. For starters, we ordered the black bean nachos and coconut shrimp. All was enjoyable. Small criticisms include the coconut shrimp didn't come with cocktail sauce. We asked and did get it. The filet mignon came with Maui onion jam on top. I didn't care for it and gave it to my partner to try for his steak. He enjoyed it. What I did prefer on my filet mignon and wished there was more of was the watercress sauce. The Yukon Gold potatoes 🥔 that came with both our steaks were excellent. The coconut shrimp came with lilikoi chili water. The sauce was good, but not with shrimp. I love 💘 that sauce on wontons. I can't say that I've had a better meal this trip. I'm happy with my selections. We enjoyed our meal so much at this restaurant.

Enjoyed lunch at Duke's on a Thursday. We walked in early and were seated outside with a lovely view of the ocean; it was a bit cool and cloudy, but the heat lamps made the patio very comfortable. Service from the host to our waiter were great. We enjoyed the calamari appetizer which was tasty and cooked perfectly. Spouse had the burger which was cooked as he liked it and tasty. I had the rib lunch plate-every part was yummy! Our entrees were large enough to take half back to our room for dinner by the beach. We also ordered the key lime pie to take home - delish! I see others complain about the prices; I think for the location, view and good experience, the prices are reasonable. I would go again!

We ordered the coconut shrimp plate and it only came with 5 shrimp. $15 for 5 shrimp. Tasted great just disappointed on quantity.I can pay $5 at Vons and get 5 shrimp skewers with 5 shrimp each on them, 25 shrimp in total for $5. I ordered a virgn strawberry daiquiri and received something like a strawberry margarita slushy, but it was completely overpowered by lime, no taste of strawberry whatsoever, very unsatisfied. The menu options were very limited and we also overheard someone receive some ravioli with I never saw on the menu at all, same with the strawberry daiquiri, it was not listed on the menu as an option.

Sunday brunch at Dukes was absolutely fabulous! Madison was our server, she was fantastic. The host, I believe his name was. Jake was amazing. Gave us a great seat that had a beautiful ocean view. My husband and I shared that French toast along with a bottle of champagne and enjoyed the beautiful view of La Jolla Cove.

Hopping place in La Jolla for dinner. Enjoyed the Teriyaki Steak, Lump Crab Cake and Hula Pie. Service was efficient and food was yummy.

We chose Dukes from the reviews of "great views" in La Jolla and liked the menu online. It did not disappoint! Every dish was delicious, filled with flavor and just great. We had a reservation and it was honored as reserved. The woman at the desk was not very friendly and did not greet us very nicely. Once seated, we immediately were drawn by the fantastic views of the Pacific. It was magical. We started with the sticky ribs and they were amazing along with garlic shrimp. The steak was great and the lobster tails were perfect. It was a great dinner in a great spot. Thank you Dukes!

We had reservations, we were seated immediately. Our party of four luckily enjoyed the best exterior patio seat in the house at the point of the glass-enclosed railing. The server recommended my meal selections upon request; I requested everything that Duke's was known for and the servings did not disappoint. The seafood was spot-on and the Duke's Mai Tai set the atmosphere against an ocean breeze with a spectacular evening view. Everyone else in the party thoroughly enjoyed their experience without complaint - and we are by far, not the easiest clientele to please! Will be back, will recommend. Thank you for a satisfying experience.

Excellent restaurant, with a surfing theme and with sea views situated centrally in La Jolla. The food is really really good at a reasonable price, and the service very helpful and friendly. We at there twice, having Mahi Mahi, ribs and different types of burgers. 10 out of 10 all round. Highly recommend.

My Bride and I had a wonderful COVID Safe Anniversary evening at Dukes in La Jolla. The fresh fish was wonderful!

We were starving and said the next place we see we will stop. This is where it was. The staff was amazing, efficient, helpful, and knowledgeable of the area. The food came out quickly despite being g busy and was very good. The atmosphere was very relaxed and the view was amazing.

How do you conclude a wonderful anniversary week in SoCal? At Duke’s in La Jolla! Having been to their location in Malibu several years ago, we were hoping for the same Hawaiian vibe with ocean views. This location was even better! We got a front row table overlooking La Jolla Cove and got to see the sea creatures below frolicking the whole time – what a bonus treat. Lunch was Coconut Shrimp for me and fresh Swordfish (aka Roasted Duke’s Fish) for my wife. Both entrees were nicely prepared and accompanied by jasmine rice, macaroni salad, and bok chop macadamia nut slaw. Scrumptious! And because we knew to save room for dessert, we enjoyed Duke’s Piece de Resistance… Hula Pie. Just order it and enjoy, you will be glad you did. Great food, great service, great location. Others will confirm that parking is the biggest challenge in this neighborhood, but be patient, drive around a couple of times to look for something along the street, and then be prepared for a treat. PS. Google the guy after whom Duke’s is named: Duke Kahanamoku – his is an amazing story and worth reading.

We were in La Jolla for an evening and Duke's was recommended to us. We were delighted with everything. The ocean view, the attentive service, the craft cocktails and especially the food. We had the coconut shrimp and a crab cake to start. My wife and I both had the banana leaf steamed sea bass and shrimp for our main course and finished by sharing a key lime pie. Our server, Sierra, was knowledgable, attentive and friendly. We would go back in a heartbeat. We highly recommend Duke's.

Was so looking forward to having my birthday lunch here. We arrived & were told it would be over an hour wait - on a Tuesday afternoon. Or 15 min if we took a high top inside. So we agreed to the high top. Approx 15 min later the hostess seated us & left. We waited & waited & waited some more… No one ever acknowledged us. My husband finally flagged down a waitress who said these tables are bar service only. We explained that the hostess seated us there. She was surprised & went & got the hostess who then told us those tables were bar service only. How were we supposed to know that? No one told us that. We decided to just leave. We then addressed our disappointment to the other hostess who knew we were there for a nice birthday lunch & she mumbled something about the QR code told us it was bar service only. Rude & overall disappointing. Won’t be returning. We are going to try someplace else for a nice birthday dinner instead.

After a very disappointing dinner at a nearby restaurant, we came to Dukes and were welcome to an inviting bar by the attentive host. The bar area is very nice and Aaron, the bartender gave us a welcome and was a fantastic server to our bar-top table. We LOVEd our cocktails---expertly prepared. The calamari which we shared was AMAZING! And we had to try the Hula Pie---macadamia ice cream with cookie crust, drippy chocolate sauce and whipped cream---okay, this was SO GOOD! We had a great hour or so here and hope to come back one day. Kudos to Dukes!

Made a reservation for 14 but since it was so large said we would split it into 6&8. Specifically said it must be outside. Called this afternoon and spoke to hostess who said they would try and seat us as close as possible outside. Arrived 15 minutes early and was told table for 6 was ready but their only table for 8 had just been served. Did offer an 8 inside but several guests will only eat outside due to Covid so we said we would wait . After an hour the patrons seated at the 8 table did not look like they were anywhere near ready to leave. After an hour and 45 minutes wait I then asked the host if they could move the two tables of empty four seats together to make an 8. Answer was NO. I then asked for the manager who came out and was extremely rude, not customer focused and gave ridiculous reasons why they could not do it. In no way did he try to help solve the problem. This man needs to go back to hospitality school if he ever went at all. We have been to many Duke’s restaurants but will never go back again. After almost two hours my family left without dinner.

Had the pleasure to finally visit Dukes. View was amazing, food was great. But our service was lacking. Our server, Britt, seemed off, in a hurry to get our order, forgot two our guests drink, only stopped by our table once after taking our order. I recommended not sitting in her section if you want to get the full 10/10 experience.

Delicious meal with a fantastic view of the ocean. Ask for a table on the patio, preferably along the rail. Will return again.

We have visited several Duke’s over the years and this one was every bit as good. We had the delicious Mai Tai’s, fish tacos, coconut shrimp, Huli chicken, Korean ribs and ended with the Hula pie, of course. Super friendly staff from the minute we walked in and were greeted, to the bartenders, to our server and the awesome manager who we got some swag from on the way out the door. You won’t be disappointed. Everything is top notch. Super fresh food and perfect service which just isn’t found much anymore. Wish we didn’t live thousands of miles away!

This was a pleasant surprise for lunch overlooking the Pacific. Warm, wonderful, engaging service (Thanks Tyler). Tried some local non-alcoholic drinks-- POG slushie and a lavender colada. Made the wise choice of the seared ahi bowl, which has a nice light variety of seared ahi, seaweed salad, kimchi, pickled cucumbers and jasmine rice. Light and perfect combination. Couldn't settle on key lime pie or the hula pie. The hula pie is enormous serving of macadamia nut ice cream on a graham cracker crust drowned in chocolate sauce. Quality over quantity, the key lime pie won!

Great spot near the water. We got there on the early side for dinner and were seated on the patio. Beautiful scenery. Great service and the food was amazing. Would go here again!

I can’t comment on the food because we didn’t get to eat. But I can comment on service. Had a 7:30 reservation for outside seating. Got seated at 8:00 with a table inside no view. There was an empty table outside asked if we could have that and told no. Said that we requested outdoor seating. They would not do anything so we left. Restaurant appeared totally unorganized. Very disappointed. Thank heavens George’s at the Cove did not disappoint. Go their instead you wont be disappointed

seems to be a theme in that area, can't find a place that matches the food quality with the view. food was ok, nothing special, not bad but not wow either. the view is very nice, the setting is nice, service was great, very family friendly. i would go back but mainly for the view.

Delicious Food, the coconut crusted french toast is Sooo good plus you have an incredible view of La Jolla cove with a refreshing breeze while you eat!

Very refreshing ... we had the Dukes Fish, Fish Tacos and Pulled pork ... Absolutely perfect ... $$ is a bit low ... average is about $20 a LUNCH plate ... but very much worth it ... Hang 10 and enjoy the ride!!!

The whole evening seemed a bit off. We did have a party of 9 and we had reservations for 730. We didn’t get seated until 8. We had an outside table, which was fine as their were heaters. The heaters got turned off before we got our dinners so everyone was cold. We were told the heaters could not be turned back on. Strike one. Cocktails were great across the board. Everyone loved them. The appetozers were solid and, again, everyone enjoyed them. When the dinner order was taken the server seems a bit “harried” and really rushed us through. While we were waiting for our meals we we’re told it was last call so there would be no after dinner drinks or any more drinks as it turned out. Strike two. The foe arrived… except mine. The servers didn’t check to make sure we all had food. They simply dropped it off and left. After a couple of minutes I had to go inside and find the server, Bobby, and tell him I didn’t have my food. He seemed not to understand so o repeated that I never got my order. He asked me what I had ordered which I thought was odd as I ordered his recommendation. He didn’t say anything else and went into the kitchen. I went back to the table expecting some type of update. None came. The server never came out. The manager never came out. I was sitting there watching my guests eat and they were completely finished with their meals before my food came out. There was no way I was eating my food with 8 other people watching me and waiting for me to finish. How can it have possibly been enjoyed? The server did apologize and I sled to see the manager, who never came to see me. Strike three. When the bills arrived mine was wrong. I was billed for another guests food. The server seemed like he just wanted us out so we all just paid. But… A 20% tip was added (large party) to my bill even though I didnt get my dinner and the service was fair at best. Strike four. I wound up eating a breakfast jack on the way home. Strike five. I go to Dukes often but last night was simply unacceptable. Rarely do I give bad reviews but it was in a word…bad.

Couldn't wait to go, have been to Dukes Waikiki and loved it. Menu was very limited Macademia nut hummus was awesome. Coconut shrimp was good but first order had hair in it, got second order but still paid for it. No manager addressed was surprised. Filet was good, baked Dukes fish was good. pog cocktail good. Table we were seated at was terrible, way in the back corner with a speaker playing loud music over head. Would not return

We had a big family birthday get together at Duke's for lunch. Beautiful location, and the view from the seating area is absolutely amazing. Of course you pay for that view in the higher prices, but it's something that's fun to do every once in a while. The food was very good, and the wait staff was young but working very hard to please us. And she did. I have to say the hula pie was a little underwhelming in my opinion in terms of flavor but definitely large enough to share. Overall very pleased.

My wife and I were here two times in three nights. We first went to the bar and had drinks. Amazing libation with an awesome view of the cove where you can see all kinds of marine wildlife. The second visit, we actually had dinner. I had fish and chips and she had tuna. She said her tuna was amazing. The fish and chips were fantastic also. But, the real draw here is the amazing view in this open air bar/restaurant. The upstairs bar is amazing and the tables outside provide some of the best coastal views I have experienced. If you get to LaJolla, you definitely want to check out the views here and sample the drinks and food menu. You won't be disappointed.

Made a reservation online and we got there 10 mins early and was seated right away. They also gave us and amazing view of the water and sunset. The food was okay but wasn’t too expensive. Service was great.

One of my all-time favorite meals was at Keoki's Paradise in Kauai -- which is the same owner as Dukes. When I planned a recent trip to San Diego I put this place at the top of the list hoping for a similar experience. The restaurant is very nice and clean. The service was great. The food was actually really good. But the portions were absolutely pathetic. We started out with the nachos. 8 chips total. For real! My daughter ordered the fish tacos. That dinner entree came with 2 small tacos. I ordered the house special fish. The fish was fantastic but the portion was smaller than and only half as thick as a hockey puck. It was served with about a 1/2 cup of well seasoned rice and 2 small pieces of broccolini. We were obviously still hungry so we ordered dessert -- a slice of hulu pie. This was a decent portion but was very disappointing. I had this dessert at Keoki's and it wasn't even close. I have never been to a restaurant where I have ordered an appetizer, entree, and dessert and left hungry. We ended up going to another place to eat afterwards because we were still hungry. I was very disappointed with the experience.

We went to Dukes for appetizers and drinks at 6:30 in the evening. They said we couldn’t sit out on the patio because we were not ordering a full dinner. So we sat inside near the bar upstairs and had the worst service ever from a waiter named Steven. The only saving grace was the bartender who did Steven’s job for him. It was 15 minutes before anyone came to take a drink order Or even bring water. Then one of the drinks sat on the bar for 15 minutes. When the bartender brought it over to us he asked if our server had told us they were out of stock on Pellegrino and we said “no he never came back”. When we asked our server, what type of crab was in the crab-cakes all he said was “lump”. That is not the type of crab that is the type of meat. The crab-cakes were delivered by another employee and nobody ever checked on us again. The crab-cakes were good, but the service was horrible. We went up to the bar and asked for our check then left and went to another restaurant.