Islands Restaurant Carlsbad

4.4 ( 1825 reviews )
Checking... 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM See Hours
$10–20
889 Palomar Airport Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92011, United States
+1 760-602-9898
Islands Restaurant Carlsbad, located at 889 Palomar Airport Rd, offers a vibrant slice of American dining in a casual, beach-themed atmosphere. Known for its stellar burgers and crispy fries, this spot has garnered positive attention from diners. Patrons like Melissa B have praised the perfect balance of flavors and the attentive service, making every visit delightful. The menu boasts a variety of dishes, including inventive tacos like the Fish and Kalua Pork versions, both eliciting enthusiasm from customers for their fresh ingredients and satisfying portions. Reviewers such as Amanda Oakley have especially highlighted the restaurant's versatility, showcasing options for vegans and vegetarians, with the Impossible Burger receiving particularly great feedback. Family-friendly and welcoming, it’s a favorite gathering place, whether you're grabbing a drink during happy hour or indulging in island-inspired appetizers like the crunchy nachos. Overall, the restaurant's blend of flavorful offerings, attentive service, and a fun ambiance results in an experience that keeps guests like Kelly Brion returning time and again. With such a wide appeal, Islands Restaurant is a must-visit destination for both locals and travelers in Southern California.

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible car park
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Service options
    • Has outdoor seating
    • Offers kerbside pickup
    • Has no-contact delivery
    • Offers delivery
    • On-site services available
    • Offers takeaway
    • Serves dine-in
  • Highlights
    • Has fast service
    • Has great beer selection
    • Serves great cocktails
    • Good for watching sport
  • Popular for
    • Popular for lunch
    • Popular for dinner
    • Good for solo dining
  • Offerings
    • Serves alcohol
    • Serves beer
    • Serves cocktails
    • Serves coffee
    • Serves comfort food
    • Serves food
    • Serves happy-hour drinks
    • Serves happy-hour food
    • Serves healthy options
    • Serves late-night food
    • Quick bite
    • Serves small plates
    • Serves spirits
    • Serves wine
  • Dining options
    • Serves lunch
    • Serves dinner
    • Serves dessert
    • Has seating
  • Amenities
    • Has bar on site
    • Has toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
    • Cosy
    • Trendy
  • Crowd
    • Family friendly
    • Good for groups
    • LGBTQ+ friendly
    • Popular with tourists
    • Popular with university students
  • Planning
    • Doesn't accept reservations
  • Payments
    • Accepts credit cards
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Accepts NFC mobile payments
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • Good for kids
    • High chairs available
    • Has kids' menu
  • Parking
    • Free of charge street parking
    • Free parking lot
    • Plenty of parking

Reviews For Islands Restaurant Carlsbad

Kelly Brion
Jun 1,2025
Traveling through Southern California and fund 2 in a week and stopped twice. Once was not enough. Two different locations, both including this one in Carlsbad had delicious food, fast and attentive service, and fun atmosphere. Great place for travelers and locals.
Melissa B
May 29,2025
I really like this place! The burgers are really delicious and made just right. The fries taste great too. The staff is very polite and attentive. The prices are just right for the quality of food. The environment is nice and the restaurant is tidy and clean. I definitely will love to come back on my next visit!
Amanda Oakley
May 6,2025
Always stellar burgers & the fries are faaaav, so perfectly crispy. Any burger can be made vegan / vegetarian love the veggie burger but the impossible burger is always fire Fun atmosphere & kind folks servin’ up deliciousness
Jeff Buchanan
Apr 30,2025
We ordered and enjoyed the island nachos, truffle fries, and fish tacos (both grilled and fried). All very delicious! Wait staff was very attentive and the happy hour menu was fantastic with some good drinks! Definitely a fun family restaurant or a nice place to grab a drink and munch on some island themed appetizers!
Steve Mader
Apr 23,2025
Rainy waited on us and she was very attentive and helpful. The burger was tasty, and cooked the way we like it...NO pink. Fries were hot and delicious. Rainy was on top of the soda refills, and suggested desert without being pushy.
Heather Jackson
Mar 27,2025
Six of us coworkers came here for lunch. 5 of us are from different states. We all ordered different things and everything was great! I ordered the Yaki which is grilled teriyaki chicken tacos with pineapples. It was amazing! Better than I had even expected! The raspberry tea was also great! We had Taylor as our waitress and she was super helpful and friendly! She definitely had a personality and was outgoing and we loved it! Great place to come with your family or to just come to the bar!
Samuel Martin
Mar 10,2025
Great family friendly restaurant. The theme and atmosphere is fun and inviting. Food was prepared well, and the portion size is great for the price. Highly recommend
Jooyoung Lee
Feb 27,2025
We had a fantastic experience at this Islands! From the moment we sat down, the staff went above and beyond to make sure we had a great meal. Our waitress (Angela, I believe?) was incredibly friendly and welcoming, making us feel completely at ease even with a fussy baby in tow. She checked in on us multiple times throughout the meal, ensuring we had everything we needed. It wasn’t just her, either. The entire team was attentive. Another server (whose name I didn't get) stopped by to see if he could assist with anything and brought us fresh waters before we even had to ask. This is one of those small things that truly make a difference. I really appreciated that we never had to ask for more water; they checked on us and knew when they could bring us more. On top of the wonderful service, the food was delicious, arrived quickly, and was piping hot. I walked out in such a great mood, and I have the amazing staff to thank for that. Highly recommend this location!

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