The Kitchen MCASD

I am someone who is obsessed with trying new things all the time, which unfortunately makes it difficult for me to be a regular anywhere. If I'm spending my money eating out, I like to maximize on different places and different experiences. However, the Kitchen @ MCASD is one of those special restaurants that always has me wanting to come back.The Kitchen is absolutely beautiful and the interior design is clean, chic, airy, and bright. There is indoor, half indoor and half outdoor, as well as fully outdoor seating (so you have options!). However, no matter what seating arrangement you get assigned to, you are literally a few steps away from overlooking the ocean, as the restaurant is located right in the heart of Downtown La Jolla. I do highly recommend getting a reservation ahead of time and requesting indoor seating close to the window. It's the best spot for sure and you are guaranteed great views from the comfort of your seat. In addition to the gorgeous interior, the food, drinks, glassware, plateware, decorative vases - literally everything - are all SO cute. I am a major sucker for all things cute & well-curated and they have so many items I'd purchase in a heartbeat. Upon first opening in Feb 2023, the Kitchen only opened Wednesdays through Sundays from 8:30 AM - 2 PM for breakfast and lunch. However, as of June 2024, they've now extended their services to dinner on the same days of the week from 4-8 PM (happy hour being from 3-5 PM!). Once I heard this news, I took myself on a date immediately, and was luckily able to stop by on the second official dinner night.For dinner, I decided on the 'chilled cucumber tahini soup + marinated shrimp + cucumber', as well as the 'steamed sea bass wrapped in swiss chard + freekah + olive relish + heirloom tomato + roasted tomato vinaigrette + torn herbs'. Holy moly, I was blown away, which was not a surprise, as I'd already been blown away by their lunch services prior. The cold soup was extremely refreshing, earthy, and I loved the cold touch. We need to normalize more cold soup options out here! The steamed bass was huge and it came fully wrapped in swiss chard, so it felt like a little gift I had to unravel myself. When I chose that dish, my server also agreed that it was her favorite thing on the menu, and I can see why. The fish was beyond fresh, juicy, and the freekah and tomato flavors were perfectly spiced, adding African and Mediterranean fragrances to the meal. I LOVED this dish and I could not stop eating it even though I was getting insanely full.During my trip, I also luckily made happy hour by 3 minutes, and was able to get a $10 cocktail (they normally range from ~$13-$15 at list price). The cocktails here are pretty, often decorated with dainty flowers, and incorporate a lot of fruits, so it tastes healthier than usual cocktails. I also treated myself to a cold glass of white wine since I am in my fancy white wine era, and I would highly recommend the Sauvignon Blanc from France. I had such a peaceful and much needed self-love moment here. Just imagine a girl sitting in the corner, sun setting, golden hour gradually approaching, white wine in hand, and softly looking out into the abyss with a "life is good" smug smile on her face. Well, what you just pictured was 100% me (and could be you too if you decide to go to this amazing little haven)!Another huge reason I love this restaurant so much is because it's attached to my favorite museum in all of San Diego, and that is the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD). This museum is stunning and ever since they reopened after the long renovation, I've decided to become a member, which is great because now I can go whenever I want and I can bring a +1 each visit :) The artists the MCASD chooses for residency are all so intriguing and I love taking my Fujifilm here to walk around and take pictures. Every nook and cranny of this museum is photogenic, and it's so peaceful here too since you catch a glimpse of the ocean waves through windows right next to a lot of the art. The Kitchen is also a part of the restaurant organization called the "Urban Kitchen Group", which consists of other popular restaurants like CUCINA Urbana and ARTIFACT at Mingei (both of which I also really like). Whatever new establishment they create, I trust that the restaurant will be of high quality since they have a history of producing great places.To me, the Kitchen @ MCASD and the Museum of Contemporary Art are what I envision heaven to look like. I'm so thankful that they exist and I'd love to eventually experience one of the Kitchen's chef tasting menu events in the future.

The Kitchen is now open for dinner as of June 20th 2024! It's such a great time to visit the museum and enjoy dinner on the patio here. The views of the ocean nearby make it that much more magical.We had the new summer menu items - Crispy Corn Fritters (amazing) the chicken, and filet mignon, followed by the chocolate bourdin.Wonderful food and amazing flavors! Great staff and delicious wine options as well :) can't wait to come back!

I made a reservation. When we got there, the host was giving us a table that's in the middle. I have vertigo so I requested to be by the wall or in the corner. At first, she gave me a table by the wall. But then, I got kicked out because she said that those tables are reserved and explained those tables for people coming in at 9:30am. I watched to see if the table I got kicked out of got filled. I left around 11am. That table is still vacant. I don't understand the excuse given to me then. I don't understand why restaurants in general don't give you a certain table but is kept vacant the whole time. I would understand if it's an upscale restaurant, but this is a casual restaurant. We were seated by the courtyard. No view unless you stand up. At least the table doesn't give me vertigo. The service said they're understaffed. I understand, but we barely got water refilled, especially were given small glasses. I wish they left a carafe in each table so we can refill the water ourselves. My coffee came out very late; I was halfway done with my meal. And it came out with an aftertaste. I was forcing myself to drink it. I was glad the server gave me another one that tastes better. But I was almost done with my meal. It also looks like the servers had to make a trek to bring the food out. Is the kitchen that far?The taste. My husband said that the eggs benedict is just okay; he can make that at home. I like the churro French toast, but I don't think it's enough for me to crave for and bring me back. My husband got the smoothie, which he liked. I already told the story of my coffee. This is the first time I remember Eater San Diego recommended a restaurant, which failed me. It could've been a better experience for us, especially we're celebrating two occasions the weekend we visited.

If you are expecting to come here on a weekend, I recommend making a reservation beforehand. We had to wait ~20min because tables were booked up. The food here is pretty and fresh. We got the chicken kebab and a breakfast sandwich. The chicken kebab was with cous cous and tasted really healthy. I kinda of wished I got something else since I like my Mediterranean food with more sauces. The dish was a bit dry for me. The breakfast sandwich was yummy!This is an outdoor restaurant or the inside portion is still open air. There is a nice view of the beach but you can probably only see it sitting down if you are by the overlooking wall.

Very nice restaurant with an AMAZING view of the beach. Unbelievable actually. Very modern with a real cafe kind of vibe. Plenty of parking but it's a task due to traffic. Our server was very pleasant. The food came out hot and fast. I enjoyed all of it however the highlight were the potatoes. Perfectly cooked with just the right amount of crispiness. The chicken sausage were SO GOOD! The Kitchen is a whole vibe and I'm so glad I came here on my visit to San Diego!

Delicious lunch at the kitchen in next to the MCASD La Jolla. Decided to grab lunch before entering the museum. The day was so nice and the patio seating just perfect. The service is a little slow and disorganized. The hostess sat us immediately, but no one came with water or menus for a pretty long while. They were busy but there were still plenty of open tables. Overall relaxing vibes. The food, we ordered the: seared albacore tuna nicoise- good and well balanced! the Sumac chicken Flatbread- tasty side of french fries- the fries has a delicious seasoning (almost Indian seasoning) they were delicious!Overall a great spot for lunch if you dont mind waiting a bit on the slow service. We had to flag down our waitress again at the end.

The Kitchen MCASD is primarily located in an outdoor space that I wish had some potted trees and something else to softer the feel of concrete all about. The restaurant is owned by the same group that operates Artifact Restaurant in Balboa Park in the Prado area. I prefer Artifact, for its more extensive menu and "real" wine list. Note: At the Kitchen, there is NO wine list, just a scattering identification of a few wines by the glass. However, you can obtain the bottle for an unspecified price [which was fair]. It is evident that the intended concept at the Kitchen is more casual than at Artifact. I am not sure why---I think the more formal concept of Artifact would work quite well in La Jolla. There is also a lot of focus at the Kitchen on breakfast, which does not interest me---I prefer lunch or dinner out.The hostess who seated me was very professional and smiling. Her manner creates a good first impression. Service by Jordan and Andrew [he opened the bottle of wine] was pleasant.

Great little outdoor gem with plenty of outdoor seating with sun and without. Coffee was also fantastic! Close to all the shops and the ocean but tucked away at the same time. Would be back. Not sure if the tables are public or accessible with a purchase.

This is Abit overdue but realzied there might be others out there that don't realize what a gem this spot is.A friend's recommendation led me to The Kitchen at MCASD, and what a find it was for our local brunch group--always on the hunt for new dining experiences. This hidden gem is a breath of fresh air for a unique gal's day out; it's nestled away from the La Jolla hustle. Truly more than just a brunch spot, the setting is breezy and super cute. It's evident that every element, from the airy aesthetics to the menu, is intentional and thoughtful. What stood out was their commitment to fresh, whole ingredients; it elevates The Kitchen into a celebration of food and fellowship. With service that complements the high quality of the meal, this is a concept you don't want to sleep on.During our visit, I savored the asparagus and mushroom omelette complemented with herb goat cheese, porcini cream, and a fresh green salad--a dish that redefined refreshing in a brunch setting. Adding shrimp to my omelette was a delightful choice that meshed well with the other flavors. The drink menu deserves a mention, with its eclectic offerings from smoothies to mimosas, and the adorable butterfly flower lemonade. Whether you're aiming for a peaceful family morning without the hassle of cooking or looking to impress out-of-town guests with a dazzling breakfast nook, The Kitchen has you covered. Our group of women were all smiles, relishing every bite and sip. A heartfelt thank you to the staff at The Kitchen--your hard work this past year truly shows, and we're excited to continue supporting such a commendable establishment.

The location is great since it's at the Museum of Contemporary Arts of San Diego with a beautiful view of the ocean. Very convenience.There's seating inside and more outside in the art garden. Unfortunately no patio heaters but they have some thin blankets if you're cold. The food was ok for the flatbreads that we ordered. The seasonal squash flatbread was undercooked but had a nice flavor from the goat cheese. The sumac grilled chicken flatbread was quite plain. A friend ordered the smoked salmon sandwich and was not impressed. The chicken salad sandwich was good though. The avocado bowl was a smaller portion than expected but tasty.