Culinary Adventures in Carlsbad

Tip Top Meats - A European Eatery and Market

Tip Top Meats, a local gem in Carlsbad since 1967, is more than just a restaurant—it's an experience that is a market, a European-inspired deli and a restaurant all rolled into one. With a commitment to quality that spans over half a century, every bite at Tip Top Meats is a delight.

Start your experience at Tip Top Meats with breakfast—the most important meal of the day. From fluffy omelets to golden pancakes and sizzling sausages, the breakfast menu at Tip Top Meats has everything you need for the day ahead. If you arrive later in the day, Tip Top Meats has you covered with their famous sandwiches and signature dishes for lunch and dinner that are served daily until 8 pm.

European-style sausages, bratwurst and specialty meats are handmade daily in Tip Top’s meat department. From smoked bacon, ham, and chicken to flavorful salisbury steak, meatloaf, pastrami and corned beef to special offerings like boneless stuffed Tur-duc-hens, fruit-stuffed pork roasts, barons of beef, succulent suckling pigs and city chicken. Tip Top Meats’s ground beef is prepared multiple times daily and they proudly serve USDA Prime and choice beef, lamb, and veal, along with top-quality pork products and Diestel brand turkeys. Tip Top Meats will cook any cut of meat to your liking, and even have it ready for pickup on your way home from work.

For those with a sweet tooth or looking for traditional German and European favorites, Tip Top offers desserts, breads, cookies, pastries, strudels and so much more! The European market features specialty food items, including sausages, meats, cheese, sauces and spices. There is also a large selection of imported beers and wines.

Harumama Noodles + Buns

Another unique dining experience is at Harumama Noodles + Buns in Carlsbad. This restaurant is a bun-filled and ramen-slurping adventure housed in a whimsical eatery, brought to life by the dynamic duo James and Jenny Pyo. It is their seventh venture in San Diego County. Building on the success of their Harumama location in Little Italy and other renowned restaurants like Love Boat Sushi in San Marcos and Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi Bar in Carlsbad, they are doubling up on unique dining locales that will tantalize your taste buds!

At Harumama, it's all about the adorable specialty buns that have garnered Instagram fame. From pandas to Hello Kitty, these delightful buns come in flavors like mushroom, purple sweet potato, chicken and pork. Each bun is a testament to the Pyos' culinary creativity and attention to detail.

The menu also showcases a selection of ramen and poke bowls that seamlessly blend the best of Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisines. The Pyos have carefully crafted each dish to evoke the comfort and warmth of a mother's daily cooking. In fact, "Harumama" itself has a beautiful meaning—it's Korean, not Japanese. "Haru" translates to "a day," and "Mama" means "mom." It embodies the essence of "Mom's daily food," the heartwarming meals prepared with love and care.

Ramen enthusiasts can enjoy the classic tonkotsu broth of the Haru bowl, the spicy peanut tonkotsu broth of the Me So Hot! or the Garden Party bowl - a vegan delight featuring creamy coconut veggie broth and spinach noodles. And for those looking for a fresh poke bowl, Harumama offers options like their Power Protein Poke and Superhero Poke. There’s something for everyone!

GelatoLove

For a sweet, guilt-free Italian dessert experience, GelatoLove is a hidden gem located at the Carlsbad Village Faire shopping center. If you dream of delectable desserts that not only taste amazing but also make you feel good, GelatoLove’s goodies are handcrafted with care, and made using only organic and natural ingredients. A small cup of this heavenly Italian ice cream (4 oz) contains less than 5 grams of added sugar.

GelatoLove takes pride in its Italian roots, where the concept of gelato was born during the 14th Century Renaissance. The tradition continued to thrive and captivate taste buds across Europe, making its way to Sicily and beyond. Today, GelatoLove brings this historical treat to Carlsbad, infusing it with California's spirit of innovation and healthy choices.

What sets GelatoLove apart is their commitment to using cutting-edge food innovation. They are the first company in the world to use Allulose, a low-calorie sugar found in fruits like kiwis and raisins. By incorporating this ingredient, GelatoLove offers a delicious dessert that is lower in sugar, benefiting your sugar metabolism.

With flavors ranging from dairy-free sorbets with only 30 calories per 100 grams to rich options like chocolate and pistachio with 160 calories per 100 grams, GelatoLove caters to various dietary preferences while keeping your taste buds satisfied.

The Strawberry Shack

Within view of the Pacific Ocean are broad stretches of strawberry fields producing the juiciest, sweetest and richest fruits around. The combination of California’s warm, sunny days and cool, foggy nights provide a unique environment for growing the most delicious, beautiful strawberries in the world.

Located in Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad Gourmet (Specialty Gourmet Food Company) offers The Strawberry Shack, serving strawberry creations year-round. From their world-famous strawberry shakes and luscious strawberry shortcake to their delectable chocolate covered strawberries made with imported Belgian chocolate, every item on their menu is made with fresh California strawberries.

The Strawberry Shack has homemade strawberry cheesecake made from scratch and strawberry lavender sundaes, and it doesn’t stop there. The menu features strawberry tiramisu, a strawberry cannoli and strawberry dipped rice krispy treats. From sundaes and shakes to custards and puddings and dairy-free options like the refreshing strawberry pina colada Dole soft serve, there’s a sweet treat for all taste buds.

GONZO! Ramen

For the next stop on a unique dining journey through Carlsbad, venture over to Japan at Gonzo! Ramen. Founded by Mika and Jamison Murphy, this retro-themed ramen restaurant is the embodiment of their dream to bring the vibrant atmosphere and authentic flavors of Japan to the United States.

Located in the Carlsbad Village Faire, Gonzo! has quickly become a local sensation, earning a coveted spot on the Yelp Top 100 Restaurants of the USA List as #20. Step inside this casual and lively eatery, where you can experience quick service and an all-inclusive atmosphere that welcomes kids and dogs.

The menu at Gonzo! features an array of options including signature ramen bowls, like the Gonzo Black with black garlic oil over tonkotsu ramen, or the Gonzo Red for a spicy miso kick.

Craving something beyond ramen? They also have an assortment of flavorful bowls, such as the pork chashu bowl featuring super tender marinated pork belly over steamed rice, or the chicken karaage bowl with Japanese fried chicken and zesty toppings. And if you’re just there for a snack, you can always pick up appetizers like the chicken karaage, calamari or the crowd-favorite takoyaki, a delectable octopus-filled snack.

Beach Plum Kitchen

The last adventure on our culinary guide through Carlsbad is Beach Plum Kitchen, where you can experience the coastal charm of New England without leaving the West coast. To get the taste of New England summers here in Carlsbad, Beach Plum Kitchen serves up food hand-crafted with care from scratch using natural, fresh, and regionally sourced ingredients whenever possible.

Beach Plum Kitchen’s owners are East coast transplants and long time residents of Carlsbad. They found numerous connections between the two coasts and brought fond memories of New England summers to Carlsbad. The restaurant is named after the beach plum, a unique fruit native to the coastal communities from Maine to Virginia. With its unpredictable supply from year to year, the beach plum holds an air of mystery and uniqueness.

When it comes to the menu, Beach Plum Kitchen's food philosophy is easy - keep it simple. They offer classic breakfast dishes like eggs benedict and pancakes and satisfying lunch options like sandwiches, salads, and homemade soups like clam chowder, straight from the Cape. The restaurant is a neighborhood gathering spot - locals and visitors alike are here every day enjoying quality food served in a comfortable and friendly setting.

If you’re craving culinary adventure, Carlsbad has you covered. Check out any of these unique spots to discover new foods while exploring the coast.