Over 35 years ago, Karina’s Seafood started in Spring Valley. Don Arnulfo Contreras and his wife María Inés Curiel opened the first of many Karina’s restaurants, named in honor of their daughter.

Now a restaurant group with 7 locations around San Diego, Karina’s has opened up it’s first downtown location, located in the bustling Gaslamp district.

A stunningly beautiful location, this full service restaurant combines some of our favorite classic Karina’s dishes with a full tequila bar, craft beer, aqua fresca’s and more!

Check out Karina's

The Cuisine

In typical Karina’s fashion, the menu is heavily focused on fresh seafood. From their famous ceviche, and seafood cocktails, Karina’s is upping their game with some fancy delights like their $225 seafood tour with crab legs, lobster, and oysters on the half shell. Karina’s has also upgraded their menu with a large plates menu not seen in their typical taco stand style locations. Expect whole lobsters puerto nuevo style, as well as grilled ribeye fajitas, and bacon wrapped shrimp tacos.

Sample Menu Items

Appetizer

Camarones Enchilados, crispy shrimp tossed in the sweet and spicy mango sauce with toasted red chili de arbol

Fresco

Hamachi Serrano, hamachi tuna sashimi, serrano peppers, avocado, ponzu sauce

Ceviche

Ceviche Doña Ines, cooked shrimp in lime juice with mango jicama, pepino, and toasted red chili de arbol

Steaks

Surf and Turf, grilled rib eye steak with your choice of 8oz lobster tail, or 4 jumbo shrimp.

Seafood Specialities

Langostino a La Plancha , grilled prawns. served with salad, rice, beans & tortillas

Dessert

Tres Leches Cake, layers of sponge cake soaked in a melange of milk spiked with cinnamon and filled with custard

See Menu

The Space

Gaslamp is notorious for its packed bars and busy clubs. With Karina’s Gaslamp outpost, expect to see a lot of fresh colors, a busy bar, and a well appointed dining room equipped with a lovely private dining room.

The Drinks

Hey its Gaslamp therefore we need to get a drink!

Karina’s has a full bar equipped with plenty of cocktails to get your feeling better. From their Tamarindo Martini with Titos, sweet and sour, and a house made tamarind puree to their “In the Clouds” with Hendricks Gin, coconut water, coconut cream, lime juice, prickly pear, and cotton candy. One can expect a whole medley of delicious drinks, as well as a a wide selection of craft beers, tequila, and wine!