Chiko Encinitas to Commence Tasting Menu Dinners and Brunch

Two months after landing in Encinitas, DC-transplant Chiko is prepping to debut its kitchen counter feature on Monday, January 28. The four counter seats, available for parties of two or four, are perched in full view of the open kitchen with reservations scheduled at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. nightly. At $50 per person, the interactive, multi-course dinners are the best way to experience the totality of co-chefs Danny Lee and Scott Drewno’s Chinese-Korean menu, which ranges from their bestselling “orange-ish chicken” to tri-tip skewers featuring Seaside Market’s famous Cardiff Crack.

The restaurant is also gearing up to celebrate Chinese New Year, with Year of the Pig specials available from February 4 through February 10. On top of the regular menu, there will be a “Year of the Pig Plate” featuring spiced pulled pig, pickles, spicy boiled pork dumplings, and stir-fried rice cakes and tickets for their first-ever weekend brunch are now available for Saturday, February 9 and Sunday, February 10 with seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Priced at $40 per person, the brunch will combine menu favorites with traditional Chinese New Year dishes including pork fried rice, black bean clams, and pork dumplings.