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Home » Travel » Locations » America » California » San Diego » The Daring Gourmet Dines Out: Bali Hai Restaurant, Shelter Island, San Diego, California

The Daring Gourmet Dines Out: Bali Hai Restaurant, Shelter Island, San Diego, California

December 15, 2014 by Kimberly Killebrew · 19 Comments

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Here’s some sunshine and palm trees for you to enjoy during this chilly season.  Our dining experience at Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island in San Diego, California.  You’ve got to see the setting and views!

A few weeks ago our family spent a few days in San Diego seeing the sights and taking full advantage of this super fun and family-friendly city.  We spent time at Coronado Beach, took some surfing lessons (pics to come!), Balboa Park and it’s gazillion museums, and visited the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld (click to read about our experience).

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Bali Hai Restaurant was one of the places that came highly recommended and we’re glad we went.  Let me tell you a little about it!

Sunny, happy Shelter Island is the setting for today’s featured restaurant.  Don’t worry, you don’t have to take a ferry to the island.  It’s called an island but it’s actually connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land.  The island is 1.2 miles long and only a few hundred feet wide.  It was developed in the 1950’s and is home to marinas, hotels, restaurants, and public parkland.  Containing one of only a few marinas in the San Diego Bay with deep enough waters to accommodate them, Shelter Island is a popular destination for superyachts.  It’s also a popular viewpoint for 4th of July fireworks as well as the Parade of Lights, an annual event where Christmas-decorated boats parade on by for spectators to watch.   Shelter Island is also home to an annual Summer event where nationally known musicians and comedians come to perform in an outdoor concert.

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Winner of the 2014 OpenTable Diner’s Choice Award, it’s easy to see why Bali Hai is such a popular place.  It’s not only a restaurant, it feels like a mini tropical retreat where you can escape, leaving the world behind for a moment, and enjoy some fabulous scenery and food.  We had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Larry Baumann, and learned that the restaurant has been in the family since the 50’s and that they played a central role in transforming the island into what it is today.  And he confirmed what I was wondering:  The restaurant was named Bali Hai a couple of years before South Pacific came out.  The family also owns the stunning Tom Ham’s Lighthouse just across the way, a restaurant that’s on our list for our next visit to San Diego.

The structure and decor of Bali Hai Restaurant gives you a sense of stepping into a Polynesian hut, complete with carved statues and Polynesian weapons.

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Upstairs I almost had a slight deja vu experience of the Seattle Space Needle with the elevated setting, circular structure and windows overlooking the water and city. Of course the palm trees (and sunshine, ahem) quickly reminded me of where I was.

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The setting is unbeatable.  Just look at that view!

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The San Diego Bay, city skyline, palm trees and sunshine…a slice of urban paradise.

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We stopped at Bali Hai on our way back to Los Angeles to catch our flight back home to Seattle.  It was the perfect “farewell” lunch!

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While we waited for our food our server brought out some coloring materials for our kids.  The kids menu was also a coloring sheet and it kept them busily content for a while.  The kids meals were very generous in size and our son and daughter split a plate of solid breast meat chicken tenders, sweet and sour dipping sauce, broccoli and rice.

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While we perused the menu our server brought out some nice crusty bread.  And of course we had to start things off right – with some tropical pina coladas. Even in mid-October the weather was sunny and in the 80’s.

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While we munched and drank we soaked in the setting and watched sailboats and kayaks float by.

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The setting was so idyllic that I probably could have eaten practically anything and been happy.   But here at Bali Hai you not only get the setting and views, you get the food.  Bali Hai’s California-Asian menu focuses on the heart of Hawaii and offers a delightful selection.

For starters we had the Coconut Shrimp with Papaya Salad and Ginger Lime Dipping Sauce.  Flavorful and perfectly crisp, even our 2 year old enjoyed them.

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We also had the Island Beef Skewers with Pickled Pineapple Salad.  The beef was very tender and the sauce was excellent.

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For our entrees my husband ordered the Seafood Plate with Miso Glazed Salmon, Firecracker Grilled Shrimp and Furikake Rice.  Everything was delicious.  The sticky rice had a great texture combined with the crunchy toasted black and white sesame seeds.  Accompanying the seafood and rice was a flavorful vegetable blend of what appeared to be pickled cucumber, onion and seaweed.

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I ordered the Mixed Grill Bento consisting of Korean Bbq Ribs, Sweet & Sour Chicken and Furikake Rice.  The ribs were amazing and that sauce…a total flavor explosion.  Finger-lickin’ good describes these perfectly.

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We really enjoyed our family meal at Bali Hai Restaurant and the setting was so idyllic.

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But no meal is complete without dessert.  So we ordered the Toasted Coconut Crème brûlée with Biscotti and Fresh Seasonal Berries.  It was the perfect way to end our lunch.

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Next time you’re in San Diego, check out Bali Hai Restaurant on Shelter Island.  It’s the place to go to get your “happy fix” and enjoy some great food!

For more information or to make a reservation, visit their website:  Bali Hai Restaurant

2230 Shelter Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92106

(619) 222 – 1181

Bali Hai on Urbanspoon

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Disclosure:  We enjoyed a complimentary lunch at Bali Hai Restaurant.  As always, all opinions are entirely my own.

 

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19 Comments →

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19 Responses

  1. Bob Spaziani says

    January 11, 2015 at 3:27 pm

    Thanks for the post

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      January 11, 2015 at 3:32 pm

      You bet, Bob! :)

      Reply
  2. Rachelle Lucas (@TravelBlggr) says

    December 19, 2014 at 11:32 am

    Gorgeous pictures! Looks like the right combination of great food and a great view!

    Reply
  3. Andi says

    December 18, 2014 at 9:02 am

    I have eaten here and absolutely loved it. Great food, gorgeous view, you cannot beat it!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 18, 2014 at 9:13 am

      Awesome, glad to hear you’ve also had the opportunity to experience Bali Hai!

      Reply
  4. @Travelpanties says

    December 17, 2014 at 12:23 pm

    After reading this I am so hungry! Yum! Looks beautiful too!!!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 17, 2014 at 12:28 pm

      Me, too, and I’m still trying to figure out lunch today :)

      Reply
  5. Amanda says

    December 16, 2014 at 10:52 am

    What a fun and unique dining experience. The food looks incredible! On my list for sure if I’m ever in SD.

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 16, 2014 at 11:38 am

      You’ll enjoy it, Amanda!

      Reply
  6. JulieD says

    December 15, 2014 at 11:08 am

    What a pretty restaurant!! I love San Diego, thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 15, 2014 at 12:11 pm

      We really enjoyed it, JulieD!

      Reply
  7. Nathan Lombough says

    December 15, 2014 at 9:11 am

    It’s great when you can find a place that has both the food AND the setting. Bali Hai looks fantastic. I have friends and family in San Diego, will pass this on…

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 15, 2014 at 9:13 am

      Agreed, Nathan, and thank you for passing this on!

      Reply
  8. Cori says

    December 15, 2014 at 8:10 am

    NICE!!! You always put together the most visually gorgeous reviews!! I love that you always include so many beautiful pictures, it’s way more effective and enjoyably to learn about a place than just reading about it. Thanks for sharing! (*your kids are so cute!!*)

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 15, 2014 at 8:13 am

      Thanks, Cori, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I agree, I always like lots of pictures, too. Thanks so much for the compliment :)

      Reply
  9. SJackson82 says

    December 15, 2014 at 8:02 am

    Ooooh, that food looks delicious!! Wish I was there right now to soak in that sunny setting!

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 15, 2014 at 8:06 am

      I know, SJackson82, so do I! :) It’s drizzling rain right now here in WA – we’re hoping for some snow so we can enjoy a white Christmas!

      Reply
  10. Cathy T. says

    December 15, 2014 at 8:00 am

    This IS a welcome ray of sunshine in this chilly weather :) Such a beautiful setting and happy atmosphere! Of course those adorable kids of yours would brighten any setting :) Bali Hai looks really neat, I’d love to dine in a setting like that and the food looks great! Will bookmark this for a future trip to San Diego, thanks.

    Reply
    • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says

      December 15, 2014 at 8:04 am

      Thanks, Cathy, they sure do brighten up our lives in countless ways :) Bali Hai is super nice, such an idyllic setting – a “taste” of paradise in more ways than one :)

      Reply

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kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Welcome!  I’m Kimberly and I share delicious originals, revitalized classics and authentic dishes from around the world.  Come travel the world through your taste buds!

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