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    Brad's Restaurant

    3.9 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Closed 10:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Brad's Restaurant Photos

    BRAD'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Brad's Restaurant

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    Yum!
    Krista K.

    Service was great! The ambiance is very Pismo, beach cafe-Eskimo. And the clam chowder was great!

    4 pcs Fish and Chips
    Cherry Lynn I.

    This is our 2nd time here. Our first was over 10 years ago and now we're back to celebrate my husband's birthday. We ordered the same as what we ordered 10 years ago. 4 pcs Fish and Chips and BBQ Beef Ribs. Our server which I forgot to asked her name was really nice. I highly recommend this place, and it's just a half block from our hotel Beach House Inn. Seated at the patio table .

    BBQ Beans, pilaf, beef & pork rib and chicken. AMAZING
    Princess M.

    I honestly was surprised by everything I tried. I had the pork rib, beef ribs and chicken plate and it was seasoned to perfection. Clam Chowder was amaaazinnnggg. I will definitely be back to hang with BRAD.

    Eliza J.

    Original staple in Pismo Beach. Always fantastic Service. Great beach breeze and ambiance. Food is delicious. My favorite go to is the Shrimp & Crab Louie. It abounds with seafood. Yum!!! The fish and chips is fantastic too. Chowder? Why yes. Visit Brads for the food, great service and Pismo nostalgia. You'll be glad you did.

    Seafood Combo $37.50
    Leo E.

    This was very unfortunate. I love seafood and eat it everywhere (San Francisco restaurants are a high favorite). Sadly, I ordered this dish and it was really bad. The gravy looking sauce or soup was not appetizing at all, and it is the first time I've ever seen a sauce like this in seafood; it doesn't work. This dish lacks seasoning completely. I had to put salt and pepper and lemon just to get taste out of the fish, shrimp, and scallops. The picture is after I stopped eating. I feel like I might get sick. Really unfortunate that I spent so much money on this dish. Would never have it again.

    Menu 8.7.25
    Cynthia C.

    A must stop for us when along the Central Coast. Among the Pismo Beach competitors for Best Clam Chowder", Brad's wins my vote year after year. I cannot resist their sourdough bread bowl with chowder. SO MANY clams and not a too thick or watery base - perfect! Hubs likes their generous and perfectly cooked burgers and we both enjoy their French fries! If BBQ is your jam, come to BRAD'S! 6 days a week during summer and weekends throughout the year, check out the crew flamin' it up as you walk by their oak pit and seated outdoor patio area. Skewers of delicious shrimp, succulent ribs and regional favorite, Santa Maria style tri tip are H-O-T T-O G-O! Chuckle at tourists waiting in line elsewhere to stand and eat clam chowder whilst you stretch out and relax in your comfortable, air conditioned booth. The family refurbished the restaurant a couple of years back and it's beautiful. Brad's has been lovingly cared for and closely watched over by the same family since 1953. Not fancy, but homey and friendly. Although I DO miss the Trivial Pursuit cards at the tables! iykyk Oh! And fish and chips???? Heck yah! Brad's got you covered! Want a tip: if you're over 55 and looking for a "simple taste of Brad's", go with the Sr. Traveler's Special (or what I call Evie's deal), my mom used to look forward to arriving in Pismo, getting settled, the walking to Brad's for a bowl of clam chowder, some nice French bread and a glass of wine. Thanks to Brad's family for keeping this special corner of Pismo so lovely, delicious and a spot where we know we will enjoy filling our bellies! Cheers! "CC"

    Crab & shrimp louie
    Michelle R.

    Ordered the crab & shrimp Louie. Grey egg, week-old onions, and grey crab. Completely disgusting. Never again.

    Clam chowder bread bowl
    Lauren W.

    While splashes line was around the corner per usual, I knew brads could save the day ;) after all this is my pick between the two anyway! No wait to sit for 2, got walked straight to a booth and after 2 minutes had our drinks AND food order in! Very speedy which was perfect because we just had a 2 1/2 hour car ride with no bfast As I was typing this our food arrived literally that was the fastest service ever! The clam chowder is seriously so flavorful and the sourdough bread is the perfect pair, bread doesn't get terribly soggy so its longevity in the bowl is great! The broth to the soup was excellent and I topped it with hot sauce to make it even better! I definitely give this my recommendation for clam chowder in Pismo!

    Matt G.

    My family and I were looking for different types of food as most wanted BBQ and another wanted seafood. We ended up at Brad's as we were walking down by the pier and noticed some grilling with a sign that says they grill with an Oak Pit. I pulled up the menu online and also saw that they had seafood. We walked in about an hour before closing and were immediately greeted and seated. There were seats available indoors and on the patio but we settled with the indoor seats. We liked the different menu options but decided on all grilled items: marinated tri-tip, tri-tip sandwich, salmon and a grilled chicken avocado sandwich. The tri-tip had the marinated flavor but my son is used to smoked tri-tip but this one is grilled. He didn't love it but was impressed with the portion size. I loved my grilled chicken sandwich as the portion was generous and could taste the oak flavor in the chicken. The salmon was good and the tri-tip sandwich was OK. The one thing here is that the BBQ items come with beans and your choice of salad or fries. There are no side upgrades so if you want vegetables you will be charged the full price for the veggies plus you will get the sides that come with the meal. We were pleased with the service as it didn't take long to order, receive the food or check out. This is a good location close to the pier. 3.5 stars!

    2 Traveler's specials in the sunshine at their patio tables.
    Sammy Kelly P.

    We came for the Traveler's Special (including a bowl of clam chowder, bread with butter, and a glass of house wine) and it did not disappoint!! The clam chowder was DELISH, and so creamy. Pro-tip: add hot sauce to your chowder, and get a second pad of butter in case you're butter lovers like us! We sat outside in the beautiful sun, under the table umbrellas. Our server was super nice, and everyone working there was friendly and helpful.

    Nani L.

    We found Brad's on Yelp after trying to get into a nearby restaurant that laughed at us for thinking we could just walk in. I called Brad's and they were so helpful! When we arrived we were pleased by the beautiful restaurant and amazing staff. So many different employees came to our table to ensure our needs were met. Our server was so kind and the food was incredible! We ordered the beef ribs with sauce on side, a seafood medley dish with garlic bread and the sauce was to die for! We finished the night with a round of root beer floats which was fun after a nice bottle of Cabinet. We will definitely be back!

    You gotta try the clam chowder!! There's a special flavor that makes it so unique while feeling true to the traditional flavors. Friendly staff as well!! Restaurant claims to serve fresh and not frozen - it sure did taste fresh. Great experience! Beautiful fish tank inside.

    Sign for restaurant.

    Fish, Hamburgers, and BBQ. Completely forgot to take pictures of menu. Food was really good. Employees were super nice. You could eat either inside or outside. If you want to eat inside you go to that door and check in. To eat outside, you need to go to the gates area to check in. The inside area was smaller and kind of plain, the outside was beautiful and had heaters.

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    1 month ago

    Avoid Bad's Restaurant. The service was absolutely horrible, and the clam chowder tasted like warm, watery milk.

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    2 months ago

    Great wait staff! The clam chowder and fish and chips were great, but the halibut was phenomenal! Great day to sit outside!

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    2 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Food is always great, serves'is also great, been eating at Brads for years, never disappointed

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    Brad's Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Brad's Restaurant

    Are reservations required?

    Yes it will help but not required

    Are dogs allowed in the outdoor seating area?

    Thank you for your inquiry. If your dog is a service dog they are welcome. We are unable to accommodate pets at our restaurant. Unfortunately, California Retail Food Code (114259.5) prohibits us from allowing pet dogs at our restaurant, including on… Read more

    Anyone know the approximate wait time for patio dining at lunch or dinner during this crisis?

    We were there at around 7:30-8. Wait time not bad.

    Do you serve breakfast?

    We serve breakfast daily from 8am-11am. Our menu is available on our website:… Read more

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    Food is fresh and delicious. Service is friendly and prompt. Parking available and next to…read moreresturant.

    On our drive back from SoCal we wanted a good meal for the last leg of our long drive back to the…read moreBay Area and searched this place up. Came in without reservations around 7:00pm and hostesses said it would be about a 30 min wait - they were both very friendly and offered any available seats at the bar as we waited. Pretty sure we ended up getting seated before 30 min and our waitress, Lizzie, came right up to ask for any drinks, brought us warm bread, and was back with our waters and drinks really fast! She took our order (gave us the extra time we needed to make up our mind without feeling rushed), set us up with small plates since we were sharing everything we ordered and in no time brought our food right out. We ordered: **Mussels but with the garlic/wine/butter sauce - We did not want that sauce to go to waste once we ate all the mussels. Lizzie gave us another basket of bread to get every last drip! **Dozen of the fresh oysters - They were so fresh and sweet! **Bowl of Clam Chowder - Yummm! Perfect thickness and seasoned perfectly **Fish and Chips - the fish was soooo fresh and melted in your mouth! **Seafood pasta - so good! Sauce was thicker than what I've but in a good way and covered the noodles magnificently! A good amount of seafood was in the dish - the scallops were the best! All in all, it was a great dinner! Food was on point, service was great throughout - very attentive and friendly, atmosphere was lively, price is very reasonable for the quality and amount of food we ordered. We will be definitely be back and would totally recommend this place to anyone visiting Pismo!

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    Cracked Crab

    Cracked Crab

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    My wife and I had a great lunch today. The Host and Waiter were friendly and attentive. They both…read morecame over at some point to ask how everything was. I told them it was "Delicious!" I heard the other Waiters as they served the clients. They were very friendly, professional and served the customers with a smile. The location is on a busy street so as you dine and you look out the window you get to see all the people driving and walking by. It's great if you love to people watch. Some of the plates coming out looked AMAZING. We had the Crab Dip, House Salad, Crab Louis Salad and Clam Chowder. Everything was delicious and satisfying. We even took home a slice of Key Lime Pie. We'll be going back again.

    The Cracked Crab is a well established restaurant on Price street serving yummy food for many years…read morenow. Cute and casual restaurant displaying many lovely beach murals and specializing in seafood. DJ was our fantastic server today. He was Friendly & attentive. We ordered 2 buckets with crab & shrimp. Our order came out steamy & tasty very quickly. The buckets include a choice of crab, shrimp, mussels & clams. It includes corn, potatoes, sausage & your seafood choices. They have many seafood options besides the buckets. DJ was so accommodating throughout our meal. We dined early around 5pm, but if you go during peak hours, lunch or dinner you may have a wait. They do not take reservations. They are moderately priced and portions are good. For a fun beach y experience definitely drop in for a meal.

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    Inside
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    The House Specialty, Bucket for Two

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    Splash Cafe

    Splash Cafe

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    Yes it is true, the best chowder around. I know seems like a tourist trap, but it is not. The…read moreSplash Cafe is just flat out good! You must stop in and partake. I had the bread bowl and chowder, a simple classic. I recommend the splash cafe carrot pepper sauce - Raucous Daucus!! My Bride ordered the clam strips and chips, fried perfectly! Thank you Splash Cafe, keep doing what you do! We'll be back every time we are in town.

    One of the most popular places in Pismo for sure! There was a line out the door every single time…read morewe came by the restaurant over the course of several days. Now we see why! Their claim to their award winning chowder is marked by the numerous awards on their walls. A charming little restaurant just up from the beach, very casual with lots of seating inside two large dining rooms. They also offer take-out and you pick it up on the side street. Their chowder is good and I felt very buttery in flavor but loaded with clams and potatoes. Just the right thickness to not be gummy but flavorful. I also had the fish sandwich and so glad I did! This was by far the best fish sandwich I've had! The large fillet of wild caught cod was fried perfectly with a light batter and the fish inside was moist and flaky. Served on a bun with lettuce, tomato and a caper dijon dressing that was to die for! Oh my gosh...I'll dream of this sandwich till I have it again, LOL! Wife had the Egg Sandwich which she chose on sourdough. Added bacon to top the sandwich off and she loved it...the remoulade they use was tasty and tangy. We also shared an order of tots, which were you typical tater tots, fried to perfection. They have a large menu with so many different offerings and they are known for the bread bowl with chowder. Really great place and highly recommend! Sorry no photos!

    Photos
    Pick up counter
    Pick up counter
    Clam chowder in a San Luis Obispo sourdough bread bowl with a order of fish and chips in the background
    Clam chowder in a San Luis Obispo sourdough bread bowl with a order of fish and chips in the background
    Loaded Clam Chowder BREAD BOWL

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    Loaded Clam Chowder BREAD BOWL
    Ventana Grill

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    View: 10000/10 Food: 7/10…read moreClam chowder was very thick and gummy - not my favorite. Big chunks of clams were awesome but some had sand. :( Calamari - tasty but also greasy. Only recommend it if you have a strong tummy. It came with 3 sauces which is nice. Service was fast and attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed the view from the bar seats and the outside. They also have an awesome selection of cocktails.

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    View of the lounge
    View of the lounge
    Molcajete
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    Vista Steak and Seafood

    Vista Steak and Seafood

    4.3
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    0.4 mi
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    Nice spot for steaks and seafood. I booked reservations via OpenTable and we got lucky with a…read morewindow seat facing the ocean. Absolutely breath taking view! We got bread to start and it was a sourdough yeast roll which was delicious. We got the oysters and they were medium sized and came with a delicious sauce. Very fresh and delicious. For entrees, my husband got the porterhouse which came cooked nicely. I got the seafood linguine and it was delicious. It came with a shrimp, scallops, muscles, clams, salmon, and I believe it was cod. For dessert, we got the lava chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and it was also delicious. Overall, service was great and friendly. Will definitely be back. The location, price, and food were all great! I highly recommend!

    I really wanted to like this place, but it ended up being a pretty mixed experience. Maybe my…read moreexpectations are high--I'll admit I'm a bit of a steakhouse connoisseur. I go to steakhouses almost every time I travel, it's kind of my thing, so I know what a solid experience should look like. We started with the coconut shrimp special, and unfortunately it was undercooked. The shrimp were large and butterflied, but some pieces weren't fully pink inside and still had raw batter, which was a big miss. I also ordered a virgin piña colada with strawberry purée, expecting a blended drink, but it came out over ice and tasted more like a watered-down juice. I don't drink alcohol, so I was really looking forward to something refreshing, and it would've been nice if the server mentioned they don't offer blended drinks. The steak itself was actually not bad--tender, nicely seared, and the sauce on it was really good. That was definitely the highlight. But the sides didn't hold up. The potatoes tasted like they came straight out of a box, and the vegetables were under-seasoned and overcooked. For a place that markets itself as a steakhouse, it just didn't deliver.

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    Bone-In Ribeye
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    Beef short rib, $44

    Brad's Restaurant - seafood - Updated July 2026

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