I recently had the chance to visit Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Monterey, and I have to say--it had been years since my last visit. Honestly, it's probably been a couple decades since I went to the original location in San Francisco, so I didn't really know what to expect coming back. But I'm glad I gave this place another shot. I was in the area because my son had a football game out in Seaside, and after the game, we were looking for a good spot to sit down, relax, and enjoy a nice meal. Bubba Gump came to mind, and with the location right by the water, it just felt like the right move--and it absolutely was. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was great. It has that fun, casual vibe, but still feels like a place you can sit down and really enjoy your time. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and everything felt organized and clean, which is always something I pay attention to. Now let's talk about the food--because that's what really stood out. I ordered the Cajun-style seafood pot with crab, shrimp, potatoes, and corn, and it was straight up delicious. The seasoning was on point--not too overpowering, but packed with flavor. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, the crab was fresh and easy to break into, and the potatoes and corn soaked up all that Cajun flavor. Every bite was just solid. You can tell when a place knows what they're doing with seafood, and this definitely hit the mark. What made the experience even better was the view. Sitting there, enjoying a hot, flavorful meal while looking out over the water in Monterey--it doesn't get much better than that. The scenery really adds to the whole experience, and it's one of those places where you don't feel rushed--you can just sit back, eat, and take it all in. For me personally, I'm all about good food and good experiences, especially when I'm out with family. This checked both boxes. It brought back some nostalgia from the original location I went to years ago, but at the same time, it felt fresh and worth coming back to again. Overall, I would highly recommend Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to anyone in the area--whether you're a local or just visiting. Great food, great portions, friendly service, and an amazing view. It's one of those spots that delivers a full experience, not just a meal. If I had to rate it, I'd definitely give it a strong 8.5 out of 10. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Monterey. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

As long time fans of Forrest Gump we appreciate Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, maybe a little more than they deserve. My lovely bride also takes great pride in saying she was in the opening crew at the Monterey Bubba Gump, back in 1996 when they were first started. And Monterey was the first of all the Gumps. So we've been back a few times over those 30 years. Quality can be hit or miss but this time it was quite good. We had a large party of 8 but we got great waterfront seats. We had a mix of foods all which were good to great. Calamari starter was a little mid, but almost everything else was a big hit. We had a Cajun Seafood Boil, Two Cajun Mahi Mahi and Shrimp with Mashed Potatoes (and a substituted rice). One kids popcorn shrimp. And a Makers Mark salmon. The food was on par. The service was fine on a somewhat busy evening but the server did neglect some of the fun aspects of being at Forrest Gump. (Like movie trivia and such). We finished with a lava cake with ice cream which we devoured in moments. All in all a good experience on a nice night in Monterey. It's a firm 4. read more

See all

Enjoying my birthday dinner part two Sunday night 3/22/26 I've been to the San Francisco location, so I decided to stop in while visiting the area came in on a Sunday night p Food selection: shrimp, New Orleans, and barbecue western burger the shrimp New Orleans you have to order the shrimp were cooked perfectly on a bed of rice with some sort of creole style gravy. It had a really good flavor. The barbecue burger had a really good flavor. A really good smoked char to it and was massive in size. I would recommend ordering both of these. We also ordered two margaritas, which were very good. It was very cool because they gave us bubble Gump cups for my birthday, which I thought was extra cool. Service: 10/10 I didn't catch our server's name, but he was very attentive and super cool. He was busy juggling other tables but still managed to come to us in a timely manner and check on us and make sure everything was good. Definitely appreciated. Ambience: Bubba Gump is a childhood themed restaurant for those that remember it is a Forrest Gump theme restaurant based on the movie Forrest Gump cute little old fisherman grotto vibes with good views Conclusion: I would definitely come back again to try more items. All of the staff was super friendly and even though they were super busy, they still did everything perfectly and food did not take too long to come. Everybody was cool. I definitely recommend coming here. I will come back again and again when I'm in the area. Oh and they sang happy birthday to me ! Thanks guys see you soon! read more

See all

First time at this location! Super impressed. Came for hubby's 62nd birthday. Great service from Maddy! Girl YOU ROCK! Food was really good and the manager is friendly. Beautifully decorated restaurant with a breathtaking view! read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Hubby having Jambalaya with pasta instead of rice. - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

It wasn't too busy for a Friday afternoon. We didn't have to wait for a party of 2. We started with the queso dip and chips, which I'd give a 5/5. Gooey queso with thin, warm & perfectly salted chips: no complaints there. I ordered the gumbo bowl and my husband got the clam chowder bread bowl. My gumbo was so good! The service was also quick and friendly. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

The food isn't amazing. It's very good, however, and once you properly set your expectations, then you can simply enjoy the novelty experience! Customer service is always top notch here. But I must share the low quality turn of a majority of other restaurants was not experienced here. Erik was our server and he did a wonderful job. (Sorry I can't give credit to the previous servers.) 1/16/26: View from our seat. The outdoors weather in a California winter today is 73 degrees. Freaking love it! We are guaranteed to order their popcorn shrimp. Other notable items are their jambalaya, Bourbon street Mahi Mahi and Cajun shrimp, and The Shrimpers Heaven. Lastly, they've got cool souvenir cups! Fun trivia fact: The girl who wouldn't let kid Forrest sit beside her is Tom Hank's actual daughter, E.A. Hanks! read more

See all

I did not expect to give Bubba Gump Shrimp a 5-Star review. I've seen them in loads of high traffic vacation spots and assumed they would be on par with the scores of other Theme Restaurants. We had spent the morning at the Aquarium and wanted a late lunch that would provide a view of Monterey Bay. I took a look at our options and decided to give BGS a try. We got a table at the window looking out at the bay and couldn't have been happier. The menu had loads of options. I got Jambalaya and my wife had Fish and Chops. They were both outstanding! Perhaps our tastes are pretty simple but I simply couldn't find fault with those two meals. The service crew was first rate and attentive to our needs. It was a great Tuesday and I would recommend this restaurant for a fun time without exception. read more

See all

Food was great, service was absolutely detestable! From the incompetence of the person seating us to our waiter I was actually shocked at how bad it all was. Thank goodness the food was better. We never got drunk refills and ended up ordering 2 drinks at once from other staff since we weren't ever offered it from ours. Probably the worst service ever. And for a $400 bill I expected a bit more. Brought my out of state family here and I was actually embarrassed. read more

See all

Cheyenne was such an amazing staff member! She could not have been more impressed by her quick response to our large party (11 people) needs! Our one toddler was taken care of by Cheyenne providing her food cut up in advance so the mom could enjoy her meal at the same time. The manager even came by twice to check in on us. Exceptional!!! We have experienced Bubba Gump's every time we go to SF or Monterey and this is by far the BEST service we have received! read more

This restaurant was clean and really nice service! There's a lot of memorabilia from the movie all over the restaurant, so much so that they also have a gift shop. We ordered some fish and chips, bbq ribs and my kid ordered some Mac and cheese. Food was descent not bad but not as good as I would like it! They get an extra star for customer service. Overall a good touristy experience in cannery row. read more

See all

The service and overall staff was very kind and engaging, playing off of lines from the movie "Forrest Gump" during my roommate's and I's first interaction with them when we were getting seated at this restaurant. Adding onto this, the food was reasonably priced (for being in Cannery Row, in my opinion) and was also quite delicious. I loved the clam chowder, it felt thick enough and also flavorful enough to the point of enjoyment, but not too rich to the point of being sickly, a lovely meal! And, to add onto these two pluses, my roommates and I were seated right next to the ocean view, so the seagulls and waves splashing around us at near peak golden hour was a cherry on top type of experience. Would highly implore you to check out this restaurant, if given the chance! read more

Ashley was incredible and thoughtful with her service! We would totally come back just to see her! Thank you so much for making our Mother's Day wonderful read more

Surprisingly really enjoyed my recent visit here. Came here on a Thursday afternoon and was sat immediately at a table that had a great view of the water. Waitress was super friendly and personable. She got our food and drinks in pretty quick and everything was great. Loved that the menu wasn't too overwhelming, yet still plenty of options to choose from. Went with the fish and chips, smaller portion which was still really filling. Good place to visit if you have little ones who like simple kids menu items like pizza or chicken strips and fries. read more

See all

Great place! Nice inside and the patio too; plus for us, they're dog friendly! We loved all the patriotic stuff they had in their lobby! They weren't that busy but service was a slow; but all the staff were very nice and very friendly. Great Rum Forrest Rum drink and you get to keep the Bubba Gump glass (Don Q Pasión Rum, Myers's Original Dark Rum, grenadine, pineapple, orange, lime). My wife loved their crab stuffed shrimp and their cole slaw. I got their clam chowder & a salad. The salad was good and the soup too. They were able to get our little dog a burger patty for not much cost either. Nice! Wish they had one closer to San Diego than far up North for us. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

I know this spot is definitely more on the touristy side, but it's always been a go-to for me since I've been coming here as a kid. Dining here is just as fun as an adult :) Everyone who works here is always so friendly I had the bourbon street mahi mahi and shrimp on my most recent visit, and this might be my new favorite dish here. Loved having two types of seafood in one dish, the cajun sauce was delicious, and the fried onions on the mashed potatoes were the perfect touch to add some crisp to the dish. Also tried the strawberry cheesecake which was a great end to the meal though I wish the crust was more crunchy. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Bourbon street mahi mahi and shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Hadn't been here in so long. Decided to stop by on an impromptu adventure with my family. Mid afternoon, easy to get seated, service was excellent and the food was delicious. My one complaint was that music was so loud. I understand it's a bar atmosphere but it was a bit much at times. Also, we were asked a few times if we are part of the Landry program? We are not but we're curious to know. No one seemed to go beyond asking if we were members. Maybe a brief, wood you like to hear about it? Just a suggestion. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Forrests Seafood Feast - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

So much fun! I can't believe I've never been here with all of the many years my family has visited Monterey (I guess since we tend to avoid tourist hot spots), but I'm glad to have finally tried it I got Forrest's Seafood Feast, albeit less of a "feast" and more of a "large sampler". I liked the three different sauces that it came with--the cocktail sauce was my favorite, and paired very well with the fried shrimp. I also liked that you could see bits of corn in the hush pups. I asked to replace fries with mashed potatoes, which ended up being the perfect substitute. I was quite happy with my meal The strawberry cheesecake was the perfect dessert--I left feeling so stuffed Decor is very nice and there's Forrest Gump quotes & things to look at around everywhere. Also, there's tons of TVs everywhere and the place felt so fun and lively read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Forrests Seafood Feast - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

It's been years, maybe a decade to be exact since I last visited this Bubba Gump in Monterey. I was hanging out in Pacific Grove and Cannery row with my family today and we decided on Bubba Gump for dinner. They had something for each of us and thought it might be fun for our kids and for myself to revisit after all these years. We had 6:30 reservations and we arrived a wee bit early and checked in then cued to another list to be seated. I forget how busy this place gets and worse on the weekends. Hubby and I checked out the souvenir shop with the kids then we let them venture off while we waited for a text to be seated. Neither of us are part of their rewards program, so we weren't priority seating although we had made a reservation prior to arriving. (I find this practice odd). We were seated about 25 minutes after our reservation time. The crowd to get in was insane and the dining room was filled to capacity. The hostess Lil ann was rude and service as a whole was slow. We were seated next to a party of 14 that was seated about 45 minutes prior to us and we got our food around the same time. Our server, "Peanut" did the best she could. I get that they can only serve as fast as their kitchen will put out orders. We ordered a shrimpers net catch and garlic bread as an appetizer. This appetizer was the reason we came back here, but the sauce wasn't the same. Fish and chips were great, but the Jambalaya was disappointing. Parts of the rice were undercooked and the dish lacked protein. Our kids had kids meals, a cheeseburger and a Mac and cheese with grapes. We ate fairly quickly and sadly it took longer for us to settle out our bill. We came for the shimpers net catch and fish and chips. Next time we're in Monterey, we'll pass on crazy crowds here. read more

See all

From walking out of the aquarium, this restaurant is right around the corner, making it a super convenient spot to grab a bite. The inside is very nice and truly feels like you're by the sea. If you're lucky, you can sit by the window and stare out at the ocean while you eat, which makes the experience even better. I ordered the chicken breast and chose to have it fried (you can also get it grilled if you're looking for a healthier option). The chicken was really good and flavorful. I wasn't a big fan of the mashed potatoes, though--they didn't stand out to me. For an appetizer, I ordered a platter, and that was good as well. Overall, I'd recommend eating here if you enjoy seafood and a nice oceanfront atmosphere. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Definitely deserves more than just 3 stars... After almost twenty years we finally came back to Bubba Gump's in Monterey and we instantly regretted waiting so long. The restaurant still has that fun and nostalgic charm that celebrates the legacy of Forrest Gump. The movie-inspired décor is amazing, the service is friendly, and the whole atmosphere feels like stepping into Bubba's vision. We went looking for the classic "Bucket of Trash," a fan favorite that used to feature an assortment of fried fish and shrimp. While that wasn't on the menu this time, we tried the Shrimpers Heaven and Forrest's Seafood Feast instead. Both dishes hit the spot with a delicious assortment of fried shrimp, hand-battered fish, hush puppies, and other seafood favorites. This visit reminded us how much we have missed Bubba Gump's. The food was great, the décor still makes you smile, and the service was fantastic. We will definitely make it a point to come back more often whenever we are in Monterey. read more

See all

Forrest Gump is in my top 5 favorite movies, so of course we had to stop in for dinner while I was in town for my birthday. I ordered the coconut shrimp, which seemed like a small-ish portion for the price. It was deliciously crispy and sweet, but a not a great amount of food. My mom loved her "I'm stuffed" shrimp, but it seemed like it was lacking its usual generous amount of sauce. Our waiter was polite and we were seated pretty quickly (we made reservations ahead of time.) I wouldn't suggest taking a gamble on just walking in without a reservation because the wait list can fill up quickly. The noise level was almost overwhelming, but of course I had to give them some grace since this is such a popular restaurant. It seems much smaller than the San Francisco location. They gave me a cute sprinkle-laden ice cream sandwich since we were celebrating my birthday weekend, so that was a really nice, simple finish to the meal. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Birthday ice cream sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

I had probably the very best experience at this Bubba Gump today for early dinner. Early dinner means 5pm. The atmosphere was perfect because it wasn't packed, staff didn't looked overworked or tired, it wasn't loud. I was actually able to hear my table's conversation. Our waitress, Monica, was awesome and made our dining experience amazing. She was fun and was so on top of everything. She did Forrest Gump trivia between three tables while we all waited for our food and I didn't realize how many times I've seen that movie because I pretty much knew all the answers, some were harder than others. Monica also brought us refills before we realized we even needed them, which was really nice to be able to receive service like that. I ordered Jenny's salmon and shrimp with no rice but added a side salad and as always, it's a lot of food, but the salmon and shrimp were so good. Next time I'd get the butter on the side. The broccoli was steamed to perfection and I was only able to eat a few bites of my side salad. My teen didn't love her chicken sandwich, but she's pretty picky. She has yet to find something here that she really likes. My husband is a vegetarian and got spaghetti with marinara and he said it was really good. It was nice that they were able to accommodate him. As always, their garlic bread loaves are top tier and we got a few of those. They really are that good. We can't wait to eat here the next time we are staying at the Intercontinental next door. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Jambalaya - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

The food and service was excellent tonight. We were seated quickly for a table of 8 on a Friday night. Every dish that was served looked good and was plated well. I had the clam chowder and Jenny's salmon and grilled shrimp. Both were delicious. The clam chowder had great flavor with tender clams and plenty of potatoes. The salmon and shrimp were so fresh, and grilled perfectly. My daughter ordered fried chicken which was fried perfectly and moist inside. The service was also excellent. A perfect place to bring the family when visiting Cannery Row in Monterey read more

See all

Came here to order to-go on a Wednesday afternoon. We ordered at the bar, and the guy who took our order was pretty nice. There's no dedicated space to wait for food, but he let us sit down at an empty table close by. The wait took FOREVER for one order of fish-and-chips. He told us that it would take 15 minutes for my order to come out, and it took closer to 25 minutes. This was frustrating given that I had seen the servers come out multiple times with tons of food. I was super ravenous by the time it came out. The two fish that come with the meal were pretty huge and soft. The batter is super yum and crunchy as well. One complaint is that there wasn't enough tartar sauce for the two fish. In addition, I found that there wasn't enough fries given the price as well. Overall, very scrumptious meal just lacking in portion. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Captains Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Our server was so fun! He kept the atmosphere light and while we were waiting for our food came out and played a trivia game with us. The food is always solid and this time I got the shrimper's delight. It was enough that the whole table shared it. The restaurant is always packed, so it's not a quiet experience, but you really go for the fun and the food so it balances out. You can see the bay through the big windows and while we were eating we got to see an otter! (Otter spotting not guaranteed) We come here 1-2 times a year if we can and it's always worth it. read more

See all

I absolutely love this place!!! I drive from Salinas just to go eat here. We usually get the pound fishermen Cajun shrimp net and the shrimp New Orleans. So amazing. There is not much more to say other than that it is one of my favorite places to eat! Yummm my mouth is watering just thinking of it. yummm yummmm yummmm!!! Service are always friendly and usually is a bit of a wait but at the end it's so worth it and it's not their fault for the kitchen to be backed up so it's ok. Just a bit of patience. read more

Amazing as usual, the lava flow cocktail was like a strawberry coconut dessert drink and the bourbon st Mahi Mahi and shrimp is delish read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Lava Flow $15 and you get a free tiki glass to take home - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

It's an awesome place! Make reservations online if it's the weekend but alway good service and even had room for our puppy and sleeping kid in his wagon. read more

The service and experience is amazing and I love coming here for the theme of the restaurant. But the pasta I got was very very greasy. The chicken,pasta, and bread were good but after I was almost done eating it all there was a lot of grease. I think there was more grease on my plate than a large pizza. The orange stuff in the pasta is not sauce...it's grease. read more

The service here is great, and the atmosphere is fun. Our waitress even did a little trivia game with us, which was a nice touch. I just wish the food matched the service. The lobster rolls I tried on my previous visit lacked flavor, and the shrimp mac and cheese appetizer I ordered this time was also pretty bland. The shrimp had no flavor, and the mac and cheese was just okay. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Shrimp Shack Mac & Cheese - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Always a good meal at bubba gump! One of our favorite places to come. We've never had bad service or food. We ordered cups of clam chowder, the burban street Mahi Mah, the crab stuffed shrimp, and seasonal old fashioned and the lava flow. The atmosphere is fun, casual, and upbeat! We loved our table with a nice bay view! read more

See all

We came from out of town to a conference: Food good!! Service excellent!! Our waiter Andres is the best!!! read more

Forrest Gump is my favorite movie of all time, so I had to stop here when visiting the aquarium as it is just a walk away. Watermelon Margarita (4/5): Pretty strong and good bang for your buck. The flavor of the watermelon was good too. However minus 1 for giving me a brain freeze Run Across America Sampler (5/5): Can't decide which appetizer to get? This is the perfect one. Peel shrimp (5/5): probably won't make you full, but the flavor was pretty good. Definitely will stop by a location again. read more

See all

Ambience- 9 Service- 9 Food choices- 9 Cleanliness -9 Taste of food - 8 Overall, good experience. read more

See all

Yeah I didn't like the food here. Almost everything I tasted wasn't good. The calamari wasn't hittin. I've had way better. The shrimp and crab sandwiches didn't even fill up the sandwich. It was just full of mayo. Almost tasted like a tuna sandwich. There was barely any shrimp or crab. So nasty. Fries got cold quick. The fried pickles was salty AF!!! The only thing was good was their ceviche. The Jennie's drink was koo but the one that tasted like AMF tasted virgin. Our server was nice and attentive and the view outside the window was nice of the ocean but I won't be returning. read more

See all

A group of four enjoyed lunch outside on the covered porch. My husband and I enjoyed the fish and chips larger portion. Perfectly fried fish with fries and Cole slaw. Delicious meal with a great view of Monterey Bay. read more

See all

Food was great. Had the seafood platter and the fish was good, seafood hushpuppies were delicious, same with the shrimp. Our server (Allyssa) was great! Good food, great service, and excellent ambiance. read more

It was a while ago that we visited this Bubba Gump. Actually, it was 8 years ago we were at this Bubba Gump. I rated it 5*'s then and I'm rating it the same this time. We love this place. Again, we waited for a table right at the edge with a gorgeous ocean view. Our server was great .... no complaints there! The view was to die for. It just doesn't get better than this location. There is semi-outside seating and inside seating. Take your pick as it is all good. The menu is mainly about seafood but there are a few options for those that aren't seafood fanatics. This time we had the fish'n chips, onion rings and clam chowder. Everything was excellent. Definitely no complaints and we loved it! read more

It's a chain but it's honestly so good & popular for a reason! I like how almost any seat offers a great view, and the theme is a fun experience. My tip is I usually ask if I can wait longer for a seat with an ocean view, if there's not one readily available. I usually get pasta and my boyfriend gets the fish and chips. I think the prices are around the same price as any other place in Monterey, and the food is super good. I believe they have an offer for military as well. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Pina colada Cocktail - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

One of my favorite restaurant spots! Came in and didn't have to wait long at all. At first I was seated at a booth but it was super tight since there was a pole and it looked like the seat row was longer than the table! Soon after I was moved to a window view and it was perfect. I got the seafood feast and the garlic bread appetizer. Also the ribeye was phenomenal with the mashed potatoes and the side of gumbo was the perfect spice. My server was super engaging I wish I remembered his name but he was asking us Forrest Gump trivia! It was fun and he had about 10 very specific questions regarding the movie. read more

Bubba Gump Shrimp - Forrests Seafood Feast - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California