If i could i would leave it zero stars .....don't recommend to anyone First thing they fry the fish and potatoes in the same oil... * people can be allergic to fish * they should take that in consideration. second the fish and chips was very oily and the tartar sauce is not tartar sauce its more like mayo sauce ... Dissatisfied read more

Miss The East Beach Grill Breakfast Menu no longer, absorbed into Char West. Still get blueberry wheat germ pancakes, Santa Barbara Omelette and Bran Muffins. Same great view! Same great service! read more

I have heard so much about Santa Barbara's fish n' chips. My parents had them at Moby Dick's and Harbor Restaurant since the '80's. Since we wanted to take it to-go, we decided to order from Char West. Their sign advertised their Fish N' Chips so we figured it had to be their best item. And with that view, it was the perfect set-up. Right? Wrong. It was sincerely disappointing and given the dish, it was an expensive disappointment. For $15, we got two large pieces of fish and a basket of fries with tartar sauce. Overall, the fish was not good. It was watery, which means it was frozen. There was a noticeable amount of grey meat, which means it was probably a carp (like tilapia, catfish, swai) and not cod, haddock or halibut - the best choices of fish for this dish. Yes, the meat was thick and a great portion, but the quality was not great. It also had a very fishy smell, which you may think, "Duh" but this is the smell that comes from either old or defrosted fish. Not appetizing. We did not finish the dish, split among three people. On the bright side, the fries were crispy and the tartar sauce was good. The fried coating was great, crispy and golden - a good sign that the oil was changed often. Staff was not friendly but they were efficient at grinding out food fast. I saw that there are not many options on the wharf so if you really really need food fast, I understand if you end up here. However, if you want good fish n' chips, I would go elsewhere. Admittedly, I did check their Yelp rating while I was in line to order, but gave them the benefit of the doubt. #regrets Don't be like me. Be better. read more

Char West - Fish and chips. - Fish & Chips Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

There's some low star reviews here. On the back of our experience, we'd have to give it a 5 star. Hopefully, next time we come, it'll be the same quality of food and service. The fish and chips were really really good. The fish was extremely fresh (today). The batter was a perfect balance and consistency, not too thick. It was crunchy and fresh tasting. It comes default with lemons and tartar sauce. Malt vinegar and ketchup upon request. We also ordered the clam chowder. It had a perfect balance of clams, potatoes, and soup. Thank goodness they didn't use bacon. Smokey clam chowder is the worst. Overall, it was a great experience this time. read more

Did you get lost on the wharf and wander hungrily into whatever place had food? Me too. Junk food, tourist prices. Hot dog and tri tip salad tasted like microwaved food. Save your money and your appetite. I'm sitting here wishing I did. read more

Char West - Fish & Chips Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Went there today for some fish and chips. The fish was absolutely bland; no taste AT ALL. Place was dirty, floor had food all over and all of their indoor tables were dirty, we asked them to wipe down a table for us and the rag the lady used was so smelly it left the table smelling disgusting. Needless to say we were not happy, SAVE YOUR MONEY and go somewhere else. read more

Fantastic breakfast place right on the dock! We had the wheat germ pancakes, OJ, and hashbrowns- delish and with inside AND outside seating read more

Char West - Breakfast with a view! - Fish & Chips Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Fun little spot. Burgers, fish and chips, fish sandwich,are a few items on the menu. It was quick. Staff was nice and price wasn't too much. Food is good. read more

We are from Las Vegas and this place was super friendly and had the best fish and chips EVER. We will come back every year just for the fish and chips and friendly service. read more

Great view on the pier. Food was good but not great and portions were a little small. read more

Char West - Fish tacos - Fish & Chips Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Simple, metal tables and chairs, but the location on the pier is great! The view is terrific! It's overpriced but the view is why you eat there. The fish & chips were good, the clam chowder was so-so. The menu isn't big. read more

Char West - Fish & Chips Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Let me first say how much I loved Char West. I loved it because it was the only place that had Blue Berry Wheat Germ pancakes in Santa Barbara. Unfortunately, I will not be going back there again because of how I was treated today July 20, around 10:15. I want to let you know I am the type of person that gives the waiter or restaurant employee the benefit of the doubt, even if they make a mistake, as long as I am being treated with kindness and respect. I usually just mention it and eat it anyway. Today I had the male restaurant employee binging me wheat germ pancakes, not the blueberry wheat germ pancakes I had ordered in a combo. I mentioned this to him and would have waited for them to recook this order because it was a treat for me. He told me I had ordered what he had brought because that is what his paper printout said. I found this confusing because I had not ordered from him, I had ordered from the women at the register. So as far as I was concerned there is not way he would even know what I had actually ordered. Feeling that this man would not to correct the situation or admit fault. I picked up my dish to talk with the woman at the register that had made the mistake. The young man told me two more times that I had made a mistake, and the woman said nothing. Not even an apology. I mentioned to him I did not appreciate him treating me disrespectfully. He then said he would make new pancakes. I just left, I had lost my appetite. Even though I had paid $14.41, and put $3 in the jar for a tip beforehand. I hope someone at Char West cares enough about people, customers, and employees to educate them about the importance of treating people with dignity for everyone's sake. read more

I would give it 1-star for quality of food but the people were nice and the atmosphere was fine so..2-stars. My wife and son had the fish and chips, they really didn't like it. I had the burger. It was frozen meat like the frozen patties you get from the grocery store. No flavor, low quality. No thanks. The fries had no seasoning and were low quality. I would definitely go elsewhere if you are looking for fresh food. I would have been more satisfied with a Big Mac and Filet-o-fish from McD's than this place. Yuck!! read more

I stopped by at Char West since I didn't want to sit and dine for a meal. I didn't walk to the end of the wharf to check out the other options. I made the mistake of not checking the yelp reviews, and went ahead and ordered. I had the grilled fish sandwich with fries. Not very flavorful but it did the job. Well...a few hours went by, and I started feeling nauseous. I concluded that it was the fish that was upsetting my stomach. I felt like this the rest of the weekend, and tonight the nausea finally got the best of me. I don't recommend getting seafood from this spot, but there's plenty of other options that may be okay. You'll have a seat with a good view of the sea at the very least! read more

What happened??? This was one of the best burger memories for us when we lived here. No char , the classic taste is gone. It was about as plain as any burger from fast food chain- actually not as good. Crazy over priced tourist crap, very sad. read more

It was the worst fish n chips I've ever had. I believe the fish was tilapia as it tasted muddy. We felt disgusted after eating there. The same type of fish was used in the fish taco. We were hungry and was super disappointed with the meal. If you want to eat muddy tasty fish, you can give it a try. It's worst than the frozen fish from the grocery store. read more

Absolutely my favorite spot for breakfast in Santa Barbara! Casual outdoor dining area on Stearns wharf with absolutely gorgeous view of the ocean and the hills of Santa Barbara. Francisco, Blanca and the rest of the staff are always friendly and offer excellent service. They serve a range of espresso drinks, and a nice breakfast (and lunch) menu. My personal favorite is the huevos rancheros. A great place to eat and appreciate the beauty of Santa Barbara. read more

Haven't been here in several years. Unfortunately, my latest experience did not quite deliver as I'd have liked. The last time I'd eaten at Char West was over 20 years ago when they were located on upper State where the current Dunkin' Donuts is. I had recalled several good times, with tasty, fulfilling burgers and thick, creamy shakes. End of an era. I came in around 6:30pm tonight, and should've based my decision off of the fact that there were no other patrons dining here. Excited to relive my glory days of old Char West, I decided to give it a try. The restaurant wasn't extremely clean, and most of the chairs and tables were stacked in a corner. The girls behind the counter were nice, though - and you really can't beat the amazing oceanfront view! I was a bit appalled by the pricing of each item. Sure, I decided to spend my evening in arguably the most tourist-laden section of our city, so shrugged it off. I went ahead and ordered the Gordo Burger with fries, at a whopping $11.75 plus tax. It was made before my eyes, but the final result was underwhelming for the price paid. The patty was well-seasoned but thin, and the burger itself was positively swimming in a sea of chopped lettuce. $6, $7, maybe; $11.75 was too steep. Lesson learned. A customer came in not long after me and inquired about the freshness of the fish in their $14.75 Fish & Chips meal. I overheard the cashier mention that the tilapia used wasn't local, and informed the patron where on the wharf fresh, local fish could be found. At least she was honest. Based on the overall quality of the food itself, and the amazing location, I'd come back again. However, this won't be until my employer provides me with a hefty raise so I could justify the cost spent. read more

Char West - Tasty but underwhelming "Gordo Burger" - Fish & Chips Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Location!!! Can't beat sitting on the ocean!!! (on the Santa Barbara wharf) . Breakfast is our favorite! Incredible blueberry pancakes! So glad East Beach Grill could move to wharf & stay in Business! Thanks for great quality and good service! read more

Good view, ok food. We got the fish & chips and the double burger. I'm sure there are better places in SB, but you pay for the location and view. read more

We walked on the Santa Barbara wharf and grabbed some pancakes and muffins for breakfast. They are friendly and fast service. We got 3 bran muffins- they were warm, fluffy, and great flavor. Best muffin we've ever had! My dad had the 321 special- pancakes were generous portions, great bacon and very affordable price. The seating was a nice area too read more

My fiancée and I went here super early not expecting anything to be open and found this place on our stroll up the pier. I usually don't like pier food, coming from Santa Monica, but it was really good breakfast food! Simple diner style where everything was just right and the view is obviously super dope! read more

Char West - 2 eggs - Fish & Chips Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Friendly service. Enjoyed the fish & chips. Great atmosphere and outside sitting.

This place was a disapppointment. We walked to the pier, looking for fish and chips, and were disappointed to find they only serve tilapia. Not a good choice for fish and chips. Instead we ordered hamburgers and the daily special of tri tip sandwich. The burger was mediocre, not well seasoned . The fries and lettuce were ok, but the ten dollar cost a bit high for the product offered. The tri tip sandwich special was a disappointment. The meat was tough, the bread dry. The accompanying salad was adequate, but the dressing too acidic. There is another fish and chips place further down the pier, probably better than this one. I can not recommend Char West, we were all three very disappointed. Even the sit down restaurants offer take out! read more

Fish & chips was delicious! The clam chowder bread bowl was perfect while we sat and enjoyed the rain.

Just visited Char West. Clean restaurant located on east side of Sterns Pier. Ordered fish and chips and lemonade. Great customer service and very clean restaurant with indoor and shaded outdoor dining facilities as well. I'm a local wanting to eat at and support local businesses. Straight up, this is the least flavorful fish and chips ever.. absolutely horrible and way too much coating and grease! This restaurant is in one of the best locations in town. To the business owners, your fish and chips are absolutely, totally 100% disgusting! We threw 95% of our lunch in the garbage. Visiting the Santa Barbara waterfront and looking for fish and chip??? Look elsewhere. I reccomend you try Brophy Brothers or On The Alley. read more

The pier jutting out from State Street in Santa Barbara offers some great food and shopping choices. Positioned poorly on the observe side of the center thoroughfare, and ironically adjacent to the restrooms, this fast food seafood hub offered slow service and a slab of unidentifiable fried fish. Although it would be fair to suggest that eating at a self-appointed fast food restaurant warrants the feasibility of subpar food, given the breadth of choices atop the pier it hardly seems worth avoiding the wait for a table at any of the other comparably-priced dining options. In fairness to Char West, the food is prepared right before the customer and the deep fry on both the clams and fish were a dark tawny hue and crispy to perfection. Unfortunately, the fish that entered the deep fryer was of such girth that it had to sit in the oil far too long in order to cook all the way through. While I received my money's worth in terms of quantity, I can't reasonably say I got my money's worth in quality. Eat at another restaurant and put your name down for a table. It'll be worth the wait! read more

Char West - The Fisherman's Platter - Fish & Chips Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Sad, the first 1 star rating I've given, and to my beloved SB. ...Can we say overpriced?! I understand they have the overhead, employees to pay etc. But just b/c you are next to the ocean doesn't mean you have good food. The food is decent for not being "fresh." The shrimp I saw come strictly out of a frozen bag, already battered and put into the fryer. The fish we asked was fresh as well and they said no. So shrimp no, fish, eehhh maybe. But for what I'm paying for like $12 for shrimp I would wish it was fresh, or at least fresh from costco or something, then had their own batter to put on and then fried. The "fries" are chips. Might I add they aren't even cooked all the way, so half of the chips have a bit of crunch and the other side are soft! This place I'd admit has a great view, benches/tables to sit. The fish is fairly decent. I've lived in SB for two years and there are so many better places if you want real fish and chips. Just b/c your by the ocean doesnt mean they get it from the sea! Again, prices and quality not. I mean it is fast food after all. I'd rather go to the restaurant two feet down the way. Longboards, thats good. Then again, you see so many nightmare shows with Ramsey, it does make you wonder how much "fresh' ingredients are really used at restaurants. read more

The food was unexpectedly awful. The fish and chips was better than the Fish Fajita Burrito. The young lady up front was texting on her phone and seemed to care less about taking our order. Ordering at the counter. Our lunch cost $38..WOW. In my opinion, this was definitely not worth the time or money. read more

Yeah, we come here every time we visit Santa Barbara but it is never that good and it is expensive for what you get. We had the fish and chips. Kind of greasy and meager portions. My daughter ask for four packets of vinegar and they gave her 3. They must be rationing them out. Anyway we probably will come again. It is more about the view than the food. If you want tasty fish and chips there are better out there. read more

The muffins and cinnamon rolls looked amazing however we had lunch and it was not appetizing. I really wanted it to be! But my kids didn't eat their grilled cheese and my sandwich scratched the roof of my mouth. Fries were blah. Darn. read more

Let me help you. Your thinking 4 stars!? Why.... A great yelp review is like a good physical it covers everything and gets you an overall feeling with an understanding for what's not so spectacular as well as what going well. Char West has a 5-star location. Located on the pier you can site ocean side and enjoy the sun and surf. The food... stick with the simple things, burger and fries 3 star. The staff does a good job and the prices while slightly elevated make sense based on the location... 4 stars. Also the reality is I find myself returning to Char West usually mid week to avoid the Tourists, and really enjoying my lunch. Simple, strait forward, burger and fries on a paper plate with a incredible view and fresh ocean breezes for around $10, what's not to love! read more

I mean, you're paying tourist trap prices so there should be no surprise there. Fries were meh, fish n chips were just edible. People were nice. But let me talk about the chicken nuggets. Holy Mary Mother of God I have never tasted something so disgusting in the entirety of my life. That's saying a lot because I've eaten vegemite. And who eats nuggets? Kids. But not my kids and not these nuggets. Zero nuggets consumed by either the three or five year old. And it was $8 for five nuggets and fries. And the nuggets were like a perfect circle shape. They should be ashamed. read more

We just got ripped off! I should have looked up the Yelp review and ratings before eating here! Shame on me! Fish and Chips were greasy and the kids chicken nuggets tasted bad! The clam chowder was watered down and flavorless. The best thing about this place was their tap water! $50 for a meal for four...I'll never come back here again. read more

Come here for the breakfast and support the owner of former East Beach Grill. The view is beautiful and the food still tastes great. You can't go wrong with the Santa Barbara omelet or their pancakes. read more

Char West - Fish & Chips Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Best coffee I've had in a long time. Gave me hot chocolate for free since my brother requested it to be weak. Seldom do you encounter decency and honesty like that. Maybe a few more milk options wound be good like oat milk but while they're out on the pier maybe it's not in demand. I'll for sure return here again. read more

Terrible!! Don't eat here. Ordered the clam chowder but didn't taste like it. Fish & chips were extra greasy and flavorless. Will not be coming here again. read more

The food here is so bad. Just keep walking to the place at the end of the pier. The women at the counter were looking miserable, unhappy and eating constantly. Asking what I want with a a mouthful of food. Strong smell of stale deep fryer oil. The fries, fish and clams all come from a freezer bag. For the price, nothing fresh or original. On a positive note, I did not feel like I would get sick eating here. And, I ate the food. It was a typical tourist trap low quality experience and food without charm. I would never go here again. BTW, the $8 ice cream cones from next door are from Thrifty. Do yourself a favor, eat in town and just go for a walk, right past this place. read more

The fish and chips were good. Big pieces, maybe lacked a little salt - but that's fish and chips anywhere. I have to say, though that the service was bad. I mean bad. Apathetic, not helpful, not even the least bit friendly. Maybe it's just the guy who was working there but man was he miserable. It was a busy day, day after Christmas and we were visiting from out of town. Too bad he couldn't be the least bit cheery. I asked for recommendations of other items my family was considering trying but he was NOT trying to upsell us or give other patrons' feedback on the other items on the menu. Lost opportunity there. :/ read more

Over priced food, horrible horrible customer service. The blond hostess kept rushing me for order while I was in there browsing menu for 2 minutes or less. I tried to start a nice little chat by asking what was smelling so good, she said bacon then staring at me yet kept rushing me to order. My bf paid $12 for a very bland toast cuz he didn't pay attention to the price. This place is scam for tourists, walk away fellas!!! read more