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    Driftwood Kitchen

    4.0 (3.2k reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Driftwood Kitchen Takeout

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    Business Info

    DRIFTWOOD KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Driftwood Kitchen

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    Tina C.

    Highly recommend Driftwood Kitchen! The food was absolutely amazing. Every dish was fresh and full of flavor. The service was just as great, friendly and attentive. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to!

    We ordered quite the feast. Best food in the city. Juan had amazing service and overall this was the date we needed
    Sydney P.

    We ordered quite the feast. Best food in the city. Juan had amazing service and overall this was the date we needed, thank you! Also ocean view and relaxing!!

    Nhu V.

    We came here a few minutes before opening and had the whole restaurant to ourselves, with a beautiful view of the beach in the morning. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Snow crab omelette and lobster hash were delicious. They were on the richer side with a very generous portion size - great to share with big groups. I could see how this place would be packed during regular hours... I mean look at that view! Highly recommend Driftwood for brunch, but you should come early or make reservations in advance.

    Fish and chips.  Good size fish.  Fries just ok.
    Anita W.

    Recently ate here for my friend's birthday. Arrived to find an almost empty restaurant at 1:30. We were seated outside and it was a beautiful day. Our server came pretty quickly and took our drink orders. He came back in a timely manner to get our food order. Our food came out hot and as ordered. We enjoyed sitting outside and had a bird friend sit on the rail behind me for a while. I'm sure he was looking for some food. If you're looking for Michelin star food you will want to go elsewhere. If you want great service, an amazing view and ambiance this is your place! Will be returning I'm sure!

    Thanksgiving buffet 2025
    Jennifer H.

    This review is for the Thanksgiving buffet. Parking is valet or street parking. For starters, I tried the gem salad (had candied beets, goat cheese, and pomegranate vinaigrette), grilled vegetables, shrimp, octopus salad, crab cake, shredded crab, and tuna sashimi. The gem salad was pretty tasty, although it had a little too much dressing for my preference. The shrimp and octopus salad tasted fresh. The tuna sashimi was soft, but wasn't the freshest. The crab cake had some egg pieces on top, so that was yummy! I also enjoyed the shredded crab! It was soft and sweet, but the sauce was a little too spicy for me. The carving station had turkey and prime rib. I got a lot of dark meat for the turkey, so the pieces were soft. The cranberry sauce ran out, but I tried the gravy, which didn't have a savor or rich enough flavor for me. The prime rib was pretty tender. My favorite entree was the salmon! It was sooo tender and fresh, and the gribiche sauce was unique. For sides, I tried the green bean casserole and the honey and thyme glazed carrots, which were both solid For dessert, I tried the chocolate chip cookie and marble cake with a large scoop of chocolate sauce! The cookie tasted buttery and was soft in the middle. The marble cake was pretty good, but not exceedingly special. Price was $125 per person, but it's a holiday plus you get the beach views, so the buffet was a nice experience.

    Spanish octopus - Romesco sauce is so delicious! We were blown away by
    Bailey L.

    My favorite meal I've had here and prob top 5 in my life. Service was impeccable, I wish I would've gotten his name to give him a shout out but he was so sweet, incredibly attentive, had the best recommendations based on what our preferences were. And the food was fantastic! I am not sure I will fully recover from how amazing everything was

    Beautiful ocean views, but the food let me down. I ordered the egg plate and the eggs looked and felt spongy, not like real eggs at all. When I asked the server, he insisted they were organic, but that didn't explain the texture. Felt brushed off rather than heard. Nice ambiance, poor experience.

    Sea bass and sticky rice - decadent!
    Regan G.

    This was such a wonderful experience. Unbeatable view and great service. Very attentive and kind. The food was also so good! Definitely recommend the brussel sprouts and the sea bass is to die for. Adding this place to our favorites.

    Bar area
    Sara H.

    A beachfront restaurant. The outdoor seating area was a bit small but it was still nice to enjoy the weather and view. We ordered 3 dishes: - Crispy Brussels Sprouts & Shishito Peppers - Scottish Smoked Salmon Bagel - DK Benedict with Steak Some places make the dishes very salty, especially the crispy brussels sprouts, but I liked how this place didn't. The service was okay. Recommend making a reservation ahead of time

    Chilaquiles - Brunch Menu
    Lindsay K.

    Stunning views, consistently delicious, and the perfect brunch spot Driftwood Kitchen continues to be one of my favorite Laguna Beach gems, and our recent brunch in the main dining room was another reminder of why it's a go-to. We brought our parents here for a weekend visit, and they were completely impressed from the oceanfront views to the warm service to the consistently delicious food. The chilaquiles were the star of my meal: perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of spice and incredible flavor in every bite. I'm still thinking about them. The pineapple mimosas were bright, refreshing, and such a fun twist on the classic brunch drink. We also ordered the Brussels sprouts as a starter, and wow were these were so good I genuinely want to learn how to make them at home. Crispy, flavorful, and a perfect opener to the meal. Between the breathtaking views, reliably great food, and an atmosphere that feels both relaxed and special, Driftwood Kitchen delivers every time. Highly recommend for brunch, especially when you want to impress visitors.

    French toast
    Chelsea M.

    Visited Driftwood Kitchen on an early Wednesday morning and was able to get a table very quickly. The servers were up beat and seemed to enjoy working there. My server specifically was knowledgeable about the menu and told us that everything was delicious. Started off with a simple espresso martini which was expertly made and refreshing. Also ordered the Blueberry pancakes, and the DK Benedict with steak and the DK Benedict with crab cakes. Moment of silence for the pancakes!!! They were fluffy delicious, warm, sweet just all around amazing. I would go back over and over again for these pancakes. The DK Benedict with crab cakes were tasty. The crab cakes were a great size and flavorful. The DK Benedict with steak was not my favorite. The steak itself was a bit overcooked and I was surprised that there was lettuce on the Benedict. The lettuce completely threw me off, because it was under the steak it was soggy - and it really did not add any value to the dish. Lastly tried the French toast which was decent, was not a fan of the granola crust. Overall I would recommend this place for a nice weekend brunch with friends or family. I will definitely be going back for those pancakes!

    Fire pit outside
    Nevaeh G.

    We decided to give Driftwood another chance! We made a reservation and arrived about 50 minutes early to try and get an outdoor seat for the sunset -- totally worth it. The view was stunning, and we ended up waiting around 50 minutes, so arriving early definitely helped. We split the surf and turf -- I'm eating low-fat right now, so I just had the lobster, which was amazing. I also got the potatoes again, and they were just as good as I remembered. My boyfriend enjoyed the steak, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and the flauta. The little hearts near the flauta were such a cute touch -- we really appreciated the extra detail. Our waitress, Devon, was incredibly sweet and super accommodating with my dietary restrictions, no hesitation at all. That kind of thoughtful service really stands out. Always a wonderful experience at Driftwood -- great food, beautiful views, and genuinely kind staff.

    Sunset from their balcony.
    Scott Z.

    Review #1013 - Really great service and excellent dinner spot for breathtaking sunsets. Located right up on the beach make sure you request one of the 4 balcony tables. We had a delicious dinner and dessert. There is only valet parking so be prepared to walk from a ways away or just valet.

    Chilean seabass

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    Page 1 of 81

    Driftwood Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Driftwood Kitchen

    How do i do valet parking? Do i just pay the fee and tip when I leave?

    That's an unusual question? Don't you just pull up and the guy parks your car!! However, what terrible surprise to get hit with the $16 charge when he returned my car! I had to skip breakfast the next morning! Haha Oh well, life's not cheap. PW

    Is it dog friendly?

    There were no dogs in the restaurant when I visited. It's a very nice restaurant, so probably not

    Im trying to make a reservation for a large party but no one ever answers the phone. How do i make that reservation?

    Unfortunately, I am not surprised. I have been staying at the Pacific Edge Hotel (an entirely other negative review) for over a month bc my house is getting repaired. Driftwood Kitchen is the "room service" option for this hotel, and they never… Read more

    Hello, if I have a reservation for Mother's Day, are we able to order off the regular menu or is dining only for the buffet? Thank you!

    The email they sent me said it was buffet only.

    Do you sell gift certificates?

    Do you serve breakfast? Just wondering as I do not see a breakfast menu on your website thank you?

    Yes, we offer the breakfast items on the menu named Brunch

    Is there any onion in the poke tacos?

    Multiple times there, but didn't order Poke. However, I wouldn't go there again. Plenty of other restaurants that have good Poke.

    Is there a second phone number? I keep calling and no one is answering. I need to ensure wheelchair access and seating for my reservation but no one is answering the phone.

    I went there with my baby so I had a stroller with me that I was able to access the restaurant. But if you need to go down to the bar they do not have wheelchair access.

    Is there a way down to the beach from the restaurant? We wanted to have our officiant marry us on the beach and then celebrate at the restaurant .

    Not directly from the restaurant, however this is access right next to it by the Pacific Edge Hotel. It is a very easy walk!!

    How early do you start serving dinner?

    Dinner begins at 5pm each night.

    What's the best option for parking? Do they have valet or a parking lot? Or only street parking?

    Valet

    Is there a dress code? Can we wear flip flops?

    No dress code that i know of, we went for breakfast and i wore my rainbow sandals :) For dinner we did dress up nice though

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes

    What's the corkage fee and policy to bring your own bottle?

    You can bring your own bottle, but I've been told different things the handful times I've been there so I would just call and ask as maybe they update policies quite often

    Do you accommodate handicap?

    Yes, we do. We have multiple elevators to ensure you are able to access all area's of the restaurant. There are ramps in the dining room as well.

    Do they have a Saturday brunch with bottomless mimosa?

    We do have Brunch! Every Saturday and Sunday from 9am-2:30pm. We do not offer bottomless mimosas.

    Do you need reservations?

    Reservations are recommended but not required.

    Do they have a good Sunday brunch, champagne good crowd etc?

    Not sure but give them a call or check out their website: https://www.driftwoodkitchen.com And yes they do. On the ocean, and bet it's great.

    What time does lunch end and dinner start?

    Lunch stops at 2:30 and dinner begins at 5

    Is it paid parking and if so where?

    Valet is the best way to go for $8 with validation. Even with COVID there is still valet service

    View All 48 Questions

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    10/10 stars. Such a special birthday brunch I had here, we ran 15 minutes late to our reservation…read moreand they accommodated us so kindly. Everyone that works here is so lovely and they even hand wrote me a card?! Breathtaking views even from someone who lives here. Will definitely be coming back for future lunches

    I booked this restaurant for an early Mother's Day celebration, and my mother was very pleased…read more First, the views this restaurant sits right by the coast beachfront and has amazing views. Secondly, the service and wait staff is impeccable. We received great recommendations, attentiveness, professionalism, and hospitality. We never had to ask for anything because our needs were anticipated. Lastly, the food, we ordered several different things. The lobster bisque, Parkhouse rolls, octopus, the special of the day, which was tuna Hamachi. We also ordered the scallops, mushrooms, green beans, mashed potatoes and sea bass. The items that stood out the most were the lobster bisque. the Parkhouse rolls, the Seabass, the scallops and the Hamachi tuna. I was taken back that the octopus was fried and it was tough and had an interesting flavor. I'm used to octopus legs being grilled and tender, so I was quite disappointed with that. We also ordered a couple of cocktails that we weren't thrilled about. The flavors didn't work well together in the drink, but I did like how the glasses were ice cold I just wish the cocktails were more impressive. I feel like that's the gift and the curse. When you have a restaurant that is oceanfront. Typically oceanfront restaurants their food isn't that great because it doesn't have to be because of the ambience. The only place I've ever been where they had the oceanfront location and the food was amazing was Nobu Malibu specifically. I wouldn't mind coming back here for some light bites like I mentioned the lobster bisque and the rolls were tasty. Everything else was good, but not great for the price point.

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    The deck is a great place to have a meal and look out over the vast Pacific Ocean. The views from…read morethe outdoor seating area are absolutely stunning. The service is great and the food is really good. This is the second or third time we've been to the deck while visiting Laguna Beach and it does not disappoint. We shared several different items between the four of us and enjoyed delicious cocktails. Definitely recommend this restaurant if you are in Laguna Beach during the day & really take in those view!

    Was really looking forward to a great mid afternoon 'Linner- lunch / dinner' after a day of…read moreapartment hunting down in Laguna and my significant other came across this place on social media. Wait time was probably about 30 minutes which wasn't too bad because we ended up getting a great corner table right on the beach. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. Recommended the mahi mahi as I asked help in choosing between three things and my boyfriend chose the beach burger. The food was well cooked with no complaints but really disappointing that they only come with chips. Really could have used French fries which would have landed this a better review. When you pay $21/$24 for sandwiches would just be a better side than chips to satisfy your hunger. Wouldn't you agree? My boyfriend liked the drinks too. Great view though, can't beat it. Too bad they couldn't have a private beach setting so you didn't have beach goers in photos and view. But that's not a big deal. Recommend for view and beach ambience. The mahi mahi and burger were good but would have wanted more with fries.

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    We came on NYE. There was music happening at 9pm, but we…read morecame early and missed it. That was our fault. We were the only ones there. The experience was all over the map. The owner served us initially, and he was really friendly and funny. We ordered a bottle of wine, and some cocktails. We put in some salads and an appetizer, they were really really good. But after that, our server (the owner we were told) left, and another server introduced himself. The new server was inattentive. He sat chatting with the other servers at the bar, leaving empty glasses and empty plates on the table. We had to flag him to come back to fill water. Having been myself in the service industry for years, my biggest pet peeve is when servers sit and chat where you can see them, and when they do come, they don't do a sweep and take care of things on the table. We had to put our empty glasses and trash on a side table. It was weird. The bolognese had hardly any meat in it. It was mostly tomato and onion. I've been to Argentina. Meat is a staple. Also weird. We ordered dessert and after waiting for 5-10 minutes, the server came back and told us they were missing crucial ingredients to make it. The owner came back at the end and was really gracious, but all in all, I think the execution was lacking. The service was not great. The food was 3.5/5 I love to support small business, perhaps we will try again another night.

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