Service was excellent but their chef had a heavy hand on the salt. We each ordered the fried taco, and soup. All three of us returned the fried tacos. Salt must have been on sale! Clam chowder was delicous! Ambiance was lovely- we had a perfect table in front of the window overlooking the beach. Regardless of the salty food, we love the view and would come back. The manager kindly exchanged the fish tacos for a salad and salmon dish- which was good. Hula Pie was big! read more

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I haven't been to Jake's in years. I never thought the food was memorable enough to go back. But, view and location it's unforgettable. Today I decided to stop by. Took a friend. We were greeted very warmly and seated in a corner prime spot to gaze out at the beach,,, our server Michael was very attentive and professional. He took care of us and we felt it. We ordered the calamari appetizer. It was so good. Also ordered the seafood pot. Lots of bread to soak up the tasty broth. I'm assuming they have a different cook from the last time I was there. And it's apparent., the food quality and flavors improved dramatically. So happy I came back to try again. We were not disappointed. Thank you. Il be back read more

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When on a sister adventure, there are no limits! And enjoying a fine meal on the beach of Del Mar is no exception. We enjoyed a nice walk from our time share and strolled right in when they opened. We were sat down at a wonderful corner ocean view table. Our server, Julian, was amazing! He recommended the brussel sprouts as our appetizer, which were phenomenal! Matter of fact we have him what we were looking at and decided on our entire menu. Seafood hotpot had so much seafood and flavor. And the scallops melted in our mouths. Everything was cooked to perfection. Julian even brought out some extra toppings on the hotpot. (Oh course I forgot the name, some type of ocean succulent.. Salty, crunchy and just added so much to the uniqueness of the dish). 100% recommend this place and our server Julian! Valley parking is available. It was$8 when we were there.. But we walked so only an observation. Great location. Right on the beach next to a park. Staff is attentive and friendly. read more

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Jake's is a seaside restaurant that's exudes the California lifestyle of cool casual dining and family friendly...Ohana. Best friends and founders Rob Thibaut and Sandy Saxten decided to design restaurants in locations where they wanted to live, work and play...later called TS Restaurants are throughout Hawaii and California. Jake's in Del Mar has been here since the early 1980's. The actual building has morphed from a garage to now a restaurant with unobstructed views of the beach, and that's the main draw for me. The menu is very similar to Duke's, which offers a mix of Hawaiian and California casual food favs and drinks. There's something delish for everyone, but keep Nin mind the menu liens towards seafood. After a disappointing breakfast earlier somewhere else, we came here for brunch and to see the beach. We ordered the Fresh Fish cesar salad which includes an anchovy dressing and topped with Ahi tuna. This salad was enough to share and even our portions was substantial and delish. The crispy calamari with crushed macadamia and the sweet and sour sauce paired nicely with the salad. And the meal of course must include their famous Hula pie of ice cream, topped with hot fudge, whipped cream and walnuts was so yummy! The hot coffee was the perfect conclusion to our brunch and dessert. The staff were cordial and helpful. The valet staff were accommodating and kept our car closeby. The hostess staff need to be more organized in seat assignments, we didn't appreciate waiting for our table, especially with so many staff members standing around. Our waitress Emily was very helpful and had a positive attitude and made sure we were good. The decor has the Hawaiian and Californian lifestyle theme but not excessive nor tacky. The restaurant was crowded and we were glad to get there just in time to get a table next to the window to watch the beach activities and ocean views. It was strange one couldn't access the beach from the restaurant. We had to walk either to the right or left and outside of Jake's to walk through an easement and into to the beach...a bit of a hassle and inconvenience. Overall, our visits here at Jake's had been positive, Ohana cordial and would merit a return and recommendation. read more

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Jakes is like that cool dude who hangs out with all the young people. I been coming here since Jesus was a boy. Still the same ole same ole: good food, great service, good vibes and yes the gold diggers still at the bar. love this place. Ciiiaaaaaoooo read more

Jake's - Baja Fish Tacos - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

Visited this restaurant for the first time. I've been wanting to go for years. The staff were very friendly and the restaurant felt like your favorite neighborhood gem. Very welcoming. We were celebrating a birthday and they brought out Hula pie. We started with the Brussels sprouts for an appetizer. The Cesar salad was good, and my Surfing Steak was good. I would try something different next time. read more

Jake's - Brussel Sprouts - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Service was outstanding. Ambience sounds amazing.? I ordered the Seabass, which was fair. It was dry and it comes on purée butternut squash, which I subbed mashed potatoes, which were great. They need to lose the Keyl. All and all very nice read more

Great service! Good food. Wife and I went for our 14th anniversary. She ordered the Brussels sprouts and tuna tostadas. Very good. I ordered the mussels in that coconut, very, very good. Broth was great. We both had the fish soup. Delicious! Would definitely recommend and will be back. read more

Jake's - Desert PB and Chocolate w/ ice cream - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

Service was great, view is fabulous, but the brunch menu is extremely limited specially for anyone who doesn't eat seafood but gets stuck with people who picked this place for brunch :). I enjoyed mixed seafood pot a lot. read more

literally on the beach, the Surfside seats sometimes get inundated by the super high tides. Which of course is great unless you're the person that has to clean it up. Wonderful place for locals and guests. Menu is pretty good but this falls under the category of your pain for the location and the view and the ambience. No complaints there. read more

Work up an appetite after walking the beach? That's what happened to me so I stopped into Jake's. The location is prime! If you're wanting to see the sunset, the restaurant is also loaded with windows. During my visit I tried the Brussel Sprouts as an appetizer and paired them with a glass of wine. The Brussels were good as they also had shishito peppers intermixed. For my main entree I got the seafood chowder which is served with a piece of cornbread. The chowder was good, but the cornbread needed a hug from a southern grandma. Service was top tier even though I sat in the bar area. If you're looking to visit, I'd recommend a reservation! read more

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We met up with our in-laws to celebrate our new Brother-in-law's birthday. They came in from out of town for the weekend, and they chose Jake's for our family get-together. Our reservation was right at opening, 11:00 am, and we arrived early. There were already people waiting huddled wherever they could find shade. It turns out that most of the folks didn't have reservations, so they came with hopes of getting a table. Parking in Jake's lot is valet only, but there is other parking nearby. Folks with handicap placards can valet park for free. Once the doors opened, we were quickly whisked to our table. The tables are tightly arranged, but every seat was near a window so you can see the gorgeous ocean views. You can feel the breeze when the windows/doors are open. The other tables around us quickly filled. It is noisy with all of the people talking and laughing. The staff moved quickly to attend to all of the tables. It's a good idea to stay seated and tuck all of your belongings and body parts so you don't get in the way of the staff moving here and there. Our group of 6 loved everything we ordered. Portions were generous so that we could all sample each other's food. We ordered the Brussels sprouts and bbq ribs as appetizers. For entrees, we ordered fish and chips, a burger, the mixed seafood pot, a grilled chicken Mediterranean salad, and a sandwich that I didn't photograph. There is also a kids menu upon request. For some reason, it took a while for the kids menu to arrive. I think each person we requested it from got waylaid and forgot. The same thing happened with Cholula. Considering how busy it was and the high level of service the staff provided, it was understandable, and we were not in a rush. The pièce de résistance was the Hula Pie. We ordered one, but ended up with 2 because we were celebrating a birthday. These slices are HUGE! If you have something to do later, I don't recommend taking one on your own, or you will be so sleepy from overindulgence. Definitely would love to come back here again for our next special occasion. Accessibility notes: entrance is accessible for someone using a wheelchair or mobility aid, no stairs. Table spacing is TIGHT. Call ahead and ask if you can reserve a table with more space. Womens restroom is a tight squeeze and only has 2 stalls. The accessible stall might be able to accommodate a mobility aid, but not enough space to transfer from a wheelchair to the toilet. Spacing between the stalls and sinks is also tight. There was a line, so the doorway was also congested with people waiting and people trying to exit. I used a cane instead of my walker since we parked in the Jake's lot, and I managed fine in either stall. read more

We had a wonderful first visit to Jake's! Our server, Emily, was so attentive, enthusiastic, and made our graduation celebration feel extra special. Even with a group of 9, she kept everything running smoothly and made sure everyone was taken care of throughout the meal. The food was amazing--from the ribs appetizer and famous Mai Tais to the seafood entrées. No notes! The oceanfront setting and views were beautiful, and the service made the experience even better. We'll definitely be back for both the food and the views. read more

The view of the nearby ocean is outstanding. We come down for a weekend of horse racing and this is the best was to start with brunch/lunch at Jake's. Calamari was lightly breaded and the servers are very cheerful - but how could they not be in this environment. Drinks are expensive everywhere now so go for the spicy Bloody Mary it was delicious. read more

It's good. I lived in Delmar beach hotel, can walk to Jake's. Seems like very popular at local. Nice service. special cocktail to explore. read more

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I booked a reservation for a party of 4 to celebrate my brother's birthday and the only times available was 10am for breakfast. We were thankfully seated along the window with the fantastic view of the beach and we were welcomed with a birthday card on the table. Shout out to Teya (I wish I asked for the right spelling!) for being a wonderful server on a Sunday morning. Parking: $8 valet available which is worth it since street meter parking was already $4/hr. Food: -Calamari ($17.50) and Brussel Sprouts ($14) for starters were perfect to share for us 4. We paired it with Pog Mimosas, Bloody Mary, and Espresso Martini -Togarashi Spice Crusted Ahi Benedict ($23): pretty tasty Ahi pieces, served with breakfast potatoes -Chef's Burger ($19): nothing too special -Hula Pie for the birthday slice: this was so big and so good! Perfect to share with the table. *I think only through this month, Jake's takes off the bill what you donate to the Wounded Warrior Project for up to $50 per person* Overall, we had a great experience dining here to celebrate my brother's birthday. Good food with a great view. Would love to dine here for lunch and dinner next time! read more

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Jake's is our favorite go to for a long time now. This time, we were there for lunch. It was a Friday. The restaurant was bustling busy. Though it was an overcast day, Jake's bay windows provided the ocean view sought by many. I had the house's white wine which went well with my order of the crispy calamari. My friend had the Roasted Turkey Sandwich. She loved it so much! Jake's has kept its consistency in quality, service, and price-worthiness. Thumbs up for their reliability! read more

Probably the coolest bar in Southern California. Upscale but comfortable with views on the ocean and nice tabletop seating around an "L" shaped bar. Exposed wood beams and roof - very cool interior. Riley was rocking the bar like a pro, exceptional service, quick witted and quick with the drinks. In all my years attending the races I've only been here twice... great spot to watch the races with two flat screens. Went Strawberry & Candied Walnut Salad with the Pan Roasted Chicken entree. Of course, Ketel One Martini to help with handicapping the races "where the surf meets the turf." Definitely will come back soon. Check it out. read more

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Came here Wednesday night for a team dinner. Reservation was for 530 and we were seated right away. We had the little room in the front so we didn't get a view of the ocean but it was only a short walk away. The food here was ok. I ordered the calamari, Brussels sprouts, and for my entree the lemon garlic roasted fish. The views from this restaurant is amazing its beach front, the service from the staff was very good too but where they lost a star was the food. The Brussels were too soft and not crispy enough for roasted. The lemon garlic roasted fish lacked flavor it was not lemon or garlic enough and def need some salt. If you ate it with the orzo underneath then each bite was a little better but def lacked the flavor profiles I was hoping for in the name of the dish. Fish was cooked well not dry at all. My favorite dish was the calamari. We go here for the views and the ease of getting a table for our large groups. read more

Jake's - Lemon Garlic Roasted Fish - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

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It's always great to visit Jake's it's ocean view is stunning. The food is great! I had the oven baked fish with squid ink I get that every time. The ceasar salad is a little different it has menchego cheese instead of Parmesan but very light And I loved the calamari strips were so good read more

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If you're looking for tasty drinks and a smashing view, look no further! Right on the beach, and a killer bar menu, makes this place a crowd favorite. Valet is a must, as parking is near impossible on busy days. Grab a mai tai, and an appetizer, then head on down to the beach to soak up some sun and fun! Service is always on point, and drinks/food need no introductions. 100% will be back and will continue to enjoy! read more

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Jake's is a OG establishment with great food, wine and views. Have been frequenting since 1995! Always surprisingly awesome!! read more

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I love this restaurant so much! The view is incredible, the servers are amazing, and the food is incredible. I really love the chicken dish and the frozen strawberry lemonade. This is the restaurant that I love going to for special occasions. Our waitress Alicia was very attentive! She had a huge table with about 20 diners but she still made sure to check on us regularly. She was very kind to us. read more

Jake's - Chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and broccolini - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

BEAUTIFUL view and great service but the food itself was lackluster. Maybe I need to try their dinner menu but the lunch was basic and uneventful. I ordered the calamari and got 6 little strips for $19 along with the Fresh Fish Caesar, which was basically a bunch of Romaine lettuce topped with a tiny salmon filet soy sauce and sesame seeds for $22. They listed it on the menu as "daily chef's preparation, romaine, lemon, garlic & anchovy vinaigrette, focaccia crumbles, and manchego cheese" but that was just a fancy description for greens and a protein. read more

We chose this to celebrate an 80th birthday, since this birthday girl wanted the mud pie dessert. We started with the calamari, which was nice thick strips (vs small rings on tentacles). At the table, we had salmon, scallops and toasted halibut. I thought the salmon was very good, cooked perfectly and with a really nice, creamy polenta. However, the roasted carrots needed to be cooked more. The dessert is good, although it didn't quite live up to the hype for me. It tastes like vanilla ice cream sundae with hot fudge and macadamia nuts. I know it's supposed to be macadamia ice cream, but it just didn't pop. The atmosphere is lively and the server was very friendly. He didn't acknowledge the birthday, which was odd, since he was overall a great sever (maybe he didn't hear?). We didn't expect a free dessert, but it would have been nice to have a candle and maybe a "Happy Birthday" sentiment to make her feel extra special. read more

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I was doing business as usual in San Diego and I asked AI for the best place to eat in Del Mar, i was feeling like a Lobster dinner. No reservations available. Vallet was full. Was told there was room at the bar. Walked in with the entire bar empty only to get grilled in the bathroom when i was washing my hands by some pretentious local demanding to know where i was from. By the time I came out of the bathroom every seat was suddenly taken by the self-entitled crowd that wasn't there before ----classic Del Mar gatekeeping. These smug performers were so wrapped up in their superficial clique they couldn't even let an outsider eat a meal and leave. I had zero interest in hanging out with them , just wanted good food and to take off. I wanted to eat and get back to my business, not audition for their clique. I ended up driving to Carlsbad. The service was trash in Carlsbad but at least it didn't come with the smug performers. Carlsbad for the win. read more

We stopped by to enjoy the beautiful view and enjoy a drink and appetizer. The yellowfin tostada was fantastic! We also tried the grilled bacon wrapped shrimp, so good. The staff were very friendly. read more

Jake's - Yellowfin tostada - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Our experience at Jack's was absolutely wonderful! We were celebrating our anniversary and it was also our first time visiting the stunning city of Del Mar--the vibes here are incredible. Everyone at Jack's was super welcoming. I can't remember our waiter's name, but I'll never forget his warm and genuine smile. He told us that the Mixed Seafood Pot was his mom's favorite dish, and the joy on his face when he described it was truly heartwarming. We had to try it--and it was amazing! I ordered the Lemon Garlic Roasted Fish, and it was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. We went on the 7th, and we're already thinking about going back. That's how good it was! read more

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Came here for brunch. Best thing about it? The view as it's right on the beach. Food - not too impressive. At least not the tacos. It lacked flavor, didn't help that the salsa on the tacos were made with bell peppers rather than jalapeños. Service was decent but nothing to brag about. read more

The view is perfect here. Like eating right on the beach. The bacon is perfectly crispy and cooked. The seafood stew is good. Will be back soon read more

Back here once again for work and almost one year and several weeks from my last visit. Decided to come back here as a recently retired colleague who worked for one of our suppliers recently moved from Hawaii to SOCAL. Food was great along with the Hula Pie which brought back fond Hawaii memories for her. Great service by our Server Jordan and scored a great table with beach views. Along with Allen who was our Valet. Not quite Hawaii beach vibes but none the less almost as good. MOD Dean stopped by to introduce himself when he saw we ordered the pie and learning that my colleague was from Hawaii! Jake's Del Mar never disappoints! read more

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Can't beat the location of this restaurant. Right on the beautiful beach at Del Mar. It was a beautiful day when my friend and I met up for lunch. We had reservations and that's highly recommended. Everyone was seated on their enclosed and shaded patio or just inside to take advantage of the view. That's why we are there after all. Parking is a bit tricky in the area. Best to do the $8 valet parking at the restaurant. Street parking is limited to 2 hours nearby. The residential street parking is free and further away. About a 10 mins walk. There are metered and a paid public parking lot across the street for $4/hr on most days. The service was good with a very attentive staff. I got the vegan ramen for lunch because it sounded different so I wanted to give it a try. It fell a little short on flavor and the ramen was falling apart. But it was full of vegetables. My friend ordered the turkey sandwich. The portions were big. She ate half and said it was delicious. She ended up taking the other half home for dinner. The homemade potato chips looked good but I was told too vinegary for her taste. read more

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Great view, food was alright. Valet was closed so had to park and pay another $50. Hard to imagine going back or recommending based on the quality of meals and service, along with the inconvenience of paying for parking read more

The food , the service, and the magnificent ocean view were great. The interior is nice too. The staff was extra nice and made sure that my eggs were cooked exactly as I like them, and they omitted the ham that I did not want. The buttermilk biscuit and the hash brown potatoes were very delicious. My mother and sister liked their fish tacos. It was Mother's Day, so there was a line of cars waiting to get into the parking lot, but there were valets to help once we got to the parking lot.. The place was really full. You definitely need a reservation. read more

I celebrated my husband's birthday at Jake's in Del Mar! We've eaten at their sister restaurants in Malibu (Duke's) and Kauai (Keoki's) and were excited to try Jake's! I thoroughly enjoyed the Surfing Steak, which came with sirloin, jumbo shrimp, whipped potatoes, roasted cauliflower, and chimichurri sauce. The sirloin was cooked to a nice medium rare and very tender and flavorful--it didn't need the chimichurri. I loved how juicy and succulent the shrimp were, and the potatoes were very creamy! However, the star of the dinner was their famous Hula Pie. This is what keeps us coming back to their sister restaurants. It's a heavenly dessert with macadamia nut ice cream, a chocolate cookie crust, hot fudge, toasted mac nuts, and whipped cream. I'd come back to Jake's for the Hula Pie alone because it's that good. The hot fudge with the ice cream is irresistible. Highly recommend Jake's for a fancy dinner or special occasion! read more

Jake's - Surfing Steak* - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

Food was disappointing, service was just okay. We won't go back even for the view, which is excellent.

The view and service and ambiance is 10/10, but the food is a 6/10. I recommend making a reservation to get the best table possible! We walked in on a week day and although we still had a view, there were 2 rows of tables in front of us. This place has a small menu with the typical seafood items: - Ceviche (2/5): lacked flavor. Used cooked fish instead of shrimp - Mai Tai (2/5 for flavor, 5/5 if youre just trying to get drunk!) It's super strong but not very enjoyable! - Chowder (4/5): good seafood flavor, served with bread - Seafood pot (5/5): lots of seafood and a great size to share for 2 (they will separate it in a bowl for you) Overall, I would come again, just for the seafood pot and chowder read more

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They set up the table for my birthday it was so sweet. We always get a table by the window when we come to visit! It's worth the wait. Trying to try something new when we go - the seafood pot was really flavorful!!! My mom got the steak for the first time and it was VERY dry unfortunately. Usually she gets the ahi - she wishes she got that. The waiter was very nice and managers as well read more

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Excellent service with all the staff especially the valet team. This place is packed nightly and reservation is recommended. Beautiful view of the ocean and after your meal, you can exit towards the beach and you're footsteps onto the sand. Everything on their menu was delicious. Huge drink menu at the bar and huge whiskey menu for us whiskey lovers. Their seafood combo was excellent. I highly recommend. We had a fun time. Cheers! read more

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Honestly, hearing and reading all the hype for Jake's my feelings when leaving was "meh". Our server was very friendly and attentive. The valets were as well. Seeing the waves crashing on shore was a sight to behold. What lacked for me was the food. The quality and the presentation. I ordered the Ahi Poke Bowl and was disappointed. The Poke was warm and limp and barely had any ginger soy sauce. My two rice balls were barely warm and dry too. I did my best to eat what I could but wasn't much. The slices of avocados were the highlight of this dish. I turned down a box and an offer for something else. Definitely not worth the drive, the local traffic and wasted time trying to find parking. The kitchen needs to catch up with the service the valets and wait service teams perform with smiles. read more