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    Padaro Beach Grill

    4.4 (1.3k reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Seafood
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Padaro Beach Grill Photos

    PADARO BEACH GRILL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Padaro Beach Grill

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    Seating area view from adults-only section.
    Elizabeth B.

    Got here about 2:45pm on a Saturday and ordered the appetizer nachos with steak and no beans, mini corn dogs with a salad with ranch, and a California burger. It was busier than I anticipated for a late afternoon meal, but not bad. To order, you walk up to the counter inside and speaker with a cashier. Our cashier seemed uninterested and a bit unhelpful. I had made a joke about not seeing the mango drink on the menu, yet it was right in front of me, and I apologized while giving a small chuckle at myself. She did not find any of it comical and just stared at me. Maybe she was having a bad day, so I did apologize again and tried to order the rest as quickly/efficiently as possible. Once you order, you receive one of those buzzers - it's a round disk that vibrates, has tiny flashing lights, and makes a small sound when your order is ready at the counter, where you go to pick it up. We sat up in the adults-only area, which I prefer to children running around and crashing into us when we sit near the sand pit, and the view from up there is wonderful!!! You can see the ocean/waves, train tracks, and gorgeous miles of coastline. The train does speed by very close, and can be a little loud, so just keep that in mind when you go! Folks loved watching it. Once the buzzer vibrated and my partner came back with our meal, I noticed that the salad had no dressing, with the corn dogs sitting on top of the bed of lettuce, and the steak on the nachos was very very very red/raw for my liking. The nachos are also absolutely MASSIVE, so make sure to share with someone or have a massive appetite to match. Besides the very red steak, the nachos were yummy, and the corn dogs were actually even better. My partner loved the flavors of their burger but said it was so large that it was hard to bite without everything falling out/apart. You do have to bus your own trays, so keep that keep that in mind if/when you try this spot. Overall, the food was yummy, the view was amazing, the prices were surprisingly cheap, and I really enjoyed the separation of an adults-only area with such a kid-friendly space.

    View from our picnic table
    Sandy C.

    Second time here, probably the last time as well. We ordered chili and two fish tacos and sweet potato fries. 1.) the chili was $10.25 and warm, not hot and seemed expensive for what you got. Was supposed to have cheese on top and no kidding, had a few strands of very fine shredded cheese, that's it. 2.) fish tacos looked good but completely fell apart in the soft corn tortilla they were in, they fell onto the table and the entire thing fell apart into small pieces. Tortilla didn't hold up to any of it. 3.) sweet potato fries were good but $6.00 was a bit much for the small portion of fries. Just overall not impressed this time. Last time we had burgers and I think that may be the way to go here, I recommend those but what we had today wasn't worth coming back to in my opinion.

    California Burger, so many toppings and STILL bland
    Keri C.

    Ambiance - 5/5 Great outdoor space, little but if grass, sand for the kids to play in, shady palms and the beach just beyond (although you can't really see the ocean despite what some of the pictures lead you to believe) Food - 2/5 I am confused how my burger (Cali burger) had SO MUCH on it and yet was so bland! I could taste the roasted red pepper but even my avocado and onions were somehow bland? My husband said the same about his burger. Sweet potato fries tasted good but were a little soggy. Service - 4/5 Line moved fast, didn't really have any interactions with staff aside from ordering. All in all, I was disappointed here. Bland food and you can't enjoy the ocean view from 90% of seats. The adult only area had a couple tables that I believe were higher up that could maybe see the ocean.

    Leah A.

    Excellent little hidden gem in Carpenteria! The food is solid here and the service is fast and friendly. You have to see this location as the outside seating areas have fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean. The flora and fauna is second to none. Perfect place for friends and family to gather in a lush, beautiful setting beachside. Prices are very reasonable, too. Baja fish tacos, clam chowder and tater tot nachos are generous and delicious! Highly recommend!

    Tacos
    Julie M.

    Stopped in our drive up the PCH on a whim and so glad we did. The food and atmosphere were amazing. From tacos to burgers and fries, you can't go wrong. We went with Baja fish tacos and grilled fish and shrimp tacos. We got 3 orders and could've gotten 2 and shared. Portion sizes are great. It was great to sit outside and hear the waves crashing. Also the passenger train passed by which was fun to see.

    Fried Baja Fish Tacos
    Joyce Y.

    Be prepared to wait for parking and your food, because it gets busy! I think they might have mobile ordering available, but I am not 100% sure. I love the Hawaii feel of this place, and my Baja fish tacos were incredible (I was also surprised at how good the side of salsa was- I figured it would be so mild, but it did have a kick to it). The ambiance is island-y and chill, especially with the sand and the walk to the beach. If I'm ever back in the area, you bet I will be back!

    far back seating area
    Robert D.

    If you're going to So Cal do yourself a favor and stop here because this place is a hidden gem. I've passed the Santa Clause Lane exit many times but never made it a stop. As soon as we got out of the car we could smell the hamburgers cooking so of course I had to order one. I was glad I did because it was definitely one of the best. Don't forget the trio tray of fries, sweet potato fries and onion rings because they are delicious. We walked all the way to the back and the ocean view is awesome! It's got a nice play area for the kids and a massive fire pit. Plus a train goes flying by every so often. To top it off, my friend didn't like his beer after a few sips and the server gave him a different one. It's that kind of experience that makes you want to stop the next time you're on a road trip.

    Did
    Sushant Z.

    Absolutely love this place. Every time we come to SB for the weekend, we stop by here for fish tacos, burgers and margaritas. Right off the freeway near the beach, it's away and always good. Always a line but it goes by fast and food comes out quickly enough (you get a buzzer and pick up your food). We get the Padaro burger and Baja fish tacos with shakes too! Great stop and away from the city when we want to escape a bit.

    Picnic at the beach!
    Tim Y.

    A favorite stop for us along the 101 when passing through Carpinteria. Great outdoor seating areas where you can enjoy the sun and ocean air. You can view the ocean at the back and popular for families with kids as there's plenty of outdoor space (they do have a section reserved for adults only). If you're lucky the Amtrak will zoom by and toot the horn! On this beautiful sunny day we ordered the Nacho Tots, a chicken sandwich and a couple of drinks. The Nacho Tots were massive, cooked perfectly, crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside, black beans, cheese, and topped with a nice scoop of guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo. The chicken sandwich was very good too, but the tots were the highlight and we had plenty left to take home. No dishes so everything served on paper with plastic utensils, but we still love it as it feels like a picnic at the beach!

    Menu
    Liliana M.

    Very relaxing vibe and ample seating outside. It looks like sections can be reserved for group gatherings. The train passes behind the restaurant and it was cute seeing the kids get excited over it. The service was good and the food was fine. They have 2-3 bathrooms available.

    Lillian W.

    This eatery is a casual laid back beach burger stand near Padaro Beach (aka Santa Claus Beach as the locals call it). The staff is great. They answered all my inane questions about the menu, all with a terrific attitude. I had the prime burger (minus the mayo and caramelized onion) , it was fantastic. So much so, I had a d'oh moment and forgot to take a photo. Zoning out enjoying the burger, view and vibes. The grill is a walk up stand that serves burgers ( including turkey and black bean burger), sandwiches, salads, fish n chips, fish and shrimp tacos, nachos, quesadilla, calamari, fries (two types), tots, onion rings, milkshakes, smoothies, soft serve cone, ice cream sandwiches and MARGARITAS. It's 5 o lock somewhere! And they have a kids menu. Lots of menu options. The seating is all outdoor though. The yard is landscaped giving it a tropical feel with big shade trees. But the weather is so nice and mild in the town of Carpenteria, seating outdoors in the summer is quite manageable. The ocean can be seen from the back patio. Gorgeous! But the beach is a bit harder to see and can't be accessed from the grill. Actually the public beach access is a further distance down the road from here; it's a walkable distance. Parking for this place can fill up and street parking is your other option. The place is geared to be family friendly and expected for the kiddos to run amok and have fun. If that ain't your thing, you can take your food to go.

    Margaritas
    Linda G.

    This place was recommended to us from someone at the Santa Barbara botanic Gardens. The atmosphere is what wins the place over. Beautiful grounds, many places to explore, places for kids and places for just grown-ups. We have the nachos and they were fine. Hard to screw up nachos though right? Also had a couple sandwiches and they were fine also. This is not the place you go because the food is fantastic. It's the place you go because you want to be outside near the water, with a bunch of other people, and a great vibe.

    Lily G.

    Wow! What a place to be! The views of the mountains, and the views of the water, and the food itself are all very, very good. The place we ate at the adults only section of the outdoor dining area offered an amazing view of the sunset. Ambience was the reason why we went here, we were recommended this place by the staff at the Santa Barbara botanical Gardens. You better experience the sunset, we ordered nachos, fish, tacos, a frozen strawberry margarita, a frozen mango drink, a strawberry smoothie, a caramel milkshake, and something else that I can't remember all in all the food was very good and the view is slightly better. They seemed very busy and we're still able to take care of our order without any mixups even with our substitutions and special requests. The service was very nice.

    Padaro buger Baja Fish Tacos The Trio

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    1 month ago

    Food was good. Service was efficient. The location, ambiance, and atmosphere are fantastic!

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    16 days ago

    Absolutely best burgers I found in the Santa Barbara area. Not to mention great sunset views how could you ask for more?

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    Padaro Beach Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Padaro Beach Grill

    What's the best time to go for lunch or dinner?

    Hi Isabel, Thank you for contacting us! You really can't go wrong with timing. For lunch, sitting outside on our backyard and enjoying the sun and ocean breeze is wonderful. I… Read more

    Do they ever have live music?

    Hi Lydia, We do not have a live music license, so wed do not have live music on the premises.… Read more

    I can't find your hours on your website what times are you open weekdays specifically next Monday?

    https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=padaro%20beach%20grill They are open 11am-8pm each day

    Has the sand pit reopened yet?

    Yes. It's been quiet there. But is clean and groomed.

    Are there vegan options and if so, what are they?

    Hi Joe, Sorry for the delay I've been out of town. Yes, we have a full vegan menu, which is… Read more

    Can you bring small dogs?

    Hi Kevin, Sorry for the delay, I have been backpacking off the grid for several days.… Read more

    Do you take reservations?

    It seems that the reservation icon is no longer available. Hoping to make a reservation for 9/20

    Are dogs allowed?

    Dogs are no longer allowed. Apparently, a small dog bit a kid and, rather than banning children, dogs got banned. I'm sure that the dog was the actual victim, the way parents let their kids run wild around here, yet it's all the dog's fault. We… Read more

    Do you offer pitchers of beer?

    they do - go bulk!

    Is your outdoor space dog friendly?

    Yes, part of the outdoor area is open to dogs

    Are there gluten free options for bread and hamburger buns for example?

    Hi, we offer lettuce wrap hamburgers as s gluten free option which are very tasty. We also have other gluten free options as well. Thanks so much for contacting us. Happy Nee Year!

    View All 12 Questions

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    This dining experience was not good... Very frustrating to say the least! while the food was tasty…read moreour dining experience was annoying. We waited about 15 minutes until one of the servers came to take our drink order and then we sat for a half hour before anyone came to take our food order. And the only reason the guy came over was because I kind of gave some eye contact. He was very nice and apologized for the wait. And I sure wish he would've written down our order because it came out totally wrong. We ordered an extra patty on the side, it was missing. They gave me ranch dressing for my salad and I ordered balsamic. They forgot our sweet potato fries so we mentioned it to the runner who served us and they didn't come out until our food was almost all eaten and they still charged us for it! Crappy customer service! Then we waited way too long for the check and I had to go find someone to ask for it. This was the longest stop for a burger ever! Seriously you guys need to pull it together! We've dined here twice before and never experienced issues like this. We came from Ventura as we prefer it over the one near us so this was not worth the drive. It just seemed like a flaky night of unorganized everything! Probably won't bother making the trip again.

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    Four beer 4oz flight $8
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    Clam chowder was tasty

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    Clam chowder was tasty

    Padaro Beach Grill - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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