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Padaro Beach Grill

4.4 (1.3k reviews)
ModerateAmerican, Seafood
Open • 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Padaro Beach Grill Photos

PADARO BEACH GRILL ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Padaro Beach Grill

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Reviews With Photos

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.

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.

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.

View from our picnic table
Sandy C.

Holy cow, I forgot to take pictures of my food! Take my word for it, this place is fantastic! Husband and I shared a smash burger and a bowl of chili, both are super good. The atmosphere, it's the best! So many picnic tables out on the lawn, very peaceful with the sound of the ocean in the background.

Tacos
Zuri M.

The location of Padaro Beach Grill is so great!! We caught the sunset during our dinner. At this restaurant, you order at the counter, then are given a buzzer for when your food is ready. Unfortunately when we came they were out of a few food items, but were still able to have a some pretty good food. I wasn't wowed by any of the food, but it was still good. Service was helpful and kind!

Cheeseburger
Claire D.

After visiting the nearby alpaca farm, we stopped here for lunch. You stand in line, order, and then pick up your food after being seated. There are plenty of options for everyone to enjoy; including vegans as well. The ambience is casual and beachy and there is even a large sandbox/play area for children to play in. There are a few parking spots that are marked or you able to park for free along the street. I was told to try the fish tacos, but the burger and crispy onion rings sounded so good. I just had to have them. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed her grilled cheese and milkshake as well. Padaro Beach Grill is a great option for a meal or even a cocktail as well .

Onion Rings
Brandon A.

We have driven by this spot literally dozens of times. It never really caught our eyes though, because of the crowds of people and vehicles headed to the beach. But we were in the area and the menu looked appealing. Boy, were we missing out! This is a truly unique dining experience. It's casual, counter style ordering with a good pager. That's not too unique. But the seating area is. There's indoor tables. Covered outdoor tables. Picnic tables with umbrellas. Even a sand section with a play area for little kids. And everything is spaced out. The outdoor area has that theme park/zoo vibes with a lot of different areas, walking paths, etc. Very cool experience. The staff was great. They talked us through the menu. Even helped us customize one of our dishes. The orders came out pretty fast for a busy Sunday afternoon. We probably waited no longer than 10 minutes. The food though stole the show. I had the Tri tip fries. Wow. The guacamole was as fresh and tasty. The meat was tender. I ended up eating the meat and guacamole by its self it was so good. Fries were crispy. Onion rings were thick and well seasoned. Burger was good. Maybe a bit thick for a "smashed" burger, but it was good. The chicken sandwich was delicious. It basically was a BLT with fried chicken. The sourdough was definitely the way to go. I'll be back next week and definitely eating here again. Don't be intimidated by all the beach goers. There's plenty of seats and the meal is certainly worth the trip!

M W.

Nice little find off the side of the road on our way up the coast for the day. I do appreciate that they have a section where it's elevated and you can actually see the ocean and that really was the highlight of my time there. Plenty of seating otherwise and great for kids as well. My food was decent but not fantastic and the person I was with also felt the same. We did get a couple of drinks on tap and that was nice to enjoy while we were there. I would go back but maybe in the summer with a group of people to try it again, but I was surprised they didn't have a lot of fish items considering they're by the ocean.

Burger
Genezaret C.

The Chopped Cobb Salad had so many ingredients and so much flavor. It might've outshone the tri tip sandwich. The smoothie we ordered was alright but the food was amazing. Also, love the spacious seating and beach views- it gives vacation vibes. I gotta return to try other dishes on the menu.

Menu

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20 days ago

Great food a decent price right off the beach. Great for kids too - giant sand box. Best kept secret

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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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the honor bar is technically a chain which makes it funnier that it runs this tight on coast…read morevillage usually ends up here after surfing hammond's still a little salty, not fully reset, sand doing whatever it's doing, and it doesn't matter. nobody flinches. place absorbs it like it's part of the program it's always a coin flip between here and los arroyos heads it's tacos tails it's this tails has been hitting lately walk in and the room is already full but somehow still controlled. bar doing most of the work. booths locked in. patio moving at its own pace menu looks simple which is how they get away with it ding's crispy chicken sandwich shows up and immediately justifies the entire operation. not oversized, not trying to prove anything, just built correctly. same with the french dip. clean, direct, nothing wasted drinks land exactly when they should. no one hovering, no one disappearing there's a moment where the whole place settles into itself and it becomes clear this is not casual even though it looks like it is that's the trick guy running food had it dialed. didn't catch the name but it might have been barron sawyer. moved like nothing was ever going to back up walk out still smelling like the pacific and somehow better for it five stars this is where a surf day goes to finish correctly

Padaro Beach Grill - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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