My boyfriend and I stopped at Padaro Beach Grill during an afternoon drive up the coast. Immediate impression: it reminded me of Hawaii in the best way. The outdoor seating area, the architecture, the sounds and smell of the ocean right there. Immaculate vibes. We went on a Friday around 3:30pm, so it wasn't crazy busy. We found a table without issue and there were always at least a few others available. However, I imagine this place gets extremely popular during peak hours. We ordered the Baja Fish Tacos and a side of French Fries. All were delicious - no complaints! Although the tacos are so loaded, they can be a challenge to eat! Would definitely return the next time I'm in the area. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Baja Fish Tacos with side of Fries - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

Dear Hubby and I have been long-time fans of Padaro Beach Grill. As such, we wanted to introduce (maybe re-introduce?) Sweet Granddaughter to the place on a Saturday as summer is winding down. Am not sure if there's been a change of ownership, but there did seem to be a change of results of the experience of visiting. Noting that in a previous review I mentioned live music. Several other reviewers did, too. When we were there this past weekend in the early afternoon, there was no music to be found. We caught the ordering line at the right time; it wasn't too long and it didn't take but a few minutes to get to the counter. After that, it went downhill to some extent. The main disappointment was the food. I mean, it's a restaurant, right? That's kind of the point. The ambiance is still fun - beachy casual, like you're a guest at a private beach club. But the food used to be much, much better. I made the mistake of ordering the tri-tip sandwich. It was served with grilled onions and smothered in BBQ sauce. It would normally also come with cheese, but I had that left off as cows' milk cheese and I do not get along. I would have much preferred to leave out the BBQ sauce and have au jus on the side instead to let the flavor of the beef come out. Alas, that's not an option. There wasn't anything else on the menu speaking to me at the time, or I could have / should have ordered something else. I thought about the fish tacos, but I'm not a huge fan of cabbage. In any event, the tri-tip was cut too thick. That made it tough to bite / and overly chewy. To the point where it wasn't a happy eating experience. I only finished half the sandwich and gave the rest to DH to eat later. I didn't choose to add any fries or onion rings as I wanted to give fried foods a rest. So I had half a sandwich, and half a very overpriced and underwhelming chocolate chip cookie for dessert. For me, the food was bordering on a failing grade. Barely a "C". DH, on the other hand, really enjoyed the fish and chips he'd ordered. I had a bite, and while the fish was really fresh, the batter coating was undercooked, which made for a mushy exterior texture. It was also extremely greasy. SG ordered her favorite meal of chicken nuggets and fries. She'll never turn down fries, so that made her happy. The chicken pieces were not that flavorful, and not that great a texture, either. We also spent the meal dodging ants which were running over the picnic tabletop. A tabletop which looked like it hadn't been cleaned by human hands in a very, very long time. Which likely explains why the ants thought it was fair game - they were on the hunt for missed crumbs. I can bet good money that when we ask SG if she remembers eating at Padaro Beach Grill, she will recall that it's the outdoor place where the ants were trying to eat our food. There aren't enough umbrellas for all the picnic tables, and there's not really any other source of shade on a warm, sunny afternoon. We were lucky enough to get one of the lawn-area tables with an umbrella, but we ended up feeling crowded when mid-way through our meal, a group of seven people took over the adjacent table. By then, we were ready to finish up and go. In past visits, lingering and enjoying the tropical vibe was part of the experience. Not during this last visit. A shame. read more

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I don't know why it took us so long to discover this place. Soooo good. I had their Mango Colada and Nachos and they were excellent. My partner had the Maui Burger and Sweet Potato Fries and they were equally as yummy. The atmosphere is fun, there's a bit of an ocean view from certain locations and lots of little pockets of seating which I love. It'll be a regular spot for us. Great place for kids to play in the sand. Such a fun vibe. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Nachos - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

This place is a VIBE! The beach noise crashing against the sand while you dig into some delicious tacos. The food was also solid. We had the fish tacos and shrimp tacos along with some calamari. The kids also loved playing in the sand. Such a good, casual spot for a weekend outing. read more

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The shrimp tacos were great and so was the mango margarita. My family loved the spot, the kids were excited to see the train go by. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Shrimp tacos - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

Everything is always so yummy here. The service is great. The only thing is during busy seasons/times it's hard to find a close parking spot and find a spot/table to eat. Otherwise we love it here! read more

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Beautiful summer day with friends at Padaro Grill. The smell of fried goods is delicious, as is the taste and the atmosphere. Delicious all around! read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Grilled chicken sandwich, Beach Club and Tater Tots - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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Padaro Beach Grill -- A Coastal Gem! Located right off Santa Claus Lane, Padaro Beach Grill is truly a hidden gem! We always make a stop here for lunch when we're driving home after spending time exploring towns up the coast. We absolutely love the atmosphere. There's a sand pit for the kids to play in, picnic tables throughout the yard, and just over the fence you have a beautiful view of the ocean. I never realized until today that there's also a train track on the other side of the fence -- I definitely jumped when a train came by blowing its horn! I decided to try something new from their Specials list -- the buffalo chicken sandwich. I'm a picky eater, so I gave my order to my husband while I waited in the long bathroom line (worth mentioning because this place gets busy!). He added cheddar cheese to my sandwich, i didn't think about telling him blue cheese would be best BUT when I picked up our order, i asked for a side of blue cheese crumbles. As a cheese lover, I loved it! My husband has a dairy allergy, so he asked if the onion rings contained dairy. The person at the register took the time to check with the kitchen, and we appreciated that. Unfortunately, they are made with buttermilk, so he went with French fries instead -- which are always his weakness. He really enjoyed his mahi mahi sandwich, although the fries could have been hotter. We will definitely continue stopping here whenever we're in the area. It's also a great spot for gatherings or parties with the outdoor space and relaxed beach atmosphere. Reasonable prices! Highly recommend! read more

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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. read more

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This is my favorite road trip spot on the way up or down the 101. It has all the good stuff - fish sandwiches, fish tacos, burgers, great beer on tap, and other beach hut delights. But it's done well. And the ambiance feels like the beach back on the late 70s where it's just picnic tables and views and sun. I always have a great time at Padaro read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Outside seating area is perfection. - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

Pretty disappointed with everything about this place. The parking is terrible, you have to wait for others to leave kind of situation. The service wasn't the greatest. It was about $26 for a shake, fries, and a bbq burger, and $14 for my grilled chicken sandwich. I asked for no lettuce, they put lettuce, and the chicken was the flattest tiniest chicken breast I've ever seen. The sandwich was about 40% bread. My food came out cold which I thought was odd cus as soon as the buzzer went off we grabbed it and ate it in the outside patio immediately. The fries were cold and unseasoned, actually all the food was bland and unseasoned. It wasn't bad, just wasn't good. Def wouldn't come back. read more

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This is a great place for group gatherings because they have picnic tables, an area with a fireplace and you can make reservations. You order and pay for your food then head to your table or tables with your friends. The beach is on the other side of the seating area so you can hear the waves! There is a sans area where toddlers can play. Its family friendly. I had the burger and calamari- the burger waa huge and bready with a thick beef patty, calamari waa tender ans delicious I would definitely come here again and think of this place for large gatherings read more

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. read more

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Grilled fish tacos were excellent and abundant. The o ions rings are the best around. My husband enjoyed his huge hamburger cooked to perfection. Beautiful location with ocean view. Only thing that could be better is the chips are a bit stale but didn't need them Anyway with all the food! Will be back! read more

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. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Did - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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! read more

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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. read more

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Great spot for a good bite and plenty of play space for the kiddos. Right alongside the beach. The food was delicious California fare with friendly staff. It was perfect to bring the kiddo when in town. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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. read more

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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! read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Picnic at the beach! - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

We loved this place, very casual, wide range of selection on menu, enjoy the food on a picnic table with sun shining and the sound of waves crashing oj the beach. I could have stayed here all day! Such a great vibe. Okay on to food, I got fish tacos excellent. Came with generous size of fish tacos and chips and salsa. I could only eat one. Husband got smash burger it was good but not the best, but he enjoyed. Friends got chicken club sandwich which was delicious, they loved it. We also ordered trio order of fries whivh includedFrench fries p, sweet potato fries and onion rings. All were delicious. If you want good food, relaxed environment in the sun, decent prices. Will go back. Dont miss this gem! read more

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. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Menu - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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. read more

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How? How is this the ONLY place in the Carpinteria area to not allow dogs? This of all places?!

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! read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Fried Baja Fish Tacos - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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. read more

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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. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - far back seating area - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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. read more

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This place is pretty good. The food was fresh and tasty. Onion rings were a hit. Outside seating is pretty cool, the train goes right past you. read more

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We've been here multiple times and the food is always great. They have a large selection of food + vegan/vegetarian options. It can get super busy on weekends so be prepared. The outdoor seating is a highlight of this place, since it overlooks the beach behind it. They also have sand boxes for the kids and accessible bathrooms. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - Chopped Cobb Salad - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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 . read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

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With all the beautiful outside seating and it's still not dog friendly. I had to sit out front and eat out of my lap. My fish tacos were cold and I'm pretty sure they used table salt for the rim of my margarita. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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. read more

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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. read more

Padaro Beach Grill - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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We made a reservation for 20 people for lunch to celebrate our daughter and son-in-law's wedding. We arrived and had several long picnic tables saved for our party. The food was delicious. The people working there we all very nice. This was our first time there. We will come back. It was a great place for family's. The kids all had a great time. They had lots of room to play. read more

Wouldn't allow my partner, SMALL dog and I on their MASSIVE patio. Not dog friendly at all. immediately left.

Ohhh MYYYY! ! 16+ Years going to Ventura / Carpenteria and never finding this place! Oh Man, the fish n chips are DELICIOUS ! A crunchy batter, perfect fish and chips, 3 pieces too! Do be warned - their IPA beer is pretty high% in Alcohol - great pearing with the fish n chips andeven good Gallon jug malt vinegar too! But get the smaller beer, if your driving -and a TOTAL light weight like me! You can sit out on a umbrella picnic table, on the manicured grounds, with adudioable ocean waves --- just right past the train tracks ! And if your fortunate, you may even have Amtrak fly by, toot tooting all the way! Also FANTASTIC -not too loud - Regay Hawaiian, jazz, mellow funk music too! Absolutely PERFECT! NOW they just need a few hammocks for a after lunch nap ! Even their tarter sauce is perfect! I ate it as a desert as i prefer malt vinegar! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ! read more

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DO NOT ALLOW DOGS The outdoor dining area is huge so I assumed it is perfect to bring my dog here but unfortunately the restaurant decided to be closed to all dogs. I asked the staff and she said it's due to a dog kid injury incident couple of years ago. It is very unfortunate as we were looking forward to eat here. read more

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