Parkside Snack Bar in Stinson Beach has been around since 1948. It's a classic walk up burger shack next to the beach. I've been dropping by for over 30 years. The current owners took ownership in 1999. The menu has evolved and has more than hot dogs, burgers & fries... they have hot deli sandwiches, tacos (fish, shrimp, tuna, chicken tender), soups, salads, smoothies, soft serve, shakes, and even beer and wine. Leveling up from the typical burger stand. Recently, I accompanied the Hubs to go get his hamburger. I grabbed something next door at the Parkside Cafe coffee cart which is owned by the same folks. Hubs even ordered a 50/50 milkshake. Half vanilla and half chocolate. He devoured his burger. Before he did, he allowed me a few bites. Mmm. Juicy, beef patty seasoned nicely. Hubs amped it up by ordering a bacon cheeseburger. The bacon was thick cut and cooked to a perfect compromise, not burnt and no undercooked edges. Even the sesame bun tasted good, held up well to that patty and the fixins. The cashier was engaging and helpful. Another thing to note about the stand is since this is a walk up, there are no tables. Next to the shack is a pathway to the beach parking lot with grassy picnic areas and then beyond yonder is the beach. But besides the beach picnic areas' is a small bench next to the pathway and some additional benches in the park across the street and in front of the post office. I usually pack the food to enjoy on the beach. I just have to fight off the sea birds. read more

See all

After a few more recent experiences at this beach snack shack, I have more to say. Parkside is a large restaurant split into a sit down diner, a beachside snack shack line, and a coffee/bakery line. So far, I've been through the snack shack and coffee lines several times, but have never been inside the diner. When it comes to parking, the area in front of the restaurant is usually super crowded. As long as it's not too busy, I usually park in the NPS Stinson Beach parking lot right behind the restaurant, which is just a little bit further. Recently, I was telling a couple of my coworkers about this place on the way back from a training in San Francisco, and they said that I made it sound irresistible. So, we decided to stop. I ordered a chicken pesto sandwich, while my coworkers ordered a butterscotch shake, and fish and chips. (They both said that their food was outstanding.) As we walked out to the beach with our food, I said, "Careful, the seagulls around here are fearless. They'll rip your food right out of your hands." I ended this sentence with a scream, and then said, "What just happened to me?" My coworker had to stop cracking up to say, "The bird stole your chicken!" "My God," said our other coworker, "We're surrounded. Should we go back to the parking lot?" We took our food back to the picnic tables, which, for reasons unbeknownst to us, was relatively safe from seagulls. Apparently, they don't want to cross the shrubbery line. Once I got over the idea of eating after a seagull (deciding that maybe his beak only touched the chicken that he took), once I got back into my sandwich, I thought that it was pretty good. But I had to know-- were the fish and chips really as "great" as my coworker said they were? A few days later, I came back to find out. For cod, I would say, they were pretty okay. They were a little burned, and very salty, but about as good as you could expect for the price. The fries were terrible. While I wouldn't come back for the fish and chips, and I won't be telling people, "Yeah, I know a great fish and chips place in Stinson Beach," I would still stop by for a chicken sandwich. A few weeks ago, prior to all of this, I had stopped by for a banana split. For $8 at a beach shack, it's not bad. It virtually never matches the description on the menu, but it's close enough. I was sad to see that the cardamon bun is no longer on the menu at the coffee line next to the snack shack. Maybe it's seasonal. Overall, I still think this place is pretty great for a decently priced beachside fast snack shack. read more

This place is bustling with people. Stopped by here for a spontaneous latte and their loaded fries to warm up after the cold beach. They were super delicious and flavorful, with many strips of bacon drenched in sauce and a couple slices of fresh avocado. Got our food & drink within 10 minutes of waiting and there's a space heater in case you get cold. I thought it was totally worth it! read more

Parkside Snack Bar - loaded fries - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

This place was really busy but was worth the wait. It has a great selection of great snack foods. Everything was delicious. Next time I want to try the milkshakes. read more

See all

The vibe is good but the service was terrible. The ice cream cone was $7 and was an utter disappointment. The ice cream amount was small and started to melt the moment I got it. It was marketed as Straus Organic ice cream but it tastes different from the other places that offered Straus ice cream; I question if it is really Straus organic ice cream. 劝退 read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Straus Organic Ice Cream. Terrible portion - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

This has been a favorite spot of mine since I was a kid! My parents and I go hike in Muir Woods and then go to Parkside. I decided to get the crispy chicken sandwich which absolutely hit the spot after a hike. Juicy chicken with yummy chipotle sauce. My mom got the pesto sandwich and dad got coconut shrimp fries which they both enjoyed. Got the food right before the lunch traffic. There's some benches in a park across we sat and enjoyed our food. Then walked across to the beach. It's always a treat to come here. If you're in Stinson, you should check it out! read more

See all

Stopped by here while on a drive around Mt Tam / Stinson Beach for a quick lunch. I ordered a tuna salad sandwich, which honestly had good flavours and exceeded my expectations for a quick snack spot like this. However, I was served a large piece of plastic in my sandwich, so I can't say that I'd be back or recommend this spot. read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Big sheet of plastic inside sandwich - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

This is a cute little spot if you're looking for something to fuel you, but it's not quite the place to satisfy a specific craving. I visited twice, each time hoping for something different. First, I tried the Fish-N-Chips, which had a nice-sized battered fish fillet and piping hot fries, but the fish was unfortunately underseasoned. The second time, I went specifically for a root beer float--and that was a letdown. After I paid, they handed me a cup of soft serve and told me the root beer was by the fountain. It was honestly so underwhelming that I felt compelled to leave a review. The Fish-N-Chips were decent and filling, especially since I was camping nearby and pretty hungry at the time. But that root beer float was just... sad. I get that it's near Stinson Beach and has a charming little aesthetic, which makes it easy to overlook the food quality, but unfortunately, the offerings didn't quite live up to expectations. Parking is also a challenge in the area, so I'd recommend finding a spot near Stinson Market. Overall, the place has potential but just didn't hit the mark for me... read more

See all

Such a cute beach-side spot! The Parkside Snack Bar is a nice spot for a bite after a beach day at Stinson! The majority of the food is very affordable, especially considering it being in a beach town. The burgers were all under $15, which some under $12 or so. Although they were definitely not the thickest I've ever had, they were a good deal for the price! The poke price was pretty steep ($24) and a bit underwhelming. It was merely some diced & seasoned tuna, sliced avocado, and chips. Also, if you decide to order the poke, be sure to had a ton of napkins ready. It was packaged very poorly (the tray slid sideways into a paper bag) so the juices leaked everywhere. The shakes tasted good but were surprisingly thin. Side note: the "unsweetened" tea on the outdoor soda fountains happens to be EXTREMELY sweet and swarming with small (but harmless) wasps. The Snack Bar was very busy so the service was expectedly a tad slow. I did appreciate that the milkshakes came out right away so we could sip them while we waited. The staff were very friendly and quick! Overall, this is a classic and mostly affordable place to stop after tanning on the beach! read more

See all

Worst milkshake I've ever had. Straight warm milk. Like water. Definitely do not recommend read more

My 6" tuna sandwich was tastier than I expected, and the spot is convenient and attractive enough. I periodically stop by the Parkside snack bar (which, I'm told, is a separate establishment from the similarly named restaurant immediately adjacent) when I cycle through Stinson. After ordering, I often eat/drink at the sandy park just behind. What made this latest experience unforgivable--AND WHAT I NOW SEE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED?!?!--is that their sandwich had f%#king plastic in it. Not the clear sheath that Sabrina Y. (below) reports, but rather a yellow shard. I shared this news with the attendants behind the counter. One man said he didn't know where it came from, while a woman hypothesized it was from the bread. Perhaps a clasp on its bag? No outrage, no apology, no offer to make it right. If my experience had been a once-in-a-lifetime event whereby the heavens played a trick on the establishment to throw in a bit of indigestible toxin for me, a heathen, I might have said "okay." But it also happened there apparently JUST SIX DAYS AGO? WTF. I'm contacting the CA Dept of Public Health. read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Yellow plastic in my sandwich from Parkside. - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

Parkside Snack Bar is such a perfect hidden gem when you're craving a quick bite before heading out to the sand. It's our favorite spot to grab crispy fries, a soft-serve ice cream cone dipped in chocolate, or a classic milkshake. So simple, nostalgic, and satisfying. read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Fish tacos - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

Super convenient for a beach day! The service was fast and easy, which was great after being in the sun. We got the fried calamari and a soft serve cone both were alright, nothing amazing. Definitely a good place to swing by if you're craving a quick snack after the beach. read more

See all

We came around 7:30PM and bought some pizza. They let us know that it's served cold... Should have been a sign to skip it. We than went to use the picnic table that were open and not being used. They had many tables open but told use we could not use them because we order food from them to go. Not worth the visit. Parking spots are limited. Bad customer service. read more

See all

If I could give 0 stars I would. Disgusting flavorless overpriced garbage. Do not waste your time and money. Fish and chips literally have no flavor except the tainted dirty oil on the fries. Sickening. read more

Cute little snack shack near Stinson Beach. My boyfriend and I went hiking near Muir Woods and since we were already in that vicinity we decided to drive to Stinson Beach. I found Parkside Snack Bar on Yelp. I got the Bacon Cheeseburger $9.95 which was decent for a snack bar. We got to enjoy our food on some picnic tables nearby. They have a pretty good menu, they offer smoothies, wine, beer, sandwiches, seafood, tacos, ice cream etc. read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

Came to Parkside Snack Bar a few times in our week at Stinson Beach since it was the best option (and best value) in my opinion. Not sure why it's rated so lowly; I almost didn't come at all until I read through the reviews and realized most complaints were about the bathrooms and service. Our favorite item that we tried was the burger. The flavor and smokiness was excellent, though the patties were a bit thin so make sure to get the double. They also had solid hot dogs, though I wish there were a little more bun to balance out the dog. Milkshakes were pretty good. I agree with others that service could be better. They got my order wrong twice: they did correct it the first time although they seemed annoyed instead of apologetic, and I didn't even bother trying to correct them again the second time because it was close enough. Not much place to sit for the Snack Bar, just a bench to wait for your order at, but there is a sunny little park across the street with several benches and a port-a-potty. You can also take your food to the beach if the wind isn't too strong. read more

Last few times the employee has had the worst attitude. Great food but worst customer service. Drop the attitude, customer service shouldnt be like this. Smile be nice. Im a local as well. Always an issue here. read more

Came here on a Thursday afternoon sorta it was around 2pm not to busy. Place wasnt to busy service was ok they are kinda slow considering there are like 6 people making things and the items are fairly simple. Took about 10min to make a ice cream sundae. Super sweet and not really good the butterscotch banana sundae. Also ordered a pizza from the other window which they WONT heat up for you and that was also garbage. They had empty seats in the back but wont let us sit there unless you order from the actual menu. Hard pass on this place . I think its just more for quick bites and locals haha . Cool spot though i give them that read more

Cute beach spot for quick bites. I ordered the fish and chips and was very pleased with how fresh and flaky the fish was with a thin crispy breading. The fries could have used a bit more salt, but were still good. My boyfriend ordered a double cheeseburger and really enjoyed it. We took our food down to the beach with our group and had a lovely afternoon! It was busy (unsurprisingly since it was a Saturday afternoon), but the orders didn't take too too long as long as you're patient. One thing that wasn't great is the soda machine was covered in bees/hornets - scary! read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Fish and chips - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

See all

We eat here often but ordered takeout this time. When I picked up the food, the front staff looked at the signed check, saw no tip, and said "No tip?" out loud. Then a cook in the open kitchen also said "No tip?" to me. I kept walking. Confronting a customer over a tip - for a takeout order - is completely unprofessional. Won't be back. read more

Great little find. There's three different parts to the restaurant - the cafe, snack bar, and sit down restaurant. They have a wide variety of foods and a quick turnaround on the food that we ordered. Quiet and quaint little town and it's right across from a park. read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Bakery - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

This snack bar is in a great location and always has a line. They currently have a rating of 2.7 stars with 164 reviews and it seems a bit unfair to me. I think anyone can have a bad experience once or get an employee in a bad mood. During the time we spent in the area, we visited multiple times so I feel qualified to write this review. The food is pretty good here for a snack place. It reminds you of any of the many drive-in type stops and diners all over the state. The menu is the standard burgers, fries, shakes, etc and my favorite ended up being the grilled cheese because the price was reasonable and the flavor was good. The shakes were good too and I recommend the Oreo. My husband's favorite was the firecracker fries but he enjoyed trying the shakes as well. I will say the employees are not friendly and not really interested in answering questions; they are trying to get through the line of customers as fast as possible. They could also be more diligent and loud about calling out order numbers when they are ready as we all know it's chaotic when lots of people are waiting around for their food so many of the more timid people further away were unaware their food was ready. Parking can be tight but is possible, even if a few blocks away. We were always on foot or bike so it was never an issue for us. There is a park nearby where you can sit and eat as there are only a few benches outside the snack bar itself. Overall, it's worth a stop if you're famished and need something to get through and I am sure next time we visit we will be back. read more

See all

We came to visit Stinson Beach yesterday and we're super excited that we found this restaurant with a snack bar so close to the beach. So when we arrived, the kids played on the playground across the street and we ordered a BLT and the kids cheeseburger and fries from the snack bar. We walked down to the beach and devoured the most amazing food. It was so incredible and so easy to walk up and order food and it was very, very quick but absolutely delicious. Clean and convenient with great service. So we decided that we wanted to eat dinner at the Parkside Café more of a restaurant before we headed home. read more

Charming little snack bar right by Stinson Beach. What you see is what you get here, quick service, standard concession stand style food that'll get the job done. read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Avocado Grilled cheese - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

Coffee is not good. No facilities for the public unless you sit down in restaurant to dine. 95% of customers purchase at the windows. You can't install a restroom? Staff was not friendly. read more

Flavor was ok but my major problem is WTF IS THIS?! were hotdog buns too difficult to understand ? and at almost $9 each?!? thanks but no thanks read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

It ain't fancy by any means, but it's quick and right next to Stinson Beach. For the convenience factor, I'd give it a solid 3 stars. Did a day hike near Stinson Beach which ended right during sunset. I had actually packed a pretty big lunch, but ended up staying a lot longer than I planned to. The belly got to rumbling, so I decided to get something quick before heading back home. Saw this little snack bar and waited in line to order. The snack bar is actually connected to a coffee shop and cafe. For actual dining, you may want to consider the café instead since the snack bar is just a walk-up window. The menu is what you'd expect of a fast casual snack bar on the beach; fish & chips, burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, etc. I ordered coconut shrimp, fries, and a soft serve ice cream cone. The fries were already kind of cold when I got them and the coconut shrimp was on the oily side, but it still hit the spot since I was hangry. Again, nothing fancy here folks. Prices are pretty fair considering the area (everything is always jacked up in price when the coast is involved). I will say that the soft serve is absolutely worth it though. I would come back solely for that next time if I was having a craving for it. Parking can be a betch, but I'm sure you already knew that. If you're looking for something convenient, quick, and cheapish in this area, Parkside Snack Bar fits the bill. read more

See all

Pretty tasty savory pastry served at this take out stand within walking distance from the beach. I tried the crispy puffy pastry filled with bacon and egg. It was very good. They have other options which I would love to try next time. The mocha coffee was rather weak. Hubby got a croissant and liked that too. We walked across the street and ate them at one of the benches in the park. read more

See all

Great service, friendly staff, nice lighting and I thought the food was great! I was shocked to see others rate it poorly! What? My wife seafood stew, I had a burger and fries and we shared the flatbread w hummus. So good!! read more

I picked up some fish tacos after hiking down the Matt Davis trail from Pantoll and working up an appetite. The window service was a little slow, although to be fair there were quite a few people ahead of me. As far as fish tacos go, I thought these were fine. There seemed to be some kind of sauce but it didn't have a ton of flavor. The real selling point for the Snack Bar seems to be that it's right next to the beach. As they say in the business: Location, location, location! read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Menu - 4/16/23 - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

See all

Parkside is all under one name with a dine in section, cafe and to go section but apparently you are only allowed to use the bathroom if you dine in? I was told to go to the beach bathroom even though we just bought pastries & coffees. I also tried to sit down at the picnic tables which looked separate from the dine in section and didn't see signs we couldn't sit there and figured since it's all parkside we could sit with our pastries (also It was empty!!) and as soon as we tried to sit down a rude waitress yelled at us "uh hello hello what are you doing???" And we asked if we could sit with the pastries we just bought and she said no it's to go you leave. I would've been totally fine if she just said it's for dine in only, but she was super rude for no reason. Not many options nearby but it's an odd establishment. read more

My husband and I made a quick stop at Stinson Beach this afternoon and decided to grab lunch to-go at Parkside Snack Bar. There was a long line, but it moved fairly quickly. He ordered the fish and chips, and I got two fish tacos. Overall, the food was fairly priced, but pretty average. My tacos could have really used some white sauce, and the fries also needed some seasoning. My biggest complaint about this place is the customer service. The man calling out the orders was super rude and left me with a bad first impression. I'll try out a different restaurant if I happen to be in the area again. read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Fish tacos - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

This is such a cute little walk-up and order place next to Stinson beach. I usually order their soft serve whenever I'm visiting and enjoy it on the beach, it's so good! I love soft serve on hot beach days and this place does not disappoint. They give you a good amount and it tastes like fresh creamy ice cream! Beware though- it's hard to eat just one. I also ordered something new this time, the Firecracker Fries. They are DELISH!!!!! The fries are topped with grilled onions, white cheddar (gah my fav), bbq sauce, and avocado!!!! All my favorite things- finally someone came up with the perfect snack for me. I'm so glad I tried it, it's amazing! I love bbq sauce on fries, and eating this while watching the sunset on the beach doesn't get any better. This is my new menu favorite and I can't wait to come back just for these firecracker fries- they should be called crack fries! read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Firecracker Fries - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

The food was better than I was expecting. I got the fish tacos and they were good, I wish they would have toasted the tortillas more but they were good. My wife got the fish and chips and she was very satisfied. The service was not the best the seemed like they could care less if anyone was there, probably the worst part of this play but the vibe was very nice. Right next to the beach. We loved it. read more

I feel disrespected and will not be coming here again. I am not usually the type to write reviews, but this has to be spoken about. The workers at the parkside snack bar took my order, and then slammed the door in my face. I even tipped them right before they slammed the door. It was a couple minutes before closing, but there was only one person in line after myself. The worker (with a man-bun) refused to help the person in line behind me. The worker proceeded crouched behind the window to eat the leftover food before throwing the rest out in front of me! This is not the first time I have experienced this kind of service here. read more

So you've gone on a long nature walk and were really hoping to eat your packed PB & Jelly sandwich at the beach... but then as you roll into town you see a grocery store and a handful of restaurants and decide, what the heck, can I get an ocean view at any of these places? The short answer is no... unfortunately none of the restaurants in Stinson have a view of the beach, but with the Parkside Café you can order a basic sandwich, burger, fries or shake and walk through the parking lot and onto Stinson Beach. The food was pretty decent and the view was epic. I only wish I had some more condiment choices like hot sauce to spice up my fried chicken sandwich. Maybe next time you go on that nature walk you can pack your own spice (rather than the PB&J) and have an even more enjoyable meal on the sand. read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Fried Chicken sandwich on the beach! - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

See all

We had the mango tango smoothie along with the orange shake, which tasted just like a 50/50. The shake was creamy and flavorful. I would definitely recommend the orange shake. We hope to go back there and try their food! read more

The service is bad. I have been here a few times in 2023, they have been rude every single time. I do not understand why.

Needed a quick snack after walking down from Mt. Tam. My mom got an avocado pesto veggie panini type thing, which looked amazing, and which she thoroughly enjoyed. I bought the clam chowder and small Caesar. As you can see by the pics, the Caesar was ugly. The lettuce was terrible/inedible. It should not have been served. Not for money anyway! However, the croutons and dressing were quite tasty. The chowder was a little watery, but the flavor was fine. Don't order the Caesar, it's dead. read more

Parkside Snack Bar - Caesar $5 - The croutons and dressing were good, the lettuce was nasty, old and withered. - Fast Food Near Me - Stinson Beach, California

See all