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Recommended Reviews - Strange Beast
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Tried the Backdoor Bento lunch menu. Super cute presentation and a great combo setup for lunch. The Good: The meat and seafood were on point. Really fresh and delicious. The Catch: Sadly, the sides missed the mark. Both the egg and cucumber were way too salty, which was a letdown. Great quality on the mains but the execution on the sides needs work. Still a solid 3/5 for the meat and seafood quality.
Awesome place. We stopped here for late night food and drinks on a Sunday. There was a small but decent crowd. The bartender was the best! The place has a nice chill vibe and the drinks were tasty. I had three hand rolls and the had some of the karaage. The hand rolls I had the spicy, scallop, and salmon. Def recommend this place!
I came here with with my Mom visiting from Out of town and although Strange Beast was really busy Alex took care of us, he was working by himself and handling the restaurant really considerably. Great recommendations and was a blessing to our visit tonight. The matcha whiskey sour was really good.The yuzu Margarita was amazing.
Treated myself to a cute little date at this trendy spot downtown. There was nearby live music so I sat outside on the shady patio, the server was so helpful and accommodating, and the bartender crafted the most gorgeous coconut fizz. Their drinks are unique and tasty and the hand rolls are always excellent. Try their happy hour asap or stop in for karaoke Wednesday nights! Another five star review for Strange Beast
Came here for dinner with my husband and was in awe! Cute romantic dimly lit restaurant with lounge vibes, cool Japanese retro type art, fun cocktails, beautiful bar and tasty Asian food. Their SPICY EDAMAME is addicting! They add the perfect amount of spice and hint of sugar, highly recommend! The DUCK RAMEN was great too! Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted fresh. Loved the enoki mushrooms and yolky boiled egg. Also tried their Godzilla and KAIJUrolls- both were tasty. My husband is not a fan of kewpie mayo so we had it on the side. TIP: ORDER a side of SRIRACHA and a side of GARLIC CHILI OIL. Dipping your sushi in both of these will take your tastebuds to another level!! DRINKS: It was hard to decide between all the different choices. Millennium Falcon Fizz was delicious- reminds me of a Scooby snack, comes with a foamy top. They give you a bottle of water which is nice, but the waitress forgot to give us a refill when we asked for it. Other than that, the staff is friendly and did a good job checking on us. If you're in the area check it out!
Made a reservation for 6 P.M. on a Saturday night while staying in Ventura. Realized that they had a happy hour that ended at 6 so we got there early to take advantage of the happy hour. We had a variety of tasty things both from the happy hour menu as well as the regular menu. Among these were a yuzu margarita and Ube piña colada. The food was tasty and the servers were friendly enough, but as with other venues in Ventura, this weekend, they were understaffed fir the quantity of people they were trying to serve. Boots and brews was also happening this weekend ( although we were not partaking) so that may have contributed to the understaffing, although it seemed like the venues were not overcrowded just full. Also, not entirely convinced by the execution of theme.
Strange Beast is hands down one of my favorite spots to eat in Downtown Ventura. Whether I'm dining solo, with my partner, or with friends, it always hits the right vibe. Fun, chill, and effortlessly cool. The space is inviting, and the energy feels just right no matter the time of day. The cocktails are top tier. The Chartreuse Swizzle and Mai Tai are my go tos. Refreshing, perfectly balanced, and consistently well crafted. Food wise, you really cannot miss. I always come back for the threesome handroll, pork gyozas, and whatever rotating ramen is on the menu. Everything is consistently delicious. The bartenders are great and attentive, and they also take table orders, which I appreciate. Seating options include bar seating, tables, and a small patio out front. Prices are reasonable, with most items falling in the $5 to $20 range. They also offer a late night menu after 9pm, which makes this a solid option for dinner or a later bite. They host karaoke on Wednesdays after 9pm, which is a fun, low pressure way to let loose after dinner. Backdoor Bento is open daily for lunch from 12 to 4pm and is perfect if you want something quick and satisfying. They also host drag brunch every second Sunday of the month. I have not made it yet, but I have heard great things. They currently have a Stranger Things inspired pop up running from October 31 through January 1. The upside down cocktail is a standout and the same Thai iced tiki cocktail featured at their sibling bar in Santa Barbara, Test Pilot. Strange Beast nails the balance of great food, strong drinks, and good vibes. It feels like a local secret, until you start telling everyone about it.
I came back and got the same meal - the rotating ramen with a Salmon and Spicy Tuna Handroll. The handrolls were fabulous! Might even consider just having a meal of handrolls. The sad thing was that the ramen this time was not good, particularly the broth. The pork belly and egg was good but the broth was the saltiest broth I have ever tasted in my life. Never had I not been able to finish a ramen broth when I wanted to until today. Seems like consistency might be an issue with the rotating ramen which is a huge shame.
Strange Beast is always a good idea! This Japanese inspired bar is the perfect vibes, cocktails, and bites. I've been a few times and leave loving it even more each time. I'm especially loving their spicy edamame and hot dog. Definitely a must when visiting. Their cocktails are stiff so be ready for that. If you're into Stranger Things, this is your time to visit. Super fun themed decor and menu until January. This last visit had great service! Attentive and had great recommendations for us. Looking forward to returning soon!
"MFound the perfect spot to wind down after a stressful day at work! Strange Beast Lounge has a fantastic relaxing retro vibe that hits just right. I ordered the California roll, which was incredibly tasty, and paired it with a glass of Pinot Noir. The wine was surprisingly full-bodied and delicious. What really stood out, though, was the service--the waiter was so attentive and kept checking in to make sure I had everything I needed. Highly recommend if you need a chill atmosphere and great service.
We got the spicy tuna hand roll, karage, ramen, and kaiju burger, and man it was all amazing! Dude took our order and was really laid back, the setting here is awesome as well. Wish I took pics of all the food but it was just too damn good, highly recommend!
Cool place and vibes , drinks were good .Spicy edamame was smackin. The wings had a great texture and taste but sauce was a little thick . Our rolls were good. Service was good
Strange Beast is a nice bar with some interesting drinks on the menu. They do offer a food menu but we stopped by to try a few of their drinks. Jose our the man behind the bar made our drinks and was friendly and quite the conversationalist. We enjoyed our visit.
1 month ago
Great spot in downtown Ventura! The food was so tasty and the drinks were delicious. The place was so lively on a Saturday night. Great spot, would definitely come again! read more
Come here for the cocktails, but not for the food. Place is dimly lit. We ordered the Kaiju smash burger and the chasu pork belly was so small and chewy. The shoestring fries were good. Our bartender was indifferent to us. He would take our order, but didn't smile. The cocktails ranged from $13-14.5, which is less expensive than the norm for craft cocktails nowadays. read more
Came here on Father's Day night. We were hesitant at first to check it out as there were only 2 individuals at the bar and wasn't sure if minors were allowed. Glad we didn't let that deter us and came in after checking in if kids are allowed. Waitress and bartender were welcoming and nice. Nice ambiance, dark with good music. It got busy as the night went on. Every food item we ordered were pretty good and recommendable. The edamame had a good spice to it. Hand rolls were good. Really liked the chicken wings. The katsu sandwich was flavorful and well portioned with fries. Ramen was flavorful, but felt like something was missing in it. A spice? Drinks were good as well. Would return again to try other things in their menu. read more
4 months ago
Tried the Backdoor Bento lunch menu. Super cute presentation and a great combo setup for lunch. The Good: The meat and seafood were on point. Really fresh and delicious. The Catch: Sadly, the sides missed the mark. Both the egg and cucumber were way too salty, which was a letdown. Great quality on the mains but the execution on the sides needs work. Still a solid 3/5 for the meat and seafood quality. read more
Awesome place. We stopped here for late night food and drinks on a Sunday. There was a small but decent crowd. The bartender was the best! The place has a nice chill vibe and the drinks were tasty. I had three hand rolls and the had some of the karaage. The hand rolls I had the spicy, scallop, and salmon. Def recommend this place! read more
2 months ago
I came here with with my Mom visiting from Out of town and although Strange Beast was really busy Alex took care of us, he was working by himself and handling the restaurant really considerably. Great recommendations and was a blessing to our visit tonight. The matcha whiskey sour was really good.The yuzu Margarita was amazing. read more
Treated myself to a cute little date at this trendy spot downtown. There was nearby live music so I sat outside on the shady patio, the server was so helpful and accommodating, and the bartender crafted the most gorgeous coconut fizz. Their drinks are unique and tasty and the hand rolls are always excellent. Try their happy hour asap or stop in for karaoke Wednesday nights! Another five star review for Strange Beast read more
Came here for dinner with my husband and was in awe! Cute romantic dimly lit restaurant with lounge vibes, cool Japanese retro type art, fun cocktails, beautiful bar and tasty Asian food. Their SPICY EDAMAME is addicting! They add the perfect amount of spice and hint of sugar, highly recommend! The DUCK RAMEN was great too! Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted fresh. Loved the enoki mushrooms and yolky boiled egg. Also tried their Godzilla and KAIJUrolls- both were tasty. My husband is not a fan of kewpie mayo so we had it on the side. TIP: ORDER a side of SRIRACHA and a side of GARLIC CHILI OIL. Dipping your sushi in both of these will take your tastebuds to another level!! DRINKS: It was hard to decide between all the different choices. Millennium Falcon Fizz was delicious- reminds me of a Scooby snack, comes with a foamy top. They give you a bottle of water which is nice, but the waitress forgot to give us a refill when we asked for it. Other than that, the staff is friendly and did a good job checking on us. If you're in the area check it out! read more
Made a reservation for 6 P.M. on a Saturday night while staying in Ventura. Realized that they had a happy hour that ended at 6 so we got there early to take advantage of the happy hour. We had a variety of tasty things both from the happy hour menu as well as the regular menu. Among these were a yuzu margarita and Ube piña colada. The food was tasty and the servers were friendly enough, but as with other venues in Ventura, this weekend, they were understaffed fir the quantity of people they were trying to serve. Boots and brews was also happening this weekend ( although we were not partaking) so that may have contributed to the understaffing, although it seemed like the venues were not overcrowded just full. Also, not entirely convinced by the execution of theme. read more
12 days ago
19 days ago
Strange Beast is hands down one of my favorite spots to eat in Downtown Ventura. Whether I'm dining solo, with my partner, or with friends, it always hits the right vibe. Fun, chill, and effortlessly cool. The space is inviting, and the energy feels just right no matter the time of day. The cocktails are top tier. The Chartreuse Swizzle and Mai Tai are my go tos. Refreshing, perfectly balanced, and consistently well crafted. Food wise, you really cannot miss. I always come back for the threesome handroll, pork gyozas, and whatever rotating ramen is on the menu. Everything is consistently delicious. The bartenders are great and attentive, and they also take table orders, which I appreciate. Seating options include bar seating, tables, and a small patio out front. Prices are reasonable, with most items falling in the $5 to $20 range. They also offer a late night menu after 9pm, which makes this a solid option for dinner or a later bite. They host karaoke on Wednesdays after 9pm, which is a fun, low pressure way to let loose after dinner. Backdoor Bento is open daily for lunch from 12 to 4pm and is perfect if you want something quick and satisfying. They also host drag brunch every second Sunday of the month. I have not made it yet, but I have heard great things. They currently have a Stranger Things inspired pop up running from October 31 through January 1. The upside down cocktail is a standout and the same Thai iced tiki cocktail featured at their sibling bar in Santa Barbara, Test Pilot. Strange Beast nails the balance of great food, strong drinks, and good vibes. It feels like a local secret, until you start telling everyone about it. read more
10 months ago
I came back and got the same meal - the rotating ramen with a Salmon and Spicy Tuna Handroll. The handrolls were fabulous! Might even consider just having a meal of handrolls. The sad thing was that the ramen this time was not good, particularly the broth. The pork belly and egg was good but the broth was the saltiest broth I have ever tasted in my life. Never had I not been able to finish a ramen broth when I wanted to until today. Seems like consistency might be an issue with the rotating ramen which is a huge shame. read more
10 months ago
Strange Beast is always a good idea! This Japanese inspired bar is the perfect vibes, cocktails, and bites. I've been a few times and leave loving it even more each time. I'm especially loving their spicy edamame and hot dog. Definitely a must when visiting. Their cocktails are stiff so be ready for that. If you're into Stranger Things, this is your time to visit. Super fun themed decor and menu until January. This last visit had great service! Attentive and had great recommendations for us. Looking forward to returning soon! read more
6 months ago
"MFound the perfect spot to wind down after a stressful day at work! Strange Beast Lounge has a fantastic relaxing retro vibe that hits just right. I ordered the California roll, which was incredibly tasty, and paired it with a glass of Pinot Noir. The wine was surprisingly full-bodied and delicious. What really stood out, though, was the service--the waiter was so attentive and kept checking in to make sure I had everything I needed. Highly recommend if you need a chill atmosphere and great service. read more
3 months ago
We got the spicy tuna hand roll, karage, ramen, and kaiju burger, and man it was all amazing! Dude took our order and was really laid back, the setting here is awesome as well. Wish I took pics of all the food but it was just too damn good, highly recommend! read more
1 month ago
3 months ago
Cool place and vibes , drinks were good .Spicy edamame was smackin. The wings had a great texture and taste but sauce was a little thick . Our rolls were good. Service was good read more
Strange Beast is a nice bar with some interesting drinks on the menu. They do offer a food menu but we stopped by to try a few of their drinks. Jose our the man behind the bar made our drinks and was friendly and quite the conversationalist. We enjoyed our visit. read more
4 months ago
After visiting Ventura several times over the past couple of years, from the SF Bay Area, we finally tried this place. I regret not coming here sooner. We had bento bowls with spicy Tuna, spicy edamame appetizer and I had a Millennial Falcon Fizz cocktail. Everything in the bowl tasted fresh, flavorful and delicious. I had to get every last bit of rice and kombu in the bowl. The cocktail was one of the best I've ever had. You could taste the alcohol but it was subtle and the vanilla foam on top was so tasty. I had to lick the inside of the glass. They are open late, which is a plus! The service was friendly and attentive. The ambiance is very cool. The decor is stylish and I love the concert posters on the one wall. Will definitely come back next time we are in town! read more
Stopped by on a late Sunday night after wanting a quick bite and this was one of the few places open late. They had karoke going on and it was a full house inside but decided to sit outside as their seating was open. They have a late night kitchen open with limited options that do not disappoint! Despite them having a full house they were on top of their service making sure we had all placed our order! I had the smash burger with fries and their popular ube colada! The onigiri and sama wings are perfect to try as well! Great drink and bites to end the night! read more
While Strange Beast is still a charming destination for a meal, the variety of their offerings has dropped off a cliff and no longer matches the menu posted online. I'd been once before and was excited to reprise the Kale Caesar listed on their website but found it no longer available. Having driven a distance, this was disappointing; apparently people didn't go for a Kale Caesar which surprised me given the almost-comical ubiquity of the Kale Salad. Apparently they ended up with unused kale at the end of each week...maybe stock less? Subsequently, ordering a Bento Bowl, I asked if there was a possible vegetarian add-on since none was listed. Luckily, eggplant was available, but why one had to inquire confounded me. Given the unreliability of their offerings, I'm unlikely to return even though the bowl was flavorful. It's nice to know the homework you've done on the menu will pay off instead of discovering your drive to Ventura is futile on account of avoidable reasons. read more
19 days ago
1 year ago
Just stopped in for a quick bite before going to a movie. Fast and friendly service, love the vibe of the whole place, great bar and aesthetics, the sushi was fresh and delicious. Will definitely be back for a number of their other yummy looking items! read more
2 years ago
Cute little spot with some delicious bites to eat some yummy dishes I didn't get to snap a pic of because they were too good to wait on! Love the vibe here very relax service was good they were a bit busy and I feel like maybe more staff would have been nice like literally one more person because those 3 were bartenders servers waiters hosts all those jobs and they were just busy kinda felt like I was hunting them down if I needed something which makes me feel bad! But definitely a spot I would like to try again for the ramen alone I would be back! read more
10 months ago
I joined some friends for dinner and drinks on Thursday night here at Strange Beast. It was fairly busy with a several other tables and bar patrons. Our server was friendly, and nice. He helped explain some menu options and possible mocktails. Service was reasonable and fair. We ordered chicken wings and karaage as starting appetizers. Both were very tasty. Crispy, savory, and steaming hot. The Alexei surprise was light, semi-sweet, and very enjoyable. For dinner I decided on the kaiju smash burger and my fiancé choice the house ramen. The kaiju burger was very delicious, with caramelized onions for a nice boost of flavor. The fries were well seasoned and the sauce was great to go with it. Ramen was solid. Came with a soy egg, chashu pork, garlic oil. A good portion size, and flavorful. The egg and the pork were standouts. All in all, this is our first time back in several years, and it still doing quite well. I highly recommend this place in downtown Ventura, for cocktail enthusiasts, a date, catching up with friends, or even a solo dinner. Fair warning the restaurant currently has a seasonal theme, which is Stranger Things. Their drinks have seasonal spins and some other changes throughout their menu. There is also some decor alongside the seasonal theme. So your mileage may vary. Cheers! read more
29 days ago
4 months ago
2 years ago
Since it's been over a year since my last review I wanted to make sure to come back on here and to give Strange Beast some more hype because they are truly one of my favorite bar and restaurant duos in downtown Ventura. Heck I'll even admit that they are one of my favorite businesses in the 805 because the vibes are moody & rock n roll inside, the cocktails are consistently good, service is always friendly, and the food is unique and satisfying! I love everything about strange beast which I touched on above. They are a great example of how to do it right. I've never had a bad experience here and the atmosphere is my favorite. I really love the decor and what they did with this place stylistically. I love that it's dimly lit making it for the perfect date night spot or girls night. The rock n roll posters are always a cool touch and the pops of red and yellow neon lighting throughout the place are just too cool. Cocktails here are perfection. Well balanced and unique. My top two have consistently been the Melon Ball Z and the Beast Side. I really don't think you can go wrong though. The food here keeps calling me back. I love Asian food and it's so refreshing to have a spot in the 805 doing more unique dishes. Their Sunday ramen series has become a fast favorite of mine and the ramen is always a 10/10. The broth is usually rich, deliciously cooked noodles, love their pork, and side of chili oil makes this dish perfection. Also can't go wrong with snagging a few hand rolls - scallop being my favorite. They are showcasing a new menu this week with revamped bites so be on the lookout. I happily learned that they'll have daily ramen so expect me back many more days of the week! Lastly, staff here are always great. Everyone is very nice, warm, and welcoming. Sometimes they get really busy but I will say staff always do their best and make the experience a great one. I've run into so many nice people here over the last year I'm only sorry I couldn't note everyone's name but upon my last drop in extra kudos to the team - Adam, Torrey and Sam because everyone is lovely and this is a spot deserving of your business. read more
I had been to Strange Beast before but never for the ramen! Server Sam was wonderful! Such a cute restaurant! It wasn't busy on a Sunday and that's just fine for me! The tonkotsu ramen was great . I added chili oil. I do feel it was a little skimpy on the pork. The pieces of meat were quite small. The egg was perfect and the broth ... fire. read more
1 month ago
9 months ago
The server was nice and the ambiance was super cute! It definitely reminded me of the stranger things show! I tried a variety of things which included a crab hand roll, spicy tuna sushi, spicy edamame, gyoza and spicy french fries. I feel that every dish with the exception of the crab hand roll, was lacking in flavor. The edamame was super salty, the spicy tuna wasn't spicy at all and was lacking flavor, the french fries were a little too spicy and weren't salty enough. The drinks were extremely strong, which made them hard to enjoy. The concept is there, I think they just need to take a little more time on the food and drinks before sending them out to customers! Overall, this is a spot for appetizers and drinks, it's nothing too hearty or filling. A great spot to start your night! read more
2 years ago
This place hits the spot every time!, menu is small but great quality and savory dishes! Good service, great vibes, quaint cute spot w cool art on the walls - read more
4 months ago
Service great, environment good. Ramen has no flavor, sushi is okay. The vibes are amazing tho. I just think it's overpriced. read more
The Strange Beast isn't so strange - unique, perhaps, but not strange. Some of their online followers have referred to themselves as "beasties", but I'll bet they're not beasts either. They have a very limited menu (see my menu pics), but don't let that deter you. As you can see from my pics, they have interesting fare. The service was quick and informative. While we didn't try their signature drinks, we did hear good reviews about their signature drinks from a few locals. We shared their Spicy Tuna Handroll (see my pic). This was presented well: neat and colorful. The spicy tuna wasn't too spicy and the fresh veggies had a really nice contrasting crunch. The dressing had a creamy texture and some spice. However, the handroll was relatively small. We also shared their Seasonal Vegetable Tempura, see my pic. There were ample veggies. The tempura was appropriately portioned on some pieces and heavy on other pieces. The center dipping sauce was quite good: light, yet had a nice mix of soy, perhaps broth and something else for depth of flavor. There was the right amount of saltiness to cut the frying oil of the tempura. read more
7 months ago
Small place, interesting vibe. Ramen was good, not much variety on menu. Was expecting a few more options. Tables were small & close together. Hubby says the dynamite roll was good. read more
5 months ago
Finally made it to Strange Beast. Got there a little after opening on a Saturday, which was nice as it was just us, and it was such a cool vibe. The wallpaper and neon is badass and made me want to sit by the wall. Had a threesome of hand rolls, we're mostly good but definitely a lot of Mayo used in the mix which honestly overpowered the fish/shellfish within. Bite size so we're perfect in that aspect but would've actually much preferred no mayo at all. That way I could have enjoyed the flavors. The drinks we tried were awesome and went down easy. Fun little Ventura spot for sure! read more
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More info about Strange Beast
394 E Main St
Ste B
Ventura, CA 93001
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https://www.strangebeastbar.com
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Ask the Community - Strange Beast
Is it 21+?
Hey Isabella, thanks for asking! Strange Beast is open to all ages. We hope to see you soon! Sincerely,…
Anybody know if they allow dogs in their outdoor seating?
I remember seeing a dog water bowl outside, better to call the restaurant to be sure.
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