Fresh made, juicy hamburgers. The best SPOT in California; read my complete review here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/256560/carpinteria_california_home_of_the.html read more

The Spot - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

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Ambiance is 5/5, super cute outdoor seating, basically right by a little beach. Service is 5/5, friendly staff, food came out pretty fast. Cheeseburger is 3/5.. "Cheese" = Kraft slice lol. Next time I'll get the chili burger! read more

delicious hamburgers and shakes less than a block from the ocean. Cash only!!! Sometimes the line can be long but I have been coming for years and never wait longer than 15 minutes. They have a decent seating area but if you walk right across the street there is a lovely park with lots of grass seating and lovely trees providing shade and ocean views. Yummy burgers that hit THE SPOT :) read more

The Spot - lilplanets.com is an awesome exhibit currently open at Island Brewery in Carpinteria. Awesome photo of a delicious burger joint - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

We vacation at Carpinteria twice a year and come out to the beach another dozen times throughout the summer. The Spot would NOT let me order without a face mask, even with my shirt covering my nose and mouth. I will NEVER give them another penny. We walked up from the beach to order lunch to go for a family of five. Sorry, the worst customer service we've received during the pandemic. read more

This review written by my husband, Paul: I write this review with a heavy heart. I am a former Carpinteria local who has fond memories of The Spot. My childhood summers consisted mainly of daily bicycle trips to The Tarpits with a surfboard in one arm (not an easy feat). Our epic days at the beach (no sunscreen back then, mind you) would culminate in the inevitable 1 block trek to The Spot for much needed sustenance. Back then, The Spot was well known regionally for having the best burgers around. Talk about resting on your reputation. My wife and I went to The Spot after sampling some good brews at the nearby brewery. We were famished and in the mood for some stomach insulating greasy fare. We had a couple of burgers, fries, a soda and a shake. The bill came to a mind sobering $19.00, but not to worry, the food was surely going to be worth it. Wrong. The buns were cold and stale and the shake came in a cup that, based on its size, belonged in a Happy Meal. To top it off, the fries' dark coloring made us suspicious of the age of the frying oil and length of the cooking time. Upon actually eating these teeth-chipping, diamond-cutting morsels, all doubt was removed. In summation, to compare The Spot to In-N-Out (the gold standard in my opinion), you get half the quality at twice the price. read more

The food is good but the service is on the unfriendly side of my acceptably pleasant service expectation.

Good Burgers! Chili was basic canned chili. Hubby liked the Tacos. Onion rings were a disappointment from pics I saw in here. They were not that appetizing. Good Quick meal though and nice people. read more

One the pearls in the Oyster that is Carpinteria. An easy find, about 1000 yards from the beach. A hamburger joint in every sense of the word, in a rustic stand-alone building that wouldn't be permitted nowadays. The Spot features the predicable hamburger and fries in their respective juicy and or crispy goodness. I've always appreciated the freshness of the patty, produce and buns. If you're a fan of the In and Out or the Habit there is no reason why your taste buds wouldn't be thrilled to be here for lunch. Not a difficult read, the menu lists a few sandwiches that aren't hamburgers as well as a few Mexican Food items. My youngest son loves the fish tacos. It's fried rather than grilled. A frozen, I suppose, white fish. Everybody else in the mini van rolls in for the cheeseburger. You can't beat the place on a sunshiny day in Carp. The line goes fast. Not too spendy. Cash only. read more

Nice solid beach town spot. Burgers are good, onion rings are great! It's the perfect typical burger shack with local kids on the register. Usually got a line, but it's perfect for grabbing a togo for the beach. If you're eating there - remember that you can order an ice cream and they will wait to make it until after you've eaten your meal. read more

Bottom line: fantastic local burger spot how have I not reviewed this place yet?? I have been going here for many years and its pretty consistently.... What it is. Which is a hamburger stand near the beach that delivers some pretty decent food. Its not winning any culinary art contests anytime soon but the food is consistent, and they have some pretty good options. Back in the day when i was working construction we used to go here from time to time instead of sitting on the job site with a bag lunch....i give it four stars and the benefit of the doubt for being good all these years! read more

The best burgers in town as well as the onion rings. They have a good size menu of food to choose from. My grandson is three, when he comes to town he always asks me to take him to the spot for a cheeseburger and pickles! Great outdoor sitting and a fun place for family and friends. read more

I've been coming to Carpinteria (and the Spot) since I was a wee one, and I gotta say: nothing beats the Spot. In-n-Out has NOTHING on the burgers they create here, and the chocolate chip shake is pretty much sublime. I also highly recommend the chili cheese fries. It's also a short walk from a wonderful beach, which I shouldn't be telling you about, because I want it all to myself (when I get rich and famous, ha, I'm going to buy this whole fricking beach), but you can't get much closer to heaven than rolling off of your beach towel and up to the Spot to grab a huge burger, wearing nothing but your bikini. During Avocado Festival (I know, right? It's in October. You know you want to go), they feature avocado specials as well, so seriously. Get your ass down to the Spot. And stay off my soon-to-be-private beach. :) read more

Food very bland. Chips and guacamole bland. Tacos, where is the meat!! Burrito was just okay. Pepsi was about best thing menu. There needs to be seasoned workers here. Millenniums need a lot of help,even from staying off their phones. read more

Just okay greezy food stop. It is a great place to grab some food and take over to the brewery across the road. I think the burger is mediocre, so the fresh brew pairing is a must if you are going to eat here (in my opinion). They only take cash, which why? These days it is pretty easy to take a card with minimal fee right? read more

This place just warms my heart, so many good memories with my homies back in the day. Thus the 4-star rating. I usually good the cheeseburger with pastrami and I'm usually doing a happy dance when I'm eating it. The fries are pretty darn good too, nice and crispy. Protip: Dog friendly they have a water bowl for your mijo. read more

Bachelorette party gone wild Beer, tequila shots, and champagne overflowing (safety first, we hired a shuttle to drive us around - this thing had a karaoke machine and was stacked with libations) 4 am Bedtime 8 am HANG OVER 9:30 am Purging of the alcohol by various methods (2 bathrooms in the house for 11 girls) 11:30 am Ravenous ----- Bacon cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings for hungry and hung over girls. Perfect sunny day, awesome company, and foodies that were a cure for the nite's excess! You can't go wrong. read more

Yup, its that good. The shakes (I had chocolate chip, b/f had chocolate) are the perfect consistency for fry-dipping. Which, I'm my opinion is a huge factor in how much I like a place. The burger itself was killer. The bun was toasted to perfection, the bacon was wiggly, it was crisp and tasty. The fries are so-so; I'm pretty sure they come out of a bag, but I cover them in milkshake, so who am I to complain? The location makes it an awesome place to hang out and enjoy a GREAT burger. read more

Great Burgers...and the spot...is perfect. It is just a few meters away from the beach. With a few steps you can enjoy the delicious burger and watch the waves. However, the lines are long, especially during lunch. read more

This place used to be amazing. Now it's completely subpar after they changed owners. Why did they change the burgers? Everything is different. I hate it when places decide to "reinvent the wheel" and cheapen everything up. The customers aren't stupid! We notice! My advice to The Spot: Go back to the original burgers and fries and EVERYTHING that was so much better before, or change your name to "The Has-Been." read more

Great chili cheese burgers! You have to stop at The Spot after a day at Carpinteria beach!! Whenever your travels take you to a small community or a bedroom neighborhood there always seems to be a place that everyone tells you, "You've got to go there and eat"! If you've ever been in Carpinteria, California, The Spot is that place that you have to visit. The Spot is a little burger joint about 150 yards from the beach that people line-up at for breakfast and lunch. The fare is typical of what you might expect at a beachside joint. Burgers, hot dogs, fries and burritos are the standard, along with chili, sodas and shakes. On my visit to The Spot I ordered the chili cheeseburger and chili cheese fries. I was not at all disappointed! The burger was cooked perfectly and loaded with pickles, onions, tomatoes and mustard. The burger was smothered with an ample portion of chili on a fresh bun. The fries were equally chili/cheese covered and the fries stayed crispy even with the chili on them. The meal was topped off with a delicious shake and the price was pretty reasonable. The Spot, if nothing else, is a great piece of California beach nostalgia. For people like my wife who spent their summers at Carpinteria it's a stroll down memory lane. Sitting in the sun, the beach in the background and the occasional street rod cruisin' by make The Spot a truly cool place to enjoy a meal read more

The Spot - Lisa, reliving her childhood in Carp!! - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

This little spot puts any fast food place to shame and is so worth all the calories and any wait. I had a chili Cheeseburger with onion rings and a chocolate milkshake. Everything was incredible and delicious. I loved that the burger had pickles and mustard on it. I saw that people complained about a wait and it being cash only. Just come prepared and be smart about what time you go. Lunch or dinner time on the weekend during the summer time is going to be crazy! During the week or off hours is the best idea. I went on a Monday at 3 and there was no line and I got my food in less than 10 minutes. There is also ample seating to enjoy your meal. read more

What a spot. First time at this spot. I spotted a table. The 'burgs were solid. Fries were winners. I don't really buy into that culture of winning. But sometimes, it's clear who is the boss. The crowd was relaxed. Full of people trying to wash off their Saturday nights, in more ways than one. Stay strong people. Stay strong. read more

We ordered their expensive shakes today. 3 vanilla and 1 vanilla / chocolate. They gave us 3 vanilla and 1 vanilla / strawberry. You'd think standard customer service would be a simple re-make of the vanilla / chocolate shake. Mistakes happen and everyone else would just re-make the shake no questions asked. Nope! They searched high and low for the order ticket, said she heard the wrong thing and then had to take time to DECIDE if they should re-make my shake! Even though it wasn't my error, I repeatedly thanked them for re-making my shake because it was obvious they didn't want to. Not my fault! Do you think I got any you're welcomes out of them? Nope! She grabbed the vanilla / strawberry shake and didn't have a reply to my 3rd thank you! $4.50 per shake and they probably tossed the vanilla / strawberry shake in the trash anyways! Stingy and rude. McDonalds down there street has nicer employees. At least McD's doesn't act like you need them. read more

I stopped by Carpinteria on my way back to Los Angeles. This place had some nice write-ups, and is pushing 95+ years old. Thought I'd try a chili cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate-banana milkshake. The burger was OK. The chili wasn't the best I've had, but was flavorful and warm on this cool winter day. The fries were crisp and the milkshake was passable. At $12+ the meal was a tad expensive the food quality, but I am glad I stopped by anyway as I like to check out local restaurants with fun history. This place only accepts CASH - so be aware. Also, refills on sodas will costs you another half buck. I'm guessing that this place would be hopping in the summer months, so plan your time accordingly. Again, not the best I've had, but I'd stop by again if I were in the neighborhood. read more

I use to go here as a little kid and after all these years it still the same SPOT. Great burgers packed with flavor. Chili has good taste and is a great compliment to the burgers. I have never tried the Mexican food but the table next to me did and look very tasty. A SPOT WORTH TRYING. read more

Aw, man... I don't like giving cute hole in the wall places a low review, because I tend to think that food at these kind of places are so much more fun. However, the stomach ache that this food left me with won't allow me to stretch the truth. The onion rings looked and tasted delicious, but the chicken tenders were dry and stiff. I could barely stomach it. The french fries were really good, and helped me get through the meal. You have to pay $.60 for Ranch/BBQ sauce and I thought that was a little much. I won't be back, unfortunately, but the ambience of sitting outside was pleasant. A lot of people seem to love this place, as shown by the very long lines down the road. read more

This place is just OK. It's really close to the beach so it's pretty convenient but if given the choice again, I would walk a little further into town to get better quality food. The fried shrimp here are not the best. They were obviously fried more than once, and were mostly batter. The restrooms are extremely dirty and disgusting! The outside seating is decent, but the enclosed seating area is very dirty and unkempt. I'm hoping they clean this place up a bit more. I think they're mostly a burger, fries, and shakes kind of place. If that's all you need while at the beach, than this place is fine. read more

Upon a friend's recommendation, I visited The Spot and really enjoyed their burgers! (The fries, not so much). This cute burger stand, just passed the railroad tracks, has a good variety of items, from fish n' chips to burgers to tacos and plenty of milkshakes. They do have indoor and outdoor seating with great views, on one side the beach and on the other side you can see the train go by. There's a long, slow line to place your order but the food was prepared and ready much faster. read more

We've been going to Carpinteria beach for 20 years now and always try to grab a burger here while in town. Pros: Great cheeseburgers, onion rings and chili dogs. Fries are meh, but I'm not a fan of fat squishy fries. Cons: cash only, extra charge for refills and sides of ranch. read more

3.5 stars ORDER THE BANANA MILK SHAKE!!! (If this review would be just for the milkshake it'd get 5 stars) This is a little shack about a block or two from the beach in Carpinteria. We stop by here every time we are visiting Santa Barbara. The ONLY thing worth ordering here is the BANANA MILK SHAKE...I mean they do have a full menu of hamburgers, and mexican food. The food is okay nothing amazing or life changing but every sip of the milkshake is an experience. Now your thinking really, that amazing for a banana milkshake? She can'st stop talking about it...well let me tell you...this Banana Milkshake is creamy with chunks of real bananas. It doesn't have that artificial banana flavoring! It also thick and oh so wonderful...its always a great delight!!! There are other flavors that you can order but I personally adore the BANANA MILKSHAKE!!! YUMMMM read more

I find the food to be below average in taste (especially the grilled chicken sandwich!), and the wait is long both in line and to receive the food. Also, they charge extra for ranch :/ ...The only reason to go here is the convenience to the beach and Island Brew Co. read more

My 2 friends and I were looking for a place to get take out and hit the beach. This location was perfect for a quick to-go lunch being steps from the beach. The burgers and shakes were 4/5 for sure, very enjoyable and classic tasting. The service/overall experience however was less than mediocre. As a fellow restaurant employee, I usually cut people some slack. The woman running the counter did not look up, say hello, or put her phone down until we were inches from the window. We ordered cheeseburgers, shakes, and a cup of clam chowder. The clam chowder was so thick that it jiggled in the cup and tasted fishy. On our walk back from the beach, we stopped in and gave them our full cup of chowder stating it tasted fishy and was too thick. We ate two bites. "It's clam chowder, that's how its supposed to taste". Yikes. Not sure where you eat clam chowder. They painstakingly refunded our $5 without an apology or a considerate remark. Overall, food was not good enough to recover sour management or rude service. A smile goes a long way, so does common courtesy. read more

This place is great. One of the best chili cheeseburgers I've had. The only downside is that they don't take debit/credit card. Much better than the Worker Bee Diner down the street. read more

Oh The Spot... As the story goes it's been around since the 60s so you know the longevity speaks for something. A classic beach dive burger joint, I've been hitting up The Spot with my family since I couldn't see over the counter (which is like 5 yrs old considering I'm so tall). They have great burgers, standard fries, and their onion rings are awesome (crispy, crunchety, and the onion doesn't pull out in a limp string). But what I always crave most is their chocolate chip shake, a Carpinteria essential for laying on the beach and watching the dolphins swim by. They have killer breakfast burritos too. Keep in mind - it's a poppin place in a small town, and during the summer you are bound to have a long wait (they have a "friendly" sign detailing the fact that they are not the golden arches so you have to wait for your good food), and you might have to fight for your table. Oh and if you feel guilty, just go for a run on the amazing beach to work off the calories. Great location, great food, ok prices, did I say great food and location? read more

I can see why this place is so popular! Easily the best cheeseburger I've ever had. My husband said his veggie burger and chocolate shake were also quite delicious. Won't be able to drive through Carpinteria without thinking of this awesome place! read more

The Spot - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

Below average burgers when compared to The Habit, In and Out or even McDonald's original 15 cent hamburger. It is close to the beach and it is near Island Brewing, but the food is lackluster. read more

So, here's the set up. You've been dorking around in Carpinteria State Beach all morning, working up a good appetite. Pull off the wet suit, dig out the cell phone, call in the order for a double cheeseburger, cheeseburger for the spouse, fries, and a choco shake. (Take note: cash only). Walk from the beach (it's only a block away) to The Spot. On walk back, you're in your board shorts, flip-flops, eating fries out of the bag. Does it get any better than that? Yes it does. When you plop down at the beach, that kid next to you who's been running around kicking sand, whining and yelling, is now staring at you with a his lame PBJ and carrots. And oh yeah, good food, I think. But you know how it is when you get out of the water. Everything tastes especially good. read more

Burger !!! Good burger great burger scrumcious so good staff was sooo nice best place in carp 10/10 so good yup!!!

We have been eating here for at least 25 years and always loved it. So we didn't mind waiting in line. Not sure if they have changed owners since we've moved away or what. But it was a huge disappointment. My daughters fish taco was cold. My taquitos were hard inside and the guacamole brownish, like it was 3 days old. We also got onion rings that were so hard you couldn't bite them and we were still waiting for our fries. When we took back the hard onion rings, they told us their fryer was broken and refunded fries and onion rings. Later we both had the worst stomach ache... maybe from what we ate? Won't be back. THE SPOT IS NO LONGER OUR SPOT!! read more

The Spot - Long line, longer wait for terrible food. Not what it used to be. - American Near Me - Carpinteria, California

The Spot is an iconic burger shack practically on the beach in Carpinteria. Lines can be long for this tourist and local favorite. Enjoy your burger and shake outside and enjoy the weather. The food isn't awe-inspiring, but it is fresh and good. Would recommend for a good, reasonably priced, lunch if you're in the area. read more