Padaro Beach Grill

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.

Went to Padaro Beach Grill with my family for Mother's Day weekend, and man, this place was such a vibe. We got there right around sunset, and it was absolutely beautiful. The first thing I noticed was how big the spot is, especially for kids. Tons of space to run around and play. The line was pretty long out the door, but honestly, it was worth it. Food, straight up the star of the night. I ordered the Padaro Burger without avocado, made it a double, and got a side of fries. Bro, it was delicious. The meat was juicy, perfectly cooked, and that onion ring in the middle gave it the crunch it needed. Add some bacon on top? Come on. Can’t go wrong at all. One of those burgers you finish and immediately consider ordering another. My wife got a burger too, but on a whole wheat bun with a side salad. She said the flavor was solid, but the bun came out super hard after being toasted, so she ended up just taking it off. Still enjoyed it though. My dad got the same burger I did, and we both crushed it in no time. This thing is a big burger. Not just some little fast food joint size. My mom got the turkey burger like my wife and had it with some sweet potato fries, and she really enjoyed hers too. Overall, this place is a win. Great views, great food, and just a super solid spot to hang out and eat with the fam. Just be ready to wait in line, but it is totally worth it.

Great setup outside but food needs some adjustments. Ordered one fried and one grilled fish taco. These tacos are very flavorful and delicious but an absolute nightmare to try and hold and get a good bite. The tortilla needs to be bigger and very tough to get a bite of everything in one bite because of how high up everything is stacked. The fried fish one was much better. I actually got a 1/2 inch piece of bone in my grilled fish on my second bite. Rest of the menu seems like elevated bar food. The style of delivery is order and then pickup. Silverware is not readily available either and had to ask for some. The fish tacos did come with chips and salsa and the salsa was very good and good level of spiciness

Fantastic veggie burger. Lots of fresh yummy toppings, and the patty was very tasty. Reasonably priced, especially since you have a beautiful ocean view from the adult only seating area. Staff was nice and friendly also. Despite all of the outdoor seating, no dogs are allowed except for service animals.

Great little place! Beer is cold, we didn’t eat but the food looked good. Lots of tables and they have a fire pit for adults closer to the water. The view is pretty.

Whimsical fantastical Amazing burgers, I dont know how they do it.. but I am truly Amazed at the quality and love they put into there food.. the sit down area is just as beautiful as the food. I think I found my #1 national favorite.. Thankyou!! 10 Stars!!

The atmosphere is so calm and peaceful. The food was amazing and drinks were good. You order your food and once its ready you'll get buzzed to pick it up. Its ready pretty quickly. They have a sandbox for the kids and a higher area for adults only. Very versatile for people with and without kids.

This place is a gem! Do not miss an opportunity to stop here. Food is A+. Patio area overlooking the beach is amazing. Best spot in this area!

This is the absolute spot to try! This is a great location with beautiful views and amazing food! I will definitely be coming back to try more items from their delicious menu. I tried their shrimp and avocado salad and it was very delicious and filling. It paired perfectly with their homemade thousand island sauce. Their tri tip fries are some of the best I've had they were crispy to the touch and had lots of toppings such as sour cream and guacamole. They have lots of seating outside and inside. Service is quick as they are always busy. Parking can get busy but it is a popular spot to visit so it comes with the territory.

Came here after a day at a beach. It's a chill, eclectic vibe near the water (although the view of the ocean is blocked by a fence). The burgers were good and everything else was okay: -ambiance: beautiful beachside location with a lovely palm-tree dense fenced garden with picnic tables. Indoor seating available too. Kind of a Hawaii vibe -burgers: 4.5/5 -nachos: 3.5/5 -Baja fish tacos: 3/5 (oil tastes older and the fish texture and flavor combo wasn't great) -fries: 4/5. Crispy and tasty -portion size: HUGE! It was a fair price given the area, portions, and inflation. And lots of little kids running around open seating in a fenced space. So I'd recommend for families with young kids :)

I have been here many times ! Reasonable , good food , nothing fancy. I actually think the prices here are more affordable than big chains . They stuff your sandwiches with all the goodies and no skimpy. I always love stopping here when nearby ! You can never go wrong . Service is great . It is a popular spot, so pretty busy! Counter service /pager system. Quick and easy ! Chill vibes !

Super fresh and delicious tacos!! We got an order of Baja Fish Tacos and an order of Shrimp Tacos. The Baja Fish Tacos were so crispy, light, and airy. The fish was so fresh and the sauce on top was so good! The Shrimp also tasted really fresh and tasty. There is a lot of searing inside and outside. It's right next to the ocean so the ambiance is very relaxing. It felt like I was at a beach park.

Food, views, and more! To begin, their fish and chips were absolutely delicious. Crispy, flavorful, and not at all soggy! The views were amazing as well! Service was great/ you line up to order and they buzz a pager when it's ready. Provided whatever was needed. Definitely will be back!

Padaro Beach Grill is the perfect place to spend a warm and sunny day at! After spending some time at the bluffs we decided to try this place I had bookmarked a while back. Their menu consisted mostly of burgers, salads and some seafood. I ordered their fish tacos, although they were good I would have liked to have the tortillas be warmed up. On the other hand my husband ordered their shrimp and fries and that was very tasty! The shrimp were large, perfectly battered and crispy! Their kids meals included gummy candy's which my kids loved. In addition to the food I ordered a margarita, it was perfect. With the margarita at hand and the tropical vibes I felt like I was in Hawaii. The service was good. The way it works is you order your food and you are giving a pager. Once the food is ready your pager will vibrate and you go pick up your food. Will definitely be back soon!

To be honest, I had low hopes going into Padaro Beach Grill. While the outside is cute with a seaside view, plenty of picnic tables, and a sand pit for kids, the inside was kinda barren and run down. It could definitely do with a fresh coat of paint and some additional decorations! It feels like a corporate-y box restaurant from the ordering area. Once we got our food, I completely changed my mind on this place. As unappealing as the restaurant looks, the food was amazing! The fish and chips was perfectly greasy and salty while still being flavorful and a great compliment to the sun filled day at the beach. The tartar sauce was acidic and creamy and they had malted vinegar for the fries.

3.5 stars We came on a relaxing Wednesday afternoon and found parking on a somewhat narrow street out front. This restaurant isn't beach accessible but they've done a wonderful job at creating an "island" feel with all the beautiful palms. I ordered the shrimp tacos and my husband ordered the Catch of the day sandwich and opted for chilli cheese fries. My shrimp tacos weren't as flavorful as it looked and the chips were good with a hint of lime. My meal was decent. My husband enjoyed his fish sandwich and was happy with his choice. We shared the chili fries and it was good but we should have asked for crispier/well done fries because it got soft rather quickly. The atmosphere was great and we were happy with our little side stop off the 101. It's a nice place to stop especially when it's not as busy. Small playground for the kiddos and family too. We needed a break from the hustle and bustle and that was achieved. I probably should have ordered something different. I can't review on the drinks or shakes. This probably won't be a destination when we drive through but I'm happy we dined here. Side Note: I didn't see a sign that dogs aren't allowed. Only came across a pic as I was logging on to write my review on Yelp. I kept my ole' 17yr yorkie inside his stroller the entire time though and all he did was stare at birds and sleep. But pet owners beware. Not the place for your dogs. =/

Excellent food. We had the grilled fish tacos and the Padaro Burger. Just excellent. Wonderful outdoor dining area. Reasonable prices.

Highly recommend for families with small children. You wait in line, order at the register inside, take a buzzer and sit, and get your food at the window when it's ready. FYI: Sometimes there is a separate line for the bathroom to the right of the food line along the wall (people seem to get mad at you for not knowing there's a line) which is indistinguishable from the food line. While there is no ocean view, the outside sitting area is spacious, well decorated, and relaxing. There is a huge sand pit with toys for kids to play with. It is a children's paradise. French fries were excellent! The Baja tacos were good. My shrimp tacos were ok. not much flavor. The salsa that is comes with is decent and I think homemade. Milkshakes were great as well.

We checked this place out on the way home from a camping trip with friends. The fish tacos were ridiculously good, shrimp taco was okay, the burgers were decent, a little over cooked. My kids loved the burgers, but whose kid doesn't like a burger overcooked or not. The chips and salsa with the fish tacos were just okay. I would definitely go back and order more fish tacos. The view is amazing, they have a raised patio where you can get a better view but it's for adults only. I don't get it, maybe people take their kids and the kids act wild? Either way kinda weird. I would give it a 3.5, 4 seems a little generous.

We came here for lunch on our last day in Santa Barbara before heading up to the Alpaca farm. This place has insane views of the ocean and coast. You go inside to order your food, when it's ready, you can pick it up from the window, then go to sit at the picnic tables nearby and eat while you hear the waves crashing, really nice way to eat a burger. The avocado burger we had was cooked perfectly, and had really fresh baked and soft bread. Fries were fresh and piping hot. Highly recommend

Super cute spot! Great ambience. I truly felt like I was on vacation somewhere in Hawaii. This spot is definitely kid friendly, but also has little hangouts for adults like the adult only dining area where you can overlook the ocean. I would also like to point out that not only was this a great location, but the food was pretty good! I got the Padaro burger and my friend ordered a chicken salad which she swears by.

The food was excellent. Bloody Mary is a must! Loved being able to sit outdoors and my kiddos were able to see the train pass by.

This is an unbeatable atmosphere on a pleasant summer day, especially if you have kids who can enjoy playing in the sandbox area. The picnic benches on grass, with umbrellas, ocean breeze, and reggae music creates a friendly, cheery and relaxed weekend vibe. I've been wanting to come here for years now and it was everything I'd hoped It'd be. There were lots of people but it's such a big space that it doesn't feel packed or crowded and we were able to find a shaded spot relatively easily. The order line was long but once we put our order in they get the food out quickly. We got 2 beach club sandwiches, 1 order of fish and chips, 1 chicken sandwich with teriyaki, an order of the Tri of sides and an order of tater tots. I had the beach club which hit the spot. I am a fan of the honey Dijon mustard they use and they put LOTS of avocado which is awesome. The bread is toasted perfectly. I had the sweet potato fries from the trio that comes with fries and onion rings as well. The sweet potato fries and cooked perfectly crunchy and soft inside and are sprinkled with sugar and salad to make them extra sweet and tasty. I finished them all My husband got the fish and chips which are made with red snapper and he said they were delicious and high quality. I really can't wait to come back here again. The salads or nachos looked really great so I have my eye on those for next time.

You come here for the Hawaii vibes, the large out door seating and the central sand box where your kids play so you can relax, eat some food and sip a beer. Service was meh and food was meh. My fish tacos tasted more fried dough than anything, fries which you pay extra for were cold and tasted fishy, burger was ok but falling apart. My daughter had fun running around and playing so I guess that's the experience we paid for ‍

Love this place! Casual great food, spots for kids to play and adults only place! Grab an amazing ice cream sandwich to cap off an amazing burger!

Great= outdoor area, sandbox and greasy area for kids to play! Some shaded tables. Also adult area for those not interested in kids laughing & playing next to you. Good/fair= food & bathrooms available (could use more restrooms though). Not good= Awful staff/counter people, unknowledgeable with the menu items, not interested in helping or even responding to any customers, definitely "customer-no-service". This has ALWAYS been an issue here, even over 10 years ago!!! Very long lines, barely any parking. (I hate electronic ordering kiosks, but would welcome it here!!!) Yet I will be back, as I have for about the past 10 years, because of their amazing outdoor casual area, the beach nearby is great for walking along, and the family (old and young) love the outdoor area!!!

We had the shrimp tacos, the fish and chips, and an additional side of fries. Great amounts of food and it all was absolutely delicious. We also loved the outdoor seating. Excellent all around.

Fresh beach style food and ambiance. Easy street parking and order to go or eat in. Picnic tables inside or on lawn but no dogs allowed. Locals ride bikes to eat and vibe is comfy. None of the vibe matters unless the food is there. The grilled snapper tacos are fresh flakey and perfectly adorned with slice of avocado and fresh pico de gallo and cabbage. Fresh baked brownies? Yep. This place is easy to get to. Easy to park. Easy to order and at the top of the game.

Vegans rejoice! They have a full vegan menu including crab cakes and veggie burgers! Fish lovers can choose Baja fish tacos grilled or tempura and also shrimp tacos or fish and chips. Pleasant service at the walk up windows and refillable drinks. And you can't beat the beach atmosphere. They even have a sandbox for the kiddies!

I like this place. Great views. Great food. Clean. Good service and very relaxing place.

When I lived nearby I used to come here often. But the short drive from Santa Bsrbara is worth it. My friend ordered the veggie burger. As you will see from the pictures it is massive! My friend said its the best veggie burger she's ever had. That is quite the compliment as she has very discriminating taste. She could barely hold it with two hands. I ordered the fish and chips. They were so large I could only eat one and saved the others for dinner. The breading didn't overpower the fish which ass perfectly cooked. My favorite was their housemade tartar sauce! The ambulance is usually very pleasant with outside tables and patio tables with heaters. Unfortunately, there was street construction but what else is new? We still enjoyed the fast service. My only problem was choosing what to order as I love the burgers here. Look at the menu and drool. You can order ahead if you want.

We had the red snapper fish and chips! The food was great, love the outdoor patio area for dining on picnic benches, reminded me of my time in Oahu! The customer service lacks, however the beautiful area, the food and the walking friendly area make this place. Gem.

Best Baja Tacos! Great outdoor park-like seating right next to the ocean. Quick service.

Cute and mellow spot for a lunch date. It's a casual restaurant where you place an order at the counter, grab your buzzer, then find a table. The outdoor area had plenty of seating options including an upper area with ocean view. We split an order of nachos with tri tip (+$7) and a Padaro burger. The tri tip was not as flavorful as I expected, but the nachos themselves were tasty. Only thing that could have made them better would be more cheese. We really enjoyed the burger. If you're in the area, definitely give Padaro Grill a try.

Burger and fish tacos were amazing. I highly recommend trying this place out. I dream of having that burger again.

A quaint Beach Grill located right next to the beach and train tracks outside Santa Barbara in Carpenteria. Lawn area, indoor seating...lots of area to enjoy the beach grill menu and chill. Margaritas and brews, tacos and burgers, Sando's too. The perfect spot to pull off 101 and chill for a spell.

I'm shocked by the good reviews. Saddens me to make this review because it's such a cool thing that you get to sit outside and have multiple wide open play area for the kids. And the staff is friendly. BUT HOW DO YOU SCREW UP A GRILLED FISH TACO THIS BAD? I don't mean like one or two parts of it. Every ingredient. Every part worse than the other. The fish tasted like rubber that was frozen and thawed a dozen times. The tortilla also just not good. Officially the worst fish taco I've ever had in my life. My family and I are just in awe.

I've been here so many times many years ago. The place hasn't changed much and still serves very good food with pretty solid customer service. It's not crazy expensive but can be if you get a drink and fries. Burger is excellent. The seating is outside and has good views if you're standing up and see over the hedges. Good place to stop and get a good meal.

Chilled environment, delicious food and divine view, like that we can summarize Padaro Beach Grill. We we coming from Solvang and wanted to stop somewhere to eat, then fouthis place on Yelp. The environment is very casual, they have sandwiches and burgers with soft drinks, beers and wines. Pretty cool!! What did we have? A Tuna melt and a Maui Burger with a Bloody Mary and a Michelada. Everything delicious tasty and well prepared. Attention is good and the view is magnificent!! Of course I'll be back. Highly recommende.

Great food. Great options. Great staff. Best fish tacos. Yummy burgers. (No pups allowed though) :))

My husband and I passed here one week prior to coming having lunch here. We randomly found this place and we wanted to give it a try. Their pricing seemed very reasonable and they had plenty of options so we figured why not. I love tacos, so I decided to get the fish tacos which I wasn't really impressed with , however, the Asada fries were really good. However, I had to ask them to put onions and I still saw onions in my food. My husband and I got bloody Mary and Michelada however I was not impressed with these two drinks. I filled that their mix had odd taste. So I ended up getting mango margarita and it was a little bit better. I could barely taste the alcohol. There is plenty of parking but it's always busy, they have really nice area for kids to play in the sand and plenty of food options and chairs and spots to sit. My husband had their try tip and he thought it was OK, we had other people that and they had other options and they seem to like the food I would give them another try.

Such an amazing spot ! We came from out of town and just so happened to find this place cause we were starving. This place is perfect for little ones too, they have a beach sandbox for kids to place. Food was delicious!

Such a quintessential beach grill, the location can't be beat and food is amazing. The clam chowder is sinfully delicious and the seafood is fresh all around. Great, family friendly vibe right on the water. Love it here!

Travelling with my mother, sister and wife up to Central Coast and we discovered this amazing pitstop. Really really great food; burgers are huge and delicious varieties, the chili cheese fries incredible, my favourite the fish tacos were the ideal lunch considering the location. The large and spacious outdoor seating area is right on the beach with spectacular views, especially on a clear sunny day as it was for us. Beware the trains though; the tracks are literally feet from the garden - hold on to your margarita!! Next time were travelling north, we will make a point of stopping here. It's on our list!

This is a favorite place to stop by and grab a good bite to eat, I've had their burgers and salads before and everything has been delish! Today I had the shrimp tacos, which were great and their salsa had a nice kick and flavor to it. The ambiance is great it's ocean side and has a beachy reggae cafe vibe to it, service is good you order at the counter then pick up your food when it's ready and it's open seating

I went around 12 and it wasn't packed at all. Surprisingly, when we left around 12:45, there was a long line that formed outside the door. I would say the food was good, but not great. The service was outstanding and the views had overcast but it was still a wonderful view. We got the California burger, beach club sandwich, fries, and onion rings. My favorite was the beach club sandwich and the fries. I thought the beach club sandwich was a pretty good take of a BLT sandwich with your classic bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes with the addition of grilled chicken and guacamole. The chicken that they gave was very thin which was disappointing but they gave a lot of guacamole. The California burger was average at best. The patty was bland and not seasoned well. The burger overall just didn't have a good flavor and just tasted really one sided to me. I will commend them on the serving size of this burger. It was huge. The fries were delicious. They were perfectly crispy, salted, and golden. The onion rings were also poorly seasoned. If I didn't have ketchup or ranch by my side, I would be sad. Overall, this place is definitely a really nice place to chill at with friends or family especially on a sunny day with no overcast. I would come here again for the views and try out other foods, but for this experience, I would say the food was average.

Best fish and chips of southern Ca, amazing fish tacos too! Go here instead of Teddy's, i insist

Yummy local casual spot. Fish tacos are great!! Order online early to get a spot for pick up. They shut down the ordering system when it gets to crowded.

I've been coming here for years, but I'm honestly not a fan. The location and atmosphere are unbeatable, but it doesn't make up for mediocre food and obnoxious bathroom lines. If you're primarily focused on nice outdoor seating, it's a winner. But for anything else, I'd pass.

Oceanside views and fresh seafood! What more can someone want while visiting the coast? During our visit, my husband and I indulged in the Baja Fish Tacos and the Chicken Sandwich, each dish offered generous servings and bold flavor. The Baja Fish Tacos featured huge, crispy, golden fish nestled in warm tortillas and topped with their generous house-made sauce. While not the sea, my husband's country club sandwich, had juicy chicken, fresh veggies, and tangy aioli. We dined al fresco, soaking in the ocean breeze and panoramic views, it became clear that Padaro Beach Grill is more than just a restaurant--it's an experience. There were kids playing on the side, groups of friends, and a family celebrating a birthday. Does it sound too busy for you? Well they actually have a quiet "adults only section" where it was quite serene. So whatever your vibe is, Padaro will deliver.

My first time coming here and I was blown away. I loved the shrimp tacos, and they came with chips and salsa. Lots of open seating with a great view. Staff were friendly and their bathrooms were clean. I have to start coming more often, I want to try to the other menu items.

What's not to love about Padaro Beach Grill? The service is outstanding. I normally take one star off if you have to order at the counter, but at this place you don't mind. My favorite are the grilled fish tacos. The garlic aïoli sauce is so creamy and fresh. And abundant amount of fish and a big slice of avocado. Did I mention the ocean view? Great fire pit on the upper deck. We go at least once a week. Great burgers, and the best french fries around.

Driving south from our trip to Solvang, we stumbled across a breathtaking beach restaurant. I had the club sandwich with a side of tater tots, which was delightful. The perfect weather and amazing views made this random spot well worth the visit. I will definitely be stopping here more often when in Ventura County.

Shrimp tacos are cold shrimp. More like a cabbage and tortilla salad with a couple of shrimp thrown in. Wife had the fish tacos and her first question was where is the fish? Sorry to say we won't be trying this place again. I hate to give a bad review but could use a little improvement.

Wow! Was a cool experience!! Wonderful Beach Grill, with amazing views, family friendly, and comfortable environment! They offer the classic beachy themed food items, AS WELL AS a Vegan Menu - very impressed with this option being available! The service was wonderful, full of smiles and kindness! I waited, maybe 5-8 minutes for my meal which included a to-go burger and fries. Would 10/10 recommend stopping by and checking out this Beach Road Side grill!!!

Visiting fam in Carp I wanted to come here for fish tacos. We ate here once by chance a few years ago and I remembered it was good but holy crap! This place is SO good. Prices are awesome. The outside seating area is massive and they have a couple separate areas you can reserve, Loved the reggae music vibe on a Saturday afternoon. I had the fish tacos, one grilled one baja and they were red snapper. My mouth is watering again thinking how good this meal was gahhhhh. Everyone absolutely loved their food, I took pics of other peoples food on the counter because of how good it looked. The bbq chicken salad looks ridiculously special. My cousin who always gets burgers tried my fish tacos and couldn't believe he hadn't had them there before. That scoop of guac on the cali burger WHAT! This place was PACKED so clearly people know what's up. We arrived right before the rush and the food came out fast! Just constant flow of people but we were there on a sat afternoon. This is a full Cali vibe with the beach and sunset views, outstanding food, drinks, service, large play area in sand for kids and picnic tables. Love love love!! Will definitely go again when we're back in town. :)

The Double Padaro Burger is legendary. It's huge! It's flavorful! It's has all the perfect ingredients! It's has two awesome saucues! It's the kind of burger you crave when you are craving for a burger. It's the kind of burger you want as a last meal. Normally it comes in a single patty but for some reason I had to make it a double. My inner and outer fattie both wanted to take the risk and it was worth it! Oh ya the rest of Padaro Beach Grill was excellant. My wife got the Maui Burger and she thought it was the best hawaiian burger she had. She also loved that she was able to get a small version of the caesar salad because that too was delicious. Lastly can't forget to mention the tator tots. They went oh so perfect with the burger I had. If you love burgers then you got to check this place out, you won't be dissappointed. I definitely can't wait to come back and have another Double Padaro Burger....till then I'll be dreaming about it.