The One Burger Restaurant In Southern California With Surprisingly Delicious Fish Tacos
By Natasha Kayes|Published February 08, 2023
×
Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Who doesn’t love a pleasant surprise? And better yet, what if this surprise comes with beautiful surroundings and friendly service? You can be sure that one thing this state does well – aside from sun, sand, and sea – is a good burger. That being said, there is one burger place that (surprisingly!) has some of the best fish tacos in Southern California. Oh, yeah, and their burgers are great, too.
Padaro Beach Grill is local favorite, a small unassuming cafe with a family-like ambiance along the beach in Carpinteria, just south of Santa Barbara.
This cafe has a simple setup. Orders are taken at the counter and food is delivered to your table. The menu is both simple and fairly extensive. It is mainly made up of salads, sandwiches, and the cafe’s ever-popular burgers, and there are lots of varieties to choose from in each category.
This is especially known as a burger joint, and the burgers are memorable, especially the Prime Burger and the Pretzel Burger. And of course, a pile of hot, crispy French fries is the perfect burger companion.
Though they take up only a tiny portion of the menu, the Baja Fish Tacos are anything but insignificant. Large pieces of deep-fried fish are topped with cabbage, cilantro, pico de gallo, and smoked tartar sauce, all in handmade corn tortillas. Who needs a burger?
Love the idea of the fish tacos, but want a slightly healthier option? Try the equally delicious grilled red snapper tacos, topped with cabbage, tomato, avocado and cilantro cream sauce, and of course, tucked inside handmade corn tortillas.
For many, nothing pairs better with tacos than an ice cold beer and Padaro Beach Grill has a nice selection on tap. Not your thing? No problem, there are a lot of other options, including wine, margaritas, soft drinks, fresh ice tea, milkshakes, malts, smoothies, and floats.
The cafe building is small but the outdoor dining space is quite spacious, made even more pleasant by the fact that it sits right on the shore. Sit in the sun or under an umbrella and feel the ocean breeze.
We know it may be hard to order fish tacos when there are so many great burgers on the menu, but that just means this place deserves more than one visit. Wouldn’t you agree? Have you ever been to Padaro Beach Grill in Southern California? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Check out the cafe on Facebook for more mouthwatering pics and up-to-date information. For more simple but unexpectedly delightful eateries, explore our list of seven “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants worth a visit.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
