Eating My Way Down the California Coast
- Samantha Geist
- Mar 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 3
I was lucky enough to spend this past spring break driving down the coast! There are few drives more iconic than California’s Highway 1- but what made this trip unforgettable for me wasn’t just the views. It was the food. From coastal cafés to tucked-away bakeries and standout restaurants, each stop along the way added something unique to the experience.
Keep reading to find out everywhere I stopped, and hear my honest thoughts!
📍 Bay Area
Every great trip needs a strong start, and the Bay Area delivered. Known for its diversity and quality, it set the tone for everything that followed. Whether it was quick bites or more elevated meals, the food here felt intentional and exciting- exactly what you’d expect from one of the country’s most diverse food cities.
Some standout stops included:
Chef Chus: My favorite Chinese restaurant in the WORLD. An absolute MUST-GO if you are visiting. Owned by the Chu Family, who's sons include Jon Chu, the director of Crazy Rich Asians and Wicked. Fun fact: Ariana Grande, President Obama, Justin Bieber, and MANY others have dined here. Make sure you try the chow fun noodles, pineapple chicken, and mongolian beef.
Superhot Korean BBQ: Definitely a fun experience! You cook your own meats in front of you, choosing from a never-ending menu. All-you-can-eat within your time frame, very kind service too.
RH Rooftop: Most beautiful restaurant I have ever seen! The food was decent, nothing outstanding but the restaurant was so beautiful I would come back. Great location in Stanford Mall too!
Sweet Shoppe: My childhood memories stem here! The most adorable little candy shoppe tucked into the residential areas of Los Altos. They have the most delicious soft serve and lunch options, as well as a great candy selection. Would highly reccommend the goat cheese and sundried tomato panini as well as the tomato soup for lunch!
Bluestone Lane Cafe: A very aesthetic, health-focused, cafe, with a great menu and delicious options. Super cute for a weekend brunch vibe, make sure you reserve in advance!
📍 Carmel-by-the-Sea & Monterey
Carmel and Monterey felt like stepping into a slower, more curated version of California. The food scene here matched that energy- small, thoughtful, and incredibly high quality.
Some standout stops included:
La Bicyclette: Wow. To say I dream about their gnocchi is an understatement. Absolutely mouth watering. Everything we ordered was outstanding but hands down, most incredible gnocchi dish I have ever had. And I don't even like gnocchi!! The reservations are tricky... so call at least 3 weeks in advance!!
Mission Ranch: One of my favorite meals of the trip. Clint Eastwoods restuaurant if you are familiar. Food was great quality, and the atmosphere was beautiful. Sitting along the coast watching the sunset cannot be beat. The live music and vibe are so nostalgic and heart-warming. I hope to return soon!! Pro tip: stop by the restaurant at 3pm to "reserve" an outdoor table for the night. They don't take reservations but if you ask at 3pm, you will get a table saved!! Also, get the pecan pie!
Bruno's Market & Deli: A supermarket with a deli station! We went for the sandwiches, but ended up getting the special Monday-only burritos. They were MASSIVE. Good, but not amazing.
Mad Dogs & Englishmen: A cozy coffee and bakery stop that felt like a must in Carmel, however, not my favorite coffee. For reference, my go-to order is a vanilla latte with oatmilk, and this one did not do it for me.
Carmel Bakery: Classic, simple, and exactly what you want in a small beach town. OUTSTANDING pastries. Make sure to try the chocolate chip cookie!! But you cannot go wrong with any of their baked goods. The line is worth it!
Ad Astra Bread Co: A perfect example of how good a bakery can be when done right!! Absolutely DELICIOUS pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lattes. Probably the most amazing of the trip. HIGHLY recommend!!
📍 Big Sur
Big Sur isn’t about a long list of restaurants- it’s about the experience of where you’re eating. This stretch of the drive reminded me that sometimes the best meals aren’t about the menu- they’re about the moment.
Nepenthe: One of the most memorable stops of the entire trip. Sitting above the cliffs, the view alone makes it worth it, but the food complements the setting well. Absolutely breathtaking. The wait is worth it, and definitely request a table along the outside ledge!
📍 Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara felt like the perfect midpoint in the roadtrip: relaxed, polished, and consistently good. Everything here felt effortless but intentional, which honestly defines Santa Barbara as a whole.
Dune Coffee Roasters: Go-to coffee stop with a strong local feel. Not my favorite latte of the trip but good vibes.
Barbareño: Elevated California cuisine that still feels approachable. Fantastic flavor, great service, incredible menu. Definitely not for a picky eater!
Mother Dough Bagels: The most adorable casual but standout breakfast spot. Delicious open-face bagels, served in the cutest little house. Amazing lemonade and chocolate chip cookie too. I tried the classic Lox Salmon bagel as well as the Jam bagel with honey butter, and both were delectable.
📍 Los Angeles
LA is overwhelming in the best way when it comes to food. Every neighborhood feels like its own world, and the range of options is unmatched. LA was where the trip felt the most dynamic- constantly changing, always offering something new.
Sobuneh: Hands down. BEST BREAKFAST BURRITO OF MY LIFE. An aboslute MUST-GO. Being from California I have high standards for breakfast burritos, and this was the most mouth-watering one. You must try this!!!
Wood Ranch: I have tried Wood Ranch as take-out and dine-in, and definitely prefer the dine-in experience. A great made-to-order kitchen, featuring a classic meat-lovers menu. Delicious bread to start, loved the baked potato skins, ribs were a hit too. A fun family dining spot.
Love & Salt: A great mix of coastal and elevated dining. Everything we tried here was delicious, from the burrata to the bolognese pasta! Definitely recommend if you are taking the drive to Manhattan Beach!
La La Land Cafe: Hate to say it but Best. Vanilla. Latte. Ever. Not to be dramatic but I love La La Land it is so aesthetic and adorable and definitely worth the hype. Multiple locations around LA so I definitely recommend stopping in for a cute drink!!
Pop-Up Bagels: While Pop-Up Bagels is not an LA-native restaurant, I thought I would still include it. The specialty flavors of the week were pesto butter and guiness choclate cake cream cheese and both were delicious. I always have a wonderful experience at Pop-Up bagels. Huge fan!!!
📍 San Diego
San Diego brought a more relaxed energy to the trip, but the food still delivered. The vibe here was simple: good food, good weather, and no pressure.
Ketch Grill & Taps: A casual, classic coastal stop, nothing out of the ordinary. I got the fish & chips which were decent. Nothing to write home about.
What made this trip so special wasn’t just the food itself, but how each place reflected its environment. From the energy of the Bay Area to the calm of Big Sur and the variety of LA, every stop felt different- and the food mirrored that perfectly.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: The best way to experience a place isn’t just by seeing it, it’s by eating your way through it!
Top 5 of the Trip
Best overall meal: La Bicyclette
Best coffee: La La Land
Best view: Nepenthe
Most unique: Mission Ranch
Must-go: Sobuneh
Comments