108 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof SPECIALTY FOODS dedicated to mixed greens and maybe a Caesar. But that’s not the Lalla Grill style. Yes, there’s a Caesar salad. But there’s also a Greek salad, a beet salad, a quinoa salad and more, all drawing on the best fresh local ingredients. Enjoy some greens at the Del Monte location, Cannery Row location or— soon—at the promenade in Marina. BEST DELI SANDWICH Compagno’s 2000 Prescott Ave., Monterey (831) 375-5987 If there was any sort of game associated with Compagno’s deli in New Monterey, it would have to be Battleship. The deli is just steps from the Taylor Street gate of the Presidio of Monterey, a primary artery for those entering or leaving the base, and the sandwiches—subs or torpedoes, rather—have names like “Navy Special,” “Marine Special,” “Navy Seal Special,” “Coast Guard Special”—and yes, the Army and Air Force are represented, too, as are drill sergeants. The war on hunger is fought, and won, every afternoon at Compagno’s. BEST BURRITO El Charrito 483 Calle Principal, Monterey. (831) 884-5143 122 W. Market St., Salinas. (831) 424-9446 elcharrito.com Suppose you’re tired of playing Throw Throw Burrito and prefer to eat a burrito instead of throwing squishy ones at each other to win the game (and yes, the game does exist). In that case, El Charrito is the place to be, with an array of stuffing options, including carnitas, barbacoa, chorizo, and more. The best part—which draws long lines most mornings—is El Charrito’s delicious handmade tortillas wrapping up all the ingredients. Oh—and that a location is expected to open in Marina in 2026. BEST PICKLED FOOD Happy Girl Kitchen 173 Central Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 373-4475, happygirlkitchen.com Part of the journey to get a good pickle is cutting it to perfection and making accurate measurements, and what better way to practice than playing Fraction Wild? And learn or refresh your math fraction skills? If you’re up to the task, Happy Girl Kitchen has you covered with a variety of pickled veggies that have the perfect amount of crunch, including spicy carrots, Brussels sprouts (yes, Brussels doubters, they are great) and beets. BEST FOOD ON A STICK Monterey County Fair One weekend every September. Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey (831) 372-5863, montereycountyfair.com Give a child a stick, and their imagination will run wild. Give a chef a stick, and, well, the same thing will happen. Mixed in with the carnival and animals at the Monterey County Fair, the food game knows no bounds. Many, though, seem to require a stick. The corn dogs are a staple, as are the kebabs. There’s also cotton candy for something a little more sweet. We haven’t seen turkey legs or pizza on a stick yet, but never underestimate the power of imagination. BEST FISH & CHIPS London Bridge Pub 256 Figueroa St., #2 (at Wharf 2), Monterey (831) 372-0581, lbpmonterey.com Children play London Bridge is Falling Down, dropping their arched arms over whoever happens to get caught in the middle under the “down.” In the case of London Bridge Pub in Monterey, it’s quite the opposite—this classic pub fare is lifted up. Battered and fried fish with fries is a simple, straightforward dish. To make it stand out requires fresh, meaty pieces of cod. It requires hot, crispy fries. And a good vibe—with a London Bridge that is not at risk of falling down—is a bonus. Some or all of those reasons are why Weekly readers vote for this as the Fair Lady of fish and chips year after year. BEST CLAM CHOWDER Old Fisherman’s Grotto 39 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey (831) 375-4606, oldfishermansgrotto.com Manhattan style? It’s OK. New England style? Yeah, it’s fine. But Monterey-style clam chowder from Old Fisherman’s Grotto is so special that they ship it to customers all over the country. Sure, it resembles New England’s favorite, but the venerable restaurant takes things up a notch. The chowder is richer, for one. And there is a little undercurrent of a secret ingredient (spoiler: garlic) to give it more depth. A game company created Hot Pot in part to teach children culinary creativity. But if they are well-behaved (the Grotto has rules), kids could learn a lot more from a pot of this chowder. They’d be happier, too. Best Clam Chowder | Old Fisherman’s Grotto
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