named the county’s best, Hula’s Island Grill draws boisterous crowds—there has also been quite a bit of change. “It’s an eclectic street,” says Philip Wojtowicz, chef and owner of Oystertown. “We shop and eat at every place.” Not counting convenience stores, there are 25 restaurants, bars and markets on the eight-block stretch from Reeside to David. The kitchens span continents—Mexican, Mediterranean, Indian, Thai, Japanese—and styles. There’s a burger joint on one end of the street, an ice cream parlor toward the other. “You won’t believe how much baklava we sell,” says Ralph Elrayes of Lighthouse Bistro Global Cuisine. Lighthouse Bistro Global Cuisine is a new addition to the street, as well as a revelation. In an era when many chefs narrow their menus or trend toward a particular style, Elrayes decided to broaden his restaurant’s reach. Diners can try shawarma or other Mediterranean favorites, fish and chips familiar to English pubs, pasta dishes or even the Nepalese favorite, momo—all from scratch and prepared with care. If Elrayes’ wife is away, baklava goes off the menu. That’s her specialty. Oystertown is also a fresh face on Lighthouse. The sleek space— urbane inside, with a European vibe to its patio—was named Best New Restaurant of 2025 by Weekly readers, thanks to its menu of small plates that feature shellfish, yet can venture to homestyle meatballs or even a comforting dessert bowl of chocolate pudding, the chef’s recipe. Another new entry is Curry Journey, which opened in 2026. The focus here should come as no surprise. What makes the place different is its restraint when it comes to menu listings. Zab Zab Thai Cuisine a few blocks away is a more typical Thai restaurant, which is not meant as ordinary. “Their food is good,” says Curry Journey owner Thapanapong Trongarchakaew, drawing out the “oo” for emphasis. Instead, where Zab Zab gives guests dozens of options, Curry Journey skips emblematic items such as pad Thai to concentrate on what they do well. While there may be no typical experience on Lighthouse in Monterey, most restaurants run into the same issue. “The only problem we have is parking,” Elrayes points out. It’s a hitch others warned Trongarchakaew about as he was considering the location and one Wojtowicz knows first hand. “I’ve had several tickets,” he says. There are garages nearby, supporting Cannery Row as well as Lighthouse. But many of the spaces between the two roads are metered street parking. Some cross streets are limited to 90 minutes or less during daytime hours. But the problem is more of a nagging reputation than a hindrance. A 12 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® EAT + DRINK 2026-2027 Oystertown
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