108 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2026 montereycountynow.com/bestof Specialty Foods the restaurant ships containers of the chowder around the country, probably outside of the U.S., as well. And if you need more proof they are doing something right, Old Fisherman’s Grotto opened in 1950. BEST CIOPPINO Phil’s Fish Market 10700 Merritt St., Castroville (831) 633-2152, philsfishmarket.com You get a little of everything at the circus, much like you get a little of everything in Phil’s cioppino. Clams, mussels, Dungeness crab, white fish, prawns, calamari and scallops dance and trapeze in the recipe originally created by Phil’s grandmother, Mama Nina. It was the market’s first food offering (besides raw local fish) decades ago, and has since not only become world-famous but has even defeated Bobby Flay in a Throwdown competition—no small act. BEST POKE Marina Poke House 266 Reservation Road, Marina (831) 384-7898, marinapokehouse.com It’s been a decade since Marina Poke House opened for locals to direct their own bowls with fresh protein, veggies, toppings and sauces. Start with rice or greens, stuff with seafood from tuna and salmon to octopus and spicy scallops, enrich with sauces from sweet and spicy to citrus soy, then finish with toppings like carrot-daikon mix, pineapple, ginger and kimchi. It’s as if the bowl was a color image of cotton candy flavors. Any bowl of your creation is a circus for your tastebuds worth a standing ovation. BEST CALAMARI Abalonetti Bar and Grill 57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey (831) 373-1851, abalonetti.com The Weekly’s Squid oozes to many different places across Monterey County. But Squid avoids Abalonetti Bar and Grill because Squid just might end up on the menu. Humans, though, certainly don’t avoid this Monterey institution—they flock to it for its famous calamari dishes. Picked by readers for the Best Calamari for too many years to count, Abalonetti showcases squid (with a lowercase “s”) in seemingly countless dishes. Try the Buffalo calamari for a kick to your palate or transport yourself to Sicily with calamari simmered in marinara over linguine. BEST STEAK FRITES Seventh & Dolores Steakhouse 706 Dolores St., Carmel (831) 293-7600, 7dsteakhouse.com A feature on its bar and lounge menu, the kitchen here pairs a 7-ounce New York strip from Niman Ranch—a ranch revered for its quality—with Belgianstyle fries that are crisp on the outside and plush like mashed potatoes inside. Let’s face it, when presented with a fine piece of red meat, you don’t want a fry that is as pliable as Alberto, the Human Alligator (who was also from Belgium), you want a fry that complements the steak. And that’s why readers love Seventh & Dolores. BEST FAST-CASUAL BURGER In-N-Out Burger 1350 Del Monte Blvd., Monterey 151 Kern St., Salinas in-n-out.com Animal-style means something different here than, say, a dog-and-pony act. It’s part of a “secret” menu that just about everyone tries when they want a break from the Double-Double. Either way, cars back up onto the streets around lunch or dinner time, as if the Ringling Bros. had come to town. In-N-Out is simply California’s unofficial state fast-casual burger. BEST GOURMET BURGER Covey Grill The Quail, 8205 Valley Greens Drive, Carmel (831) 620-8860, quaillodge.com While some white tablecloth burgers are overstacked with everything from foie gras to free-range organic eggs, The Quail chooses to emphasize the beef—which is Wagyu. And no processed American cheese here. The burger is topped with triple creme brie, as well as bacon marmalade and pickles. Such a simple act, but one that is hard to follow. And it’s also one that keeps people coming back. BEST FRIED CHICKEN Butter House 1760 Fremont Blvd., Seaside (831) 394-2887, thebutterhouse.com One can imagine that the sights, sounds and smells of culinary treats, from the simple to sophisticated, were on display on the circus midways of old, from funnel cake to corn dogs and even fried chicken. Although it is unlikely that circus folk paired the fried chicken with waffles and syrup, as they do at the Butter House, the duo would no doubt have been a big hit as it is at the Seaside staple, where, like a Best Food Trend | Comfort Foods
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