110 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® 2026-2027 FOOD Drive, Pebble Beach. (831) 647-7500, pebblebeach.com MEXICAN/CENTRAL AMERICAN Hay’s Place This is Mexican with inspired touches and a bit of American fun (like tin can nachos). Because Tiger Woods designed the golf course it sits on—and because he loves fajitas—Tiger’s fajitas are on the menu, too. Inside opens out to a great patio. The food is as good as the views. 3253 Stevenson Drive, Pebble Beach. (800) 877-0597, pebblebeach.com STEAKHOUSES The Tap Room The Tap Room is a steakhouse with a comfortable tavern feel—with refinements. Wagyu from the U.S., Australia and Japan feature on the menu, but the meatloaf and chili are favorites and the bar is a convivial gathering place. This combination makes it a favorite “19th hole.” 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. (831) 647-5000, pebblebeach.com Salinas Restaurants ASIA/PACIFIC Aloha Hawaiian BBQ No, you’re still in Salinas. The menu, however, is straight from some island joint. There are plate lunches, saimin and sandwiches. And yes, there is Spam. 921 N. Main St., Salinas. (831) 758-8028, alohabbqsalinas.com Camalig Filipino Cuisine At this Filipino spot, there are flavors familiar to a broad dining audience, such as lumpia or adobo. And there are items many local diners encounter only rarely. Dinuguan comes to mind. 190 E. Laurel Drive, Salinas. (831) 422-9500 Kokoro Sushi The rolls roll on at this Salinas sushi joint, with something to please every species of Calistyle sushi lover. Bento box lunches and charbroiled combo plates, with generous portions. 36 W. Gabilan St., Salinas. (831) 424-7553, orderkokoro.com BARBECUE Salinas City BBQ Full of down-home goodness like brisket, ribs, tri-tip, pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw and several kinds of house-made barbecue sauce. 700 W. Market St., Salinas. (831) 758-2227, salinascitybbq.com T&A Cafe, Home of Kleinfeldt Family BBQ The tri-tip here is wildly popular, prepared Santa Maria style. The pitmaster turns to the smoker for pork and chicken. For those about to venture along the River Road wine trail, this is a good spot to pack a lunch. 1 Harris Road, Spreckels. (831) 225-0447, tacafespreckels. com BURGERS/DINERS/PUBS Alvarado Street Brewery Taproom See listing under Monterey. 301 Main St., Salinas. (831) 356-0219, asb.beer Amapola Kitchen & Wine Merchant Blue plate specials rotate daily through the week. Otherwise there are salads, small bites and homey favorites such as chicken pot pie and lasagna. The wines are curated by the owner, who happens to be a sommelier. There is a wealth of knowledge behind every bottle on the shelf. 32 W. Gabilan St., Salinas. (831) 262-0075, amapolakitchenandwine.com Dubber’s Oldtown Bar and Grill It’s a sports bar with food that goes well beyond burgers and wings (though those are perfectly good options here). They make hot dogs into a full meal with a build-your-own toppings list. 172 Main St., Salinas. (831) 6760256, dubbersbarandgrill.com First Awakenings See listing under Monterey. 171 Main St., Salinas. (831) 784-1125, firstawakenings.net Steinbeck House Have lunch at John Steinbeck’s boyhood home. And just like at home, there is an entree (with a few options, just in case) and dessert. The fixed menu changes every month. 132 Central Ave., Salinas. (831) 4242735, steinbeckhouse.com The Glasshouse A pub newly opened in the spring of 2026. Burgers and tacos are featured, but there is a Nashville hot chicken sandwich that may have you calling for another beer. 221 S. Main St., Salinas. (831) 256-8536 FRENCH/EUROPEAN Patria on Main One of Oldtown Salinas’ most popular spots, thanks to a tradition of European cuisine— pasta, risotto, steak and seafood, as well as the old standby, jaeger schnitzel. Have a craft cocktail in the stylish bar. 228 S. Main St., Salinas. (831) 424-5555, patriaonmain.com GLOBAL/ECLECTIC El Colibri Restaurant and Deli The entrees are Mexican. The deli sandwiches are American diner classics with a nod toward south of the border. And the kitchen takes great pride in their burgers. 343 Main St., (831) 422-4133, elcolibrirestaurantanddeli. com La Gran Diabla Restaurant Where else will you see gobernador and shrimp tempura rolls on the same menu? There is commotion and heat, Japanese and Mexican. 131 Main St., Salinas Stonies Taphouse & Bistro There are wings and rings, burgers and a lot of things thrown over the fire. Barbecue—especially the ribs—is the focus, but attention to other dishes is such that tortillas are handmade. And they like to play, loading up fries and even pretzels. 1366 S. Main St., Salinas. (831) 202-0632, stoniestaphouse.com Portobello’s On Main Open for breakfast and then becomes a popup—until the weekend, when the chef emphasizes dinner prepared with European technique, yet casual fare. (The chef likes the steak frites). 150 S. Main St., Salinas. (831) 770-6363, portobellosonmain.squarespace. com INDIAN/THAI/VIETNAMESE Avatar Indian Grill Dishes are prepared from scratch and range across India’s culinary regions. There is a good selection of tandoori and vegetarian options. 1568 Constitution Blvd., Salinas. (831) 4432156, avatarindiangrill.com Chopstix See listing under Monterey. 624 Northridge Mall, Salinas. (831) 442-2622, chopstixboba. com Ginger Thai Kitchen Curries and noodles and, yes, sukiyaki. The owners are from Thailand and showcase the regions and influences on the cuisine. 1104 S. Main St., Salinas. (831) 422-8424, gingerthaikitchen.com ITALIAN/PIZZA Casa Sorrento Pizzeria The gigantic salads, lasagna, pasta dishes and pizza pies have given this cozy neighborhood joint a faithful local following. 393 Salinas St., Salinas. (831) 757-2720, casasorrento.com Gino’s Fine Italian Food This storied, family-owned restaurant serves traditional Italian and American-Italian meals that bring back satisfied customers year after year. 1410 S. Main St., Salinas. (831) 4221814, ginospasta.com MEXICAN/SOUTH AMERICAN Culturas Hidalgo y Oaxaca Restaurant Home cooking from a specific area of Oaxaca, done up restaurant-style. There are antojitos, pastes Hidalguenses, molotes estilo Hidalgo and more. Handmade tortillas. 473 E. Market St., Salinas. (831) 975-4766 El Charrito A simple, counter-service spot that has become the place to go for burritos, thanks in no small part to those divine housemade tortillas. Regulars happily drive from afar.
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