Burgers by the Beach: 12 Oceanfront Joints on California’s PCH

You know that moment when you’re exhausted and salt-crusted, hair full of sand, and you spot some little place on the Pacific Coast Highway that promises burgers and fries, plus a view of the water? It doesn’t heal your existential dread, but it does make the ache a little softer.

These aren’t just stops, they’re rituals. Sometimes you go for comfort, sometimes for celebration, and sometimes just because you need to feel the sun on your back while you eat something glorious and messy.

Here are twelve oceanfront burger joints that have seen your sunburns, your breakups, your bad hair days, and your victories: sometimes all in one summer day. Pull over. Take a breath. Order the burger. You’ll thank yourself. (And me, obviously.)

1. Crystal Cove Shake Shack (Newport Beach)

Did you ever think a burger could taste like nostalgia? At Crystal Cove Shake Shack, the answer is yes, and the view does half the work. This ancient beachside stand (opened back when people wore swimsuits that looked like pajamas) still draws crowds who want burgers, fries, and shakes with their ocean breeze.

It’s not fancy. You order at the window, wait with strangers who feel like friends, then squeeze onto a picnic bench and stare at the Pacific. The burgers are big, a little messy, and taste better because everything here feels earned.

It’s that spot your mom swore had the best “real” milkshakes. Even if you’ve heard that before, you’ll agree once you try the peanut butter banana shake. Parking is a nightmare, but honestly, it makes the reward taste sweeter. The sun sets orange right over the bluffs. You’ll want to stay forever.

2. Back On the Beach (Santa Monica)

Ever had a burger literally on the beach, toes in the sand, ocean in your peripheral vision? Back On the Beach delivers that fantasy, no shoes required. This place somehow makes ketchup stains on your dress feel like a badge of honor.

The service here is the opposite of pretentious. Servers bring burgers and fries right to your picnic table, or even to the lounge chairs on the sand. You can hear laughter, waves, and maybe a baby shrieking for a grilled cheese. It’s chaos, but it’s authentic.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong somewhere, this place is the cure. No one cares if you’re sunburned or your hair’s a mess. As long as you’re happy, burger in hand, you fit in. Try the turkey burger with avocado. Trust me.

3. Big Dean’s Ocean Front Cafe (Santa Monica)

You know those spots where you walk in and immediately feel like you’re part of a running joke you don’t understand yet? Big Dean’s is one of those. It sits right under the Santa Monica Pier, with all the noise and life that implies.

Burgers come loaded: extra cheese, double patties, and fries you’ll finish even if you swear you’re full. You might sit next to a dad in a Dodgers hat, a group of twenty-somethings on a first date, or a local who’s been coming here since the ‘80s.

There’s no “beach chic” here, just a wall of surfboards and decades of sand tracked in by happy feet. The ocean’s right there, but the show is inside. Order a beer with your burger and soak in the mayhem. It’s a scene, and you’re in it now.

4. Hinano Cafe (Venice)

Start with this: Hinano Cafe’s burger comes wrapped in wax paper, and it’s not trying to impress anyone. But bite in, and suddenly you’re falling for the charm: grilled onions, thick cheese, and a patty with actual flavor.

It’s been here since 1962, which means your dad’s dad probably had a beer here after surfing. The regulars know the bartenders by name, and you might get stuck mid-bite listening to a guy explain why Led Zeppelin’s best album is Houses of the Holy.

There’s no ocean view from your seat, but step outside and the Venice Pier practically shimmers in the sun. The real vibe is inside: familiar, salty, and a little bit stubborn, just like Venice itself. Order a pitcher. Stay longer than you planned.

5. The Shack (Playa del Rey)

Have you ever walked into a place and felt like nobody there is faking it? The Shack is that spot. There’s no influencer lighting, just battered tables, loud laughter, and the smell of burgers on the grill.

This joint’s been around since 1972, which means plenty of history (good and bad) has happened between these four walls. The signature “Shack Burger” comes topped with a split Louisiana sausage, which sounds wrong until you try it.

Locals come for the cheap beer, tourists come by accident, and everyone leaves a little happier. If you’ve ever wished you could bottle the feeling of a lazy beach day, this is as close as you’ll get. Don’t forget extra napkins; the burgers are unapologetically messy.

6. Malibu Farm Cafe (Malibu)

Would you ever expect a farm-fresh burger at the end of a pier? Malibu Farm Cafe laughs at your skepticism. The vibe here is sun-bleached and easy, with a menu you can almost feel growing in the gardens nearby.

The burger comes with organic greens and aioli, and you can eat it while watching surfers below. You might spot a celebrity, but honestly, the food outshines the people-watching.

Order a lavender lemonade, lean over the railing, and pretend you’re starring in your own indie movie. The ocean breeze is relentless, the hospitality is low-key, and the burger? Surprisingly wholesome, but still ridiculously satisfying. If only every “healthy” meal tasted like this.

7. Neptune’s Net (Malibu)

Imagine a place where bikers, surfers, and families all eat without a second thought about their differences. That’s Neptune’s Net. The sound of revving engines mixes with the scent of burgers and fried seafood.

You line up, stare longingly at the ocean, and wonder if you should try the fish and chips, but your heart says burger. Everyone here is sunburned, windblown, and a little high on salt air.

There’s no table service. You snag a spot at a picnic table, watch the parade of humanity, and bite into a burger that’s about simple pleasure. It tastes like freedom. On weekends, the people-watching is as good as the ocean view. Bring patience. It’s worth it.

8. The Spot (Carpinteria)

You know that burger you daydream about when you’re stuck in a meeting? The Spot is where that fantasy becomes real. It’s been a Carpinteria staple since long before Instagram existed and the burgers have zero interest in being photogenic.

Order at the window, then claim a table outside and let the ocean breeze do its thing. It’s not complicated: just beef, cheese, and the kind of soft bun that smashes perfectly between your fingers.

Locals bring their dogs, surfboards lean against the wall, and everyone’s a little sunburned. The fries come out quick, and you’ll probably finish your meal before your sunscreen has a chance to dry. That’s the right kind of summer magic.

9. Brooks Burgers (Pismo Beach)

Some places try too hard to be “beach casual.” Brooks Burgers doesn’t have to, it just is. Tucked a few blocks from the sand, this spot is all about juicy patties, fresh toppings, and the kind of unfussy service that makes you feel like a regular on your first visit.

The “Big Kahuna” burger with pineapple and teriyaki glaze is practically sunshine on a bun, while the classic cheeseburger holds its own without gimmicks. Vegetarians aren’t left out either; the Beyond Burger here actually earns its place at the table.

You’ll probably roll in with sandy flip-flops, maybe a sunburn, and definitely an appetite. Order a shake if you’re feeling bold, grab a seat, and don’t overthink it. Brooks is the kind of place where the day slows down just enough for you to remember why you came to the beach in the first place.

10. Husky Boy Burgers (Laguna Beach)

There’s roadside nostalgia, and then there’s Husky Boy. Since the 1950s, this little stand on Coast Highway has been serving the kind of burgers that make you forget about kale forever. The sign is vintage, the menu board is sun-faded, and the burgers? They’re unapologetically over the top.

Locals swear by the “Husky Burger:” a glorious pile-up of beef, pastrami, and avocado that could double as a personality test. You order at the window, hear the surf crashing at Shaw’s Cove just down the street, and suddenly you’re part of a tradition that’s older than half the beach houses around here.

It’s not fancy, but that’s the point. Husky Boy is a little grease, a lot of charm, and a reminder that sometimes the best coastal view is the one you get when you tilt your head back mid-bite.

11. Custom House (Avila Beach)

If you’ve ever wanted a burger with your toes practically in the sand, Custom House delivers. Sitting right on Avila Beach, this place feels like the Central Coast decided to throw you a backyard party, with better cocktails.

The burger menu is deceptively simple: half-pound patties, melty cheese, and toppings that don’t try too hard. But when you’re biting into one while watching sailboats glide across the water, you realize simplicity is exactly the point.

It’s the kind of place where you linger: first for the fries, then for another drink, then because the sunset won’t let you leave. By the time the string lights flick on, you’ll wonder why you don’t live here. Until you do, the burger’s a good excuse to keep coming back.

12. The Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach (Santa Barbara)

Some days call for a burger that feels almost like a little ceremony. The Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach answers that call. It’s the kind of place where you order a burger with brie, arugula, and truffle fries, but the sand is still between your toes.

The open-air patio is a lesson in California luxury that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The ocean is close enough to mist your cocktail, and the service is the kind that makes you feel like your day just turned around.

Bring someone you want to impress, or just bring yourself after a long week. The burger is rich, the view is soothing, and for a moment, life feels a little more generous. You deserve it.