Came here once on a date with my husband. And boy were we impressed! We bragged about it to family and wish to take them there one of these days. Gotta come early as the line does get long for such a nice and cozy restaurant. Will definitely be back for the clam chowder and the fried mix plate we saw from other people's tables. We went for pasta the day we went and only tried the fried calamari as our appetizer along with a shared bowl of clam chowder goodness! View is also impressive which adds to the charm of the restaurant. Service was incomparable! No wonder the business lasted this long and counting. Two thumbs up!! read more

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Love the food. Especially the seafood pasta and clam chowder. Worth the wait. The server gave us the best seat in the house. The view allowed us to see the pelicans and the seagulls outside. read more

Looking for classic fish and chips? Barbara's nails it. Crispy batter, tender fish, and perfectly cooked chips - they hit all the right marks. There was a bit of a wait on Sunday afternoon (about 30 minutes), but the service was friendly and efficient once we were seated. Tip: Cash only! Tip: The fish and chips plate comes with 4 large pieces and easily serves two. Another tip: For a quicker experience, consider ordering at the to-go window and enjoying your meal at the picnic tables outside. read more

Barbara's Fishtrap - Fish & Chips plate (4 large pieces) - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

The sign says "Closing by 2 PM to change our cooking oil, re-opening by 3." I came at 1:25 PM with my son, who really likes this place, but was told they'd already stopped taking orders and should "come back at 3." I guess "by 2 PM" means something different here. We've come several times -- mostly for my kid -- and honestly, the food has always been just okay. The fried calamari tends to be a bit dry, but it's familiar and predictable. The service, on the other hand, seems to change with the weather. It's a pity when a place kids like forgets that grown-ups notice how they treat customers. read more

Barbara's Fishtrap - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Got take out since I was in the area and heard good things about this place, but overall I thought it was ok. The fries are good, but the fish itself seemed like it could be crispier and after you bite into it, I don't know if they even seasoned the fish because it just looked like plain fish. The tartar sauce here is super good and I think without it, the fish wouldn't have much taste. read more

Barbara's Fishtrap - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We visited Barbara's on the windiest, rainiest day and it was absolute perfection. Barbara's has been on my list for a while now and I'm so glad we finally made it! There is a parking lot right across the street and we had no problem parking. The restaurant is literally on the water; cute, homey and warm. There was also a good amount of outside seating in their patio, perfect for when the weather is a bit warmer. There are big windows surrounding the entire restaurant with gorgeous views of the pacific. Of course we had to order their award-winning clam chowder and fish & chips. We also got 1lb of their steamed mussels which was plenty for 2. Everything was so fresh and piping hot!! The clam chowder wasn't too creamy, which was very unique; more of a potatoey flavor and FULL of goodies. I really appreciated the extra side of garlic sauce/soup for dipping the mussels. The fish was flaky and I loved the thick cut fries. The server was amazing and everyone was so warm and welcoming! As we left, it was literally thunderstorming and we all just stood outside and watched the wind and rain go by for a minute. It was beautiful. All in all, I loved everything about this experience and 5/5 for all the food. We will definitely be back when the sun is out so we can take a nice stroll along the beach after a full, hearty meal. read more

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I love this place but their crab sandwich now has half the crab. So sad for $35! It's still the best crab sandwich around and the fries are unique and perfectly cooked. Wish they would give the amount of crab as before. Their other items are excellent as well! read more

Barbara's Fishtrap - March 2026 crab sandwich. Not the mount of crab there used to be. Still excellent but not worth $35 even though I know there's inflation - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I came here for my birthday lunch and the view was spectacular. The food is really good and the waiters are very attentive. We had the breaded oyster sandwich and I'd love to see those in an appetizer. I didn't really care for the bread they came on, I think the sandwich would be better on a roll, it was very difficult to eat. read more

Our go to place every time we are in half moon bay. Everything is so fresh all the time. The vibe and atmosphere is really nice and the service is really fast! Very nice and accommodating owner and staff. read more

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It had been a few years since we stopped in at Barbara's Fish Trap. The hostess was attentive and friendly. We had a 45 minute wait, which I kind of expected since it was a holiday weekend. Our waitress was not bad, but seemed distracted. After we received our food, I realized that everyone else around us had been given bread and butter, but not us. Usually waiters will let you know what the specials are which she didn't mention or let us know they were posted on the back wall. I didn't notice the specials until after I had ordered my food. I had the fish and calamari, and my husband had the fish and prawns. The calamari was good, but the fish was very greasy. I realize I was having fried fish but it was overly greasy. I think it had a lot to do with the type of batter they use. We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert, which was OK. Unfortunately, I was not impressed with my dinner. read more

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Arrived on Saturday at about 3 pm and thankfully was able to find parking in their lot really quickly. The lot tends to fill up around meal times so we got lucky. Also there wasnt a wait so we got seated immediately, despite the dining being kind of small. The takeout line was surprisingly long, though they did have some seating outdoors. We ordered fish and chips as well as a cup of clam chowder. Both items came out piping hot and super fresh!! The chowder was super tasty, not overly creamy (non-dairy!), and I love the peppery seasoning they put on top. Fish and chips had 4 pieces(!) of fish and they were fried perfectly, flaky, soft and tender on the inside, but crispy on the outside. Wish they would give a bit more fries though! It's always a fun time being in HMB getting fish and chips at Barbara's fish trap! read more

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Solid place to eat. Can not go wrong here. While the wine glass might be a little small, they do fill it to the top. The beer daily special is the way to go. The clam chowder is a traditional white chowder without cream. Still very good with lots of clam. The cod garlic lemon pasta was great, tip- ask for a side of the marinara sauce to add more sauce, you will love it. The small fried plate combo was the way to go. Could have had more cod [1 piece], but the quality and amount of everything was great. The time in the fryer is critical, but they nailed it, cod, shrimp, calamari, zucchini scallops. Great dinner. Thx kim. read more

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My family and I have been coming to Barbs for decades. Barbs has been a staple for post Pumpkin Festival lunch starting way back when you were able to pick pumpkins at the grass/dirt patch on the corner of Cabrillo Hwy and San Mateo Rd., I might be aging myself or some locals might remember that time. I wish I could give this amazing restaurant a solid 10/10 but YELP only goes up to 5 stars. But where do I start? The service is always on point, the whole crew is pumping out dishes so quick, but what do you expect when there is a line out the door before it even opens? The food, oh my gawd the food! The clam chowder is a staple it's so creamy, hot, filling and fresh. I don't mess with any other chowder besides Barbra's I know that sounds farfetched, but this is the spot. The fish and chips are piping hot and are sharable for 2 people. Typically I get a cup of chowder and find someone in our party to share an order of fish and chips. Their menu is large, but even their non-seafood entrees like their spaghetti tastes like something my grandma makes. No lie. My uncle was the one who put two and two together and reminds me about it anytime my grandma makes spaghetti or if his son orders the spaghetti from Barbra's. I recommend exploring the menu as they have a specials list with my favorite ... the beer special of the day. Even though it's a bottle beer, who can say no to a $5 beer with some lip-smacking sea food? Just like a repetitive yearbook quote ".... Never change" Barbs! Take aways: Highly recommend to arrive at 10:30am otherwise you're waiting or get the food to go and sit on a bench. Parking can be tough, don't be a square and settle for Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, its not as good. Honesty truth. Try everything, it's great to share with people in your party so you can find what really calls to you. read more

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We only had the fish n' chips, but it might have been the best fish n' chips we ever had. Didn't eat in but rather ordered from the takeout window and the food came out fast and piping hot. I initially thought it would be a touristic / overpriced restaurant but I felt the value was right there. Would definitely come back. read more

Such a cute understated spot in Half Moon Bay. We originally planned for lunch across the street at the brewery but as of today 1/12 HMB brewing co is closed for renovations. Which is probably a good thing since we would have never tried Barbara's. No line on a winter weekday so we grabbed a table right away. The fish and chips certainly deserve their "award winning" status. The fish (cod?) is extremely fresh and tender, breaded lightly with tempura. The cup of chowder is likely one of the better ones I've had in a long time. Very comforting, complex, deeply flavored with generous clams. The fried mushrooms were nice, but the only item that didn't knock my socks off. Their $3 beer special was also a great deal. I can imagine how crowded this tiny spot gets during peak summer. Rightly so, it has a huge affordable menu with something for everyone. I appreciate how they close at 2pm to change out the oil and ensure it's fresh for afternoon/dinner service. The sign of a place that cares about quality. Looking forward to coming back to enjoy more! read more

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Everything was so good here. We did the mixture of calamari, fish and chips, and fried zucchini. We ordered the crab sandwich with Cole slaw and it was perfectly seasoned. Their steak fries are really good and crispy too. Clam chowder was good too. Not my favorite chowder but still good and worth trying. We ordered at the takeout window and received our food within 20 mins. Staff was friendly! read more

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A beloved local institution that doesn't live up to hype for me. I grew up in a similar coastal area eating lots of fresh fish, so while the food was fine, it wasn't worth the 30+ wait and high dinner bill for me to return or recommend. We ordered: - free bread for the table was sourdough but wish it had been warmed - corn fritters on recommendation of a lady leaving: interesting and yummy - calamari appetizer: a good portion and had an interesting cinnamon-like spice, but needed more acid - clam chowder bowl: reminded me that I don't really like clam chowder - sautéed garlic prawns: $27 for 6 shrimp and mediocre fries Logistics: - indoor sit down seating, walled and roofed patio sit down seating, a few picnic tables outside for the takeout window - a small parking lot directly across the way but it was full and tight read more

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A classic. Barbara's has been on this little slice of the coast for ages, and it really never disappoints. For me it's not a matter of whether I will return, it's what will I order the next time I'm here. We got: - fried artichokes - I've not found a place that does these better than Barbara's. - fish and chips - classic, standard, delicious fare. Comes out piping hot with flat steak fries and two cups of tartar. - cup of clam chowder - PACKED with clams. I would order this again, maybe as a bowl. I don't think they offer a bread bowl option - classic burger - pretty standard stuff, came with a partner who's not big into seafood! - key lime pie - delicious. Could go a bit heavier on the graham cracker crust, but a perfect way to cap off the meal. The tartness of the key lime pie pairs well with the dense fried food. They used to be cash only but now take cards with a fee. There is a small lot for parking across the street (designated for them) but it fills up very quickly on weekends. They have a to-go counter that is also very quick; take some fish and chips to go and sit on the beach! Love this place. Hope it never leaves. read more

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I really wanted to like this place that the nets on the ceiling were cute and it's right on the water but the food was not good. The clam chowder tasted like flour and was too thick. The Italiano pasta with seafood was flavorless no garlic tasted. The fish and chips were too salty. The inside was also really cramped and seemed like a fire hazard with Christmas lights hanging and waiters tripping over carpets. read more

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Stopped by for Clam chowder to go sine the restaurant doesn't open until 4. Got 4 16 oz cowders and 2 sides of fries for $75, with a tip. The chowder was good a very hot as were the fries, after our 5 minute drive to the house. My son ordered crab cakes and corn fritters, both were good too. Friendly staff. read more

This place was hopping, fun ambiance. Long wait (but worth it, and you can watch the pelicans or walk down the dock). i had the garlic scallops and they were so tender and delicious. Big servings, friendly staff. read more

Same great fresh seafood and small old fishery place. Prices up like everyone else. Blah blah blah read more

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Get the scallops - thank me later. I would even only buy the scallops at this point too. It was sooo darn tasty - made everything else forgettable. The wait was long during the dinner rush +40 mins. But there are places to sit while you wait. The parking is a big tight and street parking is sometimes difficult. The service was friendly and accommodating to requests for hot sauces and goes into the menu item - but they move fast. The place gives a mom and pop shop feel and looks like a local favorite. read more

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This place is 5 stars! Local, fish restaurant serving quick food at a decent price. Service was so good and so fast. It isn't a huge place and we went early and got right in but. I can imagine a wait happens later in the day. All of the fried seafood was just fresh and fabulous. The clam chowder had big clams in it. The fried scallops were huge and tender. Nothing was over cooked. So. Good. read more

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Came at 7:30 and there was no wait at all. We ordered the artichokes, fish and chips, and the mini trap. Fish was flaky. My favorite is probably the scallops. They're always perfectly cooked and so fresh. We ordered a tree leches to go. The piece was a little small for the price but other than that no complaints here. I've came here for lunch before and eating by the ocean is always a vibe but there's always a long wait if you go during peak times. read more

Barbara's Fishtrap - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

The fish and chips was amazing. The fish was fresh. Plus you can get your own fish and cook it at home since they have a store next to the restaurant. The service is pretty good as well. read more

Solid food and excellent service. I thought this would be a tourist trap and boy was I wrong. Food was a lot better than it needed to be and staff just wanted to make you feel welcome read more

The first stop after leaving the SFO airport was Barbara's Fishtrap. There are two options, a walk up window or a sit down dining room. The wait for two was maybe 25 minutes. It's right on a beach so my friend and I walked along the beach while waiting to hear our name called. Once we were seated we had excellent service. We started with the calamari appetizer, which was delicious! I gauge seafood restaurants on how good their calamari is, and this was a great start to an amazing meal. Next course was a broiled fish sandwich with Cajun seasoning. This portion was insane! Served on a delicious roll on top of a bed of French fries. If that wasn't enough, a friend recommended the key lime pie for dessert. This was more like a key lime cheesecake, silky smooth with just the right amount of key lime flavor. This place was awesome! read more

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Stopped by Barbara's Fish Trap around lunch time as we were meeting up with some friends to explore the area. First time here, so we ordered a bunch of stuff. The best thing we ate was the cheesy crab garlic bread. The price tag looks steep at $27 but honestly I thought it was worth it considering how much food they give and the giant chunks of crab they provide. We also had the fish n chips and calamari, both were ok but not sure I'd get again. The clam chowder was good though. Fries are steak fries, and good. With so much fried food though, it all kinda tasted the same. We had the dogs with us, so we did their takeout window. The line does not move fast, but shout out to the two gentlemen inside getting the food out as fast as possible, those people were working really hard, so kudos to them. They have probably 8-10 outdoor tables, and finding a table wasn't super hard as people eat and go, so the turnover is quick. We explored the area a bit in the afternoon and the line for the takeout window was way better after 4pm and all the tables were pretty much available. So if you are wanting to avoid the crowds, go later in the day. read more

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This place has a sit down restaurant and a to-go window. We ordered from the to-go window which had a really long line but it went pretty quick. I ordered the fish and calamari which was really good. Plenty of outdoor seating along the water. If you are craving fish and chips this is a great place to go. read more

Barbara's Fishtrap - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Underwhelming. Fish and chips = chips pretty good, fish tasteless and a little greasy. Clam chowder = tons of corn starch making the texture odd. read more

I really love this place but the service is always so bad!! Our waitress never refilled our water, didn't come check on us once (only came by to place our orders and drop off check) she wasn't friendly at all. Every table around us got a complimentary bread basket except for us and we didn't realize until the end of our meal otherwise we would have said something. It's so small inside the tables are too close together. Yes the food is good but they seriously need to work on customer service big time. read more

Barbara's Fishtrap - Fresh Made Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Loved the ambiance here. Had been wanting to take the drive to half moon bay & eat some fish & chips for the longest & my husband was finally in the mood! Service was quick and the employees here are very kind. We came right before the oil change/temporary closure during the day, but we didn't feel rushed to leave, which is nice. We ordered : the oysters, calamari app, bowl of clam chowder and fish & chips. I liked that when they brought the bowl of chowder they brought two smaller cups for us to split the chowder into without us having to ask. It's in the details! Chowder was good, but I like a more creamy base, this one felt more chicken stock based than I am used to, but regardless it had good flavor! Calamari was some of the freshest I've had in a long time. I scarfed this down while my husband enjoyed the oysters which he said were in the top 3 of best he's had as well. Was thinking about the nostalgia of H Salt Esquire in Richmond which is where my family always went for fish & chips when I was growing up. This was the most underwhelming item on our list, but it had decent flavor. I think I'd like to have tried it right after the oil was re-done as the batter was slightly soggy on some parts of the fish. Fries were unnecessary, considering they lacked flavor and were overcooked. I ate half of one and we took the rest to-go. Overall, this place is great! I'm interested to try the H Salt Esquire in San Jose to see if it brings back the nostalgia of the fish & chips runs me and my grandparents used to make, or if I'm just not into fish & chips like I used to be. This place has the view, atmosphere and some really good food, but misses the mark just a little bit for me. I'd definitely come back again & try some other items like the pastas that I've seen others rave about! read more

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This is my favorite place to go for fish and chips! The breading isn't too thick and it's nice and crispy crunchy and the fish is never too dry. The chips are also solid fries. I have never been disappointed by this place. This time I also tried ordering the combo pasta and I wasn't really into it but they were very generous with the toppings. I happened to go this past weekend during the King tide so it was super busy in HMB in general but I still managed to find some parking. Even though the restaurant was also super busy my wait was reasonable (maybe 30 min?) and the service in the restaurant was also pretty close to normal serving times as well. read more

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The only thing I wouldn't recommend is the very bland Trumer Craft Pilsner that they sell for $3. Other than that, I thought the food was great for the price. We got fish and chips, oysters, and clam chowder. The fish (and chips) were craftfully wrapped in golden batter, giving it a good light crisp texture outside but a nice soft feel inside. The oysters were so fresh and I enjoyed every "bite"! Def get them when in season (winterish months) Parking is... non existent? We parked on the side of the road, a good 50ft away from the establishment. But that's only about 10 spots. We went to the "take out" cashier outside. Service was nice and friendly. It can be hot outside with the sun though. read more

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Fantastic fish n chips, and the chowder was amazing! If there's a line, don't worry it moves fast and well worth the wait. Will be stopping here whenever in the Half Moon Bay Area. read more

Barbara's Fishtrap - Fried artichokes, clam chowder, fried fish and chips. - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Food was expensive and flavorless. The award winning clam chowder was ironic and complete hyperbolic. It was the worst Ive had and Ive had plenty. The inside was stuffy and aligned with the draping nets to complete the claustrophobic feel and look of this establishment. Save your money, try another spot. read more

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This was a fun little place on the water that was recommended to us. We ordered the Fish and shrimp fried in Tempura batter. It was very tasty. Be warned there is always a wait. read more

Stopped by for a quick lunch! This was the best fish and chips I've ever had. This place is road trip worthy. read more

Barbara's Fishtrap - Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We stopped in for lunch and ordered the clam chowder along with the crab/shrimp Louis. The Louis was listed at market price, and while we didn't ask beforehand, it ended up being an excellent value -- the portion was enormous and easily stretched into three meals. The chowder was just average in flavor but very generous in size. Overall, great place if you want hearty portions and to walk out with leftovers. The line looked long but actually went fast. We dined in. They do have a to-go window if you do not want to wait for a table. read more