What a wonderful place! The food was so good, their service was outstanding. The variety of beers were amazing. I am a stout/Porter drinker and to find a restaurant that had numerous options question incredible. I had the mushroom burger with garlic fries, and it was mouthwatering. I cannot recommend this place enough. They are very welcoming, the place is gigantic and there's many options in places to sit. I will definitely be back. ! read more

On a Friday night it took 30 min to get inside. Then it took 15 min to take our order. 50 min for our food to arrive. I got a pepperoni pizza which tasted like cardboard and looked nothing like what it stated on the menu. The cheeseburger came with no cheese. The ribs were good I would give them 5 stars if it had not taken 50 minutes to make. The waitress just kept ignoring us and kept walking by without acknowledging us. Honestly worst experience of my life. I am never going back. read more

Our waitress was amazing the food service HORRIBLE. From the time our order was placed we waited an hour while we were only 1 of three parties in the dinning section. When our food came out after asking the manager was supposed to come out to talk to us instead had his very great staff do so. I had to ask for him when he came out I let him know as a manager HE should have came to our table at some point and that our waitress was great but the wait time was unrealistic. His response "ok" no apology or anything. Our food arrived COLD!!!! Would not come back here, unless you have time to waste. read more

Wow I'm looking to relocate possibly to hollister and this would be a go-to for sure. Big, clean, open, inside or outside seating, friendly staff, and the food... We tried the tomato bisque with cheddar croutons and bacon jam, the el jefe burger, the coffee and a cocktail called Ranchers Rain Cocktail and coffee so good so strong perfect!! Tomato bisque with the croutons was fresh and flavorful (I wasn't a fan of bacon jam but husband loves that) El jefe burger was cooked perfectly, the meat was so finely ground it melted on the mouth. The garlic fries were super good but Omgosh some sauce aioli stuff was off the hook!! Wait staff and front hosts were kind and friendly. I loved it here and hope to return soon even if I stay in San Jose!! read more

Went with the fam. Food was good. But man the floors and tables were a mess. Dirty floor and tables, just felt like it cheapened the place. But again, food? Good! read more

Came here for lunch with our friends. The decor was a cute industrial barnyard style and I'd imagine it's one of the better places to eat in Hollister. However we weren't super impressed with the items we ordered. We were seated near the bar area so service was a little slow although the guy was super friendly. We ordered: Baja Fish Tacos: this was recommended to our friends and it was pretty good! Wish it had more fish as the tacos were big but it mostly lettuce. It came with 3. Fried chicken sandwich: must enjoy pickles and dill as the sauce is a dill sauce. The chicken and the sandwich itself was really underwhelming and small. We got it with a side of garlic fries which were pretty standard. It was pricey for such a small sandwich. Outlaw fries: good but super greasy. I mean fries are greasy but swimming in oil made my stomach hurt a bit. Overall it's not a bad place and if I'm town I would probably go again but not worth seeking out. read more

See all

Great place!! I stumbled across this place about a year ago after a hike at Pinnacles, my friends and I raved about the burgers, and ended up back there after another hike on 1/28/2024 and it was as good or better than we recalled. The place itself is nice, with a nice indoor and outdoor area and bar. Lots of beverage options, and a great menu with some variation from the everyday choices that get boring. Their burgers are so good. Service was great, and the place was busy but easily seats a lot of people, so not crowded. Recommend!! read more

Running Rooster - Delishisness - American Near Me - Hollister, California

See all

Wow! What a great surprise. Visiting in the area and came in for brunch. Between our group we ordered about five dishes and each was better than the rest. The staff was very friendly and loved the ambiance. Definitely try this spot! read more

Every time I've been there, they were quick on sitting us, they were friendly and accommodating. Servers were friendly and answered all questions. We had our small dog with us and our dog was welcomed. Specialty cocktails were fresh and tasty. The food was served in a timely manner and every time very fresh cooked well and delicious. Servers checked back to see how we were doing often enough but not too often. Love the patio sitting. read more

Ok this review is LONG! Overdue. I have been coming to running rooster since it was a small little take home reheat small dinner spot. They have really expanded over the years. The one thing that has never changed was the quality of their food. They still have staples such as their rotisserie chicken, which is one of my favorites. I have tried almost everything on their evolving menu and all are cooked to perfection. I recently dined in and noticed the menu a bit smaller, which is nice because they are sourcing local which in return keeps cost down for consumers. When I got my bill it was lower than normal and I had to make sure nothing was missing from my order but when everything checked out it was a win win. Cheaper, but amazing quality of food, great service, and my bank account isn't hating me the next day lol. I have been a long time fan for years, I've just been a little late to the review train :) whether you are in the mood for steak, chicken, salad, burgers, or pizza you won't be disappointed with either choice. read more

We frequent Running Rooster a few times a month. This past visit I had the best pizza I have ever had, the Balboa. Please keep this pizza on the menu FOREVER! It is delicious! Genius, adding honey to a pizza. My husband had a burger and was quite happy with the portion and the taste! We also had an amazing server named Lilie. She was friendly, kept our drinks full and very knowledgeable about the menu. I highly recommend swinging by for a bite to eat. read more

I had the duck special and was really impressed! Really reminded me of duck confit. My first time here but whenever I drive through this area again, I'm definitely returning! read more

We have had good experiences in the past here however our recent visit will be our last. I understand having a child with an allergy is a risk when eating out, and at times cannot be accommodated however Running Rooster took negligence to a whole new level. We started our experience stating my 5 year old daughter "has a severe Gluten allergy ",the waitress acknowledged and assured it would be noted to the staff. We also asked if they could heat up our own food which they declined. Their menu states they have gluten free options which gave us confidence in the staff. As the evening progressed we reiterated the importance of the allergy at least four times. We decided on a gluten free hamburger for my daughter as they offered a gluten free bun. When it arrived the as my wife was cutting the burger in half for my daughter we noticed the bun looked identical to the other (non gluten free)buns served at the table. We asked a waiter if this was gluten free and he said let me triple check" as if he had already checked twice before. Sure enough it was not and they took the plate back to the kitchen. When they brought the new plate back the bun looked drastically different, and we checked the burger inside the bun remembering my wife had cut the old burger in half and sure enough they had taken the old sliced burger and slapped it in the middle of a new bun with no regard for cross contamination. I now had absolutely zero trust in the staff and my daughter did not get a meal at all. Meanwhile my wife's meal was getting cold as she had to deliberately go to the back and address the chef and manager personally. She was greeted with eye rolls from the manager as if to say their negligence was our fault. The Chef was sympathetic and professional but the rest of staff was not. To attempt to poison a child twice after being thoroughly warned multiple times is outrageous and to have the audacity make light of it and give us attitude back is even worse. This can be life threatening for my daughter and thankfully my wife and I had the instincts not to trust the staff. To top it off the only compensation we received from a ruined meal (as the only conversation at the table was how terrible the staff was, my child not getting a meal at all and my wife's meal being cold) was non being charged for my daughters meal. The staff is ill equip to accommodate allergy's and that being the case shouldn't offer such things, simple as that. When you have these offerings on a menu an amount of basic trining should be put in place and it most definitely hadn't. read more

...bring in local brews. It's a chill spot and the bartenders are always friendly, which keeps us coming back. I just wish they'd simplify the menu again--sometimes less is more, you know? The old wings were perfect, not sure why they messed with a good thing. Still, it's a solid Friday night hangout. read more

After a full day hiking at Pinnacles and a long drive ahead of us, back to the East Bay, I did a yelp search for an early dinner in Hollister, which we had to pass through on the way home. I was happy to see some vegetarian items on their menu (not a lot but some options) and was looking forward to trying their spicy cauliflower tacos. We found street parking nearby and it was just starting to get a bit busy with a Friday evening crowd. Luckily we were seated right away at a small, but perfectly fine table. We were VERY hungry at that point. Decor is minimal but "country" modern if that's a thing. The corner location lends to a spacious restaurant that has a full bar area as well as an outdoor patio. Service was friendly and prompt. For appetizers, my boyfriend and I shared the chips/salsa/guacamole trio. Very flavorful and unique salsa and the portions were huge-much more than we really needed. My Cauliflower tacos were amazing. Spicy but not overly so as the spice was offset with avocado, a chilled slaw and a little bit of a creamy dressing. Again portions were huge and I took half home for another time. My boyfriend got a chicken sandwich and seasoned fries which he was happy with. Drinks stayed refilled, food came quick and was very good and we were able to get going on our long post hike drive home feeling happy with our meal choice. Definitely a great option when passing though Hollister. read more

See all

I went in with my wife to have dinner. I always order the buffalo boneless wings but this time I ordered some buffalo wings and some lemon pepper wings. My wife noticed that they had the exact same shape as McDonald's chicken nuggets and even tasted the same way despite having seasoning from Running Rooster. I asked my waiter what was up with my wings and that they looked exactly like McDonald's nuggets. She even noticed they had the same shape and that she was going to talk to her cook but I never got a response from her or her cook. I ended up paying $34 for some McDonald's chicken nuggets, because they didn't bother doing anything for me. read more

Loved the outdoor patio with heaters and the atmosphere. 5/5 Chipotle chicken sandwich: blue cheese seemed a little out of place. I wouldn't go as far as to call the chicken dry, more like...not moist. 4/5 Sauce on the side: divine. 5/5 Outlaw fries: 3/5. Flavor good, except much too salty. There were chunks of seasoned salt left on the plate after the fries were gone, and I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I was dying of thirst. Always a sure sign dinner was too salty. If they were appropriately salted, they would've been 5/5. I'd come here again. read more

Running Rooster - Chipotle chicken sandwich and outlaw fries - American Near Me - Hollister, California

We've been in Hollister for almost a decade and it's one of go to restaurants when we go out! Pizzas are delicious and always a hit!

Had a great time here. The food is delicious and service is fast. Can't wait to go back.

After my man soared on his glider we were ready to eat! Three of us went to Running Rooster by car, not by feet! Outside dining was big and spacious Tables were six feet away, so generous! Servers wore gloves and masks And they gladly did their tasks. Guacamole with just a little picante Esto se puso interesante! House-made flour chips were fun to eat! Can't describe them but they were really neat! Light and perfect to scoop up dip You can't just have one chip! Baja tacos were made with beer So yummy, I couldn't help but cheer! Ahi tacos were spicy for me, Yellowfin tuna was as fresh as it could be Fresh cilantro and spicy slaw If you like spicy then this taco doesn't have a flaw. Fried avocado according to the menu I've never seen it before this venue! Unsure what to order for our drink our server gave us a sample to help us think. Daquiri sample was great but ours lacked spate. Did they forget to add the alcohol? I wanted to bawl! Nonetheless, I enjoyed my juice The food was good, so let's just call it a truce. read more

See all

One of my favorites in Hollister from the quality of food to the friendly and helpful staff The salads, appetizers and sandwiches are all Good. The outlaw fries are the best fries in Hollister! read more

The last two times I've been there, I received horrible service. The time before last we were at the bar, waited and waited and the bartender did not ask us what we would like to drink. Another couple, sat down next to us and the bartlender served them right away and we still had not been asked. What was it? Maybe the color of my hair. 2nd time, we sat at the bar window, no one asked us if we needed or wanted something to drink. After waiting a bit, my husband finally had to walk up to the bar and order drinks. Horrible service. That's too bad because I like their food. We go there hoping that the service will be better. read more

This place is one of my favorite restaurants to come to. The first time I got the Garden Salad I was amazed. You might think how can a simple salad win you over like that? Well let me tell you: not only do they use fresh leafy greens and veggies the dressing it's self can win awards. With flavors that your tastebuds won't forget. The only thing I would say would be the side bread could of been crispier. Over all very delicious thank you for the delicious meal chef and staff ! read more

Running Rooster - Garden Salad with the Green Goddess dressing paired with grilled chicken. - American Near Me - Hollister, California

See all

Food was good but nothing special & the menu was pretty basic. I'd say the pizza was the most worth it for value and taste. A good spot to try if you're in the area but I wouldn't make a drive specifically for it. Adding onto this, parking is pretty tight here so I'd consider that if you're going out with family; although they have a nice outdoor dining area. read more

See all

Running Rooster is our go to for food out. Service is always excellent and food from brunch to dinner is always good. We normally eat at home but when the kids want to go out they always want Running rooster. They especially love the Nutella crepes on their brunch menu. This is definitely a must try. read more

This is one of the best spots in town, hands down. Good has been excellent, hot, fresh, and tasty. Staff have always been courteous and friendly. Even came for a trivia night when the parents came to town at the bar and won $100 gift card. Tip: Call direct to them and order, the toast app takes a portion of the proceeds, increasing your bill, calling direct for pickup does not. Save yourself a couple bucks. read more

Had a wonderful visit to the Running Rooster! We had the Rooster Sando with the Outlaw Fries & they were very good! The service was lovely & would definitely return! read more

Well it's been awhile since I've been here First the $$$$ for this restaurant is not worth it ! I ordered a crab pizza around 22$ ! Seriously though! It said fresh crab but it tasted straight up cat food Kids meal also and bla fries cold Cob salad looked good ( wasn't mine) pickled egg looked gross ! Never again for 100$ no drinks read more

the customer service is so good!! they are polite and friendly. it is a good small town restaurant

Great service. I had a fantastic burger and the garlic fries were yummy. My wife said the Ceviche was good. Go check them out!

Amazing service and food! Highly recommend eating here! Excited to come back, and well worth the drive to try this great spot! Fantastic Chicken!! read more

Justin was our server and he was great!!!! But please please please bring back the homemade buttermilk ranch. The new bottled stuff cannot even compare!! read more

Awesome restaurant! We had dinner here twice while we were in Hollister. The food and service were that good! The first night my husband ordered the shrimp and grits (we were skeptical as southerners about ordering this in CA) which was fantastic. I had a wood fired pizza which was delicious. My husband really enjoyed the California craft beer selection. He always likes trying something local. The place was busy, not terribly crowded, but the service was surprisingly fast. I had the cobb salad the second night and a local California wine. Delicious! The service was equally attentive and fast. Menu items were $15-$25. Great food and service! read more

Highly recommended, however this was my first time here; brought some friends. A little difficult to get to some of the nearby roads are closed. Cute spot lots of outdoor dining with space in between tables. Friendly staff we were greeted and seated immediately . We were happy to see they had high chairs we brought my friend's granddaughter. The chair was a blessing. Great menu options food and drinks I had a San Benito Sunset it was refreshing, not too sweet. We ordered the Tri Tip nachos to share, they were great. We ordered the fish tacos, salmon and chicken salads... everything we had was great. The service was awesome. They have a few children's menu options too! They serve Ace's Pineapple Cider !!! They would get an extra star for that. I definitely will go back. read more

Running Rooster - Chicken, apple, walnut salad - American Near Me - Hollister, California

It was fabulous food and service. We were a party of 4 and all was wonderful, my only complaint was my hamburger was really greasy, I had to use a lot of napkins to hold under it to keep me from being so greasy also. read more

With limited options in Hollister, Running Rooster never disappoints. Being born and raised here, I can say with certainty this is the best all around restaurant in hollister. Solid food and cocktails with a great track record. Burgers are delicious. Salads are great. And options are plentiful. A few of my favorites are the Baja fish tacos, the chipotle chicken sandwich, the mushroom and sausage pizza, and Cobb salad. The bar is a great area to sit for superb service. Bartenders are great and knowledgeable in the extensive beer menu. The burgers and beers never disappoint. Specials are always rotating and seasonally topical. Great place for a date, family outing, or a business lunch. Again, the best in this small town of hollister. read more

The food was awesome I got the farmhouse burger and it was one of the best burgers I've had in my life the service was often and really good

First time here and was pleasantly satisfied with the food and service. The waitress gave us some solid recommendations. The portions here are really big and we easily split a breakfast burrito. It was more than enough food for 2 people. We ordered the bacon biscuits to start and they were tasty but a bit dry. The drinks here are solid too. read more

We were so happy with our dinner. The service was wonderful and the food delicious! Best dinner we've had so far in Hollister. We'll be back! read more

See all

I really enjoyed the ambience and food at Running Rooster. As many times, as we visit family in Hollister, this was our first time here and we will definitely be back. I really loved the brewery area with the long bar and casual tables in the back and the whole vibe was really chill and friendly. We showed up on a Sunday right after the breakfast and lunch rush so it took a little while for the kitchen and servers to catch up and get us seated but that was fine. Especially because our meals were fantastic. I had the Seared Ahi Tacos, my husband had the Cowboy burger and my son had the Margherita pizza. My 3 ahi tacos were huge! They were so generous with the ahi which is not always the case when you order seared ahi in a restaurant. The accompanying slaw and the pieces of crispy fried avocado made the tacos. I took a bite of my husband's burger, and it was to die for, I definitely had food envy, and his garlic fries were so good. I also tried my son's pizza, and the pizza crust had a perfect woodfired, chew and taste. Service was also great. Can't wait till we are back in Hollister to try this place out again! read more

See all