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    Splash Cafe

    4.2 (5.6k reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Order Splash Cafe Takeout or Delivery

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    SPLASH CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Splash Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Took the chowder to the beach to have my lunch.
    Travis C.

    Spent the weekend in Pismo so had to try this place after hearing all the recommendations. Clam chowder and sourdough was some of the best I've had. Quaint little shop with fantastic service. Loved it so much I also bought some frozen chowder to take home with me. Lived up to the hype.

    Maisie W.

    When we got here, there was a line but moved pretty fast. Lobster roll: 3/5 I have definitely had better. But giving it a 4 overall because the person making the lobster roll was very generous. Didn't taste the Calm Chowder but fam definitely enjoyed the chowder more than the roll.

    Outside
    David Z.

    This is such a well know establishment I had to make a stop as I was passing through. I ordered online to avoid the wait time and picked up my clam chowder to enjoy at the beach. It was delicious. Would love to come back and try some of their burgers. Took a peak inside and it was super busy. There were many tables to sit at but the wait was about an hour.

    Clam Chowder BREAD BOWL with seafood, clams, and green onions, plus a delicious Grilled Cheese
    Asia B.

    Delicious food and super fast service. We got the clam chowder in a bread bowl with the seafood, clams, and green onions, and also got the grilled cheese. Good sized portions. Just know you might be a line a while since it's popular but the line moves fast. Great casual place. Want to come back for their lobster rolls next time.

    Clam Chowder BREAD BOWL
    Tiffany L.

    The best clam chowder ever!!! Splash cafe is a must-visit if you're in Pismo Beach. This was my second time here and honestly the food tasted better than I remembered! My friend and I ordered a clam chowder bread bowl, a regular clam chowder bowl, and calamari & fries to share. We were FULL and had leftovers. The clam chowder was delicious, and the calamari & fries were also really good. I highly recommend getting both! I came on a Saturday around 8pm, and there was still a line outside. Thankfully the wait to order wasn't too long. After ordering, you can find a seat and wait for your food to be ready. Overall, I had another great experience at Splash Café and would definitely come back the next time I'm in Pismo Beach!

    Alyssa A.

    Splash Cafe is such a staple eatery in Pismo Beach, located by the boardwalk, it's difficult to see the place without a line. We tried the 1/2 steamers, fish and chips, and clam chowder. Everything we tasted was delicious! The broth the steamers came in was so tasty and paired perfectly with the bread to soak everything up. The fish and chips were nice and crispy. We loved the curly fries it came with. The clam chowder was our favorite, it tasted so homey and rich, yet still light and full of flavor. Would recommend coming early as this place can get packed. There are tables and bar seating - seats open up fairly quickly. They also have a special type of carrot hot sauce that packs some flavor to whatever you choose to add it to!

    Clam Chowder BREAD BOWL
    Erica D.

    Came here years ago and Ofcourse since we stayed in Pismo again, we had to stop by for some clam chowda and this time we did the seafood + bacon + green onions topping. I'm not sure I'd get any of these toppings again as the soup is great by itself but it was nice trying something different. It's huge and definitely a good portion to share if you want to try some other things. Service is quick as well!

    Nothin but cream
    Christie B.

    Customer service when ordering at the counter was great. The guy at pick-up not so much. Was in town with my mom and had to find out what the hype was all about so I ordered a cup of the "famous" chowder. I LOVE chowder and since I live between both Santa Cruz and San Francisco, I've enjoyed plenty. Sadly, the chowder at Slash was pretty disappointing. My cup had very few clams and potatoes and an overwhelming amount of cream. The place was packed even at 3pm so clearly tons of folks like it but not me unfortunatly. The vibe is old school diner. I won't be returning any time soon.

    Inside kitchen
    Matthew S.

    Yes it is true, the best chowder around. I know seems like a tourist trap, but it is not. The Splash Cafe is just flat out good! You must stop in and partake. I had the bread bowl and chowder, a simple classic. I recommend the splash cafe carrot pepper sauce - Raucous Daucus!! My Bride ordered the clam strips and chips, fried perfectly! Thank you Splash Cafe, keep doing what you do! We'll be back every time we are in town.

    Lobster Roll
    Justin S.

    While searching for restaurants in SLO County, Splash Cafe came up repeatedly as having some of the best clam chowder in California, so it quickly became a priority stop on my trip. When I arrived on a Monday evening, I was surprised by how long the line was to order. What impressed me even more was how quickly the staff moved everyone through and got food out. They clearly know what they're doing. The clam chowder absolutely lived up to the hype. It was rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. Honestly, just writing this review makes me crave another bowl. My mom ordered the lobster roll, and we were impressed by how generous they were with the lobster. Another nice bonus is that they offer daily specials, giving you even more reasons to come back and try something new. Overall, I highly recommend Splash Cafe and would consider it a must-visit spot when exploring SLO County.

    Fish and Chip (3/10): lack seasoning and flavor
    Jonathan P.

    Located next to pismo beach. Theres paid parking lot or paid street parking nearby. Or you go a block away theres free 3 hour street parking. Process: - Line up - Order - Grab a table If you order to dine in, they will call your name when its ready. Just raise your hand to let them know where you are so they can bring it out for you. If you do to go, your food is called out at the back of the store. This place is pretty poppin. We arrived around 5 PM. All the tables were full but we got luckily and got 2 seats. I would not recommend bringing a large party here to dine in. They have 2 genderless restrooms located all the way in the back. It's clean and well kept. Order: - Clam chowder (9/10): the clam chowder is amazing. They have actual clam inside. You can get it in a bread bowl or container. The container size range from cup to pint. - Fish & Chip (3/10): This was also recommended on the menu but it was subpar. Lacked a lot of flavor. The chips looked season but it tasted like nothing. The tartar sauce and lemon helped out a lot. I would definitely come back for the clam chowder tho!

    Deconstructed LOADED Clam Chowder Bread Bowl
    Karena S.

    Best clam chowder in California? I saw a claim saying that Splash Cafe was the best clam chowder in ALL of California and I had to go try it myself. I came on a Thursday when it was raining and there was still a line out the door. We also struggled to find a parking spot regardless of the weather being rain or shine. Majority of the parking spots are metered and it was $5 for 1 hour which is crazy. Since we came on a Thursday, the loaded clam chowder bread bowl had a $2 discount! The total came out to be $18.35 after tax. Obviously, we ordered that and shared it between two people! It took about 5 minutes after ordering for us to receive our order. Food: Loaded Clam Chowder Bread Bowl (9/10): Oh WOW! We decided to take it to-go and their packaging was so convenient. Everything was packaged separately and deconstructed so the bread bowl wouldn't be all soggy and the bisque would be non-existent by the time we got home. In the loaded bread bowl, they cut out the hole so we can place the bisque in and they toast the top with butter! The loaded clam chowder comes with cheese, clam, crab(?), bacon, and green onion! The clam chowder was SO creamy! Every bite was LOADED with all the toppings.

    Nearby Sign
    Kristina M.

    This was highly recommended by a frequent visitor. Boy, are we glad we came. It was delicious. The bread bowl is a must. They toast part of the bread--delicious! We took w food and at one of the nearby tables down by the water. It was perfect.

    Fish N Chips

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    9 days ago

    I got the fish and chips and the clam chowder bowl. The clam chowder was not bad but the fish and chips were not it.

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    Page 2 of 141

    Splash Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Splash Cafe

    Do they sell merch on site?

    Yes they do, but I only remember seeing shirts and maybe caps

    Open on New Year's Day?

    Yes, they should open on New Year's Day - the last time I was there they were open.

    Are dogs allowed In the outdoor dining area?

    When I went in late Feb, I didn't see any outdoor seating. I saw some folks take their food to-go down to the beach. It's a couple minute walk away

    Is the clam chowder bread bowl order equivalent to a cup or pint of clam chowder?

    My husband and I chose the Cup of Chowder over the Bread Bowl since there is quite a lot of Bread which unfortunately never gets eaten ! I think it's about the size of the Cup they fill it with. But the cup of soup and the side of bread makes it a… 

    Is the clam chowder gluten free?

    It is not.

    Does the lobster roll have real lobster? We ordered it and it came shredded and couldn't really taste any lobster.

    I believe it's probably not fresh lobster. We thought the same it didn't taste like it had lobster in it

    Is this a good restaurant for someone with celiac?

    No.

    Do they take reservations for seating? If not, when is the best time to go to avoid long waits? We will be (hoping) going on a Friday if that makes a difference!

    No, they don't take reservations! They are a counter-service restaurant. Any time that is not a typical meal time is probably the best time to go. Breakfast is usually less crowded than lunch/dinner, but their chowder is a must so up to you!

    Are there any vegan options?

    They have them now. A beyond meat backyard burger that is labeled vegan, a veggie burger that might be customizable to be vegan, bread, and fries. Probably can make a vegan taco with no protein alternatives. For vegetarians there is grilled cheese.… 

    What is in the seafood topping? Is it real crab or imitation?

    crab, extra clams, etc

    Do they have gluten free options or jicama for tortillas?

    Not that I have seen in regards to jicama. However, you can probably do a bun less hot dog, a lettuce wrapped burger, etc.

    When is the best time to go?

    They mostly busy from spring through the summer but if you go before 1130 or after 130, you should be ok.

    Is Clam chowders contain bacon?

    No, but you can add it as a topping. :-)

    Do they have a kids menu?

    I don't think they have an actual kids menu, but there are plenty of options for kids: burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs (my daughter loved it!), chicken strips and fries. Great prices too!

    Is it only seafood served here?

    No... They also have burgers, fries, etc. I just happen to love seafood.

    Clam chowder gluten free?

    No it's not

    Is the crab topper real crab or imitation crab?

    It's not real!!

    View All 20 Questions

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    My wife and I had a great lunch today. The Host and Waiter were friendly and attentive. They both…read morecame over at some point to ask how everything was. I told them it was "Delicious!" I heard the other Waiters as they served the clients. They were very friendly, professional and served the customers with a smile. The location is on a busy street so as you dine and you look out the window you get to see all the people driving and walking by. It's great if you love to people watch. Some of the plates coming out looked AMAZING. We had the Crab Dip, House Salad, Crab Louis Salad and Clam Chowder. Everything was delicious and satisfying. We even took home a slice of Key Lime Pie. We'll be going back again.

    The Cracked Crab is a well established restaurant on Price street serving yummy food for many years…read morenow. Cute and casual restaurant displaying many lovely beach murals and specializing in seafood. DJ was our fantastic server today. He was Friendly & attentive. We ordered 2 buckets with crab & shrimp. Our order came out steamy & tasty very quickly. The buckets include a choice of crab, shrimp, mussels & clams. It includes corn, potatoes, sausage & your seafood choices. They have many seafood options besides the buckets. DJ was so accommodating throughout our meal. We dined early around 5pm, but if you go during peak hours, lunch or dinner you may have a wait. They do not take reservations. They are moderately priced and portions are good. For a fun beach y experience definitely drop in for a meal.

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    The Oyster Loft

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    4.5(1.6k reviews)
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    My friends and I came here and on a whim and were lucky enough to sit down without a reservation on…read morea Saturday night. The Oyster Loft is one of my ALL time favorite restaurants. The cocktails are a nice balance between alcohol snd sweet. I ended up drinking 4, and still felt great after! It felt really refreshing. We ordered 30 oysters for the table and we finished them so fast because they tasted so good! I'm a huge fan of west coast oysters because of how sweet they taste. We pretty much inhaled all 30! We shared the plates family style, and it was very tasty! I felt like all the dishes had a good balance between differently flavor profiles. It was so good that we were able to finish the whole meal! The desserts were so solid. I actually would have regretted it if we didn't finish off our meal with it. The service was good! I never have a problem with our servers whenever we visit. They're always so professional and friendly.

    Dinner with my wife celebrating our wedding anniversary…read more I wanted to enjoy my experience here given the beautiful beachfront views, but the execution fell short for an upscale spot. To start, we arrived early for our reservation. I had made a note requesting an outdoor table, and the hostess attempted to seat us inside. I politely asked for an outside table again, and she said we would have to wait 10 minutes, which was fine. We moved to the bar, ordered two glasses of wine, and before they even finished pouring our water, the table was "ready". The biggest disappointment was the limited menu availability. Four out of ten of the entrees were completely unavailable when we ordered, which severely restricted our options. Additionally, my wine bottle was served and was never chilled or offered a wine bucket, which is a miss for a premium seafood restaurant. On the positive side, the food they DID have available and we could order was all tasty and fresh. The service was okay, polite, but not particularly attentive or proactive given the pricing. Overall, you're paying for the stunning location, but the food logistics and service definitely need improvement. We still had a great time!

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    Ventana Grill - Mahi Mahi Civeche

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    Great food. Great bartenders but the music is terrible. They need to rethink their play list…read more Puts me to sleep . Makes me want to leave for a more livelier place.

    An Unforgettable Birthday Dinner with Breathtaking Ocean Views!…read more We came to Ventana Grill in Pismo Beach for a Sunday night dinner date to celebrate my wife's birthday. This place definitely gets packed, so I highly recommend reserving a table in advance. We were lucky enough to get a window seat, and the outdoor patio views of the ocean are simply amazing! On top of that, the staff here has definitely become even more friendly--our server, Zach, was super efficient and attentive throughout our meal. The food was incredible from start to finish: * Mahi Mahi Fish Ceviche: We started with this alongside fresh tortilla chips, and it was honestly one of the best ceviches we've ever had. * Clam Chowder Soup: This special clam chowder came served with Parmesan cheese bread, which was absolute perfection. Again, hands down one of the best soups we've tasted! * Molcajete Surtido: For our main dish, we ordered this classic feast loaded with grilled colossal shrimp, arrachera steak, chicken breast, chorizo, spring onion, jalapeño peppers, nopalitos, avocado, pork rinds, molcajete salsa, queso fresco, and corn tortillas, served with a side of rice and beans. All the meats were so tender and flavorful, and the rice and beans were really nice. We were so full that we didn't even get to touch the tortillas! To top off a wonderful evening, they brought out a complimentary ice cream with a candle to celebrate my wife's birthday, which was such a thoughtful and sweet touch. Whether you're planning a special date night or a family outing, we definitely recommend Ventana Grill!

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    Amazing oysters.

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    Splash Cafe - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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