Best Dive bar on Del Prado! Open at 8am and the beer is ice cold. Love the cool surfer vibe that is authentic. The owner is still surfing Trestles and ripping. I love the Chowder and the fish tacos read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Service was fast for our large group- except one of our party was forgotten about and didn't get her meal until the end. Wings were overcooked & the nachos were just okay. I wish restaurants would actually layer the ingredients throughout the chips and not just on top. I don't live in the area so probably will visit somewhere else when I go to the beach. read more

Popular with locals, The Shwack is one of the few moderately priced restaurants in Dana Point. It's a casual place where you order at the counter and find a table inside or outside. Menu ranges from burgers and sandwiches to tacos and salads. I got the fish tacos, $15 for three. The spicy pico de gallo does have a kick, so order it on the side if you are sensitive to heat. They come with some shredded cabbage on the side - there's no dressing on it so it's not coleslaw and I'm not sure what it's purpose is, other than to give you something on the side. The tacos are ok - I wish they were bigger for the price. My husband ordered the Good Vibes Veggie Burger. On the positive side, they make their own veggie patty from zucchini, mushrooms, onions, potato and quinoa. Unfortunately, the patty doesn't have much flavor and is mushy and bland. I think the regular burgers are the thing to order here, as that is what everyone seemed to be ordering. read more

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Affordable prices, but the food was pretty underwhelming. I ordered the Big Als burger which is basically a bbq bacon cheeseburger. Their version comes with delicious onion strings. The burger itself was just ok. I also ordered the schwack spuds and I didn't care for them much. They did come with the most delicious dipping sauce. Im open to coming back to try some of their other menu items and hoping they'll be better than what I've tried so far. Fun facts: - Street parking - indoor and outdoor seating read more

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The Shwack grill was a cool local spot that we stumbled upon when in Dana Point. We shared an order of the fish tacos, even tho I could have eaten them all myself, they were very delicious. The fish was flavored just right! I had a mimosa (or 2!) and my husband had a beer. We then shared an order of the chicken tacos. The chicken was tasty as well, but the fish were my favorite ones. Staff was super nice! Can tell a lot of locals come here. Will be back for sure! read more

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Tried their breakfast, it was delicious! Would recommend. I like their style and menu! read more

I had to apologize for the cashier because it's been such a long time since we've been in so I'm sorry. We've been coming here since my kids have been very little now they are adults. Schwack burger has always been our go to as well as breakfast. Hashbrowns are king here. We popped in for breakfast and opted to have the eggs Benedict, which I guess now is a sandwich although they were kind enough to make it into the regular eggs Benedict with bacon and hashbrowns. And we also had the Shwack combo which is eggs, bacon, and choice of toast. And we got a smaller juice. We love it cause we can bring our dogs outside. Plenty of street parking and it's great area to walk around afterwards. Sidenote - support your small businesses, such as this. You don't need to go to any chain restaurants for breakfast. The prices are comparable or better here. And the food quality and service is way better. Cool vibes. TV and sports always playing I believe there's still alcohol. We'll be back soon. Oh my only issue today both entrées were that the hashbrowns were excessively salty but other than that those are the best hashbrowns in town in my opinion and we really enjoy the food overall and the cashier/order taker was super friendly. read more

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Nine years later... I finally came back. I suppose I was hoping to be wowed, but I left with the sam 'eh, it was all right' feeling. During our meal, I asked my husband what he thought. "Meh." What I appreciate is that Shwack's prices haven't gotten crazy out of whack. They're probably one of the more affordable spots to dine out in DP. The food (chicken sandwich & the bbq chicken sandwich) was fine. Yes, just fine. Nothing marvelous, nothing out of this word... but not bad. Just fine. If you're a fan of wedge potato fries, you'll likely like them. Nothing remarkable. Just OK. 2025: 73/100 read more

Went back twice because I was craving the queso with shrimp dip. Burgers are fantastic: good soft but crispy buns, perfectly cooked patty, and just enough lettuce, onions, and tomato. Potato wedges are fire too. Service was good both times. Ambiance is dog friendly and a neat spot on Del Prado Ave where you can people watch in Dana Point. read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

I can't remember the last time I've had more delicious shrimp and fish tacos. It was perfectly delicious. I don't know what to critique about that. The place is nice, being a more chill, less formal restaurant environment. You walk up, order, then sit for your food to come. My friend and I ordered the shrimp and fish tacos, which took about 10 min to come. Service was good, straight forward and friendly. I was bummed the tacos didn't come a la cart, because I wanted to try more, but you can only order the 3 tacos entree. It's really a personal preference, so not a negative in reality. I recommend anyone in OC to try this, hands down. Wanna come back to try other stuff for sure. read more

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So great to see our long time spot still open and added new choices. These fish tacos were great! Next time I'll be trying the shrimp. The chickadees were good. A little on the toasted side. My young kids did not like them at first because they look different but then they tried and liked it! Always great service and good vibes. If you haven't been shwacked, add it to your bucket list. read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - Fish Tacos - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Right now the phrase overpriced is thrown around a lot. With that said my daughter and I stopped in for a quick breakfast, I ordered the breakfast sandwich and she ordered the burrito. The sandwich was far smaller than expected for the cost, but it's fine. However my daughter's breakfast burrito came with things that were not listed on the menu and when I mentioned it to the young man behind the counter he looked at me like I was an alien. You have 4/6 of the ingredients in the burrito...would it be a pain to also list tomato and onions, you know the things MOST kids take out of burritos? Sorry, not a $35 breakfast by any stretch.... read more

I love Shwack burgers in Dana Point! They are always made to perfection. This patty is grilled perfectly, softest bun, melted cheese and packed with lettuce & tomato. We always like to say when we go to shwacks "let's go get burger salads" since they are so fresh tasting. The spuds are amazing too especially with their jalapeño ranch dip. One of the best burgers in town. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Service is quick and great views just a block down from the restaurant. Sitting on the Main Street of lantern district read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - The Shwack Burger and Shwack Spuds - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

I have been to this place many times because I work in the area. Yesterday I ordered an "Ahi" sandwich and asked if it is a filet that was seared and rare inside and the cashier told me yes. When I received it, it appeared to be a ground turkey burger. The person with me agreed that there was no way it was Ahi, so I took it in and showed it to them and was told "that is what our ahi looks like". Really? It looks and tastes like ground turkey? come on now. I also got an order of fries that was $4.99 and it was a tiny container of undercooked potato pieces. Very disappointing. This used to be a "go to" lunch place. Not anymore. read more

Stumbled upon this beach grill on our California roadtrip while stopping in Dana Point and boy was it delicious! We cleaned our plates! Ordered the shwack burger and the fish tacos. The fries are separate so there isn't a combo option. The burger was delicious and perfectly cooked! The fries were potato shaped and perfectly crisp. The sauces they give are flavorful. And the fish taco melted in your mouth. Had a little kick to it! They have plenty of seating inside and outside. Service was great and a cool interior with a shack vibe! read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - The Shwack Burger with Shwack Spuds - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Great spot. Stopped by for a bite while on a bike ride. Places to lock up bikes directly in front. Plenty of vehicle parking. Good for groups. Menu was simple but something for everyone. Must try spot if in the area. read more

Order up front before sitting, there's indoor and outdoor seating. I got the Big Al's Bacon! The bacon is thick and flavorful and the meat is cooked well and juicy. The bun is crispy on the edges but fluffy on the inside. I'm surprised by how much I liked the burger! Keep in mind that you have to order fries and other sides separately though. read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - Big Als - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Came by here for a quick stop during some shopping in the area. I got the fish tacos, they were not battered which was awesome. They tasted very fresh but were fairly small in size. They did not come with a side either, it was al a carte. Tacos definitely were not enough, but was a nice pricey snack. read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - Fish Tacos - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

great customer service from Archie! great location right near beach as well and food was hot and yummy.

What went well: -Great location - love the big, outdoor patio -Love the TVs with sports games -Huge menu - including vegetarian options -$1 cookies -Friendly staff What could've been better: -Food was mediocre (veggie burger was tasteless and spuds tasted stale) read more

Great lunch line up - I got the shrimp queso dip, garden salad, & spuds. You can pull off a light lunch with the healthy options here too. Fast and friendly staff! read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - Queso Shrimp Dip - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

I rarely leave one star reviews but this one is necessary. My friend and I arrived on a Friday afternoon. The guy at the counter recommended the fish tacos so that's what I ordered. Soggy fish, tortillas, and bland sauce is what I received. The tacos were also not served hot; they were room temp. $13 for three flavorless tacos with no side dish. Honestly, Del Taco is better in my opinion. Employees seem unhappy and were not very attentive. Our table was filthy. I will not return. read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

Need everyone to understand one thing. If you want a ridiculously good burger after a surf/workout, this is your place. They call their fries spuds, which are FIRE. The food usually comes out fast and hot. We go here probably 1-2 times a week depending on if we're home and not traveling. One of our favorite spots. A very surf vibe inside as well. This is not your fine dining restaurant so if you're looking for that, this isn't your place. This is an order up front and they bring your food out to you. They have a great selection of burgers, sandwiches, and other things. Love Shwack. Cheers. read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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The place had a very lively and energetic vibe! We ordered a classic chicken sandwich and a classic beef burger. They don't offer combo meals, so you'll need to build your own. I added a beer and a side of deep-fried potatoes. The fries had a unique shape, but they tasted surprisingly good once you got past their appearance. The chicken sandwich featured grilled chicken not crispy one ;( but it was still delicious. The beef burger was so juicy and savory! The servers were very responsive even though they seemed super busy. I really appreciated their service! read more

This was a fun place that we literally just picked off of Yelp. So glad we did a the good was delicious and the vibe was so fun and chill. It was a great pit stop on the way back from San Diego on our way home. The burgers were excellent as well as the fries. Plus the service and prices were great. read more

We always enjoy coming to the shwack. One of our favorite places in Dana point. Tonight well all day it was super busy. We drove by at lunch, but didn't stop. You had people in line out the door. Came back in the evening and the place is filled with people probably because it was such a nice sunny day. We noticed how hard everyone was working. We waited a long time for food it would be nice if the owner came in to see how hard you all work. I'm sure that he made a pretty penny today. And again thank you for serving us. read more

Been coming here since beginning, not so much last few years. Today ordered one of my favorites, the "Benjamin" (eggs Benedict ") which always came with hash browns, even though price hasn't changed much for the Benedict plate (thank you) apparently hash browns are now an extra $6. Also the Benedict now comes as a hand held sandwich & hollandaise is served on side, it was good-ish, however the no hash browns included/Benedict "sandwich" thing kinda threw me off a bit. read more

I ate here a few years ago and loved it and wondered why it took me so long to return. I ordered the Schwack Burger with cheese. It was big and delicious on a soft, slightly toasted bun with sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and red onions just the way a really well made burger is supposed to be. The service was terrific: super friendly woman at the cashier and an equally super friendly woman who brought the burger to my table. Very nice staff. The ambience was super chilled and friendly. And the price of the cheese burger was $11.50 --- which nowadays and in Dana Point is pretty amazing. Great food, great service, chilled vibes, great prices. I'll be back again soon. read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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My boyfriend and I stopped by for lunch the other day and it was pretty good! We both got burgers and fries. The cheesy bacon fries, the ranch, and the shwack sauce are the highlights of our meal. We enjoyed our burgers too but for some reason they weren't too flavorful. I really needed to dunk it in sauce. The fries are crisped to perfection and sooo yummy. I loved them with the nacho sauce and ranch! Our food came out fairly quick and we overall enjoyed our meal. I would probably come back to try something else! Last time I was here was years ago and I think they only had burgers but they have a big menu now. read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

The staff were knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in guiding our order. We ordered the ahi burger, vegetarian burger, Shwack spuds, and the kids chicken sandwich. The whole family loved their choices! read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - The Groundswell Ahi Tuna Burger and Shwack Spuds - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

The food was delightful. We finished our meal with some spicy bloody Marys with just the right zing, which I adore. I chose the bourbon brisket sandwich for my main course, and it was a real treat. The brisket was incredibly tender, melting in my mouth with each bite. On the side, I had the shwack spuds, which were wonderfully crispy and added a perfect crunch. The service was also top-notch; our dishes arrived promptly, making the whole dining experience all the more enjoyable. read more

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Honestly, with a name like this, we were intrigued from the get-go! Prices are reasonable, ambiance is chill; employees are open and friendly. Background music is low enough to be able to talk comfortably. They Do Not Skimp on their ingredients! Their ahi tuna salad had nearly more ahi tuna than salad! The Shwackburger with bacon and avocado hit the spot. Shwack Spuds are great! Everything is delicious. Thank you. Highly recommend, and we'll be back! read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - The Shwack Burger and Shwack Spuds - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Came in for lunch after surfing. Order at the counter, super convenient. After we ordered, a huge line formed but moved quick. Food took a little while but it was worth it! Here's what we had: Big Als bacon burger- We'll seasoned and tasty! I only wish I ordered 2. 4 of 5 stars! Fish Tacos- I was pleasantly surprised. The fish is grilled, light and fresh tasting but what sets it off is the Shwack Sauce. 4 of 5 stars! Shwack spuds- Stale, tasted like they'd been sitting. 2 of 5 stars. Service- friendly folks! 5 of 5 stars! read more

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To the one rude server, fix your attitude!!! If you don't want the public grabbing items like paper bags off of your prep station then don't place it openly next to the soda fountain. Otherwise put up a barrier to limit access or get a bigger label maker as to not ask your cooks for paper bag! read more

Schwack Beach Grill is a chill little walk-in diner spot, beach-hut style, in a cool part of Dana Point near the main PCH strip. Not as expensive as some of the food in the area around it and a versatile breakfast to burger style dinner menu. Table seating is limited, but they do have an outside patio. On the street it's located, Del Prado, there are often art fairs, car shows, vintage markets, things like that so this is a great place to grab lunch on those days. We tend to go here for breakfast, which has true diner flare with skinny, crunchy, salty hashbrowns, or country style potatoes, thin slices of bacon, straightforward cooked eggs, sides of toast or fruit. You order at the counter and then find a table and the food is dropped off for you. Service is polite enough, but if you're looking for attentive service, this isn't the spot for you. This is not a full service restaurant in any sense of the word but it's a step above simple fast food. Two people having a standard eggs, protein, and hashbrowns breakfast plus a cup of coffee each runs about $28. We come here sometimes for a casual bite and we will keep doing so. read more

Lots of great reviews so I thought I'd give it a go. Big Al's Bacon burger, with crispy fried onions, bacon, American cheese, and barbecue sauce sounded like a winner. If you don't mind a barely warm burger, served with ice cold, limp bacon, half-melted American cheese and limp Onion rings, it was perfect. The Shwack's Spuds potato wedges were not ready and did not come out with my burger. As my food had not yet come, I asked my server what was going on? The Server said he was going to wait until Spuds were ready. My burger was already a bust and could not have gotten much colder. The Spuds came out screaming hot, which is great, but by the time they came, I was full. Backing up: When I had the opportunity to tell the server about the burger, he was happy to start a new burger. What was the point? I had already been pushed back getting food served after people who ordered after me. It was too late. I gave the Spuds to the next table. I had such high hopes but this was quite disappointing. This may not be a fair observation but I wondered if my poor service and meal were because I was alone. I truly hope not. read more

Decided to try this place out. The location and ambiance was cute. Ordered the BBQ chicken salad which is possibly the least favorite salad I've ever had. Hardly any chicken and lack of flavor. If I would come back, I would not order this item. read more

Whoever the cook is now is nailing it. The Al's burger includes real thick cut bacon not that thin see-through crap at other places. The fried onions and then add the spuds cooked properly with a crisp not al dente. Well worth the price when you think about it.. Services just fine... Food even better read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - American Near Me - Dana Point, California

Nice restaurant with friendly service. Prices are reasonable. Food portions are decent. Restaurant has casual and comfortable seating. Food was tasty. I knocked off a star because the rice was crunchy like it was dry and stale. I'm happy that I didn't not get food poisoning. Recommend that they add more water in their rice. read more

Place w a cool vibe. I ordered island chicken sand My husband ordered a shwack burger and fries. I ordered a shaka-rita and he ordered a beer. My island chicken sandwich had a bread that was almost pure white. Lightly baked- tasted ok would have liked the bread toasted more - almost ciabata like. Snow ciabatta is the word I'd have for it The ingredients for my island chicken had pineapple nicely grilled chicken and Asian slaw. The chicken was nicely done- at parts a little dry. But overall I think it's good. The Asian slaw was dripping w sauce. By the time I ate half, the other half was soaked in juices and sauce. I didn't really enjoy that. The Shaka Rita was interesting to say the least. It was very saltish. I had requested no salt rim. It seems like they mistook the order and instead did a request and added salt to drink as well. For me, the water tasted better. The ambience was cool I just didn't like the food n drinks. I probably wouldn't be back. My husband thought the burger was just ok Google review had said this place was a rating of 4.5 Am unsure how they got that. read more

The Shwack Beach Grill - Island chicken sand - American Near Me - Dana Point, California