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    The Surfing Fox

    4.3 (287 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Closed 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

    The Surfing Fox Photos

    THE SURFING FOX ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
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    Recommended Reviews - The Surfing Fox

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    Jason C.

    It was fine? Nothing crazy nothing special. Way overpriced but I guess you're in Santa Monica and it's a hotel restaurant. I won't be coming back but the decor and ambiance was nice and service was jsut ok too

    Crispy Brussels Sprouts - not crispy at all
    Susan L.

    I liked it. It's too expensive, but our server George was great! The sweet potatoes were delicious. The brussel sprouts were tasty but not crispy. The poke is good, but the cucumbers were under-seasoned, or maybe there were just too many as filler for something that was too expensive and small. The fish was delicious though. It's confusing. I think it's so expensive because it's close to the SM Pier. Plus, you have to pay so much for parking, too.

    Fish tacos
    Corinne R.

    We came here for lunch and everything was delicious. I had the grilled Mahi fish tacos and they were phenomenal. The Cucumber "Foxtail" is light and tasty.

    Cheyne T.

    Cute place to eat by the Santa Monica Pier! I like how they have different types of tables set up. Drinks (4/5): ordered 4 cocktails and we enjoyed most of them, my favorite was the espresso martini. Food (3/5): we tried a variety of appetizers, entrees, and sides and while the presentation was great, most of the dishes lacked flavor. The shrimp bao, lobster roll, and sweet potatoes were our favorites. Overall would be a good spot to grab drinks, they have a patio outside that seems nice to hang out in.

    Fritz H.

    Stopped in for a quick brunch and was pleasantly surprised. The menu had a good variety of options to choose from. I ordered the avocado toast, which was fresh and delicious, while my mother had the breakfast burrito and said it was excellent. Service was friendly and attentive, and overall we were very happy with our meal. Would definitely come back.

    Celine C.

    The Surfing Fox is located on the first floor of the Pierside Hotel, which is literally by the Santa Monica pier. The restaurant is trendy, clean, and felt very much like a vacation. Service was friendly. Food, however, was just okay. The American breakfast was disappointing in terms of flavor and presentation. I requested for scrambled eggs but got a large piece of dry egg crepe lol (see picture). As for the potatoes, they were so bland and lacked seasoning. Breakfast plates usually come with a piece of toast but not at Surfing Fox. I had to order a side of sourdough to eat with the avocado slices that I substituted for meats.

    Deodorant stain

    Restaurant was great but when we went back to our valet car, the waters were taken, half of the peanuts were eaten, the vents and seats were messed with and there was a deodorant stain on the door. DO NOT valet there. For reference the car was just detailed.

    Ceviche* gf
    Melissa B.

    I was nervous about a place so close to the pier - often the location near popular spots is great but the food is subpar. We stopped in for brunch and were delighted to find both a great location and awesome, fresh food. Family had lobster rolls and fish tacos that they enjoyed. I had the ceviche and sweet potatoes, which were fresh and flavorful. Was only shocked to find, given the location and great food, it wasn't more crowded at brunch on a Sunday! Check it out if you're visiting the Santa Monica Pier area!

    Richard L.

    The event at the SURFING FOX is outstanding. It's great to be an elite and enjoy meeting such nice people in such a super nice restaurant environment. I'll definitely come back to this restaurant after the event to patronize them because the food is very good. Sarah did an outstanding job with organizing this event.! Thanks Richard L

    Madisyn y.

    Great location, just steps away from the pier. We sat outside to take advantage of the beautiful weather, which made the experience even better. We started with the peppers as an appetizer--delicious! For mains, we had the spicy chicken sandwich and the burger. The chicken sandwich was flavorful with just the right amount of heat. Unfortunately, the burger was a bit overcooked, which was a letdown. For drinks, we had the cucumber cocktail and an Old Fashioned--both were well-crafted. Overall, it was a solid lunch spot. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking to enjoy a meal outdoors.

    Magy S.

    If you're around Santa Monica Pier you NEED to stop by The Surfing Fox & ask for JAHIR!! We ordered the mouthwatering Hot chicken sandwich , the rich and flavorful Fish Tacos that had a sauce that elevated the dish! , the crunchy and satisfying shrimp toast appetizer and the refreshing hibiscus agua fresca! The flavors worked perfectly together! Prices were worth the price for the size of the dishes. You can choose from sitting at the bar, a nice and cozy booth, a high top or just a nice table. I wouldn't want to miss this gem while you're around. Check it out! Thank you Jahir and Chef Irene for the amazing experience! We will be back!

    Yesenia E.

    This place is super cute. We came here after a beach workout. The vibes are very mellow and the staff is very sweet from the waitress (Katherine) to the servers and busboys. The food was amazing We had chilaquiles and a cheeseburger. We expected the chilaquiles to be bland but surprisingly they had a good kick and sazón. Will definitely be back.

    Cute logo coaster
    Melissa M.

    The space is airy and well-ventilated. I found it a little cavernous and the live music too loud when I arrived. But once the space filled up a bit, the sound was dampened enough for me to hear my dinner companions. Our server was friendly and graciously offered to take our orders separately so we could each receive individual checks. The food and drinks were only OK. I had the Honeydew Refresher (N/A) and the pea falafel with green curry sauce. The falafel was a bit mushy, but it was surprisingly filling for there only being 4 pieces. I liked the flavor of the curry.

    Champagne / Gambino Cuvee

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    1 month ago

    The service was very good, the food was yummy and the place has a very relaxing atmosphere!

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    The Surfing Fox Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Surfing Fox

    How much is valet?

    is there parking or is it street parking?

    Is there a happy hour?

    Yes, there is now HAPPY HOUR at The Surfing Fox Monday - Friday (3pm - 7pm)

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    Tar & Roses

    Tar & Roses

    4.5(2.8k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$
    Romantic vibe
    Locally sourced ingredients

    I read the many excellent reviews and decided to try TR out(right across from Santa Monica…read morelibrary). It's a smaller place but all the outdoor seats were open and I liked the cozy corner seat with a great heat lamp(sometimes at other restaurants they don't work or too far from the table). So I really enjoyed the ambience, there are some sketchy people walking by but that's to be expected and nobody tried to interfere with my dinner. Service by waiter David was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and attentive. I really enjoyed the "Codebreaker"craft beer from Long Beach. I decided on the popular oxtail dumplings which were great but could have been a few more of them . The entree hangar steak was also excellent with the asparagus spears and perfectly cooked medium rare. Overall, TR was a wonderful eating experience. Highly recommended.

    The food here was genuinely excellent. every dish we ordered was flavorful, fresh, and honestly…read moreworth the hype. I really wanted to leave a glowing review because the kitchen absolutely delivered. That said, the service was incredibly frustrating. I understand it was Valentine's Day, and as someone who also works in the service industry, I tried to be patient and empathetic all night. I know holidays are chaotic. But our server was inattentive, dismissive, and overall made the experience way more annoying than it needed to be. I won't say where we were sitting because I don't want this server to get in trouble. Could've been a bad night for him. But you gotta lock in. At one point, he verballed the dessert options so quickly and with such an irritated tone that we just decided to cancel dessert altogether because he genuinely sounded fed up with us being there. It completely changed the vibe of the night. Ironically, the food runner was the one keeping everything together. He was kind, attentive, and actually seemed to care, so I ended up tipping him cash separately because I wanted to make sure he got something for his effort. I'd still come back for the food, but I really hope the service experience improves because it took away from what could've been a great night.

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    Tar & Roses
    Tar & Roses
    Tar & Roses

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    Rabano - Peruvian Saltado

    Rabano

    4.8(173 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Established in 2024

    Tried this place for the first time and it was fantastic! I already want to go back and try more…read moredishes. Very nice location with a short walk to the beach. The inside was very clean, cute, and spacious. There is also an outside patio. No shortage of sitting options. We ended up ordering the super bowls- VIP Poke and Kebobs Mediterraneo. Both with white rice and greens. I honestly loved both of them equally. The quality of fish in the poke was outstanding and the chicken kebob was so tender and juicy. We also got the Pineapple Zingy Fizzy drink which was very refreshing on the warm day. The staff was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. The only thing I want to add is that on the menu board had a key for items, one being a * indicates the item contain nuts. Some of the bowls listed cashew chipotle sauce, but there was no * next to the item name. It's a quick fix to avoid any accidents :)

    All I can say is wow. We're in the area often, and today we were looking for a new, cool spot to…read moretry when my wife came across Rábanos. I'm really glad she did. My wife was craving Thai food, so she ordered the Thai dish, while I was stuck between the Peruvian Saltado and the Showtime Burger. I ended up going with the burger, and I'm glad I did. It was absolutely amazing -- flavorful, high quality, and perfectly put together. From the first bite, you could taste all the layers of flavor in what honestly felt like a masterpiece of a burger. Both dishes were very good, but the burger was definitely the winner for us. We also tried the Garage beer, which was super light and delightful, along with a latte. The latte was okay. We're big coffee people, so it didn't quite meet our expectations. It was served too hot, and the milk seemed overheated. The coffee itself tasted good, but it didn't feel carefully crafted. I enjoy latte art and that first sip from a freshly made uncapped latte, and that part was missing for me. That said, the food was so good that we're more than willing to overlook the coffee. Great vibes, superb service, and an overall fantastic experience. Highly, highly recommend this place. We'll definitely be back with friends and family.

    Photos
    Rabano - I mean look at this ambiance!

    I mean look at this ambiance!

    Rabano - Peruvian Saltado

    Peruvian Saltado

    Rabano - Peruvian Saltado

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    Peruvian Saltado

    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar

    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar

    4.2(4.7k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    We had a very good experience here! Our waitress was friendly, fast, and gave great…read morerecommendations! We split two appetizers, which was plenty due to the portion size. Drinks were delicious and the vibe was fun!

    I finally made it to The Misfit in Santa Monica, and honestly, the interior is giving major…read moreBalthazar-meets-Parisian-speakeasy energy. It's located in the old Clock Tower building, and the Art Deco decor is absolutely stunning--dark enough to hide a bad day but vibrant enough for a girls' night. The Vibe: It's loud, lively, and perfectly "bohemian chic". If you're coming on a weekend, prepare for a crowd, but it's the good kind of crowded where everyone looks like they just came from a gallery opening. The Food: I'm still thinking about the Crispy Chicken Sandwich--it was juicy, perfectly seasoned, and came with a fennel-apple slaw that actually felt fresh. We also shared the Bacon Wrapped Dates (obviously) and the Hand Cut Kennebec Fries, which arrive in a bowl so huge it could basically be its own zip code. The Drinks: Their Happy Hour is arguably the best in the city. I had the Japanese Dream with matcha, and it was expertly crafted--not too sweet, which is my biggest pet peeve. The "Misfit" Moment: The service can be a tiny bit slow when it's "rammed," and there's a 4% kitchen fee that feels a bit unnecessary, but they make up for it with those complimentary sea salt chocolate chip cookies at the end. They are warm, gooey, and life-changing. One major heads-up: I heard a rumor they might be closing their doors on April 18th due to some landlord drama, so get there while you still can.

    Photos
    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar
    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar
    The Misfit Restaurant + Bar

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    Shoreside

    Shoreside

    3.8(18 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    Outdoor seating
    Kid friendly

    I ordered the seared Ahi sandwich and salad with "Asian" dressing…read more Sandwich itself was very good. Ahi wasn't too fishy and the sauce and salad matched perfectly. Only drawback was that there was a lot of bread. Salad was pretty good too. Sour, zesty, fresh, and mouthwatering. Service was fine - there weren't a lot of people there for a Monday afternoon. Ocean view ambiance, although, there's a lot going on in the space considering that it's part of the hotel.

    They should call this restaurant poolside instead of shoreside. They are not set up for large…read moregroups. I was looking for a new restaurant for a work dinner -- I would not suggest this spot. I also thought you would be able to see the ocean since it is right on Ocean Ave -- but once seated you can't really see the water. And unfortunately the view of hotel guests swimming wasn't very appetizing. We had a reservation for 14 and somehow they lost it (even though someone called to confirm the day before) -- so they had to quickly set up a table for 14 which they clearly did not do that often -- it was all squished between plants and heaters. After waiting 10+ minutes we were finally seated. Right away we noticed that the menus were different, not drastically but enough to cause some confusion. The waitress seemed very flustered and kept mentioning that our group was not expected. We started off with drinks -- I got a strawberry lemon tart -- it was good but the strawberries were a bit too chunky for a cocktail (IMO). Some people received their drinks in a plastic glass -- I guess because it was near the pool? We ordered a number of appetizers and then our mains. The waitress wasn't sure about us even ordering a main -- it made me wonder if they actually had enough of the dishes in the kitchen. Apps were good but nothing amazing. I got the sea bass for the main and it had no spice or flavor to it -- it even had these little dollups of romesco sauce that was also flavorless. Several people at the table ordered the filet mignon -- the only beef course on the menu and one of the plates came out at least 10 minutes after everyone else received their meals. The waitress did give him a free drink for his patience. Also my other coworker told me the lobster roll was terrible and made her stomach hurt the next day. Overall I was not impressed and will not likely return for a dinner here.

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    Shoreside
    Shoreside
    Shoreside

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    The Surfing Fox - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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