Ocean Beach Pier Cafe

Very cool shack located right on the OB pier. It’s older and kinda run down looking & the tables are slightly sticky when it’s hot. It has it’s own charm, though and you can’t beat that view. I’ve had the fish n chips multiple times and they’re amazing. Fish is nicely cooked and the batter is perfection. You can’t go wrong ordering seafood from here. Their pancakes are amazing, too, though. You’ll never go to IHOP, again. Definitely, definitely try the jalapeño sinkers. They’re just spicy enough. They do to go orders if you’re in a hurry. Prices are on par with the area, even a little cheaper.

This place is delicious! We ordered the mango pancakes (mangos inside the pancake num num) stacked three high, we shared them and also split the machaca plate! That was awesome too! View is awesome, staff is super friendly! On a rough water day the place gets some motion, but it reminds us of cruise ship dining ha! We are definitely coming back here! Love supporting our local spots! Can’t wait to come back for lunch! Aloha!

Surprisingly good fish tacos, homemade lemonade, friendly service, nice view. This is a great destination for any day of the week. Although they have outdoor tables, I recommend indoors for the nautical ambiance. This place in now on my «list».

Was really surprised by the quality of the lobster taco meal! Huge, yummy, lobster taco, slaw and some clam chowder poured over bread for less than ten bucks. Perfect meal for a chilly night out on the pier!

The ambiance and setting for this place may not be for everyone. This is not Anthony’s or Fish Market, but I thoroughly enjoy it every time that I go. It out on the OB pier and in big surf, you can actually feel the pier move. There is not a bad seat in the place, as there are tons of windows. The service is very good. They are polite, friendly, and take time to engage in light conversation. The food is just as unique as the location. If you are visiting San Diego, or a seasoned «transplant,» you have to try this place.

I really wish this place was better since it is at such a great location on Ocean Beach Pier!
It’s a small looking shack towards the end of the pier. I’m not surprised it’s overpriced because of its location. OB is a nice peach, hundreds maybe even more walk on this pier every day so foot traffic from locals and tourists are great customers.
I love seafood, and I’m always up for a good fish and chips.
Bf and I was fishing so togo order it was! Took about 15 minutes to make because there was a family of 6 eating.
Togo orders are an extra .50 cents for the «togo box». Weird? Idk. Saving money in this economy I guess. I don’t get how it would be any different from eating there but okay I understand it’s .50 cents I’ll live.
The fish was cooked perfect inside, but lacked any flavor. Where’s the depth and meaning??? I’m fishing I want to taste the fish I am not able to catch!!! The batter on the fried fish was very thick and hard. I’ve had better $ 6 fish and chips. The fries were good. Pretty soggy but flavor was there. Surprisingly it came with 3 good sizes of fish BUT barely and fries? I need my chips to go with my fish.
Maybe I’ll try something else if I decide to grab a bite here while I’m fishing.

Came in on a Friday evening when the temperature was at a exhausting 90 degrees; while the beach in itself was overly crowded… I am talking not even a space on the pier to just stand, this place however was a GHOST TOWN!
Some may see that as a threat and run, however I found it as an opportunity for quick and great service.
Got a romantic seat right by the window and was able to view the sunset as I glanced over the menu that in itself was not much however I knew I would find something. They are known for their seafood obviously, breakfast dishes (pancakes) which is served all day, and Mexican entrees. I ordered the Supreme Nachos (The largest size available) and a Quesadilla appetizer. Just so you know even though it claims to be an «appetizer», it was by far the largest quesadilla I have ever ordered. Just a warning though, I do believe they put too much cheese in the quesadilla as you would need to chew each piece 50+ times to not feel like you were going to «choke». In addition, the nachos are definitely fit to share among two people; however another dish would be needed to completely fill someone’s appetite.
Overall; I left completely satisfied minus one thing… WHERE IS THE GUACAMOLE??? I honestly was a tad dissapointed that they do not offer that; burgers… taco’s…and other dishes that pair extremely well with guacamole are on the menu. I think that would be an amazing addition.
The service was quick; the food came out in less than 10 minutes… the lady was sweet although she never really stopped by after the food was dropped off. However the place is so small that when I needed something I just got up and walked two feet to retrieve whatever I needed.
I feel like all in all I will be back simply for the atmosphere as it was a cozy nautical romantic environment; great for date nights! Also for the service and prices! (I will be bringing in my own guacamole) and asking for less cheese on the quesadilla!

My family is staying in the mission beach area and we wanted a quick breakfast before we went to the beach. We thought we would try the café because of other reviews and we loved it! My 2&4 yr old kids loved the pancakes and my wife got scrambled eggs & bacon. I got the breakfast burrito which had a ton of flavor and was very filling. This place lives up to its reviews making it a great stop for a quick cheap breakfast with amazing quality. And it’s literally right on the pier at Ocean Beach, so we left and spent the day at the beach without having to drive anywhere else

I had the fish and chips. The fish was fresh and flavorful. The service was good. I am a big eater, but I couldn’t finish my lunch. Finally, the view is unbeatable.

Great location. Food, meh. I don’t like eating with plastic utensils. Great place for hot chocolate.

Everything here is home made. The service is great!
Fish taco and Lobster tacos are absolutely AMAZING. If you are really hungry, order two otherwise, one might be plenty — they are huge.
Dont judge a book by its cover. From the outside you might misjudge this fun joint and potentially miss out on some of the best fish tacos ever.

Really great place! Wonderful service and good food. Can’t beat the views you are over the water! Servings are big

Walked the OB pier, passed by the café and decided to check it out.
It’s a quaint, old café. Nautical themed. The menu had typical beach/​SD fare… seafood, mexican. They also have breakfast items. A few items on their menu stated that they were «famous» or «as seen on TV,» unsure how true that is and what year that would be.
Ordered the «tackle box.» It had quesadillas, «rolled» tacos, onion rings and their famous sinkers. The sinkers were touted as being cream cheese stuffed jalapeños that were battered and fried, they came out looking like hush puppies. The rolled taco was a huge disappointment, the meat was dry, the tortilla was super hard and that’s all that was in it. The onion rings were greasy and not that appealing. The only thing I really did enjoy, and finish was the quesadilla, but I mean, how can you mess up a quesadilla?

I will be completely honest with you, my expectations regarding the food weren’t very high going in. After all, this is a café on a pier. This visit was supposed to be all about the atmosphere and location. For starters, the weather couldn’t have been any better. Picture perfect San Diego weather. Sunny, warm and breezy.
We leisurely strolled down the pier towards the café. As we walked along we could see plenty of locals fishing from the pier and surfing in the waves below. The OB pier is the longest cement pier on the West Coast and you do not need a license to fish from it. It’s referred to as a fishing pier. The seagulls aren’t intimidated by the sight of humans and let you get up close for a good photo opportunity. Even the pigeons looked healthy. Maybe it has something to do with the pleasant coastal climate.
Once we arrived at the café, we were greeted by Marianna, who advised us to sit anywhere we found to our liking and promptly provided us with menus. The coffee was about what I was expecting, but the food caught me by surprise. I would have been fine with a fast food quality meal given the location, but the food was a pleasant surprise. I ordered the Fisherman’s Special which included pancakes, eggs, potatoes, and choice of bacon or sausage. Marianna was kind enough to split my portions in half and give me one of each. The bacon was great and the rest was well beyond what I expected. The Mrs. opted for Chocolate Chip Pancakes and the manchild got, no surprise here, a cheese burger. I was able to sample the CC Pancakes as well as the burger and fries. Every bite far exceeded my expectations. The total was just under $ 40.00 for three of us. Given the location, atmosphere and quality of food, it was well worth it.
If you are up for a little walk (round trip from shore to the café and back is about half a mile), and you like the ocean air, I would definitely give it a go. Do yourself and go when the weather is nice though, the picture on the front of the menu is of the waves going over the top of the pier.

I planned a little mini-​vacation from Los Angeles and planned it around the OB Farmer’s Market.
I woke up in Hermosa Beach (currently my home) and drove to Ocean Beach (my home away from home) as the sun was beginning to awake. As I was driving I had already planned out a little late breakfast, early lunch /​linner at the Ocean Beach Pier Café also referred to as the ‘WOW’ Café based on the view. I refer to this Café as simply ‘The Chart House,’ in my opinion there is simply no better view anywhere!!!
I had not eaten here in many years but the second I walked in all the memories came back to me. I remember running down this Pier and past this closed Café in the middle of the night to jump off the end of the Pier and race my friends into shore. I remembered the cold mornings surfing right below this Café looking up at the folks with warm cups of coffee and steaming hot pancakes. I remember getting out of the water only to give into temptation and indulge in a very carb friendly meal to warm my bones=)
When I walked in this past Wednesday (01-​28-​2015) the Café only had 4 occupants in the form of two couples sitting against the wall of windows facing South Mission Beach. I was by myself and sat at the counter facing towards the end of the Pier. The view was simply amazing!!! This Café is literally located ½ way out on the 2^nd longest Pier on the West Coast; you cannot find a better view.
I ordered the Fisherman’s special which consists of 3 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon and/​or sausage and breakfast potatoes. I mixed my order up some; I had them hold the breakfast potatoes and added both bacon & sausage. Instead of ordering the basic buttermilk pancakes which are so dang good, I ordered banana pancakes and had sliced bananas placed in the batter as they were cooking (extra $ 2.95), for a drink I went with water with lemon.
After a short wait my food was brought to my table. The food presentation here is simple at best, your utensils are plastic and your food is basically served in a basket but trust me it is worth it. My pancakes came out so hot that it was hard for me to even take a bite; my eggs, bacon & sausage were cooked to perfection. I had an incredible meal, enjoyed every minute while enjoying the view.
After I finished my meal I spent the next 6+ hours before the Farmers Market started walking around OB, on the Cliffs and burnt off the pancakes I just consumed.
If you are looking for that ‘something special’ restaurant /​Café look no further than the Ocean Beach Pier Café you will not be disappointed you decided to give it a shot.
On the weekends this Café tends to get a tad busier then during the week, if that is the case outdoor seating is available.
Trust me order the pancakes!!!

I live about 600 miles away from here, but this place is almost worth the drive by itself (being at the beach is just the whip cream on the cake). The lobster tacos are great. Most of their platters will make a big guy ask for a doggie bag. Everything on the menu is great (I’m not a big fan of the lobster omelets but I suspect it’s personal taste).
If you’re in SD, stop by the pier and have a lobster taco. Great view, lots of interesting activity going on and just an all around pleasant experience. Every single time.

Great 360 view. Trying the lobster tacos only $ 6.00. Tried the hot chocolate as well, comes with whipped cream and syrup, it was delicious. Very comfortable and homey.

While visiting the Ocean Beach pier, I had no idea there would be a restaurant on the actual pier. Luckily I was hungry and, being in SoCal, I had to have tacos. And being by the beach, having fish seemed ideal. I got the grilled mahi mahi tacos after inspecting the menu and noticing they’re popular for those fish tacos.
The place is family owned and I only noticed 2 people working, the cook and the server. There is a takeout window as well as indoor dine-​in seating. I opted for the former and ate at one of their three tables right outside.
The lady who took my order was polite and you could see the guy cooking his butt off. You see right into the kitchen at the takeout window, which was relieving to me since the place, from the outside, looks somewhat worn down. What do you expect from a café so far out into the ocean on a pier? LOL
As for the food. $ 9 for the grilled mahi mahi fish tacos with a side of clam chowder and a bread bowl or biscuit. There was a generous helping of fish (delicious!), lettuce, tomatos, yummy white sauce, and whatever else. They were not skimping at all! The chowder was served nice and hot, flavorful, and full of clams. The biscuit was fluffy and moist. They also provide free water for people eating outside.
Overall, I think it was worth it. Only issue is that they kinda took a while bc they forgot about my order.

Splendid views, great service… it could even be a very romantic spot… however the food offered in lacking quality, it looks greasy and taste ok. I only go there when there is someone in town that has not been there and want to show the soul of Ocean Beach minus the old hippies:) This café is located in a prime location, please do something about revamping the place! It is a pity that the fish does not even seem to be very fresh in a pier! I go there for the views and quick something, not elaborate food.

Unexpected delight!
I stopped in here on a morning pier walk to get some breakfast. It was a Wednesday morning about 8:00. I was the only person there and had a lovely seat by the windows, looking out over the water towards the beach and the ever-​present surfers. I ordered the Mexican omelette for $ 9. It was a huge omelette with sides of refried beans and cheese, delicious potatoes and salsa, and iced tea. There was enough food for two, it was all fresh and delicious.
The restaurant was clean (grade A) and welcoming, service friendly and smiling. Bonus: the condiment table had a live cilantro plant you could help yourself to.