Grace Cheng

Fun place to go. I ordered the clam chowder and grilled bread. The clam chowder was awesome. I even liked the carrot hot sauce! My order was delivered quickly despite how busy they were

John Iskander

Splash Café absolutely lives up to the hype. I ordered the Fish Combo with calamari and cod, along with their famous clam chowder in a bread bowl, and everything was exceptional. The calamari was perfectly fried, tender, and seasoned just right. The cod was flaky inside with a crisp, golden coating that wasn’t greasy at all. The fries were fresh and everything came out hot. The clam chowder deserves its reputation. Rich, creamy, and packed with flavor, and the bread bowl was toasted perfectly with that buttery, crispy top. Easily one of the best chowders I’ve had on the Central Coast. Service was friendly, the food came out quickly, and the atmosphere is exactly what you want from a beach town staple. If you’re anywhere near Pismo Beach, Splash Café is a must. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Lune Rose

First time here, super yummy loaded chowder and discounted on Thursday! Love that they toast the center that gets cored out of the bread bowl. Friendly and quick service! Took a second to find seating but most people eat and leave quickly. Will definitely come back!

Glenn Gatineau

Nothing says Pismo Beach like Splash Café 🌊! The surfboard and wave exterior sets the scene, and their iconic clam chowder bread bowl 🥖🍲 is an absolute must-try.

Simon Lau

Everyone comes to Splash Cafe for their award winning clam chowder. I thought it was good but a bit heavy on the cream for me. What was really a surprise win for me was the chili cheese fries. They have a bean chili and it wasn't too heavy but was very filling. Parking is available as street parking adjacent to the restaurant but during the Saturday afternoon those spots were filled and I had to circle around the neighborhood given how busy the beach was. There's a line as patrons order outside and pick up their food on the other side of the building.

Melisho

Food is delicious! The best clam chowder I’ve ever had, you seriously need to come here if you love clam chowder. Great service and nice environment for everyone!

Joon K

Dude. The best clam chowder bread bowl I've had. Hands down. It's an award winning clamp chowder 18 years running. This is a must here. The lobster roll was also legit. It's a cold roll with mayo and celery. So damn good. I can eat that every day. I have to come back to try the fish and chips. It was worth the 3 hour drive from LA.

Joyce Lam

This place has such good vibes! Line can get pretty long though. Go early. The lobster roll and clam chowder were great! Get it fully loaded! And the fish tacos too!

Michael Ross

Yes it gets very crowded on wknds & holidays. Yes there's a wait to order, and again for your order to be ready. But all of it really isn't that bad... because this is the absolute best clam chowder on the West Coast - and anything west of the Mississippi. (For anything east of the Mighty Miss, you have to go to Massachusetts or Delaware!) Been here twice (Apr2025(2) & July2025 (5 of us)), line out the door & around the corner but it moved quickly and our order was taken 15 minutes later in both visits. The chowders,, calamari, and fish & chips arrived 15-20 minutes later and by then we already had a choice among 3 tables or counter seats opening up! Get the chowder loaded or not; scoop it up w/sourdough or not... any which way, it's way way beyond any chowder you'll ever have (except for a few very comparable venues on the East Coast). Fish & Chips were also exceptional! FYI - there are many along the Central CA Coast who also serve clam chowder... after sampling nearly 3 others hoping to find similar top-notch chowder, no one comes close to Splash!

805Local

Excellent fish and chips, some of the best I’ve had. Parking is a premium, it wasn’t easy to find a spot but the food makes it worth it! Definitely recommend this place. Seating is minimal, but take your food and walk down to the pier and enjoy the view 🤙🏼 🌊

Ted Fitch

We had the clam chowder bread bowl fully loaded and the seafood salad - WOW! They were outstanding! Excellent flavor and great portion sizes. We were full and satisfied. The clam chowder was the best we’ve ever had just on its own - but adding it into the bread bowl made it a killer combo. Come visit!

Mia S

It's busy from opening to closing and the clam chowder loaded or not is the reason. The fish and chips are good as well. You can take the clam chowder in the buttery bread bowl or a cup bowl. Either way it will not disappoint. A must visit every time I come to Pismo

Nancy Rios

I’ve been coming here for years, and they have hands down the best clam chowder in the area. I’ve tried other things on the menu, but the chowder is what keeps me coming back—always creamy, flavorful, and consistent. Definitely my go-to spot when I’m craving a comforting bowl. Best in the area, no question. Chef’s kiss! Pictured is the fully loaded chowder and their fish in chips .

Alan King

We came here based on a last minute recommendation and it was so good! The clam chowder was fantastic! We also enjoyed the lobster roll and the shrimp SLO boy. Seating is limited because it is so popular but most people move through quite quickly. Table service is super helpful and means customers aren't standing around. There was a short queue to get in but again, moved quite quickly. Well worth the visit! 🐟🦞

+6

michael behill

On a recent visit back to the West Coast, we made our way through the many beaches, with our last stop at Splash Café. It brought back childhood memories of waiting in line for their famous clam chowder in a bread bowl. The food was just as amazing as I remembered, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. While you might have to wait, it’s definitely worth it. Another great memory made!

+4

Tyler E. West

The clam chowder was superb and lived up to its claim of being "famous." The chowder was thick and served in a perfect sourdough bread bowl. There's other seafood items on the menu besides their clam chowder. The salmon was grilled just right, served on top of a salad which was satisfyingly big and included good ingredients. Would definitely eat there again.

+3

Amanda

The bread bowl lives up to its name, the bread itself AND the chowder were amazing. The lobster roll could be better but otherwise not bad. Clam strips and fries were good but not as impressionable. Otherwise overall service and atmosphere was amazing.

Helen Arens

Located near the pier in Pismo Beach. The clam chowder did have many clams, seems there were more porato chunks than clams. There was line to get in, so I was expecting amazing clam chowder, so I was disappointed to find it to be mediocre at best. The seafood salad was huge with lots of shrimp and crabmeat(surimi?). The staff are very efficient and got people their food quickly, so the line does move quickly. I was there on a Saturday in October and the place was packed, making it hard to find an open table. I can't imagine what it's like in July!

+5

C Lu

When in Pismo and looking for good eats, Splash is Always consistent here. The service, the clam chowder is absolutely the best in the west! Expect long lines, but it moves quickly. You can grab a table or take your order to go. The fish and chips are huge and meaty, steamers were small but cooked in a delicious sauce, ahi tacos were fresh and delicious. Do not miss this cafe it is worth it.

+3