Char West Fish & Chips

Heather Martin

Excellent casual beach grub and DOG FRIENDLY!! If you’re traveling with your pup and enjoying some time on the pier this is a great little spot for lunch. Lots of open seating patio tables to choose from. We went on a Monday so it was easier to find a table. Assuming the weekends are more crowded. Batter on the fish and chips was crispy and delicious. Clam chowder was excellent! I love that they don’t ruin the clam chowder by adding bacon. And we got a steak sandwich which was fine but we’d swap that for a burger next time. Overall really good spot for lunch! Keep in mind this place is super casual and counter service only. That was perfect for what we were looking for. However, there’s plenty of other options on the pier and in Santa Barbara if you want to sit down and have higher end service. If you’re looking for a quick, yummy, a casual lunch then this is def a great spot for you.

DJ Andreas

Classic SB vibes! 🌊 If you want a real Santa Barbara experience, grab a burger, sandwich, or fish and chips at Char West. It’s simple, delicious, and affordable dining right over the water. It’s also dog-friendly, which makes it the perfect stop during a walk on the pier. Five stars for the view and the food!

P. M.

Much better than the ratings show. Reasonable prices for the pier, breakfast meals plus tons of fish choices, fish tacos (or tri-tip or chicken), salads, tuna melt, etc. Delicious 😋 oceans views, eat indoor or out.

Steve Johnson

Great place with outdoor seating and great views. The food is fresh and amazing. Good service. Salad is excellent and the balsamic dressing wonderful.

Amy Sonder

Perfect little spot on the pier for a bite. We split a fish and chips which was perfect to share. The fish was SO fresh and the batter was light and crispy, it didn't overpower the taste of the fish at all. It wasn't too greasy and the tarter sauce was nice. Fries were crispy. Staff was very friendly and the service was quick. Good value too and can't beat the location.

Don Frasco

Free 90-minute parking on the pier. Menu is simple yet perfect for its location. Love their crispy fish and chips. Staff were friendly and helpful.

Anna R

Delicious fish and chips made fresh in a beautiful location - at the end of the pier. Can’t ask for much more than that. Very kind people working here and decent prices for what it is. Loved eating our meal on some of the tables outside Char West overlooking the ocean!

Ross Beck

Breakfast is the way! Incredible pancakes, bacon, eggs, classic diner coffee, all really good! Try the 3-2-1 wheatgerm pancakes, wow

Alia Crystal

Ordered the fish & chips as well as the fried clam strips, both were so delicious! Fried fresh to order and portions are plentiful!

Nash Holcomb

I had the clam chowder in a bread bowl and it was quite good! The bread was surprisingly soft and very delicious! Staff was very friendly and helpful/patient with my questions

Was VERY excited to discover Char West has carried on the tradition of East Beach Grill's yummy breakfasts - so missed when East Beach closed as it was our *favorite* place to bike down to on Sundays, to enjoy amazing pancakes, huevos rancheros and other favorites. So bit of nostalgia when we discovered Char West (only took us 4+ yrs to find out!) - and the food/service was just as lovely as the old place. Atmosphere would be 5 too but bit small/limited though still charming! :)

The fish and chips here are pretty good and there's a good amount of outdoor seating. Most importantly this restaurant has much less crowd than the one at the end of the pier. We didn't have to wait very long to order and then get our food.

Andrew

The fish and chips here are pretty good and there's a good amount of outdoor seating. Most importantly this restaurant has much less crowd than the one at the end of the pier. We didn't have to wait very long to order and then get our food.

Jill Bender

Was VERY excited to discover Char West has carried on the tradition of East Beach Grill's yummy breakfasts - so missed when East Beach closed as it was our *favorite* place to bike down to on Sundays, to enjoy amazing pancakes, huevos rancheros and other favorites. So bit of nostalgia when we discovered Char West (only took us 4+ yrs to find out!) - and the food/service was just as lovely as the old place. Atmosphere would be 5 too but bit small/limited though still charming! :)

Celia Sorensen

Santa Barbara’s and Stein Wharf’s best kept secret! Tucked behind a gift shop, we finally discovered this gem after several visits to the wharf. It is the best value on the wharf, great food, friendly people and a fabulous view from the outdoor tables. We had the fish and chips, wheat germ pancakes, and hamburger…all were fresh, hot and tasty. If we are ever back in Santa Barbara, this will be one of our first stops.

They have counter service here. Its not fancy, but not pricey as well. Fish and chips were made to order. The fries were nice and crunchy. Kids liked the fish and chips. Also got the cheese quesadilla which was good.

Char West is a no nonsense casual eatery located on Stearns Wharf. This place ain't fancy. It's counter service. The summer hours are 7am-7pm. Breakfast is served until 11 am, after that lunch is served. The menu includes coffee drinks, breakfast, burgers, fish n chips, clam strips, Clam chowder, fish sandwich, and salad. They even have a kids menu. It's a small place with limited seating with a few tables outside. The interior dining room has some windows, try to snag those tables for the view of the ocean. If you sit outside, watch out for the birds. They have no qualms of helping themselves to your food. Onto talking about the food... Char West self proclaims that the blueberry wheat germ pancakes are famous. It was past 11am when I visited, so I missed out on their claim to fame. Instead Hubs and I shared a cheeseburger and fries. $12.50. The patty was of a substantial size and pretty tasty. Moist and flavorful even fur a pre frozen patty. The bun was substantial and the fixings (sliced tomato and shredded iceberg lettuce) were fresh. sClassic, simple burger done right. I got no complaints about the fries. Served hot and golden crisp.

I ate here while visiting Stearns Wharf one afternoon. Food was OK, cooked fresh, and served with a smile. I ate the Gordo burger which has two patties and was good, cooked juicy with fresh topping ingredients. I enjoyed eating outside watching the boats off the pier.

Nice food great location and value for money other restaurants expensive and for me the views and outdoor seating make it a better place

Rakshit Pithadia

They have counter service here. Its not fancy, but not pricey as well. Fish and chips were made to order. The fries were nice and crunchy. Kids liked the fish and chips. Also got the cheese quesadilla which was good.

Lillian

Char West is a no nonsense casual eatery located on Stearns Wharf. This place ain't fancy. It's counter service. The summer hours are 7am-7pm. Breakfast is served until 11 am, after that lunch is served. The menu includes coffee drinks, breakfast, burgers, fish n chips, clam strips, Clam chowder, fish sandwich, and salad. They even have a kids menu. It's a small place with limited seating with a few tables outside. The interior dining room has some windows, try to snag those tables for the view of the ocean. If you sit outside, watch out for the birds. They have no qualms of helping themselves to your food. Onto talking about the food... Char West self proclaims that the blueberry wheat germ pancakes are famous. It was past 11am when I visited, so I missed out on their claim to fame. Instead Hubs and I shared a cheeseburger and fries. $12.50. The patty was of a substantial size and pretty tasty. Moist and flavorful even fur a pre frozen patty. The bun was substantial and the fixings (sliced tomato and shredded iceberg lettuce) were fresh. sClassic, simple burger done right. I got no complaints about the fries. Served hot and golden crisp.

Adrian Nagle

I ate here while visiting Stearns Wharf one afternoon. Food was OK, cooked fresh, and served with a smile. I ate the Gordo burger which has two patties and was good, cooked juicy with fresh topping ingredients. I enjoyed eating outside watching the boats off the pier.

jose fowler

Nice food great location and value for money other restaurants expensive and for me the views and outdoor seating make it a better place

Good tartar sauce for fish and chips. A bit greasy for my taste. Nuggets were eaten by kids in group. Not cheap. Fish & chips, one coke, and chicken nuggets $32.

Liliane Howland

Good tartar sauce for fish and chips. A bit greasy for my taste. Nuggets were eaten by kids in group. Not cheap. Fish & chips, one coke, and chicken nuggets $32.

The fish and chips were very greasy with not enough fish and too much batter. The sauce and the chips were the best part. Disappointed

Came here around 1pm and I was hungry because I didn't eat breakfast. Unfortunately, I should of picked a different place. I should of known because there was nobody else here and the business down the way was busy. I ordered Fish and chips, only because the menu sign read, "Must try." I thought this place is on the pier so it must have great fish and chips, WRONG! Too greasy, as in have some fish with your grease. It had a weird taste too. I was very disappointed. But the chips/french fries were good. I can see why this place was empty.

Ordered two portions fish and chips. There was no fish to be seen. Only batter. It had a tiny shredded pieces of fish. Worse fish and chips I have ever had. Don’t ever choose this place for there must try. Even the fish Tacos didn’t taste like anything. They do not know how to cook food.

Jerry L

Came here around 1pm and I was hungry because I didn't eat breakfast. Unfortunately, I should of picked a different place. I should of known because there was nobody else here and the business down the way was busy. I ordered Fish and chips, only because the menu sign read, "Must try." I thought this place is on the pier so it must have great fish and chips, WRONG! Too greasy, as in have some fish with your grease. It had a weird taste too. I was very disappointed. But the chips/french fries were good. I can see why this place was empty.

Anish D

Ordered two portions fish and chips. There was no fish to be seen. Only batter. It had a tiny shredded pieces of fish. Worse fish and chips I have ever had. Don’t ever choose this place for there must try. Even the fish Tacos didn’t taste like anything. They do not know how to cook food.