Patio Drive In

The ice cream dipped chocolate cones are bomb but the Asian or Korean or whatever kind of worker working that day was a total jerk and literally screamed at me for looking for the exact amount of change to give him. Then I saw I believe this guy was one of the owners shame on him and I saw with my own two eyes him drop my plastic spoon then hand it to me! It was gross. The ice cream was still bomb tho and I got my own spoon. Don’t really trust that guy and he’s gonna lose customers with his poor attitude and dropping our utensils on the ground the giving them to people to use. I hope he somehow learns his lesson. But please don’t stop the chocolate dipped cones lol just bring your own utensils! lol

OK, first off, understand that this place isn't fancy. It isn't supposed to be fancy. It's a tiny greasy roadside burger shack. And somehow the magical alchemy they do in that cheap little kitchen keeps me coming back twice a week forever. How is it so good? Don't know, don't care.

The Patio has been around forever and I've been going for years and years. I make a point to visit just about every time I drive through castroville. Owners are very nice people. The eating area is is clean and we'll maintained. Food always come out delicious. It has been consistently good and the food hasn't changed (which is a good thing) since I was in High School.

Love the small town vibes. Delicious burger and tasty shake. Wish the teriyaki was a lil sweeter. All in all service was great and town was welcoming.

Great food served up with an attitude. Their policy board is a must read while you're waiting for your food. But read fast because though this is not "fast food", they serve it up quick and made to order. The only downside is that once in awhile you'll go and find them closed when posted hours say they should be open.

Great place to stop on the way to Carmel Valley for a pre-wine tasting lunch! Friendly staff as well!

Great food for a great price. Been going here for years and it's just a good place to get straight up Burgers and fries. Try a Patio Burger combo with a chocolate shake, you won't be disappointed.

The best mom and pop burger joint in castroville, the family there is always nice and they keep it straight up. Make sure to read their signs before ordering, they're hilarious. The food is top notch!

One of our favorite fast food locations that locally run and when we're in the area, we usually make it a point to dropped by and get a bite or treat. The grilled chicken sandwich is my usual meal. The staff are courteous.

Wow, shame on us for not trying this place WAY sooner. Everything we got was delicious and we can't wait to go back and try other items like their teriyaki. They have some awesome words on their signage so make sure to read that lol. Limited seating inside 🍔🍔🍔

Great food with serious pride put into each and every item on the menu. The teriyaki chicken plate is a go to meal! These guys make a perfect burger too. It's great to see a place still open and thriving since 1951.

Oh my god!! Their burgers are so good!! And fries too!! We stopped by today on our way to Monterey and it exceeded so much of our expectations. It looks like a family-run burger place, warm and cute, and the people here are so nice. :D we would love to visit again on our way back. Really made our day. Thanks!

My wife and I are from out of town and decided to try this place after several others disappointed us. We wanted a burger and saw this on the map and we are so happy we did! One of the BEST burgers I've ever had in my life. A simple bacon burger but man was it good! The strawberry shake was amazing, and the jalapeno fries were a perfect add on to the meal. Great pricing, fast service, and DELICIOUS food. I recommend completely!

After getting my box of jumbo artichokes from the Guidotti farm out there on Turtleback Ranch Road I was all in for a nice lunch. The farmer told me "Bout the best place to eat is the Patio Drive In" So...off I went. My sandwich pulled in at about 3 pounds, it took everything I could muster to eat it all. 5 stars all day long. ☆☆☆☆☆

Ordered patio burger, mini burg (only $3!), and cheesy fries. Really tasty, quick, good service, and even better that lunch clocked in at just $15. Can’t wait to come back for the teriyaki, Ortega burger, and so many fun items on their menu!

Hard to understand the owner's strong accent, but their food is bomb. The bread is the key... And their meat tastes fresh. Love the atmosphere's attitude (signs).

Really good food, a nice small and quiet place to eat.

Heather

Wow, shame on us for not trying this place WAY sooner. Everything we got was delicious and we can't wait to go back and try other items like their teriyaki. They have some awesome words on their signage so make sure to read that lol. Limited seating inside 🍔🍔🍔

Mia Salvagno

Great food with serious pride put into each and every item on the menu. The teriyaki chicken plate is a go to meal! These guys make a perfect burger too. It's great to see a place still open and thriving since 1951.

Luchen Zhang

Oh my god!! Their burgers are so good!! And fries too!! We stopped by today on our way to Monterey and it exceeded so much of our expectations. It looks like a family-run burger place, warm and cute, and the people here are so nice. :D we would love to visit again on our way back. Really made our day. Thanks!

Andrew Michener

My wife and I are from out of town and decided to try this place after several others disappointed us. We wanted a burger and saw this on the map and we are so happy we did! One of the BEST burgers I've ever had in my life. A simple bacon burger but man was it good! The strawberry shake was amazing, and the jalapeno fries were a perfect add on to the meal. Great pricing, fast service, and DELICIOUS food. I recommend completely!

American Angler

After getting my box of jumbo artichokes from the Guidotti farm out there on Turtleback Ranch Road I was all in for a nice lunch. The farmer told me "Bout the best place to eat is the Patio Drive In" So...off I went. My sandwich pulled in at about 3 pounds, it took everything I could muster to eat it all. 5 stars all day long. ☆☆☆☆☆

Dawn Howell

Ordered patio burger, mini burg (only $3!), and cheesy fries. Really tasty, quick, good service, and even better that lunch clocked in at just $15. Can’t wait to come back for the teriyaki, Ortega burger, and so many fun items on their menu!

Dennis Millan

Hard to understand the owner's strong accent, but their food is bomb. The bread is the key... And their meat tastes fresh. Love the atmosphere's attitude (signs).

Seth Robertson

Really good food, a nice small and quiet place to eat.

I've been going to Patio Drive In since I was a kid. Consistently great burgers, fries, and everything else. I recommend the Patio Burger with fries. If you're interested in a heavier meal, the chili cheese fries, cheese and jalapeño fries are also great. I also like that you can call in your order and it will be ready at the time they promised. Give them a try and keep their drive in burgers going for many more years.

My favorite burger in the Monterey area! We drive from PG for these burgers. Great shakes too. And the couple running the restaurant are so sweet!

Amazing hot food! Fast and friendly service! And sweet couple working the back of the house smoothly and efficiently! We are making this our new regular spot!

Family owned, and opperated. Some people, like Patio Drive In, are intensely passionate about their work and the product they put out. So much so that it can appear gruff, and that can rub people the wrong way. Lemme tell you, the food, the product they're putting out, is WORTH it. I've never had a bad time here.. Over the years, I've ordered different items off the menu, just to see what The Patio Experience is like, and it is goooood. 10/10, one of the only places I go when I want a top-notch burger...and fries...and their shakes are delicious.

I love burger joints like this, they always have such good, greasy food and this didn’t disappoint! The Ortega burger was juicy and flavorful, and the spicy grilled chicken sandwich had the perfect amount of heat. They have a decent selection of food to choose from, so I can’t wait to go back and try something else!

Love coming here with my mom for a quick bite :) always hits the spot burgers taste amazing and the veggies takes really good and fresh! Definitely worth the try!

I've only just started eating here so I'll update more later but so far the grilled chicken sandwich is really good and the level 3 spicy burger is really good too

Amy G

My favorite burger in the Monterey area! We drive from PG for these burgers. Great shakes too. And the couple running the restaurant are so sweet!

Miguel Jimenez

I've been going to Patio Drive In since I was a kid. Consistently great burgers, fries, and everything else. I recommend the Patio Burger with fries. If you're interested in a heavier meal, the chili cheese fries, cheese and jalapeño fries are also great. I also like that you can call in your order and it will be ready at the time they promised. Give them a try and keep their drive in burgers going for many more years.

Olivia Verle

Amazing hot food! Fast and friendly service! And sweet couple working the back of the house smoothly and efficiently! We are making this our new regular spot!

Dyllon Jacobson

Little cramped inside, hard to sit at the tables if you're tall, but the food, that's what's important. Good sizes on the burgers and great prices, tasty and delicious!

Twitch YT IG DragonMantisGaming

I've only just started eating here so I'll update more later but so far the grilled chicken sandwich is really good and the level 3 spicy burger is really good too

Emory B

Family owned, and opperated. Some people, like Patio Drive In, are intensely passionate about their work and the product they put out. So much so that it can appear gruff, and that can rub people the wrong way. Lemme tell you, the food, the product they're putting out, is WORTH it. I've never had a bad time here.. Over the years, I've ordered different items off the menu, just to see what The Patio Experience is like, and it is goooood. 10/10, one of the only places I go when I want a top-notch burger...and fries...and their shakes are delicious.

Jenna Hillhouse

I love burger joints like this, they always have such good, greasy food and this didn’t disappoint! The Ortega burger was juicy and flavorful, and the spicy grilled chicken sandwich had the perfect amount of heat. They have a decent selection of food to choose from, so I can’t wait to go back and try something else!

Got two Monster burgers with a BLT. It was my parties first time here and the food was cooked very well!! The fries were delicious along with our burgers !! I love the "hole in the wall" type of diners cause they're always so on point and Patio Drive-in, is one of those diners!!

Hits the mark for classic drive-in experience. The burgers are simple perfection- thin, crispy, and smothered in melted cheese. Like In-N-Out without the hype. The hot sauce is no joke, and I only had mild. I only bumped off for the chili on my fries, could've been more incorporated. Shakes were great, too. Menu has some curveballs, too, like rice plates and tacos... I'd just keep it basic. Great place to stop for a quick meal between Santa Cruz and Monterey.

On our way to Monterey we must have missed an exit or two so google maps directed us through some industrial areas. At one point of the trip we where both hungry and started to exchange ideas on where to go. My wife mentioned the idea about getting some burgers. Right after she mentions this, we turn around a corner and spot this little gem of a burger joint. The place looks exactly as one imagines a traditional burger joint which has been around for longer than the staff is alive. So we parked there and found out that there's seating inside. The signs all indicate drive in - which they probably don't even offer anymore. The place is a bit of a dive but very cute and clean. The selection is a bit overwhelming so my wife decided to get two sandwiches - she just couldn't decide. I went for the Patio Burger which was very good. Great beef and decent bread. I oversaw the spicy burger which can be ordered in levels of spicy between the default level and "call 911". The signs had a couple of typos, but that didn't impact the food ;-)

I got the chili burger and the chili dog it was good! The chili didn't tasted canned (it probably is) My husband got the burger on the hot challenge he agreed it was spicy but not "challenge hot" its made with their "house hot sauce " I would definitely go back for the food but the customer service was blah 😐 the girl upfront just wanted me to hurry order so she can move to the next

Cute little place that we stopped at to get lunch. On our way down from San Francisco on Highway one. It was just a cute older couple running it and a good amount of people inside having lunch with us. The menu is pretty extensive as they have American and Asian items available. Some of the prices are a little high but I understand why, as it's a small town, so the import prices may be higher. The parking lot is a little tight, so just be careful going around the corners and parking. There is a bathroom on the backside of the building but it's a little sketchy but it gets the job done. It took maybe a few minutes for our food be ready and it was all hot and very delicious. They did mess up Our onion rings as they thought we wanted those instead of your fries and not add it on but that's OK. They were still delicious. You can also order outside at the order menu, if you'd rather just grab and go instead of sitting down. Like I said, a cute little spot for a quick lunch!

Natalie

Cute little place that we stopped at to get lunch. On our way down from San Francisco on Highway one. It was just a cute older couple running it and a good amount of people inside having lunch with us. The menu is pretty extensive as they have American and Asian items available. Some of the prices are a little high but I understand why, as it's a small town, so the import prices may be higher. The parking lot is a little tight, so just be careful going around the corners and parking. There is a bathroom on the backside of the building but it's a little sketchy but it gets the job done. It took maybe a few minutes for our food be ready and it was all hot and very delicious. They did mess up Our onion rings as they thought we wanted those instead of your fries and not add it on but that's OK. They were still delicious. You can also order outside at the order menu, if you'd rather just grab and go instead of sitting down. Like I said, a cute little spot for a quick lunch!

Food was good but not good enough to deal with the owner and the atmosphere. Condescending warning signs posted around and an owner that yells when you can't understand them. Glad I ordered food to go.

Well put together but I think they should use better quality beef. It looked good but didn't go down well. Wish I could have finished my burger dang it. They were friendly and quick. Maybe I'm just picky when it comes to meat.

I feel like it's been better in the past. Maybe it was just me, I didn't have anything to eat until about 4pm which may have contributed to my eating experience. Not saying that the food was bad. Perhaps I wasn't in the mood for the Patio.

Hamburger was good. Every thing else was just ok. Service..not that great. Area, semi-clean. Bathroom? Not that clean. I didn't like that they did not have options to your trimmings on hamburger. It was just all or nothing. People say it's better than In&Out burger...not in myopinion. I'd rather go to in & out.

I've been going to this place for 35 years and it has gradually gotten worse over time. Nowadays the food is priced higher and the quality is cut in half... that's being generous.This was once a jewel in Castroville and now it's a shell of what was once there. You'll get more bang for your buck and better quality food and Burger King on the other side of the bridge.

I don't want to be mean but If I was starving I might eat here. My wife and I both were ill after eating here. The milk shake was ok.

Patio combo #2 for $10.49+ tax, but picture shows it with cheese! Why was i charged an extra dollar for cheese? Burger was messy and smashed, fries tasted stale never come back here again... "Beware" Ripoffs"

Richard Ruiz

Patio combo #2 for $10.49+ tax, but picture shows it with cheese! Why was i charged an extra dollar for cheese? Burger was messy and smashed, fries tasted stale never come back here again... "Beware" Ripoffs"

Old man refused to give me a glass of water with my meal. Only bottled water for a price. I said forget it and I left. Unbelievable. I mentioned this to a well established restaurant owner with several restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula. He said that was really poor customer service. They missed out on a $12 order over a few ounces of tap water. I'll never go back. They've always been rude and the greed is tangible. This happened in early 2023.

Food is pretty good for whst is asked on the price. Problem is that the service and establishment itself bring it down lower, as does the inaccuracy of the order. I asked the gentlemen if they did lettuce wrapped burgers, but he seemed utterly confused by the simple request. I got my order with no bun instead and with pickles even though I politely asked for none. The establishment itself needs some tidy, paint and clean up as it feels like it needs a bit of maintenance inside. I wasn't avle to get a full good look of it wither as they kicked me out for having a service animal with me, forcing me to eat outside. That's a major mistake. I was hoping to try more on my next visit, but due to that, I won't be back. It's a pity. I can't recommend this place. Sorry.

WE WERE SHARING A STEAK SANDWICH AND THIS MAN REFUSED TO CUT IT IN HALF FOR US! Further bulling me with a chest thrust. Wth? The meat on the sandwich itself was sparingly thin and extremely salty. I guess this couple must've been in a bad mood? Or fighting, unless this is how they normally treat their customers. I've been here once before when a young lady was working, She was very nice and our sandwich came cut in half. GO FIGURE!

Tired Wanderer

Food is pretty good for whst is asked on the price. Problem is that the service and establishment itself bring it down lower, as does the inaccuracy of the order. I asked the gentlemen if they did lettuce wrapped burgers, but he seemed utterly confused by the simple request. I got my order with no bun instead and with pickles even though I politely asked for none. The establishment itself needs some tidy, paint and clean up as it feels like it needs a bit of maintenance inside. I wasn't avle to get a full good look of it wither as they kicked me out for having a service animal with me, forcing me to eat outside. That's a major mistake. I was hoping to try more on my next visit, but due to that, I won't be back. It's a pity. I can't recommend this place. Sorry.

P Largo

WE WERE SHARING A STEAK SANDWICH AND THIS MAN REFUSED TO CUT IT IN HALF FOR US! Further bulling me with a chest thrust. Wth? The meat on the sandwich itself was sparingly thin and extremely salty. I guess this couple must've been in a bad mood? Or fighting, unless this is how they normally treat their customers. I've been here once before when a young lady was working, She was very nice and our sandwich came cut in half. GO FIGURE!

Great place to stop off the highway. Small and classic with great menu options. The steak sandwich was great and the fries were perfect. Can't beat it for the price check it out on your way somewhere.

Jesse S

Great place to stop off the highway. Small and classic with great menu options. The steak sandwich was great and the fries were perfect. Can't beat it for the price check it out on your way somewhere.