Eateries & Restaurants in Carmel-by-the-Sea California
There are many restaurants in Carmel by the sea if you consider the valley and highland areas. Most of them have beautiful views and offer good food with prices ranging from relatively cheap to high-end Michelin star ones. At the end of the day, you get to try different cuisines with some of the best ingredients sourced from California and the rest of the world, all at this tiny yet prestigious beach city in The Golden State.
Tommy’s Wok Asian Restaurant on Ocean Boulevard
Asian food is quite common in California; however, in this part of the estate, getting cheap quality Asian food can be a hassle. For that, you can rely on Tommy’s Wok Asian Restaurant, which has become one of the top restaurants in Carmel CA, for Asian food at very affordable prices. For $20, you can fill your belly with a dish from the menu (chicken, pork, or beef) and order a drink on the side. The menu here is extensive; you can order more than orange chicken and Chow Mein from both lunch and dinner menus. The operation hours are daily except on Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for dinner.
R G Burgers in The Crossroads Carmel Shopping Center
A local burger joint that opened in 1990, R G Burgers is located on Crossroads Center Boulevard, inside The Crossroads Carmel shopping center. It is renowned for being one of the best places for dining in Carmel California, if you want to grab a burger and a side of fries. The menu primarily includes burgers (beef and vegetarian), milkshakes, hot dogs, sandwiches and hot soups. They are serving burgers from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. their phone number is (831) 626-8054 if you require more information.
Dutch Door Donuts in Carmel Plaza on Ocean Avenue
It is suggested that Dutch settlers brought donuts to the USA when they introduced them in New York. This shop similarly introduced Dutch classic donuts with a twist to the Carmel community with a great selection of flavors. This donut shop is located in Carmel Plaza, at 1 Mission Street, and it is one of the cheap places to eat in Carmel CA, for some sweets. They offer glazed donuts, but locals like raspberries, chocolate, classic donuts, and beignets. Every donut is made by order, ensuring their freshness and fluffiness. They also like dogs a lot here and provide delicious dog treats.
La Bicyclette Restaurant for French Food
The La Bicyclette Restaurant initially opened in 1974 under the name of La Boheme. The founding family sold and repurchased it in 2015 and renamed it to what it is today. The name of this restaurant inspired the childhood memories of family members in which they rode their bicycles around the French countryside. If you want a healthy lunch in Carmel, you should visit this restaurant. If you like French and Italian cuisine, La Bicyclette is one of the European restaurants in Carmel CA. The menu stars are linguine and wood fire pizzas but definitely try their French food, too, with prices ranging from $16 to $50. The exact location of La Bicyclette Restaurant is at the corner of Dolores Street & 7th Avenue.
A.W. Shucks Cocktail & Oyster Bar in Doud Arcade Shopping Mall
Purchased by the Sapons family in 2006, A.W. Shucks Cocktail & Oyster Bar in Doud Arcade Shopping Mall of Mission Street is one of the busiest seafood restaurants in Carmel CA, because of their quality oysters, clam chowder and fish & chips. The seafood prices here are very reasonable, and there are seafood sandwiches like tuna melt and shrimp sandwiches if you want something smaller. They are open daily from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., do not accept reservations, and you must walk in to find a seat there. They accept delivery and you can give them a call at 831-624-6605.
Aabha Indian Cuisine in The Barnyard Shopping Village
There are not many genuine Indian Restaurants in Carmel CA, that offer excellent quality and unique interiors, but Aabha is the one you are looking for. The Indian food in Carmel includes signature dishes like chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, rice biryani, and Indian lassi drinks. The price of the main menu items ranges from $20 to $40 but the sides and drinks are cheaper. You can visit Aabha Indian restaurant daily in The Barnyard Shopping Village from noon to 9 in the late evening.
Carmel-by-the-Sea Restaurants with a View to Remember
This town is known for its relaxing atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and valley views. And this is why many renowned restaurants in Carmel CA are built in specific areas to give you stunning views while enjoying your food.
Treehouse Café Rooftop Restaurant on San Carlos Street
When it comes to appreciating this city’s beauty, you need to dine on the rooftop of Treehouse Cafe, which is also one of the best restaurants in Carmel CA, with outdoor seating and great Greek and Mediterranean food. The menu here includes kebabs, seafood, pasta, salads, soups, burgers and sandwiches. Expect to pay something around $40 to $60 for your food and drink here. The location of Treehouse Cafe is at San Carlos Street (at 7th and 8th) and is open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Portabella Italian Restaurant on Ocean Avenue
Portabella is the place to have an exquisite Al Fresco dinner in Carmel. When it comes to Italian food, it is one of the restaurants in Carmel California, with delicious seafood and plates of pasta at very reasonable prices. They offer two separate lunch and dinner menus with prices ranging from $18 to $40 (calamari and seafood mix). You can find Portabella Italian restaurant between Lincoln and Monte Verde on Ocean Avenue.
Anton & Michel Fine Dining Restaurant on Mission Street
After the significant interior changes, Anton & Michel have turned this place into one of the most loved fine dining restaurants in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The warm lounge, outdoor fountain, and rustic stones create a lovely and romantic ambiance here for casual and formal dining occasions. The menus here are divided into lunch, dinner, kids, dessert, and wine; interestingly, the prices are not exaggerated, and you can have a pleasant light dinner for around $50. This restaurant is open to guests from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and there is no official dress code but it is best to dress smart casual, especially for dinner and formal parties.
Where Do the Locals Eat in Carmel?
Many locals here are not bound by prices and because of the overall vibe of the place, they will try all there is when it comes to food. Most of the cafes and restaurants are concentrated in areas like Golden Rectangle and Ocean Avenue. This is a small beach town and even though there is great diversity of food, the only place you can have very affordable food is at local cafes, donut shops and burger bars.
With all these fantastic eateries, you might ask yourself, which is the best restaurant in Carmel-by-the Sea, CA? Overall, when it comes to the affordability, range of delicious food and customer satisfaction, there are many cafes and restaurants in Carmel-by-the-sea that are worth visiting but the La Bicyclette Restaurant is a true gem in the city and many hail it as one of the best places to eat in the city because of its prices and the quality of the food you get. Portabella on Ocean Avenue is another good place that locals often visit for Italian food.
