• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

  • All
  • Family
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Decor
  • About Lena
  • Contact

Food Diary: Huntington Beach, California

July 20, 2017 By Lena 28 Comments

We can talk about location, attractions, etc. etc… but we all know what makes a good vacation great: the food.
Pictured above, Ahi Poke Bruschetta from Pete’s Sunset Grille. Wakame seaweed salad, ponzu, sriracha aioli, tobiko caviar, bread crisps, olive oil and micro basil.

Our recent trip to Huntington Beach stands out in my mind, in part thanks to the kid-friendly activities, pristine beach and gorgeous weather… and of course, because of the gastronomic delights. Here’s my food diary, showcasing my favourite spots to have a fabulous meal. 

Breakfast. Especially when travelling, I love to start the day with a hearty, savoury breakfast. After all, we don’t know where the day will take us, and often, we’ll graze at lunch vs. sitting down a proper meal. For the most drool-worthy breakfasts in Huntington Beach, visit Watertable – located inside the Hyatt.
Fancy a flatbread? How about Watertable’s Breakfast Flatbread, with roasted tomato, sweet peppers, fiscalini cheddar, caramelized onions, sausage and bacon ragu, arugula and over easy eggs.

Featuring contemporary American food, the restaurant offers the best of the region’s fresh, local produce. Guests can indulge in Watertable’s health-minded breakfast buffet or order off the menu, indulging in items such as Huevos Rancheros, Crab Hash or the famed SoCa: a bacon maple waffle, poached eggs, chicken-fried chicken, country slaw and sriracha hollandaise.
Reservations and an empty stomach are recommended.

Lunch. There’s only one place I want to have a midday meal in Surf City USA: Duke’s Huntington Beach. An iconic restaurant and a fixture on the waterfront, its named for Duke Kahanamoku, who brought the sport of surfing to Huntington Beach and the Southern California shores. The menu is crammed with fresh fish entrees with a Cal-Asian twist; sides are simple offerings of rice and vegetables.
Since I indulged in a Poke Bowl at another hotspot the night before, I settled on grilled fish tacos with flour tortillas, tomatillo sauce, guacamole, pico de gallo and tortilla chips. After reading restaurants reviews after I returned home (uncharacteristically amateur on my behalf), I realize I perhaps should have ordered the Mango Burger and I definitely should have sampled the hula pie. There’s always next time!
Of course, the best thing about Duke’s is the atmosphere; perched directly on the beach, people-watchers will be in seventh heaven, while the sun-kissed waters glistening in the distance will mesmerize and delight. Aloha!

Dinner. With indoor and outdoor seating in a casual, family-friendly setting, Pete’s Sunset Grille is one of the best options for guests staying at the Hyatt Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. The menu is inspired by surf destinations around the world, the most popular dishes being their signature offerings: Pete’s Famous Fish Tacos and Shrimp ‘n Chips.
My husband raved about his Grilled Ribeye skewer and after one taste I had to agree; the Maui onion puree, chimichurri and blueberry balsamic were perfectly matched to meaty kebab.

And the kids? “The best burger,” my little guy declared. You can’t get a better endorsement than that!

In the mood for Mexican? Stroll into Pacific City – only a 5 minute walk from the Hyatt – and visit Ola Mexican Kitchen. With one of the best views of the California coast from almost every seat in the house, their menu fuses authentic Mexican comfort food like tacos and burritos with elevated regional influences.
Start with the Acapulco Ceviche; traditional ceviche with Mexican rock fish, tequila citrus vinaigrette, roasted pineapple pico de gallo. The ingredients are burst-in-your-mouth fresh with just the right balance of sweet and sour. Follow with Blackened Shrimp Tacos, combining pan seared shrimp with chile-lime aioli, guacamole and pomegranate seeds on a blue corn tortilla. I’m not joking when I say that I daydream of this meal, frequently.
Now that I’ve detailed our adventures in food, I find myself presented with a dilemma: do I return to these amazing restaurants, or try something new? (If only all my dilemmas involved delicious food!)

For more information on dining options in Huntington Beach, visit surfcityusa.com.

This post is sponsored by Visit California. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own. 

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #kidifornia, Duke's Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach, visit california

« 48 Hours in Huntington Beach
It’s a Springfree Summer Jumpoff! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynda Cook

    July 21, 2017 at 11:18 am

    All this food looks way to fancy for me, lol, I’m not used to anything like this!!

    Reply
  2. Susan T.

    July 21, 2017 at 5:50 pm

    That Poke Bowl looks delicious! We don’t get fresh fish like that in Alberta. That’s one of the great things of vacationing on the coast!

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth Matthiesen

    July 21, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    Remind me never to go anywhere near this place, heavens the food I’d pile on the kilos for sure :-)

    Reply
  4. Florence Cochrane

    July 22, 2017 at 11:05 am

    I think I put on weight drooling over the delicious pictures of food. I like almost everything.

    Reply
  5. kathy downey

    July 22, 2017 at 1:10 pm

    So my you must have strong will-power to stay so slim with all those delicious food…

    Reply
  6. nicky

    July 22, 2017 at 4:25 pm

    Everything looks so delicious! I’d love to try that Ahi Poke Bruschetta!!

    Reply
  7. Krista M

    July 23, 2017 at 12:41 pm

    Everything here just screams fresh! Wow I love how they have used local produce in all their dishes. That chicken & waffles plate looks divine. Yes you should return & sample all you can!

    Reply
  8. HEIDI C.

    July 23, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    I think that I gained ten pounds just looking at all that yummy food. I am not sure which one I would choose first!

    Reply
  9. Guppy

    July 25, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    These are all so gorgeous! That SoCa is so different from what I consider ‘breakfast food’ that I’d love to try it!

    Reply
  10. Kristi Friesen

    July 27, 2017 at 10:54 pm

    I love seeing all the great photos of the food that you get to try, it all looks amazing.

    Reply
  11. Lushka Smith

    July 29, 2017 at 3:37 pm

    Wow a foodie’s dream.

    Reply
  12. Ron

    July 30, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    All the food looks great, especially the rib eye skewer.

    Reply
  13. kristen visser

    July 31, 2017 at 11:58 am

    oh my gosh!!! I seriously want one of everything. I shouldn’t have looked at these pics before lunch lol. puts my lunch to shame and now i have a craving for everything shown here

    Reply
  14. Luzviminda Gunter-Smith

    July 31, 2017 at 11:46 pm

    Oh you made me so hungry just simply looking at the photos,would love to try them

    Reply
  15. Terri Baker

    August 12, 2017 at 10:35 am

    Everything looks so fresh and delicious! YUM!

    Reply
  16. Treen Goodwin

    August 21, 2017 at 8:58 am

    wow that food looks so yummy , looks like a great place , would love to go there one day !

    Reply
  17. DebH

    August 23, 2017 at 4:27 pm

    Oh that food all looks so yummy; maybe one day drool…

    Reply
  18. Anna Roszak-Robinson

    August 24, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Oh my, I wish I could cook like you. Looks so good.

    Reply
  19. Carole D

    August 24, 2017 at 9:07 pm

    Everything looks so delicious! I love to eat fancy food! It’s a real treat!

    Reply
  20. LisaM

    September 1, 2017 at 7:22 am

    Oh gosh – it’s been ages since we’ve been to California. This all looks fantastic!

    Reply
  21. kathy downey

    September 2, 2017 at 11:43 am

    I would love to try everyone of those dishes,they all look amazing

    Reply
  22. loriag

    September 4, 2017 at 9:20 am

    All the food looks most excellent. I would love to try the Watertable’s Breakfast Flatbread.

    Reply
  23. Peter Tusa

    September 16, 2017 at 11:42 pm

    Yum! Everything looks so fresh and tasty!

    Reply
  24. Josie Tusa

    September 17, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    Everything looks so fancy and delicious.

    Reply
  25. Janet M

    September 18, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    The food pictures are excellent. Everything looks so good.

    Reply
  26. kathy downey

    March 29, 2018 at 10:22 am

    This post always makes me feel hungry,looks so delicious!

    Reply
  27. tiesha

    July 30, 2018 at 10:54 am

    I love Poke. That looks sooo good!

    Reply
  28. Athena

    November 19, 2018 at 7:55 pm

    That looks so good!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

Connect with Lena

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Current Giveaways

Instagram

Instagram post 2199841176073210228_327607838 Now that’s the right stuff! I originally made this Cranberry, Pear and Bacon Stuffing two years ago, and it’s since become my most requested dish at holiday meals! This year, I elevated the recipe with @mapleleaffoods Lazy Maple Natural Bacon. The combination of sweet and savoury flavours is simply too good to resist! The recipe is SO EASY to make and comes out perfect every time - promise!
.
• 5 strips Maple Leaf Lazy Maple Natural Bacon, 
cooked and crumbled
• 1/4 cup butter
• 4 celery ribs, finely chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 loaf day-old white bread, roughly torn into pieces
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 pear, chopped
• 1-1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
• 2 cups chicken broth
.
Preheat oven to 375°F. 
Melt butter in a large pan; add celery and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, 5 to 7 min. Sprinkle with poultry season and mix until combined. Remove from heat.
.
In a large bowl, combine bread pieces and cooked vegetables along with cooked bacon, cranberries and pear. Toss bread to coat. Pour in enough broth to moisten bread.
.
Transfer mixture to a 9- x 13-in. baking dish and loosely cover with foil. Bake in centre of preheated oven for 20 min. Remove foil and continue baking until top is lightly golden, 20 to 25 min more. Delish! 😋 #RealMapleLeaf #ad
Instagram post 2199135712100448684_327607838 It’s a well-known fact: if you want to learn the features of your latest tech, ask your kid! 🙋🏼‍♂️Reid is obsessed with the HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Lite and when asked what he loves most, he has a lot to say! The tablet boasts a brilliant 10.1-inch 1080p display so he doesn’t miss a thing while watching his favourite movies or playing games. (And, HUAWEI ClariVu™ technology enhances display brightness and clarity.) The tablet was co-engineered with Harman Kardon, which is music to Reid’s ears! 🎶 The quad-speaker system delivers fine-tuned and precise audio. The best part? It takes less than 3 hours to fully charge the HUAWEI MediaPad M5 lite, and its battery life is loooooong. If you’re looking for the perfect tablet to gift this holiday season, this is it! 🎁 #HuaweiMediaPad #HuaweiM5Lite #HolidaysWithHuawei #Huawei_Partner
Instagram post 2198178178451471340_327607838 We've had a late start to decorating this holiday season, but every few days, we dress down in our comfiest clothes, turn up the Christmas carols and tackle another thing on our list! This past weekend the boys helped me put the finishing touches on our tree. Don't you just love our @UNIQLOCanada loungewear? My #ExtraStretch Long Sleeve Set has all-direction stretch for the ultimate in comfort, and the boys' #ExtraStretch Sweat Sets are their favourite chillin' clothes. (Psst - my #CurlyFleece Room Shoes are currently on SALE and make a great gift!) #LifeWear #UNIQLOCanada #ad
Instagram post 2196942347640341480_327607838 Holiday shopping this week? 🛍 Let @shopSTC make it easy! Scarborough Town Centre's Guest Services pop up (relocated beside Entrance 4) is a newly transformed space offering exclusive shopping amenities. Chill out in the visitors’ lounge, lighten your load with coat/parcel check and strike another thing off the "to do" list by purchasing STC gift cards or utilizing gift wrapping services. It's all designed with your comfort and convenience in mind, and let me tell you, it's so appreciated during this busy holiday season! Psst - only TWO weeks left until Christmas! 🎄#MeetMeAtSTC #STCPartner
Instagram post 2196198335807567733_327607838 The holidays are here, and what better way to share in the joy of the season than with a potluck! It’s the perfect way to celebrate togetherness, one dish at a time. Here are my best tips for hosting a fun potluck with friends:

1. Grab EVERYTHING you need from @walmartcanada. Yes, everything! Swipe ➡️ to see the amazing holiday-themed dishes and decor I purchased from my local store. From table runners to trays, serving dishes to sparkly ornaments, you'll be able to dress up your table in style while saving money.

2. Elevate your apps. I made a more grown-up spin on cheese and crackers by stacking flavourful Great Value Old Cheddar and Great Value Original Turkey Sausage Sticks on top of Great Value Wheat Thins - finishing with a sprinkle of chives. It's so simple to make and believe me when I say they go quickly, especially at parties!

3. Assign a variety of tastes, textures and flavours. This includes hot and cold appetizers, sweet and savoury sides and of course, make sure someone (or everyone) brings wine!

4. Use gift tags to describe the dishes. I lay out gift tags and a sharpie; as friends arrive, I ask them to write down their name and the name of the dish. Not only does it help at the end of the evening when it comes time to pack off the leftovers, it reduces the inevitable "What is this?" question from fellow guests.

Cheers to potluck perfection! #SpendSmallGiveBig #ad
Instagram post 2194764560406110512_327607838 How do you like your nuggets? I love mine hot, crispy and with "plantiful" flavour! Introducing @lightlifefoods Plant-Based Nuggets, now available for a limited time at @awcanada restaurants in Ontario and BC. These delicious nuggets are made entirely from plant-based ingredients right here in Canada, including peas, wheat and fava beans. Packed with 17g of plant-based protein per 6-piece serving, they're fun to eat and fun to share! Of course, now comes the big question: are you dipping them in Honey Mustard, Barbecue, Sweet & Sour or Jalapeno Ranch? I say, all four! Pop into your local A&W to try them! #LightlifexAW #ad
Instagram post 2194042482895765300_327607838 Experiences, not things. This holiday season, I’ve been focused on gifting experiences that can be shared with my loved ones. From adults-only travel adventures to one-on-one special time with each of my little guys, I’m convinced that the gift of time is the most priceless gift of all. Recently, I had an opportunity to enjoy a Priceless Experience with @mastercardca in one of their Priceless Cities, Miami. We sat at the executive chef's table at @three_wynwood and feasted on a tasting menu curated especially for Mastercard cardholders who book this experience. Visit my blog for all the details on our incredible date night, and information on how you can gift a Priceless Experience to a loved one this holiday season. #StartSomethingPriceless #ad
Instagram post 2192946946914561554_327607838 Each year, since the boys were very young, we've had a tradition: we head to @walmartcanada to choose a piece of holiday decor that gives them joy. It's usually an ornament, candle or stocking holder, but this year, Ryder and Reid both selected Nutcracker figurines. I love seeing the house filled with their beloved choices year after year. And since Walmart has so many seasonal goods at low prices, we never have to break the bank to create lasting memories. Because I always shop with my Walmart Rewards Mastercard, I was able to use my Walmart Rewards Dollars to pay for Ryder's Nutcracker figurine and got it for free! You can't put a price tag on holiday happiness, but our little tradition allows us to spend small and give big—exactly what the season is all about.
.
{Paid partnership with Walmart Rewards Mastercard} #ad #WalmartRewardsMastercard #YouEarnedIt #SpendSmallGiveBig
Instagram post 2192587720832841284_327607838 “Frinter!" ❄️ You know, the season where it's not *so* cold that you're cursing mother nature and you're still enjoying the crunch of colourful leaves underfoot. I'm ready for all the elements in my @UNIQLOCanada #HybridDown Ultra Warm Short Coat. It's actually UNIQLO’s warmest down outerwear! Filled with down and AIRTECH technology on the outside, I love that the non-quilted design reduces the bulk and gives a smooth, modern silhouette. #UNIQLOCanada #LifeWear #ad

Featured

Cruise Views: 10 Reasons to Escape with Norwegian Cruise Line

Toy Story Land: A BIG New Way to Play at Walt Disney World!

Beaches Turks & Caicos: Your FAQs Answered!

Copyright © 2019 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework