The US Open of Surfing is a lot of things: an elite sporting event, a sprawling beach party and an annual reminder that no amount of sunscreen is enough sunscreen.
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It’s also an all-day affair. The competition returns to Huntington Beach from Saturday, July 25 through Sunday, Aug. 2, bringing nine days of surfing music, athlete appearances and crows to the sand south of the pier. At some point, you will require more than an iced coffee and whatever snacks are buried beneath the towels in your beach bag.
From tacos and lobster rolls to fried cheese strips and gelato, here are seven places to eat near the action.
Little Sister
Located across Coast Highway at Pacific City, Little Sister is a sit-down option for anyone who wants to evade the sand and spend an hour eating from an actual plate.
The restaurant’s menu draws heavily from Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cooking, with French influences throughout. Highlights include imperial rolls stuffed with crab, shrimp and pork, or the lemongrass chicken wings. Larger dishes include shaky shaky beef, coconut chicken curry, triple garlic noodles and black rice loaded with shrimp, scallops, octopus and mussels.
It’s not the quickest stop on this list, but it works well for dinner after the competition or, Thursday through Sunday, for when when you’ve had enough sun and sand for the day. And not for nothing, Little Sister’s sleek decor provides a refreshing contrast to all of the beach- and nautically themed eateries in the area.
Find it: 1016 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite D200, Huntington Beach; dinelittlesister.com
Broad Street Oyster Co.
This spot sits at the end of the Huntington Beach Pier, offering a long walk over the water and an unobstructed view of the competition below.
The seafood counter is known for its lobster, served either warm with butter or chilled with mayonnaise. Diners can also add caviar, uni or extra lobster, depending on appetite and available funds.
Other options include oysters, fish and chips, fried clams, seafood tacos and a cheeseburger. Seating is available but taking your order outside and eating along the pier is part of the appeal, provided seagulls keep their distance.
Find it: 1 Main St., Huntington Beach; broadstreetoyster.com
Tacos Los Cholos
By cooking its meats over mesquite, giving everything from the asada to the ribeye a smoky edge, Tacos Los Cholos offers some of the best taqueria fare in the seaside town. The menu divides its meats into regular, premium and prime categories. Options include adobada, chorizo, arrachera, costilla, pork belly, ribeye and filet mignon. Order them as tacos, quesadillas, mulitas or atop the Cholo Pizza.
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The Huntington Beach outpost is a short(ish) stroll from the pier, ideal for a quick respite from the sun-tinged crowd. A few tacos should do the job, although restraint becomes near impossible once the grilled onions and melted cheese get involved.
Find it: 333 Walnut Ave., Huntington Beach; tacosloscholos.net/hb
Mangiamo Gelato Caffe
After several hours standing on hot sand, gelato is nothing short of sound and sensible self care. Mangiamo Gelato Caffe makes dozens of gelato and sorbetto flavors, with the selection rotating on the regular. Get a couple of scoops in a cup or a house-made waffle cone. Flavors can range from familiar choices like pistachio, stracciatella and chocolate to fruity sorbettos (sorbets).
The Main Street shop also serves Lavazza coffee, gelato frappes and affogatos made with espresso poured over gelato, the latter being ideal for afternoon slumps.
Find it: 124 Main St., ste 101, Huntington Beach; mangiamo-gelato.com
Sandy’s Beach Shack
Sitting on the sand just south of the pier, Sandy’s Beach Shack makes one of the easiest places to get a full meal without wandering too far from the action.
The menu covers familiar beachside territory with burgers, tacos, fish and chips, salads and sandwiches. The Beach Bum Burger remains a solid choice, while the salmon tacos and fish and chips keep things close to the water. Sandy’s also boasts dozens of craft beers on tap and a full bar. The patio is pretty popular too, so expect to rub elbows as the competition winds down.
Find it: 315 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; sandysbeachshack.com
Dwight’s Beach Concession
Dwight’s has been feeding Surf City beachgoers since 1932, with its cheese strips being the headliners. The portable dish features a tangle of fried tortilla strips blanketed in shredded cheese and served with Dwight’s tangy, tomato-base strip sauce.
Dwight’s also serves burgers, chicken sandwiches and hot dogs. Order the frank “Dwight’s Way,” and it arrives with grilled onion, cheddar and strip sauce. The concession stand is south of the pier, close to the competition area and built for eating right off the beach.
Find it: 201 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; www.dwightscheesestrips.com
Festival Village food trucks
For pure practicality, the food trucks found inside the Festival Village is the most practical option for anyone who doesn’t want to leave the event, lose good viewing or make the walk back across Coast Highway.
This year’s food truck vendors include Messi Truck (burgers), Afters Ice Cream, Kona Ice Tacos Nice, Cali Food Truck, Toum Boom (Jordanian shawarma), West Coast Hibachi and Meriscos Arenita (tacos and more), which can be found in the beach area. Zoey’s Munchies and Crispy Bros. will open inside the event’s dedicated 21-and-over bar venue. Festival Village hours run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day of the event.
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Find it: Festival Village, Main St. and Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach