Road Food Guide:

West Coast Road Eats

West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.

Cover of the West Coast Road Eats food guide for the Pacific Coast HighwayWest Coast Road Eats

‘The best road food from San Diego to the Canadian border’ is what this road food guide, West Coast Road Eats, promises. 

It’s written by Anna Roth, an award-winning food and travel writer, who must have plenty of chance to do in-depth research as she travels back and forth between her two homes, in Los Angeles and Seattle. She’s also the Managing Editor of the eHow Food website - not bad credentials for what could be a very useful book for Pacific Coast Highway drivers.

A USA west coast burger

In her travels, the author has covered over 1500 miles of West Coast roads, and describes hundreds of road food stops. These range from seafood shacks and burger joints to ice cream parlors, wineries and brew pubs.

The guide covers Highway 1, Highway 99, and Highway 101, as well as Interstate 5 for those who might want to take the faster inland route from time to time. There are also some diversions off the West Coast included too.

Introduction to West Coast Road EatsFrom The Introduction

Road Food Guide Reviews

The bulk of the book’s 350 pages are given over to no-nonsense in-depth reviews of the road food places the author recommends. Each review begins with the name, address, milepost or exit number, phone number, website, and finally opening hours (though obviously these are sure to change over time.)

There then follows a lengthy one-paragraph write-up, and most of these are as full of flavor as the foods the author’s describing. Roth is no food snob. She enjoys everything from the simplest of places, like Tito’s Tacos in Culver City, to a few gourmet inclusions, such as Nepenthe in Big Sur - which she admits is pricey, but sometimes a treat is worth it. 

Sample page from West Coast Road Eats

The Price of Good Road Food

The only thing missing from West Coast Road Eats is information about prices. In many ways this is understandable, as prices can change quickly and most places in this book will definitely be in the budget category. However, it would have been helpful to have an idea what a meal might cost in the non-budget places that are also included.

On the other hand, for La Bicyclette bistro in Carmel we’re told that it certainly isn’t a ‘cheap eat’, but only that it is about $10 cheaper than other similar places, with some wines at under $10 a glass. It may say something about Carmel, that there is only one other entry for the town: the Carmel Bakery. By contrast there are six entries for Santa Barbara, and six for Solvang. The lack of prices isn’t a major problem. You know most places in a road food guide will be affordable.

A coffee shop along the Pacific Coast Highway

Side Courses

In addition to all the very helpful reviews, there are lots of extra boxes of information about food and drink. These include, for example, a Portland Brewery Pub Crawl, the Sonoma County Farm Trails, Cannery Row, and local specialties such as the Santa Maria Barbecue, Monterey Jack Cheese, and California Olives.

A typical restaurant review from West Coast Road EatsA Typical Entry

Road Food Guide Verdict

The verdict on West Coast Road Eats is easy. Buy it. This is one which, instead of going on our bookshelves for reference, is going straight into the glove compartment for the next PCH road trip. We just know we’ll be using it. You can find it on Amazon.

Other books pages

  • The Best Coast is a west coast travel guide, sub-titled A Road Trip Atlas it doesn't use photos but instead has hundreds of beautiful illustrations.

    The Best Coast Book Review

    The Best Coast is a west coast travel guide, sub-titled A Road Trip Atlas it doesn't use photos but instead has hundreds of beautiful illustrations.

  • The Napa and Sonoma Guidebook to California Wine Country is from the Moon Handbooks’ travel guide series with reviews of wineries,vineyards, and wine tastings.

    Napa and Sonoma Guidebook

    The Napa and Sonoma Guidebook to California Wine Country is from the Moon Handbooks’ travel guide series with reviews of wineries,vineyards, and wine tastings.

  • Northwest Wine Country is a food and wine lover's guide to vineyards, fine dining, accommodation, restaurants in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia.

    Northwest Wine Country

    Northwest Wine Country is a food and wine lover's guide to vineyards, fine dining, accommodation, restaurants in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia.

  • There are plenty of Ventura bars, breweries, brewpubs and pubs to enjoy, not to mention one of the biggest beer festivals in California.

    Ventura Bars, Breweries, and Beer Festivals

    There are plenty of Ventura bars, breweries, brewpubs and pubs to enjoy, not to mention one of the biggest beer festivals in California.

  • The Santa Barbara Italian restaurant Olio e Limone serves some of the best Sicilian-Italian food in California, and is well-located downtown.

    Santa Barbara Italian Restaurant

    The Santa Barbara Italian restaurant Olio e Limone serves some of the best Sicilian-Italian food in California, and is well-located downtown.

  • The Frommer's Guide to Seattle has good information about the city and side excursions to the Olympic National Park and elsewhere, plus free city and area map.

    Frommer's Guide to Seattle

    The Frommer's Guide to Seattle has good information about the city and side excursions to the Olympic National Park and elsewhere, plus free city and area map.

  • If looking for Paso Robles accommodation you could stay on a vineyard at the luxury JUST Inn Bed and Breakfast, in the grounds of the JUSTIN winery.

    Paso Robles Accommodation

    If looking for Paso Robles accommodation you could stay on a vineyard at the luxury JUST Inn Bed and Breakfast, in the grounds of the JUSTIN winery.

  • Soul of Los Angeles from French publishers Jonglez is a travel guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences in California's largest city.

    Soul of Los Angeles

    Soul of Los Angeles from French publishers Jonglez is a travel guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences in California's largest city.

  • Plant lovers can visit hundreds of gardens along or near the Pacific Coast Highway,ranging from lush gardens in the Pacific North-West to southern California.

    Gardens Of the Pacific Coast Highway

    Plant lovers can visit hundreds of gardens along or near the Pacific Coast Highway,ranging from lush gardens in the Pacific North-West to southern California.

  • The Miramar Santa Monica's restaurant, FIG, had a rave review from the Los Angeles Times for its romantic dining and tasty food.

    The Miramar Santa Monica Restaurant

    The Miramar Santa Monica's restaurant, FIG, had a rave review from the Los Angeles Times for its romantic dining and tasty food.

  • To John Steinbeck Monterey's Cannery Row was a place of sardine canneries, bums and honky tonks, but today the Monterey Aquarium attracts visitors.

    Cannery Row in Monterey

    To John Steinbeck Monterey's Cannery Row was a place of sardine canneries, bums and honky tonks, but today the Monterey Aquarium attracts visitors.

  • The guide to California Bed and Breakfast Inns lists over 250 boutique hotels, wine country cottages and more.

    California Bed and Breakfast Inns

    The guide to California Bed and Breakfast Inns lists over 250 boutique hotels, wine country cottages and more.

  • The wineries and vineyards along the Pacific Coast Highway make some of the best wine in the world, from Oregon and Washington to California's Sonoma and Napa.

    Wineries and Vineyards on the Pacific Coast Highway

    The wineries and vineyards along the Pacific Coast Highway make some of the best wine in the world, from Oregon and Washington to California's Sonoma and Napa.

  • Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast, published by Voyageur Press, is a guide in words and pictures to historic lighthouses along the Pacific Coast Highway.

    Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast

    Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast, published by Voyageur Press, is a guide in words and pictures to historic lighthouses along the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Review of the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips book from Lonely Planet, which includes a California Driving Guide, by the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website.

    Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips: Lonely Planet Guidebook Review

    Review of the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trips book from Lonely Planet, which includes a California Driving Guide, by the Pacific Coast Highway Travel website.

  • Some of the best California Backroads are included in Backroads of the California Coast, with 24 highly recommended driving tours off the Pacific Coast Highway.

    California Backroads

    Some of the best California Backroads are included in Backroads of the California Coast, with 24 highly recommended driving tours off the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Ravens' Restaurant in Mendocino at the Stanford Inn by the Sea is one of the top dining experiences in California with gourmet vegan and vegetarian cuisine.

    Ravens' Restaurant Mendocino

    Ravens' Restaurant in Mendocino at the Stanford Inn by the Sea is one of the top dining experiences in California with gourmet vegan and vegetarian cuisine.

  • Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.

    Coastal California Guidebook

    Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.

  •  

    Pacific Coast Highway Guides. Book and ebook hotel guides to PCH

    Pacific Coast Highway guides include our own printed book and ebook guides to the best hotels along the PCH, available in paperback, PDF and Kindle formats.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the book Culture Trails by Lonely Planet, which has a section on Vintage Hollywood alongside 51 other perfect weekends.

    Culture Trails

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the book Culture Trails by Lonely Planet, which has a section on Vintage Hollywood alongside 51 other perfect weekends.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews an Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide published by the Beautiful Pacific Northwest website.

    Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews an Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide published by the Beautiful Pacific Northwest website.

  • The Santa Barbara Guidebook from Moon Handbooks also covers California’s Central Coast with Ventura, San Luis Obispo, wine country, and Hearst Castle.

    Santa Barbara Guidebook

    The Santa Barbara Guidebook from Moon Handbooks also covers California’s Central Coast with Ventura, San Luis Obispo, wine country, and Hearst Castle.

  • Where to eat on the Pacific Coast Highway: advice on the best fine dining options, budget restaurants, romantic locations in Oregon, Washington and California.

    Where to Eat on the Pacific Coast Highway

    Where to eat on the Pacific Coast Highway: advice on the best fine dining options, budget restaurants, romantic locations in Oregon, Washington and California.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel's book review of Insider's Guide to San Francisco guidebook by Jill Loeffler, publisher of the San Francisco Tourism Tips website.

    Your Insider's Guide to San Francisco

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel's book review of Insider's Guide to San Francisco guidebook by Jill Loeffler, publisher of the San Francisco Tourism Tips website.

  • Expert advice and personal recommendations on where to eat and where to stay along the Pacific Coast Highway, including a guide to PCH Hotels that you can buy.

    Where to Eat and Stay on the Pacific Coast Highway

    Expert advice and personal recommendations on where to eat and where to stay along the Pacific Coast Highway, including a guide to PCH Hotels that you can buy.

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. California residents urged to avoid ocean as high surf pounds coastline

    Dec 26, 24 03:39 PM

    At least one dead and three missing amid storm that has split wharf, wrecked boat and piled up debris

    Read More

  2. 8 Quintessential US Small Towns

    Dec 22, 24 10:58 AM

    Located about 55 miles south of Los Angeles, Laguna Beach truly is one of a kind.

    Read More

  3. Eureka

    Dec 20, 24 05:15 PM

    eureka-inns-carter-house-inn-restaurant-9.jpg
    Pacific Coast Highway Travel describes Eureka in California, including its history, location, climate, beaches, and things to do.

    Read More