In our Dining Reports, we share a firsthand perspective of a recent restaurant visit, covering everything from the vibe to must-get dishes. See more in the Eater app.
Malibu’s owner Darren Preston has kept the Bay Area fed on cheesy plant-based burgers since the original food truck debuted in 2019. Preston’s criss-crossed Northern California experimenting with all kinds of fare: plantain-stuffed sandwiches, loaded tots drowned in Hella Hella sauce, and, lately, his first non-vegan items, too. Situated next door to the brand new Nomadic Bookshop, Malibu serves a menu as titanic and scintillating as ever.
- The burgers, of course! The sandwiches are what first got Preston on the radar of mega chefs, including David Chang, who featured Preston on Hulu’s The Next Thing You Eat. My personal favorite is the Tasha Grande ($16), a burger with either an Impossible or Beyond patty, Follow Your Heart dairy-free American cheese, and the usual fixings.
- Preston likes to experiment. For instance, when he was sent Mama Teav’s chile crisp samples, he made a downright diabolical smash burger — crispy and spicy. His mom runs the now-Philadelphia-based Puerto Rican Casa Borinqueña, and he’s been known to throw stuffed sweet plantains on the menu here and there, too. If there’s a special on the menu, it’s generally worth checking out.
- The milkshakes ($16 for the 24-ounce) are what made me a Malibu’s super fan; I slurped down the thick Oatly-based treats as fast as I could in my car one fine East Bay summer. There are loads of flavors — but I say order the ube.
A painting of Godzilla eating a burger sits on the wall next to a draping United States flag, photos of adorable dogs and sunglasses-wearing couples by the register. The interior of Malibu’s is, otherwise, somewhat spartan. The finest R&B, including Ginuywine’s very own Hamnet bard contribution “Pony,” serenades diners…