Not every great meal announces itself with polished signs or long waitlists. Some appear suddenly along the road, marked by a faded sign and the smell of something fresh coming off the grill.
The stop feels casual at first, then unforgettable by the last bite. Seafood shacks along California’s coast turn simple ingredients into the kind of meals people plan entire drives around and talk about long after the trip ends.
Set near harbors and tucked along winding highways, these spots favor timing over trends and flavor over presentation…