Ventura is a laidback town about a 90-minute drive north of Los Angeles. Perhaps best known as the home of Patagonia and some epic surfing, the town of about 110,000 is also an up-and-coming foodie destination. Here, you’ll everything from bento and natural wine bars to classic Mexican cuisine.
It’s an interesting time for the SoCal town, with new businesses injecting fresh energy to an extremely walkable downtown area. There are the old standards cooking up signature dishes and new characters bringing new ideas to the meal table. And you get it all before the collective laidback attitude that sums up the west coast lifestyle.
Drift away from the traffic of Los Angeles, even if only for a long and leisurely weekend. If you can get to Ventura — and you should — check out these establishments for some tasty fare.
Cocina Jaguar
It’s all about freshness at Cocina Jaguar. The drinks program is built around reliable pillars like house-made and juices and just-squeezed citrus. The food menu is Yucatan-inspired and features sun-kissed nibbles like scallop crudo, fried chicken tacos with morita-mayo, mussels with charred bread from a local bakery, and more. In the glass, you can enjoy everything from an expertly-made Paloma to frozen cocktails to a number of tropical editions made with a handsome selection of agave spirits.
Strange Beast
Another player in the hospitality team that oversees Cocina Jaguar, Strange Beast is an izakaya with a sound beverage program. Wet your whistle with a highball or sake cocktail or try an Apricot Cobbler or Juice Box, a blend of Pisco, tropical fruit, lime, and sugarcane mist. Then, get into some hand rolls and sushi or opt for pork gyozas, sama wings, or a kaiju smash burger.
Backdoor Bento
At Backdoor Bento, guests are treated to Japanese-style lunch boxes great for powering up before a swim or bringing to the beach for a picnic. There’s a decent selection of sakes and even some Japanese beer if that’s your thing. The boxes are a delectable and nourishing mix of rice, marinated egg, braised kombu, cucumber sunomono, and your pick of protein.
Caribbean Haven
This counter service spot in a mall specializes in Caribbean and Filipino fare. It’s the kind of place the late great award-winning food writer Jonathan Gold would have loved, authentic without any bells and whistles. Ask about specials like Filipino pork BBQ and be sure to try the curry fries and Jamaican patties. There’s also lumpia, oxtail mac ‘n cheese, and jerk tri-tip salad. If you really want to fully dive into Caribbean Haven, go with the Cuban-style skirt steak or Pancit, a stir-fried noodle dish.
Royal Bakery & Cafe
Get out and about on the early side and start your day at Royal Bakery. It’s a fine stop for some fresh-made pastries and some caffeine or even a sandwich come midday. Due bring your sweet tooth and treat it to items like pistachio cannoli, eclairs, or pecan tarts. The place has been at it since 1986, perhaps best known for its gorgeous cakes.
Lure Fish House
Lure is where you can enjoy coastal California style seafood in an airy interior in the company of a raw bar. Grab a chair at the bar and take in the nautical blues and whites while nibbling on ahi ceviche or tuna ponzu. The happy hour is full of deals and there are intriguing daily catch items like Pacific rockfish and white sea bass. Can’t decide? Get an expansive taste of the place with the house cioppino. Bypass the mediocre wine list and go for a classic cocktail like a Martini or Bee’s Knees.
MadeWest Brewing Co.
An award-winning independent brewery, MadeWest features great beer in two locations including one on the pier. There’s the usual slew of IPAs along with beach-approved options like the Standard Blonde and Ventura Light Lager. The spot inland usually hosts food carts if your hungry and the pier location has both sweeping Pacific views and grub options from neighboring restaurants.
Buddy’s
Buddy’s is all about fetching wines made with real restraint that really showcase the grapes involved. The owners are delightful, the glass pours are always interesting, and you can even get a hot dog if you want something salty to go with that bracing white wine. The eclectic list of wine pours is separated into categories like sparkling, orange, chilled red, Rose, and bold red and there’s even some beer on draft. You might even be lucky enough to show up during one of many events hosted by the bar, ranging from BBQs and karaoke to art club drawing nights…