25 Best Burger Restaurants near Carmel By The Sea

“The Carmel Burger Bar is a great little place in the Carmel Plaza. We came with our kids and everyone got what they wanted between burgers, chicken strips and drinks. Good selection of adult beverages that are unique and great tasting.
I’ll definitely be coming back to the Carmel Burger Bar.“

“First time I finished a burger!!“

“Mid valley has a market on Sundays and it is wonderful. Everyone so friendly and they have the big Sur food truck. Tacos were good but not the hype. Of course you have the grocery store and Jeffery'srestaurant, gas station hardware store and more. Nice oasis“

“We hadn’t visited the Carmel Mission Inn for several years and knew that it had been refreshed since our last visit. We decided to have dinner at Shearwater Tavern, tucked inside the Carmel Mission Inn and had an absolutely wonderful experience. Our outstanding dining experience began with a delicious Caesar Salad paired with their wonderful signature Parker House Rolls—warm, house-baked, and served with local honey butter and a bit of sea salt. These starters set the tone perfectly for the main event: a flawlessly grilled bavette (flank steak), a favorite of ours, topped with a rich green peppercorn sauce and accompanied by crispy shoestring frites. Our steak arrived cooked precisely to our medium-rare preference and request, showcasing the kitchen's attention to detail.

The staff was exemplary—friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. Our waiter, Leonel, brought warmth and expertise to the table, clearly drawing from his years of experience. John, a talented Manager on site this evening, was equally attentive and informative, making us feel right at home.

The ambiance at Shearwater Tavern is another highlight. The two dining spaces are both casual and tastefully designed, and the lobby’s modern refresh, cozy outdoor firepits, large fun painted cow, and even the attractive restroom wallpaper add to the inviting vibe. With ample parking, visiting or dining there is a breeze. They also have an attractive bar and a happy hour. If you stay here, you will be right across the street from the fabulous Crossroads Shopping Center and near The Barnyard Shopping Center.

This is a place we plan to revisit soon, and their intriguing menu offers even more delightful dishes waiting to be discovered!. Shearwater Tavern at Carmel Mission Inn is a must-visit—highly recommended!

In December 2024, we recently returned to Shearwater Tavern for dinner and had another fantastic experience. The staff, including the wonderfully kind and helpful Angel, made us feel so welcome. We couldn’t resist ordering the flank steak and frites with peppercorns again—it was just as amazing as we remembered. This time, we also tried the delicious sea bass dish, flavorful meatballs, and warm dinner rolls. Everything was absolutely satisfying and delicious. The comfortable ambiance, great service, and ample parking made for a perfect evening. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!“

“one of the best in Carmel...“

“Great central Carmel location amongst galleries, bakeries, coffee shops, bookstores etc. In good weather ask for the patio they take reservations by inside vs outside. Great atmosphere out there… old building, stucco, vines, etc. It was cool but they have plenty of heaters. Great food… had bruschetta appetizer which is loaded with diced tomatoes and smoked flavor (grilled bread). Also the di stefano salad, it has crispy goat cheese, roasted beets and fig-balsamic dressing. Excellent, highly recommended! Had the cioppino which was excellent. Good wine list. Eat here lunch OR dinner.“

“Best hamburgers. Very fresh tasting.“

“First time there today. Recommended by a longtime customer. Loved it all. Best French toast I’ve ever had!“

“My wife and I stayed two days in Monterey. We loved Sur Burger so much, we visited Sur Burger twice. This family owned business serves great burgers and fries. The staff is friendly, greets you with a smile, and provides super service. We chatted with two nice younger staff family members. Sur Burger is a fun place and has a super atmosphere. We hope to be back someday. 5 Stars for Sur Burger!“

“Delicious smash burgers as the name suggests. Their smash fries had an interesting flavour similar to thyme (?), was really flavourful and crispy too!

The service staff Steven and Drew were really friendly and helpful with the ordering process and clearing our table (:“

“It was my 80th birthday and they opened up early for us for a private party of 30 people. I was AWESOME. Thank you so much for your kindness and service. The food was delicious and very well prepared. We will be back.“

“Beautiful spot, quaint and cozy, generous portions, expertly executed.“

“Love love love the burgers and fries. Ask for the cheese fries too. Just a Monterey favorite. Altho times of when they are open would be nice“

“The service was wonderful. 2 items we ordered were out. NBD. Our medium rare steak was blue which they promptly fixed to a mid well. Ok. NBD. The meatloaf was thin sliced and way over cooked the mash and veg was just above room temp. Honestly if I lived here I'd probably go back but as a tourist with one shot .. I won't return when there are so many other places to try. I like the vibes and the food was trying. Perhaps the kitchen staff was over it because it was NYE. Whatever the case it was ok.

Vegetarian options: They had tofu on the menu, which is one of the big reasons we chose to try it and they were out.

Dietary restrictions: They had gluten free buns“

“If you use the app to order, select pick up in store. I chose to use delivery ( through DoorDash and I’ve had several problems with them) and my order never showed up. The manager was extremely helpful and fixed the issue. Eat in-store or pick up. DoorDash is terrible.

Vegetarian options: Their veggie burger is so good!“

“I recommend a hot pastrami with Swiss on the Dutch crunch roll. I like mine with extra mustard“

“great service friendly works and great tasting food.“

“Amazing crews,got my food quick. Definitely going back“

“There is a gluten-free bagel available! My daughter gave it a thumbs up. The rest of us had classic egg and cheese bagels. Very delicious.

Dietary restrictions: There is a gluten-free bagel option. There is parking available.“

“Cool ambience, exceptionally nice service!���“

“The food here was very good! My buddy and I were on a trip and it was so good that we ate here two days in a row. Everything tasted very fresh and the portions were big but not too much. The atmosphere is casual but very nice and clean. The staff were friendly albeit a bit forgetful. Our waiter forgot to bring us an extra plate both days… also, the price is a little expensive, but for Northern California it wasn’t egregious. I’d certainly recommend this restaurant and would be excited to come back again.“

“Just great 🍔 burgers! Service was excellent“

“yumny for the big wave burger I got. Yumny all the way. I added cheese and. mayo no mustard. Cones with a side of very delicious french fries.And a cold glass of water to wash it down.Wonderful employees and a clean resteraunt. Its in a big outdoor shopping center with plenty of parking“

“Ariana at the Seaside Carl’s Jr. is the BEST FOOD SERVICE WORKER IN THE WORLD! She always puts a smile on my face and everyone else I’ve ever seen her serve at Carls Jr in Seaside. You can tell she genuinely loves her job and enjoys interacting with people, it really shows! She also has amazing recommendations on the menu so ask her for some ordering ideas. Give this sweet girl a raise Carl’s!!!“

“I was greeted promptly as I entered the building.
I ordered a bourbon Burger and fries Togo.
The burger was good aside from slimy onions. A tomato with a green hard center...

This store should be more generous with the fries as there was a child's portion.

You only get five stars because I leave nothing less than five stars.“