Sam's Chowder House
About This Spot
Sam’s Chowder House welcomes you with the laid-back charm of a beloved coastal gathering spot where the rhythms of the sea breeze and crashing waves set the pace. Nestled right on Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay, it effortlessly blends casual warmth with a hint of seaside elegance. The hum of friendly conversation mingles with the occasional strum of live music, creating an inviting space where locals and travelers alike find a moment to pause and savor.
Here, the atmosphere is vibrant yet unhurried—a place where the tide’s ebb and flow seems to carry away the rush of everyday life. Whether you settle on the sunny patio soaking up views of the bay or find a cozy spot inside, there’s a comforting sense of connection to the water and the land beyond.
The menu unfolds like a love letter to the Pacific Coast’s bountiful seafood—fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and never overdone. The flavors invite you to explore the familiar alongside the unexpected: chowders that bring a nostalgic warmth, lobster rolls served both warmly buttery and chilled, and dishes that carry whispers of far-off coastlines and local catch alike. Each bite feels like a small discovery, paired beautifully with handcrafted cocktails that settle the day just right.
What lingers after lunch or dinner isn’t just the taste of crisp oysters or perfectly cooked scallops, but the easy conviviality of a place that values the human moments—the laughter shared over a platter for two, the attentive nod from a server who knows the menu inside and out, the peaceful stillness of gazing out over the bay as the sun dips low.
Sam’s Chowder House isn’t just a stop for seafood; it’s a reminder of why coastal towns hold a special kind of magic. It’s a place where freshness meets familiarity, and every visit writes a new chapter in your own coastal story.
What’s Available Here
-
Outdoor seating - On-site services
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
- Delivery
- Fast service
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Serves local specialty
- Sport
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Happy-hour drinks
- Happy-hour food
- Healthy options
- Small plates
- Spirits
- Wine
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Bar on site
- Toilet
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
- Casual
- Cosy
- Historic
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Family friendly
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
- Usually a wait
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Free of charge street parking
- Free parking lot
- Dogs allowed
- Dogs allowed outside
Location & Hours
| Monday | 11:30 AM - 08:30 PM | |
| Tuesday | 11:30 AM - 08:30 PM | |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM - 08:30 PM | |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM - 08:30 PM | |
| Friday | 11:30 AM - 09:00 PM | |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM | |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM - 08:30 PM |
Guest Reviews
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Y&N 06 Jan 2026
10.25.25 Super busy and full of customers, even at 4pm. Wait time was 20 min. Our meals of Cioppino, Swordfish & Dressed Lobster Roll were excellent. And not overly salty, you can add salt & pepper to adjust to your taste. New England Clam Chowder was good also. Everything was fresh and cooked just right. Bread, while fresh, was cold due to them not heating it prior to serving as they "don't have oven capacity to accomodate for bread" we were told very apologetically. Our server Jesus A., was great, he made us feel very welcome, our first time dining here. Thank you to him!
christina muirhead 31 Dec 2025
August 16, 2025: About 45 minute wait, but once seated, great service, salmon was amazing!! The chowder was delicious! The shrimp sandwich could’ve been split by two people especially if you get chowder. Cute little gift shop in the side. We went during rainy day, but I could only imagine how beautiful it would’ve been on a sunny day! We would definitely go back! They also had a live band which was cool!
Esther Dang 12 Dec 2025
We sat outside and it was the perfect sunny day out with the amazing view of the bay. The service and staff were friendly and helpful. Food: The clam chowder is what they’re known for and my husband enjoyed the seasonal pumpkin bisque. The scallops were well cooked and the garnish underneath helps add a kick of flavor. The fried seafood combo was really good and even though the seafood was fried, the meat inside was still juicy. The only letdown of the meal was the lobster roll. At first glance we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of lobster meat, but the meat was chewy and dry. Also, the roll was dry and hard to chew through as well. It seemed like an off day, so it may be better for other people on another day.
Cee Rose 11 Nov 2025
Incredible. Best shrimp poboy I ever had. Best ahi I've ever had. Everything was loaded with drippy butter. The view was incredible obviously. We showed up with no reservation then. We're seated in 15 minutes at lunch time on a Saturday. The service was friendly. My only qualm is there was no coverage on the patio from the sun. Everyone was asking to move inside. On the upper level you can switch to put your back to the sun so it was pretty uncomfortable but ... 10/10 would to back again. Our waitress with the lifeguard hat was pretty great too. Oh p.s. my seafood hating partner was enamored with that burger and fries.
Tanya Bee 22 Oct 2025
We had the half and half chowder and gumbo. The gumbo had a good amount of crab in it. Nice and chunky. The chowder could have been thicker. The scallops were amazing. The fennel salad or sauce it comes with is good. You get 3 scallops for $17 which was ki d of expensive but worth is if you love scallops. We also had the fish and chips and we added a crab cake. The crab cake was really good. Packed with crab. The fish and chips were good but lacked seasoning but the malt vinegar helped. Overall a good meal. About $80 for everything. We picked up our order and ate at the patio below. It was dog friendly and had a couple of chair and a nice view of the ocean.
Gabby Gonzalez 05 Oct 2025
A beautiful restaurant right on the water! We got the oysters rockerfeller & shared a naked crab sandwich. The lump crab dipped in butter atop the crunchy but soft thick garlic loaf was perfect! Both were very delicious & left you wanting a little more. So we finished with the key lime pie & omg was that to die for! There’s a path to the left of the patio that lets you down to a nice seating area & walkway closer to the water. Perfect for a little after meal stroll. Don’t skip out on this California gem!
Hana ! 30 Sep 2025
took my parents here to decompress after the holidays and sam's did not disappoint. sign in the front of the store is a bit misleading as reservations aren't really a thing, but waitlisting is! restaurant is seated by the coast and near a walkable trail, so waiting (during the day) is no issue! restaurant's ambiance is excellent—there are many huge windows to watch the sunset. supposedly there is live music on weekends, which wasn't followed thru with during our visit but it may have been a one time thing. this location was bustling! service was peak—thank u for running this location alex :)) would tip a million bajillion if we could! all of the food was excellent; seafood was fresh, bread was tasty and toasted, coleslaw wasn't sopping, chowder was not flour-y slop, chips were crisp etc etc etc. the olive oil + sea salt soft serve is something to try at least once! price is reasonable for being in the bay area + being in an isolated area + near the ocean :))