Editor’s Note: Gabriel Gordon is a professional chef, daily surfer and owner of Beachwood BBQ, a barbecue joint in Seal Beach with one of the best craft beer selections in Southern California. Three years ago, he opened Beachwood BBQ and Brewing in Long Beach, which last year was named Best Mid-Sized Brewpub in the country. We asked the molecular gastronomist at heart to tell us his favorite California surf spots and the places he grubs at after catching some waves.
1. Dillon Beach / Hog Island Oyster Company
Not Dillon Beach, but they both blow out around the same time, at which point…grub on! Photo: Paul Ferraris
One of my local spots growing up was Dillon Beach in Tomales Bay area. Northern California blows out really early, so usually by 10 or 11 am you’re done surfing for the day, which is good because that’s when Hog Island Oyster Company would open up. So they would bring in the boats with oysters and we would buy them and just sit there all day and mow oysters for lunch. That was our number one spot. We would also surf Bodega Bay, but there weren’t a lot of spots there to eat.
2. Rincon / La Super Rica
After this, La Super Rica is the ONLY choice. Photo: Andy Bowlin
From Northern California, I moved down to Santa Barbara and spent many years there. The spot there would be Rincon – the Queen of the Coast. I lived in Isla Vista, and anytime I’d drive down to Rincon or Ferria (they break on the same swell), on the way back, I’d always stop at La Super Rica. It was the combination of getting to surf Rincon and eat Super Rica. Everything is scratch-made. They have a woman there who just makes tortillas for her eight-hour shift. It’s not American Mexican food by any means. The number 16 is the jam: pork adobada with pasilla chiles and whatever the cheese mixture they use. Santa Barbara has a lot of great restaurants, but not a lot of Super Ricas. I will drive all the way to Santa Barbara just to eat there.
3. County Line / Malibu Seafood Company
If you’re lucky enough to find solitude in Los Angeles County, you deserve some Malibu Seafood Company. Photo: Brian Clifford
When I moved to L.A., I surfed County Line more than anything and I always ate at Malibu Seafood Company. Their squid sandwich is bomb. I like County Line because it has quite a few peaks so it spreads the crowd out a little bit and for whatever reason, there seems to be a higher level of respect for the rules. I always got plenty of waves and everyone else seemed to as well.
4. Seal Beach River Mouth / Beachwood BBQ
After a hearty surf, get a hearty meal and some quality beer. Where else? Photo courtesy of Gabriel Gordon
Seal Beach is dirty and hard to surf. It has its moments, but surfing at the river is way more fun. Grab a longboard on the right swell and head down to the river mouth and then grab some BBQ and good craft beer at Beachwood afterwards. The other side of the river is the entrance to Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, but you can surf right off the jetty on the Seal Beach side. You get to surf with couches and needles and sting rays and plastic bags and hepatitis probably, too. But as long as you’re vaccinated, it’s a really great place to surf.
5. Huntington Cliffs / Secret Spot / Kaju Tofu
This should tire you out. When it does, hit these spots. Photo: Chris Sardelis
Today, my daily surf spot is Huntington Cliffs, second parking lot. I go every morning, seven days a week so long as there are waves and I’m not out of town. I usually go to work after surfing, but if I have time to stop somewhere, I go to Secret Spot. It’s full of vegan options, but since I am not a vegan I usually have to negotiate with them to see if they can make a breakfast burrito in the 20 minutes I have before I’m expected somewhere. Otherwise, I’ll just get a juice or a smoothie. If I’m in lunch mode, I’ll drive further inland for Asian food—15 minutes up Magnolia Blvd and you’re at Kaju Tofu House. That place is epic and I love their pork kimchi soup.
6. Trestles / Pizza Port San Clemente
If you can get one to yourself, reward yourself. Photo: Christor Lukasiewicz
Anytime I’m surfing in South Orange County, I have to stop by Pizza Port San Clemente. Because I’m also in the craft beer industry, we’re friends with the owners, Vince and Gina, and all their brewers are friends of ours too. Killer beer and killer pizza. It’s just a rad vibe all around. Trestles is a lot of walking and then a lot of waiting patiently for a pro to fall off his board before you can snag a wave. Trestles is meditative. It teaches you patience and humility. It’s a place where anyone who fancies themselves a decent surfer should go so they can realize that they suck in the scheme of things and be grateful for the one or two waves you got because a pro surfer fell doing things that you will never be able to do. After that, once you’ve learned those lessons, you deserve a good beer at Pizza Port.
7. Cardiff / Regal Seagull
Classic Cardiff and craft beer just go together. Photo: Kevin Roche
I don’t do much in Oceanside, but once I get down to Encinitas, I love surfing Cardiff and just up from there is the Regal Seagull, which is a great sausage and beer joint. It’s a small little place with 20 local beers on tap and they make their own sausages there. Hopefully, one day, they can carry Beachwood beers because the Regal Seagull is one of those spots that I would love to personally deliver every keg every time a major swell hits San Diego so I can stop to get a sausage and a beer.
8. Blacks Beach / Hamilton’s / Blind Lady / Tiger! Tiger! / Toronado
Plenty of peaks and plenty of good eats nearby. Photo: Chuck Schmid
Anytime I’m surfing south of Encinitas, it’s worth getting out of your session and going to Hamilton’s, Blind Lady, Toronado or Tiger! Tiger! I’ve already made the drive, so I might as well make a whole day out of it. I always spend equal time at all four of those places because I enjoy them all. Tiger! Tiger! has an awesome selection of food options. I dislike the word gastropub, but when I think about what that word means, Tiger! Tiger! encompasses every aspect of it. The food is elevated without being pretentious; it’s really nice, well-done food that goes with beer.
9. Imperial Beach / Lolitas
A pristine barrel deserves the best carne asada burrito around. Photo: Bryce Johnson
I do surf Imperial Beach sometimes, and I will always drive into Chula Vista for Lolita’s Taco Shop. I can’t tell you how many times I was in college in Santa Barbara with my roommate who grew up down there and we’ll start talking about Lolita’s carne asada burritos and just make the drive down. Even today, I’ll start craving a carne asada burrito and drive all the way to Chula Vista for one. I’ve had hundreds of different carne asada burritos in my life, and it’s the best carne asada burrito I’ve ever had. It’s San Diego style: oversized tortilla that is slightly doughy, marinated meat, guacamole, pico de gallo and bomb hot sauce.
