From Monterery to Big Sur to Pismo Beach, you may be asking yourself why on God’s green earth is that sea lion making that un-Godly sound? Or perhaps who has the best clam chowder on California’s C
entral Coast? I was evacuated from my mountain home in the alpine hamlet of Big Bear last month because of the 40,000-acre Line Fire. We turned this evacuation into an E-Vac-U-Cation and drove Stormy Ye Olde Home-Away-From-Home-Motorhome straight to the Central Coast. We were on the lookout for clear smoke-free air and yes, a briny clam chowder. We found both in abundance from Pismo Beach to Carmel-By-The-Sea.
After a chilly morning of frolicking with my pup at the dog beach in Avila or Cayucos, it may be time to sit down with a hot bowl of clam chowder! And does anything truly taste more delicious on an autumn morning than a piping hot bowl of Clam Chowder full of your favorite hot sauce?
Once upon a time, Pismo Beach was known for clamming. Locals will tell you there was an oil spill in the eighties and clams are not as abundant these days. Was it a natural disaster that led to the number of clams in Pismo or the Pismo clam’s nine-year life cycle to get to an edible weight?
Clamming used to be the thing to do in Pismo Beach thirty years ago. But that was before the oil spill and the clam shortage. Pismo Beach was once known as the Clam Capital of the world! These days it takes something like nine years for a clam to grow to perfect harvesting size. This is not the time to go clamming at Pismo here in 2024! If you get caught with a clam that is too small to harvest, the fines are steep; I’m talking about nearly six thousand dollars! I love me some clam chowder but I’ll buy my clams frozen from the Asian market and skip the hefty fine!
When Pismo Beach was first settled, there were not as many sea lions in the area (Sea lions love to eat clams; Who knew!) There was also very little population in the area besides the Chumash Ind
ian tribe. The clams were able to easily grow to a mature size. But once the 90s hit, all those flannel-wearing Nirvana-listening baby boomers headed to Pismo Beach. They all wanted clam chowder! And yes, a lot of them wanted to go clamming.
When it comes to clamming at Pismo Beach there are some unique rules in place to make sure the clamming is done sustainably.
- Clammers must have a valid fishing license and a rigid measuring device.
- Clams must measure at least 4 1/2 inches to be taken.
- Undersized clams must be immediately reburied two inches deep.
- The bag limit is 10 clams.
- Clamming hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
All of that being said, go out and enjoy a big bowl of seafood chowder while you are on holiday on the Central Coast! Most Central Coast restaurants import their clams from the East Coast these days.
To Splash or not 
to Splash?
In my opinion, forget about Splash Cafe. I know, I know, they are so well-known as having the best clam chowder on California’s Central Coast. But it’s bland in my opinion. To my foodie taste buds, it honestly does not taste much different than what you may buy at Von’s or Safeway. If I am ordering a bowl of freshly steamed clam chowder, I would hope the stock is homemade, the clams are fresh and if there is bacon in it, even better!
On this trip to the Central Coast, I made it a habit to inhale a big bowl of clam chowder almost every day. Did I have clam chowder for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Maybe…
Slappy’s in Pismo Beach
Slappy’s is well-known for their amazing tri-tip-filled breakfast burritos. They also serve up some of the best clam chowder on the Central Coast! You have to check them out if you are anywhere near Pismo Beach.
Duckie’s Chowder House
Duckie’s in the tiny little beachside hamlet of Cayucos is so well-known for having the best clam chowder on California’s Central Coast. We drove there for lunch one day. My boyfriend loved the seafood platter also. I really loved their wide selection of local hot sauces that so complemented their briny clam chowder. Duckies has an awesome open-air restaurant. They always have a great music selection as well. Why, yes, I love to listen to some old-school Alan Jackson while enjoying my clam chowder! Duckie’s also has a great craft beer selection on tap. We loved the blood orange hefeweizen they had to offer.
Hoagie’s of Pismo Beach
Let’s face it, if you are on holiday in Pismo Beach, there are so many fresh seafood options. Hoagie’s may not sound like a chowder house but they do chowder right and differently! First of all, you have to start with their boneless habanero wings. Then move on to a unique wrap such as The Dirty Bird: Boneless Buffalo chicken and fries in a wrap? What? When it comes to clam chowder, Hoagie’s does it right and differently. You have to try the works, with extra bacon and extra clam strips. Now, this is how
one should do clam chowder!
I love that this little open-air restaurant offers extra clams to go in your chowder (For a reasonable price). Yes of course, I want my chowder with extra clams! Is there a better way to have chowder? I mean besides perhaps adding bacon as a garnish.
You can’t go wrong with the Monterey Fisherman’s Wharf
Get ready to freeze your ass off at Fishermans Wharf! September is known as the warmest time to visit the Carmel area. I swear! But you never know in Monterey when that nice warm autumn sunshine will get socked in behind that famous central coast marine layer. 
The Crab House was the only outdoor restaurant we found that was dog-friendly as well. Honestly, so many of the restaurants on the wharf had what we were looking for when it came to lunch. But the deciding factor was we had our pup with us. They also had a great early happy hour deal even at lunchtime. The Bloody Marys were very good and paired just great with the clam chowder. The bread bowl was a little blah but that does come from a home baker who makes her own sourdough from scr
atch. I’m a bit picky when it comes to sourdough! We did bring the rest of the bread bowl home with us and our pup really enjoyed having her kibble in the leftover bread bowl that evening!
When on vacation on California’s Central Coast, inhale some clam chowder as often as possible. The Central Coast is just so gorgeous in the autumn. Chilly, foggy days call for a big bowl of chowder on the Central Coast!