Marina is home to iconic sandy beaches, CSU Monterey Bay and the mountain biking mecca that is Fort Ord National Monument, but did you know it's also a locals' haven for great food at great prices? Slightly off of Highway 1 lays the City of Marina where you are guaranteed to find an eatery to suit any palate.
Below are just a few of the many choices in the area varying from Chinese and Italian to Vietnamese; for a full list of Marina restaurants click here.
Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette
3295 Dunes Dr., Marina, CA 93933
Get a feel for Monterey's local food scene at Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette located in the Sanctuary Beach Resort. Here you can dine on raw, cured and wood-fired prepared dishes ranging from fresh sea urchin, red abalone, osso buco to chicharones.
English Ales Brewery
223 Reindollar Ave., Marina, CA 93933
What's a good food tour without a nice cold brew to wash it down with? English Ales serves up well-rounded handcrafted drafts ranging from stouts, pale ales, porters and IPAs. You will also find a full menu with an array of tantalizing bar bites like buffalo wings, jalapeno poppers, fish and chips and a bangar sandwich.
Ho-Wah Chinese Restaurant
3116 Del Monte Blvd., Marina, CA 93933
Authentic Chinese food is hard to come by which is why Ho-Wah is such a gem! Ho-Wah's Hong Kong native owners know exactly what makes their food addicting with winning combinations of fresh local ingredients and absolutely no MSG.
Dine in their family-friendly atmosphere or order for takeout! Either way it will be hard to save any leftovers.
Favorite items include the orange chicken, spicy green beans and salt n' pepper fish. The spicy green beans with Szechuan shrimp in particular are to die for, encapsulating a spicy kick, sweet spike and crunch all in one bite.
Noodle Bar
215 Reservation Rd., Marina, CA 93933
Don't let the name fool you, the Noodle Bar has much more than noodles! This Vietnamese hot spot is chocked full of favorites like pho, spring rolls, steamed pork buns and boba teas.
Cheesecake Dreamations
265 Reservation Rd, Marina, CA 93933
What is a food tour without dessert? Cheesecake Dreamations offers exactly what the name implies, lots of various types of cheesecake! You can pre-order online and create your concoction or stop by their friendly storefront where you will have some tough decisions to make.
Praline, taro, Oreo and Key Lime are just a few of the many tempting flavors in almost bite size mini options and they are just $2.50 a piece!