Sam's Chowder House: Lobster Rolls in Half Moon Bay

Disclosure: This meal was provided for me; all opinions are my own.

When you are staying next to a restaurant that always has a full parking lot, then you know it must be good. That was the case for Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay, which I visited on the last night I was in town, staying next door at Beach House – Half Moon Bay. It was a busy Friday night with live music playing and everyone talking and having a great time. I sat down and quickly ordered the lobster roll, which The Today Show called one of the five best sandwiches in America. Here is all the info from that visit and my return to Sams in 2022.

Details

Cost: $20-$30
Location: 4210 Cabrillo Hwy N, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Information from my visit in 2016 and in 2022

Getting There

Sam’s is located right on Pacific Coast Highway in the north part of Half Moon Bay. You can’t miss it while driving down the coast as it is the one with the large sign and packed parking lot. I was able to walk over from my hotel, so I didn’t utilize the parking, and after a short wait, I was shown to a table.

While I stayed inside because it was cold and rainy, they do have a beautiful outdoor patio that has a walk-up bar that they utilize on the weekends. It is perfect if you have been hanging out on the beach and need a quick lunch. This is where I sat in 2022.

The Food

Honestly, there was so much good stuff to choose from on this menu; it was hard to make my selections. I was pleased with what I decided on though, and here is the breakdown.

Ahi Poke Starter

This dish has ample portions of melt in your mouth ahi that has been marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onion. I was surprised by how much ahi they gave you as it could easily be shared with two people. I guarantee you won’t be leaving any behind, it is that good, and the ahi is that fresh. The chips are great as well, and I confirmed that they are baked in-house, which is why they tasted so good.

Oysters

If oysters are on the menu at somewhere that I trust, then I have a hard time not ordering them. I already had a full meal ordered, so I just tried the two most popular kind, the Kumamoto and the Point Reyes oyster. I would say the Kumamoto is better as it has more flavor, but they are both good. You just can’t get oysters in SoCal like you can up here.

Clam Chowder

The chowder is one of the most popular items at Sam’s, and it is easy to see why. They have both New England and Manhattan. I just tried the New England; it was made in the traditional style with clam broth, creme, clams, potatoes, bacon, onion, and thyme. It was a delicious chowder; I appreciated that it was light on the cream as that makes it much easier to eat with a meal. There were good sized pieces of clams in the chowder as well, which was fantastic, and the bacon added a robust flavor to make it a solid chowder.

Lobster Roll

When the main course arrived, it was overflowing with lobster. The lobster came on a sweet, buttery toasted slice of bread, which let the lobster shine without introducing too many other flavors. I was impressed by how much lobster I got with the sandwich; it was worth the price paid. The coleslaw that went with it was creamy and superb as well. I usually don’t like coleslaw, but I found myself eating it with the lobster pieces as it added a complementary flavor. I ate the roll slow to savor every bite of the lobster, and it is something I would come back to Half Moon Bay for. It is different than a Boston lobster roll but good in its own, West Coast way.

Sea Salt & Olive Oil Ice Cream

Don’t knock it before you try it. I like to order unique things when I see them on the menu, so I went with this dish since I hadn’t seen anything like it before. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was impressed with the smooth, creamy taste the olive oil added, and the sea salt just brought out the flavors of the ice cream. Pro tip – order it with chocolate instead of vanilla.

After finishing my meal I realized why Sam’s is packed all the time, everything from the food to the atmosphere is incredible and if I lived closer, it would be a spot I would come to often. I can also confirm that it is still amazing and I enjoyed it just as much on my trip back in 2022. Check it out if you are driving PCH and let me know what you think in the comments.