The Surfing Fox — Restaurant in Santa Monica

Much like communism, the menu of The Surfing Fox looks great on paper but has some serious issues in execution.

I've had over 60 different crispy chicken sandwiches in Los Angeles (and I have the arteries to prove it), and I'm sad to say that the Hot Chicken Sandwich falls in the bottom 5. First of all, it looks NOTHING like it does in the photos posted by the restaurant. I was served a piece of chicken so thin it could have come from a deli meat slicer. Parts of the "chicken breast" seemed to have disintegrated in the fryer, such that I was left with areas of fried breading that formed a shell around nothing but air. This leads to the second problem, which was that the sandwich ended up being a large amount of greasy fried material and very little substance. As you can see in the cross section photo, you actually can't identify where the chicken is for much of the sandwich, and I found myself eating a pickled carrot and purple cabbage sandwich about half the time (albeit with a sauce that was quite good). I honestly feel that both Chick-fil-A and Popeyes have better crispy chicken sandwiches than The Surfing Fox.

Unfortunately the problems with the food didn't stop there. The cheeseburger was fine, but the beef patty was certainly not of the "short rib-brisket" quality that they advertise. You'll get a much better burger for $11 less if you go just a few blocks away to The Misfit. The fish tacos were also underwhelming. While the ingredients were fresh, they lacked adequate seasoning. The fish was overcooked and there was not enough flavor to offset its dry texture. The only redeeming quality of the tacos was the hand made tortillas.

There were a few highlights of the meal: our server was fantastic. Funny, friendly, and fast-- he had the Three Fs of hospitality! The atmosphere is also quite nice, with fresh off the beach vibes, attractive wicker furniture (with some of the benches fashioned to look like swings), and great music. The cocktails were also impressive (except for the Coconut Foxtail which was sickly sweet), though difficult to justify paying $19 for. The two standouts were the Watermelon and the Prickly Pear. The fries were double fried and among the best I've had in LA, so that was definitely a positive.

This brings me to my last point: the price. Given the fact that there are many nearby establishments with better food for less money, charging $27-28 for a burger or chicken sandwich represents some of the worst value in Los Angeles. The ~$20 cocktails with no happy hour is also a mistake I hope they fix. By comparison, The Misfit has a 50% off all cocktails until 7pm every day of the week just a few blocks away, and charges about 40% less for all their food. I really wanted this dining experience to go well, but they need to make some changes in the price and quality of their food, and ideally implement a happy hour. I'm hoping that many of these missteps are due to the fact they just opened in August 2023, and I hope to see...

We had an amazing meal at The Surfing Fox! We stumbled across this place for Dine LA and we couldn’t be more pleased. Food: Guac - flavorful, a generous portion with excellent homemade tortilla chips. caesar salad - we were somewhat split on this. The flavors and ingredients were great. We loved the crouton crumbles. I think it was slightly overdressed, my partner loved it. So if you are sensitive to dressings I’d just ask for it on the side. Cheeseburger - a no-frills high quality burger. The patty was a decent size and cooked perfectly. It came with THE BEST fries. Highly recommend. Fish Tacos - there was a prior review saying these were flavorless, I couldn’t disagree more. Our fish was fried perfectly, very soft and juicy. The tortillas were very good as well. Sweet Potatoes - we almost didn’t get these and I’m so glad we did! They somehow tasted creamy and were so good. Snap peas - these were cooked very well. Definitely cooked through but still left with a slight crisp. Dressed in a really tasty sauce. Drinks - we got the margarita and the east side. Both were delicious, and a great price with happy hour. Service: Impeccable. We interacted with multiple staff during our meal. The servers, bussers, manager, all were very friendly, attentive, and interactive. Atmosphere: Great vibes! The decor is very instagramable, but also comfortable. Great sound track. The soap in the bathroom smelled amazing!

Overall we couldn’t have been more happy with our visit. I’m hoping that they build out their brunch menu, this would be a great place for a meal with friends or guests. Given its location and food quality, I think this place is going to catch on quickly. We will...

The Surfing Fox is located in Santa Monica inside the Pierside Hotel. One block from the Santa Monica Pier. One block from the Santa Monica Mall. Directly across the street from McDonald's. Metered parking on Main Steeet until 9pm ($6 for 3 hours). Local lots available as well -price will vary.

What we tried - Ceviche w/Mandarin Tigre De Leche - didn't try, not a raw fish person, but it was a hit with fellow party goers

Spring Pea Falafel w/Thai Green Curry - presentation was spot-on, but, it's an acquire taste for sure

Hot Chicken Sliders w/ Oaxacan Spices - the pickled cabbage made this slider a hit for me, the Oaxacan spices paired well with the pickled cabbage

Chicken Drumettes w/ Coconut Sauce and Green Sambal - the rice was delicious and the drumette was good, not overcooked or dry. A bit more seasoning for the drumette would of made this the perfect side kick to the rice

Pros Presentation of dishes was beautiful. Mini size decorated plates of delicious looking food :)

Indoor and outdoor seating with heating lamps available.

The indoor seating is surrounded by a large bar. Booth and tabletop seating.

The outdoor seating is also right off Colorado Blvd. During the evening sunset this would be a great seat option.

Decor is minimal but nice. Clean lines and the chairs are comfortable. Bohemian style is what I am reminded of.

Servers were friendly and personable.

Variety in the menu for different pallettes. I can appreciate the vast difference in entrees offered.

Cons Parking is challenging because of the location but not impossible.

Overall, The Surfing Fox is in a prime location with good food, service, and friendly staff -...