A Food Tour through Marina, CA

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 local's haven for great food at great prices? Slightly off of Highway One lays the City of Marina where you are guaranteed to find an eatery to suit any palate.

Being the glutton that I am I attempted to try a handful of establishments, for research purposes of course. Below are just a few of the many choices in the area varying from Chinese, Italian to Vietnamese; for a full list of Marina restaurants click here.

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.
Some of my favorite items included the orange chicken, spicy green beans and salt n' pepper fish. The spicy green beans with Szechuan shrimp particular hits the nail on the head encapsulating a spicy kick, sweet spike, and crunch all in one bite.
Dine in their family-friendly atmosphere or order for takeout! Either way it will be hard to save any leftovers.

Wild Thyme Deli & Café

445 Reservation Road, Marina, CA 93933

Create your own picnic on Marina State Beach or dine in with mouthwatering options from Wild Thyme Deli. Here you will find a plethora of side salads, sandwiches, paninis and desserts.
I suggest tantalizing your taste buds with the house made Rueben! This masterpiece is loaded with sweet and spicy in-house brined pastrami, topped with luscious sauerkraut, slathered with Swiss cheese and a creamy Russian dressing all on a fresh toasted bun. Guzzle this with one of their craft sodas and you're in for a real treat!

Dishes Bistro & Grill

330 Reservation Rd., Marina, CA 93933

Sit back and relax in the colorful Italian-esque dining room that is Dishes. Here you will find items like Mediterranean pizzas, jumbo raviolis, grass fed steaks and homemade desserts.
The calamari in particular is done just right. The tender and lightly breaded steaks make the perfect pair with the rich and creamy homemade tartar sauce.

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.

The first thing I noticed at Noodle Bar was their wide array of boba teas ranging from avocado, mocha, green tea to pina colada. This time I ventured out of my norm and tried the taro flavor and it certainly won't be the last! It had just the right amount of sweetness and the boba pearls were refreshing as always.

Kula Ranch Island Grill

3295 Dunes Dr., Marina, CA 93933

Continue your food journey with a trip to the Pacific Islands. Kula Ranch Island Grill serves up island-inspired plates like macadamia nut mahi mahi, Kalua pork and No Ka' Oi steaks.
I suggest nabbing a seat around their outdoor fire pit and ordering a few pupus. Their tropical cocktails alone are reason enough to make this a must!

Cheesecake Dreamations

265 Reservation Rd, Marina, CA 93933

What is a food tour without dessert? Cheesecake Dreamations is one of Marina's newest and hottest tenants offering 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 a piece!
I immediately gravitated towards the Caramel Pecan treat. The consistency and texture was spot on and their cozy lounge area made it easy to savor every morsel! Cheesecake Dreamations was the perfect slice of heaven to end an epic food tour through Marina.