SEXY, SURFER, CHIC – is a spot-on description of Huntington Beach’s Shorebreak Hotel and its restaurant & bar Zimzala. Only steps away from the famous strand in Huntington Beach which annually hosts the US Open of Surfing, Zimzala is fast becoming our favorite sit-down and relax-at-the-beach restaurant. We enjoy Zimzala’s youthful vibe, the menu’s emphasis on familiar American dishes made with farm fresh ingredients, beach-inspired handcrafted cocktails, and, of course, the surf-inspired décor.
In true free-spirit fashion, their Happy Hour is called “Relaxed Hour” instead, and it’s every day – making it one of the best Happy Hours in Orange County, none of this Monday through Thursday business – you’re at the beach and kicking back happens every day from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. It’s all in the spirit of Zimzala, which in surfer speak stands for “one who finds peace with sand between his toes” …sounds good to me, even if I’ve never heard a surfer say that, but then again, I’m no expert on surfer speak.
What I do know is that Zimzala has a casual, yet trend-setting ambience, and is also the most stylish and sophisticated place to dine and have drinks in downtown Huntington; close to the action, but just far enough from Main Street to appreciate the relaxed beach lifestyle and spiritual zen of the ocean. With fabulous views of the iconic Huntington Beach Pier, the Shorebreak’s bright, sunny facade opens up to gleaming white-walled gallery lined with stunning sea and surf images inviting guests and beach-goers to meander upstairs to discover this hidden gem and its refreshing mid-century modern, eco surf decor.
soft house made pretzels
sea salt / stone IPA beer cheese
Zimzala showcases the California Beach Cuisine of executive chef Roy Hendrickson who has crafted a wonderful new menu that fits the Huntington Beach lifestyle. Our menu favorites include Crispy Calamari with Lime-Chili Sauce, Lump Crab Cake with Avocado Salsa, Fig Flatbread with Laura Chenel Goat Cheese, Irish Organic Salmon with tarragon-scented Pearl Couscous, and a great Sirloin Burger with Caramelized Onions, melted Gruyere Cheese, Housemade Pickles and Arugula. Menu items range from $9 to $29.
fresh fig flatbread
laura chenel goat cheese / pistachio / apple / sage balsamic / arugula
cider-brined pork chop
mustard-parsley spaetzel / bacon / caramelized onion / sour cherry pork sauce
Make sure you save room for dessert!
german chocolate waffle
german chocolate fixin’s / caramel sauce / almond coffee ice cream
Besides the amazing German Chocolate Waffles inspired by the German chocolate cake that Chef Roy’s grandmother made him every year for his birthday, there are also wonderful seasonal fruit creations like Strawberry Shortcake and creamy house-made ice cream – my favorite is the Hatch Chile, sublime chile flavor, cool and refreshing with a tingly sensation of subtle heat.
Because Shorebreak, a Joie de Vivre Hotel is a dog-friendly hotel in a city devoted to canines, Zimzala even offers a special menu for Man’s Best Friend. You can order your pooch an 8-ounce grilled burger patty served with Yukon Gold potatoes and gravy or poached chicken breast with carrots and rice, and, for dessert, yogurt-dipped bacon strips or vanilla ice cream!
Shorebreak Hotel
500 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 960-5050
Purabi Naha
July 12 at 7:05 pmZimzala looks like a great place to be in! I loved the review…all the dishes look fabulous!!
Priscilla
July 12 at 8:34 pmThanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, Purabi. Wish you lived closer, although I’ve been to HK and it is foodie heaven 🙂
[email protected]'s Recipes
July 13 at 12:06 amThat’s a great place to relax and enjoy some great food with friends! Love that pizza!!!!
Lisa
July 13 at 12:21 amI am gunning for that German Chocolate Waffle with a side of the salty, soft pretzels (love sweet and salty together at once)! That would probably be the first thing I’d order if I was lucky enough to eat at Zimzala. I’ve heard of the Shorebreak Hotel, and I think I saw a segment on it a few years ago on the Travel channel. To me, it’s the epitome of the SoCal ‘beach life’ – Sun, surf, and sand. Great review and photos – like always 🙂
Jeff
July 13 at 3:56 pmMy family and I just vacationed at the Shorebreak in May and absolutely adored it. And we, of course, fell in love with Zimzala as well. I could have eaten there every meal and tried everything (Brunch was to die for too, btw!). Good thing I didn’t otherwise, I would have had to roll out of there! Thanks for the review!
Patty
July 14 at 7:26 amAnother good place to bookmark for the next trip to Huntington Beach;-) You sure do live in a beautiful part of the world Priscilla;-)
Nami | Just One Cookbook
July 15 at 12:15 amAlthough everything looks good, I have to really try their fresh fig flatbread. It looks very good and I hope I can find this somewhere around here or I have to figure out how to make it myself! LA beaches seem so warm and nice and here….always we need to watch out the weather.
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme
July 16 at 7:01 amThis looks like a perfect place to spend a few hours on a summer afternoon. I do wish I lived closer but if I’m ever in that area, it’s on my list!
Magic of Spice
July 20 at 1:39 pmSuch a fun spot! That fig flatbread looks amazing…will have to give that a try 🙂