I love Manhattan Beach! It’s one of my favorite cities to go for amazing views and relaxing vibes. This weekend we checked out Zinc@Shade, a modern American restaurant located just steps from the beach.

We sat outside on the patio and ordered a couple of fresh squeezed juices to kick off the brunch. I love when restaurants offer fresh squeezed orange and grapefruit juice — so much better than anything packaged and processed!

The chef was kind enough to kick us off with a beautiful plate of Belgian waffles and strawberries – literally one of my favorite dishes of all time. Anything with Belgian waffles is a winner for me, especially when they’re made to the perfect outside crispiness and inside fluffiness like these were!

Next up was an elevated avocado toast, topped with a sunny side up egg, prosciutto, leafy greens, tomato, and pickled red onions.

Everything was so delicious, we scarfed down as much as we could. Other highlights included an Apple Salad, fresh guacamole and chips made to order, and shrimp cocktail.

Chicken & Waffles was my pick for the entree. I’ve had my fair share of delicious Chicken & Waffles, and these definitely did not disappoint! The same delicious perfect Belgian waffles we got as a starter were the perfect backdrop to the juicy, crispy, and flavorful fried chicken topped with some amazing maple syrup. It also came with a side of jalapeño butter that was perfect for dipping some bites in!

Finally, the chef came out and talked to us about his Vietnamese background and Asian influences in his food. I love hearing what inspires chefs to create the dishes they do, and this time we got to try a twist on the Taiwanese Gua bao (割包) stuffed with an amazingly juicy braised pork belly.

I’ve had a number of mediocre experiences at restaurants in hotels in recent months, but Zinc definitely exceeded my expectations! If you’re ever looking for a cute, modern place to have lunch in Manhattan Beach, stop by Zinc’s patio for some delicious brunchin’. Then walk a few steps to the beach and enjoy the breeze like we did :)