It’s a Tuesday night. You're driving down PCH, the salt air is thick, and the kids are complaining about being hungry for the third time since soccer practice ended. If you live in the South Bay, your car basically auto-steers toward the parking lot at 1609 Hawthorne Blvd. It's Islands Restaurant Redondo Beach. It isn’t some avant-garde culinary experiment or a Michelin-star destination where you need to dress up just to eat a radish. It’s a burger joint. But for people in Redondo, it’s also kind of an institution.
South Bay dining is weird right now. We have these hyper-expensive spots in Manhattan Beach where a salad costs $28, and then we have the gritty, wonderful hole-in-the-walls. Islands sits right in that sweet spot of "I know exactly what I’m getting, and I know it’s going to be good."
The Vibe at Islands Restaurant Redondo Beach
Walking in feels like stepping into a 1980s surf movie that never quite ended. You’ve got the giant wooden tiki structures, the surfboards hanging from the ceiling, and those ubiquitous TVs playing endless loops of professional surfers wiping out in Tahiti or carving through waves in Oahu. It’s loud. It’s chaotic during the Friday night rush. Honestly, if you’re looking for a quiet, romantic candlelit dinner, you are in the wrong place.
But that's the point.
The Redondo Beach location has a specific energy. Because it's tucked into the South Bay Galleria area, it draws a massive mix of people. You’ll see local construction crews grabbing a quick lunch, families celebrating a Little League win, and teenagers sharing a massive plate of fries because it’s the only place they can afford to hang out. It’s one of the few places where nobody cares if your kid drops a fry on the floor.
What Actually Makes the Food Work?
Look, let’s be real. It’s a chain. Islands started in West Los Angeles back in 1982 when Tony DeGrazier wanted to bring a piece of the Hawaiian "shorebird" culture to the mainland. But just because it’s a chain doesn’t mean it’s low quality. There’s a reason the Islands Restaurant Redondo Beach remains a staple while other casual dining spots have folded.
The burgers. They use fresh, never frozen beef. You can taste it. The "Big Wave" is the standard, but most locals go for something with a bit more personality. The Kilauea is a personal favorite—it’s got that kick of jalapeños and pepper jack cheese that actually has some heat to it. Then there’s the Teriyaki sauce. Islands has a very specific, slightly-too-sweet-but-addictive Teriyaki sauce that they put on the Maui burger.
And we have to talk about the fries.
The G.H.P. (Great Huge Plate) of fries is a rite of passage. They are thin-cut, salty, and they come with that signature seasoning. The best part? They are endless. If you’re sitting in the dining room, the servers will keep bringing them until you physically cannot look at another potato. It’s a dangerous game.
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Navigating the Menu Like a Local
If you’ve been going to the Redondo location for years, you know the menu has some sleeper hits that aren't burgers.
- The Tortilla Soup: It is surprisingly robust. It’s topped with avocado, cheese, and enough tortilla strips to provide a satisfying crunch in every single bite. On those rare "cold" SoCal nights when the marine layer rolls in heavy over Redondo, this is the move.
- Beach Tacos: Specifically the fish tacos. They aren't trying to be authentic street tacos from a truck in East LA. They are North Shore-style tacos with cabbage and a creamy cilantro sauce.
- The Drinks: Their Mai Tais are notoriously strong. If you’re stopping by after work, the "Island Iced Tea" is basically a vacation in a glass, though you should probably make sure you have a ride home if you have more than one.
The "Secret" to the Redondo Location
The South Bay Galleria area has seen a lot of change. With the looming redevelopment projects and the shift in how people shop, some businesses have struggled. However, the Islands Restaurant Redondo Beach stays busy because it functions as a community hub.
You’ll notice the staff here often stays for years. That’s rare in the restaurant industry. When you have a server who remembers that you like your ranch on the side or that you prefer the "Shorebird" chicken sandwich without the sprouts, it creates a sense of belonging. It’s that "Cheers" effect, but with more pineapples and tropical prints.
Timing Your Visit
If you show up at 6:30 PM on a Saturday, be prepared to wait. The lobby gets cramped, and you’ll be dodging kids running toward the arcade machines or the gumball dispensers.
Pro-tip: Go during Happy Hour. Usually, it runs Monday through Friday in the bar area. You can get discounted appetizers like the cheddar fries or the sliders. The bar area at the Redondo location is actually pretty great for sports fans. They have plenty of screens, and the atmosphere is a bit more "adult" than the main dining room, even if you can still hear the upbeat surf rock playing in the background.
Lunch is another story. It’s fast. If you’re working nearby or just finished a session at the beach, you can usually get in and out in 45 minutes. The service at this specific location is generally dialed in—they know people are on a schedule.
Addressing the "Chain" Stigma
Some food snobs look down on places like Islands. They want the "authentic" experience. But "authentic" is a weird word in California. Islands is authentic to a very specific suburban Southern California experience. It’s authentic to the 90s kid who grew up eating there after surf camp. It’s authentic to the parent who just needs a reliable meal and a cold beer without a $150 bill.
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The ingredients are solid. The lettuce is crisp. The buns don’t fall apart halfway through the meal. They use real pineapple, not the canned stuff that tastes like metal. These details matter when you’re competing with every other burger joint in the South Bay.
Sustainable Practices and Community
In recent years, the company has made moves toward being better for the planet. This matters in a coastal city like Redondo Beach where we see the impact of plastic on our beaches every day. They’ve moved away from plastic straws and have been working on more sustainable packaging for their takeout orders.
Speaking of takeout, the Islands Restaurant Redondo Beach has a very efficient curbside setup. During the 2020-2022 era, they perfected the "burger in a box" science so it doesn't get soggy by the time you get it back to your house in Hermosa or North Redondo.
What to Skip
Not everything is a home run. The salads are... fine. They’re huge, but they can sometimes be overdressed. If you’re going to Islands, you’re usually there for the "Islands" experience, which involves gluten and cheese. If you’re on a strict keto-paleo-raw-vegan-whatever diet, you can make it work with a lettuce-wrapped burger, but you might feel a little left out when the fries arrive.
Also, the "Island Fries" with the cheese and bacon—it’s a lot. It’s a mountain of food. Unless you have a group of four teenagers with you, it’s probably overkill. Stick to the regular fries; they’re better balanced.
Why Redondo Beach?
There are Islands locations all over, from San Diego to Arizona. But the Redondo spot feels connected to the geography. You're minutes from the pier. You're a short drive from the surf at Breakwater. The restaurant acts as a transition point between the beach life and the suburban life of Torrance and Lawndale.
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It’s a place where the "Aloha Spirit" isn't just a marketing slogan; it’s actually reflected in the way the staff treats the regulars. You see it in the way the manager walks the floor, checking in on tables, making sure the fry baskets are full. It’s a well-oiled machine that still has a heart.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Visit
If you're heading to Islands Restaurant Redondo Beach soon, keep these points in mind to maximize the experience:
- Join the Rewards Program: Seriously. They send out offers for free appetizers or drinks pretty frequently. If you’re a local, it’s a no-brainer.
- The "No-Bun" Hack: If you want to feel slightly healthier, get the "Shorebird" or any burger as a "lettuce wrap." They do a better job than most at actually making it stay together.
- Ask for "Extra Seasoning": If you like your fries with a bit more kick, you can ask them to go heavy on the Island seasoning. It makes a world of difference.
- Check the TV Schedule: If there’s a major surf competition or a big game, this is one of the better spots to watch it without the "bro-energy" of a traditional sports bar.
- Parking Strategy: The lot can get hairy during peak mall hours. Park a bit further out toward the back of the Galleria lot; it’s easier to get out of when you’re done.
Islands isn't trying to change the world. It’s trying to give you a decent burger and a place to relax for an hour. In a world that’s increasingly complicated, there’s something deeply respectable about that. Next time you're stuck on what to do for dinner, just head toward the tiki torches on Hawthorne. You know what to expect, and that’s exactly why it works.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
Before you head out, check the local wait times online through their website or app, especially on weekend evenings. If you’re planning a large party (10+ people), call the Redondo location directly at least a few hours ahead; while they don’t always take formal reservations, they can often give you a heads-up on the current flow. Finally, grab a bottle of their seasoning on the way out if you want to recreate the fry experience at home—it’s one of the few restaurant spices that actually tastes like the real thing in your own kitchen.