Welcome to Johnston's Saltbox, your local New American Restaurant in San Carlos, CA, serving fresh takes on American favorites with a contemporary twist. Guests have given us 4.70 stars across 1171 reviews, and we’re proud to offer accessible facilities alongside great service and quality.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Johnston's Saltbox
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
lacinato kale, honeycrisp apple, medjool dates, spiced cashews, cabbage, purple daikon radish, rogue smokey blue cheese, dijon vinaigrette dressing
roasted heirloom beets, cara cara orange, castelfranco radicchio, hazelnut pecan relish, micro cress, saffron honey yogurt, champagne vinaigrette
crispy fried buttermilk chicken breast, jalapeno and ghostwood lager buffalo hot sauce, point reyes blue cheese schmear, carrot and celery slaw, saltbox fries
bartlett pear, butternut squash, spinach, fontina and goat cheese, sumac honey gastrique, spinach and bacon lardon salad, pistachio vinaigrette
all-natural beef burger, melted onions, aioli, lettuce, oven roasted tomato, potato bun, saltbox fries
asparagus, kale, romanesco, bucatini pasta, citrus brown butter, hazelnuts, house ricotta, garden herbs
mixed greens, millet quinoa cauliflower “hippie glitter”, brussel sprouts, red beets, fennel, delicate squash, radish, maple tahini dressing
sauteed mushrooms, leeks, zucchini, squash and haricot vert, roasted garlic, white wine, goat cheese aioli, saltbox fries
asian bbq braised brisket, jasmine rice, broccoli, zucchini, kale, scallion, pineapple sauté, thai pickles, furikake, fresh herbs
black bean ranchero chilaquiles, spice roasted pork loin, salsa verde, escabeche, ancho crema, queso fresco
(2) crystalized ginger scones with hawaiian whip
peanut butter chocolate crumble coffee cake with vanilla and nutella whips
neuski bacon lardons, two poached farm eggs, fingerling potato, brussels sprouts, delicata squash, pearl onion zucchini, wholegrain mustard hollandaise vegetarian option available
lemon poppyseed baked pain de mie, vanilla whipped ricotta and mascarpone, blueberry hibiscus compote, chamomile ginger maple syrup
asian bbq braised brisket, jasmine rice, broccoli kale scallion pineapple sauté, sunny egg, furikake
cheesy early girl farms pioneer white corn grits, chimichurri curry butter poached gulf shrimp leek, granny smith apple, butternut squash, poached egg vegetarian option available
black bean ranchero chilaquiles, spice roasted pork loin, salsa verde, escabeche, ancho crema, queso fresco, sunny egg ( vegetarian option available )
crispy fried buttermilk chicken breast, jalapeno and ghostwood lager buffalo hot sauce, point reyes blue cheese schmear, carrot and celery slaw, saltbox fries
lacinato kale, honeycrisp apples, medjool dates, spiced cashews, cabbage, purple daikon radish, rogue smokey blue cheese, dijon vinaigrette dressing
homemade beef and pork fennel meatballs, pecan pecorino spinach pesto, rusticana toast
pan seared diver scallops, asparagus, orzo and broccoli salad, house ricotta basil whip, toasted hazelnuts breadcrumbs, lemon mirin truffle vinaigrette
(2) corned beef, swiss cheese, cabbage, scallions, parsley mustard aioli
fava falafel, curried chickpea hummus, tzatziki, crudité and pita bread
togarashi dusted fried brussels sprouts, ponzu aioli, citrus zest
lacinato kale, honeycrisp apple, medjool dates, spiced cashews, cabbage, purple daikon radish, rogue smokey blue cheese, dijon vinaigrette dressing
roasted heirloom beets, cara cara orange, castelfranco radicchio, hazelnut pecan relish, micro cress, saffron honey yogurt, champagne vinaigrette
all-natural beef burger, melted onions, aioli, lettuce, tomato, saltbox fries
artichoke, kale, house made ricotta, tomato caper roasted garlic olive ragout, herbed mozzarella, parmesan cheese
citrus roasted mary’s chicken breast, savoy cabbage and fennel goat cheese colcannon, mushroom pink peppercorn shallot sauce lillet
pan seared scottish salmon, wild rice, celery root, romanesco, poached pearl onion, dried apricot, butternut squash puree, toasted almond butter
achiote marinated pork loin, housemade chorizo and fingerling potato hash, avocado crema, orange garlic aioli
lemon curd, hibiscus blueberry compote, vanilla goat cheese whip, ginger crème anglaise
with white chocolate fudge brownie chunks
butterscotch whip, carrot cake, sweet carrots, candied ginger
Hear from our valued guests
We arrived about 7:30 on a Tuesday and we were initially told there was a 20 minute wait but then after about 10 minutes told by someone else that it would be 40-45 minutes. So we opted to sit outside. They have heaters and blankets but, for me, it was still chill around my head and face. That was the negative part but the service and the food was excellent! I had bronzing that was served with a variety of vegetables. It was a huge portion and very tasty. Two of our group had the rib eye burger which they throughly enjoyed.
I was floored by how beautiful the place and the food are. Arguably one of the most beautiful in San Carlos or even the whole Peninsula. Their salad creations look like cluster of gems. The fried chicken sandwich is crispy, juicy, and yet not greasy. I love how they add peach into the sauce as well. The top quality of ingredients meet the thoughtfulness of the chefs. I will definitely come back to try everything here!
This continues to be the BEST brunch restaurant in the Bay Area. The atmosphere is beautiful, the service is warm and kind, and most importantly, the food is amazing. Constantly changing / reinventing dishes with fresh seasonal ingredients, great portion sizes, and reasonable prices. Couldn’t recommend more highly.
Amazing brunch place with a beautiful patio in the back. The menu changes frequently so it's hard to describe but there's always a unique mix of flavors. The dishes also don't weigh you down like traditional brunch, because they're stuffed with fresh healthy ingredients. The dutch baby pancake in particular was delicious, but I haven't had anything disappointing in my three trips.
Started my California roadtrip just right with this place, one of the best brunch I’ve ever had, everything tasted perfect will definitely be back.
An amazing place. Food is innovative, fresh, and delicious. Service is top-notch and the outdoor terrace spot is great for an outdoor shady spot in the summer. They change their menus every few weeks but you are guaranteed to be pleasantly surprised by their eclectic offerings. Love their vegetarian options specifically the strata rustica. Their French toast is amazingly delicious with seasonal variations they are very crispy outside and moist inside.
Definitely one of the best brunch places in the Bay Area Came on a Saturday at 11AM and waited for 10min for 2 ppl (bigger party is longer) Theyre known for their scones which varies per day but the texture of crunchy on the outside soft on the inside is literally the definition of this scone Chicken sandwich was a lil dry cuz they used chicken breast but fries were good The hash was very flavorful and had very good smoked pork belly Overall vibes and ambiance was good too Parking may be hard nearby but in the neighborhood nearby its easy
This neighborhood restaurant is busy all the time. Our yasai to tamago and breakfast hash were complicated and very tasty. We were really impressed by the chef's talent. Worth going there again.
This place has a beautiful outdoor, covered patio. I would say it was more comfortable and spacious than the indoor dining area. Dinner menu looks limited, but the pear quesadilla and ribeye burger were fantastic! Great, well-balanced flavors and combinations. Service was amazing. Usually when you get seated outside, you tend to be forgotten, so we really appreciate the staff for being so nice and attentive.
Hoping for a nice little lunch, on a chill Wednesday, my partner and I found Johnston’s Saltbox. With over a thousand great reviews, I knew this place had to be excellent and it was quite good. The vibes were immaculate between the sense of community indoors or the more relaxing vibe outside. The food was also fantastic. We ordered the Fall Harvest Salad as well as the Fried Chicken Sandwich. The salad wasn’t anything crazy, but it was a nice mix of flavor and freshness. The sandwich was something they are known for, and it was actually quite good. There are two different sauces on it that come together really well and though it is a chicken breast, the meat is pretty tender. The breading does separate a bit off the meat though so there is a chance the meat will slip right out of the breading, but nonetheless everything comes together so well. The fries were also fantastic. Genuinely some of the best fries I’ve had with how fluffy and crispy they are.
Common questions about Johnston's Saltbox
Johnston's Saltbox is located at 1696 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA 94070, United States, San Carlos, CA, United States.
You can reach Johnston's Saltbox by calling +1 650-592-7258.
Johnston's Saltbox has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 based on 1171 customer reviews.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great dessert, Great wine list, Serves local specialty.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Healthy options, Organic dishes, Small plates, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Counter service, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following amenities: Bar on site, Gender-neutral toilets, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Free Wi-Fi.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Lively, Trendy, Upmarket.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following crowd: Family friendly, LGBTQ+ friendly, Transgender safe space.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following planning: Usually a wait, Accepts reservations.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following children: Good for kids, Has changing table(s), High chairs, Kids' menu.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Paid parking lot, Plenty of parking.
Johnston's Saltbox features the following pets: Dogs allowed, Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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