On this page
- The road at a glance
- 1. The north end: Stanford Shopping Center to Town & Country
- 2. California Avenue and Page Mill Road
- 3. Hansen Way and the Research Park edge
- 4. Barron Park: Arastradero to Charleston
- 5. The south end: near San Antonio Road
- El Camino by craving
- Parking, buses and crossing
- Staying on El Camino
- FAQ
El Camino Real is the old royal road of the California missions and the long spine of the Peninsula. Through Palo Alto it is State Route 82, a wide, busy road of hotels, gas stations, strip centers and two big shopping centers. It is not a walking street. It is, however, where many of the city's most practical meals are: a tofu soup house, a steakhouse from 1974, a 24-hour drive-thru, Japanese markets and family pizza shops.
This guide follows El Camino from north to south, stretch by stretch. Every linked business appears in our business directory, which lists hours as each place published them in October 2026. Hours vary, so check before you drive over. For the road's past, see our El Camino Real history.
The road at a glance
| Stretch | Address range | Near |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Shopping center end | 100 to 900 | Stanford, downtown, Palo Alto High School |
| 2. Cal Ave and Page Mill | 1900 to 2700 | College Terrace, California Avenue |
| 3. Hansen Way | 3200 to 3400 | Ventura, Stanford Research Park |
| 4. Barron Park | 3700 to 4000 | Arastradero and Charleston roads |
| 5. San Antonio end | 4100 to 4300 | San Antonio Road, Mountain View line |
Address numbers rise as you drive south. Most places have their own small lot or sit in a strip center, so parking is easier than downtown.
1. The north end: Stanford Shopping Center to Town & Country
The road enters Palo Alto from Menlo Park at San Francisquito Creek and Sand Hill Road. The first mile is the busiest for food, thanks to two shopping centers that face Stanford.
- Fleming's: a prime steakhouse facing El Camino at Stanford Shopping Center, with private dining rooms.
- RH Rooftop Restaurant: a skylit restaurant on the top floor of the RH design gallery at the shopping center.
- Poolside Grill: the California-style restaurant at the Sheraton Palo Alto, 625 El Camino Real, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Gott's Roadside: burgers and shakes at Town & Country Village, across from Stanford Stadium.
- Telefèric Barcelona: Catalan paella and tapas at Town & Country, with a long Spanish wine list.
Both centers have many more options. See our guides to eating at Stanford Shopping Center and eating at Town & Country.
2. California Avenue and Page Mill Road
South of Embarcadero, El Camino runs past Stanford's athletic fields and College Terrace. The food picks up again between Stanford Avenue and Page Mill Road, where California Avenue's car-free blocks branch off to the east.
- Sundance The Steakhouse: a family-run steakhouse at 1921 El Camino Real since 1974, with weekday lunch and three semi-private rooms.
- Jack in the Box: at 2280 El Camino Real, with a drive-thru and lobby listed as open 24 hours.
- Topi: a cake and dessert shop that opened in 2025, known for tea-flavored and character cakes.
- Fambrini's Cafe: a daytime cafe with all-day breakfast and a dog-friendly garden patio.
- Starbird: crispy chicken tenders and sandwiches at 2515 El Camino Real, open until 10 p.m. most nights.
Our California Avenue guide covers the restaurants a block or two off the road.
3. Hansen Way and the Research Park edge
Past Page Mill Road, El Camino runs along the edge of Stanford Research Park on one side and the Ventura neighborhood on the other. The 3200 to 3400 block has a small cluster of sit-down kitchens.
- INDO Restaurant & Lounge: Indonesian and Southeast Asian shared plates, cocktails, a lounge and a patio.
- Tie Mu Zhen: Inner Mongolian lamb dishes such as roast ribs and shaomai, plus Sichuan plates.
- Yutori: a Japanese cafe, konbini and market by day, with a restaurant and bar some evenings.
Our guide to eating near Stanford Research Park covers this stretch for office workers.
4. Barron Park: Arastradero to Charleston
The road then passes Barron Park, the semi-rural neighborhood known for its donkeys. The 3700 to 4000 block near Arastradero and Charleston roads is a lunch and takeout strip.
- Celia's Mexican Restaurant: combination plates, fajitas and margaritas from a small Bay Area chain, with lot and street parking.
- State of Mind Slice House: slices and whole pies in round, pan and gluten-free styles, with California craft beer.
- HolyShred: a fast-casual Thai restaurant that opened in August 2026 with about 50 seats.
The same strip has a drive-through Starbucks at 3885 El Camino Real and late delivery pizza. Our Barron Park guide covers the neighborhood behind the road.
5. The south end: near San Antonio Road
The last half mile before the Mountain View line has a mix of hotel restaurants and long-running independents. This is also the closest Palo Alto food to the San Antonio Caltrain station.
- Fuki Sushi: a Japanese restaurant with a sushi bar, a skylit sun room and private tatami rooms; reservations recommended.
- So Gong Dong Tofu House: a family-run Korean restaurant with 16 versions of soft tofu soup.
- Hobee's Restaurant: omelets and coffeecake from a Bay Area breakfast chain dating to 1974; closed Mondays.
- Dinah's Poolside Restaurant: the all-day restaurant at Dinah's Garden Hotel, with breakfast, lunch and dinner beside the pool.
Across the city line, Mountain View's San Antonio Center adds many more choices. Our Mountain View food guide covers them.
El Camino by craving
Because the road is long, it helps to know which stretch to aim for. For steak, the north end has Fleming's and the Cal Ave stretch has Sundance. For Japanese food, try Yutori near Hansen Way or Fuki Sushi near San Antonio Road. For a quick family meal, Gott's at the north end and State of Mind in Barron Park both work. For breakfast, Hobee's and Dinah's at the south end and Fambrini's near Page Mill all serve it, with Fambrini's offering it all day.
Parking, buses and crossing
- Parking. Most restaurants have small lots or share a strip center lot. Read posted time limits and customer-only signs.
- Turning. El Camino has medians on many blocks, so you may need to pass a restaurant and make a U-turn at a signal. Approach from the correct side when you can.
- Bus. VTA Route 22 and Rapid 522 run the length of the road from the Palo Alto Transit Center toward San Jose. Our VTA bus guide has stops and fares.
- On foot. Cross only at signals. The road is wide and traffic is fast.
Good to know
- Sundance, So Gong Dong and INDO list a break between lunch and dinner. Starbird, Celia's and Gott's list continuous hours.
- For very late food, Jack in the Box at 2280 is the only listing open around the clock.
- Fuki Sushi recommends reservations by phone, text or online.
- Hours vary. Directory hours are as published in October 2026.
Staying on El Camino
Most of Palo Alto's hotels sit on or near El Camino Real, from the Sheraton and Westin at the north end to the Crowne Plaza and Dinah's at the south. Staying here means a short drive to campus and dinner a few doors away. Our guide to hotels along El Camino Real lists them; you can compare El Camino Real hotels for your dates.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the restaurants on El Camino Real in Palo Alto?
They cluster in five stretches: Stanford Shopping Center and Town & Country Village at the north end, the blocks near California Avenue and Page Mill Road, the 3200 to 3400 block near Hansen Way, Barron Park near Arastradero Road and the 4100 to 4200 block near San Antonio Road.
What is open 24 hours on El Camino Real in Palo Alto?
Jack in the Box at 2280 El Camino Real lists its drive-thru and lobby as open 24 hours. It is the latest food in the city. Papa Johns at 3898 El Camino Real lists delivery and carryout until 2:20 a.m. or later.
Is there Korean food on El Camino Real in Palo Alto?
Yes. So Gong Dong Tofu House at 4127 El Camino Real is a family-run Korean restaurant that specializes in soft tofu soup, with 16 versions plus stone pot bibimbap and bulgogi. It serves lunch and dinner with a break in the afternoon.
Can I take the bus along El Camino Real?
Yes. VTA Route 22 and Rapid 522 run from the Palo Alto Transit Center by the Caltrain station down El Camino Real toward San Jose. They are an easy way to hop between the stretches in this guide without parking twice.
Where should I eat on El Camino Real near the hotels?
Hotels line much of the road. The Sheraton at 625 El Camino Real has Poolside Grill. Dinah's Garden Hotel has Dinah's Poolside Restaurant and the Hilton Garden Inn has Kitchen at Palo Alto, both near San Antonio Road. Stanford Shopping Center and Town & Country Village are walkable from the north-end hotels.