The Jolly Oyster

So this is in a pay lot BUT you can tell them you’re just going to the Jolly Oyster. BUT they will only give you a 15 min stub. BUT how are they going to really know if you’re there 15 mins +++? I don’t know. Will they actually tow your car or write a ticket while you eat these awesome oysters? Doubt it. First thing I noticed was this place was surrounded by shells. Did people just dumped their shells there to add to the collection? Wasn’t so sure so we just dumped it in the trash. The oysters did taste salty but the spices made up for it. Had the creole and some regulars. Very good stuff!

This place is five star! If you want some fresh oysters at a chill spot on the beach you gotta try this place. The wait is a little long but well worth it. You can take your ice chest with beer, wine and food to grill. Don’t miss out on the fresh oysters on the half shell!

We had been to the Jolly Oyster Market in Torrance, CA, so we had an idea of what to expect: good, fresh oysters at a great price!
At first, we weren’t able to find this Food Truck. We called the number listed and found out that they are located inside the San Buenaventura Beach Park, in Lot C. It was $ 10 to park, but if you leave before the hour is up, it’s free with validation.
There were two trucks. One had cooked food and the other had the raw oysters. We didn’t really plan on coming here, so we had left the shucker at home. Not to worry — they will lend you a shucker in exchange for your Driver’s License. We got one dozen for $ 15 since we didn’t have much time (we wanted to get some ice cream before I had to get to the airport). It was just right!
There were picnic tables with benches. It was very casual and relaxing! Just bring a jacket if you’re there when the sun goes down — it got a bit chilly!
The public restrooms were clean and functional. They even had soap at the outside sink! You’ll need it before and after eating!
When we finished our feast, we flung the shells into the pile of shells that surrounded the area. It’s a cool experience knowing that you have added your contribution to the wall of oyster shells! It was such a unique and memorable experience! Thanks Yuri & Tim!

What a fun experience! Although it is a little far in the areas of Ventura, the experience was worth it.
A friend planned a birthday there and we spent the entire day eating and shucking. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday! The gentleman at Jolly Oyster were very accomodating and taught us to shuck!
It is a really great deal especially in a group — they split the area in two, one for the kitchen where you do the cooking and shucking yourself, and a separate truck for the cooked items.
We ordered over 100+ oysters and 20 pounds of clams… Worth every penny! The oysters were very fresh and the clams were clean!

How about a beachside picnic with raw oysters? If you answered yes then you should definitely check out The Jolly Oyster at San Buenaventura State Beach on the weekend. If you’re the DIY kind, there’s The Jolly Oyster Shuck Shack where you can buy oysters and clams for you to shuck and cook yourself or, if you don’t want to be bothered, there’s The Jolly Oyster Kitchen where you can buy prepared shellfish. The latter is more expensive obviously.
Our group did some of both. I didn’t want to do any shucking so I bought a ½ dozen OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL ($ 12) and the CLASSIC MANILA CLAM STEAMERS ($ 12 for a bowl of clams cooked with shallots, garlic, thyme, parsley and white wine). I recommend getting this unless you think you can make this happen on one of the grills. My friends picked up more raw oysters from The Shuck Shack. If you buy 40 or more, each will cost you only $ 1. Did you get that? If you shuck them, it’s $ 1 each. If you get them shucked for you, it’s $ 2 each. My friends also bought some CLAMS to shuck and STONE CRAB CLAWS. You can borrow shucking tools from them unless you happen to have your own oyster knife, gloves and cloth. Lemons and sauces are extra.
In terms of the eating area, it’s all outdoor. There are picnic tables and benches and charcoal grills if you need them. You can bring beer or wine to enjoy and any other food and beverages to go with the shellfish. You can also bring your dog as long as you keep them on a leash. The picnic area is interesting because it’s surrounded by piles of discarded shells. You just toss them and let the birds pick at them.
Parking onsite costs $ 10, so try to find free street parking outside of the park and walk in like we did. It can also get cold, so bring blankets and jackets. Wipes are also very handy because you’ll get your hands dirty regardless.

I came here with my family on Sunday of Labor Day weekend for Oysters/​BBQ and it was so awesome! I was expecting parking to be crowded and for all the grills to be taken since it was a holiday weekend but there was plenty of everything to go around.
There are two trucks that make up Jolly Oyster — a raw truck and a prepared food truck. I had a bite of an Oyster Taco (~$ 8) from the prepared food truck and it was perfect — the oyster was lightly battered, fried just enough and dressed perfectly. I was hoping to try the ceviche as well but they were sold out for the day…
The real «bang for your buck» will come from the raw truck. We bought 40 oysters ($ 1/​oyster) and 3 pounds of clams for about $ 60 dollars. For preparation; we BBQ half of the oysters and ate the other half raw… both ways were tasty however the star of our Jolly Oyster meal was actually the clams! We brought a dutch oven and steamed the clams in garlic and butter and it was AMAZING. The clams were super fresh and delicious and the clam juice + garlic + butter made the best dipping sauce for bread.
Definietly worth the drive from OC — will be back soon!

Wonderful place! It’s food truck but has lots of picnic area around. You can reserve if you have a party. We got 40 oysters for $ 1 each and opened them ourselves. And then another ready-​to-​serve 20 oysters by $ 2 each. We set up our own bbq with food and stews. And they were so nice to lend us a side table to place all our food. And lent us some oyster knife with rugs. Very nice people! And they say you can make a wish if you open and toss the shell to the oyster wall. I wish I can open one with pearl in it: p
And I super love the ambience they created there. The slow rock music made the whole afternoon simply relaxing and content.
Would love to go again (though it’s a bit far for LA people)!

There’s nothing quite like sitting near the beach while feasting on some of the freshest oysters you can find here along the Southern California coast. It’s quite a different atmosphere here compared to other beaches and is the perfect place to take a day trip with friends.
Located at San Buenaventura State Beach, there are 2 different stands to choose from. The food truck is good for those who prefer their oysters prepared and cooked by the chefs whereas the Shuck Shack is for those who aren’t afraid to do their own shucking. Now, the thought of shucking your own oysters may sound intimidating to newbies but if you need an introduction, the workers will be more than happy to share some wisdom with you. As for my girl friends, we just hauled our boyfriends along with us to do the task! If you shuck your own, the oysters are only $ 1 each. Win!
There were 3 types of oysters available to choose from: Kumamoto oysters, Jolly oysters and Pacific oysters. We decided to try all 3 and also got steamed clams from the food truck. The Kumamoto oysters are definitely a must if they’re available. Super sweet, clean-​tasting and fresh with no hint of brininess or saltiness. Out of the 3 oysters, they’re the smallest and easiest to shuck. The Jolly oysters are a hybrid of the Kumamotos and Pacifics and is also great for eating raw. If you’re prefer your oysters to be meatier with a more briny taste, then these will be a good choice. As for the Pacifics, we reserved most of them for grilling, which turned out amazing with our friend’s «secret» sauce.
To top it all off, this place is BYOB, so feel free to pop open a bottle of your favorite wine or beer to enjoy with your oysters.

I love the laid-​back and mellow vibe at The Jolly Oyster; it’s an island-​like atmosphere at the San Buenaventura State Beach. Everyone from the staff to your fellow patrons is so relaxed!
My wife and I spent our anniversary here, shucking oysters, eating all day, and walking along the beach. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day: the weather was beautiful, the food was outstanding, and, of course, the company was the best.
We ordered two dozen oysters ($ 15/​dozen or $ 1.25 each; if you buy 40+, then they’re only $ 1 each) and learned how to shuck them from the friendly Jolly Oyster dude. It’s not difficult, but it does require some elbow grease. You can buy a shucking knife for $ 6 or you can borrow one if you leave your driver’s license as a deposit. Next, we ordered Manila steamers ($ 12 per order) from the adjacent Jolly Kitchen food truck.
The oysters and the clams were tantalizing and delectable. I loved the fresh and briny oysters; there are several varieties available and unfortunately they were out of Kumamoto, so we went with the Pacific and the Jolly oysters. Try one of the three Jolly sauces (we liked the cucumber-​based sauce) for $ 1 each or go with the classic Tabasco and lemon (also $ 1). The Manila clams were delicious as well; a bit on the salty side, but that didn’t stop us from sopping up all of the broth with the loaf of French bread we’d brought.
You’re allowed to bring your own alcohol here, so feel free to partake of your favorite adult beverage while chowing down. Our cooler was full of side dishes, dessert, and drinks, so we had everything we needed for our anniversary feast.
Be sure to read Sandra S.‘s excellent review for a lot of great suggestions for spending the day here. She’s done a fantastic job of explaining what this place is all about and what to bring. And don’t forget to make a wish and toss your oyster (not clam) shells onto the ever-​growing wall around the picnic area. It’s good luck!
Highly recommended.