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Stanford Shopping Center is an open-air mall on Stanford land at El Camino Real and Sand Hill Road, run by Simon. It has more than 140 shops and restaurants under its trees and arcades. For food, it is the easiest place in Palo Alto to feed a group with mixed tastes, or to grab a reliable meal on a Sunday when smaller restaurants are closed. It is also the closest large cluster of food to the Stanford medical center.
This guide sorts the center's food by where it sits. Each linked business appears in our business directory, which shows hours and booking methods as each place published them in October 2026. Hours vary and restaurants set their own, separate from store hours. For the shops, history and layout, see our Stanford Shopping Center guide.
How the center is laid out
The center sits between El Camino Real, Sand Hill Road, Quarry Road and the medical center. Food clusters in three areas:
- The El Camino Real side. Larger restaurants that face the road, with their own entrances and later hours.
- The middle walkways. Counters, bakeries and dessert shops along the main pedestrian paths, plus sit-down restaurants with patios.
- The Quarry Road side. Quick counters near Bloomingdale's and the parking along Quarry Road.
From one end to the other is a walk of five to ten minutes. Store hours are Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Many restaurants stay open later.
Facing El Camino Real
These restaurants line the edge of the center along El Camino Real near Quarry Road. They are the best bets for a dinner that runs past store closing.
- Fleming's: a prime steakhouse with lunch Tuesday to Saturday, private dining rooms and reservations online or by phone.
- P.F. Chang's: an Asian restaurant chain at the corner of El Camino and Quarry Road, with patio dining and large party bookings.
- Shake Shack: burgers, fries and shakes next to P.F. Chang's, open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily as listed.
- Chipotle: burritos and bowls facing El Camino, open until 10 p.m. daily.
- RH Rooftop Restaurant: a skylit restaurant on the top floor of the RH furniture gallery, with olive trees and a limestone fountain.
The middle of the center
Sit-down restaurants
- True Food Kitchen: a health-focused chain with seasonal plates, weekend brunch and a large patio.
- Pacific Catch: a West Coast fish house for poke, grilled fish and rolls, with a daily Aloha Hour.
- Hummus Mediterranean Kitchen: Mediterranean and Turkish food near Sigona's, with a weekend Turkish breakfast.
- Taro San Japanese Noodle Bar: house-made udon, izakaya plates, sushi and sake.
Counters
- World Wrapps: wraps, rice paper rolls, bowls and salads made to order.
- Go Fish Poke Bar: poke bowls and hand rolls led by a co-founder who was a sushi chef.
- The Melt: burgers and grilled cheese with a patio, listed as open until 3 a.m. every night.
The center's own dining page lists further restaurants, including Zaytinya, Sushi Roku and Dumpling Time. Check the center's dining directory for the current full list.
The Quarry Road side
The Quarry Road side, near Bloomingdale's, is the quick-lunch end of the center. It is closest to the medical center and to Quarry Road's parking.
- Tender Greens: a chef-run counter for plates, salads and sandwiches, open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with gluten-free and vegan tags.
A McDonald's sits on this side too, off Quarry Road near Bloomingdale's. For visitors coming from the hospitals, our guide to eating near Stanford Hospital covers what is inside the medical center.
Coffee, bakeries and sweets
The walkways are lined with places for a coffee or a treat between stores.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: by the El Camino Real entrance, open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.
- La Baguette: a French-style bakery and cafe baking bread, croissants and cakes daily.
- Bacio di Latte: Italian gelato made daily in the shop, plus affogatos.
- See's Candies: the Los Angeles candy maker's shop, with a counter for mixed boxes.
- Läderach: the Swiss chocolatier, known for FrischSchoggi chocolate bark.
- Sprinkles Cupcakes: cupcakes, cookies and layer cakes with pickup and local delivery.
- Pressed Juicery: cold-pressed juices and wellness shots, with long hours listed by the brand.
Our bakeries and desserts guide covers sweets across the city.
Planning by time of day
| When | What is open, as listed |
|---|---|
| 6 to 8 a.m. | Blue Bottle from 6 a.m.; Pressed Juicery from 7 a.m. |
| 8 to 10:30 a.m. | La Baguette from 8 a.m.; Hummus serves Turkish breakfast from 9:30 a.m. on weekends |
| Lunch | Nearly everything. Counters fill from noon to 1:30 p.m. on weekends. |
| 3 to 6 p.m. | Quiet tables; Pacific Catch's Aloha Hour |
| After 7 p.m. | Stores close but most restaurants stay open until 9 or 10 p.m. |
| After 10 p.m. | P.F. Chang's on Friday and Saturday; The Melt until 3 a.m. |
Weekday lunches are the calmest time for a sit-down meal. Saturday afternoons are the busiest, especially from Thanksgiving through December, when holiday shoppers fill the walkways and the lots.
Dietary needs
The center is a good bet for mixed groups with different diets. Tender Greens tags its menu for gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and vegan choices. World Wrapps lists vegan and gluten-free options. True Food Kitchen builds its menu around seasonal, health-focused plates. Pacific Catch says it serves no fish rated Red by Seafood Watch, except lobster. For a full list across town, see our gluten-free guide.
Parking and getting there
Parking is in large surface lots that ring the stores, with structures near some department stores, including one by Macy's. You are rarely far from your destination. Lots fill on weekend afternoons and through December, so aim for the Quarry Road or Sand Hill Road sides when the El Camino lots are busy.
- By train: the Palo Alto Caltrain station is across El Camino Real, a walk of about 10 minutes.
- By shuttle: Stanford's free Marguerite shuttles stop at the center. Our Marguerite guide lists routes and days.
Good to know
- Restaurant hours are separate from store hours. Several places listed here stay open past 9 p.m.
- Fleming's, True Food Kitchen and Pacific Catch take reservations. Counters do not.
- Pacific Catch's Aloha Hour runs weekdays 3 to 6 p.m. and weekends 3 to 5 p.m., as listed.
- Hours vary by season and holiday. Check a restaurant's own hours before a late visit.
Groups, families and late meals
For a group, the center's strength is choice. Everyone can pick a different counter and meet at a patio table. For a sit-down group meal, Fleming's lists private dining rooms and P.F. Chang's lists large party bookings. Our group dining guide covers more options across town.
For families, the counters and the gelato and cupcake shops make easy stops. Our kid-friendly restaurants guide has more ideas.
For a late meal, The Melt is the standout, with listed hours until 3 a.m. Our late-night food guide covers the rest of the city. Visitors staying nearby can compare hotels near Stanford Shopping Center, since several hotels sit along El Camino Real within a short walk.
Frequently asked questions
What restaurants are at Stanford Shopping Center?
Sit-down choices include Fleming's, P.F. Chang's, True Food Kitchen, Pacific Catch, Hummus Mediterranean Kitchen, Taro San and the RH Rooftop Restaurant. Counters include Shake Shack, Chipotle, Tender Greens, World Wrapps, Go Fish Poke Bar and The Melt. Bakeries, gelato, chocolate and coffee shops fill the walkways.
Are Stanford Shopping Center restaurants open after the stores close?
Many are. Store hours end at 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday, but restaurants set their own hours. P.F. Chang's lists hours until 10 or 11 p.m., Fleming's until 9 or 10 p.m. and The Melt until 3 a.m. every night.
Which Stanford Shopping Center restaurants take reservations?
Fleming's takes reservations online or by phone. True Food Kitchen books through OpenTable and Pacific Catch takes online bookings. P.F. Chang's lists large party bookings. Counters such as Shake Shack, Chipotle and Tender Greens are order-at-the-counter.
Where do you park to eat at Stanford Shopping Center?
The center is ringed by large surface lots with additional parking structures. You are rarely far from a restaurant door. Lots fill on weekend afternoons and in December, so allow extra time then.
Where can I get breakfast at Stanford Shopping Center?
Blue Bottle Coffee opens at 6 a.m. daily by the El Camino Real entrance. La Baguette opens at 8 a.m. for pastries and coffee. Hummus Mediterranean Kitchen serves a Turkish breakfast on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m.