There’s something about Oxnard’s dunes that immediately slows you down. The ocean stretches wide, the sand seems endless, and the air feels softer somehow.
I recently stayed at the Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, and while the setting alone was enough to leave me feeling restored, the restaurant on property, Ox & Ocean, turned the trip into something I’ll be talking about for a long time.
5-Star Chicken
The star of my visit was the half Jidori chicken with smoked strawberries, poleta apples and frisée. The chicken itself was perfectly cooked — tender, juicy and full of flavor — but those strawberries completely caught me off guard.
Sweet with just the right hint of smoke, they brought this unexpected depth that tied the whole dish together.
It wasn’t just good; it was unforgettable.
Honestly, it’s the kind of dish that makes a drive worthwhile all on its own. I will definitely be coming back for that chicken with the smoked strawberries — it’s worth the trip.
The burger at Ox & Ocean proves that sometimes perfection lies in simplicity—perfectly seared beef, melted cheese, and a bun with just the right chew. Credit: Collin Harmon / Noozhawk photo 
Ox & Ocean is open daily at the Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, located at 2101 Mandalay Beach Road in Oxnard. Credit: Collin Harmon / Noozhawk photo 
The Ox & Ocean’s half Jidori chicken with smoked strawberries, poleta apples and frisée is deliciously unforgettable. Credit: Collin Harmon / Noozhawk photo 
The Zachari Dunes are quiet and full of stories. Credit: Collin Harmon / Noozhawk photo 
One of the locals checks out the surrounding territory from its palm tree perch. Credit: Collin Harmon / Noozhawk photo 
Just waiting on you. Credit: Collin Harmon / Noozhawk photo
Burger Done Right
The burger at Ox & Ocean deserves its own mention, too. It’s not flashy or overdone — it’s just really, really well made.
Perfectly seared beef, melted cheese and a bun with the right amount of chew. Sometimes you don’t need reinvention; you just need a burger that reminds you why the classic works so well.
Sunset on the Patio
One of my favorite moments came at sunset, sitting out on the patio with the ocean literally at my feet.
The sky shifted through shades of gold and rose as the waves rolled in, and the whole experience felt almost suspended in time. There’s a kind of stillness in that moment that’s hard to capture anywhere else.
The Dunes
The dunes themselves are just as much a part of the experience as the restaurant. I went for a couple of walks during my stay, meeting friendly locals along the way who shared pieces of the area’s history.
“It was peaceful in a way that felt rare — quiet enough to think, write or just breathe a little deeper.”
I learned how sugar mogul Henry Oxnard had once hoped to name the settlement “Zachari,” after the Greek word for sugar, before ultimately naming it after his family.
By the mid-20th century, the area was still defined by its sweeping dunes, only for many of them to be dredged in the 1950s and ’60s to create Channel Islands Harbor.
Walking there today, the dunes feel timeless. On one walk, I spotted a red-tailed hawk soaring overhead, its shadow gliding across the sand. It was peaceful in a way that felt rare — quiet enough to think, write or just breathe a little deeper.
Zachari Dunes and Ox & Ocean have already received top recognition:
- Best Beach in California by USA Today, 2025
- Best Resort from Malibu to Ventura by California Wedding Day, 2025
- Best New Hotel in the United States by USA Today, 2024
When You Go
Ox & Ocean, at 2101 Mandalay Beach Road in Oxnard, is open daily, with breakfast served 7 to 11 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m. to noon, and dinner 5 to 10 p.m.
