California Dreaming

Columbia, SC

Located in downtown Columbia, SC, inside the historic 1902 Union Station, California Dreaming welcomes guests with its vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows offer a picturesque view of the rail tracks, stretching from the inactive platform to the main terminal. Paired with our hearty, made-from-scratch menu, it's no wonder California Dreaming has been a beloved local institution since 1984. Open for lunch and dinner daily, including online ordering with curbside pickup.

Celebrating 40 years, California Dreaming has been a valued part of the Columbia community. Union Station, its historic home, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Please note that we provide Advance Priority Seating to reduce wait times and expedite the seating process when your entire party arrives. To ensure the best experience for all guests, we seat groups of up to 8. While larger groups are seated separately, this arrangement is flexible during quieter hours.

401 South Main St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Directions

803.254.6767 Order Now

Hours

Catering | Curbside to-go

DINE

DINE

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DRINK

|

WINE

|

KIDS

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DESSERT

DINE

Apps
- She Crab Soup 8.95
  A rich and creamy Charleston classic
- Steamed Peel & Eat Shrimp 10.95
  (9) Old Bay boil, served with cocktail sauce
- Fried Crab Claws 15.95
  Served with spicy cocktail sauce. Llimited availability
- BBQ Chicken Nachos 14.95
  Smoky BBQ sauce, red onions, house-made chips, cheese sauce
- Seafood Nachos 16.95
  Spicy shrimp, salmon, red onions, house-made chips, cheese sauce and lobster cream sauce with dill
- Tijuana Chicken Wings 15.95
  Marinated in hot pepper sauce, fried crispy, with bleu cheese dip
- Our Famous Croissants (5) 6.95
  Topped with honey-butter
- Baked Potato Soup 7.95
  Creamy soup, scallions, cheese, ham, bacon
Entrees
- Cali Bowl
  Warm sushi rice, avocado, jalapenos, sesame seeds, mango, scallions, jicama slaw, pickled red onions, chipotle mayo. Choice of:
  Tuna Poke16.95
  Miso Salmon17.95
  Steak18.95
  Fried Chicken15.95
- Chicken Tenders Platter 16.95
  Fried chicken tenderloins, served with house-made honey BBQ sauce and french fries
- Blackened Chicken Pasta 17.95
  Alfredo, scallions, tomatoes, with romano cheese
- BBQ Chicken 15.95
  Double breast of chicken basted with BBQ sauce, with side item
- Knob Hill Chicken 17.95
  Topped with ham and monterey jack cheese, with side item
Seafood Favorites
- Miso Salmon 24.95
  Miso glazed, sweet soy, with side
- Shrimp San Francisco 17.95
  Mushrooms, garlic cream, white wine, served over pasta, topped with romano cheese
- Carolina Trout 24.95
  Grilled with arugula and lemon
Fried Seafood Platters
- Shrimp 20.95
- Oysters 24.95
- Flounder 20.95
- All Three 26.95
  Served with french fries
Salads
- California Dreaming 13.95
  Mixed greens, ham and turkey, cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, egg, tomatoes, almonds topped with warm ham and bacon, house dressing
- Roasted Salmon or Chicken
  Mixed greens, bacon, egg, avocado, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette
  Salmon16.95
  Chicken15.95
- Caesar
  Crisp romaine, grated romano cheese, croutons
  Chicken or Fried Shrimp14.95
  Fried Oysters17.95
- Chicken Club 15.95
  Mixed greens, fried chicken strips, avocado, bacon, egg, tomatoes, house-made ranch dressing
Steaks, Chops + Ribs
Aged USDA Choice | Served with a house or caesar salad and side item
- Pork Chop 26.95
  16oz. double bone, frenched chop, peach jalapeno jam
- Marinated Sirloin 24.95
  10oz. CAB sirloin marinated in fruit juices, garlic, soy sauce and spices
- Steak + Shrimp 25.95
  Two 3oz. filet medallions, crispy fried shrimp
- Ribeye 35.95
  14oz. hand cut
- Filet Mignon 37.95
  8oz. barrel cut
- Baby Back Ribs
  Danish full-flavored ribs, grilled with a charred exterior, basted with BBQ sauce, with side item
  One Rack20.95
  Two Racks29.95
Tacos (3)
Served with side item
- Chicken 15.95
  Shredded lettuce, chipotle & cilantro mayo, pico de gallo, Monterey cheese
- Steak 17.95
  Cilantro cabbage slaw, chipotle mayo, pickled onions, queso fresco
- Crispy Shrimp 16.95
  Jicama slaw, chipotle mayo, tomatoes, pickled onions, scallions, queso fresco
- Veggie 14.95
  Roasted cauliflower, chipotle mayo, cilantro cabbage slaw, avocado, pickled onions, scallions
Sandwiches
Served with french fries
- American Burger 12.95
  Lettuce, tomato, red onions, pickles and Duke's® mayo
- Veggie Burger 13.95
  Beyond Burger®, sweet soy, Duke's® mayo, monterey jack cheese, lettuce, pickle, tomato and red onions
- Club 13.95
  Thinly sliced turkey, ham, bacon, cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, lettuce, tomato and mayo on toasted sourdough
- Spicy Chicken 14.95
  Crispy fried chicken, american cheese, jicama slaw, pickles, chipotle mayo
- Chicken 14.95
  Broiled, topped with jack cheese, bacon, arugula, tomato and honey mustard
Sides
- French Fries 5.95
- Seasonal Veggie 5.95
- Mashed Potatoes 5.95
- Creamy Cole Slaw 5.95
- Baked Potato 6.95
  after 4pm
Desserts
- Chocolate Brownie 8.95
- Apple Walnut Cobbler 8.95
- Croissant Bread Pudding 7.95
- Cheesecake 9.95
  seasonal topping

Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

DRINK

Margaritas
Pouring: Lunazul tequila
- Classic 10.95
  Agave, lime
- Hibiscus 10.95
  Hibiscus, simple, agave, lime
- Smoky Peach 10.95
  Ilegal mezcal, peach, agave, lime
- Pineapple Jalapeño 10.95
  Pineapple, jalapeño, lime, triple sec
- Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned 13.95
  Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon
- Smoke and Citrus 11.95
  Ilegal mezcal, pomegranate, lemon, Amaro Nonino, cinnamon, egg white
- Sangria 9.95
  Traditional red
- Bicycle Thief 12.95
  Tanquary gin, Campari, grapefruit, lemon, sugar
Martinis
- Perfect 12.95
  Skyy vodka, sweet and dry vermouth, maraschino, bitters
- Freezer Door Vesper 11.95
  Skyy vodka, Beefeater gin, Lillet Blanc
- Hoodoo Espresso 12.95
  Cathead vodka, fair trade coffee, demerara sugar
- French 12.95
  Tito's vodka, Chambord, pineapple
Frozen Drinks
$10.95
- Cali Crush
  Parrot Bay Coconut rum, blue curacao, pineapple, house sour
- Margarita
  Lunazul tequila
Zero Proof
- Coconut Faux-Jito 9.95
  Non-Alcoholic, Seedlip Spice 94, Coco Lopez, pineapple, lime, mint
- Pineapple Spritz 9.95
  Non-Alcoholic, Seedlip Grove 42, pineapple, lime, grenadine, cherry
Spirits
Bourbon / Whiskey
- Booker's Rye 18.95
- Buffalo Trace 11.95
- Bulleit Rye 10.95
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 10.95
- Four Roses Small Batch 9.95
- Henry McKenna 11.95
- Jack Daniel's Bonded 11.95
- Jefferson's Ocean 15.95
- Knob Creek 10.95
- Michter's Rye 10.95
- Old Forester 1920 15.95
- Penelope Toasted 14.95
- Pikesville Rye 14.95
- WhistlePig 10 Yr 21.95
- Wild Turkey Longbranch 11.95
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 12.95
Tequila
- Casamigos Blanco 13.95
- Don Julio Silver 10.95
- El Tesoro Anejo 14.95
- Espolon Blanco 10.95
- Gran Centenario Cristalino 24.95
- Herradura Reposado 13.95
- Lalo Blanco 11.95
- Ocho Plata Reposado 13.95
Beer
On Tap
- Blue Moon 6.25
- Columbia Craft 6.25
- Coors Banquet 5.95
- Hunter-Gatherer 7.25
- Leinenkugel 6.25
- Michelob Ultra 5.95
- Steel Hands 6.95
- Sweetwater 6.25
- Terrapin 6.95
- Wicked Weed 6.25
Bottles / Cans
- Athletic N/A 5.95
- Austin Eastciders 6.25
- Bud Light 4.95
- Corona 4.95
- Coors Light 4.95
- Miller Lite 4.95
- Modelo 5.95
- White Claw 7.25
- Yuengling 5.25
- Not Beer Sparkling Water 5.95

Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

WINE

Whites
- Chardonnay, EOS, California 7.95
- Chardonnay, Stoller, Oregon 9.95
- Chardonnay, Buehler, Russian River 11.95
- Chardonnay, Frank Family, Carneros, California 55.00
- Moscato, Seven Daughters, Italy 8.95
- Moscato Rosé, Innocent Bystander, Australia 7.95
- Pinot Grigio, Lunardi, Italy 7.95
- Prosecco, Riondo, Italy 8.95
- Riesling, Loosen Bros. "Dr L" Mosel, Germany 7.95
- Sauvignon Blanc, Wairau River, New Zealand 8.95
- Sauvignon Blanc, Jax, California 10.95
- Sparkling Wine, Poema, Cava 7.95
Reds
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Norton 1895, Mendoza 7.95
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Leese-Fitch, California 8.95
- Cabernet Sauvignon, The Federalist, California 11.95
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake Sonoma, California 49.00
- Malbec, Alta Vista "Vive", Argentina 7.95
- Merlot, Spellbound, California 8.95
- Pinot Noir, Elouan, Oregon 9.95
- Pinot Noir, Fowles Wine, Australia 11.95
- Pinot Noir Rosé, Villa Wolf, Pfalz, Germany 7.95
- Red Blend, Clos de los Siete, Argentina 9.95
- Red Blend, Conundrum, California 42.00
- Red Zinfandel, Seghesio Family Vineyards, California 10.95

Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

KIDS

Kids Menu
Served with fries and a beverage.
- Chicken Strips 6.95
- Cheeseburger 6.95
- Fried Shrimp 6.95
- Chicken Wings 6.95
- Grilled Cheese 6.95
- Fettuccine Alfredo 6.95
  (no side)

Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.

DESSERT

Desserts
- Chocolate Brownie 7.95
- Apple Walnut Cobbler 8.95
- Croissant Bread Pudding 7.95
- Cheesecake 8.95

Disclaimer: Pricing and availability subject to change.