Top 10 Seafood Restaurants In California USA
In addition to miles of beautiful beaches, breathtaking redwood forests, and Hollywood, sun-kissed California is also known for its thriving gastronomic scene.
Foodies flock to the Golden State for world-class restaurants and trend-setting cuisine. With the Pacific Ocean offering a wealth of marine life throughout the year, California is one of the best places in the country to feast on mouth-watering seafood.
If you’re wondering where to go to sample the best lobster, crab, prawns, and fresh fish, this list has you covered. Keep reading to discover the best seafood restaurants in California, USA.
If you are planning a trip here soon, consider staying at one of the famous hotels or luxury Airbnb to make the most of your vacation!
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San Pedro Fish Market & Restaurant
There’s a reason San Pedro Fish Market is one of the most Instagrammed restaurants in the US. Home of the world-famous Shrimp Tray, the family-run restaurant remains a major institution in California’s seafood scene.
Buy fresh seafood at the counter, cook it to your liking with the toppings of your choice, and dig in. Highlights of this restaurant include delicious shrimp, crabs, lobster, and oysters.
Originally known as Vista Seafood when it opened in 1956, the San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant is now one of the largest in the country.
Even with 3,000 seats and 50,000 square feet (4,645 m) of waterfront space, it’s often full of people looking to get their seafood fixed. Join the constant stream of tourists and locals flocking to the port city of San Pedro in Los Angeles for the food.
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Rock’s Fish Restaurant Manhattan Beach
When it’s sunny California, dining at the beach is a must! Enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and views of picture-perfect surf with a meal at Rock’s Fish Restaurant Manhattan Beach.
Travelers have plenty to choose from on the Cajun-inspired menu, with seafood and steaks as undeniable specialties. Fresh fish, juicy steaks, and other staples such as pasta, sandwiches, and salads are also available.
Pair your choice with a tasty drink — say, the best-selling Navy Grog Rum Cocktail — and you’re all set. While the extensive menu means you don’t have to order the same thing every time you go, Rock’s Fish’s Seafood Jambalaya is one dish that has many people coming back again and again.
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Skooma’s Restaurant – San Francisco
It can’t get any fresher at Skooma’s restaurant in San Francisco. The popular “pier-to-plate” establishment daily offers Pacific seafood caught that morning by local fishermen.
After this, it is served on your plate till noon. Make sure you try the “lazy man’s cioppino,” their take on a Bay Area staple: a tomato-based stew made from leftover seafood from the day’s catch.
But ultimately, you can go right with their fresh dishes, from cold smoked king salmon to Dungeness crab. Tucked away in a quiet corner of Fisherman’s Wharf, the charming San Francisco eatery is also known for its excellent beer, wine, and cocktail options.
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The Fish Market – San Diego
Here’s a unique idea for date night in San Diego. For some of the tastiest and freshest fish caught from the ocean in Southern California, many argue there is no better place than Fish Market San Diego.
The restaurant’s specialty is Dungeness crab cioppino, served with linguine, but the oyster bar and sushi bar are also major highlights.
While the Fish Market brand first made waves in Northern California with branches in Palo Alto and Santa Clara, the founders—all Southern California residents—eventually opened branches in Solana Beach and downtown San Diego.
Now, the Fish Market stands as the flagship branch of the San Diego group. Here, you can enjoy a leisurely meal with amazing views of San Diego Bay.
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Fog Harbor Fish House – San Francisco
Fog Harbor Fish House is a great place to stop if you’re on a California foodie spree. This restaurant is known for being the first in Fisherman’s Wharf to serve 100% sustainable seafood. Some must-try dishes include the award-winning clam chowder aptly named “The Best in San Francisco,” cioppino, scallop, crab risotto, and surf and turf filet mignon.
Apart from the mouth-watering food, Fog Harbor’s award-winning views delight every visit here. Marvel at the majestic Golden Gate Bridge while dining at this iconic family-owned, family-operated San Francisco restaurant.
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The Lobster – Santa Monica
Lobster has been a Santa Monica landmark for almost a hundred years and is still at the top of the food scene today! Perched on a ridge overlooking the picturesque Santa Monica Pier, this is a wonderful spot for fine casual dining in California.
As The Lobster’s name suggests, Spiny Lobsters stand out on the restaurant’s seafood menu, largely comprised of fresh and seasonal ingredients sourced locally.
Enjoy steamed or grilled Maine lobster, or go for other entrées like wild Dungeness crab gumbo, king crab, or tagliatelle with lobster rolls.
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Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market & Patio Cafe
Not only are Malibu’s famous shores one of the best places to surf, but they’re also home to some of the best seafood on the coast.
Visit the Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market and Patio Cafe to sample some of the tastiest catches of the day, especially dishes like King Crab Legs, Bay Scallops, and Fresh Louisiana Shrimp.
Along with the restaurant’s fresh fish market, guests can buy premium seafood to take home and cook themselves.
Grab a picnic table, get a dish or two, and enjoy spectacular views of the beach across the street—it’s a great way to spend a weekend in Malibu.
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Newport Seafood Restaurant – San Gabriel
Fresh Asian flavors inspire the renowned Newport Seafood Restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley. The family-run restaurant is a lively hotspot for foodies craving a delicious fusion of Chinese, Cambodian, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines.
Unsurprisingly, the best-seller is the Newport seafood restaurant’s signature Spicy Lobster which involves cooking lobster in a skillet with aromatic green onions and jalapeños.
But other dishes can easily steal the spotlight, like scallop fried rice, clams with basil sauce, catfish hot and sour soup, and more.
Newport Seafood’s flagship branch is in San Gabriel, but Californians can also enjoy the food at two other outposts in Roland Heights and Beverly Hills.
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Monterey’s Fish House
At The Fish House in Monterey, a rich, home-style meal is always waiting for you. Blending fresh Monterey Bay seafood with Italian cooking, the restaurant has carved a niche for itself in the crowded restaurant scene of Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row.
Monterey’s Fish House serves a mean cioppino and delicious piles of fish and shellfish over delicious homemade pasta. Their super-fresh barbecue oysters are also a must-try, especially while sipping an ice-cold craft beer or wine from the well-stocked bar.
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Sam’s Chowder House – Half Moon Bay
Enjoy stunning views of the Pacific while digging into some of California’s freshest seafood at the award-winning Sam’s Chowder House.
The classic seafood restaurant is a tourist favorite in Half Moon Bay, with a daily supply of fresh fish and shellfish, comfortable indoor and outdoor dining options, and a great location overlooking the ocean.
For many loyal diners, its famous lobster rolls alone are worth every trip to the restaurant. However, their permanent seafood menus have plenty of variety, such as clam chowder, fish and chips, fried calamari, and Maine lobster.
Fall in love with Cali’s fabulous seafood scene
If you’re craving high-quality seafood that’s fresh and remarkably tasty, California’s wide variety of pour-to-plate restaurants will surely tickle your fancy.
Whether you prefer newer eateries or decades-old establishments, you’ll always have options in the Golden State.
So next time you explore the coast of Cali, take advantage of popping into these restaurants for a bite of their famous cuisine.
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