The best seafood restaurants California

Opened in 1967, this popular institution deals every day with a long line of customers, attracted by its fresh produce. The concept of the place is summed up by this phrase: "The reason we don't serve breakfast is that we're out to catch lunch". Clam chowder, grilled seafood, crab salad... The menu offers a fine selection of fish and shellfish served as sandwiches or by the plate. Order inside and sit out on one of the terraces overlooking the ocean.

This new California-style seafood restaurant is located in Pacific Heights. Specialties include oysters, crabs and mussels to take away or eat in, crispy sandwiches (bay shrimp and avocado, crabmeat rolls). The fish tacos with choice of black beans and pico de gallo are delicious, as is the San Franciscan Cioppino with mussels, clams, crab, cod, shrimp and scallops.) Everything is very hearty, so don't bite off more than you can chew. The dining room is pleasant and bright, and prices are reasonable.

Providence is renowned for being the best seafood restaurant in the United States. Without exaggeration, the plates here resemble masterpieces. The food is as beautiful to contemplate as it is delicious to savor: each dish is of rare finesse, executed with unparalleled skill. As the tasting menu changes frequently, it's difficult to recommend a particular dish; what's certain is that you'll come away from your evening amazed, with your taste buds full of fish. A great address.

Right at the beginning of the Santa Monica Pier, where the crowds thicken, stands this family-run address, which has been in business for 40 years. As with many Californian establishments, The Albright is a fast-casual affair, with fast-food-style ordering and payment at the counter, and plates similar to those of a traditional restaurant. Here, the food is tasty, the oysters fresh. On the menu: a wide variety of seafood and raw, fried or grilled fish, as well as burgers, rolls, pokés and ceviches - to name but a few.

Shane, a fishing enthusiast for more than 40 years, and his wife Dana (former vegetarian converted into «pescétarienne») created in 2012, this small restaurant that won't always! The recipe for success? Local fishing, lasting and fresh every morning. Taste the chowder, best elected clam in the region!

This excellent address stands out first of all by its very successful decoration, in an industrial style where the leather design chairs blend perfectly with the metallic and woody touches. One goes here to feast on fresh fish and seafood, whose varieties change according to the day's arrival. Among the must-try dishes: oyster platters, delicious ceviche, octopus a la plancha, crab cake, clam chowder, or fish n' chips. All in a friendly atmosphere, far from the stuffy oyster bars.

Nestled on the second floor of Pier 39 and easily recognizable by its beautiful painted wooden sign, this restaurant, which is always busy at lunch and dinner (reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends), obviously specializes in seafood. The menu proposes the classic shellfish and fish of this type of restaurant, which are always a little bit drenched in butter but that's the game here. The view on the old Alcatraz prison, through the large windows, is not to displease the numerous tourists who frequent the place.

You're on the embarcadero, facing the bay. Fish are fresh and the card varies according to fishing and seasonal products. We appreciate not only the kitchen but also the refined decoration surrounding the theme of the sea. A secure value and a friendly setting. Ideal for a lunch after the visit of the USS Midway or the Maritime Museum.

On the quayside, a large, cosy dining room with bar and terrace offers views of the Bay Bridge and Waterfront. This restaurant offers a good selection of fish and seafood in a very chic atmosphere. Without breaking the bank, sit at the counter and order a glass of Napa Valley wine and a small plate of shellfish during happy hour. You can also take the time to enjoy a good meal - you won't regret it. It's a great place to stop off before visiting the nearbyExploratorium.

The façade of Hotel Casa del Mar, extending along the beach of Santa Monica, attracts all the views. The cuisine takes advantage of California, French and Asian influences to prepare excellent seafood dishes. The windows, high from the floor to the ceiling, overlook the sea and offer a magnificent view to the sunset.

Riva Fish House takes its name from a small Italian village on the Ligurian coast, Riva Trigoso. The menu therefore makes a few nods to the country from which it takes its inspiration, with a nice selection of various pastas. You can also eat the local American-Italian specialty, cioppino, a delicious fish stew prepared according to the catch of the day. In addition to all these tempting proposals, Riva is worth a visit for its perfect location on the Santa Cruz pier, with a breathtaking view.

With its lifebuoys and marine trinkets hanging on the wall, the decor of this restaurant resembles that of a sea wolf den. Take time to sit at the bar, shucking Santa Barbara shrimp or enjoying lobster rolls with lemon aioli and celery, before being seated at your table. Aside from oysters and other seafood, Son of A Gun serves fine, meticulous preparations that remind us that we're near the ocean. Good value for money.

This successful local restaurant has seven locations in California. It serves ocean-fresh fish and seafood. On the menu: fish'n'chips, sandwiches of all kinds, sushi, grilled squid, ceviche (beware, sometimes very spicy!) and other dishes to be enjoyed in a Japanese atmosphere. The establishment in front of the Botanical Gardens boasts a large wooden terrace, not particularly well decorated but pleasant enough to enjoy the sunshine. Perfect for a quick break before continuing your tour.

If you like fish and seafood - or culinary experiences that are out of the ordinary - don't miss this market. On the waterfront, facing the harbor, it sells fresh products by weight: customers bring them to the cook, who will prepare them according to their tastes. Grilled, sautéed, a la plancha, with spices, fried... Many options are available. You can also order ceviches and fish tacos before taking a seat at one of the large tables to share.

Established in 1925, Lobster was originally a small restaurant with 60 seats and up to types of fish. In 1989, the small shop leaves out to the great dam of the inhabitants. After a long decade, the Lobster finally reopened in 1999 and became a renowned place with history. The chowder clam is delicious and the seafood is well cooked, but it is true that you come here to admire the sun on the pier of Santa Monica.

The setting alone justifies a meal at this beautiful establishment. The main dining room overlooks the ocean, while the waves break at the foot of the Moonshadows. Although the a la carte dinner dishes are more expensive, we recommend coming here in the evening and asking for a table with an ocean view. On the menu: the cuisine of Venetian chef Andrea Bullo, who cleverly blends Californian flavors with more distant tastes from Asia and Italy. Special mention to the grilled swordfish, bursting with flavors.

This minimalist restaurant with its attractive metal counter is all about raw seafood. Delicious plates of scallops, tuna, butterflyfish, etc., all raw, but also oysters to delight your palate. Fish arrivals are local and sustainable. These feasts are accompanied by a (very good) glass of white wine. You can also enjoy the superbly stocked seafood platters, or a few hot dishes like the classic San Francisco chowder soup.

Fresh fish at a decent price: this is the motto of this good restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. Completely blue with various illustrations, the exterior façade sets the tone: it is not because the restaurant chose to include the word " lobster " in its name that it is a stuffy place. A feeling confirmed by the interior decoration, giving the whole place an air of old sea wolves' shack. On the menu: sandwiches, sautéed calamari, the catch of the day, but also local products, with a special emphasis on chicken. Excellent address!

The specialty of this chain also established in La Jolla and Encinitas: the Lobster Roll, this famous sandwich originating from the East Coast. In concrete terms, it is a brioche bun filled with lobster, to which grilled cheese can be added. Lobster West offers two other versions: crab and shrimp. He also serves delicious soups, with lobster bisque, New England clams, or Maryland crab. For dessert: Whoopie Pies. A good address, very affordable for seafood of this quality.

At Fisherman's Outlet, the food is served on paper plates and concrete picnic tables... But don't let that put you off: this market and its seafood café serve better food than the chic restaurants. We recommend the delicious charcoal-cooked fish, or the lobster, one of the best dishes on the menu. Made up of workers and families who've been coming here for three generations, the clientele contrasts with the new "bobo" Downtown, giving rise to an atmosphere that's well worth discovering.