12 Best Seafood Restaurants In California, USA - Updated 2024

1. Connie & Ted’s - West Hollywood

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Feast at this seafood place in California which offers an all-day menu of fresh seafood prepared simply inspired by classic seafood establishments on the New England Seaboard and the Western Coast. Aside from tasty seafood offerings, they also offer ribeye cap steak and steak and eggs. Chef’s specialties include lobsters by the pound, mussels, and clams, and Joanne’s fish and chips. If you want to go the simpler route, make sure to try their grilled catch of the day, which includes fishes that are wild-caught and sustainable.

Connie & Ted’st

Address: 8171 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046, United States

Website: Connie & Ted’s

Opening hours: Wed- Thu: 5pm - 9:30pm; Fri-Sat: 11:30am - 10pm; Sun: 11:30am - 9pm

2. Captain Kidd's Fish Market and Restaurant - Redondo Beach

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This popular seafood restaurant by the beach not only offers an impressive and extensive seafood menu but also boasts wonderful views of the King Harbor in Redondo Beach. Having been around since 1976, the place is known for serving some of the freshest seafood in the area. You can order from their regular menu or take it up a notch further and customize your own plate! You simply have to choose a fish or shellfish and choose how you want it to be prepared.

Captain Kidd's Fish Market and Restaurant

Address: 209 N Harbor Dr, Redondo Beach, CA 90277, United States

Website: [Captain Kidd’s Fish Market and Restaurant](https://www.captainkidds.com/

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 8:30pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 10am - 8pm

3. San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

There’s a reason why San Pedro Fish Market is one of the most Instagrammed restaurants in the US. Home of the world-famous shrimp tray, the family-run seafood restaurant in Los Angeles remains a prominent institution in California’s seafood scene. Simply purchase fresh seafood at the counter, have it cooked to your liking with the toppings you prefer, and dig in. Highlights of this restaurant include tasty shrimp, crabs, lobsters, and oysters. Join the constant stream of tourists and locals who visit the port town of San Pedro in Los Angeles for the food. Originally known as Vista Seafood when it opened in 1956, San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant is now one of the largest restaurants in the country. Even with 3,000 seats and a 50,000-square-foot (4,645 square meters) waterfront location, it’s often packed with people jostling to get their seafood fix.

San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant

Address: 1190 Nagoya Way, San Pedro, CA 90731

Website: San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 9am - 8pm; Fri - Sat: 9am - 9pm

4. Rock'N Fish Restaurant Manhattan Beach

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

When in sunny California, dining by the beach is a must! Enjoy the laidback vibes and views of the picture-perfect surf with a meal at Rock’N Fish Restaurant Manhattan Beach. Travelers have plenty to choose from in the Cajun-inspired menu with seafood and steaks as the undisputed specialties. While the extensive menu means you never have to keep ordering the same thing every time you visit, Rock’N Fish’s seafood jambalaya is a dish that a lot of diners come back for over and over again. Fresh fish, juicy steaks, and other staples such as pasta, sandwiches, and salads are also available. Pair your pick with a delicious drink—say, the best-selling Navy Grog rum cocktail—and you’re all set.

Rock'N Fish Restaurant Manhattan Beach

Address: 120 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Website: Rock'N Fish Restaurant Manhattan Beach

Opening hours: Fri - Tue: 11:30am - 9pm (closed on Wed & Thu)

5. Scoma's Restaurant - San Francisco

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

It can’t get any fresher at Scoma’s Restaurant in San Francisco. Every day, the popular “pier-to-plate” establishment offers Pacific seafood caught by local fishermen in the morning. It is then served on your plate by noon. Make sure you try the “Lazy Man’s Cioppino,” their own take on the Bay Area staple that’s basically a tomato-based stew composed of leftover seafood from the day’s catch. But ultimately, you can’t go wrong with their fresh dishes, from the cold-smoked king salmon to the Dungeness crab. Tucked in a quiet corner of Fisherman’s Wharf, the charming San Francisco eatery is also known for its excellent beer, wine, and cocktail options.

Scoma's Restaurant

Address: 1965 Al Scoma Way, San Francisco, CA 94133

Website: Scoma’s Restaurant

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 1pm - 7pm; Fri - Sat: 1pm - 8pm

6. The Fish Market - San Diego

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Here’s a unique idea for a date night in San Diego. For the tastiest and freshest catches from the sea in Southern California, many argue that there’s no better place than Fish Market San Diego. The restaurant’s specialty is the Dungeness crab cioppino served with linguine, but the oyster bar and sushi bar are also major draws. 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, Fish Market San Diego stands as the flagship branch of the group. Here, you can dine leisurely with amazing views of the San Diego bay.

The Fish Market - San Diego

Address: 750 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

Website: The Fish Market - San Diego

7. Fog Harbor Fish House - San Francisco

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

If you’re into the food trail of Californian cuisine, Fog Harbor Fish House is a great spot. This restaurant is known for being the first one in the Fisherman’s Wharf to serve 100% sustainable seafood. Some of the must-try dishes include the award-winning clam chowder aptly named “The Best in San Francisco” as well as the cioppino, scallop and crab risotto, and surf and turf filet mignon. Beyond its mouthwatering food, Fog Harbor’s award-winning views make every visit here a pleasant one. Marvel at the majestic Golden Gate Bridge while dining at this iconic family-owned, family-operated San Francisco restaurant.

Fog Harbor Fish House

Address: Pier 39 San Francisco, CA 94133

Website: Fog Harbor Fish House

8. The Lobster - Santa Monica

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The Lobster is a Santa Monica landmark that’s been around for nearly a hundred years, and it remains at the top of the dining scene to this day! Nestled on a ridge overlooking the picturesque Santa Monica pier, it’s an amazing spot for casual fine-dining while in California. As The Lobster’s name suggests, spiny lobsters are definitely a standout in the restaurant’s seafood menu that extensively features fresh and seasonal ingredients that have been locally sourced. Enjoy the steamed or grilled Maine lobster or go for other entrées such as wild Dungeness crab gumbo, tagliatelle with wild king crab, or lobster roll.

The Lobster

Address: 1602 Ocean Drive Santa Monica, CA 90401

Website: The Lobster

9. Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market & Patio Cafe

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Not only are the famous shores of Malibu one of the best places to visit, they are home to some of the best seafood on the coast. Visit Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market & Patio Café to sample some of the tastiest catches of the day, particularly dishes such as king crab legs, bay scallops, and fresh Louisiana shrimp. Grab a picnic table, get a dish or two, and enjoy the stunning views of the beach just across the road—it’s a fantastic way to spend a weekend in Malibu, for sure. With the restaurant’s fresh fish market, guests can also purchase premium seafood to take home and cook on their own.

Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market & Patio Cafe

Address: 25653 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265

Website: Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market & Patio Cafe

Opening hours: 11am - 6pm (daily)

10. Newport Seafood Restaurant - San Gabriel

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Fresh Asian flavors are the inspiration behind the renowned Newport Seafood Restaurant in San Gabriel Valley. The family-run restaurant is a lively hotspot for foodies craving a delicious fusion of Chinese, Cambodian, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine. Unsurprisingly, the best-seller is Newport Seafood Restaurant’s signature spicy lobster that involves cooking a lobster in a wok with aromatic green onions and jalapeños. But other dishes can easily steal the spotlight, such as the scallop fried rice, clams with basil sauce, catfish hot and sour soup, and many more. The flagship branch of Newport Seafood is in San Gabriel, but Californians can also enjoy a meal at two other outposts in Rowland Heights and Beverly Hills.

Newport Seafood Restaurant

Address: 518 W Las Tunas Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776

Website: Newport Seafood Restaurant

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11:30am - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 11:30am - 10pm

11. Monterey's Fish House

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

At Monterey’s Fish House, a rich, home-style meal is always waiting for you. Blending fresh Monterey Bay seafood with Italian cooking, the restaurant has carved out a space for itself in the crowded restaurant scene of Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row. This fish restaurant in California serves a mean cioppino and tasty piles of fish and shellfish over delectable homemade pasta. Their super-fresh barbecue oysters are also a must-try, especially while sipping on an ice-cold craft beer or wine from the well-stocked bar.

Monterey's Fish House

Address: 2114 Del Monte Ave., Monterey, CA 93940

Website: Monterey’s Fish House

Opening hours: Thu - Fri: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9pm; Sat - Sun: 1pm - 8pm (closed from Mon - Wed)

12. Sam's Chowder House - Half Moon Bay

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Bask in the stunning views of the Pacific while digging in some of the freshest seafood in California at the award-winning Sam’s Chowder House. The classic seafood restaurant is a tourist favorite at Half Moon Bay with its daily supply of fresh fish and shellfish, cozy indoor and outdoor dining options, and a spectacular location atop a cliff overlooking the ocean. For many loyal diners, its famous lobster rolls alone are worth every trip to the restaurant. However, there’s plenty of variety to enjoy in their sustainable seafood menu such as clam chowder, fish and chips, fried calamari, and Maine lobster.

Sam's Chowder House

Address: 4210 CA-1, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Website: Sam’s Chowder House

Opening hours: 11am - 7pm (daily)

Fall in love with Cali’s superb seafood scene

If you’re craving high-quality seafood that is fresh and remarkably tasty, California’s variety of pier-to-plate restaurants is sure to tickle your fancy. Whether you prefer newfound eateries or decades-old establishments, you’ll never run short of options in the Golden State. So the next time you’re exploring Cali’s coast, make sure you don’t miss popping in these restaurants for a bite of their famous dishes.

For your accommodation needs, do check out the best wellness retreats and hotels as well.