You’re in for a treat if you’re a seafood enthusiast visiting or living in Los Angeles. The city’s coastal location provides an incredible array of seafood dining options, with fresh catches from the Pacific Ocean.
From fine dining establishments to casual spots and hidden gems, Los Angeles is a paradise for those who love fish and other seafood delicacies. You’ll find restaurants specializing in various seafood cuisines, including Mexican-inspired dishes, raw bars, and international flavors.
This guide will take you on a journey to explore the most acclaimed seafood restaurants, helping you navigate the diverse and excellent seafood scene in Los Angeles.
The Seafood Scene in Los Angeles
With its prime location on the Pacific coast, Los Angeles boasts an exceptional seafood scene. As an ocean-adjacent city with plenty of beach access, L.A. is full of restaurants with great seafood—and if you disagree, you’re frankly just not looking all that hard.
Why Los Angeles is a Seafood Lover’s Paradise
Los Angeles is a seafood lover’s paradise due to its unique cultural landscape and geographical advantages. The city’s diverse neighborhoods are scattered with restaurants serving food from around the world, ensuring that you can find a great spot to enjoy fresh fish or other seafood delicacies in every neighborhood. The city’s prime coastal location along the Pacific Ocean gives seafood restaurants direct access to some of the freshest catches available.
From Ocean to Table: The Fresh Advantage
The proximity to major fishing ports means that many seafood restaurants in Los Angeles can offer “ocean to table” dining experiences. This ensures that the seafood you enjoy is not only incredibly fresh but also sustainably sourced, thanks to California’s commitment to eco-friendly ocean harvesting practices. You’ll appreciate the difference in every bite, making Los Angeles a top destination for seafood enthusiasts.
Fine Dining Seafood Experiences
For those seeking a luxurious seafood experience in Los Angeles, two restaurants stand out: Providence and Water Grill. These establishments offer exceptional fine dining experiences that showcase the best of seafood cuisine.
Providence
Providence is renowned for its seafood-focused tasting menus, led by chef Michael Cimarusti, who has earned James Beard Awards and two Michelin stars. The restaurant provides an elegant white tablecloth experience with impeccable service and sophisticated presentations of seafood sourced from around the world.
Signature dishes include farm-raised caviar and Santa Barbara uni nestled above decadent egg yolk, showcasing the chef’s commitment to both luxury and sustainability.
Water Grill
Water Grill is another upscale seafood option with multiple locations throughout Los Angeles, known for its consistency and classic seafood preparations. You can enjoy an exceptional oyster selection alongside seasonal specialties like Columbia River king salmon and Southern California spiny lobster.
The restaurant offers a family-friendly atmosphere that is polished yet unpretentious, making it perfect for special occasions or a night out with friends.
Award-Winning Mexican-Inspired Seafood
In the heart of Los Angeles, a vibrant seafood culture infused with Mexican flavors awaits discovery. You’re about to embark on a culinary journey that combines the freshness of the ocean with the bold flavors of Mexico.
Holbox
Located inside South LA’s Mercado La Paloma, Holbox has earned a coveted Michelin star for its exceptional Yucatecan-style seafood offerings, led by Chef Gilberto Cetina. This standout restaurant specializes in bold, bright ceviches and tostadas featuring premium ingredients like uni and kanpachi, all sourced with an emphasis on sustainability.
At Holbox, you can indulge in a $120 six-course tasting menu that showcases the full range of Chef Cetina’s expertise with Mexican seafood preparations. Whether you’re a seafood aficionado or just looking to try something new, Holbox is a must-visit spot in Los Angeles.
Mariscos Jalisco
One of Los Angeles’ most beloved taco trucks, Mariscos Jalisco, has expanded to four locations across the city while maintaining its reputation for exceptional seafood. Their signature tacos dorado de camaron (deep-fried shrimp tacos) have achieved legendary status, featuring fresh shrimp folded into corn tortillas, fried golden, and topped with avocado and vibrant salsa roja.
Don’t miss their Poseidon tostada, topped with shrimp ceviche, octopus, and a fiery red aguachile of shrimp—a perfect showcase of their seafood expertise. Mariscos Jalisco is a testament to the diversity and richness of Los Angeles’ restaurant scene.
Both Holbox and Mariscos Jalisco offer a unique dining experience that highlights the best of Mexican-inspired seafood in Los Angeles. Whether you’re in the mood for a high-end tasting menu or a casual taco, these establishments are sure to impress.
Casual Yet Exceptional Seafood Spots
For a truly exceptional seafood experience in Los Angeles, you don’t always need a fancy restaurant. The city is home to numerous casual yet outstanding seafood spots that are sure to impress.
Broad Street Oyster Company
Broad Street Oyster Company has quickly become a Los Angeles seafood institution, expanding from its original Malibu location to Downtown’s Grand Central Market, Santa Barbara, and Huntington Beach. Their lobster roll is widely considered one of the best in Los Angeles, available either warm with butter or Maine-style (chilled with mayo), and can be elevated with luxury add-ons like uni and caviar.
Beyond their famous lobster rolls, Broad Street offers excellent soft-shell crab sandwiches, linguine with clams, and other East Coast-inspired seafood dishes, making it a must-visit seafood restaurant in Los Angeles.
Malibu Seafood
Malibu Seafood, operating since 1972, provides a classic seafood shack experience with an expansive patio offering stunning ocean views. This casual spot serves some of the area’s freshest fish and seafood, with their deep-fried fish and chips being the signature dish that keeps locals coming back.
Malibu Seafood also functions as a market where you can purchase raw filets, whole fish, soft-shell crabs, and shellfish to prepare at home, making it a dual-purpose destination for seafood lovers in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, California: Acclaimed Seafood Restaurants with International Flair
You can experience the rich seafood culture of Los Angeles at its acclaimed restaurants, which serve dishes with international twists. The city’s diverse culinary landscape is reflected in its top-rated seafood eateries, offering a wide range of flavors from around the world.
Coni’Seafood
Coni’Seafood has transformed Inglewood into an unexpected seafood destination with its authentic Nayarit-style fish specialties. With a second location near Culver City, this restaurant offers a focused menu featuring smoked marlin tacos and over a dozen different shrimp preparations, ranging from raw to deep-fried.
Their signature dish, pescado zarandeado, features butterflied snook fish marinated in soy sauce and grilled over charcoal to savory perfection. Another standout is chicharrones de pescado—crispy, pan-fried tilapia chunks served with tangy soy and lemon sauce.
Master Ha
Master Ha, tucked into a Koreatown strip mall, specializes in the Korean delicacy ganjang gejang (soy-marinated raw crab). This spot offers an impressive selection of seafood, including live sea urchin, abalone, and an excellent raw salmon rice bowl that showcases Korean seafood preparations.
Their fish dishes, including the raw salmon rice bowl, are particularly noteworthy, offering a taste of Korea in the heart of Los Angeles. With a variety of shrimp dishes and other seafood options, Master Ha is a must-visit for anyone appreciating international flavors.
Raw Bars and Ceviche Specialists
In the heart of Los Angeles, a new wave of raw bars and ceviche specialists is redefining the seafood landscape. You can experience the best of LA’s culinary innovation at these cutting-edge eateries.
Ceviche Project
Ceviche Project in Silver Lake has been a trailblazer since 2019, offering one-of-a-kind Mexican-inspired raw seafood preparations that you won’t find elsewhere in the city. Owner Octavio Olivas continuously evolves the compact menu with fresh specials, including creative ceviche dishes.
The intimate restaurant is known for its unique offerings, such as Peruvian scallop shooters and piled-high Mayan octopus and shrimp tostadas. You can choose from more than a half dozen seafood varieties from their raw bar, including chile de árbol-soaked crab claws and caviar service.
The Hummingbird
Tucked away in Echo Park, The Hummingbird is Ricardo Zarate’s latest venture, offering delicious, reasonably priced renditions of Japanese-Peruvian raw fare. The no-frills cevicheria serves standout dishes like scallop aguachile topped with pepper ash and classic sea bass ceviche, all at an affordable price.
You can enjoy the freshest fish and seafood at The Hummingbird, where nothing on the menu exceeds $40. Both Ceviche Project and The Hummingbird represent the evolution of ceviche in Los Angeles, incorporating global influences while maintaining the essential freshness that defines great raw seafood.
Hidden Gems Worth Discovering
For those willing to venture off the beaten path, LA’s seafood scene has some hidden gems. While many flock to the well-known seafood restaurants, there are lesser-known spots that offer equally impressive dining experiences.
Fisherman’s Outlet
Located on the eastern edge of Downtown Los Angeles, Fisherman’s Outlet has been a staple since 1961. This family-owned seafood eatery is a casual market, takeaway, and dine-in spot where you can enjoy classic seafood dishes like gumbo, deep-fried plates of shrimp or scallops, and charbroiled fish.
The no-frills atmosphere belies the quality of their seafood, making it a favorite among locals who appreciate straightforward, well-prepared classics. You can enjoy your meal with an iced tea or beer, making it a great for a casual dining experience.
Quality Seafood
In Redondo Beach, Quality Seafood has been serving Angelenos since 1953. This multi-level market offers a dizzying selection of cooked-to-order live seafood, including an extensive collection of oysters from the Pacific. You can also find harder-to-find options like purple sea urchin and live blue crab.
The market’s straightforward takes on fish and chips are a hit, but the real treat is ordering a mix of the more exotic options at the market counter. Your selections arrive in simple styrofoam trays, ready to be enjoyed at nearby tables or taken to the adjacent beach.
Trendy Seafood Destinations
You’ll find the best of Los Angeles’ seafood scene in its trendy destinations, where freshness and style come together. Two standout restaurants that embody this concept are Found Oyster in East Hollywood and Crudo e Nudo in Santa Monica.
Found Oyster
Found Oyster in East Hollywood has become one of Los Angeles’ most stylish seafood destinations. Although it operates without reservations, be prepared for a wait that can exceed an hour, especially for groups. Chef Ari Kolender’s menu features standout dishes like a creamy lobster roll in a sauce made from its own condensed bisque and scallop tostadas with yuzu kosho and basil.
Crudo e Nudo
Crudo e Nudo on Santa Monica’s Main Street focuses on beautifully plated, locally sourced seafood with a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing practices. Chef Brian Bornemann and partner Leena Culhane have created a menu that reimagines traditional Italian crudo with bright, modern California twists, featuring an array of fresh oysters and other raw bar delicacies.
Both restaurants represent the new wave of Los Angeles seafood establishments that combine trendy atmospheres with serious culinary credentials and a focus on responsible sourcing. Whether you’re in the mood for a decadent lobster roll or a fresh fish dish, these destinations are sure to impress.
Seafood Markets with Dining Options
LA’s seafood scene is highlighted by markets that bring the ocean’s bounty to your table, offering a mix of retail and dining experiences. You can explore a variety of seafood markets that not only sell fresh seafood but also serve delicious dishes on site.
Santa Monica Seafood
Santa Monica Seafood has evolved from its origins at the Santa Monica Pier 80 years ago into a comprehensive retail market and café. This family-run establishment is now located on Main Street, serving as the Westside’s premier destination for all things seafood. The sprawling seafood case boasts every imaginable bivalve, crustacean, and finned creature.
The Joint
The Joint in Sherman Oaks is renowned for its dry-aged fish, a specialty that sets it apart from other seafood markets in Los Angeles. Beyond its market offerings, The Joint serves inventive handrolls, bento boxes, and chirashi at reasonable prices. You can enjoy these dishes while browsing the fresh catches of the day, such as sturgeon filets and spiny lobsters, listed on the chalkboard.
Both Santa Monica Seafood and The Joint offer the dual experience of purchasing fresh seafood to prepare at home while enjoying expertly prepared dishes on-site. This versatility makes them must-visit destinations for seafood enthusiasts in Los Angeles.
Neighborhood Favorites Across Los Angeles
From the beachside vibes of Venice to the cultural melting pot of San Gabriel Valley, LA’s seafood scene is as diverse as its neighborhoods. You’re in for a treat as you explore the local favorites that make each neighborhood special.
Dudley Market in Venice
Dudley Market is a surprising seafood oasis just steps from the bustling Venice Boardwalk. With its stylish, low-key atmosphere, string lights, and dimly lit dining room, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy freshly shucked oysters and a glass of natural wine.
The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park
After a rocky start, The Lonely Oyster has transformed into a reliable neighborhood destination for seafood lovers. This Echo Park gem specializes in New England-inspired dishes, including lobster rolls and freshly shucked oysters, all crafted with expertise by Chef Dom Crisp.
Boston Lobster in San Gabriel Valley
Boston Lobster defies expectations with its Chinese-Vietnamese seafood preparations, most notably their incredible stir-fried lobster with green onion and garlic served over noodles. This small SGV strip mall spot is a must-visit for seafood enthusiasts.
These neighborhood establishments demonstrate how quality seafood restaurants have spread throughout Los Angeles’ diverse communities, offering distinctive takes on seafood influenced by their locations and the cultural backgrounds of their chefs.
Conclusion: Navigating LA’s Seafood Excellence
In Los Angeles, the fusion of global cuisines and fresh seafood creates a dining experience that’s truly one-of-a-kind. As you’ve explored the various facets of LA’s seafood scene, it’s clear that the city offers an incredibly diverse seafood landscape that rivals any coastal city.
From fine dining to casual eats, Los Angeles caters to all preferences, with options ranging from Michelin-starred establishments to seafood shacks and food trucks. The city’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean ensures that the seafood is always fresh, while its multicultural population has cultivated a rich variety of seafood preparations.
Whether you’re in the mood for Mexican-inspired mariscos, Korean seafood specialties, or innovative California cuisine, LA has restaurants that excel in every category. Many of the best seafood experiences can be found in unexpected places, such as strip malls, food courts, and markets. The growing emphasis on sustainability among LA chefs adds an ethical dimension to your dining experience.
The dynamic seafood scene in Los Angeles means that there’s always something new to discover, from lobster rolls topped with uni to delicate ceviches and hearty cioppino. With plenty of options to satisfy every palate and budget, you’re sure to find your new favorite seafood spot. As you continue to explore LA’s seafood excellence, you’ll discover that the city’s culinary landscape is as vibrant as it is diverse.
So, take your pick from the best seafood restaurants, enjoy the fresh catch of the day, and savor the flavors of Los Angeles’ culinary innovation.
The above is subject to change.
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