33 Best Seafood Restaurants near Avila Beach

“I was really craving some fish and chips while I was in Pismo but the lines everywhere were soooo long that I decided to look up places nearby that were (hopefully) less busy.. Mersea's came up first so we hopped in the car and drove to avila to try it out! The staff was so friendly and helpful, and the resturant allows dogs indoors, which you don't see often! I really liked the decor in here, it was very steampunk sea themed, and they had some cool little features like port holes that looked to the water below (the resturant is on the peir!) but the place was SO SMALL that we had to stand in the walk way while we waited for our food because there were no more tables inside and it was SO WINDY outside! I really enjoyed the fish and chips, and my toddler enjoyed the chicken strips, but the rest of my family was left underwhelmed with their meals and said they wouldn't stop here again. ‍ Ultimately, I'd say this place is a great choice if you want to get away from the crowed restaurants near by, but keep in mind that the seating is limited indoors.“

“Super nice and efficient service. Had breakfast for dinner, awesome. Wife had fish and chips, the halibut was supper fresh. Great views, excellent food and service, clean with indoor and outdoor service. A 10 in my book, Fat cats never disappoints.“

“This is one of those "hidden gem" spots! We've even stayed at the San Luis Inn that is right next door and hadn't noticed it. It is down the hill and next door to the pro shop for the golf course. There are large menu boards up next to the entrance and above the bar. You place your order at the bar and then go find a seat. We found a great spot in the shade outside and didn't have any problems with insects. Our lunches (salads and sandwiches) were good and tasty. The view of the ocean was great! A nice, relaxing spot for lunch, especially during the week (apparently it is a lot busier on weekends).“

“As a single solo traveler finding places that are both safe and fun can be a challenge. The whole crew at Mr. Rick’s and the custom house make it easy to let loose and have a good time. Most recently I was served by Angie, keith, and Austin and had the best weekend visiting my favorite place. The live music and fun atmosphere make this place more memorable. Through and through a great experience highly recommend.“

“They have a dog menu! First place I’ve ever been to that has a separate dog menu! Luna loved the ground beef and rice and devoured it, and the view was great. I liked my strawberry cocktail and the clam chowder was delicious. We enjoyed our meal here out on the patio!“

“Rachel was super sweet and very helpful and attentive, the crew here was kind and friendly willing to help even if we weren't there table. 5/5The beet salad was definitely shareable dressing was alittle tart for my taste, but fresh, and beets cooked perfect. 4/5The crispy calamari filled its plate and the aoili was yummy. 5/5The fish and chips were ok, battered nicely but catfish a bit soft and mushy for my taste, however, we really enjoyed the fritz 3/5Ambiance is kept dim, but warm for 815pm. ??“

“Crab soup was wonderful. Scallops were fine/nothing special. The purple sweet potatoes were pureed and tasted like snotty, runny baby food.The swordfish served with bordelaise sauce didn't work. The crabcake lillikoi pepper jelly was way too overwhelming.Sadly disappointed.“

“Food is fresh and delicious. Locally caught fish! we got Fisherman's platter and Baja tacos. Ambiance is way cool with fun and bright decor and a lively spot for people watching while you eat! Prices are super reasonable for the quality of food too!“

“I took my grandmother into oyster loft for an early Mother's Day celebration and we loved all of the dishes! We enjoyed a Caesar salad, beets, ahi chips, tuna tataki, seabass, filet, pork chop and then the bread pudding for dessert. Service was fabulous as well. Thank you Griff for being such a kind and attentive server!“

“Great food with an easy atmosphere!“

“Our server was very attentive and it was a very pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. We realized since restaurants were limited here, reservations are a must but we were accommodated nevertheless due to just my wife and I. Lastly, the food was great! We are definitely a return customer in the future.Parking: Limited parking behind the restaurant but street parking is also available.Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“Inventive and delicious food with Asian influences. Mixologist was on point. Our service for lunch was amazing and they brought us an amuse bouche and sample mocktail to try just because. We loved our meal there. This was our second trip. We'll be back for a third.“

“On our travels we found this and decided to try it. They sat us right up against the window overlooking the beach and pier with a beautiful sunset. I had the double boned pork chop and my husband had the sword fish. Both plates were clean at the end of the meal. And the Peppermint Patty coffee was a perfect end to my day. Jim was our waiter and he was very professional.“

“Holy hell, I have died and went to heaven! This place is killer to eat at. The flavor, the quality, and the freshness of the food they serve are just outstanding. We ordered the fish and chips and grilled shrimp tacos. Both dishes were so tasty that I am salivating, thinking of what we ate. I can't wait to return and eat here again.“

“Food was great. We were seated rapidly for a group of 4. The service is good, just takes awhile to get refills. It's really noisy there and if your not in a booth then you are so close to the next table. Prices are moderate. Proximity to the boardwalk is great.“

“Wonderful experience our server Prisila was very nice and attentive the food was perfectly prepared, tea was excellent and the Birthday cake was to die for a great experience and it was a beautiful Sunny afternoon/evening and the Views were breathtaking. Love this place“

“While I am unable to truly post a review on the “atmosphere” due to it pouring rain and I was the only customer there, the umbrellas (clearly meant to provide shade from the sun) were a welcome cover to the sudden downpour and so was the tri tip sandwich. Delicious! It was a great meal following my amazing experience ATV riding on the Dunes. Combining for a brilliant start to my day. Rain and wind can’t ruin a great thing! Also the owner threw in a complimentary Clam Chowder, probably based on the fact that I supported them on a day when due to the weather, he wouldn’t be very busy. The Chowder was excellent, flavorful and filling! Remember though this spot is outside seating only, so be prepared for rain or shine!“

“A friendly greeting at the door. My lunch as well as my friends' were both excellent. Wait and bus staff very well trained. I will definitely return, although probably not in the evening, because the noise level is pretty high. Really delighted to have this restaurant in SLO.“

“Great service, amazing view, lovely atmosphere, and great food. Don't miss the shrimp cocktail. The Seafood penne, fried ice cream, lobster Mac, and must have the sea bass.Adding the Molcajete as a must have dish that has plenty for splitting. Our server, April was delightful too!“

“Seafood stew copinno was really good! The seafood bucket that came with potatoes and sausage were way too dry and the seafood was plain. Kind of a crowded place and loud but the seafood was overall really good. Definitely worth the 1 hour wait.“

“Being going here for years. Great service, great people, excellent food. What we love about the food is it is made to order and when busy the kitchen may run slow but the food quality and taste is always worth the wait. Have some mint tea and enjoy the ambiance.“

“Best fish & chips on the County. Wonderful choice of beers Great service.“

“Absolutely one of my most favorite places to eat. I feel so cozy and at home when dining here! Family cooked meals with love and also the kindest people as well! The Thai Tea is always a delight for a good and refreshing drink! Yum yum yum!“

“I was driving through central CA and tried @ Bites on a whim because I was craving comforting Vietnamese food. I ordered the beef pho and was impressed. I am Vietnamese and grew up with good pho. Never would I have ever imagined that SLO would have such delicious high quality pho. The broth was a 10/10. It's one of the best phos I've ever had; top 5 pho experiences. Thank you to the amazing chef and his team.“

“Our favorite spot for Mexican in the five cities. The ceviche & tostadas are authentic & delicious. The shrimp soup is spot on. I also like their asada plate, can’t go wrong with their in house hot sauce. Oh! And the micheladas aren’t from a bottle, made fresh. Highly recommended.“

“I was really impressed with everything here. The views are so beautiful, sit outside. Just beware of very courageous birds that think your food is their food. I don't blame them. The food is spectacular! We ordered the salmon and lox and avocado toast, both excellent choices. Our server, Steve was top notch. He was attentive and very kind. Prices may be kind of high, but I thought it was worth every penny and I will be back to try their other menu items.Parking: Parking is a bit of a challenge. The parking lot is for the hotel valet and workers only. It's perfect if you go the valet route. Otherwise, you have to park across the street or in the public lot to the northeast.“

“Love the food here, they do a wonderful meal. I have issues with all of the plastic that is used to serve the meals. It would be really nice to have bowls and utensils that could be washed and reused for eat in customers. A good example is The Oki Momo grill located on Broad street. I eat at Oki Momo more often than at Poki Rito because I can eat in and not throw away all of that plastic. They wash and reuse ;)“

“Had dinner at Fins a couple of nights ago with my family. What an awesome experience! Miriam was our server. She was super friendly and gave us awesome recommendations. Great drinks, great food and awesome service. The Blackened Sea Bass was by far the most amazing dish I’ve tried in this area. You have to try the clam chowder with their seafood topping and garlic bread! We definitely can’t wait to come back and try more amazing dishes while enjoying live music at our new favorite spot.“

“If you like seafood, this is your spot. From clam chowder, lobster rolls, fish and chips, this place has it all. They have a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating, and a whole wall of self serve beers on tap. On weekends, they do have a brunch menu available, but the standard menu is also served every day. They have two types of lobster rolls: The Original and a Jalapeno LimeWe got one of each and each roll was stuffed full of big chunks of lobster. The original was served either with drawn butter or a garlic herb mayo, but per the suggestion of the cashier, we ordered it dressed in butter with the mayo on the side. The rolls are $30 each but do come with thicc cut steak fries. You can opt to sub out the fries for house made chips if you like more of a crunch. The jalapeno lime roll was very light in flavor, and could have used more butter or a mayo to dress it up a bit. The bun was nicely buttered and toasted though, which helped. I love that it was topped with crispy fried onions for a little extra flava and crunch!If there is one dish you're going to order, make it the poke nachos. It's super saucy so some bites can be a little overwhelming. A little less sauce would make this even better, but overall, highly recommend giving it a try! The chunks of ahi tasted fresh, and I loved that they added avocado and seaweed salad. This was so refreshing over the wonton chips. I opted for the fisherman's catch so I could have a little bit of everything. This came with 1 large piece of cod fish, lots of shrimp, and a few strips of calamari over fries. This was served with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce and lemon wedges. Normally I would squeeze lemon over all my fried seafood but it didn't even need it! Idk what they do with the batter/seasoning but I love loved loved that all the fried seafood had a citrussy flavor to it already. This would be a good sized plate to share! The staff were all really nice and attentive and we loved the vibes of the outdoor seating. Midway through our meal, a guy went on the stage to play some live music, so that was a nice touch. If I'm ever back in Pismo, I'm making it a point to come back for more eats!“

“The food was amazing! The chicken Caesar had a great crouton-chicken-lettuce ratio, I was at the end of the salad and still had croutons and chicken left for my last bites which most restaurants lack. However, what the heck kids chicken tenders? $11 for two tenders and a few fries is absurd!! Service was very quick. I went at night and there are no heaters outside even though 75% of their seating is outdoors. Came in early April so I would say bring a few extra layers if you're coming around this time and get cold easily.“

“Absolutely the best fish and chips as well as the best clam chowder ever!! I've been going here since I was a little kid and I have carried on the tradition with my kids and grandkids and hopefully many years to come. This visit is for our honeymoon and we were not disappointed. Excellent as always. Lynette was great ?? thank you“

“Avery our server was friendly, the drinks were great, the food was fresh, hot, and tasty.Tuesday night is all you can eat Dungeness ? If you like crab it is your go to spot!Second time back to Cali since 2022. Spyglass was our go to for take out breakfast everyday! Crab Benedict, sautéed spinach, and fruit cup were our daily choice! Two thumbs up! The food was hot fresh and tasty! Mason was a joy every morning ?“

“So the manager I believe from “Brads Restaurant” came out and gave me a sample of their Clam chowder only because I was eating “Splash Cafe” clam chowder bowl outside leaning against “Brads Restaurant” which I do have to say I think “Brads Restaurant” clam chowder has more flavor then “Splash Cafe” clam chowder smart move from “Brads restaurant” because now I’ll prefer “Brads” instead of “Splash Cafe” from now on.“