20 Best Seafood Restaurants in Carmel By The Sea

“An excellent dining experience, from start to finish. You can taste the quality of the ingredients and the flavor combinations blew our minds. The attention to detail in each dish clearly showed the tremendous passion of the staff in the kitchen. Truly an incredible 4 course meal and I highly recommend it for any special occasion. What a visit!“

“This restaurant is so magical. The food is phenomenal. Everything we’ve ever ordered has tasted so so good. I highly recommend the yin-yan salmon and grilled salmon filet. The service is stellar and the people who work there are super nice. The prices are totally reasonable, especially for the food quality and taste and the service. I would expect to pay double for the food quality and service. And the ambiance is really nice - it’s cozy, romantic, and very cute. Excited to come back soon!“

“Great service, great ambiance, great food!“

“Absolutely fantastic restaurant and a breath of fresh air in the Carmel culinary community. The food was incredible and the service was top notch. The space is refreshingly chic and relaxing. The tables are spaced apart to allow for conversation and there's no rush to finish your meal. You are encouraged to linger and enjoy the best meal in Carmel!“

“Absolutely wonderful, small quaint. Fish market and restaurant all in one whoever is cooking the food they are on it it is so amazing so tasty I was so satisfied The server she was dealing with every single table in the whole place inside and out killing it hustling unbelievable so satisfied“

“Amazing food. Amazing atmosphere and wonderful service.“

“We celebrated our anniversary there and had the BEST time. Faisal always makes you feel like family. The food and music are the best!!!“

“Amazing food and service. If you need gluten free options then this is the place! GF garlic bread, pasta, and more. soooo good!“

“The Pocket in Carmel-by-the-Sea serves beautifully prepared seasonal dishes, with standout fresh seafood and inventive small plates that showcase local coastal flavors. The intimate atmosphere is cozy and elegant, making it ideal for a romantic dinner or special celebration, whether you choose the warm indoor seating or charming patio. Service is consistently attentive, warm, and thoughtful from start to finish. The quality of the food, curated wine list, and overall experience make it a true gem in Carmel—absolutely delightful and highly recommended.“

“I came here for the first time today and wow!!! What a unique atmosphere and energy. Diego the host originally greeted us and Rowena was our bartender/server. Only thing that upset me was we don't have this place back home! There clam chowder was amazing!“

“Wonderful dining experience. Food was fabulous. We shared the calamari appetizer which was delicious. Then we shared the Paella oh my goodness was it wonderful. More than enough for two. This is a favorite restaurant of ours when we come to Carmel and it never disappoints.“

“This is a Real Gem a few tables, clean, nicely decorated, the food is always fresh and sources from great places, seasonal, from appetizer to main course Amir and his team are very attentive, friendly and patient. Nice wine list, the home baked bread is so tempting you can't stop eating. The meat and seafood is so fresh and cooked to perfection. A locals secret place always a pleasure to return“

“We had a wonderful experience dining at The Covey. We sat at a window table with a view of their water feature. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly. My husband ordered the Branzino and I had the Chicken Saltimbocca. Both dishes were excellent! Not only were the proteins cooked to perfection but the vegetables and farro that accompanied them were also very good. We look forward to dining here again.“

“Loved the happy hour! Great food and drinks!! The service was fantastic!“

“Great service and food!! Fast service and cozy atmosphere“

“Never fails to give great food and service.“

“I am a tourist. I usually don't write review, but I have let people know this little gem. It is a great value to eat at this restaurant. Food is perfect for Cantonese or Hong Kong people. Black bean beef, sweet and sour pork, Cantonese rice noodle exceeded our expectations. Egg roll is not the burrito style, but a regular Chinese style, so you know the chef cares about food quality. Chicken fried rice was a little bit blended but still very tasty. Comparing to Panda Express and other local American Chinese restaurants, this place easily beat them. The dinning area and restroom are clean. I wonder how they make money with such affordable meals, nice and clean interior, high quality of food as well as good service. We will go there again if we are in town.“

“Enjoyed an amazing lunch! Delicious and the service was great 😊 👍🏻 Totally recommend this place.“

“Great food and a total hidden gem! Service is slow with only one server for many tables, so the food takes a while. However, the staff is sweet and provided blankets when it got cold midday. 2-hour street parking is available. Not sure how busy weekends get since we went on a weekday, but we highly recommend it!“

“We had a great meal last night and wonderful service with Bryan! Our lasagna and pizza were fantastic.“