50 Best Seafood Restaurants near Imperial Beach

“Always a pleasure to eat and drink at this restaurant in Imperial Beach. Jackie sat us down immediately and paid attention to my request by reading what I asked for in the Open Table app. Tara is an awesome bartender and made me a great vodka martini. Nice and icy cold! My server too was awesome!“

“Great burgers. Outstanding customer service“

“My family and I had a late flight in and came here at 1am and it was so good. Definitely hit the spot. We got the rolled tacos and the carne Asada fries. The rolled tacos were delicious classic rolled tacos. We got the combo so it came with rice and beans. Those friesss…… the Bees Knees! 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽 Nice to know these a 24 hour place that has Bomb food.“

“Freshly caught options. Minimal seating- but something opens up by the time your meal is done. Highly recommend.“

“On July 8, 2025 my family & I finally made it to Ironside. It was so much more than I could have imagined. Back story...My brother had been raving about this great restaurant called Ironside w/fresh oysters, great champagne, and incredible cocktails since Sept of 22. My family and I live in AK, and he was so excited to share it with us. We tried to visit each other often, but somehow by the end of every trip to CA, after cramming in as much as we could, my family would head back to AK and my brother and I would promise each other we would make it to Ironside on my next visit. For us though, sadly there wouldn't be a "next visit" with my brother. In the early morning hours of May 22, 2025, I lost my brother (and friends) in a plane crash in San Diego. When something like this happens, there is so much that goes through your head. Amongst thousands of other things, you constantly think about the memories you wont get to make, and the experiences you will never get to have w/your favorite person/people. You lose them daily, again, and again, and again w/each experience the person doesn't get to be a part of... and a visit to one of his favorite restaurants, would just be another example of something we wouldn't get to do with my brother... Fast forward to July of 2025. We traveled back to CA to attend his and several of our friends memorial services. Before heading back to AK, my husband, kids, my cousin, and I decided that we couldn't leave again without trying Ironside. It took hours to get us there emotionally, but we pulled ourselves together, and even came prepped with my brother's favorite menu and drink items to try. He had fantastic taste, so we knew we would enjoy his suggestions! We arrived, put our names on the list, and after about a 15 minute wait we were led us to our seats. We were quickly greeted by our server who gave us our menus/drink menus and said she would be back right away to take our order.... So far so good. We were holding ourselves together, but still wearing sunglasses indoors, much like someone does when they have been crying for a month and a half. Although we had rehearsed what we were ordering, the moment my cousin and I tried to order his favorite drinks water began pouring from our faces. It wasn't a loud dramatic cry, just grief bubbling up like a gieser that couldn't be stopped This was NOT what we wanted. We didn't want to explain ourselves, and we certainly weren't ready to use the words died, or plane crash.... but we did it. We told her why we were there, and she was nothing short of amazing. She and her coworker (a gentleman) treated my family with unwavering kindness and compassion. They listened to why we were there, gave us additional suggestions, wrote down my brothers favorite items, and checked on us often. They asked questions about us, about my brother, they listened, and we all laughed through our tears. They weren't uncomfortable with our grief or pain, and they didn't make US feel uncomfortable for feeling what we were feeling outloud, and in public. When we were ready to go, I asked them if I could buy one of each of the cups from my brother's two favorite drinks. The gentleman told me they didn't sell them, but after checking with a manager, they brought them back to me, boxed up, and told me they wanted us to have them. They also gave us one of their old plates that says "Ironside". It has a small chip over the letter d... and my brother's name starts with a D. I like to believe it was him, telling us he was with us for our dinner after all. We tried everything my brother loved! Just as he suggested, it was all amazing. The food was delicious, the drinks were complex and perfectly balanced, and the service... the service was nothing short of healing. I know this review isn't just about the food. This place is a triple threat. The food was great, the drinks were amazing, and the people are incredible. The people helped my family through one of the hardest days o“

“Great place, great food, service is excellent, everybody is having a good time and it shows, this place is a must in SD, whether you go as a couple or with friends, definitely recommended!!!“

“This is a great stop to make if you are looking for some awesome fish tacos. It is off the beaten path of downtown SD, but worth the trip. Very small seating area and you may have to wait, but worth it! Nice staff and service.“

“Great place to eat close to the marina. We had multiple different dishes. Our favorite three were Yellowtail appetizer, Lobster bisque, and truffle Mac and cheese.

We also had the steak tartare and sea bass, which were excellent.“

“Best barbecue ribs in the city!!!!!!“

“I really liked their crab cocktail and their shrimp platter“

“Super delicious we love everything there !! Great food great service!!💯⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Amidst the vibrant pulse of downtown San Diego, WaterGrill at 615 J St stands as a beacon of culinary excellence and undeniable charm. On a recent evening, my plans shifted from Italian discontent to the familiar embrace of WaterGrill, a venue that never ceases to impress. The transition was seamless and steeped in relief as we were greeted with the warmest of welcomes and guided to a cozy booth tucked away in the back—a perfect setting for what was to unfold. The service, led by the incomparable Nesha, was nothing short of spectacular. Her effortless candor and keen attention to our dining experience crafted an atmosphere that felt both intimate and celebratory. As a seasoned mortgage broker, I've developed a keen eye for detail and an appreciation for seamless execution—qualities that WaterGrill embodies with finesse. The culinary journey was highlighted by the sublime Chilean Sea Bass and a perfectly seared Filet Mignon, each dish speaking volumes of the skill behind the scenes. The surprise dessert, a sweet gesture orchestrated with style by Nesha, was the cherry on top of an already delightful evening. WaterGrill is not just a restaurant; it’s a study in class, atmosphere, and the art of hospitality. For anyone looking to create core memories around fine dining, this establishment comes highly recommended. The dedication to excellence here mirrors the precision we prize in the mortgage industry, making every visit a reaffirmation of why WaterGrill is a staple in our culinary repertoire.“

“My bartender Jayden has been nothing but amazing. He’s been super kind and helpful. Food was good I got the soft shell crab taco and it was great bite. Atmosphere was good and very much got lucky to come at a chill time this place is usually poppin. I will be coming back again.“

“Awesome seafood and fantastic views of San Diego! Wait staff is very good!“

“2nd visit and again food and service were great. only complaint was they cleared my dessert when I wasn't finished without asking. took that as hint to leave.“

“George, the manager of top notch and very hospitable. The food is second to none with an amazing view at the bay. I highly recommend the calamari strips in the macadamia mahi. 🤤🐙🐟🐟“

“The food was delicious. Had the carne asada fries, shared between 3 people and was still full. Their salsa is really good. Had the churros..... yum. The birria burrito was good, but I prefer it in tacos. Just a preference thing, but I had to try it for the first time and my belly was happy. Will be back soon“

“As a professional DJ, photographer, and videographer, I love working at Tom Ham's Lighthouse. The panoramic views of San Diego Bay provide a stunning backdrop for wedding photos and videos, and the natural light enhances every image. DJs will appreciate the superior acoustics. The staff is always helpful and accommodating, making the experience seamless for vendors and bringing the couple’s vision to life effortlessly.“

“Dog friendly with outside seating. We ordered two EPIC hot lobster rolls (Connecticut style, warm with butter) and although they were delicious, for the EPIC PRICE OF $39 PER ROLL, it was very skimpy compared to what you get for that price in New England. They stack it high in the middle and don’t fill the bun to the ends to make it look super full. It’s not. The New England clam chowder was great though.“

“Very good and excellent service in the food is great“

“Had some for Takeout and it was The Best Menudo 😋EVER😋 Authentic Guadalajara Receipe 🇲🇽✏️📃🔪🥣🥄. Perfect Broth, Soft Hominy and the Meat Melts in your Mouth🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟, goin back there ASAP with Friends who love Menudo but we can never find anywhere decent 😔, Until Now 🌟🤪🌟 . Staff is very Friendly and Caring.“

“Great food and even better service. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. What really stood out, though, was the service, Mel, the manager, went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of and genuinely happy with our experience. You can tell they care about both the food and the customers. We’ll definitely be back and highly recommend this spot.“

“Best Mariscos Delivery service no cap !!“

“Good restaurant, delicious food. I recommend everyone to try it“

“Although it is a food truck in a parking lot, I have it 5 stars for atmosphere because it is what is expected. nothing more, nothing less. The food never disappoints, and they go above and beyond to make sure you get and like what you order. Have been back and will be back again and again.“

“Celebrated good friends’ birthdays on Fish and Chips night! Fun times with good food and great friends! 👍🏼😊🌻“

“A hole in the wall serving affordable fish tacos, you can't beat that. Quick service, delicious menu items. Restaurant is small, if you prefer a larger setting they have a restaurant a block away. I prefer this location, food is delicious and the prices are lower. My go to are the fish tacos, campechana cocktail and the Tamarindo michelada.“

“This place was definitely a 10/10?✨“

“Had lunch with my sister. Great food and portions. Kyle our waiter was friendly and attentive.“

“I had the catfish and fries with cornbread it was simply amazing it was so good nice and hot fresh I'll definitely be back again and I will recommend this restaurant to all of my family and friends“

“All of the five star reviews are well warranted. If you can only try one thing you MUST TRY THE AHI CEVICHE. I’m telling you. Everything else is a 8 or a 9 but that is a 10/10 all the time, every time. My grandmother ever did the wide eyes when she tasted it haha“

“Andrea helped so much with ordering our food! We are a family of 4 traveling from AZ. We stopped here for our itinerary because of the view and shops! We had the best fish and chips here! We ordered the family style spicy fish and chips and fried pickles with calamari 😍 so good!!! Will bring coming back, thank you!!!“

“Straight 🔥 and delicious recommend for everyone“

“clamato is really good. buy some beer at liquor store next door and mix 💣. food is really good, big portions.“

“I had a wonderful and amazing taste of all of the delicious food prepared at Serea Coastal Cuisine. I can’t wait to go back and have this delicious food.“

“Made a work trip & birthday alone - amazing🤍Thank you! And food/drinks bomb!“

“Outstanding food at a small local restaurant. Really enjoyed the crab boil with my wife. Great prices and great food. Give them a try you won’t regret it! Friendly service too. Overall great experience!“

“1st time but not my last!!“

“Dining and sight-seeing... Delicious and Beautiful“

“We love Bluewater Grill and their sourdough bread is to die for!“

“Good food I enjoy myself.“

“Wow! Awesome fish tacos. Liked the 2 fish per taco. The hot sauce is also awesome.“

“Highly recommend this place, not only for the delicious food and varied menu, but for outstanding customer service. My wife left her glasses at the table,candy the staff made a point to find out phone number to let us know they had the glasses. We will definitely return when we're in town and recommend it to everyone.“

“Everything was great. Service and food. Wonderful environment. We throughly enjoyed our evening.“

“Friendly and awesome presentation“

“rico consome. y burritos“

“The Super breakfast burro was as big as my forearm !!! The best way to start your day!��“

“The best tacos hands down! Visited in Chula Vista, CA! 🤤“

“Where good service is an essential ingredient, la corriente coronado, I had a delicious meal; the sushi is spectacular!!. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️“

“Love the seafood there it always fresh and delicious!!!😋“