50 Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego

“Fun!! Oysters were the bomb!!“

“Pero mad Chingona! The shrimp basket was excellent. My guy brought me another beer since the kitchen was taking forever. 5/5. This place gets it and there is no better seafood on the peninsula!“

“Amazing food chef is incredible great drinks too“

“**ABSOLUTELY loved coming here!**

This summer, I’ve been on a mission to rediscover great happy hours around San Diego—especially those with amazing oyster deals. I randomly heard about **Mabel’s Gone Fishing** as a spot to check out, and on a whim, my little one and I decided to stop by right at 4 PM.

We didn’t have a reservation but arrived just in time to grab a seat outside. The outdoor setup immediately gave off a charming European vibe—reminiscent of a Paris café, with chairs facing the street, perfect for people-watching. (The decor, chairs, and tables instantly brought back Paris memories!)

**Big tip: Make a reservation**—this place fills up fast!

Even though only the happy hour menu was available (dinner service starts later), it didn’t disappoint. We ordered:

* A dozen oysters (half-price!)
* The Spanish tortilla
* And we got lucky—they happened to have caviar available!

I paired the oysters with a glass of bubbly Pinot Noir Brut from Catalonia, Spain—absolutely perfect. The gin and tonic cocktail was also refreshing and well-balanced.

Now for the surprise: my 5-year-old daughter, who has a funny and ever-evolving palate, *loved* the bread and butter... but even more shockingly, **devoured the caviar**! A first for her—and possibly a very expensive new habit for me, haha! She even tried an oyster but wasn’t quite ready for the texture—still, she gave it a go.

The oysters were fresh, with a great variety from three different regions. The service was excellent—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. The sommelier (who was also working the host stand!) was fantastic and clearly passionate about the wine list. Bonus: many of their wine selections are available for purchase next door.

I’ll definitely be coming back before summer ends—this time for dinner!“

“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!!!“

“Came here on a Saturday night. Place was busy. Most of the dishes were good. Servers were overall great. Main issue is that food comes out a bit slowly so there can be a wait between dishes. We sat in the patio but somehow diners inside the restaurant who sat down 2-3 dishes after us, caught up and finished before us. Overall took 2.5 hours for the Soichi omakase. There was a heater on the patio if needed which was nice.“

“Overall , amazing Perfect way to grab some gourmet tacos at regular price and excellent ceviche“

“JTB. EXELENTE. DEL MAR A SUMESA“

“A Must-Visit Seafood Spot in San Diego

This place is a true hidden gem—though not so hidden anymore! There's almost always a line stretching the length of the restaurant, and on busier days, it even spills out the door. But don't let that deter you—the line moves quickly, and the wait is absolutely worth it.

The seafood here is incredibly fresh and delicious, all at very reasonable prices. You simply can’t beat it. We’re particularly fond of the cioppino, mahi, and shrimp, though honestly, everything on the menu is fantastic. I could easily list every item they offer!

Do yourself a favor and visit this spot the next time you're in the area. You won't be disappointed!

Kid-friendliness: Our kids love it!“

“Heading out to Convoy street, you know what I'm looking for.... solid Mexican cuisine, lol. But no joke, this is one of my new favorite spots in San Diego. Ensenada Fish Taco? it rivals the best spots in town. Quesa taco with fried cheese and shrimp? awesome. Their tortillas are great. Their guacamole is served in a molcajete and super fresh and citrusy. Frijoles, I'm ordering some to go for later. Been twice, will be again. Convoy is my Mexican Hot Spot (not Hot Pot=) They do a taco Tuesday but everything is worth the price all day.“

“My fav little spot to visit for lunch whenever I get into SD. The loaded oysters, I had both styles, and Catch of the day was delish and filling.

Side note: If you are on GLP-1 user or have a smaller stomach, this is a perfect spot to fill up and not feel over-stuffed. Catch of the Day is my recommendation.“

“I have been a customer for years. Sam is an incredible individual with customer satisfaction a #1. Reasonably priced and nice portions. Various ways to enjoy fish, shrimp (different sized), fried zucchini, chicken strips, etc. Told a coworker about Mr. Fish and Chips. He stopped in with his wife. No complaints at all. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND“

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

“I was expecting more. The calamari tasted bland. The muscles were good but my toast was burnt and bland. The desert with the coconut and lime was tasty. Our service was average.“

“Dockside 1953 is exactly what you imagine when you want a relaxing meal by the beach. Located in the Bahia Resort, the restaurant delivers excellence in terms of cuisine and service. The plating of our coconut snapper ceviche, pan seared petrale sole, and blackened tuna steak were incredible, and the flavor matched. We also really enjoyed the watermelon breeze and spring cleaning cocktails. We sat on the dog friendly patio. Safer to make a reservation. Recommend!“

“We heard amazing things about this place on TikTok, and as it turned out they were so right! This place exceeded our expectations. From the delicious Cod fish and chips, the tartar sauce, and the most amazing service. A standout for us was the manager, she was so happy and bubbly and approachable; over all a 100/10 rate for this establishment!“

“One of the best Mariscos food trucks I've been to. Quality is top-notch. You'll have to wait a little, but it's worth it for fresh quality food. Shrimp tacos with Consome always hit the spot. It's a little hidden, but it's definitely worth it if you're in the area.

Parking: Small parking lot shared with a liquor store. It can get a little tight when it gets busy.“

“I went to Boil Daddy at 8:30pm but didn’t want to serve us inside even though they close at 9:30. We left and headed over to King Crab and they had no problem serving us. Wow I been do a lot of crab boils in my past this was one of the best hands down. King Crab is delicious!“

“Amazing restaurant with waterfront dinning..with the view of the bay..in sunny San diego..very modern relaxing atmosphere..amazing sea food..we enjoyed the crispy halibut tacos, the wagyu cheeseburger..was very juicy..😋 cinnamon roll pancakes..fresh orange juice,with fruit...and the pink panther cocktails...highly recommend!!,food is delicious!! Thank you😊“

“This truck has better tasting seafood than most seafood restaurants! Amazing grilled fish taco with fresh fish that melts in the mouth 😋😋😋 Fresh oysters with tasty sauces, bits of seafood and shrimp (they called them prepped). Also a great selection of salsas, complimentary lemons and marinated onions. Wasn't a huge fan of smoked tuna taco though. Decent amount of tables (standing and with the seats) with a tarp cover on top. Highly recommend!!!

Parking: Free parking lot in front of Target

Kid-friendliness: Kid and pet friendly“

“I had the sea bass with Himalayan salt- a favorite of mine- the green beans and splurged (diet wise) for the mashed potatoes instead of a salad. Everything was delicious. My lunch partner had fish tacos which he seemed to inhale. The server was very attentive.“

“Wow, such great food and awesome service! Had the lobster roll and it was quality lobster and overflowing with actual meat. Everything was delicious.“

“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.“

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

“This is a must visit when in San Diego! The best food! Everyone is kind that works here and even with waiting once an hour and a half in line I was not disappointed. Highly recommend Oscar's of Emerald in SD🥰“

“First time here since it’s been under new ownership. It’s the same owners as Purple Mint! Which is next door. Makes me wonder if they share the same kitchen because Purple Mint is vegetarian.I love how the new space is now bright, simple minimalist decor. The food was A++ and we will be back many more times. We love the traditional cơm phần (family style) meal.We ordered the 2-3 family meal ($55)-sweet and sour tamarind soup-catfish clay pot-fried pork cutlets-water spinach (rau muống)Also ordered:-salted fish chicken fried rice-1/4 pound roasted duckThe soup had the spongy plant (elephant ear), okra, bean sprouts, pineapple, tons of cat fish filets. The soup had the right amount of tamarind, sweet and sour.Fish clay pot also had lots of fish filet. We liked everything in this set. Only mistake was not ordering the next one up which had the clams!The chicken salted fish fried rice was the least favorite. It didn’t have the strong salted fish smell or taste. Had more chicken than salted fish.The parking lot is really small. Not many spaces and it’s one way in, one way out. It’s great that Paris bakery closes early. Leaving spaces for Maxim’s and Purple Mint. The area is also a little bit sketchy if you have to park on the street.“

“This was the BEST sushi we have ever had. The entire experience was so wonderful. We left feeling relaxed and happy. Highly recommend this place and the staff were all fantastic and very attentive.“

“Went here last night after a concert at The Music Box. We were served by the owner. Such a genuinely nice guy. We had the best experience. Beautiful space and such hospitality. We’ll definitely be back.“

“We live in Philly & love Richard Blais so when visiting my brother in San Diego we always have to check out any new spots by Chef Blais. We were so happy our trip last week included California English! Right away the decor & atmosphere draw you in, being both chic & comfortable. Our server was absolutely fantastic & the food could not have been better. Try the ricotta toast, fish & chips & sticky toffee & date cake, you won’t be disappointed!“

“This place is the best! We’re from Colorado and we found this place three years ago when we were visiting. We’ve dreamt about their fish and shrimp tacos ever since, so we make it a point to stop by whenever we’re in San Diego. This last trip was no different. We even went twice this year because they recommended their garlic and butter fish and shrimp tacos and they’re to die for (along with everything else we’ve had). While they do have outdoor seating available, we ate in our car because we had our pup with us. When we went back, they even said they remembered us. Everyone is super friendly and welcoming, the place is clean and the food is tasteful. We just wish they would bring their truck to Denver so we could have them more often!“

“they have the best fish tacos in town at the best price.“

“Great JAPANESE Tonkatsu served with shredded cabbage salad just like in Japan“

“As a long-time fan of Japanese curry, I was thrilled to finally visit a Curry House CoCo Ichibanya – my first time at this particular chain, though I'm no stranger to the style, having frequented a beloved (and now sadly closed) Curry House in Westwood pre-pandemic. I was so happy to find the menus quite similar, with all my old favorites present and accounted for!
We started with the Garlic Cheese Naan, which was absolutely delicious fresh and hot, though it did lose a bit of its magic as it cooled – so definitely enjoy it quickly! It was also my boyfriend's very first foray into Japanese curry, and I'm happy to report he absolutely loved it. He opted for the spicy teriyaki fried chicken, while I indulged in my classic chicken cutlet. Both dishes were just as rich and flavorful as I remembered, hitting all the right notes of comforting deliciousness.
My only minor disappointment was that they were out of iced coffee, which would have been a perfect complement. Nevertheless, the overall experience was fantastic, and I'm already planning my next visit to have my old favorite, the keema curry! I'll definitely be back when I'm in San Diego.“

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

“An amazing find and shocked I haven’t heard more about this place. We did the 4 course pre fix and chose a variety of items but they even brought a few extra bites in between. The special oysters were amazing I hope they get on the menu full time in summer.“

“Vero italiano a San Diego!!! Posto easy ma molto accogliente e curato; Personale super accogliente ed amichevole; Cibo super buono e davvero italiano Consigliata la focaccia di loro produzione e spettacolare spaghetto alla pescatora!! Top A presto“

“Amazing food Amazing service. Food was so fresh and delicious.“

“We had another excellent meal! We were celebrating our son’s birthday and our server Paul really made it a great night . We have had him before and he is really a fantastic server! All of our food was fantastic . Pictured below the ahi ceviche and the jalapeño watermelon margarita . Such a fun atmosphere, too.“

“Classy and elegant atmosphere perfect for a fine dining experience (without the snobbery)! The table side caviar service is pure ecstasy and a must if you’ve never had it before. The whiskey flights did not disappoint either. Our waiter treated us like family and the entire staff was friendly and knowledgeable. If you’re looking for a memorable meal, the Huntress is a slam dunk! Highly recommend!“

“The Chinese food was good!“

“THE MOST AMAZING SOUL FOOD IN SAN DIEGO! I've tried every soul food spot in sd but this is by far the best. The best fried chicken, yams, and mac n cheese. Everything tasted homemade & the people are really nice. Do order it right as they open (you may need to call every ten minutes because it seems like they're phone gets backed up).“

“Came here for lunch with my mom on a Wednesday. Normally, this place has no parking availability. The place is very small but cozy. But during lunch, there were plenty. Walking in, we were seated right away. You can tell how good a restaurant is when you see most of their customers were Korean. My mom ordered the kimchi jigae. She said the broth was very good but was very disappointed that she only had 1 strip of pork belly in the soup. I ordered the galbitang and it came with 2 large beef ribs with the meat so tender it fell off the bones. The broth was also very good that i finished the broth before the meat and noodles. This is a definite place to go to again and again.“

“The server was the only one working but she got our order out fast and was so nice. The food was absolutely delicious.“

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

“Absolutely amazing food and drinks at great prices. Never disappointed.“

“AMAZING FOOD and remind me of HOME❤️“

“Great location in Fashion Valley inside Town and Country Resort. Service was very good and food was excellent. We sat outside so could hear the music from the pool and bar area. We enjoyed top hits from 80's and 90's, but it may be too loud for some. Music stopped at 8 PM. Validated parking is easy and plenty of it and just a short walk between garage and restaurant. I definitely recommend it.“

“Fast service. Fresh Vegetables & delicious foods. Grilled & BBQ Kobe & Pork are to die for. Egg rolls are tops.“

“The Best Ever Chinese Restaurant I Have Ever Been To. My Tita's Loved It So Mucho!!!! 5 star Rating“