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!“

“Amazing fish and chips, was approved by a buddy of mine from London as well. Food came out fast, hot, and just so fresh. Owner is a fantastic individual - cant praise the food and establishment enough.

We were stuffed at the end.“

“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 really liked their crab cocktail and their shrimp platter“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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😊“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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🥰“

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

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

“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 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!“

“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!“

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

“The Chinese food was good!“

“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“

“Austin was a fantastic bartender! I asked the other bartender three times if I could order and she just looked at me and walked away. Austin was super attentive despite it being super busy and my group had a great time thanks to him.“

“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!“

“I don’t usually leave reviews, but I had to after today’s visit. I came in during lunch so it wasn’t too busy, and it looked like they were training new staff. Lacy, our server-in-training with orangeblonde hair, was the first person to ever introduce herself at this store. She introduced herself at the beginning and let us know at the end that if we had a good experience, a review on the establishment would be appreciated so here I am.

She was doing amazing. Super sweet, confident, and honestly just adorable. She had a great sense of humor and kept a smile on whether she was helping guests or talking with her trainer. She even took time to play with the kids at tables and made the whole dining experience feel easy and welcoming.

Beyond that, the whole team worked really well together yesterday. Servers were cleaning, bussing, and setting up tables together. Waters were always filled, sodas refilled without needing to ask, and the food came out promptly. Even with staff in training, things ran smoothly. The food was good. Came out in under ten minutes and it was actually mild this time. The Thai tea is also good here, it’s a bit sweet but nothing out of the ordinary.

I’ve had a few so-so experiences at this location before, but earlier in the day felt like a huge step up. If they keep this kind of service going, the rating here will definitely go up. Coco is known to be busy but service is usually mid.“

“Excellent food. Loved the shrimp and grits! You guys should seriously consider putting a menu up out front, and maybe a better sign too. I'd been driving past this place for a year before I realized it was a food establishment. You'd get more business if you had a menu posted above the ordering area.“

“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.“

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

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

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

“Delicious food and good service“

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

“The food was delicious. The service was so so. They even removed my drink and utensils while I was still eating and did not bother to bring them back. How is a customer supposed to eat hot soup without utensils or a beverage to wash it down? How is a customer supposed to eat the salad bar or hot food with out utensils, napkins or drinks. I even paid $3.59 plus tax for a beverage. I got the all you can eat salad bar. The restaurant had only 3 or 4 tables full and was not busy. However since 1 lady was mopping they forced me out of a clean table into a dirty table. I prepaid my salad barmeal and also paid extra for my soda. I even left a good tip. However they did not even offer me toast and even took so long to come by. Then when they did they took my soda cup and utensils. I was there over 30 minutes.“

“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.“

“It was our first time, and the experience was better than expected. The Easter brunch, a three-course meal, was excellent. Table service was friendly, timely, and the food arrived as ordered. The GM visited to check on us, which was greatly appreciated. They also have an incredible wine selection. We will be back. If I had to offer feedback for improvement, brunch should have more egg options, and more of the wine list should be available by the glass. Cheers.“