From classic clam chowder to cioppino to clams and oysters, the city’s seafood is second to none
Nestled at the gateway to the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco is a seafood lover’s paradise. The area’s rich array of sea life, including its iconic Dungeness crab, makes it only natural that the city’s seafood restaurant selection is deeper than the Bay.
The city has a rich fishing heritage. During the Gold Rush in the mid-19th century, fishermen plied the Bay to feed the hungry miners passing through on their way to the Sierra. The city’s fishing industry peaked in the 1980s, when San Francisco was a thriving commercial seafood hub. Today, San Francisco hosts a tourist-packed Fisherman’s Wharf and offers a wealth of seafood options, from ceviche and crudo to cioppino and clam chowder.
Whether you’re looking for a trendy new spot or a family-run gem, keep reading for 18 of the best seafood restaurants in San Francisco.
Neighborhood favorites
Anchovy Bar
This stylish Western Addition eatery celebrates the humble anchovy in all its glory. Husband and wife team Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski (of State Bird Provisions) designed the entire restaurant to focus on the tiny fish — anchovies sprinkled over ice cream even make an appearance on the dessert menu.
Highlights include an umami-packed anchovy toast and anchovies and quail eggs. It’s not all tiny fish though — other seafood options include a raw bar and rotating seasonal ceviche and crudo.
Find it: The Anchovy Bar, 1740 O’Farrell St., San Francisco, CA 94115; 415-796-2710
Billingsgate
This Noe Valley fishmonger features a Japanese-influenced menu with a raw bar, ceviche and salads. Beautifully composed poke bowls (with fish sliced to order) make a perfect lunch. Another favorite is the Lazy Nan’s Cioppino, served minus shells, so there’s nothing between you and the classic shellfish stew.
Insider tip: Indoor seating is limited, but the parklet next door has tables with sunny yellow umbrellas and a playground for the kids. The happy hour menu (Tuesday through Friday, 3–5 p.m.) boasts oysters and sparkling wine, a perfect way to end the workday.
Find it: Billingsgate, 3859 24th St., San Francisco, CA 94114; 415-590-3001
California Fish Market Restaurant
Nestled in the heart of touristy North Beach, this eatery also attracts locals and for good reason — the food is worth muscling through the crowds.
Each element of the popular frittura mista (with squid, prawns and zucchini) is fried in a different batter and the pasta menu is also a standout. Al dente linguine is studded with chunks of crab, while plump lobster ravioli burst with flavor. The wine list highlights multiple brawny Italian reds, a perfect complement to the seafood offerings.
Find it: California Fish Market Restaurant, 550 Green St., San Francisco, CA 94133 415-757-0918
Catch
This neighborhood favorite lies in the heart of San Francisco’s vibrant Castro District. Seasonal fish is the focus here: the spicy tuna tartare is a crowd-pleaser and the seafood stew is a must-try. The restaurant’s martinis are also a thing — half the tables seem to order them.
The building is designated as a historical landmark. In the 1980s, it was the assembly site for the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which organizers say is the largest community art project in history. A quilt section, rotated every six months, is always displayed in the restaurant entry.
Find it: Catch Restaurant, 2362 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94114; 415-431-5000
Leo’s Oyster Bar
When it reopened after a pandemic hiatus, this beautifully designed social media darling proved as popular as ever. The restaurant’s chic, retro-inspired decor (by celebrity designer Ken Fulk and Jon de la Cruz) has even been featured in Architectural Digest.
Instagrammable wallpaper aside, the seafood game is just as strong. The menu highlights a variety of freshly shucked oysters; caviar service with all the trimmings is a mainstay; and the lobster roll is a classic favorite. An impressive selection of craft cocktails rounds out the menu. As of press time, the restaurant is closed on weekends, so plan to visit on a weekday evening.
Find it: Leo’s Oyster Bar, 568 Sacramento St., San Francisco, CA 94111; 209-459-8335
Waterfall
For mariscos in the Mission, Waterfall is a top choice. Open every day of the week, the lunch hour can get busy, but the restaurant also offers the option to order ahead online.
From ceviche and aguachile to Baja-style fish tacos and tostadas, the menu covers all the bases. The classic mixed ceviche, with generous chunks of octopus, shrimp and mango drowned in salty-tangy lime juice, is a must. The creative Michelada lineup is also extensive — try the signature shrimp ceviche-topped version.
Find it: Waterfall, 1000 Potrero St., San Francisco, CA 94110; 415-658-7134
Classic gems
R&G Lounge
For Cantonese-style seafood, look no further than R&G Lounge. This iconic Chinatown restaurant, open since 1985, often has a line out the door. While other proteins are offered, seafood is the star of the show; almost half of the menu is dedicated to it.
The restaurant is known for salt and pepper Dungeness crab and steamed lobster with garlic. If you want to avoid the crowds, sister restaurant Harborview Restaurant & Bar is located in the Embarcadero and offers several of R&G’s signature dishes along with stunning Bay views.
Find it: R&G Lounge, 631 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 94108; 415-982-7877
Scoma’s
It’s impossible to create a seafood list without Scoma’s, which Eater calls a “seafood institution.” Located on its own dock in Fisherman’s Wharf, it’s one of the city’s most classic spots. Open since 1965, the decor could double as a Mad Men set and many of the servers have been there for decades. Classic dishes include a variety of seafood cocktails, cioppino, Dungeness crab cakes and grilled king salmon.
The restaurant is known for salt and pepper Dungeness crab and steamed lobster with garlic. If you want to avoid the crowds, sister restaurant Harborview Restaurant & Bar is located in the Embarcadero and offers several of R&G’s signature dishes along with stunning Bay views.
Find it: R&G Lounge, 631 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 94108; 415-982-7877
Scoma’s
It’s impossible to create a seafood list without Scoma’s, which Eater calls a “seafood institution.” Located on its own dock in Fisherman’s Wharf, it’s one of the city’s most classic spots. Open since 1965, the decor could double as a Mad Men set and many of the servers have been there for decades. Classic dishes include a variety of seafood cocktails, cioppino, Dungeness crab cakes and grilled king salmon.
As the name implies, Swan’s Oyster Depot is renowned for its oyster selection. Dungeness crab is also usually on the menu, along with clam chowder and a shrimp cocktail with house-made sauce. Seating is limited and lines can be long, so plan accordingly.
Find it: Swan Oyster Depot, 1517 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109; 415-673-1101
Thanh Long
There’s no better place to satisfy a crab craving than this Outer Sunset mainstay. Open since 1971, Thanh Long is reportedly San Francisco’s first Vietnamese restaurant. Today, the restaurant is filled with families and solo diners, all here for the famous roast Dungeness crab cooked with “secret spices,” often served alongside the restaurant’s beloved garlic noodles. The crab is such a ubiquitous order that every silverware rollup includes a crab cracker and seafood fork, and diners are automatically given bibs and bowls for the shells.
Find it: Thanh Long, 4101 Judah St., San Francisco, CA 94122; 415-665-1146
The Old Clam House
Next to the freeway in the Bayview lies this unassuming oasis. Stepping inside feels like walking into a time capsule, complete with leather booths, white tablecloths and nostalgic memorabilia. While it might look like a movie set, the ambiance is authentic. Established in 1861, it’s reportedly the oldest restaurant in San Francisco to continuously operate in the same location.
The menu features classic seafood dishes like clam chowder, clams escargot and made-in-house pastas. Patrons at the bar are offered a complimentary glass of hot clam broth when they sit down, perfect for warding off the city’s foggy chill.
Find it: The Old Clam House, 299 Bayshore Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94124; 415-695-2866
Splurge-worthy spots
Angler
Sister restaurant to the acclaimed Saison, Angler features the same style of live-fire cooking. The restaurant’s live tanks supply impeccably fresh shellfish and the menu highlights sea life in all its forms, ranging from seaweed-infused cultured butter to oysters cooked in embers and fish grilled over an open flame. The salt and pepper sea bream is always a standout, while the signature Angler potato and radicchio with X.O. sauce are worthy accompanists.
Find it: Angler, 132 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105; 415-872-9442
Atelier Crenn
In 2019, Chef Dominique Crenn made national news when she shifted the acclaimed Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn to a pescatarian tasting menu, leaving meat behind because of the environmental impact of animal farming. Sister locations Bar Crenn and Petit Crenn (as of press time, only open for pop-ups) soon followed suit. While the menu changes frequently, ingredients like sea urchin, dry-aged cod or Monterey abalone are often highlighted. Dedicated to seasonality and local sourcing, the fish for the restaurant’s transcendent tasting menu is all sourced locally rather than imported, and much of the produce used by the restaurant is sourced from Crenn’s Sonoma farm.
Find it: Atelier Crenn, 3127 Fillmore St., San Francisco, CA 94123; 415-440-0460
Estiatorio Ornos
In the heart of the Financial District lies chef Michael Mina’s ode to the flavors of Greece and the Middle East. The sparkling-white interior, punctuated by pops of coral-pink and blue, is inspired by oceanside villages. All the fish on the menu is wild-caught and sustainable; a fish sommelier presents the day’s catch to each table. While the menu rotates, consistent staples include the ahi crudo with falafel croutons and the phyllo-crusted petrale sole with caviar crema.
Find it: Estiatorio Ornos, 252 California St., San Francisco, CA 94111; 415-397-8880
Waterbar
Punctuated by floor-to-ceiling aquariums where fish circle, the views of the Bay Bridge from this waterfront spot are to die for. Careful sourcing is a core value here: the menu specifies exactly how the featured fish were caught. A platter of the day’s featured oyster and a glass of bubbly is the go-to move for happy hour (from 2:30–5 p.m. daily); dinner standouts are chef Parke Ulrich’s grilled branzino and seafood risotto. (Urlich is also the founder and chef of Mersea, an acclaimed seafood spot just across the bridge on Treasure Island.)
Find it: Waterbar, 399 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105; 415-284-9922
Casual dining
Bar Crudo
Situated on Divisadero, Bar Crudo’s Latin-inspired menu includes various crudos, multiple fish taco and tostada options and a New England-style clam chowder. The happy hour (Monday through Saturday, 5–6:30 p.m.), featuring shellfish, small plates, Spanish wine and craft beer, is a neighborhood mainstay.
Find it: Bar Crudo, 655 Divisadero St., San Francisco, CA 94117; 415-409-0679
La Mar Cebecheria Peruiana
A robust selection of vegetarian and vegan options makes this spacious Embarcadero spot a good choice for groups with varied dietary needs. The Peruvian fish cebiches and tiraditos are a meal unto themselves, while pisco- and Mezcal-based cocktails round out the menu.
Find it: La Mar Cebichería Peruana, Pier 1 1/2 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111; 415-397-8880
Popi’s Oysterette
Helmed by “Top Chef” alumni Melissa Perfit, this newcomer to the seafood scene has serious culinary chops. Expect classics like crab Louis salad and shrimp cocktail, as well as innovative items like crab-back butter and grilled oysters with nori, yuzu and trout roe.
Find it: Popi’s Oysterette, 2095 Chestnut St., San Francisco, CA 94123
Source : SFGATE
