The 15 Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego (2024)
Want to know where to find all the best seafood restaurants in San Diego? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
Many lists of the best seafood restaurants in San Diego cover a large region as far north as Oceanside, so I wanted to make a list as hyperlocal as possible.
Some places on this list might have multiple locations, but at least one of them will actually be in the city of San Diego.
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The Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego
These are the best seafood restaurants to visit if you’re visiting San Diego and want to stay local.
1. The Fishery
Address: 5040 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109
What’s cool about The Fishery is they also have a seafood market attached to the restaurant.
Plus, the menu is inspired by what’s local and what’s in season.
So each time you visit, you’ll get to experience something new.
The restaurant is located in a renovated vintage warehouse only 3 blocks from the ocean and has been around since 1997.
2. Ironside Fish & Oyster
Address: 1654 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Ironside Fish & Oyster is a restaurant in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego.
The vibe and aesthetics of the place really bring the whole experience together.
Their ironside bread is supposed to be really good and the drink menu is worth taking a look at.
Ironside has all the best seafood restaurant staples like oysters, lobster rolls, clam chowder, crab cakes, octopus, and more.
3. Sally’s Fish House & Bar
Address: 1 Market Pl, San Diego, CA 92101
This waterfront seafood restaurant has great views of the San Diego Bay.
You can even bring your dog with you on the waterfront patio for dining.
There’s even a dog menu to get your pup a good meal or treat.
Sally’s is one of the most romantic fine dining places you can find on the water in San Diego, so it makes for a perfect date night.
Their menu offers sustainable, local seafood and ingredients.
4. Crab Hut
Address: 1007 Fifth Ave, Unit 101, San Diego, CA 92101
Crab Hut is a Louisiana Seafood Kitchen with a few locations in Southern California.
This one is downtown San Diego, while the other 2 locations are farther north, vaguely towards La Jolla and Del Mar.
Crab Hut offers Happy Hour Mondays through Fridays from 3-6 pm.
They have a ton of deals like 50% off oysters when you order 6 or 12, $5 draft beer, $8 house cocktails, $10 house wine, $8 sangria, $6 crab poppers, and $0.75 wings with a minimum order of 6 wings.
Crab Hut also offers daily specials from 3 pm to close.
On Mondays you can get $5 Draft Beer, Tuesdays you can get 50% off Oysters when you order 6 or 12, and Wednesdays you can get $0.75 wings when you order a minimum of 6, plus 50% off wine by the glass.
Lastly, on Thursdays you can get $8 house cocktails.
5. Serea Coastal Cuisine
Address: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Serea Coastal Cuisine is a sea to table restaurant at the Hotel Del Coronado, an iconic and historic hotel on Coronado Island.
Their menu features sustainable seafood and ingredients from local farms and the Pacific Ocean.
The dishes are inspired by cuisines of coastal California, including the Baja Peninsula.
6. Brigantine Seafood & Oyster Bar
Address: 1360 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Brigantine’s newest location is right along the harbor, just north of the USS Midway Museum.
Brigantine has been a staple in the San Diego area since the 1970s with locations in Coronado, Del Mar, Escondido, Imperial Beach, Kearny Mesa, La Mesa, Point Loma, and Poway.
They offer upscale San Diego-style surf and turf.
Popular dishes include their award-winning fish tacos and best-selling marinated grilled swordfish.
7. Blue Water Seafood
Address: 3667 India St, San Diego, CA 92103
Blue Water Seafood has been featured on the popular show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
They have a location in Mission Hills (the address above) and a location in Ocean Beach.
They are known for their award winning tacos and fresh and local seafood.
Fish is their specialty and it’s all caught by themselves and local fisherman.
8. Gaslamp Fish House
Address: 411 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
Gaslamp Fish House is formerly known as Spike Africa’s, and is the first restaurant in the historic Gaslamp Quarter.
This restaurant pays homage to Spike Africa, a sailor.
Captain Spike was one of the last great “tall Ship” schooner captains on the west coast, where he sailed from Alaska to Tahiti for most of the 1900s.
Gaslamp Fish House is known for their fusion of Mediterranean and American Cuisine.
Their oyster bar, and fresh fish and seafood are sourced locally and responsibly from sustainable and environmentally conscious fisheries.
They are also winners of the “Taste of Gaslamp 2018” and were named the Best Restaurant of Gaslamp.
9. Water Grill
Address: 615 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
Water Grill is known for their Wild California Spiny Lobster.
They have a sushi bar, oyster bar, iced shellfish, chilled shellfish, and tons of wild caught fish dishes.
They also have a seven cheese macaroni and cheese side if you really want to indulge.
I think their menu has more seafood options than I’ve ever seen in one restaurant and it’s not just all the basics.
They have some really unique dishes you can’t get just anywhere.
10. The Fish Market
Address: 750 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92132
The Fish Market serves the freshest seafood from all over, not just San Diego.
They are known for their grilled fish, oyster bar, poke, sashimi, and their retail market where you can buy fresh or cooked fish to prepare at home.
They have 4 locations in California, so if you’re ever in Del Mar/Solana Beach, San Mateo, or Palo Alto you can visit them there too.
11. Tom Ham’s Lighthouse
Address: 2150 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
This place is open for lunch and dinner daily + brunch on Sundays.
Tom Ham’s Lighthouse features dishes like Paella, Scallops, BBQ Brisket, Raw Bar Platters, Shellfish Platters, and more.
12. Mitch’s Seafood
Address: 1403 Scott St, San Diego, CA 92106
Mitch’s Seafood is at the Point Loma Sportfishing Dock in the middle of San Diego.
They serve local fish caught by local fishermen, so it’s some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever get.
They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.
At this local seafood place you’ll enjoy views of the harbor and Coronado.
13. Portside Pier
Address: 1360 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Portside Pier is considered the best waterfront dining in Downtown San Diego.
They offer seafood, Mexican cuisine, and 360 degree views of the bay.
It’s made up of 4 signature restaurants, including outdoor patio and lounge options.
There is also a coffee and gelato shop.
14. C-Level Lounge
Address: 880 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
C Level Lounge is open daily for lunch and dinner.
They have a variety of menu items from seafood to pastas to steaks.
If you visit during Happy Hour, several appetizers and drinks are only $10.
15. Top of the Market
Address: 750 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
Top of the Market is a fine dining contemporary seafood restaurant overlooking San Diego Bay from Coronado to Point Loma.
They are open only for dinner Wednesday – Sunday.
Top of the Market is an award winning restaurant that offers seasonal menu items.
More Great Dining Experiences in San Diego
Beyond some of the freshest seafood you’ll find in the world, there are plenty of other great reasons to enjoy dining experiences around San Diego.
Here are some of our favorites.
✅ Best Birthday Restaurants in San Diego
As someone who has spent a couple birthdays in San Diego, I can tell you with certainty that it is a great city for birthday celebrations.
✅ The Best Restaurants in San Diego With A View
Another great set of restaurants in San Diego are those with the city skyline views and the bay views.
With perfect weather almost every day of the year, enjoying these scenic restaurants is a must.
✅ The Best Italian Restaurants in San Diego
The Little Italy neighborhood is home to some of the best Italian restaurants in San Diego, but that’s not the only place where you can find some gems!
Fun Things To Do While You’re in San Diego
Why visit San Diego just for dinner?
There are a ton of other great experiences you can have in San Diego the whole rest of the day, weekend, or week long getaway!
If you’re visiting in the Fall, we have guides for special festivals and events taking place during September, October, and November.
You can also plan your trip around visiting specific neighborhoods like North Park or Ocean Beach.
☑️ Wine Tasting In San Diego
San Diego has a wine tasting alliance called SIP San Diego where you can get a wine passport that’s good at over a dozen local tasting rooms.
☑️ San Diego Birthday Weekend Itinerary
This is a great itinerary for first time visitors to see a little bit of everything that San Diego has to offer, while also making sure to celebrate your special day.
☑️ San Diego Zoo and La Jolla Day Trip
If you have just one day in the area and you’ve never been, the San Diego Zoo is one of the most well known zoos in the world.
Then finish your day in La Jolla experiencing the wildlife in the real world.
👉 Click Here To Book Your One Day Ticket To San Diego Zoo Today!
Best Places To Stay In San Diego
Keep the good times going by checking out some of the most iconic hotels in and around San Diego.
If you want to be as centrally located as possible, Hilton San Diego Bayfront is for you!
If you’re more into a beach getaway or staying somewhere historic and iconic, then Hotel Del Coronado is definitely more your speed.
✔️ Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Hilton San Diego Bayfront is the most centrally located hotel you’ll find.
We’ve stayed here on several visits and it’s our favorite.
It’s just across the street from the Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park, and the Convention Center.
Really any room will give you a great view whether it’s the San Diego Bay, the city skyline, or the ballpark.
You can see a full walk-through tour of our room in this video on our YouTube Channel.
👉 Click Here To Book Your San Diego Bayfront Stay Today!
✔️ Hotel Del Coronado
Hotel Del Coronado is iconic in San Diego! If you don’t recognize the name, surely you’ll recognize the architecture.
At least once in your life you need to stay here!
If you’ve ever been to Disney World, this resort might remind you of the Grand Floridian, but I assure you they are different.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Hotel Del Coronado Stay Today!
Explore More Of San Diego With GoCity!
A great way to see all that San Diego has to offer is with a GoCity Pass!
We’ve used them in several cities and it’s a great way to get discounted deals on many attractions around town.
GoCity attractions cards offer included admission to over 400 top attractions, activities, tours, and museums for one low price!
Save up to 50% compared to buying separate tickets at the attractions and receive a free full-color guide book with your purchase.
Choose from two options: Go City’s All-Inclusive Pass offers admission to top attractions and activities for one low price with a savings of up to 50%.
Build Your Own Pass allows you to customize a pass and save up to 20% on top attractions!
👉 Click Here To Get Your GoCity San Diego Pass Today!
Conclusion: Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego
There you have it, the best seafood restaurants in San Diego!
As you can see, San Diego’s coastal location makes it the perfect spot to enjoy some of the world’s best and freshest seafood.
