Kyle Green
The City of the Angels is known for many things like being the home of Hollywood and countless world-famous celebrities and actors. With all of the glitz and glamour in this city, it makes sense that there would be some amazing places to eat, especially when you take into account the city’s coastal location.
Situated right on the shores of the beautiful Pacific Ocean, Los Angeles is naturally a prime destination for all things seafood-related. The fish and shellfish available in this part of the country is unparalleled, but you’ve got to know where to go if you want to truly experience the best of the best.
If that’s what you’re looking for, then look no further. Right down below, you’ll find a thoroughly-researched guide to the seafood scene in Los Angeles for all my fellow fish and shellfish lovers out there. This list is a ranking of the best seafood restaurants Los Angeles has to offer, so be sure to consult it the next time you want to taste the bounty of the ocean.
Providence
5955 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Phone: 323-460-4170
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Coming away with the number-one spot on my list of LA seafood restaurants is a high-end restaurant called Providence. Providence is the brainchild of Chef Michael Cimarusti and it’s not a place you want to pass up when you’re in the area.
Providence is located on Melrose Avenue, just five minutes south of the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, across from the Los Angeles Tennis Club. When you get to Providence, be sure to try either the oysters on the half-shell, but the Maine lobster is always a delectable option as well, depending on what you’re in the mood for.
Connie & Ted’s
8171 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Phone: 323-848-2722
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Connie & Ted’s is coming in at number two, and boy do they deserve it. This seafood restaurant is one of my all-time favorites in LA, especially when I’m not in the mood for anything overly upscale. You’ll find Connie & Ted’s over off of Santa Monica Boulevard, right around the corner from The Comedy Store on the famous, palm tree-lined Sunset Boulevard.
One of the best ways to start your meal here at Connie & Ted’s is with some fresh crudo. You can literally taste the ocean in every bite, it’s so fresh. After your appetizer, I recommend the mussels and clams in the white wine sauce.
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar
3500 W 6th St #101, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213-351-9988
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Up next is EMC Seafood & Raw Bar located over on West 6th Street near Wilshire Center and Koreatown inside the City Center on 6th shopping mall. I would definitely suggest stopping in here the next time you’re on a shopping spree and need some seafood.
What I love most about EMC Seafood & Raw Bar is that you can get some of the freshest raw fish and shellfish in town. I always try to come during happy hour which has deals on both drinks and the raw bar. There is also a late night happy hour here as well for all the night owls out there.
Son of a Gun
8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 323-782-9033
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Right down the street from the enormous Beverly Center shopping mall on West 3rd Street is an unbelievably superb seafood restaurant called Son of a Gun that I think everyone should check out while they’re in LA.
Son of a Gun serves up unique and creative seafood dishes that you won’t find anywhere else. My go-to order from Son of a Gun is usually the tuna melt. The tuna melt comes with cheddar cheese, tomato, and creme fraiche on rye bread. It’s just unbeatable, if you ask me, but there are plenty of other delicious options to choose from too.
Holbox
3655 S Grand Ave #C9, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: 213-986-9972
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This next place is called Holbox and it’s located over on South Grand Avenue near the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County where they keep the dinosaur fossils. There’s no shortage of fun attractions in this part of LA to work up your appetite for seafood.
I am a huge fan of the ceviche that they serve here at Holbox, but there are too many delicious kinds on their menu to choose just one favorite. If you’re not into ceviche, I highly recommend trying some of their baja fish tacos instead.
Fishing With Dynamite
1148 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: 310-893-6299
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Fishing With Dynamite is up next and they are another wonderful seafood place to visit when you’re in Los Angeles. You can find this restaurant near the Manhattan Beach Pier on Manhattan Avenue. With a location this close to the water, you just know the fish is going to be fresh!
If you love oysters, then this is the place for you. You can choose between 6 varieties of oysters from different locations, each listed on the menu. Of course, if you can’t decide, like I couldn’t, then you can get the sampler platter with one of each.
Angler
8500 Beverly Blvd Suite 117, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 424-332-4082
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Angler is a classy establishment located inside the massive Beverly Center shopping mall, right across the street from another great place to shop in LA, Beverly Connection. When you need a break from your shopping spree to refuel, I highly recommend stopping by Angler, especially if you’ve got fresh seafood on your mind.
What blew me away at Angler is the massive tank of live lobsters from which you can pick the one you want to serve as your meal. Some other great options are the ora king salmon and the striped bass, if you don’t want shellfish.
Mariscos Jalisco
3040 E Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023
Phone: 323-528-6701
For this next seafood restaurant, I want to mention Mariscos Jalisco. Mariscos Jalisco is actually a food truck, but the seafood they serve is so mouth-wateringly delicious that I couldn’t rightly make a list like this without mentioning them.
Look for Mariscos Jalisco off of East Olympic Boulevard near the Lou Costello Jr Recreation Center and the Wyvernwood neighborhood. When you get here, you simply have to try the tacos de camaron and the botana, but it’s literally all good here, there are no wrong answers when it comes to ordering from Mariscos Jalisco.
Water Grill
Multiple locations
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Up next is a place called Water Grill. This seafood restaurant is an LA fixture and you’d be doing yourself a major disservice by skipping this one the next time you’re in the area and you’ve got a craving for some fish or shellfish.
I love Water Grill because one of their locations is in the Historic Core neighborhood of Los Angeles, not far from The Museum of Contemporary Art and right next to Pershing Square.
What I think everyone should try from Water Grill is one of their succulent iced seafood platters, particularly perfect for anyone dining in a group that wants to order something shareable for the entire table.
Ceviche Project
2524 1/2 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
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Next up is a lesser-known, hidden-gem of a seafood restaurant called Ceviche Project. Can you guess what their specialty is?
This is the only place I know of that serves such an incredible variety of ceviche that tastes so fresh and delicious every time. My absolute favorite dish to order from Ceviche Project is the yellowfin tuna tostada, but a close second would definitely be the tai snapper ceviche.
Look for Ceviche Project over off of ½ Hyperion Avenue near the Franklin Hills neighborhood, just south of Trader Joe’s and Gelson’s. Definitely stop by if you’re in the area!
Fish Grill – Beverly
7226 Beverly Blvd #2558, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: 323-937-7162
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Fish Grill is an absolutely mind-blowing place to come to when you’re craving fresh fish and shellfish in Los Angeles, not far from the Beverly Hills area. They’ve really got everything you could ever want from the water at this charming restaurant.
When you’re checking out the menu here at Fish Grill, be sure to consider one of their famous fish sandwiches. I can never leave LA before grabbing one of these bad boys. You can either have a fried fish sandwich, a grilled fish sandwich, or a tuna sandwich. Each one is an absolutely fantastic option to order.
Fisherman’s Outlet
529 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone: 213-627-7231
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Fisherman’s Outlet is the next LA seafood restaurant I want to mention because it’s a perfect location for anyone to visit for some fresh fish, fresh shellfish, and refreshing drinks.
They have a pretty huge menu here at Fisherman’s Outlet, so it may take some time to decide on what sounds best to you. For me, I usually opt for something from the deep-fried menu like the crab cakes or a fish plate, but they have some delectable combo plates available too.
Check out Fisherman’s Outlet on South Central Avenue near the Madcap Motel and Resident live music venue.
Johnny’s Shrimp Boat
1000 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: 310-393-5244
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This next place is called Johnny’s Shrimp Boat and they really never disappoint when I’m looking for LA’s best seafood joints. If that’s something that interests you as well, then you need to pay them a visit.
Johnny’s Shrimp Boat is a laid-back, no-frills restaurant that operates on a counter-serve basis where they churn out some of the most delicious shrimp and fish combos. I love the fried fish that they serve at Johnny’s, but sometimes I go for the shrimp and fish combo to spice things up a bit. They also serve tacos and burgers here as well.
Coni’Seafood
4532 S Centinela Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066
Phone: 310-881-9644
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This next place just had to be mentioned on our list in order to really consider this a guide to the best seafood in Los Angeles. Coni’Seafood is a fixture of Inglewood and it’s located off of South Centinela Avenue, just west of the Crenshaw Shopping Center and the Grocery Outlet.
They serve fish tacos, ceviche, sopas, and so much more. Coni’Seafood has absolutely terrific, authentic Mexican seafood dishes that I know you’re going to love. The dish I recommend the most is aguachiles, but the camarones al barbacoa is a very close second favorite of mine when I come here.
L&E Oyster Bar
1637 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Phone: 323-660-2255
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L&E Oyster Bar is located in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, not far from the Silver Lake Dog Park. What you’ll find here is one of the most comfortable and inviting oyster bars in all of LA, if you ask me.
What I love about this place is that the food menu is small so they can put a lot of focus and care into each dish. My favorite things to order from here are the oysters, of course, but I also thoroughly enjoy their lobster roll and the oyster po’ boy. You can’t go wrong with any of those.
La Cevicheria
3809 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Phone: 323-732-1253
La Cevicheria is a low-key gem when it comes to fresh ceviche and lots of other incredible South American seafood dishes. You’ll find ceviche, of course, but they also serve up some unbelievable shrimp tacos and fish tacos that you’re sure to love.
What I usually order from La Cevicheria, when I’m not in the mood for ceviche, is one of the burritos. When it comes to the burritos, you have the option to go for either fish or shrimp, which is an extremely hard choice, given how tasty they both are. You might have to flip a coin for this one!
Rappahannock Oyster Bar
777 S Alameda St #154, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Phone: 323-435-4004
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Right inside the ROW DTLA shopping mall is another mind-blowingly delicious place to get seafood in LA called Rappahannock Oyster Bar. They have a charming outdoor patio that is one of my favorite places to eat fresh seafood when I’m in town.
What I think everyone needs to try when they come to Rappahannock Oyster Bar is the lobster truffle poutine to start, and then they should move into an order of the decadent lobster mac & cheese or the shrimp & grits for a little southern flair with your seafood. Of course, the raw bar is extensive and hard to pass on as well.
The Lobster
1602 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: 310-458-9294
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This next amazing seafood restaurant, The Lobster, is actually located in Santa Monica, right before the famous Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, but what’s a little driving distance when it’s for good causes like fresh seafood and an amusement park.
Of course, with a name like The Lobster, there’s only one logical choice when it comes to ordering seafood from here. It’s almost criminal to come here and order anything besides the succulent Maine lobster. You can get it either steamed or grilled, with all the drawn butter you could ever want.
The Boiling Crab
3377 Wilshire Blvd #115, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: 213-389-2722
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When it comes to Los Angeles seafood restaurants, The Boiling Crab is always going to make the final cut. It’s just such a must-visit part of the seafood scene that you’d be remiss to pass up on it when you’re in the city.
The Boiling Crab is casual and family-friendly, perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy some cajun-style seafood boils with the family. There’s nothing quite like taking on a massive pile of fresh-steamed crawfish and crab legs with your friends and family.
You’ll find The Boiling Crab over on Wilshire Boulevard in Wilshire Center near The Wiltern.
Jae Bu Do
474 N Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Phone: 323-467-2900
When you want some Los Angeles seafood with an authentic Korean twist, then Jae Bu Do is the perfect place for you to try the next time you go out to eat in the area. You’ll find this place on North Western Avenue in the Oakwood neighborhood. It’s easy to miss, but you sure don’t want to, so keep your eyes peeled!
They have all sorts of different variations when it comes to seafood combo plates. I prefer the B Combo that comes with clams, oysters, mussels, shrimp, conch, and so much more, but don’t be afraid to branch out and try the other combos.
Alaska Seafood Restaurant
4251 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Phone: 323-522-6048
Last, but not least, is the Alaska Seafood Restaurant. This is one of the premier Los Angeles seafood restaurants that I recommend to anyone in search of fresh fish or shellfish when they’re in LA.
Alaska Seafood Restaurant is a casual, counter-serve seafood joint that never disappoints, in my opinion. I usually go with one of the shrimp fajitas, but some of the other great options they offer are steamed crab, grilled crab, and shrimp tempura, but those are just the beginning.
Check out Alaska Seafood Restaurant off of Beverly Boulevard in the Oakwood neighborhood next time you want to experience incredible seafood.
