Pier to Plate: Must-Visit Seafood Restaurants in San Diego
As you can well imagine, San Diegans love their seafood. Thanks to the city’s location right on the Pacific, fresh seafood has always been on the menu here. As a result, there are countless great seafood restaurants in San Diego, and choosing between them can be difficult. Check out our recommendations and skip straight to the best of them.
JRDN (0.2 miles from the hotel)
This charming beachfront bistro makes its home within a stone’s throw of Pacific Beach’s Crystal Pier and has been serving spectacular seafood since 2005. Since then, they’ve carved out a reputation for themselves as being the place to go for cold drinks and seafood that will have you craving more even before you’ve finished what’s on your plate. Don’t miss the ahi poké nachos, or the Southern-style shrimp and grits.
723 Felspar St, San Diego, CA 92109
Photo credit: @jrdnrestaurant
The Fishery (0.7 miles away)
The Fishery is one of the most unique seafood stops in the city. In addition to the renowned open-kitchen restaurant, The Fishery also maintains a well-stocked seafood market right at the center of the action — so you can take home the same just-caught items you’ll find on the menu. And speaking of the menu, Chef Mike Reidy allows it to evolve with the seasons, ensuring that nothing you’ll order is ever out of its prime peak of flavor and freshness.
5040 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109
Photo credit: @sdthefishery
World Famous (0.8 miles away)
“Coastal California Cuisine” is both the motto and the menu at World Famous. A Pacific Beach staple for more than two decades, World Famous earned its name — and maintained its reputation — by dishing up some of the tastiest seafood in the area. Starters like panko-fried jumbo shrimp, crab cakes, and calamari frito set the stage, and stellar entrés such as cioppino, lobster salad, and their renowned Harpoon Combo help ensure empty plates on every visit.
711 Pacific Beach Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood (4.2 miles away)
Eddie V’s has built an empire on taste, service, and elegant ambience. The La Jolla location is perched seaside on a sandstone cliff overlooking the Pacific, from which they source the bulk of their menu. We recommend starting with the Shellfish Tower, an appropriately named presentation of lobster, shrimp, crab, and oysters, before moving on to the sea bass, branzino, or halibut. After dinner, stick around for a cocktail and some live music in the adjacent lounge.
1270 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
Photo credit: @mrsoaroundworld
Mitch’s Seafood (6.5 miles away)
Established by a collective of three local families with a long history of fishing the coastal waters of the area, Mitch’s Seafood finds its foundation in tradition. Everything on the menu is famously sourced from local fishermen, so you know it’s as fresh as it gets. Additionally, the restaurant maintains a commitment to ensuring that everything they serve is sustainable and served responsibly. You’ll also find a deep selection of local craft brews at the full-service bar.
1403 Scott St, San Diego, CA 92106
Photo credit: @mitchsseafood
Ironside Fish & Oyster (9.8 miles away)
There are countless reasons to visit Ironside Fish & Oyster. The decor can best be described as “nautical anarchy.” The extensive drink menu reads like a romance novel. The $1-oyster happy hour offers a Bacchanalian bounty of half-shell hedonism. But by far the best reason is the food. If you go, you’re nearly obligated to bring friends and go all in on the “Holy S—” platter — an embarrassment of riches including crudo, caviar, oysters, mussels, lobster, and ceviche.
1654 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Photo credit: @ironsideoyster
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