There’s no shortage of seafood in Orange County, and being this close to the Pacific Ocean and an active fishing community, local establishments benefit from access to fresh, local catches on the regular. Whether it’s fresh off the boat or just high quality flavors, here are some of the best seafood restaurants in OC.
Looking for a Poke place? Check out our list of Best Poke Places.
Knife Modern Steak (formerly Outer Reef)
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa
25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629
Knife Modern Steak is a new steakhouse & seafood concept restaurant in Dana Point at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott. The modern, casual restaurant fills with natural light and offers perfect ocean views. The chef behind the menu here? John Tesar. Some may know him from season 10 of Top Chef, but Tesar is much more than a contestant on a reality TV cooking show. In fact, the James Beard nominee recently won a Michelin Star for his restaurant Knife & Spoon, at the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Orlando, and he runs some of Dallas’s best luxury steak houses.
Here at Knife, the mouthwatering menu features unique California Cuisine with seafood sourced from the Pacific and prime beef. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and limited late night bites on Friday and Saturday nights.
Slapfish
Founder and Chef, Andrew Gruel created a modern seafood dining experience serving up quality food at affordable prices. They use fresh, sustainable ingredients to develop both flavorful classics and new favorite recipes. The clam chowder is thick and delicious and the lobster roll is to die for. Other menu items to try include the clobster grilled cheese, surf n turf burger, epic shrimp burrito, and the chowder fries. Slapfish also serves a variety of seafood-focused salads, bowls, ceviche, and sides. View the full menu here.
Locations:
San Clemente: 101 W Avenida Vista Hermosa, 616 San Clemente, CA 92672
Tustin: 1705 Flight Way, Ste 3, Tustin, CA 92782
Try Chef Andrew Gruel’s other seafood restaurant, Calico Fish House in Huntington Beach, CA
Bear Flag Fish Co.
Huntington Beach: 21058 CA-1 #124, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 – Fish Market, Restaurant, Full Bar & Sushi Bar
Newport Peninsula: 3421 Via Lido, Newport Beach, CA 92663 – Fish Market, Restaurant, Full Bar & Sushi Bar
Crystal Cove Promenade: 7972 Pacific Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, CA 92657 – Fish Market, Restaurant, Beer & Wine, Select Sushi
A casual seafood spot located in Orange County, Bear Flag Fish Co. practices sustainable fishing and serves only the freshest fish. They even own and operate their own processing and distribution facility nearby. Their fish markets allow locals to pick up high-quality, sustainable seafood to prepare at home. The restaurants serve excellent seafood and sushi. The menu offers sashimi plates, poke, and ceviche to start. Tacos, burritos, seafood plates, sandwiches, and salads, are included in the entrée options. In the mood for sushi? Try the Bear Flag Roll, the Captain King Crab Roll, or the Hurricane Roll. View the full menu here.
The Capital Grille
3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA
The Capital Grille is known for their steaks, but their seafood is just as excellent. You’ll find that this establishment consistently hits the mark for guest expectations across the board. Both Clam Chowder and Lobster Bisque are on the menu here, and starter options include tuna tartare, a cold shellfish platter, and the Grand Plateau with jumbo lump crab, lobster, shrimp, and oysters. For entrees, they offer salmon, tuna, and sea bass. View the full menu here.
Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe
154 E. 17th Street, Costa Mesa, CA
Santa Monica Seafood Market & Café offers a more laid back atmosphere without skimping on the quality of the food. And rather than sticking to traditional fish plates, they offer a selection of wraps, bowls, salads, and sandwiches. They do have entrée plates with salmon, halibut, and swordfish, but there’s a lot of good stuff on the menu to try. If you’re a soup junkie, you’ll find cioppino, New England and Manhattan clam chowder, fish chowder, and crab bisque. There’s also an oyster bar here. When you’re finished eating, check out the weekly market specials and take something fresh home with you. View the full menu here.
Water Grill South Coast Plaza
3300 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA
Water Grill South Coast Plaza is an upscale seafood restaurant with a great selection of seafood starters, sushi, a raw bar, and chilled shellfish. You can order lobster, king crab, and spot prawns, and even order a whole fish charcoal grilled or oven roasted. If you prefer to try a regular dinner entrée, some of the fish on the menu include Tuna Mahi and Black Cod. They also serve a selection of steaks and an organic chicken. View the full menu here.
Pacific Catch
3040 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92782 (Tustin Market Place)
If you’re a Bay Area native or transplant that spent some time in Northern California you might know this place well. The Chestnut St location in San Francisco was one of my regular stops. Now Orange County has its first location with a store in Tustin at the Market Place. This modern-casual restaurant features sustainable Pacific Rim caught fish combined with a mix of bold flavors. Menu staples include soups and salads, poke and ceviche, surf and turf platters, burgers, and sushi rolls, tacos, “bombs” and bowls.
BLK Earth Sea Spirits
300 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 202, Huntington Beach, CA
BLK Earth Sea Spirits specializes in Kobe-style steaks and fresh, high quality seafood. Located on PCH with ocean views, this full service restaurant and bar serves lunch and dinner daily, plus a brunch menu on the weekends. You’ll find seafood towers, oysters, and King Crab Legs here, as well as a number of seafood-focused entrees showcasing a variety of fish including halibut, swordfish, Yellowfin, lobster, Mahi, and sea bass. The food here gets great reviews, and everyone will love the outdoor seating area overlooking the Huntington Beach Pier and the Pacific Ocean. View the full menu here.
Captain Jack’s
16812 Pacific Coast Highway, Sunset Beach, CA 90742
Located in Sunset Beach just before pulling into Huntington, sits Captain Jack’s – an Orange County icon since 1965. Captain Jack’s specializes in steaks and seafood, with an emphasis on crab. They are well-known for serving up plates full of King Crab legs, and visitors who come into town usually want to stop here to see what everyone’s talking about. You’ll find oysters, clams, shrimp, and scallops on the menu as well, plus lobster and a selection of fresh fish. If you’re coming for the Prime Rib, that’s also famous here in OC. The 28-32 ounce bone in center cut is one of the best in the area. You can also get rack of lamb, NY Steak, filet, top sirloin, and of course chicken. View the full menu here.
Duke’s
317 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA
Duke’s is located at the beginning of the Huntington Beach pier with a fish-focused menu highlighting the Aloha spirit. There is a variety of seafood dishes including seafood hot pot, lobster, macadamia nut and herb crusted fish, coconut shrimp, and more. They also have prime steaks, ribs, chicken, and burgers. Duke’s also serves a popular Sunday Brunch, and has a few specials during the week like Taco Tuesday and Surf & Turf Thursday. View the full menu here.
Original Fish Co. & Off The Hook
11061 Los Alamitos Blvd., Los Alamitos, CA
The Original Fish Co. Restaurant and Fish Market has been a local favorite for years. The Fish Market has everything from the freshest sushi-grade fish to jumbo King Crab legs. You can even grab prepackaged chowder or lobster mac. Take a seat in the restaurant and you’ll have a hard time choosing from one of the mouthwatering items on the seafood-forward menu. They have mesquite broiled skewers, lobster and crab, daily fresh catch, fish and chips, sandwiches, and more. As if you can’t get enough here, they opened an additional restaurant next door called Off the Hook. The chef-driven menu here also focuses on seafood, but offers modern recipes and sharable dishes. View the Fish Co. menu here and the Off The Hook menu here.
The Cannery
3010 Lafayette Avenue, Newport Beach, CA
The Cannery is a historical landmark dating back to 1920 when the site became a commercial fish cannery along the Rhine Channel. When the original cannery closed in 1966, shops and restaurants moved into the space to take advantage of the waterfront location. Today, The Cannery stays true to it’s seaside legacy and serves up fresh high quality seafood and sushi. Start with the grilled octopus, then for a main, select from options like Chilean Sea Bass, Diver Scallops, or lobster tails. They also have a list of sushi, a filet, chicken, and a burger. See the full menu here.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
1370 Bison Avenue, Newport Beach, CA
Eddie V’s serves fresh, high quality, and expertly prepared seafood (and steaks). The menu includes oysters, shellfish, and caviar to start, as well as lobster tacos and steak tartare. They have a selection of soup and salad, specialty sides, and delectable desserts. For your entrée, seafood here includes branzino, scallops, Chilean Sea Bass, salmon, sole, and lobster, to name a few. If you’re up for steak instead, they have filet, ribeye, and NY strip to choose from. Whatever you decide to try, you won’t be disappointed here at Eddie V’s. See the full menu here.
Fly-N-Fish Oyster Bar & Grill
2304 W Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA
Fly-N-Fish Oyster Bar & Grill focuses on seafood that is fresh, seasonal, and sustainable. Some of their most popular items are the award-winning clam chowder, oysters rockefeller, and the cedar planked skuna bay salmon. They serve a variety of small plates, oysters, and fresh fish. They also have salads and sandwiches. The location is perfect too, with outdoor seating on the beach and they are just a short walk from the Newport Beach Pier. View the full menu here.
CrabStation Seafood Shack
3390 S Bristol Street, Santa Ana, CA
Just go. This family owned restaurant opened in 2020 to serve cajun-inspired fresh seafood boils with house made sauces ranging from mild to seriously spicy, or you can pick the garlic butter sauce. The menu features a variety of crab, shrimp, lobster tail, clams and mussels, scallops and crawfish. They also serve chowder, gumbo, and lobster bisque, popcorn shrimp and popcorn chicken, dragon ballz, noodles, and fried rice. Seriously. Just go.
Crazy Fish Grill
12420 Seal Beach Blvd, Seal Beach, CA 90740
This fast casual seafood spot has great reviews from locals, claiming excellent service, delicious food, good portion sizes, and reasonable prices. The menu features clam chowder, fish tacos, burritos and bowls, salads, burgers, and house specialties. Order From The Grill to pick your protein, choose your seasoning or sauce, and pick two sides. Sure you can get the chicken, but why would you want to pass up the shrimp skewers, or the Wild Caught salmon, swordfish, or Mahi Mahi? View the full menu here.
Mahe
1400 Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Mahe is one of our personal local favorites. Serving seafood, sushi, and steaks, I haven’t met a meal I didn’t like here. It’s fine dining quality-food in a fun, family friendly atmosphere. There is a sushi bar in the front of the house, and a regular bar in the back that features regular live music and TV’s with sporting events. The sesame seared ahi is delicious, the burgers are mouthwatering, and the filets are amazing. Feeling like sushi? Try the Mahe Roll and the El Jefe Roll. You also won’t regret the baked scallop parmesan or the Mahe nachos. View the full menu here.
Walt’s Wharf
201 Main Street, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Walt’s Wharf is a Seal Beach landmark, opened by Walt Babcock and his wife Mona in 1970. First, Walt brought in the daily catch from his own boat, then expanded by contracting with local fishermen. Today, diners can feast on fresh fish in the full service dining room and bar in a building that dates back to the 1920s. The menu here includes soups and salad, sandwiches, house specialties, classic grilled fish and steak dishes, and pastas. View the full menu here.
More Seafood Restaurants In Orange County
Bayside Restaurant – 900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach – 4.4 Stars
The Beachcomber – 15 Crystal Cove, Newport Coast – 4.6 Stars
The Black Marlin – 560 El Camino Real, Tustin – 4.4 Stars
Bodega Laguna – 400 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (corner of PCH and Laguna Ave)
Bluefin – 7952 Pacific Coast Hwy, Newport Beach – 4.3 Stars
The Boiling Crab – Two locations in Garden Grove, one location in Santa Ana – 4.6 Stars
- 1500 W MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana
- 13892 Brookhurst Street, Garden Grove
- 14241 Euclid Street, #C116, Garden Grove
Calico Fish House – 16600 E Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Catalina Fish Kitchen – 670 W 17th St., Costa Mesa – 4.6 Stars
Chart House – 34442 Street of the Green Lantern, Dana Point – 4.4 Stars
Circle Hook Fish Company – 3432 Via Oporto #104, Newport Beach – 4.3 Stars
The Cliff Restaurant – 577 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach – 4.5 Stars
Crab Bite – 3024 W. Ball Road, Suite F, Anaheim – 4.5 Stars
The Crab Cooker – Newport and Tustin – 4.4 Stars
- 2200 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach
- 17260 E. 17th Street, Tustin
Claws Zone – 614 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim – 4.6 Stars
The Deck On Laguna Beach – 627 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach – 4.5 Stars
Ensenada’s Surf N Turf Grill – 2931 Nutwood Ave., Fullerton – 4.7 Stars
FishBonz Seafood Grill – 350 E 17th St, Suite 2, Costa Mesa – 4.6 Stars
Fish District – Aliso Viejo and Irvine – 4.3 Stars
G’s Boat House Raw Bar & Grill – 200 Main Street #101A, Huntington Beach – 4.4 Stars
Glasspar – 24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point – 4.4 Stars
Gulfstream – 850 Avocado Ave, Newport Beach – 4.6 Stars
Harborside Restaurant – 400 Main Street, Newport Beach – 4.4 Stars
Harpoon Henry’s Seafood Restaurant – 34555 Golden Lantern, Dana Point – 4.4 Stars
Jon’s Fish Market – 34661 Golden Lantern, Dana Point – 4.4 Stars
Kawamata Seafood – 26881 Camino De Estrella, Dana Point – 4.8 Stars
The Kickin’ Crab – Buena Park, Irvine, Santa Ana, and two locations in Westminster – 4.5 Stars
King’s Fish House – Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills, Orange – 4.5 Stars
McCormick & Schmick’s – 321 W Katella Ave., Anaheim – 4.2 Stars
Newport Landing Restaurant – 503 Edgewater Pl., Newport Beach – 4.4 Stars
Nick’s Laguna Beach – 440 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach – 4.7 Stars
Nick’s San Clemente – 213 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672
OC Fish Grill – 5789 Alton Pkwy, Irvine – 4.4 Stars
Oc & Lau Restaurant – 10130 Garden Grove Blvd, Garden Grove – 4.3 Stars
Off The Boat Fish Grill – Placentia, Santa Ana, and Tustin – 4.7 Stars
- 17582 17th St. #105, Tustin
- 194 E Yorba Linda Blvd., Placentia
- 1501 W MacArthur Blvd., Unit A, Santa Ana
On The Hook – 2445 E Imperial Hwy Suite M, Brea – 4.5 Stars
OPAH Seafood Grill – 26851 Aliso Creek Rd., Aliso Viejo – 4.5 Stars
Orange Hill – 6410 E Chapman Ave, Orange – 4.4 Stars
O Sea – 109 S Glassell Street, Orange – 4.8 Stars
Pacific Catch – 3040 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92782
Raising Claw – Stanton and Garden Grove – 4.3 Stars
- 12140 Beach Blvd., Stanton
- 13265 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove
Rockin’ Baja Lobster – 2104 W Oceanfront, Newport Beach – 4.4 Stars
Roux Seafood Kitchen – 16883 Beach Blvd Huntington Beach – 4.5 Stars
Roy’s – 321 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA – 4.4 Stars
Shuck Oyster Bar – 3313 Hyland Ave. a1, Costa Mesa (located in SoCo) – 4.5 Stars
Spike’s Fish House – 27020 Alicia Pkwy Ste D, Laguna Niguel – 4.6 Stars
- 30465 Avenida de las Flores, Rancho Santa Margarita
Splashes Restaurant – 1555 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach – 4.5 Stars
Submarine Crab – 10130 Garden Grove Blvd. #129, Garden Grove – 4.5 Stars
Tres Muchachos Seafood Grill – 333 East 17th St., Ste 14, Costa Mesa – 4.7 Stars
Waterman’s Harbor – 34661 Golden Lantern, Dana Point – 4.4 Stars
The Wharf – Garden Grove and Laguna Beach – 4.4 Stars
- 12941 Main St., Garden Grove
- 237 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach
Wind And Sea – 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point – 4.3 Stars
Woody’s Wharf – 2318 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach – 4.3 Stars
Zubie’s Dry Dock – 9059 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach – 4.5 Stars
