Alright, seafood lovers if your mind immediately goes to a specific red-colored chain when you mention “seafood,” level up. Los Angeles with its million-mile coastline and seriously progressive food scene is heaven for anyone on the hunt for fresh catches, whether from high-end eateries or hip food trucks.
You may be satisfied with a pleasant ocean view at some tourist destination. Or you may go all the way to places where passion, quality, and unforgettable taste matter. We’re here to take you to meet the real heavy-hitters of LA’s seafood. Picture bold taste, no filler the kind of meals that you’ll still be talking about long after the final spoonful.
Whether you’re enjoying lobster rolls in the sunshine or ordering an off-the-chain spicy shrimp taco, LA seafood restaurants have all the feels. Here are some of the city’s best seafood spots each one guaranteed to leave you wanting more.
1. Mariscos Jalisco: The Taco & Tostada Titan
This place isn’t just hip it’s a legend. What began in 2002 as a lone food truck in Boyle Heights has grown into a beloved fleet of trucks around the city. Their secret to success? Simple: unbeatable tacos and affordable prices that don’t compromise.
Start with the taco de camaron, a golden, crispy shrimp taco with creamy avocado and zesty salsa on top. It’s crunchy, decadent, and full of flavor. Then there’s the Poseidon: a tostada loaded with shrimp ceviche, octopus, avocado, and spicy red aguachile. It’s bright, fresh, and bold the way seafood should be.
2. Crudo e Nudo: Hyper-Local Raw Done Right
Located in what was once a juice bar, Crudo e Nudo is all about seasonal seafood, consumed raw and artfully prepared. The menu changes daily and is hand-written, based on whatever’s optimal no shortcuts here.
Their oysters are of the highest order, dressed with peppercorn-limoncello, floral garnishes, and lemon. Don’t overlook the crudo trio either it’s a chef’s choice of the best raw of the day. It is all served with passion, down to the ceramic plates made by the chef and the wines natural. It’s a small space with gigantic flavor.
3. Saltie Girl: Boston Meets Sunset Strip
This East Coast transplant is introducing LA to something they have a passion for canned seafood, and they do it well. You’ll find a wonderful variety of canned fish, but the knowledgeable staff makes it palatable, and they can assist you in pairing sardines or scallops with crusty bread and fine salt.
Also worth trying: the lobster frites, the spicy king crab roll, or the elegant Dover sole. It’s all best enjoyed on their sun-kissed pink-and-blue patio with a glass of dry white wine and a view of Sunset Boulevard.
4. Connie and Ted’s: East Coast Tradition, West Coast Style
Connie and Ted’s transports New England seafood charm to LA. Taking its cues from Rhode Island clam shacks and oyster bars, the restaurant is retro and modern at the same time. It’s been winning over Angelenos since 2013 with old-school favorites like chowder, Stuffies (with sausage and breadcrumbs), and a perfect lobster roll.
The space is open and relaxed, with red armchairs and a welcoming patio. Their brunch is good too don’t miss the lobster Croque Connie or bucatini carbonara with seafood kick.
5. Ceviche Project: Creative Raw Seafood
Ceviche Project is akin to having an art museum for sea fare plates are served with attention and laden with the freshest and most intense flavors. Their oysters are among LA’s best, especially when topped with trout roe, seaweed, and serrano oil.
The scallops, on half-shells and garnished with citrus, spice, and herbs, are a standout. But the piece de résistance is the King Kanpachi tostada, finished with avocado, grapefruit, radish sprouts, and a drizzle of umami-loaded tosazu. An intimate, small restaurant perfect for date nights or solo indulgence.
6. Holbox: Coastal Mexican Simplicity
Chef Gilberto Cetina serves up coastal Mexican flavors on the plate with love and ease. Holbox, located in a market stall, has you sitting feet away from the chefs as they prepare ceviche and tacos before you.
Their Baja fish taco, with creamy salsa and fresh pico, is a crowd favorite. You’ll also want to try the shrimp or scallop tacos and their ceviche loaded with octopus, shrimp, and striped bass. It’s fresh, approachable, and deeply satisfying.
7. Broad Street Oyster Co.: Malibu’s Lobster Roll Spot
Whether you’re in Malibu, DTLA, or Santa Barbara, Broad Street hits that laid-back seafood sweet spot. The lobster roll is the hero here buttery, fresh, and even better when topped with uni or caviar.
They also serve oysters, rotating crudos, and chilled canned wines for a perfect beachside picnic. Sit on their shaded patio or take it to go and enjoy sunset with your seafood.
8. Providence: Sophisticated Seafood with Heart
Providence leads LA’s upscale seafood dining scene. Its chef, Michael Cimarusti, is committed to sustainability to the point that all seafood is sustainably caught and harvested.
The tasting menu is refined, starting with caviar and macadamia nuts, followed by sea scallops, local fish, and a standout chocolate dessert. Each of these dishes is precise, calculated, and extremely gratifying.
9. Angler Los Angeles: Elevated Shared Plates
Back from a short hiatus, Angler serves innovative shared plates that range from upscale to playful. Cheesy bread is an indulgent start, but seafood lovers should dive into the sea snails or seaweed rice with cured egg yolk.
Even grilled pork belly is part of the repertoire, proving the range of this menu. It’s a place to go big the more plates, the merrier.
10. Morihiro: Sushi with a Personal Touch
Chef Morihiro Onodera doesn’t just cook he tends the rice and fires the pottery himself. His omakase meal is very personal and seasonal, and each dish fashioned to highlight the freshest fish.
You can select instead a beautifully assembled bento box that shows his talents in a more relaxed form. Either way, it’s a not-to-be-forgotten, artistic meal from start to finish.
11. Sushi Kaneyoshi: Intimate and Sophisticated
Among Little Tokyo, Sushi Kaneyoshi presents classy omakase dining in an intimate and cozy setting. Sushi is prepared in front of you, with such attention to detail as to be astonishing.
Their sashimi boxes are almost as beautiful to look at as they are to eat. It’s not food it’s an art, and the accuracy of the chefs is such that each bite is a delight.
12. Soban: Korean Seafood Done Right
This Koreatown institution was recognized by the Michelin Guide in 2019, and for good reason. The restaurant has an impeccable balance of tradition and flavor, with standouts including soy-marinated crab and braised black cod.
Grilled fish, spicy squid, monkfish soup, and tofu seafood pancakes round out a menu that’s bold but comforting. It’s one of the best places to sample Korean coastal cuisine in LA.
13. Coni’Seafood: Inglewood’s Mexican Treasure
Coni’Seafood has been the go-to spot for Nayarit-style seafood since 1987. Their smoked marlin tacos, garlic shrimp, and grilled snook (pescado zarandeado) are packed with bold, addictive flavor.
The grilled snook, served with warm tortillas and caramelized onions, is a must. It’s an unusual, want-it dish you won’t find anywhere else, and that brings customers back again.
14. Fishing With Dynamite: Fun, Flavorful, and Fresh
This Manhattan Beach restaurant blends international influences into a seafood-focused menu that’s both playful and sophisticated. Oysters change daily, and the blue crab cake, which comes with dill pickles and remoulade, is a good recommendation.
For something more satisfying, have the Koshihikari rice with dashi, uni, crab, and egg yolk. And don’t skip the Key lime pie it’s the perfect finish to a vibrant dinner.
Los Angeles has no shortage of seafood wonders from food trucks to white-tablecloth destinations. Whether you’re craving spicy shrimp tacos, buttery lobster rolls, or delicate sashimi, there’s a place waiting to blow your expectations out of the water. Dive in and enjoy.
