Must Try Seafood In San Francisco
San Francisco, the Golden City, is known for its rich culture, neighborhoods, landmarks, and is also a city with plenty of must try seafood restaurants! Fishing plays a large part of San Francisco’s food culture and history, as the first organized commercial fishery in the San Francisco Bay Area developed around 1850. A colony of Italian immigrants began using nets to fish for salmon, which ultimately grew to be one of the greatest salmon fisheries in the world. Since the 1850’s, San Francisco’s fishing culture has manifested and evolved into the prevalence of delicious, must try seafood restaurants throughout the city. Keep reading to learn about the must try seafood in San Francisco!
Broad Street Oyster Company
Broad Street Oyster Company is known for being a favorite surfy-seafood joint. This nautical eatery beloved by surfers, beach goers, travelers, and partying pirates, consistently has a line out of the door, and for good reason. Their World Famous New England Lobster rolls, adorned with your choice of mayonnaise or warm butter, are out of this world, and an absolute must-try when visiting one of their locations. This twist on a seafood classic, is elevated with caviar toppings. While Broad Street Oyster Company currently has locations in 2023, Broad Street Oyster Company will be opening a new restaurant in San Francisco! This new location will be situated in the iconic Ghirardelli building, and will have two floors.
Tadich Grill
Tadich Grille is the oldest restaurant in California, and the third oldest restaurant in the United States! Their seafood is must-try, with their menu keeping things simple and classic. In addition to the buzz-worthy, timeless, high quality food, Tadich Grill has a one-of a kind, nostalgic feel that is worth checking out.
Scoma’s Restaurant
Scoma’s restaurant, located on the fisherman’s wharf, is a San Francisco landmark restaurant, and absolute must try! This pier to plate restaurant serves up fresh seafood including delicious clam chowder, Dungeness crab cakes and hearty cioppino alla pescatore. Enjoy dining with a view when you check out this local fishermen's spot that’s been beloved by locals and tourists since its inception in 1965.
Waterbar
For incredible seafood that is sustainably caught, head to Waterbar. This upscale restaurant which is regarded as one of the top seafood restaurants in San Francisco, not only has seafood that is a must try, but it is also situated in front of the Golden City’s embarcadero, the Eastern waterfront and roadway of the Port of San Francisco, providing panoramic views of the Bay. Enjoy high end seafood dishes when you dine here, such as oysters, caviar, hamachi sashimi, and oven roasted black cod.
From Tadich Grill, one of the oldest restaurants in The United States, to Malibu’s most popping seafood spot that will soon expand to San Francisco. The Golden City has an abundance of restaurants that every seafood enthusiast must try. While all of these restaurants are fantastic, Broad Street Oyster Company is the absolute #1 must try seafood on this list, as its current locations are known for having the best seafood in Miami, Los Angeles, Malibu and Santa Barbara. While the seafood from these pre-existing spots are already great, the new San Francisco location will surely elevate Broad Street Oyster entirely.