14 Best Seafood in San Francisco
There are few better places to eat seafood than a city cradled by the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. After all, the city’s signature dish is cioppino, a thick stew of mixed fish and shellfish that originated on the docks of Fisherman’s Wharf (so the story goes). But in a place full of seafood joints, it can be hard to find the standouts. We’ve discovered our favorites, from upscale restaurants to places slinging oysters for a buck or two, that we consider the best places to eat seafood in San Francisco.
Soraya MatosrestaurantAnchor Oyster Bar
$$Anchor Oyster Bar is everything you hope a 40-year-old San Francisco staple could be. The cioppino has a cult following.
Photo by Brian FlahertyrestaurantLeo's Oyster Bar
$$$Don’t let the tropical decor fool you: you’ll find much better than tourist-grade beverages here. The drinks are potent, festive, and well-balanced. But the space is a Polynesian glam throwback that would be right at home in 1950s Palm Springs. And patrons flock to Leo’s as much for the food as they do for the drinks and atmosphere. A comprehensive raw bar features oysters from around the country, a caviar selection, crab, and lobster (don’t miss the uni butter-baked oyster with ahi tuna and lime, for $5).
Soraya MatosrestaurantSotto Mare
$$Sotto Mare serves old-school Italian seafood in an old-school Italian neighborhood—and is famous for its cioppino.
Soraya MatosrestaurantSwan Oyster Depot
$$The 18-seat seafood counter is an institution in San Francisco—it's been in the same location on Polk Street since 1912—and it's got everything a seafood lover could want.
Craig LeerestaurantTadich Grill
$$Established in 1849, Tadich Grill is an institution: The menu, which is printed every day based on what's fresh, is vast.
Soraya MatosrestaurantAnchor & Hope
$$A good place to impress an early date or treat a client to a nice lunch.
restaurantBar Crudo
$$More than a decade after opening, the restaurant is still a modern raw bar committed to local ingredients and sustainability.
Courtesy Foreign CinemarestaurantForeign Cinema
$$Foreign Cinema has been open since 1999, but it's lively, and still the kind of place where you need a reservation.
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Basa Seafood Express
$Basa Seafood is a bit of a dive, but a beloved one—a seafood takeout counter with bargain prices and a huge menu.
Soraya MatosrestaurantMission Street Oyster Bar
$$Founded by a former chef at Anchor Oyster Bar, this is a great spot for oysters in the Mission District.
Molly DeCoudreauxrestaurantWoodhouse Fish Co.
$$Cozy, homey, and delicious, you'll be comfortable the minute you get a seat.
Courtesy FarallonrestaurantFarallon
$$$Farallon is an upscale place with a specific aesthetic, and while there are only six entrees, everything is fresh.
Nader KhourirestaurantLa Mar Cebicheria Peruana
$$From Gaston Acurio, the Peruvian superstar chef, this large space is ideal for groups and has enviable water views.
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