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The Top Seafood Restaurant in Every State

The Top Seafood Restaurant in Every State

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For those of us who love seafood, we typically have a favorite specialty whether it’s tuna steaks, teriyaki salmon, or coconut shrimp, and where we choose to enjoy these dishes differs for everyone. Specific dining establishments may serve one type of dish over another or may prepare it in a precise way that is exactly to our liking, and what we may believe are excellent and delicious restaurants not to be missed, there may be another even better one.

While restaurant offerings may vary no matter where you reside, certain menu dishes can often transport you to another locale, perhaps a dish you had on vacation, and each time you eat it, you are reminded of that area. Delicious seafood dishes like crab cakes, oyster shooters, and lobster rolls, can take you back to that coastal vacation, whether you are in the geographic center of America (South Dakota) or on one of several coastlines.

There was once a time when you could only satisfy your seafood craving when you traveled to areas close to the ocean to enjoy fresh and delicious seafood options but those days are over. You no longer have to wait while you’re on holiday or off on a travel adventure to experience all that the ocean has to offer. Just like Lamborghini and Ferrari at the 24 hours of Le Mans race in the city of the same name, these restaurants are at the top of their game, but you don’t need to travel to France to experience them.

24/7 Tempo consulted lists, ratings, and reviews from various food-centered websites including Michelin Guide, as well as numerous local and regional sites to determine the top seafood restaurant in every state. Sushi bars and informal seafood shacks will be the subject of future stories, so were omitted from the final results, though some of the restaurants listed may include sushi on their menu. (This is the best sushi place in every state.) 

These restaurants range from casual eateries to dress-code establishments. Several of them have perfected their fry game and offer the best fish and chips or popcorn shrimp around. Others are new American restaurants that combine world flavors with fresh, sustainably sourced fish, while others might bring Chinese, Mexican, or Portuguese flavors to the table.

Alabama: Doc’s Seafood

Source: Courtesy of

Source: Courtesy of Lisa L. via Yelp
  • Location: Orange Beach
  • Dishes to try: Fried shrimp, crab (fried, grilled, or baked), hush puppies

Alaska: Bridge Seafood Restaurant

Source: Courtesy of Vivian R. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Vivian R. via Yelp
  • Location: Anchorage
  • Dishes to try: fresh Alaskan seafood, including tanner crabs, halibut, Alaskan oysters, tiger prawns, salmon, and of course king crab legs

Arizona: The Salt Cellar Restaurant

Source: Courtesy of Ricky F. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Ricky F. via Yelp
  • Location: Scottsdale
  • Dishes to try: halibut ceviche, shrimp toast, halibut cheeks, Baja shrimp

Arkansas: Eat My Catfish

Source: Courtesy of Jay S. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Jay S. via Yelp
  • Locations: Little Rock, North Little Rock, and five other Arkansas locations
  • Dishes to try: fresh fried catfish, boiled crawfish, shrimp (blackened, boiled, or fried), and po’boys, with sides like fried okra and hush puppies

California: Providence

Source: Courtesy of Anthony M. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Anthony M. via Yelp
  • Location: Los Angeles
  • Dishes to try: Tasting menu which included uni egg with warm yolk and champagne beurre blanc and Norwegian king crab with sweet pea, sea urchin, and aged ham broth

Colorado: Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar

Source: Courtesy of Bonnie M. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Bonnie M. via Yelp
  • Location: Denver
  • Dishes to try: Raw bar features a proprietary oyster – the buttery and low-salinity Emersum, tuna poke, crawfish gumbo, seared scallops

Connecticut: The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood

Source: Courtesy of Andres A. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Andres A. via Yelp
  • Location: Rowayton (Norwalk)
  • Dishes to try: salmon and tuna tartare, chowders and bisques, steamers, crab cakes, popcorn shrimp, smoked fish dips, steamed lobsters

Delaware: Feby’s Fishery

Source: Courtesy of Shengfang J. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Shengfang J. via Yelp
  • Location: Wilmington
  • Dishes to try: fried and steamed platters, seafood pasta, lobster tails, lump meat crab cakes, and raw bar appetizers

Florida: Joe’s Stone Crab

Source: Courtesy of T. G. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of T. G. via Yelp
  • Location: Miami
  • Dishes to try: stone crab claws and crab bisque, conch fritters, coconut shrimp, fried grouper

Georgia: Steamhouse Lounge

Source: Courtesy of Maling S. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Maling S. via Yelp
  • Location: Atlanta
  • Dishes to try: award-winning lobster bisque, raw oysters, stuffed grouper, fried catfish, grits, and po’boys, roasted and chargrilled oysters

Hawaii: Mama’s Fish House

Source: Courtesy of Erik S. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Erik S. via Yelp
  • Location: Paia (Maui)
  • Dishes to try: oysters with mango-lilikoi mignonette, macadamia nut crab cakes, uku (blue-green snapper) baked with coconut, sweet potato, and charred pineapple

Idaho: Fresh Off the Hook

Source: Courtesy of Elora B. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Elora B. via Yelp
  • Location: Boise
  • Dishes to try: halibut fish and chips, shrimp scampi, clam chowder, warm teriyaki shrimp salad, salmon BLTs, butter pecan trout, and crab muffins

Illinois: Shaw’s Crab House

Source: Courtesy of Eric S. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Eric S. via Yelp
  • Locations: Chicago and Schaumburg
  • Dishes to try: oysters Rockefeller, Alaskan king crab, parmesan-crusted haddock

Indiana: Paula’s on Main

Source: Courtesy of Olga R. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Olga R. via Yelp
  • Location: Fort Wayne
  • Dishes to try: almond-crusted walleye with jalapeño tartar sauce, blackened swordfish with horseradish, crispy shallots, and chive mashed potatoes

Iowa: Waterfront Seafood Market

Source: Courtesy of Todd B. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Todd B. via Yelp
  • Locations: West Des Moines and Ankeny
  • Dishes to try: raw bar appetizers, fried baskets, pastas, po’boys, halibut royale, Maryland-style crab cakes

Kansas: Mad Jack’s Fresh Fish

Source: Courtesy of Paul N. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Paul N. via Yelp
  • Location: Kansas City (KS)
  • Dishes to try: Fried catfish, basa, frog legs, red snapper

Kentucky: River House Restaurant & Raw Bar

Source: Courtesy of Martine K. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Martine K. via Yelp
  • Location: Louisville
  • Dishes to try: blackened ahi tuna with tomato ginger chutney over a crispy parmesan grit cake, crispy grouper cheeks over crab and chive risotto with bok choy and smoked shrimp vinaigrette

Louisiana: Pêche Seafood Grill

Source: Courtesy of Charlie R. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Charlie R. via Yelp
  • Location: New Orleans
  • Dishes to try: steak tartare with oyster aïoli, baked drum with mushroom broth, and calas (rice fritters), spicy ground shrimp with noodles

Maine: Eventide Oyster Co.

Source: Courtesy of Lauren S. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Lauren S. via Yelp
  • Location: Portland
  • Dishes to try: Maine oysters, crab claws, and clams, lobster stew, clam chowder, New England clam bake, brown-butter lobster roll

Maryland: The Oceanaire Seafood Restaurant

Source: Courtesy of John R. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of John R. via Yelp
  • Location: Baltimore
  • Dishes to try: East and West Coast oysters, Maine lobster cocktail and sturgeon caviar, crab cakes

Massachusetts: Neptune Oyster

Source: Courtesy of Harry L. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Harry L. via Yelp
  • Location: Boston
  • Dishes to try: spicy cioppino with shellfish saffron rice, whole mackerel with Basque pepper stew and fennel, sea scallops with fava beans, pancetta, and kelp butter

Michigan: Joe Muer Seafood

Source: Courtesy of John W. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of John W. via Yelp
  • Locations: Detroit and Bloomfield Hills
  • Dishes to try: deviled crab balls, lobster corn dogs, tiger shrimp with shaved garlic

Mississippi: Caet Seafood / Oysterette

Source: Courtesy of Crystal R. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Crystal R. via Yelp
  • Location: Ridgeland
  • Dishes to try: shrimp and grits with tasso, corn, and mushrooms, jumbo scallops with white truffle risotto, green tomato pico, and tomato parmesan broth

Missouri: 801 Fish

Source: Courtesy of Manda Bear B. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Manda Bear B. via Yelp
  • Location: Clayton
  • Dishes to try: Russian osetra and American hackleback caviar, seared tuna and scallops, lobster tail risotto

Montana: Feast Raw Bar & Bistro

Source: Courtesy of Tim R. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Tim R. via Yelp
  • Location: Bozeman
  • Dishes to try: crab cakes, bison carpaccio, halibut with jasmine sticky rice, mango salsa, and coconut sauce

Nebraska: Plank Seafood Provisions

Source: Courtesy of Vinessa K. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Vinessa K. via Yelp
  • Location: Omaha
  • Dishes to try: oysters Rockefeller, crispy alligator, blackened catfish with dirty rice and creole beurre blanc, walleye puttanesca

Nevada: Lakeside

Source: Courtesy of Chelsea H. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Chelsea H. via Yelp
  • Location: Las Vegas
  • Dishes to try: fresh langoustine, Hawaiian mahi mahi, Ligurian octopus, and Mediterranean pink rock lobsters

New Hampshire: Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café

Source: Courtesy of Shari A. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Shari A. via Yelp
  • Location: Portsmouth
  • Dishes to try: scallops with lobster risotto and broccolini, haddock piccata, New England clam chowder chowder.

New Jersey: Sol-Mar Restaurant

Source: Courtesy of Ryan P. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Ryan P. via Yelp
  • Location: Newark
  • Dishes to try: seafood paella, clams in garlic sauce, octopus salad, bacalhau à Brás (salt cod with matchstick potatoes, scrambled eggs, and black olives)

New Mexico: El Zarandeado

Source: Courtesy of Patrick V. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Patrick V. via Yelp
  • Location: Albuquerque
  • Dishes to try: whole fried mojarra, molcajetes (dishes served in a volcanic stone mortar), ceviche, caldo de siete mares (fish stew)

New York: Le Bernardin

Source: Courtesy of Nikkie N. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Nikkie N. via Yelp
  • Location: New York City
  • Dishes to try: thin-sliced yellowfin tuna layered with foie gras, baked striped bass with baby leek mousseline, seafood-based tasting menus

North Carolina: Captain Tom’s Seafood Grill & Bar

Source: Courtesy of Roslyn C. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Roslyn C. via Yelp
  • Location: Kernersville
  • Dishes to try: flounder filets, popcorn shrimp, she-crab soup

North Dakota: Beer & Fish Co.

Source: Courtesy of Raymond G. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Raymond G. via Yelp
  • Location: Fargo
  • Dishes to try: oysters, lobster rolls, bang bang shrimp

Ohio: Frank’s Fish & Seafood Market

Source: Courtesy of Chelsea B. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Chelsea B. via Yelp
  • Location: Columbus
  • Dishes to try: fried platter, po’boy, gumbo, lobster bisque, salmon salad, clam chowder

Oklahoma: Brent’s Cajun Seafood & Oyster Bar

Source: Courtesy of Ryan J. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Ryan J. via Yelp
  • Location: Edmond
  • Dishes to try: boudin, crawfish, shrimp etouffee, seafood jambalaya, gumbo, po’boy, breaded catfish filets

Oregon: Jake’s Famous Crawfish

Source: Courtesy of Stephanie O. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Stephanie O. via Yelp
  • Location: Portland
  • Dishes to try: crawfish étouffée, parmesan-crusted steelhead, seafood fettuccine, crab-and-shrimp-stuffed salon

Pennsylvania: Vernick Fish

Source: Courtesy of Melissa P. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Melissa P. via Yelp
  • Location: Philadelphia
  • Dishes to try: mushroom-crusted fluke with morels, peas, and spring onion butter

Rhode Island: Matunuck Oyster Bar

Source: Courtesy of Thu T. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Thu T. via Yelp
  • Location: South Kingstown
  • Dishes to try: jambalaya, po’boys, passion fruit oysters with cucumber and salmon roe, lobster pizza on naan bread with mascarpone, arugula, and prosciutto

South Carolina: 167 Raw

Source: Courtesy of Vy H. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Vy H. via Yelp
  • Location: Charleston
  • Dishes to try: lobster rolls, tuna burgers, and swordfish pastrami

South Dakota: Jambonz Deux

Source: Courtesy of Shai M. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Shai M. via Yelp
  • Location: Rapid City
  • Dishes to try: crawfish étouffée, oysters served fried, roasted, on the half shell, or shooter-style in a shot glass with cocktail, lemon, and spices

Tennessee: Henrietta Red

Source: Courtesy of Nick S. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Nick S. via Yelp
  • Location: Nashville
  • Dishes to try: poached scallops with horseradish mousse, red shrimp with charred onions, wilted greens, boiled peanuts, and orange butter, smoked whitefish hand pies

Texas: Hai Cang Harbor Seafood Restaurant

Source: Courtesy of Isabel P. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Isabel P. via Yelp
  • Location: Houston
  • Dishes to try: ginger scallion lobster, soft-shell crab with butter, spotted prawns with tamarind sauce, razor clams with basil leaves

Utah: Current Fish & Oyster

Source: Courtesy of Lo S. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Lo S. via Yelp
  • Location: Salt Lake City
  • Dishes to try: char-grilled sea bass with chili buttermilk whey, yu choy greens, and roast tomato, fish stew loaded, with scallops, prawns, mussels, and fish, accented with peanuts and serrano pistou in a coconut lemongrass broth

Vermont: Anchor Seafood Restaurant

Source: FrankvandenBergh / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Source: FrankvandenBergh / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Location: Wilmington
  • Dishes to try: lobster rolls, chowder, fried clams, seared ahi tuna, crab and shrimp rangoon, baked stuffed haddock

Virginia: Merroir

Source: Courtesy of M M. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of M M. via Yelp
  • Location: Topping
  • Dishes to try: locally raised oysters and Chesapeake Bay crabs

Washington: The Walrus and the Carpenter

Source: Courtesy of Sherry W. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Sherry W. via Yelp
  • Location: Seattle
  • Dishes to try: fried oysters with cilantro aïoli, grilled sardines

West Virginia: Just in Time Seafood

Source: Courtesy of Julie T. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Julie T. via Yelp
  • Location: Martinsburg
  • Dishes to try: fresh grouper, snapper, cod, salmon, soft shell crab, fried catfish, hushpuppies, grilled fish and shrimp tacos

Wisconsin: St. Paul Fish Company

Source: StellaMc / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Source: StellaMc / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Location: Milwaukee
  • Dishes to try: lobster rolls, Baja fish tacos, seafood sandwiches, fried and grilled fish, raw oyster platters, fried walleye

Wyoming: Rocky Mountain Seafood

Source: Courtesy of Lorene H. via Yelp

Source: Courtesy of Lorene H. via Yelp
  • Location: Afton
  • Dishes to try:  halibut tacos, salmon parmesan, clam chowder
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