Highest-rated seafood restaurants in San Diego by diners
Whether you've waited in line for soft-shell crabs in the Chesapeake Bay or savored sushi in New York City, you know there's something special about finding the right spot to enjoy seafood. From ceviche to grilled salmon and towers of shellfish, the top-rated seafood restaurants in the United States serve up mouthwatering dishes across diverse cuisines like Japanese, Latin American, and Mediterranean to suit every palate.
Of course, certain areas of the country are known for particular delicacies. California's proximity to the Pacific Ocean, for example, makes it one of the best states for seafood. The Los Angeles area serves up everything from caviar to Santa Barbara spot prawns while San Francisco is a mecca for fish tacos, ceviche, and sushi. Further north, Seattle is legendary for its shellfish, showcased at the famed fish counter at Pike Place Market.
While Chicago may be best known as a pizza capital, many flock to the city for its king crab dishes; a bit further south and east, you have Miami and its sought-after stone crab season. Southern locales like New Orleans boast fresh crawfish from the Gulf of Mexico and the two noncontiguous states have their own signature offerings, too: Alaska is known for its pollock and salmon, while Hawai'i is known for its poke.
Dining at a seafood restaurant can be one of the most memorable parts of your trip to a new city or offer comfort food in your own hometown. To celebrate the best options near you, used insights from to compile a list of the highest-rated seafood restaurants in San Diego.
Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only restaurants with at least 10 reviews were considered. In an effort to highlight independent restaurants and local chains, those with more than five locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included. Data is as of June 14, 2024.
Keep reading to discover your highest-rated local seafood restaurants for your next special meal out!
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.
#30. Kikos Place The Seafood King
- Rating: 4.5/5 (389 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1170 West Morena Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: food trucks, seafood, mexican
-
#29. Pete's Seafood and Sandwich
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1607 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3382 30th St. San Diego, California
- Categories: cafes, seafood, sandwiches
-
#28. Ulivo Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6/5 (458 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1776 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: italian, seafood, pizza
-
#27. Shrimp Heads
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1406 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2832 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: cajun/creole, seafood
-
#26. Lobster West
- Rating: 4.6/5 (303 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1237 Prospect St. San Diego, California
- Categories: seafood
-
#25. EE NAMI Tonkatsu Izakaya
- Rating: 4.6/5 (451 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4706 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: izakaya, seafood, cocktail bars
-
#24. Poki One N Half
- Rating: 4.6/5 (652 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3030 University Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: seafood, hawaiian, poke
-
#23. Parma Cucina Italiana
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1174 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3850 5th Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: italian, seafood, wine bars
-
#22. Crab City
- Rating: 4.6/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1985 National Ave. Ste 1101 San Diego, California
- Categories: cajun/creole, seafood
-
#21. Black Radish
- Rating: 4.6/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2591 University Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: desserts, seafood, salad
-
#20. El Viej贸n Seafood
- Rating: 4.6/5 (384 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4619 Convoy St. Ste A3 San Diego, California
- Categories: seafood, mexican
-
#19. Fish Guts
- Rating: 4.6/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2222 Logan Ave. Ste 1 San Diego, California
- Categories: seafood, tacos, cocktail bars
-
#18. Surf & Soul Spot
- Rating: 4.6/5 (300 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7229 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: soul food, seafood
-
#17. Oltre Mare
- Rating: 4.6/5 (577 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4286 Cass St. San Diego, California
- Categories: italian, pizza, seafood
-
#16. Hawaiian Fresh Seafood At Centerpark Labs
- Rating: 4.7/5 (913 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6835 Flanders Drive San Diego, California
- Categories: poke, seafood, burgers
-
#15. Brigantine
- Rating: 4.7/5 (33 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7889 Ostrow St. Ketch Brewing Tasting Room at Brig HQ San Diego, California
- Categories: seafood, steakhouses, tapas/small plates
-
#14. El Cevichero
- Rating: 4.7/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 1905 Grand Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: food trucks, seafood
-
#13. Ferchaladas
- Rating: 4.8/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2709 Imperial Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: mexican, seafood, cocktail bars
-
#12. The Ace Crab
- Rating: 4.8/5 (69 reviews)
- Address: 6165 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: cajun/creole, seafood, vietnamese
-
#11. The Waves Taco Club
- Rating: 4.8/5 (198 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 916 Fifth Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: tacos, seafood, beer, wine & spirits
-
#10. It's Raw Poke Shop
- Rating: 4.8/5 (904 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4991 Newport Ave. Ste A San Diego, California
- Categories: poke, hawaiian, seafood
-
#9. Mariscos Mi Gusto Es
- Rating: 4.8/5 (482 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4425 Home Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: mexican, food trucks, seafood
-
#8. Mariscos La Morena
- Rating: 4.8/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4630 Cajon Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: food trucks, seafood, tacos
-
#7. Adrian's Surf N' Turf Grill
- Rating: 4.8/5 (735 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Ste L1 San Diego, California
- Categories: seafood, steakhouses, sandwiches
-
#6. Soichi Sushi
- Rating: 4.8/5 (464 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2121 Adams Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: sushi bars, japanese, seafood
-
#5. Kyrios Mariscos #2
- Rating: 4.8/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 6950 Linda Vista Road San Diego, California
- Categories: seafood, food trucks, mexican
-
#4. Mariscos El Katrin
- Rating: 4.9/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 3636 Gateway Center Drive San Diego, California
- Categories: food trucks, seafood, tacos
-
#3. Boxing Crab
- Rating: 4.9/5 (162 reviews)
- Address: 6663 El Cajon Blvd. Ste A San Diego, California
- Categories: seafood, cajun/creole, chicken wings
-
#2. Chez Jay Pop Up
- Rating: 4.9/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 3RD Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: speakeasies, seafood, steakhouses
-
#1. Makai Sushi
- Rating: 4.9/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3968 5th Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: sushi bars, seafood, poke
-
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zeynep Guler Tuck, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 282 metros.
