Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Madison 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 Madison.
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.
#29. Madtown Chicken N' Fish
- Rating: 2.9/5 (15 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1101 North Sherman Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: chicken shop, seafood, sandwiches
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#28. Sass
- Rating: 2.9/5 (38 reviews)
- Address: 10 West Mifflin St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: seafood
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#27. Kavanaugh's Esquire Club
- Rating: 3.1/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1025 North Sherman Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: steakhouses, seafood, supper clubs
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#26. Journey Sushi & Seafood Buffet
- Rating: 3.3/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4325 Lien Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: sushi bars, buffets, seafood
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#25. Draper Brothers Chophouse
- Rating: 3.3/5 (18 reviews)
- Address: 101 North Hamilton St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: italian, steakhouses, seafood
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#24. Chang Jiang
- Rating: 3.3/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4929 Commercial Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: chinese, chicken wings, seafood
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#23. China Inn
- Rating: 3.4/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4702 Cottage Grove Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: chinese, seafood, soup
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#22. Mariners Inn
- Rating: 3.4/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 5339 Lighthouse Bay Drive Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: seafood, steakhouses, venues & event spaces
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#21. One & Only
- Rating: 3.5/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 1923 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: salad, seafood, burgers
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#20. Nani Restaurant
- Rating: 3.6/5 (247 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 518 Grand Canyon Drive Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: dim sum, cantonese, seafood
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#19. Delaney's Steak Seafood Wine
- Rating: 3.6/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 449 Grand Cyn Drive Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: steakhouses, salad, seafood
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#18. Muramoto Hilldale
- Rating: 3.8/5 (383 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 546 North Midvale Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: sushi bars, soup, seafood
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#17. Rare Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.8/5 (345 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 14 West Mifflin St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: steakhouses, seafood, american
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#16. Otto's Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 3.8/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 6405 Mineral Point Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: mediterranean, seafood, bars
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#15. Johnny Delmonico's Steakhouse
- Rating: 3.8/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 130 South Pinckney St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: steakhouses, seafood
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#14. Mad Seafood Boiler
- Rating: 3.8/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 West Gorham St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: cajun/creole, seafood, sushi bars
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#13. Delicacies of Asia
- Rating: 3.9/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 506 State St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: chinese, japanese, seafood
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#12. Maharana Indian Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1707 Theirer Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: indian, soup, seafood
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#11. Tornado Steak House
- Rating: 4.1/5 (718 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 116 South Hamilton St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: steakhouses, bars, seafood
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#10. Eno Vino Downtown
- Rating: 4.1/5 (362 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1 North Webster St. Floor 10 Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: wine bars, seafood, cocktail bars
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#9. Osteria Papavero
- Rating: 4.1/5 (250 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 128 East Wilson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: italian, comfort food, seafood
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#8. Miko Poke
- Rating: 4.1/5 (254 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2701 Monroe St. Ste 250 Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: poke, hawaiian, seafood
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#7. Tempest Oyster Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (396 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 120 East Wilson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: bars, seafood, steakhouses
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#6. Salvatore's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10 North Livingston St. Ste 101 Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: pizza, cocktail bars, seafood
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#5. Ragin Cajun Seafood
- Rating: 4.2/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 4802 East Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: cajun/creole, seafood
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#4. The Seafood Center
- Rating: 4.4/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 712 South Whitney Way Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: seafood
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#3. North and South Seafood & Smokehouse
- Rating: 4.5/5 (380 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6604 Mineral Point Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: seafood, smokehouse
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#2. La Pollera Colombiana
- Rating: 4.5/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 3579 East Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: colombian, seafood
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#1. Fairchild
- Rating: 4.8/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2611 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: seafood, wine bars, breakfast & brunch
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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.
