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5 Best Seafood Restaurants in Los Angeles (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Thorne Savarin
By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 7 min read

The seafood restaurants in Los Angeles don't add up to one scene, they add up to several: a Michelin-recognized Mexican counter inside a food hall, a Cajun crab boil spot on Gage Avenue, a 1961 downtown institution, and a fine-dining seafood tower destination all sit within a few miles of each other. Between them these companies have logged well over 11,000 Google reviews, and the ratings span from 4.4 to 4.9, so which one is right depends entirely on what kind of seafood night you're after.

Short answer: L.A. Crazy Crab holds the highest rating at 4.9 stars across 1,890 reviews, known for its Cajun-style seafood boils. Holbox is close behind at 4.8 with the deepest track record for Mexican-style seafood, and Water Grill is the pick for a formal, upscale seafood dinner. Expect $20-40 per person at the casual counters and well over $100 per person at Water Grill.
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LA's Top Seafood Spots Compared

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Holbox 4.8 ★ 2,880 Mexican seafood / ceviche and tostadas View ›
2 L.A. CRAZY CRAB 4.9 ★ 1,890 Cajun seafood boils View ›
3 Fisherman's Outlet 4.6 ★ 2,914 Classic fried fish / LA institution View ›
4 Water Grill 4.5 ★ 2,248 Upscale seafood dinner View ›
5 The Little Jewel of New Orleans 4.4 ★ 1,714 Cajun po' boys and jambalaya View ›
5 Best Seafood Restaurants in Los Angeles (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

Holbox logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Holbox

4.82,880 Google reviews

Holbox is a Mexican seafood counter inside Mercado la Paloma near USC, serving Yucatan-style dishes built around ceviche, aguachile, tostadas, and grilled fish like branzino. It's been nominated for a James Beard award and rated by the Michelin Guide, and it sources local, sustainable seafood.

What people praise

  • Consistently praised for extremely fresh seafood across every dish
  • Octopus tacos and scallop dishes singled out repeatedly as standouts
  • Fast-moving line despite heavy weekend demand
  • Self-serve salsa bar lets diners control spice level

Worth knowing

  • Weekend lines can run long, with some reviewers waiting 30 minutes or more
  • A few reviewers found the base flavors mild without adding the hot sauces themselves
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume2,880 · 93th
Confidencevery high
Recency4 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown86% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most acclaimed name on this list, with a deep review base to match the Michelin and James Beard recognition. Go on a weekday if you want to skip the line.

Website Book now+1213-986-9972 Directions

3655 S Grand Ave c9, Los Angeles, CA 90007

L.A. CRAZY CRAB logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days

L.A. CRAZY CRAB

4.91,890 Google reviews

L.A. Crazy Crab is a Cajun seafood restaurant in South LA specializing in seafood boil trays combining crab, shrimp, mussels, clams, and lobster with corn, potatoes, and sausage in a customizable sauce. It's a sit-down restaurant rather than a counter, with table service and a lively atmosphere.

What people praise

  • The highest rating on this list at nearly 5 stars
  • Named servers repeatedly praised for attentive, friendly service
  • Generous portions, with reviewers often reporting leftovers
  • Fresh seafood cooked to order across crab, shrimp, and lobster options

Worth knowing

  • Seafood boil trays run pricier than casual counters, with some orders exceeding $100 per person for larger groups
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume1,890 · 83th
Confidencevery high
Recency6 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown92% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest-rated seafood spot in LA on this page, and the pick for a full sit-down seafood boil experience with a group. Portions are generous enough to share.

Website Book now+1323-484-9392 Directions

1415 E Gage Ave Ste C, Los Angeles, CA 90001

Fisherman's Outlet logo
#3🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Fisherman's Outlet

4.62,914 Google reviews

Fisherman's Outlet is a Downtown LA seafood restaurant and market established in 1961, recognized by the City of Los Angeles as a landmark. It serves fried and grilled fish plates, shrimp, and classic seafood combos, alongside a retail seafood counter for home cooking.

What people praise

  • Deep multi-decade reputation, with reviewers describing multi-generational visits
  • Fresh seafood at reasonable prices for the quality
  • Retail seafood market alongside the restaurant for home cooking
  • A recognized LA institution with genuine local history

Worth knowing

  • Lines can run long during peak hours, with some reviewers waiting close to an hour
  • A few reviewers found the seasoning and frying inconsistent on a given visit
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume2,914 · 98th
Confidencevery high
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown73% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The deepest review base on this list and a genuine piece of LA history. Worth the wait for reviewers who've been coming for decades, though the line can be a real commitment at peak times.

Website+1213-627-7231 Directions

529 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Water Grill logo
#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Water Grill

4.52,248 Google reviews

Water Grill is an upscale seafood restaurant on Grand Avenue in Downtown LA, known for its seafood tower, fresh oysters, and a daily-changing menu built around whole fish like Chilean sea bass. It runs its own distribution center to source a wide variety of fish, lobsters, crabs, and shellfish.

What people praise

  • Seafood tower singled out repeatedly as a standout, with freshly shucked oysters
  • Special-occasion touches, including anniversary cards for celebrating diners
  • Whole fish and cioppino consistently praised for quality and presentation
  • Upscale, energetic atmosphere suited to celebrations

Worth knowing

  • One reviewer described an unfriendly greeting from front-of-house staff, though food and server service were praised
  • Pricing runs well above the more casual spots on this list, often exceeding $100 per person
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating4.5 / 5
Review volume2,248 · 88th
Confidencevery high
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown69% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The formal dinner pick on this list, best suited to a celebration or special occasion. The seafood tower and whole fish dishes are the clear highlights.

Website Book now+1213-891-0900 Directions

544 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

The Little Jewel of New Orleans logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days

The Little Jewel of New Orleans

4.41,714 Google reviews

The Little Jewel of New Orleans is a Cajun and Creole restaurant and market in LA's Chinatown-adjacent Arts District area, specializing in New Orleans-style po' boys, jambalaya, and fried seafood platters. It also runs a small market section selling Louisiana ingredients and packaged goods.

What people praise

  • Surf and turf and oyster po' boys praised for generous, unstingy portions
  • Cozy, casual atmosphere that reviewers describe as genuinely transportive to New Orleans
  • Reasonably priced cocktails alongside the food
  • Market section lets customers take Louisiana ingredients home

Worth knowing

  • The lowest rating on this list, with some delivery orders arriving with missing items
  • A few reviewers found portions on the smaller side for delivery orders specifically
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating4.4 / 5
Review volume1,714 · 78th
Confidencehigh
Recency8 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown68% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong, casual pick for Cajun-style seafood po' boys and jambalaya rather than a classic sit-down seafood dinner. Dine in rather than order delivery if you want the full portion and experience.

Website+1213-620-0461 Directions

207 Ord St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

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How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data as of the date shown, not opinion or payment. Rating is the restaurant’s live Google star average. Review volume measures how many diners have rated them, ranked against other LA seafood restaurants. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 built on thousands of reviews carries more weight than a 4.9 built on a few dozen. Recency reflects how recently diners are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a seafood meal cost in Los Angeles? (2026)

Pricing varies enormously across this list. Reviewer-reported spend at the casual Mexican and Cajun counters runs roughly $20 to $50 per person, seafood boil trays at the sit-down Cajun spot can run $60 to $100 or more for larger portions, and a formal dinner with a seafood tower at the upscale option often exceeds $100 per person. These are reviewer-reported figures rather than official menu prices, so confirm current pricing directly.

JobTypical price
Casual counter (per person)$20 - $50
Seafood boil tray (per person)$60 - $100+
Upscale seafood dinner (per person)$100+

Ranges compiled August 2026 from reviewer-reported price-per-person figures in Google reviews for the restaurants on this page. Confirm current menu pricing directly with each restaurant.

Serving all of Los Angeles

The restaurants above cover Downtown LA, South LA near USC, the Arts District, and Central Avenue. Searching for seafood near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can find the closest option fast.

What to ask before you book a seafood restaurant in LA

  • Is a reservation required, or is it walk-in and line-based?
  • Is the seafood sourced daily, and does the menu change based on availability?
  • What’s the average price per person for a full meal?
  • Is parking available on-site, or is it street parking only?
  • Does the restaurant offer a market or retail counter for home cooking?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these LA seafood restaurants?

We started from seafood restaurants in Los Angeles with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Which of these restaurants is best for a special occasion?

Water Grill is the clear pick for a formal celebration, with its seafood tower and upscale atmosphere specifically praised for anniversaries and special dinners.

Is there a seafood market I can shop at in addition to eating?

Yes. Both Fisherman’s Outlet and The Little Jewel of New Orleans run a retail market section alongside their restaurant, letting you take home ingredients as well.

The bottom line

L.A. Crazy Crab carries the highest rating for a full sit-down seafood boil, while Holbox is the safe default for Mexican-style seafood with the most critical acclaim. For a special occasion, Water Grill is worth the higher price tag.

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