Best Seafood Restaurants In Los Angeles
(credit: Christian Horan)
The beauty of eating seafood is the versatility of it. Long gone are the days of pan fried with a slice of lemon or a side of cocktail sauce. Today, chefs get playful with flavor, cooking technique and presentation when it comes to fish. Los Angeles restaurants pride themselves on locally sourced seafood but also have no issue bringing in freshly harvested oysters from oceans all over the world. Check out these five seafood hot spots and get ready for an explosion of tastes and dynamic ingredient pairings.
(credit: Christian Horan)
CAST
Viceroy Hotel Santa Monica
1819 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 260-7500
www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
CAST restaurant takes diners on an adventure with a menu featuring unexpected twists and flavors. Guests have the luxury of selecting from so many menu options: bites, small plates, big plates and bigger plates. Executive Chef Tony DiSalvo sources ingredients from local markets (Santa Monica Seafood) and farms, and wins with these standout selections: ceviche served in a bowl of fresh yellowtail covered in lime, grapefruit, avocado, jalapeno and a drizzled soy with a side of puffed rice crackers; grilled octopus served with couscous and chickpea panisse in a tahini vinaigrette; Maine lobster featuring corn, chanterelles, lemongrass and coconut; Diver scallops and Dungeness crab risotto with snap peas and a shiso vinaigrette; roasted halibut with a side of sweet potato puree, maitake mushrooms, gai lan or Chinese broccoli tossed in a chile-sesame vinaigrette; or a crispy fried whole red snapper served with Vietnamese vegetable, noodle and herb salad.
(credit: CAFE del REY)
CAFÉ del REY
4451 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 823-6395
www.cafedelreymarina.com
Seafood enthusiasts are invited to fish and dish at CAFE del REY. Executive Chef and avid fisherman Chuck Abair has a personal affinity for seafood. Each year, the restaurant hosts a special dining package which includes a half-day fishing expedition on a boat along the Pacific coastline, followed by an outdoor barbecue lunch featuring the catch of the day. These guys know a thing or two about fish as the kitchen incorporates an array of house-made specialties into spectacular Mediterranean-inspired entrees. CAFÉ del REY's standout seafood menu includes a fish stew, comprised of assorted fish and shellfish, orzo, chickpeas, carrots, fennel in a tomato broth, grilled tiger shrimp in a curry cilantro marinade, grouper, as well as Dorado with couscous, tzatziki, red onion, mint and cucumber.
(credit: Sidney Bensimon)
L&E Oyster Bar
1637 Silver Lake Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 660-2255
www.leoysterbar.com
No doubt about it, you definitely come to L&E for the oysters. The Silver Lake restaurant may not be steps from the ocean, but it delivers on fresh fish daily from Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The oyster menu is extensive, offering guests raw (served on a bed of ice with vinegar to dip), grilled (casino, Rockefeller or L&E style) and fried (with a side of gribiche sauce). The in-house smoked mussels are served in glass jars marinated in olive oil, lemon zest and fried capers with chorizo toast on the side. And for entrees, consider the whole-roasted fish or arctic char.
Related: Best Grilled Dishes In Los Angeles
(credit: The Strand House)
The Strand House
117 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 545-7470
www.thestrandhousemb.com
This South Bay restaurant makes dining seaside an experience to relish in with its view of the Pacific Ocean, a passionate menu and its celebrated oyster cart. The cart, which is offered during the afternoon, makes its rounds throughout the dining room. The cart features a daily selection of four oysters on the half shell, a rotation of prawns, lobster and shrimp with traditional accompaniments and a featured caviar selection. Wine pairings are also offered to accompany this afternoon treat. In addition, choose the amazing house specialty Maine lobster roll or the savory grilled fish tacos.
(credit: Santa Monica Seafood)
Santa Monica Oyster Bar & Café
1000 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-5244
www.santamonicaseafood.com
Known as the seafood source in LA for chefs, restaurants and personal kitchens, Santa Monica Seafood offers a full-service café in addition to the market, which features an extensive refrigerated seafood display of responsibly sourced and freshly caught halibut, tuna, sea bass, shellfish and so much more. The café is a convenient place to get grilled fresh seafood, raw oysters, calamari fritti, Pacific coast ceviche, Dungeness crab cakes, three different chowders, cioppino, fish and chips, spicy swordfish sliders and crab Louie.
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