Top 10 Spots IN SF for the PESCATARIAN

1. Fog Harbor Fish House

39 pier
San Francisco, CA 94133(415) 421-2442Visit Website

Situated in a prime-time spot on Pier 39 in Fisherman’s Wharf, Fog Harbor attracts throngs of tourists, but it’s still a really fun seafood feast. Tie on a bib for sourdough bread bowls brimming with clam chowder and piled with lump Dungeness crab meat. The restaurant boasts a big outdoor space with views of the bay and bridge, not to mention the background music of seagulls and sea lions. 

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2. Scoma’s Restaurant

1965 Al Scoma Way
San Francisco, CA 94133(415) 771-4383Visit Website

Scoma’s is a seafood institution, literally sitting on the dock of the bay since 1965. Longtime regulars love the warm leather and wood interiors, where they slide into a favorite booth, and chat with servers who have been there for decades. Scoma’s is known for old-school cioppino, strong Manhattans, mixed grill platters, and more. 

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3. Sotto Mare

552 Green St
San Francisco, CA 94133(415) 398-3181Visit Website

The Italian-American classic in North Beach talks big fish game with “the best damn cioppino in San Francisco,” as well as a big hearty menu filled with pasta, risotto, and sand dabs. Its tiled dining room crammed full of memorabilia is the ideal place to strap on a bib and dig into San Francisco’s favorite stew. 

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4. La Mar Cebicheria Peruana

pier 1 1/2
San Francisco, CA 94105(415) 397-8880Visit Website

Just north of the Ferry Building, this modern Peruvian restaurant boasts tall ceilings and big views of the bay. They specialize in several different types of cebiche, lightly cooked in “leche de tigre,” with choices between the catch of the day, ahi tuna, or yellowtail. Make it a full meal with grilled octopus and lomo saltado. 

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5. Hog Island Oyster Co.

One, Ferry Building, #11
San Francisco, CA 94111(415) 391-7117Visit Website

The big oyster farm that supplies many star restaurants around town is worth the drive up to the picnic tables in Marshall, but it also has a seafood restaurant in the Ferry Building. The classic order is a dozen of their famed sweetwater oysters, but they also have a creamy clam chowder and thick grilled cheese. 

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6. R & G Lounge

631 Kearny St
San Francisco, CA 94108(415) 982-7877Visit Website

R & G Lounge has been a Chinatown classic since 1985. It’s not exclusively a seafood restaurant, but it’s known for the live crab with salt and pepper, a deep-fried golden icon of Chinese-American food in San Francisco. And there are plenty of other fish on the menu, including prawns with honey walnuts, steamed sea bass, and whole lobster. 

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7. Tadich Grill

240 California St
San Francisco, CA 94111(415) 391-1849Visit Website

Down where the trolley cars bottom out on California Street, Tadich Grill still stands as the oldest continuously run restaurant in San Francisco, founded in 1849 by Croatian immigrants, so they say. It can be a scene, with white linens on tables, white-jacketed waiters, and it’s bustling at lunch. The seafood is still grilled over mesquite charcoal, and they’re known for cioppino, chowder, and sand dabs. 

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8. Angler

132 The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94105(415) 872-9442Visit Website

Angler opened on the Embarcadero in 2018, as a spinoff from Michelin-starred Saison, and it’s focused on seafood, with some luxurious options and add-ons. Fish picks up big flavor in the woodfire oven and smokers, and there are Parker House rolls with cultured seaweed butter, grilled whole lobster and abalone, not to mention urchin, uni, more. 

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9. Swan Oyster Depot

1517 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94109(415) 673-1101

The legendary fish market accepts no reservations, and usually draws long lines, although as a concession to the pandemic, they now do delivery. Swan’s has a hundred year history dating back to before the 1906 earthquake, and it’s now in the hands of the Sancimino brothers, who have shucked oysters for everyone from Bing Crosby to Anthony Bourdain. Belly up to the bar for oysters of course, and also clam chowder, crab salad, and “Sicilian sashimi.”  https://www.instagram.com/p/CNDyI8cDI-P/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=13&wp=598&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fsf.eater.com&rp=%2Fmaps%2Fbest-seafood-restaurants-san-francisco#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1531.0000000000002%7D

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10. Waterbar Restaurant

399 The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94105(415) 284-9922Visit Website

Sister spots Waterbar and Epic Steak are big restaurants at the foot of the Bay Bridge, and while Epic focuses on steak, Waterbar is all things fish. Waterbar has lots of space indoors and outdoors on a couple of different levels, and the brunch power move is a lobster roll and glass of sparkling wine. 

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11. The Anchovy Bar

1740 O’Farrell St
San Francisco, CA 94115(415) 796-2710Visit Website

The newest restaurant from the State Bird team was actually able to open during the pandemic. It’s an ode to Chef Stuart Brioza’s obsession with anchovies, and when in season, the local little fish are laboriously preserved in house. Year round, there’s also tinned fish from Spain and Italy; oysters, mussels, and clams; and a duo of whipped butters with roe and nori. 

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12. Brenda’s French Soul Food

652 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94102(415) 345-8100Visit Website

Chef Brenda Buenviaje is a Louisiana native, and she brought New Orleans style to her popular restaurant in San Francisco, which now has several different spinoffs and locations. Brenda’s is definitely not strictly seafood — there’s good fried chicken — but there’s lots of fish on the menu, for those craving broiled oysters, barbecue shrimp, crawfish beignets, shrimp and grits, and fried catfish po’boys.  

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13. PPQ Dungeness Island – San Francisco

2332 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94121(415) 386-8266Visit Website

The legendary Vietnamese restaurant of the Richmond is known for big family-style Dungeness crab feasts, featuring roasted crab and garlic noodles. It’s a fun time for families and larger groups, but there are also a la carte options. 

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14. Woodhouse Fish Company

2073 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94114(415) 437-2722Visit Website

The MacNiven brothers grew up in the Bay, but their two seafood restaurants in San Francisco are New England inspired. Both offer a fresh and casual menu filled with Dungeness crab rolls, lobster rolls, fish and chips, and fish tacos, and the parklet on Fillmore resembles a boat. 

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15. Anchor Oyster Bar

579 Castro St
San Francisco, CA 94114(415) 431-3990Visit Website

Anchor Oyster is a neighborhood classic, holding it down in the Castro since 1977. The cioppino is jammed with mussels and crab claws, and don’t be shy about accepting the bib, it’s a full garlic steam facial. They also sling oysters on the half shell, creamy clam chowder, and chewy sourdough. 

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16. La Ciccia

291 30th St
San Francisco, CA 94131(415) 550-8114Visit Website

La Ciccia is a cozy neighborhood restaurant at the quiet end of Noe Valley, at top of Church and 30th. It’s a Sardinian menu filled with lots of seafood, pasta, and minerally wine. Regulars keep going back for the fresh spaghetti with cured fish roe grated over the top, fresh fettuccine tinted with squid ink, and tender baby octopus.