Best Seafood Restaurants in Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia isn’t short on amazing food, and that’s no secret–cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, and pizza are probably the first things that come to mind. Philly’s iconic foods are nothing to scoff at, but it’s important not to overlook the seafood scene that the city so generously offers to tourists and locals alike. Philadelphia is a port city after all, and that’s reflected in the abundance of fresh, delicious seafood found in its restaurants. Here we’ve put together a list of some of the best spots in Philadelphia to help you hunt down the scallops, flounder, or oysters of your dreams.
1. Oyster House
1516 Sansom St
Oyster House calls itself the home of “Philly’s best seafood,” and while we can neither confirm nor deny that statement, it definitely deserves some recognition for its delectable fresh fish offerings. They’re famous for their raw bar, lobster rolls, and fisherman’s stew, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Locals would recommend the Maryland crab cakes with apple slaw, or–if you’re more daring–the Chihuahua oyster shooter with hot pepper and cilantro tequila. The menu also features seafood classics like the jumbo shrimp cocktail and fresh oysters.
2. Pinefish
1138 Pine St
You can’t talk about the best seafood restaurants in Philadelphia without mentioning Pinefish. This is the place to go when we want to do some serious eating. No room for daintiness in this establishment, Pinefish offers $38 three-course meals, buck-a-shuck oysters, and endless pancake brunches. The raw bar has plenty of tasty options, but when the weather starts getting a little colder in the city, their Brazilian seafood stew is just the remedy.
3. Luke’s Lobster
130 S 17th St
Just because it’s a chain restaurant doesn’t mean it’s not amazing, and Luke’s is proof. The Rittenhouse location has a small menu, but luckily they value quality over quantity. They make their rolls right, with a simple trio of lemon butter, mayo, and house seasoning, and their sandwiches come served with chips, chowder, or slaw. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying seafood lunch in Philadelphia. Clean, simple, delicious, the finest seafood and sustainably sourced–there really isn’t any need to look elsewhere for the best rolls in the city.
4. Olde Bar
125 Walnut St
The Olde Bar has carved itself out a well-deserved place as one of the best seafood restaurants in Philadelphia. The building, once Philadelphia’s famous Old Orginal Bookbinder’s, now houses Chef Jose Garces, who serves an updated menu that pays homage to the city’s rich history in trade and cuisine. The menu is refreshingly small, and even the starters are out-of-this-world good–the Olde Bar fries will absolutely change the way you see potatoes.
5. Devon Seafood Grill
225 S 18th St
Devon has a pretty extensive menu of both seafood and drinks with some great surf-and-turf options. Some of the options are a little funkier, like the lemongrass shrimp tacos you never knew you needed. And forget about salads with nothing but lettuce and some sad dressing, because their lobster cobb salad and salmon Panzanella are the real deal.
6. Ocean Prime
124 S 15th St,
While definitely upscale, Ocean Prime is still very approachable and certainly worth the higher price. Entrees like the Ahi tuna with a sesame soy glaze or the blackened snapper with jalapeno tartare experiment with unique flavor combinations while still respecting the delicate flavors of the fish. Ocean Prime also serves several classic sushi rolls and beautiful cocktails, but the real attraction is the “smoking shellfish tower.” And yes, that’s as impressive as it sounds.
7. Estia
1405-07 Locust St
Estia is one of the best Greek restaurants in Philadelphia, and they take full advantage of the fresh, local seafood nearby. Anyone in the city would recommend ordering one of their whole fish dishes, but they’re especially famous for their Karavides, aka crayfish. If you’re looking for something even heartier, their swordfish souvlaki fits the bill.
8. Pearl’s Oyster Bar
51 N 12th St
Visiting Pearl’s Oyster Bar, located in Philadelphia’s historic Reading Terminal Market, is a bit like traveling back in time. It’s the sort of place where, according to the owners, “your grandfather might have slid onto a stool at the counter as a young man to enjoy classics like oyster stew, snapping turtle soup, or a fish fry.” And they’re entirely correct. They still offer those classic dishes your grandfather would have liked as a young man, but they also have some trendier options, like a drool-worthy take on lump crab eggs benedict.
9. The Shake Seafood
2141 Cottman Ave
The Shake brings some creole inspiration to northeast Philadelphia. You’ll definitely want some gloves and a bib when you dig into all the snow crab legs, shrimp, clams, crawfish, and mussels your heart desires. Their fried baskets are also to die for, and come with all the classic seafood boil fixings. Just remember to bring a friend or seven to help you finish those generous portions.
10. Anastasi
1101 S 9th St
The owners of Anastasi, Janet Stechman and Salvator Anastasi, grew up on 9th street selling crabs out of their home. Decades later, they own one of Philadelphia’s most beloved seafood restaurants–so it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing. Don’t miss out on their bacon blue crab mac and cheese or swordfish with lemon and olive oil.
11. Gallo’s Seafood
8101 Roosevelt Blvd
Serving the Philadelphia community since 1970, Gallo’s is a community staple. It is a true family-owned establishment even since changing ownership to a new family. Because they use local seafood you’ll the recurrent theme of market-based pricing. At this Italian-themed restaurant, it’s only right that you order pasta with seafood, and that’s exactly what you will get if you order the ‘Pescatore’. The word ‘pescatore’ means fisherman in Italian and in this dish there are clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, and crab meat.
12. Amazing Crab House
604 S 2nd St
A crab lover’s dream! Those words are the best way we can describe Amazing Crab House. There are four different crabs you can choose from Snow, Dungeness, Blue, and King. The combo deals are the best bang for your buck as you can get 2 corns, 2 potatoes, shrimp, and your choice of seafood.
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