From poke bowls to fresh Pacific salmon, Santa Monica has a thriving seafood scene. Check out some of these locally-loved restaurants for both ocean views, and the catch of the day.
Blue Plate Oysterette
Inspired by frequent trips to the East Coast, Blue Plate Oysterette’s owner, Jenny Rush, decided to bring the salty, sweet tastes of New England to Santa Monica. She opened up shop on Ocean Avenue in 2009, offering her sophisticated takes on staples like lobster rolls, mac & cheese, and shareable oyster plates. Blue Plate Oysterette: 1355 Ocean Ave; 310-576-3474
Enterprise Fish Co.
What’s the catch? An appropriate question to ask when you swing by Enterprise for lunch. The restaurant, just a three-minute walk to the beach, brings in fresh, whole fish daily, cleaning and filleting them in house, and cooking them over a mesquite charcoal grill. Try the lobster bisque, crab bites, or pacific salmon. Enterprise Fish Co.: 174 Kinney St.; 310-392-8366
Sugarfish
If you fancy yourself a sushi connoisseur, you can’t miss Santa Monica’s Sugarfish, where celebrated chef Kazunori Nozawa serves up fresh, melt-in-your-mouth slabs of seafood daily. Nozawa and his team have a profound commitment to the art and craft of sushi-making–you’ll taste their fanaticism in every bite. Sugarfish: 134 5 2nd St.; 310-393-3338.
Mainland Poké Shop
At this new and trendy Marina Del Rey poké shop, fish arrives fresh every day, and bowls are built to order, so you can experiment with all kinds of fun flavor combinations. Regulars recommend the sriracha aioli, warm, mango sticky rice, and spicy tuna. Mainland Poke Shop: 411 Santa Monica Blvd; 310-310-3746
Hinterland
Keep a lookout for local Los Angeles celebrities while dining on Southern-style plates (shrimp and grits, grilled corn skillet) or slurping down a half dozen oysters at Hinterland. Singer Joe Jonas opened the Main Street hot spot in 2015. Hinterland: 2917 Main Street; 310-399-0805