Being landlocked doesn’t mean settling for subpar seafood. Whether batter-fried, steamed in Old Bay and butter, or broiled with fresh herbs, Dallas delivers, offering some of the freshest seafood. Let this map be a guide, leading you to a range of experiences, from tuna flown in to market each day to budget-friendly fish baskets and oysters on the half-shell. With seafood sourced from the world’s finest waters, feast on the fruits of the sea at these essential Dallas seafood restaurants. Coming off the map are Crown Block and Restaurant Beatrice. Newly added are Ocean Prime, Hugo’s Seafood Bar, and Pesca Coastal Classics.
Hugo’s Seafood Bar
Named after chef-owner Hugo Galvan (formerly of Flora Street Cafe) and mixologist Hugo Osorio, this new raw bar in Bishop Arts opened in January. Look for scallops crudo served on a beautiful half-shell, ahi tuna tostadas, a daily variety of oysters, and cocktails galore. Start the meal with an oyster shooter, served in a ceramic shell atop a small glass with a savory and spicy mignonette. The seafood tostadas are also worth a try and pair well with a summery, clarified gin cocktail called Blame It on the Juice. The ramshackle space has cool exposed walls and an octopus painted into the dining room, which could be taken as a bit of whimsical fun or a warning.
334 West Davis Street, Dallas, Texas 75208Visit Website
Pesca Coastal Classics and Boozy Cocktails
Trinity Groves appears to be making a comeback. Milagro Tacos and Chimichurri Latin Bistro owner Jesus Carmona, a native of Mexico City, opened Pesca in January. The menu reflects a plethora of “coastal” dishes, including blackened catfish and crab from the Gulf, lobster rolls in homage to the Northeast, grilled Atlantic salmon, and a classic Texas red snapper. There’s also a rich, intriguing cocktail menu. This bright and colorful space is full of yellows, oranges, and teals with large, kitschy signs over the bar and seafood-themed wallpaper.
3011 Gulden Lane, Dallas, Texas 75212(469) 206-9920Visit Website
Ocean Prime
Looking for a place for a fancy night out? Ocean Prime in Uptown has been that spot for well over a decade. This seafood chain is known for its lobster bisque, Chilean sea bass with truffle vinaigrette, black truffle macaroni and cheese, and bacon-flecked creamed spinach. Open for lunch and dinner, Ocean Prime goes outside the realm of a traditional seafood restaurant with select sushi dishes, chicken dishes, and steaks for a surf-and-turf moment. The dining room is outdated and full of corporate dining cliches, with dark woods, oversized overhead lamp shades, a mix of carpeted floors and tiled areas where the selections were clearly made more for space than aesthetics.
2101 Cedar Springs Rd, Dallas, TX 75201(214) 965-0440Visit Website
Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab
One of Houston’s favorite seafood spots opened an outpost in Uptown, giving the neighborhood the perfect spot for a dress-up seafood dining experience for lunch or dinner. Focused on sustainable crabbing with a commitment to Ocean Conservancy guidelines, the Truluck team specifies where its fish comes from by citing it on the menu. Must-try dishes include stone crab claws (always served fresh), blue crab-stuffed lobster tail carved tableside, and miso-glazed sea bass with crab rice. Diners can also order from its gluten-free menu. The dining room boasts stunning views of Uptown, but that’s where the charm ends. The decor is standard-issue chain fine dining — heavy, dark wood furniture, a glassed-in wine cellar, white tablecloths, and Moroccan-style patterned carpet, the space’s only source of color. In addition to Dallas, Truluck’s has locations in Southlake and Plano.
2401 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75201(214) 220-2401Visit Website
S & D Oyster Company
Have a Boston or NYC-style oyster experience with Gulf seafood right here in Dallas: just dip into the exposed brick space of Uptown’s S&D Oyster Company. Oysters on the half shell, served in a 130-year-old building, give that old-world feeling of the East Coast, while the extensive menu of New Orleans-style dishes transports diners into a Gulf state of mind. Don’t skip the gumbo here, which is made with a dark roux unlike most places serving the dish in Dallas. It’s also a solid spot to land for a basket of fried seafood. If the dining room isn’t doing it for you, a hidden patio out back will make you feel like you’re dining in a courtyard in the Big Easy. S&D is open for lunch and dinner.
2701 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204(214) 880-0111Visit Website
Hook Line & Sinker
With an eclectic interior reminiscent of the bayou, Hook Line & Sinker is the spot for crispy fried fish and shellfish. Order a few baskets of shrimp, catfish, and oysters to enjoy with plenty of beer and a group of friends. The aesthetic is best described as “trailer park chic.” Think: out-of-service outboard motors as mounted makeshift sculptures, neon beer signs, fans for staying cool in the dining room, and a menu that hangs above the kitchen. Hook Line & Sinker serves lunch and dinner.
3103 Lemmon Ave E, Dallas, TX 75204(214) 965-0707Visit Website
Cafe Pacific
Cafe Pacific is one of Highland Park’s go-to seafood and steakhouses. The wood-paneled walls and checkered floor lend the space an old-school elegance. The menu, likewise, has all the expected classic seafood standards, with several nods to Texas cuisine. Winning raves on the menu are the crab remoulade, lemon sole almandine (a classic dish), blackened Texas redfish, and poached lobster meat served with risotto. Often reserved for anniversaries, birthdays, celebrations, or a splurge night, it’s important to dress the part. Dinner is most popular, but lunch and brunch at Cafe Pacific are great times to try out lighter dishes, especially if on a lighter budget.
24 Highland Park Village, Dallas, TX 75205(214) 526-1170Visit Website
Big Shucks
This place and its various locations, including little brother Aw Shucks, are all about serving up seafood in a casual ambience — and the family behind the brand has been going at it since 1983. It’s hard to beat when it comes to its fried seafood options, although the grilled and boiled menus run deep, too, and there are constantly new seasonal specials worth trying. The vibe is a lakeside seafood joint with a nautical color scheme and decor.
6232 E Mockingbird Ln (btw Alderson St & Norris St), Dallas, TX 75214(214) 887-6353Visit Website
Dive Coastal Cuisine
Dive Coastal is the easy choice for fast food that’s also local, organic, and as well-rounded as possible. Find elevated takes on casual dining, from seared ahi tuna wraps to a jumbo lump crab BLT. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves a rotating specials menu and original dishes such as its Cajun curry shrimp salad bowl and a Del Mar fish taco trio. Dive is anything but a dive, however. Instead, it embraces a Mediterranean-inspired decor, with small tiles in white and royal blue lining the bar, high-top nickel stools, and neon signs. Dive serves lunch and dinner.
3404 Rankin St, Dallas, TX 75205(214) 891-1700Visit Website
Montlake Cut
It is always a good time at a Nick Badovinus-owned restaurant, and this might be the hidden gem of his hospitality empire. It’s less well-known than Neighborhood Services, less flashy than Town Hearth or Brass Ram. One can’t go wrong with Montlake Cut’s crudo or ceviche, and the entrees menu reads as much like a steakhouse as a seafood restaurant. The pièce de résistance has to be the Nick-Coise salad, named after Badovinus, which pairs well with almost any pick from Montlake’s most impressive wine list. As is the case in all his restaurants, the vibes are immaculate. This one leans into Pacific Northwest seaside decor, matching the menu.
8220 Westchester Dr b, Dallas, TX 75225(214) 739-8220Visit Website
Rex’s Seafood and Market
There is a definitive answer to the question of where to find the best selection of raw oysters in Dallas, and that answer is Rex’s. No other oyster bar has the daily range of this place, with multiple options from the East Coast that go way beyond the standard Blue Points or PEI found in most oyster offerings. It also has one of the best martinis in town, and nothing goes together better than oysters and a martini. The rest of the menu is full of hits — namely, its seasonal seafood dishes — including a steamer bowl (mussels, clams, crab fingers, and sausage in a hearty soup), red snapper, Chilean sea bass, crab pasta, and more. It’s not dressy here, even though the quality of the seafood makes it a bit pricey. To eat in, head to the Northwest Highway location — the one at the farmers market is more of a fresh fish stand.
6713 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75225(214) 758-0566Visit Website
TJ’s Seafood Market & Grill
TJ’s keeps the menu fresh while serving up classics. Order the shrimp cocktail and smoked salmon board, and browse the menu of light entrees, which means there’s plenty of room to splurge on quality oysters, grilled shrimp tacos, or caviar service for those particularly fancy occasions. And, for those who keep asking: this is the home of the city’s best lobster roll. The dining room, which is open for lunch and dinner, is a white-tablecloth affair, open to ladies who lunch and folks who are having a chill dinner focused on the freshest seafood.
6025 Royal Ln #110, Dallas, TX 75230(214) 691-2369Visit Website
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
A solid date night option for seafood enthusiasts, the Oceanaire serves up seafood classics in a swanky section. Favorites like shrimp cocktail, crabcakes, and seafood towers are all on the menu, along with whole steamed lobster that’s worth the splurge every time. The decor leans more chain fine dining — massive and decorated sort of generically, but the bar, which is also host to Oceanaire’s oyster raw bar, is illuminated by blue lights at night, giving a sultry vibe. It also offers online ordering.
13340 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75240(972) 759-2277Visit Website
Uchiko Plano
Uchiko in Legacy West adds a little something more to the mix. In addition to sushi in an array of presentations, it offers oysters with a shiso mignonette and shiro creme fraiche, a stunning hearth-roasted lobster with tom kha, grilled scallops, and a whole branzino with a very Uchiko-style presentation and accoutrement. Inside, find Japanese-inspired decor across two stories, a sushi counter, and dining room seating.
7801 Windrose Avenue, Plano, Texas 75024(214) 855-5454Visit Website
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Source: dallas.eater.com