Best Seafood at the Jersey Shore

From dock-to-table freshness to legendary crab houses, the Jersey Shore serves some of the East Coast's finest seafood.

8+Top Spots

4Seasons

FreshCatch Daily

Types of Seafood Spots

🦪

Raw Bars

Fresh oysters, clams, and shrimp on ice

Try: Dock's, Lobster House, Washington Inn

🦀

Crab Houses

Steamed blue crabs, crab cakes, and crab feasts

Try: Crab Trap, Crab House Cafe, Mud City

🦞

Lobster Shacks

Lobster rolls, bisque, and whole lobster dinners

Try: Lobster House, Steve & Cookie's, The Clam Bar

🐟

Fish Markets

Pick your fish, have it cooked to order

Try: Klein's, Mike's Seafood, Viking Fresh

Seasonal Seafood Guide

The best seafood is always what's in season. Here's what to order throughout the year.

Spring (Apr-May)

Flounder
Striped Bass
Soft Shell Crab
Shad

Soft shell season is short - get them while you can!

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Lobster
Blue Crab
Tuna
Mahi-Mahi
Fluke

Peak season for everything. Lobster prices drop in July.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Scallops
Oysters
Striped Bass
Black Sea Bass

Oyster season starts September. Best quality of the year.

Winter (Dec-Mar)

Oysters
Clams
Cod
Monkfish
Skate

Off-season means less crowded restaurants and great deals.

💰 Seafood at Every Budget

Budget ($)

Under $20/person

Fish markets with cook-to-order, BYOB spots, lunch specials

Best Bets

→ Wally's fish sandwich
→ Klein's lunch plates
→ Mike's Seafood takeout

💡 Bring your own wine to BYOB spots - saves $30+ on a bottle.

Mid-Range ($$)

$25-50/person

Casual waterfront spots, early bird specials, daily catch

Best Bets

→ Crab Trap
→ Klein's dinner
→ Mike's dine-in

💡 Order the daily catch - it's freshest and often best value.

Splurge ($$$)

$50-80/person

Raw bar platters, lobster dinners, waterfront ambiance

Best Bets

→ Lobster House
→ Red Store
→ The Ebbitt Room

💡 Go for the raw bar tower - feeds 2-3 and showcases the best.

Special Occasion ($$$$)

$100+/person

Tasting menus, vintage wines, classic preparations

Best Bets

→ Dock's Oyster House
→ Knife & Fork Inn
→ Washington Inn

💡 Make reservations 2+ weeks ahead. These are destination spots.

🔍 How to Spot Fresh Seafood

Whether you're picking fish at a market or evaluating a restaurant, here's what to look for.

Sign	Fresh ✓	Avoid ✗	Applies To
Eyes	Clear, bright, slightly bulging	Cloudy, sunken, dull	Whole fish
Gills	Bright red or pink	Brown, gray, or slimy	Whole fish
Smell	Ocean-like, briny, clean	Fishy, ammonia, sour	All seafood
Flesh	Firm, springs back when pressed	Mushy, leaves indentation	Fish fillets
Shells	Closed or close when tapped	Open and won't close, cracked	Clams, mussels, oysters
Lobster/Crab	Active, moves when handled	Limp, no movement	Live shellfish

🦀 How to Eat a Blue Crab

First time at a crab feast? Here's the step-by-step guide to getting every bit of meat.

Order by the Dozen

Blue crabs are sold by size (small, medium, large, jumbo) and by the dozen. For a meal, expect 6-8 crabs per person.

Get Your Tools

You'll need a mallet, knife or crab cracker, and lots of napkins. Most crab houses provide everything.

Start with the Claws

Twist off the claws and crack them with the mallet. The claw meat is the sweetest and easiest to access.

Pop the Apron

Flip the crab over. The "apron" (triangle shape on belly) pops off. This gives you access to the body.

Remove the Top Shell

Pull apart the top shell from the body. Discard the gills ("dead man's fingers") - they're not edible.

Break and Pick

Break the body in half. The lump meat is in the chambers. Pick it out with your fingers or a knife. It's messy - embrace it.

🦞 Lobster Ordering Guide

What size should I order?▼

1.25-1.5 lb lobsters are the sweet spot - enough meat, tender texture. Larger lobsters can be tougher.

Hard shell vs soft shell?▼

Hard shell has more meat and better texture. Soft shell (post-molt) is sweeter but less meat. Hard shell is usually preferred.

Steamed or boiled?▼

Steamed is generally better - retains more flavor and texture. Boiled can waterlog the meat.

What comes with a lobster dinner?▼

Usually corn, potatoes, coleslaw, and drawn butter. Some spots add clam chowder or salad.

Lobster roll styles?▼

Maine style: cold with mayo. Connecticut style: warm with butter. Both are delicious - try both.

🦪 Know Your Oysters

At any good raw bar, you'll see multiple oyster varieties. Here's what you'll find.

Delaware Bay

Medium

Briny, clean finish

Available: Year-round, best Sept-April

Local favorite, harvested right here in NJ

Cape May Salts

Medium-Large

Sweet, mild brine

Available: Year-round

Farmed in Cape May - super fresh at local restaurants

Blue Point

Medium

Classic, balanced

Available: Year-round

Long Island classic, widely available

Wellfleet

Medium

High brine, cucumber finish

Available: Year-round

Cape Cod import, popular at raw bars

Top Seafood Restaurants

Lobster House

Cape May • Lobster, Raw Bar

$$$

Upscale Casual

Legendary waterfront institution since 1954. Fleet of boats bring fresh catches daily. Stunning harbor views and their own fish market.

Must Try: Lobster Bisque, Raw Bar Platter

Dock's Oyster House

Atlantic City • Oysters, Classic Seafood

$$$$

Fine Dining

Family-owned since 1897. Atlantic City institution with impeccable service and the freshest oysters. Old-school elegance.

Must Try: Oysters Rockefeller, Lobster Thermidor

Klein's Fish Market

Belmar • Fresh-off-the-boat Seafood

Casual Waterfront

Marina-side restaurant where fishing boats unload right behind the kitchen. BYOB keeps prices reasonable.

Must Try: Whatever came in today, Fried Clam Strips

Mike's Seafood

Sea Isle City • Seafood Market & Restaurant

Casual Family

Family-run for generations. Pick your fish from the market and have it cooked to order. Legendary lobster bisque.

Must Try: Lobster Bisque, Stuffed Flounder

The Crab Trap

Somers Point • Crabs, Waterfront Dining

Casual Waterfront

Bayfront crab house with outdoor decks. Steamed crabs by the dozen, casual atmosphere, and stunning sunsets.

Must Try: Steamed Blue Crabs, Crab Cakes

Red Store

Cape May Point • Gourmet Seafood

$$$

Fine Dining

Upscale farm-to-table in a converted general store. Creative seafood preparations with local ingredients.

Must Try: Daily Fish Special, Oysters

Wally's on the Pier

Barnegat Light • Fresh Local Catch

Super Casual

Right on the docks of Barnegat Light. Watch the charter boats come in while you eat what they caught.

Must Try: Fish Sandwich, Clam Chowder

Knife & Fork Inn

Atlantic City • Classic Seafood & Steaks

$$$$

Fine Dining

Historic restaurant dating to 1912. Where presidents and celebrities have dined. Impeccable Dover Sole.

Must Try: Dover Sole, Stone Crab Claws

Local Legend: The Lobster House

No Jersey Shore seafood guide would be complete without The Lobster House in Cape May. Since 1954, this waterfront institution has been serving fresh catches from its own fleet of fishing boats. The raw bar is legendary, the lobster bisque is a must, and the harbor views are unmatched.

Pro tip: Skip the often long wait for the main dining room and grab a seat at the raw bar or on the schooner deck instead.

Explore Cape May Dining

Seafood Dining Tips

Ask About the Catch

Daily specials at fish markets and waterfront restaurants are usually the freshest. Ask what came in today.

Go Early or Late

Popular spots like Lobster House can have 2+ hour waits on summer weekends. Early dinner (4-5pm) or late (after 8pm) avoids crowds.

BYOB Saves Money

Many shore seafood spots are BYOB (like Klein's). Bring a nice bottle of white wine and save on the markup.

Buy It Fresh

Many restaurants have fish markets attached. Take fresh seafood home and cook it yourself for a fraction of the price.

Explore All Dining Options

Seafood, BYOB, boardwalk classics, and more at every shore town.

BYOB Restaurants All Dining