Austin’s Best Seafood Restaurants: 7 Spots That Do Fish Right

BY Megan Forgey // 03.19.18

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Clark's Oyster Bar is an expert in all things clams and oysters. (Photo by Clark's Oyster Bar.)

You can go fun and fried at Deckhand, or opt for something upscale like Mussels Vin Blanc, simmered in a Riesling sauce. (Photo by Deckhand Oyster Bar.)

Perla's is famed for its juicy oysters, flown in from both coasts. (Photo by Perla's Seafood & Oyster Bar.)

French Quarter Grille brings cajun comfort to seafood, like this proscuitto-wrapped and grilled French Quarter Salmon. (Photo by French Quarter Grille.)

Enjoy fresh oysters with creamy remoulade sauce at Hillside Farmacy. (Photo by Hillside Farmacy.)

Mongers Market + Kitchen serves up scallops with the works. (Photo by Mongers Market + Kitchen.)

Alcomar takes seafood to the Mexican coast with dishes like this pan-seared shrimp with guajillo rice and sour orange-habanero vinaigrette. (Photo by Alcomar.)

Both restaurant and food truck, Garbo's served a tried-and-true clam chowder along with lobster grilled cheese. (Photo by Garbo's.)

Clark's Oyster Bar is an expert in all things clams and oysters. (Photo by Clark's Oyster Bar.)

The humidity and heat in Texas is often something to gripe about. In the summer, you can fry an egg on the sidewalk. But the heat and humidity also comes from being close to the water, and in some ways it’s responsible for all of the fresh and delicious seafood we have access to in the Lone Star State.

Few Texas cities have embraced seafood quite like Austin, though. It’s an underrated mecca for great fish. Austin’s best seafood restaurants are a step above. Here’s the short list of the top echelon…

Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar

1400 S Congress

This South Congress restaurant serves up fresh fish and oysters that are flown in daily from both the East and West Coast. You can get a selection of oysters and almost every fish you can imagine — including octopus — on Perla’s crowd-pleasing patio.

Seafood Austin Perla's — Perla’s is famed for its juicy oysters, flown in from both coasts. (Photo by Perla’s Seafood & Oyster Bar.)

Deckhand Oyster Bar

500 Parker Dr. & 4211 S. Lamar Blvd.

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Perfect when you’re having oyster cravings, need some deep fried calamari, or some popcorn shrimp, Deckhand’s two locations are sure to please. Its Southwestern Stuffed Oysters are a great way to dip your toe into the world of oysters. These are cooked oysters that are stuffed with pico de gallo and Monterrey Jack cheese.

For an elevated dish, check out the Mussels Vin Blanc, a full pound of delicate black mussels sauteed with onions, peppers and ginger, and simmered in a Riesling sauce.

Hillside Farmacy

1209 East 11th St.

Hillside Farmacy serves up a little bit of everything, but you can’t hit this East Austin joint without trying its fresh oysters or crab cakes, finished off with pickles and a creamy remoulade sauce.

Seafood Austin Hillside Farmacy — Enjoy fresh oysters with creamy remoulade sauce at Hillside Farmacy. (Photo by Hillside Farmacy.)

Mongers Market + Kitchen

2401 E. Cesar Chavez

Mongers’ smoked fish dip just may be the best way to begin a summer meal in Austin. It’s made with pickled fresno chile, radishes and celery for a fresh and smokey flavor profile.

Afterwards, try out Monger’s seafood chowder for a mix of land and sea. You’ll find fresh seafood, potatoes and bacon all packed in.

Mongers’ raw bar is a great way to try out a poke bowl, or you can choose between oysters, scallops, blue crab fingers, clams and daily crudo. With all of Mongers’ options, it’s impressive that the restaurant’s able to serve its expansive menus with such care.

For a southern flair, the Blue Crab Cake Sammie is made with fried green tomatoes, creamy tartar sauce and an apple-jalapeno slaw.

Seafood Austin Monger's market — Mongers Market + Kitchen serves up scallops with the works. (Photo courtesy Mongers Market + Kitchen.)

French Quarter Grille

13000 N I-35

I will always argue that there’s no comfort food better than Cajun food. You’ll get your fill of Cajun classics at French Quarter Grille, which serves up cajun favorites with Étouffée, which can be served with shrimp, crawfish, crabmeat gumbo, fried crawfish and more.

Although it’s sometimes branded a bottom feeder by more snobby eaters, the catfish is blackened to perfection before being served over dirty rice and then topped with shrimp and crawfish gumbo.

Clark’s Oyster Bar

1200 W 6th St.

Clark’s inviting and open restaurant in West Austin is the go-to spot for lobster rolls when you can’t take a quick trip to Maine. With an impressive happy hour, a wide range of oysters and clams, Clark’s is a great place when you feel like taking a trip under the sea.

Check out its Shrimp Toast, with pea tendrils, shaved celery, and a spicy Harissa aoili, or the authentic New England Clam Chowder, served with oyster crackers…. because, duh.

Alcomar

1816 S 1st St.

Alcomar pairs seafood with ingredients and dishes from each of Mexico’s coastlines to create a fresh and creative menu. The Austin seafood restaurant‘s Shrimp Pozole Rojo is restorative, and its Lobster Enchiladas will have you wondering why these two don’t pair up more often.

Seafood Austin Alcomar — Alcomar takes seafood to the Mexican coast with dishes like this pan-seared shrimp with guajillo rice and sour orange-habanero vinaigrette. (Photo courtesy Alcomar.)

Garbo’s

14735 Bratton Lane

Both a food truck and a restaurant, Garbo’s spotlights New England seafood with coastal charm. Clam chowder, lobster bisque and Fish & Chips are a given, but we were wowed that Garbo’s offers both Connecticut and Maine style lobster rolls, the first warmed in butter and the second served with mayonnaise, celery and lemon.

Don’t forget to try the Lobster Grilled cheese, which features white cheddar, smoked gouda and bacon, alongside tomato soup.