When it comes to must see areas of the United States, Orange Country has to be placed on your list. There is so much to see and do, from visiting the Disney parks, to Knott’s Berry Farm, and Anaheim.
When you visit a county so close to the sea, tasting the local seafood is a must. There is nothing better than locally sourced seafood and shellfish.
As oysters are a delicacy, you want to try the best oysters in the area. This is why we have compiled a list of five of the best oyster restaurants and bars in Orange County. You will not want to miss out on these!
King’s Fish House
1521 West Katella Orange, CA 92867 - 714-771-6655
714-771-6655
King’s Fish House is right in the center of Orange County. What is great about King’s Fish House is its atmosphere. There are a range of places to sit, from up on the bar, to outside. The outside area is lit with ambient fairy lights and is a great place to wind down in the evenings.
When it comes to their menu, there are a lot of choices available for oysters. They serve both Pacific and Eastern, depending on your preferences. Their menu states that they purchase “over 3 ½ million” oysters each year, which are sourced from across the word.
The oysters can be purchased individually, or as part of a half dozen or a dozen. The options include Rincón de Ballenas, Fanny Bay, Stingray, and Barcat. The locally sourced options are King Tide, and Kumamoto. There are dishes that include cooked oysters too, such as Oysters Casino.
For those who are not so keen on oysters, there is a wide variety of other options available, such as crab, shrimp, cheeseburger, and steak. There is something suitable for everyone.
When looking at the price of the oysters, they are reasonably priced, especially when purchasing larger orders. Given the quality of the oysters and their freshness, this is a great price.
While King’s Fish House is a brilliant place to dine at in the evening, they also offer lunch, which has a separate menu. Their opening times are:
Fly ‘N’ Fish
2304 W Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA 92663
949-673-8400
Fly ‘N’ Fish is an oyster bar and grill. Given that oysters are their specialty, you will not be disappointed with their menu. What is great about Fly ‘N’ Fish is that they have indoor and outdoor seating, depending on your preference. The outdoor patio seating is heated.
This is perfect for a relaxing afternoon or evening, and has a beautiful view of the beach and Newport Beach Pier. The bar serves a wide range of different beers, cocktails, and wines. If you are looking for a takeout service instead, this is also available.
The oysters served are fresh and hand-shucked in the bar. As they are fresh, there are always different selections. They are served with lemon & raspberry mignonette, which is tangy and tasty.
The price of the oysters varies slightly each day depending on the market price, but they are well-priced overall. In addition to oysters, they also serve a wide variety of seafood, such as calamari, shrimp, sandwiches, and burgers.
While shellfish and oysters are their specialty, if you are dining with the whole family, there is a wide selection of options available. Their clam chowder is award-winning and certainly worth trying.
As they have long opening hours, if you are looking for an afternoon snack, or an evening meal, this is a useful option to choose. It is in an ideal location if you have visited Newport Beach Pier for the day.
Shuck Oyster Bar
Soco, 3313 Hyland, #A1, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949 - 420-0478
If you are looking for a restaurant that serves great food, and focuses on oysters and seafood, Shuck Oyster Bar is the place for you. As the name suggests, oysters are their specialty, and they are served raw and chilled.
The oysters served are particularly tasty, and come with the following accompaniments - fresh horseradish, chili sauce, and mignonette. The fresh horseradish is particularly tasty.
You can also add accompaniments such as habanero, and pickled wasabi to the oysters if you are looking for them to be full of flavor.
What is great about Shuck Oyster Bar is that they have happy hours on Monday to Friday, from 2:30 - 6:30pm. During this time, they offer oysters in a half dozen, and a dozen for a cheaper price. If you are looking for a midday treat, this is the perfect option for you.
All the oysters served are fresh and have only been out of the water for a day. They are sourced from 60 different farms, and are of a high quality. There are other great options on the menu, such as clam chowder, and Alaskan cod taco, and lobster roll.
While they do not have a large menu in comparison to some of the other restaurants featured, do not let this put you off. This allows them to focus on perfecting each dish.
Overall, the atmosphere is great, and being located within SOCO & The OC Mix, there are plenty of places to shop near, such as the farmer’s market, and IKEA.
Santa Monica Seafood
1000 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-393-5244
Santa Monica Seafood, has two locations in the Orange County area, one in Santa Monica, and the other in Costa Mesa, which shows their popularity and great quality oysters.
Santa Monica Seafood is a café, rather than a restaurant, and has a more relaxed atmosphere, which is great for a casual evening, or lunch.
The oyster bar is fantastic, and all the oysters are served with lemon, Mignonette, and the café’s own cocktail sauce - which you certainly need to consider trying.
The oysters are served on the half shall in a half dozen or a dozen, depending on your preference. They are reasonably priced, and reflect how fresh the oysters are. The options available vary daily, depending on the selection.
Santa Monica Seafood has children’s menus available, along with a good range of different salads, seafood wraps, and soups. There is a good amount of choice available, along with different wines and beer.
If you sign up for the newsletter, you will also gain access to weekly offers to use within the café, which is a great addition. As the café is attached to the seafood market, there is a wide variety of options you can take home with you too.
Being on Wilshire Boulevard, it is easy to locate, and is surrounded by many other shops, and takeaways. The opening times are:
Water Grill
3300 Bristol St. Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949-208-7060
The last (but certainly not least), best place to purchase oysters in Orange County is Water Grill. While they may have only been established since 2016, they quickly gained popularity, and it is easy to see why.
What is great about the water grill is that they offer Lunch, and Dinner, so you can dine at a time that is most convenient for you. There is also the option for private dining if you are looking for somewhere to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.
Some of their rooms include The King Board Room, and the Segerstrom Board Room, which both hold up to 14 guests. These areas are luxurious, and are a great place to host. If you are looking for something that is slightly smarter for an evening, the Water Grill is a great option.
The oyster bar is 360 degrees, and there are live saltwater tanks to look at too. There is a huge variety of oysters to choose from, both Eastern and Pacific, and the Water Grill has the most options available of these five choices.
Some of these options include James River, Olde Salt, Indigo, and Baywater Sweet. If you are an oyster connoisseur, and want to try a wide variety of options, this is a great place to visit. The prices are reasonable, and the oysters are raw, and can be purchased individually.
The Water Grill oozes class, and has a great selection of options.
Summary
We hope that you have found this article useful and insightful. These are the best five restaurants and bars in Orange County where you can eat oysters. There is a mixture of more relaxed daytime choices, and places suitable for an evening meal.
There really is a great choice, and all the oysters served in these restaurants are fresh and locally sourced, which is so important when it comes to this delicacy.
