When you think of coastal cities, Philadelphia might not be the first that comes to mind. But just like other coastal cities in America, there are plenty of fresh oysters that you can enjoy in this fascinating city.
Its position right along the Delaware river gives it plenty of choice for a variety of fresh seafood, including oysters. It’s convenient location gives it a great pick of both East and West Coast oysters.
But if you’re new to the area or are visiting on vacation, how can you know where to find the best oysters in Philadelphia?
That’s where we come in! We’ve researched and reviewed over a hundred different restaurants to help you find the very best oysters that Philadelphia has to offer.
Let’s take a look at where you can find the best oysters in Philadelphia!
Best oysters in Philadelphia
Oyster House
1516 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-567-7683
https://oysterhousephilly.com/
The Oyster House should be your first stop for tasty oysters in Philadelphia.
This particular restaurant has a heavy focus on seafood, and aims to deliver you the best tasting seafood in Philadelphia - including oysters. You won’t regret visiting the Oyster House if you’re passionate about all things seafood!
The range of oysters on the menu is impressive. There’s a raw bar dedicated to the best oysters that Philadelphia has to offer.
You can choose between 6 different oysters, including Sweet Amalia, Tuckers Island, Mystic, Wellfleet, Little Shemogue, and Kusshi.
This range of oysters makes the best use of both local oysters and shellfish from Canada. You’ll be spoilt for choice in the Oyster Bar.
There’s also a tempting Oyster House raw bar tower to tempt the taste buds of those passionate about seafood. You’ll get 12 oysters, 6 clams, 6 shrimp cocktails, a split chilled lobster, and scallop Crudo.
This will be the ultimate treat for those who want to taste the best raw seafood that’s available in Philadelphia.
Not only is there a raw bar to whet your appetite. There’s also a choice of cooked oysters on the regular menu.
Choose between grilled oysters dressed with butter, garlic, and parmesan, or opt for the tempting crispy fried oysters accompanied by a chicken salad.
Another great thing to note about the Oyster Bar is that there’s also a happy hour for oysters.
Happy hour is between 4pm to 6pm Tuesday to Friday, and 3pm to 5pm on Saturday. There are also plenty of other special offers on oysters, too. You don’t even have to make a reservation!
Pearl’s Oyster Bar
51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-964-9792
http://pearlsrtm.com/
Pearl’s Oyster Bar is a must-visit place on your vacation to Philadelphia. Not only is there a range of great oysters on the menu, but there is also plenty of other local, fresh seafood to tempt you.
There’ll be something for everyone here at Pearl’s Oyster Bar.
There’s the classic raw bar which is one of the best places to try fresh oysters.
The main oysters on the menu are Cape Shore Salts, however, there is also a daily oyster selection. Having a daily selection of oysters is a great way for Pearl’s Oyster Bar to make the most of the freshest local oysters available.
So you won’t have to worry about supporting any bad fishing practices as they will have all been sustainably farmed!
The main menu has a few oyster titbits on offer. If you want a range of cooked oysters, there’s still plenty to choose from. There’s a tempting oyster stew, oyster sliders, and fried oyster but to name a few.
Pearl’s Oyster Bar is the place to visit if you want to taste a range of great fresh seafood, including oysters!
Anastasi Seafood
1101 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-462-0550
http://www.anastasiseafood.com/
Anastasi Seafood restaurant is located in the famous Italian market.
This is a restaurant that has a whole range of seafood on the menu, and aims to offer you the finest ‘just caught’ quality.
You’ll be able to taste the difference here at Anastasi Seafood! Anastasi Seafood is a restaurant that has over 80 years of experience, so you can rest assured that your palate will be in safe hands.
You’ll be spoilt for choice at the Anastasi Seafood restaurant.
There are two main menus to choose from. If you’re after happy hour for oysters, then the bar menu is where you should choose from.
Happy Hour is every Tuesday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm. There’s also a tempting oyster stew stashed away on the specials menu as well as a range of other seafood delights.
On the main restaurant menu, you’ll be able to fill up on all the oysters you could possibly want. There’s a raw bar to get you started, offering fresh, local oysters for you to snack on.
You can even choose the raw combo, which combines shrimp, clams, oysters, and crab. Perfect for those who are passionate about seafood!
Start off your meal with oysters Rockefeller before tucking into the fried oyster platter. Or why not opt for the shrimp and oyster po’boy?
There’s also a seafood market for locals to enjoy. You’ll be able to stock up on all of your favorite oysters as well as other fresh seafood.
The Olde Bar
125 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-253-3777
http://theoldebar.com/
The Olde Bar will be the perfect place to go if you want to taste a variety of fresh oysters.
This particular restaurant is a stunning contemporary oyster bar and cocktail lounge located in Philadelphia’s famous Old Original Bookbinder’s.
They work hard to give you an authentic experience that will be a cherished memory for years to come.
This particular restaurant offers a happy hour for their oysters. You can enjoy buck-a-shuck oysters so that you can fill up on all of your favorite shellfish treats.
This will be great for those who are passionate about oysters and want to taste the finest treats that Philadelphia has on offer.
The main menu has a range of oyster based dishes to help you broaden your seafood horizons, too.
There is of course the classic raw bar, which gives you the choice between 2 different main oysters: East Coast and West Coast oysters.
You can even opt for the raw bar tower if your party is feeling adventurous. This dish gives you the chef’s selection of oysters, clams, shrimp, and a range of other seafood to try.
If you want to try the oysters from the main menu, then Tob Caesar salad is the way to go. This particular Caesar salad features fried oysters instead of the traditional chicken.
Or perhaps the Olde Bar fries take your fancy? This dish features lump crab, lobster butter, oyster stout, and cheddar fondue.
There’s also a range of other great tasting fresh seafood on the menu! If you’re passionate about all things seafood, then The Olde Bar will be the place to pay a visit.
Pinefish
1138 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
267-519-2850
http://pinefish.fish/
The Pinefish restaurant is another great place to make a stop in Philadelphia to try the best local oysters. This particular restaurant works to give you the best fresh seafood available in Philadelphia.
You’ll be able to taste a range of tasty delicacies in the Pinefish restaurant, including scrummy oysters!
This particular restaurant offers you oysters from their raw bar menu. Choose between both East and West Coast oysters to taste the best shellfish around!
These oysters are available at market price, so you can rest assured that they are as fresh as possible.
There’s also a happy hour that you can take advantage of every day! Between 4pm to 6pm, you can enjoy your favorite oysters for just $1.50.
This will be the place to stop if you want to eat your fill of fresh oysters without having to pay a small fortune!
Aether Fishtown
1832 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
267-875-1832
http://aetherfishtown.com/
The Aether Fishtown restaurant boasts one of the most inviting raw bar menus in all of Philadelphia. There’s also a range of other seafood dishes to tempt you, including plenty of clams and shrimp along the way.
The oysters are of course the star of the menu, and a really great feature is that the oysters on offer will vary depending on what’s in season during your visit.
The main types of oysters that you’ll find on the raw bar menu are of course East and West Coast oysters. So you can rest assured that you’re enjoying the finest fresh local oysters around!
If you were feeling adventurous, you could even opt for one of the seafood towers on the raw bar menu. You’ll get to taste a range of tempting oysters as well as other seafood, including clams, shrimp, crab, lobster, and scallop Crudo.
You can also enjoy buck-a-shuck oysters during the happy hour, every Wednesday and Sunday between 4pm and 9pm.
In summary
And there you have it! You now know the right places to go in Philadelphia to find the best oysters around.
If you’re paying this interesting coastal city a visit, why not make a stop at each of the restaurants we’ve highlighted above?
That way you can enjoy the finest oysters that Philadelphia has to offer, and satisfy all of your shellfish cravings at the same time.
