July 27, 2023
Food & Drink, Feature,
Whoever said Texas doesn't have good seafood obviously hasn’t tried any of these 9 restaurants. The owners of these establishments wanted to share their love for seafood with the Lone Star State. From seafood towers to lobster grilled cheeses these restaurants are sure to impress.
See also: The 6 Greatest Steakhouses in Austin
Plank Seafood Provisions
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11410 Century Oaks Terrace Suite136 / 737.234.1122 / Website
Happy hour and sustainably sourced seafood? Sign me up! The team at Plank Seafood Provisions is constantly striving to serve mouthwatering seafood dishes while protecting our oceans. By flying in their oysters from different coasts, their menu is ever-evolving. With their open kitchen design, a full raw bar, wood-fired grill, orange and royal blue booths, communal tables, and a four-season terrace, they transport you to an upscale yet whimsical oasis.
Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar
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1400 S Congress Ave. / 512.291.7300 / Website
Come for the scallops, stay for the frozen watermelon margarita. Their brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm, features a twist on your classic breakfast dishes. The crab Florentine adds lump crab to the traditional hollandaise-covered dish and the Espelette shrimp & blue crab gumbo brings a New Orleans favorite to Austin.
Krab Kingz
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1202 Farm to Market 685 A1, Pflugerville / 512.202.3360 / Website
Whether you’re dining in at their storefront location in Pflugerville or walking up to their food truck in Austin, you’re not going to want to miss out on Krab Kingz. Their menu features various seafood platters and various side options ranging from lobster tails to boiled eggs. Make sure to add some additional butter sauce to your meal to further excite your taste buds.
Garbo’s Lobster
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12709 N Mopac Expressway 512.350.9814 | Website
Anyone who’s been to New England will tell you that a mound of sweet lobster meat packed over a soft, buttery New England top-split bun best captures the essence of summer. And having served over 50,000 lobster rolls in Austin since 2015, Garbo’s has plenty of experience. Known for its New England cuisine with an Austin flare, Garbo’s was created on love and lobster. Lobster has become a multifaceted dish as lobster rolls aren’t the only way that they serve lobster. Additionally, they have lobster mac and cheese, a whole lobster, and lobster grilled cheese.
Salt Trader’s Coastal Cooking
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1101 S Mopac Expressway / 512.351.9724 / Website
The Salt Trader’s Coastal Cooking menu is based on the owner’s most cherished meals consumed during their travels, from the Gulf Coast to the Bahamas and back up to the East Coast. With a focus on its friends in the Gulf, their seafood is responsibly procured from our most reliable suppliers throughout the American coastline. Their daily chalkboard specials take their catch of the day and by night, their talented chefs convert this catch into a delectable dinner, like their salmon lox crudo and their tuna nigiri.
Clark’s Oyster Bar
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1200 W 6th St. / 512.297.2525 / Website
Perla’s brother restaurant, Clark’s, is located on the Westside of Austin and is a local favorite with a great raw bar. For lunch, brunch, happy hour, and dinner, customers can eat inside at the marble and pecan bar, on the banquette in our inviting dining room, or outside beneath the canopy on the shaded deck. Enjoy their signature cocktails, like the Clark’s Summer Pimm’s Cup, alongside their Dressed Oysters, finishing off with the Affogato, for a delectable and satisfying meal.
Ensenada ATX
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1108 E 12th St. / 512.666.4396
This woman-owned seafood truck brought the traditions and love for seafood from the Baja California port city of Ensenada, Mexico to Austin, Texas. With a small but mighty menu, their go-to items are their fried fish and fried shrimp tacos which are served with cabbage, pico-de-gallo, and mayonnaise sauce. On the weekends they extend their menu to offer tostadas de ceviche and cóctel. Foodies all over Austin have raved about this taco truck with one reviewer writing, “The BEST shrimp and fish tacos in Austin. Austin doesn't have this style of seafood tacos *anywhere*. I've lived here for 13 years and my husband and I have always been on the hunt for seafood tacos.”
Simar Seafood Cocina
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9503 Research Blvd Unit 400, Austin / 512.386.1182 / Website
The simple, airy, and soothing ambiance will make you feel like you're at the coast, complete with a palapa on the patio and distinctive tentacle lights. Fresh oysters on the half shell, shrimp aguachiles, and several types of ceviche are just a few of the delectable raw seafood dishes that they specialize in at Simar Seafood Cocina. Additionally, foods like USDA Prime cut Ribeye steak, Scallops in an ancho chile burre blanc, and Red Snapper ala Veracruz are among the hot meals that their chef is known for.
Bill’s Oyster
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205 W 3rd St. / 512.363.5769 / Website
Indulge in fresh oysters, sip an ice-cold martini, and savor a seasonal menu at Bill’s Oyster, which was founded by friends Stewart Jarmon and Chef Daniel Berg. Their two extravagant seafood towers offer a variety of seafood dishes. The Colorado has oysters, shrimp, clams, and lump crabs and the Lavaca has everything that’s in the Colorado plus tuna tartare and king crab. If you’re looking to treat yourself, Bill’s has a diverse delicacy selection with caviar from Poland, Israel, and Greece.
No matter which of these seafood spots you choose, you're guaranteed a delicious, fresh meal featuring Austin's finest fruits of the sea.
Photography by: THEPALMER/iStock Photo
