A selection of oysters and crab legs on ice at a seafood counter in a restaurant. — Fruits de mer at Meritage.

The 14 Best Seafood Restaurants in Minneapolis and Saint Paul

Where to find exceptional fruits de mer, omakase, seafood platters, and more around the landlocked Twin Cities

by Eater Staff Updated Aug 20, 2024, 6:23pm CDT

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Fruits de mer at Meritage.

| Meritage

by Eater Staff Updated Aug 20, 2024, 6:23pm CDT

Minneapolis and St. Paul may be over a thousand miles from the ocean, but even these landlocked cities have much to offer in the way of seafood. For exceptional omakase, shore-lunch style lobster rolls, whole walleye steamed in black bean sauce, Cajun boils, resplendent seafood platters, and delicate crudo lashed with olive oil and sprinkled with herbs, here are 14 standout seafood restaurants around Minneapolis and St. Paul, listed geographically (not ranked) as always.

Meritage

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The oysters at St. Paul’s Meritage, a glittering, classic French brasserie, get all the buzz — order a dozen on the half shell, or broiled with tarragon butter and breadcrumbs. But the raw bar offers all kinds of seafood platters, laden with Littleneck clams, tuna tartare, salmon rillettes, and other selections. Other highlights include Crab Louie and whole-roasted Dover sole meunière.

410 St Peter St, St Paul, MN 55102

(651) 222-5670

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The Luscious Crab

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For a Cajun-style seafood boil, head straight to the Luscious Crab on St. Paul’s University Avenue. This menu offers an abundance of seafood options — everything from blue, king, and snow crab to mussels, shrimp, lobster tail, and calamari — priced by the half-pound or pound, cooked with ample Old Bay and Cajun spice with your choice of sides (corn, noodles, fries, potatoes, etc). The Luscious Crab offers a number of options priced for groups too, to take the stress out of ordering.

501 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103

651-600-3374

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The Dive at Coastal Seafoods

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Long a destination for fresh cuts of mahi mahi, pearlescent raw scallops, and hard-to-find seafood specialties, Coastal Seafoods is now slinging hot dishes like lobster rolls, tuna smash burgers, Nashville hot soft-shell baskets, and oysters on the half-shell at a cafe and bar inside its Snelling Avenue shop. Come for happy hour or a casual dinner, and pair a basket of buffalo shrimp with a cold beer.

286 Snelling Avenue South, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105

(651) 698.4888

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Sea Salt Eatery

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Tucked just above the lip of Minnehaha Falls in a public park, Sea Salt serves some of the Cities’ best seafood: clam fries breaded in spicy Cajun batter; catfish po’ boys; fried bay scallops with corn salsa; even crab cakes, a truly rare find in this landlocked metro. Expect to wait in line, and note that Sea Salt is a seasonal restaurant — it’s typically open between April and October.

4825 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417

(612) 721-8990

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Two paper dishes of shrimp with salad and crab cake with a wedge of canteloupe and coleslaw.

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Shuang Cheng

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This 31-year Dinkytown staple known for its top-notch Cantonese menu specializes in seafood dishes, like crab with ginger and scallions and baked lobster in a five-spice salt. The walleye, steamed with black bean sauce, is a favorite.

1320 4th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

(612) 378-0208

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Smack Shack

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Smack Shack has a casual, shore-lunch vibe. It offers almost every possible preparation of lobster imaginable: Think lobster guacamole, lobster bisque served with grilled milk bread, lobster mac and cheese, lobster poutine, and buttered lobster rolls. There’s a whole lobster dinner on the menu, too, for cracking and dunking the Old Bay-spiced meat into drawn butter.

603 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

(612) 259-7288

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A lobster roll next to French fries on red and white checkered paper. — Smack Shack’s lobster roll.

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Porzana

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True, chef Daniel del Prado’s Porzana is known best as a steakhouse — home to unique Argentinian cuts like tapa de vacio and picanha. But del Prado has a knack for crafting exceptional cold bar menus: Spicy scallop tartare, cured salmon with blood orange and serrano, and resplendent seafood platters are fit for any feast.

200 N 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

(612) 489-6174

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Kado no Mise

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Chef Shigeyuki Furukawa’s Kado No Mise is one-fourth of an elegant Japanese dining experience in Minneapolis’s North Loop (its sister components are Kaiseki Furukawa, Gori Gori Peku, and Sanjusan). Kado No Mise, which translates to “corner restaurant,” serves Edomae sushi and simple Japanese dishes on three omakase menus of varying prices, from $70 to $160. Simply put, it’s exceptionally fine sushi in a landlocked city.

33 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

(612) 338-1515

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Billy Sushi

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Chef Enkhbileg “Billy” Tserenbat’s glam North Loop restaurant Billy Sushi, a favorite among visiting celebrities and athletes, is known for its indulgent specialty rolls and fine cuts of sashimi, which range from pristine yellow tail to decadently fatty chutoro (tuna belly). Billy Sushi is typically quite busy — a reservation is a wise move.

116 1st Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401

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The Oceanaire Seafood Room

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The Oceanaire may be a chain throughout the country, but that doesn’t knock its superior raw bar, clam chowder, or happy hour (known here as Admiral’s Hour — with $5 bottles of beer and $9 fish and chips) down a notch. This place has an old-school, white-tablecloth vibe, and the dining room is bathed in a nautical blue light.

50 South 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402

(612) 333-2277

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801 Fish

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For a glam downtown seafood dinner, this is the place. 801 Fish, which also has locations in St. Louis and Denver, emulates the swanky 801 Chophouse vibe, swapping out big steaks for caviar-crowned oysters, shrimp cocktails, Maryland crab cakes, and whole grilled branzino. The lobster fried rice is popular here, too.

800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402

(612) 234-6700

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Kyatchi

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Kyatchi works to keep its menu sustainable by partnering with local suppliers like The Fish Guys. This Kingfield spot serves sashimi, classic rolls, and platters, but is known for its oshizushi, or pressed sushi, made with layers of rice and fish like a cake. Try the battera oshizushi, with mackerel and clear kombu seaweed.

3758 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55409

(612) 236-4429

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Martina

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Chef Daniel del Prado’s Linden Hills restaurant Martina fuses Argentinian and Italian influences, serving exceptional oysters, tuna tiradito, seared scallops, and mussels. The spaghetti fra diavolo with lobster is a highlight. Save room for caramel flan.

1555, 4312 S Upton Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55410

(612) 922-9913

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A white bowl filled with spaghetti with red sauce and lobster. — Spaghetti fra diavolo with lobster.

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6Smith

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6Smith, perched on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, offers a modern American menu with a surf-and-turf bend: chimichurri hanger steak and tamarind-braised shortrib are served alongside delicate seafood dishes like miso-marinated seabass and seared scallops. The happy hour menu offers oysters on the half shell, calamari, crispy brick shrimp, and lobster sliders.

294 Grove Ln E, Wayzata, MN 55391

(952) 698-7900

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