Seafood in Greater St. Louis skews Gulf Coast and casual rather than raw-bar formal, with Cajun rooms, fried-shrimp counters, and a couple of genuine splurges scattered from Clayton to the Metro East. This list weighs the plate against the price and names the municipality every time, because a happy-hour deal in Clayton and a fry counter in Belleville are not competing for the same night out.
№ 01
Landry's Seafood House
$$
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This downtown chain outpost trades on its riverfront patio more than its kitchen. The clam chowder runs thick and the burger can toughen under a heat lamp on a slow night, so stick to the fish and chips and eat outside. Service is generally attentive, and the scenic seating along the riverfront is the real draw here, not the seafood itself.
What to orderclam chowder, burger, fish and chips
№ 02
Evangeline's Bistro and Music House
$$
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Crawfish and gumbo anchor a New Orleans menu built around nightly live music, with sets starting early enough that dinner and the band actually overlap. The blackened fish holds its own against the louder draws. The wood-paneled dining room reads warm rather than dark, and it works for a birthday table or a date that wants noise with dinner.
What to orderCrawfish, Gumbo, Blackened Fish
№ 03
Beto's King Burrito
St. Charles
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The shrimp burrito is the reason to stop in this St. Charles counter spot, though the breakfast burrito covers the morning rush before a ballgame or errand run. Salsa comes in two heats and both get praised, the red with a real kick. Service is quick and casual, built for eating in the car or at a two-top, not lingering.
What to orderShrimp burrito, Breakfast burrito, Fish burrito
№ 04
Belleville Fish & Chicken
Belleville $
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Jumbo fried shrimp and cheese fries are the order at this Belleville counter, and portions run large for the price, which is the whole appeal of a place like this. It has held its neighborhood spot for a decade, with quality that some regulars say has slipped from its peak. The room is plain and functional, built for takeout, not atmosphere.
What to orderjumbo fried shrimp, fried chicken, cheese fries
№ 05
Southern Classic Daiquiri Factory St Louis
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Set in Soulard, the neighborhood most associated with the city's Mardi Gras culture, this daiquiri bar backs its drink menu with crawfish and gumbo and leans into the theme with beads and Louisiana signage. Staff move fast and keep the mood light, with music and games on weekend nights. Street parking is tight, so budget extra time before a Saturday visit.
What to orderdaiquiri, crawfish, gumbo
№ 06
Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill
Creve Coeur $$
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Gator bites are the signature order at this Creve Coeur institution, fried crisp and tender, paired well with a hurricane at the bar. The salad gets more praise than a side dish usually earns. Service tends to be personable and attentive, and the room has operated under this name and its predecessor long enough to become a fixture for regulars in west county.
What to ordergator bites, salad, hurricane
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Lobster rolls, offered in more than one style, are the reason people cross the city for this room, and the crab and clams back them up on a menu built for sharing large orders across a table. Seating moves fast for a busy spot, and the Mardi Gras-themed decor gets rotated seasonally. It rewards going hungry and going with a group.
What to orderlobster roll, crab, clams
№ 08
The Scottish Arms
$$
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Fish and chips and bangers and mash headline a British pub menu built for beer and a game on the screen. The room reads as a genuine UK-style pub rather than a themed one, with a long run as a St. Louis institution that closed and reopened under continuity regulars noticed and welcomed back. Casual, unfussy, good for a weeknight pint.
What to orderfish and chips, burger, bangers and mash
№ 09
Hokkaido Seafood Buffet and Grill
Swansea $$
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This Swansea buffet runs a spread that includes veggie sushi rolls, sashimi, and a grill station, with the sushi drawing the most consistent praise on the line. Quality has been inconsistent lately according to longtime patrons, with rice sometimes served under ideal temperature. It still works for a group that wants variety and no one arguing over the check.
What to orderveggie sushi roll, sashimi, grilled seafood
№ 10
Lazy River Grill
Manchester $$
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The spinach salad and grilled fish anchor a menu that also runs to steak, making this Manchester room a reliable choice for an anniversary or a lazy Saturday after a hike. Fishing decor lines the walls, fitting the name, and service reads warm and accommodating, including with dietary restrictions. It is built for comfort over spectacle.
What to orderSpinach salad, grilled fish, steak
№ 11
PokeDoke
$$
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The namesake bowl at this counter spot is the one to order, built around ahi tuna and a spicy tuna option for those who want heat. It draws comparisons to the original Delmar location that closed, and it now serves as the nearest option for former regulars. The room is simple and quick, best treated as a fast, satisfying meal rather than a destination.
What to orderpoke bowl, ahi tuna poke, spicy tuna poke
№ 12
801 Fish
Clayton $$$
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The grilled fish and a well-built chocolate martini or scotch set the tone at this Clayton room, which leans upscale and formal enough to warrant dressing for it. Personalized service and a polished dining room make it a fit for birthdays and anniversaries. Parking near the Clayton core can be tight, but the garage next door solves it.
What to orderchocolate martini, scotch, grilled fish
Frequently asked
What is the best seafood restaurant near me in the St. Louis area?
It depends which side of the metro is closest. This guide covers the city of St. Louis, Clayton, Creve Coeur, Manchester, St. Charles, and the Metro East separately, so check the municipality listed next to each restaurant rather than assuming citywide coverage. Each entry carries an Insider Score based on the public review record, and no restaurant paid to appear on this list.
Is there true Gulf Coast or Cajun seafood in St. Louis?
Yes. Evangeline's Bistro and Music House and Southern Classic Daiquiri Factory both build their menus around crawfish, gumbo, and other Louisiana staples, and both lean into New Orleans atmosphere with live music or Mardi Gras theming. Neither is trying to be a coastal raw bar, and both are honest about that.
What is the difference between the seafood restaurants in the city versus the county?
St. Louis City and St. Louis County have been separate governments since 1876, and that line matters for parking, price, and formality as much as geography. Clayton's 801 Fish is upscale and dressier, while Creve Coeur's Gulf Shores and Manchester's Lazy River Grill are casual, neighborhood-scale rooms built for regulars rather than special trips.
How are restaurants scored on this list?
Every entry carries an Insider Score built from the public review record for that restaurant, weighing consistency, standout dishes, and service patterns over time. Restaurants do not pay for placement or for a higher score, and thin coverage in some areas is left thin rather than padded.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Lejla Begic
Staff Writer · Top of St. Louis
Staff Writer. Born in Sarajevo, raised in Bevo Mill, lives in Affton. Covers the guides and drives the whole metro to do it, from the Delmar Loop to the Metro East. Tells you the order, the price, the wait, and the parking, then makes the argument.
