When you want the best San Francisco seafood in the best location, look at where the locals go and follow them. For over 40 years, Pier Market Seafood Restaurant has been serving the very best seafood delicacies to locals and discerning tourists alike. Pier Market Seafood Restaurant on the iconic Pier 39 is famous for great seafood.
Pier Market has thrived for four decades in the highly competitive San Francisco seafood restaurant environment because it ticks all the basic boxes.
Iconic Must-Try Seafood Delicacies at Pier Market
Although Pier Market does offer delicious alternatives to seafood – steak, chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, and burgers – it is first and foremost dedicated to serving some of the best seafood in San Francisco, and therefore in the USA.
Here are some of the iconic dishes diners can look forward to:
New England Clam Chowder
Pier Market clam chowder was voted the best clam chowder on Pier 39. Creamy New England clam chowder is an American classic. Made with fresh clams, bacon, aromatic vegetables, potatoes, fresh herbs, and thick cream, this clam chowder is truly among the best San Francisco seafood experiences you can get.
You can enjoy this seafood delicacy in a simple cup or bowl, or with crispy fries as a starter, but chowder aficionados usually order their clam chowder in a sourdough bowl, giving them both a culinary and visual feast!
Crab Cakes
San Francisco is renowned for its world-class crab dishes. Pier Market’s crab cakes, served with Cajun rémoulade and fries as a Pier Market specialty, burst with fresh crab flavor and are perfectly balanced by the spicy rémoulade. Often, the best way to enjoy iconic San Francisco seafood is in a deceptively simple dish like crab cakes.
Dungeness Crab
Dungeness crab is a world-renowned seafood delicacy, and Pier Market is famous among seafood lovers for serving this iconic crustacean. It is the foundation for a massive fishing industry along the Pacific West Coast, from Alaska to California. Dungeness crabs are bigger than regular crabs, typically around seven inches wide, and some have a shell up to ten inches across. These can weigh over three pounds.
Despite their size, the meat of this crab is tender and delicate. The taste is light and sweet, with a noticeable nuttiness.
Dungeness crab is famous among San Francisco seafood offerings, usually cooked and served whole. Pier Market serves this seafood delicacy in two delectable ways: the more complex garlic roasted or simply steamed and served with drawn butter.
Cioppino
Cioppino, or fisherman’s stew, is a hearty Italian-American dish that is perfect for the cooler weather prevalent close to the San Francisco Bay, or for any seafood lover with a hearty appetite. At Pier Market, this complex dish with its tomato and wine sauce contains a medley of seafood, including fresh fish, mussels, clams, shrimp, and crab.
Mesquite Grilled Fish
Locally sourced mesquite wood is often used in cooking San Francisco seafood. It burns quickly and with a high heat, which makes it ideal for grilling delicate seafood delicacies such as very fresh fish. In addition to its high heat, mesquite also produces a lot of smoke, which adds flavor and color. Because it is more neutral than oak or hickory, mesquite is ideal for cooking and grilling fish to perfection, without masking the flavor.
Salmon
You can enjoy this firm, full-flavored delicacy either grilled as is and served with herb butter, or glazed with teriyaki sauce.
Pacific Rock Cod
Despite its name, Pacific rock cod, also called rockfish or snapper, is neither cod nor snapper. This delicate, flaky white filet is perfectly grilled and blackened over hot mesquite wood and served with a spicy rémoulade. Rock cod is one of the signature San Francisco seafood dishes served at Pier Market.
Grilled Swordfish
Grilled swordfish is another seafood delicacy enjoyed by Pier Market regulars. This mild white fish with its meaty texture is flash-grilled until just done and served with a tangy mango salsa that perfectly complements its delicate flavor.
Pacific Halibut
This large flounder has a delicate, flaky texture, which makes it ideal for quick grilling, and perfectly absorbs the garlic herb butter that accompanies it.
Fresh Seafood
Freshness is the key to great seafood delicacies, and Pier Market Seafood Restaurant prides itself on serving fresh seafood delivered daily. From clams to crabs to calamari, Pier Market guarantees high-quality seafood.
Proven Recipes
The appeal of San Francisco seafood is based on using great ingredients and preparing them in time-honored ways. People patronize Pier Market because it will guarantee the best seafood delicacies, day after day, year in, year out, over decades.
The Best Dining Experience
Many seafood aficionados prefer a straightforward dining experience when enjoying seafood delicacies. For fantastic San Francisco seafood, a casual, family-friendly atmosphere, and unbeatable service, Pier Market is the place to go.
Book Now at Pier Market Seafood Restaurant
Whether you prefer the heated outside patio or the snug comfort of the large indoor restaurant, Pier Market has the best seafood in San Francisco. The combination of casual atmosphere and exceptional prices for what you get makes Pier Market a regular seafood haven for locals and a must-visit destination for knowledgeable visitors to the San Francisco Bay.
For the great atmosphere, brilliant views, and incomparable seafood experience, book a table at Pier Market. If, unfortunately, you cannot get a reservation when you need it, we save many tables for walk-in guests. You’re always welcome to join us in person even if you don’t have a reservation. After dining with us, seafood lovers should also check out one of our other seafood restaurants on Pier 39. We can’t wait to welcome you!