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Blue Water

4.2 (4.5k reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

Blue Water Photos

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BLUE WATER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Blue Water

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Classic Cioppino
Michael G.

Blue Water is a great spot when craving seafood. They are fresh plenty of selections .When we visit this place we always get our favorites, Classic Cioppino , and Sauteed Mussels and Clams. Usually, with these 2 bowls of delicious seafood, we also get their Fried Calamari but this time my Wife wanted to try their Homemade New England Clam Chowder Bread Bowl, and she also loves their Bread Chowder. This Blue water in this location never disappoints us, they are generous in portion, and the actual seafood sizes are decent , the food is always good. Staff are also always around to clean the tables or assist customers. Parking on Side streets, some are metered some are not and there's a small portion close by that is a paid parking .

Kim R.

Serval years later update. Stopped by to grab dinner and they didn't disappoint. I got the plate I got the swordfish plate. The serving size was worth the $$$. Service was great. They offer indoor and outdoor patio seating.

This is an aerial view of the three plates, with the fish tacos and the Sprite in the foreground being mine
Robert G.

I didn't even know about this restaurant/market - Blue Water - and was brought here by my friends who reside in this metro area. Since I tend to always ask for Italian or Greek food, I felt it was only right for me to acquiesce to what they wanted to eat that night. Blue Water sits about halfway between Old Town and Little Italy on the side of I-5 opposite from the international airport. There are other restaurants clustered in these few blocks that are also popular. If you are willing to walk a few blocks, you can take the trolley here. One orders at the counter and the food is then brought out to you via a placard with a number you put on your table. The service at Blue Water was unremarkable, but, since there was a constant line, you can't expect them to fawn over you. The prices vary, but, for the more "exclusive" slabs of fish, they run a little on the higher side. The interior has woodsy and somewhat seaside nautical decor. It might also take a little bit of work to find a table owing to its popularity. I will eat seafood, and like some types of seafood very much, but I'd say I don't care for more than half of the seafood out there. Here, they feature many types of seafood, all of which are fresh and you can peruse all the glass cases displaying it. Coming from the kitchen, there are some themed and nuanced presentations of it. I didn't need an entire fish market. I just order pieces of fish that can be presented like a piece of steak and, hopefully, with as little cartilage as possible. Similarly, I also like some smaller fish made to look that way, such as trout. I'm not a big fan of shellfish and don't eat clams, mussels, calamari, and others, but do like shrimp and scallops. They seem to put together some nice platters with scallops. I will also eat lobster, but have probably done so less than what one can count on two hands. If someone wants to treat me to the latter, I'm in. The three platters delivered to the table were enjoyed with my friends hosting me here enjoying the food more than I did. To keep things simple, I ordered a trio of fish tacos. They were fairly good. My friends liked their dishes more than I did. I typically wonder if I'm going astray when I'm not giving a business a rating that's in line with the herd. Three stars does indeed mean that a place is fine and Blue Water is fine. I might be doing this because of the service, the pricing of some items such that you wouldn't want to add much on, and the overall appeal of my selected dish. However, since there are many other four and five star reviews, and if you really like fish, Blue Water will most likely be reliable for you.

Bonnie C.

I had a high expectation for this place since San Diego is known for seafood and line was line on a Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, it didn't wow me like some places in the Bay Area. We ordered a few items to share among 6 of us. Food was good but wasn't the best. If you are just craving for seafood then this place will fix it. If you are looking for something new or amazing great then look else where. On a positive note, they have patio dining option and super friendly servers.

Fish bar
Phing T.

Dear diary Had been waiting a while to try this place. It was busier than I expected on a Sunday morning. The vibe was super lively and upbeat. Parking is a hassle though, we had to park two blocks away so get there early if you want to park closer. We started with the calm chowder which was more watery than what I like but the flavor was good. Then we had the crab and medium shrimp which was *chef's kiss*. We finished with the red snapper and the Hawaiian wahoo tacos. Those were bigger than you think. Overall the wait was worth the trip there! You should definitely give it a shot.

But fresh fish to take home
Monica P.

1st time and I will be back. Lots of seafood choices to eat there or take with you to go. It's a market and a restaurant. Menu mainly seafood. Kids menu had chicken strips. The place is busy...but that is because it is so good. Worth waiting. Shrimp tacos were filling and so good and had lots of fresh toppings, cheese, avocado, sour cream, carrots which I was skeptical about but now I get it. Unique twist of flavors but delicious so just go with it! All food is made to order. There was also a sign with lots of sauces and garlic butters and lemons to add to your fish. Grouper tacos were so good. Super juicy and moist! No fountain drinks so I just bought an Arizona iced team. There is a fridge near the menus with sodas. There is also a sign with their beer selections. Staff brings you your food and they all were smiling! Which I was impressed with because it was busy! I found a picture on yelp and that is how I ordered! lol It is a busy place, good music playing but a bit on the louder side but good energy! Casual Place. Parking is a bit tough but we found a spot up the block.

Cioppino $30
RoseMary F.

Come to San Diego for great finds on seafood. I met a friend for lunch and he recommended this spot. It is very popular, so plan to wait patiently or arrive after peak lunch or dinner times. Fortunately, we were able to get a corner table on the inside. I had a bowl of Cioppino, it came with a generous portion of mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp and red snapper in a delicious & savory broth with toasted sourdough bread. I was able to take half home for the next day, it's a winner and worth 5 stars for this meal alone! I also ordered a blackened salmon sandwich to go . It was on a French roll and had two slices of salmon on lettuce, tomato, red onions, with tartar sauce. My friend had grilled octopus with a side salad, he shared a portion with me. It was tender, meaty, and seasoned well. Menu highlights: Fried Calamari, Beer-battered fish tacos, Ahi Tuna, Shrimp tacos, Tuna Melt, Grilled fish tacos, Ceviche, Clam Chowder, Chicken tacos (kids menu item). Marinade choices: Blackened, Bronzed (Blackened with brown sugar), Chipotle, Garlic butter, Lemon butter, and Teriyaki. To the right of the entrance is the seafood market, sold by the pound to take home and cook: Ahi Tuna, Halibut, Mahi Mahi, Scallops, Shrimp, Pacific Snapper. Swordfish, and Yellowtail. Bookmark this spot to dine in or take-out. Note, they do not have parking, drive around the block for street parking only. Sincerely, Rosemary

Fish taco (snapper)
Nate C.

Had a seafood craving so me and my girlfriend decided to give this place a try. Came around lunch time and it was very busy. Line was out the door but it went by pretty fast. You order at the counter and they provide a table for you to sit at. Indoor seating is limited but they have more tables outside. Place was clean despite the crowd of people inside and the staff were very patient and friendly. For food we ordered oysters, clam chowder, tacos, and a shrimp/crab cocktail. Paired everything with a nice barrio lager beer. Oysters were fresh and delicious. Definitely recommend getting a few to start of your meal. The clam chowder was a little on the salty side but not overwhelming. I would still order it again. The shrimp and crab cocktail was my favorite thing we ordered. The shrimp were big and the crab meat was sweet. Fish tacos were decent but nothing crazy. A bit dry so I probably wouldn't order it again. Overall I believe this place is worth coming back. Fresh seafood and great staff.

Blackened halibut sandwich
Summer S.

I've been coming to Blue Water for over a decade and they never disappoint. The food is flavorful and the seafood is incredibly fresh. When you enter the restaurant, walk up, grab a menu, and check everything out while you wait in line. This way you know what you want when it's time to order. This place gets busy but they operate efficiently so help them help you by being ready! Blue Water is a great place to stop for fresh, local seafood. They have you covered if you're hungry right now or you're having people over for taco Tuesday. They also have a super clean restaurant. Everyone is always busy cleaning or running food. 10/10 recommendation.

Seared Ahi taco and red snapper taco
Gary B.

The food was good. The poke was very fresh and the tacos were large enough that 2 were filling. The only issue was the wait staff kept moving us after telling is where to sit. I would classify it as "kindly being very bossy " probably would not return but worth a try once

Oysters On The 1/2 Shell
Valerie S.

My mom and I really loved the food here. We had the dozen oysters to start! They were fresh and slightly sweet The track taco was super yummy. This is their award winning taco! I enjoyed the big, juicy pieces of shrimp and the mango slaw on top. Would definitely get this one again! We also shared the fish and chips - beer battered cod. I liked how the breading wasn't thick and it remained crispy!! Also, it didn't feel heavy or too oily at all. The fish inside was moist. The coleslaw that came with it was good too and it was a little sweet. I didn't like the tartar sauce that much and honestly didn't feel like the fish needed it because it already had good flavor. Service was great! The person who took our order was very nice. Very casual place! Can't wait to come back and try other items

Side of the building
Emmett T.

I have passed by this Blue Water location in the Middletown neighborhood next to the highway numerous times before stopping by recently for dinner. The parking spaces in the adjacent lot seemed to be all dedicated to the neighboring businesses so I found a curbside spot along India St. A large parklet in front of the suite had several tables set up for al fresco dining, but it was empty during my visit. Everyone elected to sit inside the main dining room or in the covered courtyard next to it. There were a couple of refrigerated glass cases to the left when you walked in. It was the market side of the business with lots of fresh seafood on display. I didn't see any customers make purchases in that area as all of us decided to line up to order food/drink from the service counter. A two-sided menu sheet listed plenty of choices. Creating your own grilled fish plate was the featured entry. Sandwiches, salads, tacos, soups, sashimi, seafood cocktails, appetizers, and specials (entrees) were the other categories. I picked a cup of the Homemade Hearty Seafood Soup and the Classic Cioppino for my meal. After paying at the register, a numbered sign was given to me which I took to a table in the courtyard. Within 15 minutes, both items were delivered by a worker. The soup was a tomato-based broth with assorted seafood and vegetables. I believe some type of white fish was the main protein of which there were several chunks in the cup. It was warm and hearty as described. The cashier told me the kitchen was running low on scallops. They would supplement the cioppino with additional clams and mussels in place of the scallops. Shrimp and red snapper were the other components in the bowl of marinara sauce. Three pieces of toasted sourdough came with the order. There were at least a dozen mussels and nearly as many clams. I did notice a few scallops in the mix along with about four pieces each of shrimp and red snapper. For $30, it was a fair price for cioppino given the amount of seafood. I have eaten versions that cost 20 percent more with 20 percent fewer ingredients.

Fresh Fish
Chun M.

After our plane landed in San Diego, even before taking my phone off airplane mode, I had a hankering for seafood! Luckily, I found an old bookmark for Blue Water located just on the other side of the highway from the rent-a-car garage and even got a parking spot right in front of the restaurant! When we walked in, I had a déja vu moment. I recognized the blue awnings, the wall mounted Mahi Mahi & Yellowfin Tuna and the fresh fish in the refrigerated case and realized that we had been here back in 2011 (pre-Yelp Elite), when we came to SD for Comic-Con! We queued up to order our food and the nice server managing the dining room directed us to a table out in the patio area. When your food is ready, the server homes in on your table number stand to deliver the goods. We started by sharing a hearty bowl of thick New England Clam Chowder and the taste brought me 2500 miles back to New England with chunks of clams & potatoes. The seared Black Pepper & Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna was a great tasty appetizer, but could have been an entree because it came with a nice bowl of rice. We also had an assorted trio of seafood tacos, which were sizable enough for the wife & I to share, with a Beer Battered Cod and another with Fried Scallops. The third Scallop & Shrimp Track Taco was big enough to come on its own plate, all dressed up in crema, slaw, onions & avocado. I was jealous of the table next to us because they had 2 gigantic bowls of mussels and the couple were unabashedly slurping up the juicy mollusks with wine & tomato sauce from the shells. I'm drooling just thinking about it, so I gotta make my way back to San Diego really soon!

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Blue Water Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Blue Water

Do they take reservations?

I don't think so, they don't have a regular hostess, you just order at the counter and they bring to table.

Will you ever bring the crab and artichoke dip back to the menu? We miss it!

Hey there! Thank you for the feedback, I will share this with our on-site team 🙂

Do you offer catering menu?

Hi there! You can email info@sdbluewater.com for catering options.

Are you open for take out order on Thanksgiving?

We will be closed on Thanksgiving

What is your email address?

info@sdbluewater.com

What is the fresh seafood in the market that I can take home? What is the best time of day to buy?…

Their fresh fish changes by season and availability. Be prepared for a waiting line though. I tried to order in advance online but they never responded to my request.

Do you order own food or is there ?waiter services

Hi there! Orders are placed at the counter with our cashiers and brought to your table when ready.

Are you taking reservations?

We do not accept reservations.

Do you guys allow dine in?

We currently have limited outdoor seating available.

Are you guys doing taco Tuesday again?

Our Ocean Beach location is offering Taco Tuesday from 4pm-close.

I need two lobster tails for Thursday, do I need to call in tomorrow morning?

You should call, they only sell what they catch.

Do you sell fresh lobster tail to take home?

Hi Brittany, we do not carry lobster on hand but can request with a 24 hour notice.

What is the best time to come here on a saturday morning?

We try to get there 15 to 20 minutes before it opens!

Are Pets allowed?

No, and if you go (and I recommend you do because it's the bomb), you'll understand why.

View All 15 Questions

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Tuna Harbor Dockside Market

Tuna Harbor Dockside Market

4.0
(122 reviews)
2.3 mi
•$$

Lots of fresh seafood readily available and come early because it gets busy very fast. Hours are…read morefrom 8am until they sell out. There is only one food stall towards the back that sells prepared dishes. Lines gets very long but moves very fast. There also isn't many seating due to the small space. I came mainly for the food stall in the back which I believe their business name is called dockside fish.

Cool place, stopped by here with my brother yesterday to check out the fresh catch. We got there…read morearound 11:30 and parking was challenging. There's a lot very close by but parking is $8 ($5 if you get validation by making a $10 purchase in one of the shops at Seaport Village). A lot was sold out by the time we got there so I would recommend coming early in the morning. They had fishmongers scaling and cleaning fish off the pier and a wide array of fresh fish by the pound (prices were very affordable). When we were there, there was one "cooked foods" booth with clam chowder, ceviche, fish and chips, uni hand rolls, etc. Prices were fair but the line was long so we opted to skip it. Much of the menu was sold out by that time anyway. Food looked decent based on what I saw others eating. Overall it's worth a stop if you're in the area, want to do some shopping at Seaport Village, can find parking, etc. Otherwise I'm not sure it's worth a trip per se.

Photos
Crispy Rockfish Sandwich
Crispy Rockfish Sandwich
Uni roll I missed out on
Uni roll I missed out on
Entrance

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Entrance
Fisherman's Processing

Fisherman's Processing

4.0
(73 reviews)
1.5 mi

Hands down the best product I have ever received!!!…read more For three decades, I have been blessed to fish on long range trips out of San Diego, from Catalina to Clipperton, and everywhere in between. I've seen it all, and I can say without a doubt that the product that I just received from Fisherman's Processing is the very best in the industry. That rainbow, iridescent hue of light diffraction is the proof right there. Solid omega 3's, and it all starts with the processing on the Royal Star. The crew is dedicated to Shinkei Jime, proper bleeding, cleaning, and immediately getting each and every tuna into the RSW. On my most resent 16 day trip, not once did I see any fish on the deck for more than just a few minutes. Even during the hot bites with fish constantly coming over the rail. The crew's work ethic is clear. Not only do they want you to have a great time and catch the fish of a lifetime, but they sincerely want to produce the highest quality product achievable. Who wouldn't want share the very best product with friends and family? Thank you to the Royal Star and Fisherman's Processing. My wife said I can go again and again if I come home with fish like that! SOLD!!!

A friend was fishing and caught enough fish to share. He "tagged" 2 of the fish for me and they…read morewere ready the next day. I called them on a Sunday morning, they immediately answered the phone and helped me to locate my fish because I was not sure which boat they came in on. They checked the status and my fish was cut but not frozen per the instructions given by my fisherman friend. I arrived shortly before closing to give the fish as much time in their freezers as possible. Staff was bustling with lots of activity after a busy weekend but they were friendly and efficient. I went into the office and saw my favorite poke spice so I picked up a pouch of that as well. Minutes later a friendly lady brought out a rack of fish and loaded it into my cooler and packed it with ice. I tipped her and was on my way quickly. When I got home I realized how clean the cuts were on the fish. I believe they get about 30% yield which is understandable as there are many bones, blood lines and skin that is not saved. I am not sure if you can negotiate to have any of that stuff saved if you like to make fish stock or have spoiled kitties like I do. My kitties are even more spoiled now as they received the 5* portion of the fish for their treats instead of scraps.

Photos
Yummy spices and sauces
Yummy spices and sauces
Plenty of the best for the family!
Plenty of the best for the family!
Perfectly packaged Yellowfin and Wahoo.

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Perfectly packaged Yellowfin and Wahoo.
Thuan Phat Supermarket

Thuan Phat Supermarket

3.3
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3.0 mi
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If Willy Wonka ever pivoted to Southeast Asian groceries, it would look exactly like Thuan Phat…read more This place is a full‑scale Vietnamese fever dream disguised as a normal supermarket. You walk in expecting Vons. You get Saigon. The produce section alone deserves its own theme music. Herbs, mushrooms, greens you didn't even know had names -- all fresher and cheaper than anything your American supermarket is pretending to offer. It's a straight-up cornucopia. Then you hit the meat counter and suddenly Ralphs and Vons feel like they should issue an apology. Marrow bones, femurs, trotters -- if you're making pho, ramen, chicken stock, or just want to feel like a culinary warlock, this is your playground. You will walk out with ingredients you didn't plan on buying and absolutely no regrets. Every aisle has some kind of delightful chaos. Dried pineapple flowers for homemade bitters for your signature cocktail? Absolutely. Industrial-sized bags of frog meat? Listen... maybe not for me. But if you need it, this is the place. No judgment, only abundance. It's as big as any mainstream grocery store, but stocked with so much cool stuff it feels like a teleportation portal to Southeast Asia. You come for one thing, you leave with twenty, and somehow you're still thrilled about it. Five stars. A must-visit. And if you start making better broth after shopping here, you can thank me later.

It's a small market. It's super cute. I was able to find my Vietnamese tea that I wanted and the…read morestaff is super friendly.

Photos
Thuan Phat Supermarket
Thuan Phat Supermarket
Thuan Phat Supermarket

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Blue Water - seafood - Updated June 2026

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