We've gone by this spot for years and finally had a chance to stop by for lunch, and glad we did. While everybody raves about the fried clams, we were in the mood for fried lobster and ordered that plate. While some reviews complain about the lady who takes the order, we had a pleasant experience! The little slip of paper warns that it could take time for the order to arrive, and it did! A solid 20 minutes but it was worth the wait. The fried lobster was sweet and cooked perfectly. I see why others rave about the onion rings. Delicious, not greasy and right up there with some of the best I've ever had. While the fries were good, they were not exceptional. Cole slaw solid. Overall a darn good plate and as good, if not better than some of the other nearby spots. Short season for these folks, and hours subject to change. Always check before making a trip over. read more

Ceal's Clam Stand - Fried lobster - Seafood Near Me - Seabrook, New Hampshire

I am 68 years old. I've been coming here for as long as I can remember, the faces have changed but the recipes continue to please the people. I miss them when they're closed and rejoice when they open for the season. read more

Ceal's Clam Stand - i'm waiting for the luscious food that's about to come. They're going to call my name. I'm gonna rush the window. - Seafood Near Me - Seabrook, New Hampshire

I went to Ceals Clam Shack and ordered for three people. The price came to over $100 for three small boxes of clams and scallops. In the process of paying the bill I got the "tipping extortion" all too common at eateries today as the cashier turned the financial computer screen revealing to everyone else in the order line the expected tipping amounts on my order...and additional $15-30. Sorry but I'm not a pushover and refuse to pay Ceal's labor charges. As a result my box of clams contained a lot more batter and fewer clams. Coincidence or payback? You be the judge. I say this as someone who has been going to Ceals for close to 50 years. read more

The BEST CLAMS !!!! Always delish and they are so NICE ! They make summer Summer ! I have been going there since 1971 and I can't imagine any other clam in this wiorld onion rings are great too . read more

despite the yelpers report that ceal's clam stand has closed. i am here to say that my wife and i just went there today 6/29/2025 at about 6:30 pm and she got a small box of fried clams. that she rated them at a score of 10 out of 10. the hours posted out front of the building: friday 4:30 to 8:00 and saturday 11:30 to 8:00. and Sunday 11:30 to 7:00. we mentioned to the owner about the closed claim and she replied that she didn't know where that keeps coming from. read more

I was on way back from Maine this week in 10/22 And place boarded up and looks down for year? No info. Stating if or when opening again. Went to Brown's just down street that is open year round. We had great food at Brown's while Ceal's fair weather operation boarded up? Website and Yelp says open tomorrow???? 75 years... ? Who cares if not open Owner responded and informed seasonal business... so I understand and the scallops are good when I am able to eat there and all he tarter sauce recipe is best I have tasted anyplace...should sell that in bottles ... read more

Ceal's Clam Stand - Boarded up - Seafood Near Me - Seabrook, New Hampshire

I love the food their and all of the people who work there are so nice. I love the food their and all of the people who work there are so nice. I love the food their and all of the people who work there are so nice. I love the food their and all of the people who work there are so nice. I love the food their and all of the people who work there are so nice. I love the food their and all of the people who work there are so nice. I love the food their and all of the people who work there are so nice. I love the food their and all of the people who work there are so nice. read more

First time visiting Hampton Beach. Me and my friend wanted to try some local food, and we stumbled on Ceal's. There was a bunch of people waiting and it seemed inviting. However we waited ONE AND A HALF HOUR to get some fish and chips! They gave us an order ticket on which it said something like "Thank you for your patience, good food takes time to prepare". But does it? It was obvious that this was a recurring situation and it has nothing to do with "good food" in my opinion. If they told me at the window when I ordered that it could take this long, I wouldn't have ordered and left. For that amount of patience I was expecting the food to be exceptional, but really it wasn't. The fish itself was good, fresh, the batter was quite unique but nothing to die for. The portion was decent, but not the fries, which were also quite ordinary. It was also their most expensive meal on the menu, 30$! That was 50$ in CAD for me. A time consuming and expensive experience, if I had to pick again, I wouldn't go back. Literally the most I waited at a restaurant ever. Sorry. read more

Best fried belly clams and onion rings , better than anyone nearby so good that's what I always get

Best fried seafood around. Always fresh and delicious. Family owned business that takes pride in what they do.

I only had onion rings and they were the best I have ever had! The unfriendly woman who takes ur order is just that, unfriendly! She obviously doesn't want to be bothered and couldn't care less if u were there or somewhere else. Not interested in wanting u to come back! Again the food was great! read more

Fried scallops and fried clams both delicious! Picnic tables set up, some under cover for you to enjoy this taste filled treat. Going back for more? Already have this will be a regular stop for a long long time. read more

In business for 78 years.Here's why. My parents started going here in 1965 and it became a family tradition then.This is truly an unassuming gem.Without a doubt the best fried claims anywhere on the planet. I'd like to keep this place secret but they deserve the praise. You will not be disappointed. read more

The best tasting clams sweet and scallops delicious nobody has recipe my favorite sister passed away so

Wish I could give a ZERO....food was decent but the woman taking orders needs to attend Anger Management classes..there are better places close by..will never go back. read more

Went on Sunday May 28th 2023. Opening weekend. We have never been so it was our first time, even though I pretty much grew up around Seabrook my whole life. We ordered a medium fried clam basket, small onion ring, small chicken tenders, a chocolate frappe, and a coke. The clams were nice and small, sweet and cooked well. The onion rings were hand cut and battered just the way I like them. The chicken tenders were not hand battered they are frozen and tasted good for a frozen variety. When we ordered we asked if the chicken was hand battered and we were told they were not and that they were the only food item they had that was frozen. So we ordered anyway just to try them. Everything we had was cooked very nicely, the oil seemed like it was in need of changing but we couldn't think of how as it was opening weekend so it had to be newer not sure what the issue could be there but it tasted a little like it needed changing. The only real complaint was the chocolate frappe. It was the worst I've ever had. The cup wasn't filled all the way and it was so thin and even seemed warm. It didn't taste good at all. I ended up throwing it away. I'd definitely go back for some clams and rings while at the beach, but stick to my favorite seafood place a little more inland for cravings of seafood. read more

Today was my first visit to Ceal's. It won't be my last! They served the fried clams of my childhood memories from growing up along the SE Mass and RI seacoast. The onion rings were super too! read more

Finally stopped in to try their fried calms and was very disappointed. It was very expensive, greasy and the batter or tarter sauce had a overly sweet flavor and after taste. I'm glad we didn't order a large as the medium we shared was enough and we really didn't want to finish it. The staff was not very friendly. My daughter hurt her foot and was elevating it and was asked to put it down on the ground. I understand but the tables were far from clean and covered w old dried bird dropping and dirt. They were not cleaning after patrons. We won't be back. read more

Love the seafood here... Love, Love, Love the scallops... In all my years of Hampton trips, never really stopped in here much until 1 time last year & now have been back about 3-4 this summer so far... The food is soo good... The ordering process & the wait - Not so much, but I guess you have to wait for fresh cooked, good food... it just seems like an eternity... And the prices are a little steep... But Ill continue to go, wait a long time & over pay because they are just that good! read more

Ceal's Clam Stand - Seafood Near Me - Seabrook, New Hampshire

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Delicious clams. Best on the Seacoast. Sweet and savory. The flavor is there not just fried coating. This is a must stop before the season ends read more

I had my choice of any place to go for dinner for Mothers Day yesterday, and I chose Ceal's even thought it was cold and rainy outside and I knew we'd end up eating in the car. It's been my favorite seafood place for many years. This was their first weekend open for the season and they did not disappoint! We all had clam plates and a side of onion rings. Clams were perfectly crunchy and delicious as always, not sandy at all, fantastic. Hand cut fries were perfectly cooked as were the onion rings. Cole slaw delicious. It's very rustic, and definitely a clam shack, but I haven't found fried seafood that is better. Prices creep up over the years but we gladly pay whatever they charge. It's so worth it. We've gone through their seafood menu over the years and everything has been excellent. We love this place and as long as they are frying clams, we will be back! read more

Ate here for the first time last week. outrageous prices. After seeing the large crowd at a different stand nearby we turned around and went to Ceal's because there was only a handful of customers and we wanted to be quick (the lack of customers should have clued us in). We got one plate of fish and chips, a medium box of clams (comes with nothing, just clams), one seafood chowder, one small fry, one bottled soda....over $100. The fish and clams WERE delicious but there are more affordable places to get the same. The chowder was unlike any chowder I've ever had. There was plenty of seafood in it but it tasted awful. I can't even describe the taste...it actually had very little flavor but what flavor it had was just plain gross. The few of us in our party all agreed it was inedible. It was thrown in the trash. At least the order came out quickly and we didn't have to fight for a place to sit! The woman who took our order was also very nice. However, we won't be back. read more

They're amazing! The clams and scallops are not like any others and are always fresh!!! We can't wait until they open every season and tell everyone about them!!! read more

This little clam shack (since 1948) with outside takeout windows serves up fresh fried seafood, lobster rolls, chowders, sandwiches, cold drinks, smoothies, and frappes. I enjoy the whole belly fried clams served here, which are better than many I've had and very sweet and crispy. The prices here are on the high side for what you get. For example (2008 prices), a Clam Roll is $7.51 with tax and Haddock Fish & Chips (with slaw) is $18.09 with tax. You place your order at a window to the left and pick up your food at a window on the right when your number is called over the speakers. There's picnic table seating in front and covered seating adjacent to the shack. To cool off, go next door to Ceal's Cold Creations for some ice cream treats. read more

Ceal's Clam Stand - Seafood Near Me - Seabrook, New Hampshire

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If I could give it a zero I would. They have a captured audience, so they have outrageous prices and the food is terrible. $21.25 for what I would call a half serving of fish and chips. I have had better at a chain for 1/3 the price. I live in Central MA and for $11 I get a huge, delicious serving and have to bring half of it home. Onion rings were very greasy. The seafood chowder was dishwater with some inedible stuff mixed in. I couldn't eat it. I should have brought the whole thing back. These people should wear masks, and not because of COVID, although no one that I could see that was working there had masks or were social distancing. read more

Ceal's is the best fried clam between the Cape and Maine. They are very clean, NEVER SANDY, which you cannot say the same about a lot of places. The batter is just enough and is light and fluffy. As with Lobster Rolls we have samples Fried Clams from the spots down in Boston, Harwich Port, S. Yarmouth, Matha's Vineyard, Methuen, Newburyport MA; Seabrook, Hampton, Rye, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Kittery, and Ogunquit Maine, and we like Ceal's the best. We recently stopped there with some friends, who are from Ipswich, after going on a party boat fishing, and they even admitted they are so in love with the Clam Box, but Ceal's is equal if not better. read more

Simply the best! Better than all the rest! Their secrets for clam coating and onion ring batter is tantamount to Coca-Cola's formula. Not found anywhere else. Naysayers who think prices are high would say the same about a Steak at Hanover St. chop house or Morton's or a bottle of Maker's Mark. I say you get what you pay for and Ceal's uses only the best to serve you. GO, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED IF YOU UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE GREAT FRIED SEAFOOD! read more

Everything was perfect! Fried clams. Fried Shrimp. Scallop Roll. Onion Rings. Chicken finger plate. Homemade Iced Tea! read more

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I'm 36, so I've been going to Ceal's for 36 years. My father (Ceal's biggest fan) has been going religiously for over 50 years. They're a beach clam stand so don't expect modern amenities, but we like it that way. Waiting for the food teaches patience, but it's well worth the wait. We had the whole belly clams the other night and they were delicious. The cheeseburgers are quite good too. Old fashioned for sure. The frappe comes super thin, but for a surcharge they'll add more ice cream and thicken it up. Outdoor seating. If you see a line, be prepared to wait. Family owned. read more

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Had an amazing scallop roll the other day with my dad after a fishing trip to Salisbury. Honestly it doesn't look fancy from the road but this really is a gem. The roll had at least 8 delicious bigger scallops. Onion rings were so crispy and flavorful some of the best I've ever had. Will be back ! read more

Just left here, if I didn't have my children with me I would've cancelled my order and walked away. I can confirm all the reviews stating the service is poor and the owner is rude. My kids were being kids and standing on the bench side of the picnic tables. I should not have let them do it. I'll own that. Out of nowhere the person whom I believe to be the owner comes to the window to scold me and my kids. She easily could have called my attention to it in a calm customer friendly way, instead she yells at us. 2 mins later she's letting 2 dogs jump up on the counter to feed them treats and lick her hands. Glad we had already received our food because you know she didn't wash her hands after. Ma'am you yelled at us and the other patrons around commented on it as well. You only needed to ask. As I acknowledged in my review I should not have been letting them do it. Point is you were more polite to the dogs than to two very sweet kids that were taken back by how you spoke with them. Hopefully you did wash after. Not sure how you could've washed and been right back at the window after the dogs licked you. No worries I won't be back. From the owner, "That wasn't yelling, I said can you guys not stand on the tables. It's whatever, I would rather not see you back. And I definitely washed my hands and then put gloves on. If your kids fell you would have blamed it on us." Judge for yourself the level of customer service. read more

I normally only like to give great reviews Sadly, This place has gone way down hill and the prices are through the roof! Owner is extremely rude basically attacked me when I very nicely tried to tell her how disappointed my party of 5 were. Even the kids said that hot dogs were awful! After $150 of only food we left hungry and frustrated by her lack of understanding and poor customer service. We have several friends stay in Salisbury for the summer of whom I informed via a FB blast. read more

To start off with this place is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE! Do not expect the best customer service because right now there are 2 people working...grandma and granddaughter. Our food for 3 people took 40 minutes, a little long but MOST of the food (the expensive stuff) was very good! The scallops and clams were great, so were the onion rings and tartar sauce- Not too fried, lightly battered and you could really taste the meat. However, not a huge fan of the haddock :( and the fries were so greasy. I don't think we'd go back again, simply because it was $73.00 for a small clam, a small chicken finger, a water, a sprite, a iced tea, a hot dog, a small fry, a small onion ring and a combo haddock and scallop plate!!! read more

Was referred to Ceals by some friends and couldn't believe how amazing all the food was. Everything was delicious and cooked perfectly!! We received wonderful service and the girl at the window was great. Will 100% be returning!!!! read more

Amazing! Just go.. hole in the wall mom and pop place. The best fried clams, scallops and French fries ever. Must try if you are in the area read more

Food was great and perfect, best onion rings ever! But service...rude. The granddaughter at the counter yelled at us because we asked for napkins. She asked us how many people we had and we simply said 8. She said, I can only give you 8 because everyone should get one.. so..! like what?! Everyone gets one napkin? What the heck? Also, she yelled at the person in front of us after he ordered buffalo chicken wings, saying " My grandma should have taken those off the menu, we have sold 4 in 2 years. Why did you order that?" Like.. ma'am, why is it on the menu then? Anyways, great seafood. But service, not too great. read more

Love the Mom photo! So cute. If you are looking for quality fried seafood especially clams and onion rings -- you have found the right place. I've been addicted to the clam rolls for three days now. Although it is not piled on like at Brown's or Markys the quality of the clams is good. This is the first time I've had clams that are salty, but a bit sweet. I love it and the onion rings are so yummy, best fried onion rings. This is the place for clam rolls and fried onion rings. No wonder they've been in business since 1948. Once you get your order eat it while it's hot-- Prices are not high - a clam roll at Brown's is $15 and I can get a clam roll, medium onion rings, and lemonade for $23. read more

been coming here since I was a child....don't eat much seafood but if and when i get the craving this is the "go to" place . It is flavor full quality food. The cole slaw is the best..the fried shrimp are exquisite . I ate someone's haddock which I hardly ever do. Like i said , if i am going to do seafood - no one does it better than Ceal's . a life long family establishment i hope will continue on NH's Route 1a for many years to follow. I am saddened each year when it's time for them to close for the season. it is a real treat when at the beach. I look forward to Ceal's opening each summer. Memorable , wonderful and the gulls put on quite a show for a french fry if you can stand to part with one of those tasty morsels....never heard one person complain in 60 years....truth be told.....mmm mmm good. YUM! read more

Possibly the worst service ever, bad attitude, BAD!!! Got here 10 min before closing and the girl working counter was just awful, considering there were other people waiting still for food her actions were unacceptable! And the food wasn't even worth it ! Thumbs down for me!!! I rather go see here where the staff is happy your there and the food is great! read more

We went there a couple of fridays ago for lunch. Worst mistake ever. We tried to order a tuna sandwich and grilled chicken sandwich. The lady was very nice but told us that they only prep food on Sundays and ran out of everything we ordered. What?? Ew. I placed our order and the power went out 10 mins into wait. I totally am sympathetic that stuff happens but theres 6 people waiting for their food. So why couldnt they exercise good customer service and just tell everyone at once that the power is out, and offer full refunds and not make some of us wait 45 mins to find out the bad news? Dont go there! read more