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    Ironside Fish & Oyster

    4.2 (6.2k reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Ironside Fish & Oyster Photos

    Business Info

    IRONSIDE FISH & OYSTER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Ironside Fish & Oyster

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    First page of the main menu
    Lance C.

    What an amazing gem! We got off the plane and tried to make it to another spot for lunch but the wait was over an hour. In our search for an alternative nearby, we happened upon Ironside which was opening in just another 10 minutes and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. The atmosphere is amazing, we loved the decor, and we were lucky to show up early because the entire restaurant filled up within the hour. We started with a dozen of the raw oysters, they were fresh, juicy, and incredibly flavorful. We especially loved the minionette sauce and the included horseradish. Next up was the bread, the butter it comes with is salted and tastes amazing paired up with the exquisitely light and fluffy bread. By this time, our drinks came up and the Mai Tai was the winner of the day. The aperol spritz and Ghostwriter were also good, but the Mai Tai was possibly the best that I've ever had. Next up, we had the Oysters Rockefeller, which had a combination of two varieties, one with caramelized onions and the other with a crispy chili drizzle. Both were delicious, but I preferred the creamy freshness of the raw oysters. Then the main characters showed up, the lobster rolls, clam chowder, and the amazing local catch of sea bass. The winner for this round was the 'brought in that morning' sea bass, but the lobster rolls took a very close second place. Everything was cooked to perfection and incredibly flavorful. The lobster rolls were a little unorthodox, being more of a lobster open face sandwich, but everything was so good, we are looking forward to coming back again. If you're in the area and are a fan of excellent sea food, Ironside deserves to have a place near the top of your short list. The service was great, the atmosphere is worthy of sharing on social media, and the food approaches that of Michelin recognized establishments. We'll be back again to try the amazing looking octopus and will recommend this restaurant to anyone coming to San Diego!

    Shrimp tacos, fish ceviche and tostada with shrimp
    Sophia D.

    Came to ironside for a cute girls brunch after a nice and relaxing day at the spa. We were quickly sat down and were welcomed by our waiter. Brendon our waiter was kind and nice and helped us out with any questions we had. We had order a dozen oysters, clam chowder, the peach and burrata salad, the octopus, and the lobster rolls. The clam chowder came out first and it was delicious, hot and had plenty of clams and the cheddar biscuit was yummy too. The oysters were pink moon and sweet petites and the sweet petites weren't sweet but the pink moons were yummy. The octopus was okay but I also am not a big octopus person. I really liked enjoyed the lobster roll with the malt fries. Plenty of lobster and so yummy on the butter bread. The peach and burrata salad was also so yummy, refreshing and balanced. It was perfect for a hot day. I would definitely come back and get all the food minus the octopus we had.

    Jordyn J.

    I've been wanting to try out this spot for awhile based off the amazing reviews. I've grown to learn that pretty much anything put on by consortium holdings is going to be absolutely stunning inside, and this spot did not disappoint. Loved the nautical decor and fun menu. We popped in for happy hour and sat at the bar, as even early on a Tuesday the restaurant itself was already quite busy. I'd recommend ubering if you're attempting to grab dinner here, as parking can be a little chaotic. The oysters, ceviche, and fries were fantastic. I tried out their gin martini and really enjoyed the refreshing, lemony twist. I'd definitely return for a full dinner and try more of the menu in the future!

    Hand Cut Fries (GBD & big portion)
    Joe P.

    I have a $150 credit on one of my cards, and Ironside in San Diego's Little Italy is on the list. I'm very glad we had dinner here. We started w/ the octopus and bread. The octopus was tender, and the chorizo base was super flavorful. The chorizo went very well with the bread. Secondarily, the caviar and fries arrived. The caviar went well with the kouign amman that was dense. I have only had caviar w/ blini, so the kouign amman was a nice change of pace. Thirdly, the fries were plentiful and GBD. Unfortunately, her sea bass (not pictured), took a long time to arrive. Our waiter kept us apprised of the delay, but the kitchen did a poor job of spacing the dishes. The sea bass should have arrived with the caviar, bc the caviar doesn't need cooking. Nonetheless, the sea bass was overcooked. She would not order it again. To end the meal, the soft serve ice cream was light and simple. It was a nice way to end a salty & savory meal. Alex was an excellent waiter. He was very attentive, knowledgable about the menu, and a nice guy. The restaurant advises clients there is a 4% charge for the staff. I gave Alex 20% on top of the 4% bc he was so good. Regarding the ambiance, its open air and lively. There are tables outside on sidewalk to absorb all the energy India St in Little Italy has to offer. We sat inside where it was very busy, but not too loud to have a convo. I would def return w/o the credit to try other items like the oysters and lobster sandwich. The menu has a lot of things that caught my eye.

    Nicole S.

    Love the industrial nautical vibe at Ironside, especially all the Kraken decor! I prefer sitting on the patio for dinner and people watching in Little Italy. Drinks are delicious, oysters were fresh, and the lobster roll was a strong 9/10. Service was good too. Definitely a fun Little Italy spot for seafood and drinks.

    Shrimp cocktail
    Jerry H.

    The restaurant is very warm and welcoming. The interior is very nice with great wood accents. The bar is fabulous and the cocktails were outstanding. The service was ok but it was crowded for a Wednesday. Therefore wait for refills on drinks or clearing of plates took a while. The toasted hot lobster roll was rich and tasty. The rockfish crisp was also very good. The sides were a good portion. The shrimp cocktail and scallops were a bit smaller than industry standards for fine dining. However they were tasty. Overall, this restaurant is great for seafood lovers who want an excellent cocktail. Interior is beautiful. The value is ok depending on the dish. Side dishes like fried rice and corn were excellent.

    Anh L.

    This place is so so cute and fun, so glad we got seated asap and the service was amazing. Food and drinks were really good for the place.

    Slab louie (crab)
    Melissa W.

    This place is hopping! Service was friendly and pretty fast for how busy they were (on a Monday night)! Came with a group of 7 and only waited a few minutes for a table. We got lucky because a big booth was finishing up when I put my name down for the waitlist. We had the seafood tower (biggest) to share. I got the slab louie. Others got the clam chowder, lobster roll, oyster mushrooms. The oysters were SO good here. Can't go wrong with whichever kind you get. One I had was really fatty but salty and good. Unfortunately I don't remember which one it was. Next time I'll have to pay more attention. Also from the seafood tower, the shrimp was good, the lobster was a nice amount to share. My favorite other than the oysters was the sea bass dip thing. The ceviche was fine, nothing too special. The smoked fish dip was my least favorite because it just reminded me of tuna salad but fancy. I didn't try the tuna crudo because there were only 3 pieces so I let my friends eat it. The slab louie was good. The crab was fresh and the dressing was good. I liked that it had avocado and asparagus in it too. The mushrooms were good. I didn't try the clam chowder. I had a bite of the lobster from the lobster roll and MAN. It was SO rich and buttery and the bread looked perfectly toasty and buttery. The lobster roll was $38 (I think) but it was not a tiny lobster roll like I'm used to seeing in SF. It was a good size with a lot of lobster. Definitely worth the price here. I will say that it had so much butter, I probably would only be able to eat half. If you come here with only one other person, I'd recommend getting some oysters, maybe another appetizer, and split the lobster roll. The decor inside is so cool. They have a giant octopus hanging from the ceiling, tentacles as decor, and a wall of piranha (?) skulls (?). So cool! They also have a lot of outdoor dining if that's your jam. Definitely would recommend this place to friends!

    Lobster Roll - YUM
    Ken R.

    I didn't want to do it. I told myself to get the salad with a fresh fish filet like I had (strongly) done in the past. But the guests I invited to lunch asked me "what was good?" After explaining how butter poached lobster rolls are far superior to the cape cod style mayo version, and how the house baked brioche bun is better than any lobster roll bun I had ever had and the hand cut fries with aioli are addictive - I caved and ordered one. No regrets until I got home and told my wife what I ate for lunch. Still worth it! The table shared the octopus (another fan fav), the crab tostada (ok but not great. It was a little soupy) and the shrimp with milk toast (good flavors). Worth stopping here if you are near by.

    Oysters & Beer
    Evonne C.

    [Food] - Dozen Oysters ($45/mixed): Ironside Selects (WA), Kumiai (BAJA), Stingray (VA), Pacific Petites (WA), Laguna (BAJA), Barcats (VA) served with lemon, horseradish, and mignonette. All were fresh and delicious! - Charred Octopus ($25): Spanish octopus, chorizo, dive tapenade, sherry, spicy aioli. Octopus was cooked nicely, but I felt like they could've charred the exterior a little more. - Lobster Roll ($38): Got this twice now and I think before it used to be slightly bigger with more lobster meat but this time around it looked smaller. Taste is the same, just as delicious! - Chowder Fries ($14): I thought this would be really heavy and that I wouldn't like it but it's surprisingly good! They put the right amount of chowder on there so that the fries aren't too soggy. I also love the bacon bits! [Service] - Fast, friendly, helpful, attentive [Ambiance] - Fun, moderately-sized, sailor themed restaurant - Be careful in the restroom as it is really dimmed - Walked in Friday noon at 12:30pm and was seated right away. They had customers, but I wouldn't say it's too busy. [Overall] - This is my second time there and enjoyed both experiences! - A minor con was that they gave our friend a birthday dessert (some lemon curd with a ton of whipped cream), which we didn't order and were charged $5 for it, which was unexpected. We wouldn't have minded if the dessert was good but no one in our group liked it so it felt like a waste. It would've also been nice to have been asked if we wanted it instead of adding an order we didn't ask for. - Would go back for the oysters and would love to come back to try other dishes

    Live Uni
    Courtney J.

    TLDR 10/10. Showed up without a reservation and was seated at one of the counters. Wait staff was kind and attentive. The mocktail I ordered was delicious and was very thoughtfully crafted which I don't often to be the case when ordering mocktails. I ordered some of the daily oysters which were all fresh and clean tasting. Since I was seated at the counter I got to talking with the cooks and chef who were plating in front of me. I mentioned that I had been craving sea urchin and chef Jason prepared one for me as there were some in the back but not on tonight's menu. Ambiance was beautiful but the service from chef Jason was what really stood out to me and will keep me coming back every time I'm in the city.

    Fries and oysters HH
    Tawny V.

    We were having happy hour at Vicenzo when we remembered Ironside also has an amazing happy hour. After some oysters and Sangria, we arrived here with still hungry bellies and thirst. They really do offer fantastic happy hour specials. We were seated right away, and every table we passed had plenty of drinks and oysters. We ordered the HH Spritz, a dozen oysters, and HH fries, all for about $36 including tax and tip. The service and ambiance were wonderful. This is our second time here, and it definitely won't be our last.

    Clam Chowder
    Kenneth T.

    When: weekday lunch What: 1) Hiramasa collar, 2) charcoal roasted mussels, 3) clam chowder, 4) 6 oysters of 3 different types Experience: This was a fantastic meal! The oysters were just amazing! I love how they were each unique in taste and so fresh. Wishes I had ordered more. The clam chowder was good, though I'm unsure how it goes well with biscuit when biscuit doesn't do well in soaking up the chowder like a bread would. So, this was alright to me. The charcoal roasted mussels were tasty! Not only were the mussels cooked well, but the sauce that went with it was delicious. Ate every single drop of the sauce! It was hearty, lightly tangy and acidic, yet had that slightly creamy flavor to it. Hiramasa collar was superb. Tender, flavorful and when eating it fresh out of the kitchen, that warmth makes it totally umami. There was plenty of fish meat on it and yes, requires some work compared to a fillet, but the flavor from the collar is not something you can get from a fillet. Worth the extra effort to eat it! Definitely a restaurant I would return to when I'm in San Diego.

    Having appetizers 6/15/26

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    Page 1 of 156

    Ironside Fish & Oyster Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ironside Fish & Oyster

    Is there a happy hour still and what time is it ? What types of items are included?

    Are dogs allowed in the outdoor seating area?

    yes!

    Does Ironside still have happy hour oysters for $1.00 each?

    Yes, we do. We offer our Happy Hour Monday through Friday, from 3pm-5pm. Aside from the $1 Oysters, we also offer $1 Peel n' eat Shrimp, & $5 Fish Ceviche Tostadas.… 

    What time is happy hour?

    Our Happy Hour is Monday through Friday, from 3pm to 5pm.

    Are there any New Orleans-level oyster shuckers employed at Ironside?

    Not that I know about!

    Anything Special for Mother's Day this year?

    Are the scallops no longer on the menu?

    I did not see them on the menu so no 😕

    When is your Oyster Happy hour? Day -Times?

    Happy Hour is Monday through Friday, from 3pm to 5pm.

    Reservations? Are we able to make them?

    Yes! You can make reservations on OpenGable or by calling the restaurant directly.

    Do they allow dogs?

    We brought our dog and were allowed to eat outside on the patio

    Is there parking?

    There is very limited parking in Little Italy and none dedicated for this establishment. You might be able to find street parking and there are a few small parking lots in the evening hours that are open to the public to pay to park.

    What is the phone number of the restaurant? The number on the website is not correct.

    619-269-3033

    What"s your corkage policy? Thx

    Corkage fee is approximately $20. Totally worth it when you bring a great bottle Of Chardonnay to pair with their Seabass

    Do you have happy hour for oysters on sundays?

    No.. it's Mon to Fri from 3 to 5pm only.

    Do you have halibut?

    Enjoyed the restaurant but not sure if they have halibut! Sorry

    Do oyster ever go on sale during happy hour? If so how much?

    I believe it's $1 for happy hour

    What time is happy hour?

    Hi Hugh! Our Happy Hour runs Monday- Friday 3pm - 5pm. Hope to see you soon!

    When is happy hour oysters?

    I can't recall if they have happy hour

    Is happy hour only available at the bar and if so do I need to make a reservation?

    You don't need a reservation and it's available anywhere you sit in the restaurant.

    Does the restaurant have kids menu?

    Yes they do!

    View All 85 Questions

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    We went here last week, and for a buffet, we were honestly really impressed! The price was very…read morereasonable considering the variety and quality of food they offered. One of the biggest highlights for us was the lobster, which is available on Thursdays only. They also had chilled snow crab legs and cold lobster claws, which was a nice surprise and definitely made the buffet feel like a great value for the price. Aside from the seafood, they had a huge selection of the usual buffet favorites, including sushi, shrimp, different hot dishes, sides, desserts, and so many other choices that it would be impossible to list everything. There was definitely something for everyone, and we had no problem finding plenty of things we enjoyed. The food selection was good, there were plenty of seafood options, and we felt like we definitely got our money's worth. If you're a seafood lover, I would recommend checking them out on a Thursday so you can take advantage of the lobster. Overall, we had a really enjoyable experience. For the price, variety, and amount of seafood offered, we would definitely come back and eat here again!

    We thought that coming for lunch on Saturday right call when it opened at 12 PM was the good call,…read morebut it was not quite on the mark. Roast duck was overcooked with a bad acrid smell, and it didn't have that oily crispy layer that you normally would get when it is fresh. All the dim sum looked like it was sitting in the steamers for a while, crab legs were overcooked so it came apart mushy instead of flaky. What happened? I'm guessing that they made all the food early in preparation for opening, but all of food tasted like it sat out for hours. The things that turned out fine, were the oysters, sushi and sashimi, and the prime rib that turned out to be rare.

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    We were visiting the Ocean Beach area for a three (3) night get-away and ended up eating dinner…read morehere twice because we enjoyed it so much. It has a great open air rooftop vibe with good food and service. Their prices are reasonable and serving sizes are generous. Try the butter cake . . . along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it is fantastic. The halibut was good and the spring rolls tasty, as well.

    Such a great find!! Thank you yelp! Love this whole vibe....fresh fish market with excellent food…read morecoming out of that kitchen and quick. We had the salmon poke, house salad, a couple oysters and fish tacos. The fish tacos are HUGE so you really don't need two if you're trying other things or get a couple and share. Also really loved the salad, and they make their own dressings so even better and they top it with capers gave it that salty deliciousness. Fresh cut veggies and So good! The poke needed a little pizzaz so I added a little heat to it and soy sauce, I felt the flavors came out more well balanced. I did not enjoy the rice wonton chips (no flavor there) but you could eat the poke alone it was so fresh. My friend enjoyed the oysters. But those fish tacos!! I was not in love with the salmon, it was a little overcooked for my liking. Also the blackening did not have the kick I'd hoped for and is anticipated with blackened. But the grouper with the chipotle butter...hit hard! So good!!! I'd absolutely come back for those tacos. I woke up thinking about them. We may try their ocean beach location today, because they have cocktails that look pretty darn good along side those fish tacos. Parking is tough here, and the line was out the door after 5 pm...so plan accordingly...but 100% worth it. We were watching everything come out of the kitchen, and it is shockingly a well run machine. Things came out fast, looked beautiful and the flavors were well done. I'd like to try their grilled fish next time.

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