You know those south Florida restaurants that seem to care more about Instagram decorated restaurants and don't care about food? Well THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!!! It's amazing! I'm not the best a karaoke but if I was (and god forbid people would be subjected to hear that mess) I would sing songs of the food here. It has a nice neighborhood vibe and not pretentious whatsoever. They clearly let the food do the talking. Finally a restaurant in south Florida that cares. This speaks volumes. I moved to this area by chance sailing and have spent years talking about how restaurants clearly don't care about serving food with heart here. Sals Ballyhoo is a breath of fresh air. After years living in New Orleans and being spoiled with incredible food from everything from gas stations to high end restaurants (as a chef and patron) and To ya mamas cooking I felt as though south Florida was where care for food went to die. Sals Ballyhoo.... They start with complimentary house pretzel bread and herb bread with a sauce that tasted like steens and chili sauce. Both breads were house made and I could get fat and happy on just this. I asked if they sold it by bulk because carbs are life. It's a kitchen that care from the beginning. I had the conch and my god... the sauce was insane. Delicate, more tender than your dramatic sisters feelings. It was delicious. Who doesn't like a nice tender conch... There was a hogfish special. I love hogfish. It's something I personally spearfish for and one of my personal fav texture and taste fish. They did this fish honors. It deserves a medal. Like maybe hold a parade. A hogfish parade.... Just imagine the possibilities.... Cooked with care in a very delicate breading, light and delicate. Fantastic bright lemon sauce that didn't drown the fish but complimented it. A wedding of textures that was beyond what you would expect from anything less than the best. This was, by far, the best meal I've had in south Florida in the years I've been subjected to the pretentious bs that has become most restaurants. Moving on to service. I hate to end on a bad note but the service was lackluster at best. It was a 40th birthday for my wife. We absolutely don't expect special treatment but the service on a Tuesday night was not touching tables and was clearly more interested in going home than doing their job. Look, Ive worked in the industry for years as well and there are hard days, it's a hard job. That said, care for your patrons. The only reason I'm knocking one star down is the distant and careless service. Summary to this Ted talk.... Come for the food and don't expect great service. Believe me the food is worth it. Thank you back of the house! Yall are crushing it read more

Delicious and great service. Maybe we were early because we were the only ones in the place. Amazing Conch Crack appetizer and tremendous blackened Mahi (small skillet was enough) with Mushrooms side. read more

Fantastic family-owned establishment right across from our hotel (walking distance). We sat at the bar and enjoyed cracked conch, stuffed mushrooms, char broiled oysters, and their house mahi mahi (which was the best - I wanted to lick the sauce off the pan). Friendly staff, perfect way to kick off our trip to the keys. read more

Fantastic Cajun/New Orleans style food. Had a great fresh yellowtail and some gumbo that was very well spiced. Fun find in the keys

I have really enjoyed the mahi cast iron skillet meal and have had it around six times. Unfortunately last two times I had it (last time 4:30 on a Thursday during mini lobster season 2025) I had a few fishy tasting bites making me think the mahi was a little old but they figured the sauce would hide the taste. Hope they don't slip in quality. My friend had the same dish last time and his was fine. read more

Sal's has friendly staff, really great food, good portions and a large selection of vegan options, making it easy for everyone to enjoy!

5 stars is not enough!!! We eat here every time we are passing through. Always friendly and smiling staff making you feel welcome and always a great meal. Fried snapper is delicious and the burgers are massive and juicy. Everything on the menu has been fresh and tasty. Prices are very reasonable and the location could not be more convenient. When in Key Largo, this is the spot!! read more

Sal's Ballyhoo's - Fried snapper - Seafood Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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I went to Sals as a server at a restaurant in Islamorada bad mouthed them. I did have AYCE snow crab legs. They were not overcooked or rubbery. My server was very personable. Everyone had a smile on their face. I did feel the price was quite high, but when you take in the experience as a whole it was worth it. read more

We ordered the hog fish special and tasted like if it was fried in old oil. Disgusting, I had to send it back The seafood platter was also overcooked. the best part was the keylime... So sad, I used to love this place read more

KEY LIME PIE!!! We did not eat here but I was obsessed with getting a pie of the pie that was voted best in Key largo. I bought a whole pie because there were 7 of us on vacation. It was delicious. The meringue was piled high. Pie was great consistency and not overly sweet. The guy behind the bar gave me advice on how to cut the pie (with a hot knife). I went back the next day and bought another pie, and a different guy convinced me that the mile high peanut butter pie was also worth a try. He was not wrong, but I only bought one piece. The place itself is understated but I assume the food is good. Pies are made fresh daily. Get there early. Bar seemed to have a broad selection but the restaurant was never packed. read more

Service at just the right speed for a lazy vacation weeknight in Key Largo. Super friendly staff. We just ordered everything our server recommended and it turned out fantastic. Seriously every element of each dish was tasty and so very well executed. Even the fried Oreos were executed just right in a crisp and light batter, that must have come from an immaculately cleaned fryer with fresh oil. Do yourself a favor and stop here while journeying through the Keys! read more

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Amazing key lime pie! Best I have ever had. Also loved the free bread to start (they were strangely good, esp the pretzel bread) and the chargrilled oysters. The snow crab legs were pretty good. Not the best I have had but they were juicy. Market price in late December 2020 was $37 for 1 lb and a side and $66 for AYCE plus 1 side and a salad or soup. We did the 1 lb which was totally the right choice - plenty of food and I feel like they gave way more than a pound - 3 full clusters about 4 legs per cluster! For sides, we got cole slaw and Mac/cheese - the latter was very bland and really needed hot sauce. Skip the stone crab claws here. Probably the worst I have had anywhere. Lacked any salt or flavor and didn't taste as fresh as other places. Overall I thought most dishes here needed more salt. Also didn't love the Sauvignon Blanc they had but it was a decent sized pour! That said, come for the key lime pie and the chargrilled oysters. They are delicious! read more

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We are blown away by how amazing this place is, it is such a hidden gem! From the atmosphere, the service to the quality of food, every aspect of this restaurant is exceptional and outstanding, we could say our dinner experience at Sal's Ballyhoo's was the highlight of our trip! Atmosphere: Even though it right off the highway, the trees completely covers the surrounding and the sound, you wouldn't even think or remember it is located so close to the main road. The garden string lights makes this place look so serene and romantic, it is quite lovely to sit here at night while enjoying your meals. Food: Wow, wow, wow! It is better than any other fancy restaurants we've visited in big cities. We are so impressed by everything we tried here. The complimentary bread was the cherry on top, the pretzel rolls were warm, soft, buttery, better than some pretzels from specialized bakery shops. And everything else came after that just kept us amazed: Appetizer: Conch Meunière, basically lightly breaded conch topped with garlic butter sauce. It is creamy, buttery yet not overwhelming. Conch was perfectly cooked and tender. Entrees: Joes vs. the Volcano salad: Have you every had salad that has noodles at the bottom? Well, this one is it! It is so unique and filling, topped with large and fresh Key West grilled pink shrimp, spinach, grilled mango, avocado, and other fresh vegetable ingredients. It is a perfect refreshing beach-vibe salad. You can't get it anywhere else. Churrasco steak: steak is perfected marinated and grilled, huge portion, served with chimichurri sauce. My husband was so impressed by this dish that he is still thinking about it from time to time. Dessert: You are in the Keys, please treat yourself with an excellent slice of Key Lime Pie here, topped with toasted meringue. Beautiful presentation and sweetness is right on. Love this restaurant, wish I could bring it back with me from our trip. read more

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So surprised this is not mentioned as a recommendation when you speak with people. My only conclusion, clearly folks have not tried it. Food is sooo good. Farmer salad with jerk chicken with a homemade spicy ranch...off the chart. Two at the table had the mahi fish sandwich with a fried tomato. It had a delicious remoulade side. And one had the burger which I had a bite of and was excellent. And this coming from a midwesterner that eats lots of burgers. Great service and super fast. Oh, and a breadbasket with warm pretzel buns and a Jalapeño jelly. Will be helping spread the word of this delicious gem. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the keys. The cornbread muffins to start are phenomenal. The Pistachio Crusted Hog Fish is to die for and I love that it's a little hole in the wall and the best ever. The service is always really quick and nice staff. read more

Great service by Wyatt and staff. Food is terrific and fairly priced. Cool locals joint. Highly recommend.

This place was suggested to us by a friend who's originally from Pennsylvania of all places! Lol! We were greeted by the awesome bartender Ronnie upon our arrival. We were a bit concerned when we walked in, as it was already what should have been a busy lunch hour, and there were only 2 tables besides us. That meant absolutely ZERO because right after we were seated the place started filling up which we were glad to see! So, let's talk about Ronnie. Not only the bartender, but the host, the server, and the food runner. He handled 6 tables alone like it was second nature, all while being charming and accommodating. A really pleasant person that I can imagine does well there. He started us off with complimentary corn muffins and house made pepper jelly. I'm glad I don't work there, as I'd weigh 600 lbs because I could eat myself silly just on the muffins alone! We tried a little bit of everything, as we were hungry but not wanting a big entree or large sandwiches. We tried the cracked conch which was plentiful, cooked expertly and was so very delicious. My husband got the gumbo which he loved. We tried a special that was on the board, a fresh mango guacamole with huge chunks of lobster meat on top with house made tortilla chips. It was a great combination and we devoured it. We couldn't pass up the coconut shrimp. Folks, nothing here is frozen, ever. Probably the best coconut shrimp we've ever eaten. Juicy, delicious and the perfect amount of coconut in a very very light breading as to not smother the flavor of the shrimp. The mango sauce accompaniment was delightful! Then we spotted boiled peanuts on the menu. Had to have some to go, and they were delicious! The hubby and I were trying to dissect what the secret ingredient was that added the great flavor and light spicy kick. We think it's wasabi, but can't be positive. I also tried the white sangria which was so refreshing and not sickeningly sweet. They add a dash of cinnamon which really sets it apart from other sangria's I've tried. Overall, we were impressed with this little slice of what I remember as a kid of "Old Florida". Oh, and I forgot to mention, even though it's an older place (love the mid century tile floor) it was immaculately clean. We were so full we had to pass on dessert, but the key lime pie looked outstanding. Definitely try this place, and ask for Ronnie, you won't be sorry. read more

Finding stone crab in the Keys during stone crab season was harder than we thought it would be. (At least in Key Largo) But Sal's had our back. It has a real beach to table fishing shanty vibe, but the food delivered amazing flavor. I am not a seafood fan, but my companion really wanted stone crab claws so we found somewhere to scratch that itch. To my surprise, despite being a very seafood centric restaurant they had a number of non seafood options. I ended up going with the Cajun chicken pasta. Spicy but not too spicy, juicy chicken, more food than I could possibly eat I would definitely eat here again. My companion had the Stone crab (the reason we came) and said it was also fantastic. They sell them by the claw. We also had an appetizer of fried cheese. They served it with a homemade sauce that was similar to marinara without any tomato. Stop in and check it out. read more

This place is fantastic. The menu is great. It is very unique and not the same generic menu. Service was good. We ate on the patio. It was a little windy but we enjoyed watching the pelicans. read more

Cute little hole-in-the-wall place in Ley Largo. The server was really sweet and the place was a comfortable temperature inside. They bring out big mason jars of water which was awesome because I drink a lot of water and we had just come from snorkeling so we were pretty thirsty. I ordered the mahi mahi tacos special with black beans and rice. It was so good! The fish was cooked perfectly, was not a skimpy amount (huge pieces), and had amazing flavor with the cabbage on top. It came with three tacos and was a very large portion. I definitely ate too much because I didn't want to leave any behind. I would highly recommend this dish. I took off a star because they had listed on their menu that they were voted number one for key lime pie. Not sure the scale, but I was disappointed with the dessert. The filling was perfect and flavorful, but the crust tasted burnt and merengue didn't have much flavor. Overall though I enjoyed this place and would definitely go back. read more

Sal's Ballyhoo's - Mahi mahi tacos (special) - excellent and so much food; order these if they have them! - Seafood Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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Loved it! Our waiter, Ronald, was a great start as he chatted pleasantly and gave us some good recommendations. The cashew crusted key lime scallops were tremendous as was the crab cake sandwich. Our sides of sweet potato casserole and coleslaw were also wonderful. read more

Excellent experience, good food, and, oh, THE PIE! First off, if you are vegetarian or vegan be sure to ask for the veg menu (see photos) with many more options than you'll see on the standard menu. The restaurant was recommended by staff at the dive shop we went out with and it did not disappoint. Highlights were the boiled peanuts and French fries, and especially the slice of key lime pie we brought home - the BEST. Next time I'm in Key Largo I will get a whole pie. The black bean burger and salad were decent. We sat outside and the shade sail kept it cool enough even in July. The inside is cute. read more

Sal's Ballyhoo's - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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Wow. What an experience. It's a modest building between the East and west lanes of US 1 by mile marker 98. Not much to look at, but the food is first class. The service was very friendly and efficient. I had the Joe vs. the Volcano salad. It had grilled shrimp over a bed of spinach, pasta, grilled mango, peanuts, and tomatoes. Unusual ingredients that all blended together amazingly well. The complementary corn muffins were a delicious appetizer. My wife had the Cobb salad that was also very good. Reasonable prices, too. read more

Chargrilled oysters and stone crabs were awesum ! . . .

We came around 8pm on a Thursday, and while it wasn't packed, they said that there were only a few servers so it was a 45 minute wait. The bartender said we'd get a little faster service if we sat at the bar, so we did. Had so much fun with the bartender, she was friendly and very accommodating. I was a little hesitant about getting the conch fritters, because you can get them anywhere and these came with a higher than normal price tag. The bartender said that no ones does it like them, so we went for it. Boy, was she right! They were incredible. The batter was delicious, plenty of conch, and it didn't taste fried at all. For the entrees I got the Cast Iron Mahi with the Green Beans. Amazing!!! My husband got the yellowtail Hemingway style. It was also very good, but not as good as the Cast Iron Mahi! Can't beat that Creole sauce. Very delicious dinner, can't wait to go back read more

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This is a def must visit for anyone going in and out of the Keys. Our server was awesome. He was so knowledgeable and friendly. We never needed anything without him coming over before we even realized it. The starter bread was excellent, and the jalapeño jelly was incredible. Definitely get the fried oysters, they were delicious. The mahi mahi and lobster mains are both great. read more

All the food.. all of it.. even the ketchup is made IN HOUSE. sooo good! We will be back! We will bring friends and relatives! Service awesome as well. read more

Sal's Ballyhoo's - Yummy food - Seafood Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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Been here many times. Consistent, local, clean, good service and an excellent vibe. You must try the roasted oysters and tuna poke as appetizers. Their fish dinners have all been very good as well. Don't think you will be disappointed! We keep coming back when we are here (a few times a year) and you should give it a try. read more

Sal's Ballyhoo's - Poke and Broiled Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

We just stopped in for a few drinks and after coconut shrimp, a burger, key lime pie, and a couple of beers, we were all-in! We will be back!Thanks Ronny! read more

Sal's Ballyhoo's - Seafood Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

Love this family-owned restaurant in Key Largo. Walking distance from the Mariners Club. Highly recommend the Mahi skillet, bayou pasta and the pimento grilled cheese. Also enjoyed Sals freshly made espresso crème brûlée. Sal Jr. was a super host!' read more

The crab cakes did not look special but taste delicious. They have specials on AYCE fish and chips for $20. I didn't order that but I think it's a great deal. read more

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We were staying at Kona Kai and this is directly across the street. Started with the conch meunière. I'm not a conch fan but this sauce sounded amazing so I thought I'd give it a shot. The sauce was so delicious- I kept dipping the pretzel bread into it. The crab cake was amazing - my friend who normally doesn't like them , kept digging in for more. We decided to go with some of their specials. I had the hogfish- delicious and light. My friend had the yellow tail encrusted with cashews ( I believe), again very light and tasty. The side of mushrooms very good as well. The cast iron hogfish came in such a delightful sauce - very good. We were too full for dessert, but I would definitely come back here while in key largo. read more

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Excellent seafood restaurant in Key Largo. Stopped by for lunch and Ley Lime pie. Food was outstanding. The sausage and chicken gumbo was very flavorful The fish sandwich was huge. Very tasty fish. Crunchy on the outside, flaky on the inside. Excellent preparation with the fried tomato and Mac n cheese. The yellow snapper in the piccata sauce was excellent. Lots of good flavors. The key Lime pie was okay but not great. I prefer a little more tartness. But nonetheless, it was still tasty. Excellent service. read more

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We have been coming to Ballyhoo's for years now. We literally make the drive from Miami just to eat here - it's that type of place. I think what makes this place special, besides the food, is the people. Everyone is so incredibly kind, showering you with attention and that irresistible spicy cornbread, which is complimentary. The place has outdoor and indoor dining, and we almost always choose to sit outside as the ambiance is very tropical and FL Keys-ish. We always order the same: a burger for my boyfriend and the sweet potato sandwich for me, which we accompany with a cold beer. Fun fact: they have a "secret" vegan menu! Thanks for being our place, Ballyhoo's. read more

We were driving down to Key West and wanted a bite of lunch, so we just popped in to Sal's Ballyhoo. Truly what I would call a "hole in the wall." On the menu was Hogfish. New to both of us, so we ordered it. Our server was great. (Can't remember her name, I'm sorry to say.) She brought out our sodas in oversized Mason Jars, which is nice, because you don't run out of your drink in 2 seconds! They went right along with the casual vibe of the restaurant. They bring out small corn muffins with Jalepeno Jelly, and let me tell you, I could have made a meal on just those! They were AMAZING! The Hogfish sandwich was done with an onion-panko breading which was very light and tasty. The piece of fish was moist, delicious and a generous size. My husband and I shared it, and enjoyed it thoroughly! I would definitely go back my next time through the area! There was nothing I could ask them to improve upon! I don't throw out 5 star reviews very often, but this one is well deserved! read more

If you read my reviews, you know I don't give out 5 stars on a whim. This is a very cool place, with fresh, interesting food. Natalie (maybe the owner?) guided me through various menu items too. I got there early, was waiting for a friend and was quite hungry, so had an appetizer at the bar. Asked Natalie and she said Conch Meuniere. OMG, this was amazing. She had put some extra crackers down too "You will want to soak up the sauce". Yep! I would have licked it off the plate. Conch, which can be a bit rubbery, was also excellent. She also recommended a local beer which was great. When my friend arrived we had lunch. I had the fish tacos. Now, these can be very run of the mill at many places. Not here. Very fresh fish, lots of spice and taste, perfectly done. My friend (who sadly is a vegetarian!) had one of the salads. This was pretty plain, and nothing really interesting. But I have no sympathy for vegetarians, hahaha. I highly recommend this place. I was going to come back for dinner the next day, but they close on Wednesday! Went to Mrs. Mac's instead, which was a disaster (see that review before you go!). Thank you Natalie for a great time! read more

This was one of our favorite restaurants on our recent visit to the Keys. Service was friendly and efficient. I really appreciated the separate vegetarian menu because it made it easy to find what we could eat. Food was fresh and delicious. read more

Having a second residence in key largo, we're always up to try a new spot!! My boyfriend and I are avid yelp users and when we searched for best oysters in town, Sal's Ballyhoo's popped up!! Oysters were fresh, crisp & delicious! The tuna sashimi was sushi quality and melt in your mouth good. You can customize the preparation of your entree fish dish which gives everyone the ability to pick and choose depending on what you're in the mood for! Our entrees (blackened mahi and picatta yellowtail) we're perfect portions and cooked perfectly! didn't save room for desert, though we will definitely be back to try to peanut butter/Oreo cheesecake!! read more

Sal's Ballyhoo's - Tuna Sashimi & a dozen raw oysters - Seafood Near Me - Key Largo, Florida

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This place was great. The seafood was fresh and not overcooked and the people were friendly. Got right in on a Saturday night when all the restaurants around had a wait. Loved it . We will be back, with friends. read more

The outdoor seating area provided a nice setting to taste some fabulous locally caught fish and homemade Key Lime pie! I ordered the pie as an appetizer because I wanted to make sure I had room to eat it...and I'm so glad I did! Everything was delicious but the pie was by far the stand out. We were happy to note this restaurant invites you to bring your fresh catch to be prepared by the kitchen, something we'll consider if we ever become people who fish. Highly recommended. read more

Sal's Ballyhoo's - This photo of the key lime pie does not do it justice! - Seafood Near Me - Key Largo, Florida