Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is well worth the wait. There was a line outside when I arrived, but I chose to sit inside at the bar, which turned out to be a great decision. The uni had arrived fresh that morning, so I ordered the uni special featuring sea urchin over scallops. It was incredibly fresh, sweet, and beautifully showcased the quality of the seafood. Sometimes the simplest preparations are the best. The casual waterfront setting and ultra fresh seafood make this a must visit when you're in Santa Barbara. I'll definitely be back. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Uni Special - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The view of this place is unbelievable! The weather on the evening in mid July is perfect for outdoor seating here. Came here for dinner on my 30th birthday. Started off with Coconut shrimp as an awesome appetizer. Lobster roll is not something I usually go for, but today was a must! My mom who usually doesn't finish her food, finished the entire pasta! That's how I know it was delicious. Next time I might have to get that! read more

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I wanted the Santa Barbara seafood experience, so we decided to have lunch at Santa Barbara Shellfish Company on the pier. There was a bit of a wait on a weekend lunch, but we were eventually seated on their outside deck right over the water. They have some umbrellas for shade, and you can enjoy the view of the ocean from here. They also have indoor seating, but I think the outside area is generally more enjoyable. We ordered the Garlic Baked Clams to start. An order comes with six Littleneck Clams topped with garlic, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese with some extra cheese and some lemon wedges on the side. These were pretty good! We also got a Crab Cakes entree that came with chipotle aioli, coleslaw, and two large onion rings. The crab cakes were good overall, and I enjoyed having some onion rings on the side. But the main reason I wanted to come here was to get their Uni with Raw Scallops! An order comes with six pieces on top of a raw scallop on a slice of lime. They also garnish the plate with the live uni itself. It's so fresh, it's literally still moving on your plate. The uni had a little sweetness and wasn't too bitter. It paired nicely with the scallops! The only downside of this place is there are a handful of pigeons that hang around on the pier walking around looking for food scraps on the floor. You can tell they're pretty used to people because they'll come right up to you and walk under your table and chair. A little bothersome, but it's not too bad. Lastly, there's only one bathroom inside, so the line can get super long. Just a head's up! read more

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Food: got both the lobster bisque and clam chowder, the clam chowder was room temperature... -coconut shrimp was the best dish but could have used more sauce for the amount of shrimp served -lobster roll was served in a toasted bread that did not compliment the lobster mix -fried seafood platter was mediocre Service: our waiter was attentive, we accidentally left our dog water bottle behind and one of the staff ran after us which was greatly appreciated Ambiance: we sat outside with our dogs, its laid back and we were warned it would be windy read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Lobster roll and fried seafood platter - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Had to get the famous Uni, and I'm so glad I did! It comes super fresh, and the shell moving on the plate proves how fresh the uni really is! The uni is sweet, creamy, and briny, which I absolutely love. And the scallop underneath is creamy as well! Such a nice refreshing little bite! They have a takeout window on the side, if you don't want to wait for a seat inside the restaurant. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Uni - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Sitting right on the pier with the ocean all around you, it's hard to beat the setting. The views are beautiful, and the whole place has an authentic, laid-back coastal feel that almost makes you forget you're in Southern California. The seafood is fresh and tasty, and while it's a little overpriced, you're paying for one of the best locations in Santa Barbara. Honestly, the atmosphere is worth it. It feels like you've stepped into a little slice of Maine without leaving California. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I had been wanting to try this place out for years! When hubby & I came to dine here in 2020, the line was insane and the wait was super long. We decided to eat next door, which was sort of a mistake. Luckily, in Jan. 2026, we were able to grab seats at the counter inside. We got to watch the dishes being prepared a la minute! What a treat! They were busy, but each person knew what they were doing and they worked efficiently! Our primary objective was for me to taste a Santa Barbara Uni (Sea Urchin) while IN Santa Barbara! I've had lots of live S.B. Uni at restaurants in the Los Angeles area. We placed an order for the Uni. There were 6 pieces, served over a piece of scallop and placed on a slice of lime. Pretty yet simple presentation! I had to first sample an Uni all by itself. So rich and delicious! Then I ate the bit of scallop by itself as well. So good! I ate the rest of them as served. Loved them! We also got Lobster Bisque, Crab Cakes, and Lobster Tacos to share. Everything was good! Worth the trip to S.B. to eat here! There's usually a ton of people waiting outside. If you have the time and patience, you should eat here at least once! read more

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I ordered from the side window, so I cannot say much about the speed and service if you get a table, but from what I could tell, they were a very well-oiled machine. I ordered the Clam Chowder in a sourdough bowl. I thought, "I am from the Bay Area. I should try something new." SIKE. When in doubt, order what you like! The service at the window was very quick and friendly. We got our to-go order within minutes. My husband decided on a chicken sandwich from a different location for lunch, so we walked it over about 10 minutes. Once I opened my order, I was very happy with the soup portion. The bowl was a little difficult to open, but once I got it open, I poured the soup in and destroyed it. Being from the San Francisco Bay Area, I have had plenty of clam chowder bread bowls. This one was pretty good, but it was a little salty for my liking. The bread was perfect, and I actually got pretty full without even having to finish the bread bowl. Overall, I would definitely have it again if I was in the area. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Fresh seafood in the fresh ocean air. All the seafood was great, chilled with a good amount of sea flavor. The urchin was my favorite, very clean flavor with slight gameyness. Outdoor seating was packed but we were able to find a table. Lobster roll and onion rings were a little disappointing. Very basic, could skip read more

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A restaurant located down the end of the pier. I asked for outdoor seating so that I could enjoy the sea views and sun. My served was very nice and attentive although it was a busy afternoon. I ordered the lobster pasta and it came with a side of toasted bread with butter. It was delicious and had plenty of lobster pieces in it. The pasta sauce was delicious and buttery as well. 5/5 I also ordered a side of their onions rings, it arrived nicely staked up. The bread was falling apart with each bite but really generous slices of white onion. It came with a small ranch dip. 4/5 I ended up ordering a IPA beer: Ventura coast purple tears IPA. 5/5 refreshing and paired up so well with my plate. Overall I had a pleasant lunch experience here. read more

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Overall good dinner at SB Shellfish Co. busy as always but also efficient. The views also never change. Still spectacular end of wharf scenery. Food is good but don't expect the "best ever". It's kind of a fast casual seafood spot. Expect that but with great views and you'll be okay! read more

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The view and the service here was amazing, I was seated quickly and had my order taken quickly. I came here specifically to try the uni on scallops and was unfortunately disappointed. The portions of the scallops and uni were very small and it was not as flavorful as I thought it would be. I am a huge uni fan so the experience was a bit of a bummer. The view was great, though, but the meal was a let down. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Uni on scallops - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I have been wanting to come here for years. We sat outside and Fernando was our waiter. He was great. We order a couple plates of fresh uni, steamed clams, raw oysters and shrimp ceviche. Fernando said they were expecting a delivery of Box Crabs and would let us know when they arrive. When they arrived we ordered the biggest one still available. That crab stole the show. Probably one of the best meals ever. Definitely coming back! read more

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SBSC was recommended to me by a friend who is familiar with the area. I walked all the way out the pier, waited for my name, then was seated. Ten minutes later a server came by and seemed visibly annoyed that I was a 1-top. She told me to look at the specials board and did not take my drink order. I sat for ten more minutes without any sign of her, then left. For what it's worth, I was going to do the $60 rock crab special. I went somewhere else. This was a really disappointing part of my Santa Barbara day trip. read more

After Yelp-ing a few seafood options in the near area I decided to try this place. It did not disappoint! We came during the middle of the lunch rush on a beautiful sunny day. I got an order of uni and a king crab salad. We were hungry, so we also decided to place an order for bread. The Uni was very fresh- it came with a piece of lime Uni and scallop. All raw with the side of soy sauce/ponzu like sauce. Each piece was a treat to eat. The king crab salad - a very simple salad was delicious! The crab was fresh and sweet! Our waiter was very nice and patient. An outstanding place to sit and grab casual seafood. What's neat about this place is you can drive right on the pier and parking is free for the 90 minutes. It's such a cute place to walk around too. It was my first time so I was in awe with everything. read more

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Steam clams 5/5 Uni 5/5 Lobster roll 4/5 Clam chowder 4/5 Service 5/5 Seating 3/5 wish the table was bigger for three people. We really struggle to dine in the table for 2. read more

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I 100% recommend visiting this place for the fresh seafood if you're visiting Santa Barbara. We got seated within 5min outside on a Saturday. Our waiter was super fast getting our orders in and was super attentive to our table even though there were a bunch of other customers at the time. We ordered the uni, rock crab special, and garlic baked clams. Our overall favorite were the garlic baked clams for sure. The uni was great though we preferred to eat them alone without the lime and sauce. The rock crab was really fresh and moist as well. If you're a fan of seafood and want quality food, I would definitely recommend this place. read more

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This is ONE OF THE BEST seafood places ever. As a person who lives in the valley, this is amazing. Coming here hungry driving to our trip here and tasting these amazing dishes is what we needed. The place feels so homelike, literally I feel like I am in a cottage house being served fresh seafood above water. The ambiance is great. See listed pictures! Ill show you the food. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We came to Santa Barbara Shellfish Company for the uni and oysters, which were both incredibly fresh and delicious, but the real standout for us was the box crab. Absolutely a must-try if you visit. Sweet, fresh, and so flavorful -- easily our favorite thing we ordered. The seafood here really speaks for itself, and the casual waterfront atmosphere makes the experience even better. One tip: if it's a busy day, try to sit inside if you can. It made the experience much more enjoyable with less of the crowd and wind from outside. Definitely a spot worth visiting when in Santa Barbara. read more

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Elvin provided the best service on top of the most excellent food. My mom, aunt, hubby, and I ordered soooo much food here. We had a blast. The birds were a lil too much for us. At one point, all our legs were folded up, but that's what we get for best views and food lol read more

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was expecting a lot since i've had this saved for almost a decade. uni was fresh but bland, probably bc of the season :(. shrimp scallop pasta was mid, clam chowder was ok but could've used a smidge more salt, crab cakes are also ok, box crab was pretty sweet and tasted better with the butter read more

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Man this place is so good and has a lot of tourists. You can order on the outside as you're walking towards the end of the wharf you'll see a window on the outside. The service is great and the ambiance is the stillness of the huge oceanfront with calm waters. Fresh fish and seafood and good views! read more

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This restaurant is right at the end of the pier, with some indoor, and outdoor seating. You will need to wait longer for patio seats. It's the perfect spot for a delicious fish dish. read more

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This place seemed pretty popular for the uni so we definitely stopped by and it did not disappoint! There's a great waterfront and sunset view here, though we saw that while hanging by the wharf before coming in. There was no wait for dinner for two during santa barbara uni season in the Winter (Jan/Feb). We opted to sit outside, though not all seats have heating so definitely bring a jacket so you dont freeze in your T shirt and shorts like me. Santa Barbara Uni: $37 for 6 pc of fresh creamy uni, resting on top of scallops which were a bit bitter even with the ponzu sauce, so I ate them separately. You can tell it's freshly shucked because the spines still moved. Our server, taught us you could "tickle" them by pouring the ponzu sauce over to trigger the spines to move. Spiny lobster: first time trying this. The main body was simple to eat, but the legs took a lot of work/time and was even harder to extract because of the poky spikes. Came with just 2 onion rings and coleslaw. The lobster roll and chowder bowls were standard delicious as expected, though they really cooled down quickly eating them in the cold night outside. And the oysters were fresh! We ordered relatively a lot of food so the total came out to be $120/person. Overall 4 for food and vibe, 4 for value, but will round up to 5 for friendly chill service from Lucas! Would definitely come back, mostly for the uni. read more

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This was me and my friend's last food spot before leaving Santa Barbara, so I knew I had to get something with Santa Barbara uni. I ended up ordered the Shrimp and Scallop Pasta and added the uni for an additional $14. I was very impressed by the pasta. I thought the uni tasted very fresh, and the spaghetti had a lot of seafood flavor. I do wish the pasta came with a lemon wedge to add a little bit of acid to the plate. Overall service was good, and location is great, as it's located right by the water. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Lots of seating, and hits the spot when you want to seafood right by the ocean. I ended up only getting fries because I wanted fish and chips, turns out they don't have any fish. Still was tasty, and I think reasonably priced given the area. read more

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Located right at the end of the pier, this spot is such a Santa Barbara classic. You can either park on the street and walk the pier or actually drive directly onto the pier itself. Huge bonus: there's plenty of parking on the pier and it's free for under 90 minutes. It definitely gets packed on weekends, so whenever I'm in town I prefer stopping by for a Friday lunch. Usually no wait for indoor seating, though the outdoor tables can take a little longer (worth it for the view if you have time). The food is consistently phenomenal every single visit. The clam chowder in the bread bowl and the rock crab are absolute must-orders and honestly my go-to every time. Fresh, flavorful, and exactly what you want when you're eating seafood on the water. Service is also always solid. The staff is super attentive with refills, extra butter, napkins -- all the little things that make the experience even better. Pro tip: check the weather before you go. If it was rainy or rough weather the day before or that morning, the fishing boats sometimes don't go out, which means they can run low or be out of some of the local catch items. read more

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Excellent eatery right on the water to get the freshest seafood in Santa Barbara. The staff was kind and helpful, showing us some of the crabs since we weren't very familiar. We enjoyed the seafood pasta... still makes my mouth water. The lobster pasta had plenty of lobster. The sunset was gorgeous. read more

It was a very good evening.. in a pleasant atmosphere and delicious food. The batter was very thin and all kinds of marine life were well cooked. They are not overdried, as it usually happens if the food is in batter. The waiter was quite attentive. I can put a solid 4 for the view and 5 for the food. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Fried calamari, oysters, shrimps, and scallops - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is one of those spots that just sticks with you. We ordered the lobster roll, fresh uni, and a side of onion rings -- and honestly, every single bite was memorable. The lobster roll was packed, buttery, and perfectly balanced. The uni was incredibly fresh -- clean, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness that reminds you why you're eating seafood by the ocean in the first place. Even the onion rings were on point -- crispy, golden, and not greasy. The food alone would bring us back, but the service was friendly and efficient, and the view? Classic Santa Barbara waterfront vibes. Boats, ocean breeze, sunshine -- it completes the whole experience. Definitely coming back next time we're in town. This is the kind of place you crave once you've had it. read more

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While walking around, we decided to eat at this restaurant. Getting a spot was quick, mainly because it was just two of us. Getting seated, we got to see the kitchen. It was so interesting and entertaining to see the workers cooking and multitasking. Our server was so sweet and great. He was quick, always reassured us, checked on us, even was sitting people down from outside. The clam chowder is amazing, the bread is soft and is the best with their chowder. I got the Live Sea Urchin! I didn't expect it to actually still be moving while I eat it. It was a very unique taste. It was my first time trying sea urchin and I don't regret it. I'd come back again. read more

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You can drive on the dock and park next to the restaurant. If it's within, I think, two hours you can get it validated. The food is extremely mediocre. The lobster pasta with the added uni was so bland. The uni itself was the only good thing. The combo platter ran out of oysters. I don't know how you mess up onions rings but they were so thick and bland. Given the location, I understand the price for the location but it's so expensive for bland food. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This place is a gem.My husband and I had a weekend getaway in Santa Barbara and one of my friend recommended this place and my hotel was walkable ,So why not give this place a tried. Food : Can't get any fresher than this! We ordered spiny lobster,Lobster tacos,linguini clams and steam clams.Everything was fresh,Delicious.They have an open kitchen and cooked it right in front of you. Service : We went in about 6.30-7 PM on Friday night.It was 65 degree and nobody was in there at all,So we picked a counter bar and the bartender/server came to us right away.He was nice and friendly and always checking on us. Vibe : Relaxing and chill vibe.Everything was open and we loved it. Next time we're visit Santa Barbara.This restaurant will for sure be our first choice,No doubt about it. read more

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We stopped by for lunch as it is on our way up north. The staff and owner were super friendly and helpful. The seafood was fresh and tasted. We ordered the followings: Fish tacos Poke bowl Fried Calamari Cioppino All were tasty and we forgot to take pic of the Cioppino because we ate it up so fast! I would definitely come back if we are ever close by. They have seating and good selection of drinks. read more

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On a Sunday (Easter Sunday) we took a drive from the west SGV area to Santa Barbara just to have uni at The Santa Barbara Seafood Company. We got to the restaurant at the perfect time as there were 2 outdoor seating tables available. We were greeted by Emma and were happy to be seated outside. The table umbrella provided teh 4 of just the right amount of shade. Even on a sunny day, sitting by the water did bring cool bushes of wind so a light jacket is recommended. After reviewing the menu we knew what we wanted but Emma made great suggestions. Our order: 2 orders of the Live Uni on Scallops (I liked it, hubby didn't) Clams Linguini (fresh and good, it's a light creamy base) Box Crab (highlight of our meal! DELICIOUS...thank you for the rec Emma!!!) Oysters (so fresh and good as expected!) Lobster Roll (it was just ok) Abalone with rice plate (saucey wet rice plate, the abalone was good) Within minutes of being seated, the other tables inside and out, were filled and there was a crowd waiting to be seated. The parking lot (on the boardwalk) directly in front of the restaurant was totally full even though there is plenty of parking (just get there early enough, we go there at about 12:15). Emma checked on us throughout our meal and took care of our requests. She was busy with most of the outdoor tables but was always professional and sweet. Top notch customer service! We can't wait to come back for the Box Crab. The also have a to-go on the side of the restaurant. read more

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10/10 amazing fresh seafood in SB! Service is great here and it's right on the pier, so you can definitely walk around after. Free 90m parking, but need to pay after. * This place has lots of food/variety so theres something for everyone. Lobster Pasta: light garlicy white wine sauce w/ bits of lobster and linguine noodles. this dish is super straightforward and you can't go wrong with it. comes w/ a piece of bread too. Clam Chowder Bowl: pretty affordable compared to some of the other places around - it's decent but i don't think it's anything out of the world. lots of clams though. Uni w/ Scallops & Ponzo: shared this across the entire group and it was my favorite. extremely fresh & literally MELTS in your mouth! * NOTE: if you sit on the outside /by the ocean it's really windy but has an ice view read more

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We opted for outdoor seating but I'd probably pick indoor next time because it was very windy on the pier. Good portions on everything and tasty. Scallops, shrimp and clams were juicy. read more

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We found this place on our trip to Santa Barbara and it seemed like a nice spot right on the pier. We chose to get take out and just sit on the benches across the restaurant. We placed our order and our food was ready pretty quickly. We were a group of 7 people (2 kids) so we got a few things to share. We ordered the coconut shrimp, fried calamari, oysters, shrimp and scallop combo, clam chowder in a bowl, and clam linguine pasta. The food was underwhelming, in quantity and flavor. The fried calamari combo was supposed to come with onion rings and it was literally 2 onion rings. The coconut shrimp was maybe 6 pieces and everything was pretty pricey. The fried oyster was not good at all. The pasta was probably the best item, nothing special but my kids enjoyed it. The clam chowder was okay, but all the fried items were pretty bland. I had higher expectations for this place but it was a disappointment. I don't think I would eat here again to be honest. read more

Fourth time here. The food and service never disappoint! The seafood is extremely fresh and never fishy tasting. I highly recommend the uni and scallops with ponzu. Their clam chowder and oyster shooters are also delicious. I saw that they won a chowder award for Sep 2025. There's bar seating inside or tables outside. The outside area has patio heaters. I recommend outside so that you can take in the beautiful ocean view. Do dress a little warm though since it can be breezy outside. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

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I've never eaten a meal so fast in my life. As soon as we sat down I ordered everything and the food came out so fast. Our server was super funny and brought the food out as soon as possible. The uni was so fresh and buttery. But the main star was the clam chowder. I didn't even have a chance to take a photo because I inhaled it. I will definitely be back here ! read more

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