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    Walt's Wharf

    4.1 (1.5k reviews)
    PriceySeafood, Bars, Desserts
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Walt's Wharf Photos

    Business Info

    WALT'S WHARF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Walt's Wharf

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    Clean bathrooms say a lot about the business.
    Rangie T.

    Coming to the Seal Beach area and especially Main Street Seal Beach, Walt's Wharf I'm sure has been part of this seal beach history for decades. We finally got the chance to give it a try. Upon entry we were greeted by the hostess but for some reason, I did not feel a sincere welcome. We were seated in an area where you had a nice view of Main Street and the crowds of people walking down Main street. Since it was our first time, we took a few minutes to go over the menu and decide on what to order. I don't know if our server was getting annoyed with us but she seemed a bit short or cold. Again, I didn't feel this sincerity of the staff appreciating we are there to give them business. When we finally were able to order, we also asked for bread. When our server left to put our order in, we waited for a while and we felt she forgot we wanted bread. She came with my soup and my wife's salad but no bread. So I asked again, and she said of course, but I sensed this feeling like I'm asking for too much. Maybe she was having a bad day and couldn't really get herself to be friendly or give us the feeling that they are happy we are there. The bread finally was brought over and we truly enjoyed the clam chowder and the Walt's salad which went well with the warm sourdough roll. At least the food was timed appropriately and the entree came when we were finished with our soup and salad. Our entree, the Trout Almandine was delicious. With a nice char to the skin and a nice grilled flavor to the trout. Their rice and green beans were the perfect accompaniment to our fish. Things got better towards the end of the meal to make it a nice lunch. I would come back just for the clam chowder. It was so full of clams in every spoonful and also not overboard with potatoes as most seafood restaurants tend to do to be able to have less clams in it. There is a variety of seafood choices and I would like to try a different choice the next time I come back.

    Mai Tai and Franziskaner Beer
    Kim R.

    We ate here a couple times before they closed down....which we thought was a bummer. Once it was resurrected we added it onto our list of places to eat at soon. We dined here last week. It was quite a wait, close to an hour... The menu isn't super huge. Everything we ordered was good and satisfying. We loved the fresh and hot homemade rolls with butter *drool* Got a grilled artichoke as an appetizer then shared a wedge salad and the shrimp and scallop linguine. The wedge hit the spot for me! I only had a few bites of the pasta dish as I was very full by that point. My husband liked it though, however, both of us noticed the noodles were a bit hard, like more than al dente. Not sure if it's because they were undercooked or if it was homemade pasta and it has a harder texture...? Is that a thing? I'm not sure as I don't ever eat from-scratch pasta. Regardless, it was still an enjoyable meal and we would return.

    Carmelized King Salmon Mediterranean shrimp
    Ethan A.

    Nice spot to dine close to the water! The ambiance is quaint and provides a very relaxed atmosphere. Service was good and the wait staff were attentive throughout the dinner. The food was served with nice attention to detail on the presentation. Each dish was well put together and the ingredients blend together well. The fish and shrimp were cooked perfectly, which deserves kudos. Prices are reasonable, albeit on the pricier side for certain items. All in all, enjoyable experience here and the location is prime! I'd check it out if you're in the area, craving seafood, and it's not too busy to get in.

    Grilled "Mahi Mahi" Sandwich
    Valerie G.

    Good customer service! My waiter was great, he was so attentive and very friendly. Food was so tasty, I just wish I ordered more. Nice layout, I'm definitely coming back!

    Prawns and Chips with a side of coleslaw
    Elizabeth H.

    This restaurant has been around at least over 50 years! Quite an exciting restaurant to be at. We enjoyed the Clam Chowder a lot. Creamy, rich, and full of clams just what you'd expect from a perfect clam chowder. The Prawns and Chips were pretty good, only the dish didn't stand out. The fries were dry and the crust of the prawns were not crunchy. It's a nice comfy restaurant to be when in Seal Beach. Our server was very nice.

    Idaho Red Trout Almondine
    Jenny W.

    Walked into Walt's Wharf on a Saturday around 4:45pm and got on the list for dinner. The quoted 30 minute wait went by quickly. We were seated in a cozy booth and ordered: Calamari - Loved the addition of vegetables like carrots and peppers which added variety. The batter was light, crispy and not greasy. Fish and chips - Just like the calamari, the batter was perfectly light and crisp. It came with a generous portion of fries and coleslaw. Trout almondine - The fish was perfectly cooked and paired nicely with wild rice and green beans. I appreciated how its topped with a good amount of toasted almonds. For my daughter, the butter bucatini with a cup of milk was a hit. Our server was attentive and the staff were friendly and welcoming throughout the meal. We had a great experience and we're already looking forward to coming back and trying more from the menu.

    Chocolate Bomb
    Leeann M.

    Wonderful experience for first/time visitors. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating of us brining in our 10-month old. The restaurant is nice but not pretentious so we felt comfortable with our baby. I can't recall our server's name (she was blonde and middle aged) but she was so sweet and attentive. We chatted about kids and she took care of us our entire visit. We all enjoyed our food including the complimentary warm sourdough bread with soft, spreadable butter, coconut crusted shrimp, mahi mahi tacos, kid's salon plate, stuffed salmon, and chocolate bomb. I personally had the stuffed salmon. Hands down the best cooked salmon I've ever had. It tasted like butter and practically melted in my mouth. We all enjoyed everything from the appetizer to dessert! Highly recommend a visit to Walt's Wharf!

    Ran C.

    Met up with a friend, former colleague (an organization we're both no longer at) last night her for dinner. Though it was my first time, I can see why a lot of people love this place. More on that later. Coming down to Seal Beach from DTLA, everything was smooth. Parking too. Found street parking nearby. Enforced until 6PM so it was FREE. Unlike LA where you're dining and worrying about meters. Arrived and dined at one of the tables adjacent to the bar. There's another section downstairs as well as upstairs, but that wasn't open. Spoke with the owner, warm, passionate person who clearly has been pouring her heart into decorating and restoring the restaurant (fire) who was kind enough to give my friend and I a tour upstairs - which I felt was ready to be opened - as it looked only to be missing a few touches like artwork to fill in a few bare wall spaces. Looking around you can tell she takes pride and care in the details. Recovering from a fire as well as Covid - pouring everything you have into a project like this is inspiring and refreshing. Anyway, I ordered the Chicken Alfredo (see pics). It's served with Penne, not fettucine. It's different for me as the sauce can collect in the pasta and not really coat the surface. It can give you a richer bite - just FYI in case you're like me and expecting the traditional dish. Also got a small Caesar. I liked it but would have enjoyed it more if the croutons were cut smaller. I might be wrong but I felt like the dressing was poured and not tossed (or maybe not tossed enough). I really had a good experience. The vibe was relaxed. The service was excellent and friendly. So, it just a matter of whether I'd go back or not. That's not the right question though - it's not if, it's when. Even if I don't live close by.

    Cioppino
    Richard B.

    Food was flavorful and fresh! Service was knowledge, professional and friendly. Great ambiance and the carrot cake dessert was delicious!

    Jonathan H.

    My wife and I decided to stop here for lunch. I heard that Walt's Wharf is an institution in Seal Beach and has been around more than 50 years. Since seafood is its speciality, we ordered a bowl of clam chowder and shrimp and chips (a special where the shrimp replaces the fish). The clam chowder was excellent: creamy, super-fresh clams, nice seasoning. And of course, little crackers to drop into the chowder. The shrimp and chips were solid, but not special, which is the reason for the 4 vs. 5 star score. While the shrimp was crispy and very fresh, the batter was too thick. The tartar sauce that accompanied the shrimp was very good. The fries were good, but on the dry side. The cole slaw as the side was excellent. Our waitress was terrific: prompt, enthusiastic, friendly. The restaurant decor was really nice with a huge wall painting of Seal Beach, complete with pier, pelicans and fishing boats and lots of open ocean. The restaurant had a pleasant lunchtime vibe to it and its location on Main Street can't be beat.

    Meyer Lemon "Pudding" Cake and Mud Pie
    Hailey R.

    My goodness am I glad Walt's Wharf is back! This place has been a gem for so many years and I feel it just keeps getting better with time like a nice fine wine! Went here for dinner with a few of my friends and let's just say we were all over the moon with our meals and dessert and of course the mini sourdough loaves & whipped butter this place will forever blow me out of the water and I'm ready to go back already and I just left. Thank you Walt's Wharf & team for such beautiful ambiance, great service & amazing food!! See you guys soon !!

    The women enjoying Bday
    Anna beth G.

    Walt's is always a consistent favorite for us! We took guests visiting from Ohio. As usual, the artichoke was incredible! The oysters were delicious too!!! We had the BEST service! Both Matt and Justin were fantastic! They were so nice, engaging and helpful!

    Bar Carmelized King Salmon
    Mark M.

    Diana, the Manager and Lisa, the bartender with Jeffery along with the rest of the staff. Did amazing made our evening at Walts Wharf memorable! I will be back and telling all my friends!!!!!!

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    Walt's Wharf Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Walt's Wharf

    Do they take reservations?

    Not at the time I dined there. Should call to verify

    How noisy is Walt's Wharf? My husband has a hearing disability and it is very hard for him to hear and participate in conversations at loud restaurants?

    It's on the medium to loud side if it's busy. I've been in plenty of much louder places and they don't blast music or anything but I wouldn't call Walt's quiet. You should be OK. I'd take my Dad there...and he refuses to wear his hearing aids!

    I thought it shut down for good?

    Nope! Back open and good as always! Stop in and support a local restaurant!

    When will the restaurant reopen?

    It's open now

    Where can we find the happy hour menu or what's on there ? Thanks

    They have fish tacos fish tostadas, crispy calamari spinach and Artichoke dip and Angus beef sliders all for happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 PM with wine specials too

    Does Walt's Wharf have an ocean view?

    No. The restaurant is on Main Street - 3 blocks from the shore.

    What days and times for Happy Hour?

    M-F 4:00-6:00 PM

    View All 13 Questions

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    I tried a few things from Renaud's while staying nearby. For my first visit I had a mini lemon tart…read moreand one of their small easter chocolates, which were on sale after the holiday. The lemon and meringue in the tart were very good: the citrus had a nice bite to it, it wasn't too sweet. I found the pastry a little thick, but that is sometimes an issue when making miniature tarts, as the pastry to filling ratio can get off-balance. The little dark chocolate bunny was ok, but honestly not any better than most retail chocolate bars for a much higher cost. On my second visit I stopped in on a morning for a matcha latte and ham and cheese croissant. The croissant was flaky and had a good balance of ham and cheese. They warm them up and it was the perfect temperature. The matcha latte was very disappointing, though. I didn't end up finishing it and threw most of it out. It was bright green, but had no real matcha flavor to speak of. Instead it tasted overwhelmingingly of vanilla. So much so that as it cooled it reminded me of drinking melted vanilla ice cream. I don't know if they use vanilla syrup by default as their sweetner, because I didn't ask for it, but if so it's an odd choice to make without telling people. Overall, a bit of a mixed bag.

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    The ambiance here is so cute and clean! My family and I stopped by after dinner because we wanted…read moresomething sweet, and we were excited to try some Turkish delights as souvenirs to bring home. Unfortunately, our experience with the staff really left a sour taste in our mouths. The server helping us seemed bothered when we asked if we could sample something before purchasing and kept making comments about us asking to try the products. "If I give everyone a sample then what? No business" ... LOOL WHAT? My fiance was genuinely trying to pick something out and wanted to sample a flavor before deciding, but the staff member completely ignored him and made us feel unwelcome. We had every intention of purchasing a good amount to take home, but because of the attitude and lack of hospitality, we ended up only getting a couple of pieces and leaving. (I regret spending any money here) The products and ambiance were lovely, but customer service really matters, especially when you're trying to support a business. We left disappointed because this could have been such a nice experience.

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    Walt's Wharf - seafood - Updated August 2026

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