Minneapolis seafood runs from lobster platters built for a table of ten to a counter order of fish and chips eaten standing up. This guide sorts the actual seafood rooms from the kitchens that just happen to serve a good shrimp dish on the side, and prices each one so nobody overpays for oysters by accident.
№ 01
Shuang Cheng
$$
1320 4th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · +16123780208
Photo via 
Lobster, crab, and clams built for a table of ten or more, not a date night order. The kitchen handles large-group tickets well, with stir-fried dishes and tofu soup rounding out a spread that works for a birthday party or a family reunion. Casual room, casual prices, and a menu that rewards showing up with a crowd rather than a couple.
What to orderlobster, crab, clams
№ 02
JJ Fish & chicken
904 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411 · +16125210628
Photo via
Crack wings are the reason regulars keep a standing order here, heavy on seasoning without drying out the meat. Jerk chicken and rice and a Chicago-style Italian beef round out a menu that reads more soul food and Southern fried than seafood house, useful for a quick, well-seasoned meal delivered to the office or picked up fast.
What to ordercrack wings, jerk chicken and rice, Italian beef
№ 03
Smack Shack
$$$
603 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · +16122597288
Photo via
Seafood paella loaded with shrimp, clams, mussels, and smoky sausage is the dish that defines this room, and it holds up for restaurant week crowds and Father's Day tables alike. The Minneapolis location and the Bloomington patio both work for a family gathering that wants to sit outside and take its time over a shared pot of shellfish.
What to orderSeafood Paella, Shrimp, Clams
№ 04
The Anchor Fish & Chips
$$
302 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 · +16126761300
Photo via
Crispy fish and homemade tartar sauce anchor a neighborhood spot that has run the fish and chips playbook for decades. Counter ordering slows things down compared to table service, so the wait is part of the deal, but the fry itself gets consistent praise. A straightforward Friday dinner stop, not a special occasion room.
What to orderfish and chips, homemade tartar sauce, fries
№ 05
Sea Salt Eatery
$$
4801 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417 · +16127218990
Photo via
Grilled salmon and fish and chips come with a view near Minnehaha Falls, and the setting does real work here alongside the shrimp pasta. This is a seasonal, sit-outside kind of seafood stop rather than a formal dining room, best treated as a lunch or dinner destination built around the water as much as the plate.
What to ordergrilled salmon, fish and chips, shrimp pasta
№ 06
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
$$$$
50 S 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402 · +16123332277
Photo via
Oysters, grilled fish, and lobster tail put this in the upscale tier of Minneapolis seafood, with service reported as attentive down to named servers checking on tables. It carries the higher price of a special occasion room, though the happy hour in the bar offers a cheaper way into the same kitchen for those not ready for full sticker price.
What to orderoysters, grilled fish, lobster tail
1600 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN, 55408 · +16128275710
Photo via
The croque vegetarienne and French onion soup anchor a menu built for slow drinks and comfort food rather than seafood specifically. Barbette has held its Uptown neighborhood role for years, working equally for an early brunch or a Friday night at the bar, with a happy hour menu that keeps the room casual despite the French cooking.
What to ordercroque vegetarienne, French onion soup, duck confit
№ 08
Mac's Fish & Chips (Minneapolis)
$$
610 W 54th St, Minneapolis, MN 55419 · +16128244804
Photo via
Fish and chips here comes thick, flaky, and fried in a notably light breading, with clams and cod also on the counter menu. Service moves fast and food arrives hot, which matters given the counter format. The storefront itself shows its age, but the fry quality is what keeps this on a short list for the city's best fried fish.
What to orderfish and chips, clams, cod
№ 09
Jasmine 26 | Hot Pot Restaurant & Bar
$$
8 E 26th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · +16128703800
Photo via
Beef, shrimp, and vegetable hot pot come as individual pots here, a different format from the communal pots at Asia Mall, which makes this the better call for a group of two or three rather than a large table. Attentive service gets specifically credited, and the build-your-own format suits a group with mixed appetites.
What to orderbeef hot pot, shrimp hot pot, vegetable hot pot
№ 10
Lela
$$
5601 W 78th St, Minneapolis, MN 55439 · +19526565980
Photo via
Eggs Benedict gets a specific recommendation here, arriving with a well-timed poach that servers steer newcomers toward. This is a hotel restaurant first, covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner for guests, and it clears that bar comfortably even if the room will not surprise anyone looking for a destination meal outside the hotel.
What to orderEggs Benedict, pancakes, grilled chicken
№ 11
Mai Thai Restaurant
$$
3839 Lakeland Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55422 · +17635331877
Photo via
Pad Thai draws repeat customers who order it specifically at the higher spice levels, and it has become a fixation order for at least one regular picking up food after work. Tom Kha and Pad See Ew round out a menu built for weeknight takeout and delivery rather than a sit-down occasion, with massaman curry also in rotation.
What to orderPad Thai, Tom Kha, Pad See Ew
Frequently asked
What is the best seafood restaurant near me in Minneapolis?
It depends on which neighborhood you mean. This guide covers seafood rooms across Minneapolis, from Smack Shack's paella to counter spots like Mac's Fish & Chips, so check the neighborhood and price tier next to each name rather than assuming one answer covers the whole city.
Which Minneapolis seafood restaurant is best for a special occasion?
The Oceanaire Seafood Room is the upscale pick here, with oysters, grilled fish, and lobster tail priced accordingly. Smack Shack is the next tier down, good for a celebration that still wants a patio and a shared paella rather than a formal dining room.
Are any of these Minneapolis seafood spots budget friendly?
Yes. The Anchor Fish & Chips, Mac's Fish & Chips, and Shuang Cheng all sit in the lower price range and work for a casual meal without a special occasion budget. JJ Fish & Chicken is also priced for a quick, affordable meal.
How are restaurants picked for this Minneapolis seafood guide?
Every restaurant here is ranked by its Insider Score, which comes from analyzing the public review record for each place: standout dishes, consistency, and how the room actually operates. No restaurant pays for placement or ranking on this list.
ƒ
The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Hodan Abdi
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Hodan Abdi is a Staff Writer at Top of Minneapolis. Raised in Cedar-Riverside two floors above the Somali mall her aunt worked in, she now lives in Eagan and covers the whole metro ring. She writes the guides, sweeps the suburbs, and covers the Somali and East African tables as the beat she knows best.
