St. Paul's seafood boils run on customization: pick the protein, pick the seasoning, pick the heat. This list also covers what actually sits alongside seafood on this side of the river, from a Chicago-style hot dog counter to the University Avenue pho room and a French bistro doing steak frites on Wednesdays.
№ 01
Wild Fish & Chicken
St. Paul $$
976 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55106 · +16518882165
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Fried chicken and fried fish share the menu at this counter, plated with rice and peppers for a straightforward comfort plate. The fried chicken draws repeat regulars looking for a quick, dependable fix. Ordering ahead online is worth a second look at the menu, since pricing and add-ons like sauce cups can differ from what's posted in the room.
What to orderfried chicken, fried fish, rice with peppers
№ 02
King Cajun
St. Paul $$
712 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104 · +16514938575
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The seafood boil here is built to order, with a full run of flavor and heat choices that let each table customize a pot to their own taste. The soft shell crab appetizer, seasoned simply in a salt-and-pepper shrimp style, is easy to split among a group. Good for a family lunch or a low-key celebration.
What to orderseafood boil, soft shell crab, shrimp
№ 03
The Luscious Crab
St. Paul $$
501 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16516003374
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Head-on shrimp and calamari anchor a seafood boil built for sharing, with diners picking their own combination before it hits the table. The room leans into group energy, making it a fit for birthday lunches and other casual celebrations. First-timers to the seafood boil format find it an easy entry point, with seasoning and portions that read as generous for the price.
What to orderhead-on shrimp, calamari, seafood boil
№ 04
Trieu Chau Restaurant
St. Paul $
500 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16512226148
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Trieu Chau sits on University Avenue in St. Paul, where pho comes with a clear, clean broth and a full spread of warm spices. Regulars who work through the University Avenue pho lineup keep landing back here for the broth alone. Banh mi and spring rolls round out a menu built for quick, no-frills Vietnamese meals.
What to orderpho, banh mi, spring rolls
№ 05
Peking Garden
St. Paul $$
394 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55103 · +16516440888
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Sesame chicken and kung pao chicken headline a menu long enough to study before ordering, and the room has the space to seat large family groups without a squeeze. Mapo tofu adds a spicier option to a menu built for crowds. Multigenerational regulars treat it as the default stop for birthdays and family outings in St. Paul.
What to ordersesame chicken, mapo tofu, kung pao chicken
410 St Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55145 · +16512225670
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Meritage pairs a French bistro menu with a St. Paul dining room built for occasions, and the Wednesday steak frites deal, a fixed price for steak, unlimited fries, and a house salad, is the value anchor of the week. The kitchen's classic French plates and the room's polish make it a steady pick for birthdays and date nights alike.
What to ordersteak frites, French fries, house salad
№ 07
Pappys Chicago Style Eatery
St. Paul $
1783 Maryland Ave E, Saint Paul, MN 55119 · +16517714500
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The gyro platter and the Philly cheesesteak both pull praise here, alongside the Chicago-style hot dog that gives the counter its name. This is a strip-mall order-at-the-counter spot, not a room built for atmosphere, and it does not pretend otherwise. Reliable, greasy, flavor-forward fast food for a quick stop in St. Paul.
What to orderChicago-style hot dog, Philly Cheesesteak, Gyro platter
№ 08
Golden Grill & Cajun Seafood
St. Paul
444 Maryland Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55117 · +16514874017
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Combo three and combo four are the orders regulars point to first, with crawfish rounding out a seafood counter built on value. Sauce and seasoning choices come with straightforward guidance from the staff for anyone unsure what to order. Friendly counter service and a fair price on generous portions make this a St. Paul seafood stop worth knowing.
What to ordercombo three, combo four, crawfish
Frequently asked
What is the best seafood restaurant in St. Paul?
Based on the Insider Score, King Cajun and The Luscious Crab rank highest for seafood boils with customizable seasoning and heat, while Golden Grill & Cajun Seafood stands out for value on its combo plates. No restaurant on this list paid for placement; rankings come from the Insider Score alone.
Where can I find good seafood near me in St. Paul?
This guide covers seafood rooms across St. Paul, from Cajun-style boil counters like King Cajun and Golden Grill & Cajun Seafood to fried fish at Wild Fish & Chicken. Search by neighborhood or check the Insider Score on each listing to find the closest strong option near me or elsewhere in the city.
Are these seafood boils customizable?
Yes. King Cajun and The Luscious Crab both let diners choose their own seafood, seasoning, and heat level for a boil, which review patterns point to as a major draw for group orders and first-time visits.
Is Meritage considered a seafood restaurant?
No. Meritage is a French restaurant in St. Paul known for steak frites, not a seafood specialist, but it is included here for readers looking at the fuller range of St. Paul dining alongside the city's seafood boil counters.
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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 →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
