Pacific Fish Center & Restaurant, Redondo Beach Pier: A Pictorial Essay

[J.L.]

Verdict: There are few better ways for a Chowhound to spend a beautiful Southern California afternoon than to go to the Redondo Beach Pier and enjoy a variety of fresh (live from the tank!) seafood at Pacific Fish Center & Restaurant. To avoid the crowds, I suggest going mid-afternoon.

Highlights: Steamed dungeness crabs, live spot prawn (sashimi or steamed), hot Korean seafood soup, the awesome sashimi platter, and fried clam strips. Yes, they also serve a (so-so) New England clam chowder, if you are so inclined...

[kevin]

Lobster rolls too ?

New England style ???

I'll have to give it a whirl.

But usually I just stick to the wonders of Najas.

And maybe Bincho. Though bincho has gone downhill in my mind since the rejiggering since they dropped the lovely pan-fried shrimp gyoza as well as those addictive spicy wings.

[sablouwho]

Was referred to this thread by Sevorg as I'm looking for an alternative to Quality Seafood. Not very much info on this place online--no web site and the (sorry) Yelp reviews are very mixed.

Trying to find a place that my boyfriend and I will both like that is on the pier (bf lives in walking distance). He will only eat cooked seafood and I have no idea if he's ever eaten any Korean food before. I am fine with raw fish (though I don't have a thing for oysters so I wouldn't order them here.)

Trying to figure out if my BF could just order a piece of grilled fish or something? Neither of us wants fried stuff.

Please let me know what you think?

[ns1]

this is not really their specialty...

[sablouwho]

NS1--thank you. I had a feeling that might be the case. Probably not the right place for what we're seeking.

[ns1]

I've had good meals @ Captain Kidd before, but of course most of my items were fried - they do grilled as well. Have you tried them before?

http://www.yelp.com/biz/captain-kidds-redondo-beach
http://captainkidds.com/

This is more in line with what you are looking for.

[Servorg]

Have you tried Kincaid's? http://www.kincaids.com/ We have been maybe 6 times over the years and, while they may not be as inexpensive as you would like their seafood was always fresh when we've been there. I've only been to Blue Water Grill http://www.bluewatergrill.com/ once. It was okay but it's walkable for your BF too.

ADD: Sorry ns1, my reply was meant for sablouwho, but my aim was lousy! ;-D>

[sablouwho]

Hi Servorg...you are making my smile without realizing it. I actually -have- been to Kincaid's. Good suggestion, it just happens to bring back bad memories for me (traumatizing experience with prior BF, current BF knows the story) and I am not sure how current BF would feel about the price points. But I'd be willing to go back. Looks like they might have some good HH options (and fortunately I have a light appetite so that helps keep price points down).

MY BF likes to go down to the pier (me, not so much, but I like BF so I keep my mouth shut) a lot so I am still hoping to find a more affordable "everyday" option.

Blue Water Grill looks good too, by the way. I will try to see if I can get him to give it a try. It's walking distance, and for me, the fact that it isn't on the pier is a plus, actually.

Is there something wrong with me for not liking the pier? To me it seems dirty, seedy, and it depresses me. Maybe I'm just strange, though!

[thebigjelly]

I agree sablouwho, the place is filthy and gross.

[sablouwho]

Hi Big Jelly--curious--do you mean the entire pier, or Quality Seafood specifically? (Either way, I agree with you, LOL!)

[thebigjelly]

Well, I wanted try Quality Seafood but the whole scene just grossed me out. The dirt, the smell, the exhaust fumes from the boats and the sticky tables were off putting to say the least.

[kevin]

Its charming to me.

[Servorg]

I regularly ride my bicycle down through the pier and back up to our house, so watched Kincaid's take shape as it was built and pass by Bluewater Grill We've been to Kincaid's maybe a half dozen times. It's always been solid to great, if a little pricy. Bluewater I've been to once, but I don't recall being horrified by it (I just don't recall it all that clearly at this point). The RB Pier to me is just one way point on my rides for the most part...but it does seem a little "sad/touristy" for the most part if I stop to think about it.

[DrBruin]

I went to the Bluewater Grill within the past year or two, and it was not a good experience. The food came out cold and seasoning was way off. The service was horrible. They weren't empty, but they weren't busy either. I will not be returning.

[FoodObsessive]

I find them dull rather than really bad - underspiced, and the vegetables have no imagination at all.

[kevin]

I've never tried Kincaids. But it's right on the water so I likely will in the near future if it not for the prices.

Even their happy hour menu is downright spendy.

[sablouwho]

Hi NS1--I haven't been to Captain Kidd's before but I've taken a look at Yelp and this seems like it's the kind of thing that would satisfy BF as this looks similar in format to Quality Seafood. However, it looks much better to me, actually.

Hopefully I will be able to convince him to give CK a try instead of QS. Fingers crossed and thank you again!

[DrBruin]

I walked into Captain Kidd's once (about 2-3 months ago) and walked out since it had that bad type of fishy smell. Maybe it was the fryers.... Maybe I'll try them again.

One of my favorite places to get grilled fish near the Redondo Pier (besides Quality Seafood) is Malibu Fish Grill just off of PCH and the turn to go to the Redondo Pier. There is no bad fishy smell. You won't get high from diesel boat fumes. The tables are clean. The fish is reasonably priced and fresh. I recommend getting a shrimp appetizer (though it's fried), and the Garlic butter grilled trout Mediterranean salad but order the dressing on the side.

[buhhh]

Thank you, Dr. Bruin. I will try Malibu Fish Grill. I live in Santa Monica but was wondering about restaurants around Redondo. Also interested in San Pedro, food-wise.

[Servorg]

We've always liked the fish at 22nd St. Landing Seafood Grill & Bar in San Pedro. My wife has almost always ordered their bucket of clams and mussels with fresh baked focaccia for dipping in the copious amount of broth. Nice view of the boats too from their location on the second floor.

http://www.22ndstlandingrestaurant.com/

[buhhh]

Thanks, Servorg. I think I've heard of the 22nd St. Landing.

[DrBruin]

MFG is one of these places where you order at the counter, and they deliver it to your table, but it's on regular dishware, not paper plates. It's not fancy, but it's clean and the food has been good consistently.

[sablouwho]

What/where is MFG? I'm about to leave for Redondo to spend time with my BF and I know he's planning on one of those fish places for tonight, so I wanna make sure I have all my options thought through! Thanks!

[Servorg]

When in doubt...Google it out... http://malibufishgrill.com/index.php/...