6 Best And 6 Worst Seafood Chains In The US

There's a bounty of seafood restaurant chains to choose from across the United States, some with more of a nationwide presence, while others may be more specific to your area of the country. Chances are, you can think of a handful off the top of your head that you could drive to for a visit right now. The question isn't where you can go for a seafood meal, but where you should (and, maybe more importantly, where you shouldn't).

Not all chain restaurants are created equal, and that's especially true when it comes to seafood restaurants: Because if fish and shellfish isn't actually good quality, there's no covering it up. If a restaurant is going to identify its specialty in this category, then it better be serving up some darn good seafood. So how do you know which restaurants are the real deal, and what makes a chain one of the "best" or one of the "worst?"

It comes down to several factors: food quality and sourcing, overall consistency, and value for your money. We've done all the research and aggregated the findings based on overall customer reviews and online commentary so that you can cut out the guesswork. Whether you're in the mood for some great lobster bisque or the best fried seafood, or you want to avoid some of the more questionable restaurants, take a dive into the best and worst seafood chains in America.

Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab is one of the more consistently well-rated seafood chains in the U.S., with many of its locations — spanning from Naples, Florida to Austin, Texas — receiving above 4.5 stars on Google, and some with even higher ratings on OpenTable. While this seafood restaurant is more upscale and comes with higher prices, you're paying for quality, and customers are continually satisfied.

Truluck's has been around since 1992 with the same two owners from the start, so it makes sense why its patrons tend to have a consistently great dining experience across the group's restaurants. With live piano music in the lounge and an overall elegant ambiance, a meal at Truluck's is a pleasant one, and the service in particular gets high praise across the board.

But importantly, so does the food. Customers love the seafood chain's silky smooth lobster bisque, the fresh crab served chilled with signature mustard sauce, and even the desserts like carrot cake and table-side baked Alaska (which wasn't actually invented in Alaska). One customer on Yelp who visited a Washington, D.C. location sums it up nicely, "Easily my fav restaurant. Everything is delicious. 10/10 and always a great experience."

With over 500 locations nationwide (which is down by a couple hundred since it filed for bankruptcy in 2024), Red Lobster is definitely one of the larger and more well-known seafood chains across the country. But that doesn't make it a good one, even earning it lots of bad reviews online.

So why is Red Lobster one of the worst chains of the bunch? Customers continually complain about the overall poor quality, small portions, and disappointing seafood, often noting that the dishes are either overcooked or rubbery in texture. Several reviewers state that they'll never eat there again. After receiving undercooked lobster at a Duluth, Minnesota restaurant, one Trustpilot customer comments, "Not too happy after spending $175 for a meal. This is the new Red Lobster??? Never again."

Customers also complain about poor service and long wait times, which doesn't help when the food that you're overpaying for doesn't even taste good. "This is what we find most disappointing about our experience," says one customer on Trustpilot, "The prices have gone up, the portions have gotten smaller, and the quality doesn't seem to justify what we're being charged." Yikes.

Ocean Prime is a widely-acclaimed, award-winning seafood and steakhouse restaurant chain that offers an elevated menu and dining experience, and it's another one that lives up to its high ratings. With 20 locations across 15 states and high average online ratings, it's safe to say that customers are very much pleased with their experience at this chain, and its awards (like the Best Seafood Restaurant accolade for its Las Vegas location) are deserved.

One review on Tripadvisor of the Ocean Prime in Beverly Hills, aptly titled "Expensive but worth the experience," states that "The food here is just perfect — especially the fish." A Yelp reviewer of the Las Vegas location agrees, "They have amazing service, and some of the best rolls I ever had, their fish is very fresh and tasty, same as their oysters." Customers love Ocean Prime's fresh seafood items like the crab cakes, Chilean sea bass, ocean roll, lobster linguine, and, of course, the signature butter cake is a must for dessert.

Long John Silver's has become one of the more unfavorable seafood chains in the country in recent years, with a whopping number of negative reviews online. While many customers agree that this seafood chain was great back in its heyday, that day is now gone — there's no doubt that the fast food restaurants have declined over the years, as Long John Silver's locations continue to slowly die out.

With mixed reviews at best on the food itself, the menu items tend to be inconsistent as far as quality and execution. That's compounded by overall customer complaints about long wait times, poor or rude service, and frequent order mistakes.

Customers note that the food is often too oily and greasy, too heavy on the salt, doesn't have enough flavor, or all of the above. Unfortunately, while the chain is nostalgic for many, the quality isn't what it used to be and this seafood spot is one you should drive by, not through.

Ivar's is somewhat of an institution in the Pacific Northwest. The seafood restaurant, most famous for its clam chowder, started as a fish 'n chip shop all the way back in 1938 in Seattle. It's since expanded to 18 fast casual locations as well as currently three full-service restaurants across the Pacific Northwest. But this is one of those nostalgic places that has stayed strong over the years and continues to deliver on great seafood.

With solid overall ratings online, Ivar's isn't just a great spot for some quick and delicious seafood, but its also appreciated for its many beautiful waterfront locations. As far as the food, the clam chowder is certainly the star, but customers also love the fish and chips — there are several selections of fish to choose from, like halibut, cod, and salmon — and praise Ivar's Seafood Bars for the fresh fish, hot dishes, and overall well-executed cooking and consistent offerings.

Similar to Long John Silver's, Captain D's Seafood Kitchen restaurants are slowly becoming harder to find and more obsolete, and the locations that are still left are unfortunately undesirable. This is one of those seafood chains that isn't what it once was, and you may want to stay away from it.

Many customers feel that the food is deeply unsatisfying at Captain D's. While it may not have always been such poor quality, one Reddit chain claims that the fish is now "the thickness of a marker" and "like chewing on a sponge." Other Redditors agree. Customers on Yelp have voiced that the portions are too small and that the restaurants themselves are extremely uncleanly. With food that often arrives cold, bland, or rubbery and sub-par service that can ruin the experience, Captain D's locations are negatively received across the board, so it's no surprise that the chain continues to dwindle.

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen takes its seafood sourcing seriously. According to the seafood chain's website, the restaurant procures the very best fish it can find around the globe and has practices in place to protect its quality. And, fortunately, that good quality shows up throughout its highly-rated restaurants across the U.S.

With locations around the country from Arizona to Georgia, many of Pappadeuax Seafood Kitchen's restaurants receive good ratings online. Customers appreciate the large portion sizes, flavorful dishes, and lively ambiance, which all contribute to a great experience across locations. The chain is known for its tasty cajun and creole seafood dishes, like stuffed crab, crawfish étouffée, and grilled octopus.

A satisfied customer online wrote, "Ate at one in Atl[anta] not knowing anything about it. Was super impressed. A little pricey but the food was solid and service was fantastic so totally worth it to me."

Joe's Crab Shack, now down to just a dozen or so locations, currently has a reputation has being deeply average — not exactly what you want when you are going out for a seafood meal. The restaurant's signature item is the Steampots, which are essentially various types of crab and other shellfish served in buckets.

While the decor and ambiance feel a bit kitschy, that does not seem to be the problem with most customers. Unfortunately, it is the food here that seems to regularly fall short. Customers often complain that the food is not cooked well, does not taste fresh, and has overall inconsistent quality (with some even remarking that they got sick immediately from it). Yikes. Overall, it's a fun place with a creative ambiance that often serves disappointing and even stale food, landing it firmly in the "avoid" column in our book.

Eddie V's Prime Seafood seems to be a fan favorite across its many locations, which span from coast to coast throughout 15 states. The high end seafood chain is transparent about its sourcing, boasting on the website that the swordfish comes from Block Island, scallops come from Georges Bank, and yellowfin tuna comes from the Caribbean. And with high ratings online, it's clear that diners appreciate the high quality.

While this fancy restaurant is predictably higher in price, customers feel they're getting their money's worth thanks to a pleasant and polished atmosphere, exceptional service, and, of course, delicious food. A customer on OpenTable had a positive experience at the El Segundo location, "Our server was exceptional, our food was cooked to perfection, and the ambience was exactly what we were seeking."

Customers love dishes like the lobster mashed potatoes, crab fried rice, and wagyu dumplings — and also praise the steak for being delicious and cooked to perfection. Eddie V's is one of those places where no matter what you order, you most likely can't go wrong.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. makes the "worst" list not because it serves the worst seafood you'll ever have, but because it's known for being a tourist trap that simply isn't worth the price you'll pay. Inspired by that Bubba Gump of Forrest Gump, the restaurants are fun and kitschy places where Forrest Gump movie fans can play some trivia and lean into nostalgia.

But the movie theme is just a hook to reel you in, and in the end, you'll be eating overpriced seafood that's often mediocre at best. One Yelp customer puts it this way about the original Monterey, California location, "The food is so dry and oily and disgusting. It's worse than bar food. This is just a novelty restaurant." Outside of the very average reviews on various restaurant rating platforms, customers on Reddit tend to agree that Bubba Gump is somewhat of a scam.

Legal Sea Foods is another seafood chain that puts an emphasis on the responsible sourcing of its fish and seafood, and the high standard of quality and sustainability pays off in customer satisfaction. Based in the New England area, Legal Sea Foods uses in-season, locally-caught fish and shellfish whenever possible. Today, the chain has many locations around New England and the east coast, going as far west as Illinois.

While it received more mixed reviews on Yelp, the seafood restaurant earns solid ratings across platforms like Tripadvisor and OpenTable. Customers love the restaurant for its slightly upscale, waterfront vibe that still feels casual. Customers comment that the portions, although pricey, are generous — and the clam chowder and lobster rolls are particularly popular at Legal Sea Foods. An added bonus that many gluten-free customers appreciate is that the most of the menu is naturally gluten-free and very accommodating.

With several locations across the country, Landry's Seafood House is one of those slightly deceiving seafood chains that may seem to get enough positive reviews to be worth a visit — but, in reality, it is a fairly touristy chain that will serve overpriced, mediocre seafood. This restaurant falls into the same category as Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., which is no surprise because the chains are actually both owned by the same hospitality company: Landry's.

Landry's owns tons of chains around the U.S., and customers feel that it's "ruined" many of the restaurants. Customers have complained about long waits, poor service, and inconsistent food quality at Landry's Seafood House. Dining experiences at the chain vary greatly from location to location, and chances are you'll end up paying a decent amount of money for a less-than-decent meal. It's best to just avoid this chain if you can.

These chain restaurants were determined as "best" or "worst" based on overwhelming consensus online across the chain's locations. The overall sentiment for each restaurant chain is backed by many customer reviews and online commentary found on several different restaurant review and social media platforms, including Yelp, OpenTable, Trustpilot, Tripadvisor, Reddit, and others.