Scoma’s is one of SF’s most classic seafood restaurants, serving “pier-to-plate” fare from local fishermen who bring their daily catch directly to the restaurant’s pier. Obviously, that means that the best thing to order is whatever was just reeled in, including the cioppino with Dungeness crab, scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, and the market fish.

The best way to enjoy Hog Island Oyster Co.’s oysters is at The Boat Oyster Bar on the oyster farm in Marshall, where you’ll get to eat them fresh out of the water while drinking great wine and sitting at a waterside picnic table. But, if you’re not in the mood to make the drive (or can’t snag a very hard-to-get reservation), the Ferry Building restaurant is an exceptional second choice.

This homey family-run seafood spot in North Beach, complete with nautical decor covering every inch of every wall, is the ideal union of authentic Italian food and fresh seafood. The restaurant is famous for its “Best Damn Crab Cioppino” for very good reason, but the oysters, cold-cracked Dungeness crab, prawns, and shrimp cocktail, all of the Louis salads a girl or guy could want, and sauteed or grilled fish are all shining stars.

This massive Peruvian seafood restaurant on the water has some of the best cebiche you’ll find in San Francisco. The tiradito made with sushi-grade ahi tuna is also beyond flavorful. And you have to order the limeña causa made with whipped purple potatoes and topped with a Dungeness crab salad, avocado, and tomato. Also, they’re not seafood, but the empanadas are outstanding.

At Waterbar, you’re not just paying for the great seafood, you’re paying for great seafood that is fresh-caught and sustainably sourced with respect to the season and the sea—definitely worth it. You’re also paying for the panoramic views of the Bay that you’ll get no matter where you sit—also definitely worth it. All of the tables are great, but if the weather permits and you can snag one on the patio, that’s the way to go.

At Hook Fish Co, not only is the fish something you can feel good about eating, it’s also super tasty and very reasonably priced. (Hence why there’s always a line during peak hours). The menu is pretty simple: poke, ceviche, burritos, and tacos with grilled fish, a blackened fish sandwich, fish and chips, and a couple of salads. The coolest part? You can look at the wall above the kitchen to find out the vessel the fish were caught on, the method used to catch them, and the port they came into.

Woodhouse is an excellent choice when you’re in the mood to enjoy a Dungeness crab or lobster sandwich with chips and slaw in a very nautical-kitsch setting. The seafood is all very fresh, the Dungeness crab cakes are way more crab than filler, and there’s strawberry shortcake for dessert. Think of it as the kind of place you go for an early dinner when you want quality seafood without any pomp and circumstance.

This modern raw bar has supported local producers and served sustainable seafood, including a very popular chowder, since it opened its doors in 2005. It pivoted recently to add some Mexican flavor to the concept, which, even though change sometimes freaks us out, turned out to be a smart move. You can still get the favorites, specifically the crudo, oysters, and that chowder, but now you can also get tacos with crispy cod, grilled prawns, and seared scallops, and chips and guacamole to start.

This seafood restaurant and fish market has been delighting Castro diners with fresh, sustainably caught seafood since 1977. Always check the specials board—that’s where you’ll find the best dishes, like an open-faced crab and shrimp melt, crab-stuffed mushrooms, and, when available, the cracked Dungeness crab.

La Ciccia is one of our favorite romantic restaurants in the city, but even if you’re single, it will only take one bite of the fusilli with sea urchin, tomato, and grated tuna heart for you to fall head-over-heels in love. Truly, everything on the Sardinia-inspired and seafood-forward menu of this cozy, husband-and-wife-owned spot feels incredibly thoughtful and is all utterly delizioso.

Fog House takes major advantage of one of the best attributes of that neighborhood—truly stunning views of the water and the Golden Gate Bridge. Besides the views, Fog House also serves up 100% sustainable seafood, sourdough bread that is baked in-house every hour, and lick-your-fingers-good garlic, whole-roasted Dungeness crab.

Chef Joshua Skenes is the driving force behind this “sea-life focused” restaurant on the Embarcadero, much of which is cooked over a 32-foot-long hearth and wood-fire grill. Absolutely order something from that section of the menu, but don’t skip the bivalves straight from the tank. The space is impressive—two dining rooms with impeccable decor, so much so that you’ll figure out right when you walk in that you’re going to walk out substantially poorer (but also completely satisfied).

A “Best Seafood in SF” list is incomplete unless it includes the city’s seafood mecca: Swan Oyster Depot. People start lining up at this fish market/raw bar before it even opens to get a coveted spot at the 16-seat counter (the only place to sit) and order as much seafood as they can handle. The most popular things to order are the Sicilian sashimi, uni (when it’s available), oysters, and for the more adventurous: crab backs.