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Quality Seafood
Categories: Restaurants Food Specialty Food Seafood Markets Restaurants, Seafood Markets [Edit]
130 S International BoardwalkRedondo Beach, CA 90277
Neighborhood: Redondo Beach
(310) 372-6408
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:30 am - 6:30 pm
Fri 9:30 am - 7:30 pm
Sat-Sun 9:30 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
333 reviews for Quality Seafood
Review Highlights
"The freshest oysters I've had in the US."
(in 163 reviews)
"Clam chowder- the best clam chowder ever."
(in 61 reviews)
"Honestly, my favorite was the uni (sea urchin."
(in 67 reviews)
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333 reviews in English
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Review from Siren K.
Los Angeles, CA
I truly love coming here for the fresh shellfish- ESPECIALLY when its a weekday and there are barely any people there.
I come here for the oyster bar. There is a good selection but I love their Stellar Bay, Blue Point, and Kumamoto oysters... There are also rock, Dungeness, and spider crabs, as well as lobster, clams and sea urchin.
I do have to say, out of the hundreds of oysters I ate there, I did get sick off one Baja. I got a nasty stomach virus and suffered for a week and a half. Sounds horrible and it was, but I've enjoyed all the other oysters enough to overshadow that. -
Review from Emmanuel L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been coming here since I was a kid. Quality seafood is one of the best places to get any type of fresh seafood. From the steamed crabs, to the fresh oysters, to the bricks of fresh tuna sashimi, this place is amazing.
Granted, the seating arrangements aren't really the greatest or the cleanest, they food very well makes up for it.
Definitely a place to check out before you die! -
Review from Eric H.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/18/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Freshest seafood in So Cal! Picked up some Mahi Mahi. Made it for dinner that night. Definitely the best seafood!!! If you like oysters and clams, they have over a dozen varieties to choose from. Definitely worth the trip!
If you want fish to go they will cook/steam anything you buy. They also have a full menu of seafood entrees and outdoor area to eat. -
Review from Guy N.
San Pedro, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is not what it used to be. I remember coming here for crab and just enjoying the whole experience. Now it's more of a pain to get your food and try to find a seat that's not covered in bird poop while trying not to bump into other patrons because the seating is so close together. It's a little irritating to tell you the truth.
You definitely have to know how and where to order because of the many stations that span the area. Some places are definitely different from the other areas, which is fine if they clearly explained what is where. Not too easy to the newbie.
This is just me but avoid the deep fried stuff. Some of it has been sitting there for a while and it's mostly breading. The popcorn shrimp and fish was just horrible. I've never seen shrimp so small. It was like a bunch of sea monkeys tossed in batter and then into the fryer.
Your best bet if you are new is to check out the other people's food and if you see something that looks good, ask them politely what they ordered and from where. I wouldn't trust the people at the registers because they just don't care it seems. They are so busy that they just want to take your money and be off with ya.
Redondo Pier is not what it used to be. That's all I can say. 3 stars for nostalgia but that's it. This place is probably a little better than some of the other seafood counter places on the other side of the pier but not by much. San Pedro Ports O'Call was a much better experience and with much better food IMHO but that's just one man's opinion. Check it out yourself and make your own judgment. -
Review from Jenny A.
Perfect for a cold, rainy, misty Sunday evening.
Ordered a dozen of their best oysters ($31), one sea urchin ($8) , and two beers (?). The oyster came with lemon and chili. The mix of acidity, slimy smooth texture, and chili punch, which was washed down with cold beer, made for the perfect combination of taste, texture, and flavors...oh and the sea urchin is still alive while your picking out its sweet little insides...I felt a little bad, but it wasn't going down in vain. I love you little sea urchin!
This place isn't a restaurant, it's a seafood market and provides the perfect combination of price and variety for a wonderful take home seafood fest. I plan to make a good clam stew tonight with all my lovely little goodies. -
Review from Celine L.
Monterey Park, CA
1/2/2012 1 photo
This place is alright, I only tried their shrimp at their sea urchin. The shrimp is nothing special, but let me get onto the sea urchin.
SUCH A SHAME. THIS IS NOT HOW SEA URCHIN IS SUPPOSED TO TASTE LIKE!!!!
The price is really cheap, about $11 for a whole sea urchin. Big and juicy. Fresh and still moving.
HOWEVER, they do not know how to prep and clean it. Even though it is more fresh than at a sushi restaurant, it tastes better in a japanese restaurant, or even from the supermarket!
They do not clean out the sea urchin properly, and all you can taste is the salt water, not the sweetness of sea urchin. I felt like I just drowned in the ocean.
I feel so bad for all the sea urchins caught here, because they do not shine.
Perhaps you should just take it to the sink and rinse it thoroughly, then maybe, you can taste the delicacy of sea urchin.
***
Tip: Rinse RINSE RINSE the sea urchin
Favourites: Cheap and fresh!
Do not want: Can only taste the ocean
Last words: Too salty. -
Review from G T.
San Diego, CA
12/13/2011
You can get better seafood for better prices elsewhere. Most of their seafood is not locally caught anyway, so there is no advantage other than the location of it being by the pier. You just pay for the ambiance, which is, questionable.
The seafood is EXPENSIVE, much cheaper at other fish markets. They cook it for you, but its just steamed in a plastic bag. If you want that, go to Boiling Crab. At least they put in some seasoning.
Clam chowder has lots of clam, but too thick and starchy for my tastes.
Shrimp was overcooked.
They do NOT provide any butter or lemons. Those are purchased separately. $1 for one very small plastic container of butter (picture size of container in salsa bars), and more than $2 for a small bag of lemons.
The place is dirty, cramped and there is a security guard watching you eat so beware of your belongings when you are pounding away at crabs with the hammer (which costs $3 to rent, refunded later).
Bottom line, go to Boiling Crab or other seafood restaurants, much cleaner, more comfort, better taste, less expensive. -
Review from Anita L.
Updated - 11/27/2011 1 photo
how do you NOT like this place? It is open every single day of the year, so when my friend and I wanted to grab some appetizers on Thanksgiving day before having dinner, what better place than Quality Seafood?
We ordered 3 lbs of clams and 1 lb of mussels and had them steam it in the garlic wine sauce. I threw in a couple of cherrystones for good measure too.
This place never fails me. In fact, I wish I was close to Redondo tomorrow so I can grab some more, but unfortunately, that just ain't happening.Listed in: JUST BECAUSE.....
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/7/2009
Came back here with my BFF and I was so excited about eating the uni, but was sorely -- and I mean,… Read more »
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Review from Steve K.
Ballwin, MO
12/14/2011
Ummm could this scenario be any better.. Inexpensive fresh seafood (by fresh I mean blinking at you before it's tossed int the steamer), a pitcher of Stella, and two great friends I haven't seen in years enjoying the afternoon. A chilly February day, with cloud's and a light rain. I thought I was in Seattle, but this was actually SoCal.
This is Quality Seafood... A place that looks like a typical fish market, although the whole marina seems kind of touristy (shops, arcade, etc). If the marina is an oyster, Quality Seafood is its pearl.
The selections are superb, if you like shellfish you will go ape shit over the variety available. If you like crab, and "you've gotta love crab" you will be in crab heaven. My personal fave was the Dunguness crab... Like buttah...
Only complaint was that I tried urchin, and its so gross. Everyone around me was eating the (still wiggling when you crack it open BTW) urchin like it was their last meal however I just didn't dig the texture. Maybe I'm not as edgy of a foodie as I thought?
I can't wait to go back because based on the reviews, I really think I missed out on some other great eats there. -
Review from Peter H.
Ahoy! Ahoy! Landlubbers! Enjoy only the freshest of seafood? Want a taste of that salty sea air? Looking for a place you can enjoy with good company? Your one stop destination is here!
Almost all the fish in the sea included here, splashing around and ready to order. An oyster lovers dream, tons of variety which change with the seasons, can be a bit pricy depending on what you get but you really wouldn't be at Redondo if you didn't have that extra cash to splurge on.
With so many choices and limited tummy space, some other highlights here are the to-die-for clam chowder, Santa Barbara crab, steamed clams, sea urchin, and the Ahi Poke. If you aren't much a fan of the raw stuff there's fried and grilled stuff section too, and most everything can be cooked for you free of charge!
If you wanna save some bucks remember to bring some of your own drinks and condiments, like many others here. So get out Redondo grab your favorite seafood and a cold brew and just REEELLLAAAXXXX!!!! :) Don't forget to save room for churros and ice cream around the pier later on! -
Review from Ellen L.
Torrance, CA
1/27/2012
Incredible shellfish selection.
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Review from Christine L.
Philadelphia, PA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
We trekked all the way out here after seeing many positive reviews. We parked on the street, but then realized that there was a lot right next to this pier. We shopped around the market and ended up getting a few different types of oysters, two lobsters, and a dungeness crab (the most expensive). Our meal came pretty close to $100 for two people, so it wasn't cheap, but the seafood was definitely QUALITY and fresh. You buy what you want, and then they can steam cook it for you and shuck the oysters/clams, or you could just take it home and do it yourself.
This is by no means a restaurant, so beware for those of you looking for a dining experience. It is basically a market. My boyfriend and I had a lot of fun working at our food! You can also get the plates that they offer for less than $20, which will you get a lobster, butter, and corn. -
Review from Nicholas B.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here on a drizzling cold Sunday, which felt perfect for some fresh live seafood! Showed up around noon but if u want straight out of the water try a little earlier. Oysters are a definite must! If u are a an adventurous eater and seafood lover this place is for you.
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Review from Katelyn U.
Anaheim, CA
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been here since i was kid, love this place, FRESH seafood, great hang out place with family or your love ones. All the guys work there are so friendly and knowledgeable and patience, they give good recommendations. They are all hot looking fishermans there.
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Review from Tom W.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/5/2012 16 Check-ins Here
The most amazing quality of fresh seafood that you would expect from the southbay. Flown in fresh daily, from around the world plus the most amazing local catch!!! Huge assortment everything you want!! Live tanks!
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Review from Angie W.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!! Been coming since I was a lil one!
They have fresh everything here!! Some of my faves are the live uni (still moving!), steamed crab (oh so sweet meat), over 20 varieties of oysters (Kumamotos are the BEST!), & lots of dipping sauces for cheap. Love sitting on at stone tables with the newspapers spread out.
Good times & Great memories!! Love it here!!Listed in: Stars & Stripes, Alfresco, All That Jazz, Shelling Out
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Review from Teresa C.
San Gabriel, CA
11/29/2011 4 photos
This place is made of win. Rows of all kinds of fresh seafood, you fight your way through crowds of locals and tourist alike and yet you don't even care because the food is fresh, delicious and there's something primevally satisfying about fighting for your food.
Things to get: Crabs! They steam it for your fresh after you pick out and pay for your crab(s) or lobsters. Come back in 15-20 minutes and they'll call your number for pick up. So fresh, they still dancing in the bin sometimes. (They have lobster deals sometimes but I feel like it's a bit pricey for a small lobster still.) Oyster bar is amazing and the guys are so friendly, they'll even explain which ones are the best in season for salty or sweet oysters. Once, the oyster boy even wrote down all the names and how sweet or salty they were on my plate so I could map my oyster conquests!
They also have a ton of fish deals if you're in the mood for fried or steamed, which usually come with at least 2 sides like fries and salad. Get an order of clam chowder to wash it down as well as a soft shelled crab ($10 and comes with fries). Last but not least, make sure to get some uni if they have it. So fresh, it'll try to walk off your plate as you're eating. Delicious and tasting of the sea!
Tips to remember, there's always stacks of newspaper to cover your table with. If you're just two people (like K & me) and it's crowded on a weekend, ask politely and people usually have no problem sharing a table. If you want a hammer, there's a deposit that gets refunded. Pick it up when you get your soda and beers. Make sure to ask for hot sauce and extra lemons. Save two and it's great for getting the fishy smell off your hand.
We always buy too much but it's so yummy and satisfying. Not the cheapest prices but great for a day out! -
Review from Emily B.
Rancho Cordova, CA
12/3/2011
Oh, Quality Seafood... I only have fond memories of your family-friendly atmosphere and freshest of fresh seafood. It's nostalgic to think back on all the happy times I've spent elbow deep in crab shells and shrimp peelings scattered across a table covered by the previous week's newspapers and the tangy smell of seawater in the air.
As a child my family would bring me here when on vacation. Quality Seafood is one of the only real, memorable eateries of my childhood. Being able to eat at my heart's content without having to worry about making a mess and, on top of that, being strategically placed next to a huge carnival-like arcade- what more could a kid ask for? Now, as an adult, the ability to add an ice-cold beer to the mix only makes this place a big kid's playground.
Seafood lovers you have to love this place. No, I take that back, love isn't a strong enough word to describe how much you would- or should- admire, adore, (dare I say) worship the rows and rows of seafood cooked to your liking. LIVE & FRESH- crabs (Dungeness, King's crab, Santa Barbara, etc.), shrimp, oysters, fish of all kinds, uni (a.k.a. sea urchin), poke, lobster, crawdads- you name it, I'm pretty sure they have it. Just don't forget the rice and beer. If you're going to go, you got to go all the way! -
Review from Stephanie J.
Fremont, CA
10/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is amazing! This time around, I came to Redondo Beach just for this seafood shop and I was not disappointed.
Got there just 30 minutes after they were open. Everything is still quiet and slow around the pier.
I went around first just to see what kind of seafood they offered. There are great range of seafood from crabs, oysters, clams, fishes and sea urchin!!!
After going around I came back to the oyster bar and ask the man behind the bar for his recommendation since there were varsity of oysters and clams to choose from. Upon his recommendation, I picked the Tua Tua Clam ($2.45 each), malispina oyster($2.30each each), small baja oyster ($1.45), top necks clam ($2 each). There were delicious! They can not get any more fresh then opening those shells right in font of you. My absolute favorites were the tua tua clam! LOVE IT! The oyster were great. Top neck clam was OK.
I also tired the sea urchin aka uni. Poor thing were still moving even after eaten. Opps~ but I got to said they were yummy. Because it was fresh it tasted sweet.
I love the experience. Would totally come back here again when I am around the area. -
Review from Matthew C.
Los Angeles, CA
11/7/2011
I know it's pointless to chime in because everyone knows Quality Seafood totally rules and, if you like shell fish, this is a must stop destination in Los Angeles. But, to hell with it, I just started yelping again after two years and I'm going for it.
This is what I think a seafood restraint should be from the outdoor picnic tables and the plastic cups of draft beer right down to the begging sea gulls and the tanks of live lobster and crab. The Redondo Beach pier leaves nothing to be desired on my end: tacky sports bars, whale watching boats and a real live arcade with a god damn Tilt-A-Whirl inside. But, who am I kidding, it's ALL about Quality Seafood and their oysters and beer.
$1 can buy you mystery bags of smoked fish and I suggest this is how you start out as you roam the fish market and, eventually, hit the real-deal raw area where plenty of fresh and very ALIVE sea creatures await your mouth and belly. My love belongs to oysters and they have a huge variety here and all of them are as fresh as can be. Ask the shuckers what's what and then dig in to a platter. They will also steam lobster, crab and clams to order for you. And, if you feel like a real oceanic warrior, have them snap the head off a sea urchin for you so you can dip your fingers into that thing.
Seriously, eating the oysters here is like tongue kissing the meaning of life. -
Review from Thuy T.
Lots of fresh seafood here! I was a bit overwhelmed when I came here. Had to walk around and looked at everything twice before I ordered anything. At the end I decided to eat the oysters.
I swear there is about over 20 different oysters here. Prices can ranged from $1-3 for each. Make sure you grab a number because it can get crowded and everyone is standing everywhere. I got 6 and they were all very fresh. This would be a place I would crave and want to come back again.http://www.yelp.com/bi...
They even have fresh sea urchins. Its pretty freaky because it serve when they are still alive and moving. Kind of make me sad looking at them. Texture is like soft tofu but salty. Mushy mainly. I wouldn't eat it again... not my thing.. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Lobster meal is pretty decent. Decent size lobster with butter and corn for $17 and can add a can of Rolling rock beer for only $2. http://www.yelp.com/bi... http://www.yelp.com/bi...
http://www.yelp.com/bi... - we ordered 7 lobster meals!!!
Clam chowder was good.very chunky and full of clams.
Steamed Clams were okay. they were a lot better when you get it with Tabasco Sauce, Lemon and cocktail sauce. Pretty plain if eaten by themselves. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Calamari - lightly breaded but very crispy. Pretty good and you can tell the calamari was fresh even though it was deep fried.
They have a good variety on crabs and fish too. Lots of shrimp and they cook it in different dishes too. Fish and chips was okay.nothing special.
Great first time experience.
If you are going with a group - like what we did. We had 12 people, you might want to get a couple of you try to save a couple tables while everyone gets the food. this place gets PACKED!
Also, make sure you get lots of newspaper to spread on the table. Makes it easier to clean up after you are done.
Of course it can get very expensive when ordering a lot but I notice that there were a few reviews about how expensive it is and they can get the fresh seafood somewhere else for cheap like a local "Vietnamese" place. Well - I am vietnamese but if you shop there, you have to cook your own food. Do not compare this place to those Vietnamese places. It might be cheaper but they don't cook the food for you and I haven't been to a Vietnamese place that has that big selection of oysters. When eating here you expect the prices to be more expensive so can't really complain about the price.
ANYWAYS, LOL Can't wait to come back again!!Listed in: Places you HAVE to try!
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Review from Paul R.
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Got uni (sea urchin)?
Well, if you like it alive then this is the place to go.
The place has an array of seafood from blue crabs, regular Sanata Barbara crabs, lobster, shrimp,clams, octupus, squid,oysters and and errangement of fish. A lot of the items are alive and made to order.
I recommend the Santa Barbara crab, some live Uni, and fried tilapia. If your Asian and eat rice I suggest you bring your own white rice because the rice there is not up to standard.
There's Tapatio for a dollar, and some wasabi, and butter for sale as well. Make sure you bring cash because some of the registers won't take credit cards, but there's an ATM available that charges $2 .
In all, if your a seafood lover this is the place to be for the LA/OC area.
There's other places to go like LB or San Pedro but this is the Mecca for fish market seafood in the SoCal area. -
Review from Margaret L.
Hacienda Heights, CA
10/20/2011
This is as fresh as it gets!
All you have to do is walk up to a tank and say 'I choose you.... Flounder!" and they will fry up the Little Mermaid's friend right in front of you! There is no doubt that they have a huge variety of seafood here for your enjoyment, such as clams, oysters or for the more daring foodie LIVE UNI (sea urchin)!
However, beware, this is not meant for the faint of heart, once they crack open the prickly, purple... thing-a-ma-boppers, they continue to move as you eat them! And after you have scooped out their yummy innards and are ready to chuck their empty carcass into the trash can... THEY STILL MOVE!
Now I love fresh seafood but I tend to hesitate when it is THAT fresh. But if you love seafood this is definitely a great spot to get your grub on.
The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars was because you have to buy your own lemons! How can you not serve lemons along with your raw oysters and other treasures from the deep? Another bummer was the over salted clam chowder (but I may have gotten a bad batch). -
Review from duke c.
9/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
One of the seafood mecca in South Bay!
What Quality Seafood is known for is exactly what its name implies, quality seafood. It's essentially a seafood market that has expanded with a hot food section, an oyster bar, steam crab station, fried fish station, and even a bar with several beers on tap! It's always crowded, especially on the weekends!
My favorite thing about Quality Seafood has got to be the oyster bar. Now... I'm not that big of a fan of raw oysters since I still can't get over the texture. It's gonna take me awhile before I can acquire the palate for it, but they have sooo many live oysters for you to choose. You pick the type of oysters that you want, and they fresh shuck the oysters right in front of you. You can get 2 or you can get a few dozens to share. Oysters are organized by price, with the left side being the most expensive. I've found that the more expensive oysters do have a more delicate flavor than the $1.50 ones. I like to try the midrange ones and maybe get 1 or 2 of the more expensive oysters just to try it out.
Another cool thing they've added over the years is that you can buy FRESH SEA URCHIN at roughly $8/lb and they will open up the sea urchin for you so you can get to the UNI! Obviously it is to cater to the Asians and the more adventurous eaters but it's a very cool experience. You pick out the sea urchin and each will run you about $8-9 but the ones we've gotten so far have yielded enough for 8-10 sushi restaurant portions, and it is fresh because while sitting on the plate, the cut open sea urchin will try to move away. It's sad yes, but sea urchin you are too good.
Shrimp, crab, lobster, cajun crawfish, fish & chips, or any seafood related items, Quality Seafood will probably have. For the people buying fish to take home, plenty of fishmongers to help you out and I've even seen a fresh hamachi that's just begging to be sliced and served :P
Always a must when visiting the pier!Listed in: south bay!, my loves in LA
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Review from Gina I.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fried calamari and octopus. Fried shrimp. Tapatio. Fresh chowder in a bread bowl. Beer.
Really, what more could you want when you're by the sea?
The array of seafood and other goods they had amazed me. So overwhelming, that I just went with the simple stuff. Though, the fact I could get a whole fried red snapper was tempting. Next time, for sure. -
Review from Yan N.
South El Monte, CA
12/26/2011
I ordered two kind of clams and fried fish but they all over cook , only the oyster good bc don't need to cook !! Um..the crab..is ok ! And some of the worker in there , they are not polite ,the attitude so bad , bc busy ??I don't think it can be a excuse !!!!
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Review from Catherine C.
Los Angeles, CA
8/1/2011 3 photos
I had a day off so I went with 2 of my favorite girls to Redondo to eat some quality seafood!
The place is somewhat reminiscent of Fisherman's wharf, but less well-known and touristy. We ordered fried red snapper, a bucket of fried squid, fresh steamed clams, uni, and a side of fries (just to humor my friend).
The uni was SO fresh! My friend surprised me with it, and as she waved it in front of my face, I screamed because the spines were still moving! Sad I know, but it was already cut so we had to eat it. Subtly sweet and sooo delicious! Definitely get this! The steamed clams were fresh and excellent too. The fried fish was not only good, but it was a great deal because there were like 10 pieces for $10! We couldn't finish it all. The squid was okay - tougher than I imagined and it tasted like it had been sitting there for a while. I'll pass on these next time. And the fries were just.. fries. I didn't eat much of that because my friend wanted it all, but it's okay because I didn't go for fries! :P
Tables aren't very clean, but being here certainly takes you away from your normal hustle and bustle as you munch on all this seafood next to the sea with an ocean breeze. -
Review from Anna C.
Diamond Bar, CA
12/8/2011
now i know the official name, QUALITY SEAFOOD.
guess you could say redondo beach is a family beach for us. growing up, redondo beach was THE beach to go whether it be a family outing or family friends/relatives stopping by, we would take them to redondo beach. good times good memories.
QS serves FRESH seafood at AFFORDABLE prices thus the name QUALITY seafood. it doesnt get its name for no reason.
at QS, one could find FRESH CRABS (short legged long hairy and non hairy), FRESH CLAMS, FRESH FISH, FRESH CLAM CHOWDER and even FRESH LEMONS. everything and anything seafood you could think of, they probably have. really beats those other seafood restaurants on the pier (especially that pricey one on fishermans wharf). everything is SELF-PICK and SELF-SERVE.
QUALITY and AFFORDABILITY is what you'll get at QS...just dont mind the restrooms. it is a public restroom (at the beach) afterall.
o and cant forget the view. even though its not much to look at, its still a view nonetheless. you're facing the dock...that leads towards the ocean so its a view in my book. -
Review from Caroline F.
Rowland Heights, CA
9/6/2011
On Sunday, my family and I decided to meet up with some relatives for lunch at Quality Seafood Inc. to finish off the Labor Day weekend with some succulent seafood.
Here's an overview of our orders.
The shrimp bucket was simply deep-fried, breaded shrimp served with a side of ketchup and lemon slices. These were decent. They were great because I didn't have breakfast, but the fried breading made it really heavy.
The fish sandwich was the same. It was large and rather tasty, but I wouldn't specifically order it again. Buy this if you want to go safe and avoid the more exotic entrees.
Corn on the cob was tasty and provided a nice contrast to the thick breading of the shrimp. Comes with butter.
A nice assortment of entrees, but HERE is where it gets good. Fresh seafood!
You can order live crabs and have them steamed and served to you within 15-20 minutes. Though the crabs were juicier and far more satisfying than their fried brethren, they tasted the same as if you had simply bought them at the supermarket and steamed them at home. Either way, they were still delicious!
But in terms of flavor, the clams far outdid the crabs. The clams can be ordered fresh and cooked on the spot, boiled in sea water and absorbing its natural flavors. I highly recommend this!
The only downside would be that each clam is $2+ each, and they're honestly not very big.
Oh, and seating is dirty and cramped. Try to avoid the hungry pigeons. -
Review from Julia W.
9/4/2011
Fresh seafood at its best. It's pretty much a market: stand in line, pick your choices (split b/w the crabs/lobsters, the raw bar, the oysters/clams/mussels, fish, and pre-prepared/fried foods), get them steamed/fried/broiled, and eat. :)
The first time I came here, I wasn't feeling too adventurous, so I ended up getting some fried fish. This time around, went for some crab, mussels, and oysters (raw and steamed. :D). Delicious.
Seating may be an issue, as it's a free-for-all at the crowded tables nearby. Parking's cheap though - weekdays, it's 0.50 for an hour, weekends 0.50 every 20 minutes. Pretty affordable for a beach.
Need to come back when they have uni. Missed out on it this time! -
Review from Jennifer Y.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2011 4 photos
Delicious, fresh seafood at very reasonable prices. They shuck and steam everything for you as well !
The first time I came here, i was reminded of Fishermen's Wharf, but more seafood stands and way less touristy. You can pick your own selection of oysters, clams, crabs and other shellfish. The side stand has precooked options like fried Tilapia, shrimp, clam chowder and calamari.
It gets pretty crowded but you can always find a random spot for your group to get situated and chow down. You can line the tables with the provided newspapers for easy clean up.Listed in: Southern California, Under The Sea
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Review from Chris C.
6/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Some of the freshest seafood you can find!!
I've been coming to Redondo Beach Pier as far back as I can remember... It holds a lot of sentimental value for me. I can still remember all those times I'd beg my parents to come back again and again. After all these years, its retained its charm.
--[FOOD]-------------------------------------
Prepare to have a LOT of it. You can't come here without an appetite... Just walking through this place, you'll see at LEAST 5 things you'll want to nom. Don't hold back. The prices are great, everything tastes amazing, and it's not everyday you get to have seafood that is THIS fresh.
I've tried too many things to list, but here are some faves:
- Crabs: Specifically, the dungeoness crabs... have these babies steamed and make sure you've got plenty of newspaper. Don't wear white either.
- Cajun Squid: AMAZING. Be sure to get some rice to go along with it. Thank me later!!
- Uni: Never had it? Here's your chance. You won't regret it. :)
- Oysters: I'd recommend the Blue Point oysters if you're into that oceanwater taste (I am) and the Clevedon oysters if you want something sweeter.
- Fried Squid: EXTREMELY cheap - $7 for a bucket. VERY tasty, not overfried... grab some lemons.
- Sashimi: You can't come here without having it! Doesn't get any fresher than this... Better than any 5 star sushi restaurant (in LA anyway), yet dramatically cheaper. Be sure to get your wasabi and soy sauce from the counter behind you!
- Clam Chowder: in a bread bowl! You should already know what's up :P
The fried counter has a bunch of items that are hit or miss... avoid the fried oysters, fried fish sticks, and fried shrimp. They're pretty meh. If the lady behind the counter is nice to you, she'll let you sample some of it before you buy. :P
--[SERVICE]---------------------------------
Most of the staff are actually pretty nice and VERY knowledgeable when it comes to their items. If you have any questions or want suggestions/recommendations, just ask them!
--[ATMOSPHERE]--------------------------
Dirty, smelly, and messy. The way it should be.
After stuffing your face, go for a walk around the pier to help digest the epicness that just took place. Maybe top it off with a churro.
Pro Tips:
- Divide and Conquer. Got friends with you? Send one to find a table, send the others to go get more food!
- Those newspapers aren't for you to read, you silly goose. Use them to cover your table and seats. They're pretty gross!
- Bring your own condiments/rice/drinks! This technically isn't allowed, and let's face it... it ain't very classy either, but this place overcharges for some of those things
- No hand sanitizer? Use the lemons.
- Don't be scared to call the attention of the people behind the counter, people are ruthless and will crowd you to get their food. Use them elbows too.
- Don't bother with the bathrooms, they're pretty bad. Use the ones further down the pier, if you have to. Oh, remember those lemons? Those will have to do for now.Listed in: Where to take your visitors...
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Review from Raynard F.
San Diego, CA
8/27/2011
Quality Seafood really does have quality seafood. Sure, the name isn't very original but their fresh seafood will surely grab your attention.
Seating is all outdoors on concrete benches and tables so don't expect fine dining. Nonetheless, this place is great for groups looking for tasty oysters, fish sandwiches, etc.
This place can get pretty crowded and busy on the weekends but the wait to get your food after you've ordered is never too long, usually about 10 minutes or so.
The atmosphere here is full of energy and you really get the sense that you're eating where and what the professionals (fishermen themselves) would eat. In other words, this isn't a Red Lobster.
After you've eaten, take a nice walk around the pier and enjoy the sun. -
Review from Laureen N.
Los Angeles, CA
9/1/2011
DROOL. This place is awesome! I love coming here! It is a no frills place. Seating is outside on concrete tables and benches. Its dirty but the food is truly where its at. Its very busy and there are long lines but its worth it at the end. Everything is fresh. There is a variety of raw oysters to choose from that they shuck in front of u and include lots of condiments! The uni was super fresh as it moved while gobbled its insides. Lots of variety of fish that they will fry or grill for you for free. If it is lobster off season it tends to be very expensive per pound so we opt for a crab instead. Lots of different beers on tap or bottled if you choose. This place can get expensive but its worth it for fresh good food!
Avoid the red velvet cupcake! Worst cupcake ever. Tasted super dry and old. -
Review from Cat N.
Fresh seafood at a reasonable price!
I am in love with this place. We kinda got confused looking for this place because we thought it was on the pier (which it wasnt). It is located at the bottom of pier. On the other side of the parking structure. We ordered the following:
Fried fish- good but there are so many other items.
Fried shrimp- too much batter. my least favorite item. shrimp tasted dry and overcooked.
Fried oysters- my favorite fried item. very good.
Fried scallops- small scallops. they didnt give us much.
Enormous escargos (clonch?)- their like large escargo. Very filing but good. to order, they are near the sea urchins to the left side.
3 types of oysters- they were all delicious but the larger oysters were my favorite.
Sea urchin- so fresh. I watched it still moving as I ate it. My favorite. Yum.
Clam chowder- the best clam chowder ever. Very rich hearty and satisfying. They have bread bowls too if you like that.
The seafood here is so fresh and you know it is because everything is still alive when you purchase it. They also have a huge variety. Besides what we ordered, they also have a variety of crabs, lobsters, sandwiches, ceviche, fishes, and rice dishes. My suggestion is to skip the fried items. Although the fried items were not bad, there is just so much other better items you can pick from. The only thing I disliked about this place was you had to order different items at different places. For example, you had to order oysters at the oyster bar and the sea urchin somewhere else. It made the wait for food long. Especially when there is only one person working at each place. It was also unorganized. You just stand in front of what you want and wait for worker to come to you. I would definitely come back here. I want to try the different fishes and clams.Listed in: Personal Favorites
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Review from Kanye East Z.
Los Angeles, CA
11/15/2011
I swear people in the South Bay are really lenient on food reviews versus everywhere else. The rating of 4.5 stars for this place? Really?
OK, the good first:
*Very fresh food. Yeah, it looks like it's straight out of the ocean that day.
*Lots of choices. Tens of different types of oysters and clams alone. Not to mention fish and other things.
*Friendly people. The help is generally friendly. Especially the guy at the clam and sea urchin area.
Now the bad:
*Slow. Takes 15 minutes minimum for steaming of clams and such. If you want to buy multiple things, you have to jump back and forth between different areas and if there are lines, then it can take awhile.
*Not cheap! I know it says $$ on this page, but when you look at the prices, it's just as much or more than you'd expect at a whole foods. They even charge you for things like Tobasco Sauce! Fifty cents! Some of my buddies who got some clams and another dish spent $25. Another spent $60! He tried the different types of oysters at $2.45 to $2.85 each one... That's pretty pricey.
* Yes, while the food is fresh, it's not exactly the best tasting. I know that sounds counter intuitive, but if you think of a restaurant, they put a lot of thought of how to saute the dish and how to make it taste really good. Here, they toss it on the grill, throw salt and pepper on it, and slap it on a paper plate for you with a bunch of lemon slices. I don't personally think that's a bad thing, but some people who are connoisseurs will be disappointed.
Things to note:
OK if you're coming here for things like Sea Urchin, and you think you're going to get the same experience as a sushi place, you're mistaken. At a sushi place, they have have filtered through all of the sea urchin to make sure you get the best parts. Here, they crack it open for you, take out the bad parts quickly by hand, and there's still some milky parts to it. And you eat right out of the shell. It's weird to see it still moving while you're eating it. Definitely not as tasty, and definitely a different experience. Not a bad thing. Just very different than a sushi place. Eight bucks please.
The best thing here... It was the steamed clams. If you're going to come here for anything, come for that. Period. -
Review from Taian C.
Diamond Bar, CA
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lots of variety of seafood to choose from- clam chowder, sea urchin, lobsters, fishes, crabs, oysters, etc...
The handlers were very helpful with the selection of oysters- some more salty, sweet, creamier, larger than others depending on where the oysters was grown and harvest.
Don't forget to return the pitcher to get your deposit back ($8).
FYI they don't validate parking during weekends. -
Review from Stacey R.
Costa Mesa, CA
6/21/2011
I LOVE this place. Rows and rows and rows of fresh seafood galore. You just point at what you want, they weigh it, and they cook it, too, if you like. Being uber-Filipino, my family likes to bring our rice cooker and our own soda and veggies, and we order up a storm of crabs, fish, oysters, etc. and have ourselves a messy meal in their patio.
They do a great job of steaming your food - nothing overdone. A surprise standout for me the last time I went was their broiled red snapper - moist and flavorful even though they didn't even season the fish before cooking it.
I'll definitely go back as I am an ardent fan of seafood that goes straight from the tank to the steamer. YUM! -
Review from Tammy L.
Quality Seafoods is the place to be for some fresh seafood. This is where I go to get my live uni fix and my plateful of kumamoto, hama hama and malpeque oysters. Yes....lemon wedges and Tapatio FTW! I did notice that sometimes they don't have as large a selection of oysters than other times.
So, it's not exactly cheap....and they tend to overcook the bivalves you purchase there (clams and mussels) since they don't want you dropping dead from food poisoning. But you learn to stay away from that kind of stuff and then you're golden.
On our most recent trip, mom, who's a freshness freak, felt their fish were a little under the weather and that we should stay away. This was disappointing to hear (cloudy eyes, dull looking gills). Also, they set out this big boat (the kind you see used to serve sushi pieces in some Japanese restaurant) and put boxes of harvested sea urchin roe in it for sale. And really...I wouldn't have touched them with a 10-ft pole. Even the fishmonger helping a Japanese gentleman pick out a box recommended that he buy a live specimen instead, commenting that the boxed ones don't look so hot. They were all soupy and broken down.
So the lesson is, stick to the live stuff (crabs, lobster, oysters, clams) or the deep fried stuff (colossal shrimp!), bring your own cucumber pico de gallo to serve with your oysters and your day with Quality Seafood will definitely be one for the books. -
Review from Jean L.
6/1/2011
My childhood memories of family get togethers at the beach consist of piles of cracked lobster and crab spread on newspaper over cold concrete benches and tables. The smell of the sea permeating the pier, just a hop and skip away from a carnival of games and lights. I loved it, and nearly twenty years later, still do.
That is, to say, I love the food and the people who work there. I am not so hot about the crowds.
Memorial Day Saturday, we headed down, found parking easily, but stood in several lines for nearly half hour. The crab line lacked a clear queue, and I wanted to knock out the teeth of one man who insisted loudly he was ahead of everyone else, and almost pushed us aside to pay for his crabs before my credit card was returned. Speaking of crabby...
And the same man was ahead of me in the oyster line. He proceeded to order a ton (literally) of smaller oysters. When one of the three men behind the counter finished preparing the pile, the crabbyman returned to pick them up and asked for another load of bigger oysters. What the..
The fish line was fast and it was awesome watching them de-scale, gut, and clean the fish you order. Yes, I get excited about things that happen every day on fishing boats. But you rarely get to see an entire fish, head and all, go from counter to plate, right?
In order of my favorites that day:
Branzino: Firm, sweet, absolutely delectable. Grilled to perfection, skin on, filet, and a touch of lemon. Lots of small bones though, so be careful!
Snapper: More opaque, bigger, meaty. Also got it grilled, head and all. Less bones, more digging required. :)
--- To top it off, the snapper was only $16. The branzino about the same. And we got FIVE sides with that. This is restaurant quality food prepared in an equally delicious manner. Maybe not beautifully-plated or with any service, but hey, you know a deal when you taste it. ---
Littleneck clams: Steamed, with herbs. It was hot and fresh, something you can make at home - if you found the clams off the coast that morning.
Oysters: There were about thirty varieties. I got five big rocks - Kumamoto, Kusshi, Hama Hama, Fanny Bay, Hunter Point - all between $2.85 and $2.30 each, for a total of less than $20. The smaller ones ranged in the $1.00+. And the oyster guys are liberal with the lemons and cocktail sauce. :)
Soft shell crab: Fried, of course. Some tartar sauce, and perfecto.
Local male crab: Took a loong time to steam, and not really worth it. The meat was not aplenty, and there was nothing in the shell worth digging for. I think the best one to get another time would be dungeness.
Blue crabs: Almost a waste. It was, first of all, very difficult to crack open with the mallet, and even led to a spray of juice/meat. Eating it was messy and you could barely get anything out of it. We basically gave up on them.
The side orders of fries were thickly cut. We had to salt them liberally though. The corn was decent. Coleslaw went untouched.
Beer - highly recommend the Corona Familiar. A big 940 ml Costco looking bottle with beer that tastes far from mass production quality.
Finally, a warning - an oyster guy said the pier gets busiest on Memorial Day and Mother's Day weekends.
