Sun Fat Seafood Company
Category: Seafood Markets [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mission2687 Mission St
(between 22nd St & 23rd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 282-9339
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
70 Reviews for Sun Fat Seafood Company
One of Sun Fat Seafood Company's Favorite Reviews
I like it a lot, a real lot. It's like fishing in hopes of catching something in the deep blue ocean, except I know you will catch something so the game is twice as fun. I browse up and down the murky isles, taking in all of the latest catch laid out across the ice. Halibut, salmon, talapia, scallops, muscles, shrimp...I want you all. How will I decide - oh wait, you are all so cheap I can taste you all.
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Yep, awesome, as so many other people have already said. Fish, crabs, clams, mussels. And the staff is always very helpful to cut up the seafood however you want.
I craved crabs.
I yelped.
I came to Sun Fat.
I sucked my crabs hard the day after I recovered from my stomach flu.
Yummmmm!!!!!!
Forget about Fisherman's wharf. It's for the tourists who know nothing about the city aside from their guide book.
When I got there, the lovely cutie crabs are swimming in 2 huge tanks of clear water. I asked the guy to grab one for me, he did, an energetic babe indeed. I paied $16.00 for a damned big crab that kinda scared me, someone who's never dealt with a crab that's alive.
When I got home, I boiled a big pot of water. When I tore the paper bag that has the crab open, the crab was still moving, my roommate screamed. I slowly slided the babe into the pot of boiling water, boiled it for 20 minutes. At the same time I made a dipping sauce that my mom always made for crabs. Here's how:
1 tbsp grated ginger (use the ginger grater, not the cheese grater)
1 tbsp asian rice vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
I dumped them all in a food processor, which made the texture kinda weird, but it tastes just right.
Awesome crab!! So meaty, so sweet, so much juice! And the shell was so easy to break that I finished it up without any utensils!! My teeth are more than enough.
I like Saskia's review:"They're fresh and they don't have to put "Fresh" on their sign. Because if you have to say it, it probably isn't true." I went into the other store just across the street to Sun Fat, YUCK!! The crabs there were swimming in this brown colored tank of water, and fish lying around your ankle level.
Sun Fat is the best. Dungeness Crabs are awesome!!
This is by far one of the best sea food markets I've ever been to.
I came here many times while I lived in San Francisco to get fresh fish for dinner and it was always so fresh and so tasty. The service is excellent. There is never a wait and plenty of different types of seafood to choose from. Much cleaner and healthier than a fish market not far away in my opinion.
Once I came in and there was a guy ordering fish that had a parrot just chilling on his shoulder. I thought, "What a well behaved parrot!" I would think it would like to have some fish for dinner. Only in San Francisco eh?
Several cool things to watch are how they butcher the fishies. They will gut it for you and you can watch as they do it on the counter right there. CREEPY! They also sell the crabs to you live so they are much fresher when you get home. I once saw the salesperson put one in a bag for a lady and I thought how creepy it would be to feel it wriggling on the way home.
If you like it fresh or fresher than the normal fresh. This is the place to come!
Oh and their salmon is to die for!!!!
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They're fresh and they don't have to put "fresh" on their sign.
Because if you have to say it, it probably isn't true.
If you know what I mean, you know what I mean.
Take a swim on over to this fish market (NOW). It wil meet your expectations, and you won't even need to break the bank. Fresh, friendly and awesome selection. A one-stop operation if you include the produce stores nearby for the rest of the ingredients. San Francisco Cioppino here I come (AGAIN).
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Sun Fat Seafood (not to be confused with the old Wang Fat Seafood at 18th and Mission that used to smell like a Marseilles prostitute) is now one of my favorite Mission stops. Part of my weekly routine now consists of hitting Sun Fat and loading up on a cornucopia of seafood bounty--fish, shrimp, oysters, scallops, mussels, crabs, and more; then I pick up some nice limes, avocados, cilantro, and tomatoes from one of the many vegetable stores on the way home; and treat myself to some tangy ceviche to die for, a little broiled snapper with basil, and impress the ladies with some pan-seared scallops with tequila lime sauce and jicama. (or something like that...)
The bottom line is their selection is great, the seafood fresh, and the prices low. $20 provides enough fresh seafood for the week. I haven't checked my mercury levels yet, but until then, ignorance is bliss! Oh, and sushi-grade ahi! Yummy! (and affordable)
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I love this place. The prices are incredibly competitive. The selection is pretty good, but it could use more fresh never frozen seafood. There are a decent number of whole fish that they will clean for you at no charge, I always keep the heads so I can eat the cheeks!!
The staff and service are expedient and professional, which I much appreciate from my local fishmonger.
The real bargain is their live seafood; which includes several varieties of crabs and clams, as well as lobsters, muscles, and oysters.
This is the only place I buy my seafood, unless its from a fisherman on the docks.
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My mom and I bought 4 dungeness crabs here for half the price you would find anywhere else. We prepared it in the oven with plenty of garlic and butter. It was New Years Night. My dad made a toast to us with cheap champagne that made me cry. Even though I've never told him this, he is my hero.
That night, we eat. A lot.
Sun Fat is the best seafood distributor in the city in my estimate. They're Chinese/Vietnamese, so they reserved the best crabs cuz my momma told them so. She is also my hero. Love her.
5 stars.
* I'll try to be funny in my next review.
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If you want fresh seafood at great prices without the need for yuppie glitz, then Sun Fat is your place. Many weekends I love nothing more than to stop by and get some fresh fish or lobster for a feast at home. Knowledgeable and friendly staff are there to help.
Sure, you will find more expensive fish at Whole Foods but the quality is actually better at Sun Fat. Thing is, you have to take whatever is available that day - that's how it goes with a true fresh fish market!
Keep in mind: Parking is a pain but that is due to the Mission location. This place is an authentic fish market with no design decor, unabashed market smells, wet floors, and all.
Amazing selection, amazing staff and amazing prices. My only regret is how long it took me to finally break my routine and start shopping here.
BUWWHAHAHHA ok, a more sober reedit
this is a hard review for me to write.
my boy, fish boy, has been my boy for decades. seafood center on clements, his father opened that place years ago. since then, the father has moved onto much bigger things but the seafood center still is in *the family*.
ive spent a life time with this guy. been buddys since i had hair and he was skinny. his older sister and auntie are friends with my sister and i JUST found out they are also friends with salty, who is also friends with some other buddies from a life time ago, but thats another story.
this seafood buddy of mines, he provided the seafood for JAM OUT WITH YOUR CLAM OUT.
that mofos got me king crab crab legs delivered to a house in chitown when i needed it.
that being said...
i hesitantly write this review of sun fat
parking sucks here.
yes, they are very friendly and helpful
cheap
good selection of whatever is available fresh.
will this be my new number one seafood joint?............. no
bloods thicker than water
yeah.... gotta keep in the fams yo
simple. im still a seafood center on clement guy.
but yeah if yous not asshole like me, this place rocks. no doubt, come here for good shit.
fyi they dont carry live spot prawns.
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When I stopped by to pick up some sea bass, they were out, but that was my fault for getting there late. But what I found appeared to be fresh, the place was clean, and the staff was friendly. What else could you possibly want from a fresh fish market? Works for me.
Too bad it's across town, otherwise I'd be down there more often. Parking in the Mission is also a major drag, so plan ahead if you're driving.
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I am lucky to say that this is my local fish store. It's everything that you could possibly hope for in a fish store. They know me by name. The place itself is immaculate. The fish is very fresh with a wide variety of everything - 10 kinds of shrimp, few kinds of clams and oysters, octopus, squid, lobster, crab, 10 kinds of whole fish, fillet, etc. And the prices are SO reasonable. I go here almost every week and I have never been disappointed. I heart sun fat seafood company!
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Can't say anything bad about Sun Fat and only high praise. The fish is fresh, excellent quality and incredibly affordable. I've tried their crab, salmon, sole, halibut, cod, squid, sea scallops, medium white prawns, razor clams, manila clams, mussels and calamari - all were excellent. I stop in at least twice a week to pick something up and my next stop will be to pick up a whole fish to fry. They have whole red snapper every day, something I rarely find elsewhere, plus Tilapia of course, the staple of the sea.
I could wax poetic with an anecdotes, but since you're reading a lot of these, here's all you need to know, in order of importance:
1. The delectable sea creatures purchased here were undoubtedly swimming in their natural habitats the day before, totally oblivious to their grim (but delicious) demise. FRESHEST EVER.
2. The hard working, down-and-dirty staff are super helpful, but also friendlier than the most jolly of fisherman.
3. Prices are AMAZING. Example: sashimi grade tuna @ $10 a lb, fanny bay oysters at $0.65 a piece.
I don't plan on ever buying fish anywhere else, ever again. Ever. (Except maybe Zushi Puzzle.)
STOP READING! GO THERE NOW!
Got some 3 pound Lobsters here for xmas; parking sucks but they have great prices and live fresh lobsters. The other seafood looked fresh as well.
I've been really pleased so far with the super fresh seafood I've purchased here...halibut, trout, tilapia, sea bass. If it's edible and somehow moves itself through the water, it's probably here.
Just wanted to add my voice to the chorus! These guys are so sweet--had the same situation as Jeff L, just squeezing through the gate. They apologized for not being able to scale our fish, even though they were doing us a favor!
Delicious fish, good prices, couldn't be run by nicer people.
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I'm Chinese...so you don't even have to tell me about the asian fish markets. Freshest fish in town for half the price as Whole Foods (what are you doing shopping in a chain anyway?) I used to go out to the Sunset Super, but Sun Fat feels even fresher (and besides, it's closer to my new place...I'm nothing if not lazy). I got some gorgeous shrimp here for $5.99 a pound. The whole time I was looking around at what I'd be buying next time: cleaned squid, live crabs, beautiful wild salmon. The mind boggles.
On the other end of the spectrum, I was in Oakland Chinatown the other day and there were dead fish floating in the tank of the grocery store I wandered into. What gives?
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I take tourist friends/family here. "This," I say, grandly, "Is where I get my fishstuffs."
They rarely have any idea that such a place can exist without an accompanying supermarket.
As much as piles of dead fish go, Sun Fat has drop dead sexy dead fish. Dishes I've made from their ingredients have gotten me laid enough that I suspect them of selling date rape fish, but my survival instincts keep me from checking that out too closely.
There's another Sun Fat in Oaktown, and it's even better, but I keep forgetting how to cross the bridge. I hear BART goes there, but I don't believe rumors.
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The sheer number, variety and freshness of oysters and clams would be enough to draw me back here. The plethora of other amazing fish on offer is a happy bonus! I love you, Sun Fat Seafood Company.
Also: for the uber-fresh fish, have them grab one of the live ones from a tank. They'll club it over the head and gut it for you right then and there. Now THAT'S entertainment!
I've made sushi a few times with the tuna from here, and it's definitely as fresh as you can hope for ---much better than the stuff sold in Japantown marts. The halibut is really good too (and half the price of what you pay at Whole Foods). The people working here are super friendly too.
Fantastically fresh seafood. For ridiculously low prices.
Pick up a few oysters (the kumamotos are consistently great), some squid, salmon, tuna, or whatever else floats your boat, open a bottle of wine (or two) and you'll have yourself (and your friends) a great dinner.
Oh, I almost forgot, the staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Keep this place in business!
One of my two go-to places (check my groceries list for the other) for fresh, great, affordable seafood in SF and I cannot believe I have not reviewed them sooner.
Sun Fat is fabulous-- they carry a wide range of fish and particularly shine in their variety of whole fish and shrimp. (Finally! a sustainably-raised alternative to the ubiquitous tiger prawns). The best place to purchased live crabs in SF as well as a deep selection of oysters, clams, and mussels.
Everyone working there is super-nice and is happy to prep your fish in any way you request. And, they even accept credit cards.
They also stock a good selection of seasoning for a clam-bake-- Old Bay, Creole Mustard, etc.
Can't say a bad word about them...
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note to me and to all if you want tasty tasty crabs to eat don't go to sun fat 20 minutes before they close on a sunday.
cause they went from a full tank on friday when i looked to one lonely little guy on sunday. that being said we still took him as well as a lobster and 3 pounds of king crab.
only cost us $50 for this awesome feast. everyone there was very helpful. they also sell whole fish which is great cause you can tell the freshness of the fish by looking at the gills and by the eyes. if they are clear they are good if cloudy you might want to pass. then if you want they will clean them for you.
nice clean place and all of the prices were really cheap. can't say enough and as a guy who sold fish for a living at one point in his life this is the way it is done.
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Just have to back up what all the others said. The crab is live and the price is right this time of year.
As others have said: the seafood is top notch, the prices are great, the people are sweet.
We went the other night right as they were closing. The gate was down and everything. But because they are kind and good, they asked us what we wanted and brought it to us!
OK - so you all HIGHLY recommended this place, I needed oysters, I had to go. They store is very nice, friendly knowledgeable employees and had a wide variety of seafood to choose from.
I went to 4 stores today looking at shell fish but couldn't find what I wanted. I found BBQing oysters (48 - 52 cents/each) at every store, not what I wanted. Sun Fat had at least 8 different types of oysters which was AMAZING and we picked up 60+. However price-wise, you rated it cheap but the same BBQ oysters were 65 cents/each. So it was more expensive. But then again, Sun Fat carries oysters no one else does - you can't put a price on that. They also had at least 10 different styles, sizes and types of shrimp!! Live lobster was $9.99/lb, I'll go back!!
All in all an excellent find. I was really struck by the variety of fish they had and it all looked/smelled/seemed really fresh. And yes, they do stock wild, UNFARMED salmon. About $4 a pound cheaper than the equivalent at Whole Paycheck.
The prices are better than most anywhere, but I think people are slightly exaggerating just how cheap this place is.
No matter, clean store, low prices, fresh fish and awesome variety add up to a winner.
This place confuses me. Do you really want cheap fish?
Absolutely gross but gritty and somewhat charming, this place would fit in perfectly in China town. On mission street, it just stands out in the long line of discount and dollar stores.
I trusted you yelpers and decided to buy mussels there, shrimp too. I didn't get sick and the staff was super friendly, so until I see differently, I am going to say go for it.
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Super Cheap
Super Seafood
Super Service
This is now the only place I go to when I want seafood. There are many different varieties of fish as well as live crab, lobster, muscles, clams.
The guys in there are really nice too. I've been a couple of times when they have just closed and they have opened the doors for me just so I can get what I need. Really cool indeed!
Thanks to Margot B for the tip-off on this spot. When I first walked in, I walked back out to check the sign because I thought I was in the back room... but no, it's just a clean, simple place to buy excellent fish at amazing prices. The staff is super-friendly and efficient. I've grilled, fried, seared, broiled and ceviche-d many a fish from here. You should do the same! I think I'm going to go there right now...
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Hands down the most affordable and fresh fish in the city. The folks here are super friendly and provide me with all I need to whip up ceviche, bbq'd oysters, or cioppino.
I am so lucky to have this place in my 'hood. The fish is so fresh and abundant, the employees are friendly as hell and you can walk away from there with a big bag of seafood for under $20 bucks. Amazing. Go get your fish on.
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I go here for fish and seafood about once every 2 weeks. It is always clean and has less of that "fishy" smell than any other fish store I've been in. They do not sell any other meats than fish/seafood (no chicken, beef etc) so less bacteria mixing, which is good. They are always friendly and give good advice. I recommend them 100%.
Incredible pricing for seafood - god don't I love Mission!!! Fresh, great service provided by these Chinese people... I can't ask anything more than this... :)
One crab for 8 bucks? DAAAAAAAAMNN!!!!
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My go to spot for seafood. A great variety all reasonably price. Yes, it's a fish market but it is very clean and so are the fish compared to let's say the places in Chinatown. In fact, I always thought fish markets were all grungy and smelly until I came here and was astonished.
Bike Parking: no designated bike parking, I usually chain my bike near 23rd & Mission.
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Best seafood shop - better than anything I've seen on Clement, Irving, or Chinatown. You can probably get better pre-cut fillets/pieces of fish at Whole Food or other fancy food places - but you are probably paying at least double.
The shop is always clean and never smells 'fishy'. The folks who work there are fantastic - friendly, helpful, fast. The other day, we were doing hot pot at home and went down there to get seafood. I was about to buy a red snapper to fillet but my wife asked the fishmonger. He recommended a live catfish - I'd never thought about catfish for hotpot - but hey, what the hell. They did a nice fillet job and we had delicious catfish for the hotpot!
I digress.
The quality of the seafood has been excellent, as is the value. Throw in the nice service and the cleaniess of the shop, no reason to go anywhere else.
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Interested in halibut? Well I can give you an abbreviated list of restaurants in this city that is still as big as a phone book. Finding halibut to cook at home? For me it was nearly impossible. A few months ago I spent a whole afternoon searching for it: high-end supermarkets, Safeway, corner markets .... I seriously almost resorted to actually fishing before I finally found some at Trader Joe's. Unfortunately, they were steaks and less than tasty!
Granted, after my afternoon of searching I was turned onto Seafood Center by friends who were tired of listening to my bitching ... but their suggestion just gave me one more thing to bitch about ... it's so far!
Fast-forward a few months and I insightfully decide to use Yelp to help me, and, as always, fellow Yelpers have not let me down. I stumbled upon Sun Fat, nestled in the Mission, walkable distance ... and AMAZING prices and quality! Recently stopped by for the first time, walked in to find a gigantic assortment of fish (hundreds of species, I swear!) from swimming in tanks (they'll butcher 'em for you) or fresh. The prices are phenomenal and beyond competitive. The fish was outstanding ... I promise to never buy fish anywhere else as long as I'm in the City!
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