Swan Oyster Depot

I can't say enough about how great the food and service is here at Swan Oyster Depot. I arrived around 9:30 on a rainy Saturday morning and they were already seating indoors. I asked my waiter and he just shrugged, saying they open early sometimes. Maybe they didn't want to have people standing in the rain? Either way, I was happy, because I was seated within 5 minutes, instead of my expected hour wait until the inside opened.

The photos speak for themselves. The food is the freshest you're going to find anywhere in the city, and the guys working there genuinely seem to be having a great time serving their customers.

This isn't going to be a cheap visit, if you want your fill. The food in the photos was $85, but well worth it. Looking forward to our next visit to SOD when we are in The City again!

Great service and super friendly workers. Be aware that this place is cash only. Street parking was a little challenging, but typical of SF.

I came about 30 minutes before closing and they were super busy. I wasn't able to get seated, but I ordered to-go and everything was phenomenal. Smoked salmon and oysters were so fresh and delicious. I can't stop thinking about this place!

The story I heard involved a bride and groom getting married in San Francisco. Instead of heading to their reception to celebrate with friends or taking newlywed photos, the first thing the couple did was go to Swan Oyster Depot.

That intrigued me. I've been here in San Francisco for three weeks and have seen the line of up to twelve people deep during the middle of the cold day. But, oysters weren't what I was used to for lunch. Who eats sashimi and a dozen oysters for lunch? But, this place is only open for brunch/lumch.  So, on a Wednesday at 1:00pm, I made the move. I stood and shivered in line.

Cash only. A couple of ladies in front asked me and I confirmed that cash only was what I saw online. One went to the bank to get some cash. I was solo and last in line. No one invited me in. Rather I stood in the doorway and as a worker rushed past I asked him if I may come in. He replied, "Yah. Any open seat," gesturing inside.

I chose a seat toward the back. No stinky seafoody smell for a fish market looking place. Good sign.  Although, the eye level counter was sort of dusty and covered in crumbs.. I ordered a pinot grigio and a dozen chef choice oysters ($40).  Got Massachusetts, Washington, Kumamoto, and one other I can't remember. Each set distinct in flavor and texture. I tried each unflavored first then added either lemon, horse radish, or mignonnette. Then, got half-dozen Chrrry Stone clams. Learned to eat the crunchy, briny yummers with Thai chili sauce, per the Chef.

Then, was recommended the Italian sashimi. I only know sashimi with shoyu and wasabi or ponzu. The plate of two slices each of sea bass, hamachi, scallop, salmon, and ahi was drizzled with EVOO, then sprinkled with chopped red onions, capers, and then fresh lemon juice was squeezed over it. Unique and different! I will try this at home!

My lunch concluded with a cup of their famous Boston clam chowder. It wasn't thick like New England style. Rather it was soup like with chunks of potato and clams and some yellow onion and a lovely milky soup that left me satiated.

The oyster bar was busy in an organized chaos way where each knew what they were doing while working within the confines of the space. I watch them clean, prep, clean, serve, clean, and chat.

The outside parking stall seating accommodates larger groups such as the family of six two groups before me.

I'll be back for their soup to-go before I leave San Francisco.

We visited on a Monday and arrived at 10:45am. There was already a long line. We waited for around an hour and a half to get seated. It took this long mainly because the restaurant didn't offer outdoor seating until 11:30. Even then they didn't fill up the outdoor seating and worked on their own timeline. The inside of the restaurant itself only has bar seating and probably seated at most 12 people.

We ordered the crab salad, Sicilian crudo (not on their menu), clam chowder and half a dozen oysters. We wanted to try the crab back but they ran out of crabs by mid noon. The crab salad was probably my favorite because it was loaded with crab meat. The clam chowder was perfect for an SF winter day. The silicon crudo was fresh and there were five different types of seafood (salmon, tuna, scallop, hamachi, trout).

The food was delicious but not worth the long wait. If you decide to come, you should visit before 10am so you don't have to wait in a long line and aren't limited in the things you can order.

SO took me here for the first time to try oysters many years ago, and that's when I discovered my newfound love of them.

Both times, we decided to take a day off from work to make a trip to San Francisco and visit Swan Oyster Depot. Be prepared to look for nearby street parking for $2.25/hr.

The line will always be out the door, but the wait isn't too long. We probably waited about 20 mins to get 2 seats inside.

All indoor seating is bar style seating, so you'll be close to the folks to your left and right. I like that indoor vibe because the team is super attentive. You might even end up talking to your neighbors like us!

Hands down, the oysters are my favorite (particularly the Kumamoto's). Can't go wrong with the mixed dozen. We also ordered the Sicilian, noticing that the folks on either side had ordered it as well. My favorite sashimi was their scallops, followed by the tuna. The salmon wasn't my favorite, however, the first time I came here, their smoked salmon was bomb.com!

Definitely worth the wait if you're wanting some fresh seafood in the city! I have never attempted to stop by here on a weekend, but if you have a (week) day off, just go!!

I didn't know the inside seating wasn't open until 10am, I thought it was open at 830am and we got there around 8ish. There were already people sitting outside eating and we were told that inside wasn't until 10 and it's first come first serve for the 3 outdoor tables. We didn't mind waiting cause I heard they tend to get a line, which they did shortly after we were seated outside.

We got the crab back and honestly we both thought it would be warm but it was cold haha. It wasn't bad though. It was creamy and salty. It was good with the bread...which was also cold.

We weren't fans of the clam chowders. It was thinner than what we were used to (England style) the clams were tiny and potatoes were also the same ish. I mean there were more potatoes than clams but still.

We also got half a dozen oyster and it was 3 varieties. I can't tell you what they are now, but I can tell you that all 3 were better than the last. It was sweet and fresh. I looooved their Thai chili sauce too. I wasn't sure if it was that or the tobasco that was spicy since I mixed both.

We also got the small sashimi, which came with like 15 pieces - wild for a small. It's prepared the Italian way so EVOO, capers, and onions. Normally I wouldn't care for capers, but since I'm not used to sashimi with EVOO, the capers gave it a unique taste. The salmon was delicious, melts in your mouth. The scallops were like butter and that sweetness. The others were okay and there was one that I hated cause it was so chewy I spat it out.

If would def come back for the oysters and maybe crabs next time.

I recently visited and have to adjust my review. By the way if you've ever wanted to try SOD then now is a good time. With the crummy weather and after holidays comes - little to no waiting. It's a small bar but the fresh seafood packs a punch. It helps to research a little to know some of the off menu items.

We ordered:

Italian sashimi
Smoked salmon
Red eye scallops
Seafood cocktail
A couple of beers

Take a minute and say hello - service is good!

Great old San Francisco family restaurant. It hasn't changed much in decades.
Service is friendly. The staff know many of the regulars by name. Swan Oyster Depot has a loyal following. Many customers have been coming for years. This is also the kind of place where you can easily strike up a conversation with your fellow diners. The food is good. The seafood is fresh, though the clam chowder seems a little thin to me. The horseradish sauce is the strongest I've ever had--you've been warned! The restaurant has two main points against it. It's expensive, and seating is very limited. You will likely have to wait a long time to get one of the dozen or so counter seats. There is some sidewalk seating as well, but they don't seem to want to utilize all of it. Johnny Cash only, but there is an ATM across the street. Definitely worth one visit, and more if you don't mind waiting.

The owner took care of us here and the experience couldn't have been better. He made phenomenal recommendations based on our tastes and what was in season. We ended up having clam chowder (awesome and creamy), oysters and clams (with homemade mignonette and a powerful homemade horseradish), and my personal favorite which was the Italian sashimi. The combination salad I wasn't a huge fan of, it was pretty bland overall.

Will definitely be back, if only to hang with the owner again and blow my sinuses out with the horseradish.

PSA... if you love seafood and haven't been here, man you are missing out!! This gem is an iconic SF must! The bar is quaint and welcoming, half the experience is just being crammed next to your neighbor lol No frills found here other than the food obviously and the service is amazing. These guys hustle and will have you laughing along the way. Don't be intimated by the line, it can get pretty long but it's so worth the wait. Cash only so come hungry & cash in pocket!