Best Cheap Eats Seafood Restaurants in Los Angeles
29 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
El Ceviche Loco
High-volume ceviche specialist known for fresh seafood and big portions.
Notable Picks
8.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
El Ceviche Loco is a long-running walk-up seafood stand specializing in ceviche, tacos, and aguachiles with serious lime, chile, and herb punch. With more than a thousand online reviews and steady lines, it’s the default ceviche stop for Bell locals looking for big portions and fresh flavors at everyday prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp ceviche tostada, Fish tacos, Aguachile de camarón
What Makes it Special: High-volume ceviche specialist known for fresh seafood and big portions.
#2
Sushi Koo
8.5
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
Sushi Koo is a strip-mall favorite on 3rd Street where affordable rolls, baked specialties, and combo boxes drive heavy dine-in and delivery traffic. It excels as an everyday sushi option with big menus, friendly service, and pricing that keeps regulars coming back several times a month.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Dynamite Mac Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll
What Makes it Special: High-volume neighborhood sushi with generous portions and low prices.
8.4
Kickin’ Fish & Chicken is a halal-focused counter-service spot turning out crackly fried whole wings and seafood just minutes from LAX. Regulars praise the juicy chicken, peppery seasoning, and generous combo plates that make this a go-to for quick, satisfying takeout.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whole Wings with Kickin' seasoning, Kickin' Chicken Sandwich, Fish & Chicken Combo
What Makes it Special: Halal fried chicken and seafood with standout whole wings near LAX.
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Pet Friendly Paradise
Fisherman's Outlet is a long-running counter-service seafood institution where lines form for fried shrimp, grilled fish, and chowder served on trays. The basic outdoor patio doubles as a pet-friendly lunch spot, drawing downtown workers and seafood fans who care more about generous portions than polished surroundings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fried Shrimp Plate, Grilled Fish with Rice, New England Clam Chowder
What Makes it Special: A decades-old seafood counter with big portions, low prices, and a pet-friendly patio.
A 25-year-old food truck running a tight seafood operation where the taco dorado de camarón—shrimp folded into a crispy-fried tortilla—set the template that dozens of imitators still chase across LA. The aguachile and ceviches hold their own against full-service mariscos restaurants at street-food prices, which is why the line never really stopped forming. Cash only, no frills, just precise execution on a short menu that rewards repeat visits.
Must-Try Dishes:
Taco Dorado de Camarón, Tostada Poseidón, Aguachile Rojo
What Makes it Special: Jonathan Gold-anointed food truck turning out LA's most iconic fried shrimp taco since 2001, with seafood so fresh the ceviche and aguachile compete with sit-down mariscos spots at a fraction of the price.
Long-running mariscos truck parked along Manchester serving ceviches, shrimp tacos, and seafood-heavy burritos. With strong Google ratings and loyal word-of-mouth, it’s a favorite for quick, flavorful Mexican-style seafood on the go.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp ceviche tostada, Grilled fish taco, Shrimp burrito (burritos de camaron)
What Makes it Special: Parking-lot mariscos truck turning out standout ceviches and seafood tacos at low prices.
#7
Hama Sushi
8.1
A decades-old Little Tokyo sushi counter where the chef runs an omakase-style program built around whatever is freshest that day — you sit, you trust, you eat what's put in front of you. The format rewards solo diners and regulars who prefer a chef-led cadence over menu browsing, and the price point lands well below what the omakase label typically commands. Expect a no-frills counter setup with zero pretense and fish that reflects the morning market, not a preset rotation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chef's Choice Omakase, Eel, Scallop
What Makes it Special: Decades-old Little Tokyo sushi counter where the chef dictates the meal from whatever is freshest that day
Worthy Picks
7.9
A no-frills West Adams fish counter that has run the same heavily seasoned, made-to-order fried seafood playbook since the 1990s — and the three-decade run speaks for itself. The value math is hard to beat: whole portions of fried-to-order catfish and snapper at prices that belong to another era. Come expecting a fast counter line and a parking lot, not tablecloths, and you'll leave full for under fifteen dollars.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fried Shrimp, Catfish, Oysters
What Makes it Special: Old-school Southern-style fish counter on West Adams serving heavily seasoned, made-to-order fried seafood at budget prices since the 1990s
#9
Fish Grill
7.9
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
Fish Grill on Beverly is a casual kosher-leaning seafood spot built around grilled fish plates, tacos, and simple salads at approachable prices. Regulars use it for quick weeknight dinners and takeout when they want straightforward salmon, trout, or whitefish without a lot of fuss.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled salmon plate, Fish tacos, Fish and chips
What Makes it Special: Grilled fish plates and tacos with kosher-friendly options and pricing.
7.9
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Late Night Legends
Family Friendly Favorites
A large-format Cantonese banquet house built around whole Peking duck carved tableside and seafood platters scaled for groups of six or more. The draw is shareable plates at Chinatown prices in a loud, banquet-hall setting where the energy runs high and the tables fill fast. Works best when you commit to the format—bring a crowd, order family-style, and let the kitchen do what it does at volume.
Must-Try Dishes:
Peking Duck, Walnut Shrimp, Orange Chicken
What Makes it Special: Large-format Cantonese banquet house in the heart of Chinatown known for whole Peking duck carved tableside and seafood-forward plates sized for sharing.
7.9
A Chinatown workhorse that moves oversized plates of Cantonese-American standards—orange chicken, Mongolian beef, lo mein—at cash-only prices that feel stuck in a previous decade. It pulls late-night crowds and group diners who want to feed a table without doing math, and the 73% five-star rate across 328 reviews says the kitchen holds its line night after night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Orange Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Wonton Soup
What Makes it Special: Chinatown mainstay serving oversized portions of Cantonese-American classics at cash-only prices that haven't kept up with inflation
#12
Haji Sushi House
7.9
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Late Night Legends
Group Dining Gatherings
Haji Sushi House is a broad-menu Japanese spot on Wilshire offering rolls, poke bowls, noodles, and late-night hours. It works best as a flexible, family-friendly option where groups can mix traditional sushi with cooked plates and delivery-friendly staples.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Tuna Roll, Unagi Bowl, Salmon Avocado Roll
What Makes it Special: All-purpose sushi, bowls, and noodles with notably late hours.
7.8
A sprawling Chinatown banquet hall that still runs traditional cart-service dim sum on Ord Street, where the har gow and siu mai come to your table on rolling carts rather than off a printed order sheet. It draws weekend crowds of regulars who know the move is to go deep on the Cantonese classics—Peking duck for the table, BBQ pork between rounds—at prices that make it easy to over-order without regret. Expect a loud, no-frills dining room where the energy comes from packed tables and fast-moving carts, not decor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Peking Duck, Har Gow, BBQ Pork
What Makes it Special: Old-school Chinatown banquet hall running traditional cart-service dim sum in a sprawling dining room on Ord Street
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Family Friendly Favorites
This waterfront market and counter-service eatery sits in a corrugated metal bungalow next to working fishing boats, serving fresh-caught seafood grilled or fried to order. Picnic table seating overlooks the industrial harbor, where locals have been coming for over 20 years for no-frills quality at fair prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Clam Chowder in Sourdough Bowl, Grilled Seabass Plate, Fish Tacos
What Makes it Special: Three-generation family favorite with live crab selection and harborside authenticity
#15
Catch 21
7.8
Catch 21 is a casual seafood and grill spot near the edge of Skid Row known for fish and chips, grilled plates, and an easygoing patio. It serves as a pet-friendly everyday option for downtown workers and locals who want quick, affordable seafood without leaving the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish and Chips, Grilled Sole Fish Plate, Shrimp and Fries Combo
What Makes it Special: A low-key seafood counter with dog-friendly outdoor seating and solid everyday prices.
7.8
A counter-service seafood window where every protein—salmon, mahi, ahi, white fish—comes grilled or fried to your call, paired with sides that split between health-forward (asparagus, rice) and traditional (chips, slaw). It fills a specific lane for Northridge families and lunch crowds who want real-piece fish without a sit-down timeline or sit-down prices. The format is strip-mall simple, but the made-to-order flexibility and low price point keep regulars cycling back.
Must-Try Dishes:
Original Crispy Fish Taco, 3-Pcs Fish & Chips, Grilled Salmon
What Makes it Special: Counter-service seafood spot where every fish is available grilled or fried to order, with health-conscious sides like asparagus and rice alongside classic chips and coleslaw.
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Mariscos Sol Y Mar is a high-volume Mexican seafood restaurant known for fish tacos, ceviches, and cocktail-style shrimp plates plus breakfast and combo platters. It’s more about energy and quantity than polish, drawing families and groups for weeknight dinners, game-day bites, and casual happy hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish tacos, Ceviche de camarón, Coctel de camarón
What Makes it Special: Busy neighborhood mariscos spot with affordable fish tacos, ceviches, and shrimp cocktails.
7.8
An old-school Cantonese seafood house running generous family-style platters out of a big multi-room Chinatown space, with complimentary tea and tapioca pudding closing out every meal. It pulls families and large groups who want garlic lobster and walnut shrimp at prices that let you over-order without regret. Expect a lively, no-frills dining room that rewards arriving early for the small back lot.
Must-Try Dishes:
House Special Garlic Lobster, Spicy Salt Pork Chops, Walnut Shrimp
What Makes it Special: Old-school Cantonese seafood house in Chinatown serving generous family-style platters with complimentary dessert and tea at every meal.
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
An old-school fish-and-chips counter that keeps things classic: crisp batter, tender white fish, and filling combo plates at budget-friendly prices. Not a destination room, but a dependable stop when you want straight comfort seafood without overthinking it.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish & Chips, Fried Shrimp Basket, Seafood Combo Plate
What Makes it Special: Classic Westside fish-and-chips done straight and affordable.
#20
Señor Fish
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Happy Hour Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
A Baja-style counter-service operation near Little Tokyo that moves high volumes of fish tacos and scallop tostadas at prices that make it a default group lunch spot. The year-round patio keeps the energy up, though street parking near Civic Center is a losing game—rideshare or Metro is the realistic play. It delivers exactly what the format promises: fast, cheap, competent seafood without pretense.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish Tacos, Scallop Tostada, Grilled Mahi
What Makes it Special: Casual seafood counter in the Arts District turning out Baja-style tacos and tostadas with a patio that draws crowds year-round
7.7
One of LA Chinatown's remaining cart-service dim sum operations, running a nearly 200-seat banquet hall where dishes roll past your table on steel carts the old-fashioned way. It draws groups and families who want the communal energy of pointing-and-picking from a rotating lineup of steamer baskets at prices that barely register. Expect volume, chaos, and the kind of no-frills efficiency that keeps a decades-old format alive in a neighborhood where most have switched to paper menus.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dim Sum, Shumai, Roast Duck
What Makes it Special: Old-school Chinatown dim sum hall where dishes still arrive on rolling carts pushed table to table.
#22
Dirty Cajun
7.7
A no-frills Cajun seafood boil operation in Northridge that leans hard into portion size and wallet-friendly pricing—expect heaping bags of seasoned shellfish at strip-mall counter prices. Early reviews are uniformly positive but the sample is thin, so the track record is still being written. Works best when you want messy, hands-on crawfish-and-shrimp spreads without the destination-restaurant markup.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter Garlic Shrimp, Snow Crab Legs, Craw Fish
What Makes it Special: Budget-friendly Cajun seafood boils with generous portions in Northridge
#23
Fish Town Outlet
7.7
A stripped-down South LA seafood counter built on heavy-handed seasoning and a deep fryer that earns its keep—catfish and red snapper come out crispy-shelled with enough portion weight to stretch a modest tab. The Baldwin Hills shopping center setting is purely functional, but the neighborhood treats it like a standing lunch order, which tells you more than the decor ever could.
Must-Try Dishes:
Catfish Fillet, Red Snapper, Fish & Shrimp Combo Dinner
What Makes it Special: No-frills South LA seafood counter turning out generous portions of well-seasoned fried catfish and red snapper at prices that keep the neighborhood coming back.
#24
The Bayou
7.7
This LGBTQ+ dive bar surprises with authentic Cajun seafood boils served in a raucous, welcoming atmosphere. Snow crab, crawfish, and shrimp come drenched in signature garlic butter sauce, perfect for messy communal dining with cheap drinks.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crawfish Boil, Snow Crab Legs, Softshell Crab
What Makes it Special: Gay bar with surprisingly authentic Cajun seafood boils
7.6
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
One of the few remaining cart-service dim sum halls in the San Fernando Valley, where roving carts let you point-and-pick classics like har gow and chicken feet without the wait-and-order delay. Best approached as an early weekend arrival (before 11 AM) when parking cooperates and the cart selection peaks. A functional, no-frills hall that delivers the traditional dim sum ritual for Valley families who'd otherwise drive to the SGV.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dim Sum, Har Gow, Shumai
What Makes it Special: Old-school dim sum parlor with roving carts, a rarity in the San Fernando Valley
7.6
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
A 33-year Chinatown workhorse running a 138-item Cantonese menu until 1am, anchored by whole Peking duck carved tableside and big-format seafood platters meant for sharing. The draw is late-night access to legitimate Cantonese cooking at budget-friendly prices, though the polarized review spread signals nights where execution doesn't match the menu's ambition. Best approached as a group-order spot where you stick to the roasted meats and lobster and let the volume pricing do the work.
Must-Try Dishes:
Peking Duck, Chow Mein, Lobster
What Makes it Special: Family-run Chinatown institution since 1993, serving a 138-item Cantonese menu until 1am with whole Peking duck carved tableside
7.6
Southern-style seafood market doubling as a soul food kitchen with generous portions of fried catfish and grilled red snapper. This no-frills spot excels at comfort food with consistent quality and remarkable value.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fried Catfish Strips, Grilled Red Snapper, Seafood Combo Plate
What Makes it Special: Soul food sides meet fresh seafood daily
7.6
Hawaii's acclaimed lobster roll specialist brings authentic Maine seafood to Beverly Hills in a casual counter-service format. Fresh lobster arrives daily for their butter-soaked rolls that earned Yelp's Best Lobster Roll 2023 in Honolulu.
Must-Try Dishes:
5oz Butter Lobster Roll, Lobster Bisque, Lobster Salad Roll
What Makes it Special: Purest expression of Maine lobster rolls west of Boston
7.6
SanSai’s Westwood location is a fast-casual Japanese grill where made-to-order rolls sit alongside teriyaki bowls, salads, and combo plates. It’s a reliable option for students and office workers who want customizable plates with a couple of sushi rolls on the side rather than a full sushi bar experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken and sushi plate, Baked salmon nigiri, Sushi burrito
What Makes it Special: A budget-friendly Japanese grill where you can tack on simple rolls to hearty combo plates.