It’s impossible to imagine a better seafood feast than the one made using food that’s just been plucked from the water.
The Greater Miami area is home to an abundance of seafood, from mahi-mahi and grouper to hogfish, snapper, conch, stone crabs, spiny lobster, and so on.
There are many excellent seafood restaurants in Miami, but sometimes you just want the real thing—the humble fish market.
I have selected a few of my favorites below. You can also enjoy fresh preparations in most of these shops’ onsite restaurants if you don’t feel like cooking at home. In any case, choose one of the best seafood markets in Miami.
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The Best Seafood Markets In Miami
Plaza Seafood Market
3114 NW 17th Ave., Miami // +13056361695
The Miami seafood scene isn’t complete without this market/restaurant in Allapattah. In business since 1980, they have consistently served some of the best seafood in the city—soups, ceviche and delicious fish fried to a crisp.
The market is only a few steps away from the outdoor dining area. It is a small room that smells like a fishing pier, one that has fresh snapper, grouper, lobster, shrimp, and more on ice, waiting for you to take them home.
You can go to the counter to order fried shrimp or fried fish butterflies if you don’t feel like cooking.
I really suggest getting a side of tostones and rice that will make your taste buds explode!
Blue Runner Seafood
11338 Biscayne Blvd., Miami // +17864999334
Blue Runner is a seafood truck that sets up at 11338 Biscayne Blvd. in North Miami. There is a whole lot of fresh seafood inside that truck, as well as helpful employees.
They change the selection depending on availability, but usually, you’ll find shrimp, filets of local fish, squid, fish dip, stone crabs (when the season is right), and a few other options they list on a whiteboard.
In addition, they make their ceviche here, and it’s excellent. Usually, there is a line on the weekends, but fifteen minutes is the longest that you will probably ever wait.
Fresh Florida Fisheries
2238 SW 57th Ave. #2235, Miami // +13053791104
Whether you would like to pick up some freshly caught Florida seafood or purchase a variety of imported fish, Fresh Florida Fisheries is the place for you.
This market provides its customers with an array of interesting seafood, including mangrove snapper.
You should also try some of their branzino if you’ve never tried it before. It has a very flaky texture and it tastes amazing.
They also have different options, like yellowfin tuna loin, grouper and more. Any of them can be bagged up for you, you only need to point them out.
In addition, they have a kitchen where you can order fish or other seafood for $2 a pound and have it prepared to your preferences.
Other menu items are lobster croquettes, conch fritters and a minute sandwich.
Captain’s Tavern
9625 S. Dixie Hwy., Miami // +13056665979
Captain’s Tavern in South Miami is a real throwback. You can enjoy seafood and sushi here, but you can also get chicken and steaks, too.
It’s like being able to have a little bit of everything all under one roof—and, since they first opened back in 1976, this continues to be a great option for families who are looking for more variety on their dinner menu.
There’s a seafood market adjacent to the restaurant, where you can find an equally impressive selection of shellfish and lobster, along with pretty much anything else that swims in the Atlantic Ocean and can be eaten.
Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish
398 NW N. River Dr., Miami // +13053750765
Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish is the place for traditional Miami breakfast. Although it has been located at the same piece of property since 1965, it is known as a Miami landmark.
There is no place in all of Miami that serves up some of the best seafood like this old-school Cuban spot.
This slightly hidden gem, which has been around for over 50 years, does not offer waterfront dining—which means no waterfront prices—that come standard with a view.
Nevertheless, even if you have ever been to Garcia’s in the past, maybe you’ve been too excited about eating the shrimp to notice their seafood market.
It’s not large, but it usually has most of Miami’s greatest hits, like Florida lobsters during the season.
Patagonian Sea Products
20533 Biscayne Blvd.Miami // +17864093317
If you like seafood, you’ll love going to Patagonian Seafood & Fine Food Market. Patagonian recently moved locations from Western Miami to the Upper East Side.
They made the move because they’ve started a seafood market where customers can purchase meat, seafood and more.
It’s not always easy to find a supermarket that sells everything you need under one roof. That’s why I like Patagonian, one of the best seafood markets in Miami.
They serve things like branzino, bluefin tuna, halibut, and more kinds of seafood you won’t find at your average supermarket.
The market has meat, seafood, and more kinds of products you won’t find at your average fish market. So If you want to see the ideal place for fresh juices or food in the area, this is it.
La Camaronera Fish Market
1952 W. Flagler St., Miami // +13056423322
A few outstanding restaurants belong to the Garcia family in Miami, and this place is one of them.
You should most definitely not come here just for the seafood market—so, if you happen to be near the place, you are obligated to order a pan con minuta.
However, on the way out, stop by the market to do a little shopping after consuming all that fried seafood. During the season, they serve Florida lobster and stone crabs and a selection of fresh snapper.
Golden Rule Seafood
17505 S. Dixie Hwy., Miami // +13052350661
Golden Rule Seafood market has been running since 1946 with the same recipes, which have been fresh from day one. The decor is still that of the tiki huts popular in Miami in the 1950s.
Location, selection and price are all great here. They also have a restaurant with American and Caribbean dishes, lunch specials and large takeout orders to go.
If you’re looking for something to do in the Miami area, you can’t go wrong with the Golden Rule Seafood restaurant. I recommend their grouper sandwich, a New England-style seafood roll with fish, lobster salad and coleslaw.
There is a wide selection of seafood here. Almost any fish from Florida can be found here.
Captain Jim’s Seafood
12950 W. Dixie Hwy., North Miami // +13058922812
Captain Jim’s Seafood is a gem for delicious seafood in Miami, Florida. You might be wondering why Captain Jim’s is called the third child of the mini Garcia’s seafood empire. This is because it’s part of a three-restaurant chain owned by three different brothers.
The Captain’s Combo is always available at this restaurant; it includes the catch of the day, conch, and shrimp, which you can either grill, blacken, or fry.
One of my favorite occasions to visit this place is when I’m craving conch. There’s just something about its taste that instantly transports me to the islands.
They have an especially good conch salad, so it’s one of the things I usually go with. It’s served cold and has some vegetables paired with the conch, which I like because you get a different texture each bite.
You can also buy all of the above and more at the seafood market inside if you feel you can prepare it in a different way at home.
The Best Seafood Markets In Miami Are More Than Just A Place To Buy Fish
Seafood markets should be more than just somewhere to shop for fresh fish. And the best seafood markets in Miami show you just that.
Besides offering fresh fish, crustaceans and shellfish, these markets are great for food court dining, shopping for kitchen supplies and chatting with an aquarium expert—all amidst excellent displays and exotic aromas.
You don’t have to worry if you don’t have a lot of cooking skills; many of these markets offer cooking classes so that you can learn how to prepare your own catch.
Visiting other destinations in Florida? Check out our other guides:
- 9 Must-Try Marco Island Restaurants
- 13 Fun Things To Do In San Marco Island
- The 9 Best Amelia Island Restaurants
- 7 Best Kissimmee Restaurants
- 7 Must-Try Clearwater Florida Restaurants
- 13 Best Disney Springs Restaurants
Which of these Miami seafood markets will you visit first? Let us know in the comments section below!
Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever