Best Of · By Cuisine

Best Seafood Restaurants in Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids sits squarely in the middle of the Midwest, roughly 150 miles from the nearest ocean — yet its seafood scene punches well above its geographic weight. The depth here isn't in white-tablecloth fish houses; it's in a scrappy, soulful mix of Gulf Coast boils, Southern Lowcountry traditions, and no-frills fish-fry counters that have built loyal followings one plate at a time.

All 11 restaurants

Seafood

Wing Kingz

★ 4.8(840)· $$

The 25-piece lemon pepper dry rub wings are what people drive to Diamond Ave for, and the fish (perch fingers, whole fried) draws regulars who swear it never tastes fishy. Kool-Aid is on the drink menu, which is either nostalgic or exactly right depending on who you ask. Pickup orders run prompt and the owner sends you off right.

Seafood

Leo's Seafood Restaurant & Bar

★ 4.7(2,291)· $$$

The seafood tower and the pear martini are regulars at Leo's, a downtown fine-dining room where the Surf and Turf draws comparisons to Ruth's Chris and The Chophouse. Reviewers single out the Grilled Cajun Chicken Tortellini and the Lobster Bisque as standouts alongside the steak. A group of seven reported easy conversation at the table, with ambient lighting and a room that doesn't echo.

Seafood

Cousins Tasty Chicken

★ 4.6(1,993)· $

Cousins Tasty Chicken has been running on Leonard St for 42 years, and the house-battered fried chicken and catfish still draw a crowd. A 12-piece chicken dinner comes with mashed potatoes loaded with gravy, coleslaw, and rolls. Hush puppies and homemade tartar sauce are worth adding to the order.

Seafood

The Grand Rapids Fishery

★ 4.5(743)· $

The fried fish at this Wyoming counter-service spot has earned serious loyalty, with multiple reviewers calling it the best they've had across multiple states. Fish is weighed to order, which reviewers appreciate. Hours are limited and inconsistent, so call ahead before making the drive.

Seafood

Real Seafood Company Grand Rapids

★ 4.5(598)· $$

The caramel apple bread pudding and a smoked old fashioned make a strong case for a special-occasion dinner here. Multiple reviewers came for anniversaries and date nights, and the prix fixe during Restaurant Week drew praise for standouts like the spicy salmon bites and Seoul flounder. Pasta dishes run large enough to share, and prices lean upscale.

Seafood

Mr. & Mrs. Crab Juicy Seafood & Bar - Grandville

★ 4.3(67)

The food comes in a bag, seasoned and dripping, with plastic gloves and an apron included. A pound of shrimp runs cheaper than most fast food combos, and the $2 draft beer undercuts nearly everything in the area. Service can be inattentive at peak hours, but the hands-on, messy format is the whole point.

Seafood

Carolina Lowcountry Kitchen

★ 4.4(1,264)· $$

The hush puppies come out complimentary with a Dijon sauce, and that's a good sign of what's ahead. The buttermilk fried chicken, shrimp-scallop-crab pasta, and fresh oysters all show up repeatedly across reviews, and a Monday night jazz trio packs the room. Wood trim, brick walls, and booths round out the room without tipping into stuffy territory.

Seafood

Fat Man's Fish Fry

★ 4.3(1,261)· $$

Ocean perch and gizzards are the long-running draws at this Division Avenue fish fry, a spot regulars have been coming back to for over 50 years. The menu runs wide, walleye and cod among the headliners, and prices stay reasonable. Recent reviews are split on consistency, so your mileage may vary depending on the day.

Seafood

Great White Fish Chicken

★ 4.2(665)· $$

Perch, whiting, and shrimp are the draws at this Kalamazoo Ave fish-and-chicken spot, with regulars treating it as a ritual stop on every visit to Grand Rapids. The gizzards have a loyal following, though reviews are split on execution. Hush puppies get consistent praise: crispy outside, soft and hot inside.

Seafood

New York Fried Chicken

★ 3.8(139)· $$

New York Fried Chicken on 44th St SE is a neighborhood spot where the fried chicken and shrimp are the main draws, along with Mac N Cheese bites that get called out by name. Quality can swing depending on the hour, with multiple reviewers noting that late-night orders have come out overcooked with burnt crust. Delivery is available but has drawn mixed results.

Seafood

Playas Nayaritas

★ 3.7(342)· $$

The camarones aguachiles have a loyal following here, and the carne asada gets called out for being tender and not dry. Playas Nayaritas leans hard into the Latin seafood angle, with entrees plated alongside lettuce, cucumbers, and oranges. Service is inconsistent enough that multiple reviewers flagged it across separate visits.

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Best Seafood Restaurants in Grand Rapids, MI is an editorial roundup of 11 Grand Rapids restaurants. The average diner rating across this list is 4.3 out of 5. Restaurants are ranked by editorial review, not by paid placement.

Frequently asked questions

Best Seafood Restaurants in Grand Rapids, MI?

Top picks on this list are Wing Kingz, Leo's Seafood Restaurant & Bar, and Cousins Tasty Chicken. The full ranking weighs review quality, popularity, and how actively diners are talking about each restaurant.

How many restaurants are on this list?

11 restaurants meet the criteria for Best Seafood Restaurants in Grand Rapids, MI.

How is this list ranked?

Ranking combines a Bayesian-smoothed review score with an activity multiplier that gives weight to restaurants currently attracting fresh reviews. Paid listings do not affect the order.