The Top Seafood Destinations Around the World
The best seafood is a matter of geography and timing: the right catch, hauled in that morning, cooked simply by people who have done it for generations. Coastal cities live and breathe their fisheries, and the rewards for travelers are enormous. Seafood menus abroad are often written only in the local language and change with the day's catch, so photographing one to translate it helps you order what is actually fresh. Here are the destinations where the sea sets the table.
Tokyo, Japan
The global capital of raw fish, with sushi and sashimi at every level from conveyor belts to counters. Tip: sit at a counter and let the chef serve omakase, the day's best in his order.
Lisbon, Portugal
A city built on the Atlantic, famous for grilled sardinhas, bacalhau (salt cod) in countless forms, and amêijoas (clams). Tip: follow the smoke from charcoal grills in older neighborhoods for the freshest fish.
San Sebastian, Spain
The Basque coast pairs world-class kitchens with humble pintxos bars piled with seafood. Order gambas (prawns), txangurro (spider crab), and grilled kokotxas. Tip: stand, eat one or two bites per bar, and crawl onward.
Sydney, Australia
Blessed with Pacific bounty, from Sydney rock oysters to grilled barramundi and Balmain bugs. Tip: seek out a waterfront fish market and eat your selection outdoors.
Jimbaran, Bali
A beach lined with grills where you choose your fish and eat it on the sand at sunset. Tip: confirm the price by weight before it hits the coals to avoid surprises.
Marseille, France
The home of bouillabaisse, a saffron-scented fish stew served with rouille. Tip: a true version is a two-course ritual, broth first, then the fish, so plan a long lunch.
Hoi An, Vietnam
A central-coast town with delicate seafood like cao lau and clay-pot fish. Tip: eat near the river where the day's catch travels the shortest distance.
The rule for seafood travel is freshness over fame: the simplest grill near the water usually beats the fancy dining room inland. When the day's catch is chalked up in a language you cannot read, translate a photo and order whatever came in that morning.