The Best Seafood in Vancouver

It's large, with several dining spaces bearing distinctive styles, but Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar ties it all together with chic, modern ease. Whether it's the imported hand-painted tile floors and marble-topped bars, the romantic lighting or the buttery leather seating, luxurious details abound. The versatile menu is as instantly likeable as the setting. Discover classics like baked oysters with creamed spinach, garlic bread crumbs and wild oregano. House-made pasta is tucked with a bevy of seafood, including Pacific white prawns, Humboldt squid, clams and mussels, while Calabrian chili bread crumbs deliver an enjoyable kick of heat. Whole cauliflower, roasted in curry leaves with green chutney and coconut turmeric sauce, is a veritable celebration of the vegetable.

This buzzy neighborhood spot has no shortage of admirers, and it's not hard to see why, between the friendly, down-to-earth service, thoughtful bar program, and satisfying, lively cooking. The small menu of seafood-centric offerings changes frequently, but bold, punchy flavors are a consistent element. Guests are liable to start with raw items like oysters on the half shell, paired with fermented hot sauce made from red jalapeño, or hiramasa, dry aged in house and served with a passionfruit aguachile and cantaloupe. More substantial options might include seared Hokkaido scallops with coconut, fregola, and kuri squash, or house-made pasta like tagliolini with a Humboldt squid "bolognese," herbed ricotta, and Taggiasca olives.

It doesn't get much more tide to table than Fanny Bay Oyster Bar. Tucked on a quiet street within walking distance from the city's stadiums, this hot spot gets crowded, especially on game days, and for good reason. This menu features some of the best shellfish and seafood-driven entrees around. Should your shucking skills be slightly rusty, they'll gladly offer a primer. 

Located in the heart of downtown's waterfront, Riley's Fish & Steak lures guests with stunning views and a polished nautically informed interior that pours on the glamour. Don't let the high rollers and spendy tourists turn you off; the staff's warmth and the kitchen's precise techniques will charm you in no time. Dishes that may seem tried-and-true are far from ho-hum. Take the Louie salad, for instance, with Baby Gem lettuce bested with beautiful lump crab, crunchy onion rings, creamy avocado, and Thousand Island dressing—it's refreshing and satisfying. Then, fish and chips is surprisingly light yet savory, thanks to the ultra-crisp batter. Charred broccolini with an herbaceous and citrus-forward gremolata is a virtuous side dish.

Yuwa's chic interior may lean European, but just one bite of Chef Masahiro Omori's creations and you'll be firmly planted in Japan. This is not fusion cuisine; instead, the chef adheres to the classics. External influences may not come into play, but freshness does—the menu shifts daily to take advantage of the best products available.