A traveler’s guide to oysters across North America

The oyster has long been a delicacy in cultures across the globe — from the ancient Greeks and Romans, to modern Asian cultures and in restaurants across North America, oysters have been savored by all. Whether you enjoy your oysters shucked, grilled, fried, rockefeller, chowdered, or even raw, we know and love oysters for their delicious, briny flavor. National Oyster Day is coming up on August 5th, so what better way to celebrate this famous bivalve than by highlighting restaurants where fresh seafood is the star of the show? Check out the list below of the top 50 spots for oysters across the U.S. and Canada on Yelp. 

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Methodology: This is an all-time list of the best oysters in North America according to Yelp. We identified businesses in the seafood restaurants and seafood market categories with a large concentration of reviews mentioning “oysters,” then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning “oysters.” If a chain appeared on the list more than once, we only included the highest rated location. All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of June 25, 2021. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of June 25, 2021.

167 Raw, photo via Yelp

• 167 Raw — Charleston, SC
• Drayton Harbor Oyster Co. — Blaine, WA
• Angelo’s Taverna — Denver, CO
• Sailor Oyster Bar — Annapolis, MD
• Thames Street Oyster House — Baltimore, MD
• The Jolly Oyster — Ventura, CA
• The Cookery — Seward, AK
• The Oyster Loft — Pismo Beach, CA
• Fish N Beer — Denver, CO

Matunuck Oyster Bar via Yelp

• Matunuck Oyster Bar — South Kingstown, RI
• Shuck Station — Newcastle, ME
• Bubbles & Pearls — Wilton Manors, FL
• The Atlantic — Virginia Beach, VA
• The Oyster Society — Marco Island, FL
• Owens Fish Camp — Sarasota, FL
• Oyster Bar — Las Vegas, NV
• Orsay — Jacksonville, FL
• Broadway Oyster Bar — Saint Louis, MO
• Public Fish & Oyster — Charlottesville, VA

Broad Street Oyster Company via Yelp

• Broad Street Oyster Company — Malibu, CA
• Maine Oyster Company — Portland, ME
• Salt Traders Coastal Cooking — Round Rock, TX
• The Legends Oyster Bar and Grill — Las Vegas, NV
• Henlopen City Oyster House — Rehoboth Beach, DE
• Ada’s Fish House — Pismo Beach, CA
• Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar — New York, NY
• Lynn’s Quality Oysters — Eastpoint, FL
• Tide and Vine Oyster House — Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
• Pêche — New Orleans, LA

Coastal Fish Company via Yelp

• PinPoint Restaurant — Wilmington, NC
• Coastal Fish Company — Memphis, TN
• Neptune Oyster — Boston, MA
• Salt Seafood & Oyster Bar — New Brunswick, NJ
• Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab — Las Vegas, NV
• Fishing With Dynamite — Manhattan Beach, CA
• Betty Lou’s Seafood and Grill — San Francisco, CA
• Kelly’s Half Shell Pub — Crystal River, FL
• Tubb’s Shrimp & Fish Co. — Florence, SC
• Ocean 44 — Scottsdale, AZ

Boat Drinks via Yelp

• Boat Drinks — St. Augustine, FL
• Lowerline — Brooklyn, NY
• Anchor Oyster Bar — San Francisco, CA
• Blue Seafood and Spirits — Virginia Beach, VA
• St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar — Raleigh, NC
• The Half Shell — Saint Simons Island, GA
• Mignonette — Miami, FL
• Papa’s Raw Bar — Lighthouse Point, FL
• Seabear Oyster Bar — Athens, GA
• The Royal Tern — Johns Island, SC
• Saltwater Fish House & Oyster Bar — Langley, WA