An SF institution for a reason!! This small, intimate seafood bar on Castro St. is the perfect way to fuel up while exploring the city. Anchor Oyster Bar will likely have a wait all day, most times of day. However, there are lots of shops to stop into nearby where you can still call your name if called.  The reason to stop in? Their cioppino. A hearty, tomato-based seafood stew chocked full of fresh bay seafood like mussels, clams, crab, shrimp, and white fish. It's served hot and with a side of garlic bread. Do yourself a favor and order an extra side or two of garlic bread to sop up all of that delicious soup. We also got the seafood platter to try a variety of oysters and their shrimp cocktail, which were all delicious. Steamed claims in garlic butter was an obvious order. No regrets. Highly recommended for a good, hearty, true San Francisco lunch. read more

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I stopped by on a Friday afternoon and waited about 30 minutes before my girlfriend and I were seated outside in a very spacious enclosed parklet. The service was very friendly. Everybody, servers and cooks, were incredibly helpful and answered all my questions with a smile. I figured if I'm going to an oyster bar, I better try the oysters. I had six meaty, juicy oysters ($22.50) from three different regions. It was fun to compare them from each other. My girlfriend ordered the penne pasta with prawns topped with rich red sauce and melted cheese ($33). It was absolutely delicious and rivals many local Italian restaurants. I also ordered the crab burger and clam chowder ($36). The clam chowder was hot, creamy and not too salty. The burger came with a good amount of crab. It looked like imitation crab, but it wasn't, it was much bolder and heartier. I'd come back here whether for a date night or a solo evening slurping oysters at the bar. The food is pricey, but if you're into quality seafood options beyond fish, I'd definitely recommend it. read more

Made the trip up to SF yesterday with my bro with the intention of going to Swan Oyster, but they were closed for maintenance so it gave me the opportunity to finally check Anchor Oyster off the Yelp bookmarks. Some things were meant to be. First things first, get your name on that whiteboard asap. We arrived early before opening, but didn't know you had to put your name up. One 10 min mistake created an hour wait. Wasn't too bad though -- they have a cute comfy seating area out front with anchor themed throw blankets. Staff comes by often asking if you want drinks as you wait. Line does move slow because of the limited seating, but if you have an hour to spare it's worth it. Food was excellent. They're known for their cioppino, but I enjoyed it all. You make the decision of yes/no on the cioppino first cuz that dictates the scope of your meal. Waiter is conservative with estimates so I'll share what we had in total which I believe is best for two people: - two beers on draft - small cioppino (the large is enormous); includes a bit of garlic bread - crab cake entree; includes a cup of clam chowder and 6 pieces of roasted potatoes - an extra cup of clam chowder - full order of the Anchor Special (12 oysters, 8 steamed clams in butter sauce, 4 prawns) - combination seafood cocktail Oysters were very fresh. Had a mix of local hog island miyagis and Washington oysters. Mignonette here is different - balsamic vinegar based so it's more briny and salty vs my usual bright preference. Very tasty, poured throughout. Clam chowder was surprisingly good. I love clam chowder. Top 5 fav foods for me and if a place isn't chowder-specific I have low expectations. Chowder here exceeded it. I'm getting a bowl next time. Crab cake was textbook - crisp exterior, fluffy interior with a well-paired tartar sauce & lemon wedge. If you like crab cakes, you'll like them. If you don't, then this won't sway you but worth trying. Combination seafood cocktail to me is the most underrated thing we ordered. Hella seafood at a reasonable price. I'd get one just for myself next time. Choose this over the salad... but I never choose salad to begin with so there's that. The cioppino comes last because it's messy. You get a plastic bin and a pair of crab crackers. Very attentive staff clearing and swapping plates throughout the meal. The service was excellent. It's a very earthy, thyme-forward tomato stew base. Whole lotta brine cuz of the pile of seafood. I give it the edge over Sotto Mare cuz there's no filler here. To wrap it up, I had a fantastic time. At the end I was trying to see where I'd stack it against Swan. But now writing this review, I'm putting them in different lanes in the same swimming pool err ocean. Swan is where I go for the gritty, nostalgic buzz. Anchor isn't a 1:1 alternative -- it's a different swim lane, better for a relaxed, cohesive early dinner experience. read more

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Super fresh and delicious seafood with friendly service. Came here on a Sunday ~15-minutes before opening and there was already a small line gathering, luckily we were able to be seated outside quickly. For such a distinguished restaurant this place definitely lives up to their reputation. Seafood was fresh and flavorful, the anchor special, clam chowder and prawns definitely stood out for me, however I'd order everything (garlic bread, anchor special, deviled eggs, shooters, Bloody Mary, cioppino) again. I'd recommend the chowder, anchor special, and cioppino if it's your first time to try a little bit of everything they have to offer (and Bloody Mary if it's your cup of tea). read more

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OMG this is officially my favorite spot for cioppino!! Came here for a girlfriend's birthday and we were ready to feast. I had the Caesar salad with crab and they gave a generous amount of crab meat. We also had 12 oysters to share and they were all clean and kind of meaty. The crab cake was so so good, the outside was fried to perfection, and the inside was full of crab meat. My friend really wanted to try the seared scallops and personally I am not a fan of scallops, but when she said these were the softest and most tender scallops she had ever tried, I was like, fine, I must try this and I totally agree with her. Our main entrée was the cioppino and we ordered a small, which had so much seafood and definitely feeds 2-3 people. The garlic bread in the cioppino was also really good! I'm already thinking about my next visit! read more

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Amazing fresh seafood spot!! Very friendly service and love the cozy relaxed vibes. Felt like home with the smaller amount of seating but the noise level was nice. Check out their specials of the day menu before deciding what to get! - Crab burger (special) 5/5: fresh crab portions in this burger, just slightly mayo'd, perfect proportion with the tomato and lettuce - Clam Chowder 4.5/5: creamy and seasoned just right! Only wished for a bit more clams - Cioppino 5/5: best in the city! The tomato broth was nice and thick, seafood was fresh and cooked just right! Nice seafood medley of crab, mussels, clams, shrimp and white fish! Garlic bread on top went so well, needed to order another side of it. - Oysters 4/5: the specials were from B.C. and did not beat our local oysters up north read more

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I was picking up something just down the street when I noticed there was no wait at Anchor Oyster Bar. Granted it was a bit in the early side for dinner. Sat at the counter and looked at the specials. And decided I had to have the pan seared dayboat scallops. That Meyer lemon beurre blanc that came with it was so delicious, I switched to eating them with a spoon so I could enjoy as much as the sauce as I could. And I also had the fresh Dungeness crab stuffed petrale sole because the gent next to me had it and it looked amazing. It was. read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - Always check the board (or your neighbor's plate) AND ask about the specials. - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Famous not just for its oysters but its cioppino. But I didn't have either. I wanted a small meal, so I had a cup of clam chowder and an appetizer order of crab cakes (two, with aioli and a garnish). The chowder had a moderate quantity of tiny dry clam pieces and a lot of potato. It was mostly noteworthy for the extremely creamy (not at all clam-flavored) broth. The crab cakes were large, very smooth and tender, not crabby in flavor, and without any crust; instead they were lightly coated in panko crumbs. OK but nothing to write home for. Small restaurant, very crowded. But if you arrive before 2 pm opening, you can write your party on a reservation whiteboard, and then go off and window-shop or something (easy to do in the Castro shopping district) and come back at 2. Efficiently run. read more

Winter in the city always calls for cioppino, Anchor Oyster Bar was on our list of spots to try. They have a unique setup, you have to get there and place your name on board to be seated. Luckily, we got there once they opened and got seated quickly. Not pictured: we started with oyster shooters, great way to kick off any seafood get down. The clam chowder was a bit watery for our taste. The cioppino did not skip out on the seafood, it's a healthy portion. The broth had some flavor. However, the dish was just missing some spices. The garlic beard was tasty. Overall, it is solid. I suppose expectations were higher than what we got in term of the clam chowder and cioppino. Service was great, they were slammed right away and were on top of it. If you are in the Castro give this spot a try. read more

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We came, we saw, we slurped the sea. My friends and I decided to hit up Anchor Oyster Bar after falling down the delicious YouTube rabbit hole of Mark Wiens food reviews. And thank you, Mark because this place was chef's kiss seafood heaven. ‍ We got there before they opened at 2 PM like we were waiting for Taylor Swift tickets, Why? Because we don't play when it comes to fresh fish and flavor explosions . Pro tip: Get there early unless you enjoy watching other people eat while you stand outside drooling like a lost seagull. We started off with the clam chowder . Hands down the best I've ever had. Creamy, comforting, and basically a hug in a bowl . With that cold San Francisco wind slapping us in the face while we sat outside like brave little food warriors, it hit the soul different . Next up: Caesar salad . I know it's a salad, but WHY did it slap so hard?! That cheesy dressing and the homemade croutons deserve their own Yelp individual review. Lettuce so fresh I felt like I was on a farm-to-table cooking show . Then came the scallops--so creamy and delicate . The crab cakes? Let's just say I took a bite and briefly left my body . And finally... the Cioppino . This dish deserves its own national holiday . Every bite was like tasting a new secret from Poseidon's diary ‍--clams, shrimp, fish, lobster--it was like an edible treasure chest . And don't even think about skipping the garlic toasted bread . Dip it in the broth or you didn't actually eat here. That's the rule . Major shoutout to Alex, our waiter . Part food poet , part seafood sommelier . The way he described the dishes... I was ready to order the entire ocean . His words were smooth, passionate, and buttery--just like my scallops . Small interior , a few outdoor tables , but BIG flavor and even bigger heart . Yeah, you're gonna wait . But is it worth it? Absolutely. This place isn't a hidden gem--it's a sparkly crown jewel sitting right in the open daring you to come get your life changed. 10/10 would sell a kidney to eat here again. read more

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this has been my favorite spot in the city so far, cannot WAIT to come back. came here for an anniversary and the wait wasn't bad to be honest, maybe 30 mins for bar seating (my favorite). Best oysters, best clam chowder, and best crab cakes. everything was "the best in the city". i only wish i had had the cioppino-- the small portion easily feeds 2 (saw a lot of people eating it) and looked amazing. will definitely try next time. i also have to say this was like my 5th clam chowder in the span of 2 days so i am an expert-- and it was the best. very friendly and helpful service, 10/10 recommend. read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - crab cakes - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Anchor Oyster Bar is a small restaurant located on Castro. They have both (limited) indoor and outdoor seating. I went on a Sunday around 5:15 PM with a party of 4 and was seated about 40-50 minutes later. They have a limited staff and it seems to be always busy, so expect a wait. The hosts and waiters are nice and friendly. There is street parking. I ordered a cup of clam chowder, Steamed Shellfish Combination, crab cake entree, and bread & butter. The clam chowder was very creamy, but I wished it had more of a clam flavor. The shellfish combination was good and I love the broth (just wish it was a bigger portion). It was my first time trying crab cakes and I'm honestly not a fan. Overall, this spot is a good location to grab lunch or dinner. It was $110 including tip for 4 people, but we had smaller portions. Would I come back? Maybe; I wish they served pasta. read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - Cup of Boston Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved my experience at Anchor Oyster Bar. We arrived around 1:30 to put our names down for the 2 PM open. We were able to be seated right away for 2 when the restaurant opened. Service was great and nothing felt rushed. We ordered a half size of the anchor oyster special (6 oysters, 2 prawns, and clams), clam chowder, scallops, and the crab cake entree. Seafood was incredibly fresh and refreshing. Only dish we didn't love was the scallops, which were a bit too salty. However, this didn't take away from an absolutely delicious meal. We were stuffed at the end. read more

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If you're a seafood lover--especially oysters--this spot is a must! The place is on the smaller side, but the nautical-inspired decor gives it such a charming vibe. The oysters were, of course, fantastic, but the Cioppino was hands down the best I've ever had. The crispy garlic bread with that bold garlic flavor? Absolutely perfect. It's a popular spot for a reason--great for a date night, and a glass of wine would pair beautifully with the dishes. I didn't have a reservation, just put my name down and got seated quickly, though I'm guessing that was pure luck. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Cioppino all the way! Anchor Oyster Bar is easily one of my favorites in the city! We had the crab cake sliders and the cioppino--both were absolutely delicious. The crab cakes were perfectly crisp and packed with flavor, and the cioppino was rich, hearty, and loaded with fresh seafood. The restaurant is small but quaint, with a classic San Francisco charm--think cozy counter seating, warm lighting, and a laid-back, neighborhood feel. Service was quick, friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. It can get busy (not surprising given how good it is), so going a bit early or being willing to wait is worth it. Prices are fair for the quality and portion size--especially considering how fresh the seafood is. If you're in the Castro and craving a comforting seafood meal, this spot is a must. read more

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Amazing Cioppino!!! This is a must if you're in SF! Absolutely fantastic. Great service & friendly staff. read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

We stopped in for lunch, and added our name to the white board outside. The wait was about 30 minutes, but well worth it. The interior is curated with a perfectly themed nautical vibe. It was one of the best meals I've had in quite some time. Trey, our server expertly course out our dishes to perfection. Our service was attentive all around. Definitely Michelin Guide worthy. Our dishes were so outstanding; and I am now thoroughly obsessed with their Crab Caesar (warm croutons... hello). Having started with a bottle of Sancerre and Pellegrino, and being somewhat famished, we opted for a little bit of everything: * Oysters * Garlic Bread * Crab Cakes * Steamed Artichoke * Crab Caesar The dishes were so fresh, and the dressing and accompanying sauces were so flavorful. Each was excellent in their own right; and magnificent in total. Cannot wait to return. read more

the cioppino is so yummy...the smaller size is perf for 2. the soup was a bit salty for my liking but it def had the best quality and amount of seafood that ive had in a cioppino so far (lots of crab!!!) the 1/2 order of anchor special (2 prawns, 6 oysters, steamed clams) was also great to share and a fun way to eat a variety of their seafood. everything was super fresh and the steamed clams broth was delish. they also have a basket of oyster crackers at every table. great ambiance but p small place which is why the line gets long. would rec going early around 5, we only waited about 10 mins on a sat read more

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Came here with a girlfriend on a Friday night at 7:30ish. Walked up and was told there'd be a 30 minute wait- we prob waited 25 mins, so pretty spot on estimate. We sat down and when we planned to order the cioppino AND the linguine of the day, the server *very kindly* said that the cioppino would be enough for both of the us to split. He was right!!! The cioppino was SOO big, really good and flavorful. We only got one small piece of bread each- we probably should have ordered more. But overall, a good cioppino and GREAT service! read more

This is by far my favorite seafood place in the city, especially for oysters! It's a bit on the smaller side so there is typically a bit of a wait, but so worth it. My favorite is the oysters, clam chowder, & crab cake sliders. read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - Crab cake sliders - must try! - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The food is wonderful, the service folks are lovely and it the place has been here since i came here years ago. Wonderful place.

My family surprised me on Mother's Day by bringing me to Anchor Oyster Bar. They know it's one of my favorite restaurants in SF - in my overall top 5, but my #1 spot for seafood. Our go-to's are the Caesar with crab, a lot of oysters, crab cakes, and their incredible cioppino. This time they had a crab sandwich special -- not a crab cake, but actual pile of lump crab meat on a perfectly buttered bun. It was heaven on a plate. Service is awesome as always! Just be ready for a long wait. We waited an hour for our table. read more

Some of the freshest and tastiest oysters i've had in the city. The Castro is definitely not known for food but after trying out this spot, i'm eager to explore more gems in this neighborhood. Cute small space indoors with bar seating and tables. They also have an outdoor seating park-let as well. I regret not taking a picture, but we also had one of my favorite caesar salads here. It looks basic, but the croutons were medium rare (idk how else to describe it but they weren't fully crunchy like most croutons are and had a slight chewiness to it LOL) and they were AMAZING, so make sure you try that out when you go as well! Also, on top of their regular menu, they have seasonal items written on their board so make sure you review those items before ordering. read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - Scallops - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Bit of a wait but nothing crazy. Went on Friday at 6pm and probably wait for 30 ish minutes for a party of two. Really small place. The cioppino you unfortunately have to use your hands for a lot of it. The crab cakes are expensive and small but densely packed w crab so probably worth it. The specials look great. A lot of single diners w a book too! Clam chowder topped w some black pepper made me super happy read more

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Fresh tasting food and great service. Long wait for a crowded small table. Very small clean bathroom at back of kitchen area. The food is good, the only problem is raw oysters sometimes makes your stomach upset. read more

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We really enjoyed our late lunch at Anchor. We wanted to try the cioppino and I must say this is my favorite place for this dish. You have a choice of a large bowl or a small bowl. We chose the small bowl for each of us and it's enough for two people per bowl. The seafood consists of crab, shrimp, fish, muscles, and clams in a tomatoey Italian sauce, delicious! We also split a caesar salad which was also very delicious and had the best tasting croutons ever! I would definitely go back to have one of these dishes on its own and to try other dishes as well. Give this place a try you won't be disappointed. read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

This could easily be my favorite spot in SF. It's centered in the Castro and you have to wait a bit in queue (we stood around 50 minutes, it's easier if you're a smaller party of 2-4). When you go inside you're greeted with great service and a nice atmosphere that just butters you up for some good seafood. Their oysters are listed on the specials and we tried all of them. Good selection but what sold me was their golden balsamic vinegar topping. We also tried one of the daily specials, some pan fried scallops and they were really impressive. I'm generally not a scallop person because of the texture but the pan sear changes everything. The clam chowder was decent, I had to try it but in retrospect one could consider skipping so you have space for other menu items. The main dish is their cioppino. It is both massive and insanely flavorful. I liked the variety and balance of all the different seafoods and they include a generous amount of garlic bread for it all. The best part is how drinkable the soup was. Usually I feel like the soups become too salty but this didn't have that problem. Amazing place and if you can afford the time to wait in line absolutely do it. read more

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The place is small. There's often a wait to get in. The food is excellent, we ordered a large order of Cioppino, a large order of garlic bread, and a large combination salad (which had lots of seafood), and we each had a glass of wine. We were a party of three, and we really enjoyed the food, there we're even leftovers. Also, the service was excellent. read more

VERY limited seating. They close the waitlist about 1-2hrs before closing so get there early! Service was amazing & clam chowder was really good. Crab cake was best I ever had. Other menu was also good, but not amazing. read more

Food, service, and even prices were great. And I was SO glad that most of my crab was already partially cracked! Lots of meat. Clam chowder was just decent. Staff was very friendly and worked together. However, the bar stools hurt my back and I got really hot so I started feeling sick halfway through my meal lol. read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - Half crab garlic - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is just...WOW!!! We knew we wanted to eat some quality seafood while in SF, so we had a few places on our list. This place, though, far surpassed expectations and topped all the other eateries we visited. We loved our meal here on Monday so much that we made it a point to come back on Thursday to try the cioppino (which had been recommended to us by the friendly gentlemen sitting next to us at the counter on Monday). Yes, we intentionally planned our day around being able to squeeze in one final meal here on our final day in SF. And it was totally worth it! On Monday we shared a half dozen oysters (Miyagi, Pacific, and St Simon) and then promptly ordered another half dozen. They were so fresh and delicious, they didn't even need many "fixings". The Miyagis were my favorite. Then we shared the crab burger and the open faced melt, both of which came with clam chowder. My wife preferred the open faced crab melt, which was extremely creamy and rich (as was the soup). Although it was delicious, the richness was a little too much for me. I much preferred the crab burger, which had fresh cold crab on a toasted brioche bun. Absolutely delicious. Although we went there for a late lunch (around 2:30) we definitely didn't need to eat another bite for the rest of the day. On Thursday we weren't playing around...we ordered the full dozen oysters and the "small" cioppino, as well as a half order of the garlic bread. Hands down one of the best meals of my life. The cioppino was so hearty and flavorful. I'm not usually a big fan of muscles, finding them a bit to rubbery for my taste, but these muscles were absolutely amazing!! Not at all rubbery. How do they do that?! Everything in the cioppino was incredibly fresh (and the crab legs were somewhat pre-cracked) and flavorful. We will definitely be returning any time we are in SF. read more

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This review is late but was headed here today and realized they are sadly closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays AND that I never write this very well deserved review. Everything we ordered was phenomenal. It's been months and I can still remember exactly what we ordered and how delicious it all was. The only downfall is that they are a little pricey and they don't offer happy hour! If they did, we'd definitely be regulars! Half order of the anchor special: Raw oysters - super fresh and sauces were simple and delicious Steamed clams - delicious and perfect to dip the bread in Chilled prawns - fresh and delicious Garlic bread - the server recommended this so we got a half order to try and ended up devouring them, next time we definitely will order the full order. Clam chowder - a little salty but delicious! Highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back! read more

I have lived in San Francisco for 20+ years and have wanted to go here forever. It did not disappoint! Food was amazing and Jessie the server was above and beyond! read more

This was an amazing experience!! The food was very fresh and clam chowder will warm you up on a foggy day. The service at the counter was bright and kind! read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - Here are the oysters! - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow!! Amazing food and service! We ordered the cesar salad, clam chowder, scallops, crab cakes, and the star of the show.... the Cioppino!! All their dishes were absolutely delicious!! Alex was our server! He is the sweetest and describes the dishes with max detail where you can picture the food as he's describing it! 10/10! A MUST when you visit SF. Will be back here on our next visit!! read more

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Me and my family came here for lunch earlier today and we had a nice time. Today was a hot day in the city so we sat outside which was alright; still really warm out but at least we got shade. I couldn't believe they didn't have any high-chairs for kids? That's so odd and really a first. I highly recommend them ordering some because my 1.5 year old was so squirmy and couldn't stop moving around. It made it tough for me and my wife to sit and eat. I started with a sake oyster shooter which was nice because it gave me a quick rush with all the tangy tomato juice and thick oyster! We then moved on to their Caesar salad. The dressing was perfect with lots of anchovy notes. The croutons are homemade and toasted to perfection. This is my favorite Caesar salad of all time so far. The Boston chowder was thick and creamy, rich, and had lots of pieces of clams and potatoes. It was tasty and delicious. Finally, the main event, our cioppino arrived, topped with lots of shellfish and two freshly sliced garlic breads. The cioppino is different tasting than most of the ones I've tried. We weren't big fans of it to be honest. The strong taste of anise is showcased and dominates the entire dish. It tasted like tomato stew mixed with black licorice and that wasn't a good mix. It was a bit tough to eat because the flavor is so strong. I gave it a C- and that is surprising to me. I'm just not a fan of the taste; everything else in it was great in terms of shellfish portion, nice chunks of fish and tomatoes, thick stew, etc. I'm glad I got to come here and finally try their cioppino. Not sure I'll be back again but I'd highly recommend people coming here to try it. We all have different tastes so lots of people would love that anise flavor. read more

Amazing cioppino, the garlic bread that comes with it is some of the best I've had. We got the large cioppino which was more than enough for the two of us. Would definitely come back! read more

Really yummy sea food spot! Came here after watching an episode of Mark Weinz on YouTube. The wait time depends on how busy it is, could range from 5 min to am hour so id call ahead. We had the clam chowder (8/10) it was good but i think i like mine a bit creamier with more sea food. The crab cakes were delicious! (10/10) and the oysters were also worth getting we ordered a white wine to accompany our meal and it hit the spot. We love coming here and know you will too The vibes inside feel very San Franciscan. Its a sea themed restaurant, very much meant for dates or a nice dinner with friends or colleagues. I dont really recommend bringing kids here since you have to walk through the kitchen to get to their tiny bathroom. No designated parking-street parking only read more

Anchor Oyster Bar - Seafood Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My favorite choppino place in sf!!!!!!!! No words needed. Ive tried bunch of famous places for choppino in sf and all failed when I was about to lose hope they came through!!!!! read more

Hands down best seafood and Cioppino I've had in the city! The seafood was fresh, service was fast and friendly, and even though the restaurant is small, its decor is adorable and on theme. Can't recommend trying this place out enough! read more

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