Really fresh live sea urchin prepared upon order served on a tray of ice and some lemons. Santa…read moreBarbara Sea Urchins are known around the world as being sweet, buttery and bright golden orange as you can see in the photos. They were still moving when it was handed to us. You don't need anything else but just a spoon or chopsticks since they're so delicate. Price: $18.95 + tax per sea urchin. As of April 2026. Also try the prepacked halibut ceviche $18.95/lb or ahi poke salad $25.95/lb. You can just get a small container for like $8. Parking is $3.50/hour on the main harbor, in front of the water. If you're lucky you can score free parking right before entering the lot.

My friend and I popped into Santa Barbara Fish Market while on the Santa Barbara Harbor. It's a…read moresmall fish market with no seating inside so keep that in mind when going. We went specifically for fresh live uni, but unfortunately they did not get any in that day. So I would suggest calling first before heading over if you are very rigid in what you are ordering. The fresh uni is SO popular so best to double check first. However, if you do snag their fresh uni, it's more than $10 less than another place I won't mention on Stearns Wharf - that's a big win! We ended up getting a whole lot of cod to munch on instead. We got a whole pound's worth of smoked black cod - half candy flavored and half savory flavored for $32 with tax & tip. Absolutely loved them both and prices seemed great for such well flavored, fresh fish. We liked the candy a touch more than the savory but enjoyed both. Staff was pleasant enough, plus they have a bench outside that we sat at for a few minutes to eat. I'd love to go back in the future and try their acclaimed live uni~!

We came to Santa Barbara Shellfish Company for the uni and oysters, which were both incredibly…read morefresh and delicious, but the real standout for us was the box crab. Absolutely a must-try if you visit. Sweet, fresh, and so flavorful -- easily our favorite thing we ordered. The seafood here really speaks for itself, and the casual waterfront atmosphere makes the experience even better. One tip: if it's a busy day, try to sit inside if you can. It made the experience much more enjoyable with less of the crowd and wind from outside. Definitely a spot worth visiting when in Santa Barbara.

Overall good dinner at SB Shellfish Co. busy as always but also efficient. The views also never…read morechange. Still spectacular end of wharf scenery. Food is good but don't expect the "best ever". It's kind of a fast casual seafood spot. Expect that but with great views and you'll be okay!

Best place to stock up for your freezer. We've ordered here for 25 years and always great quality…read moreand price point. Thank you !

When I walked in past the plastic curtain for the first time I saw the white paper wrapped orders…read moreon the table. They were labeled for some of the great restaurants in town. I thought, if it's good enough for their chefs, it's good enough or me. The fish is excellent, the prices are reasonable and the guys are all very nice and helpful. Remember to bring cash or a check and don't forget to wipe a little olive oil on your hot grill so the fish doesn't stick.

Tried this spot for the fishwich and honestly--it might be the best fish sandwich I've ever had…read more The fish was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and super fresh and flaky inside, and everything just came together really well. I had to wait a bit since there was some issue with the deep fryer, but I'm glad I waited Definitely would recommend if you're a fan of a good fish sandwich.

I had the Korean salmon tacos and they were the standout for me. Super flavorful, great sauce and…read moreseasoning, and the homemade tortillas are always a big plus. The atmosphere is very casual with decent outdoor seating, which works well for this kind of spot. Service was fine and what you'd expect for a laid-back place like this, but the food is really what earned the positive rating. I'd definitely come back for the tacos.

Madison was a great help on the phone and the service is always greatread more

It was always a dream of mine to "be good at cooking fish", but what I didn't realize was that the…read more(obvious) secret to making great fish every time is starting with top quality seafood! Going to the fish market always felt overwhelming and a trip out of my way, so I didn't make it there very often. Now the seafood of the week is selected for me and packaged in the perfect portion size for my family. Every week we feel like we are eating a restaurant quality meal; its led me well outside my comfort zone in the kitchen, but every meal since we signed up for Get Hooked at the beginning of this year has been a home run. They also send an awesome newsletter with the info on the species of the week, fisherman who caught your fish and recipe links. Honestly planning for and enjoying our fish has become a highlight of our week, and it sure is nice to have something to look forward to these days!

Fresh Uni straight from the fishermen at USD10 for one (pretty much have to get two) and available…read moreonly on the weekends starting at 6:30 AM. I got there just after 6:30 and there were a few people waiting already. They hadn't finish setting up yet but it was still fairly quick. The uni was obviously very fresh and very good. They only had the purple ones, but I don't know the difference between the colors. A few people there on line actually worked in the industry and definitely knew their seafood and trade. Some interesting conversations as well. The guys there prefer to be paid in Venmo. I'm guessing they can only be paid in Venmo or cash, but I could be wrong. Overall, great experience and highly recommend.

Rain or shine, the Santa Barbara Fisherman's Market is open every Saturday from 6 am to 11 am for…read morefresh local seafood. Located at the Harbor, this pop up for local fisherman offers fresh caught seafood directly to consumers. It's located on the pier of the marina and when we were there, 4 vendors were available. My favorite, and the reason for this visit, was the fresh just caught UNI!! They have very reasonable prices for the fresh uni. After purchase, they crack them open open, you add in your condiments and enjoy! They had a few tables available. There were also some vendors with oysters, crabs and lobsters. I would have took them all home, except I wasn't going home for a few days. The beach is close so you can walk over and enjoy the waves. Parking at the Harbor is plentiful. Definitely recommended!

My boyfriend and I actually found this place through Reddit, and I'm so glad we did. It's a small…read moreblue tent on the pier, set up alongside other fishermen selling their catch of the day. And honestly? This was probably the best and freshest uni I've ever had. The uni was light, creamy, slightly sweet, and packed with umami - truly one of the best fresh seafood experiences we've had. They provide simple sauce packets like lemon juice and ponzu, and we paired ours with seaweed wraps we brought from home, plus a little lemon and ponzu - perfection! I also loved the whole reef-to-table concept. They'll shuck and clean everything for you on the spot, but if you prefer to take them unshucked, they knock $5 off each one - totally worth it if you want to enjoy a picnic on the pier or nearby beach. What really made the experience extra special was chatting with the owner, Mike. His passion for fishing, high-quality food, and serving his community was such a breath of fresh air and really tied the whole experience together. If you're into high-quality, incredibly fresh seafood, this spot is an absolute must-visit when visiting Santa Barbara!

We were stoked to fine SB Uni was open on the wharf (the hours seem to be "Open until sold out")…read more We snagged the one of the last freshly cracked uni they were selling and it was the most fresh sweetest ones we had our whole trip! Nothing can beat scooping the uni right out of the shell in terms of freshness and quality - The spines were still moving! Next time, I hope to come earlier to try the purple uni, but the black ones were excellent.

Really good/fresh seafood! Wish they had more seating and sides for the seafood people would…read morepurchase.

The service was friendly and efficient. We sat on the outside patio and we were right on the…read moreharbor. We got a side of the clam chowder. It was delicious. I could just eat that for a meal. My husband had the blackened sea bass. He loved it. Very tender. I had the seafood pasta. Seafood tastes fresh and tender. Too much food. I wish they offered smaller servings.

Santa Barbara News Press published an article on March 20th that details Mr. Cheverz's struggle due…read moreto the covid-19 pandemic. "We're trying to stay alive," said Mr. Cheverez. "We're selling what we sold before, just without the middle-man. We have one- to two-day old products that we're selling, and the local community is buying from us right away." This new business model seems to be working for them and I am so appreciative of being able to buy still alive shrimps and crabs directly from the fishermen. The price is very reasonable given the quality. Seafood this fresh needs very little work to taste divine. So far I have had the ridgeback and dungeness crab. Both were savory with a sweetness that you can only get from still hopping crustaceans. I look forward to try the spot prawn and black cod this weekend.

I love olive oil stores, especially the ones in California have wonderful products. Viva Oil on…read moreState Street in the heart of Santa Barbara didn't disappoint! The store has a nice decor, airy, it's welcoming, has a wide variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars with nice flavors (some fruit based - fig anyone?), nice staff and reasonable prices. Great place to shop at, you can get a set for a nice gift or a couple of bottles for dipping and salads at home!

I live in Santa Barbara, planning an out-of-town trip, and was looking for gift for a host at…read morewhose home I would be spending a couple of nights. Viva Oliva was perfect. A small, local company, they offer a large variety of very reasonably priced gift choices. The sales associate was very friendly and helpful. (I chose a beautiful gift box of gourmet olive oil/vinegar pairings.)