What a delicious hidden gem located in and old and soon to be remodel Fisherman Wharf in Oxnard. If you're looking for fresh live crab, lobster seasonal spot prawns right on the harbor H.C. Seafood is the place to visit. Just don't expect this place to be fancy or anything, because in terms of other shops around there is none. This place is the only place that is open. Even the restroom is a walk away. For our visit we came here on a Thursday morning. We arrived around 1030am and were the only one there. There's a tank outside where you can handpick your live rock crabs and 2 tank with live lobsters and spot prawns inside. Prices were very reasonable for fresh live seafood. Ordered the following. 1lb Live Steamed Spot Prawns- There were 7 good size to a 1Lb. The prawns was steamed perfectly. The prawns itself was so sweet and tender. It actually didn't need anything but it came with a few lemon wedges. Live Grilled Whole Lobster- The lobster is equally amazing. It was meaty and so sweet. Dipped that lobster meat in that warm melted butter with a little squeeze of lemon. The plate those come with a side of fries, coleslaw and garlic bread. It waa a good size lobster for the price. H.C Seafood is definitely a place I will come back to soon. The service was straight forward. Order inside and pick up outside at the outside window. Until my next visit. read more

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I came here after going somewhere else and not having a good experience. I didn't know if it was open when I got there. It looked dead and closed, but there were some cars out back, so there had to be someone inside. When I got to the door, you can hear people inside with some Chinese music softly playing. The people are very nice. They greet you, and are very welcoming and helpful. The food is the reason for a three, the service is good. The seating is bad. It was a slightly windy day, and seating is only outside, so that doesn't help with being able to eat, but that doesn't really matter all that much. The food itself is what matters most. It is not that great. The fried shrimp is ok, the steamed or sautéed shrimps are ok. The grilled cod is ok too. Nothing great. Just ok. The fried scallops were not great. The onion rings are horrific. The fries were not fried enough to get some crisp, and not salted at-all. The entire meal was a waste. I don't recommend coming here, but if you do, just go with the shrimp, fried or steamed. read more

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LA HC Seafood is an absolute gem for seafood lovers in Los Angeles! The freshness here really stands out -- especially the crab and lobster, which are the stars of the show. The highlight is definitely the live crab. You can handpick the one you want right from the tank, and they cook it fresh on the spot. Just a few minutes later, it arrives at your table steaming hot and unbelievably fragrant. The meat is sweet, firm, and perfectly cooked -- not overdone, not dry -- and you can really taste the natural ocean flavor without needing much seasoning. The aroma of the freshly boiled crab mixed with that hint of saltwater freshness is simply irresistible. The lobster is equally amazing. The texture is meaty and springy, and every bite is juicy and rich. The best part? That buttery dip! One bite of warm lobster coated in melted butter -- rich, creamy, and slightly salty -- is pure heaven. It's one of those flavors that just stays with you, the kind you remember long after the meal is over. Their fried fish and shrimp are also very well done. The coating is crispy and light, not oily at all, while the inside stays moist and flavorful. Everything feels clean and fresh, with seasoning that enhances rather than overwhelms the seafood's natural sweetness. Prices are very reasonable, especially considering the freshness and portion sizes. Two or three dishes are more than enough for a small group to feel full and happy. Now, a special tip -- if you want something truly special, ask about their spider crab. It's not always available, and you'll need to call ahead to see if they have it that day. If they do, order it immediately -- you won't regret it. The spider crab meat is tender, juicy, and incredibly sweet, especially in the legs. It's the kind of delicacy you don't often find even in more expensive seafood places. The atmosphere is relaxed and straightforward -- nothing fancy, but everything focuses on freshness and flavor. You can tell this place takes pride in letting the seafood speak for itself. Every dish feels honest, simple, and full of the ocean's natural taste. If you happen to be driving along Highway 1, this spot is 100% worth a detour. There's something unforgettable about cracking open freshly cooked crab and dipping lobster in warm butter -- it's comfort and luxury all at once. read more

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Overpriced food, You have to pay to park and the food was mediocre. I won't say which famous seafood restaurant in Malibu on the non ocean side is 30% less expensive and the place is always packed. My wife and l will never eat there again. Luckily, this restaurant is the only restaurant at the beach because it can charge whatever they want. read more

Some of the best restaurants are tucked away - out of sight but never out of mind. This is one of those establishments that are still going strong due to word of mouth and continued patronage from the locals. Established in 1998, H.C. Seafood at the Channel Islands Harbor has been serving up fresh seafood and sunshine for the last 27-years. A little kudos to for posting about this spot recently and putting them back on my radar. H. C. Seafood is a time capsule of the 90's Americana Seafood shacks that popped up along the coast of California. It's truly amazing to look back at the pictures from 20+ years ago and to see how not much has changed. The signage and awnings are the same. Wooden benches remain intact but weathered, this spot is definitely a relic of the past. Some will say it's outdated, others will say nostalgic. No matter how you perceive the outside, it's what the kitchen is whipping up inside that matters. Pro Tip: H.C Seafood is known for their fresh steamed crabs...Your girl was craving crab of course but living on a shrimp budget. Also truthfully, I didn't have time for a leisurely lunch of cracking crabs so I picked something a little quicker. FRIED SHRIMP PLATE: How can you go wrong with plump, freshly fried shrimp? Healthy, no? Delicious, yes! Their fried seafood plates are extremely generous. The plate came with 8 large fried shrimp and a plentiful scoop of fries. The shrimp were delicious and paired with their tartar sauce, it's the perfect summertime grub. HUSH PUPPIES: If I see hush puppies on a menu I'm ordering them. These little balls of cornmeal and seasoning hit the spot and were pretty delicious. Try them. All in all a very good value. A fried shrimp plate with two sides for $22, in this economy - you can't beat it. Happy that the 805 has this gem and that their legacy continues to live on. read more

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Soooo good! Outdoor seat and definitely NOT upscale. Breeze from the ocean is nice. Parking is plentiful. Seafood is very fresh and you have to see the crab tank! Just pick out your crab and then wait for your presentation. I really like the choices of fish they serve with a toasty garlic bread and fries. I really like their fries btw. I will definitely come back here if I'm in the area again! read more

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Delicious hidden gem located in retiring Fisherman's Wharf Oxnard. Whole Main grilled Lobster and Redrock Crab were perfect. Lobster came with coleslaw, fries, and French bread. Dipped the French bread in the head juices, so good! Entire meal was $66!!! This whole area is going through a remodel this year, expected to reopen 2028. Glad we tried HC while it was still here! read more

H.C. Seafood - While grilled Main Lobster, fries and coleslaw underneath - Seafood Near Me - Oxnard, California

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We stumbled upon this restaurant while coming back from our coastal drive, and the best way to describe the restaurant is: truly a hole in the wall. It is located in a dead shopping plaza, it does not offer indoor seating, and outdoor patio picnic tables are worn out and chairs discolored. Nevertheless, if you look past all these inadequacies, you will enjoy the freshest locally caught seafood. We ordered one spider crab from the tank and they steamed it on the spot (the waiting time was around 30 minutes). It was fresh, juicy and messy. It did not require any sauce or butter to enjoy the savory, briny and umami like tender crab meat. We also ordered grilled calamari and it did not disappoint. The fresh squid strips had very nice texture and were not overly chewy. The onions, carrots and peppers were well sautéed and slightly crunch. The Asian style seasoning was super flavorful and on a par to of a fancy Chinese restaurant. Now the downside, it does not have onsite restroom to wash your hands after the messy meal (you will need to walk 100 feet to a sketchy public restroom). So don't forget to bring hand wipes ( a lot of them) on your visit. read more

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I was looking for some good fish and chips and that is exactly what I found. The location was easy to find. Right on the water with tons of parking and seating outside. I enjoyed the fish plate. I got lots of fish with fries. I liked the breading on the fish also. It's like the cornflake crust. Straight cut fries. Simple and easy. Super tasty. The fish tastes very fresh. read more

H.C. Seafood - Fish Plate with cup Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Oxnard, California

Party of 4. Seafood was delicious! The service was just ok. Family friendly hidden in a secluded part of Oxnard, CA near Port Hueneme. Worth the drive from Santa Clarita, CA. Highly recommend this establishment. read more

H.C. Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Oxnard, California

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Great little seafood spot! Great prices Friendly service Great selection The location is a little rundown but don't be scared! Highly recommend read more

H.C. Seafood - Fish calamari and scallop plate with fries and coleslaw - Seafood Near Me - Oxnard, California

If you want fresh, live crab right on the harbor, this is the place to go. Just don't expect too much in terms of amenities! The restaurant itself is pretty run down, and the lack of facilities can be challenging, especially after a messy meal. However, the food is fresh and delicious. If your idea of a good time is cracking your own crab and dousing it in butter while not being too fussy about the surroundings, this is exactly what you need. read more

Excellent fresh seafood shack. Had a mixed fried seafood combination plate with Fish, scallops and shrimp which comes with a side of coleslaw and French fries. The plate was quite generous for the price and was fried perfectly. There was enough food to share with my child. My partner had the grilled live spot prawns. We enjoyed it so much because it was grilled perfectly and the prawns were super fresh (live) that I had to order a second plate of prawns. Next time I am in the area, I definitely get the grilled live prawns again and probably try a fresh crab. Eating is out doors and a great place to eat and run. read more

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This location is iconic. I've been eating here for over 40 years. The ambiance is very run down. But if you are in the mood for fresh seafood, this is the place. Our favorite is the steamed rock crab. The staff is helpful with you picking out the crab of your choice, they steam it, chop it up, and you pick it up with sides of lemon and butter. read more

We first came here while on vacation 20 years ago, and the grilled shrimp with onions and peppers has lived in our memories ever since. We were thrilled to find out on this vacation that H.C. Seafood was still open. While it appears to not have been painted or kept up at all in the intervening 2 decades, the food is as fabulous as we remembered! We enjoyed sitting in the sun and eating another shrimp plate and a fried combo plate as well. Also some excellent hush puppies. Friendly service too. And a great deal! $25 for a plate with 22 peeled shrimp on it...can't beat that! read more

H.C. Seafood - Grilled peeled shrimp place and seafood combo (shrimp, calamari, scallops). Also hush puppies - Seafood Near Me - Oxnard, California

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Tucked away behind the plaza is where you'll find HC Seafood. Out here you will find an array of tanks filled with a variety of crabs and lobster outside the patio. You pick what you want and it will be brought out to your table momentarily. Celebrated my uncle's friend's birthday here and was luckily enough to have the place empty for the time being. The staff are friendly and accommodating and truly a nice place for crab feast! Visit this place sometime- read more

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Located in the back of a hidden plaza, this little gem is serving up some of the best seafood you will have. Outdoor seating right next to the marina, you won't find seafood as fresh as this in Oxnard. Rock crabs are picked up separately by the tank rather than the pick up window. Nice staff that were really helpful and food came out fairly quick. Order: Spot prawn, zucchini fries, rock crab, and clam chowder Comment: spot prawns can be a little pricey here read more

H.C. Seafood - Spot prawn, zucchini fries, and clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Oxnard, California

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Great fish and chips! Served quickly and piping hot at the pickup window. Rustic & weathered outdoor seating area because this whole shopping area is scheduled for renovation. But the fish here remains a current solid lunch choice! read more

H.C. Seafood - Fish platters. - Seafood Near Me - Oxnard, California

Food was great fresh and good friendly staff and prices are good. I recommend this business

Located in the dilapidated Oxnard Channel Islands Marina, due to be redeveloped in the future, H.C. Seafood is the best seafood restaurant in Ventura. It has only outdoor seating. But the food is fabulous. They offer lobster and crab the way they do it in the East Coast. Their whole fried tilapia is fabulous. Their sides are par for the course, but the seafood is perfect. Come in a sunny day and picnic with the locals who know where to chow down! The service is friendly and quick and though you don't get a waterfront view you can go for a stroll along the harbor before or after and enjoy the Ventura County Ambience . A perfect place for families! read more

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To me, this is the best fish and chips in the 805. I love the way they make them here. Crunchy and delicious and you get four good size pieces. The fries are okay, a little soggy , but the tartar sauce is very good. Perfect complement to the fish. Besides that, they make some very good onion rings here. They are crunchy and soft at the same time, and very yummy. Highly recommend! Other than that, the Shrimp Combo is great too. You get four shrimp grilled, four shrimp fried, and four shrimp steamed and all very good (according to my wife). There's a lot of good options for fish and chips in the 805 and I think they are all good. But if you had one to try for a first time, I would always recommend this place first. read more

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If we are craving for seafood this is our go-to for crabs and prawns. We're a family that loves to eat and we like bringing friends and visitors here and we tell them exactly what to expect. Bring your own napkins, utensils and paper plates - hey you can even bring your own rice if you want. Their plates are flimsy so bringing your own will improve your experience. Also hand wipes and cleaning wipes are good too. Place is outdoors so be prepared to eat outside under umbrellas and don't mind the birds that are around the area. Service - if you want crabs - they have Dungeness crabs sometimes rock crabs but our favorite are the spider crabs. They will get the crabs you want for you - don't try to grab them yourself or you'll be yelled at. I've seen it happen. Be patient and wait for them to assist you. They'll weigh the crabs and the rates per pound are shown on the board. Not ordering crabs? Go inside and line up to order from their menu items. We usually get prawns (not always available), rice, fried fish, clam chowder and fries. So for me I love their grilled prawns - we usually get 2 lbs because it's only a few pieces because of the size and we only come here when they have spider crabs so I try to call ahead to make sure. I can get dungeness in 99 ranch and cook it myself but spider crabs -- not really available in the market. We just like them steamed. We usually order 2-3 pcs of the spider crab (see pic below) it's huge I know but we love how it's sweet and the crab fat- omg!! Wait time - for fried food and soup should be quick but since we always get crabs we wait about 45 mins for them to steam and prepare it. That's why we get soup and some fried fish/ fries etc to munch on while waiting. Highly recommended if you're nearby or if you do not mind the drive for some crabs. read more

H.C. Seafood - 3 pcs of spider crabs - Seafood Near Me - Oxnard, California

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It's a great little place. The food is good and the patio is very simple. If you want good food with minimal fuss, this is the place to go. read more

Been coming here with my family for 20+ years. Pick your crabs from the tank outside. They usually have a variety of rock crabs, spider crabs, and dungeness crabs. Can be take out or for dine in. They offer fried seafood plates which are just okay, but I've been told their steamed/grilled lobsters and shrimps are pretty good. All outdoor seating, bring wipes, extra napkins, and utensils. read more

H.C. Seafood - fish and scallop plate - Seafood Near Me - Oxnard, California

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Nice people and good food! I highly Recommend it to all my friends. They will have you choose what crabs you want, select the best ones you like and they steam, crack and ready to eat. read more

We enjoyed the seafood and a bit of the view. This place was close to our hotel and has really good reviews. The ordering is walk up and there's also a pick up window. So no service and it looked like everything was in to go containers...at least ours was. All seating is outside, which is great but it was still chilly out. We ordered the grilled lobster which was really good! And the oyster, shrimp and calamari fried combo plate. The seafood was good and fresh. They took the lobster out of the tank for us! The coleslaw wasn't really seasoned and had pineapples in it (which is not my fave). You can walk out on the channels and see some boats, but it's mostly a fishing view, so not many "exotic" sights. If you're in the area and want good seafood, you'll get it here. But be prepared to be outside and have pick up window service. read more

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Don't judge a book by its cover. Prices were good, food was good, and the staff were friendly. Don't judge a book by its cover.

AWFUL, overpriced food. Good portions. Filthy place. Did I go to the same place as these reviews? If it weren't for the pictures I would suspect I got some other place. Portions are good. Prices I thought were reasonable. I don't care about boxes stacked in the back.... BUT THE FOOD WAS VILE. They give you a lot of food, and serve it with weird congealed fake tartar sauce, and vegetable oil instead of butter. But something is majorly wrong with the way they prepare it. It didn't even taste like food. It had weird oils and dots that did not taste like pepper. The shrimp tasted like somebody had sucked on them beforehand or they were soaked in a chemical. I spit some of it out, my wife after her first bite said "wow is something wrong with this?" There is zero flavor, zero taste - I actually thought perhaps it was plastic or rubber so peeled open fried food, it did look like real shrimp and real scallops, but it tastes like rubber. Perhaps they soak it in water, or more than likely it frozen for an extended time before frying. I tried the $24 fried shrimp and my wife had approximately $22 seafood combo, we spit most of it out and dumped it in the trash. We are not food snobs. But any Bubba Gump shrimp company is fine dining compared to this place. The fries were soggy but tasted ok. I would not advise anybody to go to this place. read more

This place is unrelable on special ocassion. Do not come here. We waited for 1 hour and so hungry and the person in the counter is rude. Omg! Not anymore. This is not a good and friendly place. I know this is my last time here.. we heard that there were no shrimps that we ordered. Omg! This is a joke! Very frustrated. We came all the way from the valley to get this service? read more

Very disappointing experience. This was my first time visiting, and it will definitely be my last. I arrived at 2:15 PM and was still waiting to be served at 4:00 PM--my number hadn't even been called. The customer service was completely unorganized and inattentive. What shocked me most was the lack of cleanliness. The entire place was filthy--inside and out. Tables were covered in ketchup, oil, and other messes, and no one seemed to be cleaning up. It's hard to believe the Health Department allows this place to continue operating in such poor and dirty condition. read more

We drive 60+ miles to enjoy good, sweet, and meaty crabs! You do have to wait 20-39 mins for the crabs to be cooked (depending on size and count). We went for spider crabs and it took them 30 mins. But that's okay - it was worth the wait. The workers are very friendly and pretty much accommodated our special requests (extra condiments). If you are craving a different kind of experience of eating crabs, this is the place! Suggestion: bring your own special condiments (exactly how you want it), wipes for your hands, and rice (if you're Asian Like me). read more

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This is Oxnard's best kept secret. A perfect summer trip to Channel Island for some fresh seafood treat like the uber succulent spider and rock crabs, fat lobsters and jumbo shrimps! A 2hr drive from LA, this seafood market and restaurant is well worth the trip. You will have to come in early to avoid long wait lines (an 1hr at least for order to be prepared on weekends) but services is as quick as the number of customers and cooking time would allow. Ambiance speaks of a perfect summer with outdoor dining areas beside the lake. Restaurant personnel were accommodating and helpful. Definitely one for the books! read more

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Out go to spot to get fresh crabs and shrimp. Friendly staff and the place has been opened a pretty long time. read more

Been going here for years! Best crabs and fish & chips! And the server is amazing, they are very nice people

We decided to eat here after paddle boarding & I was craving clam chowder, wow was I disappointed, it was very watery & bland. We got the shrimp & fish plate, the shrimp was okay, the fish was dry & bland & the cocktail sauce was lumpy & had a layer of oil on top, gross. The tartar sauce tasted like mayo. The fries were okay. I don't see how some people say this is the best seafood place in Ventura. The picnic tables are dilapidated beyond repair & the pigeons are VERY aggressive, my husband had to smack one with a paper plate to get him to leave us alone. I left hungry, VERY DISAPPOINTED, WILL NOT BE COMING BACK EVER!!!!!! read more

My friend was craving for crabs so we decided to head out all the way to Oxnard. Drive wasn't too bad and so glad there was no traffic coming from the valley. Once we got there, we went straight to the tank where the live crabs are. You get to pick the crab that you like and they'll cook it for you. Same with the tilapia that we ordered. They give you a number and pick up food once ready. We went and got a table while waiting for our order and it didn't take very long. The crabs were already cracked for us and ready to be eaten. That was really nice of them to do that. Customer service was excellent and it's a family owned business which I support. The place is the only one left that's operating and the rest, unfortunately had gone out of business. I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE IF YOU LIKE SEAFOOD AND GREAT SERVICE. THE STAFF MAKE YOU FEEL AT HOME. WILL DEFINITELY COME BACK REAL SOON!!! read more

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We dine at this place a few times and never disappointed We did not order the crab this time because we forgot to bring the tools, but the shrimp and seafood combo are still great. read more

Channel Islands it feels good to be back. This place does not disappoint.Quick and easy best seafood spot in Channel Islands. You will not be disappointed. Service is quick and easy you order and wait for your food. Try and get here early it does get packed esp if you want rock crab. read more

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Food was just alright nothing special, nothing horrible but hit the spot since we were craving seafood in a place where it wasn't scorching hot. This place isn't a fancy spot by any means, order at counter and wait for your number to get called to get your food from a window. The fried seafood was crispy but very bland, the fries kinda too crispy for my liking. I know they give sauces but I would expect a little flavor. Restaurant was super busy since it was a very hot summer day. The good part of the meal was that the prices were fair for the food we ordered. read more

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Came here one afternoon. They close early at 430 so try to be early. Outside seating only. It can be cold here so make sure you have a sweater with you. We choose our crabs and lobster. We had steam and grilled. Surprisingly the grilled lobster really came out really tasty! I would come to have it again. I just hope the owner will be nicer. We had left over and wanted a take out but they were charging as for the container. I have never seen one like this. And maybe change the sitting outside, they are getting rundown and old. read more

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