They have live lobster they will steam for you and crack open and all varieties of seafood. We got one lobster and it was so tender, they provide a little cup of butter and we also got some huge shrimp tails that were so good. For 4 shrimp tails was about $30 and for the weight of our lobster was about $40 but they can range from $30-$70 depending on how big it is. It's def worth a try when you go to reading terminal. read more

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Everything is so fresh. My only place to buy seafood in Philly. The service is fantastic

I have been getting seafood from here for years! The shrimp was always very fresh and delicious but not anymore! I purchased 1 1/2 pounds of shrimp for $38. Somehow they always have a few smaller shrimp mixed in and I can accept that. The shrimp were extremely mushy like they had been in and out of the freezer many times. They were gray and some had dark spots on them. They tasted old and had a bad fish taste. I tried to eat a few but they were really unacceptable! This morning I woke up with a horrible stomach ache from the shrimp that I did eat. Its a disgrace that they would sell old shrimp to customers!. Please save your money and time and go somewhere else! I would rather go to Wegman's because their shrimp is always fresh and they stand by their products. read more

I've been coming to the Reading Terminal Market for many years (see my review!) and have shopped at John Yi Fish Market often. Everything I've bought has been fresh and healthy and with great taste. I don't think you'll find an exposé on bad fish or other products here. Some are frozen, some are prepared foods, but the refrigerated fish is the best. They will prepare the fish in any way you ask, and I haven't run into any poorly trained staff. Everything is on the expensive side so I don't always come here for my fish, but when I do I can definitely tell a difference. read more

After 3 years, we finally made it back to this place. This is a seafood market but they will prepare your food. We got a 2.6-lb lobster. It was delicious as ever. The hardest part is waiting for a table to open up so we can devour this lobster. Yummy. read more

John Yi Fish Market - 2/4/2023 - Seafood Markets Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I have never shopped at this fish market. I've tried the local fish markets in Conshy and Main Line and have not been successful in finding fresh fish. I bought 3 scallops at John Yi. I cooked them as I always do and after the first bite, the piece was so tough it was hard to chew it. I threw the three away. Waste of money. Going to cook the flounder tonight and will report back on that. So far as it's defrosting, it has a heavy fish smell. read more

While there are many varied and interesting vendors at Reading Terminal, John Yi is the single reason biggest reason I go to this vibrant market. My wife and I each get 3 lb lobsters which are steamed and scored/cut. If you've ever wished lobster was as easy to eat as a sandwich or chicken nugget - this it it. The lobster is cut so the meat just pops out. The lobsters go from tank to plate in about 15 minutes. It is delicious. The staff was helpful and attentive. Enjoy, I did. read more

John Yi Fish Market - 3 lb lobster. - Seafood Markets Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Fresh high quality seafood . Very friendly and helpful staff. Seabass is my favorite. I usually buy the chunks or pieces which are cheaper than the main cut. They also have chunks and pieces of among others halibut, salmon, Mahi Mahi. The shrimp cocktail in several size options are very fresh too read more

Have been a customer here for years. Has become among my favorite fishmongers in town, certainly top choice in the Reading Terminal Market. I find everything to be fresh, highest quality. read more

I walked around after eating looking for the place where many of my wonderful fellow Yelpers marveled about. I wondered aimlessly from one fish place to another before I finally found this place. At each stop, I'd look at their fillets, the eyes of the fishes and smell the place. If I can smell you, I'm otta here. As I mentioned, I finally came here and looked at the fillets. Oooohhh, nice and moist with a very nice sheen to them. "Look deeply into my eyes!" Oooooooo, clear! Very nice and healthy. Red eyes indicate the fish didn't suffer trauma when dying. Sssssssnnnnnnniiiiffffffff, hmmmmm, no smell. Score! Took a look at where I was checked in at Yelp and realized I'm standing at The Famous Johnny Yi's fish. Eureka, I found it! Thank you my fellow Yelpers. You were right. They do have the best fish! And now I have some squid!!!!! Score!!!! read more

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I wanted to have a sushi night and was able to find this place through Yelp to get sushi grade fish. There are a few places that I found in Philly. I got salmon ($20 a lb?) and tuna ($15 a lb?). I'm sure there may be cheaper options, but I don't want to mess around with raw fish. Good service and they definitely can answer any of your questions read more

Since I'm a huge fan of this market I always make sure to stop here while in Philly. I was happy eating my fried mac & cheese ball when my boyfriend noticed someone eating a lobster. We were both intrigue by it and right away asked them where they got it. They pointed us to John Yi Fish, he made his way there and got us one. The lobster are $11.99 a lb, he asked for a small one that came out to $20. The lobster was delicious and really fresh if it wasn't that we live so far I would have brought some home with me. read more

John Yi Fish Market - Delicious lobster - Seafood Markets Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went around 4:30 pm after reading great reviews, asked for sushi grade tuna got home an hour later and put it in the fridge for about two hours. I just went to go cut it and prepare it and while it looks like good quality tuna, it is definitely not sushi grade. the tuna was slightly tough and left a strong metallic and blood like taste in the mouth. the color was fine which i why Im very disappointed since I don't know where else to get sushi grade tuna that I can trust. ended up throwing out everything just to be safe and lost 10$ in the process read more

Want the freshest, most beautiful, sustainably sourced fish in Philly? Definitely go to the John Yi Fish Market in Reading Terminal! I had to do some last minute shopping on a Sunday morning for a Dinner party that night and I ended up with the most beautiful Organic King Salmon fillets I could have imagined! I was happy & my client was thrilled! I'll definitely be back. read more

John Yi Fish Market - Seafood Markets Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Just OK. Sorry - folks - but I am not 100% sure of the sourcing here (much is farmed, and frozen - as with most fish in the US.) They do have fair prices and a good selection, but aside from Shrimp - I rarely buy my fin-fare here. I get salmon from a CSA and other fish from other places. I would never get my salmon here. It is not from a sustainable source. Sorry to rain on everyone's parade. read more

Anyone who knows me, no - Knows ME - knows I love seafood! I made a bee-line for John Yi when I got into Philly. This is a must! Rows and rows of fresh fish and all the seafood. LOVE! Got some prawns, fish and crab for a bbq I was going to and I was not disappointed. I think I bit my own fingers scoffing the lot! Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm! The nicest staff and they will filet your fish while you go off to shop around the Terminal...don't worry, you'll get a ticket to claim your delights on your return. Treat yourself here! read more

Great selection of fish, but slightly disappointed (hence the 1 star down) that they only have salmon and tuna for sushi grade. Technically they also have tilapia, but who wants tilapia in their sushi? That being said, the sushi-grade tuna and salmon are wonderful. The best deal here is by far and away the $4.99/lb chilean sea bass chunks, which are PERFECT for ceviche. The guys behind the counter are very nice and helpful. They answer all of your questions and don't mind you being indecisive. They also remembered who I was and what I got 10 days before. Great place! read more

John Yi Fish Market - the interior of the fish market - Seafood Markets Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We got a whole steamed lobster with butter & lemon. It was delicious! $43 for 2.5 lb lobster. Don't forget to grab a paper mat to put down on your table! read more

John Yi Fish Market - Seafood Markets Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Went here for some clams. Said I wanted two pounds. Response: we sell by the dozen. Fine, I want two dozen. Looks a little light but guy isn't helping by saying anything. Looks bothered and uninterested in helping. Get home, there are only 22 clams and they are smaller than usual so only weigh a pound. This may be a little petty but I expect to actually get two dozen if that's what you charge me for. I also want help if I say "I need this much by weight" and it needs to be weighed, even if only by weighing one dozen so I can figure it out myself. I would expect a fish monger to be able to advise me on the correct amount, but this guy was uninterested in helping. read more

I love they Mark every since my children with babies I've been going it for a very long time I've been going to the terminal market for years and since they was born now they are grown I send them to the market and get fish but what I like is Mountain silver trout and Whitey's these butterfish they salmon and I like those scallops and shrimp and crab meat I don't buy anything out my mother's eyes the big steak Cod. read more

John Yi Fish Market - This is a tortellini shrimp and pasta sauce dish with spinach - Seafood Markets Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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John Yi has been my go-to fish stop in Reading Terminal for years. They have a decent selection and good prices, but more importantly, they have a knowledgeable and friendly staff. Knowledgeable enough, for example, to prevent an innocent from serving large portions of escolar to dinner party guests. I regularly cook a pretty wide variety of seafood (salmon, tilapia, basa, trout, scrod, sea bass, freshwater bass, shellfish, etc.), and have never been truly disappointed in the quality of anything from John Yi. They are not perfect - sometimes there are bones, sometimes they try to give you a sadly cut filet - so it is wise to keep an eye on which pieces are being selected for you. Fortunately, the staff does not seem to mind if customers are picky. Additionally, they always offer to pack things in ice, which is a nice touch. One of my favorite item to keep an eye out for at John Yi are the Chilean sea bass chunks. Some days, these trimmings leftover from cutting the filets and steaks could count as filets themselves. They are an absolute steal at less than half the usual price, and help alleviate some of my seabass sustainability guilt since those particular bass had already been fished anyway... read more

Learning how to college in the east coast has been challenging for this California kid. I'm probably the person you're laughing at with my puffy bright pink jacket on in 50 degree weather #NoShame (not that I'm trying to reinforce the stereotype...I just get cold easily). Besides the weather, the food is a whole other adjustment. Being raised by the sea and with cheap organic produce, I guess you could say I have pretty high standards for food. Now that winter is coming, I've been starting to feel a bit homesick and have turned to cooking my mom's famous fish dishes to eat as I 'Amazon Prime and chill' alone all while simultaneously watching the Californian coastline via Surfline. Enter John Yi Fish Market. Yes, I love the fish! I bought some salmon and cooked it right after purchasing. Sure, I overcooked the salmon a bit, BUT the fish tasted fresh and delicious! I loved how clean the shop front was and loved how fast the service was. The only thing is the price. I paid by credit card and remember distinctly the employee asking for a price under $15. However, while attempting to adult and pay off my credit card, I was surprised to see a charge for more than $17. Because I was in a hurry to catch the train, I didn't ask for a receipt, so while I do feel I was overcharged, there is no way of proving it. Would I come back? Probably. It is partly my fault for not asking for a receipt. I would just pay with cash instead. Despite the price issue, I will say that the fish is fresh and delicious--Just be wary if you are paying via credit card and ask for a receipt! read more

This is hands down my favorite fish market in the city, and most definetly the best one inside the reading terminal. The fish is always fresh, and they have a big selection. The service is fantastic as well, all of the staff is very friendly and helpful. I go here to buy ahi tuna to make sushi with, and it has always been clean crisp and fresh, exactly what I am looking for in a piece of tuna. They also have a nice selection of different sizes and kinds of shrimp. They even have those crab claws with the black tips, I forget what city they are from, but I haven't seen them around to much. If you've got a craving for some fish, then John Yi has the cure for you! read more

It's true. Best fish at the Market. More expensive than the others, but so far, worth it. I'm down. $20 for three salmon fillets, only a few more bones than its competitors, but fresh and delicious. read more

John Yi Fish Market - Seafood Markets Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wow-- very surprised by the quality of the seafood here! As someone who grew up between Boston and SF-- I am a certified seafood snob. They offer a wide variety of seafood and the prices are excellent (you never want cheap seafood!). Definitely a go-to and a no-brainer if you're cookin' up some seafood. read more

Have been shopping at John Yi for 20 years. It is by far the best fish market in Reading Terminal. If you are a regular and get to know them, they will remember you and take care of you. You are not just a number. Though no one to my knowledge is Chinese there, the manager speaks Chinese, so we have fun, bantering a bit. They remember what I order and like--for example, I always order a dozen and a half littlenecks, small or medium shrimp, etc. They always point me to the very freshest of things. "Eat Fish Live Longer" their neon says. John Yi makes it a reality. I'm still alive. LOL. American shrimp they now have are fantastic. Very clean, shrimpy tasting shrimp. Flounder, crab, mmm, get stocked for weeks. Bay scallops are also very nice for the scallop lovers. read more

My favorite fish market. The people are always really nice and helpful and the prices are pretty fair for most things. Everything is fresh (no fishy smells nearby or from any of my purchases) and high quality read more

This place is a perfect gem in Center City for sashimi-grade fish (tuna AND salmon). I've picked up fish here on multiple occasions and have been more than happy with both the quality and price each time. For reference, I once spent less than $50 on fish for a sushi party that fed 10 people. read more

This is my go to place everytime i come home from kcmo. The fish is always fresh and the staff are very helpful and engaging. The crabmeat,red snapper, and the shrimp are fabulous. read more

A great fish place with an great selection, ok prices and nice service. I stop here usually once a week to grab fish for dinner. I often get the salmon and just spray it with oil and dip in a bath of panko and bake. On a few occasions I've picked up their Chilean sea bass chunks and pretty much do a similar method. Of all the fish places in Reading Terminal, this is easily my favorite. read more

Great fish mongers! They have some of the freshest fish around, but are a little pricey! Still, their scallops, orange roughy, haddock, and talipia are among my favorites. They're also willing to share new recipes and ways to cook the fish! read more

FRESH FISH, sugar dates and Pistachios! You want john yi's to be a scene from Disney's Aladdin, however a more subdued approach far from Pike Place Markets salmon slinging, this down home samuel and son's purveyor provides quality if not at a bit of a price. I frequent their selection of whole fish ready to be cleaned and pan dressed, among my usuals are Porgy, Perch, wild Striped Bass, Bluefish, and Spanish/King Mackerel. All local, but they do carry a wide range of pacific, north atlantic and Farm varieties. I cant rate this establishment 5 stars only because, a vast majority of their stock seems to be "Seconds". For the Fresh face of fish i will still make the Journey to Dickenson and 13th for Ippolitos, the retail vestment of Samuels and Son. read more

This is definitely the place to buy fish in the Reading Terminal Market. It's very fresh and they have a nice selection. I bought some Escolar (butterfish) here one day, cooked it up with some garlic, herbs, and a little butter, and it was probably the best thing I've ever eaten. Even though they are a little on the pricey side, they are a ton more reasonable than, let's say, Whole Foods, whose selection sucks and prices are out of this world. read more

This is the only place that I buy my seafood from while I am in the Terminal. Their prices are always really good and they have a very nice clean looking set up, service is fast and friendly. I have never had any issues with the seafood that I have bought from here, I highly recommend it. read more

Made my first visit to John Yi last week based on Yelp reviews. The shrimp I purchased was fantastic. I wish I could say the same for the salmon I purchased. I was in line getting behind a couple who were taking quite a while to get their fish. I was getting a bit impatient with them because they kept asking the person behind the counter to get them another piece of salmon from the bottom of the pile. Now I know why! The piece I received - which unfortunately I didn't notice until I took the fish out to cook it - was a tail piece, only about 2/3 of which was actual meat. It was filleted so thin and so close to the end that a significant portion was just skin. In addition, there were a still a LOT of bones in it. Based on the shrimp I purchased and other reviews here, I will definitely give them another try, but I will make sure I either choose my own piece or watch closely when they choose one. read more

My favorite fish market in the terminal. Extra fresh...and their crab claws are loaded with flavor I stop there every time!

I love buying from here, it's always fresh, they're very friendly. Not too much I can say about this, I just like that it sells fresh seafood. read more

We went there today and purchased 3 jumbo lump crabcakes for dinner. They also had lump crabcakes but we were willing to pay more for the jumbo lump. There was barely any crab and what was there was a few shreds of crab. The only thing that was jumbo was the bread filling in it. The filling didn't have much flavor and the little crab there was tasted less than fresh. Felt totally ripped off. Will ever return. read more

John Yi's in Reading Terminal is without a doubt the best fish market in Center City, but I have reservations about calling it the best fish market in all of Philadelphia. They have a wide selection of wild caught fish, as well as live wild caught lobster, but the overwhelming selection of their fish is farm raised or frozen (which is to be expected I guess). Whenever I'm in Reading Terminal (2-3 times a week) I always stop by to see what specials they have going on, and what "seasonal catch" they have featured, and usually end up making a purchase about once a week. My favorite items to purchase are the wild caught large shrimp, wild live lobster, mussels, and tilapia. I shy away from purchasing salmon from here because it looks as if it's been frozen for quite some time and may even have dyes added (fun fact: a lot of Salmon sold in America has dyes added to make it look more pink and "fresh"). Prices are fair, the employees are all extremely knowledgeable, and the wait at the counter is very minimal even when they are busy. On a few occasions I have told them how I planned on preparing the fish and how many people I needed to serve and each time they were able to recommend the perfect type of fish and quantity to buy, a trait I definitely value in fish mongers. If you find yourself in Reading Terminal stop by, it won't take much time out of your day and you never know what you'll find. read more

Stopped by on Saturday and got two 2lb live whole lobsters. They were 14.99/lb, $30 for each lobster. They stayed alive in the refrigerator until we cooked them later that evening. They were delicious. The meat was sweet and tender. Picked up two NY strip steaks from the place right next to it and boy oh boy... Did we have a meal to die for that night! Cheaper than dining out and we got way more food. Most restaurants only give you a little lobster tail and a small piece of meat. This was definitely the way to go. We'll be doing this again for sure. read more