Economy got you down? Just spent your last unemployment check? Lost your home to foreclosure? Well, there's always dungeness crab season to look forward to! Yeah, it won't solve any real problems, but access to local, sweet crab is a definite plus to living in this state. I read about the first catch in the Chronicle, and sure enough Monterey Fish Market had fresh crabs that day. You can buy it live, or cooked and cracked (the best way to go, if you ask me). This market is a great choice for seasonal, fresh, quality fish and the guys that work there are always pleasant and helpful. It certainly beats a trip down to the docks. read more

I don't know how long this has been here, but I heard about it a few months ago and finally made my way over last weekend. It is open Monday - Saturday 3 am - 11 am, so of course we went at 4 am. It is at the very end of Pier 33, so at that time it was a slightly scary walk down a dark empty tunnel with some dumpsters, but at the end there is light -- Monterey Fish Market. The outside is not very friendly, since it is wholesale and mostly for packing orders. But inside it is like Santa's workshop and you see so many different types of giant whole fish. We went to buy some salmon and tuna to make sushi, and found out they have 2 pages of different fish you can buy. They had lobsters, 5 kinds of oysters for $.75, scallops, etc. All freshly shipped and super fresh - I'm pretty sure this is where a lot of SF restaurants source their seafood. If you want to buy something, you can just tell someone at the front near the office. They are super nice and helpful despite us not knowing anything about fish wholesale (i.e. a "round" is an ENTIRE fish), and helped us de-skin and de-bone! Protip: be prepared to buy a little more than you expected (they have giant whole slabs of fish, and may not have that 1 pound exact chunk) and be prepared for your hands to smell fishy from the bag. We left with ~ 3 pounds of salmon and a big chunk of tuna -- more than I've ever bought. Highly recommend if you're cooking a big dinner party. read more

The owner and all the guys who work there are all into sustainable fish catching and care. I just had a crab salad they made there...unbelievable. Beautiful, quality stuff. And yes, if you go there you can park in my lot across the street while you shop. read more

5 stars. thats right, 5 solid stars. i called at least 10 other stores today, wildly looking for live crabs. Silly me, the girl who wants a serious crab feast on a tuesday waaaaaaaaay after crab season. I got no after no and numerous offers of crab meat, "good lucks". poo. finally i called monterey fish. mind you, ever call i make sounds as if its a prank call.. im surprised i didnt get hung up on. "hi, do you have crabs?" "yes" "live ones?" "yes." "dungeness?" "yes, we have several left today." "holy cow, im coming right over!" 5 in a bag, for a SICK OMG SO CHEAP price...tonight we feast on crabs! the rest of thier fish looked on point, the counter boys were effing cute for fishmongers & oh so helpful. ill be back, perhaps with bells on...but definitely the place to go for crabs. a line was formed behind me, people were called by name.. quite the place.. seems i got in on some sort of awesome secret hidden fish spot! yes, hidden next to the awesome monterey market.... oh, and i got a free crab mallet. im not sure what im spozed to do with it, perhaps battle the crabs before sending them to their boiling doom.? read more

Great spot for delicious oysters, mussels, clams and fish! Love the customer service and supporting a local business.

I want to apologize for my poor review. I went to Moneterey Fish today and they were very kind and took care of my problems with the lobster; so now I am a fan again and am sure I will be treated with respect as I have been a long time customer. It was with trepedidation that I went back; because I never had such an experience with lobster; but they made good on it and I have called my guests and we will try again in a few weeks again. thanks for listening. read more

I visit Monterey Fish at holidays and when I'm having company to whom we're serving fish. We've purchased Dungeness crab, scallops, shrimp, clams, petrale sole, a few other items. I love coming here, partly cuz it's like a real fish market -- with hurly-burly, wild meat getting slapped here and there, a lot of buyers, a lot of sellers (never enough) -- and they're pretty damn green/sustainable. AND, finally, for you fanciers of Portuguese cuisine, they have house made bacalhau before thksgiving and through new year. (Order over the phone in advance.) Way cool, not salty. The best you can get I assure you. That doesn't mean there aren't problems. I've ordered, I've called to be sure my order is ready, I've biked the four or so miles to get my order, I've biked back empty handed. I've clarified my shrimp order -- fresh, wild-caught shrimp are pretty challenging to source -- and brought home previously frozen or questionably caught or probably-raised-in-jars shrimp. In sum: it's interesting, it's real, really real, it's aggravating, it's as sustainable as sea-based living can be, it's in North Berkeley. Go there. Get some fish. Make up your own mind. read more

3 months ago I would have given them 5 stars b/c I was so psyched with the freshness. But then I got the nasty fish. Served it to guests, b/c by the time I got home it was too late to either change the menu or go back and get different fish. I'm fussy about fish b/c I used to live by the ocean and get my fish from boats coming in to port. It's so awful serving ammonia smelling fish. I'm still preserving a star and if I find a way to assure that my fish is fresh I might go back. But I hate to stick my nose in the fish in the store, and the whole store smells like fish anyway so it doesn't really work. And asking "what's fresh today?" will only get you 'everything, we get our fish at 4:00AM off the docks', BS replies. So I'm still looking for a reliable fish place where I can get fish ALL THE TIME every week and know it's fresh. Any ideas? I've really tried A LOT of places. read more

Paul Johnson knows how to sell great fish. I wish I was there more, but it's true quality, very fresh, and sustainable.

Fantastic selection of fresh fish and shellfish. Expect a bit of a wait on the weekend, but it's well worth it. I wish I lived in the area to take advantage of this amazing little fish market. This place is located on a foodie's dream street. Be sure to check it out when you are in the Bay Area. read more

i confused myself at first because i thought they were located inside the monterey market, which is a block away from the actual monterey fish market. this place gets extremely busy during rush hour, and the 2 guys who were behind the counter were busy taking orders and greeting the regulars. i overheard lots of comments from customers about their fresh fish. i was having a bbq for my birthday and wanted to grab a few dozen oysters. i resorted to MFM since the places i had in mind sold out! i trekked out to berkeley from oakland in peak traffic hour. there were 3 different types of live oysters available to my own picking; hog island, kumamotos, and european flat oysters. ice was available upon request and one of the guys was helpful in picking out the hog island oysters for me. the pricing was a little more than other places, but it was worth it once i shucked those oysters after the grill! read more

Looking at the positive comments that misled me to this place, I wondered where the bar people are setting for five stars. I paid $36 a lb for salmon, understanding that it was sushi grade, but I had to use the tweezer to get pin bones out... About five per each 8 oz portions I got. Tuna and halibut were fine, but they were all about 20% more than Berkeley Bowl, where I dropped by just afterwards for other grocery and look to be similar quality and freshness. read more

Last Saturday I needed to get some crab for a party I was throwing. I'm sorry I didn't invite you but things have been tense with us lately and I was hoping that we could find some time where just the two of us could talk and figure out why there is this distance growing between us. We could do lunch or whatever. Your friendship is important to me and I want to work through this but it just didn't seem appropriate to invite you when we're dealing with these tough issues. But anyway. I needed to get some crab for this party I was throwing and was recommended to come to the Monterey Fish Market. I went to high school just right around the corner from here so coming back to the friendly neighborhood was a treat itself. When I walked in I was greeted by the staff's playing of Hank Williams greatest hits on the PA and I knew then I was in the right place. I mentioned I needed some cooked crab and the gentleman helping me advised that since it wasn't crab season so much anymore I should get a pound of the crab meat; already cracked. Ok, I thought. Why not? I guess he felt bad that I couldn't get the original request fulfilled so he threw in two (2), fully cooked crabs...for free! The cost of a pound of crab meat and two cooked crabs you ask? 25 bones. Not bad at all. Thanks guys, keep on honky tonkin'. read more

fish is always fresh, but its good to check and don't buy the scraps. the opah is good one of the only places that has it. could have a little more selection. fun place to hang out. the cook book is great and there is a great idea rack of cook books under the shelves in the corner with dry goods. read more

Great local gem to have. The fish is great, varied and fresh. A little pricey, but worth it. Plus, the friendly staff, albeit very young, is always knowledgeable. Selection is limited, but I like that b/c it makes me try things I would not normally buy. Probably the best fish in East Bay. read more

Absolutely LOVE this place. I wish I lived closer since I would get all my fish there. The fish is absolutely amazing and the service is fantastic. The staff is super friendly and helpful. I've been a few times and all the fish has been incredible from tuna to halibut to sole. read more

This place is GREAT! We went here to get oysters and crab for Christmas Eve. They are extremely helpful and very sweet men. They'll crack and prep the crab and they even let us try one of the oysters before we bought a bunch. They are very knowledgeable and helpful! read more

A very nice old skool fish market. Selection is decent, but they seem to be able to get everything. Smoked salmon here is pretty good as well. What really stands out for me at this place is their commitment to sustainable seafood. They sell this cookbook using sustainable seafood, and items in their counter have specific references to the book. Price may seem a bit high, but I'm willing to pay a bit more for quality and sustainability. read more

This is a great seafood shop with quality stuff. They care about the sourcing and the sustainability. No chilean seabass here! Most of the stuff is local. We got some Tomales Bay mussels that were small but turned out to be oh-so tasty! The staff is very friendly and helpful. read more

My favorite fish monger. You're assured to get the freshest fish here because they are the distributor.

Well worth the trip from Benicia for fresh Dungeness crab two days after the commercial season opened. Service was great. Fishmongers were pleasant, very helpful, worked well together as a team and generally really appeared to enjoy their jobs. Overall a great experience. Crab was top notch. Will definitely be back to try some of the other seafood selections. read more

Local fish market with great, fresh fish and great people. You'll feel good coming in here, and your stomach will feel better after you've cooked for meal. This place, and Tokyo Fish are hands down the best places to go for fish in East Bay. read more

I just got back from a month in the San Juan Islands (WA) where fresh Dungeness crabs are as numerous and accessible in the summer as liquor stores in Oakland. I went up to Hopkins St. for plants, but the nursery is apparently closed Thursdays. Walking back to my car I decided I had to check out Monterey Fish, took one look at the $26/lb lump crab meat and turned around to walk out when I saw live crabs in a tank, from Washington, for $7/lb. The very friendly boy behind the counter caught me two of them and sold 'em to me for $5/lb. I left a happy girl. I know they were wastefully shipped down here but our crab season isn't until winter and waiting until then didn't seem like an acceptable option at the time. Docked a star for the gray-haired weirdo Berkeley woman balancing the book on her head standing smack in the middle of the store, getting in everyone's way and freaking the staff out. She meandered out five minutes later without buying anything and promptly got in her Subaru Outback. Please leave your eccentricities at home if they get in the way of my dinner. read more

We cannot come to California without coming here for Dungeness crab. Everything here is sustainable and so fresh is insulting!

I usually head over to Berkeley once a week to do my food shopping and Monterey Fish is always on the agenda. The place is very well run and the fish is excellent. Always super fresh and handled with care. read more

Went there for the first time today with my friend who lives in the neighborhood. The service is friendly, the staff is knowledgable and the selection is great. I needed halibut for ceviche and the price was $5 less than any SF market for local. Also, the cured anchovies were so delicious. read more

4.5 stars for the fish I bought here and 4.5 stars for the owner's responding to my disappointment with the clam chowder and sending me a gift certificate. The clam chowder has diluted my score, however. read more

One of the few places to have fresh herrings caught during this years herring run - thank you - thank you

I love Monterey Fish Market - the quality, the service and the neighborhood. Have never had less that a great experience here. And the prices are reasonable. read more

Arrogant and puffed up with their own self importance. As one of the senior clerks explained to me, retail customers are but a distraction from their (all) important restaurant business. This explains the poor treatment of retail customers. Don't try to make a special order or special request. Don't expect anyone to call you if they didn't get your special order. They may have something because a restaurant ordered it but not because you made a special order. They take special orders and act like you will be able to obtain it without explaining that the odds can be quite low. The quality is usually great albeit with a small selection of fish. I have had problematic (bad) fish several times and the staff don't seem to feel that there is any reason to make amends to a regular, loyal customer. Monterey Fish doesn't have a monopoly on good fish or the best prices and others have a larger selection. From now on I will shop were I am treated as a loyal customer and where my business is valued. I am tired of MF clerks who act like they are doing you a favor to sell you their fish and act annoyed at routine requests. Paul, it's time to pay attention to your customers. You don't have a monopoly. And I don't think your business is doing as well as it once was. read more

I purchased Dungeness crab meat from Monterey Fish Market for a special family gathering. It turned out so great. The crab was delicious and of excellent quality. The pricing and customer service were both great compared to some other markets in my area. Because I have not purchased crab meat in recent memory I had several questions about the quality, cost and how much I would need, etc. I appreciated how helpful everyone was on the phone and at the store. Everyone was so polite, patient and informative. The crab was greatly enjoyed by my 99 year old dad, my 100 year old aunt, several of my cousins and me! read more

Wonderful local spot for fresh seafood. I go here all the time. Despite their relatively small size, they typically have a great selection of fresh fish, live crabs/lobster and shellfish. I particularly love the local hog island oysters and the king salmon when it's in season. The california halibut is my favorite for making ceviche too, but everything is great and has always been fresh. A bonus is that I manage to learn something interesting every time I go in too since the staff are very knowledgeable and keen to share their own tips and tricks about preparing each fish. read more

Great spot for delicious oysters, mussels, clams and fish! Love the customer service and supporting a local business.

I'm a convert! Got burned by crappy fish from Berkeley Bowl too many times so I looked up some alternatives and gave this place a shot this month. We've now been here twice and had their halibut and salmon -- both very good quality, not at all fishy/smelling, and no more expensive than BB. The service here was friendly and helpful, too. Highly recommended! read more

I am a very fussy guy when it comes to seafood. I spend 4 months of summer on Martha's Vineyard where I only buy fresh fish. When I moved to Berkeley 5 years ago, I spent a while testing every fish market - a disappointing task. In a lucky turn of fate, I live 3 blacks from the best fishmonger in the Bay Area. Monterey Fish Market is a jewel. The fish is fresh, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. I don't mind if they don't have a wide selection. What you get is fresh...if you need advice on how to fix it, they will suggest a recipe. Did I mention that he fish was fresh...!!!! read more

Monterey Fish Market gives me East Bay envy. Anytime I can get the excuse to cross the bay bridge, I inevitably find myself swinging by here for their selection of sustainably caught, fresh fish. And if we are having company for dinner, I call ahead to see what is available and build the menu around what they have. I also love the "Fish Forever" book that the owner wrote...although more for the fabulous information on how, where and why to eat sustainable fish than the not particularly foolproof recipes. I wish they had a place in sf! Fish lovers take note - they are not open on monday's contrary to the yelp info... read more

is it a sign of cruelty if you just love those tanks of lobsters? i dont care if it makes me a nerd, but i think crustaceans are just amazingly cool. they are cool alive, and they are also very cool when i am eating them with some gorgeous melted butter and garlic. in any case, monterey fish is a very high quality, serious fish-monger sort of place and i approve of it. read more

the quality and selection are really great, but what really impressed me was how helpful and down to earth the staff are. the man who helped me gave me suggestions on how to cook what i ordered and patiently answered my myriad of questions from the freshness (versus frozen) of the fish and what is in season. read more

Have been buying fish from the Monterey Fish Market for 16 years. Great selection of sustainable seafood that was caught safely. Limited sustainably farmed seafood, but mostly locally sourced and seasonal wild caught fish and seafood. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Cookbook is a must have! I have given copies to all my good friends who cook. A true gem. read more

We've lived here for twenty-plus years and have made numerous purchases here. Every time I go in, I tell myself I won't go back. The service is perfunctory at best--they really don't listen; and the fish is good, never great. Prices are higher than its competitors'. Tokyo Fish and Hudson (at the farmers' markets) have Monterey beat in every category. read more