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    Sal's Ballyhoo's

    4.2 (633 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Sal's Ballyhoo's Photos

    Business Info

    SAL'S BALLYHOO'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Sal's Ballyhoo's

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    Bernadette P.

    The fish is delicious. Ordered the yellowtail meunière and my husband had the ahi tuna. Portions are generous. Even the sides were delicious -- sautéed spinach and stuffed mushrooms. Service was quick and attentive. A great choice on Key Largo.

    Vegan grilled cheese with black bean soup
    Lisal F.

    Billed as fresh Florida seafood with a southern twist, Sal's Ballyhoo's is so, so much more. During a recent visit to the Keys my vegan companion and I discovered Sal's Ballyhoo's vegan/vegetarian menu. An entire menu - for us! After much deliberation we decided on a few items to split: -Vegan grilled cheese with black bean soup (the house made vegan cheddar wasn't quite what we were expecting, more of a sauce than a cheese, but still tasty. The black bean soup was glorious) -Sweet potato burger (yes yes yes - crispy on the outside, pillowy on the inside, made with sweet potato, white beans, and tahini - delicious) -French fries (stole the show. Perfection) Pricing is quite reasonable for house made vegan cuisine, especially when on vacation, and the outdoor seating area was protected from both wind and rain. My only wish is that we had been able to try more things - I'm intrigued by the grilled avocado, Joe vs. the volcano salad, black bean tacos, vegan mac and cheese, house vegetable curry, and especially the vegan coconut cake). I guess we'll have to make another trip...

    Calamari
    Jeff K.

    Not a 5-star experience but solid in almost all respects. Typical Florida seafood house- they are plentiful throughout the state. Bread to the table for starters was just ok. Appetizers calamari and conch fritters very good, as were the Mahi skillet and Hogfish entrees. Service very capable, friendly and attentive. Recommend, just can't say it was a WOW or really sets itself apart as a standard bearer for the type.

    Captain's Platter. Broiled. Lobster, shrimp, and scallops.
    Karen G.

    Food was delish. The menu has a varied selection. Great gluten free options. Started with conch fritters. They make them in house and they were okay. We tried the boiled peanuts which were good. We ordered churasco steak, captain's platter, fried mahi, blackened mahi, and cracked conch. All was prepared well and was quite good. Service was not great. Our server was in the weeds quite a few times which took away from our dining experience. That's the reason for 4/5 stars.

    Stone Crabs & Alaskan crab legs.
    Carolina A.

    We visited this restaurant on a Sunday night and it was excellent. The service and food was wonderful all together. The restaurant has a few tables outside but we choose inside. The menu has a good variety and if you are looking for crabs this is a great place. My husband had a fish sandwich and he loved it. My crabs were fresh and delicious. My kids and I loved them.

    Yellowtail Hemingway with sweet potato soufflé
    Tracey M.

    This place is a small diamond. Excellent food and when we went it wasn't that busy. They hand toss your coleslaw before serving so it's super fresh. The Hemingway style is adding a Parmesan crisp, Keylime butter and fresh crab meat on top. The sweet potato soufflé was delicious, like a dessert. One of the best meals down here and the staff was extremely friendly.

    Blackened Mahi & Fried Tomato Sandwich

    Had a great experience at Sal's - Had the Blackened Mahi & Fried Tomato Sandwich with Coleslaw. It was my favorite meal I had over the course of a week in Key Largo, ended up going here twice just to get it again!

    Dee K.

    Best treasure in Key Largo!! Friendliest place you could go to!! Servers are so kind and Sal Jr was so helpful with Keys information if you aren't familiar with the area. We stayed at a nearby resort and ate there two days in a row. The food is absolutely over the top! Nothing is done small and such detail! Definitely can't wait to go back!! The decor is typical Keys and done tastefully!! Love this place!!

    Mahi mahi
    Kathy T.

    Came here for lunch on a Friday and we were the only people there! But still had friendly service and ate outside. I was pleasantly surprised at the mahi dish - lots of sauce to make normally dry mahi more delectable.

    Wedge salad
    Rhonda S.

    What a great food experience. Encino and his helper are awesome. The wedge salad and dressing were so good. My husband got a cast iron Mahi with a side of sautéed mushrooms. Very flavorful. My dinner was hog fish wooooo that's good! and mac and cheese on the side. Everything here is amazing. We really enjoyed this restaurant. So many choices and it was hard to decide. It is very brightly lit in here and doesn't look like much but don't let that deceive you. Quality food and service.

    Vegan Mac and cheese with mahi sandwich
    Joanna H.

    Small place in the middle of north and south bound US1. Inside and outside seating. Decent number of options plus a vegan/ vegetarian menu. There were 3 of us and everything we had was so good. The chicken tenders melted in your mouth and the regular Mac and cheese was good. The house fish sandwich with fried pink tomato was soooo good. And vegan Mac and cheese was good also. Salad with grilled shrimp was great also. Server was really nice and food came out pretty quick.

    Vegan/ Vegetarian menu
    Arlene N.

    This place has a separate vegan menu! They have so many great vegan options to choose from. The service was amazing. Nice girl kept coming to check on us throughout our lunch here. I tried Joe vs the Volcano salad and it was so tasty. Also the sweet potato burger with vegan Mac and cheese was amazing. Definitely will be coming back here again. Thank you for having lots of vegan options!

    Mahi Mahi skillet with sweet potato casserole.
    Josh R.

    Great food, great service. My wife and I both got the Mahi Mahi skillet. It was great. The sweet potato casserole that came with mine was great too - it reminded me of my great aunt's, which was always a welcome addition to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

    Peel and eat Cajun shrimp

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    9 months ago

    Amazing Food as Always and The Service is always Spot on - Definitely our Favorite Restaurant in Key Largo !!

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    11 months ago

    Outstanding salad with Yellowfin fish with Caribbean jerk seasoning . Great lunch spot.

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    10 months ago

    Sal's has friendly staff, really great food, good portions and a large selection of vegan options, making it easy for everyone to enjoy!

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    2 years ago

    Fantastic Cajun/New Orleans style food. Had a great fresh yellowtail and some gumbo that was very well spiced. Fun find in the keys

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    Page 1 of 16

    Ask the Community - Sal's Ballyhoo's

    Do they take reservations?

    Is there outdoor seating?? Is it by the water?

    Outdoor patio seating. It's in the middle of US1 not on the water ,)

    Is outside seating pet friendly?

    I think so ! Most places here are pet friendly !

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    People searched for Seafood 621 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    High Tide Restaurant - Club sandwich

    High Tide Restaurant

    4.7(301 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Five stars, and I want to explain this properly because High Tide in Key Largo is absolutely a…read moreplace people should experience at least once. This is one of those spots that immediately tells you it's a local favorite the second you walk in. It feels homey, lived in, and deeply rooted in the community. The average crowd definitely skews older, which honestly just shows how loyal the regulars are and how long this place has been doing something right. We stood for a minute or two when we arrived, which wasn't a problem at all, but the initial interaction felt a little abrupt. Nothing hostile, just very direct and urgent. We later found out that Cathy is the owner, and it became clear very quickly that this place is her whole world. She works hard, moves fast, and runs on urgency. That energy can sometimes come off sharp, especially to visitors who aren't used to that local, no frills style, but we gave her the benefit of the doubt. There were moments throughout our visit where the tone felt a little rough around the edges, and it wasn't just with us, we noticed it with other tables too. It didn't feel personal, more like someone who is stretched thin and running on fumes. To her credit, there were moments where she self corrected, and I genuinely believe this was just a long day rather than bad intentions. Running a place like this day in and day out is not easy, and you can feel how much effort goes into keeping it moving. This review isn't meant to tear anyone down, just to be honest for future guests so they know what to expect walking in. What truly changed our entire experience and pushed this from a four star visit to a solid five was our server. Her name started with a T, she wore glasses, and she was African American, and she was an absolute blessing. She treated us with warmth, patience, and genuine care, like we were family she was looking out for. When we sat down and the table needed to be wiped, she handled it gracefully without a single awkward moment. Everything she did felt intentional and kind. She was attentive without hovering, respectful, and genuinely happy to be doing her job. There was also a sweet older Latina woman clearing tables who was just as lovely and welcoming. It became very clear that despite the different personalities, this place functions as a team, and the heart of High Tide lives in the people who treat guests with care and humanity. If you get that server whose name starts with a T, you are in excellent hands. Now let's talk about the food, because this is where High Tide really shines. The hash brown casserole is a straight ten out of ten. No exaggeration. Comfort food perfection. Crispy, savory, and absolutely worth ordering. The country style platter we ordered was also a ten according to my friend, hearty and satisfying in the best way. The lobster benedict was good, I would give it about an eight. It's a fun, unique option if you want to try something different, but not the standout compared to the rest of the menu. And then there's the real star of the show, the Key lime pie. Even if you are not hungry, come for the pie. This is hands down the best Key lime pie I have ever had. Perfectly balanced, not overly tart, smooth and almost cheesecake like in texture. It's the kind of dessert that makes you pause after the first bite because it's that good. Beautifully presented too. The decor is charming and thoughtfully cluttered in a way that feels authentic, not staged. The bathrooms are old but very clean. Parking is a little quirky but manageable, and there is parking available if you're patient. Overall, the vibe is cozy, memorable, and unmistakably local. Would I come back? Absolutely, especially for the food and that pie. Cathy, you are clearly working your ass off, and I hope this was just a rough day. This review comes with honesty and flowers, not shade. Five stars for the food, the heart, and the people who make this place what it is. I do recommend it.

    High prices Red and white wines were bith very bad…read more Fish 5* Bad service, got mostly served by a trainee who knew nothing about being a waitress. Very long wait after placing food order. Then salad came, and 2 minutes later, the main dishes were delivered. Very good onion rings. Caesar salad dressing was thin with no taste.

    Photos
    High Tide Restaurant - Open kitchen

    Open kitchen

    High Tide Restaurant - Skirt steak

    Skirt steak

    High Tide Restaurant - Key lime seafood Grouper

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    Key lime seafood Grouper

    Pilot House Restaurant & Marina - Crispy Calamari Fries

    Pilot House Restaurant & Marina

    3.9(526 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    This is a wonderful spot with lots of outside seating and parking. We sat at a table that felt like…read moreit was almost on top of the water, watching the pelicans fish and the sky change colors. The menu had a decent assortment of beers on draft and in bottle, both domestic and imported. The menu was spot on with a lot of great seafood options that highlighted local/ish species such as mahi mahi, grouper, and shrimp. Our server, Kathleen, made us feel very welcomed and efficiently took our orders. Service was prompt and the food hit the spot after a day of sailing in the sun. We will definitely go back!

    Wow! Thanksgiving day and we were really looking forward to some open air eating in the warmth…read moreaway from the north-east chill that we were escaping. The hostess was bright and friendly and sat us at a great table with great views of the water straight away. Our server came straight away and got us our drink orders. Always available to clear a plate and bring additional items, it was a symphony of food and service. We took advantage of a special the had on Stone Crab Claws at $7- six of those- check. A dozen oysters with all the fixings- crispy calamari and shrimp. Also some delicious conch fritters, followed up with peel and eat shrimp served hot. Fish fingers for our daughter served with fries. A bar sits central to the whole restaurant and is surrounded by many tables that are nicely spread apart. Boats come up and dock for lunch and the vibe is so chill, you can spend a great while enjoying yourself. Everyone we encountered was friendly from the management to the food servers to the other patrons who also came in on a beautiful Thanksgiving afternoon.

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    Pilot House Restaurant & Marina
    Pilot House Restaurant & Marina
    Pilot House Restaurant & Marina - Lovely post-sunset sky

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    Lovely post-sunset sky

    Key Largo Conch House - Key lime pie and key lime coconut cake.

    Key Largo Conch House

    4.1(947 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Saw this resturant on YouTube so we had to take a look. We came on a Sunday morning 11am. There was…read morea 20 min wait but it went by quickly. We ordered the cracked conch Benedict (which was delicious) especially with the green hot sauce. I got the classic 2 egg breakfast, eggs were over medium, potatoes and white bread...it was so delicious as well. They had beer on the menu so we ordered the island life lager and it might be my new fav beer in the key largo area. I also got an iced latte, I loooooove iced lattes. It came in a hurricane cup, very nice. The ambiance is very pretty and island life. Flowers everywhere and pretty colors. Our server was very sweet and made sure everything came out great. The conch Benedict was amazing......I will be back for it. Come try this place out!

    We saw this quaint little sea food restaurant from the Main Street. The atmosphere was friendly…read more Inside seating is only 7 tables. There is seating on the porch and garden area. Although the menu was heavy with seafoods, I ordered a club wrap with fries. My lunch partner ordered conch tacos with tortilla chips. The wrap itself was wheat based. It included ham, turkey, bacon, tomato, lettuce, cheese with an unknown sauce. It was good but the ham should've been sliced thinner rather than big chunks of ham. The fries were seasoned well. The conch tacos were good. The conch was fried and mixed with picol and red cabbage in a soft tortilla shell. The dish was accompanied by tortilla chips. All was tasty. The staff was knowledgeable. The prices were reasonable.

    Photos
    Key Largo Conch House - Conch House service area.

    Conch House service area.

    Key Largo Conch House - Lobster and conch ceviche

    Lobster and conch ceviche

    Key Largo Conch House - Lion fish metacumbe

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    Lion fish metacumbe

    Mrs Mac's Kitchen II - Shrimp, fish, and chips

    Mrs Mac's Kitchen II

    4.2(911 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    At the recommendation of friends, our Day 1 Supper was at Mrs. Mac's Kitchen II (also called Mrs…read more Mac's Kitchen (Big) on Google Maps). Having arrived at 4:30pm, we were immediately shown to a table and informed about the happy hour specials. Not normally ones to drink much on vacation, my wife and I instead opted to live in the moment and enjoy the island life, especially since it was 30 degrees when we left Ohio that morning. As such, we each ordered a rum punch (pictured), while my best friend ordered a Bulliet old fashioned and his wife a house margarita. With drink orders out of the way, Deja, our absolutely delightful waitress, took our food orders: sauteed seafood combo (for my wife), backyard BBQ burger with coleslaw (for me), burger and fries (for my BFF and his wife, who -unlike us- were smart enough to save room for dessert). While waiting for our meals, we took in the ambiance of the restaurant, and wow was there a lot to take in! First off, we loved how the old Pizza Hut building had been repurposed and transformed into the embodiment of the tropical island lifestyle. From the display tables showcasing seashells and historic Florida Keys photos, to the license plate light fixtures, to the ceiling-mounted blue sky and clouds panels, to the fish hanging in front of each distinctively Pizza Hut trapezoidal window, we loved it all! When our food arrived, it looked fantastic and tasted even better. My wife described her seafood combo as being excellent, with the Caribbean lobster "almost as good as the ones we get in Maine." Likewise, her fish was fresh and delicious, while the shrimp were succulent. My burger was cooked to a perfect medium-rare and was topped with expertly caramelized onions and bacon with just the right amount of crispness to it. My coleslaw side was also excellent, with the perfect balance of creaminess and zing. Our friends also said their burger and shoestring fries were fantastic. To round out our meal, each of the four of us ordered pieces of Key Lime Pie, which was some of the best I have ever had in my life (and I have eaten a lot of Key Lime Pies!)! Throughout our meal, Deja checked on us often without being overbearing, and kept the drinks flowing. All told, for 5 drinks, 3 entrées with sides, and 4 slices of Key Lime Pie, our bill before tax, tip, and credit card surcharge was $163.93. Considering the excellent food and outstanding service we received, the four of us universally agreed it was well worth the price! Pros: outstanding service, fantastic flavours, great atmosphere, and the 2-for-1 drinks during happy hour were a great deal! Cons: none! Overall we rate Mrs. Mac's Kitchen as being Excellent and cannot wait to go back!

    This place has personality and is cute!…read more The Great: An excellent Espresso Martini The Good: Carrot Cake The Bad: The server was so scatter brained. Friendly, but talked a little too much and didn't write anything down, so kept forgetting things. The Ugly: Unsure about the entire restaurant, but our table was dirty. Like old dirty. Not like, they didn't wipe it down, but more like it had never seen a deep clean and stuff just kept accumulating. I had the shrimp and corn chowder. It was very watery. We enjoyed the desserts. I'm not sure if I would come back though. I'm just wondering if the whole restaurant is dirty like our table.

    Photos
    Mrs Mac's Kitchen II - Front entrance decor

    Front entrance decor

    Mrs Mac's Kitchen II - Caribbean Style Crab Cakes

    Caribbean Style Crab Cakes

    Mrs Mac's Kitchen II - Blackened Blue Cheese Burger

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    Blackened Blue Cheese Burger

    Hobo's Cafe - Crab and artichoke dip

    Hobo's Cafe

    4.4(1.6k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$$

    Absolutely the best meal we have had in quite a while! We…read moresat at the bar, had great friendly service and good cold beer. We started with potato skins, a special, they were huge, hot and delicious. We split the shrimp risotto with mushrooms in a Alfredo sauce, plenty for 2, the shrimp was perfectly cooked and the dish served hot! The only improvement I can suggest would be crisp up the garlic bread that was served on the side. Do not miss this spot in Key Largo

    What a beautiful restaurant. They had high ceilings (unheard of in the Keys) and nice decor. They…read moreeven put sound proof panels on the ceiling to help keep the noise level down (thoughtful!). We ate inside (Floridians like us know better than to expose ourselves to the heat and No See Um's outside at dusk). We thoroughly enjoyed the inside ambiance. Well done. The spacious patio out back did also actually look nice. I wanted to give this 5 stars but my husband was not impressed by the taste (or lack thereof) of his bacon burger so I had to take away a star. I had a delicious Woodrow Chicken sandwich piled high with their signature onions and bbq sauce. When they brought it out, I wondered how I could possibly get the huge thing into my mouth. It was enormous (see photo) and tasty. I cut it in half and ate leftovers the next day. Service was good except our waitress did seem to struggle a bit. She either could not hear us or did not understand us (language issue?). At least she kept asking us until she understood. I do appreciate that. We were skeptical but our order came out right, yippee! We even splurged by getting dessert. Can't pass up chocolate cake when it appears on the menu (rarely). It was a beautiful presentation (see photo)! Next time you are in Key Largo, give these folks a try. You won't be disappointed.

    Photos
    Hobo's Cafe
    Hobo's Cafe - Hobo shrimp

    Hobo shrimp

    Hobo's Cafe - The happy hour calamari.  Huge portion.

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    The happy hour calamari. Huge portion.

    Sal's Ballyhoo's - seafood - Updated May 2026

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