On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.

Pacific Fish Center & Restaurant

4.5 star rating
based on 73 reviews

Categories: Seafood, Korean  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Redondo Beach
131 Fishermans Wharf
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 374-8420
  • Price Range: $$$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Garage
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: Yes
  • Good for Kids: Yes
  • Takes Reservations: Yes
  • Delivers: No
  • Take-out: Yes
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: No
  • Good for: Dinner
  • Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
Sponsored Result You Might Also Consider
Gyenari

4 star rating 34 reviews

Neighborhood: Culver City

"This past Friday I was very fortunate to have dinner at Gyenari, the new Korean BBQ with a California twist. I felt so special, because that…" read more »

73 Reviews for Pacific Fish Center & Restaurant

Sort by: Recent + Votes | Time | Rating
Photo of wendy y.

 

16

9

wendy y.

Sherman Oaks, CA

5 star rating
08/03/2008

I had food orgasm last night here and I liked it. It was the best crabs in Cali I've had. No butter or salt needed! The live shrimp was simply divine, it was so fresh as I was eating it I can still feel movement in my mouth. The large sashimi platter was just the right size for a party of six (cost $95), the salmon sashimi was my favorite, I left none to share with the group. On top of the crab and live shrimp, we had seafood hot pot, clam soup, baby octopus, fried oysters, fresh uni and soju to wash it all down with.
This was one of my favorite meals of this year! I will be coming back for sure!

People thought this was:

Useful  (3)

Funny  (3)

Cool  (2)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of SaSa F.

 

1

8

SaSa F.

San Gabriel, CA

4 star rating
08/13/2008

There are only 2 things I eat there:  crabs & spicy fish soup.  I absolutely love these two items!  The crab meat is always so good!  As for the spicy fish soup...I adore it 'cuz it's simply delicious!  I don't really like the butter they offer nor do I use soy sauce.  I do recommend trying the cocktail sauce if anyone is big on sauce like me.

A friend of mine always crave for the crabs they have here all the time.  So, I kept going back w/ friends or bring visitors there.  I like how the this place is bright, airy, and pretty clean...no fancy decor of course, but the window view is good enough.

There's not much to be said about service...it's alright.  There's sth I do want to say about their price.  I could not give them a 5 star 'cuz one crab cost like $30 bucks!  Considering I can get a small crab (yes, much smaller crab but yummy still) for $5 at 99 Ranch Market, I just have to knock off a star.

Oh, my friend/cousin did mention the raw oysters are fresh and sweet.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Rick R.

 

8

42

Rick R.

Rosemead, CA

5 star rating
08/03/2008

Took the wife and the 4 kids to dinner here last night...

Wow!!  We get to the place about 5:30pm, just as the beach goers are leaving for the day, so parking was pretty easy to find about 100 yards south of the pier.  Make sure you bring a roll of quarters for the parking meters, a quarter for 15 minutes, up to 4 hours...I think....

We get to the front of the restuarant and only one family is ahead of us and there are tables galore available.  I am wondering if this is the right place for us.  

We order:
3 dungeness crabs, 1 pd of large shrimp, a small spicey fish soup, 3 corn on the cobbs, drinks, and 1 fish and chips for the little one.  Total bill $162.00.  

They start us off with the soup and fish and chips, the soup is very good, lots of tofu and fish.  Too little crawfish, shrimp, and vegetables.  The taste is a bit spicey, for a sissy spice guy like me, but the family loves the flavor.  

The crabs arrive with rice, and not much else fanfare.  The waiter opens them up for us and we got to town.  The little ones love the mallets and they do a great job of smashing all parts of the crab to paste.  

The flavor of the crab is fresh and not much else.  You get butter and lemon and that is all we needed.  When the waiter removed the shell of the crab, he gave us a tip, he told us to keep the juice in the shell and put the white rice inside the shell and let the juices soak up in the rice.  It was a great tip, the taste of the juicey rice was incredible.

As we were leaving, the line was at least 20 deep.  I knew we went to the right place.

People thought this was:

Useful  (2)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of R K.

 

9

20

R K.

CA

5 star rating
08/10/2008

I don't know if any of the reviews have mentioned, but the "spicy fish soup" is called Seng Sun Meh woon tang, literally, spicy fish soup.  I only go here once a year when my family comes to visit me, but I dream about it the other 364 days.  Raw oysters, raw clams, dungness crab, and all other sorts of yummy seafood, including the "live" (raw) shrimp (WHICH WAS STILL MOVING WHEN WE GOT IT, SO NOT MY THING) but my dad devoured it like it was filet mignon.

Parking is cheap, about $4 for 3 hours, it's fun, lots of seating, fast service.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Roll L.

 

0

27

Roll L.

Arcadia, CA

4 star rating
07/19/2008

Friday night 8pm - no line, abundant parking in the pier parking lot.
Service was fast and food was delicious.
3 crabs + the fish soup that everyone mentions = $110.

People thought this was:

Useful  (2)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Sue A.

 

15

29

Sue A.

Pasadena, CA

5 star rating
07/01/2008

Once upon a time, before the glorious joy of ME was born, my parents went to this pier as their date place.  

I can safely say that my parents probably came upon this restaurant in its infancy.  Even as a child i remember this place...when it only had a few tables, and back when they used to let you feed the gulls just outside the window by your table.  (i think u still can, but stay away...those suckers are as agressive, just like those crazy bears in yosemite.)

I will proudly say that this place has forever altered and snobbified my taste in seafood at an early age.  Eat the crab; it's almost sweet...and melts right on your tongue.  The crab is incredible here...there's nothing like it.

You can tell a crab is fresh by how the crisp sounding the shell is when you break it.  I am the ultimate expert in getting every morsel of meat, and i can simply crack open a leg with only two swift taps of the hammer.  Yes, I am that awesome, and it is I who is looking at you with disdain, as you happily smash your crab to smithereens.

amateurs.  heh!

If you are truly here to try the best, another star dish is the spicy fish soup.  Do not dispair, it'll be red but certainly not as spicy as it looks.  

I did watch someone eat a live prawn here once...you know, those huge shrimp looking things.  I shit you not, it was alive and writhing as she tore into it.  I've never doubted their fresh seafood ever since.

Be prepared to have a lovely taste in your mouth, a very full belly, and the stink of it all wafting through your hair.

People thought this was:

Useful  (2)

Funny  (2)

Cool  (2)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Christine B.

Elite '08

88

385

Christine B.

West Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
06/30/2008

This was the scene of the greatest upset in history . . .  well, no, not really.

BUT

I managed to out-eat my boyfriend's dad as we chowed down on dungeness crabs.  The boy's father's nickname is "Piranha #1" (yes, there's a #2 but he wasn't in attendance that day) due to his seafood eating ability, but the crabs here were so good that despite the fact that I had just eaten a heavy Filipino breakfast 2 hours before (cured beef, garlic fried rice and eggs), I still managed to eat more than he did, and I did it on Father's Day!  Ha ha ha.  I love meat.  And seafood!  Oh, I just love food in general.  ;)

The food here is super fresh and tasty, though you do have to pay premium prices, but whatevers.  I love the crab!

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Funny  (2)

Cool  (2)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Liz S.

 

8

17

Liz S.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
07/21/2008

I really love this place! I've been here many times as a child and never appreciated it, but now as a seafood loving adult, coming here is always such a fun and memorable treat. I love coming here for a late lunch or early dinner. Korean beer, whole crabs, and then spicy Korean seafood hotpot to finish it off is perfection! After a great satisfying meal, I love walking it off while browsing the pier shops or watching the sunset, and then grabbing dessert at one of the many food stands on the pier.

On weekends there are extremely long lines as every Korean family in the LA area comes here.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of FIFI L.

 

27

53

FIFI L.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
06/23/2008

Pretty good...interesting set-up

Location is right on the pier...so, it took us awhile to find it cause we parked towards the Boardwalk side.

You stand in a SUPER long line to place your order.   You need to order all the food you're going to eat at this time (as you cannot add on more food later).  The only thing you can order tableside is drinks.Then, once you've paid, they give you a number and when your table is ready, they call your number and seat you.  We had a party of 13 and the wait was probably about 20 mins.  Not too bad.  Once you're seated, your food is all brought to you.

It was all very tasty...we had 2 Live Dungeness Crab, 1 Snow Crab Plate, 1 Deep Fried Calamari Rings, 4 lb Live Lobster (steamed), 1 lb. Live Shrimp (steamed) and 1/2 lb. Oysters.  Plus 3 large Hite Beers and a couple of sodas.

Pretty pricey for the live stuff...we paid $290 for all of the above.  The lobster by itself was $75!

Korean-style eating...most take the crab body innards, mix it with rice and gochujang (spicy red pepper paste).

People thought this was:

Useful  (2)

Funny  (1)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of James L.

 

6

21

James L.

Garden Grove, CA

5 star rating
07/07/2008

I'm officially sold on the Pacific Fish Center and Restaurant!

On the two occasions I have been here, it was during midday, right before sunset and the scenic view of the pier only makes this place breathtaking. You can hear the waves crashing against the pier and see all the different wildlife (birds) if you are into that kind of thing. There wasn't too large of a wait but everytime we left, there were droves of people anxiously waiting to get in.

To start, you have to wait in line to place your order. You also pay before hand. Then after that, you have to wait to get seated. I guess this method makes the flow of customers easier on the restaurant staff.

The dungeness crab is a must have at this place. You really get what you pay for--full of wholesome meat, juicy, and my favorite, all the ooey-gooey goodness inside (I think they are guts). On top of that, you have two choices to dip your crab in: butter and the same red sauce you put in bibimbap, both excellent but I prefer the butter. Rice accompanies the innards quite well. You can tell how fresh everything here is with just the crab alone. I think next time, I might get two crabs and split the second crab with a friend... it's THAT good.

Upon my second visit, I thought I should mix it up a bit and start off with the live raw oysters. They came out as "live" and I wasn't sure if this meant anything different than the oysters I could get at my local Boiling Crab. I read http://everything2.com... and this provided a bit more insight. Anyhow, the oyster combined with its partners in crime: lemon and tobassco tasted wonderful. These oysters provided that extra oomph that I would not normally get it anywhere else. It had a burst of buttery-ness with a hint of salty flavor (it kind of reminded me of uni). Anyhow, I have never had oysters like this for sure.

And just to add to the merriment, I washed all the goodness down with the spicy fish stew--which is with tofu, mushrooms, radish, shrimp, etc. It was a great way to end the meal. The only thing I would say about the stew is that it wasn't as spicy as I expected it to be and that a small order is too big to share between just two people. With the stew, you also get some rice, kimchi and radish.

The service both times were great. Even though I felt bad for asking over and over for a refill, I still got em with little trouble! The staff is friendly and someone is always within reach to get something for you.

I'm looking forward to coming here again. Although the price is steep (on one visit, 2 crabs and 2 sodas rang up to around 75 bucks... the second visit with the oysters, 2 crabs, 1 stew, and 2 sodas rang up to 120 bucks... these figures include tax and tip), I see myself wanting to frequent this place more often. If you feel like splurging and in return, getting great quality seafood, then Pacific Fish Restaurant should be your next destination.

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Elle W.

 

2

15

Elle W.

San Diego, CA

2 star rating
06/30/2008

Just as I was about to bite into a big, fat oyster, a little centipede-y thing flicked off the shell and lay squirming on the tablecloth. It was bluish-gray and had many feelers/feet.

It hopped (flea-style) towards my father, who mashed it to death with his kleenex.

The oyster tasted like a bland sugarless hunk of watermelon.

2 stars for the spicy fish soup.

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Funny  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Peter Y.

 

3

22

Peter Y.

Temple City, CA

5 star rating
06/12/2008

I knew I would love this place because my girlfriend always talked about how good their crabs were.  So on a sunny Saturday, we came here with couple of other friends and just splurged like crazy.  We ordered some shrimps, oysters, baby octopus, and we each had a crab to ourselves.  After destroying the crabs, we finished off the meal with a spicy seafood soup, which was sooooo freaking good.  We had a lot of beers and soju so I was pretty buzzed when we were leaving this place only to discover funnel cakes across from the restaurant.  It was pure gluttony... can't wait to do it again!

People thought this was:

Useful  (2)

Funny  (3)

Cool  (2)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of J Y.

 

2

45

J Y.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
07/03/2008

6 oysters as big as your fist for around 10 bucks, red chili paste, crabs with rice, spicy seafood soup.  Everything here is good.  Don't be a bitch who gets the fish and chips.  Try to go on a weekday afternoon if possible, cuz this place has a ridiculously long waiting line on weekend evenings.  If you want to have a good meal, get ready to shell out a little cash.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Karney V.

 

3

108

Karney V.

Beverly Hills, CA

5 star rating
07/02/2008

I'm not even into crab, but this place was damn good.  I went here with co-workers summer 2005 (courtesy of our bosses).  We drove here from KTown toward the end of our internship.  Parking at the wharf was, I believe, somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 or so.  Half my co-workers and bosses were Korean so they pretty much ordered everything.  I judge a place by what memory I am left with, even 2-3 years later--and this place conjures warm thoughts of good food.  =)  

After we stuffed ourselves silly on soup, crab and rice we walked around the pier for gelato and pictures, then played some games at the nearby arcade and drove back to work (the pier is a good date place, or place to hang with friends).

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of MARJ U.

 

0

11

MARJ U.

West Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
07/31/2008

This is my favorite restaurant when it comes to crabs.  I'm actually glad that they added a service were they prepare the crab for you but leaving all the crab brain intact! I love it.  Although I don't mind doing this myself. My husband cringes and feels bad for the crab whenever he watches me eat it.  It's a bit pricey but it's way worth it. Although they should improve the way they cook their clams. It has sand sometimes. I just stick to my crab.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Eli G.

Elite '08

234

412

Eli G.

Lawndale, CA

4 star rating
05/05/2008

After a long day of eating, drinking, socializing, shopping and napping, nothing's better than eating some seafood that was alive and wiggling when ordered.

Some friends wanted to escape the late night valley heat and come down our way, so we gladly accepted their invitation to eat crab at the Redondo Beach Pier. I'd been through the pier area a few times on bike rides but never brought my wallet, so I was really excited to try some of the food that had taunted me before.

Pacific Fish Center has a unique ordering setup. First you look at the menu and all the tanks of live fishies. Then you order and pay at the counter, then they tell you to get out! Yep, they make you wait outside and wait for your number to be called. It took about five minutes and then we were in. Four of us had ordered a pound of live shrimp and two live crabs. The price was just over $100 for all that. Good deal now that I think about it.

Shortly after being seated, out shrimp came out. Sadly they were not alive anymore. I was really hoping for big wiggling shrimp that I could have bitten the heads off of and hear them scream. But they were still really good. Be warned that you will have to remove the shells yourself, which also means that they still got some poo in them. But a squeeze of lemon can hide any poo that you may fear. Just as we cleared the last of the shrimps our two huge crabs are layed in front of us. Before I can say, "Holy crab on a paper plate!" The crabs had been torn apart:

http://www.yelp.com/bi...

Fervently, we all dive into crap fantasia. Within no time, my hands are covered in crab juices and my belly full of their sweet sweet innards. You're given wooden mallets to dispense with the outer shell but I prefer to use my bare hands to rip apart my meal. The crab was exceptionally fresh and the meat was amazingly sweet.

After it was all said and done, I felt I really got my money's worth. I'll be back to try some of the other crab huts on the pier soon.

People thought this was:

Useful  (6)

Funny  (7)

Cool  (6)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Eileen T.

 

33

213

Eileen T.

El Monte, CA

5 star rating
06/20/2008

This is the reason I drive down to Redondo Beach.  Best oyster and crab!  I love their spicy fish soup, too.  Plus some Hite and soju.... perfect seafood dinner!  Then enjoy a nice walk on the beach.... Nice!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Jennie B.

 

7

6

Jennie B.

Orlando, FL

4 star rating
05/29/2008

I am not sure if it was the company or the food, I guess it was a combination of both regardless I really enjoyed having an early dinner here. It was pretty entertaining to watch everyone wearing those giant bibs and hammering away so adamantly at those poor crabs.

Inbetween gorging we took pleasure in writing on the paper-covered table with my Hello Kitty pen (ahhh, the simple things in life but alas lost that damn pen to the Pacific Fish Center abyss, err).

Ok, back to the food...It was a pretty brisk day so HAD to order some spicy tofu soup (yum) and hot tea. Next, we had some super fresh sashimi salad with gochujang sauce which was rather delish. We then proceeded to devour two Dungeons Crabs- brain juices and all! We washed everything down with shots of soju and some Hite beer. ^_^

I want to go again and take my HFL here.

Only giving 4 stars because of the wait and the rates =)

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Funny  (1)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Young K.

 

6

16

Young K.

Garden Grove, CA

5 star rating
06/17/2008

This place is one of my favorite places to go. Too many reasons to say why I love this place..
The half shell oysters: Served simple with just lemon and Tabasco but It's just so fresh and good.
The Crab: Steamed to perfection served with lemon butter sauce. Can get a little messy and possibly piss off the person in front of you but it's definitely mouth watering.
The Live Shrimps: Served with the head flickering and watching you as you eat the body of it. Sounds creepy but it won't bother you after you taste how delicious it is. they will deep fry the head for you after you're done with the body, and yes you eat the whole head with the shell on it.
The sashimi: Very fresh but it's not something you can't get anywhere else, but it just seems to be in our menu of choice every time.
Soju: Korean liquor.. a must with these great foods, but take it easy or you'll wake up the next day hating yourself for many many reasons.

People thought this was:

Useful  (3)

Funny  (1)

Cool  (2)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Lauren S.

 

38

74

Lauren S.

CA

5 star rating
04/22/2008

This place is very organized for being so busy!

We had a party of 14 and they accommodated us very nicely.  Set up our table and had us sitting down 15 minutes after we all arrived and ordered.

11 of us shared 7 fresh live crabs, 2 small sashimi plates, 2 small spicy Korean Soups, and 4 bottles of soju.  It came out to $50/person.  

The crab was delicious!  The sashimi plate was really big!  And my sister's bf ordered some appetizers for the table, which was so yummy.  

The little sweet shrimp were the highlight of my dining experience.

I will definitely come back here!

People thought this was:

Useful  (2)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Jason H.

Elite '08

184

132

Jason H.

Placentia, CA

3 star rating
04/14/2008

3.5 stars:
Took my friend there for her bday (her choice).  It's not the fanciest of places, but if you want crab and meh wun ttang (some spicy soup with veggies, mushrooms, tofu, fish, shrimp) it's pretty good.  It's a fun place to eat some good crab and have fun at the same time.  We got there around 8:45pm!  (due to getting lost).  So the wait wasn't too bad, although I do hear it can get pretty bad during prime time.

We ordered 2 crabs, the spicy soup, and a bottle of soju.  We finished the crabs off...and it was good.

For the price and all, I would suggest Crustaceans for crab.  But this place is cool to chill and grub in a relaxed manner.

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Funny  (1)

Cool  (2)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Jeanne J.

 

6

120

Jeanne J.

Evanston, IL

5 star rating
05/05/2008

Wearing a bib, hammering away at a crab that you may have just seen alive in the tanks at the entrance, with Korean kimchi and gochujang sauce - what could be better?!

This restaurant serves amazing food - the mae-woon-tang is the best I've ever had.  The crab is consistently delicious, and so are the oysters and sashimi.

Afterwards you can enjoy a walk on the pier, watching everyone fish, and buy some delicious funnel cake or ice cream  for dessert at any of the surrounding stores!!

OMG I can't wait to stop by this place again when I'm back home in June..

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of BK S.

 

4

55

BK S.

Plano, TX

3 star rating
04/07/2008

I was really excited to go to this place after all the hype.

The dungenous crab was supposed to be the thing to try so that's what we ordered along with a spicy fish stew.  

The stew was supurb.  I only wished the crab was 1/2 as good.  

The crab is just basically steamed crab.  Nothing fancy about it.  Maybe it's the Texas influsence but I wanted more cajun or at least some more flavor.  $35 for a small/medium crab is kind of outrageous nut maybe that is the going rate in LA.  The stew was $20 and was worth it.

I will go back once more so I can try the raw live shrimp.  They run $35/LB but they looked huge and plump.

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Johnny C.

 

20

32

Johnny C.

Alhambra, CA

5 star rating
04/28/2008

The food here is as fresh as it can be.. love the live shrimp and the fresh crabs and lobster... it can get real pricey tho.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Kim L.

 

0

13

Kim L.

New York, NY

3 star rating
04/10/2008

I was excited to try this place since anywhere that serves fresh seafood is a must try for me.  Since it's the restaurant is by the ocean and on the pier, it can't get any fresher, right???  Wrong.  To my dismay, the raw oysters didn't look as pristine as it should, given our location.  Despite that, I put on my bib, grabbed my mallet and hungrily awaited the star of the night:  dungeness crab.  We ordered two, and unfortunately, one was firm and fresh while the other was mushy and sad.  If you're paying $30+ or whatever seasonal price charged for LIVE crab, you better be getting LIVE crab.  We were not impressed.  Luckily, the spicy fish stew was a hit.  Service was not great.  Sometime great food can make up for a lot of things, but this was not the case.

People thought this was:

Funny  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of a l.

 

82

43

a l.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
02/04/2008

We started with the largest raw oysters I've ever seen.  They were fresh, delicious and they melted in my mouth.  We then received the sashimi plate and it was also very tasty.  I love the korean red hot paste sauce that goes with everything.

The crab came next and it was cooked to perfection.  The meat was so tender and flavorful, I can't imagine eating crab anywhere else.  We then finished up with a hot seafood soup that really hit the spot.  

I would have given this place five stars, but I couldn't do it.  You ask why... well let me tell you.  The ambiance, or lack there of.  We were basically sitting at picnic tables and were crammed into a large seating area, which reminded me of summer camp.  To top it all off, there was a line out the door, so they were practically bringing all of the courses out together.  We felt like we were eating non-stop for an hour.  Thank goodness the parking lot is far, because we were able to walk some of it off.

People thought this was:

Useful  (2)

Funny  (1)

Cool  (2)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Tom W.

 

7

128

Tom W.

Walnut, CA

5 star rating
03/09/2008

Pros:
  Superb Dungenous Crab
  Great selection of seafood
  Nice Soju/Beer Selection
Cons:
  Seasonal pricing can be expensive

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of southern k.

 

11

26

southern k.

Atlanta, GA

4 star rating
02/25/2008

West coast vs. east coast.  I should try more seafood restaurants on the east coast before I can officially say which is better but so far, hands down the west has won.

I can't recall how I came to discover the Pacific Fish Center and it wasn't until the second time that I realized that this a "Korean" restaurant.  Observant aren't I?  Could there be Korean Aliens out there abducting it's citizens to patronize their establishments?  

I'm no fan of crowds, especially on hot days in tourist heavy locales and when I walked in my spirits weren't exactly lifted.  It's a bit dirty perhaps due to the fact there's so much turnover and they barely have time to clean up before the next group of customers.  

But all is forgiven when you get your hands on the crabs.  They're extremely fresh and juicy.  It's all in how the crab is prepared.  The broth, aka the seasoning used in the boiling process, is essential.  It's often the simple foods or foods prepared simply the most difficult to pull off.  You can overcook it or under/over season it, but they figured it out.

I often dream about this place and as soon as I'm back on the west coast, I'm hitting this place up and taking over an entire table.  

One thing though, I know people love the kimchee here but I'm sorry I'm a bit biased.  I can only have my Mom's kimchee and everything else is just gross.  I'll stick with the butter with my crabs and lobster which biased or not, should be the condiment of choice.  Don't worry I'm all business with kimchee and other classic Korean sides, but there's a reason why one does not immediately think of Koreans when it comes to steamed crabs and lobsters.  Although the Pacific Fish Center could change that.

Amazing crabs and lobster with a great view.  Can't beat the combination but be prepared for a wait.

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Funny  (1)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Kueyon K.

Elite '08

48

184

Kueyon K.

Beverly Hills, CA

5 star rating
04/21/2008

this is how we roll:

get up around 10am on saturday.
skip the shower, just wash minimum and brush your teeth.
leave for redondo beach around 10:30 and get there by 11am.
walk in to the pacific fish center, get a table right away and order the following:  
- one dungenous crab per person
- spicy fish soup (small)
- if you're super hungry and don't mind oyster for breakfast, get some fresh oyster
- big bottle of beer to wake you up

dig. in. chow. down. enjoy the nice service before it gets crowded.

pay, leave the place laughing at people waiting outside and walk slowly back to your car.
drive all the way to k town.
pick one of those sauna (i strongly recommend natura)
soak in the hottub, dry or steam sauna action, get scrubbed (if you have extra $30 to spend) and wash that crab juice off.

and there, the best way to spend a saturday afternoon when you have beloved guests in town.

maybe pick up some bonchon chicken on the way back home and bar lubitsch for drinks later? kmph.

People thought this was:

Useful  (5)

Funny  (3)

Cool  (4)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Andy T.

 

8

17

Andy T.

Saratoga, CA

5 star rating
03/07/2008

Anytime a mallet is used as a utensil, you're going to have a great meal.

If you like crab cooked without sauces and in it's own juices... you'll love this place.

People thought this was:

Cool  (2)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of sarah i.

 

41

153

sarah i.

Oakland, CA

3 star rating
01/12/2008

i give this place a 3.5.

For four: 1/2 dozen raw oysters, 2 crabs, small spicy seafood soup  = $100 or so.

If you're ever in San Francisco, go to PPQ Dungeness Island or Thanh Long, and you'll realize why I gave this place a 3.5. The crab is definitely tasty, but I like mine with a little more flavor, instead of just steamed in its own juices.

The spicy seafood soup was just okay. i wouldn't order it again.

People thought this was:

Useful  (2)

Funny  (1)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of pauline c.

 

36

241

pauline c.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
06/03/2008

oh HECK yea.  went with my friend Lindsay H. (below) and we had ourselves a feast!! (with 2 others in tow, of course).  4 crabs, 1 plate of octopus, 1 plate of big shrimpies, and 1 darn big bucket of spicy seafood fish soup later... some beer, and soju (ok I lied, they had soju but I didnt').... we were ready to ptfo.  we ate until we couldn't eat any longer and then moved on.  to the dessert!!!!! on the rest of the pier.  

anyway, the crab is definitely fresh (hellllo, it's alive before you pick it out and have it killed for tasty tasty murder).  then octopus/squid was kind of gross looking and had a weird texture but it was actually decently surprising and flavorful.  The shrimp were a little smaller than I had imagined (I LIKE BIG SHRIMPY SHRIMPS).  Ok, come here.  It's too good and too fresh.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Lindsay H.

 

12

88

Lindsay H.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
06/03/2008

go there, eat their steamed crab, eat up! hammer away, get full.  that's all i have to say!  my family and i used to go here at least once a month when we lived in la.. haha  super pricey, but it's too good!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of daniel h.

 

15

48

daniel h.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
01/09/2008

CRAB HEAVEN.

Things to order:

1. Whole steamed crab

2. Spicy fish soup

3. Steamed shrimp

4. Soju

Thats it. Dont even bother getting the lobster. Why would you even order the oysters? They have truckloads downstairs where you can eat them for probably cheaper.

One more thing, who needs a hammer to crack the crabs? NOOBS!
I crack the crabs with my hands and am I braggin? Of course I am. My uncle told me once " Real man knows how to crack the crab with hands only". So thats it. Ever since then, Ive become a real man. lol

Uncle, I am mature now!

ohhhhhhhh. BIG P.S. order a bowl of rice...add some butter...then add the spicy sweet pepper sauce...then add a few chunks of crab. mix it all up... OH EM JEE. Good lawd its tasty!

its called the DANNY SPECIAL!
(now if you were at a bar, a DANNY SPECIAL would be a shot or two of grey goose. fill it up with pineapple juice. then add a splash of cranberry n redbull. but thats another time and another place. Go to my review on BLVD 3 for a place to drink at)

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Funny  (2)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Rob B.

 

5

53

Rob B.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
01/21/2008

What can I say, these guys know their crab.  They cook it perfectly.  We started with shrimp cocktail and oysters.  Everything was on the mark.  It's a bit expensive, but crab is and this place is crowded so no need for them to lower their prices.  

If you want fresh whole crab and don't know how or want to cook it yourself, these guys know what their doing.

People thought this was:

Useful  (1)

Cool  (1)

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Michael A.

Elite '08

37

169

Michael A.

Costa Mesa, CA

2 star rating
02/13/2008

I can't figure why I keep coming back here other than the fact that my brother dragged me along with his family again.  They always seem to f***ing overcook them bugs so that most of the flavor is left in the cooking water.  Yes, the broth of the meh-woon-tang was good but I wouldn't come here just for it.  This isn't my idea of waterfront dining.

I would rather drive up to SF for some red bugs and drive back after dinner.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Tim L.

Elite '08

40

407

Tim L.

Astoria, NY

4 star rating
01/29/2008

After driving non-stop for 20+ hours on a spur of the moment road trip, what better way to satiate your desires stemmed from staring at miles and miles of ocean than to devour food freshly plucked from that very same abyss?

Deliciously fresh. Great views of the water.  It's certainly on the pricier side, but you are truly getting your money's worth when you eat here.

Oh..get the crab.  Crab, crab and more crab.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of Becky K.

 

15

32

Becky K.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
02/19/2008

This place is an institution in my mind...i might go as far as say it's an institution for most 2nd generation Korean-Americans.  It's mandatory that you make a pit stop here when your relatives visit from Korea...and when people visit from Korea, they ask to stop by this place.  

It's such a contagiously exciting moment when someone suggests, "let's go eat Korean crab at Redondo!"  I feel like I need to purify myself for such a spiritual experience.

When going with adults (parents and above), we'll most likely get oysters, sashimi, crab, shrimp, mae-woon tang (spicy seafood soup)...and if you're lucky, some fresh uni....and soju

When eating with friends, we'll get crab, shrimp and mae-woon tang with berrrrrr and soju.

My favorite tradition is taking the rice at the end and mixing it with the natural salty juice and remains (brain,guts) in the crab shell...YUM.  don't knock it till you try it.

However...I did hear the other Korean place gives you more for your money...even though I heard it's own by the same people...but I wouldnt know because I'm quite the loyal customer and have never tried out the other place...officially on my list to do...

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of j l.

 

1

115

j l.

Cypress, CA

5 star rating
07/06/2008

good sea food... always busy.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Photo of carebear l.

 

12

145

carebear l.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
04/01/2008

I wanted good seafood.... I wanted good seafood bad. My little bro hyped up this place and it was so disappointing. He said we're going to the beach. We're going to the beach to eat seafood. I'm not even sure what it was about this place that I didn't like.  There was a crowd in the restaurant, so I thought "oh this place is going to be good." All these people can't be wrong. I thought the sashimi patter was good and really fresh. The little octopuses were really fishy tasting. When I bit into the head portion, it just