Seafood in Denver

700 Water St. Northwest Denver

303-561-4450

Seafood, Attractions and Amusement Parks, Best Of, Sponsor, Menu

Entertainment and dining complex with public aquarium featuring more than one million gallons of underwater exhibits and more than 500 animal species.

25 articles

McCormick's Fish House & Bar

1659 Wazee St. Downtown Denver

303-825-1107

Seafood, Sponsor, Menu

At McCormick's -- an outpost of the McCormick's & Schmick's chain in the elegant Oxford Hotel -- you can easily forget that you're more than a thousand miles from a coastline. The restaurant's extensive menu features a ton of fresh fish, prepared plain or fancy, as well as steaks, salads and more land-locked entrees. And the already fabulous bar adjoining the dining room is made even better by the super-cheap happy-hour menu.

28 articles

A & A Fish Market

2896 Fairfax St. East Denver

303-399-3730

Seafood, Restaurants, Menu

Enter the A&A Fish Market and ask the woman behind the counter about her specialty, and she'll probably answer, "Honey, everything I make is special." Fair enough: This freestanding joint is the kind of place you'd expect to find on a back road in Mississippi. It's like a fish out of water in north Park Hill -- and speaking of fish, the offerings here include deep-fried catfish, perch and other varieties, served with no-frills sides of fries and bread. But the only accompaniments these crispy dishes need are hot sauce and ketchup. Watch for A&A's specials on the weekend.

801 Chophouse

3000 E. First Ave. East Denver

Steakhouse, Bar, Seafood

2 articles

Blue Island Oyster Bar

2625 E. 2nd Ave., Denver Cherry Creek

303-333-2462

Seafood, Readers' Choice

The interior of Blue Island Oyster Bar captures the feel of a New England seafood house, albeit with Cherry Creek influences. Weathered chairs and barstools contrast with a sleek and clean-lined oyster bar, while dim architectural light fixtures shed a rippling, underwater glow on mural-sized maps and photos. The menu toes the same line, with fish-shack favorites like fried clams and jumbo shrimp sharing menu space with more of-the-moment dishes such as "Thai-style" fish served with coconut and curry risotto and prik nam pla, a dipping sauce made from chiles and fish sauce.

17 articles

Boulder Cork

3295 30th St. Boulder

303-443-9505

American, Seafood, Steakhouse

After forty-plus years, the Boulder Cork remains a Colorado favorite renowned for a menu filled with steak, seafood and pasta dishes, as well as an award-winning wine list and very attentive service. Much of the managing staff has been with the restaurant for more than two decades, and it shows with the quality of care that diners receive. Inside, the atmosphere is upscale Southwestern, an ideal setting for business dinners; outside, the patio offers gorgeous views of the foothills, making this a good place for a romantic evening or special-occasion meal.

1 article

The Capital Grille

1450 Larimer St. Downtown Denver

303-539-2500

Steakhouse, Seafood, Best Of, Menu, Readers' Choice

30 articles

Cart-Driver

2500 Larimer St., Denver Five Points/RiNo

303-292-3553

Pizza, Seafood, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Readers' Choice, Essentials

For a decade, the original Cart-Driver in RiNo has been a destination for perfectly bubbly, charred, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza that remains some of the best in town. Oysters and tinned fish are also served from the small space made from a shipping container. While its larger LoHi outpost has been closed for repairs since December 2023, its reopening is imminent, and we can’t wait to welcome it back.

33 articles

Casian Seafood

211 N. Public Rd. Lafayette

720-216-5704

Seafood, Asian, Cajun

You don’t think of crawfish when you think of Colorado, and you probably don’t think of Lafayette when you think of James Beard Award-nominated restaurants. But you’ll find both in one appealing package at Lafayette’s Casian Seafood, which was nominated for Best New Restaurant in the Mountain region in 2022. It didn't take home the prize, but you’ll feel like a blue-ribbon recipient digging into a seafood boil at the Cajun-Asian spot (get it seasoned with regular or spicy ginger, lemon and garlic; lemon butter; or the house “spicy Casian”). You can also go straight-up Cajun with jambalaya and fried oysters or Hmong-influenced with lemongrass sausage or ceviche-shrimp larb.

China Jade Seafood Restaurant

375 S. Federal Blvd. Southwest Denver

303-935-0033

Chinese, Seafood

Don’t mistake the China Jade on the south side of the Far East Center with the China Jade in Aurora. This smallish version of the standard dim sum hall lacks the point-and-serve push carts, opting instead for sushi-style menus so that guests can check off their favorites in Chinese, English or Vietnamese. (A standard menu is also available, with more of the promised seafood.) We always start with savory barbecued-pork buns in both the baked and steamed varieties. Other must-haves include glazed duck breast in a sweet and fatty jus, gelatinous turnip and sausage cakes, and bell pepper stuffed with shrimp paste. Sesame balls with sweet bean centers make a perfect dessert to accompany a pot of green or chrysanthemum tea. Bring friends, because dim sum is the ultimate small-plate experience.

2 articles

Chowder Room

560 S. Broadway South Denver

303-777-3474

Seafood, Recommended, Menu

The Chowder Room is a little slice of small-town coastal life right on one of Denver's busiest thoroughfares. The service is warm and gracious, the decor is homey while still displaying a seafaring theme requisite of seafood shops, and the menu from chef/co-owner Matt Stein is affordable and sensible, though not without a few fun surprises (ask about daily and weekly off-menu specials). For a few sparkling oysters, a butter-dripping fillet or a solidly constructed sandwich stuffed with cod, salmon or seasonal treats like lobster or softshell crab, there's no better stop for the price. And don't forget the namesake chowder: Classic New England-style leads the way, but the kitchen offers many variations depending on seasonal availability and the chef's whim. In a sea of glitzier fish houses around town, the Chowder Room is a safe harbor.

32 articles

Clawful

1862 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Lakewood

303-632-8079

Cajun, Vietnamese, Seafood, Menu

The Crab House

3299 S. Broadway, Ste. B Englewood

720-328-9688

Seafood, Menu

The Crawling Crab II

3215 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Lakewood

303-284-4670

Cajun, Seafood

The Crawling Crab

781 S. Federal Blvd., Unit A Southwest Denver

303-936-0123

Cajun, Seafood, Menu

The big red crustacean hunched over the Crawling Crab sign on Federal Boulevard lets you know that you’ll be swimming in uncomplicated seafood once you step through the door. And the rest of the decor echoes that promise: Life-sized sharks and pelicans swoop from the ceiling above life preservers, mooring ropes and raw timbers that seem salvaged from an old pier. Throughout the restaurant, the distinctive aroma of crab boil mingles with the sweetish, tidal notes of steam rising from boiling pots of crab, crawfish and shrimp. The Crawling Crab’s spicy Rajun Cajun sauce brings out the best in the boiled crawfish, while the more refined garlic-butter sauce offers just the right richness for meaty, whole blue crab. But this isn’t just a typical Louisiana seafood joint; it’s an example of the Vietnamese variation on crab shacks that began sweeping the country nearly a decade ago. Subtle Asian touches in the sauces and sides moor the restaurant more firmly in the here-and-now of the cultural collisions so prevalent on this stretch of Federal.

3 articles

Deno's Moutain Bistro

78911 US HWY 40, Winter Park Mountains

970-726-5332

Bar, Bistro, Brunch, Burgers, Greek, Mediterranean, Pizza, Seafood, Steakhouse, Menu

Winter Park's original chophouse & watering hole! Originally constructed in the early 1900's of log, stone and brick, the building was a stage coach stop. Sometime in the 1940's, it was converted into a restaurant called the Village Inn, then later the Swiss House of Fondue and the name stuck. In 1976, a young kitchen manager named Deno Kutrumbos bought the restaurant, naming it Deno's Swiss House and Coachman Tavern. Over the past four decades Deno has transformed the old building into a historic icon, satisfying thousands of patrons over the years. In 2007, Nick Kutrumbos, then later in 2009, Teddy Kutrumbos become partners with their father. Together they are paving the way for new generations of customers by improving what their father passed on. This second generation business is the longest running family restaurant in Winter Park. We believe that dining at Deno's should not only be full of flavor but also be an experience. We take pride in the details of our service and food while offering our customers great value. After a long day in the mountains, our goal is to provide a warm inviting atmosphere, intended to create long lasting memories.

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

5111 DTC Parkway Greenwood Village

720-826-7488

Seafood, Steakhouse, Menu

El Camaron Loco

775 Federal Blvd. West Denver

303-573-0862

Mexican, Seafood, Recommended, Best Of

There are very few dishes on El Camaron Loco's menu that don't include shrimp. You'll find the pudgy pink specimens in the enchiladas and chiles rellenos; plunged into soups sharpened with lime; sauced with poblano chiles; tangling with jalapenos and folded into housemade corn tortillas; paved with melted cheese; or sharing space on a huge platter crowded with octopus, crab legs and fresh oysters. But if you look around the dining room of this Mexican seafood shack on Federal (our favorite of the three metro locations), almost everyone is tucking into a huge goblet of shrimp cocktail. Swamped with a landmine of shellfish bobbing in a soupy tomato broth livened with cilantro leaves and onions, it comes to your table crowned with half crescents of avocado and accoutrements (lime wedges, ketchup and more than a half-dozen bottled hot sauces) that you can mix and match to amplify the flavor. The server also delivers a bag of Saltines and tostada chips, which you can use to scoop up the tasty little crustaceans.

3 articles

El Coco Pirata Mariscos & Sushi Restaurante

3325 W. Alameda Ave. Southwest Denver

303-934-4133

Mexican, Seafood, Sushi

Fish N Beer

3510 Larimer St., Denver Five Points/RiNo

303-248-3497

Seafood, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow, Essentials

Over a decade ago, Kevin Morrison launched a food truck that became Tacos, Tequila, Whiskey (aka Pinche Tacos). In 2016, he added a new concept in a small, lively space in RiNo, where oysters are cooked over an open fire and other wood-fired and crowd-pleasing entrees like beer-battered cod and fries are cooked in the open kitchen. Whether you’re munching on ceviche and PEI mussels at the counter or going big with a whole Alamosa striped bass, you’ll never leave this spot feeling salty.

21 articles

Flatz Restaurant

500 Flatiron Blvd., Broomfield Northwest Denver Suburbs

303-465-0153

American, Seafood, Steakhouse

Gaijin Omakase

No Address, Denver Cherry Creek

Seafood

Gold Hill Inn

401 Main St. Boulder

303-443-6461

American, Continental, Seafood, Hotels and Resorts, Menu, Slideshow

A picturesque ten-mile drive from downtown Boulder, the Gold Hill Inn has a rich history dating back to the gold rush days -- and it recently survived the Fourmile Canyon fire, to boot. Dinner here is served in six courses: an appetizer; soup and salad; a main course chosen from pork, lamb, venison, rabbit, duck or fish; a dessert that could be sour cream apple pie or a chocolate torte; and finally, a fruit and cheese tray. It's a one-of-a-kind meal in a one-of-a-kind location. Make your own bit of history at the Gold Hill Inn.

17 articles

The Grandview Tavern and Grill

7427 Grandview Ave., Arvada Northwest Denver Suburbs

303-422-0781

American, Bar, Burgers, Seafood, Steakhouse, Bars and Clubs, Menu

Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood

7407 E. 36th Ave. East Denver

303-322-1905

Seafood, Menu

Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood

9280 Sheridan Blvd. Westminster

303-427-8888

Cajun, Seafood, Menu

Jason's Thai Asian Bistro

2022 S. University Blvd. South Denver

303-777-8388

Asian, Japanese, Seafood, Sushi, Best Of, Menu

Jason’s Thai Asian Bistro is a clean, updated space in an otherwise seedy South University strip mall. The comprehensive eatery offers dine-in, carry-out and delivery service, beer and wine, and an Asian fusion menu of dishes from Thailand, Japan, China and Vietnam. Starters include summer rolls and edamame, seaweed salad and miso soup, while entrees like spicy stir-fried chicken and jalapeños and sriracha beef share space with vegetarian items made with tofu and eggplant. The culinary geography changes up with tempura, lo mein and udon noodles, classics dishes like drunken noodles and pad Thai, and more Thai curries than you can shake a pair of chopsticks at.

2 articles

Jax Fish House

928 Pearl St. Boulder

303-444-1811

Seafood, Best Of, Readers' Choice

Sip, slurp and shuck your way to shellfish bliss at Jax, the fish house and oyster bar that Dave Query launched in Boulder in the ’90s. Query launched the concept in Denver soon after, and it’s since gone beyond Colorado. Built around seafood and specializing in shells, each Jax offers grilled and fried oysters in addition to an excellent oyster happy-hour deal. Once you’ve had your fill of the mollusks, though, don’t miss the rest of the menu, which is geared toward sustainably caught fish and changes seasonally.

52 articles

Jax Fish House

1539 17th St., Denver LoDo/Ballpark/Commons Park

303-292-5767

Seafood, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Readers' Choice, Essentials

It’s been three decades since restaurateur Dave Query launched the first Jax Fish House in Boulder, proving that people in landlocked Colorado are hungry for fresh seafood — which we have easy access to thanks to DIA’s role as a hub for shipments from both U.S. coasts and beyond. The downtown Denver outpost opened in 1995, and another in Glendale was added in 2013. Start with raw, grilled or fried oysters, then focus on sustainably caught fish and other seafood rounded up by culinary director Sheila Lucero.

99 articles

Jax Fish House

123 N. College Ave., Ft. Collins Out of Town

970-682-2275

Seafood, Best Of

2 articles

Jax Fish House

650 S. Colorado Blvd., Glendale Southeast Denver

303-756-6449

Seafood, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

Sip, slurp and shuck your way to shellfish bliss at Jax, the fish house and oyster bar that Dave Query launched in Boulder in the ’90s; he soon launched the concept in Denver, and it’s since gone beyond Colorado. Built around seafood and specializing in shells, each Jax offers grilled and fried oysters in addition to an excellent oyster happy-hour deal. Once you’ve had your fill of the mollusks, though, don’t miss the rest of the menu, which is geared toward sustainably caught fish and changes seasonally.

63 articles

JJ Chinese Seafood Restaurant

2500 W. Alameda Ave. Southwest Denver

303-934-8888

Asian, Chinese, Seafood, Menu

Fish tanks flank the walls of this Alameda joint, from which the kitchen plucks specimens -- like lobster -- to turn into dinner. And to be sure, JJ's turns out some excellent seafood dishes, employing jellyfish, razor clams, squid, shrimp and scallops, all specialties of the Cantonese chef. But the massive menu at JJ's goes beyond ocean life, too, covering everything from pedestrian sesame chicken to crispy pig's intestine to duck tongue with basil in XO sauce.

10 articles

Mario's Ocean Club

560 S. Broadway Central Denver

303-777-3474

Seafood, Recommended, Menu

Owner Mario Vega took over the South Broadway space that was formerly the Chowder Room in 2018, and his namesake venture has proved a worthy successor. One of landlocked Denver's few neighborhood seafood restaurants, Mario's Ocean Club serves up fresh, well-prepared domestic catches at prices lower than you'll find at larger, fancier seafood joints in town. The menu boasts fish-house classics — fish tacos, crab cakes, a shrimp po' boy — interspersed with creative (and comforting) small plates like a clam chowder poutine. Visiting Mario’s is a lot cheaper than a trip to either coast — and just as tasty.

5 articles

Seafood in Denver

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