Pacific Beach Fish Shop

While The Fishery operates as a dual fish market and white-tablecloth restaurant off Cass, Pacific Beach Fish Shop keeps things simpler: counter service, plastic baskets, and a menu that bounces between pub-style fried plates and lighter poke bowls without pretending to be either a raw bar or a taco shack. You're not watching someone buy whole branzino while you eat — you're queuing up behind someone in board shorts debating between the fish sandwich and coconut shrimp.

The **Fish Shop chowder** is the anchor dish here: smoky from andouille sausage, loaded with meaty clam chunks, thick enough that it eats more like a stew than soup. It's the kind of thing that makes sense after a long session at Crystal Pier when you need something that actually fills you up. The **coconut shrimp** come generous and crispy, better for sharing on the patio than the standard fish-and-chips basket, which reviews suggest is fine but not memorable.

The **poke bowl** shows up frequently on tables — fresh enough, though not the star of the show — and the **ceviche** gets mentioned as a solid starter. Fish tacos are on the menu but don't drive the same repeat traffic as the chowder or the oyster specials, which run certain days and pull in locals who know the rhythm.

The setup is pure counter-casual: order up front, grab a number, find a seat on the patio or inside the shack-style dining room. It's not precious about itself. You can bring the dog, split a few dishes with friends post-beach, or swing by solo for takeout without feeling like you're missing the point. Parking on Garnet can be a mess during peak hours, so the takeout option makes sense if you're heading back to the sand or your apartment a few blocks over.