Jessie Taylor Seafood

Jessie Taylor Seafood is out Nations oldest open air Seafood market in the country and it is absolutely amazing. It's History. You can get anything seafood here FRESH. As fresh as it gets from fish to crabs to king crab legs and everything in between. If you are hungry and want your pickings steamed they will do it. Clam chowder is amazing. If you want to buy platters they have it as well. And yes they have the best crab cakes fried or air fried. When you have that seafood craving look no further than Jessie Taylor Seafood 🦞.

I drove all the way down there to get my fix for crabs. I have been goi g here for DECADES!!! And I'm really missed to have been given crabs that should still be in the ocean!! The person that serviced me went into the cooler to get what he said was going to be REAL LARGE females!! So obviously after getting them cooked, get home and started pulling them out the bag. Only to see a bag of small & a few medium crabs!!!! I'm really pissed and then to have to pay for parking on top of it. Waste of time, gas, & money!!!!

I’ve been coming here for years, and I’ve never had service as good as the service James provided at opening today. He took care of all the guests, answered every question about the products, and he helped me make the right choices. Thank you for having him on your staff. We went with two dozen xtra large male blue crabs with seasoning and he directed me to the king crab legs across the lot. If you’re wondering you can pay with both credit card and debit card. But you cannot tip on credit card.

Updates Visited again for Clam chowder soup. It was watered down, no flavors. It was also warm, not hot. This wasn't edible. Previously gave 5 stars but now it's maybe 3 or less. Work on the quality please. --- The SOUPS are to die for. The rest of seafoods were bit expensive so I only tried the soups and it was so good but no crackers! They accept credit cards.

Super friendly people and super fresh seafood!!! Prices are super fair for what you are getting... Enjoy some freshly cooked stuff while at it. They could use a better parking situation but hey ... Well done for DC.

I gotta say the shrimps we purchased to eat there at the wharf was unflavored and very plain. I did wish they had more flavor options and provided garlic butter aside from cocktail sauce.

We went to see the cherry blossoms and parked at the wharf. On the way back we decided to eat at Jesse Taylor's Seafood. The selection was really amazing. Just about anything that you could want was there on display on ice. One interesting spin is that they also served hot food that you could eat on site. We got jumbo steamed spiced shrimp and crab cakes. Both were very good and I'd say the crab cakes were excellent. If you were in the area and like seafood, I would recommend you stop there. If this review was helpful to you please give it a thumbs.

This is a great fish market in Washington D.C. it's easy to access and has a variety of selections including crab, lobster, shrimp, prawns, clams, and fish. You may purchase a whole fish and have it prepared or but the fillets.

I drove over 2 Jesse Taylor Seafood down at the wharf on Saturday 5/11/24 . Afternoon 2 get some Alaskan king crab legs 4 Mother's Day. My fiancée said that he would buy them 4 me as my present. And cook them 4 me and make me a special dinner. So when I got over their I asked 4 Dana one of the owners wife's. Who I had dealt with on my last visit there. And she was so very nice and kind 2 me. I asked 4 her but was told she was off until Tuesday. So I spoke 2 a Steve one of the grandsons that work there. And he was very nice 2 me. But very busy helping other customers with crab service. So he told one of his other employees 2 help me. Because I wanted a 10 pound box of Alaskan king crab legs. I didn't know that the price had gone up 15 dollars more. Since I last purchased some but we got them anyway. And they were so delicious and worth every dollar. I'll be back again next time I hope that Dana will be there.

This is the freshest seafood I've had in the area and at the lowest price. On my most recent visit, I had crab legs, shrimp, craw fish and a lobster and was shocked how low the price was. The snow crab legs were so fresh they didn't need seasoning or butter--they tasted like the ocean in solid form. I highly recommend this place all the time! I love this spot and want to give it a 5 so bad but there is no seating available and the parking for a grab-and-go meal/groceries can be miserable.

If you like fresh seafood in a no-frills setting, This is it! There are several stalls selling fresh uncooked fish & shellfish to bring home on one side. The other side had stalls selling steamed crab, steamed peel & eat shrimp, freshly shucked oysters & clams. There's also a fry shack at the far end with the usual fried seafood plates. The gentleman who prepared our clams & oysters carefully selected choice ones to shuck in front of us. If you wanted cocktail sauce, you were out of luck. The clams & oysters came with plenty of lemon. There's also hot sauce available. There aren't any seats...just several bar height tables in the center of the open market where everyone gathers to feast on their seafood choices. This makes for a fun & unique experience!

This is a fun, delicious seafood market in the DC area! We love fresh seafood and love seeing and visiting the various fish mongers here! Believe it or not, there are tons of photo ops the way the fish are displayed! It's very organized and well laid out and everything is packed on fresh ice. We love oysters, shrimp, and fish! Last time we were here we enjoyed freshly shucked raw oysters. They sell everything from crabs, crawfish, trout, cod, flounder, whiting, red snapper (one of my favorites!), ocean perch, tuna steaks, salmon steaks, and swordfish steaks, trout, mullet, mackerel, various oysters, mussels and both bay and sea scallops (sea scallops are another huge favorite!), and more! As others have said, one side is fresh seafood, and the other side is for steaming - meaning, you purchase what you want fresh, and walk a few steps to have it steamed. Think of Publix steaming your shrimp for example, and you'll get the visual. If you like seafood, do visit Jessie Taylor Seafood!

Talk about seafood heaven! This place is a gold mine for seafood lovers. I would move here for this lol! Such a huge selection of fish, shellfish and so much more! We opted for the fried flounder platter and the spiced shrimp! It was incredible I can't wait for my next visit ! Only thing that could have made it better was them having the Mac salad that is advertised they told us they were out

Stopped by here for lunch today. I could pass up fresh seafood. The guys working the booth made it a point to mention how tired they are and how hard they work lifting crates of crabs all day multiple times. The crabs are already cooked and then are steamed with old bay sprinkled on top. The shrimp is also precooked and sits on a warming tray. This is also prepared with old bay sprinkled on top and served. The overall taste was basic. The shrimp was better with the cocktail sauce than the crab. The price is reasonable. I would go back for more shrimp but would pass on the crab.

It's the last of the fresh fish mongers that's still in operation. I miss the bustling, old wharf, with a unique culture all its own. It was hard to witness the downsizing of the Municipal Fish Market of DC so that the revitalization plan for the SW waterfront could be carried out, but that's what happened. I've been shopping here for 25 years. And for the most part, Jessie has provided good value. He sells a nice selection of fish and shellfish, plus cooked seafood dishes and various sides. I've been purchasing catfish, trout, red snapper, sea bass, Atlantic salmon and shrimp regularly. Actually, truth be told, there's no Jessie. "The Jessie Taylor" was the name of the first boat that the Evans Family of Smith Island, MD used when they began selling fresh fish at the DC wharf, back in 1939, and the name stuck. When you buy from here, you're supporting a DMV business. Many independent restaurants, particularly mom & pop places, supply their fish needs from this spot. The wind can still blow in your face and a few seagulls will be your friend while you wait for your purchase to be cleaned (done for a reasonable fee). Just ensure that your fresh fish is put into the basket, at the end of the stall, by the water. Thanks to the Evans Family for hanging in there.

Wow! $20 for a dozen oysters shucked right in front of you. I cannot emphasize just how large these oysters were, these guys are not skimping out on quantity. They offer tabasco, vinegar, salt and pepper as condiments. There's no designated seating but there's plenty of other spots to sit. With so many pricey spots on the wharf, this is a great spot. It's a no frills establishment but you can't beat the price.

While visiting the Wharf, we came upon Jesse's completely by accident. We are glad that we did! We quickly figured out this had to be the happening spot on the Wharf because it was packed. You purchase fresh fish on one side (we paid about $ 69 for lb of shrimp and 2-3 bunches of giant crab legs). You get a complimentary cook card at checkout upon request and stroll over to the other side to have whatever you purchased steamed on the spot! The other side also had food already steamed sitting out but for us fresh and cooked was the way to go. It was crazy and quite busy but, once we observed the process and got a cooks attention, they took the bag and they steam and season whatever you give them. I felt so bad for them because they were so busy with only 2 cooks Saturday afternoon. We ordered and had steamed shrimp and 2-3 bundles of huge crab legs. We found some stairs in the shade cracking crab legs and eating with our hands using the claws as forks to get the meat out I am sure we were quite a sight for all to see but everyone was doing the same thing. Pretty neat and fun experience. We really enjoyed our find.

My boyfriend really wanted some crab legs, so I decided to get some too. When we arrived, we walked up to a busy area. We ordered our meals with a nice man. I got a cluster of crab legs and shrimp. It took about 10 minutes. The 4 clusters for both of us and shrimp cost about $90. When I dug in the crabs and shrimp were very good! It was seasoned to perfection and filling. I enjoyed!

Who knew you can take "live" seafood on a plane with you? We visited D.C. recently and stumbled across Jessie Taylor Seafood right on the Wharf boardwalk. The prices were very reasonable and the selection available looked incredibly fresh with a great selection. Even if you're not going to buy anything it's just a cool experience to look at the seafood for a bit and watch the market activity. A local woman was purchasing live blue crab. We got to chatting and she told us how much she enjoyed the seafood from Jessie Taylor's. Through the years We've made crab legs at home a number of times, but never made actual live crab. This got the wheels turning and after a little bit of web searching we learned you CAN bring live seafood onto a plane with you. All the things you can't bring, but want some live blue crab? Absolutely! We explained our situation and the staff were very accommodating to us. They packaged our crab for travel (box, plastic & ice). We went from Jessie Taylor's straight to the airport. I'm generally the sucker that always goes along with my wife's ideas. I got a few looks carrying a box of crabs through airport security, but made it on the plane and back to Wisconsin. Our well traveled crabs were alive, albeit a little angry by the time we made it home. Dinner was excellent and Jessie Taylor's is a great place to visit when you're at the Wharf.

Defiantly the best fish market in DC, and probably the only fish market. Really great selection of fish and shellfish. They accept credit cards and work late, up to 8pm on summer. Also you can get a fresh seafood as crab legs and clam chowder at the other side. Funny thing, the market goes up and down depending the water level in the river.

My 2nd time here by the wharf visiting DC for the past year and few months. I feel like its a staple to come here when you want immediate satisfaction of having raw oysters or a cup of clam chowder. Prices are high and the food is honestly juat kind of average. Is it the cleanest? Maybe, maybe not but the amount of trash between the barge and the pier is evident of how much they care about their environment.

Underwhelmed. Very. I went there today based on a recommendation and while I was impressed with the prices, I should've known better. I ordered 2 1/2 dozen medium makes and they were $50. But they had very little flavor. They were so small and they weren't well seasoned. It was just a waste of time and money. I'm sticking with Seaside in Glen Burnie from now on. You'll pay about $65/ dozen, but that's better than 30 mediocre crabs just to say you had some. And parking isn't a headache (it's free).

Wow this is definitely one of the many highlights I've encountered while walking on the wharf! Fresh seafood y'all!!! Everything is delish and fresh! For the price too, they do not skimp out! I wish I had more time there. Must visit for some fresh seafood when you're out in DC!

Such a hidden gem for some of the freshest and best seafood in all of DC! It can be confusing if you don't know how to make the most of it so I hope this can help: 1. Call ahead to see what's available and what the daily market prices are 2. Be prepared to be a little aggressive when ordering. There isn't a line where to order so you have to yell down to the staff 3. Tell the staff if you want it to be cooked on-site and they will give you a card. You'll need to hop in a separate line after purchasing and they will cook your food for you (for free!). They even add spice to it and steam everything live 4. There is no place to actually sit and eat, although they do have benches. If this is your plan, bring some napkins, and all the silverware you need. Although it's a bit tricky to navigate for first timers, the food is 1000% worth it. Such a wide variety, good prices for fresh seafood, and even better they can cook it live on site! Definitely worth a try!

I'm not sure why this seafood market only has a 3.5/5 on Yelp. Where else can you get oysters this fresh and large for such a cheap price? I particularly enjoyed spending $20 on 1 dozen oysters - like seriously, this was such a great purchase. These oysters were HUGE, and the guy who shucked them did it quickly and relatively cleanly - a bit of sand, but the oysters were so tasty and fresh! My friends and I really enjoyed the oysters here. I had a couple of my friend's clams and thought they were phenomenal, as well ($16 for 1 dozen). You can definitely brighten up your afternoon by grabbing some oysters and clams (and maybe some chowders if you're up for it), finding a nice place to sit near the pier to eat and enjoying the amazing scenery and view. I am definitely coming back here to get more fresh seafood in the future.

Walking along the waterfront, we ran into Jessie's Seafood which is an open market where you can find a load of seafood to take home or to eat right on the spot! Intrigued, we headed over to order 3 Oysters. The man working was friendly and shucked our oysters quickly. I was so surprised to see how HUGE each oyster was - probably the largest oysters I've seen. I have to say, I was expecting the oysters to be filled with sand or grit, but they were SO clean, with no remnants of anything. We added some vinegar and lemon, which is always a must, and loved them! Only thing is, the stall didn't look the cleanest (stands and the floor), but you can't expect it to be perfect especially being outdoors. Great spot to grab a quick snack to enjoy on the water!

Bare bones open air market. One side steaming, other side fresh(some options can be purchased and taken to other side for steaming. One note: They have the best Clam Chowder I ever had!

One of several seafood options at the Wharf. Good pricing and fresh seafood. I've eaten here twice and appreciated the kind waiters, clean seafood, and plethora of options. Highly recommend for seafood lovers

I make sure I get clams and oysters from them every time I'm in DC! They are always great!

This place is located in the National Wharf on the end with all the live seafood. Parking here can be a bit difficult and pricy. I parked in a spot for $12 for one hour. Other prices were $25 for 2 hours and $6 for 30 minutes. I am sure there were cheaper options but I did not feel like searching. You can get fresh fish, crabs, oysters, clams, shrimp and crawfish. It looks kind of like some area you would see at a carnival. After a long wait, I ordered some female steamed crabs that I have been craving. I wanted 2 or 3 of them, but was told that there is a 6 crab minimum. As I was placing my order, a woman was returning her crabs that she had purchased. That had me a bit worried. Anyway, I pushed ahead with my order of a half dozen crabs. It takes about 10 minutes to steam the crabs once the order is placed, so I hope that you are not in a rush. I took my crabs to a nearby park and ate them there because there are no place to eat them there and I did not want my room stinking of seafood all night. I could only eat one and a half of the 6 crabs. They were nasty, they did not taste fresh, and they did not have much meat. I was starting to become nauseous. I see why the woman was returning her crabs when I was there. To their defense, and my surprise, they did give the woman a refund. Maybe it is not there season, or that was a bad batch. Either way, it will probably be a while before a try streamed crabs again, let alone visit this place.

The crabs were sweet and delicious, jumbo tiger shrimp were mouth watering, and my son did a phenomenal job shucking the oysters for us to enjoy. You cannot miss out on visiting Jessie Taylor's Seafood on the Wharf.

just me eating crab and the min order was 6. OK, give me 6 of your smallest! I think I ordered the females and I learned later that he gave me 9! he heated them up for me and a bunch of old bay, with no napkins, just the crabs in a bag. but they were very good! the yummy gooey green stuff and everything. 9 definitely pushed my limit but I still had to partake in some of my daughter's clam chowder. She enjoyed it and so did I. It's a place with some character, although as a pier, it's just the two places there. we ate around dinner time, and there are some chairs with small tables at a nearby pier. just remember to carry along some napkins!

Overall: 8.5 Taste: 9/10 - Oysters were the biggest I've seen and tasted very fresh and clean - First time eating fresh clams and really brought the clam flavor out. Some of them had pieces of shell and some sand but not a big complaint when they are freshly shucked to order - Medium sized shrimp was sweet but the seasoning was very salty Price: 10/10 - Very good price for the amount of seafood Service: 7/10 - Everyone was polite but some of the workers seemed like they didn't want to be there Ambience: 8/10 - Nice location right next to the water and everything was sold on boats on the water - No real places to sit but there are standing tables and benches without tables with a good view of the water

Craving a quick snack of shrimp, crab legs, or oysters on the half-shell? Jessie Taylor is the place to go! There's no place like it. You come here to get your seafood groceries to go, but you can also purchase freshly cooked seafood to snack on right then and there! We showed up in the middle of the day, ordered a dozen oysters for $20, and found ourselves a spot to sit by the water and had the perfect mid-afternoon snack! An added bonus: they accept credit cards!

I'll definitely be returning to Jessie Taylor Seafood! I ordered a dozen love crabs and a lobster for New Year's Eve and both were fresh and delicious. There is a ton of to choose from and I even got to pick out my lobster! The prices were pretty good too. I paid just under $50 for the whole order.

Fresh and tasty crabs and other seafood delights! Seafood boil unlimited, having fun eating with family with their treats!

While the price was reasonable, the food was not as good as expected. There was no crab meat visible in Maryland Crab Soup; jumbo shrimp looked small; oysters (fresh) but lack of flavor. Clam was fresh and tasty, thank goodness. The young guy who served me was nice and very patient with other impatient customers, who claimed to be waiting for a long time. (There was no line) that guy surely deserve a raise.

I came here for lunch on a Thursday afternoon. I've been a fan for years and the waterfront area has definitely changed over the years. Jesse Taylor is the only open air seafood market left on the pier. One side has cooked seafood and the other side has raw seafood to bring home to cook. The prices are affordable and seafood is usually fresh. I ordered some raw oysters. The oysters available are freshwater Chesapeake Bay oysters which are mild, doesn't have a strong briny/salty taste, and creamy aftertaste. They're quite large and you can watch them shuck them. They also have soup and other cooked seafood (crawfish, crabs, shrimp). I wanted to order more but I was by myself. I usually order a lot and share with others. I still wish they have picnic tables or benches available to sit and eat on the pier. I had to walk to find a bench but would definitely enjoy being able to sit and eat on the pier nearby.

The seafood is fresh and affordable. For the live seafood, the workers will pack it with ice. The wait is not too bad, but it helps knowing what you want when the workers are waiting for your order. I did not get anything steamed so I will not make any comments about that.

An absolute institution in DC and beyond. Some of the freshest seafood around. Located at the wharf so parking can be tough. BUT traffic moves fairly quickly in and out so be patient it is all well worth it. You can find fresh clams, oysters, red snapper, blue crab, crab legs, croaker, mussels, scallops, octopus, squid, just to name a bit of the variety you will find at JT's. Service is always fast and friendly. Bring a credit card things just run more quickly that way. Also, watch your step. They are on a boat and you buy from the Pier so be VERY careful. On the opposite side of the pier just a few steps away you can have select seafood items steamed. If you are staying in a hotel nearby OR if you simply cannot wait to get home you can enjoy your fresh selections steamed to perfection. When they are not busy they MAY removes the scales and fins from your fresh catch but please be sure to tip for this additional services as it does take time. Happy Eating Yeeps!!!

This has the BEST fresh seafood in the USA aside from fisherman's wharf in San Francisco! We love it! Worth every penny

So GOOD! Went to the Christmas Boat Parade. Everything was so good . Will return with my sister and brother in law.

Wow, I don't think it gets fresher than this! On one side, we have Jessie's hot steamed crab and the raw bar (includes clams and oysters) and on the other sides you have all the live seafood and fresh seafood you can imagine. I'm talking salmon, ahi tuna, crawfish, shrimp, blue crab, snow crab clusters, and more! Pro tip, the friendly fishermen recommended us to get the live blue crabs on the raw side and take it over to the steamers. They will heat it up for you at no extra charge. Talk about fresh! We got about 20 crabs and they fixed them up with old bay seasoning. It took about 15 min. We walked down the wharf, found a spot facing the water, and started feasting! Do you ever get tired of eating? Well, the crabs got to be a chore, but the crab roe was worth the trouble! My bf helped crush the claws with a mallet.

Want fresh seafood? Go here. Periodt! Look, I don't know how to convince you but if you can say it they likely have it and more. The seafood is all out on ice for you to see. It's an open air type market and around the corner you can even have fish cut up and deboned. They will ice your fish, offer suggestions and do well with keeping the line moving. This was a great experience and the seafood we got was delicious...just what fresh seafood should be.

Food was delicious!! We had crab, crab legs, shrimp, clam chowder, and the oysters. Oysters were definitely the hit with our group, and were a great price as well. Staff wasn't the most helpful as we were figuring out what and how much to order. But they were able to get us what we needed and we had a lovely time out on the deck at the wharf.

I was in the mood for some steamed blue crabs, so I stopped by early Saturday morning before it got too hot. I parked in the valet section; which was bout $5 for 30 minutes or less! That was crazy, but whatever! At about 8am on a Saturday morning in August, there weren't a lot of people out, so it was rather quiet. I immediately walked up to Jessie Taylor Seafood and was greeted by 3 very nice men. I asked about pricing of male crabs. I asked for a dozen extra large males as I was eating alone and wanted a good size crab. I was quoted a price which was kinda pricey. However, given the current crab shortage and my desire to have them, I was ok with it. I noticed the gentleman gave me more than a dozen which was fine with me for the price he quoted me. He bagged them up. I also requested the seafood seasoning to steam my crabs with which was $1. The other gentleman joked with me about the price, but it was only $1. They were all very friendly and knowledgable. I overheard them speaking with other customers. I even noticed them sending customers to some of other vendors if they didn't have what they needed. Overall, I had a great experience and the crabs were great and heavy. I will defintely go back again, however, I will not be paying $5 for parking!

Visited Jessie Taylor's today and purchased two pounds of steamed crab. To note, there is no seating near this market. There are benches around the Wharf, but that is about it! Regardless, we brought the crab home and popped it in the oven for a quick warm up, and it was DELICIOUS! Best crab I've had in the DMV no questions asked.

This review is for the clam chowder and the shucked oysters on half shell - amazing!!! We got an extra large clam chowder to share and it was I believe $8.50 which felt totally worth it. Lots of clams, so creamy and delicious. The oysters are 3 for $6 which is a good deal for fresh seafood! They also have boiled shrimp in several different sizes but we were feeling too lazy to peel them. Crabs too! Located at the end of The Wharf with a lot of space to wander around. Give it a try if you're in that part of town and want some hot soup!

What an assortment of First Class fresh Seafood on display! With my photos I will post you can see for yourself how wonderful the seafood is! Wish I was able to shop here all the time! Great for the area neighbors!

45 minutes just to get you fish cleaned One guys working and the others just bopping around doing nothing No customer service, I don't even wanna come back here again I just wanna throw the fish and go my parking meters expired SMH

Always! I go there every time I'm in DC. The guys are courteous and quick. The crabs are wonderful.

Outstanding fish market. Great prices. Great location. Very fresh. It's quite the experience.

Bad bad bad crabs I order a whole bushel for over $200 and 90% were bad and spoiled crabs. Smelled like ammonia, black guts inside the crabs. Called to complain no resolution to make up for their reputations and keep customer. Bad management Never ever again

Ordered crab chowder. Delicious. I asked the server do they use crab in the chowder. Kept eating hoping to find crab. No crab. Why call it crab chowder if there is no crab?! Didn't have time to go back and ask.

We got jumbo shrimp and steamed crab legs and I have to say it was fresh and DELICIOUS. the Maryland crab soup tasted like it was canned but the seafood made up for it.

I'll start by saying that the guys who assisted me were super nice. I purchased a box of crab legs and was told that they would steam them for me. And steam them they did. They overbooked the crab legs, so the entire box is dry and inedible. I'm so disappointed and pissed that I wasted $70 on crab legs that are going into the trash. I would purchase fresh seafood from them again, but I would not allow them to cook anything for me. Uuugghhh...such a waste.

Waited 1 hour for 1/2 dozen oysters on a Monday. Service was slow and some of the workers were not wearing their mask properly. They see the lines are long and they don't have anybody helping out. Wouldn't even say it was worth the wait.

Jessie Taylor's selection of seafood is the best I have seen in the area. Even sweeter, the service is quick and courteous. I purchased jumbo lump crab in order to prepare Maryland crab cakes for my foodie daughter. She frequents fine dining seafood restaurants locally and during her travels. Also, she is brutally honest. She said that my jumbo lump crab cakes were the best she's had anywhere, a compliment that I attribute to the fresh Jessie Taylor product-- the recipe I used is 95% crab. It's hard to go wrong with fresh, chunky crab meat.