Nelson's Meat + Fish Phoenix

This hidden meat and seafood shop is tucked away between a bar and Circle K. I’ve passed it for years and never noticed it. They have some prepared food, like a sandwich of the day. Today was lobster roll, east coast butter style. Yesterday was a delicious shrimp sandwich with a dill sauce. Very tasty and I wolfed it before I remembered to take a pic. Premade food can be taken next door to the bar to eat, which is a great spot to hang out. There is meat and seafood to go, along with other accouterments. Very nice staff. This place is not cheap at all but has excellent quality products.

Normally go to the Scottsdale location but came here specifically to try the Crab Roll. We'll worth the 40 minute drive, better than the Lobstah Roll in my opinion. Ton of Crab meat in a delicious sauce, toasted bread crumbs and lemon take it over the top. Best sandwich I've had i in the last year. So good I went back and got a second sandwich. Customer service at Scottsdale location is better, more friendly. Bonus about this location is you can go next door to the brewery and enjoy your meal, great little brewery with great selection. Highly recommend both places.

I am a huge fan of Nelson's. However, I felt I needed to post regarding the Stone Crab claws. Wednesday stopped at the PHX location and along with other purchases, I bought three stone crab claws for $120.00. What a disappointment! The three claws produced approximately a cup of meat. And it was not the sweet, flavorful, meat of fresh stone crab. My guests, and I were excited to have it along with our Thanksgiving meal. No one had more than one try of the crab meat. Frankly, $15 of Krab meat from the local grocer would have been better. If this is typical of these stone crab claws. Steer clear! T was also a disappointment the they're priced by the claw. $40.00 each! And the claws I was sold, were about half the size of the claws shown in their weekly update. You be the judge. As I said before, I love Nelson's. But these claws were a bust and terrible disappointment!

Loved our Valentines Day pot! My dad said it was the best lobster he’s ever had, and the man will splurge on good seafood. Lucky for us, this was a great deal and a fun alternative to going out. We love having this spot in our community!

Nelson’s Meat + Fish Phoenix is an excellent spot when you want truly fresh seafood and quality you can trust. The fish selection is always clean, well displayed, and clearly handled with care, and the staff are knowledgeable and happy to answer questions or offer cooking tips. Everything feels thoughtfully sourced, and you can tell they take pride in what they sell. The market is organized and easy to shop, making it a great place whether you’re planning a special meal or just picking up something fresh for dinner. It’s a local market that consistently delivers on quality and service.

Phoenix hidden gem! As a self-proclaimed foodie, I say that if you are tired of paying for overpriced mediocre food when eating out, spend your coins here. It’s not a cheap lunch but at least you’re getting what you pay for here with top notch flavor and quality. The salmon poke banh mi is the best sandwich I’ve ever had. I took my friend here who tried the focaccia prosciutto sandwich and who also said it’s the best sandwich she’s ever had. Lobster roll is good but is the one exception to the value I mentioned above. IMO, I don’t think it’s worth the price tag of $35… maybe if it was $25. One reviewer from 4 years ago said the roll was $26, so it has had a huge markup of 34%, when inflation has only increased about 11% over the past 4 years. Sadly reflective of disproportionally marked up prices for eating out anywhere. I’m grateful for how they don’t skimp on their protein portions though considering the cost. The manager/owner is friendly and educational about their fish sourcing. I appreciate the kind gestures of the staff when they add a little extra of something I wanted to try. I’ll be customer as long as I live nearby and the banh mi doesn’t keep going up in price!

Very fresh fish market. Everything is delicious the boiled shrimp and cocktail sauce is delicious! The ceviche needs work it was too watered down I couldn’t taste the ingredients. But that can be an easy fix. I highly recommend you come pick up some fresh fish and meat for your family!

Man - had a lobster roll and was amazed by the taste and freshness. Quality you can taste!! It’s rad to be able to grab a beer at Wandering Tortise and have your food delivered. I appreciate the great service and suggestions. The salmon spread with noble bread was impressive.

I enjoy frequenting this place for the fresh seafood and great service. There is no unpleasant seafood smell when you enter in like at some other places I've been to. It's very clean and organized. I love the seafood display. So coloful, fresh, and inviting with a variety of seafood options. I typically get the Faroe Island Salmon. Since the first time I bought it and had no negative reactions after eating it, I knew this place had the freshest of seafood. I recently got my salmon and finally tried something else...Rainbow Trout. The guy that helps me most times when I'm there gave me great cooking tips for the trout after asking me how I planned to prepare it. He said lightly season the fish, drudge it in flour (season it) then melt some butter in a pan to crisp the skin. Get it golden brown on both sides. I tried it and it turned out pretty good. There is fish, scallops, shrimp and more to try. There is quite a bit of locally sourced products in the store too. Several meat options in the fridge. Not sure what I'm going to try next time but I can't wait.

They have great customer service and lots of fresh offering. A little pricey but worth it. Saw they were offering a lobster tamale and had to try it. It was amazing! The green verde sauce was so good I would drink a cup of it.

Came by for lunch on a Friday afternoon. Upon entering, you can immediately tell that they take the upmost care in their craft. Shop was very clean and the displays were beautifully done. Only wanted a small bite, but I got lost in their menu and went overboard. Ordered the Half Nelson Seafood Tower and added a Dozen Oysters, Scallop Crudo, and received a Lobster Tail upgrade. They bring your food to you at the bar next door. Every piece was so fresh that I felt that if I had added any more water to the tower, the pieces would start flopping around. Oysters were the freshest and most well cleaned that I've had in a long while. I don't make that statement lightly either as I travel to both Northern and Southern California very frequently for work. Scallop Crudo was also very well seasoned and prepared. I loved the zest and the emulsion that was used in this dish. Fish ceviche couldn't be devoured fast enough. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and will definitely be returning again.

If you live in Phoenix and want some of the freshest seafood in town, Nelson's is your place. If you are getting something from here to dine-in, the shop isn't really set up for that which makes it a little inconvenient. We came here right at opening and while The Wandering Tortoise next door wasn't open yet, we were told we could still sit on their shaded patio to eat our lunch. We decided to split the Half Nelson seafood tower. The tower was an amazing sight! We oohed over the freshness of all the seafood and had no trouble polishing it off. After our hour of tower, we headed back inside to get some items to take back home. i had never seen uni compound butter sold anywhere so of course I had to get some along with some monkfish and a package of Sonoran Pasta. Service was polite but a bit standoffish and gruff from one person who took our tower order but a lot more friendly from the person who rang up our take home items.

Came down to Nelson's after a couple friends called it the best lobster roll in town (not tons of options) so i figured i would be the judge of that. NAILED IT! Big chunks of meat and the celery bits on in the sauce was awesome. Bread buttered to a perfection not to greasy and had a nice crummy bite. Yes price is high but it's fresh lobster in phx az think about it. I'll be back tomorrow for oyster Thursdays, $2 a pop meet me here!

I haven't officially sat in for the dining experience yet, but I just got finished eating my piece of salmon that I purchased from here and it was so delicious!!!! The customer service was excellent, they have a nice variety of seafood, they also sell a select variety of other meats as well, AND they even sell eggs!!! Which I will try the next time I go there, which will be soon. I also purchased their chilled shrimp, they were good as well, the cocktail sauce that accompanied the shrimp was oh so very good. I definitely will purchase again.

I wish I had more money so I could get all my meat and fish from Nelson's lol. I've been venturing to the Phoenix location monthly for the past year and it's something I really look forward to. The fish is flown in twice a week so everything is super fresh. They even have an email list so you can keep current with what they have an oh my, the options are as endless as they are diverse. I usually have no idea what I'm doing most of the time when I walk into the store but the employees are SO helpful with cooking instructions and recommendations which is so great for a fish novice like me. There are a ton of fresh provisions so if you want to get a quick to go dip, marinade, or spread, they have those too. I think one of my favorite parts of the store is the meat section. The other month I got lucky and picked up Australian Wagyu picanha and I've been dreaming about it ever since. So many choices!!! Nelson's, please sponsor me lol.

Excellent lobster rolls. Fresh fish: one of the few trustworthy places in town. Professional service

Yummy salmon and trout. Can't wait to try more species. Friendly and helpful service.

I'll start by saying that I do like their lobster rolls. My main issue is the price. It's very expensive to spend over $30 for a single average size lobster roll with a bag of chips. I have eaten here twice and even though the lobster is tasty, the bill does leave a bit of a sour taste. I have also tried their oysters and they tasted fresh and delicious. Service is fast. I heard that they bring their lobster from Maine on Tuesdays and that's why the lobster rolls are only sold on Wednesday. I get that seafood is pricey but this would be more attractive if it were not for the price tag. There is no seating area but most people go to the bar next door to get a drink and sit there. All in all it's a good roll but not an amazing out of this world roll to justify the price. Funny thing is all probably come back because it's so close to my house however you've been warned.

Kind of an odd place, we drove 30 minutes to get here thinking it was a restaurant/ market after seeing a very misleading instagram post... once we arrived it like you have your choice of three things and nothing cooked... So we had a poke sandwich, which was good but no way was it worth driving thirty minutes to get what basically is a tuna sandwich... won't be back

Went for breakfast this morning as I've been craving fish for days! Friendly, educated staff, fresh and delicious everything! Oysters so briny and perfect. Sashimi melted in your mouth. VERY worth the wait and drive from Litchfield Park!

Thursday they have Lobster rolls. Ohhhh so good. I love the neighborhood vibe. They are also very knowledgeable about their seafood and meets.

Love the lobster rolls, poke sandwich and freshness of all seafood for sale in the store

best fresh fish in AZ. Been coming here for about 4 years now. I only get the salmon or tuna Ban Mi, its my favorite fish sandwich in all of AZ and probably only challenged imo by the capital grill Steak Sandwich for overall best sandwich in AZ. Go 1/2 Jalapeno or none when they are in season or your mouth will be burning.

As good as always. Tried the Friday special Salmon poke bowl and it was amazing. Guys in there are always friendly and happy to answer questions. Everything in the display looks fresh and delicious. Also got the salmon Bahn mi and it was the best sandwich in phoenix, as usual.

Came in for the lobster roll, left with the poke banh mi and Oo I'm glad I did. The banh mi was served on two slices of ciabatta from Noble bread, for those who don't know, the best bread around. I chose spicy salmon poke on my sandwich was definitely on the spicy side (6/10). Nelson's is primarily a market, with a few daily specials, the lobster roll being Wednesdays special. If you want to dine in, sitting options are available inside the super dope bar adjacent to Nelson's the "Wandering Tortoise".

I found myself with a free Wednesday and no plans, so a perfect time to check out NMF's lobster roll and enjoy it with a beer at Wandering Tortoise. Service was quick and friendly. This is a cold, "mayo-style" (Connecticut style?) roll, but while the lobster isn't dry at all, it's not a sloppy mayo mess. I'm not even sure there is mayo, but it is lightly dressed with something. Lobster was very tasty, large chunks, and flavorful. It comes with Utz crab seasoning chips which went great with my hazy IPA at the Tortoise. Heads up: older reviews mention this as around $27 but now with "inflation" (don't blame small businesses!) it was around $37 before tip. Yes, for one sandwich. I am admittedly not a huge lobster or lobster roll fan, so between that and the price, it's not something I'll go for often. But I'll probably have a couple more eventually! It was good.

Highly recommended!!!!! I needed to host 17 people for Jewish new year. I came to nelson for 14 branzino fish Yes it's a little expensive but you pay for what you get. They fillet the whole fish perfectly! The taste and the freshness of the fish felt in every bite priceless my guests loved it I must say this is the best branzino that i have ever ate in the states.

I'm going to start off by saying that they are pricey, but last time I checked, Arizona doesn't border the ocean and the only sand is the desert, not a beach. So if you're like me, and you love fresh seafood, you're going to have to pay to get it here. I've accepted that because I am the one who decided to leave the east coast and move to AZ. Most recently I purchased some Maine diver scallops and stone crab claws, along with a lobster roll. I'll admit that I didn't love the lobster roll, but that's because I'm a purist and think the filling should only be lobster meat, a kiss of mayo and maybe a little lemon on a buttered grilled roll. I don't want any other seasonings, spices, etc. It wasn't bad, just not the way I want it. The scallops and crab however were pure heaven! I used them in a pasta dish and I think it was the best meal I've ever made. I'm still drooling over it more than a week later. My husband immediately wanted more, but since I'd only bought enough for 2 servings, he wasn't getting any more that night. Service is always fantastic and friendly! These folks take pride in their shop and they are always recognizing and heaping praise on the folks who help them procure only the best seafood. I hear they have meat too, but I'm definitely a seafood girl!

Once again I get amazed buy the knowledge these guys have on all there fish. Quality and variety are outstanding. Get there early some fish will sell out. That's a good thing. Service is the best they go out of there way to help you with your decisions on what your cooking. Always smells fresh and clean when walking in well lit up displays not to mention they carry a variety of steaks. Boom! I moved here from Oregon and didn't think I could find a place like this here in AZ, problem solved! Get in there and get some!

I love lobster rolls but unfortunately I haven't had many chances to have them, especially in AZ. I was so excited when I heard about Nelson's and their lobster rolls! I got here about 15 min before they opened on Wednesday and was 5th in line. It's a small store, so they required masks and only 5 customers inside at a time. I got the NMF lobster roll and it came with a small bag of chips, and the total was $27. It sucks how expensive lobster rolls in general are, but at Nelson's, you are paying for quality and freshness. They also have other items for purchase, such as poke, ceviche, and fresh fish by the pound (salmon, ahi, etc). Service was super quick and they were so nice. They also took the time to welcome new customers and discuss different options. I wanted to get their poke as well, but I wouldn't be able to refrigerate it for several hours, so perhaps another time!

Got ripped off by clerk. Had $100 gift card. Bought $85 worth of seafood. Clerk says there is a zero balance come back next time and see if there's a balance! I was born at night but not last night!

$40 for one sandwich. unfriendly service. lacked flavor. tbh this place was featured on Apple Maps for "Phoenix Must Eats" by a Chef I respect but now I feel like this only made the list because they're friends. Came here ready to spend the $$$ with no reservations on how much this sandwich costs. Now if you're going to sell me a $40 sandwich at a fish market, it better come with equally quality of service and flavor. Unfortunately the service was below par, the sandwich was small, the lobster lacked any memorable flavor and the bread was overpowering and masked any potential for a moist sandwich. Please save your $87+ for a QUALITY meal that won't leave you still hungry and completely dissatisfied.

My neighbors were going to Nelson's for a lobster roll on their anniversary. They asked me if I wanted one. You Bet! It's been a while since I've had a good lobster roll. I gave them $20 thinking it would cost between $14 and $16. Was I ever wrong! The lobster roll was good, but not that good. The bread was good, but not that good. The crab chips were good, but not that good. I was wondering why my neighbors didn't return my change when they told me the cost was $30! I know that prices are going up but this is outrageous. I would never have purchased it had I known. Sure, the lobster roll was worth $14-16 but not any more. I'm crossing Nelson's off as a place for a lobster roll. It's time to to put a cap on prices, folks. It's got to start somewhere.

Nelson's is my absolute favorite when it comes to fresh fish in the Valley. It is also a favorite of valley chef's due to Nelson's ability to supply the freshest fish with the widest variety rotating weekly. Wednesday's is always Lobster Rolls ( Friday's is chowder day)! If Uni is in... for a super rich flavor, add it to the lobster roll. Every week, Nelson films the fish case and posts on Instagram and sends out a weekly email with the freshest curated fish case you can find. Sashimi: ask the fish mongers and they will tell you what is sushi grade. Same with the oysters. They can shuck them for you and you can have them next door at the wandering tortoise. See new fish? Try something new, ask for suggestions and preparations.

1st time I have been here. Ordered the Lobster Roll which is their daily special on Wednesday. My expectations were high as it was $35 for the roll. There are two ways to prepare a lobster roll: Connecticut Style or with mayonnaise. I prefer it to be Connecticut style but Nelson's does it the other way. I was not a fan of the price, preparation, or quantity. Was it a good-tasting roll? Sure. Was it worth $35? No. I understand that lobster isn't cheap. The crab chips that were on the side were very flavorful. If you are looking for seafood in AZ, which is hard to find, I think this place is good but not by any means great.

I have been a huge fan of Nelsons fish for years. Never disappointed in the freshness and quality! We have always wanted to try the meat, but just couldn't pull the trigger with so many beautiful fish options. Last night, my wife brought home a beautiful Ribeye steak. We were so excited to finally try the beef. We cooked it to a perfect medium rare on our Traeger grill. To our huge disappointment, the steak was tough and very chewy with a gristle vein running through. Maybe we picked the wrong piece? I don't know but, For 75 bucks, there shouldn't be a wrong piece! This should be restaurant quality at that price point! So bummed! We will be sticking to the fish.

This company strives to take fantastic care of their customers... and it shows in everything they do.

Best oysters around. Get there early if you want to try their lobster rolls. They sell out quick!

I've been a vegetarian for over 10 years and for some reason I've been craving really good quality salmon. Obviously the desert isn't your ideal place to get good-quality seafood, So I searched for the best I could find and i decided to try out Nelson's. I was super impressed by this place. I almost didn't want to go myself because I was worried the shop would smell too fishy and gross me out. This place is so clean and doesn't have that fishy stench most places have. They have a small selection of high quality goods (which is my style.) I called ahead and asked some questions and the guy was super nice and helpful! I brought the salmon home and cooked it up, it was so delicious and honestly the best salmon I've ever had. I read a few reviews mentioning the price point, but I believe this place is well worth it!

Not a question you hear everyday in AZ, "where's the best lobster roll?" But if you've ever heard of Nelson's then you know this humble establishment is the ONLY place to get the real deal. The lobster roll is gently seared to perfection and stuffed tight with chilled chunks of lightly dressed lobster. This was more than we could of imagined. The lobster roll from Nelson's is a dream come true in the Valley of the Sun, an absolute must try.

Yummmmmmmm. Wednesday is lobster roll day and I was told they get their seafood and meat in fresh daily so I had to give it a try. It lived up to the hype. The roll was delicious. It had huge pieces of lobster. The mix they used with the lobster was perfect. It was light, so it didn't drown out the lobster, fresh and just delicious. I'm excited to go and try some of their other specialties.

Fresh fish in the desert?! It is possible! Nelson's knocks it out of the park every time! My favorite is their Wednesday special - a traditional "lobstah" roll with a side of perfectly seasoned chips. We like their to go items, whether it's salmon dip or a fish filet to grill for dinner. You can take their lunch items to go, eat in their little restaurant or head next door to have a beer with your meal. If fish isn't your jam, Nelson's also offers locally raised poultry and meat. Although their prices are higher than a traditional grocery, it is worth every penny. Quality is always better than quantity, and Nelson's offerings are top notch!

Amazing food! The lobster roll was so delicious. Expensive, but worth it. Great service. Super friendly employees.

Went to Nelson's today and picked up a couple orders of the Roasted Pepper Beef Stew to go. Flavors and tenderness of beef were on point. Very tasty. Pricey @ $21 total for two one cup servings. One thing mentioned in other reviews (and Nelson's is not the only local offender) is the auto prompt when paying with credit card to tip. I may be a little old fashioned but tips are for waitstaff/bussers/food runners @ full service restaurants. It is NOT an additional fee for management and ownership who should be compensated based on the success of their establishment with the assumption that they have built in sufficient profit for themselves.

Fresh seafood is expensive in AZ, get over it. It's about quality and they know it and take care of their customers. I highly recommend them over others like Chula if given the choice. They also do events like a crawfish boil which is nice. Try it out and make the decision for yourself.

What can 1 say other than AWESOME! The best Fish Mkt n the entire valley. The fish is displayed well. It's always the freshest available. The Staff is very well versed and knowledgable on their products and the interaction is courteous, friendly and very professional. The Nelson Staff gets it...."They care!" I guarantee if U go once U will keep going back! I'm salivating for their new Scottsdale location to open at Acoma n Scottsdale Rd on sw corner as I live 12 minutes from it! I'm sure it will have the same great service here as well! Kudos to Nelly for getting it right on all facets of the operation.

Amazingly fresh blue fish. Welcome to Scottsdale! This is a definite repeat meal. Great flavor.clean plates all around.

Excellent high quality seafood in the desert. Some local friends suggested this place and it is well worth it. The counter guy was super knowledgeable and waited on me like I was a princess really. I asked about the poke banh mi and he explained it really well to me and also told me the bread wasn't going to be authentic, so I appreciated his honesty. No, you aren't going to get a French baguette (which honestly they should invest in this), but a ciabatta and well it just doesn't hit the spot. But, the tuna poke and everything else in the banh mi was spot on good. I also bought some striped sea bass to grill later in chermoula sauce and it was just fantastic. He told me the striped sea bass was caught in the LI Sound and really the best. Well, he sold me on that. I am still a New Yorker at heart. Sucker. Oh and the last thing he told me is that on Saturdays they carry everything bagels made by a guy from Brooklyn. Dang, man. You know the way to my heart (and wallet)...

Tuna poke Meh... worst poke we've had in a while Ceviche mild... not worth the price they charge

So finally got a chance to go here today and gotta say I was not wowed by this place. So the good- seafood is fresh and good variety, well it may seem pricey to some the freshness makes up for the price. Now for the bad- lacking lacking lacking in flavor! We got the Bahn Mi very bland and bread seemed off, we also got the Shrimp salad bun, it seemed to be missing something but I will say it did have plenty of shrimp and filled the bun. We also purchased the octopus salad and the fish smoked dip- will never buy again! Octopus salad was so salty we couldn't eat it and the fish dip was sooooo bland, like the put all the salt in the octopus salad and didn't have any left for the fish dip! Service- they were fantastic and very helpful!

Blah, blah, blah!! To all those who leave them bad reviews because of price. This is the desert! Nelson's is first class, the fish, seafood and meats are are meticulously chosen to WOW! Extremely high quality and FRESH always. When I can afford it, I get it! The staff is super friendly and helpful if you you can't decided what to pick and answer any questions you may have. NO BETTER FISH RETAILER IN THE VALLEY PERIOD! Thank you Nelson's!!!

Hidden gem! Really surprised by the options they have here. They're super friendly and informative. I'm the type of person that asks lots of questions so it's nice to meet people who are happy to help. It's a higher dollar amount but it's the quality that matters. Next time I come back I'll try something off of the menu.

Went the the brewery next door and thought to walk inside to see what Nelson's had... oysters are sooo good! Salmon poke was delicious. Such a great idea to have this next to a brewery

I was able to get to this part of town on a wed and was craving seafood. Now I know we live in a desert and there is everything happening in the world right now but 35$ for a 6 in lobster roll It's a bit much

Really disappointing that we have supported you from the very beginning but appears you are getting to big to take care of the little guy anymore In the past you have always been willing to cut fish for sashimi but apparently no more Gotten pushback a few times in the past but today refused to cut 3 different types of fish into sashimi For the prices you charge you would think you would provide this service Off to your competitor who is not as close but always very accommodating Real shame this is how we are treated after supporting you all this time

I don't which made more of a great impression -- the employees or the selection. Shop is immaculate, staff is so helpful. This is the right place !

Simply the freshest seafood in town!!!! Their chowdah is awesome and you have to try the lobstah rolls when available . You have to get there early for those !!!! Great variety of the freshest seafood around !!!! Hell, they even have fish taco kits on Tuesday's that you can pickup and take home to enjoy!!!! Great variety of some great steaks too!!!! Just because we live in Arizona doesn't mean we can't have fresh , and I mean fresh .... seafood!!!! Great environment and the guys there are all very helpful . Great recipes too!!!! If you're wanting fresh seafood, then this is your best bet in town!!!! You simply will not be disappointed!!!!