Ocean Grill & Bar

"Ocean Grill opened in 2024 in Chinatown bringing seafood-focused Vietnamese food to the neighborhood. It’s become a runaway hit with items like cua rang me, a stir fry made with Dungeness crab, hulking oysters, and an assortment of clams — the grilled version, nghêu nướng tiêu, is a favorite." - Samantha Nelson, Eater Staff

"Famous for Vietnamese-style grilled oysters and clams." - Ashok Selvam

"Just because Ocean Bar’s menu diverges from typical Vietnamese fare doesn’t mean that diners should avoid the banh mi. This newish Vietnamese is located in Chinatown with a focus on seafood with impeccable detail. While there is no seafood banh mi option, the grilled pork and braised beef options are delicious enough for those not into shellfish." - Eater Staff, Adam Rothbarth

"Flip straight to the back of the menu at Ocean Grill & Bar in Chinatown. That's where you’ll find a whole section of delicious Vietnamese seafood dishes that'll make you want to give each clam a pat on the back, oysters with scallion oil and crispy onions a round of applause, and crawfish in rich garlic butter a key to the city. Oh, and there’s also 14 different preparations of snails, too. Just be ready to do some work—digging into snail shells takes some finesse, patience, and being OK with drops of tamarind sauce or spicy lemongrass broth on your shirt." - veda kilaru

"Ocean Grill & Bar is a casual Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown where, as its name might suggest, the shellfish is the main reason to stop by. Also true to its name, the inside is bright and beachy. You'll see plants, basket lights, and families spinning around a lazy susan full of razor clams and scallops. Order anything with scallion oil, like oysters loaded with crispy fried onion and garlic bits.  And while salted egg yolk or garlic butter snails can occasionally be overcooked or under-seasoned, when dialed in, they’ll make you want to give each little shell a pat on the back. Come with a group so you can split a bunch of things on the long menu (there are 11 preparations of snails alone and you’ll want to get a few). Luckily, the open space has tons of tables, some of which can fit up to 12 people. And though weekends are particularly packed at Ocean Grill & Bar, a few spots always seem open. So bring some friends and start digging into some snail shells—just be ready with a stack of napkins and maybe a backup shirt, rogue chili sauce drips are inevitable. " - John Ringor