South Bay Wild Fish House

In visiting downtown Astoria, we were all three craving seafood and or fish. The leader of the pack was the only one who knew the restaurants and suggested their delectable fish tacos. Not being a taco lover ordinarily, I ordered rockfish and in place of french fries, clam chowder soup. On the side was coleslaw, which I love, and although this was made a little differently more pickled, it was still yummy. The chowder was thinner than I had expected, yet it was still tasty. I would’ve preferred more fish than potatoes. The fish was delicious and next time because one of us had ordered the fish tacos, that’s what I’m getting. They were extremely full looking with delectable fish! The waitstaff was very welcoming and friendly. The restaurant is quaint and warm in decor and made me feel very comfortable because of its casual, yet playfully fun and colorful atmosphere. A week later, I returned with my daughter. We chose to sit upstairs to see what that was like. It was super intimate, warm and cozy. Not to mention, colorful and playful with really cool art everywhere we looked.

We were looking for some great fresh fish and seafood to eat on our Cruise Ship stop in Astoria .. we def found a hidden gem ❤️ We had done a bit of research on best rated restaurants and this one came up very high! Casual setting, very friendly service and most importantly very fresh and delicious fish ❤️. I had a lovely Banh Mi with Petrale Sole and OMG .. the fries they served were maybe best fries I’ve ever had! The seasoning on them was so tasty and they were perfect mix of crunchy and pillowy soft.. Our server recommended the best fish to choose when we chose what we wanted. My husband got Fish Tacos which he also loved .. just a great, flavourful meal ❤️

We were looking for a lunch spot in downtown Astoria, and luckily found South Bay. What a great restaurant! Super fresh seafood, fantastic service, and really affordable. Some of the best tuna and calamari I've had anywhere. Coming back here whenever we're in Astoria!

Freshest and tastiest seafood I’ve had in town (or even on the coast overall, why is it so hard to find fresh seafood restaurants?!). Been here a few times now and never disappointed. Tried a few different things, smoked tuna melt, prawns, oysters etc…. All delicious! Service was good. Sometimes have to wait for a table and it’s busy so might have to wait for waiter to stop by sometimes but worth it. Smoked tuna melt- said “lightly smoked” but it’s very smoky :)

South Bay Wild Fish House has a cool, PNW vibe to it. The fish was fresh, and crispy. Fried really well. The fish tacos were enjoyed by my sister in law, and the clam chowder was tasty. It’s not a thick, creamy chowder, but it had a decent flavor. The clams were sparse, so that would be a nice improvement, but it was flavorful. The waitress was friendly, and the food was hot when she brought it out. We enjoyed our meal, but I’m not sure we’ll go again. There are other places in the area whose fish and chips and clam chowder are just a bit better.

One of our favorites we visited in Astoria. 🤩 All food items were excellent but I must say the tuna poké can't be beat! The oysters, calamari, and clam chowder were top notch too! Excellent bartending as well. 👍 Super fun & eclectic atmosphere and great friendly service! We'll definitely be back!

Came for lunch and ordered the chowder, ceviche and the fry bread w crab(half roasted peppers half chimichuri) Really enjoyed the chowder and the shrimp ceviche. Fry bread was tasty, but super greasy for my tummy- it was delicious. Great selection of drinks and cute atmosphere.. I would recommend if your in the area

What a wonderful meal. We had the tuna melt special, ceviche, raw oysters and clam chowder. The food was excellent as well as the service. The only thing I didn't like was the waitress tried to give us the bill while we were still eating. I don't like being rushed while enjoying an excellent experience. I still would go back in the future.

I was in Astoria for the Great Columbia Crossing, along with 3499 other people. In a town with a population of just under 10k, that meant restaurants were busy. South Bay Wild Fish House was no exception. That meant there was a wait, even for solo diners. They did manage to beat their estimated wait time, got me seated and managed not to seem rushed or overwhelmed. The place is cozy with mood lighting and has a friendly, laid-back and helpful staff. The food and drinks were excellent. I tried two local IPAs, both very good, and two appetizers: some very yeasty Willapa Bay oyster sliders and a Dungeness crab cocktail. Both were mildly sweet and briny, and the homemade cocktail sauce was nicely horseradish/forward. For my entree I decided to try a unique offering: frybread topped with Dungeness crab, tapenade, tomatoes, arugula and goat cheese. Amazing! I will definitely be back next year

Get the rockfish! I had the rockfish. I also had an oyster shooter. Get the oyster shooters. I really like this place. My pals did too

Excellent! I had a cup of clam chowder - made with red potatoes. Lots of clams and great seasonings. The highlight was the Petrale Sole fish and chips. I love Petrale Sole - as the owner said, it has to be a big fish to get a thick piece for battering - so that's why it's hard to find cooked this way. This was over the top good. If you like fish and chips - you'll love this. $5 local Buoy can of IPA and glass of CA wine. Great price. Place is small - get there early to avoid the crowds.

When visiting the coast, that is the time to go wild on some seafood. Their prices are elevated for the portion sizes but the freshness is boldly apparent. The crab cakes were divine, the clams in white wine sauce delicate and delicious and the crunchy seasoned fries and garlic toast were the perfect carb accompaniments. The space isn't overly large so try to come earlier if you want guaranteed seating or have a larger party. Our sweet server was prompt and helpful. Glad to have checked this place out.

We had the Fry bread with black cod, petrol sole fish taco, calimari salad with chicken tenders instead and for apps Dungeness crab meat and a half dozen oysters. All were good. Fry bread was like between a pizza and focaccia. The crab meat was fresh but a small portion. The tacos and other main dishes were abundant. Service was a bit slow. We sat upstairs. There was good music playing. Parking is free on the street. We parked about a half block away.

South Bay Wild Fish House has a cool, PNW vibe to it. The fish was fresh, and crispy. Fried really well. The fish tacos were enjoyed by my sister in law, and the clam chowder was tasty. It's not a thick, creamy chowder, but it had a decent flavor. The clams were sparse, so it would be a nice improvement to add more clams to the recipe. But, it was flavorful. The waitress was friendly, and the food was hot when she brought it out. We enjoyed our meal, but I'm not sure we'll go again. There are other places in the area whose fish and chips and clam chowder are just a bit better.

Small two level restaurant that had a 30 minute wait in the late afternoon. The food was really good. The tuna poke came with the diced up fish in a small bowl and tortilla chips on the side. The fish was fresh but could have used more soy sauce or sesame oil to give it more depth. The miso black cod was a special that day. Flakey, tender and sweet, as expected. The fries that it came with were amazingly crispy and light. I'd come back just for that. The tacos came 3 per order. Really good flavors with the grilled meaty fish topped with cabbage and pico de Gallo. Service was excellent and seating on the second level provided a chill atmosphere.

A little hole-in-the wall seafood place. We chose it because of great food reviews and a reviewer's photo of the view of the bay. THERE IS NO VIEW. I still think you should try this place, but don't come expecting a view. Staff is very friendly and attentive. They have beer, wine and cocktails but they don't push them (we had to ask). I had a hankering for fish and chips and the hubs was talked into the fry bread, which is like a pizza. The bloody Mary's were good. The fish was moist and flaky--very good, but I prefer a beer batter over cornmeal. Fries were good, which is a plus! The fry bread was good for a piece. I felt it was too rich for more than that (I know I had the fish and chips ) maybe, for me, it had too much going on. It could have been simpler. But everyone loves it, so don't let me hold you back from trying it. We could have shared one entree.

My wife and I each received South Bay Wild recommendations from different Astoria locals that we met on our most recent visit. After eating there, it's no surprise that it's popular. Their seafood and chips (rockfish option) was far more than I could finish at one sitting - the batter was a chunky crumb type coating, and the fries had a thinner, though similarly crispy exterior. My wife had chowder and crab cakes, finding the chowder to be one of her all time favorites. South Bay Wild is located in the heart of downtown, in a great old space, with some the bar and some seating in a loft above the kitchen, and more in a side room on the main level. The servers spend a lot of time on the stairs, but manage to keep their spirits up, despite the constant workout.

Husband wanted fish and chips. I wanted something adjacent to F & C. The cuteness drew us in. The menu and friendly service made us stay. My "adjacent" alternative was so spot on! Grilled sole on a bed of arugula with a side of chowder. IMHO it's the basics that determine the merit of the overall menu. Perfectly grilled fish. Super flavorful non-gloppy chowder. And the best non-slaw-slaw I've ever had. As for the F&C? Perfection. I love a cornmeal batter, big cuts of fish and super crunchy fries. Great homemade tartar too.

Friendly, fast device. Food was excellent! The crab cakes *chefs kiss*. The breading on the fish was flavorful. The chowder was full of chunky goodness. Small space with lots of pics of local fisherman. Glad we stopped here.

Cozy Little place in the heart of Astoria. I ordered the shrimp and crab cakes with a cup of clam chowder and washed it down with some local suds. The chowder was in a small cup. It wasn't thick but it was buttery, with tasty clams and chuck of potatoes. The cakes were very good, although I thought the aioli was a tad spicy. I had a sweet, very attentive server and enjoyed cool jazz music droning in the background.

Everything on the menu is fresh and absolutely mouthwatering--you'll definitely find yourself coming back for more. The interior is one of my favorite parts: the lighting is perfect, the décor is thoughtfully done, and the whole space feels so warm and welcoming. The service is excellent too--fast, friendly, and attentive.

Fantastic food - worth the wait! We came in towards the tail end of lunch on a Friday and were quoted about a 45 minute wait for 4 people. We took the opportunity to browse the shops and work up an appetite. I got the fry bread with smoked black cod - it was kind of like a pizza/flatbread and the bread itself was great. Loved the pairing of the fish with the arugula and goat cheese. I'd get this again. My partner got a rockfish banh Mi which was also great. I need to come back to try more of the menu.

We were in the mood for some seafood and this place was highly rated. It was late morning and about a 1.5hr drive to Astoria from Portland. So... Road Trip!! Spoiler alert... It was totally worth it. But a pro tip - call ahead for reservations. Or it will likely be an hour wait for a table, this place is small, but the quality of food - simply amazing. They also do not seat groups larger than 6. The seafood was amazing. The freshest calamari, rockfish and chips, and fish tacos we have ever tasted. The fried bread with fresh crab loaded on top was pretty tasty. The service, once seated was quick and they know the menu inside and out for recommendations. We had cups of clam chowder with the largest chunks of clam I've ever seen for chowder. We were so glad to finally stop here. The road trip was worth it. Next time we're in Astoria we will visit again. Well done South Bay!!!

We came around 5 minutes before they opened (11:55am) and there were already people lining up!! Food: Everything is hand caught by them which is cool. At first I asked for the Petrale Sole fish & chips, unfortunately they were out of it, so I had the rockfish fish & chips. The fish was so good, the texture was very delicate and flaky. The coating was also superb. I love most tartar sauces, and this one did not disappoint. What I was most surprised about however was the fries, the fries were some of the best I've had, super crispy, and super flavorful. Very rarely do I wish for more fries, but I did here. The slaw was good, a little too mustardy for me though. Service: Excellent! Our waiter was nice and informative. Atmosphere: The atmosphere was lovely, it was a very cute restaurant. They had fun music and lots of cool fixtures and figures. The large table was very cool, and it had a nice finish. Overall: Really amazing experience, if I lived here, this would probably be a once a month excursion it was so good!!

Native American fry bread with parsley chimichurri, goat cheese and lemon shallot dressing. Petrale soul fish deep crispy fried, no chips, substitute in Little Annie clam chowder with red potato and bacon - takes it up a notch. Sounds good! Tastes awesomely scrumptious! Family owned, fishing boat, sustainable, line caught, fresh to kitchen cooked up perfectly and served up deliciously at the table. You bet we love this place!

I looked up seafood on yelp, while in Astoria, and this place came up #1. It definitely has some unique menu options that intrigued us. They had a 30+ minute wait on a Saturday, which seems reasonable in Summer, but luckily the two outside picnic tables did not have a wait. We had our dog and they let us sit there with her! You order at the counter and take your number. The staff delivering items to our table brought a Diet Pepsi (ordered regular) and did not bring out a side of garlic bread. When we asked for it, they said "I didn't take your order and it's not on the ticket", then walked away without asking if we wanted it. 2.5 stars for service. Luckily, the fry bread saved the day. Incredible - get both chimichurri and tapenade. The food makes up for the wait and the service.

Must go! The fish and chips and fry bread topped with Dungeness crab - absolutely the best!!! The clam chowder - amazing too!! We ordered a cup to share, should have gotten a bowl! It's a small restaurant so plan on a wait - but totally worth it! The staff was friendly and patient with us and we tried to decide what to eat!

Great place though the wait for the food was a bit long. The ambiance is eclectic and comfortable. I would go back again.

Seafood Fry Bread!! Go for the fry bread. Oh my gosh- it's amazing. Chimichurri sauce is the way to go. It's delicious. Besides the best thing to order... got there at 12 when they opened and the place filled up immediately. Service was nice and fast. Fun music playing. And fun decor. Clam chowder was so good. Big chunks of clams. Oyster shooters were fresh. Should have ordered a half dozen instead of just two. Highly recommend this place if in the Astoria area.

Don't let a busy place. Keep you from waiting for a ticket. Fisher is fresh, all of the food is delicious, Service is great, highly recommend. This is a stop on a rainy cold day.

We just got done with a small narrated town trolley tour and " Ronnie " recommended this as the best seafood restaurant in town. As for as " in town " I dunno cause this was the only one we went to but it was great. Had just a quick snack to hold us over til dinner. 1/2 dozen of oyster shooters, clam chowder and calamari with fries and coleslaw. It was really good and fries was so crispy and flavory. Definitely come here and we will be coming back soon. Price was very reasonably priced.

It was the best Clam Chowder I had ever tasted , a lot soupier and really buttery . Also had some oysters and loved them . Good local IPA was super cold . Our guide for an excursion from our cruise ship told us to go here

We had a delicious lunch of tuna poke and shrimp ceviche...so good. Great space, great people, great food. It's a must when visiting Astoria!!

First time here we loved it! Super fresh crab cocktails followed by amazing fish tacos. Love how they pan fried the corn tortillas so they had a little crunch and didn't fall apart. Service couldn't have been better as well. We even purchased a hoodie. We'll definitely be back!

If you're looking for fish this is not the place to go. Thought fish house in the name would mean that it would have more options with fish. It's definitely an interesting type of menu. The ambience is what attracted us to the venue and the high reviews which I'm kinda concerned for since going the service wasn't great there isn't much seating a sign that says they don't want party's over 6 people which is strange they turn away business. The menu didn't have super any great " fish house " options. Went for the clam chowder and after it showing up we got up paid and left. How embarrassing to serve watery milk with lots of salt and potatoes and some clams that is NOT clam chowder. It's complete water! Had one bite and left money at the front and left and went down the road and found much better clam chowder. This place should be changed to Costco style where u order ur food at the front since the service basically seems that way anyway. Definitely wouldn't recommend or ever return.

Yummy homemade clam chowder with nice chunks of clam and red potatoes. Not thickened with flour so really fresh tasting. Super great willapa bay oyster shooters! The shooters had just the right amount of cocktail sauce. You could taste the horseradish. For $25 a feast !

We ordered the Rockfish tacos and the Dungeness Crab fry bread with half red pepper spread / half chimichurri spread. The hype is warranted. Great food and great service. They also had a high chair for our 1 year old.

Came in the last half hour before closing. Was quickly seated and served. Got my Indian fry bread with smoked black cod which was delicious. There's lots of tables to choose from. I chose to sit at the biggest table.

This was recommended to us by two different locals so we thought we'd try it out. It was SO good! Prices were reasonable and the food was delicious-what more can you ask for?!

Incredible fish tacos, large portion, fresh and delicious sauce & toppings, great seasoned fish

This little restaurant was recommended in a Portland publication as having great fish & chips. We ordered the rockfish fish & chips. It was fine? But I don't think I'll be back. The batter wasn't great. Give me a good beer batter any day, not this barely crisp kind with cornmeal. Some might love it so I hate to be critical. I'm sure some people love this kind. The fries weren't memorable. The tiny plastic container of coleslaw was pretty good-not cloyingly sweet. I definitely don't recommend this for vegetarians. We had one in our group. The only vegetarian thing on offer was fry bread with greens on top that he thought was weird.

They took us in right before they closed and so glad they did. We had a delicious fish taco plate, fish n (salad, subbed the chips) and a fresh crab appetizer. Everything was brought out fast and was delicious. There are 2 floors and a couple of tables front outside to eat at. The beer and drinks overall were reasonable. A solid seafood restaurant.

The food and ambience were awesome. They have tables and a cute bar upstairs. The seafood was good. They offered both fried and grilled fish and chips. The service was awesome!

Really good, really fresh seafood. Came here due to the great reviews. Did not disappoint. Oyster shooters were huge! Clam chowder was really good and buttery. They were out of sole, but the waitress recommended some really fresh ling cod. I don't normally like cod, but it was amazingly fresh and very good! I had it grilled with lemon. Their coleslaw was also good and made with a more pickled/vinaigrette sauce, not mayo based. Husband had the fry bread with both types of sauces and smoked fish. Son had the fish tacos and the bread pudding! Everything was delicious and staff was very friendly. Not cheap, but worth it.

We shared a shrimp cocktail with the small Oregon shrimp. I had fried Oysters and chips. My wife had clam chowder and grilled Petrale. We also had a bottle of A to Z Pinot Gris. It was all excellent at a reasonable price. This is one of the top restaurants on the coast. The owners are fishermen and they know fish and how to prepare it. It is small place, so you might have to wait. We got a table at 5:30 on Saturday with no wait.

Food: Excellent and at great prices Service: Prompt Ambiance: The view adds tothe great food

STOP! READ THIS REVIEW. I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING I HAVE TO SAY HERE! South Bay Wild Fish House is ON POINT! Folks - I don't care if you have to wait... just be patient and wait for a table! We got the joy of sitting in the loft... the service and bar were fantastic! The waitress was so nice and kind. They were super responsive, took our order, and got to steppin'. Drinks were appropriately strong and priced. Food was delicious! The Tuna Tartare was WONDERFUL! All Tuna Tartare should be served with chips! The salad was absolutely wonderful - I loved every minute of it. The upbeat ambiance and décor was a perfect setting and we would absolutely do it again!

Fabulous fish and chips! The best!Fantastic clam chowder too! Wonderful, friendly service!

This is the second time we've walked in here and stood for five minutes and nobody says boo. Couples are waiting to pay, we're waiting to be seated and its silence from the staff. No "welcome in", "be right with you", nothing. It's not a good feeling and I feel bad leaving one star since we've never even gotten seated to try anything. We rarely walk out of a place but after two tries, we give up.

Best clam chowder I've had in a while ! Fish and chips were so fresh, fish tacos were on point. Highly recommend... service was great as well

The floor & therefore seating & table were at a big slant. Service was mediocre & food was terrible. The clam chowder was thin soup with rubbery clams. The shrimp cocktail was tiny shrimp, which they at least warned us about. There was no ambiance. When I told them there were no paper towels in the bathroom (no air dryer available) they laughed, asked "really?" & turned away, then asked what we were doing the rest of the day. Do not recommend at all.

Cute place, small, with downstairs and loft seating. Quality, fresh ingredients. No reason it couldn't be a 5 star, just missed a bit on personal preferences. The chowder was very soup-like, prefer a thicker broth. With the rockfish tacos, the fish was chopped up into pea size pieces, would have preferred larger filet-type pieces. The tortillas spent some time on the flat-top grill, which was nice. Coleslaw was very fresh with red pepper slivers and green pimento olives, but it was vinegar based, and we prefer a creamy coleslaw. The fries were fat, perfectly cooked and salted, and a very generous portion.

Found this place on yelp as we drove through the area, had great reviews and I was feeling something light. I got the ceasar with shrimp and it needed more dressing, my husband had the tuna melt on special he wanted a side of the taco sauce but it got busy and we wern't checked on for awhile so we just sucked it up and ate it as did I on the salad. It's a cute little spot if we come through again I'll do the tacos ,steamers or poke bowl. It's small and very popular

Funky family owned restaurant with fun decor and friendly, inviting service. They offer amazing fresh seafood with unique preparations! The clam chowder is one of the best, most flavorful I have ever had. Fish and chips are divine! A must try when in Astoria.

Overall the food was delicious and the service was great also. The oyster shooters were fresh, full of meat and excellent flavor. The fried bread was amazing. On top was arugula, goat cheese and two different sauces and a splash of crab meat. Overall delicious but they were a bit stingy with the crab. Considering how much they charge, they should have added more crab. That's my only reason for the point deduction. Also, I'm not a big fan of the default tip starting at 20%. I still would recommend this place for lunch or dinner.

Went back & had another meal that couldn't be beat. Delicious salad w/grilled sole & tuna poke bowl. Also shared a cup of some darn fine chowder.

We had fish and chips and fish tacos and both were excellent. The service was very friendly and fast. We arrived just after they opened and the tables filled up quickly. It is conveniently located in the heart of Astoria and the ambiance feels very warm and "northwesty". We can't wait to return.