Some meals taste better with salt air in them.
Pacific Fish Center — the Korean seafood spot locals call 한국횟집 — sits right on the Redondo Beach waterfront, not far from the airport.
Inside it’s a plainly casual seafood house. But step out and the ocean is right there, and that view does half the work.
I came for the crab. I left a little in love.
At a glance
- 🍽️ Taste: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 🪑 Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (casual inside, beautiful outside)
- 💵 Price: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- 🤝 Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- In one line: Come for the steamed Dungeness crab and the ocean view — skip the fuss, bring your appetite.
A casual seafood house right on the water
It’s an easy trip if you’re near LAX, and the beachfront setting makes it feel like a little getaway. The dining room itself is simple and casual — this is a roll-up-your-sleeves seafood place, not a fancy one — but with the water right outside, that’s exactly right.
The star: steamed Dungeness crab (and why I prefer it to Alaskan)
Here’s my take: the simple steamed Dungeness crab here is better to me than the famous Alaskan crab everyone raves about.
Why? I think it’s the salt — or rather, the lack of it. The crab here isn’t over-salted, so the sweet, clean flavor of the meat comes through. I really don’t like things too salty, and this lets the crab just taste like crab. Steamed to order, sweet, tender — it’s the dish I think about afterward.
Beyond the crab: sashimi, clams, and a spicy seafood stew
If you want to make a spread of it, the sashimi is fresh and clean — proper Korean hwe. The steamed clams are simple and sweet.
And to warm things up, the spicy seafood stew (haemul-tang) is the comforting, bubbling finish — packed with crab and shellfish.
A few things worth knowing before you go
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- Go for the steamed Dungeness crab — it’s the signature, and it’s steamed to order.
- It’s casual. Order at the counter, keep it relaxed; the view is the fine-dining part.
- Near LAX — easy to fold into an airport day or a beach afternoon.
- Come hungry with people — crab, sashimi, clams and a stew make a lovely shared table.
- Sit where you can see the water if you can.
📍 Location & details
- Address: 131 Fishermans Wharf, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
- Also known as: 한국횟집 (Korean seafood / sashimi house)
- Known for: steamed-to-order Dungeness crab, Korean sashimi (hwe), live shellfish, spicy seafood stew
- Hours: Mon–Fri 12:00pm–9:00pm, Sat–Sun 11:30am–9:00pm (please confirm before visiting)
- Setting: casual, beachfront/pier — ocean views
A plate of sweet crab, the water just outside, the people I love around the table — that’s a good day in my book.
Pacific Fish Center has become one of my happy places, and I think it might become one of yours.
Are you team Dungeness or team Alaskan crab? Tell me in the comments — and share your favorite seafood spot by the water.
