If a genie granted us one wish for dinner, we’d wish for a million more seafood spots. And when he said “no,” we’d wish for this list of Aiken’s best—where every bite feels like a coastal escape.
Captain D’s
$ | (803) 641-6476 | WEBSITE
This is a seafood spot, not a fine-dining establishment, but it’s on this guide because this place has gotten us through many family dinners in Aiken. The portions here are generous and satisfying, but we recommend getting the giant fish sandwich, which comes crispy and flaky, paired with their perfectly seasoned green beans. Take it to-go and enjoy it at home or in one of Aiken’s parks.
Tasty Crab House Aiken
$$ | (803) 226-0248 | WEBSITE
Choosing seafood can be overwhelming. Boiled or fried? Shrimp or crab? Oysters or mussels? Let me make it easy: you want the low country boil. Maybe you want it with extra crab legs, or alongside the seafood platter, or simply with a side of perfectly fried shrimp. Either way, get it from Tasty Crab House Aiken. Sitting at the bar for those visually appealing drinks or at a table in the spacious dining room is a decision you’ll have to figure out yourself.
Variety Restaurant
$$ | (803) 648-6987 | WEBSITE
Your fancy seafood spot is nice and all, but you don’t want to spend your Friday night dealing with pretentious servers and tiny portions. Have dinner at Variety Restaurant instead. It’s more welcoming than most seafood places in Aiken, so you won’t have to strain to hear your companions over clattering dishes or loud music. Everything on the menu, like the fresh catches or the home-battered fried mushrooms, is very good and fairly generous.
Prime Steakhouse
$$ | (803) 642-4488 | WEBSITE
Prime Steakhouse serves exceptional steaks in a relaxed Aiken space that’s spacious enough for private conversations (please keep those to a whisper, though). We like the 14oz Ribeye with flawless sear, the 8oz Filet Mignon with tender texture, and the special steak appetizer that starts things right. Just maybe don’t come here if you don’t want steak. If that’s the case, more $48 ribeyes for us.
Park Avenue Oyster Bar & Grill
$$ | (803) 962-7848 | WEBSITE
Seafood is to Aiken as a friendly bartender is to the name Mia. And when you want to enjoy fresh calamari and fried clams, you go to Park Avenue Oyster Bar & Grill. Try for a table inside so that your meal will also come with easy conversation.
JC’s Seafood
$$ | (803) 648-6303 | WEBSITE
It seems crazy to spend your afternoon peeling shrimp yourself, let alone at a restaurant. But when the shrimp comes in a spicy garlic boil with corn and potatoes, it’s time to get your hands dirty. Clearly, we’re team low country boil at JC’s Seafood, but if you want something simpler, the fresh salmon and crab legs are great as well.
Red Lobster
$$ | (803) 648-4320 | WEBSITE
Red Lobster is the network television of Aiken seafood. Everyone knows about it, almost everyone likes it, and there’s no harm in using it as a go-to when you’re with a group of people who have different tastes. You’ll find the same fresh lobster from the tank you’ve probably seen here before, plus some shrimp and other seafood staples.
But the main difference at their restaurant is the excellent, attentive service, and the fact that you’ll have a genuinely welcoming atmosphere where the staff appears happy you’re there.
El Charrito Taqueria
$ | (803) 679-9482 | WEBSITE
As they say, one person’s El Charrito lunch is another person’s El Charrito dinner. OK, no one says that, but it’s true. This is a classic family-owned Mexican taqueria where you might see a group of friends sharing ceviche tostadas or a family with kids enjoying breakfast burritos long after breakfast hours. Get some chile rellenos and horchata, and enjoy this little slice of authentic Mexican cuisine in Aiken. It’s something you have to do at least once.
Sakura Japanese Steak House
$$ | (803) 648-3238 | WEBSITE
You look good in those new sneakers, which is why you blew your entertainment budget and survived on instant noodles for the past week. But your wallet has started to recover, and now it’s time for dinner. Eat some hibachi-style seafood at Sakura Japanese Steak House, where there should be enough fun to justify your purchase. Everybody waiting for a table looks like they brought the whole family for a night out, but the food is very tasty.
Soul & Seafood House
$ | (803) 226-0555 | WEBSITE
You’ve been tasked with finding a seafood spot for a family dinner in Aiken. We feel your pain. But here’s the silver lining: you can stop scrolling through endless reviews and just head straight to Soul & Seafood House. The Southern seafood is both satisfying and reasonably priced, and there’s a generous portion policy and a consistently pleasant atmosphere.
Aiken Fish House and Oyster Bar
$$ | (803) 226-0260 | WEBSITE
Dinner at Aiken Fish House and Oyster Bar has been packed on weekends since they added those oyster shots to the menu (no coincidence, fortunately). That’s because this place is reliable, comfortable, and works for almost any seafood craving. Their seafood-heavy menu has constantly changing specials, and enough options for everyone to find what they like. Bring a friend, bring an appetite, or bring your picky cousin who only eats hush puppies.
Just try to get here early if you want to snag a booth in their relaxed dining room.