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Los Angeles' Best Restaurants For Eating Shrimp

LA-shrimp-cover-killer-shrimp
(credit: Killer Shrimp)

What's crispy, crunchy, often breaded or decked out in coconut, and delicious whether boiled, fried, sautéed, or served in a cocktail? Shrimp, of course. And with National Shrimp Day, there's no better time to explore some of LA's best restaurants for shrimp. You won't have to dive into the briney deep to taste some shrimp-tastic eats.

LA shrimp The Lobster
(credit: The Lobster)

The Lobster
1602 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-9294
www.thelobster.com

The Lobster may specialize in lobster, but they offer plenty of shrimp options to satisfy your appetite! Situated right on the water next to the Santa Monica Pier, the restaurant is the perfect spot for serving shrimp as it overlooks the blue Pacific Ocean. But, it's not just the setting that's inviting. Bite into their delicious shrimp cocktail or their signature dish, a shellfish & black linguine pasta. House-made squid ink pasta shares the plate with wild Mexican shrimp, mussels, clams, and Dungeness crab. Served with garlic, tomatoes, basil, and chili flakes, it is one tasty dish.

LA shrimp Son of a gun
(credit: Alicia W./Yelp)

Son of A Gun
8370 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782-9033
www.sonofagunrestaurant.com

At Son of a Gun, they definitely know how to cook up some delicious seafood. This West Hollywood hot spot from chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo offers a score of great shrimp dishes on the menu, but none quite so iconic as their Shrimp Toast Sandwich. This shrimp treat is made with hoisin sauce, fresh herbs, and spicy Sriracha mayo, and is redolent of cilantro, basil, and mint.

LA Shrimp Water Grill
(credit: Water Grill)

Water Grill
544 S. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 891-0900
www.watergrill.com

At the elegant Water Grill in downtown LA, shrimp comes on beautiful cold platters, and in generously portioned shrimp cocktails. The seafood eatery serves up plenty of shrimp like their wild jumbo Mexican brown shrimp, as well as wild jumbo brown shrimp. Their farmed Ecuadorian shrimp and grits is a specialty with merguez sausage ragout.

shrimp
(credit: Mateusz Gzik/shutterstock)

Paul Martin's Grill
2361 Rosecrans Ave.
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 643-9400
www.paulmartinsamericangrill.com

Paul Martin's American Grill, with bright and airy locations in both El Segundo and Pasadena, is a great spot for brunch or a date night. And, with a shrimp salad and a variety of seasonal shrimp dishes on the menu, it's also a solid bet for great shrimp. But, the dish that must be ordered is is their renowned Salt & Pepper Shrimp starter. Wild Mexican Pacific shrimp is lightly fried and combined with pesto aioli for a flavorful dish that doesn't overpower the sweet taste of fresh shrimp.

LA Shrimp Boneyard
(credit: Boneyard Bistro)

Boneyard Bistro
13539 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 906-7427
www.boneyardbistro.com

Boneyard Bistro has a fun gastropub setting and craft cocktails - but it also has shrimp tacos that are among the best in town. Their grilled jerk shrimp tacos are made with mango, pineapple, smashed plantain guacamole, cabbage on corn tortillas. Think that's impressive? Check out their Cajun empanadas with shrimp, crawfish, and Louisiana aioli.

LA Shrim Killer Shrimp
(credit: Killer Shrimp)

Killer Shrimp
4211 Admiralty Way
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 578-2293
www.killershrimp.com

Naturally, at a restaurant called Killer Shrimp, there are plenty of shrimp dishes on the menu. With either a Marina Del Rey water view or a Hermosa Beach location just steps from the sand to choose from, take your pick and get ready to settle in for spicy peel and eat shrimp, shrimp pasta, shrimp salad, fried shrimp, coconut shrimp - shrimp everything.

Genie Davis is a multi-published journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. She lives near the beach in Los Angeles. See more on: CBSLA | eco-exist.com | geniedavis.com | DiversionsLA | Twitter.
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