In Westminster, where the Pacific’s bounty meets Orange County’s vibrant culinary scene, a new season of seafood excellence unfolds. From the sizzle of garlic butter on fresh-caught lobster at bustling pierside spots to the delicate artistry of sushi masters, these waterside gems transform every meal into a coastal celebration.
Tràm Chim Fresh Seafood
$$ | (714) 717-6885 | WEBSITE
You might spend a minute or two scanning the strip mall for Tràm Chim Fresh Seafood, but once you step inside this bustling Vietnamese spot in Westminster, you’ll be greeted by friendly service and a menu full of delicious seafood. They have all the traditional Vietnamese things – hot pot, tamarind chicken wings, salty fried rice – so order what sounds good, although you should probably make sure that includes the mango snail salad or the scallops coated with onion fat.
And if you’re someone who loves a good deal, the generous portions and decent prices make it perfect for sharing with a group, though remember to bring cash.
Sao Bien Restaurant
$ | (714) 531-1521 | WEBSITE
If you want to make this easy on yourself, just go to Sao Bien Restaurant. They do very good Vietnamese-style seafood dishes (we like the garlic noodles with steak and added crawfish), a few noodle bowls, steamed clams, and some very tasty pennywort drinks. Their parking is highly unpredictable during dinner hours, so arrive early if you don’t want to possibly end up circling the block and settling for fast food instead.
Diamond Seafood Palace 3 | Wedding Venue
$$ | (714) 891-5347 | WEBSITE
It’s another place with ‘palace’ in its name, so you probably know the drill by now. This spot in Westminster offers excellent seafood for events like weddings and receptions, with kind and patient staff who ensure everything runs smoothly. You can trust the consistently praised food and the venue’s continuous upgrades, plus their competitive pricing makes it a smart choice. Each event comes with their full attention to detail—in case you happen to need that extra peace of mind.
Retro Saigon Xua Restaurant
$ | (714) 622-4411 | WEBSITE
There’s a chance you’ve heard about this place because the salmon roll has become legendary in Westminster, or because it’s tucked away in a casual spot with both indoor and outdoor seating. But you should really know about Retro Saigon Xua because the seafood is incredible. You could order anything here and feel like you made the right choice, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed, get the salmon roll.
It’s their signature item, and every bite delivers that crispy, crunchy texture people keep talking about. The prawn roll with its juicy prawn, pickled carrot, and mango wrapped in a crispy egg roll wrapper tastes like summer in a bite. Their coffee is so good it puts big chains to shame. This little gem is perfect for a casual meal with the family or grabbing some hot foods to go, and if you’re ordering for a gathering, getting over ten items scores you a discount.
Just bring cash to avoid the card fee.
Destination Seafood House
$$ | (714) 884-4692 | WEBSITE
Of course Destination Seafood House is on the list. The garlic noodles are the ultimate standout dish – there’s nothing particularly overcooked in them, so no soggy texture once you’ve worked through the seafood. Try the lavender lemon drop while you’re at it.
Biển Hẹn Seafood & Lẩu
$$ | (714) 898-2322 | WEBSITE
Yes, this is where everyone gets their seafood fix. No, that doesn’t make it any less delicious. Biển Hẹn Seafood & Lẩu knows exactly what it’s doing. They’ll serve you a hot pot, or you can build your own feast with the restaurant’s huge selection of goi, pho ap chao, and shaken beef. You don’t even have to worry about dietary restrictions – they have plenty of tofu and mushroom dishes here too. Do not skip the grilled chicken feet with satay. Under any circumstances.
Thiên Ân Bò 7 Món Restaurant
$$ | (714) 531-1838 | WEBSITE
While we generally go for the beef hotpot at this casual Vietnamese spot in Westminster, it’s a poorly-considered salty mess waiting to happen. Instead, get the 7 courses of beef, the grilled fish, and some rice paper wraps (or one of the generous family platters they have for $24.95) that will make it to your group dinner intact. We also recommend having the tea while you’re there as a starter.
Kim Su Seafood Restaurant
$$ | (714) 554-6261 | WEBSITE
We’re not here to hide our love of Kim Su Seafood Restaurant. We’re here to share it. Because with its spacious, recently remodeled interior and bright lighting, this spot’s seafood-centric dishes, soups, and buffet-style service make for a tasty and convenient family meal. Don’t miss out on the clam with black bean sauce (and don’t pretend you’re not excited that it involves perfectly balanced flavors).
Frutti di Mare
$ | (714) 326-3946 | WEBSITE
Eating seafood from a food truck is fun no matter what, but the experience gets even better when it’s also an excuse to get incredible value. So before you go watch a movie or run errands, head to Frutti di Mare. Even if all you know is that you want something fresh and crispy, the friendly chef will offer samples that your friend Sarah (who grew up on the coast in Maine) will be happy to eat.
Plus, the lobster roll and lobster ravioli feature generous portions of succulent meat, in case you want to splurge on dinner too. Not that the massive amount of fries will actually make it to the end of the meal.
Tràm Chim Live King Crab
$$ | (714) 467-5405 | WEBSITE
Need a seafood feast? Head to Tràm Chim Live King Crab. If you’re there with a big group (and you’ve booked ahead), you can dig into their famous crab and shellfish. If not, you won’t get the full spread, but you will still enjoy their Vietnamese classics like Oc len xao dua or the mango squid salad. Either way, you won’t leave disappointed.
HOT°Com Tam
$ | (657) 227-7576 | WEBSITE
There’s a reason we (and everyone else in Westminster) keep going back to brave the futuristic ordering system that is HOT°Com Tam: the broken rice dishes are too damn good to stay away. And if you’re picking up some stuff to-go, you can skip all the tablet tapping by calling ahead to order one of their excellent com tam plates (and add in some of the fried egg rolls from the menu without having to wait).
Once you get to your spot, you can all pretend like you’re in a cozy, modern Vietnamese kitchen as you sit at a clean, bright table picking apart grilled pork with your chopsticks. Except traditional kitchens didn’t have access to that interesting fish sauce mixed with olive oil to drizzle all over your rice.
Ngoc Suong Restaurant
$$ | (714) 531-1428 | WEBSITE
This banquet-style spot in Westminster has a menu of Vietnamese seafood favorites that you’ll want to book ahead for before they fill up. But even if you arrive without a reservation, you can’t really be disappointed here – the lobster garlic is phenomenal, and there’s a whole section of flavorful soups and plenty of family-style dishes to share with your group.
Seafood Cove 2
$$ | (714) 893-1976 | WEBSITE
Dim sum and parking lots might not seem like a great pairing, but Seafood Cove 2 makes it work (because there’s apparently nothing this kitchen hasn’t mastered). The salt and pepper dishes are perfectly shareable and easily passed around, and there’s no dealing with small plates when everybody has their own Peking style pork chops. Stop at the Westminster location before a group dinner or an Orange County outing.
The Kickin’ Crab
$$ | (714) 892-9888 | WEBSITE
The seafood at a casual spot is important, but so is the fun. And if your priorities lean more towards the latter, The Kickin’ Crab is a good spot to hit. This next-level neighborhood joint has a big selection of crab, shrimp, and crawfish, and all kinds of sides to help you stay messy (and full through the lively dining experience you thought would make you feel like a kid).
Seafood Paradise
$$ | (714) 893-6066 | WEBSITE
Seafood Paradise is the dim sum destination in Westminster, which lets you indulge in their insanely good har gow whenever you damn well please. For a weekend feast, you’re going to want the circulating cart experience, which includes siu mai, honey walnut shrimp, chicken feet, and jealous looks from all the people around you at other tables who settled for plain cheung fun. Sure, the chicken feet might not be for everyone, but you devour them like that on most Saturday afternoons anyway.
Also of note: you can get the Lunar New Year decorations year-round. And you should.