Here’s Your Guide to the Freshest Fish in Miami

When you’re dreaming of a seafood feast, there’s nothing better than a meal made with seafood plucked from the water just hours before. In Greater Miami, we’re spoiled by a bounty of seafood, from mahi-mahi to grouper, hogfish, snapper, conch, stone crabs, spiny lobster and so much more. While Miami is home many excellent seafood restaurants, sometimes you just want to go straight to the source – the humble fish market. Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites. If you’re not up for cooking at home, most of these shops also have onsite restaurants where you can enjoy their fresh preparations.

Stone Crabs at Garcia's — Stop by Garcia's to buy fresh seafood in their market or restaurant

Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market

If you’ve spent enough time in Miami, chances are you’ve bought fish at this longtime staple that’s always bustling with activity. Established in 1966 by a family of Cuban exiles, Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market is a Miami institution for fresh seafood and waterfront dining. Stroll into the small market, which features our local waters’ greatest hits such as grouper, mahi-mahi, lobster and stone crabs (when in season). Locals know to grab a table on the deck outside overlooking the Miami River and order the day’s fresh catch, then stop in the market to buy more seafood to bring home.

Casablanca Fish Market

Right next door to Garcia’s on the Miami River, the equally busy Casablanca Fish Market was founded in 1994 by a pair of Cuban-American brothers. Their fleet of local fishermen keep the market and onsite restaurant stocked with fresh daily catches including lobster, snapper and corvina, as well as specialties such as mahi-mahi roe and shrimp. There’s also a lovely dining room and outdoor patio overlooking the river.

Fresh Fish on Ice — Pick up some locally-sourced fish at La Camaronera Seafood Joint & Fish Market

La Camaronera Seafood Joint & Fish Market

Also owned by the Garcia family, La Camaronera is a no-frills fish fry place in Little Havana. The concept was born when the Garcias equipped their fish market with a deep fryer, and the rest is history. Beloved for their original pan con minuta, a golden fried snapper sandwich served on a Cuban roll, and their namesake camaronera breaded shrimp sandwich, they also fry up delicious conch fritters and fish platters with classic Cuban side dishes such as green plantains. And like any great fish market, you can always take the daily catch home, from whole fish to local lobster and stone crabs when they’re in season.

Plaza Seafood Market

Tucked away in the Allapattah neighborhood, the family-owned Plaza Seafood Market is a genuine treasure. Locals know to line up early to snag the catch of the day. Inside an unassuming storefront, you’ll find bins of freshly caught fish covered in ice, from whole yellowtail to kingfish steaks, shrimp and red snapper. Select your fresh catch by the pound to go, or order a seafood feast from the counter and grab a table in the covered patio out back. Dishes are served with house-made tostones, salad, or rice and beans.

Dragonfly Izakaya Fish Market Salmon — Find fresh fish imported from Japan at Dragonfly Izakaya

Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market

Inspired by Japan’s Tsukiji Fish Market, Dragonfly Izakaya & Fish Market in Doral is both a working fish market and a Japanese restaurant dishing up some of the freshest fish in town. The fish market at the entrance boasts everything from jumbo scallops to a wide variety of fish imported from Japan. A meal in the restaurant is just as delicious, thanks to an impressive raw bar, robata grill, and inventive sushi and sashimi offerings.

Shore to Door Fish Market

A hidden gem in Coconut Grove, Shore to Door Fish Market is another popular spot to buy fresh fish caught in local waters. Look for the surfboard affixed to the blue-painted stucco facade, and head inside to stock up on local catches such as yellowtail, cobia, grouper, shrimp, spiny lobster and stone crabs. You can also enjoy a meal out back at a picnic table where they often host live music. Crack open a beer and snack on homemade conch salad, beer-battered grouper bites and smoked fish dip. It’s a great way to experience the charm of Miami’s most historic neighborhood, Coconut Grove.

Fresh Florida Fisheries

As the name implies, this spot near Coral Gables is the place to get the freshest catch from local Florida fisheries. While you can pick up everything from grouper cheeks to stone crab claws, Fresh Florida Fisheries takes pride in its hogfish snapper, a sweet, flaky delicacy native to local waters. They’ll also do the work for you, by fileting the fish or chopping it up for ceviche for you to take home. Stick around and dine on mouthwatering dishes such as fish croquetas, whole fried hogfish, conch fritters, shrimp tacos and more.