Giovanni's Fish Market & Galley - San Luis Obispo Guide

Giovanni’s Fish Market & Galley

If you are looking for great seafood in Morro Bay you need go no further than Giovanni’s. For over 30 years Giovanni’s has been providing San Luis Obispo County and California with some of the freshest seafood through their market and restaurant, and has been one of our favorite places to eat in Morro Bay since we were kids. Learn more about what makes the restaurant and fish market so special, and make sure to visit for yourself when you’re next in Morro Bay.

The Restaurant

As the oldest fish market in Morro Bay, Giovanni’s has access to some of the best seafood in SLO County, and we all get to enjoy it when eating at their restaurant.

The menu a Giovanni’s features American and Mexican cuisines, with fish at the heart of almost every dish.

On the American side Giovanni’s has everything from fish to oysters, scallops, clams, and calamari fried with chips, fish sandwiches, clam chowder, oysters on the half shell…and burgers and chicken strips, just in case.

Their “South of the Border” side of the menu features burritos, tacos, quesadillas with fish or shrimp, but also includes traditional dishes like Grilled Snapper Veracruz.

The menu at Giovanni’s does not change often, but they added Poke Bowls recently. Right now it is a special on the menu but we hope they stay there permanently!

Giovanni’s also has a full bar where you can order beer, wine, and a variety of cocktails to go along with your meal.

Giovanni’s also recently expanded so you can order BBQ Oysters from a stand in their parking lot (they smell amazing!), but this is a separate experience from the restaurant and you would have to get in both lines if you wanted food from each place.

Pick-Up Window
Outdoor Patio Seating
Oyster Shells
Boiling Pot

The Fish Market

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A post shared by Giovanni's Fish Market (@giovannis_fish_market) on Jun 4, 2019 at 9:19am PDT

Giovanni’s has a physical fish market connected to their restaurant in Morro Bay where locals and tourists can come in to purchase the freshest seafood on the central coast.

The shop features not only fresh fish, but merchandise (like knives, spices, and clothing) as well to help you prepare the best meal possible for friends and family.

If you are not close enough to come to the market in Morro Bay, Giovanni’s also has an extensive website where you can order over 100 types of fish and seafood, and have it delivered directly to your door.

You can also order all the same merchandise online that you can in the store, from Giovanni’s sweatshirts to Cayucos Hot Sauce for your Oysters, to make your favorite seafood your favorite way.

Our Experience

We have been coming to Giovanni’s since we were kids, and have a lot of great memories of sharing their food with friends and family over the years. Even when we moved out of California we would take road trips back to SLO County and camp in Morro Bay, eating at Giovanni’s restaurant during the day and taking fresh fish back to the campsite at night.

Now that we are back in SLO County full time we still eat at Giovanni’s as often as possible, and buy their fresh fish from the market to make at home almost every time.

Over the years we have tried most of the fish on the menu, but definitely have a few favorites we keep coming back to again and again.Some of Nick’s favorites include the Shrimp Tacos and the Halibut Tacos. Ask for lettuce instead of cabbage on your tacos to make them even better!

Halibut Tacos
Shrimp & Chips

I am a big fan of their fresh fish sandwiches, and rotate through the Halibut and Salmon pretty regularly. But if I’m in the mood for comfort food there is nothing better than their fish and chips (or shrimp and chips!!). I am also a big fan of clam chowder, and love sharing their big sourdough bread bowl filled with their award-winning soup in the colder months.

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A post shared by Giovanni's Fish Market (@giovannis_fish_market) on Aug 13, 2019 at 11:00am PDT

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As amazing as the fish is at Giovanni’s, their garlic fries deserve a special mention for how delicious they are. Yes they are garlicy, but that is what you want out of garlic fries and they are seriously so good!

The only downside is that Giovanni’s is very popular and is always busy, so you have to be prepared to stand in line and watch out for an empty table (the tables are public and there are no reservations).

However, if you go mid-week or early enough you might be able to beat the crowds…you just have to be there on a Tuesday or ready for lunch at 11! Whether you go on a Tuesday or wait with the weekend crowd the food is worth the effort to eat there though, and we can’t wait to go back again soon.

History

Giovanni’s Fish Market & Galley opened as a family owned and operated business in 1985, and today continues to sell the freshest seafood from their market and restaurant right on the waterfront in Morro Bay.

Over the years Giovanni’s also expanded to selling their fish online, and you can now order a wide selection of fish from their website to be delivered to your doorstep within 24-hours.

As the oldest fish market in Morro Bay, Giovanni’s is also known for their commitment to their community. They are constantly finding ways to participate and sponsor local festivals and events, like the Morro Bay Harbor Festival where they hosted their annual Oyster Eating Competition again this year.

Giovanni’s is one of the (if not the) premier fish markets in all of California because of their commitment to quality, freshness, and huge selection, and we are so lucky to have them call Morro Bay home.

Location

Address:
1001 Front Street
Morro Bay, CA 93442

From Highway 1 South, take exit 279A for Main Street and turn right at the offramp. Follow Main Street for .3 miles, and make a right on Beach Street. Continue on Beach Street for .2 miles, and make a left onto Embarcadero. Giovanni’s will be on the right in approx. 275 feet.
From Highway 1 North, take exit 279A for Main Street, and make a sharp right at the off ramp. Continue on Main Street for .5 miles, and make a right at Beach Street. Continue on Beach Street for .2 miles, and make a left onto Embarcadero. Giovanni’s will be on the right in approx. 275 feet.

There is very limited parking around Giovanni’s, so we recommend finding street parking when visiting the restaurant. There are public parking spaces behind Embarcadero, or there is street parking on the blocks from Market and Main to Beach and Marina.