No coast, no problem. Known historically as a destination for pork and beef, a group of innovative restaurants and restaurateurs have carved out seafood niches in the KC dining scene, earning acclaim with fresh flavors and sustainably sourced ingredients—and, of course, delicious meals.
Here are some of the best places to enjoy seafood in KC:
Classic Sea Fare
Mesquite-grilled arctic char. Sizzling salmon served on a bed of grains. Seared tuna with gingered rice. All represent the boundless variety that Kansas City offers diners in traditional seafood restaurant settings. Count on Bristol Seafood Grill in both the Power & Light District and Leawood for fresh selections flown in daily from all over the world. Settle in at Pierpont’s at Union Station, a longtime favorite among Kansas Citians thanks to classy ambiance, tremendous architecture and amazing fare.
Other well-known establishments can be found at the Country Club Plaza, including Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks and The Capital Grille.
International Waters
KC’s recent influx of transcontinental cuisine brings new tastes from familiar places. Take Jarocho Pescados Y Mariscos, for example. The KCK/South KC establishment dishes out traditional coastal Mexican meals totally unlike any you’ve seen at a Tex-Mex restaurant. Try Mesob Restaurant for a flavorful fusion of Ethiopian, Eritrean and Caribbean delicacies, including jerk shrimp and snapper boukannen (a whole roasted fish).
Trezo Mare in the Northland features Italian specialties both creative and classic while Aixois in Brookside provides a French take on trout, salmon and more. Head to the Crossroads Arts District for modern German seafood recipes at Affäre, among other tastes.
Shellfish Specialties
Starters or full meal, sometimes shellfish speak to you in ways that other seafood may not. Not to worry: a handful of Kansas City restaurants specialize in oysters, crabs, caviar and more. Like Jax Fish House, a Plaza staple with a menu that touts several samplers with variety as wide as the ocean is vast. Not only that, but the restaurant is certified by the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch as an eco-friendly establishment—and named one of the best seafood restaurants in the country.
If you’re dreaming of a different coast, head to West 39th Street for Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, a Big Easy-style restaurant with Cajun and creole shrimp, crawfish and oysters (Rockefeller, Lafayette or Bienville). Switch things up with brunch at Westport Café & Bar, a cozy French bistro featuring mussels and oysters grilled or otherwise before you dig into your Croque Madame or shrimp and polenta.
Farm (or Sea) to Table
In the South Plaza neighborhood, you’ll find Black Dirt, a small-plates dining experience dishing out a medley of options, many featuring seafood brought up right in the Midwest.
At Anton’s in the Crossroads, fresh tilapia is raised in the taproom’s basement thanks to their aquaponics system, which allows the team to control what the fish eat.
Dine in the historic Webster House, an intimate Crossroads institution found inside a restored Romanesque-style schoolhouse that values regional ingredients regardless of the mealtime. Room 39 in Leawood and Midtown combines local agriculture with a revolving door of fish entrees (among other offerings), including striped bass and soft shell crab.
Brittany Howard: What Now Tour
The Truman
Silversun Pickups
The Midland Theatre
Alvvays
The Truman
The Cancelled Podcast Tour with Tana Mongeau and Brooke Schofield
The Midland Theatre
Miller Lite Presents Downtown Hoedown featuring Brett Young
Kansas City Power & Light District
Palace
The Truman
Liquid Stranger: Wakaan Expansion Tour
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The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The Truman
Bianca Del Rio: Dead Inside Comedy Tour
The Midland Theatre
Black Veil Brides: Bleeders Tour 2024
The Truman
Wage War & Nothing More
The Midland Theatre
Greta Van Fleet
T-Mobile Center
slowdive
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Tori Kelly: purple skies tour
The Midland Theatre
Mosaic Presents: Lost Kings
Mosaic Ultra Lounge
Tech N9ne with The KC Symphony
The Midland Theatre
foorum Nexus
Kansas City Convention Center
foorum Nexus
Kansas City Convention Center
Portugal. The Man: The Knik Country Tour
The Truman
foorum Nexus
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Sam Barber: Till I Return Tour
The Truman
Hermanos Gutiérrez
The Truman
The Postal Service & Death Cab for Cutie
T-Mobile Center
Donny Benét
The Truman
NF
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Gavin DeGraw
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Gary Clark Jr.
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Local Natives
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Kumar Sanu & Sadhna Sargam
The Midland Theatre
Marca MP: Simplemente Marca Tour
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Outdoor Concert Series
City of Lenexa, Kansas
Real Estate: Infinite Jangle Tour
The Truman
Jammin’ on the Green: A Summer Concert Series
Shawnee Town 1929
Pepe Aguilar
T-Mobile Center
Outdoor Concert Series
City of Lenexa, Kansas
Brit Floyd: Pulse Tour
The Midland Theatre
Outdoor Concert Series
City of Lenexa, Kansas
Lionel Richie
T-Mobile Center
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Treaty Oak Revival
Kansas City Power & Light District
Tim McGraw
T-Mobile Center
Outdoor Concert Series
City of Lenexa, Kansas
Goose
The Midland Theatre
Chris Stapleton
T-Mobile Center
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Niko Moon
Kansas City Power & Light District
Outdoor Concert Series
City of Lenexa, Kansas
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Warren Zeiders
Kansas City Power & Light District
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Pecos & the Rooftops
Kansas City Power & Light District
Kenny Chesney : Sun Goes Down Tour with Zach Brown Band
Arrowhead Events
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Mitchell Tenpenny
Kansas City Power & Light District
Bowling for Soup: Sick 50 Tour
The Truman
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Randall King
Kansas City Power & Light District
Olivia Rodrigo
T-Mobile Center
The Last Dinner Party
The Truman
Charley Crockett
The Midland Theatre
Morgan Wallen : One Night At A Time
Arrowhead Events
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Alexandra Kay
Kansas City Power & Light District
Morgan Wallen : One Night At A Time
Arrowhead Events
Peso Pluma
T-Mobile Center
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Conner Smith
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blink-182
T-Mobile Center
Luke Bryan
T-Mobile Center
Zach Bryan
T-Mobile Center
Zach Bryan
T-Mobile Center
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights: Travis Denning
Kansas City Power & Light District
Dierks Bentley
T-Mobile Center
Franco Escamilla
The Midland Theatre
Hank Williams Jr.
T-Mobile Center
Sublime with Rome Farewell Tour
Kansas City Power & Light District
Chromeo & The Midnight: Chrome Nights North American Tour
The Midland Theatre
The Dead South
The Midland Theatre
Sammy Rae & The Friends
The Midland Theatre
Creed
T-Mobile Center