Looking for the right place to visit to satisfy those pesky seafood cravings, but not willing to settle down for just any nearby seafood joint? Well, it’s time to take a visit over to Panama City Beach, popular for its array of highly-rated seafood restaurants that are known for delectable fresh and local catches, unrivaled waterfronts views, and astounding drool-inducing seafood cuisine.
From crabs to oysters, grouper to redfish, the seafood restaurants in Panama City Beach often highlight fresh Gulf seafood. Each restaurant caters to its own take on Creole, Southern, Caribbean, or American mix of flavor and spices in their specialized seafood cuisine menu items. Take a gander below at the variety of restaurants and the seaside eats they have to offer!
Seafood Local to Panama City Beach
Many places boast they only offer “local” catches and then offer a fish that can’t even survive in the local waters…so what seafood is local to Panama City Beach?
Here’s seafood commonly associated with the Gulf and nearby waters:
- Swordfish
- Mahi-Mahi
- Shark
- Snapper
- Grouper
- Lobster
- Shrimp
- Redfish (Red Drum)
- Sea Bass
- Triple Tail
- Sheepshead
- Black Drum
- Crab
- Gulf oysters
- Crawfish
- Mackerel
- Tuna
12 Best Seafood Restaurants in Panama City Beach
Bayou on the Beach
- Address: 11115 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407
- Website: bayouonthebeachcafe.com
- Phone: (850) 249-3478
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours can vary by season and day of week.
This New Orleans-inspired oyster bar and restaurant features a homey setting with Louisiana-Creole based flavors in their popular seafood cuisine. Every dish is made from scratch each day, providing quality and freshness in each savored bite. Try the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo or the Combo Basket Crayfish & Oysters!
Bayou on the Beach also has its own little souvenir shop, Steamers & Mercantile! Step on in to buy their famous Smoked Tuna Dip (paired with their also-famous Chips), homemade cookies, and an array of other locally-made products.
Step on in to Bayou on the Beach to catch the vibes of local music, a lively setting, refreshing drinks, and the tasty combination of Cajun cuisine and delectably served oysters for a grand-spanking time!
Runaway Island
- Address: 14521 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
- Website: runawayislandpcb.com
- Phone: (850) 634-4884
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours can vary by season and day of week.
Take a seat on the outdoor deck while soaking in the beachside views, live music, and local seafood menu items at Runaway Island!
From the Teriyaki Salmon Bowl to the Bayou Redfish entrees, Runaway Island provides a variety of delectable food menu items that cater to a range of appetites, along with a drink menu for any that like to sip on a draft beer or a frosty drink to pair with their food.
After eating, take a walk down the boardwalk to feel the sand between your toes and bask in the soothing rush of the ocean’s waves after your meal.
Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill
- Address: 15614 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
- Website: www.shuckums.com
- Phone: (850) 235-3214
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours can vary by season and day of week.
This family-friendly restaurant is decorated with empty oyster shells layering the ceiling and walls, exemplifying its namesake by the shucked oyster shells.
Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill still boasts the original cocktail recipe that was invented the night before the restaurant’s door opened for the first time in 1982, along the original building! Take a seat and get shucking some oysters, picking from at least a dozen different kinds of baked oysters available on the menu.
Looking to stray away from seafood and still enjoy some meat? Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill now serves the Double Dare Burger for all the burger fanatics out there! It boasts over a pound of meat (two 8-ounce hand-pressed patties), bacon, and cheese to create a meaty yet mighty mountain that they termed the Double Dare Burger.
Diner’s note: There is a kid’s menu available at this family-friendly restaurant. Not a fan of oysters? Try the Shrimp Jammers, Fried Shrimp, or Grilled Fish instead!
Dusty’s Oyster Bar
- Address: 16450 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
- Website: www.dustysoysterbar.com
- Phone: (850) 233-0035
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours can vary by season and day of week.
Dusty’s Oyster Bar is a casual Panama City Beach favorite for oysters, seafood baskets, cold drinks, and an easygoing beach-town atmosphere. It’s the kind of place to settle in for raw or baked oysters, shrimp, grouper, crab claws, and other Gulf Coast staples without needing anything fancy.
Known for its lively walls, relaxed vibe, and seafood-forward menu, Dusty’s Oyster Bar is a strong stop for anyone looking for a classic oyster bar experience close to the beach.
Local Steamer Seafood Market
- Address: 14656 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
- Website: www.seafoodmarketpcb.com
- Phone: (850) 866-9330
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours can vary by season and day of week.
Local Steamer Seafood Market has become a popular stop for steamed seafood in Panama City Beach!
Serving steamed seafood platters, Huge Snow Crab, Royal Red Shrimp, Fresh Bay Scallops, and their World-Famous Tuna Dip, the Local Steamer Seafood Market doesn’t play games when it comes to quality and flavor.
Read More: What Are Steamers Seafood?
Schooners
- Address: 5121 Gulf Dr, Panama City Beach, FL 32408
- Website: www.schooners.com
- Phone: (850) 235-3555
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours can vary by season and day of week.
With lovely, colorful sunset views, fun live music, and fresh local seafood, Schooners is often referred to as the “Last Local Beach Club”.
One of the last open-air hangouts in the Gulf Coast, Schooners has been around since the ’60s for a reason— its popular Southern flare to its fresh, local seafood and produce combined into delectable dishes like Seared Ahi Tuna Steak, Gulf Fresh Grouper, and the Mahi-Mahi Sandwich.
Looking to explore more beaches? In about 160 miles is Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, the seafood haven of Alabama.
Dee’s Hang-Out
- Address: 529 N Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407
- Website: www.deeshangout.com
- Phone: (850) 249-4264
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours and happy hour details can vary by season and day of week.
Featuring Cajun and Creole-inspired dishes that range from jalapeño oysters to po’ boys, Dee’s Hang Out is a popular Panama City Beach stop! Scoop up one of their seafood platters or a side of their famous Smoked Tuna Dip with family and friends.
Get ready to pack on the Creole and Cajun-inspired flavor with Dee’s Hang Out’s seafood package!
Bayou Bill’s Crab House
- Address: 23100 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
- Website: bayoubills.com
- Phone: (850) 235-1010
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours can vary by season and day of week.
A family-friendly seafood restaurant, Bayou Bill’s Crab House is known for its blackened fish, crab legs, oysters, and other array of seafood options. The fish, shrimp, oysters, and the Choctawhatchee Blue Crab at Bayou Bill’s Crab House are sourced from the local coastal waters.
Here you can find a famous dessert dish that originated in the Keys of Florida, the classic and famous key lime pie! Bayou Bill’s Crab House is also popular for its Crab Feast menu option that serves a choice of their Alaskan Dungeness crab, Alaskan snow crab legs, and blue crabs to be paired with a choice of steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, or corn on the cob. The price is surprisingly affordable and unsurprisingly hits your tastebuds and stomach just right.
Pulled from the local waters to your plate, this seafood restaurant is raved by locals and tourists alike!
J Michael’s Restaurant
- Address: 3210 Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach, FL 32408
- Website: jmichaelstheoriginal.com
- Phone: (850) 233-2055
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours can vary by season and day of week.
A flavorful package of Creole and Southern (food and hospitality!), J. Michael’s Restaurant has been serving tourists and locals alike since 1976! Their famous “You Hook ‘Em, We Cook ‘Em” special is dedicated to all the patient fishers out there, where they cook freshly caught fish that can be grilled or fried in house.
J Michael’s Restaurant serves its Sautéed Oysters at a dozen a piece sautéed in the perfect mixture of butter and spices for an ultimate flavor that makes it widely known and favored by tourists and locals alike.
The décor is loaded with old license plates and dollar bills, the perfect hangout spot for newcomers and locals to savor local seafood with a Creole and Southern twist!
Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market
- Address: 5551 N Lagoon Dr, Panama City Beach, FL 32408
- Website: www.captandersons.com
- Phone: (850) 234-2225
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours and seasonal opening dates can vary.
A waterfront seafood restaurant known for its refreshing and tasty locally caught seafood, Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market is a family-run restaurant that’s been running steady for more than 55 years! With its creative innovations and takes on the Gulf Coast’s classic cuisines, this popular seafood restaurant has won the loyalty of millions of locals and tourists combined.
Watch the fishing fleets unload the day’s catches while enjoying a bite of Capt. Anderson’s “Famous” Grilled Bay Shrimp, Oven Broiled Cold Water Lobster Tails, or Scamp Imperial with Fresh Lump Blue Crab Meat.
Diner’s note: Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market is closed during the winter season, though the specific dates vary. It is advised to check in on their website for verification on reopening during this seasonal time.
Boon Docks Restaurant
- Address: 14854 Bay View Cir, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
- Website: www.boondocksfl.com
- Phone: (850) 230-0005
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours and seasonal opening dates can vary.
Just 5 minutes from the West Bay beaches, Boon Docks Restaurant offers a lively setting with seafood platters and cuisines that range from all over the region. Using an intricate blend of spices and original breading recipe, get a taste of the Fried Crab Claws, Spiced Gumbo, Clam Strips, and array of fresh homemade desserts.
This family-friendly dockside restaurant is known for its stunning waterfront views to soak in and relax while sitting down to savor freshly caught seafood cooked, seasoned, and served on a plate to you. If you get the timing right (make sure to call for a reservation!), you can savor in the basking colors of a sunset view while talking with family and savoring your delicious food from Boon Docks Restaurant.
Catch a sight of a dolphin fin swimming playfully by while enjoying the setting and food at Boon Docks Restaurant.
Visiting Florida’s Gulf Coast? Check out some of the best seafood restaurants in Anna Maria Island.
Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill
- Address: 16201 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
- Website: www.hookedpierbar.com
- Phone: (850) 233-8232
- Hours: Check the official website or call ahead; hours and happy hour details can vary by season and day of week.
Featuring a location directly on the beach, Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill hosts a selection of freshly caught seafood like Gulf Shrimp, and the Catch of the Day. Take a bite of their Crab Cakes, Grouper Tacos, Blackened Grouper Sandwich, Homemade Cajun Gumbo, and Alligator Bites for a taste of the local seafood cuisine.
Not interested in dining in? Hook’d Pier Bar & Grill offers pickup and order delivery from the full range of their delectable menu serving up freshly caught seafood delights. And there’s nothing wrong with buying a little bit extra to serve up for the next day—because you’ll definitely be wanting to go back for more.
Enjoy beachside, and if timed right, sunset views with the soothing rush of the ocean’s waves and the delectable seafood cuisine scents hitting your sense just right!
Diner’s note: They offer a selection of burgers, salads, and other non-seafood menu items for any friends or family members that wish to have more options provided.
Seafood in Panama City Beach: FAQs
What Food Is Panama City Beach Known For?
Panama City Beach is known for an array of foods, but most notably is its local and freshly caught seafood served directly to you.
Here are some examples of the favorite dishes and places to get them in Panama Beach:
- Fresh Crab from Bayou Bill’s Crab House
- Smoked Tuna from Dee’s Hang Out
- Baked Oysters (comes in a variety of different flavors) from Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill
- Teriyaki Salmon Bowl from Runaway Island
Does Panama City Beach Have Crabs?
Panama City Beach does have crabs! Whether in the water or served to you at your table, Panama City Beach has an array of different local crab species and crab dishes.
Bayou Bill’s Crab House is one of the best seafood restaurants you can visit to taste the best crab legs to be found in the Panama City Beach area!
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Conclusion
Panama City Beach, Florida, hosts an astounding array of fresh and local seafood restaurant options, from casual seafood markets to restaurants, crabs to oysters, this is the place to go to satisfy those seafood cravings. Enjoy stunning sunset and beachside views along with live entertainment, refreshing drinks, great company, and droolworthy seafood eats while visiting Panama City Beach!