Swan Oyster Depot - San Francisco | Restaurant Review - Zagat

Swan Oyster Depot

Venerable seafood bar in a fish market

Seafood · Polk Gulch · $$

The Zagat Review

4.7

Food

3.3

Decor

4.2

Service

For over 100 years, this "no-frills" lunch counter and fish market in Polk Gulch has been a "San Francisco treasure" , serving up "oysters galore" , "phenomenal clam chowder" and other "forms of perfection from the sea" alongside "Anchor Steam on draft" ; it might be "hard to believe a place so decrepit" and "so expensive" still draws "lines out the door" , but "nostalgics" insist the lively "banter with the owners behind the counter" is the extra sauce sealing its deal as "the Valhalla of seafood" ; P.S. open till 5:30 PM.

Open Today · 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM

1517 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA +1 415-673-1101 swanoysterdepot.us Get Directions

Zagat Mentions of Swan Oyster Depot

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A1! Experience, family owned since 1912. Go nuts on the menu and eat to your hearts content and you should when you make over to this special dinner. For a more authentic experience don't forget to try the crab top, clam chowder and San Francisco sourdough and enjoy a cold pint, even if its 10am and that's an order for your order! Chat with your fellow dinners and ask questions, you'll have a blast joking with everyone. The term memorable is an under statement. Tip-Get there right at open o'clock!

Kucho · March 13, 2018

One of my favorite places in San Francisco. Tiny little family run seafood restaurant that serves the freshest seafood and flavorful smoked and cured fish. This place gets packed from the word go. A queue starts an hour before they even open. Very charming to see that most staff a probably related and they all love working there with passion. They have some quirky system for service that involves miniature Disney tiny figurines used to mark the seats and customers which they attend to along the bar. Still can’t figure out how the system works. The prawns with cocktail sauce(so 1970s) is one of the best I’ve ever had. Sea urchins on the day were super fresh and has a deep buttery flavor, different from the sweeter Japanese uni. Clams and oysters where fresh, plump and really sweet. Prices are reasonable. A definite must go if you’re willing to brave the queue.

Brandon Teo · February 28, 2018

There is a wait. But friendly people serving you. Fresh seafood galore. Glass of beer, seafood of your choice with some unique selections. Perfect for me before leaving for the airport.

Tsuki Desu · April 17, 2018