Bear Flag Fish Co.
Expect long lines in summer at this indoor--outdoor dining spot serving up the freshest local fish (swordfish, sea bass, halibut, and tuna) and a wide range of creative seafood dishes (the Hawaiian-style poke salad with ahi tuna is a local favorite). Order at the counter, which doubles as a seafood market, and sit inside or outside on a grand patio. This is one of the few restaurants in Southern California with its own fishing boat, so there's a good chance some line-caught local fish will be on the menu. Oysters are a great choice, and the fish tacos topped with the homemade hot sauce are not to be missed. This restaurant is so popular that it opened two other locations at Crystal Cove and Huntington Beach.