Los Angeles, a city that spoils its residents with an incredibly diverse sea-to-table experience, stands unparalleled in its exceptional seafood offerings. The city's coastal location in combination with its beautifully mixed cultural tapestry results in a seafood panorama that is arguably second to none.

Living in LA has its advantages. One of them is having first-hand experience with the luscious assortment of seafood hidden in its eclectic neighborhoods. From beachfront crags outlining the south, to the industrial quarters along LA’s eastern riverfront; epicurean delights are scattered across this sprawling cityscape.

As a native Angeleno who relishes dining out rather than toiling in the kitchen, I've compiled a list of must-try seafood hotspots that span across a variety of cuisines, locales, and budgets, never compromising on that one shellfish or finfish plate that makes the expedition worthwhile.

Buried in a basement parking lot lies a hidden gem that is Sushi Note Omakase. This prime sushi location blends LA’s renowned car-obsessed culture with an unrivaled omakase experience. Master Chef Kiminobu Saito curates a sublime 20-course menu, each course elegantly keeling over the next with fish imported from far corners of Japan, Spain, and New Zealand. Each course is suitably complemented by a sommelier-curated wine pairing.

Dodging the flurry of Downtown Santa Monica tourists, you'll find a quaint seafood haven, Crudo e Nudo, nestled within the residential, neighborhood-studded, Ocean Park. This modestly-sized restaurant, replete with outdoor seating adorned with white umbrellas, offers some of the freshest sustainable seafood servings dressed with olive oil and house-made sauces. One of their notable dishes includes a kanpachi dressed with yuzu and calamansi.

A seemingly ordinary strip mall in Hollywood houses Luv2eat, a Southern Thai joint boasting a seafood menu so extensive that its magnificence could be easily overlooked. Chefs Fern and Pla hailing from the island of Phuket offer a plethora of striking seafood delicacies. The top choice is a Phuket-style crab curry served over vermicelli, packed generously with Blue Crab meat.

Since 1961, Fisherman's Outlet, a practical, lunch-exclusive counter in the warehouse district of Downtown, has been serving locals freshly caught, reasonably priced seafood. The ultimate pick is the broiled sampler, featuring a variety of grilled seafood. After placing your order at the window, enjoy your food shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow diners at magnificently long, communal picnic tables.

Mexican seafood finally made a splash in the Michelin stargate, thanks to Chef Gilberto Cetina who turned a humble counter in Mercado La Paloma into a star-winning spot. While queuing up for a shrimp aguachile with green serrano, you can nibble on squash-blossom quesadillas from another stall, Komal, managed by ex-Holbox employees.

For an upscale seafood dining experience, with a rejoiceful marriage of surf and turf, head to Mar'sel at Terranea Resort. Overlooking the Pacific with panoramic views of the coastline, Chef Fabio Ugoletti caters California seafood touched with Italian expertise. Their standout dish is often a lobster-fleshed pappardelle immersed in citrus-and-saffron sauce, garnished with Kaluga caviar.

Loreto can be found in Frogtown, a cozy neighborhood northeast of downtown LA known for its creative hubs of galleries and restaurants. Chef Paco Moran emulates Baja and Sinaloa cuisine in an atmospheric industrial-chic locale along the river. Almost every dish includes some kind of seafood, with the crown jewel being a grilled whole fish served with all the taco building essentials - a unique seafood experience characteristic of the city's vibrant food culture.