SFReview

photo credit: Meika Ejiasi

Hog Island Oyster Co. image
8.1

Hog Island Oyster Co.

Seafood

Embarcadero

$$$$Perfect For:Day DrinkingDining SoloEating At The BarGluten-Free OptionsLunchOutdoor/Patio SituationUnique Dining Experience
Earn 3x points with your sapphire card

Included In

Too many tourist-trappy waterfront spots trade off the quality of their food for the novelty of eating next to a big body of water. Sure, you can get existential while staring out at the waves (and maybe some honking sea lions), but those salads are going to be wilty, and the cioppino will be thin and flavorless. Hog Island Oyster Co. is the rare exception. The oysters are fantastic, along with all of the other usual seafood suspects. And you can slurp it all back with unmatched views of the bay. 

A tray of cold oysters from Hog Island Oyster Co.

photo credit: Hog Island Oyster Co.

Yes, there’s an indoor space at this Ferry Building joint, but sitting in there would be missing the point. You come to Hog Island to sit on the patio and eat oysters that spent their entire lives just 50 miles north, while snapping endless photos of the Bay Bridge. Both the raw and grilled oysters are worth your time, especially the chipotle bourbon ones that arrive soaking in hot butter, garlic, and brown sugar. Also be sure to secure a bowl of clam chowder—it comes with a pile of shell-on clams, centimeter-thick pieces of bacon, and buttery hunks of potato. 

There’s really no bad reason to come to Hog Island—you'll remind yourself that you live in a beautiful place while nursing a cocktail or glass of ice-cold pinot grigio. If you have hard-to-impress cousins in town or need an extra-long lunch to reset after a morning from hell, this spot is up to the task.

Food Rundown

A plate of grilled oysters at Hog Island Oyster Co.

photo credit: Hog Island Oyster Co.

Chipotle Bourbon Grilled Oysters

Our favorite hot oysters on the menu. The decadent bites are bathing in foamy, bourbon-spiked butter that we want to drizzle on everything.

A bowl of clam chowder from Hog Island Oyster Co.

photo credit: Hog Island Oyster Co.

Clam Chowder

You’ll have to roll up your sleeves to de-shell the clams in this bowl of soup, but you won’t mind. This chowder is creamy without being overly heavy and gets nice bursts of salt from the smoky bacon chunks.

Shrimp Po’Boy Sandwich

If you’re looking for something more substantial than a few oysters or some chowder, this po’boy gets the job done. The shrimp is battered and fried until golden, and it’s all balanced out by a generous helping of slaw.

Included In

FOOD RUNDOWN

Infatuation Logo

Company

2024 © The Infatuation Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FIND PLACES ON OUR APP

Get it on Google PlayDownload on the App Store