I’ll never forget the time my friend and I decided to treat ourselves to a good, fresh seafood meal. 

Instead of a classy restaurant, we found ourselves at a suspicious-looking seafood joint. Just imagine my sheer horror when my “fresh” oysters arrived with a questionable scent, and my friend’s lobster bisque had—no joke—actual bits of shell floating around. 

I definitely haven’t returned there. Since that day, I’ve gathered recommendations and checked out various restaurants serving top-notch seafood dishes. Yes, I’ve done the trial-and-error taste tests, so you don’t have to!

So if you’re craving a fresh seafood meal, here’s who made it onto my list of the best seafood restaurants in Christchurch.

How much does it cost to eat seafood at a restaurant in Christchurch?

A seafood dish at a restaurant in Christchurch costs at least 15 NZD. The actual price will vary depending on what type of seafood you order and the restaurant that you choose to eat at.

How We Chose the Best Seafood Restaurants in Christchurch

Freshness: I always checked to see if the restaurant sourced its fish and shellfish locally. The closer the catch is to your plate, the better.

Menu: I sought out places offering a wide variety of options. Whether it’s prawns, oysters, or a hearty portion of fish and chips, a good menu means there’s something to please every seafood lover.

Ambience: A nice setting can make your meal taste even better—trust me on this. I looked for places with a cosy and relaxed vibe where you can truly unwind and savour your meal.

Service: I looked for friendly and knowledgeable staff who could recommend different seafood dishes. I also considered how efficient the service was so you could spend more time enjoying your food and less time waiting around.

1. Richmond Seafoods

Richmond Seafoods is your classic Kiwi fish and chip shop. It’s perfect for a casual seafood meal that won’t leave your wallet dry. The staff are friendly and they’re quick to get your order cooking.

While seasonal, the Bluff oysters are one of my favourites here. They’re fresh and plump, just as they should be. 

When oysters aren’t available, I like to get the hoki fish and chips. The hoki doesn’t have that fishy, lingering aftertaste, and it melts in your mouth. They give you generous portions of their chips too! 

One dish that falls short, though, is the squid ring. Each time I’ve had it, it’s been a bit too chewy for my tastes. 

Customer Reviews

Great fish and chips and great price

“Great fish and chips and great price. Crazy they don’t give forks or anything but I guess you eat with your hands!”

Jackie Droujko, Google Reviews

Superb fish and chips, fish tasty and juicy

Superb fish and chips, fish tasty and juicy. We are from the UK and our fish is dry in comparison. Huge portion of chips and lovely and crispy. Fresh oil. Absolutely delicious. First fish and chips on our return to NZ 

Gill Hedworth, Google Reviews

2. Gatherings Restaurant

Gatherings is a tiny restaurant with a rustic feel and luxurious seafood dishes. All of their fishes aresustainably caught, so their rotating menu depends on the catch available during the season.

The staff here displays warm hospitality from the moment you walk through the door. And they don’t delay showing you to your table either. 

Foodwise, their Guinness-baked oysters with grilled cheddar are must-tries. They’re plump, juicy, and smoky.

If you want something more luxurious, the pan-roasted turbot with Paris butter sauce is a great choice. The fish is tender and flaky, and the sauce is rich and buttery. The hot chips, served with a squeeze of lemon, are simple but hit the spot perfectly.

The only downside to Gatherings is that you need to make a reservation in advance.

Customer Reviews

The fish was cooked perfectly, the vegetables were so fresh and full of flavour

Such a gorgeous little restaurant! The waiter (not sure of his name but he’s french) was so lovely. We didn’t know much about fish but he was so patient and kind in explaining the different kinds of fish and all about the menu. And what an amazing menu! The fish was cooked perfectly, the vegetables were so fresh and full of flavour. There was also a great atmosphere, it felt cosy and chic without being cramped at all. Overall I would not hesitate to recommend this place to everyone.

Olivia Campbell, Google Reviews

Terrific meal of delicious local seafood 

Terrific meal of delicious local seafood and vegetables. We debated whether to order three or so main dishes to share or the degustation of small portions covering the whole menu. We opted for the latter and were not disappointed… delicious oysters with watermelon granita, mussels with cucumber with lime n chilli, courgettes with soft cheese and herbs, raw tuna with grapes, verjus and shallots, grilled white cabbage with beans and Parmesan, and a salad of cos, roasted tomato and miso. Enough to have a good taste of all plates. Finished off with dessert of poached peaches with bee pollen and honey ice cream. $200 for two including one wine and one mocktail.

Anthony Zwi, Google Reviews

3. Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is the spot to go to for a gorgeous harbour view and some of the freshest seafood in the city. You can never go wrong with sitting outside and watching the boats come and go, though they also offer cosy inside seating. 

I usually opt for the Seafood Sizzle Plate to get a taste of everything they have. It’s a big ol’ pile of seafood, including fish, scallops, and mussels. The fish (usually fresh-caught blue cod) is flaky, the scallops sweet, and the mussels juicy.

The coconutty and fragrant rice underneath the fish is what brings this meal together. 

However, if I’m being honest, the service can be hit or miss. Sometimes, the staff is super friendly, and other times, I feel like they forgot I was there.

Customer Reviews

The food arrived promptly and was delicious! 

“When we entered the restaurant, they were fully booked but the staff was kind enough for us to have a table. We ordered the Fisherman’s Pie, Seafood Chowder, Crumbed Camembert and the catch of the Day Fish and Chips. The food arrived promptly and were delicious! The beer battered fish especially was really crunchy and fresh and was the most memorable dish. The seafood chowder was wonderful with large chunks of fresh seafood, best chowder we ever had! Where we sat, the view was really exquisite overlooking Lyttleton Harbour. Overall, a great experience and highly recommend.”

W Ng, Google Reviews

All round excellent vibe, excellent food

All round excellent vibe, excellent food. We had the scallops and bacon, and shrimp entrees and both had the sizzle platter. Everything was excellent, but I would take the octopus off the sizzle platter as it was rubbery by the time it got to us…Granted octopus is a bugger to make perfect … that was the only gripe in an otherwise perfect night….The staff on deck were friendly and working as a cohesive unit on a very busy night with a large bridal party….. We will definitely be back and bringing our children….

Darryl Baser, Google Reviews

4. Little Fish Co

Little Fish Co is where I go when I’m in the Riverside Market area and I’m craving seafood. The staff are usually cheerful and they’re great at offering recommendations if you’re unsure what to choose.

For those watching their diet, the LFCo Supreme Sashimi Tray is a winner. You get three pieces each of salmon and white fish, coconut ceviche, and two cooked prawns. The sashimi is incredibly fresh, while the coconut ceviche adds a nice, tangy twist.

Then there’s the Hoki Hashbrown—my personal favourite. This hearty dish combines hoki, an egg salad with chives, and bacon bits all packed into a hashbrown. Each bite is satisfying, making it a great choice if you’re really hungry.

One thing to note is that their prawn roll is on the smaller side, so don’t expect a large sandwich when you order it.

Customer Reviews

You can choose your fish and they cook it for you

“Fantastic service and amazing that you can choose your fish and they cook it for you. We had tuna steaks and oysters and they were absolutely delicious. Even the chips were really good. The service was impeccable as we asked lots of questions as we arnt from chch and they were happy to help. The Japanese Tartar sauce was so yum! Teamed it up with a beer and cider from the cool little pub and it was a fantastic lunch!”

Kimberly Thom, Google Reviews

The blue cod was fresh and the chips crisp and soft inside

We dropped in here from a Cruise Ship tour as my friends wanted to try New Zealand fish and chips.  The team were super helpful when initially we were told it would be 30mins wait but they trimmed it down to 15 and we had time to eat. Absolutely delicious!  The blue cod was fresh and the chips crisp and soft inside.  The tartare sauce was clearly home made as was fresh and tangy with fresh dill.  My only issue was no tomato sauce (Watties obviously), but that probably cos I did ask for it.

David DeMarco, Google Reviews

5. Dux Dine

If you’re into seafood pizzas, Dux Dine is where you need to be. The staff are great—super friendly, knowledgeable, and always ready to suggest something.

My personal favourites are the prawn and house-smoked salmon pizzas. The prawn pizza is a fantastic mix of flavours (juicy prawns, salty feta, and cherry tomatoes) with a light chilli kick. 

The house-smoked salmon pizza is just as awesome. It features a creamy cheese that pairs perfectly with the smoky salmon, with capers and red onions adding a bit of a tangy contrast.

Their pizzas are spot-on, cooked in a wood-fired oven to get that perfect crispy crust and gooey cheese. The portions are pretty big too, so they’re great for sharing or just stuffing yourself.

That said, the place is a bit pricey, so keep that in mind.

Customer Reviews

Would have to be one of the best seafood meals I have had

Would have to be one of the best seafood meals I have had. Everything was perfect the ambience the setting the staff and of course the food Can’t wait for the next time we are in ChCh so we can go back

Phillip Wright, Google Reviews

Really enjoyed fried calamari and prawn risotto

Great food and atmosphere. The service was excellent. Great range of seafood and vegetarian options. Really enjoyed fried calamari and prawn risotto.

Y Jang, Google Reviews 

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