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Mission Hills · $5.50 · Ranked in 3 lists
Last updated
Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill is a Mission Hills spot ranked #2 of 8 in our Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego list, scoring 90/100 in our Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego. Order the grilled swordfish tacos or a fish plate. The best cheap fresh fish in San Diego, ordered at a counter with a fish case in front of you.
We scored Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill 90/100 in our full editorial review.
Read the full Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill reviewBlue Water Seafood Market & Grill is in Mission Hills, San Diego. Give yourself a few extra minutes for parking on weekends — Mission Hills fills up early on sunny days.
Explore Mission HillsOn our Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego list, Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill lands at #2 of 8, just behind Ironside Fish & Oyster (91/100) and ahead of Herb & Sea (89/100). Ironside Fish & Oyster holds #1 with 91/100, so the gap is 1 points. It also appears on 2 other lists in our San Diego coverage.
See the full Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego rankingBlue Water Seafood Market & Grill scores 90/100 against a best seafood restaurants in san diego field that averages 87.9, running from 85 at the bottom to 91 at the top. That puts it 2.1 points above the category average and ahead of 6 of the 7 other places we scored. It lands 2nd of 8, and the category leader is 1 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill separates itself most on value (96/100 versus a 87.5 category average). Its softest showing is atmosphere at 72, 10.3 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for value, not for a clean sweep of every category.
| Criterion | Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill | Category avg. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taste | 92 | 89.9 | +2.1 |
| Consistency | 90 | 88.8 | +1.2 |
| Value | 96 | 87.5 | +8.5 |
| Atmosphere | 72 | 82.3 | -10.3 |
| Uniqueness | 84 | 84 | 0 |
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best seafood restaurants in san diego.
Mission Hills is dense enough that Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored at least six other ranked spots in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop (90/100 in our best carne asada fries in san diego list) or Wine Vault & Bistro (89/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
90/100 · #2 in best carne asada fries in san diego · $12
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89/100 · #10 in best restaurants in san diego · $$$ ($50–80 per person)
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If Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill is booked or closed, these score closest at the same $ spend in the same list:
Yes — worth going out of your way for.
Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill scores 90/100 in our Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego list (#2 of 8). It is strongest on value (96) and taste (92). The best cheap fresh fish in San Diego, ordered at a counter with a fish case in front of you.
Skip it if atmosphere matters most to you — that is its weakest category (72/100).
Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill is a good fit for seafood restaurants and oyster bars. Because it ranks #2 on our best seafood restaurants in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in Mission Hills rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
Best tactical tip: Pick the fish from the case and choose grilled over fried — the marinade is the whole point.
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Score 90/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Grilled swordfish tacos or a fish plate · $
Blue Water is a fish market with a grill, so you pick your species and they cook it while you wait. Portions are large, prices are low, and the swordfish is consistently the best value protein in the city. Seating is limited and the line moves fast.
Local tip: Pick the fish from the case and choose grilled over fried — the marinade is the whole point.
Score 88/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Half dozen with market fish · $16–28
Blue Water is a fish market first, which is exactly why the raw product is so good. It's counter service with paper plates — the value is unmatched.
Local tip: Go at 11:30am to skip the line that forms by noon.
Score 83/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Grilled fish taco · $5.50
Blue Water Seafood is a fish market with a small grill operation, and the fish taco benefits from the fresh-catch supply. The grilled fish is flaky and well-seasoned, and the toppings are simple enough to let the seafood shine. The tortilla is fine, but the real draw is the quality of the fish. The Mission Hills location is casual and often crowded at lunch. It is a strong option for anyone who wants a fish taco without the batter, and the menu lets you choose the catch of the day.
Scored with our ranking methodology — seafood, oysters, fish-tacos.
Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking.