Seafood should be bright, fresh, and full of flavor—but some chains just don’t get it right. From chewy shrimp to sad fry baskets, these places often leave diners regretting their choice before the check even hits the table.
While some chains limp by on nostalgia or neon décor, others drown in soggy batter and bland sauces.
Here are 10 seafood spots worth skipping, followed by 5 that make even those look gourmet by comparison.
1. Long John Silver’s
his fast-food seafood giant relies on heavily battered, deep-fried fish that often emerges limp, greasy, and oddly flavorless. Sides like the corn or hushpuppies rarely taste fresh and tend to feel like afterthoughts.
While it might hit a nostalgic nerve, the rubbery texture and oil-slicked presentation make it a rough experience for modern seafood lovers.
2. Captain D’s
Fried fish fillets and breaded shrimp dominate the menu, but the seasoning is mild to the point of invisibility. The coleslaw lacks crunch, the fries feel limp, and the entire meal leans more cafeteria than coastal.
What could be comfort food ends up tasting like it came out of a freezer, straight into the fryer, without a moment of care.
3. Joe’s Crab Shack
The crab legs are often rubbery, the crawfish bland, and the dipping sauces more sugar than spice. Presentation relies on buckets and bibs, but the actual seafood is consistently underseasoned or overcooked.
Add in high prices and long waits, and the playful vibe fades fast once the food hits the table.
4. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Based on a movie instead of culinary roots, the chain leans hard on shrimp—often frozen, overcooked, and slathered in heavy sauces. Dishes like “Lt. Dan’s Surf and Turf” or “Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp” sound fun but rarely deliver flavor.
The gimmick wears off quickly, especially when the bill arrives and you realize you paid premium prices for subpar seafood.
5. The Lost Cajun
This chain tries to capture Louisiana flavors but usually lands far off the mark. The gumbo lacks the deep, slow-cooked flavor it promises, and the seafood boils tend to be watery and barely seasoned.
Even die-hard Cajun food fans walk away wondering how something so bold in theory could taste so dull on the plate.
6. Angry Crab Shack
At first glance, boil bags loaded with seafood, butter, and spice seem like a win—but here, quality doesn’t hold up. Shrimp are often mushy, crab lacks sweetness, and the garlic butter quickly becomes cloying.
Despite the high energy and casual messiness, most diners leave more disappointed than delighted.
7. Rockfish Seafood Grill
Though the menu reads like a seafood lover’s dream, the execution is often flat and inconsistent. Grilled mahi can arrive dry, while the sauces taste canned or overly thickened.
There’s potential in the concept, but the bland, forgettable flavors rarely rise above average.
8. The Crab Shack
Large portions and casual décor can’t mask seafood that often tastes like it sat too long before hitting the boil. Spices blend into a salty haze, and texture is lost somewhere between chewy shrimp and limp corn.
Even the messiest seafood needs balance and brightness—this just feels heavy and tired.
9. Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar
Oysters may be the focus, but their freshness fluctuates wildly depending on location and season. Cooked dishes—like fried shrimp baskets or po’ boys—frequently arrive lukewarm and uninspired.
With high prices and hit-or-miss service, it’s hard to justify the gamble.
10. Luby’s Seafood
An offshoot of the Luby’s cafeteria brand, this seafood offering feels firmly stuck in the past. Baked fish and fried shrimp arrive overcooked and under-seasoned, while sides like mac and cheese lean gluey.
If you’re after nostalgia and not flavor, it might do—but don’t expect anything vibrant or fresh.
11. Red Lobster (Inconsistent Quality)
Some locations serve decently grilled salmon or buttery lobster tails, but others offer dry, overcooked seafood with rubbery textures. Biscuits remain the highlight, and that’s saying something.
Inconsistency across locations and declining freshness make it a risky pick, especially when there are better options nearby.
12. Skipper’s Seafood & Chowder
This regional chain banks on chowder and fried seafood, but both often disappoint. Clam chowder can be bland and starchy, while fish portions are thin and greasy.
The atmosphere may be cozy, but the food usually lacks the warmth and depth that seafood lovers crave.
13. Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips
Once a staple, now nearly extinct, this chain’s remaining outposts serve battered cod and thick-cut fries that taste frozen and tired. The batter is dense and bland, and the fish struggles to shine through.
It’s a relic of the past that hasn’t kept up with modern expectations for quality or flavor.
14. King’s Seafood Express
This smaller chain promises fresh seafood fast but rarely delivers on flavor or execution. Dishes are inconsistent, with dry grilled fish and fried platters that quickly lose their appeal.
Even basic items like clam strips feel underseasoned and rubbery—more fast than fresh in every way.
15. Baytown Seafood (Chain Locations)
Despite promising Gulf Coast roots, the chain locations vary wildly in quality. Boiled crawfish often taste muddy, and catfish arrives either soggy or dry.
Service is hit-or-miss, and seasoning rarely goes beyond basic salt and pepper—it’s a chain in need of a serious refresh.