Best Seafood Delivery Services
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Sure, nearly every grocery store in America has an array of fresh and frozen seafood, but the quality can be uneven and its origins are not always transparent. In fact, much of the seafood in the U.S. comes from overseas, often from fish farms that are poorly regulated. It can make you wonder just what you're buying.
Thankfully, it's not hard to order sustainable seafood and have it shipped right to your door. With contemporary flash-freezing techniques and insulated packing, along with expedited shipping services, customers can enjoy premium-quality seafood deliveries year-round. And to help you choose, we've selected the best seafood delivery services available nationwide for every type of need, whether you've got kids and you want to introduce them to seafood or looking to enjoy some sashimi-quality fish at home.
Best Seafood Delivery Services of 2022
Best Overall: Wulf's Fish
Best for Salmon: Salmon Sisters
Best Seafood for Kids: Blue Circle Foods
Best Variety: Fulton Fish Market
Best for Sushi or Sashimi Grade Fish: Honolulu Fish Company
Best for Sustainability: Sea to Table
Best for Fresh Oysters: Taylor Shellfish Farms
Best for Lobster: Luke's Lobster
Best Overall: Wulf's Fish
Key Specs
Starting Price: $17 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It
A favorite supplier to restaurants nationwide, Wulf's Fish prioritizes variety, freshness and quality. The company also offers a blog and chef's recipes to help ensure at-home culinary success.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Unique super-freezing process locks in flavor and nutrition
Easily navigable website
Moderate price point
Cons
No specific sustainability certifications, though customers can filter for CleanFish seafood products
Overview
Wulf's freezes its fish and seafood quickly and at a lower temperature than a standard freezer. This preserves the seafood at peak freshness along with the nutrition and texture of the fish. A variety of farmed and wild options are available, and you can order a la carte style or choose a subscription option. Not all of Wulf's Fish's products come with sustainability certifications, but savvy customers can filter for seafood supplied by CleanFish, which lets consumers trace the origins of the fish back to its source, method of harvest and sustainability certifications.
Pricing and Plans
Note that all pricing is based on market price, and subject to fluctuations:
Subscription boxes start at $150
Best for Salmon: Salmon Sisters
Key Specs
Starting Price: $299 for sockeye salmon cakes
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It
The Salmon Sisters (aka Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton), offer flavorful and traceable wild-caught salmon sourced from small-scale Alaskan fishing families.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Multiple sustainability certifications
Shipping materials are eco-friendly and recyclable
Founded the Give Fish project, which donates fish to the Food Bank of Alaska
Cons
Limited selection
Must order by 10-pound box, which isn't customizable
Overview
There are quite a few options for ordering fresh and sustainable salmon, but the level of freshness and quality of their fish and fishing partners keep customers reordering. We like the level of transparency and accountability, too, and the company's philanthropic bent. The offerings are simple—Pacific cod or Sockeye salmon, in 10-pound portions—or 40 sockeye salmon cakes. (You can also order tins of wild Alaska smoked herring and Bering Sea smoked octopus.)
Pricing and Plans
Note that all pricing is based on market price and subject to fluctuations:
Boxes available from $209
Smoked herring tins from $11
Best Seafood for Kids: Blue Circle Foods
Key Specs
Starting Price: From $12
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh, precooked
Why You Should Try It
Getting kids interested in fish at a young age can really expand their palate, and Blue Circle, an employee-owned company, takes some of the work out of that process by offering kid-friendly items such as salmon burgers and wild-caught cod Happy Fish nuggets.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Kid-friendly food offerings that you can heat and eat
Wide variety of farmed and wild-caught products
Website very easy to navigate
Cons
No subscription boxes
Seafood or fish packages are no larger than 20 ounces
Overview
Blue Circle can hook kids in early with various seafood and fish options (salmon, shrimp, cod and tuna). Parents can try various products with their kids without making a huge investment of money or freezer space; much of the fish is sold in preportioned fillets, and some are even sold pre-seasoned in a single-serving package. The company is very transparent about its product descriptions on its website, which makes it easy to understand its origins; each product contains details of the method of harvest (some are farm raised), processing and community impact.
Pricing and Plans
Note that all pricing is based on market price and subject to fluctuations:
Offerings start from $12 for items such as smoked salmon, single, 4-ounce precooked fillets and hot dogs
16- and 20-ounce packages of portioned fillets start from $34; shrimp from $24 per pound
Best Variety: Fulton Fish Market
Key Specs
Starting Price: $6.49 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh and frozen both available
Why You Should Try It
Ordering from this seminal fish market in New York City, which dates back to 1822, means you've got a wide variety of both wild-caught and farmed seafood and fish to choose from, in addition to prepared fish and seafood products. Shrimp burgers, anyone?
Pros and Cons
Pros
Budget-friendly
Can choose your delivery date
Extensive and accessible customer support options
Cons
Not all products are sustainably sourced or raised
Low prices may reflect quality difference
Overview
Flexibility and variety are definitely two aspects of this company's offerings—you can place a single order for seafood or sign up for a subscription, with deliveries available on a weekly, biweekly and monthly basis. The weekly deals offer a great opportunity to either pick up an established favorite or try something entirely new.
Pricing and Plans
Note that all pricing is based on market price, and subject to fluctuations:
$14.99 for 2 pounds of Prince Edward Island mussels
1 pound shrimp burgers, $18.99
Faroe Island Atlantic salmon portions, $20.99 to $31.99
Wild dry sea scallops, $49.99
Best for Sushi or Sashimi Grade Fish: Honolulu Fish Company
Key Specs
Starting Price: $56.25 per pound for cod fillets
Delivery Area: 49 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Chefs love Honolulu Fish Company for its incredible high-quality offerings, which include more than 30 types of eco-friendly Pacific water fish, including 14 species of sashimi-grade fish.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Every fish is exclusively hook-caught
Offerings are updated with a "today's catch"
Fully trimmed portions (except for the 4-pound salmon)
Cons
Expensive
No subscriptions
Overview
When you order from Honolulu Fish company, the packages arrive within 24 to 48 hours in a custom box that keeps the contents at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (or colder) for up to 48 hours. This ensures you've got the freshest fish possible, whether it's scallops, Hawaiian Ahi, ono, albacore ahi or sweet crab, for example.
Pricing & Plans
Note that all pricing is based on market price, and subject to fluctuations:
From $56.25 per pound (for cod)
$85.20 for Kauai sweet prawns
$88 for Hawaiian ahi (big eye)
$96.66 for ultra ahi with mero
$114 for red deep sweet crab
Best for Sustainability: Sea to Table
Key Specs
Starting from: $7.99
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It
Sea to Table offers a wide variety of reasonably priced and sustainably-sourced seafood and fish. Everything it sells is traceable and transparent, and it offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee for the condition of its products.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Build your own subscription box
Wide variety
Wild-caught fish from U.S. waters
Cons
Must spend $99 to unlock free shipping
Overview
Sea to Table takes marine stewardship seriously with its commitment to only sourcing its seafood from U.S. waters. The company is a certified B Corporation and works with the NOAA Fish Watch to ensure its products are sustainable for consumers and support U.S. fishing communities. The company's seafood arrives frozen and packed in eco-friendly insulation and dry ice to ensure freshness, and customers have the option to build a subscription box or order items a la carte.
Pricing and Plans
Note that all pricing is based on market price and subject to fluctuations:
10 ounces Wild Gulf shrimp, $18.12
10 ounces Atlantic sea scallops, $26.72
12 ounces West Coast Dover sole, $17.09
Best for Fresh Oysters: Taylor Shellfish Farms
Key Specs
Starting Price: $50 per pound
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh or Frozen
Why You Should Try It
Freshness is key when it comes to the perfect, briny oyster and Taylor Shellfish Farms comes out on top in this category, making sustainably harvested bivalves accessible to customers across the country.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Shellfish noted by Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch
Offers an exclusive oyster, the Shigoku
Variety of products, including fresh, oyster cooking kits, dips
Cons
Subscriptions not available
Offerings are somewhat limited
Overview
Taylor prides itself on its "tide to table" ethos and has been in business since 1890 in Puget Sound. The company harvests its oysters from farms across the Pacific Northwest, offering five different varieties of oysters along with meal kits and shucking accessories. It also has some more unique items on the menu, including the geoduck, a clam type that's native to the region with a sweet taste and crisp texture.
Pricing and Plans
Note that all pricing is based on market price, and subject to fluctuations:
Ekone smoked scallops, $17
Manila clams (5 pounds), $55
Taylor Pacific Petites oysters (30 pieces), $75
Shigoku or Olympia oysters (30 pieces), $75
Fried oyster kit, $85
Best for Lobster: Luke's Lobster
Key Specs
Starting from: $35 for lobster bisque
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh or frozen both available
Why You Should Try It
Whether it's for a special occasion, the love of fresh lobster or for no reason at all, Luke's delivers wild-caught lobsters, fresh, frozen and in various other preparations.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Wild-caught lobster
Offers "kits" for fun meals such as lobster rolls
Certified B Corp status
Cons
Lobster sold by pack and number versus by the pound
Its frozen, prepared lobster and seafood items only available at Whole Foods locations
Overview
You may have encountered a Luke's Lobster in your travels, but you can have this company's fresh lobster sent straight to your door if you're not located near one of its brick-and-mortar locations. It's a great option for fresh and sustainable lobster—especially if you are having people over and want to order one of its fun lobster roll bundles or kits that include desserts.
Pricing and Plans
Note that all pricing is based on market price, and subject to fluctuations:
Lobster bisque or clam chowder from $39
Lobster tail (1.25 to 1.5 pounds) from $105
Lobster roll bundles from $125
Editor's note: We know that Maine lobster has had its sustainability called into question: The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch has moved Maine lobster to its "avoid" list, and its Marine Stewardship Council certification has been revoked. We recognize this is a nuanced issue, and encourage you to weigh your options and consider the available research in order to make an informed purchase.
Final Verdict
For an overall best value, Wulf's has just about everything you would want from a sustainable seafood company—extensive variety, high quality and a range of prices to suit various budgets. Whether you want caviar, squid, fish, octopus or limited/seasonal items, a seafood lover will have a hard time running out of selections to choose from. We also really liked that Wulf's prioritizes educating consumers through its blog and recipes, a huge plus for customers who may be new to preparing some types of seafood.
Compare the Best Seafood Delivery Services
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Seafood Delivery Services Ship Seafood?
These types of services typically vacuum seal the seafood and fish and send it packed in dry ice. That way when it arrives at your house it's still fresh and cold. Many of the companies also opt to use eco-friendly packaging that's easy to recycle or compost.
Is Shipping Seafood Safe?
Yes, this process is safe. Seafood delivery services take great pains to make sure the food is kept at the proper temperature throughout the shipping process. Fish should arrive frozen or cool to the touch, depending on the shipping method, and should not have a foul odor. If you're at all worried, don't hesitate to contact customer service.
Are Seafood Delivery Services a Cost-Effective Option for Buying Quality Seafood?
Seafood is expensive: It costs a lot to procure, handle and ship. But if you are buying in bulk from a delivery service, it can be more cost-effective, especially if free shipping is thrown into the mix. Ultimately, though, it's a question of whether it's worth your time and money to invest in quality seafood. While it may not be a strictly "cost-effective" choice, you are also paying to support fishing communities and avoid contributing to overfishing.
Is It Better to Buy Wild or Farmed Fish?
It's not necessarily a matter of which one is better; it's more of a question of sustainability. You can buy wild fish or farmed fish and neither one of them could be sustainably sourced. Responsible companies will address issues like reducing bycatch and lessening the harvest method's impact on marine health. It's possible to buy wild and farmed fish that don't use antibiotics, that are caught only by using a hook and/or that offer a traceable experience for the consumer (and one that supports the farmers directly). The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch is an excellent resource for consumers who want to make sustainable seafood choices.
Methodology
We considered product value for the price of each monthly subscription, along with the quality of salmon that you receive. Transparency with sourcing and sustainability initiatives was also key in making our selections. We also chose companies that responded quickly to email inquiries and those whose websites were easy to navigate with up-to-date information. We looked at nearly three dozen companies using those criteria along with, of course, taste, variety, and ease of ordering.
