10 Places
Seafood Restaurants
Mountains may not have an ocean, but the Smokies are packed with seafood restaurants serving everything from fresh-catch trout to crab legs and lobster.
Pigeon Forge
Harpoon Harry's Crab House - Pigeon Forge
Seafood with crab, lobster, shrimp
Pigeon Forge
Bullfish Grill
Fresh seafood and respectable sushi
Gatlinburg
Chesapeake's Seafood & Raw Bar
Seafood, raw bar, clam chowder
Gatlinburg
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Seafood themed after Forrest Gump
Gatlinburg
Chesapeake's Seafood and Raw Bar
Scenic seafood with oysters and crab cakes
Pigeon Forge
Huck Finn's Catfish
Crispy fried catfish and seafood
Wears Valley
Pawpaw's Catfish Kitchen
Crispy fried catfish and Southern seafood
Gatlinburg
Pinchy's Lobster + Rawbar
Fresh lobster and oysters in Gatlinburg
Sevierville
English Mountain Trout Farm
Fresh trout farm restaurant
Gatlinburg
El Ancla Seafood Restaurant
Mexican seafood specialties in Gatlinburg
What to Know
Best Seasons
Year-round. Mountain trout is year-round. Crab legs at buffets peak in summer with the highest visitor volume. Fall is an excellent time for trout dishes as the fish are most active in cooler water.
What to Bring
For crab leg buffets, wet wipes and a willingness to work for your food. Crab crackers are provided. For trout at upscale spots, just your appetite.
Finding the Right Seafood for Your Group
Mountain Trout Culture
Appalachian trout fishing and cooking is one of the oldest food traditions in the mountains. Cold, clean streams produce exceptional trout. The local preparation - pan-fried with cornmeal or almonds - is distinct from coastal preparations.
Coastal Seafood Inland
The best inland seafood restaurants fly in fresh coastal fish daily. Crab, shrimp, and grouper are available at the top spots with quality that rivals coastal restaurants. The key is freshness rotation - ask when the last delivery arrived.
Seafood and the Smokies Season
Summer is the peak season for seafood specials as kitchens take advantage of the best coastal supply windows. Fall menus often shift toward heartier preparations of the same fish. Both seasons are excellent.
Tips and Getting There
Insider Tips
- Pan-seared rainbow trout with brown butter and herbs is the signature fish dish of the Smokies. Grilled trout over a fire at the national park's Abrams Creek area is the outdoor version of the same experience.
- Crab leg buffets in Pigeon Forge are best on busy summer evenings when turnover is highest and legs are freshest. Avoid early bird specials if quality is the priority.
- The Peddler Steakhouse frequently has trout on the menu alongside their steaks. Ordering the trout there is one of the better fish meals in the corridor.
Getting There and Parking
Seafood restaurants are in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge on and near the main corridors. Rideshare makes a seafood dinner with wine stress-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there fresh seafood in the landlocked Smoky Mountains?
What is mountain trout and why should I order it?
Where is the best seafood restaurant in Gatlinburg?
Can I catch and cook my own trout in the Smokies?
What Southern seafood preparations are specific to the Smokies?
Is seafood in the Smokies expensive?
Vantage Stays · Smoky Mountain Guide
Seafood Restaurants
Seafood restaurants in the Smoky Mountains. Fresh fish, crab legs, shrimp, and oysters in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville.
Scan for live
hours & details
What to Know
Best Seasons
Year-round. Mountain trout is year-round. Crab legs at buffets peak in summer with the highest visitor volume. Fall is an excellent time for trout dishes as the fish are most active in cooler water.
What to Bring
For crab leg buffets, wet wipes and a willingness to work for your food. Crab crackers are provided. For trout at upscale spots, just your appetite.
The Checklist
| Place | Rating | Hours | Phone | Address | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gatlinburg | |||||
| Chesapeake's Seafood & Raw Bar | 4.5 ★ | Daily: 11:30AM - 10PM | (865) 430-1771 | 738 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 | |
| Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. | 4.2 ★ | 11 AM - 10 PM | (865) 430-3034 | 903 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 | |
| Chesapeake's Seafood and Raw Bar | 4.6 ★ | 4 PM - 11 PM | (865) 430-1122 | 437 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 | |
| Pinchy's Lobster + Rawbar | 4.6 ★ | 11 AM - 10 PM | (865) 325-1122 | 212 Court Ave, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 | |
| El Ancla Seafood Restaurant | 4.4 ★ | 11 AM - 9:30 PM | 865-436-1111 | 725 Parkway #3, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 | |
| Pigeon Forge | |||||
| Harpoon Harry's Crab House - Pigeon Forge | 4 ★ | 11 AM - 9 PM | (865) 428-1800 | 112 Community Center Dr, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 | |
| Bullfish Grill | 4.3 ★ | 11 AM - 10 PM | (865) 868-1000 | 2441 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 | |
| Huck Finn's Catfish | 4.4 ★ | Daily: 11AM - 9PM | (865) 429-3353 | 3330 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 | |
| Sevierville | |||||
| English Mountain Trout Farm | 4.6 ★ | 11 AM - 6 PM, Closed Sunday | (865) 933-7222 | Sevierville, TN | |
| Wears Valley | |||||
| Pawpaw's Catfish Kitchen | 4.7 ★ | 11 AM - 8 PM | (865) 908-8601 | 2760 Wears Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862 | |
Picking the Right One for Your Group
Mountain Trout Culture
Appalachian trout fishing and cooking is one of the oldest food traditions in the mountains. Cold, clean streams produce exceptional trout. The local preparation - pan-fried with cornmeal or almonds - is distinct from coastal preparations.
Coastal Seafood Inland
The best inland seafood restaurants fly in fresh coastal fish daily. Crab, shrimp, and grouper are available at the top spots with quality that rivals coastal restaurants. The key is freshness rotation - ask when the last delivery arrived.
Seafood and the Smokies Season
Summer is the peak season for seafood specials as kitchens take advantage of the best coastal supply windows. Fall menus often shift toward heartier preparations of the same fish. Both seasons are excellent.
Insider Tips
- Pan-seared rainbow trout with brown butter and herbs is the signature fish dish of the Smokies. Grilled trout over a fire at the national park's Abrams Creek area is the outdoor version of the same experience.
- Crab leg buffets in Pigeon Forge are best on busy summer evenings when turnover is highest and legs are freshest. Avoid early bird specials if quality is the priority.
- The Peddler Steakhouse frequently has trout on the menu alongside their steaks. Ordering the trout there is one of the better fish meals in the corridor.