A Story Shaped by the Sea

In New Brunswick, seafood is more than something on the menu. It is connected to the coast, to fishing communities, to family traditions and to the local businesses that help bring fresh flavour from the water to the table.

Across the province, wharves, seafood markets, restaurants and coastal towns all help tell that story. The seafood sector plays an important role in New Brunswick life, especially in rural coastal communities, where it supports local jobs, local businesses and long-standing traditions. It also carries the province’s flavour far beyond our shores, helping make New Brunswick one of Canada’s largest exporters of fish and seafood products.

That is why seafood here feels different. It is not just about lobster, fried clams, oysters or seafood chowder. It is about the people, places and traditions behind every bite.

People’s Choice Favourites

If you are building a New Brunswick seafood bucket list, the People’s Choice Awards are a great place to start. Voted by the public, these local favourites highlight some of the seafood experiences people love to enjoy across the province.

Best Fried Clams

GOLD: Chez Leo - Shediac Bridge
SILVER: The Clam Digger - Saint Andrews
BRONZE: Ossie’s Lunch - Saint George

Fried clams are a New Brunswick classic, and these local spots are part of the experience for anyone craving a simple, crispy and coastal favourite.

Best Lobster Roll

GOLD: Spinney’s Seafood Market - St. Martins
SILVER: Le Shack à Joe - Shippagan
BRONZE: Chez Leo - Shediac Bridge

A lobster roll is one of those meals that feels made for a summer drive, a seaside stop or a casual lunch by the water.

Best Fish and Chips

GOLD: Le Shack à Joe - Shippagan
SILVER: The Clam Digger - Saint Andrews
BRONZE: Skipper Jack’s Maritime Restaurant - Moncton

For an easy seafood meal, fish and chips are always a favourite. These local businesses make it simple to enjoy a taste of New Brunswick while supporting places recognized by local voters.

Bring the Coast Home

After exploring the People’s Choice favourites, there are even more ways to enjoy New Brunswick seafood at home. Across the province, local seafood markets, lobster shops and online seafood sellers make it easy to pick up fresh, frozen, smoked or prepared seafood for a family dinner, summer BBQ, picnic or weekend gathering.

Here are a few local seafood businesses to explore:

• Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar Inc. - Saint John
• Alma Lobster Shop - Alma
• Arseneau Fish Market - Nigadoo
• Coastal Seafood & Takeout - Grand-Digue
• Cocagne Seafood LTD - Cocagne
• Collins Lobster Shop - Alma
• Cuisines Roi Kitchens Ltée. - Petit-Rocher
• Fisherman’s Corner Market - Moncton
• Joe Caissie Seafood Inc. - Grand-Digue
• Bulger Fish Market - Le Goulet (Silver in 2026 People’s Choice Awards - Best Butcher/Fish Monger)
• McLean’s Fish Shop - Bathurst
• Misty Harbour Seafood - Saint John
• Moncton Fish Market - Moncton
• North Market Seafood - Saint John
• Peters Meat Market - Fredericton
• Big Fish Fish Market - Shediac
• Poissonnerie du Creek - Pokemouche
• Poissonnerie Lagacé Fish Market - Atholville
• R&M Fish Shack - Back Bay
• Shediac Lobster Shop - Shediac
• Spinney’s Seafood Market - St. Martins

Seafood Stops Across New Brunswick

Seafood is one of the best reasons to explore New Brunswick by road. Whether you are craving fried clams, fish and chips, lobster rolls, seafood chowder or simply a great seafood meal, there are plenty of local restaurants and seafood stops where you can experience the flavours that make the province so well known.

Whether you are planning a beach day, a scenic drive or a weekend getaway, these local restaurants and seafood stops offer plenty of reasons to enjoy the flavours of New Brunswick along the way.

Pair It Local

A New Brunswick seafood meal can go even further when paired with something local to drink. Fried clams, lobster rolls, fish and chips, seafood chowder and fresh oysters can all become part of a bigger local experience when matched with a New Brunswick wine, cider, beer or craft beverage.

For something crisp and refreshing, local cider can be a great match for fried clams, fish and chips or a casual seafood lunch. A craft beer can pair well with lobster rolls, seafood platters or a stop at a local takeout. For a dinner at home, a New Brunswick wine can help turn fresh seafood into a relaxed meal with family and friends.

Here are a few local beverage makers recognized through the 2026 People’s Choice Awards:

A Taste of New Brunswick

Seafood in New Brunswick is more than a meal. It is part of the province’s coastal identity, local economy, family traditions and summer memories.

Whether you are visiting a fish market, stopping for fried clams on a road trip, enjoying a lobster roll by the water, pairing dinner with a local beverage or bringing fresh seafood home, every choice helps support the people and businesses that make New Brunswick’s seafood scene so special.

So this season, follow the coast, try something local and make seafood part of your New Brunswick experience.

Did we miss someone great?

Probably — and that’s the beauty of New Brunswick. There are so many local businesses, makers, restaurants, breweries, and experiences to discover that we can’t fit them all into one blog. If you know a spot we should feature in a future post, send us a note.