Oysters, Oysters, and More Oysters in South Walton!

Sowal is blessed to have access to some of the best seafood in the country, and our plump, salty, luscious oysters are among the finest in the world. Most come from Apalachicola Bay but when conditions aren't perfect there we get them in from Texas. Eat them raw on a Saltine cracker or delicately baked with gourmet ingredients. Oyster lovers will go a long way for a delicious and plump oyster - here's our latest SoWal LIST with some of our favorites nearby.

Stinky's Fish Camp in Dune Allen Beach has been one of the most popular oyster stops for quite some time now. They are known for serving “Oysters All Day, All Ways.” Order a half dozen baked or try Stinky’s Stew, a local favorite recently featured on Emeril's Florida, which combines shrimp, mussels, fish, oysters, and snow crab leg, corn, potatoes, tomatoes in a basil butter broth. If you are feeling frisky, try a dozen shooters of raw oysters in a Bloody Mary mix.

Since 1984, AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar has been serving up fresh, cold gulf coast oysters and cool libations. Some of you might remember AJ's way back in the day, when they shucked oysters off the deck behind a small trailer right on the Destin Harbor. Yes, that's where it all began! Now they are serving up some of the best raw and cooked oysters in Grayton Beach. If you can’t decide just get them all -Classic Rockefeller, raw,  steamed or their signature Oysters Italiano which are baked on the half shell with Romano cheese herbs and garlic butter. 

Bud & Alley's in Seaside always only serves the highest quality oysters. Owner Dave Rauschkolb wouldn't serve them if they weren't up to his standards. And he can shuck 'em with the best of 'em as we saw him giving shucking lessons to shucker at a nearby restaurant recently. Sit on the rooftop deck and enjoy a 360-degree view of the Gulf and the town while slurping salty oysters!

Hurricane Oyster Bar is located in Grayton Beach and has been a SoWal staple when oysters are the topic of discussion. They have a great happy hour special and serve oysters raw, grilled, steamed or baked. I suggest the World Tour raw oysters to get a little taste of everything. They serve up a mean Oysters Rockefeller but my favorite is the baked oysters served with jalapeño, bacon and cheddar cheese.

Great Southern Café located in Seaside, offers one of the best happy hours on the beach. Their oysters are big and plump and perfectly complemented by the house made horseradish and hot sauce. For drink suggestions, ask the bartender to whip up one of their creative cocktails to accompany the half shell delights. 83 Central Square, Seaside | 850-231-7327

FOOW is also known as Fish Out of Water and is right on the Gulf at the WaterColor Inn. FOOW embodies the spirit of the WaterColor community: coastal, fun, and unpretentious, with impeccable service and cuisine in an approachable, coastal setting overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Seriously the perfect spot to eat Gulf oysters on the half shell served with homemade cocktail sauce and ritz crackers and garnished with rosemary. Pair with a local craft beer on draught and you’ve got yourself a meal.

Delicious oysters are shucked for you at Local Catch Bar & Grill  and you can kick back and enjoy live music in a fun and relaxed atmosphere - Florida homegrown oysters fresh shucked behind the bar! A sprawling, casual layout allows for their southern-coastal cuisine to be enjoyed in their inviting indoor dining area or in the expanded outdoor dining area.

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Visit the SoWal Dining Guide for more food stories and lists. Head over to the SoWal Dining Forum for more food news. You can even leave your own reviews and tell us about your favorite local eats. We love to hear from you! Be sure to follow the SoWal Facebook page for updates from the beach while you’re at it.