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Best Places To Get Clams In Orange County

clams seafood 610 header
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No matter how they are prepared, clams are a great treat. Luckily, Orange County offers a myriad of great restaurants offering all types of clams. From steamed, sauced, fried, or fresh from the shell, you won't find a shortage of delectably flavored clams all over this great county.

What are your favorite places to eat clams? Share in the comments below!
Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe clams
(credit: Cashew Productions)

Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe
154 E. 17th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 574-0274
www.smseafoodmarket.com

Founded in 1939, this quaint little seafood café features the largest selections of fresh fish, live shellfish, and frozen seafood in the Southwest. Adding to the experience, guests here can shop in the market place or dine in for a relaxing meal. A popular starter is their steamed littleneck clams served with white wine, tomatoes, garlic and grilled ciabatta. And, for those wanting more variety, the Cioppino offers a deep and flavorful broth loaded with fresh clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari and fish. Both dishes pair well with a cold glass of Riesling.

Kettlebar Steam Cooking
(credit: Anne Watson)

Kettlebar Steam Cooking
440 S. Anaheim Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92805
(714) 408-7378
www.kettlebar.com

Tucked on the first floor of the Anaheim Packing District, this Cajun, Creole seafood restaurant uses large steam kettles to cook their food. If you're a garlic lover, you'll enjoy the steamed clams sautéed in white wine, garlic and shallots. Kettlebar's signature pan roast can also be customized by adding clams to the hearty seafood base. All dishes are made in house and guests can sit at the full bar while they watch their dinner cook and talk with a chef.

kickin_crab
(credit: Melodi Steinberg)

Kickin' Crab
1534 Adams Ave. Ste D,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 760-4909
www.kickincrab.com

Tie on a bib and get ready to slurp because The Kickin' Crab serves up some of the best succulent raw clams around Orange County. Chilled on a bed of ice, these bite-sized little mollusks will slide right out of their shells and make for a tasty treat. Served with cocktail sauce and a side of pico de gallo, it makes for a perfect combination of sweet and spicy. The Kickin' crab also offers several meaty seafood combination meals that come with steamed clams. Served in steaming hot bags filled with a premium selection of shellfish, tender potatoes, thick sliced andouille sausage and corn on the cob, make sure to ask for it to be seasoned Kickin' style (a combination of lemon pepper, Cajun, Louisiana, and garlic butter) for a full blend of all spices.

kings fish house
(credit: King's Fish House)

King's Fish House
24001 Avenida de la Carlota
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 586-1515
www.kingsfishhouse.com

Cousins Sam and Jeff king dreamed of creating the ultimate seafood experience and soon after King's Fish House was born. Boasting a unique and impressive seafood menu with both a raw bar and a dedicated sushi chef, clams are one of the more popular choices at King's. If you're a seafood lover, plump, wild littleneck clams from Long Island are served individually or by the half dozen or dozen that will satisfy any craving. For a warmer small plate try the Sautéed Manila Clams, which is prepared with butter, white wine, garlic, shallots and fresh herbs. For those looking for a pasta craving, the clam linguini is delicious and comes with a hint of fresh basil and fiery red pepper. King's Fish House is located in the outskirts of the Laguna Hills mall making it a desirable choice for many hungry shoppers.

fishermans
(credit: Valerie Daugherty)

Fisherman's Restaurant
611 Avenida Victoria
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 498-6390
www.crabcooker.com

Perched at the beginning of the San Clemente Pier, The Fisherman's restaurant has a location that cannot be beat. One of the best items found on the menu here is The Clam feast, a dish that undoubtedly will satisfy any seafood lover's palate. The feast includes a bucket of clams steamed in nectar, a tureen of clam chowder, fresh tossed green salad, Rice Pilaf, and a golden sourdough loaf which is made fresh daily. The clam linguini cooked in a white wine garlic sauce is another easy choice.

What are your favorite places to eat clams? Share in the comments below!
Melodi Steinberg is a freelance writer out of Orange County. She typically covers food and family lifestyle topics. Her work can be found at www.eatdrinkoc.com and www.familyreviewguide.com
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