By 
This article was published in May 2021, it was last updated in December 2024.
If you live in Southern California and you’re a foodie, you’ll know that lobster rolls are causing a frenzy right now, and if you’re not familiar with lobster rolls, here’s a quick backstory on this New England staple.
The origins of lobster roll harken back to a restaurant in Connecticut named Milford. The lobster roll quickly became popular along the coast but never actually spread beyond the state. Although lobster rolls are a regional staple in New England, they are typically associated with Maine, also known as the lobster capital of the world, where the rise of the lobster roll began in 1970. The ingredients of a lobster roll are painfully simple: a New England-style split-top bun and lobster meat alongside the dressings. These can either be Maine-style, served cold with mayo, or or Connecticut-style, where the bread is warm, toasted and buttered. Purists will tell you that Connecticut-style is the way to have a proper lobster roll, but the chilled lobster roll with mayo I had at Pete’s Seafood in San Diego for example, made me question this. It’s all about personal preference.
Only a few places in Southern California use the New England-style bun with their lobster rolls, which is of course, imported from the East Coast.
To have a better understanding of lobster rolls on the East Coast, I researched the best lobster roll sandwich joints in Maine. The places I kept coming across the most were Red’s Eats, which was voted the best lobster roll in the state, Five Island Lobster Co, The Highroller Lobster Co, and Eventtide Oyster Co. I also highly recommend that you watch this video where Zagat’s food editor Molly Moker goes on a quest to find the best lobster rolls in Portland, Maine! I vicariously live through her reactions and pretend I’m savoring it myself.
I’m seriously contemplating taking a trip to Maine to truly experience the coastal life and eat as many lobster rolls as I possibly can.
It’s important to note that if you’re in the mood for a lobster roll, keep in mind that it won’t be at In N Out prices. The average price for a lobster roll is $20 and pricing in Maine varies depending on the market. At Red’s Eats in Maine, the price for a lobster roll varies between $16 and $23.
I want to thank the restaurants on this list who gave me complimentary lobster rolls. I feel so spoiled. Otherwise, it would not have been possible to share my opinion with you and gain a deeper level of appreciation for lobster rolls. The valuable input of the restaurant managers and owners is greatly appreciated.
Did you know McDonald restaurants in Maine and a few Canadian provinces serve lobster rolls? Insert astonished face emoji! Unlike the fresh lobster meat you will find at most places in Maine, the lobster from McDonalds is actually frozen. There’s a lot of controversy and even true lobster connoisseurs in Maine have no desire to try it.
The more lobsters I tried, the more I could correlate the quality of the bread with the freshness of the lobster. If the bun is good, you know the lobster will be good. As mundane as it may seem, always pay attention to the bread!
The Connecticut-style lobster roll is all about the butter! Some of the places on this list lightly buttered their toasts, letting the freshness of the lobster meat come through, whereas at other places, the explosion of flavors of the lemon and butter were such a unique experience. I prefer the latter but some people don’t like when the lobster is too heavily flavored.
To avoid getting sick of lobster rolls, I went to all these places in the span of two months.
Here they are:
Royal Lobster LA
4450 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
For many years, this streamlined moderne gas station from the 50s has been used as a walk-up window coffee shop. In late 2023, Royal Lobster took over the space, offering delectable lobster rolls that have gone viral on social media. Many TikTokers have deemed Royal Lobster the best lobster rolls in America.
The guy at the cashier told me that their lobster is caught in Maine and Boston. Although there is one lobster salad on the menu, the main specialty at Royal Lobster are the good ole Connecticut-style lobster rolls.
The market price is $30, which is the standard in many seafood establishments in New England and the Pacific Northwest. But it’s worth it considering the amount of lobster meat you’re getting. Not to mention the quality! Their lobster roll comes with a side of chips and a coleslaw salad, as well as a lemon wedge and a dollop of aioli sauce. When they bring you the tray with your lobster roll, the employee will advise you to squeeze the lemon wedge, add some of the aioli, and pepper some Old Bay seasoning that was sitting on all the tables.
Upon my first bite, I was sold. The fresh lobster meat was juicy and coated with warm butter. As you will see throughout this post, adding a squeeze of lemon truly elevates the flavor of the lobster. The warm toasty bun was so fluffy that I didn’t realize that I was eating bread at all. It was like biting into a buttery cloud. I had some of the aioli sauce, but in my opinion, adding too many condiments detracts from the star of the show, which is the lobster meat. Here, the lobster was so fresh and tender that there was no need to overpower it with too many sauces. It truly stood out on its own. Just brilliant.
If it wasn’t for the hefty price tag, I’d probably have gotten another one. The coleslaw salad was very refreshing and the dressing was excellent. Overall, if you live around Central LA, I cannot recommend this place enough! Although they close at 8pm, I would try to go there earlier in the day. I went there in December of last year around 7, and the guy told me that they had run out of lobster meat!
Note: Royal Lobster’s original location is in Honolulu, HI. After being voted for three consecutive years the best lobster roll in Hawaii, they decided to bring their business to the mainland.
Broad Street Oyster Company
23359 CA-1 #3874A, Malibu, CA 90265
If you live in LA and you love lobster rolls, this place needs no introduction. Their restaurant / drive-thru opened in Malibu during the pandemic, causing a huge commotion among Angelenos. Before 2020, I had never had a lobster roll before in my life and this was the place that not only made me fall in love with lobster rolls, but sparked my curiosity to learn more about it. The founder of Broad Street Oyster is Christopher Tomkins, who was born in NY and developed a love of the ocean and seafood at a very young age. Having lived in Boston, Brooklyn, and even Sydney, he decided to pursue his project on the West Coast, inspired by his fishing trips and memories with his father.
You order at the drive-thru window and then wait in the parking lot until they call your name. It was so good!! The bun to lobster ratio was just perfect. A picture says a thousand words, right? Look at that!! The lobster and the bun are imported from Maine.
It is pricey, but the amalgamation of the high-quality ingredients and the attention to detail that go into serving the lobster rolls have positioned Broad Oyster Street as the ultimate lobster roll destination in LA. Further proof of this is the ever-present line to order. I also have to mention how nice and attentive the service is. Despite the fact that you’re smack dab in the middle of Malibu, there is no pretentiousness from the staff.
Hannah E wrote on Yelp: “While I ate this, I was simultaneously texting my dad that it was a better lobster roll than any I had in Maine. He was mad, but it was true.” Adrienne K wrote “I’ve had lobster rolls from Maine, and Broad Street Oyster Co is just as good as those from the New England area.”
Broad Street Oyster Co also does catering and has a wide range of menu options available that includes uni pasta, fish tacos, and oysters.
The only caveat of Broad Street Oyster? It’s too far!! I truly hope they expand to Central LA in the near future.
Update: There’s now a Broad Street Oyster Co. location in DTLA.
Cousins Maine Lobster
Note: the brick-and-mortar in West Hollywood is permanently closed, but their food truck is still up and running! Check the schedule here.
Brick-and-mortar location in California: 8593 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (CLOSED)
*Complimentary
Holy cow, where do I even start?
I can’t believe that I’ve driven by Cousins Maine Lobster on a daily basis and never actually stopped to try it out. Every bite of that lobster roll was bursting with lemon and butter, which I personally loved. The perfectly toasted and buttery bread melted in my mouth. The flavors complimented the overall lobster roll in the best possible way. For sides, I had half french fries and half tater tots. I’m not the biggest fan of French fries when paired with a meal, but I ended up eating all of them. The tater tots were crispy and flavorful.
Cousins Maine Lobster was founded by Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac, who are Maine natives and grew up eating their way around Portland. After seeing how vast the food truck scene was in LA, they decided to launch Cousins Maine Lobster in 2011. Their small business venture successfully turned into a multimillion-dollar franchise, with food trucks in many US states thanks to their appearance on the show Shark Tank.
If you live in Central LA, you can go to their brick-and-mortar location in West Hollywood at any time of the day to indulge in a delicious lobster roll. If you don’t live in the vicinity of West Hollywood, check out their food truck schedule.
Fishing With Dynamite
1148 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
*Complimentary
Amazing. They only serve the lobster roll Connecticut-style. The bread to meat ratio was just excellent — look at all that lobster meat! This one is probably the biggest lobster roll on this list. In other words, you’ll definitely get good bang for your buck. The bread was lightly coated with butter and the lobster was ridiculously fresh and tender. The fries were also 10/10 and the small coleslaw salad was very refreshing. Fishing With Dynamite has been given a few accolades by LA magazines. They were also given a Michelin Plate in 2019 by the prestigious Michelin Guide. The interior of the restaurant, with its nautical theme, is an homage to the East Coast. Owner and Chef David LeFevre was inspired by his summers on the Eastern shore of Virginia. Do not forget to order the key lime pie for dessert!
Pete’s Seafood & Sandwich
3382 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
*Complimentary
I’m going to go out on a limb and urge you to drive to San Diego. If, like me, you’ve never been to Maine, this place will take you there. I found Pete’s after my underwhelming experience at Wicked Maine Lobster, a super popular, Instagram lobster roll chain in San Diego, but more on that later. Pete’s is located away from the hustle and bustle of Central San Diego. A short backstory on Peter: He is from Massachusetts and has worked in the seafood business for 30 years! He knew all the places in Maine I mentioned and said that if you’re looking for good lobster roll joints in Maine, always look for the small shacks.
When I walked in, I was greeted by Maribel. After I told her about my lackluster lobster roll at Wicked Maine Lobster, guess what? She told me they get a lot of customers, who, just like me, had a pretty subpar experience at Wicked Maine Lobster (see? I’m not exaggerating). I was so lucky that Peter was there because his valuable insight and wealth of knowledge on lobster rolls has taken this article to next level.
I tried the Maine-style and Connecticut-style lobster rolls. Where do I start? Maribel said that Peter goes to the airport every day to receive the shipments of fresh ingredients he gets from the East Coast.
Just like Cousins Maine Lobster, the meat was exploding with flavor from the butter and lemon, which yet again, confirmed that this is my favorite type of lobster roll. To say that it was delicious is a HUGE understatement. I don’t know if it translates on camera, but the lobster was actually glistening with butter.
The buttery and airy bread was also a delightful experience to eat. The bun I had at Wicked Maine Lobster was an average bun, nothing to write home about. I could definitely taste the difference in this one right away. When I told Maribel about this, she told me that Peter imports the buns from Boston! He said that Cousins Maine Lobster’s process was similar to his, as they also have their ingredients shipped from the East Coast. Peter always makes sure to strive for top quality ingredients. The Maine style lobster roll was equally outstanding, something that it’s pretty difficult to nail since many places soak the lobster in mayo and it turns into a soggy mess.
At Pete’s, patrons feel right at home. There was definitely a sense of camaraderie with everyone that walked in. Peter told me that there are people from LA that drive down to his place every two weeks just for the lobster roll, or they may go there to buy lobster by the pound and take it home. Pete’s Seafood has also been given numerous stamps of approval by people who grew up in New England, and rightfully so.
I told him that his place definitely deserves to be shared with the world, so I really hope you check it out if you’re in town. No deceitful Instagram photos, just delicious, high-quality lobster rolls and owner-operated. Pete’s is located in a quiet neighborhood, further inland in San Diego, away from the tourist crowds. Sitting alone on the terrace indulging in authentic lobster rolls was a stark contrast from the earlier crowds I had encountered. Here, I felt like I could truly relax, enjoy my meal and be transported to the East Coast in every bite.
I’m already planning my next trip to San Diego as I’m writing this just to get my hands on Peter’s delicious lobster rolls.
Lobster & Beer
3456 Motor Ave #101, Los Angeles, CA 90034 (Palms)
607 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005 (Koreatown)
13825 Hawthorne Blvd Hawthorne, California 90250 (South Bay)
This review is of their location in Palms.
*Complimentary
Founded by Michael Anthony, Lobster & Beer serves both classic lobster roll styles (Connecticut and Maine), as well as Cali Truffle roll, which is served cold with some veggies and truffle, and Crab roll, which is one of Michael’s favorites.
He said: “I’m from NJ and honestly didn’t even know what a lobster roll was until around 2015 when I opened my first restaurant in Ventura, CA. I was always in the restaurant business while I was chasing my music career. Before opening my first restaurant I was the General Manager at PUMP in West Hollywood and the touring bass player for the rock band Puddle of Mudd. Lobster and Beer came about because I just saw a gaping hole in the Los Angeles lobster scene. I studied other fast casual lobster restaurants and took a big risk. I devised a simple menu and got some investment money. Very little money. Then started building it with my new partner Jeff who was one of my servers at PUMP.”
I ordered the two classic lobster rolls, Maine and Connecticut. Both of them were delicious. I loved the subtle hint of lemon and butter on the toast of the Connecticut-style lobster roll. The lobster meat was really tender and juicy. I was also really impressed by the freshness of the bun. Michael said they get them fresh every day from Rockenwagner Bakery in Culver City! The presentation of the rolls was 10/10.
The Maine-style lobster roll had the perfect amount of mayo and was light yet packed with so much flavor in every bite. I’m a bigger fan of the Connecticut-style in general, but this one was worth trying out.
They top the Connecticut-style lobster roll with mayo, which is also how it’s served at The Highroller Lobster in Maine! I went to the location in Palms.
Found Oyster
4880 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
“Found Oyster is nestled in the heart of East Hollywood. Inspired by the blue-collar oyster bars in New England, found oyster intersects classic east coast seafood shacks with west coast flavors. Seafood-focused fare, including crudos, lobster rolls, and a full raw bar with oysters from general manager Joe Laraja’s family oyster farm in Orleans, Massachusetts. Champagne and Coors, oysters and chowder.” – Resy.com
This is their Lobster Bisque Roll, served with Serrano chillis and fries.
@foundoyster
Lobster Bisque Roll🔥😎🦞
serrano chili, served w. frites.
@foundoyster
It’s the French Fry Restaurant!! 🍟
Hook & Anchor
3305 Newport Blvd ste A, Newport Beach, CA 92663
*Complimentary
There is no denying that Newport Beach has top-notch seafood restaurants like Bear Flag, but I did not know you could find a lobster haven such as Hook & Anchor. This place was founded by Chef Wayne Magnusen, a Cordon Bleu graduate, so you know you’ll have a quality experience. The lobster is shipped straight from Maine and they get the brioche buns every day from Melrose Baking Company. All of the sauces at Hook & Anchor are made from scratch. It is highly recommended to order the lobster roll the “Chef’s Way”, in which Chef Magnusen adds his own personal twist to the traditional lobster roll. It will be expensive, but you’ll get a uniquely decadent experience worth every dollar. The lobster roll comes with a side of Cajun fries.
“We came in and got lobster rolls tonight to take home. Being from Maine, I’ve had my fair share of lobster rolls and this one was a contender for the best one I’ve ever had!!” said Katie on Yelp.
Note: After I published this article, Wayne reached out to me and invited me to Hook And Anchor for a complimentary lobster roll. I want to thank him because this is one of my top three favorite lobster rolls on this list. I’m not saying this because it was complimentary, but there might be a tie between Pete’s in San Diego and Hooks & Anchor…
Look at the pictures. The lobster could not be any fresher. It was tender and the bread was buttered excellently. I thoroughly enjoyed my lobster roll and was sad once I finished it because it was that good. I squeezed the lemon for that extra burst of flavor and…wow! My taste buds will never forget it. The fries were also seasoned to perfection, so there was no need to add ketchup. Despite the upscale location in Downtown Newport Beach, Hooks & Anchor has a casual, no-frills atmosphere. The fact that it’s owner operated, especially by a Cordon Bleu graduate says a lot about the calibre of lobster roll you’ll get.
After I ate my lobster roll, Wayne and I had a brief conversation about lobster rolls and this post. He said he was super picky when it came to lobster rolls and that he had to go through at least seven vendors in order to get the perfect lobster. We also talked about Wicked Maine Lobster (they can’t catch a break can’t they?). He said that just by looking at their lobster meat on their IG, he doubted that their lobster was from Maine. Although Hook And Achor’s social media game is not that strong, Wayne says people generally find his business through word of mouth. Overall, if you’re looking to have one of the best lobster rolls of your life, look no further. Totally worth the one-hour drive from LA. I arrived at noon and after they gave me my order, there was already a long line formed behind me.
The Lobster Shack
111 W Avenida Palizada #104, San Clemente, CA 92672
*Complimentary
The owner of the place is Dan Naughton, a surfer and fish enthusiast. He opened up The Lobster Shack with his wife Kim Quickel in 2019 with the intention of bringing authentic flavors from the East Coast at affordable prices. The lobster comes from all parts of the world, not just Maine, depending on the season and availability.
The first thing that stood out upon biting into the lobster roll was how juicy the lobster meat was — so fresh and so generously portioned that the lobster chunks were spilling out of the brioche bun. The bread had the perfect amount of butter on it. The lobster roll comes with two sides of your choice, which can be either blue cheese coleslaw, New England baked beans or Kettle chips. I picked the New England baked beans and the Kettle Chips. Both sides were delicious! If you’re driving from somewhere far, there is no doubt this place will leave your belly satisfied.
Parking in this area is a hassle, so I recommend getting there early. I arrived at 11:00 am on the dot, which it’s their opening time.
Wicked Maine Lobster
Two locations in San Diego: Little Italy and Liberty Food Hall.
This is the place I went to prior to discovering Pete’s. They have two locations that are always filled to the brim. After driving two hours from LA, I went to their location in Liberty Food Hall Market. Out of all the food stands, the line at Wicked Maine Lobster was the longest. It was so long that the cashier had to stop between orders because the kitchen, which only had two cooks, was backed up. “This place must be really really good!” said the woman waiting in front of me cheerfully.
Fast forward to 30 minutes later, when I opened the box in my car, I was underwhelmed by the three-inch bun. On their IG they lead you to believe the bun is actually bigger. I will, however, overlook the size because Pete from Pete’s Seafood said that’s the average size bun you will find in Maine. Despite this, I could tell from a mile away that the Brioche bun was not going to be as spectacular as the one I had had at Cousins Maine Lobster. The piles of brioche buns I recalled seeing inside caused me to suspect that they were not authentic imported bun from New England. The bun was bland and the taste of the butter, just like my experience at Captain Kidd’s in Redondo Beach, was barely there.
It wasn’t terrible per se, just forgettable. The lobster meat was dry and a bit too chewy because they mainly used claw meat, which is cheaper. After my two-hour drive and the disappointing experience, I was still hungry, but I was determined not to drive back to LA empty-bellied. “There has to be a better lobster roll place in San Diego”, I said to myself. A cursory search on Yelp led me to Pete’s Seafood. Had it not been for this experience, I never would have found Pete’s. Everything happens for a reason!
Wicked Maine Lobster also has one location in Honolulu. I hate to be that person, but in my opinion, this lobster roll was not worth the 45 minute wait.
Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe
1000 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
154 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Besides being the largest wholesale seafood distributor in the Southwestern US, Santa Monica Seafood is also a restaurant. Gwyneth Paltrow said in her “What I Eat In A Day” video that Santa Monica Seafood had the best French fries in LA. And, as you can see in the photo, they don’t skimp on the lobster meat! Their lobster is sourced from Maine and is as fresh as it gets!
The lobster roll comes with housemade lemon aioli sauce and chopped chives in a Rockenwagner Brioche roll, which is the same bakery Lobster & Beer gets their bread from! If you want, you can substitute the mayo for butter instead. The employee I talked to on the phone said she has tried every lobster roll in the vicinity of Santa Monica, and none of them come close to the one they serve at Santa Monica Seafood.
Mindy S. wrote on Yelp: “I had several lobster rolls in New England when I was there and this tops any I had there!”
Lobster West
San Diego
Coronado. 1033 B Avenue. Coronado, CA 92118. Ph: 619-675-0002.
Encinitas. 765 South Coast Highway. 101 Encinitas, CA 92024.
I went to Lobster West two weeks after my trip to Wicked Maine Lobster and Pete’s. I wanted to give lobster roll chains in San Diego County another chance, so I went to the one in Encinitas, but there was an hour wait. I decided to go to the location on Coronado Island instead (so beautiful!), which was a 45 minute wait! Do you believe me now when I tell you that San Diego is hooked on lobster rolls? I know LA loves lobster rolls but San Diego is just another level of fanaticism.
I was relieved when it came out in 20 minutes. The bread to lobster ratio was good and the lobster meat was seasoned with spices and butter. If you love lemon as much as I do, squeeze the wedge for that extra kick of flavor. The bun was actually overflowing with meat! Overall, after I ate it, I felt like I’d just had a satisfying meal. I didn’t order sides but I probably should have. Next time!
Connie & Ted’s
8171 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Connie & Ted’s lobster has been awarded the best lobster roll in LA multiple times. Michael Cimarusti opened Connie & Ted’s in 2013 and quickly became one of the trendiest restaurants in LA. Connie & Ted’s was named after Michael’s grandparents, who emigrated to the United States from England and shared their passion and knowledge of fish with him.
Some people have said this is by far the best lobster roll they’ve had on the West Coast. They even cater to preferences by serving it on gluten-free bread and adding extra butter upon request. Even the menu prices, just like in New England, are subject to change according to the market price.
Connie & Ted’s is as close as you will get to New England thanks to all the cuisine staples you will find there. Even their clam chowder is homemade.
Slapfish
Orange County
Multiple locations
Another popular seafood chain with a strong Instagram game. They serve every seafood item you can imagine: fish tacos, over-the-top seafood burgers, and fish and chips. Since they offer so many things, I imagine the reason they don’t mention ordering the lobster meat or the bread from Maine is because they don’t have the attention to detail that the dedicated lobster roll joints have. However, it’s the most popular seafood chain in Orange County, so I had to include it in this post.
Captain Kidd’s Fish Market
209 N Harbor Dr, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Oh no! This was the first place I tried after I had researched and compiled my list. It saddens me to say that this lobster roll was the worst I’d ever had. You had the main ingredients you need to make a bomb lobster roll sandwich: fresh bread and tender lobster meat shreds. So what went wrong you ask? The flavor! The taste was very bland and my taste buds did not detect the butter on the bread whatsoever. It looked like they’d just absentmindedly threw the lobster into the bun. Perhaps I should have ordered my lobter roll Maine-style, since that one seems to have much better reviews. In other words, don’t come here for the Connecticut-style lobster roll because you’ll be deeply disappointed.
It was $19, but in the end, it was actually a decent value because it comes with two generous side dishes of your choice. Captain Kidds is mainly known for their fish market and other fish dishes, so it’s not like they specialize in lobster rolls. This is a place I would go back to, but definitely not for the lobster roll.
Here concludes my lengthy journey on finding the best lobster rolls in Southern California!! What are your favorite lobster roll joints?
What do you think?