Matt and Judd Braun grew up in and on the water — surfing, diving, boating, and fishing the beaches and blue water of San Diego and Baja California. They went to Point Loma High with the sons and daughters of the city’s Portuguese fishing community. They worked on boats as commercial divers and knew, intimately, what perfect fish looked like. In 2004, they opened Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill on India Street in Mission Hills with $300,000, a classified ad they found in The Reader, and $700 left by the time they opened. No frozen seafood. No corners cut. The fish counter displays fresh catch daily. Every protein is portioned in the back kitchen with fish cut and marinated to order. Blue Water appeared in Season 6, Episode 2 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Their Own Way,” which aired April 13, 2009. Guy Fieri found the sea bass taco with lemon garlic butter “outstanding” and called the cioppino with wahoo, mahi mahi, ahi tuna, and scallops a spicy standout. Zagat voted it one of America’s top restaurants. The DDD episode was the first time the Braun brothers could stop scraping money to buy the day’s fish.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill
City: San Diego, California
Cuisine: Seafood
DDD Season: 6
DDD Episode: 2
Episode Title: Their Own Way
Original Air Date: April 13, 2009
Address: 3667 India St., San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: 619-497-0914
Website: https://bluewaterseafoodsandiego.com/
Status: Open
About Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill
The India Street location seats 40 guests at a time with indoor fishing-village-style dining and an enclosed patio. The ordering process is counter-service: you choose your fish from a menu of fresh catches, select your preparation style — grill, plate, taco, sandwich, or salad — and pick up when called. The signs at the cutting stations of every vendor carry Blue Water’s strict specifications. No one wants the 6:45 AM call from the Braun brothers. A second location has opened in Ocean Beach at 5083 Santa Monica Avenue. No reservations. Lines form during peak hours and are worth the wait.
What to Eat at Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill
The Sea Bass Taco with Lemon Garlic Butter is the DDD standout Guy called outstanding — fish marinated in chipotle, grilled, and served on handmade tortillas from El Indio across the street. The Cioppino with wahoo, mahi mahi, ahi tuna, and scallops is the spicy standout for bigger appetites. The Halibut Sandwich, Oyster Shooters, Clam Chowder, and the fresh daily catch specials are the other items worth building the order around. The Fish and Chips with beer-battered cod is the classic option. The menu changes based on what’s fresh and local.
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Plan Your Visit
Blue Water is open daily for lunch and dinner. No reservations. Arrive before 7:00 PM to minimize the wait.
Address: 3667 India St., San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: 619-497-0914
Website: https://bluewaterseafoodsandiego.com/
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Guy returned to Blue Water for a second DDD appearance, which tells you everything you need to know. Stream both episodes on Amazon. San Diego has one of the strongest Triple D maps on the West Coast — More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives helps plan the full run.
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Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill appeared in Season 6, Episode 2 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Their Own Way,” originally aired April 13, 2009. The restaurant was founded in 2004 by brothers Matt and Judd Braun.