King's Fish House — Restaurant in Tempe

I apologize for the length, but this was such a wonderful experience and I want to describe every aspect in as much detail as possible! I am SO happy a friend of mine recommended this amazing restaurant! Born and raised in Arizona, and it being a land locked state, finding high quality, delicious seafood that isn’t all fried is not an easy task.

King's Fish House does offer delightfully indulgent fried fish, shrimp, etc. to satisfy that craving. However, what sets them apart is their rare selection of high-quality, NOT fried, seafood that isn't limited to just lobster, shrimp, salmon, etc... they also boast a decadently refreshing array of hard-to-find seafood in such a dry, arid environment, such as Chilean Sea Bass (which I had) grilled swordfish (that my husband had), but also Maryland Soft Shell Crab and Spiny Lobster (depending on season/availability, of course).

Their Oyster Bar is one of the highlights, however, I’m not a fan of Oysters at all, but I know many people are, so I wanted to mention it 😊

We arrived late for our reservation, and were still greeted immediately, and seated quickly. Our AMAZING server, Samantha (Sam) was extremely attentive, friendly, and genuinely patient with our indecision, as this being our first visit (but definitely not our last!) We were enamored with the choices and had a difficult time deciding simply because we wanted to try so many dishes. The menu is diversly inclusive, organized and descriptive, I love that the ingredients are listed under each selection for those with dietary restrictions and/or aversions. If we were unsure of anything, our server, Samantha, was more than happy to answer all our questions with confidence, knowledge and a thorough understanding of the items offered. Samantha highly recommended the Miso Yaki Wild Chilean Sea Bass, I was very interested, however had never eaten Sea Bass before, and dislike very “fishy” fish. Samantha described this dish in such detail, and assured me that if I was not happy with it I could exchange it for something else….. I LOVED IT!!! It is absolutely delicious! My husband was raised on the coast and has a much more discerning and experienced palate regarding seafood than I do and he was also extremely happy with his swordfish dish, as well as MY sea bass!

We started with the complimentary, fresh, warm, sourdough bread served with soft butter, then ordered King’s Crab cakes, and N’awlins BBQ Shrimp for appetizers …. OMG! The crab cakes were perfection, the remoulade was by far the best I’ve ever had, and I could literally drink that sauce the BBQ shrimp is served in! SOOOOO DELICIOUS! I made the mistake of going to the restroom after the appetizers, and when I returned my husband let Samantha take the leftover sauce! I wanted to take it home with some of their sourdough bread to sop it up! Haha! 😊

We never order dessert, however, we did that night because I saw they had Crème Brulé, a rare weakness of mine. By far, the BEST I’ve ever had! Not too sweet, perfect sugar crust, silky crème…. absolutely decadent.

I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant to anyone who appreciates an establishment that goes above and beyond to deliver the highest quality procured ingredients expertly prepared, and sumptuously flavorful, then exquisitely served. We should have taken photos, but honestly were too excited to dive in!

Everything about this “Date Night” experience was perfection, King’s Fish House topped off our evening with not just an amazing taste bud experience, the restaurant and atmosphere is gorgeous, the service supersedes many of the best I’ve experienced in the valley (THANK YOU SAMANTHA) !!!

We can’t wait to see...

We went here on a weekend for dinner to celebrate a birthday. The service was passing except for a few mishaps. With a place that is all about seafood, you would think they knew how to prepare it. Two people in our party ordered the clam linguine and the clams were full of sand. Good flavor but every time they ate a clam, sandy. No big deal, they were able to change their main dish. Moving on, the calamari and cioppino. The calamari, while crispy was very fishy, I had a couple of pieces and couldn’t bear another bite. As for my main dish the cioppino (sure it looks pretty, see photo, but it’s all looks), the mussels had definitely gone bad. It wasn’t fresh at all, it was disgusting as for the clams, well sandy again. The shrimp, crab and, toasted bread were probably the best thing there. I know we’re in Arizona but I’ve been to plenty of restaurants in Arizona for seafood and they did not taste fishy at all. For a restaurant named King’s fish house, I expected more. If you’re going to price it so expensive (32.50 for cioppino), I somewhat expect to get what I am paying for, not half expired seafood that I can’t even stomach. Now back to the service, it was alright the waiter remembered everything we wanted and was friendly. But there were some other busboys or servers that we asked for things in passing, like extra forks, and we never heard from them again. It wasn’t that the restaurant was busy or anything either, but I guess the server forgot?? We did get a free dessert for the birthday celebration but we didn’t get a candle? I only mention it because there were two other tables that received candles for their birthday cakes, just want to see some consistency. The pie itself was… let’s say this. I’m glad I only had to taste it once. Anyways this place was definitely not worth the $25-$30 per plate price, if the prices matched the quality of the food, I wouldn’t be so upset. Looks like we’ll have to go to Red Lobster instead. At least their food doesn’t taste all fishy and expired. So much for King’s fish house. More like King of Waste, because I certainly feel like we wasted our calories...

King's Fish House in Tempe, Arizona, truly lives up to its motto, "Welcome to the house that Seafood built". This remarkable seafood haven, proudly serving since 1945, offers a culinary experience that's hard to forget, especially for those in a landlocked state craving the ocean's bounty.

Our dining experience commenced with the New England Clam Chowder, which impressed us with its perfect balance of cream, clams, and potatoes. It set a high standard for what was to come.

For the main course, I opted for the Parmesan Crusted Sand Dabs, a first-time choice for me. The dish was exceptional, featuring perfectly cooked fish with a delightful light and crispy breading. My friend Mike's Linguini and Clams were equally impressive, with perfectly cooked pasta and a flavorful clam sauce.

The service at King's Fish House was outstanding. The manager, Jackie, demonstrated remarkable skill in supporting the staff while maintaining a warm rapport with guests. Her leadership was echoed by Michelle, the General Manager, who was hands-on in assisting with tasks like glassware management and restocking, showcasing exceptional teamwork and dedication.

Our bartender, Rhianna, was another star of the evening, expertly handling our drinks and orders with precision and care. The complimentary sourdough bread was a tasty bonus, and our sides - garlic mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts with a tasteful balsamic glaze - were delicious complements to our meal.

The climax of our meal was the dessert, "Hooked on Buttercake". This decadent treat melted in the mouth, boasting the perfect balance of softness and crunch. Learning that they make their own ice cream and source their fish directly from the boats added an authentic touch to our dining experience.

In conclusion, King's Fish House is a must-visit in Tempe for anyone seeking a top-notch seafood experience. The combination of fresh, well-prepared dishes, commendable service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere makes it a standout establishment. It's a place where the passion for seafood and quality service is evident in every bite and...