Fishing With Dynamite

We discovered Fishing with Dynamite because it's one of the few restaurants close on westside that participates on InKind! This place is definitely is a local favorite because it was packed even on a weekday night! We opted to sit outside (despite needing puffer jackets due to the wind and cold) because our dog joined us. The waitress was super sweet and immediately got our dog water and asked us if it was okay if he got a few treats, to which Loki scarfed down in seconds.Moving onto the food:Koshihikari Rice (4/5): The flavors tasted great - it was almost like a risotto, which we didn't anticipate going into it. I would say the biggest let down was that though uni is listed as components for this dish, I didn't actually see or taste any uni - maybe it's blended into the sauce? Crab Cake (4/5): Tasted great, but I felt like the portion was on the smaller side for a 24 dollar appetizer. Comes with a side of salad, which was alright. I know that lump crab isn't cheap and it's an appetizer, but I really wish there was a bit more of it. Chilean Sea Bass (5/5): Amazing! I loved this dish so much, even though I was initially a little bit apprehensive about the orza (it initially reminded me of refried beans). The fish is buttery and cooked to perfection, the orza is full of flavor without overwhelming the taste of the fish. Everything in this dish works so well together - definitely a must order here. This dish is something that I think the restaurant can proudly call a signature dish - it's something that I really haven't seen done elsewhere and it's executed perfectly.Key Lime Pie (5/5): I've lived in South Florida for 6 years and have been to the Keys multiple times - this Key Lime Pie is the real deal. Perfectly tangy with the cream and merange to balance it out.. and if you want some extra lime punch, there's extra limes on the plate. The presentation and portion size was also perfect, another must order. Overall, the price point is pretty high (not surprising being a high quality seafood restaurant) - but participating with InKind definitely helps with how frequently InKind has discounts and promotions. We loved the food and the service and definitely plan to come back soon!

We had a late afternoon reservation on a Saturday, and though we arrived early, we still had to wait a while after we were seated to order. Our server was knowledgeable about the allergens in each dish and assured me that the tostada and tortilla chips were gluten free because they are made in a different fryer, so there would be no cross-contamination. The only gluten-free entree option was the grilled fish and grilled shrimp tacos. We got the medium seafood tower and really enjoyed the oysters, mussels, shrimp, and Alaskan crab legs. The dipping sauces were very good, but we were hoping for a little something more adventurous like a granita for the oysters. The Mexican White Shrimp Ceviche was gluten free, but very disappointing in flavor. I could barely taste the citrus, and the serrano pepper tasted more like a lab grown jalapeño. Service was very slow. We had to wait and try to catch our server's attention several times because she didn't come around to check on us often. Since our food was coming as it was prepared, I thought my tacos would eventually come, but it turned out that our server forgot to put in my order. They came out quickly after I asked about them, but they were very unremarkable.Our friends are big fans and we were really looking forward to trying this place with them, but it fell a short of our expectations. Maybe it was an off day for service and the kitchen? I'd be willing to give them another try.

We were just walking by and decided to stop and have a quick something because it's been on my list forever. They only had bar seating which was fine. It's a small restaurant but very cute. Our bartender/server, Sal was great. Very helpful. We got:half dozen oysters- good. Fresh. Not sure I know how to rate oysters. But the Half dozen of Peruvian scallops. Just wow. The grapefruit added to it was lovely. My husband who doesn't like grapefruit didn't mind it all. Crab cake- it's 1 large cake.....oh so delicious. Finally we got the tuna tartar. Presentation was lovely. This was I think my favorite dish. Look forward to coming back and trying out the larger entrees.

Fishing with Dynamite is a foodie gem that lives up to the hype! When you're out in Manhattan walking the strand, take that turn on 12th to catch some awesome seafood and a drink. It's worth the detour. It's the detail and creativity that sets FWD apart. Each dish is beautifully presented and packed with flavor. Every bite is a story of the chefs taking pride in their craft.The service and ambiance are not second to the food. Everyone is friendly and knowledgeable.If you love great seafood, awesome people, and a chill vibe go check out FWD.Best bites:Chowdah Crab cakeSea bassScallopsThe fish sandwich was surprisingly delicious!Would pass:Koshihikari rice - flavorful, but I didn't love the consistent soft texture

How have I never written a review for FwD?!It's crazy good!!!Small space - that means you get to smile and enjoy your dining patrons at the next table. Not a problem for me, I enjoy the vibe...SUPER fresh, beautifully presented and DELICIOUS!Service is excellent - love Fishing With Dynamite!Easy F-I-V-E stars for me!

Wow, the seafood is so fresh!This is definitely the best seafood on Manhattan Beach. It's only a block away from the beach. The place is a cute little seafood shack except a little more nicer.I sat at the bar and there was very little wiggle room from the next person, but that made for great conversation to get to know your seat mates! I was convinced to try the Peruvian sea scallops, which is something I will definitely come back for next time I visit the beach! The oysters were fresh and the hamachi was light and refreshing. Overall, highly recommend. The food came out pretty quickly too.

My husband and I came here for a last-minute dinner on a Saturday night in August. We were able to get a reservation same-day, which we didn't expect as we'd had a hard time getting reservations at other times. Parking in Manhattan Beach is often hard, and after going around several streets looking for street parking, we went to a private carpark nearby. We came right on time for our reservation and had booked an outdoor table. When we arrived, they told us our outdoor table wasn't ready, and gave us an indoor table instead, which actually worked better for us. The vibe inside is cozy and has a nautical theme. Our server was friendly and efficient. We got the ceviche and half a dozen oysters to start. For mains, my husband had the fried fish sandwich. We enjoyed everything we had, and I loved the scallops, which were perfectly cooked and paired nicely with the additions they made. We shared the key lime pie for dessert, which was also excellent. We plan to come back in future. This is a place I'd highly recommend if you're after seafood, and think it's worth going out of your way for.

My mom and I had a wonderful experience here we came for an early dinner/ late lunch, which is my favorite time to eat honestly and this place was perfect. Everything was delicious. The service was wonderful. I'm blanking on the young woman's name that served us, but she was super sweet and helped us with all of our questions over the menu. THE PERUVIAN SCALLOPS ARE AMAZING!!! The fries were actually amazing too and I am looking forward to coming back. The ambience is bright and cozy, laid back, but still elevated. It has windows where you can look out to the beautiful view.

Hands down favorite spot ever for raw seafood!! They have set the bar high and it's honestly hard to eat anywhere else. We come at least once a month. The raw bar is so fresh, beautifully presented and just incredibly delicious. We always choose to just build our own custom tower but they do have pre-made towers available. We just prefer to have the things we want, as we don't care for the raw clams and mussels. On various occasions, we have tried a few of their other menu items: fish sandwich, clam chowder and cooked scallops. All of it was good but the raw items are really the stand-out things to eat. Our typical order includes:Dozen oysters (fresh and rotating varieties)Dozen raw scallops (our favorite and very unique)Uni (super fresh and comes with grilled bread)King crab legs (great flavor and lots of meat!)Half pound lobster (yummy and tender)They recently added a caviar and crème fraîche dip to the menu which is fantastic!The restaurant itself has a casual atmosphere. It's very small, can get a little cramped, but definitely worth it. There's a cozy bar area to enjoy food and drink but also outdoor seating. They have a small, but nice, selection of wines and some tasty cocktails that are unique and well balanced. Service is ok; sometimes they just get super busy and can't be as attentive but also sometimes there could be a little more friendliness from them, in my opinion. I highly recommend making a reservation and Ubering if you can't walk, as parking can be tough, especially in summer. Don't forget to try the key lime pie!

I really wanted to like this spot given all the reviews, but sadly, it fell short. Service was good and attentive but the food just didn't hit the mark. The garlic prawn appetizer was fine, but 4 smallish prawns for $30 just seemed excessive. The rice it was paired with was slightly cold/room temperature and tasted stale (we were perplexed why it wasn't paired with a nice sourdough bread). The Caesar salad was excellent and was our favorite thing we ate at FWD. The clam chowder was thin but flavorful - it lacked the thick creaminess we've become accustomed to elsewhere. The "lobstah" roll (CT style) was just okay (we prefer Lobster Guys down the road). The fried fish sandwich was also pretty average. For almost $200 (no alcohol), we didn't think the food (or ambiance) was worth it. For better seafood, we prefer Holboxz. Better ambiance, Strand House. Glad we tried it though!