The Flying Fish Grill sits one flight below Mission Street, in the lower level of Carmel Plaza, where it has cooked since 1993. The space began life in 1975 as a shabu-shabu house and was renamed by Kenny and Tina Fukumoto, who turned it into the Asian-California seafood room Carmel-by-the-Sea still books today. The almond-crusted sea bass is the dish that defines the kitchen, and a tableside seafood clay pot is the other reason to come. Dinner lands between $35 and $65 a head, and the room is small enough that a reservation pays off.
The Kitchen
The cooking here has a clear point of view: Japanese and broader Asian technique married to California seafood, most of it wild-caught with local farmed abalone alongside. Kenny and Tina Fukumoto built that identity after renaming the room in 1993, and owner Honza Prikryl, who took over in 2017, has kept the menu and the feel intact rather than reinventing it. The address has stayed put in Carmel Plaza on Mission Street between Ocean and 7th, a few steps below street level.
The signature is the almond-crusted sea bass, served over whipped potatoes with a Chinese cabbage and rock-shrimp stir-fry, a plate that has barely changed because it has not needed to. The other event is the seafood clay pot, cooked at the table for two or more and the most interactive thing on the list. Dinner runs from about $35 to $65 a head before drinks, which is fair for a sit-down seafood meal in Carmel. This is confident, unfussy cooking from a room that has had three decades to get it right.
The Room
The Flying Fish Grill is a small, dim, wood-lined room below street level, and the basement setting is the whole charm. Sound stays low and conversational; even at a full Saturday the noise rarely climbs. Lighting is candle-dim, tables are close and intimate, and the seat count is modest, which is why booking matters. Dress is smart-casual; Carmel runs informal and no jacket is needed. Ask for a corner two-top if you want the quietest spot, or a table set up for the tableside clay pot if you are a group.
Best for First Date
Book the Flying Fish Grill for a first date because the room does the work for you. Three reasons it fits: the basement lighting is low and flattering; the tables are close enough to talk without raising your voice; and the shared clay pot gives two near-strangers something to do with their hands. Picture a foggy Carmel evening, one flight down from Mission Street, a bottle open and the sea bass between you. Keep it to dinner, when the light is softest. See our first date dining guide for more rooms built for conversation.
Not for a big, boisterous group night or anyone after a sea view. The room is small and below street level, so a loud party of ten will overwhelm it and there is no window to look out of.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Flying Fish Grill worth it?
Yes, for a relaxed seafood dinner in Carmel-by-the-Sea it is a reliable choice. The room is small and low-lit, the cooking leans Asian and California, and the almond-crusted sea bass has kept regulars coming back for years. Dinner runs roughly $35 to $65 a head before drinks, fair for a sit-down meal in Carmel Plaza. It is a neighbourhood favourite rather than a destination tasting menu.
How hard is it to book the Flying Fish Grill?
Booking is moderate and worth doing for dinner. The room is tucked one flight below Mission Street and seats are limited, so weekend evenings and the summer season fill first. Call +1 831-625-1962 a few days ahead, especially for a tableside clay pot, which is cooked for two or more and is best reserved. Midweek you can often walk in.
What should I order at the Flying Fish Grill?
Order the almond-crusted sea bass, the signature plate served over whipped potatoes with a Chinese cabbage and rock-shrimp stir-fry. If you are two or more, add the seafood clay pot, cooked at the table and the most theatrical thing on the menu. The list leans Asian and California seafood throughout. See our Monterey dining guide for more rooms on the peninsula.
Is the Flying Fish Grill good for a first date?
Yes, it is one of Carmel's better first-date rooms. The basement setting is dim and intimate, the tables are close enough to lean in, and the shared clay pot gives you something to do together. Keep it to dinner when the lighting is at its softest. For more rooms suited to the occasion, see our first date guide.