Fisherman's Outlet Fishmonger LA: Shrimp Picks Before 3pm

Fisherman's Outlet, at 529 S Central Ave, is the downtown Los Angeles fishmonger that has been feeding the city's working districts since 1961. It is two businesses under one roof: a fresh seafood market selling raw fish and shrimp over the counter, and a family-run restaurant famous for fried fish plates. Most visitors come for lunch, but home cooks come for the ice.

The family that runs Fisherman's Outlet describes the location as the crossroads of the historic merchant districts, where wholesale produce, flowers, toys and garments have traded for generations. In 2007 the Los Angeles City Council recognized the shop as a landmark institution, and the homepage still calls it a Downtown Landmark Restaurant.

That history shows in the way it works. The counter serves a mix of office workers, warehouse crews and families from across the city, and the pace is quick. Nothing about the room is styled for photos. It is a place built around getting good seafood across the counter at fair prices.

The market side sells raw seafood to take home, and shrimp is the item most people line up for. The shop's own photo gallery shows raw shrimp heaped on ice at the market, and a bag of shrimp sized for one dinner is the simplest first purchase if you have never shopped here.

Know what you are cooking before you reach the front. Say how many people you are feeding and whether the shrimp is going on a grill, into a pasta or into a gumbo. Larger shrimp suit skewers and the grill, while smaller ones disappear into rice and sauces, and the counter can steer you to the right size.

If you know exactly what you want, phone ahead. That is the fastest way to get in and out during the lunch rush.

The shop also states plainly that it does not use third-party delivery services. If you want Fisherman's Outlet seafood, you have to come to Central Avenue for it, which is part of the charm. The homepage lists Visa and MasterCard as the accepted cards, so bring one of those.

Next to the market is the restaurant, where fish and shrimp are fried to order and served as combination plates. The deep fried fish and shrimp combo is the dish pictured most often on the shop's site, and it is the reason so many downtown workers know the address by heart.

The family recipes go beyond frying. The shop's About Us page lists its own soups, sauces, gumbo and coleslaw as signatures, praised for being fresh and affordable. A sensible plan is to eat a plate first, then buy raw shrimp to cook at home that night.

Fisherman's Outlet is a daytime business. The market closes in the middle of the afternoon, so this is not a stop to leave until after work. Late morning, soon after the doors open, gives you the best chance of a shorter line and a full display before the lunch crowd arrives.

Fridays and Saturdays run a little later, which helps if you are planning a weekend seafood dinner. The shop is not open on Sundays, so anyone planning a Sunday cookout should shop on Saturday and keep the seafood well chilled overnight.

Downtown Los Angeles can be hot even in October, and the walk from Central Avenue to a parked car or a Metro stop is longer than it looks. Bring an insulated bag and an ice pack, buy the seafood at the end of your errands, and keep the bag out of direct sun on the way home.

Raw shrimp and fish should go into the refrigerator as soon as you are home and be cooked within a day or two. If your plans change, freeze what you will not use that evening. Asking the counter how fresh a batch is and how long it will hold is a normal question here.

Little Tokyo is a short walk north along Central Avenue, with Japanese bakeries, tea shops and the Japanese American National Museum. It is an easy place to spend an hour before you shop, as long as the seafood is the final purchase of the day.

To the east lies the Arts District, known for murals, breweries and converted warehouse studios. Combining one of these neighborhoods with a lunch plate at Fisherman's Outlet makes a full downtown morning, with the raw seafood picked up on the way back to the car.

Fisherman's Outlet suits cooks who want reliable shrimp and fish without a fuss, people who work downtown, and visitors who like old Los Angeles businesses with a story. It rewards anyone happy to stand in a quick line and order with confidence.

It suits evening shoppers less well, since the market closes in the afternoon, and it is not a boutique counter for unusual species. For a dependable shrimp dinner, a fried fish lunch and a taste of downtown history in one stop, it is hard to beat.

Fisherman's Outlet, 529 S. Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Seafood Market: Monday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Tuesday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Wednesday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Thursday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Friday 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, Sunday closed. Source: fishermansoutlet.net.

The restaurant keeps a slightly shorter schedule than the market from Monday to Thursday, serving until 2:30 pm, and matches the market on Friday and Saturday, serving until 3:30 pm. Plan lunch first if you want both a plate and a bag of raw shrimp.

Fisherman's Outlet has lasted more than six decades because it keeps things simple. Good shrimp, honest fried fish and a counter that moves quickly have made it one of the most familiar seafood stops in downtown Los Angeles.

Call in a pick-up order if you know what you want, or arrive in the late morning to choose from the ice yourself.

Eat a combo plate, buy shrimp for dinner, and get it home cold.

For anyone searching for a fishmonger in downtown Los Angeles, it is a practical choice with real history behind the counter.