Craving a plethora of seafood?! Barbara’s Fishtrap is the spot for a weekend treat!
Located in Half Moon Bay, this seafood joint has been around for decades. The extensive menu has all kinds of American favorites such as clam chowder, shrimp louie salad, various fried seafood items, sandwiches, and burgers.
On the weekends it can get quite crowded especially if the weather is nice so be warned. We got there right when they opened and there was already a line. Good thing half of these people were ordering takeout so we were able to get a table.

Barbara’s Fishtrap.

Clam Chowder (6.5/10).
I love clam chowder as it’s one of my favorite foods. While the flavor was actually really delicious, there was a huge flaw in the chowder. The clams were sandy which is a big no no and every few spoonfuls, you would get that gritty texture.

Garlic Bread (7/10).
Hard to pass up some charred bread with fresh garlic and butter.

Dungeness Crab Sandwich (8/10).
A pretty solid crab sandwich with fresh coleslaw, tomatoes, and pickles.

Fried Fish & Calamari Combo (9/10).
Without a doubt the star of the show was the fried fish and calamari combo. They have various fried options from scallops, shrimp, calamari, fish, and vegetables. The coating on both the fish and calamari was crispy and the fish was very tender. Next time I’ll have to try their “mini fishtrap tempura” which has scallops, prawns, fish, and calamari!
Barbara’s Fishtrap was a fun experience and a nice detour away from the city. If you go, definitely get one of their fried seafood items as it was clearly the winner of all the dishes. Therefore, my rating is a 7/10.
Since much of my family live on the coast Barbara’s has always been a regular spot. Too bad about the chowder, when it’s done properly it’s good.