Where to Taste the Best Oysters in the USA: 10 Places Preparing for National Oyster Day 2025

On August 5th, seafood lovers all across America celebrate National Oyster Day - a day when even the most expensive restaurants make their oysters more affordable. We have gathered 10 of the most interesting places in US cities that have prepared special menus and promotions for this day. Each has its own unique story and approach to serving this delicacy.

Eberly on South Lamar Boulevard is not just a restaurant but a real museum of American culture. It combines a former 1970s printing house with the historic Cedar Tavern bar from Greenwich Village, New York. The same mahogany bar where Jimi Hendrix and Jackson Pollock once drank, now Austin locals order cocktails like the Concrete Jungle.
For National Oyster Day, they prepare their signature dish, Lady Chatterley Oyster, with cucumber water, passion fruit, and Champagne granita. In April 2025, they opened a separate Cedar Tavern bar with its own menu, only for walk-in guests. Brown and burgundy leather sofas surround coffee tables, creating a lounge for conversations, while bright blue bar stools with brass nails contrast with the mahogany bar.

The Grand Central Oyster Bar opened on February 23, 1913, three weeks after the world’s largest train station opened. It had 440 seats and was originally called “Grand Central Terminal Restaurant,” serving not only seafood but also famous oyster stew. The pots are heated so strongly that the oyster stew cooks in 2.5 minutes, using the same method from 1913.
Today, they serve 25 types of fish and up to 30 kinds of oysters, along with the world-famous pan roast. For National Oyster Day, they prepare special menus with oysters from different regions, festive sets, and unique pairings. The restaurant is located in the station’s basement with vaulted ceilings - the only place in Manhattan where you can eat oysters under the sounds of trains overhead.

The Hourly Oyster House offers the most affordable deal among big cities - $1 per oyster from 3 PM to 6 PM on the patio. Every day, they serve 8 different types plus themed sets. In a city where the average price per oyster is $3-4, this is a real find for students and anyone wanting to try New England oysters without overspending.

Beyond the stellar oysters, which are clearly the main attraction, at The Hourly you'll find everything from succulent lobster rolls and fish and chips to more refined appetizers like tuna crudo and lobster mac 'n' cheese. They also offer a carefully curated collection of cocktails, beer, and wines to perfectly complement their fresh seafood.

Shaw’s Crab House cuts oyster prices in half at the Oyster Bar from 3 PM to 5 PM. This place is famous for fresh seafood from various US coasts and classic presentation on ice. Shaw’s has existed since 1984 and is considered a seafood restaurant standard in Chicago - they know how to store and serve oysters from both Atlantic and Pacific coasts properly.

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Waterbar focuses on sustainable fishing and is known as one of the best seafood restaurants in SF. They prepare special oyster selections, hold OysterFest with live music and charity events. The restaurant works closely with local farmers and fishermen, so oysters come straight from the bay.
Lillie Coit takes a different approach, hosting a Happy Hour called “Oyster Jubilee” with a simple formula: buy 6 oysters, get 6 free until midnight. The place is named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an eccentric philanthropist who funded Coit Tower.

Shuckers Oyster Bar offers a dozen local oysters with a bottle of Taittinger champagne for $108. It sounds expensive at first, but considering that the Pacific Coast provides the best oysters in the country - Kumamoto, Pacific, Olympia - and a bottle of Taittinger costs about $50, the offer is fair. Seattle is located between three main oyster farming areas, so the oysters here are the freshest.

This year, for National Oyster Day, Baia Beach Club is offering a simple but pleasant deal: half a dozen fresh oysters for $15, plus a complimentary glass of sparkling rosé. The spot is located at the Mondrian South Beach hotel - right by the water, with a view of Biscayne Bay.

A small terrace, palm trees, lounge music, and relaxed service. It’s not a loud evening celebration, but more of a quiet daytime stop or a casual date with a glass of wine.

Baia isn’t trying to be the main event in the city, but it’s a good excuse to drop by if you’re in the mood for a short break by the water with a coastal vibe.

Desire Oyster Bar offer Oyster Shooters with Grey Goose, Chargrilled Oysters Étouffée, and two versions of fried oysters including Firecracker. New Orleans is the birthplace of American oyster culture. Here they invented chargrilled oysters (oysters grilled with butter, garlic, and cheese), oyster po’boy, and dozens of other variations.
Louisiana produces about 40% of all US oysters, so here oysters are not a delicacy but everyday food.

Josephine offers festive sets, oyster-opening masterclasses, and a special tasting program. Houston has access to fresh oysters from the Gulf of Mexico - less known than East or West Coast oysters but with a unique salty-mineral flavor.
The oyster-opening masterclasses are not just entertainment but a practical skill. In Texas, many people buy oysters by the sack and open them at home for backyard parties.

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For National Oyster Day, Loch Bar is serving up $2 “chef’s choice” oysters all day, along with discounted cocktail sets designed to pair with seafood. The oyster selection changes daily, depending on what’s fresh, but expect them served simply on ice with lemon and a bit of heat.

This Scottish-American restaurant combines a solid raw bar with one of the most impressive whiskey lists in town. Think dark wood interiors, dim lighting, and the feel of a classic port city tavern, but with a modern twist.