No longer are fish tacos relegated to SoCal or lobster rolls commonly found only in Maine. Fast-casual upstarts are bringing regional seafood favorites even to landlocked areas, hoping to snag customers seeking healthier, high-quality seafood options that are less expensive than what they’d find in a full-service place.
But it’s not all about the menu; there’s a push among emerging concepts to source sustainable seafood—likely an attempt to appeal to millennials looking to spend their dollars with eco-conscious operators.
Here’s a look at some of the players diving into the fast-casual seafood pool.