Does Your Favorite Seafood Place Offer Real Gulf Shrimp?
News Staff • April 11, 2025
Recent lab test list outlets offering gulf shrimp
In 2024 the State of Alabama enacted a Seafood Labeling Law for restaurants and other outlets within it's boundaries. A testing laboratory released a statement that "43% of Restaurants Serve Imported Shrimp" but would not mention the names of the outlets. They have made these allegations in 2024 as well. When editors of our news asked for proof of their methods and process we were referred to the business website.
Using locally sourced seafood is an important part of the area's culinary reputation. Since Governor Ivey signed the regulation in 2024, restaurants and supply outlets must list if the are offering imported items. In Fact, the Alabama Department of Public Health is tasked with enforcing this law, which prescribes penalties ranging from warnings to fines up to $1,000 for repeated violations.
RELATED ARTICLE: Alabama Requires Restaurants and Stores To List Country Of Origin For Seafood
The testing lab first made news about imported seafood when they accused the National Shrimp Festival of serving imported shrimp at the 2024 event. However, they did not name those outlets serving the foreign items.
After reaching out the the Shrimp Festival leadership at the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber they assured the media that there are contractual procedures for all vendors in the 2025 event.
SEAD Consulting, commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), conducted genetic analyses on shrimp dishes from 44 Gulf Shores area restaurants, including Orange Beach and Folly Beach. The finished report stated:
- 25 out of 44 establishments (57%) served authentic Gulf wild-caught shrimp.
- The remaining 19 restaurants (43%) offered imported, farm-raised shrimp while
implying or claiming they were locally sourced.
So which local outlets PASSED the testing? The following 25 Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Folly Beach restaurants, including 7 boil houses, were found to be serving authentic Gulf wild-caught shrimp:
1. Acme Oyster House, 216 E 24th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
2. Baumhower's Victory Grille, 2601 S McKenzie St Suite 308, Foley, AL 36535
3. Beach House Kitchen & Cocktails, 1154 W Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
4. Blalock Seafood & Specialty Market, 1911 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
5. Bubba's Seafood House, 24621 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL 36561
6. Cotton's Restaurant, 26009 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL 36561
7. Coastal Orange Beach, 25722 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL 36561
8. De Soto's Seafood Kitchen, 138 W 1st Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
9. Doc's Seafood Shack & Oyster Bar, 26029 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL 36561
10. Duck's Diner, 4560 Easy St, Orange Beach, AL 36561
11. Fish River Grill, 608 S McKenzie St, Foley, AL 36535
12. Flying Harpoon, 112 Windmill Ridge Rd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
13. Foley Fish Company, 321 S McKenzie St, Foley, AL 36530
14. Fresh Seafood Market, 921 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
15. Gelato Joe's Italian Restaurant & Bar, 202 E Michigan Ave A, Foley, AL 36535
16. Gulf Bowl & Captain's Choice, 2881 S Juniper St, Foley, AL 36535
17. Gulf Shores Seafood, 921 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
18. King Neptune's Seafood Restaurant, 1137 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
19. Lartigue's Fresh & Steamed Seafood, 23043 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL 36561
20. Local and Company Food+Drink, 812 N McKenzie St, Foley, AL 36535
21. LuLu's Gulf Shores, 200 E 25th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
22. Moe's Original BBQ, 20733 Miflin Rd, Foley, AL 36535
23. Picnic Beach Bar & Grill, 128 E 1st Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
24. Rouses Market, 1545 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
25. S & S Seafood Market, 1154 W Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is an organization of shrimp fishermen, shrimp processors, and
other members of the domestic industry in the eight warmwater shrimp-producing states of Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. SSA has funded
SEAD Consulting’s genetic testing at restaurants in the Biloxi, MS area, Galveston and Kemah, TX, and
in Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL, with more market testing to come. The list of restaurants found to be serving
Gulf shrimp in the samples taken by market can be found here.
One local restaurant Director, whose outlet was on the approved list, said that these reports will not have enough impact until the outlets serving imported items is made public.
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