Tomales Bay Oyster Company

It is a very cool place for buying oysters. We bought a bag of 50 medium oysters for around $ 70. The place does not allow BBQ anymore, but you can still buy oysters and bring them to nearby grills or beach. The most close one is around 10 min driving. This place also sells shucking knifes if you don’t have one. It only takes cash.

This place is pretty neat. It’s a little of a drive for me, so don’t seeing myself come back too often, but it was a good experience, and if anyone comes to town and wants some fresh oysters, I’d recommend it to them. So it was just my wife and me so we ordered 2 dozen extra small ones, came out to be $ 30. We didn’t bring our own condiments and I thought I was going to have to buy my own knife. Luckily if you eat there, the guy let me borrow one. On top of that, he gave me some ice, a lemon, and let me use the vinegar sauce and hot sauce. What a friendly guy, a definite positive for this place.
Got a nice place on the lawn and it was pretty full. There were people all around but we were able to get an umbrella. I have no experience shucking oysters and kind of just went at it. Stabbed myself twice, so I’d recommend asking them to show you, or watch a youtube video. Bring a small towel too if you don’t have gloves, that would have helped.
Anyway, the oysters were fresh and good. Unfortunately, it’s just not my thing, I’ve never really been a fan. Like I was unsure if I was suppose to drink the juice or pour it out. Youtube says drink it, I saw other people pouring it out. It was an interesting experience.

This is your place if you are a fan of raw oysters. It is a fun place to bring out of town guests especially if they have never had fresh… truly fresh, raw oysters. If you didn’t bring what you need, you can get it there or borrow what you need such as an oyster shucker. Next time I’ll bring a pair of gloves, haha!

Really good and fresh oysters! The stuff is nice and helpful. They provide us lots of ice in order to keep our oyster fresh, and they also provide us charcoal.

For a party of 2, we ordered 50 extra small oyster. The old fella there was very helpful. He went thru the whole bag of oysters to take out the dead ones and replaced them with fresh ones. We surely got more than 50 oysters. Because we took at least 20 home and we definitely ate more than 30 there. It’s super fresh and super good. We arrived abit late and didn’t get to try the golden nugget oysters. :(Heard it’s super good.
Quick tips:
1. if u forgot to bring shucker knife (like we did), u can borrow one for $ 10 deposit.
2. If you’re planning to eat it raw, go with the extra small size. If you’re planning to bbq it, you should get the bigger size.
3. Bring ice chest and ice to bring remaining oysters home.
4. Bring panic blanket because there’s limited space.
Will be back.

This has officially become my favorite date spot. My boyfriend and I took his motorcycle from San Francisco up to Tomales Bay to enjoy an afternoon of oyster shucking. We stopped by a store for some beer, horseradish, and lemons along the way. We finally arrived, parked in the dirt lot, and approached the counter to get our oysters. The guys who work here are SO nice, and that was one of the main awesome parts of our experience here.
We got 50 medium sized oysters, accompanied by limes and an oyster shucker. These were in one basket, and we got another basket to fill with ice for our beer. We found a spot on the grass (and later relocated to a shady area) to camp out for the next few hours, drinking and shucking oysters. So much fun. The oysters were massive and filling. I didn’t realize I could eat a meal of JUST oysters. Delicious and fresh. Makes a fantastic and worthwhile adventure with friends on the weekend, especially when it’s a sunny day outside. Check it out!

The best oysters! Great crew! Mmmm use the garlic and tapatio with lemon. So worth the beautiful drive up there. I’m from AZ where the oysters flown in are not this fresh. Helpful staff and amazing taste. Anytime in SF I will be visiting tomales bay!

Came here back in 2012 with a big group of 12 people one summer and was pleasantly surprised. I had never been oyster shucking before, since I was never a fan of raw oysters. However, luckily each table has a BBQ grill next to it and I brought all the necessary ingredients to grill yummy garlic butter oysters! And since there is a BBQ grill, you can cook anything else you want to on it. Remember to call early to make a reservation, bring all your own condiments as well as additional BBQ food to throw on the grill, and don’t forget a bluetooth speaker for the jams. They say they don’t want you playing your own music, but I played my bluetooth speaker anyways and just didn’t turn it up too loud. Don’t forget sunscreen, just in case you don’t get a table underneath a tree in the shade. It can get hot sitting in the sun all day! Recommended!

Best oysters in the bay! We got the kamamoto oysters which was the small oysters and wow. It’s very refreshing and yummmy. Would definitely come back again. I recommend bringing a blanket, white wine with your oysters and good company. Had a blast with my family. But be prepared to bring ur own thick glove to chuck them oysters! And 50 oysters in a bag costs $ 50
Worth it!

It’s sad to see Tomales Bay forced to close shop for the week :(. I always had a great time out here. This place is perfect for a half-​day outing. They cater to large groups (just make sure to reserve beforehand)! It takes a bit of planning though, but the more people you invite, the more variety of food you get! We brought the following, some of which are not necessary but still nice to have:
— Meat & veggie patties /​buns /​lettuce /​tomatoes /​cheese /​condiments
— Chicken /​butter /​garlic
— Corn
— Fruit & snacks
— Beer & wine /​lime /​oranges
— Small tasting forks
— Grill stuff (charcoal, matches, grill scraper)
— Paper towels /​utensils /​cutting board /​foil /​trays
— Cheese /​crackers /​salami
— Gardening gloves for shucking
— Hand sanitizer /​lotion
— Games /​sunglasses /​hat /​camera
— ALL SHABANG SAUCE from Boiling Crab (yummmm)
You can borrow shucking knives and buy ice here. They also have hot sauce for you in case you don’t want to bring your own. The entire experience was really fun, since there is nowhere else to shuck this many FRESH oysters. Props to Tomales Bay for staying open all these years. Though the environment is not very clean, eg: worn picnic tables, etc – it’s very lively and the ambience makes up for it. The base price was $ ¹⁶⁰⁄₁₀ people (includes sitting fee and $ 60 of oysters), which is very affordable for a half-​day of fun bonding.

When you go to Tomales Bay for oysters, you should go to Tomales Bay Oyster Company! The staff is super friendly, funny and knowledgable about oysters. ALSO, they have port-​o-​potties there that are the CLEANEST ones I have ever been in! Parking is limited so it’s best to get there somewhat early. My friend and I split 50 extra small oysters for 50 dollars. They were really good! If you want to grill the oysters, they recommend you get the small oysters. They also give you free ice to put in your bag of oysters to keep them cool.
They recently had to remove their picnic benches because of some zoning issues, but they are trying to petition to get them back. It’s fine though, just grab some oysters and head to the beach and start shucking!

Saturday afternoon. October. Misty. 200 oysters. 8 hungry/​slightly crazy people.
Setting the scene ya know? Our plan was to pick up a bunch of oysters and head to the beach to shuck away. This was my first time at Tomales Bay Oyster Co and it definitely won’t be my last. Our group didn’t communicate that well… and accidentally bought 200ish oysters LOL. I split a bag of 50 extra smalls with my friend for $ 50. And then others in our group also ended up buying bags of 50 so yeah it added up quickly LOL.
There are different sizes of oysters to pick from ranging from extra small to medium I believe. There are also some special ones called the «Golden Nuggets» AND THEY ARE REALLY GOOD. TRUST. But pricier than the normal extra smalls. They will give you samples of oysters if you ask nicely. Extra smalls are great for eating raw, I would go for a bigger size if you wanted to grill them. They also give you ice to put in your bag of oysters to keep them chilled.
Staff is insanely friendly and funny! They tricked me. Convinced me that they dove for oysters every morning in the ocean at 6 AM and chased them and caught oysters one by one with their bare hands. I know it sounds ridiculous when I tell people this but really… they were really believable when they were telling me the story of how they do it HAHHAA. I should’ve known when they said the oysters swim away by shooting water out the back end.
Also added bonus: their port-​a-​potties are the best port-​a-​potties I’ve ever used. I know that isn’t saying much but lemme just say… they are definitely using some 2 or even 3 ply toilet paper in there. SO FANCY. And it didn’t smell disgusting or look disgusting. So pee away in luxury!
They recently had to take their picnic tables and benches away due to some zoning issues with the city I believe. Which really sucks, but I think there’s a petition started online to try to get them back. So you’ll have to eat the oysters elsewhere but it’s pretty close to the beach!

Great place to buy oysters and eat them fresh! It’s cheaper than what you would find normally, so definitely worth going! It’s a great place to take your family (and dog friendly too).
It’s $ 5 per person to enter. Groups of 15+ can make reservations, and for smaller groups there’s picnic tables available for first come first serve basis. I recommend coming early around 10am… 11am is kinda pushing it, but that’s about the time my group arrived and we found a table. Although all the good shady tables were taken, but luckily all the tables have an umbrella.
I suggest coming prepared. They do provide lemons, utensils, shuckers, ice, and anything you might have forgotten. BUT they’ll charge you and it’s most likely marked up. And the nearest market isn’t for another like 5 miles out, so again, come prepared! The picnic tables all have a grill so bring other foods to grill and snacks to munch on so you don’t get sick of oysters!
Overall, I’d definitely come back! It’s a great place to chill and eat fresh oysters.

Man oh man
This is THE place. One of those places you just HAVE to visit if you’re in SF
The place is packed! Even though it’s in the middle of nowhere, with the entire public road being now used for their customer parking (not to mention having their own dedicated parking lot), there are so many cars parked outside they literally ran out of parking space.
The place is pretty big, with lots of picnic tables. A lot of folks come here to BBQ in large groups, bringing cases of beer, sausages, and coal. Just sitting there having a beer grilling fresh oysters, next to the lake. That is the life.
The place sells you oysters and rents you a shucking knife. The idea is you’d shuck the oysters yourself and eat it. The oysters are around average price, but are HUGE. Some of them are bigger than my entire hand!
Now I know all the oysters I ate at «real» restaurants are scams – they are so small compared to the HUGE oysters we got at this place!
The oysters are fresh too, with the salt water still inside. Because the oysters are so big, when you bite into them it feels like biting into burger – you mouth is filled with the taste of oyster. It’s actually filling as opposed to being just a delicacy.
Definitely worth the drive, and will come back for more of them fresh oysters!

I traveled all the way from LA to check out the infamous Tomales. I have heard so many great things and all were true! If you want the freshest oysters and calms, this is the place to go. Tomales also offers a BBQ and picnic experience. They don’t take reservations for large parties, so make sure you come early to grab a table. One table is good for 8 – 10 ppl. They also offer free valet so feel free to bring as much food as you want. They don’t regulate what you bring. You can even bring alcohol. It’s would be a perfect day to have good food and company.
Tomales is next to a bay so you can also hang out by the ocean and enjoy the breeze. There is a nice hiking trail you can check out for a few hours. We checked it out after eating so much food and was so relieved we were able to walked it off!

Been to this oyster joint multiple times, and each time it’s proven to be perfect for a group picnic, celebration, barbecue, or team offsite. The TB Oyster Co. provides the fresh oysters and means of shell disposal, you bring the picnic supplies, grill gear, shucking tools (don’t forget the gloves!), etc. The oysters are delicious, you can choose large or smaller ones depending on your preference, either way, you can’t get them any fresher.
Best to get there early, think mid-​morning. In the past, we’ve had to drive right on by because the tiny gravel parking lot was filled and cars were parked along the street as far as the eye could see. Picnic table space is also very limited, especially if you want to be near the grills. (The crowds are even worse since Drakes Bay was shut down). Bring a coat – even in the summer months, it can be overcast, damp, and windy.

If you’re a shellfish lover, I highly recommend checking out the Tomales Bay Oyster Co. They have fresh oysters, clams and mussels for purchase to take home or eat there. If you are planning to bbq/​shuck and eat oysters at the TBOC, you must either reserve a picnic table or get there early in the morning. The place fills up fast! Parking is valet (tip-​based) since there is limited parking.
Our group of 11 arrived at TBOC at 9am on Saturday in time to nab a table in the middle of all the action. Each table has a small grill next to it, but make sure to bring your own charcoal. They charge $ 5/​person for admission. The TBOC sells different oysters by the dozen or bags of 50. Prices are a bargain but the best part is that everything is incredibly fresh. We bought some Kumamoto, medium, large oysters and clams. It was my first time trying clams raw and they were delicious! We brought some meats to grill up but we also threw some of the larger oysters on the grill as well.
Just FYI: There are 2 restrooms with running water for the ladies. As for the fellas, they have port-​a-​poties. Weather was windy on and off, so I recommend wearing layers. All the grounds are sandy, so do not wear nice shoes or they will get messed up. Great place to go for a bbq/​picnic especially if you love oysters. Good for groups/​families and dog friendly.

Totally Tomales.
Though TBOC has oysters in its name, it also sells mussles and clams, along with other necessities (oyster sauce, matchlite charcoal, ice, hot sauce, shucking knife, shucking gloves, limes).
Oysters come in 3 sizes: XS, S, and M. One dozen for $ 15 – 25, bag of 50 for $ 50 – 70. They also sell a bag of these tiny but delicious Kumamotos (20 or 25?) for $ 75.
In terms of reservations and whatnot, read their website. Currently, they’re going through a permitting process with Marin County and ARE NOT taking reservations. Also, $ 5 per person gets you a sticker to picnic at TBOC. Otherwise you can cash&carry and head to another picnicking site.
What to bring for a good day at Tomales Bay:
— Ice cooler, with some ice for good measure
— Charcoal (match charcoal is good)
— Lighter fluid
— Lighter/​matches
— Shucking knife, shucking gloves
— Foil
— Chopping board
— Chopping knives for lemons, butter, and baguette
— Skewers
— Utensils: forks, spoons, knives, tongs
— Water, and a pen to write names
— Plates, cups, napkins, baby wipes, paper towels, trash bags
— Serving trays (ideally plastic or aluminum)
— Tupperware, Ziploc bags
— Spices (salt and pepper at a minimum)
— Food: corn, shrimp, asparagus, chicken, Tapatio sauce, lemons, baguette, butter, minced garlic
— Wine, beer, water
Other tips:
— Get there at 9am to reserve the first-​come-​first-​serve tables (SF folks will need to haul a$$ at 7:45am). This avoids needing a minimum party size for a reservation, along with the $ 100 reservation deposit.
— Check the weather. Pick shady vs. sunny picnic table accordingly (unless you have a reserved table, which will be designated).
— Sunblock.
— Free valet, but tip the parking dudes.
— $ 10 deposit on shucking knives (may not be enforced).
— Cash only. ATM on site.
— Grill regular oysters, but eat Kumamotos raw.
— Advice from Kaje Y.: «We brought a small pot with butter, garlic, parsley, got it boiling on the grill, added mussels and white wine; for the win.»
— Ghetto bread = baguette smeared with butter and minced garlic and grilled till melted and toasty. ON POINT.
The view ain’t the hottest, but the atmosphere is so so fun. Crowds of happy people sharing a bustling space with lots of food and tropical kickback tunes = perfect summer hangout.

Absolutely love this place ! Went here this morning for brunch and the oysters were at such a reasonable price. The parking is free and they valet your car for free, but of course we would tip them.
I love how they have so many picnic tables here .
We had reserved a table for 10 people and to reserve it, we had to pay $ 100. It was fine since we had 10 of us to split the cost. It got really busy by 11 and they only hold reservations from 10 – 11 I believe. But it was recommended to come at that time.
The oysters were Delicious ! So clean and yummy ! Ate so many !!! I would soooo want to come here again ! Soon !!
And some say we have to pay $ 15 for shucking knives, is actually $ 10 each deposit to Borrow. Return it at the end and get your money back.
I think and it comes with a bag of ice :)
And they sell charcoal too I believe.

AMAZING OYSTERS!
I’ve been wanting to visit Tomales Bay for a while and it did not disappoint. I came here with a group of friends and luckily we came early enough to reserve 3 tables. We ordered about 160 oysters and it was MARVELOUS. I really recommend trying the extra small oysters (to eat raw) and medium oysters (cooked on the grill). AMAZING, super fresh, and addicting (especially if you squeeze some limes on top). The clams here are also worth trying, it’s buttery and just so delicious!
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and love that you can bring your own food to cook on the grill. My group brought a lot of kabobs and Korean short ribs, it was awesome! You can also bring alcohol too which makes the experience even more enjoyable!
I really recommend everyone coming here at least once in their life, even if you don’t like oysters! It’s a great place to hang out with good company and enjoy the beautiful view of Marin County. They also allow you to bring dogs which is great!
I’m definitely coming back again, hopefully during the summertime. :)