Central Market icon Si Sea is having an absolute cracker of a year, proving once again that this little pearl is one of the beating hearts of the central market, picking up back-to-back seafood titles before going on to represent the state on the national stage.
For those who have ever walked by the Si Sea corner around lunchtime, where you might just catch a glimpse of a plate of oysters or some fresh seafood behind the packed out stools that constantly line the bar of SiSea, then you’ll already know that Si Sea is a must try when in Adelaide.
But now, this Adelaide Central Market institution has just been named a national finalist in the Best Seafood category at the 2026 Australian Dining Awards, a new national program where the winners aren’t picked by a judging panel but voted for by everyday diners.
“It was incredibly exciting and humbling to be recognised alongside some of the best seafood venues from across the country. There are so many amazing operators doing great things with seafood, so to be in the mix with them was a real privilege,” Owner Mark Gleeson said.
“For our team, it was also a reminder of how far SiSea has come since opening in 2021. We’re proud of what we’ve built, but we also see it as motivation to keep pushing ourselves, continuing to grow and finding new ways to do better.”
After taking out SA’s state win, they were then through to the national round, where it was named one of just five finalists for Best Seafood in the country, pipped for the top spot by Jordon’s Seafood in NSW.
But it’s not just the taste-buds of everyday diners that they’ve convinced. Earlier in 2026, the market favourite also took out Restaurant of the Year at the South Australian Seafood Awards, run by Seafood Industry South Australia.
This competition is judged by people who know their kingfish from their king george whiting, awarded for consistently serving quality seafood and delivering a top-tier dining experience.
“Today, we’re entering an exciting new chapter with Chef John Than, formerly of The Salopian Inn, leading the kitchen and taking the menu in a fresh direction,” Mark said.
“His approach brings together quality local produce with more intricate techniques and some bold Asian influences.”
“The new menu features dishes such as sashimi, scallops, crab pasta, seafood paella, kingfish and lobsters, paired with more complex, carefully considered sauces and some touches of Asian-inspired flavours.
“While SiSea has grown considerably since those early days at Stall 76, we’ve retained the same focus on fresh seafood and creating a relaxed, approachable dining experience.”
Mark also revealed the restaurant’s most popular dish at the moment, which is their personal take on the classic paella, called the Crispy Seafood Rice
“The dish is all about the socarrat, we aim for maximum crispiness on the bottom of the rice, which adds a delicious texture and depth of flavour.
The dish is loaded with Kinkawooka mussels, Fremantle octopus and prawns cooked in chilli garlic butter, then finished with saffron aioli and pickled onions to balance the richness with spice and acidity.
“It’s become a real crowd favourite and is a great example of what we’re trying to do at SiSea, taking familiar seafood dishes and giving them our own distinctive twist.”
Next time we head into the markets, we know what we’ll be ordering from Si Sea.
Si Sea
Where: Tuesday 7am-5:30pm, Wednesday 11am-5pm, Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 7am-9pm, Saturday 7am-3 pm
Where: 44-60 Gouger Street Stall 76, Adelaide SA 5000
For more information, click here.
