6 Best Salmon Delivery Services of 2023

Salmon Sashimi On Ice In The Ceramic Blow — Bunlue Nantaprom / EyeEm / Getty Images

Salmon might be gaining on chicken as an incredibly popular protein option and meal staple. This colorful, full-flavored fish is readily available and a forgiving type of fish to cook. Although salmon is relatively easy to find at your local grocery store, there are major benefits to using a salmon delivery service to deliver fillets right to your door.

For starters, even if you don’t live on the Alaska coast, you can still have access to salmon directly from the fishery to your doorstep. Thanks to flash-freezing techniques, insulated packing, and expedited shipping services, customers can enjoy premium-quality frozen salmon year-round. But with the variety of delivery services on the market, it can be tough to choose between wild and farmed, or smoked and fresh. That’s why we’ve done the work for you and have compiled a list of the best salmon delivery services nationwide.

Best Salmon Delivery Services

Best Overall: Secret Island Salmon
Best Value: Wulf's Fish
Best for Bulk Salmon: Salmon Sisters
Best for Smoked Salmon: Blue Circle Foods
Best Wild-Caught Salmon: Sitka Salmon Shares
Best for Smoked Salmon: Goldbelly

Best Overall: Secret Island Salmon

secret island salmon

Key Specs
Delivery Area: 50 states
Free Shipping? No
Products Arrive: Frozen

Why You Should Try It

The “Secret Island” of its namesake refers to the south of Chilean Patagonia, where the deep, cold waters are conducive to growing this BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices)-certified salmon.

Pros and Cons

Pros
Complete satisfaction guarantee for freshness upon arrival
Flash frozen within hours of harvesting
Both prepared individual fillets and multipacks

Cons
Limited number of types of salmon
Same or next-day air shipping unavailable

Overview

If you love salmon in all its forms, it’s worth checking out Secret Island for its variety and unique cuts of Atlantic and Coho salmon. Salmon is sold prepped and marinated in convenient individual packets or frozen in four- and 12-packs. If you love to grill, the company also makes salmon burgers and hot dogs and sells them together in a grilling bundle large enough to serve 12 people.

Prices start at $30.99 for a pack of four Coho salmon fillets and go up to $92.97 for a 12-pack of the same, and $101.79 for a 12-pack of Atlantic salmon—they also offer something called Coho Salmon Bacon—i.e., center-cut salmon belly, which is cured and smoked with hardwood and sea salt. There’s flexibility in how you order the products, too; you can choose a delivery frequency of once, every two weeks, or on a monthly basis.
Best Value: Wulf's Fish

Wulf’s Fish

Key Specs
Delivery Area: 50 states
Free Shipping? No
Products Arrive: Frozen

Why You Should Try It

A favorite supplier to restaurants nationwide, Wulf’s Fish prioritizes variety, freshness, and quality, and offers salmon at a variety of price points.

Pros and Cons

Pros
Unique super-freezing process locks in flavor and nutrition
Easily navigable website
Moderate price point

Cons
No specific sustainability certifications/alliances
Only three types of salmon available

Overview

Wulf’s is known for its unique super-freezing process: The company freezes its fish and seafood quickly and at a lower temperature than a standard freeze, preserving the seafood’s freshness and texture. Customers can choose from a variety of farmed and wild options, and it’s easy to filter a selection to include salmon supplied by CleanFish, which lets consumers trace the origins of their fish back to its source, method of harvest, and sustainability certifications.

With such a huge selection, there is something to accommodate just about any budget, from $25 Nordic Blue salmon short cuts to $40 poke packs. Wulf’s also gives its customers the flexibility to order à la carte style or via a subscription option, the latter of which is easy to skip or cancel if needed.
Best for Bulk Salmon: Salmon Sisters

Salmon Sisters

Key Specs
Delivery Area: 50 states
Free Shipping? Yes, with orders over $100
Products Arrive: Frozen

Why You Should Try It

Salmon Sisters offers flavorful and traceable wild-caught salmon in 10-pound boxes that are perfect for stocking your freezer.

Pros and Cons

Pros
Multiple sustainability certifications
Shipping materials are eco-friendly and recyclable
Founded the Give Fish Project, which donates fish to the Food Bank of Alaska

Cons
Limited selection
No small orders possible

Overview

If you are looking to stock your freezer with delicious, fresh, salmon, then Salmon Sisters may be the choice for you. The level of freshness and quality of fish and fishing partners that the Salmon Sisters work with keeps customers reordering. We like the level of transparency and accountability, too, as well as the company’s philanthropic bent.

The company offers 10-pound boxes of wild Alaska sockeye salmon priced from $329. Beyond that, its menu of offerings is fairly streamlined, with items like Pacific cod (also in 10-pound portions) or 40 sockeye salmon cakes ($229). Items are easy to thaw overnight and cook for a quick lunch or dinner. (Other delicacies are available, too, such as tins of wild Alaska smoked herring and Bering Sea smoked octopus—but these are not sold in bulk.)
Best for Sustainability: Blue Circle Foods

blue circle foods

Key Specs
Delivery Area: 50 states
Free Shipping? Yes, over $99
Products Arrive: Fresh and frozen options

Why You Should Try It

With a tagline of “feel-good fish for everyday eating,” you get just that with Blue Circle’s sustainably sourced offerings of fillets, burgers, dogs, and kid-friendly breaded salmon bites.

Pros and Cons

Pros
Wide variety of farmed and wild-caught products
Website very easy to navigate
Pricing is very transparent

Cons
No subscription boxes
Salmon offerings are 20 ounces or smaller

Overview

Blue Circle is unique in that it offers a lot of options for pre-portioned seafood and salmon, some of which are sold pre-seasoned in single-serving packages, making it even easier to get a tasty salmon dish on the table. The company is very transparent about its product descriptions on its website, which makes it easy to understand the origins of its salmon; each product contains details of the method of harvest (i.e., wild caught or farm raised), how the seafood is processed, and community impact. There’s absolutely no guesswork on the part of the consumer, which makes Blue Circle the winner in our sustainability category.

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Best Wild-Caught Salmon: Sitka Salmon Shares

Sitka Salmon Shares

Key Specs
Delivery Area: 48 states
Free Shipping? Yes
Products Arrive: Frozen

Why You Should Try It

Sitka offers sustainable wild Alaska salmon to customers through its network of small-boat fishermen.

Pros and Cons

Pros
Community-supported model
Sustainable practices
Variety of box sizes

Cons
Limited variety year-round
Availability of products can vary

Overview

You may have heard of community supported agriculture (CSA): Sitka does the same thing, except for salmon fishing. Named for the Sitka Sound, from which it sources most of its fish, Sitka shares the same CSA approach. Customers pay for the salmon ahead of the fishing season, with portions delivered when the salmon is available (typically August through December). The salmon arrives frozen in vacuum-sealed portions, and you can order one box at a time or opt for a monthly share of a little under 5 pounds per order (prices start at $129 per box). If you’re dedicated to eating seasonally and believe that fish and seafood should be included in that equation, then Sitka is a good choice.
Best for Smoked Salmon: Goldbelly

Courtesy of Goldbelly

Key Specs
Delivery Area: 50 states
Free Shipping? Varies depending on supplier
Products Arrive: Fresh and frozen options

Why You Should Try It

Goldbelly partners with well-known food brands and chef partners in its online marketplace, and features smoked salmon from several prominent companies like SeaBear Smokehouse, Russ & Daughters, and Pike Place Fish Market.

Pros and Cons

Pros
Wide variety of brands
Range of price points
Extensive customer service options

Cons
Shipping prices vary
Shipping time frames vary

Overview

With Goldbelly, you have the services of a large company from a range of stellar small and large food brands, including well-known smoked salmon purveyors like SeaBear Smokehouse and Russ & Daughters. As the suppliers vary widely, so do the shipping and pricing: Some items are sold by weight, while others are sent vacuum sealed in preportioned sizes.

But if you’ve got a preference for Pacific Northwest smoked wild salmon, for example, SeaBear Smokehouse offers a four-pack from $59.95 with four different flavors (garlic, brown sugar bourbon, traditional, and beer garden). Or you can get super fancy with chef Daniel Boulud’s smoked salmon collection (from $179.95), which includes Scottish smoked salmon, salmon rillette, and a range of smoked and cured salmon with different flavorings (trout roe and bagel chips included!).

Final Verdict

No matter how you prefer your salmon deliveries, Secret Island likely has an option to suit you, whether it’s individual fillets, prepared salmon burgers and hot dogs, or larger quantities that you can use to stock your freezer. The service delivers to all 50 states, and the salmon is sustainably farmed, which gives you some peace of mind if those practices are important to you as a consumer.

Guide for Choosing the Best Salmon Delivery Services

Who Should Use a Salmon Delivery Service?

Salmon is an easy way to incorporate a healthy protein into your diet; in fact, the American Heart Association recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish, like salmon) twice a week. Besides having known health benefits, salmon is a fairly easy fish to cook, and many services offer fillets that are pre-seasoned for added convenience. These services are also a good choice for consumers who may have limited access to wild-caught or sustainably farmed salmon.

What Are the Different Types of Salmon?

While salmon is found in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, most Atlantic salmon will be farmed, due to overfishing and habitat destruction. Pacific wild salmon species include king, sockeye, coho, pink, and chum. Wild-caught and farmed salmon are very comparable in terms of health benefits, but some salmon are more sustainably harvested than others. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch is an excellent resource for consumers who want to ensure their salmon is sourced as sustainably as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Salmon Expensive to Purchase?

Salmon can be as expensive or as inexpensive as any other animal protein; it just depends on where it’s coming from and the practices surrounding its fishing and catching. Shipping can add up, too, if you’re ordering it from a salmon delivery service.

Does Eating Salmon Help With Weight Loss?

Salmon is a healthy protein option, being relatively low in calories and full of beneficial nutrients. However, many factors can contribute to weight loss, and you are unlikely to achieve weight loss with salmon alone. As always, consult with your physician before embarking on any weight loss plan.

How Do Salmon Delivery Services Package Their Fish?

Most of these companies will ship the product to you overnight or via two-day air and packed in dry ice to ensure the salmon remains frozen. Salmon is typically flash frozen within hours of being caught, which ensures that when it arrives to you, its texture and flavor remain intact. Fresh fish will typically be shipped overnight with gel packs and in an insulated box and should arrive cool to the touch. Contact customer service immediately if your shipment appears to have an odor or unpleasant texture.

Can I Return Salmon I Buy Online?

Typically, you can’t return a food product such as salmon due to its perishable nature. However, reputable companies such as the ones we’ve featured here will aim to make it right and will often offer you a credit or replace your product if it arrives in anything other than a fresh and satisfactory condition.

What Is the Best Way to Thaw Frozen Salmon?

The best way to thaw frozen salmon is the same as any other protein: overnight in the refrigerator or, barring that, about six to eight hours before you plan to prepare it. Put the package on a plate or a shallow bowl to catch any liquid that might be released while it thaws. To accelerate the thawing, submerge the vacuum-sealed pouch in very cold tap water and change the water every 30 minutes until thawed.

Methodology

We considered product value for the price of each monthly subscription, along with the quality of fish that you receive. Transparency with shipping details, fees, and FAQ pages were important factors as well; we offered extra consideration to those that offer the immediacy of a virtual chat. We also selected companies that responded quickly to email inquiries and those whose websites were easy to navigate with up-to-date information. We looked at nearly three dozen companies using those criteria along with, of course, taste, variety, and ease of ordering.