If you’re visiting Seattle, eating seafood should always be at the top of your to-do list. As a city surrounded by water, pristine seafood can be found anywhere. From salmon to crab to geoduck, every seafood you can think of can be found in this city. With popular and unique seafood cuisines, you will never run out of options.
Searching for the best Seattle seafood restaurants would be a bit of a challenge, but we’ve got you covered. Check out some of the most popular seafood spots in the city.
1. The Walrus and the Carpenter
The Walrus and the Carpenter is a seafood restaurant known for its fresh oysters. They offer a wide range of seafood dishes, but the oysters are definitely the best pick on the menu.
To start, try their Seawolf bread and butter while you’re browsing the menu. Fresh, raw oysters are the way to go, but if it’s not to your liking, the cornmeal-dredged fried oysters served with cilantro aioli are the bomb!
What to order: Fresh oysters, Seawolf Bread and Butter, Fried Oysters with Cilantro Aioli
Address: 4743 Ballard Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107
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2. Ray’s Boathouse
Known as one of the most iconic restaurants in Seattle, Ray’s Boathouse is a must-visit restaurant in the city. Enjoy their delectable Northwest seafood cuisines while watching the alluring view of the waters.
Their signature Pacific Northwest Sablefish with Applewood Grilled Sake Kasu is to die for. It’s moist, flakey, and tender on the inside. You’re probably too full to try other dishes so you can end it with a Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream.
What to order: Pacific Northwest Sablefish with Applewood Grilled Sake Kasu, Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream
Address: 6049 Seaview Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107
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3. Local Tide
While you’re touring the outskirts of Seattle, you can rest and grab a bite at Local Tide. It actually started as a small pop-up shop and is now considered one of the top go-to restaurants when it comes to seafood.
A popular choice would be their Fried Fish Sando. The fish is fired to a perfect golden brown with a flaky and tasty interior and crispy interior. It comes with house tartar, lettuce, and cheese. A single bite will make you experience the freshness and flavor of the fish.
If you’re going on the weekend, you’ve got to taste their Crab Roll. Take note that it is only available on Saturdays and Sundays and it’s in limited quantities as well.
What to order: Fried Fish Sando, Crab Roll
Address: 401 North 36th Street Suite 103, Seattle, WA 98103
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4. AQUA by El Gaucho
Are you looking for a combination of top-quality seafood and great services? AQUA by El Gaucho is the best destination, featuring the most scrumptious seafood dishes in Seattle. Aside from its seafood selections, you can also check out their dry- and custom-aged Angus Beef.
The Wicked Shrimp is a highly recommended dish not only by locals and tourists but also by the chef. The prawns are absolutely delectable because of the slight sweetness from its meat combined with the spicy hot velouté.
Another amazing dish that you should try is the Miso Buttered Black Cod. The fatty meat and the finger-licking miso sauce bring a whole new type of taste for first-time guests.
What to order: Wicked Shrimp, Miso Buttered Black Cod
Address: 2801 Alaskan Way, Pier 70, Seattle, WA 98121
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5. Elliott’s Oyster House
For over 30 years, Elliott’s Oyster House has been showcasing the quality and freshness of Seattle’s seafood in the whole country. It was named America’s #1 Oyster House and it is one of the Top 10 Seafood Houses in the United States. You can literally see all the boats come and go while dining so it’s a good spot to relax.
Crab Cakes would be a good starter and it is highly recommended. The cakes are full of delicious crab meat, giving you a heavy dose of crab flavor. It comes with snap peas, sweet Cipollini onions, and the delectable cocktail Verde sauce.
The thick and creamy White Clam Chowder is the best in Seattle. If you want the soup to be a bit spicy, you should go with their Spicy Crab and Corn Chowder.
What to order: Crab Cakes, White Clam Chowder, Spicy Crab, and Corn Chowder
Address: 1201 Alaskan Way, Pier 56, Seattle, WA 98101
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6. Sushi Kashiba
If sushi is what you want, then you’ll get the best experience from Sushi Kashiba. Japanese chef Shiro Kashiba has been serving the best sushi in the Seattle area for over 50 years.
You can always order the food items from the menu, but the best experience would be the Omakase experience. The chef will prepare the meals in front of your eyes. There are only 14 seats every night so you’ll have to arrive early if you want to experience this.
You can try the popular dish of chef Kashiba which is the Black Cod Kasuzuke. The fish is marinated in miso paste and sake, which gives a deep flavor with a hint of sweetness to the meat.
The Sashimi Tuna Poke is also a crowd favorite. You’ll enjoy the cubed tuna sashimi with house poke sauce.
What to order: Sashimi Tuna Poke, Black Cod Kasuzuke
Address: 86 Pine Street Suite #1, Seattle, WA 98101
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7. Emerald City Fish & Chips
Emerald City Fish & Chips is a good spot to try out some Southern-style seafood. The place is perfectly snug, has enough parking space, and the servers are polite and accommodating.
For the fish & chips, you can choose from Catfish, salmon, halibut, and Alaskan cod. You should definitely get the Alaskan Cod variety as it is very tasty and moist even after frying. The batter is thin, just enough to make the fish crispy and the tartar sauce blends perfectly well with the cod.
If you want something different, the salmon burger is a good alternative. It is served with fries and refreshing coleslaw.
What to order: Alaskan Cod Fish & Chips, Salmon Burger
Address: 3756 Rainier Avenue, Seattle, WA 98144
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8. Little Chinook’s
Little Chinook’s is a classic waterfront fish bar in Seattle known to serve fresh and top-quality seafood. They are primarily offering fish and chips so if you are craving one, this is the best spot to visit.
For tourists, the Alaska True Cod and Chips is a good pick. You can feel the freshness of the meat with every bite. The outer part is nice and crunchy, thanks to its thin panko breaded batter.
Since you’re already here, you should try the Salmon Taco. The salmon is seared in blackened spices and it’s topped with a creamy salsa mayo.
What to order: Alaska True Cod and Chips and Salmon Taco
Address: 1900 W Nickerson Street, Seattle, WA 98119
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9. Fremont Bowl
Fremont Bowl is a go-to restaurant if you want homestyle Japanese food like donburi bowls, chirashi bowls, and more. The restaurant is tiny, but the atmosphere is very friendly and casual.
If you love raw fish, go with the chirashi bowl. This is the most popular choice if you want a variety of raw fish in a single bowl. It’s a full bowl with salmon, shrimp, albacore, fatty tuna, and masago along with fresh wasabi on top.
Their Poke Bowls are a bit different from other restaurants. It’s because you can taste the natural flavor of the fish. The toppings are minimal and you can pick on two sauces: sweet spicy or yuzu soy.
What to order: Chirashi Bowl, Poke Bowl
Address: 4258 Fremont Avenue N, Suite #4262, Seattle, WA 98103
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10. Pike Place Chowder
For clam chowder lovers out there, you’ll definitely miss out big time if you skip Pike Place Chowder. They have two locations in Seattle so if the other is full, you can always go to the other restaurant to enjoy their chowder.
The first on your list should be their New England Clam Chowder. It’s one of the best clam chowders that you will ever pop in your mouth. The creaminess and knee-deep flavor along with loads of fresh clams will keep you wanting for more.
You should try their Seafood Bisque as it comes with a creamy tomato broth. It has a salty and tangy flavor that would perfectly complement the salmon, shrimp, and Pacific cod in the bowl.
What to order: New England Clam Chowder, Seafood Bisque
Address:
-Pike Place Market – 1530 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101
-Pacific Place Center – 600 Pine Street, 4th Floor, Seattle, WA 98101
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11. Seattle Fish Guys
Looking for the best seafood restaurants in Seattle? Seattle Fish Guys is definitely a part of that list. This seafood restaurant serves fresh and premium seafood meals that you can enjoy every day
You should try the Salmon Poke Bowl. You’ll enjoy fatty fish with poke flavors. Try it out with white or brown rice.
Get a made-to-order Crab Sub and enjoy the delicious and fresh crab meat placed on a toasted bun. It is topped with sriracha, Japanese mayo, and green onion.
What to order: Salmon Poke Bowl, Crab Sub
Address: 411 23rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98144
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12. Sugo Hand Roll Bar
The Sugo Hand Roll Bar is a unique kind of restaurant outside the Pike Market. They offer a new type of sushi, showcasing the use of sustainably sourced fish. The interior of the restaurant is cozy and relaxing so you will surely enjoy your dining here.
Try their Spicy Snow Crab Hand Roll. They use a tasty snow crab filling and it’s wrapped in nori and cooked sushi rice. For vegans, you can enjoy sushi here as they offer the Truffle Avocado Roll.
What to order: Spicy Snow Crab Hand Roll, Truffle Avocado Roll
Address: 2001 Western Avenue #110, Seattle, WA 98121
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13. Bait Shop
This is the perfect hangout spot with your friends or family when you visit Seattle. They serve comfort food and craft beer. With the nautical décor and relaxing ambiance, you will surely enjoy your stay here.
Fish Taco is one of the best choices on the menu. You have the freedom to choose how you want it done. It can be pan-seared or beer-battered fried and you can choose whether you want flour or corn tortillas. Add some more pineapple or avocado for an extra dollar.
Have a taste of their fish sandwich. It comes with beer-battered cod, lettuce, tomato, and their homemade tartar sauce. You’ll surely enjoy every bite of the fresh ingredients in your mouth.
What to order: Fish Taco, Fish Sandwich
Address: 606 Broadway East, Seattle, WA 98102
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All these are the best seafood restaurants in Seattle and they offer a wide range of seafood cuisines that you won’t find anywhere else. Try them out and see for yourself if these mouth-watering seafood fit your taste buds.
If you’re looking for diversity and you want more than seafood meals, you can check out our article about the Best Restaurants in Seattle.
