Looking for the best seafood restaurants in Seattle? Well, you’re in the right place!
With the world-famous Pike Place Fish Market in place, where 100% sustainably sourced seafood arrives daily, no wonder Seattle is a seafood hot spot in the US.
From Dungeness crab to wild Alaskan salmon to caviar, if there is any place in the country where you can find such variety in fresh seafood, it is right here.
So, we have rounded up a mix of some of the best seafood restaurants in Seattle, and the list contains both happening favorites and long-standing classics.
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1. Local Tide
With the Pacific Northwest as its home, Local Tide started as a pop-up shop in Pike Place Market and is now one of the go-to seafood eateries in the city.
Operating in an industrial space, the restaurant is compact and elegant and offers a variety of seafood bowls, sandwiches, and a lot more.
The Fried Fish Sando here is quite popular. The fish is panko crusted and fried to a perfect golden-brown, and has a crispy exterior and a flaky interior.
Topped with house tartar, cheese, and lettuce, and sandwiched inside a brioche, the freshness of the fish with simple, subtle flavors elevates the dish.
Pro tip: If you like your food spicy, ask for their house chili oil to go with your sandwich; it is BOMB!
Salmon Sando is one of the first items Local Tide started their journey with as a pop-up. The sandwich remains a hit, credit to the fresh, perfectly seasoned, and prepared pink salmon.
Of course, you got to try their popular Crab Roll. Available only on weekends and in limited quantities, it has hand-cracked Dungeness crab, mayo, lemon, and chives, served in a split top bun – classic, simple, and delicious!
What to order: Fried Fish Sando, Salmon Sando, Crab Roll
Address: 401 North 36th Street Suite 103, Seattle, WA 98103
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2. Elliott’s Oyster House
Elliott’s Oyster House has been proudly showcasing Seattle’s seafood for more than 30 years.
This waterfront restaurant is named America’s #1 Oyster House and rated among the Top 10 Seafood Houses in the US. With stunning waterfront views and the finest seafood preparations, this place continues to be a hit.
Their Crab Cakes starter is extremely popular.
You get nice and chunky cakes full of crab meat, giving you a full-on crab flavor, served with snap peas, sweet Cipollini onions, and tangy and aromatic cocktail verde sauce.
The White Clam Chowder is thick, creamy, and super delicious. If you like your chowder soup spicy, they have the Spicy Crab and Corn Chowder.
Wish to try the best seafood that Seattle has to offer? Order the Celebration at Elliot’s Oyster House.
This is their version of a seafood tower and has multiple varieties including oysters, prawns, and scallops.
What to order: Crab Cakes, White Clam Chowder, Spicy Crab and Corn Chowder, Celebration
Address: 1201 Alaskan Way, Pier 56, Seattle, WA 98101
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3. The Walrus and The Carpenter
The Walrus and The Carpenter is a Ballard restaurant specializing in oysters and other seafood dishes.
Their menu changes daily to use the very best seafood available that day, and everything that leaves the kitchen is made using the finest ingredients. The place itself is small, simple, casual, and cozy.
When you’re at The Walrus, of course, you should start with their Oysters! Choose from the various options on the menu and enjoy your delicate oysters fresh. SO. DAMN. GOOD.
The Scallop Crudo is absolutely fantastic; extremely tender, they come accompanied by mushrooms and herbs, and everything is tied together by the zesty and creamy lemon crème fraiche.
Their Labneh Panna Cotta with rhubarb jam and orange tuile is always a popular dessert but the flavor keeps changing.
If you see Labneh Panna Cotta on their menu on the day you visit, that fresh, fruity treat would be the perfect end to your seafood meal.
What to order: Oysters, Scallop Crudo, Labneh Panna Cotta
Address: 4743 Ballard Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107
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4. AQUA by El Gaucho
AQUA by El Gaucho provides Seattle’s finest waterfront dining experience featuring the finest quality seafood paired with exceptional service. In addition to fresh seafood selections, their menu also features dry-aged and custom-aged Certified Angus Beef.
The ambiance – dimly lit, elegant, high-end, and has fantastic views.
A classic, crowd-pleasing dish at AQUA, also recommended by the chef, is their Wicked Shrimp. There is a slight sweetness from the prawns that tastes nice with the spicy hot veloute.
You also get grilled bread on your plate, so you don’t miss even a drop of the mouthwatering sauce.
Start with the crowd favorite Seared Yellowfin Tuna with a firm and buttery texture, served with pickled mushrooms, ginger, edamame, snap peas, wasabi, and ponzu.
Each bite is a perfect blend of taste and texture, surely you won’t regret it!
Then, order the Crab Mac N’ Cheese to share, which is super cheesy and rich with dungeness crab, strozzapreti, white cheddar, parmigiano-reggiano, and dressed in garlic cream.
Don’t go home without trying their desserts, in this case, the Baileys Chocolate Caramel Bread Pudding with vanilla bean ice cream is a must!
What to order: Wicked Shrimp, Seared Yellowfin Tuna, Crab Mac N’ Cheese, Baileys Chocolate Caramel Bread Pudding
Address: 2801 Alaskan Way, Pier 70, Seattle, WA 98121
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5. Ray’s Boathouse
A Seattle icon, Ray’s Boathouse was established in 1973 and is known worldwide for serving refined sustainable Northwest seafood.
The restaurant only uses organic and naturally raised meats, local produce, and local microbrews, and even their wine list is Northwest-centric.
Located on the waterfront, this seafood place has a mesmerizing view, especially sunsets.
Ray’s Pacific Northwest Sablefish with Applewood Grilled Sake Kasu is a local favorite.
Again, the fish is delicate and tender, the sake kasu paste adds a fruity flavor to the dish, and you also get garlic fried brown rice and other sides on the plate.
When you order their Penn Cove Manila Clams, you get a huge bowl full of meaty clams drenched in bacon miso broth.
The broth is so delicious that the baguette on the side will be perfect for dipping.
What to order: Pacific Northwest Sablefish with Applewood Grilled Sake Kasu, Penn Cove Manila Clams
Address: 6049 Seaview Avenue NW, Seattle, WA 98107
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6. Pike Place Chowder
With two locations in Seattle, Pike Place Chowder has Yelp’s #1 Popular Dish in the US, which is their New England Clam Chowder.
This place has a counter-service setting, and you will always find it busy.
Obviously, you start with the New England Clam Chowder. Does it live up to the hype? Oh yes, it most certainly does!
This will be the best clam chowder you’ve ever tasted in your life; it is rich, creamy, knee-deep in flavor, and filled with loads of chunky clams.
Their Seafood Bisque has a creamy tomato broth as its base and has a salty and tangy flavor to it.
You get a medley of salmon, shrimp, and Pacific cod in a generous amount.
They also have a gluten-free, vegan option – Lime & Coconut Chowder. This has a fragrant coconut milk base, in which a medley of vegetables is simmered, and finished with zesty lime juice.
What to order: New England Clam Chowder, Seafood Bisque, Lime & Coconut Chowder
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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7. Sushi Kashiba
Japanese chef Shiro Kashiba has been making Seattle diners happy with his creations for more than 50 years.
Sushi Kashiba is his third restaurant serving Japanese cuisine of the highest standards, using sustainable seafood from the region.
Sashimi Tuna Poke is a favorite from this seafood house.
The cubed tuna sashimi is fresh and delightful, and the house poke sauce adds a nice savory kick to the dish.
The Black Cod Kasuzuke is chef Kashiba’s popular dish.
Featured in The New York Times, the fish is marinated in sake and miso paste, which gives it a deep savory flavor, along with a hint of sweetness and richness.
The restaurant also offers an omakase experience.
What to order: Sashimi Tuna Poke, Black Cod Kasuzuke
Address: 86 Pine Street Suite #1, Seattle, WA 98101
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8. Seattle Fish Guys
Located in the heart of the Central District, Seattle Fish Guys is a premium seafood restaurant and market serving fresh, premium, and seasonal seafood.
From poke bowls to chowder to sashimi, everything served here is their daily selection, which can be enjoyed in a casual and modern space.
Give yourself a treat with their signature Poke Bowl, including shoyu tuna, salmon, octopus, and scallop, along with 2 scoops of rice and a side of salad.
The quality and taste is no joke!
The Crab Sub is made to order and comes with fresh and delicious crab meat on a toasted bun, topped with Japanese mayo, sriracha, and green onion – this is a sure winner and makes you want more.
Heard of Idako?
It is a Japanese rendition of seasoned and marinated baby octopus – an extremely appetizing and enjoyably chewy dish.
What to order: Crab Sub, Idako, Poke Bowl
Address: 411 23rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98144
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9. Emerald City Fish & Chips
Emerald City Fish & Chips is a decade-old spot serving Southern-style seafood, including Alaskan cod, salmon, catfish, and halibut dishes made by following the founder’s childhood recipes.
Though the place is snug with only limited seats, the food is pure excellence.
If you will be ordering fish & chips here, you get to choose between Alaskan cod, catfish, salmon, and halibut.
Our favorite would be the Alaskan Cod Fish & Chips. You get a mild sweetness from the fish and it remains soft and flaky; the batter is thin, crispy, and flavorful, and the tartar sauce is YUM!
The Salmon Burger is moist and delicious; it is served with fries – crispy outside and soft inside, and coleslaw – refreshing.
Their Crab Puppies & Chips come to the table fantastically crispy on the outside and with huge lumps of crab meat on the inside.
Don’t forget to dip them in the house remoulade sauce; it makes all the difference.
What to order: Alaskan Cod Fish & Chips, Salmon Burger, Crab Puppies & Chips
Address: 3756 Rainier Avenue, Seattle, WA 98144
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10. Sugo Hand Roll Bar
Located just outside the historic Pike Market, Sugo Hand Roll Bar brings to Seattle a new kind of sushi, highlighting sustainably sourced fish.
The restaurant is super cute and intimate, ideal for relaxed and cozy dinners.
From their Classic Hand Rolls menu, try the Spicy Snow Crab Hand Roll. The tasty snow crab filling is wrapped in nori, along with perfectly cooked sushi rice, and topped with avocado.
Add caviar or ikura to your roll for an elevated flavor.
If you’re vegan, Sugo Hand Roll Bar has you covered with their Truffle Avocado Roll. The flavor is straightforward and sophisticated, and the roll simply steals the show.
Vegan or not, this roll is worth trying.
Another 5-on-5 hand roll here is the Crispy Shrimp Roll. Juicy prawn covered in a crispy batter, and dressed with sweet and spicy honey sambal, this roll is a heavenly creation.
What to order: Spicy Snow Crab Hand Roll, Truffle Avocado Roll, Crispy Shrimp Roll
Address: 2001 Western Avenue #110, Seattle, WA 98121
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11. Little Chinook’s
Located on the marina, Little Chinook’s is your classic Seattle waterfront fish bar, serving fresh and quality Northwest seafood and unmatched views.
Primarily serving fish and chips, the place also offers fish tacos, chowder, and salads.
Try the Alaska True Cod and Chips, and you’ll instantly feel the freshness of the fish.
The panko breaded batter gives it a nice crunch and the fish still remains firm, flaky, and juicy on the inside. It is served with seasoned fried and poppyseed coleslaw.
The Salmon Taco here is likely to stimulate your taste buds.
The salmon is intricate in flavor from being seared in blackened spices; it comes in a warm Santa Fe tortilla and is topped with creamy and delicious salsa mayonnaise.
What to order: Alaska True Cod and Chips, Salmon Taco
Address: 3919 18th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119
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12. Bait Shop
Bait Shop is a lively hangout spot in Seattle serving comfort food, craft beer, and cocktails on tap.
With nautical decor, the ambiance is always energetic, and the service is friendly and prompt.
The Fish Taco here is *chef’s kiss*. You can have your fish pan seared or beer-battered fried, it will taste exquisite nevertheless.
You can also choose between flour or corn tortillas, and add avocado or pineapple to your tacos for an additional dollar.
Bait Shop’s Fish Sandwich with beer-battered true cod, tomato, lettuce, and house-made tartar sauce is love at first bite!
The Frozen Painkiller is a Bait Shop Classic cocktail on tap that will leave you craving for more.
What to order: Fish Taco, Fish Sandwich, Frozen Painkiller
Address: 606 Broadway East, Seattle, WA 98102
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13. Fremont Bowl
Fremont Bowl is a place where you can get homestyle Japanese comfort food, specializing in chirashi bowls, donburi bowls, snacks, etc. The restaurant is small and clean, and the atmosphere is casual and friendly.
If you are a raw fish addict, we suggest that you go with the Chirashi bowl.
You get a bowl full of absolutely fresh and delicious raw fish, which includes salmon, fatty tuna, shrimp, albacore, and masago with fresh wasabi. It’s raining seafood!
Their Poke Bowls are something to be appreciated.
While poke bowls in most restaurants come with a myriad of toppings and sauces, completely masking the seafood’s flavor…here, you can taste the quality and natural flavor of the fish.
The toppings are minimal, and you can choose between one of the two available sauces – yuzu soy or sweet spicy.
What to order: Chirashi Bowl, Poke Bowl
Address: 4258 Fremont Avenue N, Suite #4262, Seattle, WA 98103
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With locally grown organic produce and sustainably sourced seafood at its disposal, Seattle can be rightly called a food sanctum.
Our Best Restaurants in Seattle piece has more information on the type of food and restaurants you can find in this beautiful city.