People Cross County Lines In Washington Just To Try These Classic Northwest Seafood Spots
Washington State sits right on the Pacific, and that means fresh seafood lands on plates faster than almost anywhere else in the country.
Locals know the best spots, but word travels fast when a restaurant serves oysters pulled from the tide that morning or salmon caught just offshore. People plan road trips around these meals, crossing county lines with coolers in the trunk and appetites ready.
Some places perch over the water with sunset views, while others hide in fishing villages where gulls outnumber tourists.
Each spot has earned its reputation one perfectly fried piece of halibut, one bowl of creamy chowder, one platter of raw oysters at a time.
1. Ivar’s Acres of Clams – Seattle, King County
Drivers stream in from suburbs and peninsulas, circling the waterfront until that familiar blue Ivar’s sign pops into view on Pier 54.
Inside, big windows frame ferries gliding across Elliott Bay while servers weave through the room balancing bowls of chowder and plates of fried seafood.
Ivar’s Acres of Clams is still open on the Seattle waterfront in 2025, carrying on a tradition that started here in nineteen thirty-eight. Chowder arrives steaming and rich with clams.
Fish and chips stay crisp even in the salt air, and wild salmon plates remind you why this region fell in love with seafood in the first place.
Families from across Puget Sound plan whole afternoons around a meal here, timing ferries and traffic so they can sit by the windows and watch the water while they keep clam.
2. Pike Place Chowder – Seattle, King County
Visitors from nearly every surrounding county eventually find themselves in that famous Post Alley line, clutching a numbered ticket and breathing in the scent of butter, cream, and brine.
Pike Place Chowder still operates its original Pike Place Market location and a second spot at Pacific Place, both open seven days a week.
Flights of chowder let you taste your way through New England clam, smoked salmon, and seasonal specials, each served in warm bread bowls or with crusty rolls. People duck in from the rain and warm their hands around paper cups.
Some carry steaming containers out to overlook Elliott Bay. Road trippers from all over Washington treat a stop here like a seafood checkpoint that proves they really made it to Seattle.
3. Ray’s Boathouse – Ballard, King County
Cars roll down Seaview Avenue toward Shilshole Bay just as the sky starts to glow orange.
Ray’s Boathouse sits over the water and stays open for dinner every night in 2025, with a reputation as one of Seattle’s classic waterfront seafood dining rooms.
Servers slide plates of local oysters, grilled salmon, and halibut across white tablecloths while sailboats and fishing vessels drift past outside.
Guests drive in from Snohomish County, the Eastside, and beyond for that mix of pristine seafood and sunset views over the Olympics.
Many celebrate anniversaries and big milestones here. Plenty linger over dessert just to stretch out the view a little longer.
4. Salty’s on Alki Beach – West Seattle, King County
Families zip across the West Seattle Bridge or cruise in from Tacoma and the South Sound, chasing the skyline view as much as the seafood.
Salty’s on Alki Beach remains open with lunch, brunch, and dinner service, seated right on the water facing downtown.
Platters of Dungeness crab, salmon, and prawns land with a soft clink of shells and lemon wedges.
Diners point out ferries, cargo ships, and the Space Needle across Elliott Bay while working through chowder, fish and chips, and rich seafood pastas.
People cross county lines for that mix of postcard view and classic Northwest flavors. For many families, a table here has become part of their personal Seattle tradition.
5. Chinook’s at Salmon Bay – Fishermen’s Terminal, Seattle, King County
Boat masts sway behind big windows as folks from all over Puget Sound wander Fishermen’s Terminal, then drift toward Chinook’s.
This casual Anthony’s restaurant stays open year-round at the working marina and feels like a front row seat to Seattle’s commercial fishing fleet.
Chowder, alder smoked salmon, and daily fresh catch specials keep the menu rooted firmly in Northwest waters. Kids press noses to the glass to watch boats load and unload.
Families from Kitsap, Pierce, and beyond linger over seafood platters and sourdough bread. Many treat Chinook’s as their real Seattle seafood stop, just far enough off the tourist path to feel like a local secret yet easy to reach off major highways.
6. Taylor Shellfish Samish Oyster Bar & Shellfish Market – Bow, Skagit County
Drivers ease along Chuckanut Drive and pull off near the water, stepping out to the sound of gulls and clinking oyster knives.
Taylor Shellfish’s Samish Oyster Bar and Shellfish Market sits right on the shoreline and opens daily for walk-up shellfish and casual bites.
Picnic tables line the gravel, where people from Bellingham, Seattle, and across the Cascades crack into ultra-fresh oysters from nearby tide flats.
Simple preparations keep the focus on briny flavor, with raw oysters on the half shell, grilled shells with a little butter, and chowder and steamed pots.
Visitors load coolers with clams, mussels, and oysters to take home. A Sunday drive quickly turns into a tide-to-table feast.
7. The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive – Bow, Skagit County
Farther along Chuckanut Drive, diners in dress shoes step carefully out of cars from Whatcom, King, and Island Counties, ready for a more refined version of the same sweeping view.
The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive perches above Samish Bay and still welcomes guests with reservation-driven service and a reputation as one of the Northwest’s classic seafood dining rooms.
Inside, intimate tiered rooms look out over the islands while servers describe raw oyster selections, cedar plank salmon, and seasonal seafood dishes. Couples time their visit around sunset.
Colors shift across the bay between bites of crab cakes and other local specialties. Many travelers pair a casual stop at Taylor Shellfish with a dressed-up evening here, turning Chuckanut Drive into a full day shellfish pilgrimage.
8. The Shrimp Shack – Near Deception Pass, Anacortes, Skagit County
Road trippers heading for Deception Pass suddenly notice the little stand with the big shrimp logo and a cluster of cars pulled off Highway 20.
The Shrimp Shack has fed generations of travelers and locals and still operates daily with a menu centered on fresh Northwest seafood and its namesake shrimp.
Picnic tables fill with people in hiking boots and rain jackets, passing around shrimp rolls, fish and chips, and seasonal boiled shrimp sold by the pound.
Families from Snohomish County, Eastern Washington, and even British Columbia plan their whole park day around grabbing food here before or after a walk across the famous bridge.
Casual atmosphere and fresh seafood keep the place packed. That roadside stand charm makes the detour feel essential, not optional.
9. Bennett’s Fish Shack – Westport, Grays Harbor County
Salt wind hits as soon as car doors open near the Westport marina, where Bennett’s Fish Shack still draws surfers, anglers, and families in hoodies and sandals.
The Westport location remains open daily, serving plates of fried seafood and chowder within a short walk of the docks.
Guests from Olympia, Centralia, and Yakima Counties pile around sturdy tables, sharing baskets of battered cod, halibut, and prawns with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Kids watch fishing boats come and go while parents debate whether to order clam chowder or razor clams.
Many travelers treat Bennett’s as the unofficial welcome and farewell meal for any Westport beach day. That ritual turns a simple seafood stop into a coastal tradition.
10. Hama Hama Oyster Saloon – Lilliwaup, Mason County
Drivers hug Highway 101 along Hood Canal until stacks of oyster shells and triangular A-frame shelters appear beside the water.
Hama Hama Oyster Saloon, part of a long-running family shellfish farm, operates year-round with outdoor seating and weekend service that has turned this stretch of shoreline into a pilgrimage spot for oyster fans.
Guests from Seattle, Portland, and inland counties line up at the farm store, then settle into covered tables with grilled oysters, raw platters, clam dishes, and chowder. Wood smoke drifts through the air while waves lap nearby.
Kids scramble over the giant shell piles as adults crack shells and trade tastes. People treat a meal here like an edible field trip, where you can see the tide flats that produced the oysters on your plate.
11. Anthony’s HomePort Olympia – Olympia, Thurston County
South Sound diners follow I-5 down to Budd Inlet for a seafood meal tied directly to the water.
Anthony’s HomePort Olympia sits beside the Farmers Market and marina and stays open daily with brunch on weekends, plus lunch and dinner during the week.
Tables look out over moored boats and Port Plaza while plates of local salmon, clams, and other Northwest seafood arrive from the kitchen.
Families drive in from Lewis, Mason, and Grays Harbor Counties to pair waterfront walks with chowder, fish and chips, and seasonal specials.
That blend of polished service, marina views, and region-focused seafood keeps Anthony’s Olympia in regular rotation for celebrations. Spur-of-the-moment date nights land here too.
12. Tides Tavern – Gig Harbor, Pierce County
Boaters tie up at the dock while cars slide into street parking above the harbor, all heading for the same low-slung building right on the water.
Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor still operates seven days a week as a twenty-one-and-over spot with a strong seafood following and a deck that feels almost level with the bay.
Clam chowder, fish and chips, salmon sandwiches, and rotating seafood specials lure visitors from King, Kitsap, and Thurston Counties. Plenty of guests want a locals’ hangout vibe with their meal.
On warm days, people sit outside watching kayaks, sailboats, and seals slip past while baskets of fries and crispy fish arrive at the table.
Regulars often describe a Tides stop as the moment a Gig Harbor visit truly starts.
13. Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. & Net Shed Kitchen – Friday Harbor, San Juan County
Ferry riders step off in Friday Harbor, drive across rolling farmland, and bump down a rural road toward tidelands ringed with evergreens.
Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. continues to operate its shellfish farm, farm store, and seasonal dining, with Net Shed lunches on Saturdays in the off-season and expanded Tide Tables service in warmer months.
Visitors from all over Washington order oysters, clams, and mussels grown just a few feet away, then settle into simple tables overlooking the water.
Kids watch workers walk the tide flats while adults enjoy chowder and grilled shellfish platters and soak in the salty air.
Picnic-style service keeps everything relaxed, yet the sense of place feels powerful. Many travelers schedule their ferry crossings around a meal here.