There are few places in the world with a thriving seafood restaurant life like Seattle. And with so much of the city overlooking a waterfront, is it any wonder why? Whatever your preference, from small shops with great food to sweeping upscale restaurants, there’s something for everyone.
The 16 best seafood restaurants in Seattle:
- Manolin
- Sushi Kashiba
- Elliot’s Oyster House
- Ray’s Boathouse and Rays Café
- The Walrus and the Carpenter
- Westward
- RockCreek Seafood
- Taylor Shellfish Oyster
- Duke’s seafood
- Local Tide
- Pike Place Chowder
- AQUA by El Gaucho
- And more …
The 16 Best Seafood Restaurants In Seattle
With so many great seafood restaurants in Seattle to choose from, you may not know where to begin. Or maybe you’re looking for somewhere you haven’t tried before. The list of the 16 best seafood restaurants in Seattle below will have something tasty in store for you!
1. Manolin, Fremont
With more than a hint of influence from South and Central America, Manolin is an upscale Seattle restaurant that feels like a beach vacation. Over the past few years, the space has also been used as Old Salt Fish and Bagels. The space is still used by both, with Old Salt operating in the day, but Manolin takes over again by night.
Manolin is known for great ceviche dishes, like the salmon ceviche with grapefruit and mezcal and a delightful chorizo and halibut squid-ink risotto.
Phone number: +1 206-294-3331
Address: 3621 Stone Way N, Seattle, WA
Website: www.manolinseattle.com
2. Sushi Kashiba, Downtown
This is a first-come, first-served restaurant like no other in Seattle. Sushi Kashiba is named after its founder, Shiro Kashiba. Found in the bustle of Pike Place Market, you’ll be blown away by the combination of amazing views and fresh sushi. If you’re lucky enough, you can have a quick chat with the Kashiba team.
The menu blends traditional and classic sushi dishes but is known for its edomae-style sushi. Give yourself time to find your favorites and then explore a little.
Phone number: +1 206-441-8844
Address: 86 Pine St, Suite #1, Seattle, WA
Website: www.sushikashiba.com
3. Elliot’s Oyster House, Downtown
Elliot’s Oyster House offers three things everyone wants in a Seattle seafood restaurant: Great views of Elliot’s Bay, the best oysters in Seattle, and it draws crowds of people as one of the best happy-hour spots. If one or all three of these is what you’re looking for, go no further.
Oysters are their specialty, and with over thirty varieties of oysters, the restaurant lives up to its name in a spectacular way. The seafood is local and sustainable, so eat, drink, and be merry!
Phone number: +1 206-623-4340
Address: 1201 Alaskan Wy Ste 100, Seattle, WA
Website: www.elliottsoysterhouse.com
4. Ray’s Boathouse, Ballard
Ray’s Boathouse started in the 1930s as a bait and coffee shop and became a Seattle institution. The views from the deck are great, and the feeling of nostalgia is tangible. You won’t leave Ray’s with anything but memories of good times.
Ray’s serves up classic seafood done right, with scallops, salmon, and oysters as staples on the menu.
Phone number: +1 206-789-3770
Address: 6049 Seaview Ave NW, Seattle, WA
Website: www.rays.com
5. The Walrus And Carpenter, Ballard
The Walrus and Carpenter is an award-winning seafood restaurant that was started with the intention of good food and a great place to hang out in Ballard. The great food propelled it to become one of Seattle’s restaurant gems which has been delighting people since 2010.
You can find fresh cold Washington oysters and delicious cooked and raw seafood dishes. While it’s not seafood, the steak tartare is so good that it’s something that everyone should try.
Phone number: +1 206-395-9227
Address: 4743 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA
Website: www.thewalrusbar.com
6. Westward, Wallingford
Westward is a seafood feast for the senses: the nautical décor starts your eyes on a journey that opens up on the spectacular patio with waterfront views. Your ears will hear the sounds from beyond the patio, and your taste buds will light up with a spectacular menu.
Pacific coastline tastes are at the heart of the menu. Of course, they include oysters, but unlike many other Seattle seafood restaurants, at Westward, you can have them fresh and raw or baked in butter. Also highly recommended are the Washington spot prawns and Hama Hama clams.
Phone number: +1 206-552-8215
Address: 2501 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA
Website: www.westwardseattle.com
7. RockCreek Seafood, Fremont
RockCreek blends so many elements of a great seafood experience together: thoughtfully sourced and prepared dishes, exposed wood across the restaurant, the covered patio, a great cocktail menu, and a clear passion from chef Eric Donnelly wrap any meal there into an experience.
The chef’s love for the outdoors shows through the food, lightly fried Rhode Island sweet-and-sour squid, sturgeon, and many more surprising and well-thought-out dishes.
Phone number: +1 206-557-7532
Address: 4300 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA
Website: www.rockcreekseattle.com
8. Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar, Pioneer Square
Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar is not only a restaurant but an experience and a destination. Taylor Shellfish Farms has been in operation for more than a century and has grown to be the largest farmed shellfish supplier in that time.
With multiple locations in Seattle, it’s no wonder the oyster bars are popular. Not only do they serve oysters, but because they also farm them, their knowledge of all things oysters is also formidable. Oysters come in all shapes and sizes, cooked, raw, or in a stew. Each preparation method will delight you.
Phone number: +1 206-501-4321
Address: 1521 Melrose Ave, Seattle, WA
Website: www.taylorshellfishfarms.com
9. Duke’s Seafood, Capitol Hill
Even though Duke’s has multiple locations, don’t let that stop you from thinking it has great seafood. The secret is in sourcing the seafood, most of which is brought in by prop plane by Duke Moscrip. He searches out sustainable fisheries and brings it all together in a varied and wide menu.
There is something for everyone, but the highest on the list for most patrons are the cod fish and chips, shrimp tacos, wild salmon, Dungeness salad, and salmon with pesto. Duke’s also offers a good range of gluten-free dishes.
Phone number: +1 206-937-6100
Address: 2516 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA (with other branches throughout Seattle)
Website: www.dukesseafood.com
10. Local Tide, Fremont
Having grown from a pop-up that drew large crowds, Local Tide is still known for its food but has grown to so much more. The restaurant is designed to be inviting and well thought out, with little design touches you don’t see elsewhere in Seattle.
What originally drew the crowds was a delicious Dungeness crab roll that is still a firm favorite. Still, the menu has also expanded to dishes like salmon teriyaki and rockfish banh mi.
Phone number: +1 206-420-4685
Address: 401 N 36th St UNIT 103, Seattle, WA
Website: www.localtide.com
11. Pike Place Chowder, Pike Place Market
This isn’t a large restaurant seafood place like some of the other restaurants on this list, but the clam chowder ordered over a counter and eaten in the Pike Place Market outdoor seating is something every person looking for great seafood in Seattle should experience.
There’s not only clam chowder on the menu, either. Everything from smoked salmon, oyster and even a lime and coconut option for vegans are available. Do yourself a favor and skip the line by ordering online before you get there.
Phone number: +1 206-267-2537
Address: 1530 Post Alley, Seattle, WA(with another branch in Pacific Place)
Website: www.pikeplacechowder.com
12. Seattle Fish Guys, Central District
Seattle Fish Guys is unassuming, but the fresh seafood from this fish market will blow you away. The variety of seafood will leave you struggling to decide what to have. Everything from crab sandwiches to chowder, sashimi, shrimp cocktails, and of course, oysters. This Central District seafood restaurant is worth visiting again and again to try everything on the menu.
Phone number: +1 206-485-7388
Address: 411 23rd Ave S, Seattle, WA
Website: www.seattlefishguys.com
13. AQUA by El Gaucho, Belltown
Everything about AQUA by El Gaucho shines. The fittings and fixtures in this sensational restaurant, the view of Elliot Bay by day and the twinkling lights at night, and without doubt, the seafood shines. Treat yourself to an experience at AQUA.
The menu is large, but recommended are the yellowfin poke as an appetizer and King salmon with artichokes. Other dishes on the menu are influenced by flavors from Japan and France and will leave you spoilt for choice.
Phone number: +1 206-956-9171
Address: 2801 Alaskan Wy Pier 70, Seattle, WA
Website: www.aquabyelgaucho.com
14. The White Swan Public House, South Lake Union
Found on the shores of Lake Union, The White Swan is rustic but absolutely inviting. The views from the patio are great, and the craft beers and cocktails to pair with your food round off an amazing seafood experience.
While the restaurant has a rustic feel, the food certainly doesn’t. The Poutine of the Sea (fries layered with clam chowder, clams, and bacon) is sensational. Also recommended are the crispy calamari and fishwiches. Don’t forget the oysters!
Phone number: +1 206-588-2680
Address: 1001 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA
Website: www.whiteswanpublichouse.com
15. Frying Fish, Bellevue
Not the most well-known seafood restaurant in Seattle, but one that brings China’s Sichuan cuisine front-and-center is Frying Fish. One thing you will get at Frying Fish that you won’t find at most other Seattle seafood restaurants is fish pulled fresh from tanks and prepared for you. Certainly worth the experience.
Find many of your favorite Sichuan dishes and some specialties like Feitang platters.
Phone number: +1 425-643-1234
Address: 1915 140th Ave NE #2347, Bellevue, WA
Website: www.bellevuefryingfish.com
16. Ivar’s Acres Of Clams, Downtown
In 1938 Ivar Huglind opened a fish and chips counter on the waterfront. The rest is history. Now with 20 outposts, any of them will offer you what the name promises, acres of clams. But there’s also so much more. Each Ivar’s offers something unique, but the food is always great: fried prawns, coconut curry mussels, or of course, the clams!
Phone number: +1 206-624-6852
Address: 1001 Alaskan Way Ste. 102, Seattle, WA
Website: www.ivars.com
Conclusion
Whatever your preferred kind of seafood, you’ll find something in Seattle. Whether it’s clam chowder over the counter or an elegant restaurant experience with fusions and international influence, one of the great restaurants on this list will fill your craving for great experiences and even better seafood.
