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5 Best Seafood Restaurants in Seattle (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Thorne Savarin
By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 9 min read

Seattle sits on the water, and its seafood restaurants know it: the names on this page have pulled in more than 36,000 Google reviews combined, led by The Crab Pot's 11,803. That volume alone tells you this is a city that eats a lot of seafood, but it doesn't tell you whether you want a waterfront crab boil, a bowl of award-winning chowder, or a white-tablecloth night out. Seattle's seafood restaurants span all three, and picking the right one depends more on the occasion than the fish.

Short answer: Pike Place Chowder leads with 4.6 stars across 8,215 reviews, prized for its award-winning New England clam chowder near the market. The Crab Pot (4.2, 11,803 reviews) is the busiest waterfront pick for hands-on crab boils, while Ivar's Acres of Clams (4.3, 9,464 reviews) anchors the classic Seattle seafood experience on the waterfront. A sit-down dinner for one typically runs $30-$60.
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How Seattle's Seafood Restaurants Compare

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Pike Place Chowder - Pike Place Market 4.6 8,215 Award-winning chowder View ›
2 The Crab Pot Seattle 4.2 11,803 Waterfront crab boil View ›
3 Ivar's Acres of Clams 4.3 9,464 Classic Seattle waterfront dinner View ›
4 Pike Place Fish Market 4.6 4,453 Fresh-catch market experience View ›
5 Duke's Seafood South Lake Union 4.5 4,933 South Lake Union dining with a view View ›
5 Best Seafood Restaurants in Seattle (2026)

The shortlist, reviewed

Pike Place Chowder - Pike Place Market logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Pike Place Chowder - Pike Place Market

4.68,215 Google reviews

Pike Place Chowder is a scratch-made chowder counter with two Seattle locations, built around New England clam chowder alongside seafood bisque, lobster rolls, and crab rolls served in sourdough bread bowls. The family-owned kitchen sources ingredients from Pike Place Market and the Pacific Northwest and has won 17 first-place awards in national chowder competitions. It runs a fast-moving online ordering system to cut down on the market's notorious lines.

What people praise

  • Rich, creamy chowder that reviewers consistently call the best they've had
  • Lobster roll and crab roll praised as fresh and generously portioned
  • Fast-moving line despite being one of the busiest spots in the market
  • Online ordering meaningfully shortens the wait

Worth knowing

  • Some reviewers find it pricier than expected for the portion size
  • Seating is limited and the space gets crowded at peak hours
Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume8,215 · 88th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown75% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most-reviewed name for chowder specifically and the top-rated pick on this list. If you only have time for one bowl of soup in Seattle, this is the one reviewers keep coming back to.

1530 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101

The Crab Pot Seattle logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days

The Crab Pot Seattle

4.211,803 Google reviews

The Crab Pot Seattle is a waterfront restaurant on Pier 57 built around seafood boils served tableside in a bucket you crack open yourself, alongside oysters, halibut, and a full bar. It's the highest-volume seafood restaurant on this list by a wide margin, with a lively, casual atmosphere and views of the harbor. The menu spans crab, lobster claws, sausage, and corn in a shared, hands-on format.

What people praise

  • Fresh oysters and grilled halibut praised across many reviews
  • Fun, interactive boil format that stands out from a typical seafood dinner
  • Waterfront seating with views when the weather cooperates
  • Attentive service even on busy nights

Worth knowing

  • Consistency varies: some reviewers found certain boil ingredients dry or previously frozen
  • Pricing runs high for what's a casual, shared-plate format
Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle
Rating4.2 / 5
Review volume11,803 · 98th
Confidencehigh
Recency6 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown54% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The busiest seafood restaurant in Seattle by review count and the pick for a fun, hands-on night out. The boil quality gets consistently strong marks, though a few reviewers note it can be uneven on the priciest ingredients like lobster.

1301 Alaskan Way Pier 57, 1305 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98101

Ivar's Acres of Clams logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Ivar's Acres of Clams

4.39,464 Google reviews

Ivar's Acres of Clams is a longstanding waterfront restaurant on the Seattle piers, rebuilt in 2015 with an expanded dining room and outdoor patio overlooking Elliott Bay. Its menu centers on Pacific Northwest seafood: clam chowder, fried fish platters, and fresh catches, served with views of passing ferries. It's one of the most historically significant seafood spots in the city, tracing back to the pier's 1901 opening.

What people praise

  • Waterfront views of Elliott Bay and passing ferries
  • Easy to get a reservation for larger groups
  • Happy hour praised for value on oysters and drinks
  • Historic setting tied to Seattle's seafood tradition

Worth knowing

  • Several reviewers report inconsistent food quality between visits
  • Service can slow considerably during busy periods
Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle
Rating4.3 / 5
Review volume9,464 · 93th
Confidencevery high
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown61% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The classic pick for a first-time Seattle seafood dinner on the water, with real history behind it, though the reviews show more variance in food consistency than the other names on this list.

1001 Alaskan Wy Ste. 102, Seattle, WA 98104

Pike Place Fish Market logo
#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Pike Place Fish Market

4.64,453 Google reviews

Pike Place Fish Market is the landmark fish market inside Pike Place Market, known for its fish-throwing display and its case of fresh salmon, halibut, king crab, and oysters. It ships seafood overnight nationwide and sells fresh catch for pickup, but it isn't set up as a sit-down restaurant. The energy and tradition of the market itself is a big part of what draws people in, alongside the quality of the fish on display.

What people praise

  • Fresh, high-quality seafood on display, praised repeatedly by reviewers
  • A genuinely entertaining, high-energy market experience
  • Ships fresh salmon and crab overnight anywhere in the US
  • Staff are engaging and happy to answer questions about the catch

Worth knowing

  • Not a sit-down restaurant, best for buying fresh fish rather than dining in
  • The area gets very crowded during peak market hours
Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle
Rating4.6 / 5
Review volume4,453 · 73th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown76% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: If your idea of a seafood restaurant is a full sit-down meal, this isn't quite that. But for buying genuinely fresh fish and taking in one of Seattle's most iconic experiences, it's hard to beat.

86 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101

Duke's Seafood South Lake Union logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days

Duke's Seafood South Lake Union

4.54,933 Google reviews

Duke's Seafood South Lake Union is a Pacific Northwest seafood restaurant overlooking Lake Union, serving chowder, crab cakes, lobster rolls, and fish tacos alongside a full bar. It's part of a small Seattle-area chain built around sustainably sourced seafood, with complimentary warm sourdough bread served to every table. The South Lake Union location has both indoor seating and a patio with lake views.

What people praise

  • Clam chowder praised as rich, creamy, and genuinely Pacific Northwest style
  • Warm sourdough bread service called out repeatedly as a nice touch
  • Crab cake sandwich and sweet potato fries frequently recommended
  • Patio seating with lake and boat-plane views

Worth knowing

  • Paid parking is limited near the South Lake Union location
  • Popular at dinner, so expect a wait without a reservation
Reputation scorecardrank in Seattle
Rating4.5 / 5
Review volume4,933 · 78th
Confidencevery high
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown67% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A dependable, well-reviewed pick for a relaxed seafood dinner with a view, especially strong on the chowder and hospitality touches like the bread service.

1111 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

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How we rank

Every figure on this page comes from public Google data as of the date shown, not opinion or payment. Rating is the restaurant’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them, measured against other Seattle seafood restaurants. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.6 built on thousands of reviews carries more weight than a 4.9 from a small handful. Recency reflects how recently people are still leaving reviews. No restaurant can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a seafood dinner cost in Seattle? (2026)

Prices vary widely between a casual chowder counter and a waterfront boil, but reviewer-reported figures from the businesses on this page give a real sense of the range.

JobTypical price
Bowl of chowderAround $10 to $15
Lobster roll or crab rollAround $20 to $30
Full seafood boil or dinner entree, per person$30 to $60
Fine-dining seafood dinner with drinks$60 to $90+ per person

Ranges reflect prices reviewers reported paying at Pike Place Chowder, The Crab Pot, and Duke’s Seafood in 2026 review text. Menu prices can change, so confirm current pricing before you go.

Finding seafood near you in Seattle

These seafood restaurants cluster around Pike Place Market and the downtown waterfront piers, with Duke’s Seafood reaching into South Lake Union. Searching for seafood restaurants near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can find the closest option fast.

What to ask before you book a table

  • Is fresh seafood sourced daily, and does the menu change with the season?
  • Do they take reservations, or is it walk-in only?
  • Is there a per-person pricing structure for shared boils or platters?
  • Is outdoor or waterfront seating available, and is it weather-dependent?
  • Are there gluten-free or shellfish-free options on the menu?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these seafood restaurants?

We started from seafood restaurants in Seattle with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we rank above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (July 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

What’s the difference between this list and Seattle’s fish and chips shops?

This page covers full seafood restaurants, boils, and dining experiences. For a specific battered-fish-and-chips craving, see our separate Seattle fish and chips guide.

Do Seattle seafood restaurants take reservations?

Most of the sit-down names here, including The Capital Grille-style waterfront spots and Duke’s Seafood, accept reservations through Google or their own site. Walk-ins are common at counter-style spots like Pike Place Chowder.

The bottom line

For a first Seattle seafood meal, Pike Place Chowder is the safe, highly rated default that won’t disappoint. If you want the full waterfront experience with a hands-on boil, The Crab Pot delivers the volume and the energy, just manage expectations on consistency during busy nights.

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