A friend is spending a couple of days in Seattle, and is hoping to find a good restaurant for seafood. Is Ivar’s still good (I haven’t been there in many years)? Any other suggestions?
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A friend on another forum suggested Market Grill in the Pikes Place Market
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If your friend doesn’t mind the $$$ Ray’s Boathouse has excellent fish, well prepared. I haven’t been there for some years, however. I always liked Chinooks, in the Fisherman’s Terminal, more casual. I prefer satellite locations for Ivar’s - their clam chowder is good and the fish & chips good and reliably prepared. The flagship restaurant was disappointing to me, and the food not that great during my only experience there. They used to have a window to buy chowder and fish and chips. I have no idea if they still do this.
I can ask the DD’s if they have any recommendations, since they both live there.
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It’s been a while since Seattle was a regular destination. Our local hosts were always directing us to Ray’s, and it was a fine destination worth the ride. We also suggest looking into the Pink Door, though not a fish house, certainly comfortable with serving seafood.
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Interesting- I haven’t heard about the Pink Door, but there’s a Red Door, which is a music venue, as well as a place called the Triple Door, which catered to Jazz Alley, a great place for music ( saw Lou Rawls there) !! Still waiting to hear from 1 of the DD’s . Sad to write some of this in past tense, but Covid really did a number on entertainment and dining. Sad. 
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The Pink Door is located in Post Alley, which is right in or adjacent to Pike’s Place Market. They have been there a good while I think, with a good reputation as well. Almost anyplace in Post Alley is generally good, the businesses seem to thrive there, with happy seeming customers. I will have to give it a try sometime.
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I used to live near Seattle but for the last six years my home has been Portland. So I’m not up on the latest and greatest in any category, but I can give you a negative recommendation: Local Tide, which I ate at last year, was mediocre, not worth all the hype. Actually, I don’t understand why it got so much attention. Ray’s is a long-time standby. The fish and seafood are dependable, the preparations are basic but fine, the views are spectacular, esp if you get a sunset as part of the package, and the prices are steep. Not a foodie destination but reliable. Meanwhile, I’ve heard nothing but positives about The Walrus and the Carpenter on Capitol Hill, esp if you’re into oysters.
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This is all good to know! I agree that Ray’s Boathouse does not re-invent the wheel in any way, but they do fish well for $$$. I bought a Ray’s cookbook and have found some good recipes.ive tried that were solid. Haven’t been to the Walrus and the Carpenter, but do have their cookbook, which I haven’t really even looked at much, but hear it’s good. Also important to know that we have delicious Willapa Bay, Minter Creek, and other sources for delicious oysters. Since we’ve had a late spring with cool temps, I expect the oysters are still fabulous. Although the marketers pitch them to be edible all year, I simply don’t like them in the summer months - too soft in texture, and I don’t even eat them raw! I would avoid The Brooklyn Oyster House - some people love it, but not me. Their oysters
are often from the other coast , and while flown in, don’t seem to be as fresh. Penn Cove Mussels are not to be missed either, if you see them on a local menu.
We sometimes do a fish fry(outside at home) or a boil or whatever, with oysters on the grill. Love living up here in PNW & happy to see you contributing to,this topic. I rarely post anymore, but especially enjoy the Seattle/Tacoma topics.
Please note: I’m not disparaging East Coast Oysters by any means, but when one lives in oyster country I try to keep local. Maybe just a me thing dunno.
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Walrus is in Ballard. Also try Taylor Shellfish bars (they have 3) for oysters.
Seafood is everywhere. A good restaurant will have good seafood. That said, try Rock Creek in Fremont for a more fish-centric spot with a livelier vibe.
Do you know where friend is staying and if they have a car? Age and budget?
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Yes, sorry about W&C – I’ve been away too long! Rock Creek looks very good but also pricey for plebes like us. If the Seattle traveler is heading to the peninsula, they should definitely stop at Hama Hama Oysters along Hood Canal – great oysters, great setting. Taylor Shellfish also has outlets in Seattle.
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Ivar’s is fine and nice for the Seattle ‘experience’, but I’ve had better chowder at Pike Place Chowder in Post Alley, near the Pike Place Market. Currently offering 8 chowders and 6 seafood rolls. I’ve only had the chowders but they’ve all been excellent. https://www.pikeplacechowder.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoopbIKsUsiX8pvDqqKicym116fcI7adkI-kjmsNe5RElzVDZZsS
If they visit the Pike Place Market while they are here, they could ask the fish mongers in the market for suggestions. Go to the source, you know? 
Duke’s is better than Ray’s for waterfront dining in my opinion; they have more creative dishes, a wider menu and the prices are comparable if not slightly lower. https://dukesseafood.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/dukes-lunch-dinner-menu-2025-apr.pdf
I’ve also been to the Crab Pot and really liked it but thought it was pretty spendy. https://www.thecrabpotseattle.com/
If you’d like more personalized suggestions let us know where they’ll be staying and what their preferences are for price range and experience. It’s really hard to go wrong if you’re a seafood lover in Seattle.
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The friends are finishing up a trans-Pacific cruise that took them from Japan up to the Aleutians, down the Alaska coast, to Vancouver, and now Seattle (they’ll finish up in the Bay Area, where we live). They say “We’ll be on Pier 66 at Bell St. We’re really looking for fresh salmon or halibut within walking distance or a short drive away.”
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Its almost like they will have better and cheaper seafood at every destination before Seattle, that by the time they get there, should they really just focus on seafood any more?
E.g. the friend will have the same king salmon in Alaska, spot prawn in BC, and a gazillion times more variety of seafood in Japan.
They did post about a food truck in Sitka, Alaska, that had the best fish and chips they’d ever had. I’m not sure about the rest of the tour (except for some amazing food in Japan, before setting sail).
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Anthony’s is close, on PIer 66, but it’s just okay IMO.
It’s worth a small schlep from where they are (probably walkable-about four blocks) to Matt’s In the Market, which I would recommend. It’s been a while since I’ve been there, but the food and service were great as was the atmosphere. https://mattsinthemarket.com/
And on the way in and out, they can view the fish acrobatics in the Market across the street. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qRk1DR1WnB0
The market is beautiful this time of year, I think they’d like it if they haven’t been before.
Local Tide in Fremont is fish forward and tasty. But casual.
