It’s natural to seek out seafood when visiting the Puget Sound area. How could you not with oysters, clams, crab, and salmon galore? From the fish flying through the air at Pike Place Market (pikeplacemarket.org), here’s where to dive into a spectacular catch.
Chinook’s at Salmon Bay
Locals pile in near the working dock in Seattle for blue-plate specials like rockfish and planked salmon, starting with a bottomless basket of herby focaccia and ending with a sweet “slump” loaded with berries.anthonys.com
Dockside Bistro
This Olympia favorite nails the specialty with inventive touches on options like a lunchtime salmon BLT, a troll-caught Alaskan fillet at dinner, and a “seafood martini,” including lobster, crab, and caviar. docksidebistro.com
Harbor Lights
A Commencement Bay landmark since 1959, the Tacoma property features hefty portions of classic Northwest surf (and turf, as well), with an impressive view of Puget Sound. anthonys.com
Ivar’s Mukilteo Landing
Mukilteo’s classic beacon sits at the ferry dock and offers sit-down dining, from cedar-planked salmon to crab Louie. There’s a bustling takeout window for creamy clam chowder. ivars.com
Maneki
Nigiri sushi and sashimi are served in generous portions at this Seattle institution, open since 1904. Highlights include the black cod collar and takoyaki, savory doughnut holes stuffed with octopus. manekirestaurant.com
The Walrus and the Carpenter
This convivial Seattle bar specializes in shucked local oysters and nibbles sourced from a sustainably low spot on the food chain—think tiny whole smelt, grilled sardines, or smoked trout. thewalrusbar.com
Seastar
This upscale destination in Bellevue is known for both its classic and creative preparations, from the raw bar’s oysters topped with fancy mignonettes to the Dungeness crab cakes in a Southeast Asian vinaigrette.seastarrestaurant.com
Ray’s Boathouse & Cafe
Along the shores of Puget Sound in Seattle, this mainstay doles out views as delicious as the food. Tuck into porcini-dusted scallops and house-smoked salmon in the more formal boathouse, or head upstairs to the relaxed cafe for chowder and Dungeness crab cake sliders. rays.com
—Rebekah Denn
