Renowned as a premier culinary destination, Seattle offers an array of exceptional seafood restaurants spanning ultra-fresh sushi to inspired preparations of regional salmon, halibut, shellfish and more.
| Restaurant | Unique Offering/Feature |
|---|---|
| Shucker’s Oyster Bar | Best happy hour oysters, rooftop deck views |
| The Walrus and the Carpenter | Nationally acclaimed, outstanding small plates |
| RockCreek Seafood & Spirits | Extensive happy hour, stellar seafood pots |
| Blueacre Seafood | Simple seafood preparations by Chef Kevin Davis |
| Aqua by El Gaucho | Upscale, sustainable seafood and prime meats |
| Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar | Hip urban eatery, $1 oyster happy hour |
| The Ocean | Ultra-fresh sushi bar, beachside dining |
| The Steelhead Diner | Pike Place Market location, casual dining |
| Sea Creatures | Sustainable classics, creative plates |
| Sushi Kashiba | Premier sushi experience by Chef Shiro Kashiba |
| Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar Pioneer Square | Bivalve excellence, diverse seafood menu |
From casual bites along the waterfront to upscale fine dining concepts led by famed chefs, Seattle dining delivers outstanding options to satisfy any craving or special occasion.
Shucker’s Oyster Bar
Name and Location: Shucker’s is an oyster bar located downtown on Western Avenue serving fresh, regional seafood.
History and Significance: Opened in 2013 by the owners of Elliot’s Oyster House, Shucker’s quickly gained a reputation for outstanding local oysters and seafood dishes.
What to Expect: Guests can enjoy a daily selection of at least 8 fresh oyster varieties as well as other seafood plates, craft cocktails, and Washington wines in a lively, casual setting.
Visitor Information: Open Monday-Thursday 11:30am–9:30pm, Friday 11:30am–10:30pm, weekends 11am-10pm. Happy hour specials are offered weekdays from 3-6pm.
Perched on the Elliot Bay waterfront, Shucker’s lays claim to Seattle’s best happy hour oysters with expansive fresh sheet selections and $1.50 oyster specials daily. Their seafood focused menu also impresses through stellar mussels in white wine, Alaska crab cakes, and lobster mac and cheese. Enjoy sweeping views of Puget Sound from the heated rooftop deck. Funky, casual, and outright delicious – Shucker’s showcases local seafood at its finest.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Name and Location: The Walrus and the Carpenter is an oyster bar and small plates restaurant located in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.
History and Significance: Open since 2010, The Walrus and the Carpenter has earned many accolades for its fresh oysters sourced from local Puget Sound and global farms paired with inventive sharing plates.
What to Expect: The restaurant has a cozy, casual vibe with counter and bar seating focused around their daily oyster selection and changing menu of globally-inspired small plates meant for sampling a mix of flavors.
Visitor Information: Open Sunday-Thursday 4pm-midnight, Friday-Saturday 4pm-1am. No reservations taken so expect a wait during peak times. Full bar with craft cocktails and diverse wine list.
Earning national acclaim since opening on Ballard’s main strip in 2010 – The Walrus and the Carpenter draws daily lines for outstanding shareable small plates starring Pacific Northwest seafood. From tender Penn Cove mussels to sockeye crudo, razor clam chowder, and much more – the menu celebrates regional bounty through masterfully executed oyster bar classics and inventive seasonal plates. Worth the wait!
RockCreek Seafood & Spirits
Name and Location: RockCreek is a premium sustainable seafood restaurant located in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle.
History and Significance: Founded by Seattle native and award-winning Chef Eric Donnelly in 2013, RockCreek quickly earned acclaim for responsibly sourced seafood and shellfish as well as Donnelly’s creative cooking style and menu.
What to Expect: The nautically-themed restaurant offers a daily rotating selection of ultra fresh fish, composed raw bar items, sustainably harvested caviars, and chef’s seafood preparations enhanced by seasonal ingredients. The beverage program includes small production wines and locally-made spirits.
Visitor Information: Dinner service Sunday-Thursday 5–10pm, Friday–Saturday 5–11pm, plus weekend brunches and a daily 4-5:30pm happy hour. Reservations recommended.
RockCreek impresses with one of Seattle’s most extensive happy hours spanning oysters, small plates, cocktails and wines. Their scratch kitchen also churns out simply stellar seafood steaming pots, cioppino stews, bouillabaisse, Dungeness crab cakes, and sustainably sourced fresh catches flawlessly grilled. Contemporary cool ambience with a cheery staff makes this Fremont go-to a prime seafood hideaway.
Blueacre Seafood
Name and Location: Blueacre Seafood is an upscale seafood restaurant located downtown near the waterfront.
History and Significance: Opened in 1999 by Chef Kevin Davis, Blueacre Seafood has maintained its reputation for nearly 25 years by sourcing only the best seasonal sustainable seafood and preparing it with care using classic techniques.
What to Expect: The elegant yet relaxed dining room provides a fine dining experience focused on simple, well-executed dishes that let the high quality ingredients shine, complemented by one of Seattle’s most extensive wine lists.
Visitor Information: Open Monday–Saturday 5:30–10pm. Jackets recommended but not required. Reservations strongly recommended to guarantee seating. Valet parking available.
Led by accomplished Seattle chef Kevin Davis, Blueacre Seafood delivers expertly executed simple seafood preparations that allow pristine ingredients to shine. From melt-in-your-mouth wild king salmon and weathervane scallops to Pacific cod and chips, decadent seafood towers, and Chef’s impressive daily catches – the menu spans classics to globally inspired flavor profiles focused on essence of flavor.
Aqua by El Gaucho
Name and Location: Aqua by El Gaucho is an upscale seafood restaurant located on the Seattle waterfront.
History and Significance: Opened in 1996, Aqua by El Gaucho sets the standard for luxury seafood dining in Seattle inside its elegant dining room with floor-to-ceiling views of Elliott Bay.
What to Expect: Impeccable service matched with premium sustainable seafood and shellfish prepared classically, including live Dungeness crab and whole fish presentations tableside finished simply to accentuate fresh quality. Extensive wine list and craft cocktails available.
Visitor Information: Open Sunday–Thursday 4:30–9:30pm; Friday & Saturday 4:30–10pm. Reservations recommended, dress code enforced. Valet parking available.
Overlooking the Seattle waterfront, El Gaucho’s upscale sister Aqua restaurant specializes in premium sustainable seafood and prime meats showcasing Northwest terroir. Dishes like Northwest halibut and roasted Copper River sockeye salmon arrive exquisitely plated beside top tier wines within elegant Industrial Age brick interiors. Superb service completes the exceptional experience. Treat yourself to a special occasion dinner.
RockCreek Seafood & Spirits
Name and Location: RockCreek is a premium sustainable seafood restaurant located in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle.
History and Significance: Founded by Seattle native and award-winning Chef Eric Donnelly in 2013, RockCreek quickly earned acclaim for responsibly sourced seafood and shellfish as well as Donnelly’s creative cooking style and menu.
What to Expect: The nautically-themed restaurant offers a daily rotating selection of ultra fresh fish, composed raw bar items, sustainably harvested caviars, and chef’s seafood preparations enhanced by seasonal ingredients. The beverage program includes small production wines and locally-made spirits.
Visitor Information: Dinner service Sunday-Thursday 5–10pm, Friday–Saturday 5–11pm, plus weekend brunches and a daily 4-5:30pm happy hour. Reservations recommended.
RockCreek impresses with one of Seattle’s most extensive happy hours spanning oysters, small plates, cocktails and wines. Their scratch kitchen also churns out simply stellar seafood steaming pots, cioppino stews, bouillabaisse, Dungeness crab cakes, and sustainably sourced fresh catches flawlessly grilled. Contemporary cool ambience with a cheery staff makes this Fremont go-to a prime seafood hideaway.
Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar
Name and Location: Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar is located inside the Seattle Waterfront Marriott overlooking Elliott Bay.
History and Significance: Opened in 2017 during a $100 million hotel renovation, Boulevard Kitchen sources ultra fresh sustainable seafood as the centerpiece of their menu of modern Pacific Northwest cuisine made using classic techniques.
What to Expect: Floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of Puget Sound while guests enjoy regionally-focused dishes highlighting seasonal seafood and shellfish prepared simply to accent high quality. Award-winning wine listavailable.
Visitor Information: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch served daily, with happy hour specials weekdays 4-6pm. Reservations recommended for dining room seating.
Tucked inside the ultra-sleek Alexis Hotel, Boulevard Kitchen beams as a hip urban eatery dishing impeccable oysters alongside composed seafood plates like smoked trout risotto and miso sake glazed black cod. Their gorgeous curved cherry bar with overhead jellyfish installations provides a sexy, sophisticated happy hour hub for $1 oyster and salmon tartare deals. Grab a window seat to watch the bustling Belltown foot traffic glide past.
The Ocean
Name and Location: The Ocean is a contemporary sustainable seafood restaurant located in the newly redeveloped Seattle waterfront district downtown.
History and Significance: Newly opened in 2022 by renowned local Chef John Howie, The Ocean was designed from conception to showcase delicate seafood and shellfish dishes prepared using Pacific Northwest inspiration and ingredients.
What to Expect: Floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic Elliott Bay views while guests enjoy chef-driven seafood selections focused on letting unique ocean flavors shine through. Extensive cocktail menu complements the dining experience.
Visitor Information: Dinner service Sunday–Thursday 4–10pm; Friday & Saturday 4–11pm. Reservations strongly recommended to guarantee window seating. Valet parking available.
Nestled along Alki Beach, The Ocean shows off glittery skyline views through floor-to-ceiling windows flanking an ultra-fresh sushi bar stuffed with pristine catches. Beyond expertly executed nigiri and sashimi, the menu excels through lobster prawn tempura, black cod kasuzuke, and dungeness crab cakes with dynamite sauce. Vibrant, modern, and downright delicious between beach strolls.
The Steelhead Diner
Name and Location: The Steelhead Diner is located downtown on 1st Avenue specializing in fresh sustainable seafood.
History and Significance: Opened in 1995, The Steelhead Diner was one of the first restaurants putting environmental stewardship at the forefront of its seafood program, helping pioneer the sustainable seafood movement in Seattle.
What to Expect: In an industrial warehouse setting with an earthy, laidback vibe, guests enjoy fresh-sheet selections showcasing regional rockfish, salmon, shellfish and more prepared simply with organic ingredients.
Visitor Information: Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 9am-10pm. First come, first served seating with takeaway options always available. Happy hour weekdays 4-6pm.
Housed in Seattle’s vibrant Pike Place Market with additional locations downtown and in Bellevue, the Steelhead Diner plates some of the city’s most crave-worthy seafood in a casual, come-as-you-are environment. From melt-in-your-mouth fish and chips, to cioppino brimming with shellfish and halibut, to oven roasted wild king salmon – the menu bursts with preparations showcasing regional bounty. Great call for families!
Sea Creatures
Name and Location: Sea Creatures is a casual seafood restaurant located in the downtown Seattle waterfront district.
History and Significance: Newly opened in 2022 by the team behind popular Seattle seafood brasserie Le Coin, Sea Creatures celebrates Pacific Northwest coastal culture through its daily changing menu focused on responsibly sourced regional seafood and shellfish dishes.
What to Expect: The colorful, nautical-themed space provides waterfront seating while guests enjoy inventive composed raw dishes alongside grilled, fried and baked seafood preparations drawing influence from global coastal cuisines. Full bar program.
Visitor Information: Open Sunday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm, Friday & Saturday 11:30am-11pm with daily happy hour from 3-6pm. Walk-ins welcome but reservations recommended for window seats.
This quirky Capitol Hill fixture pairs sustainable seafood classics like fried oysters, fish tacos, and cioppino alongside inventive globally inspired plates showcasing Chef Erik Brzakala’s creative finesse with flavor. Dishes like scallops with cauliflower biryani and salmon with Israeli couscous pop with well-balanced vibrant flair. With intimate candlelit dining space and attentive service, Sea Creatures impresses as a prime date-night seafood hideaway off the beaten path.
Sushi Kashiba
Name and Location: Sushi Kashiba is widely regarded as Seattle’s finest sushi restaurant, located in Capitol Hill.
History and Significance: Since opening in 1996, pioneering sushi Chef Shiro Kashiba has set the standard for high quality authentic Edomae-style sushi in Seattle through his exacting approach to sourcing ultra fresh seafood and preparation technique.
What to Expect: Behind an unassuming storefront, guests are transported to an elegant 10-seat sushi counter setting for a precision omakase experience focused on nigiri and crudo made with seasonal Japanese seafood shipped directly from Tsukiji Market.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday-Saturday 5pm until last seating around 9pm. Reservations absolutely required, with at least 2 weeks notice recommended for weekend seatings. Jacket required.
Widely regarded as Seattle’s best sushi destination for three decades running, Sushi Kashiba offers a 10-seat sushi counter experience showcasing flown in premium seafood sliced, pressed and presented with acrobatic precision artistry by legendary Chef Shiro Kashiba. Beyond melt-in-your-mouth nigiri and sashimi flights, Kashiba equally impresses through composed plates like nori wrapped Alaskan black cod and seared Wagyu beef. Reserve ahead to experience this Seattle sushi icon.
Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar Pioneer Square
Name and Location: Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar is an oyster specialist restaurant located downtown in Pioneer Square.
History and Significance: Open since 2017, Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar comes from the renowned Taylor Shellfish company whose family has farmed oysters and shellfish in the Pacific Northwest sustainably since the 1890’s.
What to Expect: With exposed brick walls and an airy, industrial-chic interior, guests enjoy ultra-fresh Taylor shellfish alongside a regionally-focused menu of composed raw items, salads, chowders and grilled seafood plates.
Visitor Information: Open Monday–Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday–Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-8pm. Happy Hour weekdays 3–6pm plus weekday lunch. Walk-ins welcome.
From breading and frying their own oysters on site, to shucking ultra-fresh Taylor Shellfish offerings harvested from their own beds, this iconic Seattle oyster house delivers bivalve excellence through multiple locations. Beyond pristine raw bar options, the scratch menu impresses via Dungeness crab melts, steamer clams, seafood cioppino, and regional mussels prepared in whatever way suits your fancy.
With an embarrassment of riches plated up through regional salmon, halibut, geoduck, crabs and oysters – Seattle offers outstanding seafood restaurants to suit every budget and occasion. From beachfront patios and sleek dining rooms to bustling oyster counters and white tablecloth elegance – Seattle sets the table for sublime seafood experiences.