The Best Fish Restaurants in Seattle, WA

You’d think it’d be easy to find the best fish restaurants in Seattle, WA given our proximity to the water and our rep for being the place for salmon. Yet it took me a while to find the best because when you have a reputation for something, the tourism industry tends to exploit it and hawk having “the best” of something…even if it’s not true.

This was especially true when I first moved to Seattle in 2009. You couldn’t find any good places to get fish off the pier in downtown Seattle. My parents used to visit and would be like, “Fish! You must take us to the best fish places in Seattle!” And I always struggled with this because everything was overpriced and subpar.

Luckily, Seattle has come into its own over the past decade and started opening truly amazing seafood restaurants. Now there are a ton tucked between the famous ones you’ll see in most guide books. Yet it can be difficult to find them if you aren’t in the know.

To break it down, I’m sharing the best fish restaurants in Seattle, Washington loved by locals.

Best Fish Restaurants in Seattle, WA

The Walrus and the Carpenter

website | neighborhood: Ballard | 4743 Ballard Ave NW | best for: oysters and small plates

This Chef Renee Erickson spot is one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in North Seattle. Lucky for this article, it also just so happens to be a fish restaurant!

This oyster bar is tucked away down a long hallway in a part of downtown Ballard with less foot traffic. The space is tiny, but the decor is envy inducing with a huge chandelier made of antlers, marble counter tops, wainscoting, and beautiful touches. Because of its size, this restaurant is usually packed. However, they’re taking reservations during the pandemic so it’s a lot easier to get into than the olden days.

The vibe is chic French beach town, focusing on oysters and impeccably executed small plates. It’s not the most expensive restaurant ever, but it’s not cheap, especially because you’ll want to get everything on the menu.

The must orders here include oysters (preferably during happy hour when they’re cheaper) and the grilled sardines. The sardines are deeply flavored thanks to its oiliness and a nut gremolata with walnuts, parsley, and shallots.

This fish restaurant also makes the best steak tartare in Seattle and is featured in my self-guided Seattle walking food tour. If you can only make it to one seafood restaurant in the city, make sure this one is it!

If getting to Ballard is difficult, you can also check out Renee’s sister fish restaurant in Capitol Hill called Bar Melusine once it opens again after the pandemic. It also specializes in oysters and has some of the most photogenic restaurant interiors I’ve ever seen.

RockCreek

website | neighborhood: Fremont | 4300 Fremont Ave N | best for: black cod

RockCreek is in an unassuming building in upper Fremont that is also one of my go-to restaurants in Seattle. Every time I bring out of towners here, they end up raving and sometimes even requesting we go back again during their trip!

It’s a similar price point to The Walrus and the Carpenter, but the vibe is more fishing lodge meets chic forest cabin. That’s because it’s inspired by chef Eric Donnelly’s annual fishing trips to Rock Creek, Montana. You’ll find a huge photo of the town’s forest adorning an accent wall in the restaurant.

I like so many dishes at RockCreek that I included them in my self-guided Seattle walking tour of Fremont, but the must-order fish dish is Eric’s signature black code fish entree. While sometimes they’ll swap out the fish for something in season like sea bass, the components are always the same: sherry, lime, caramelized shallots, heaps of provençal herbs, and crispy shallots. It’s a stunner both to your eyes and palate. The dish is reminiscent of Vietnam with a nuom choc-like flavor profile that punches your taste buds with that sweet, sour, and salty combination. This is one of my favorite fish dishes in Seattle, so make sure not to miss it!

RockCreek also serves one of the absolute best desserts in Seattle, so make sure to leave room! If you go for brunch, make sure to get the fried oyster ‘po boy sandwich.

Sushi Kashiba

website | neighborhood: Downtown | 86 Pine St | best for: omakase sushi dinner

No list of the best fish restaurants in Seattle, WA is complete without including Sushi Kashiba. This pricey sushi restaurant is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Seattle. It’s in the heart of Pike Place Market and is loved by visitors and locals alike.

Shiro Kashiba studied under the famed Jiro in Japan before moving to Seattle and opening Shiro’s. While this sushi restaurant is solid and still bears his name, he moved on to open another, more upscale place donning his last name. Still, both are on my list of quintessential Seattle food to try.

If you go to to Sushi Kashiba, you must do the chef’s tasting omakase at the counter. On weekends you’ll likely see Shiro himself back there hamming up diners. You can watch him hand shape some of the most flavorful fish pieces you’ve ever had. His team will just keep serving you, but will ask if you want to stop around 20 pieces. I’m proud to say the last time I went we vacuumed 27 pieces each of nigiri, sashimi, and specialties like a sweet tamago egg omelet and sushi hand roll.

You can read more about my experience and tips for visiting Sushi Kashiba in this Instagram post.

Wataru

website | neighborhood: Ravenna | 2400 NE 65th St | best for: sushi

Wataru’s owner has been accused of allegedly abusing employees. This saddens me given that I’m fond of their food. I’m keeping this section in to give them the benefit of the doubt as the truth is uncovered in court, but I wanted to share this with you in full transparency.

I’m about to say something that some will interpret as fighting words, but I’ma say it: I like wataru better than Sushi Kashiba. GASP, I know! I’m the worst! But hear me out.

Sushi Kashiba makes excellent sushi. However, you’ll also be put out about $450 for 2 people. Wataru is making arguably as good authentic sushi for $65 or under per person. While it may not be as much food as Kashiba, it’s somewhere you can justify going outside of a super special occasion or corporate dinner where your company foots the bill (hey-o). So Wataru is hands down my favorite spot for sushi in Seattle.

Wataru focuses on Edomae-style sushi, which means the fish is cured slightly a few days before serving. This imparts a deep flavor that highlights the fish, tricking you into thinking you’re eating the most magical raw fish out of the sea. But make no mistake, this isn’t some mask for subpar fish. The fish has to be of the utmost quality in order to be Edomae style, as this Japanese tradition is steeped in the art of honoring the highest caliber fish available.

Local Tide

website | neighborhood: Fremont | 401 N 36th St | best for: fish sandwiches

Local Tide is one of the newer fish restaurants in Seattle. It’s a tiny spot in Fremont that serves elevated roadside seafood fare with an emphasis on making some of the best Seattle sandwiches. You’ll find everything from a salmon sandwich to crab rolls and fried cod sandwiches.

My favorite fish dish here is the rockfish banh mi. It’s really flavorful thanks to the herbs, spicy aioli, and flavorful fish. Don’t forget to add their salted home fries to your order. Their extra crispy and really addictive.

Pro tip: Weirdly, this fish restaurant also serves one of the best burgers in Seattle!

Seattle Fish Company

website | neighborhood: West Seattle | 4435 California Ave SW | best for: sea shack snacks

The Seattle Fish Company is one of my favorite restaurants in West Seattle. Probably because it’s a twofer: it’s one of the top places to buy seafood in Seattle since it’s a fish market, but they also serve really yummy snacks you’d find at a seafood shack at the beach.

I love so many items here. The captain’s fried seafood platter is beautifully seasoned and includes huge hunks of oysters and clam strips (a favorite from growing up!). The smoked salmon chowder using Pacific Northwest salmon is unworldly with its depth of flavor. And I’m obsessed with their version of poutine with clam chowder on it. All around this place is 10 of 10 when it comes to casual fish restaurants.

Westward

website | neighborhood: Wallingford | 2501 N Northlake Way | best for: oysters and views for days

Westward is another Renee Erickson seafood restaurant, but it wasn’t always. She added it to her restaurant portfolio after some drama with the original owner not paying his staff. But those who don’t know this wouldn’t suspect otherwise because Westward is beautiful and fits right in with her signature ambiance.

This is one of the best fish restaurants in Seattle, WA for the views. It sits right on Lake Union and offers diners Adirondack chairs, fire pits, and tables perfect for soaking up the sun while slurping down raw oysters. It also has a free-standing raw oyster bar tucked in a mini shop selling local pantry staples. And you’ll see the most gorgeous drum light shades made out of refurbished sails dotting the ceiling.

Navy Strength

website | neighborhood: Downtown | 2502 2nd Ave | best for: ceviche and crudos paired with tiki drinks

Yup, a tiki bar made this list of the best fish restaurants in Seattle! Make no mistake, Navy Strength is definitely a bar. But it’s low-key serving some of the best bar snacks with fish as the star.

For example, you’ll dishes like find tuna crudo with sour pineapple and jalapeño, or rockfish ceviche with citrus, avocado, and herbs. The bright flavors in these dishes go beautifully with tropical drinks. You’ll basically feel like you’re being transported to an island far away from Seattle.

If natural wine is more your thing, you can head to their sister bar next door called Vinnie’s Wine Shop. There you can sip bubbly and enjoy Pacific Northwest oysters and other seafood snacks.

Pike Place Chowder

website | neighborhood: Downtown | 1530 Post Alley | best for: New England-style clam chowder

You’ll see tourists lined up outside Pike Place Chowder in the summer, but locals know that you can get it delivered or enjoy it free of crowds in the off season.

This clam chowder is a creamy New England style, but it’s not so thick it’s gelatinous like others I’ve had. It includes bacon, but it’s not so bacon-y so as to mask the flavor of the large chunks of clams. And the best part? They don’t skimp on the shellfish. The soup has a great texture with evenly cut potatoes, clams, and bacon in every bite. All of this makes it one of the best places for clam chowder in Seattle.

Pro tip: Try to visit this spot while taking a walking tour of Pike Place Market, but if the line is too long, head to nearby Jack’s Fish Spot for another good version of chowder.

Ray’s Cafe

website | neighborhood: Ballard | 6049 Seaview Ave NW | best for: traditional fish restaurant

When my parents visit they always ask to go to Ray’s. That’s because it has that vibe similar to the fish restaurants we went to down the shore in Jersey. It has a bit of that old world pomp and a menu that older clientele like my parents go crazy over. As one Yelp reviewer put it, this place is a parent pleaser.

The fancier restaurant called Ray’s is downstairs, but the more casual upstairs Ray’s Cafe has a gorgeous patio overlooking the Puget Sound and a more laid-back menu. Definitely go here because it’s one of the best restaurants in Seattle with views.

While I’ve had a few hit or misses here, I always enjoy their clam chowder, fish and chips, and crab cakes. Basically, this place is a solid choice for the classics and wins for having some of the best water views in Seattle.

Pro tip: It’s near Golden Gardens, one of the best Seattle viewpoints.

The White Swan Public House

website | neighborhood: South Lake Union | 1001 Fairview Ave N | best for: clam poutine

Speaking of seafood restaurants that remind me of the Jersey Shore, The White Swan Public House is another one of the best fish restaurants in Seattle. It also has incredible views of South Lake Union and an enormous outdoor patio that’s popular in the summer. If you want to see and be seen, this is the place to go and take visitors because it’s one of the best South Lake Union restaurants.

Given it’s outdoor beer garden-like vibe, this is a place to throw back a drink or three and seafood snacks. Raw oysters are always a good choice, but the main event should be the clam poutine. White Swan had the genius idea to take clam chowder and throw it over fries. Why this isn’t a national dish is beyond me, but it’s one of the most interesting comfort foods I’ve had in Seattle.

Taylor Shellfish

website | neighborhoods: Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, Pioneer Square, and Bellevue | best for: oysters

Taylor Shellfish is one of the OGs of oyster farms in Washington. They make beautiful bivalves that are perfect for those times you want to meet friends at an oyster bar for happy hour, especially given you have the option of 4 different locations around the great Seattle area as a meeting point.

They also have an oyster saloon at their oyster farm up near Skagit Valley. This makes for a perfect day trip if you need a retreat from the city.

Best seafood restaurants near Seattle, WA

Proper Fish

website | neighborhood: Bainbridge Island | 112 Madison Ave N | best for: fish and chips

Proper Fish used to be called Nosh and was a food truck roaming Seattle. However, they decided to retire the food truck and set sail for Bainbridge Island a short 30-minute ferry ride from Seattle.

I’m so thankful they re-opened because they make hands down the best deep-fried fish and chips in the city. Get the British-style fish and chips on the menu that comes with a huge hunk of cod served in a newspaper alongside fries and minty mushy peas. It’s the most flavorful fish and chips I’ve ever had, perfectly seasoned and crispy.

The MAR·KET Fishmonger & Eatery

website | neighborhood: Edmonds | 508 Main St | best for: fried fish tacos

People all over Instagram post about this place’s lobster rolls, which are definitely delicious. But, insiders know the best item on the menu are the Baja-style, deep-fried fish tacos. They have the beautiful, crunchy texture of the best fish tacos you’d find in San Diego, but they put their own spin on it with the addition of mango salsa and nam jim pak chee (Thai cilantro sauce).

While you’re in the area, check out the other best restaurants in Edmonds, WA.

Ono Poke

website | neighborhood: Edmonds | 10016 Edmonds Way | best for: authentic Hawaiian poke

I’ve made it my mission to find the best poke in Seattle, and I have to admit, one of the best is outside the city limits.

Ono Poke is a hole-in-the-wall poke shop inside a strip mall. It serves authentic Hawaiian poke like the ones I’m accustomed to getting when visiting Maui. That means you walk up to the fish case, look at all the pre-mixed poke options made fresh that morning, and throw it in a to-go container.

I love how fresh the fish is and how it melts in your mouth thanks for it curing in its poke sauce. I think the drive and the lack of customization is a small price to pay for the quality, but if you prefer to mix your own poke bowls check out my other favorite in Seattle, Poke Square.

Other Seattle Restaurants to Try

If you’ve had your fill of fish, check out these other places to eat in Seattle.

• The Ultimate List of Dishes You Must Try In Seattle
• Where to Find the Best Pizza In Seattle
• The Best Cheap Eats In Seattle