Hungry for a seafood adventure?
Washington is the place to go.
You are about to taste this state through stories told in butter, brine, and tide air.
Each of these places hides in plain sight, where locals already know the secrets and the chowder always lands warm and steady.
Follow the shoreline and you will find meals that feel like postcards you can eat.
Bring an appetite and a little curiosity because every plate here has a past worth savoring.
You’ll notice that Washington’s table is wide: from salmon to steaming bowls of mussels I’m sure you’ll love.
Keep reading, and you’ll find not just where to eat, but how each bite tells the story of a place, a family, and a coastline.
1. The Shrimp Shack
The Shrimp Shack sits on 6168 State Route 20, Anacortes, WA 98221, just before Deception Pass.
It promises fried goodness even before you pull off the highway.
Locals talk about the crisp fish and chips that crackle when you tap them with a fork, and the batter stays light.
For me, the Oyster Burger is a cult story you can actually bite.
It’s a tumble of briny oysters stacked under tangy sauce that drips onto your wrist and makes you grin like a kid.
Reviews say the staff is friendly and they explain the catch, suggest the day’s best, and hand over extra napkins like a nod of respect.
The fries wear a crackly shell that holds up to vinegar without turning soggy.
The coleslaw leans bright with just enough sweetness.
On sunny afternoons you can basically taste the bay in each oyster and the mineral sparkle lingers.
You come for the fish and chips, you stay for the oyster magic, and you leave with salt on your lips and a story worth telling.
2. Sea J’s Cafe
This place is perfect for anyone chasing amazing seafood.
Sea J’s Cafe on 2501 Washington St, Port Townsend, WA 98368, won’t leave you disappointed.
Regulars praise the cod for its audible crunch, a golden shell that holds buttery flakes you can lift with a fork.
The fries are sturdy, built for tartar sauce and vinegar.
They stay crisp between sips of a thick shake that needs a determined pull.
The crab and oyster sandwiches win love for their build, a soft bun, a swipe of sauce, and meat that tastes like heaven
Reviews gush about friendly staff who remember your last order.
The chowder arrives rich without turning gluey, dotted with clams that still taste like the sea, and a peppery finish warms your fingertips.
What surprises you is how the burger holds its own, a griddle sear that sings next to the seafood heavy hitters and makes you share a bite.
Sunlight on the window glass flickers across baskets like little signals, and every crunch sounds a little louder near the water.
You leave with the sense that the best fish and chips on the peninsula might be hiding in plain view here.
3. The Taylor Shellfish Farms
At the Taylor Shellfish Farms, every meal is a special experience.
This place is located on Chuckanut Dr, Bow, WA 98232, and you must visit!
Staff talk gear, tides, and plankton, they guide you through varieties with a gentle confidence that leaves you grinning.
Dungeness crab comes chilled and cracked, sweet ribbons of meat that do not need much beyond a squeeze of lemon.
Clams steam open with garlic and herbs, and that made me order another plate.
Reviews celebrate the picnic table simplicity as well as the honesty of the product.
Prawns glisten with a hint of smoke when grilled, and the snap under your teeth satisfies.
On cool days a fleece and a cup of chowder turn the bay into your living room.
On bright evenings the water throws silver light across the trays and you understand why people plan whole weekends around this stop.
This is seafood as biography, nothing hidden, every muscle poised, and every bite a quick lesson in how clean water becomes joy.
4. The Oyster Bar
At The Oyster Bar on 2578 Chuckanut Dr, Bow, WA 98232, plates perform delicate tricks.
The dining room feels intimate with soft light and china that frames each oyster like a small treasure set against the bay.
Servers move with calm precision, pairing flights of oysters with crisp whites.
A scallop plate arrives like sculpture, caramel edges catching the light, purée whispering sweetness, and a citrus note that sharpens everything.
Halibut swims in an amazing silky sauce, and the flesh breaks along tidy lines that suggest care in every step.
Reviews love the drinks list that leans thoughtful and deep, and the way staff translate tasting notes without a hint of fuss.
Even the bread service feels tuned: warm slices that soak up the sauces complete every meal.
A view of the beautiful islands lulls you between bites, it’s just the perfect scenery.
Dessert might be a citrus tart that resets your palate, it’s balanced so you consider ordering another.
I left with the feeling that refinement and coastline can speak the same language and tell a very good story.
5. Bennett’s Fish Shack
Bennett’s Fish Shack on 2581 Westhaven Dr, Westport, WA 98595 greets you with dockside ease
The beer battered cod lands with a shatter that reveals moist flakes.
The malt note from the batter plays nicely against lemon and tartar.
Halibut fish and chips bring a thicker cut and a firmer bite, and the batter hugs without turning heavy so each piece feels balanced.
The Dungeness crab and cheddar melt is the showstopper, buttery and bubbling, with sweet crab laced through sharp cheese on griddled bread.
Reviews talk about generous portions and easy going staff who keep the line moving and the tables cleared with friendly precision.
The chowder is rich, dotted with potatoes that hold shape alongside briny clams.
A side of coleslaw resets the palate with crunch and a clean vinegar tang that keeps you diving back into the basket.
Every plate feels built for a post beach appetite, sturdy, honest, and confident in classic flavors that win votes year after year.
You’ll leave this place with a satisfied quiet, and a plan to come back for that melt the moment you can.
6. Castaway’s Seafood Grille
Castaway’s Seafood Grille is one of my favorites.
It’s located on 207 Pacific Ave, Long Beach, WA 98631, and it serves food that you’ll remember for a long time.
The chowder is creamy and the bacon unbelievably crispy.
Fish and chips arrive crisp with a batter that resists sog, and the fish breaks into lush pieces that invite a slow pace.
Willapa Bay steamers come in a bowl that smells like kelp and campfire, and the broth twines garlic with ocean until you chase corners with bread.
Reviews mention staff who move with easy warmth, offering refills and tips on beach walks between courses like old friends with good timing.
The drinks plays well against the chowder’s richness and the salinity of the steamers.
Order the prawn basket, it sparkles with paprika and lemon, and the snap under your teeth brings a small jolt of joy.
Portions fit a beach day appetite, and plates land with tidy garnishes that photograph beautifully..
You walk out with sand still in your shoes, a pocket of shells, and a new appreciation for how Long Beach keeps the sea on the menu.
7. Tides Tavern
Tides Tavern on 925 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 channels Gig Harbor history into a dockside hangout.
I ordered the halibut fish and chips and let me tell you, this meal takes the headline with firm fillets, a light batter, and that clean halibut sweetness that pairs perfectly with any drink.
Chowder arrives steaming with a classic profile, creamy but bright enough to keep lifting the spoon while conversations bump along like gentle waves.
Reviews point to quick service even on slammed weekends, plus a friendly watchfulness that keeps napkins and drinks refreshed.
The cod version offers a mellower flake with an extra crunch, and both play well with lemon and a peppery tartar that carries a little zip.
Memorabilia keep the room grounded while the windows draw your focus to masts, reflections, and gull shadows, creating a cozy ambiance.
Inside, high top tables stay lively as locals swap boat tales and first timers discover why the fish and chips earn steady praise.
For me, the vibe is relaxed here.
I left with that dock smell in my hair and a promise to return by road or water for another basket.
8. The Fish Peddler Restaurant
The Fish Peddler was a beautiful discovery.
It rests against the Foss Waterway and it’s located on 1199 Dock St, Tacoma, WA 98402.
Clam chowder here tastes indulgent and clean at once, a silky base lifted by thyme and pepper with clams that carry delicate brine.
Blackened fish tacos arrive with a cayenne halo, tender fillets tucked into warm tortillas with cabbage crunch and a lime squeeze that lifts the taste.
Crab mac and cheese turns cozy into luxury, sweet strands of Dungeness folded into a sharp cheddar sauce that clings to corkscrew pasta.
Reviews highlight attentive service, good drinks, and the way the staff steer newcomers toward seasonal specials without overselling.
A seafood pasta might feature spot prawns and scallops in a light tomato saffron sauce, and the aromatics float like a promise before you twirl the first bite.
The bar leans toward citrus forward sours and bright drinks.
I find that it cuts the richness and keeps the meal pacing well.
From the patio you can watch the light change under the Murray Morgan Bridge and feel Tacoma relax into evening.
Inside, reclaimed wood and maritime touches keep things grounded while the kitchen sends plates with tidy garnishes and precise heat.
You’ll head out with plans for the next trip here.
9. Local Tide
When you come to Local Tide on 401 N 36th St, Unit 103, Seattle, WA 98103, it feels like you’ll have the best meal ever.
And trust me, I wasn’t disappointed.
The fried fish sandwich stacks crisp fillet, pickles, and tangy sauce on a soft roll that gives just enough to hold the crunch.
Salmon bowls celebrate perfect doneness with tender flakes over rice, citrus, and herbs that smell amazing.
The Dungeness crab roll is a weekend legend, sweet and cool with just a gloss of dressing so the crab speaks clearly and confidently.
Reviews talk about friendly counter service that keeps the line calm and the surprising speed at which plates reach the table.
There is a subtle heat in the spice blend that wakes the palate without drowning delicate flavors, and it makes you lean in for another bite.
Specials change with the market, which turns repeat visits into a small treasure hunt that rewards curiosity and good timing.
Plates look neat and modern, with herbs and citrus offering color pops that match the lively Fremont energy outside.
Every bite tastes like a vote for freshness, and you feel light and satisfied rather than weighed down by heavy sauces.
I left thinking about the next sandwich, the next bowl, and the gentle way this little shop turns seafood into bright everyday joy.
10. Hama Hama Oyster Saloon
In Hama Hama Oyster Saloon on 35846 US-101 Suite B, Lilliwaup, WA 98555, seafood is never a lackluster experience.
Raw oysters taste like cold green glass with a cucumber finish, and the mignonette snaps bright.
Roasted platters arrive sizzling with butter, garlic, and a hint of chile.
Crab legs come simply dressed with lemon and a swipe of aioli, and the sweetness lands with a calm assuredness that needs no flourish.
Clam dishes celebrate broth, smoky and herb laced, with bread that picks up every last aroma and leaves you smiling.
As a first timer, the staff steered me with kindness, explained tide timing, and shared farm lore that turned my lunch into a field trip.
A camp style vibe keeps things playful, with sturdy plates and cozy picnic tables.
Every visit teaches you something small, maybe how to twist a hinge or how the seasons shift the shape of the brine.
You’ll drive away slowly with a grin, a pocket of shells, and the knowledge that some of Washington’s best stories live on the half shell here.
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