The Pike Place Market has many great options to enjoy eating while you are there and let’s start off with a few of our favorite locations.
Seafood Options in the Pike Place Market
Pike Place Chowder
We believe there is no better place to get clam chowder than at Pike Place Chowder. Based on Yelp reviews their New England Clam Chowder is the #1 best rated dish in America.. yes you read that right, in America. The “Chowderheads” have taken first-place in 16 regional and national competitions…so far, so yeah you could say it’s going to be the best clam chowder you will ever have.
The lines can be a bit long, but just order online and skip to the front.
Prices start around $8
Located in Post Alley next to Rachel’s Ginger Beer
Cutters Crab House
This restaurant has always been a favorite for Seafood in Seattle. Of course they serve wonderful crab dishes like King Crab legs and whole Dungeness Crab but they also feature a fantastic Spicy Jambalaya that is not to be missed.
On their dinner menu, If you are in the mood for Halibut or Salmon or maybe a little sushi or the delicious, Kumamoto raw Oysters, then you won’t be disappointed with these choices. Lunchtime options also offer Oysters, Sushi and a delicious Open Crab faced sandwiches. For those who would prefer non Seafood items, they have chicken sandwiches as well as their Market Burger.
Prices start around $18
Located on the North end of the Pike Place Market, just follow the cobble stone street Pike Place, to the corner of Western and Virginia and it’s across the street at 2001 Western Avenue, to the right of Victor Steinbrueck Park.
Seatown Rub Shack and Fish Fry
Seatown is owned by local celebrity chef, Tom Douglas. Located on the north end of the cobblestone street, Pike Place, it is a great place to get fish and chips and our favorite dish the Albacore Tuna Melt. Pair this with Bundaberg, Australian Ginger Beer (Non-alcoholic), and you have a perfect meal.
Other enticing dishes include raw oysters, Roasted Dungeness Crab, Wild Salmon Sockeye burger and other great seafood dishes.
Prices start around $15
Athenian
Opening in 1909 in the Pike Place Market, the Athenian is famous for a scene in the movie “Sleepless in Seattle” with Rob Reiner and Tom Hanks. However they are also known for their wonderful seafood options such as mussels and oysters and the Northwest Salmon Fish and Chips.
Maybe start off with their smoked salmon platter served with cream cheese and herb crostini. Their neighbors next door, Pure Foods Fish, has what we feel is the best smoked salmon in the market (Featured in Sunset Magazine) and proudly serve their salmon with this dish.
Maybe you’re in the mood for some pasta and the Dungeness Crab or Prawn Fettuccini would be a fantastic choice. The portions are pretty large, so you might share this and couple it with a bowl of New England Clam Chowder.
Prices start around $16
Located in the middle of the market next to Lowell’s Restaurant and Pure Foods Fish, it’s easy to find on the main arcade level of the market.
Lowell’s
Located next to the Athenian, Lowell’s has three levels of waterview seating for a great place to enjoy breakfast or lunch.
Why not start off with their delicious grilled Dungeness crab cakes served with citrus aioli sauce and their homemade fresh mango salsa on spinach side.
For your main course you might enjoy the House Brined & Cured King Salmon Lox & Toasted Bagel with house pickled red onions, cream cheese & Moroccan capers. Or perhaps you’re in the mood for their Slow Braised Corned Beef Reuben piled on thick rye bread with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and 1000 island dressing then grilled.
Perhaps you are in the mood for the Grilled Blackened Alaskan Cod Tacos or Beecher’s “Flagship” White Cheddar Burger with home made patties of fresh Angus beef grilled and topped with Beecher’s “Flagship” white Cheddar made daily in the Pike Place Market.
Prices start around $15
Also located in the middle of the market next to the Athenian Restaurant and Pure Foods Fish, it’s easy to find on the main arcade level of the market.
Non Seafood Restaurants in the Market
Pike Brewing Company
Known for their excellent beers in Seattle, Pike Brewing Company not only has fantastic beers, but an extensive “Bar Food” menu of choices to enjoy.
Maybe start of with three fresh pretzels with Pike XXXXX Stout mustard, house-made cheese sauce, and malt-infused whipped butter and couple that with Draper Valley Ale Glazed Chicken wings, Monk’s Uncle sauce, chili-lime cream and fresh carrots.
How about a Wild Salmon BLT? yes you read that right, they put thick-cut bacon on a salmon sandwich. Rounding it out with lettuce, tomato, onion, and smoked pepper mayo on local artisan bun. Served with fries.
They also have a children’s menu, so it’s a great location for the whole family.
And don’t forget to wash down your food with a Pike Sampler: a flight of six 4-ounce tastes.
When you are done, don’t forget to checkout the beer museum, claimed to be the biggest microbrewery beer museum in the world. Just grab a beer and walk around the free museum.
Prices Start around $14
The Pike Pub is located at 1415 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101. Enter on 1st Avenue, between Pike and Union just south of Pike Place Market, or via Post Alley, across from Post Alley Park, down from the Gum Wall.
Bacco Cafe
Bacco is a fantastic place to enjoy breakfast and don’t miss their fresh squeezed Orange Juice. We’re not sure what they do to it other than foam it up a bit, but it just tastes the best. Their breakfast menu is served till 3 PM as is their regular brunch menu, so if you’re in the mood for some breakfast food midday, this may be a perfect fit.
One dish not to miss is their Brioche French toast. Served with Brioche, Vanilla, fresh berries and maple butter. Oh man, our mouths water just thinking about it.
Bacco’s Classic Eggs Benedict, is also a favorite, paired with potatoes and a blackberry Mimosa and you’re all set to start the day exploring in the market.
Prices start around $8
Bacco is located on the SW corner of 1st Avenue and Stewart Street
Grab and Go Items in the Pike Place Market
Piroshky Piroshky
Located a couple doors down from the Original Starbucks, this little bakery is packed with some nice surprises for a quick grab for breakfast or lunch. Though the lines can be a bit long during the tourist season, they are super efficient and get people through real quick.
You might enjoy the spinach and ham with bacon and egg piroshki and if you’re in the mood for a little sweetness, the berry dazzle might be a perfect fit. The poppyseed cinnamon roll will also be a great choice to pair with your coffee from Storyville Coffee.
For a quick afternoon fill-up, you might try the Salmon Pate, a delicious blend of Smoked Salmon, cream cheese, a dash of dill and onion. Perhaps the delicious Uli’s Jalapeño and Cheddar Sausage wrapped in Piroshky dough with be a nice addition to your day. Our good friend Uli makes the best sausages in the market and this likely could be a perfect combo for you.
Prices start around $5
Le Panier
Le Panier is a classic French Bakery with all products made on-site and sold fresh every day. They have a wonderful selection of breads and sweets that one would expect from a French bakery including one of our favorites, the Macarons. With flavors ranging from vanilla to pistachio to coffee and black currant.
Why not grab a loaf of sourdough bread and a whole cooked Dungeness crab at a local fish market and make yourself a great meal? Perhaps a Casse-Croute sandwiches on their classic baguette would be in order for a lunchtime treat. Try the Crudités with seasonal vegetables with Emmental, goat cheese and lettuce or the Jambon fromage with Ham, Emmental, lettuce with dijonnaise.
Prices start around $3
Beecher’s Cheese
No stop in Seattle or the Pike Place Market would be complete without tasting the “World’s Best Mac and Cheese” at Beecher’s Cheese. Work with talented cheesemakers who apply traditional cheesemaking methods who make the cheese right there in the window at the market. They don’t use anything artificial using only the finest ingredients that are free of artificial preservatives, flavor enhancers, sweeteners, colors and hydrogenated oils (trans fats).
We suggest getting the smokey mac and cheese, you will likely never taste a better tasting macaroni and cheese in your life and you’ll know the cheese was made right there and not full of artificial ingredients out of a box.
Market Grill
The Market Grill is not to be missed if you are looking for a fantastic Wild Salmon sandwich. Wild Salmon is the key here because many places throughout the United States one can only get Atlantic salmon. Atlantic Salmon is always farm raised, did you know this? Don’t feel bad, the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute found that 90 percent of respondents (800 people, ages 35 to 54) in a survey did not know that Atlantic salmon is farmed-raised. And a third believe that Atlantic salmon is wild… it’s not. The Atlantic Salmon is an endangered species and cannot be caught legally pretty much throughout the world. Atlantic Salmon are also raised in pens and fed mostly food pellets and do not taste as good as wild salmon.
So why the long rant on Atlantic Salmon you may ask? Well, when you’re at the Pike Place Market you have the opportunity to taste a Wild Salmon Sandwich that you might not be able to get where you live and they are delicious.
Featured on ‘Delicious Destinations’ on the Travel Channel, the Market Grill has developed quite the reputation and our favorite is the blackened salmon sandwich with caramelized onions and herbed mayonnaise on a baguette. You’ll likely be dreaming of this sandwich way after you return home, but don’t miss it when you are in Seattle.
Prices start around $17