Ivar's Acres of Clams

Sautéed Clams ($21) – The star of the meal. Generous portion of tender, perfectly steamed clams swimming in a light, buttery broth with hints of white wine. Loved the fresh dill and the mix of carrots and celery adding brightness. The toasted bread was ideal for soaking up every drop—and I did. At $21, this felt like solid value for the quality and portion size. Seafood Cocktail ($16) – A chilled tower of fresh crab and plump shrimp, topped with sesame seaweed salad for a nice twist on the traditional presentation. The cocktail sauce had good kick without overpowering the seafood. Clean, fresh, no complaints—though at $16, it's a lighter portion if you're hungry. Service & Vibe: Sat at the bar top, service was efficient for a 2 PM visit. Nothing remarkable, but no issues either. Bottom line: A reliable waterfront spot when you're craving fresh, no-fuss seafood. The sautéed clams are the move. Keep clam. 🦪

We had a fantastic experience at Ivar’s Acres of Clams, right on the waterfront in Seattle. The atmosphere was wonderful—relaxed, lively, and classic Seattle. We sat in the bar area at a high table and appreciated that they offer happy hour cocktails and food, along with a full dinner menu. Ray ordered an Old Fashioned and absolutely loved it—the bourbon selection was great, and the balance and mix were spot on. I had a mule, which was also very good. For food, Ray ordered the cioppino and I had the coconut shrimp, and everything was excellent. Truly marvelous from start to finish. Our server, bartender, and mixologist was Justin, and he was a pleasure—gracious, knowledgeable about the menu, and clearly very skilled at mixing drinks. Ray also had a chance to speak with the manager at the end of our visit, who was equally kind and welcoming. If you’re looking for great drinks, delicious food, and a classic waterfront Seattle atmosphere, this is absolutely a place we would recommend.

The food was great. Delicious, fill your belly to the brim great. I had my fill of Northwest seafood on my visit and it was glorious. Service was spot on. But along with the great food and service were the amazing views. Just happened to be eating at sunset and you can’t ask for much more than what we got with the sun’s rays shooting over Elliott Bay while we ate. It was a great evening and sitting among all the history of the pier and Ivar Haglund, it really made it feel like an authentic Seattle experience. Love his motto too, “KEEP CLAM!”

Right on the water and convenient. We're taking the ferry and had an hour so hopped over to get some food. They have a walk-up area with some seating right on the boardwalk, and then inside. They have casual Cafe eating and dining with inside tables that has a more limited menu, and then a full dining room with a full menu. If you want to do that, of course that takes more time. Service was great. Restaurant was very nice. Your view is great z

We just wanted a nice meal and seat with a view. The atmosphere was nice and the service was wonderful, but the food was quite unpleasant. Halibut had bad flavor and was over cooked but had good potatoes and side veg. Another dish was Alaskan salmon the first time it came out it was dry and hard, then the second time it was raw. The shrimp scampi was really oily and shrimp was rubbery. The manager was kind and tried to do his best in making the situation better for us but we just had to leave. To the staff you all were sweet and helpful. Friendly smiles and a warmth made the visit just a little bit better. The food was flat out not good. None of the dishes had a redeeming quality. Big fat bummer!

Ivar’s Acre of Clams for the win people. Seriously, you can’t go wrong here. 1. Despite a full restaurant, we were seated quickly and I was shocked at how quickly our food came. 2. The food is very very good. The Seafood Trio is the bomb if you want fresh fish. 3. The staff were upbeat, friendly and really helpful with suggestions. Our server knew the menu top to bottom. 4. The Seattle Waterfront is absolutely awesome.

Delicious seafood restaurant on the water. We ordered the bread basket, clam chowder, Cajun salmon and chips and halibut and chips. Everything was tasty. Possibly the best clam chowder I've ever had. The service was nice and friendly. They have various seating options. I went for midweek lunch. There was a 5 min wait for an inside table near the window. I would highly recommend.

The casual Fish Bar had a long line and we wanted our out of the country family to really have a terrific lunch experience. The weather was good ideal for sitting on the deck. The lunch menu had very affordable options and the clam chowder always is the best! We had such a wonderful meal!

Ivar's is a solid spot for fish and chips and chowder, and it definitely lived up to the recommendations I received for it. The white chowder was really good, with each spoonful packed with plenty of ingredients. It was creamy, had great flavor, and featured nice chunks of fish. The Alaskan true cod fish and chips were flaky, fresh, and flavorful, served hot and well complemented by the tartar sauce. You can take your food and sit near the water. Ivar's has a really nice view overlooking the boats, but be weary of the many birds waiting for leftovers. Despite its touristy appearance, the food came out quick and the experience was enjoyable. If you're looking for a tasty meal with a great view, Ivar's is worth a visit.

Went up to the walk up line to order but they provided indoor seating. Lines not to long. Service was quick, cashier was nice and made conversation. Outside area was clean & enough room to wait for orders. Best chowder around. We stop by every time we are in town

This is the first fish and chips you come to off of the ferry, so I had my doubts. But we wanted a mid day snack so we decided to share a small order rather than search for other places. The food is cooked when you order it so it's hot and fresh. The fish was very good. The fries were basic. They have seating available but we just sat on a bench along the walkway. I'm sure you can find better and fancier but this just what we were looking for.

Came by on a beautiful Saturday at 11:30. There were quite a few people there, but it wasn't overly crowded. I was able to place my order after about 5 min in line and then waited for my food. Food was ready within 10 min. I ordered my food to go and it was packed really nicely, with ketchup and tartar sauce packets. I did end up eating in their covered patio, which had plenty of seats, but can get quite warm. They also have an uncovered patio but that was full given the day. The food was clearly very fresh. My oysters were just fried and really hot and tasted great. The fries were fine, tasted good, standard issue fries. I'd definitely stop by again!

Ivar's Fish Bar, open since 1938, is a must when in Seattle. We ordered the fish (cod) and chips, as well as the bread bowl of clam chowder. Everything was delicious. The bread was a little dry, but everything else was great. The service was excellent. Everyone was very nice and helpful. Ivar's Fish Bar is the perfect place to fix your appetite. When in Seattle, make sure you stop by Ivar's.

The place is very big and you can choose: inside sit down lunch or dinner, or they have the stand side where you order and then can sit on the tables outside both covered or by the water uncovered which is great. I was passing by so only got a chowder and I opted for the salmon one. It came out very fast. With taxes for a cup it was $8 ish. It came out fast. It tasted very good however I wish it would have been hot, it was warm at most. But nice to sit on the water and eat this.

Lucked out on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon with bar seating, happy hour prices and a killer bartender who travels the country in her van. We enjoyed the super crispy clam strips and the salmon caesar salad from their happy hour menu. The Ivarita (margarita) was bombastic and the local draft beer was cold and flavorful. It's a busy place but the service was great. Cheers!

We walked from our cruise ship to Ivar's. We wanted to sit down and dine but opted to order at the counter and eat in a covered area. Although the fish and chips were reasonably priced, it reflected in the size of the fish. Three small size fish along with chips. We also got a cup of clam chowder which I really enjoyed. It was thick and creamy with some clams.

Service was good and food came quick! You get plenty of food for what it cost. They provide a covered dining area to sit and eat. We came on a Saturday around 4pm and mine wasn't too long.

Can't go wrong with a hot and fresh fish and chips with a creamy cup of chowder! Perfect for a quick grab-and-go lunch to munch on near the pier area with the ever-aggressive seagulls. They've got their assembly line system down to ensure your fresh food comes out within 5-8 minutes tops! Fish was light and crispy but flaky on the inside. Fries were salty crunchy goodness. The white chowder wasn't the best I've had but was a perfect steaming chips dip in the cold windchill. We had a fun time tossing fries at the birds as encouraged by the sign (pictured)!

I would not recommend this place if you're wanting really good seafood. it was Okay at best and wished i knew it was a chain before going. don't get me wrong it was decent i just don't think the price justified the quality. it is a good restaurant if you have kids as we had the kids with us because they give you coloring paper and crayons to keep the kids distracted. it was a slightly noisier environment and the tables were quite close. i would hit my neighbor behind when i moved my chair to get out... which to me is a little too close. i wouldn't go here again nor would i recommend it but it works if its seafood you want and its right off the pier, which is what we ran into with the kids being hungry after a boat ride. they do have t parking at a nearby lot but i think it seems to be a popular lot during peak times.

Had the white clam chowder in a bread bowl, and was not impressed. Bread was stale and flavorless, and the chowder tasted like a hot pool of congealed cream and rubbery clam strips. Couldn't eat it had to throw it away. For some good clam chowder, go to Pike's Place Chowder in Post Alley. The only thing we enjoyed was the fries.

Just stopped for a quick lunch and this was my mom's meal of our whole trip. Fish and chips. We were able to get myself a piece of Cajun fish and the rest regular. Both were amazing. It's right along the piers. Plenty of seating, both covered and non covered. Order and pickup at the window.

I had to have Ivar's while in Seattle. At least a little taste. The rest of the family went and had burgers and I took off with my daughter for the fried fish. I talked my daughter into it because she wanted to try Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. The outside ordering was confusing and lovely German family completely cut the line and just started ordering. I looked at the employee who also saw what happened and called us to the side to order. Which was awesome. We got the bread bowl with clam chowder. I got the three piece cod fish and chips with cole slaw. She looooved the soup. She was in heaven. She walked with it around the waterfront eating it. One of her step sisters shared it too. They loved it. My food was terrible. Probably the worst fried fish I've ever eaten. It was so bad. The fries were fries and fine. The cole slaw was excellent. Ill give them that. The outside seating isn't great. We walked down a ways and just sat on some concrete pylons. Too many vagrants and also very aggressive seagulls are in and near the outdoor sun room seating thing they have. I was disappointed to say the least. I was however very happy that my daughter enjoyed her first foray into soup bread bowls. That's really all that matters anyway.

We order sangria, fish and chips, shrimp and chips, and a plate of clams. Overall food was good. For a sit down meal if was fine, but I normally prefer the takeout and it seemed a bit better. The heat/taste was a bit lower than other other locations. The lower stars were mainly due to the mediocre sangria drinks - alcohol was decent but I would have liked a bit more balance to the fruit taste. Views of the pier was amazing and service was great! I would return but likely to the takeout.

The food was so so I don't know what the big deal about this place is I ordered fish and chips and they weren't as I expected not as crispy and crunchy. My wife's fish was undercooked and she had to send it back. The sauce on her fish was tasteless.

I always pass by this takeout spot whenever I am walking around the Waterfront. Today was the day I was finally tempted to try it as a mid-day snack! The food came out pretty quick and the staff were efficient. Among the various fish & chips options... I went for the classic Cod and Chips! The batter on the fish was light and fairly crispy. The cod itself was cooked fine. Soft and not dry at all. The fries were tasty! Gotta dunk everything in their tartar sauce to tie it all together. Pretty standard and decent! My boyfriend tried their Classic White Chowder and really enjoyed it! Overall, not a bad idea for some takeout.

Great food, we loved the warm welcome and the bar server. She was so kind and helpful. Unfortunately our dinner server R. W. was so unfriendly and unresponsive. It put a bit of a damper on our meal. Hopefully it was just an off day for her. Nevertheless, professionalism should always be the standard when on the job.

The food tasted really fresh and we really enjoyed the dip. The location had a nice view of the water.

Went here today for food to go! I just wanted to thank them giving me four true cod fish and only charging me for three!! The food was good. Fris were a plenty. But it didn't feel good when I went to order their body language wasn't approachable. They were cold and didn't like having someone in a power chair coming to their walk up n order n get food. The ambience wasn't what it had been in the past. I don't think I'll be back.

I never leave yelp reviews but this place blows so much it had to be told. Don't bother. Came for happy hour and they were out of oyster shooters so we got shrimp shooters which aren't even shooters at all, it's a single shrimp (that's been sitting out for hours) in a container of cocktail sauce. The ceviche, equally as bad, literally 3 tiny shrimp in salsa served with stale chips. Super slow service on top of food we basically just let at the table. Never again.

This is such a beautiful spot! Lovely views of the water and hills, great interior. Need a code for the bathroom unfortunately. Also.. don't be like me, and come under dressed hahah everyone was polite but I felt so silly the bread was delicious, got the 2/2, and the fish and chips were pretty good too.

Great clam chowder! I didn't eat any of the other things, but this review is on mostly the service and the take away food. There's a nice side location to eat outdoors and view the water. Which is where we sat. There's also indoor-glass enclosure ,outside location that has glass all around it so you could still see the water! this is known for their clam chowder and I can see why! It also was served at the Delta club when I went back to the airport. On my way home! Would definitely come back and visit and get more clam chowder!

Food was mediocre at best. Staff was totally overworked. It's a beautiful location but food was meh. Prices were expensive for what you received. My crab salad wasn't fresh or chilled.

10/10! Right by the water so you KNOW you're getting it fresh. This was one of our first stops upon getting to Seattle and man this was great. We got mini shrimps and their chowder. With it being a bit chilly out that chowder hit the spot! It was creamy and chunky and flavorful. It was quick to get as we did their fast food outside area. They did have a restaurant area with seating if I'm not mistaken.

We got the famous clam chowder with the sourdough bread Also the fish and chips. The fish and chips were amazing %100 fresh cod (well that's what the sign says anyways) The clam chowder was ok, the husband liked it. It was fast paced with his cashier and the person taking my order. Didn't wait long at all to get our food The outside dining was a bit dirty. The floor was dirty and seems like they don't clean the tables and the windows.

Service is amazing, however, the fish and chips is mediocre at best. Pay the $10 and cruise over to bainbridge and get some amazing cod and chips from Harbour House. I tried both on my birthday trip and definitely noticed the difference in quality. DO NOT fall into the tourist trap!

I don think I have ever been to Seattle without eating at Ivar's. Once you have their fried fish everyone else's pales in comparison. It's so fresh and crispy. You cannot get better fish anywhere. The service is always spot on. We usually sit outside so we can watch and feed the seagulls but it was raining today so we are inside. It was a very cool day eating our wonderful fish lunch and watching the rain. Be sure to try Ivar's if you haven't eaten there. It's truly great.

I'm sorry, but I missed Ivar's so much. I live in California now, and I haven't had Ivar's in almost two decades. I wasn't aware that they had now implemented fried oysters(Tasty). That malt vinegar was something special, I forgot how much I love that on my fish. And that clam chowder is never a miss. And is Barq's Root Beer a Seattle thing? I can never find Barqs outside of Washington state. Ivar's actually had Barq's Root Beer on their menu. Quite the random drink selection to wash down such a fantastic meal. Back to California I go, where it's just Raising Cane's & In-N-Out Burger.

Great food! By son loved the Cajun cod, I ordered the 5 piece cod for my daughter so I could poach a couple of pieces, but she ate the whole thing!

Ivar's is heavy on the marketing and branding, and its a decent place. Fish and chips (halibut) was not that great and especially for the price. Batter was orange powdery/thin type rather than golden tempura/soft/crispy type. Chowder was better and basically standard. Driver recommended this place as a classic.

I think Iver's Restaurant in Everett, is going down the toilet, The original owner would turn around in his grave. I ordered fries and scallops. The scallops were rubbery and burnt. There was like eight on the plate with rubbery stale fries. I think they use old oil. It was not worth $13 for the crap you get. Also the salmon chowder was extremely salty and there was one piece of salmon in it and it was cooked skin. The rest was potatoes and veggies. No salmon to be found. I think I'm done ordering from there and I eat a lot of fish. Oh well, their loss.

We ordered the clam chowder, calamari, and fish and chips. I think my favorite was the fish and chips. It was the perfect amount of breading and it paired well with the tartar sauce. The clam chowder wasn't bad, but my standards were set high after having pike place chowder. They had a good amount it seating but it was very dirty.

grabbed a bunch of items to share with the crew and had a good time! good redemption after having some very average fish and chips the day before somewhere else . cod fish and chips 3pc ($12) | 4.2/5 flakey fresy fried cod fish with a crisp flour water battered crust. light and non greasy and seasoned nicely! chips were fluffy and crispy too! cajun cod fish and chips 3pc ($12.5) |4/5 a more savory version of the og fish and chips. good for those who wants a little more spice with their fish. clam & chips ($9.5) | 3.9/5 tiny chopped up clam pieces that were fun to nibble on. i feel like theres just less protein overall for this one for the price so maybe the fish and chips are better value. jumbo prawn & chips ($12.25) | 4.2/5 crispy almost panko battered prawn pieces. perfectly cooked with a crunchy tail! cup of white chowder ($5) | 4.1/5 Ivar's chowder is more on the thicker and cream forward chowders. clam pieces were more chopped up but they load up on decent amount of celery and potato chunks. this chowder is not as briny and i would recommend it to those who like very creamy chowders. might be hard on the weekends but street parking and lots available around the pier!

We love Ivar's and always make a point of stopping here when we're in Seattle. It's a Seattle staple and a mainstay on the Seattle waterfront down by Pier 54. The fish and chips are the absolute classic, and they come in a 3, 4, 5 piece and all are good portions. The fish is good and the chips are also quite good. They have other options as well, which are also good. The prices are reasonable, especially for the area. One of our favorites is the calamari. Definitely worth checking out. The chowder is also pretty good. I would definitely encourage you to check out Ivar's if your in the area.

Guy behind the counter was cold, rude, and impatient. Doesn't react when it's your turn to order, just stares you down with hate in his eyes without saying anything. Seemed annoyed that I wanted to order something and got visibly pissed when I couldn't hear what he was mumbling. Noticed that he was rude to the next customers if they had the audacity to ask a simple question. The cod with slimy insides on a pile of mostly soggy fries was disappointing for what it cost. At least the clam chowder was okay.

A former warehouse was converted into a fabulous restaurant with views out to the harbor. We started with the white clam chowder and then moved on to fish and chips for me and seafood Cobb salad for her.After decades away it was priceless to resume our long relationship with ivars.

Food/Taste/Flavor: 5/5 - tanker of white clam chowder was the perfect balance of savory and creamy with bits of clam and potatoes. It was a great consistency without being too thick but not soupy either Ambience: N/A - we ordered at the counter for to go and ate it at the little alley behind with a waterfront view with all the seagulls. Very entertaining to watch the interaction between people and seagulls! Service: 5/5 - very fast service that's to the point Value for price: 5/5 - reasonable price, amazing food, quick service!

My coworker and I came here last minute and amazingly were seated within 15 mins! We got a great table on the edge of the outdoor area along the water. The sun wasn't cooperating and giving us a serious sun tan though hahah! We got each got a bowl of clam chowder (10/10), fried calamari (10/10) and a beet salad (a feeble attempt at something healthy 7/10). The clam chowder was perfect, even on a hot day. It had good flavor to it! We just really enjoyed sitting outdoors and talking to each other. The wait staff was so nice and didn't rush us to leave at all! Would definitely come back to Ivars!

Ivar's at the waterfront is perfect if you're looking for a quick seafood fix, especially chowder but don't want to throw yourself in the Pike Place Chowder line. Ivar's chowder seems a little less thick than Pike Place Chowder's, but it's still incredibly tasty and packed with flavor. Chowder is kept hot enough that even ordering to go, and going home it's still ready to eat without having to reheat. The 3 piece Fish 'N Chips may look like a small helping, but the fish is meaty enough that it's really filling (even before you start to tackle the fries). I have noticed a bit of inconsistency with how crisp the fish is (sometimes the outer layer will be chewy and not as fried), but I've found that happens if Ivar's is really busy. Still recommend if you're in the area to stop in and try it. Street parking is available, but I wouldn't recommend it with the traffic and high level of pedestrians (plus it's near the ferries and cruise ships, which add to the driving congestion).

Fast, Fresh, and wow what a view! This place would be 5 stars, even if the food wasn't!

Yummy clam chowders and fresh fish & chips! Fast food with fresh ingredients you can taste!

I have heard a lot about Ivars and I see it all over Seattle and even Burien, so I was excited to try and out myself. We went to the take-out window and sat outside on the pier. I know there is a restaurant inside, but for fish and chips, something outdoors is better. The environment was fun and fresh with lots of seagulls staring us down. I found the fish size a bit small though for four pieces. The batter was well salted and so were the fries. I thought the crowning moment was the smoked salmon chowder, which was creamy and rich. the only downside is how salty it was. I am definitely downing a bottle of water later tonight but it was yummy.

Who doesn't love Ivar's. I always get the same thing. The Cajun fish and chips and clam chowder. So good.

Food was decent, pretty sure there is better around. I got the cod and chips and clams. Nothing special.

I ordered the fish and chips plus a tanker of the white clam chowder. It was delicious and affordable! I ordered from Ubereats to my hotel and everything was still hot despite the delivery being late. Seafood in Seattle can be expensive and you're not always guaranteed that it will be good but you can count on this place for consistent quality. My husband is a native Seattleite and generally does not like seafood and Ivar's is the only place he will go!

First time trying Ivan's on the pier! I ordered the Cajun cod with fries and a small clam chowder. They have other fish options cod, halibut, and salmon. I love really enjoyed this meal and it was relatively cheap ($15 for fish and chips, $7 for clam chowder). This was also shared between 3 people and it held us over for a few ours on the pier. Immediately I appreciate how quick the service is here even on a Saturday morning. There are some tables on the side of the building that are right by the water so that's a plus. There are some birds but I love giving them a fry or two so that didn't phase me. Overall, I really loved this fish and chips place and will return if I'm ever in this area looking for a quick bite.

It's good for what it is and what it is is a dockside fried fish bar. I had the Cajun fish and chips, fried shrimp, fried oysters, and onion rings when I've been there. All of them are delicious and served fresh. Even the service was relatively quick. However there are a few downsides. It's outside and the indoor restaurant is twice the price. There is only outdoor seating that is mildly covered and not well heated. These don't take away from the quality of the food but this is more of a lunchtime tourist spot than a place to sit and enjoy yourself. Despite this I rate it four stars for being good at what it is.

Good location by pike's market and right off the water. However the food is very fast-food like and didn't have much flavor. The chowder was upsetting, and the bread bowl came wrapped in plastic (so it didn't seem that fresh but also not stale). Better chowder elsewhere in the city.

Expect a long wait for seating and service, even when the restaurant is quite empty. It's a very large restaurant, but off season they staff down so the empty tables don't always mean they can seat you immediately. Menu is pretty expansive and has some non-fried food options, but I wouldn't recommend for a those looking for a quick fresh meal. Flavors were quite bland and presentation is very basic.