Sea J's Cafe

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch, we were able to order inside and they brought the food out to the nice sunny patio. We ordered an and split 4 piece cod basket, pictured is my half of the meal, it easily fed both of us. We also ordered a malt, they have over 60 flavors!

Got the Ultimate Sea Js Burger which was huge! Solid Burger option. Service was friendly and fast even though they were pretty busy. It’s located near the marina so you can catch some views of the boats. Restroom was nasty so not sure about how clean the grill is. I didn’t get sick and the food tasted good so……

Honestly, this was some of the best fish and chips I’ve ever had. The side winder fries were great too. 4 stars because I had to wait like 40 minutes for my 2pc cod - I think they had some kinda mix up.

They have an award posted at the front desk for best fish and chips and....oh yeah, it was well deserved! So good! The lady running the place did an amazing job keeping everyone's orders sorted and made even through lunch rush. The place is small and she only take cash or venmo for payment but the food was good! The fries are cut like waves and were cooked just right. The only thing we weren't impressed by was the coleslaw, it didn't have much flavor. Thanks for a great lunch!

Great food! I had the fish sandwich to go, delicious and good sized portion. Only one person running the place, cooking, cleaning and taking orders. Friendly and knows how to cook fish to just the right doneness. Only 4 tables inside, so you may not get to eat inside if that's what you're wanting. Popular place , I recommend you order ahead for pick up.

Fantastic little hole in the wall type of restaurant. Off the main strip and not easy to spot if you don't know about it. Single person running the whole place. Fast, friendly service. Excellent fish and chips!

The fish and chips were fantastic! The halibut was crispy with a good breading to fish ratio and the potatoes were thick and crispy. One lady was handling all the cooking solo and did a great job turning out quality food. Would highly recommend this place.

The fish and chips here are the real deal. Considering the second-rate fish and chips I've eaten within sight of the water on the Olympic Peninsula that had more to do with a freezer than a boat, these were EXCELLENT! The batter is still a bit greasy because it came out of the fryer seconds before it was served. The fries were hand cut from a whole potato using something that looks like was made for peeling apples. Fresh fish battered per order. Comes with garlic bread that seems like too much, but it too was really good. And reasonably priced. Wife and I split a four-piece cod fish and chips for $20 and couldn't eat it all. The place is a bit of a hole in the wall, but the waitress cleaned our tables better than I would. And it's cozy. But it is SO worth it.

Great fish and chips, you're not gonna find better. If you're super precious about being treated like a perfect lil customer you're not gonna enjoy they vibe, but if you want good food and don't mind people who don't feel the need to pretend to give a shit about you then you'll love it. This is my new spot.

Great fish and chips, kids love the hamburger -cash or Venmo only for payment . Next time we are in town we will go back

The food here is great. A small town five. A hidden away gem. The owner. One man operation. Working his ass off keeping up with the rush near the end of the day. We I stopped. Great seafood. Good burgers. Inside seating and outdoor seating. But small dining room Cash only. The ambiance has that small town coastal vibe. Good stuff.

After taking the ferry, we stopped by for lunch. The inside isn't very big but is decorated and is a vibe. We ordered a 3pc cod served with coleslaw, garlic bread, and fries. The fish pieces were large and crisp. The batter wasn't too thick and the fish was tender. I loved the fries. I've never had fries this shape and loved how thick yet crisp it was. The tartar sauce was good too. Coleslaw was just okay, as it was a little bland. But overall this was still a great meal.

First off this was the best fish I've had in a long long time. Fresh and juicy. The batter was perfect and perfectly cooked. Portions were huge both cod and halibut. Chips were very good. Yes the ambiance isn't the best but the food is great and reasonable priced. So get it to go and sit down by the docks or beach. Keep up the great food.

One amazing woman running the restaurant. Delicious bfast sandwich, Denver omelette, 'big' breakfast and a combo including pancakes shaped like a dog because we had our pup with us.

Was in PT for an art show and was in need of a real, old fashioned diner breakfast. No vegan/keto/what ever. I also wanted regular local people as I was artsy'd out. Sea-J's hit all my check boxes! This looks like a one woman show with the lady cooking and serving. She handles both very well while keeping warm contact with her customers. A relatively few number of tables allows this. One side bar - at present, cash only. I did not ask why. The menu item I ordered was called The Big Breakfast. That was an understatement. The portions were large and cooked just right. No foo foo frills. Just right. And the price was very fair especially considering the portion size.

Do you love fish and chips and enjoy friendly service in a place with that hole in the wall ambiance? Yes? Then why aren't you here yet? Because this place has all of the above. The fish and chips were well seasoned and had that not too thick, not too thin light, golden and crispy batter that comes from having your frying oil at the perfect temperature. The portions were generous as well, as neither of us were able to finish our orders in spite coming in hungry. This really is a gem of a mom and pop shop that deserves its lofty reputation as one of the best fish and chip spots in Washington. I wish I wasn't a 4 hour drive, because I would be here frequently.

Met a friend in Port Townsend for lunch. She was craving fish and chips. When we first pulled up I was a bit skeptical, but we both ordered the halibut and chips. They only take cash, but luckily we had some. The nice person taking orders quickly brought our food to an outside table. The weather was nice and we were able to overlook a marina. This is not a fancy place, but the people were nice, food was delicious and the portions were huge.

If you want amazing Cod or halibut fish and chips go to Sea J's. The fish is fresh and the fries are really great. The rest of our food to include crab cake and an oyster sandwich was mediocre at best. What was really offputting, is that when you walk in no one greets you, there is no sign, saying seat yourself, and no sign saying place your order here, so it's very awkward for the customer. There were two people in the cooking area who didn't even look up when we came in, and a young boy, maybe 11 years old who popped up and asked us if we knew what we wanted, and that was about it. I had read such good things about the fish and chips online that I didn't want to just leave, we really wanted to try it! So we sat down and waited to see what other customers did. The place doesn't look the cleanest, we had to wipe our table down ourselves. They are off to a good start, but they really need to pay attention.

Halibut and chips with homemade crab cake was some of the freshest, crispiest and tastiest fish I've had in a while! Cooked by the sweetest of ladies! Locally ran right off the doc next to the ferrie- perfect spot while you wait(: They also were making handmade milkshakes, I was just too full but would fully recommend! Others around said they were delicious definitely going back!

Hole in the wall place with great fish n chips. The prices are super reasonable, where can you get a giant shake for $5.50. Never had fries like that, but they were crispy outside & fluffy inside. One lady was holding it all down as server, busser, cook. Looked chaotic, but everyone's food looked perfect.

Loved this place - every town with a smidge of waterfront should have a greasy spoon like Sea Js. Don't expect to get all your fruits and veggies here, but if you're in the mood for an overloaded plate of fried seafood or a burger, this is about as good as it gets. Bring cash and pay your cook - when we visited there was one employee doing everything. Settle in, read the walls and wait for your food - it won't take long.

excellent cheese burger with fries will go back to try more of menu items lots of options, very nice new owner and employees

Thanks for recommending this mom n pop cafe Dad. He told us he brought his wife here for a date 30 years ago n they still serve the best fish n chips he has eaten in his lifetime. Well we totally agree. My husband is a commercial driver delivering goods coast to coast, so we've eaten a lot of seafood...imo this cafe gets it right...more fish than breading gets our vote!!! If ur passing thru Port Townsend, Wa, you must stop here!!!

Cute lil place!! Took a moment to find it but find it we did!! Was met with a smile and a "hello"! After we ordered another customer came in and was telling us about the wooden boat festival that was taking place this weekend, and other highlights about the area. Our order was pretty simple - fish n chips with coleslaw, toasted French bread, French fries with dippers... quick and plentiful! And after dinner we have the town to see!

Ordered the fish and chips and they were good. Small restaurant, so consider takeout. Not the cleanest place. Service was good and the two ladies working there were friendly. This place can get busy, but waiting is not an issue as you can walk around the marina there while waiting for your food.

*Note that when I went, it was CASH ONLY. Please double check before you go. I had to stop by the Wells Fargo down the street. I found this spot when looking up food places for Pourhouse. With all the raving reviews, I figured this would be the best place to grab some easy food that would pair well with beers. LOCATION & PARKING // It's this small shack with a mini parking lot in front but even if you can't find parking, there is a ton of parking on the street. It isn't too hard to find since there isn't much on the street. When you walk in, there are maybe about five or six tables to sit at with an ordering counter at the front. They also sell touristy tie-dye clothes here (??? So confusing but it somehow fits the aesthetic of this place.) COVID-19 // The staff wore masks but I was mostly disturbed with some of the other customers in here. Waiting for my food took about 20 minutes and the entire time, there was a customer sitting at a table reading a newspaper without their mask on. The customer kept talking to the staff members and they responded as if they knew the customer so I just felt it was weird that their customer mask wearing expectations weren't strict. FOOD // We ordered one set of COD FISH AND CHIPS and one set of HALIBUT FISH AND CHIPS and had one each. These were some of the best fish and chips I've ever tried! They stayed super crispy and flavorful, even though I didn't eat them until maybe 15 minutes after I ordered them since I took the food to the brewery. This was one of my most memorable food items from my trip. OVERALL // 4 stars I really enjoyed this and will recommend it to other folks who visit Port Townsend but I do hope that they become more strict with their COVID precautions.

I've stopped by here five times this past year, everything is always fresh and fried perfectly. The fish and chips is the star, the tarter sauce is made fresh (huge plus). Add Malt vinegar and lemon squeeze for perfection. I do recommend getting the fries extra crispy :-) The fried clams/oysters also rock Only con worth mentioning is wait time/service. While I'd say it's worth the required wait time, if your looking to pick something up quickly, it may not be the best option. I've had a few mix ups with service and wait time exceeding 50 minutes. I'd also note this place is best suited for take out or eating at the tables along the marina. It's tiny and definitely gives a dive vibe. Ask what fish is the freshest of the day (the cod usually), typically they sell what is caught locally (sourced from a distributor next door to the cafe). If you enjoy fish and chips, it's definitely the stop to make! Side note: The clam chowder (when available) is a winner

CASH ONLY!!! And as of 10/1/24 the family to go Cod is $45 plus tax, plus tip, just fyi.

Sea J's Café in Port Townsend has been consistently ranked best fish and chips in Jefferson County for over 10 years. I decided to check it out. I couldn't believe I hadn't tried it before until I discovered where it was located. It's a little hole in the wall that's off the beaten path. You wouldn't know where it was unless you searched for it. It's been owned by two different families over the years. The second family has owned it since the early 1990s. It's a small space but they also have a small outdoor dining area. The two women working there were very accommodating. I was trying to decide between the cod and halibut. They graciously said that I could get half-and-half. A piece of cod and a piece of halibut. They offered the same with their french fries. They have regular fries, as well as one that has some seasoning on them. I don't normally eat fish and chips when I'm in Port Townsend, so I have no real basis for comparison but I'm going to assume that these truly are the best in the area. I liked them. My three star rating, which means " I liked it", is a solid rating, based on all the fish and chips I've had throughout the course of my life, and I've had plenty. I like that the meal came with a nice piece of garlic bread. The fish was fresh and simply prepared. Personally, I prefer a little bit of a lighter batter and I prefer tartar sauce that is a bit less mayonnaise like. This one had OK flavor but it would benefit from a few more chunks of pickle, maybe a little Worcestershire sauce and a squirt of lemon. The fries also would've benefited from being cooked a little longer. I really liked the homey, welcoming environment. as well as and how friendly and warm the employees and other diners were. I like the exterior and interior of the restaurant, which has a wonderful wall full of bumper stickers. I also liked the Popeye and Olive Oyle themed bathrooms. Some of the diners were eating hamburgers, which looked great. I've also heard that this restaurant is known for its milkshakes. I'll definitely be back. If you are in Port Townsend and want to check out a business that is much loved by locals and tourists alike, be sure to check out Sea J's Café. *** Based on some of the other photos that I'm finding on this business's Facebook page, as well as Google and Yelp reviews, I'm wondering if either the fish batter recently changed, or if perhaps my fish wasn't cooked as long as it should've been, just like the fries. If my fish looked more like the other photos, I would have enjoyed it more.

Locally operated legit fish and chip house with other items like burgers! Old school location and simple, straight forward food for the hard working people of Port Townsend... And the occasional tourist :)

Ok.. not going to lie..place is a dive..so if looking for a "nice" restaurant experience.. get your driver's license and vax card out and go elsewhere but if you are like the rest of us and want good food without all the bullshit..this is the place.. (yes they still have to abide by the rules, they just don't make you feel like your in a communist country).. No our food wasn't what we ordered and yeah the place was a little, well....divie but and I mean a big BUT... what we did get was delicious.. fish, shrimp, fries and coleslaw were amazing and when it comes to seafood, I'm a snob... now this is a basic fish and chip place, so remember that part. I am not giving any bad stars because they were super friendly and fed us great food..

Great fish n chips This restaurant has great food, excellent service and a FANTASTIC Location! Sitting on the PT Bay at the Marina, is peaceful and a great stop before a drive back to Seattle, Portland or wherever. This is not really hard to find, but it makes for a good title. The signage is great.

This was one of the worst experiences at a restaurant, ever. My kids and I stopped in after visiting Port Townsend for a quick meal for Mothers Day before heading back home. We ordered 3 cups of chowder, burger and fries, a basket of fries, a salad, and 3 soda's. Pretty easy order, right? 25 minutes later our food was not ready. We heard several people complaining about how long their food was taking, so we decided to just enjoy each others company and not complain. 5 minutes later the gal working walked out, set down two bags and said, "we only had enough for one clam chowder". Two people were having clam chowder for their meal, so now after 30 minutes what are they supposed to do while the other two are eating their meals? They couldn't tell us that when they took our order? Then, they forgot the basket of fries. We looked at the salad and it was the most disgusting pile or wilted lettuce and crap I have ever seen. I cannot believe they could serve it with a straight face. So now, one person has their meal and the other 3 people are out of luck. The gal working did not apologize or ask if we wanted anything else. She walked back inside and came back out and slapped 16 dollars down, I guess for the refund? Not sure how she came up with that number but I ended up paying 38 (gave her a tip beforehand) for a burger and fries, 1 clam chowder, and three drinks. We left. I opened the clam chowder and it was literally cold. Like they turned the burner off way before our orders to avoid the little bit left from scorching. So now, 38 for a burger, fries, and 3 soda's, and everyone except one person in our party hungry still. My son said his burger was nothing special and the portion of fries was small. Skip this place. There are so many better options in Port Townsend.

The cid was great, the hamburger had 2 hairs. Won't be going back. Service was slow, there was only 1 cook. No hair net.

Very greasy! Unhappy people behind the counter and cooking. Service was okay but nothing special. Someone's kids at a table and an employee getting after them constantly. Maybe they had no choice but not a good place for employees to bring their kids. Ambiance confusing as hell.

Yipes. Wish we could match these good reviews but....arrived at 2 PM on a weekday, two in line in front. Ordered three-piece and a shake and were invited to sit outside. Sat and waited. And waited more. Went inside to learn our order was 'lost'. Waited more. Fish and shake arrived, no apologies for the wait. Good shake. Liked then look of apparent huge fish portion. But it was so heavily breaded it was soggy and gooey (uncooked) so could not get at the fish. Not edible. Not coming back. $26 + initial generous tip down the drain with really ugly fish. Have nothing nice to say about thick cut chips so will leave it at that. It looked so quaint and promising...

Great little off the path place for fish n chips. We had the halibut with great potatoes fresh coleslaw and homemade tartar sauce! Definitely recommend. Also best milk shakes!!!

We walked over to Sea J's from our nearby motel for a fish & chips dinner after reading the reviews on this site. One young man was running the place by himself on a Wednesday evening. The cod & chips we ordered were fantastic! The breading on the fish was not too heavy so we enjoyed the freshness of the fish. The fries were a little thicker cut than most and not too greasy. I couldn't stop eating them. The Cole slaw was "meh" but the fish and chips were plenty. I will be back next time in Port Townsend.

Good batter on the fish. A little over salted. Tastes like they get some mileage out of their fry oil. Cole slaw could use some flavor.

Stopped in while working for a milkshake, the food looks great! Unfortunately they didn't have their usual ice cream so I will have to go back and try their real milkshake. Staff was friendly and seriously- the food they were serving up looked really good! Not many seats inside but they have plenty of parking.

Good food omg you gotta try it . Sea j burger is gigantic & yummy . Fish n' chips is another awesome dish, outside eating offer . Open for breakfast also , like the self serve coffee just a great hole in the wall place to grab a bite & go . Service is great, I'd recommend Sea J's !!!

It was Mother's Day weekend and there was only one person running the restaurant. She really could have used some help. She was making food, milkshakes, and running the cash register all on her own and she was putting in a valiant effort and keeping her cool. The shake I ordered was good, too much for me to finish, but satisfied my craving for a decent milkshake. The menu states that the fries that come with the fish and chips is a LARGE order. It isn't. It was enough but not anything close to a large order. The fryer was up too high so the fish and fries were on the dark side and some of the fish breading was undercooked. The fish and chips come with garlic bread which was half the size of the plate, making it difficult to maneuver around. The bread was out of place. Maybe it was there to make up for the "why bother" helping of cole slaw. The slaw was too sweet and reminiscent of KFC slaw in a much smaller portion. The "homemade" tartar sauce was straight mayo, no seasoning and not anything to be proud of. It's a bit of a shame because the Olympic Peninsula is inundated with pizza restaurants and deserves and needs a good fish and chips place. Unfortunately this isn't it. This may have been the best at one time but it wasn't living up to those expectations during my visit. I am sure it has suffered from pandemic fallout. I can see that many of the elements of being the best may have existed at one time, just not anymore. One final note the toilet tanks in the restroom overflowed after flushing so you were sure to leave with wet shoes.

Stopped by here on a Sunday afternoon for some lunch and there was no one else in there! We were a little iffy about eating there at first because of the outside but looks can be very deceiving!! This place has the BEST fish and chips I've ever had. My husband had the BLT and said it was super delicious! He can EAT and he only finished half of it! Definitely worth the money! We only waited maybe 15 minutes! Both gals there were super kind and personable. They even suggested the BLT and we're thankful they did! Please try this place out! They also have an outdoor seating area off the docks with a great view! They were taking orders to go and dine out only when we went. Also the food so appealing to the eye. They did a great job!! This place will always be a must for us when we're in town!

Before Covid this place was good. Now they are slipping. They burnt my French fries dark brown then served them up

Im a celebrated chef in town and greeted by a husband wife team very interactive very pleasant had Halibut fresh cut in a nice light beer batter so so yummy and a simple cheeseburger me and my girl friend was so so pleased with the food and service a must to try for anyone TY Sea Js

Good, modest, seafood/burger joint. Always friendly to everyone. Always kind. Always wearing a mask. Will walk food to your car. They even wear masks while sweeping the parking lot.

Best milkshakes and French fries in town! We go here every time we're in Port Townsend.

I stopped by due to good reviews and agree that the fish and chips was solid. I'd definitely give them a 4 star for the cod-fish and chips. For the quantity of food, I also felt that the price of 4 pieces of fish, coleslaw, fries and garlic bread was fair at $18. They were incredibly busy and they forgot to give me my order after I'd waited 45 minutes. I finally had to remind them. They made my food quickly, apologized and offered me a free soda for waiting. If I am in the area and craving fish and chips I will probably stop by again.

Good bacon cheese burger and fries. The tartar sauce is house-made and super good. Perfect for dippin'. Good fish and chips too.

Whenever I'm in PT as a guest at the marina, I always go to Sea Js. It's just a great down home diner sort of place where the locals go. It's a terrific homey vibe and the food is good.

This place is good if you like deep fried. Order at the counter. We did not know and ended up waiting even longer. There are no signs about that. The wait is long but the food was good.

I love local places and this is definitely local. Some might say "down and dirty" in a positive way. Fish and chips were good. Cook/wait staff was friendly. Unique place.

Really delicious fried fish and crab cakes. A perfect little greasy spoon.

Such a nice place to sit with my sweetie The outside seating was looking out over the harbor.

Interesting bathrooms but delicious food. The fries were tasty, the clam strips were meaty, and the fish was super flaky!

I'm going to give this top rating because it was that good. nice benches by the Marina to eat outside.. best prawns I've had! try it!

I've been to Pt Townsend several time and this little shack is by the far the best dining I've had. The fried cod taste amazing and it's the perfect on the go food.