The Fish Peddler Restaurant on Foss Waterway

We went to dinner and ate at the bar. We started with raw oysters. They were so delicious. We then had the seafood dip. My husband had the seafood mac n cheese. I had the King Crab 🦀. It was definitely the king of the sea. Huge portion and tastes amazing. Fresh delicious food, knowledgeable and friendly staff, with a beautiful view of the water. I think I found my favorite dinner spot. It is also walkable distance from the Tacoma Dome, very convient to grab a drink and food before the show. I highly recommend checking it out. You will not be disappointed.

The Fish Peddler is located on the Thea Foss Waterway, which provides an appreciated water view complete with nautical activities. Had a nice lunch service, the staff were polite but could have been a bit more attentive. Had the halibut fish & chips, which was tasty. It was done well but the portion was a bit diminutive. There’s indoor and outdoor dining. There’s a well stocked bar. The decor is appropriate for the theme of the establishment. Wide variety of options on the menu. Good spot, will return next time I’m in the area.

Delicious food, with above and beyond service in a casual atmosphere, and easy midday parking. Cioppino is highly recommended. Complex flavors of both savory and subtle details are deeply satisfying. Made-from-scratch richness for your palate. Lots of crab in the combo. All the dishes we had were tasty and memorable. Even took home the leftover broth from the clams and from the cioppino for toast dipping at home. Wonderful. Anxious for a repeat visit on a future trip to the area.

We wanted lobster rolls, Penn Cove mussels & oysters, so found this place by the water. Unfortunately, they ran out of the mussels. The oyster sampler is a nice, inexpensive (compared to Seattle tourist spots) way to enjoy fresh tumbles. That day, it was clean, bright kumamotos, served with cocktail sauce & horseradish, & a sweet mignonette with chopped shallots. They offer Maine (warm) & Connecticut (cold) styles of proper, if understuffed lobster rolls. Toasted, buttered rolls were sliced down the middle & made just for this. We also enjoyed the bang bang shrimp appetizer & a main entree of linguine tossed in a light, garlicky spicy sauce with a substitution of prawns instead of Penn Cove mussels. Just as good & a highlight of our dinner. Another highlight was some of the best, chunky New England style chowder we've had. Go there early to avoid long waits, busy servers, & crowds.

The food was very tasty. The service was was helpful and great. The atmosphere was warm and inviting to spend the evening with locals and enjoy a seafood dinner.

Would’ve been five stars across the board except the outdoor seating was sub par. Yes, they accommodated the fact that I had my service animal but the seating outside that they set up was awkward and the table was higher than my chair. Other than that, the view, food and service were spectacular. Best clam chowder I’ve had so far and I’ve tried quite a few places looking for the best spot. Calamari was a bit on the dry side but maybe that’s because it was cold and windy outside.

Today I needed to make a lovely trip to Urgent Care for yet another “gift” related to the collision which has been the reason why I needed surgery back in December and go to weekly PT appointments. After spending a few hours waiting for results after tests were conducted, I was ready for some real food. 3 packages of saltine crackers , 3 Tylenol and 2 cups of ice water didn’t quite cut it as a gourmet meal. Fish and chips sounded good so Ray and I headed to the restaurant where I had read nothing but rave reviews. Unfortunately, there was no open parking for several blocks so that plan was scrapped for another day. A quick search brought up The Fish Peddler so we went there. The Fish Peddler has a huge parking lot and is located right on the water. Today was gorgeous so we opted to sit outside. Normally the breeze off the bay is cold even on nice days, but today was perfect. After being seated, our server brought menus. I ordered a Mai Tai and Ray ordered lemonade. It was hard to make a decision with all of the interesting menu items. I was really torn between the rockfish tacos or stay with the fish and chips. I decided to stay with the fish and chips. Ray ordered the rockfish and requested it blackened when offered. Our food came up quickly. It was hot and made to order. Everything was delicious, of course I had to taste the rockfish and it was awesome!!! We don’t always get to take time to relax. It was so peaceful we sat and watched the people walking their dogs and the boats going into and out of the various marinas. When Ray learned there was carrot cake on the dessert menu, it was a given!!! I debated the 7 layer chocolate cake, but opted out. I stole a couple of bites of the carrot cake and was lucky to not find a fork in the back of my hand. Once we finished our meal, we walked out onto the walkway overlooking the water and read about the lumber mills which used to be there. Then our relaxing day was over and it was time to head home. We will definitely return. Our meals were a little pricey but definitely worth it.

We visited on a cold, rainy weekday afternoon. There’s a parking lot next to the restaurant, and despite the weather, it was quite busy—we waited about 10 minutes for a table. The dining area was fairly spacious, and they thoughtfully provided coloring sheets for kids as soon as we sat down. As for the food, the clam chowder lived up to its reputation and was definitely a highlight. The lobster mac and cheese was flavorful, and the cod in the fish and chips tasted fresh. The calamari was crispy on the outside and tender inside—clearly fresh. The bang bang shrimp was tasty but not particularly special. Overall, it was a decent dining experience.

Food was delicious service was fast drinks were very good Whether was nice so we sat outside and it was very nice I noticed since we were outside seating others had pets with them I didn't mind it made it feel very friendly

Was staying nearby for a concert for the weekend and this place was so solid, I took my friends and went a second time the next day lol Between the two visits, I tried - clam chowder - super solid, got this two days in a row lol - salad + grilled chicken - tasted fine I just needed some vegetables - green bean tempura - the half order was so big and the green beans were actually pretty good - nachos - also surprisingly large portion, decent - lobster Mac and cheese - nice and creamy, would eat again Servers were friendly, space is large. It's right by the water so it's nice to walk along the water for a digestion walk afterwards!

Drinks & Food are pricey, but delicious. Service was relaxed and professional. Sat outside and watched the boats sail by. - Spicy mango margaritas -A - Calamari-A (really fresh, soft, perfectly cooked) - Seafood medley with Artichokes dip with fresh warm loaf.- A -Catfish special with veggies & mashed potatoes. -A -Shrimp & crab Louie salad -B Total $150 before tip. All in the food was delicious and the service was attentive. Highly recommend. Only negative... when arrived with over half the restaurant empty... they play a game of we can't seat you yet. Put on wait list 10-15 min, suggesting go to the bar and have drinks. We were a party of two but only 1 chair and not a comfortable situation. This was very irritating. We came in from a long drive, just wanted to sit down & eat dinner. We did later order a drink, and it was very tasty, but the extra milking on arrival was distasteful. Sharine

My wife and I have made stopping at the Fish Peddler part of our routine when visiting the coast. I always get the oyster stew and she gets fried oysters or fish and a bowl of clam chowder. This time was no different, except that we ordered a Captain's platter to share between us. My oyster stew was delicious, as it always is. I couldn't help but notice though, that the oyster stew now contains half of the oysters it used to. After years of eating this stew, I knew I always got at least a dozen oysters in a bowl of stew. This time - only six. Yes, they were delicious! Still, it's sad to see the quantity of oysters go down with the price heading in the opposite direction. The Captain's platter was good, but we couldn't help but notice that the fish, oysters and shrimp all tasted alike, due we think to the same oil being used to fry all of them. So, it was okay, but we've had better. The oyster stew saved this review from being 3 stars.

How can you go wrong sitting on the patio overlooking the bay on a perfect evening! This spot is a Gem for sure! Food is Amazing! Service is Amazing! Prices are nominal and the freshness was outstanding.

Great fish and chips, the atmosphere is even better. If you can go on a nice day and sit outside do it. The bartender Josh is awesome, not sure how they rate having him. Great peice of Tacoma history here used to come here when it was a fish market way back.

Nice seaside view. Quiet for the time we went. Service was nice and helpful. Food was inventive yet traditional. We had the salmon blt and rock fish tacos, we both had the craziest clam chowder. Decent price and would return to explore the menu more. The tortillas were cold but eatable I like mine more shelled. But was yum

Left off a star because the Mac and cheese wasn't so good and the cioppino was garnished with cilantro instead of parsley. Otherwise, the rest of our order was quite good and the service was attentive and kind.

I'd give 4 stars for just my jumbo prawn parang curry dish but... the final score is 3 stars... 1) the cup of clam chowder was deemed MEH 2) then hubby took one bite of the Mac and cheese side and head had to try to doctor it up with salt and pepper. I tasted it before he seasoned it and it was bland. Yes it was "cheesy" but just no flavor. Very dairy like but flat. 3) his blackened fish (steelhead) came with veggies also and it was such a meager amount of bok choy, mushrooms and asparagus. Just underwhelming Service was fine. Parking is easy. Maybe it was just a bad Mac and cheese and low inventory on the veg kind of night. Low key - I was surprised the server didn't ask if there was something wrong with the Mac and cheese. Our plates were cleaned otherwise but she just asked if we were done and took the plate. I wanted to ask what the cheese was because maybe it would explain the bland flavor but we had to get going. I think I'd come back for the view - with good weather sit on the patio. A cold beer. And folks around us were ordering a lot of calamari and oysters so those were probably good. PLUS the panang curry was GOOD!!!!

Starting with the positives, the service was very pleasant. Nothing crazy above and beyond, but our server was friendly and warm. The atmosphere was decent enough, and I imagine that sitting outside is probably the better of the indoor/outdoor options given the waterfront location, but it was cold out and the patio was closed. The food was a mixed bag. The Caesar salad had a house-made dressing that tasted great but barely coated the full salad, and the Parmesan and croutons that topped it were pretty underwhelming. The fish in my fish and chips was cooked just right, and the accompanying tarter sauce was flavorful, but the coleslaw was bland and the fries were served lukewarm. The portions also seemed pretty small for the price, but that's more of a sign of the times than anything else. The blackened fish tacos my husband ordered were similarly 'good enough', with the fish cooked and seasoned well, but the overall taco presentation leaving room for improvement (unseasoned or less than fresh toppings and plain store bought tortilla chips on the side). Roughly $100 including tip for two entrees, a salad and a couple drinks wasn't terrible, but I would have hoped for more coming from a place that I had heard such positive reviews about.

What a pleasant surprise! We stumbled upon the Fish Peddler looking for another restaurant and decided to give it a try. I'm so glad we did. I had the halibut fish and chips. They won over this Alaskan! The fish was very well cooked and not greasy. The fries were great although slightly under seasoned. They needed salt. My dining partner ordered the lobster roll Maine style. It was exceptional. One of the best lobster rolls I've had in a long time with that style of preparation. He order clam chowder as a side and said it was phenomenal. The service was wonderful. Our waitress was super sweet, took time to explain the daily specials and answered any questions we had. We will definitely be back.

We were looking for something casual and had fish and chips so decided on the Fish Peddler. I have been here before so kinda knew what to expect. The food was ok- fish had a lot of batter, the bread was good gor the seafood dip, and the salmon burger was good. But, nothing was overwhelmingly great. That is why I am rating it a 3. The ambiance was ok as well with simple set up, chairs and tables, and a bar that had multiple tvs. I would go again but not running back if you know what I mean.

Nothing fancy here but excellent service and food. Great view of the water. Our server was very friendly and patient with us. Everything sounded good, so it was hard to decide. We started with oysters, then we shared the fish and chips with a cup of chowder. The chowder was so flavorful with lots of clams and potatoes. Fish was perfectly cooked and tasted great. To finish off we ordered a slice of carrot cake to-go and shared it down by the water. End of a great meal.

Food/Drinks: Fish & chips-very good! Liked the haddock better than the cod. Jalapeño pineapple slaw did have a kick. Special-Fish Tacos- Very good, wish the server had mentioned that the green sauce was spicy as we would have gotten it o the side. Good salsa though and also good flavor to the shrimp! Clam Chowder-Good flavor Salad-nice size to share for a starter. Beer-Good selection Mai Tai-not good Mocktail with coconut cream-very delicious! Service-Large party that the service people took care of very well! Made sure drinks were refilled and that water glasses were not empty. Inside there is a bar area with bar seating and some high top tables and regular tables. Also large outdoor seating area. Main dining room that has a large area. Nice restaurant on the waterfront!

Service was really good, friendly and well organized. The restaurant was really nice clean and run very well. The food was great as being on the port in Tacoma the fish was delicious. It was a nice walk from my hotel well light outside. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Tacoma in Pacific Ave near the Marriott

We were a larger group. They sat us right away. Clean establishment. Good food. Great service.

The Fish Peddler is a nice restaurant that offers outside and inside seating. The outside is nice because you can enjoy the nice weather, see the water, and boats at the dock. Inside seating, you can enjoy the rustic decor, along with the kitchen, full bar, A/C, and multiple TVs. Shar T took care of us.The service was friendly, patient, funny, and helpful. Each table had a carafe of chilled still water. In addition to your condiments (malt vinegar, Tabasco, ketchup, salt & pepper). Clam Chowder (bowl). Rich, creamy, & thick. Loaded with chopped clams, bacon, red skinned potatoes, and herbs. It is very tasty, filling, and hearty. A good bowl of chowder. Hand Battered Fish and Chips: 4 piece Pacific Cod. E9 Brewing Rowdy & Dick Amber Ale Beer Batter Fries, Pineapple-Jalapeño Slaw, & Tarter Sauce (4/5). Crunchy batter, and the fish was nice and flakey. The cajun-seasoned fries were good. The slaw was good and a different take of your typical slaw. The house-made tarter sauce was full of Dill, mayo, maybe pickle juice - only guessing here. Come check them out as they have been around for a while!

The number one thing about the Fish Peddler was the staff and the service. Our waitress was very kind and answered all of our questions about the menu very thoughtful and checked on us throughout our meal. The restaurant itself is cozy but can get a bit loud because of the open space. The chicken for the salad was grilled perfectly and the Connecticut Lobster Roll was warm and the toasted bread was delicious.

Excellent!! Stopped in for lunch and a cider and this spot did not disappoint. Friendly bar tender who was attentive but also happy to let me sit, sip and read a book.

The halibut fish and chips dish is so delicious. Wife had the lobster roll and raved about it until she tried the halibut... Service is prompt and attentive, ambiance is nice especially if you get seating outside during nice weather.

Such delicious food. We ordered the Halibut and fries, lobster roll (Connecticut style), and of course 2 cups of clam chowder. Our waitress was incredibly friendly and provided us with fast service. She accidentally told us the wrong oysters of the day and gave us a free oyster for her mishap (we wouldn't have cared either way so it was so kind). The inside of the restaurant is small and cute. They have an open garage door and patio for the warmer months. The bar is open & the market price of everything is listed on the wall for your convenience.

We stopped by here to eat since we were near the courthouse and had visited the museum of glass. We were warmly greeted and sat inside. Our waitress Alison was very friendly and attentive. The establishment was clean and had a lot of customers here. The kids ordered the kids meals off of the kids drawing menu. Mac and cheese and hamburgers. No complaints from the kids they enjoyed it. My wife got the fish tacos and I got the halibut fish and chips with a cup of chowder and we ordered 1/2 dozen oysters. We enjoyed everything. The chowder was not on the milky side but more seafood. The halibut was good I enjoy all 4 pieces and didn't want to eat the fries with it since I had ordered so much food. The drinks - I got a honey cucumber Arnold Palmer which was refreshing and my wife got this other drink with a mixture of fruit drinks which was great. We enjoyed the place. Enjoyed watching the Olympics there during our meal. One less star since when it did pick up it was hard to get our check and refills on drinks.

Read all the reviews so was pretty sure this would be wonderful, and maybe I'm being super critical but it was really just so so. Cute little place right on the water which would be fun in the summer to have a glass of wine and sit outside and watch the boats. Inside is very casual but perfect for a quick lunch. They were doing a brisk business on a Saturday afternoon. My friend and I opted to do some sharing so ordered nachos which came with shrimp, crab, peppers, cheese and some other toppings. Minimal seafood and I think even less cheese. If you're going to make nachos and charge over $20 then the cooks really need to learn how to layer the cheese so you aren't getting mostly bare chips. Hardly any of the other sauces and we had to look for the peppers. Also decided to split a lobster roll. The bun was toasted so much as to be just this side of overdone, small amount of lobster which tasted a little fishy, and while there was supposed to be melted butter all over it, we had trouble finding it. Not sure if the kitchen was having a bad day but our lunch today didn't make us want to return.

I had a very quick in-and-out experience here since I spontaneously decided to eat here with a few friends, but for my first time it wasn't too bad! I heard a lot of good things about their fish and chips so I ordered the 4 piece cod. The fish was so good and soft. The fries were well seasoned and the tartar sauce was great. Our waitress was nice and attentive to us and my friend's kids. I'd love to return here in the future to try more of what they have.

This was Johnnys in the past and was wondering about this peddler place. My friend suggested this place after we looked at a few others places that were filled since it was a beautiful day. We waited to be seated and the wait was short. Parking was good and convenient. The food was good and oysters were fresh. We had a good time and good meals.

Food: fish was a little on the oilly side, service was very good and ambiance was perfect. Pet friendly outside. Lobster roll was really small but chowder was even better.

This place is amazing! Service, food, ambiance, the whole experience is well worth it. Great prices; plenty of bang for your buck. Good happy hour menu too.

Classic waterfront spot for fish n chips. Good tap list and great service. Reasonable prices as well.

I use to love this place. It went down hill hard. Took my niece and nephew out a couple of weeks ago and almost just walked out. One waiter on a sunny Sunday and took over an hour to get food. Sad small little.portions of food and it was not even good like it used to be. I wont be back.

We were looking for a place to eat and wanted to try something different. Mind you it was Easter Sunday and a lot of places were closed. We found this place on my favorite site "Yelp". The food was very good. We ordered the clams, calamari, clam chowder and fish tacos. Let me tell you, this place did not disappoint. The service was exceptional. Waitress kept checking on us to see if we needed anything. The place was very nice a ambiance was on point. I would definitely recommend and go here again

This used to be our favorite place but our last visit it all seemed to change. I think it was bought out. The $10 price rate on every menu item to horrible service. We waited 40 minutes for our food, not the manager who was standing in my direct site to our waitress never maid eye contact with us or acknowledge the wait. Very dissappounting

The food was so fresh - gorgeous cold oysters; scrumptious rockfish tacos and side vegetables I could have eaten much more of those! Everything was great - we googled a seafood place and got there in time. Service was excellent and big tv had on football and baseball. We'll be back for sure.

Some of the best clam chowder I've ever had! The fish and chips were amazing. It's the third year in a row. We have visited Tacoma for a business meeting and we frequent this spot every time. Bartender was really cool and had a great knowledge of the local beers. Great environment and the ambience is fun for the whole family!

In general, the portion sizes were too small for the prices they charged. The seafood artichoke dip with bread ($20) was good. However, it came with a mini loaf of bread that was hard and hollow. Despite recognizing this when serving us, the waitress did not offer to get more bread. The seafood pasta ($32) was lukewarm and dry. They used a basic Alfredo sauce and included four large prawns, but no other seafood was included. We did not finish the pasta because it left much to be desired. The "bowl" of clam chowder was the size of the cup. It was also cold. Thankfully, our waitress took the soup back and heated it up. The service was minimal. Our waitress seemed to have an attitude when we asked her to heat up the soup. Overall, we were dissatisfied and will not be coming back. The patio had a nice ambiance with boats passing by, but there are numerous waterfront restaurants with better food.

Service is great and the salad I had was good. The salad dressing was awful (like mayo). They said it was ranch but my wife and I sat the jury is out on that one. My wife's grilled fish was covered in butter. She took one bite and it was only butter. Not much flavor beyond that. The fish and chips are great though.

I came here for my birthday which is the day before Valentine's Day so I was slightly surprised it wasn't busier. Right away we were greeted and seated and waited on. We were told all the specials our waiter recommended things on the menu. I've always been weary of seafood restaurants since the fishy smell kind of turns me off but I'm glad we came! I ordered the blackened salmon which came with mashed potatoes and lobster Mac and cheese. 10/10. The potatoes DONT taste like they were powdered but instead like they actually prepared them from potatoes. And the lobster Mac was slightly sweet and creamy and delicious! I also ordered the chocolate cake to go and it took me 3 days to finish. Love this place.

The food is made, the drinks too. The seduction is annoying, mid restraunt. High prices, low quality food. All this can be found in my pantry.

We went here on a Monday night. The staff was very friendly, it's a very quaint, and nice environment. We each shared the main lobster roll. Love the bread, the lobster was very fresh. I would've preferred garlic butter poured over the lobster roll, but it was good quality. The clam chowder was amazing, and the Caesar salad was also really good. Fries were tasty but could have been a little warmer.

Had lunch there yesterday, 8/27/2025 The waitress that served us seemed to have a attitude first off. It was like she had to smile with a sarcastic force.Second, the thickness of the halibut (2 pieces) was anything but short of a piece of papers thinness. The cod, pretty sure it wasn't cooked all the way. Wont ever be back.

We were looking for fresh, affordable seafood and came across this place, right on the water. They were upfront about staffing and worked to space their walk ins. We had a 20-30 min wait but entertained ourselves looking out at the water and at the boats. There is indoor and outdoor seating, we opted for first available and sat inside. Once seated, our waitress came quickly and was very knowledgeable about the menu. Helped with recommendations. She also let us know there was quite a bit on the menu that was not available during our visit because of recent conventions, etc. (Expectations managed immediately). Food came out quickly and was so good! I loved how hearty and flavorful the clam chowder was. We really enjoyed sharing the seafood nachos and loved the bits of shrimp and crab on them. My husband loves jalapeños so he really enjoyed the spice on the nachos. After all my starters I only made it halfway through my entree. The fish was nice and tender. The breading was a bit thick but had good taste. We plan to come again and explore the menu more!

Best fish and chips I ever had! Very cute place by the water. Service was fast and friendly but the food was just delicious! A special treat and good price. Shorter blonde haired woman and my Hawaiian server were just two gems

I was pleasantly surprised with The Fish Peddler. This restaurant is often over-looked because it's much further down the waterfront, closer to Foss Waterway. My husband really wanted some good fish and chips, and I really wanted a good bowl of chowder- this was just the place! Seafood is super fresh- Pacific foods processes their seafood right behind the restaurant. Service was fantastic- I wish I could remember our server's name- he was attentive and knowledgeable! The restaurant itself is "pub-ish", not fancy at all- give this place a try for great seafood!

The hype is better than the food. Expensive for the food that is okay. Staff is friendly and restaurant is clean and ample seating.

Fresh seafood, great service. We sat outside on a bright, cloudy day. One of our party is gluten-free, and server was very attentive with helping her choose the right item, and even went to the kitchen to double-check. It turns out, Northwest Seafood Stew is gluten-free. My lobster roll with tempura green beans (+$3) was delicious. There were large chunks of lobster in a creamy sauce, but the sandwich is a bit salty for me. My friend also enjoyed the taste and portion size of the seafood nachos.

When I'm on the west coast, great oysters are what I'm looking for. This place had them. When I'm further south, I always hit their shop near Tillamook for the same thing. Fresh, local, great creamy flavor. Yum. I believe the server said Port Orchard, but I'm not 100% sure. Fish tacos were fresh and were great with lime. Salsa was a bit flat for me, but it's not like it was the star of the show. Service was friendly and attentive, even when busy. I'll be back.

We have been coming to the Fish Peddler ( Johnny's Fish Market) for a long time & we come for the Lobster Roll (LR). We haven't been there for several months & everything was great except the LR. I was very dissatisfied with the serving size & quality of their Connecticut LR's. Our waitress was great but she recommended the Connecticut LR over the Maine LR. I had the Conn. LR & my wife had the Maine LR, the price has gone up $3 and the Lobster serving size is 1/2 the meat (as was my wife's). I don't know if I was just unlucky and received the bottom of the bucket but my Conn. LR was just leg meat & aside from 2 small front pinchers meat the legs were hideous, they looked like worms & all my meat was overcooked & chewy. Why would anyone waste their time removing the tiny leg shells? I rarely write reviews & I might have been more tolerant with the smaller serving & price if the quality was there, we will not return here. Steve L.

Love the food here. So fresh. We love dining on the patio or at the bar. Going back tonight.

We stopped in for lunch and a beverage. The server didn't interact with us at all. She was asked to put the beverages on one ticket when our friends insisted on covering the drinks. She did not. We had 3 well drinks, one order of fish and chips and one order of fish tacos. With tax and tip (yes we still left a tip), our bill was $91! The food was just ok. This restaurant is ok but not what we'd expect to pay that much for given our order. We will not return. We will spend our dollars at a restaurant that seems to appreciate our business.

Hostess was weird, lots of empty tables said they had a wait list, but it was non-existent. Wanted us to sit outside, but we wanted inside. Made us sit in the bar. The bartender was nice, wasn't sure why we had been sent to eat in the bar. Then way too apologetic over and over and over. Made us a bit uncomfortable. But he was trying hard, more so than the snotty hostess. Food was actually quite good ahi melt and salad were nicely done. My fries were luke warm, not very fresh, but other than that no complaints there. Understaffed? Or just confused.... Not quite sure what to make of it all.