The Fish Peddler Restaurant on Foss Waterway

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.

Delightfully delicious! We stopped here for lunch based on all the great reviews and we are SO satisfied! Great fish, great service and casual, comfortable atmosphere on the waterway. Large parking lot. My husband had the crab Louie and loved it. It was all tossed and had crab and shrimp throughout. I had the fresh sea trout and it was wonderful.

Signature taste. Service was prompt and frequent. All the entrees and appetizers were delicious. The cod fish n chips were lacking a bit on portion size, and the creme brulee was a scoop of ice cream over an apple turnover like thing. The restaurant was open and clean, the scenery was nice and quiet.

Came here for lunch and the food was spectacular! Great customer service and amazing menu. I had the lobster roll and it was incredible, fresh calamari appetizer was to die for with the most amazing garlic aioli I’ve ever had. I also really enjoyed the local Seattle soda that they offer here, definitely coming back

I’m from out of state and this was recommended by a local. It was pretty good! It was clean, had friendly staff, and was within walking distance of downtown. It had a pretty decent selection of food options. I got the Rockfish tacos and they were good! A little on the spicy side. The chips and salsa was fantastic too.

Dropped in for mid-happy hour in the bar area. Were greeted and seated by the friendly staff. Ordered drinks (Gin and Tonic and one of their Mocktails with Blackberry and Mint) and a little off the Happy Hour Menu (Burger and Shrimp Cocktail)and the Main Menu (Rockfish Tacos). Everything was homemade and very delicious. Overall a great experience.

Wow this is true hidden gem. Not from Tacoma, but was advised by locals to go here. Had a cup of clam chowder, the Maine lobster roll, pineapple habanero slaw and apple crisp for desert. The food and service were fantastic. The atmosphere was not fancy, but very comfortable with a nice patio and views of the harbour. I really thought my meal was excellent. I hope you try it when you’re in Tacoma! Michael Dunn

Had the daily fresh catch fish. Everything was excellent food ,staff, atmosphere. It's on the water has outdoor seating as well as indoor. Very relaxed atmosphere

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.

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

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!!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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 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!

Visited this evening- some empty tables but staff was hopping. I knew better than to order a lobster roll- this is not Maine. It was fine, but I won't have another until I'm in Maine. My spouse had the crab and shrimp Louis and enjoyed it. A large group of kids behind me but they were quickly coloring and quiet!

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.

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

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.

Service was great! Beautiful day and we sat on patio. Food was great! I had the Halibut and Chips

Great food. Incredible chowder. Strange location but it works. Nice staff. Full bar.

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

Food - Food was decent. They bought the lobster roll without the roll on a piece of bread.. we had to get a replacement Service - More than half the restaurant was entry and they made us wait 45 min.. they said the kitchen was slow. They also charged 20% tip on the credit card machine and had additional tip options.. their tip on the machine was wrong for $80 meal - 20% tip was almost $30.. please be careful Ambience - It was not bad. Sat outside and it was cold and not busy.. And they made us wait 45 min.. Lame

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.

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.

Terrible. Was on the waitlist for 30.minutes. Happened to be in a dead spot missed the text. Ok on us...what isn't on us...is I called the restaurant and.explained what happened they TOLD us to come on in. We go in and are told its a longer wait. Unacceptable!! Mind you this is all within a 10 minute window. Their response....you can talk to the person who told you the "bad" information??? For what..?? Won't ever come back here AGAIN! Go somewhere else...

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.

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!

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 food here has definitely gone down hill over the last year. I've tried a variety of items on this menu and the clam chowder has been the only thing that has been consistently good. Everything else looks poorly thrown together, the last couple of times I've ordered mussels, it's been very fishy tasting. The last time I brought my partner, he ordered the fish tacos and it was barely edible. It's been disappointing each visit. I will always return for chowder because it's my favorite in the state but I wouldn't recommend any other dishes here.

First time through based on good reviews. Perhaps the hostess/server was having an off day, but we felt as an unwelcome burden to them. It was a Thursday pre dinner rush, moderately busy early evening. As the meal progressed the server became angrier... we considered getting up and leaving. Food was good. Bloody Mary was fun with the extra crab arm accouterment. Beer Batter Halibut n' Chip was okay. Clam chowder was heavy clam, so to each their own on that one. Cute bar area. Parking was easy, however the cost for the anger was disappointing. Will select another establishment when through the area again.

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.

Overall decent food. Everything near the water is a bit overpriced, but if it's actually fresh, well worth it. Good experience overall and would recommend for anyone in the area looking for what they offer. Keep it local.

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.

You want fresh fish this is the spot to go! On the water next to the harbor. We sat outside & had such a great time. Friendly service, food was incredible! Been here 4x now, working on trying the whole menu.

We were simply looking for some local made clam chowder. Wow! Spot-on, great taste! The next time we return to Tacoma, we will definitely pick up another soup & salad from The Fish Peddler! Try is believing, so try!

Good service but the food was not good. The 12 oysters had so much shell grit in every one and the sauces were tasted like old condiments. The clam chowder was overly thick and boring. I had a specialty Cajun pasta the chicken was severely overdone and the 3 shrimp were small and not flavorful at all, while the pasta was sweet with very little spice shining through. Lobster roll was plain and a little soggy. None of the flavors of seafood were brought out in any course. The cocktails were decent and the restaurant layout was nothing to complain about.

Dried out fish, small portions, and high price tag. Not a great option anymore. It used to be, but not anymore. We have been here numerous times but now the quality has gone way down.

The food was average, but the seafood dip was fabulous! Emma R. was out server, and she was great. It's not worth the price. Cod and fries was $21. The slaw was very good.

The food and service by Char , was great! We arrived 5/24/24 at noon. I had the crab Mac and cheese. It was delicious and creamy, one of my favorites. I also had the clam chowder and it was very flavorful! It was creamy , with chunks of potatoes and clams. It was very tasty.

I forgot photos because I was shoving the amazing food into my mouth as soon as it came. The table got the crab Mac and cheese, seafood dip, fish tacos, salmon burger, oysters (3 dozen) lobster rolls and clam chowder. Everyone devoured their food. Make this your next stop at the Tacoma waterfront!

Food was ok. Don't expect their prices on the wall to match what you order. We ordered a dozen oysters expecting the market price of 20 dollars and when we got the bill it was 40 dollars and their explanation was the wall price is a take home price. Second time here and second time disappointed. We won't be coming back

I came here for a late lunch after going to the local museums. Before eating, I took a pleasant stroll along the pier, which was picturesque. I then came inside to find a few people dining. It took the hostess a moment to seat me outside, but I ultimately made it to the patio. Once seated, I asked to order a cocktail but was told there was no bartender on duty but that she would see what she could do. I got the spicy mango margarita, and it was solid despite there being no bartender present. I ordered the lobster roll with fries, which was deliciously fresh and filling. All in all, it is a great al fresco dining experience with a great view.

Definitely worth the trip and wait! Lobster Roll is delicious and well portioned. Great decor with a rustic feel and enhanced this delicious lunch. Service was good and the staff is quite attentive, which is refreshing given where I come from with little to no customer service. Highly recommend and wish we had waited for Happy Hour, but next time for sure!

Food quality here is too notch -even their side Caesar doesn't skimp. It's a casual date night spot-and the patio in the summer is so refreshing. Just tried the salmon burger and it blew me out of the water-not your mom's freezer salmon patty. Thick-fresh-moist send flavorful and the brioche bun even tasted delicious and I don't eat a lot of bread-this was worth it. Other wins-salmon or chicken Caesar, steelhead anything, the blackened steelhead tacos -delicious! Fish and chips some of the best. It gets busy and it's small without patio season so get here early.

In 2006, The Fish Peddler in Tacoma, Washington joined the Pacific Seafood family. Pacific Seafood is a seafood company that began in 1941 as a retail store on Powell Blvd. in Portland, Oregon. Today, they have over 3000 employees across 40 facilities, in 3 countries. They are headquartered in Clackamas, Oregon. Partnering with businesses like The Fish Peddler is a great way to showcase their goods. I visited The Fish Peddler after reading an article by esteemed food writer Sue Kidd about the best Lobster Rolls in Pierce County, WA. There were at least 4 different businesses serving them. Sue said the best were at The Fish Peddler, so that's where I went! Sue was right! The Fish Peddler's Lobster Roll is EXCELLENT! I'd go so far as to say it's the best lobster roll I've ever had. It was a classic Maine Lobster Roll. There was a generous portion of Atlantic tail and claw lobster meat mixed with a little celery, green onion, and just enough mayo, to tie it all together, stuffed into a warm, buttery, split top bun. I wasn't a fan of the slaw, which includes pineapple and jalapeño. I would've preferred more traditional version. I also got a cup of Razor Clam Chowder. It's not my favorite version of chowder, but I'm glad I tried it. I look forward to returning and trying more menu items.

Ordered the shrimp and crab louie salad. There were a few shells in the meat which made me lower my rating. The greens were fresh. Next time I would definitely order the salad dressing on the side as it was a bit too much mixed in. I also ordered the oysters on the half shell which were delicious. The waitress was friendly.

I stopped by on a Wednesday evening early for dinner. The restaurant was cozy and there were quite a few people in the bar area. I was attended to quickly and my food was delivered shortly. The oyster shooter and the halibut fish and chips were delicious. There's also outdoor seating if desired.

Great seafood! Tried the clams as appetizer, delicious broth and portion generous. We had the seafood cioppino and the seafood Louie salad. Both were fantastic and seafood is fresh. Service is excellent and waterfront seating divine especially on a summer night. Great restaurant!!