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    Chowders

    3.7 (1k reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Chowders Photos

    CHOWDERS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Touristy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Chowders

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    Chowder
    Negar T.

    We ordered the chowder and the French fries. The chowder was okay, but the French fries were crispy and delicious. The service was friendly, the outdoor seating area was comfortable, and I really liked the view. Overall, we had a nice experience and would come back again, especially for the fries!

    Lynn D.

    You have to have seafood in Pier 39 but be careful which restaurant you choose. Clam chowder was okay here but the shrimp Louis was very odd. It was served in a tortilla shell and was full of celery pieces which outnumbered the amount of lettuce. Tomatoes and mushrooms were the only other ingredients. The shrimp was good but a Louis needs boiled egg slices and preferably has avocado slices also. I did not understand the tortilla shell and all the celery. The dressing was good.

    Seafood platter
    Zay M.

    I stopped by while at the pier walking around. I ordered at 1:37pm. I got the seafood platter with fish, shrimps calamari, and fries. The food was ready at 1:42pm, which was quick. It was crispy and tasty but could've used more seasoning. Staff was friendly. I ordered at the counter and then picked up my food from the counter when it was ready.

    chowder
    Shiny C.

    Honestly kind of regretted eating here when there were so many other options on the pier. We came here because we wanted to try the chowder and also get parking validation, but they don't do that here since it's not a full-service restaurant, so keep that in mind. The chowder was okay and there wasn't very much clam meat. The bread was good though! But definitely not worth the price, you can probably find better chowder elsewhere on the pier.

    Lisset M.

    Food, customer service, ambiance was all 10 stars! We arrived prior to rush hour on a sunny Thursday in March. The music was softly playing in background while we enjoyed our conversation and still were able to take in the scenery. Vibes were on point bread and chowder was fresh! Deff returning when in Pier 39.

    Clam Chowder Sourdough Bowl
    Yeebing T.

    Came to Chowders for lunch after an awkward encounter with the hostess of the restaurant I was initially planning to go to that made me feel too embarrassed to get lunch. The ambiance has a laid-back, 50s diner-esque vibe, and the servers were relatively friendly. I decided to get the clam chowder bowl. The service was unusually quick, as they served me my food before I even got the chance to sit down. I'm certain that the soup was likely prepared in advance, but it was still warm and the differences it had from other clam chowder places (such as the skin of the potato being visible) I went to made it clear that this was a soup made from scratch. The soup itself was good, and tasted amazing with the sourdough bread. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of sitting underneath a section of the diner that had a small ledge, which was wide enough for a pigeon to sit on it and poop on me while I was trying to eat. Luckily it didn't get into the food, but it made for an uncomfortable experience and resulted in me having to end my trip to San Francisco early. Despite it all, it was an alright experience. Had it not been for the pigeon, I probably would've rated this place five stars. If you want to go here, make sure to look above you to make sure you didn't choose one of the seats with said ledge.

    Clam chowder
    Jesse R.

    Food was good for the price point. Busy crowd even on a rainy Thursday. Service was fast and the fries were piping hot when delivered.

    Niks O.

    I'm sorry to leave a 2 Star review.. I almost went with 3, but when I thought "would I go back" the answer was "no". It's in a great location, indoor or outdoor seating is nice and the service is quick, especially with the chowder bowls. We ordered clam chowder in a bread bowl (obvi) and the crab melt. The chowder was more creamy than actually flavorful, and sadly the bread bowl was just chewy and not really tasty. I almost didn't even want it. The crab melt was good, but a small amount of crab.

    White chowder bread bowls
    Lea L.

    Our family is Bay Area local, and whenever it's chilly outside and we feel like "playing tourist," we head to Pier 39 for some clam chowder. They offer two types: the classic white chowder and the red chowder. The white is definitely the crowd favorite--rich, creamy, and comforting. The red is more like a minestrone with clams, still tasty but a different vibe. I personally prefer the traditional white chowder. If you can grab the back seat by the window, you'll get a great view of Alcatraz while you enjoy your meal. The soup here is really good--honestly better than many of the other bread bowls on the pier. Perfect spot for a cozy little tourist moment, even for us locals!

    this is my first time going to chowders and i ordered the chowder bread bowl and the chicken ranch sandwich. the chowder bowl was pretty good but the chicken sandwich was a small portion, not really worth the price. the service was quick and efficient.

    Bread bowl
    Amada H.

    We visited the pier and was craving chowder, we thought this place would be perfect. We were served the chowder bread bowls before we finished paying which was fast! However, the celery and potatoes that was in the chowder was not cooked, it was crunchy. The bread was really good though. If you're craving chowder, I'd recommend going elsewhere.

    La Selle H.

    We never fail to stop here every time we visit Pier 39. Shareable portions especially the clam chowder bowl. Fish and chips are tasty as well.

    Chowder bread bowl
    Lisa W.

    Super touristy, but why not? Visiting my sister and decided to play tourist on Pier 39. It was a beautiful day so it was extremely busy. You order and pay first then find a seat. They have front seating, inside and side seating outside. We only ordered the clam chowder in a bread bowl. The bread is a good sourdough. The chowder itself was extremely salty. Definitely needed the bread or water to mellow it out. Not much clam pieces, lots of salt and potatoes. Order came really fast. Plenty of seating.

    Crab cake

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    3 months ago

    Chowder with fresh ingredients and I actually wanted to eat the whole bread bowl if my stomachache allowed me!

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    Ganji

    Ganji

    4.6
    (629 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    What a gem amongst all the restaurants in Japan Town! It's in the outside center near the…read morestationary store Paper Tree for reference. Been here a couple of times already and the service never failed. Even came here during the Cherry Blossom Festival and the staff were still friendly / accommodating. They even put a spicy sauce on the side of one of the katsu plates when we mentioned that my dad couldn't handle all that haha. This cozy spot mainly focuses on katsu plates, but I like how they had off menu or specials to choose from if you'd like another option. I will say though them katsu plates were just chef's kiss. The meat is pounded thin enough where it's still juicy and tender, but doesn't affect the exterior from being crunchy and a bit flaky. Nothing was dry here yallll! I also like how it already comes with miso soup and salad. Huge fan of that Hamachi Truffle special though. Think of a citrusy flavor from the ponzu, fresh fish, a bit of micro greens, and a thin slice of jalapeño that just ~works~ on a cute wooden spoon that you want to steal I could honestly eat like 5 spoons of this. I'd skip on the calamari as it was kind of skimpy to share with a large group. Only note was that their fried katsu curry was a bit underwhelming with having more slices of carrots than potato! Would love to come back if I am ever in the area.

    Ganji is a solid spot for katsu in Japantown! The service was excellent--the staff were friendly,…read moreattentive, and quick to take our orders, which made for a great dining experience. The miso soup was a delicious way to start the meal, and when my katsu arrived, it looked amazing. The meat was hot, tender, and the portion was huge, so I definitely left full. My only suggestion is to ask for the curry on the side if you like your katsu extra crispy. I had the curry poured over it, and the breading got soggy pretty quickly. The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is the price. My dish was around $30, which felt a little expensive, although I can understand it given the quality of the meat and generous portions. Overall, it's a great place if you're craving katsu, and I'd definitely come back--just with the curry on the side next time!

    Photos
    Ganji
    Ganji
    Ganji

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    Ollei

    Ollei

    4.5
    (341 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    The service is great and the servers are awesome. The restaurant is really loud so if you're…read moreexpecting a quiet place to sit down, do not go here. They have MVs projecting on the wall too so that adds to the noise. As for the food, everything is great! The pajeon is flavorful, light and crispy. It had a lot of kimchi so that was yum. The army stew was not too salty and warmed us up! The soy garlic chicken was not overly sweet and was crispy too. The spicy pork was good but there were a few pieces that was chewy. It wasn't that spicy though but it still tasted good. The creamy pasta and tteok was good too and lived up to its name. I did find that the tteok was chewier than normally, but my partner said it was fine so to each their own. Will probably come back for a third visit!

    Ollei does exactly what it sets out to do. It's a solid neighborhood spot with standard Korean bar…read morefood, a lively atmosphere, and straightforward, no-frills service. We stopped in after the Valkyries game based on the reviews, and it matched expectations. We ordered the seafood pancake, the half-and-half chicken wings, and the spicy pork belly. Portions were generous and easily enough food for three to four people. Banchan were negligible. One thing that stood out was how sweet many of the dishes were. If you're coming in expecting bold heat, just know the flavors lean noticeably sweeter than the menu descriptions might suggest. Overall, it was a perfectly decent meal at a fair price in a convenient part of Polk Street. I'd be happy to come back if I were in the area, though it probably wouldn't be my first choice if I were specifically craving Korean food.

    Photos
    Dining Room
    Dining Room
    Seafood Pancake / 해물파전
    Seafood Pancake / 해물파전
    Corn Cheese Plate

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    Corn Cheese Plate

    Chowders - seafood - Updated July 2026

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