I went to Ivar's twice while in Seattle. Both times were busy but I feel more organized during lunch versus chaotic at dinner. You worry that your order will get lost with the crowd, but the folks at the register do a great job of keeping track of who orders what. Portions are pretty sizable. Everything was fresh and hot. We really enjoyed the chowder. We had leftover fries and fed them to the seagulls. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Prime location with hard working staff. Indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor seating they allow you to feed the seagulls which is popular with the kids and tourists. Food was good however we felt they gave us a lot of fries and not much of the fish and oysters. Also soooo sad when did they get rid of the glass malt vinegar bottles?! Why the packets?! So environmentally unfriendly and difficult and for those who like a lot of vinegar and sitting there tearing each packet open is time consuming when hungry. Overall was a nice quick lunch heading towards the Seattle Great Wheel being tourists for the day but we wouldn't return. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We were really disappointed with the food. The clam chowder was lukewarm, watery, and lacked flavor. The bread tasted old instead of fresh. We also ordered the calamari, but the portion was very small and the pieces were tiny. On the positive side, the service was quick, and the outdoor seating area was pleasant if you're looking for a quick meal. Unfortunately, the quality of the food did not match our expectations. FYI: Also, clam chowder has bacon . read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great bites! It's a super fun spot, and must do in Seattle. It felt like Cane's or Chikfila with the speed and efficiency of taking orders. I'd love to go again already! The salmon chowder was the star of the show for me-it was smoky with tons of flavor and freshness. It was silly to feed the seagulls as well. They were ready for a bite! I do wonder if it's good for them... though it is quite a fun draw in to this spot. The fried salmon is VERY dry. Not my favorite. It tastes decent dipped in the chowder, otherwise be sure to grab the classic fish and chips. That's the first time I've seen and tried fried salmon! read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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It was our first time here and we really enjoyed it. It was a beautiful day so we opted for a table outside. The waiter gave us enough time to look over the menu, but I already knew I wanted to try the clam chowder! It came out piping hot , slightly sweet, smokey with a hint of bacon. The grilled artichoke was standard. When I'm back in town I'd love to try other dishes. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Yummy Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We stopped by for a quick bite before heading to the airport. We ordered the three piece true cod and a cup of their New England clam chowder. For a quick bite we really enjoyed our lunch. The fish was very good and so was the chowder. My only complaint is that I wish the soup was hotter. They have cups/bowls already dished out and ready to be served so it is not very hot. I understand why they do this since I this is a quick service place but I like my soup extra hot. On the positive side the lines do move very quickly. My husband went to throw away our trash and came back with their ice cream sundae. A pretty big portion for only $5. A yummy ending to our meal. Overall we enjoyed our lunch here. read more

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The salmon was okay. I wasn't the biggest fan of the stuffing. My family enjoyed the other items they had at the restaurant. Next time i'll try something different. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Off the Hook Stuffed Wild Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Excuse the picture, it's one of the few times I remembered to snap one mid meal, it'll serve as proof of visit. Ivar's is one of the staples of Seattle for good reason! One of my favorite fish and chips for consistency, convenience, and availability around town. Better fish and chips may exist, but none are as accessible as Ivar's with many locations. What's interesting here is that they have a line for ordering and then a line to pay, but it's clearly labelled. Cod is juicy, fried lightly, and heavenly when paired with their delicious tartar sauce. Chips are soft with a light crunch and also heavenly when paired with the tartar. They have a covered shelter to dine inside but the entire waterfront is nifty to eat around. Restroom (washroom, bathroom search terms) available next door in Ivar's Acre of Clams. Pro tip that the kid cones are delicious and plentiful, so save room for dessert. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Fish 'N Chips and Jumbo Prawns 'N Chips - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The food is excellent here and tastes fresh. The look of Ivar's has this cool mix of old school with modern. The service was really good but we had two waiters and that seemed like one too many. It was a bit awkward. The prices seemed pretty high. But hey, we were from out of town so perhaps that's standard for the area. But I do recommend this place. The view next to the water is fantastic! read more

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When visiting Seattle, we had to get our taste of seafood. Ivar's has been here originally since 1948 and serving their famous fish and chips. We arrived at 11:30 am on a weekday and right before the lunch rush. We sat on a large table next to the window with gorgeous views of the waterfront. Our server Kay was the best! She was so cheerful and accommodating making our meal a nice treat. The fish and chips was crispy and good sized. The seafood linguine had a lot of seafood but little too soupy. It was more like linguine seafood soup. read more

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Nice location. Have visited every summer and this time the fish with the fish and chips were so small it was ridiculous. Disappointing and will not be back . read more

Our family in Seattle took us to Ivars and told us it was the best clam chowder in Seattle...they didn't disappoint! Ordered a clam chowder and some fish fillets. Clam chowder was meaty with a lot of clam and seasoned well. The fish fillets were really good also! Had a bit of a chewiness that was nice compared to mushy fish fillets I've had in the past! It was pretty empty around the time we went, but nevertheless still had a good time! read more

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We enjoyed our lunch at Ivars. We were seated on the outdoor patio with a fabulous view and our waiter was skilled. The food was pretty average but we were not expecting anything gourmet. We had the steelhead sandwich and crabcake sandwich and substituted clam chowder for the fries. We left satisfied. read more

We stopped in for Ivar's at the waterfront for a quick lunch and were greeted by a long line, but it moved surprisingly fast. The staff did a great job keeping things efficient by calling out to customers in the line to start on each order, and by the time we got up to the cashier, our food was ready within minutes. Talk about efficiency! There's plenty of seating options-outside along the water or under a covered area. We were going to sit outside, but after we sat down, a family came out to feed the birds. The seagulls swooped in, so we moved indoors. While inside was a little less hectic, there were plenty of pigeons hoping for crumbs. Oh well! We still enjoyed our freshly fried halibut and chips. The fish was perfectly golden brown and not overcooked. We love dipping each bite in tartar sauce, and the cashier gladly gave us extra dip. Napkins, malt vinegar, straws, and utensils are conveniently located just left of the cashier for easy access. Looking forward to next time. read more

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We stopped in here for a great midday meal in October while visiting and enjoyed the views of the interior of the restaurant with much to see and also views to the outside through large windows to see water, mountains, boats, etc. The waitstaff were top notch and very attentive and helpful with answering questions. Food orders were taken and fulfilled by kitchen very quickly, piping hot and delicious. I ordered from the Ivar's Classics lunch menu and chose the fried northwest combo of Alaska true cod, surf clam strips, shrimp. and substituted Brussels sprouts for the fries. No complaints, very satisfied! Highly recommended as a top destination if visiting Seattle and appreciate tried-and-true options. read more

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Cozy waterfront spot with fresh fish and great vibes Visited Ivar's Fish Bar in Seattle and had a wonderful meal. Ordered sourdough, a clam chowder bowl, and the 3-piece Fish 'N Chips--the fish was super soft and perfectly cooked, and the chowder was rich and comforting. The spot definitely feels like a tourist favorite--they even have tour maps near the entrance. The waterfront view is lovely, and the indoor seating is very spacious, with cozy fireplaces and nice decorations throughout, giving a warm, welcoming vibe. They also have a happy hour every day, which is a nice bonus. On top of that, everyone is super friendly, making the overall experience very enjoyable. Overall, a solid spot for fresh seafood with a cozy atmosphere and beautiful views. read more

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At this place, the food was really good, especially the clam chowder soup. I like the ambiance inside the seating area, and the birds outside are really cool. But what I didnt like was the service. Someone I know ordered scallops. But the worker gave her prawns. She said she order scallops and the worker just said "no you didnt." I find this very rude because she did indeed order scallops. She just took the prawns after that. But beside service this place had great food. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - The delicious clam chowder soup. - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This ranks among the worst fish and chips I've had in Seattle. The food was overpriced and mediocre, there's really not much else to say about it. The service was decent and straightforward, which was the only redeeming quality. Despite the lackluster food, the place was packed with tourists eager to experience a taste of Seattle. There's ample seating both indoors and out, though outdoor diners should be prepared for opportunistic birds that may leave unwelcome surprises dangerously close to your meal. I'd recommend trying elsewhere.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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10/10 my favorite clam chowder and fried cod! We ate at the outside storefront after a long day of sightseeing, and it hit the spot. The chowder is perfectly thick, with just the right amount of clams and potatoes. Also can't beat the price! The cod was cooked to perfection, not too dry and lightly battered. We also got the calamari, which was also really delicious. Service was good, staff was friendly and on par with any other fast food type place. read more

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Service was great in this stuck in time restaurant on the water that reminded me of an old Jersey. diner. The view was beautiful. The flavor of the fish and chips and shrimp were good, but they should be ashamed of themselves with those ridiculous small portions. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Shrimp and chips - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The location and food were great. Reasonable prices for fast outside service. My only issue was the unfriendliness of the staff taking orders. They were distracted and at one point walked away while I was giving my order, no warning and no apology. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - The jumbo shrimp platter is so good. The shrimp were cooked perfectly! - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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For my first meal in Seattle was Ivar's was the best decision ever. I ordered a cup of their smoked salmon chowder and a cup of their regular white chowder. I fell in love with both but couldn't stop thinking about their red chowder!!! It was so good we did not take a photo of the first meal. Went back the next morning for another bowl this time of their white chowder. Then again at night for their fish and chips. Let's say, I'll be back just for this!!! read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Had to come back the very next day. - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I stopped in at Ivar's on the Seattle waterfront agter getting off the ferry on my way to the new Seattle waterfront they've been working on for years but is now open. I was happy I stopped for Ivar's fish & chips plus chowder. I haven't worked sowntown now for years and used to stop by and eat here once a month to enjoy their fresh fish, chips, and chowder. I've been eating there since I was a little kid and I'm so happy they still serve great food just like they did when Ivar was still alive. Many restaurants are gone downtown after Covid but not Ivar's. They not only sutvived Covid but are thriving. The true cod is just as good as ever and so are the fries, and clam chowder. How many restaurants over the past two decades can say that? The next time I want great fish, chips, and chowder, I'm heading to Ivar's on the waterfront. And who doesn't enjoy sharing their fries with the Segalls? After all these years, I still do. Go Ivar's!!! read more

Looking for some lunch after taking the water taxi from West Seattle and was in the mood for chowder. We went to the outside ordering spot, and then they have seats in a covered area or along the side of the building outside looking out at the water. Kind of felt like herded cattle when we were in line ordering. One of the guys shouted he wanted our fryer order first then get back in line. I get the reasoning because fish n chips takes longer and we had a mixed order of a fish n chips and chowder. Service was pretty quick that way, though, and by the time we were at the front for our turn the fish n chips were done. We took our food to the side outside to eat, as we wanted to enjoy the pretty day. Unfortunately this restaurant encourages patrons to feed the seagulls, so all while we are eating there are people feeding seagulls, and they are a menace while trying to eat your food in peace, and also watching them poop all over while eating is lovely. The chowder was decent. Nothing to write home about, but not bad either. My husband's fish n chips were good he said, with a good fish to batter ratio. Not too much batter. All in all, the food was ok, but the experience could have been so much better without management encouraging their patrons to feed the seagulls. (There was actually a sign) I was so distracted I actually forgot to take a picture of the food. read more

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In town with family , who suggested this spot. I try to avoid tourist spots but we were so hungry having just landed. I ordered the fish and chips. This was probably the worst fish and chips I've ever had ! The waitress recommended the beer batter one's. I almost think they were frozen. They were dry and flavorless. The fries were salty and warm. The Caesar salad was good. A little too much dressing. View was spectacular read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Cesear Salad - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Ivars was a miss for me. I got fried calamari, fried oysters with fries, and a cup of clam chowder, but the frying oil tasted musty and it tainted everything -- sad because I love fried seafood. The chowder also skewed a little sweet, which threw me off since I prefer savory-forward chowders. Staff were fine but the food just didn't land. If you love classic clam shack vibes, maybe try it once, but I wouldn't rush back. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ivar's Fish Bar *June 3, 2025 *11:30am- Tuesday *4.5 Stars Seating/ Environment: *Located on the Pier *Close to Pike Place *Nice Restrooms Food/Drink: *3 Piece Fish N Chips (Cod) *New England Clam Chowder (Cup) I went to Ivar's Fish Bar because a friend recommended it, and overall it was a good experience! The cod fish tasted fresh and well-cooked, but the portion was smaller than I expected based on the advertisement on the posters. The New England clam chowder was really good-- not overwhelming creamy and good amounts of clams. One thing I liked was that the fish is made to order, and the service was really fast. It's a nice spot for a quick bite, especially with the covered outdoor seating that lets you enjoy the view. Just a heads up--there were lots of birds around, so be prepared for some feathered company while you eat. If you need to use the restroom, there are nice indoor facilities close by inside the main restaurant. I'd say it's definitely worth trying if you're in the area and want fresh seafood with speedy service! Hoping to try other fish options next time I'm in town! read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - *3 Piece Fish N Chips (Cod) *New England Clam Chowder (Cup) - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The portions have gotten so tiny! Back in the day used to get big pieces of fish and good size fries. They've shrink everything while raising the prices. If I'm in need of fish and chips I'll just go to a location that's not on the waterfront or get the happy hour deals inside the restaurant. I couldn't believe how small of portion sizes they are now. read more

Needed a quick bite and this place has walk up service. Their menu is simple but you have a variety of options. There's no formal seating so it's more grab and go. I had heard their fish and chips were good so that's what I went with. The portion was smaller than I had expected . Their tartar sauce is pre-packed and was hoping it was made fresh. The fish tasted fresh. It was good for a quick bite. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Mmm I think there was something missing in the clam chowder. More clams forsure. The fish and chips were ok. Cookie butter beignets were too much. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Bread Bowl & 3 Piece Fish 'N Chips - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came to Ivar's because it seemed like a Seattle institution from 1938. I knew walking in I should just expect some kitschy nautical themed American seafood fry up for lunch but the quality just wasn't up to par. We tried to order the smoked salmon chowder but it was out for the day - sad. Since it was also pretty cold out, I opted for the cioppino. Holy salt bomb! I will commend the shrimp and clams for being cooked exceptionally well, but the rest of the dish was just okay at best. You really couldn't enjoy any bit of the broth. It was very tomato forward but just too salty to consume. Boyfriend got the Cajun salmon and chips. The salmon looked really really dry...I did sneak 2 fries and they were also really salty. Welp, you win some and you lose some. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We had Fried Clams and Chips and a Clam Chowder. Good clams, nice crunchy coating. Great clam chowder. Quick, friendly service. Walk up counter. Tartar sauce was tasty too. Enclosed area to eat in and watch the seagulls. Not much on ambiance, but a great coastal feel. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Clams 'N Chips and Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Another Seattle trip in the books! After a long day exploring, a friend and I decided to keep it simple with Fish and Chips, and it turned out to be a great choice. The fish was fresh and perfectly cooked, while the tartar sauce was tangy and balanced the flavors beautifully--it really brought the dish together. We also ordered the crab dip, which was just okay, and the chips were a bit too crunchy for my liking. The highlight, though, was the clam chowder: rich, creamy, and full of fresh flavor. Overall, it was a satisfying meal that I'd happily rate 5 out of 5. read more

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Stopped by Ivar's Acres of Clams and had a mixed experience. The clam chowder was fantastic--rich, creamy, and definitely the highlight of the meal. The Alaskan cod fish and chips, though, were just okay. Not bad, but nothing to rave about either. read more

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Grabbed a quick bread bowl to go. The lines were long and slow with service. Lots of seating and available bathrooms as well. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Price is high Quality of chowder is bad A 4 piece fish and chips is really a 2 piece cut in 4 pieces read more

Ok funny story, we ate out checking out the new pier/bridge area on our yearly drive up to Seattle. We see some people fishing and we get to talking, after a bit we exchanged some local likes and dislikes, he swears we 'have to try this place' so much so he hands us a bit of cash and says its on him hahaha! What a trip. Fast forward and since we already ate we split a 5 piece. Very affordable and very tasty. Counter service but have a heated inclosure to dine. Fish tasted fresh and fried were good. Im not 100% sure if its the best, but bang for buck, it was pretty damn good. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - The classic - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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First time going and food was pretty great. Customer service was kinda questionable but understandable since they were busy. Love the water front location read more

Walked by the area decided to order fish and chips. It was very fresh. The fish was moist and tasty. The French fries are OK. there's plenty of sitting area outside and the seagull out waiting for your leftover. Haha read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My friend and I stopped by while in the area. We weren't looking to have a full-on meal, but since this was one of the places we wanted to try, we ended up sharing some fish and chips. Honestly, the food is what you would expect-- very solid fish and chips. Would recommend if you're visiting Seattle, if you're in the area, and if you're looking for quick, affordable fish and chips. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington