This is one of the best hidden gems in LA!! I'm originally from a small central coast beach town, so I grew up loving clam chowder, calamari, and all the classic seaside dishes you find growing up by the coast. Not only does the Chowder Barge capture the classic feel of the nautical-themed restaurants and dives I grew up with, but their food is actually top notch (and their drinks are dangerously cheap!), and the place is literally floating on the water! This is an incredibly unique and affordable restaurant, and I can honestly say they probably have the best clam chowder in LA, rivaling even the the gold standard chowder from the great Splash Cafe in Pismo Beach up north. This is hands down one of my favorite spots in LA. Pleas show them some love during this especially difficult time for them and all restaurants; let's make sure they're still around in a few months so we can all dine aboard the Chowder Barge once again! read more

Finally got to try this hidden gem!! It's a secluded little oasis hidden off the docks! Our server, Laura was rad and slayed it! She was helpful and even though there was a small wait she was accommodating and the food was SO worth it! The clam chowda was insanely delicious and the steamed clams were EXACTLY what I was craving! Make sure you get the fried seafood appetizer! The breading was perfect!!! Can't wait to go back when dine in is open and experience that as well read more

The Chowder Barge - Steamed clams and chowder Chowder Bread Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

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If you like out of the way hole-in-the-wall places, as I do, you're in luck. You've arrived. CB can be a challenge to find, on the water, surrounded by railroad tracks in an industrial area. With some tables outside on nice days, the inside is vintage and absolutely charming, with polished wood tables and floors and a central fireplace. I had a bowl of chowder, which was delicious, but different than other New England chowders I have enjoyed. Not a lot of clams, but will try their chowder with fried clams added next time. I also had the fish and chips, which were an English style. The fish was a bit over cooked, but pretty good.Fries were steakhouse style and just fine. My meal arrived quickly and the service was friendly and attentive. read more

Rare to find a good place for fried clams and chowder. Unique setting on the water. Plenty of parking spaces.

So we stopped by this place, and it was a good idea. We ordered different appetizers, and they were all good. I also ordered the large clam chowder, which was so creamy and packed with clams so filling. Next time, I will order the cup of chowder so I can eat more appetizers. Must go to dont worry about the ambulance. The ambiance is so old school dinghy. Also, guys dont be in a rush to be sitted and served only 2 waitresses and one cook. Relax, look at the boats in the harbor. Also, check out the note. The picture I took that's at all the tables. So don't bring your kids. read more

We decided to try it from our regular spot....The calamari was cold, and I would give them a pass but it's also over breaded rubber rings, not good at all. Chowder was ok. I'm sure this spot is good if your drinking, cool nautical atmosphere but food is not the strong point. Burgers are dry, according my amigo and other friend had the fish sandwich and he liked it. Seafood on the water should be better read more

If you aren't familiar with this area, you will more than likely drive right on by. There is a small sign out by the road. I was lucky enough to have my hubby chauffeur me to lunch here. He had been here before and he had been waiting for an opportune time to bring me here. It is located in the Leeward Bay Marina. The parking was easy. It wasn't a busy time in the area, so we were able to park without any troubles. You have to walk down a semi-flimsy aluminum type of ramp to get down to the Marina before heading to the Chowder Barge. Once there, you walk up another flimsy ramp that leads you to the entrance of the restaurant and the patio. There are lots of decorations everywhere, even pictures attached flat to the ceiling facing downward. It seems like it is cluttered with decorations. With that being said, it is an eclectic collection of things to look at while you dine. We also had a nice view of the boats in the marina during our lunch date. When you walk in, the first thing you see is the bar area. The seating areas are to the side of it and towards the other end of the barge. From the pictures I saw, I thought this was going to be smaller on the inside than it actually is! The bathrooms signage is interesting. For men, it is called the Outboards and for the women, it is called the Inboards. At least they have a picture above the corresponding door. I really would hate to walk into the wrong room! The hostess/waitress got our drinks and took our order. The bar tender/waitress seemed like she had her hands full. By the time she came to take our table, we had already ordered our food. The service was very good. We ordered 2 items, shared them, and we'd eaten plenty. The portion is not that large, but we were full when we were done. + Clam Chowder - this is the Chowder Barge and I will tell you that you really should order this soup! We just got the cup, but I'd suggest getting a bowl! It is really creamy, thick, and full of good bits of clams, potatoes, and bacon. Yes, bacon... I surely thought it wasn't, but at a more intense tasting, it really was bacon. They also bring you a basket with Oyster Crackers and Saltines to accompany your soup. We had a few of each! + Fisherman Platter - it comes with fried fish, shrimp, and clams as well as cole slaw and french fries. For some reason, I wasn't digging the shrimp nor the clams. The shrimp seemed to have been cooked in a way that made the texture interesting for me. The clams seemed to be mostly breading and had a very little clam taste to them. The fish was good. The Cole Slaw had a nice light dressing on it, not like the overly mayonnaise-y stuff you get at other places. The tartar sauce that they serve was pretty good. It was a little more runny than I usually have. I have to tell you that the Cocktail Sauce they serve is really good! I am usually not a fan of cocktail sauce and will just use tartar sauce. This cocktail sauce tasted like it had horseradish in it, very distinct, and added a tiny bit of that nose clearing heat to it! Very yummy! Kind of reminded us of Wasabi. I think, based on what we ordered, that if we hadn't gotten the clam chowder, this place would have been just average. I really loved the clam chowder and would certainly come back for that again! read more

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Great food as a group we would come once a month befor Covid so nice to be able to come again read more

The Chowder Barge - Great friends - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

This place is a joke. They have 1 cook and 2 servers who can't even take a drink order correctly. I waited about a hour to get a mug of ice and a beer. The waitresses are rude when you ask for the service you're entitled to as a patron of this place. I do not recommend coming here! read more

This little gem was quite a surprise. Food was good, reasonably priced. We sat at one of the outdoor tables. If you're in the area, it's worth stopping by for a bite to eat. read more

I got the triple, which is clam chowder, sourdough bread, and fried clams. I could definitely taste bacon, and there were many clams in the soup. I didn't care for the fried clams as much. But I definitely love the chowder. Great service also. read more

This is by far my favorite spot to get clam chowder. It has been a little bit since we have been here due to the pandemic but I'm so happy we stopped in tonight. Lara was the sweetest she made us (my dad and I) feel so welcomed. Even though we couldn't sit in to eat our visit was still met with the best ambiance. And I can't forget a welcoming old friend Walter the duck. Thank you so much for helping to make my dads visit just a little more special. You guys rock. Food was amazing! read more

The Chowder Barge - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

The clam chowder is great at this place, would recommend it just wish it would have more parking.

This place is the real deal. Real ingredients and a great seaside atmosphere. The chowder is a hearty delight. read more

The Chowder Barge - Triple chowder - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

So I was totally looking on Instagram. Some lady popped up giving great reviews about this place, called the Chowder Barge . I love Chowder. They had a chowder burger, so I decided to ask my hubby if he would like to go he was, yes, let's go he loves Chowder more than I do .. so we got ready, and we went. Of course, I have to drive my ideal. lol little did he know he's paying, lol . We got there omg it's so cute. it's the only boat restaurant there . Went inside, and I loved it as well. My hubby ordered the triple chowder soup, and of course, I ordered the chowder burger. So I totally recommend the triple chowder yummy. The chowder burger was good, but I loved my hubby triple chowder read more

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I was totally unsure what to expect when we pulled into this little dive-y marina. It's tucked away in the Leeway Marina in a very industrial, blue-collar section of Wilmington. If you cross the railroad tracks, you've gone too far! Careful because if you do go too far there is no u-turn allowed and it can turn into a bit of a cluster you-know-what. Once we parked and avoided the stray dog in the lot, we ventured down the walkway and onto a nostalgically decorated floating barge. Rumor has it that it was built as a support vessel for the 1934 production of "Mutiny on the Bounty" but I was most excited because it has been used in scenes for the Marina Coffee Bar on "Dexter". How cool is that? My first impression was that it was clean, quaint and a real throwback. The two older gentleman sitting next to the fireplace, drinking Bud and playing cards just added to the ambiance. As for the food, it was about 50/50. The clam chowder was AWESOME! DELICIOUS! Dare I say it might be the best I have ever tasted? That is coming from me....who really doesn't like clam chowder in the first place. I could have eaten two bowls with ease! We also ordered the fish and chips platter which came with two deep fried fillets, coleslaw and chips/fries. It was good but really, really greasy. I wasn't in love but I didn't dislike it either. Next time, I think I will stick with the soup or perhaps try one of their nightly specials. Our server was a really charming older lady...big ol' boobies in my face, cute sense of humor and very welcoming. The "counter" aka the bar was stocked with a few old sea dogs drinking drastically yummy and cold looking mugs of beer. I believe she said the 32 oz mug was $5 but don't quote me on it. All in all, this was a great lunch experience. I will definitely be going back for another visit soon! read more

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Woah! A dining experience like no other! First, to get to the restaurant you have to drive in the terminal area which is very industrial, and then you finally arrive into a marina parking. (The restaurant is not visible from the street.) Once parked, you are surrounded by boats, and an old tug boat /barge( I don't know my boat terminology very well.) My guest and I, plus my dog Roxie were immediately seated on a small patio by Nina. Nina was quick to take our order to drink and I went for the classy Bud light which was reasonably priced for the amount you received. After pondering over the delicious menu, I decided on the Chowder Burger.. An experience like no other! When the dish came out I was greeted to a yummy bowl of fresh chowder with a mouth watering perfectly cooked burger swimming in my chowder.., Heaven! This dish was like no other; very filling and hardy. Roxie also appreciated the delicious bacon Nina have her.. 5 woofs from Roxie! Next time I'm in the area I will definitely be coming back!!! Definitely a winning combo of ambiance+service+food= 5 read more

It was 90 degrees out. I went in and sat down. As I was reading the menu , I became drenched from perspiration I asked the waitress to put the air conditioning on and she said we don't have any I just looked at her and I said can I have my order to go it's much too hot in here I cannot take it I don't know how you work here my clothes became completely drenched. I came home about 5 miles away sat down opened up my bag and was a little bit apprehensive on how the chowder was gonna taste being from Boston I'm very fussy actually Very Good one to 10 I given at 8.5 so I say go and try the place just don't go on a hot day read more

Long time comin' this one is... I really enjoy the Chowder Barge. The "barge" itself leaves little to be desired. It's kinda dark, dank and as one might expect, "nautically themed". They have the ability to handle large groups but, if you have never been, it can be difficult to locate / find. It's across from my "place of employment", located in an industrial area adjacent to the Leeward Bay Marina in Wilmington. Not the most luxurious of marinas in town but it's safe, day or night. Think "Swamp People" meets "Wicked Tuna" and you've got the idea. But... If you can get past that, you will be in for a treat. Personally, I think their chowder is some of the best around but it seems some fellow Yelpers are not aligned with my opinion, LOL. A good selection of sandwiches and sides for lunch, (I prefer the tuna melt with avocado or the chili cheese dog) as well as fried seafood platters for dinner. Breakfast, beer and wine are also available!!! On top of that, there is, (pardon the pun), a boatload of parking. read more

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wowie. the chowder was the best thing EVER. the fries were mid but the onion rings were AMAZING. must try! OH and the service was great. i loved the pirate ambiance read more

The Chowder Barge - food - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

I'm surprised I never been here. It's not the best marina as the older boats lacked love and we're even dirty sucked asking the barge restaurant. But the inside floated you off somewhere else .so cute and comfortable. The music was older but perfect. Great service nice attentive personable coffee shop feel. We ordered mussels which came with garlic bread and two chowder bowls. Normally I prefer red.. When I asked, the waitress was like, no... In a way that meant we do a great chowder, no.. we don't need another second rate chowder. Lol The secret chowder was delicious..I was thicker than most clam chowder you normally find. I think it maybe made with gruyere cheese, my friend differs..it was delicious. So was there garlic bread. Waitress asked if we liked the mussels. I didn't get there. I'm still enjoying the soup. The only bad was both were too hot to eat. But it was so good you wanted to eat.. ugh dilemma. We planned to come back only half way through. It was delicious .. Or the cherry is the great prices on beer.. They have a pretty large selection about $4. Bottle of wine is less than 20 read more

If you love dive bars, this is definitely the place for you. The chowder was pretty good, service was friendly and on top of things, and the beers were nice and cold. What really makes this place it the atmosphere. An old barge that tilts to the starboard side set in the LA Harbor, you're going to find some characters here. It makes for an enjoyable afternoon. read more

Date day with the husband. This place came highly recommended for the clam chowder and the atmosphere. While parking can get a little hairy if it's prime time for lunch, we didn't have any issues on this particular Sunday afternoon. We were sat promptly and got a table next to the open windows. Interior decor was fun and definitely nautical themed. We ordered a bowl of the double clam chowder topped with fried clam strips. We ordered steamed mussels since they were out of steamed clams (strange), as well as the fisherman's platter. Our chowder was very heavy on the bacon flavor and not enough clam flavor. Thick and creamy, tasting mostly of roux and bacon. The clam strips added a nice texture but it's mostly due to the breading. Clam strips themselves were very little clam and mostly breading. The fisherman's platter also had fried clams. The fish was cooked well but didn't have much flavor. The shrimp was ok as well. The dipping sauce helped liven up the bites. Our most memorable dish is probably the steamed mussels. Their white wine sauce is well-balanced and great to have with garlic toast. Would we come back for the chowder? Probably not. The steamed mussels were great though! read more

The food is great. The ambiance is on par with the food. Customer service is ok in the beginning but good luck getting service after you get your order. Try the clam chowder its good. read more

I wasn't really expecting much from this place but it definitely lived up to the hype. It is legit in the middle of nowhere in an industrial area. It definitely has a grungy, biker vibe. It's a bit understaffed but everyone is friendly. The food is pretty damn good. The chowder burger was surprisingly delicious--it's a weird concept, but it works. The chowder itself was good and the fried clams were also on point. read more

The Chowder Barge - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

Had the worst experience here. The waiter Raquel has no manners. Her service was the worst I've experienced. I'll never come here again. :( highly recommend you don't go here!!! No respect what so ever. read more

Where to start- best fish and chips ever had, hands down. Excellent chowder, top 3 of my life. You're immediately transported somewhere else the minute you sit down. Our server Raquel rocked. This place is amazing. read more

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Although the clam chowder was the best we've ever had and the ambiance was unique, the service staff was inattentive and extremely slow. They need more than 1 cook. It took an hour to receive our clam chowder soups. read more

The Chowder Barge is located in a cool venue. An old barge that has been around a while. This is what initially peaked my interest and the fact we love chowder. Our first visit a few years back was great.Food and server made it a good experience . Last year I took some friends there and although there was an issue with the food it didn't matter as the waitress insisted on making it right. This waitress happened to be the same friendly waitress we had the previous visits. Well last Sunday January 7 three friends and myself got together for a late holiday girls day. We were hungry and I told them about the chowder Barge. We decided to go for lunch. We walked in and the friendly waitress greeted us as she was behind the bar. We were seated by another waited who gave us menus then came back to take our order, our orders were two chowders with fried clams toppings. The two other orders were two clam chowders, one with a side of onion rings. The food took a while. When it came we asked the waitress for a group photo. She hesitated then asked for a minute. Well unfortunately the chowders all came room temp-lukewarm so they were very thick consistency.. We that had fried clam toppings ate without asking to be warmed because we figured the clams would be ruined. My friend tried to get waitress attention a few times to wam it up but even though she was very close she didn't answer both times. Finally she asked the other waitress. This waitress also ignored attempts. I finally got up and took the bowl to the front and asked the waitress to please warm it up and waited. While there I spoke to the good waitress that was behind the bar. She was very friendly. I don't remember names but she was light skin and big smile. Our waitress finally came back with check and asked if we wanted picture when table was messy and we were done with our meal. I don't remember her name but if you do go to eat stay clear of a waitress that has dark black hair and K. Khardasian features. read more

Took a little drive away from house. Wanted to find a off the normal area to venture to during these times. Had the swordfish sandwich and coleslaw. Very tasty. Hubby had the chowder and he liked it lots too. Lots of clams and very filling. read more

Chowder was creamy with great amount of clams served with fried clams on top. Our waitress made us welcome and kept us attended to. The nautical themed decorations were interesting to look at. read more

I'd heard about the hamburger covered in clam chowder at the Chowder Barge. As I like to try interesting and unusual dishes, Chowder Barge was on my list to try. The restaurant itself is kind of cool as well. It's on a barge with sailboats and fishing boats all around. My husband and I both ordered the Double Clam Hamburger. He had his clams separated from the chowder and I had mine as is. The first bite was of just the clam chowder. It was cold and thick; not even warm. At best, it was slightly under a can of Campbell's Clam Chowder. Next, the fried clams. Pretty good, although they are mostly breading. Next, the hamburger with the clam chowder. The hamburger was cold as well. This offering was definitely nothing special. It reminded me of a frozen Member's Mark (Sam's Club) burger, which is really terrible with a can of chowder poured over and then microwaved to defrost the burger. At $19 per plate, the food just wasn't up to par. The meal is less than average. Think cheap gas station food (not the yummy truck driver restaurant food, which is good) that's been sitting under a heat lamp. Unfortunately, we were both disappointed. We ended up taking the food to go as we were embarrassed to just leave the food. We tossed it when we got home. On the plus side, the waitress was extremely wonderful and sweet. We couldn't have asked for a better waitress. Will we be back to try something else? Nope. The food we did have was enough to make us not want to try anything else. I would be shocked to learn that the food is made in house, rather than frozen and put together. I'm so disappointed, as I really wanted to love this place. read more

There's SO much I can say.. but I need to start with how amazing our server Raquel was!! It was our first time there, & I was celebrating my Birthday.. Raquel gave us the scoop on the most popular dishes.. We got micheladas, that were bomb.. I started with a cup of chowder, followed by the fish sandwich. I took home some of both, just to share with my family.. My guy had the fisherman's platter-clam strips, shrimp & fish, fries & a side of coleslaw all done perfectly.. Raquel topped it off with a sundae, that I couldn't finish, but took me back to my youth.. I could go on and on..needless to say, I.will.be.back. Cheers on keeping it yummy!! read more

Been here for a total of 90 minutes. Horrible service by a surely waitress. The chowder was good, but the fried foods were sub par. I could barely finish two calamari rings and two shrimp. I want my afternoon back. So disappointed by the entire experience. If you want a better harbor/port dining experience, the Marina Cafe is not far. read more

I am beyond shookith by the way my experience was when I went the other day there was a rude ass worker name Raquel being rude disrespectful inattentive and a Karen to paying customers I will never go back there as long as she works there thank you read more

Food always great. Service always amazing. Server Carrie is the best! Been coming here for years .

Stumbled upon this place after a failed attempt to eat at the San Pedro fish market on a Sunday afternoon. The restaurant is easy to miss, so look out for a sign just off of Henry Ford ave on the right hand side. Inside, the place is full of ocean themed knick knacks. I loved it! Place was pretty empty, which was nice and yet surprising considering the food is delicious. My boyfriend and I ordered the chili bread bowl, cheddar garlic bread, clam chowder, and fish and chips. Everything was fantastic. The chili was a little sweet with a kick of spice. The clam chowder had little bits of bacon in it. The fish was... I'm honestly surprised at how good the fish was. I don't normally order fish anywhere I go, but I decided to give it a try and it did not disappoint. We will definitely be back! read more

The Chowder Barge - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

Writing this review for my mom. Brought her here for lunch today. She ordered the mussels. She loves mussels. She says these are the best mussels she's had in years. It's all about the broth and this broth is amazing! read more

The Chowder Barge - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California

Food took a bit to come out but the swordfish sandwich was great. In a tucked away spot but the atmosphere is great

I got the clam chowder in a bread bowl and it was delicious. Bread was so good. If you are looking for good clam chowder, I highly recommend. read more

The Chowder Barge - Clam chowder in bread bowl - Seafood Near Me - Wilmington, California