If you have an Ivar's(ion) to a good deal then don't come here... Ivar's is a classic Seattle chain- they have fish and chips and do it well. We had the Caesar salad with salmon (fish was great, salad was Romanie lettuce... but honestly not bad) and the the fish and chips (also salmon which was great). Overall, would definitely recommend! read more

The view is spectacular !!! But read the rest of this review... The place is beautifully decorated. The staff is good. The food is bland . We ordered oysters and they were oddly dry? Someone ordered the Cesar salad and it was boring (maybe no artichoke juice?). I ordered the clam chowder and it had limited (2 clams) ingredients leaving it bland. We ordered the spicy salmon fettuccine and it was NOT spicy and the salmon seemed boiled and Not grilled. Oysters are kinda foolproof, I thought until this meal! The staff was friendly, but the table beside us arrived after us and got their food before us? The large table in our area got refills before us? I don't know what the reasoning, but it sucked! Moreover/... the day we go is the day they performed detailed landscaping, so it stunk like cow manure outside! Strongly recommend if you go, ask A LOT of questions, "are the oysters fresh? Is the spicy linguine, in fact level 2-3 spicy?" Etc.... The restrooms were clean. Lot & Street parking plus boat tying area! read more

See all

Nice place to grab a quick bite to eat. Food comes out really fast and hot. Staff is friendly with good service to compliment the restaurant. read more

See all

As a native Seattleite (and someone who was a breader at Acres of Clams in the '70s :D I will always have a soft spot for Ivar's. I get the fish-n-chips cravings fairly often so Ivar's is one of the go-to spots. We went on a rare sunny day and brought our little 15lb pooch along for the trip but didn't realize that the outdoor seating over the water was a no-dog zone. No worries - tables in front worked just fine. Only tried one thing different this time - the Cajun seasoned cod. Kind of fun for a change of pace but won't completely replace the original. You know what you're going to get at Ivar's and it'll be good. If you go on a nice sunny day - even better. We're lucky in Seattle to have a good number of options for food and Ivar's will always be in the rotation for us. My better half likes the tomato based red chowder which is also a nice change of pace. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Cajun Cod n' Chips - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was excited to take a friend from out of town here and it was wildly disappointing. I hadn't been there before but wanted somewhere outside that we could take our dogs and felt like Seattle. Unfortunately the chowder was gloopy and tasteless, the Caesar salad just came with a hand drill of lettuce and a dressing packet. And worst of all they weren't even frying the fish and chips to order. They were cold and flavorless despite being the Cajun version. I would not go here and suggest another spot like gasworks brewing or something along the water, this does not represent Seattle food. read more

The service was fantastic. I don't remember the waiters name but the receipt says AM B. We had a group of senior citizens and he was able to be patient and friendly. Good view of the water and watched the boats and a view of the Space Needle. I had the Cod BLAT and it was ok. There was not a lot of flavor. The fries were good. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Cod BLAT..don't recommend. - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Salmon chowder is so good!!! Thanks to the worker for recommending it. Also got 3 pc cod fish and chips. Tbh fish was just okay, it had a bite to it instead of just being really soft? Maybe not the best cod or from being frozen read more

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

Visited this place during trip to Seattle. Ordered Fish and Chips. The fish had a fishy taste, dry and overcooked. The fries were ok. Unfriendly staff. read more

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

Come here for one thing: Picturesque views . The food here is.... There is excellent food, good food, mediocre, bad and then there is Ivar's. Here the food (or at least some of it) is pure scam. I tried their Smoked Salmon Chowder for $7 or more a small cup. The chowder itself was average in taste, but there were three major problems with it: 1) No smoke flavor in sight 2) No salmon pieces in sight (not even one) 3) The soup depicted in their menu looked nothing like the soup served. On the menu, it was full of large pieces of fish. In my cup there was not a SINGLE piece. After I complained about this, the staff working there, really, really tried. They told me that that's the kind of soup they have been serving all day, so it's not like they ran out of something. They tried to accommodate me and fished and fished for something and did their best. The best was some tiny minuscule bits and pieces of salmon. The menu however proudly boasts that this soup has gotten Ivar's supposedly some sort of awards. What I'm guessing however is the following. This self-serve cafe is a part of the large full-service restaurant in the same building - Ivar's Salmon House. The left over bits, pieces and bones left over from the main restaurant are used to make the chowder soup (which is fine for the base broth). However, no actual fish meat is added after this step. So the owners are simply engaged in a scam. We also tried Ivar's clam chowder and a simple small piece of grilled salmon at another location - a full service Ivar's restaurant at the Seattle pier. You would think that being a sea food restaurant in the heart of a Seattle, where salmon is everywhere, would enable them to make this super simple dish. Nope. The clam chowder was again average in taste and skimpy on the clams . And the grilled salmon was annihilated on the grill - dried out, no longer tender and juicy. If you would like to have a real smoked salmon chowder, go the Pike Market Chowder. read more

See all

It's always good to come back here when visiting from San Francisco. This time my friends and I sat inside the restaurant instead of sitting outside on the street. I got a lobster roll with a virgin bloody to kick off my Sunday afternoon. The lobster was flavorful and the bun the lobster came on was to die for. Service was awesome as well from our very enthusiastic bar tender. Can't wait to be back. read more

See all

Great go-to fish and chips place here in Seattle!! The food comes out fast and hot! I love getting fish and chips here on a rainy day or a nice summer day. The employees are really nice and quick with their service. There is limited seating space but most of the time, I take my fish and chips to Gasworks park on a nice day. There is also indoor seating for the restaurant if you want to dine-in. Service inside is also great when you want to have a proper sit down meal. read more

Nothing says Seattle summer like Ivar's on the dock. Go to meal to enjoy the outside. There is a boat dock to park at and grab a bit to eat. Order at the window and walk around back to enjoy your fish and chips read more

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

When visiting Seattle, I was told this was a must-do touristy stop! This location has a causal walk-up bar with outdoor seating and also a more formal restaurant. Absolutely stunning water views so try to sit next to a window or outside! We tried the world famous cod/shrimp fish and chips and the famous clam chowder. The clam chowder was creamy and delicious. The portion size of the fish and chips is tiny for the price. The fried shrimp was particularly tender and delicious. The crab goat cheese dip was a stand out from the meal - so glad we got some! Overall I'm glad to have made this touristy journey to eat fish and chips and enjoy the stellar views! read more

You order outside at the stand and find a seat indoors until they call your order over the speakers. The employees are nice, but you don't interact with them much other than to order and pick up the food. The indoor area is a pretty small space but has a simple and woody atmosphere. We ordered the baby prawns n chips and a tanker of white chowder. We shared the tanker between three people, and it was a good portion. It's pretty salty, but it was delicious. The baby prawns were smaller in portion than expected for the price, but they were still good. We ordered an extra side of fries, and we actually all thought the fries were delicious. The sauces (ex: ketchup, tartar sauce, etc) that the employees gave us were pretty limited, so we did have to ask for more. Although this place isn't the cutest or the most well-decorated, it's still a decent place to get quick take-out/bite. Ivar's Salmon House is right next to the fish bar for more of a restaurant feel, but I didn't get a chance to check it out. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Tanker of White & Baby Prawns 'N Chips & French Fries (side) - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was actually disappointed in this place. As a staple of the waterfront the was eh, and the service was awful. I wouldn't come here again.

I only get a couple things from the menu here, but they are great go-tos and the outdoor seating area by the water keeps me coming back! I always get a cup of their clam chowder (white) and my husband gets the salmon chowder. Both are so delicious. Sometimes we'll get some fish & chips (the regular cod) which always comes out hot & crispy on the outside, and juicy & flaky on the inside. I only wish the pieces were bigger! Also, once we got Cajun style thinking that both the fish and chips would be covered in Cajun seasoning, but it was just the fish. I'd love Cajun seasoning on the fries too. We've tried a few other items such as shrimp & chips and I think oysters & chips, but neither were as good as the cod. Service is usually pretty good, nothing spectacular but nothing bad. Just know that you need to order chowders separately from other items. I don't know why. Again, if weather permits (which I know is not often the case in Seattle), the seating in the back by the water is so lovely. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Menu from October 2022 - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great location with outdoors seating and great deals for happy hour! We stopped buy for late dinner and it happened to be happy hour. There are good discounts on popular items like fish and chips crispy calamari, beef tips and a lot more. So we ended up ordering too much food! The fish and chips was good as expected, the calamari was crispy and the dipping sauces good as well. I had the ram-ble on the barge which was good, but not my favorite. We enjoyed our time there, it was a nice day and we could see the boats on the water, the food and service were great and the happy hour menu . read more

See all

Been a Washingtonian since 1973, so Ivar's was a local treat before catching a ferry back to Bremerton ordering from the waterfront fish bar. Back then it was such an astounding feat to see orders taken 15-20 people deep. Talk about a kitchen crew crushing it! Ivar Haglund - a total Seattle legend! Was a Seattle resident since 1983 and my favorite spot was this particular Ivar's Fish Bar, Northlake close to UW campus and my UDistrict apartment. After hanging out in Frelard/Balmont and Gasworks Park, for nostalgic reasons and Ash Wednesday (3/2/22), I hit my old fave. Only two others ahead of me in line, probably due to pouring rain! Ordered a three piece fish and chips with a request for one each ketchup and tartar sauce. Friendly counter service, but none of the former showmanship ordering from the counter to kitchen line crew. No one to impress, I guess. I ended up eating these further down the road on Boat Street by UW South Campus after another brief stop. Good ol' pandemic dining, a la car! Fish and chips were nicely packaged and bagged up. However, in the past I recalled that the hand cut cod pieces were a bit bigger. Decent fries, just too many of them. Wish I asked for another tarter sauce. Way back when you'd end up with a ton extra which would get stashed in the fridge. As a Shoreliner since 2002, I usually get my Ivar's fix at the North Seattle/Aurora site. There the fish remained as I remember them, bigger cuts, moist, and crispy exterior. Realized I have never posted a Yelp review...so three stars, but an extra star for nostalgia on this rainy visit. read more

See all

Spent $35 for two clam strips, and a chowder bread bowl, the clam were extremely over cooked-- the fries see better than the clam- what a shame. Local dive bar does a better job. If you are an ivar fan, the one on hw99 is the best --even better than the waterfront downtown . Third time here and I'm just dissatisfied. My poor family is eating burnt clams for dinner-- not fair! read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Over cooked burnt clam strips - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A great quick spot to grab some fish & chips or clam chowder! Nice spot in the spring or summer, and super close to the water or park where you can eat read more

See all

Last food stop before leaving the great city of Seattle. Fish was fresh, chowder was nice and warm. The storefront is located right by the water. You can dine in or out as they have seating for both occasions. Very quick service and the fish and chips were great. read more

I went to Ivars expecting much more, but it must be the hipe of the place as a tourist destination or tourist trap as I see it. Everything was so exagerated expensive plus the service was so sad no Interactions with the customers, the staff just stares and looks at you as you decide what to order. We ordered and went to eat in the enclosed area due to seagulls stealing your food if you eat outside. Needless to say I won't be back, but go if you feel you need to experience the hipe of it all it's not all that there are better places to eat in Seattle with much better service. I gave it 2 stars, because I was not impressed, satisfied, or wowed with Ivars which includes the food & the staff service. read more

See all

Okay restaurant with easy parking and sizable menu. Food We ordered clams, a hamburger, and fish and chips. The meal itself wasn't anything special or memorable. I think this spot is more popular for the location and different ambiance, so you pay a premium for that, rather than the food. Service Most of the wait staff seemed pretty young - maybe high school or college. They were polite but kinda slow. Ambiance Big restaurant with a lot of tables. When I went, most of the inner tables were empty because they try seating everyone near the windows first - for good reason because the view is gorgeous. Even though it was raining, we still had a nice view of the water. The restaurant itself feels like a cabin. Felt kinda old, but had a fun character. Seems like a spot more popular with tourists. read more

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

i was craving fish and chips so i stopped by here. honestly nothing special especially since the portions were quite small for the price they were. it's good if you are craving it but i dont think i'd come back here. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - 5 Piece Fish 'N Chips & cajin shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The food was cold, the portions were SO small, the French fries were very undercooked - really really disappointing for an iconic Seattle restaurant. read more

This restaurant is located right on the water and has a great view of Seattle on the inside and the inside is also very well decorated. The appetizer tower and the drinks were fantastic and if you do a trivia you can get a free clam chowder! Service was more than adequate and this restaurant is a great way to spend your night. read more

See all

Whatever happened tobthe good service and freshly made fish and chips at this walk up bar? The fish and fries clearly were not made to order, as they normally should be, rather they tasted as if had been sitting a while, gross. The servers seemed to be in bad moods.. so sad, no longer coming here. read more

Got the 4-piece fish and chips. Half cajun, half regular. Cajun was juicier. Regular was drier. Fries were solid. Would come back again!

I read that Ivar's is one of the go-to places for fried fish in Seattle but I wasn't that impressed. Of course, I live in Wisconsin where Friday night fish fry is a tradition so I may have high standards... The waterfront seating isn't closed per se but when I swung by late on a Monday night, it wasn't lit. You get a pretty good portion of fish but I was mostly disappointed that it just didn't taste like much. Despite my food probably sitting in a paper box for half an hour while I slowly made my way there and then back to the hotel, the fry remained crisp enough (considering how long it had been). The tartar sauce was just ok, no lemon or malt vinegar on the side. The fries were pretty bland. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - 5 piece Alaskan cod - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Went there on a sunny Sunday evening and snagged an outdoor table right on the water. The food and drinks were a bit uneven, but mostly good. The cosmo could have been stronger given the price, but the Chuckanut Pilsners were icy and refreshing. The clams in garlic butter were great. The crab and shrimp Louie was also pretty wonderful. Unfortunately the cod fish and chips was noticeably dry. The service appeared slammed and was somewhat slow. Despite the few missteps, it was a solid experience, even more so because we were treating an out of town relative. We'd go back. read more

View is incredible. Halibut cakes, Caesars salad salmon filet with old fashioned to drink! All great and worth checking out.

Food at Ivars is amazing. Staff was friendly and patient as we navigated our orders. There are nice areas to sit in, and outside on the dock near the water behind the restaurant! read more

The food was not terrible. But as a tourist with limited time, I do not recommend. The chowder and the french fries were the best things on the menu. The chowder is smokey and very thick. Not a lot of clams. The fried stuff was very bland. read more

AMAZING!!! I love this location. The outdoor seating area is perfect, right on the water with a great view of the city. Got the 4 piece fish and chips ($11.30) and salmon chowder ($5.50). The fish was perfect, flaky, and not greasy/oily at all, fries and crispy and warm. The salmon chowder is a tad salty but that's what the crackers are for! Service is so friendly and food comes out very quickly and is fresh, hot, delicious. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - 4 piece Fish 'n Chips ($11.30) and Salmon Chowder ($5.50, Cup) - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I really like this location in Northlake outside of the Salmon House. Had the grilled salmon and halibut fish and chips. Both were very dry. If it weren't dry, the Salmon is a good value served with rice, Cole slaw, and corn bread. I would opt for the regular fish and chips, as the halibut doesn't seem a quality worth the extra charge. The coleslaw was good, and the service was efficient. They remembered to pack everything including utensils and condiments. read more

Crispy, tasty and great views. Get this to go and sit on their dock. Alternatively they have a nicer restaurant attached with happy hour specials and a more formal dining area. Their fish is nicely flavored and melts in the mouth! I believe their tartar sauce is made in house as well- nice sweet and not too mayonnaise. My go to with friends of family in town read more

See all

Honestly the best deal for delivery of claim chowder that I'm aware of. Large portions for the price!! Other places are much more speedy and the chowder is equivalent We also got the fish and chips which was great for the price. read more

See all

My parents, two grandchildren and I went to lunch in the boat. Service: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars I enjoy the fish. It has light breading and great flavor. With a little bit of tartar sauce, it is a great bite. The chowder is amazing as well. This location is fun because you can arrive by boat and they have a nice dock. It can hold at least six boats. There is a nice patio looking at the skyline of Seattle over the water. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Ivar's has a patio with a great view. - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Great food!!! Clam strips and chips... perfectly cooked, crispy, hot! I had such a craving and was not disappointed. The cole slaw - creamy and delicious. 3 piece fish and chips, another generous portion. Clam chowder, perfect. Friendly, helpful service with a smile... even masked up. Everyone had gloves on, which I appreciated. Even other customers were friendly and helpful, helping with social distancing while we waited. What a great experience! What a great lunch!! read more

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

Salmon is as dry, as it looks. Potatoes unadorned tasted of oyster, but ketchup does it job. Quick presumably cooked to order. Side of coleslaw was generically good (IMO would have benefitted from a little more acid.) Well. worth the $10, but unfortunately rang in at nearly $17. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Salmon "Crisps" and Oyster Fries - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all