Can't go wrong with a hot and fresh fish and chips with a creamy cup of chowder! Perfect for a quick grab-and-go lunch to munch on near the pier area with the ever-aggressive seagulls. They've got their assembly line system down to ensure your fresh food comes out within 5-8 minutes tops! Fish was light and crispy but flaky on the inside. Fries were salty crunchy goodness. The white chowder wasn't the best I've had but was a perfect steaming chips dip in the cold windchill. We had a fun time tossing fries at the birds as encouraged by the sign (pictured)! read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Had fun feeding the seagulls! - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Not better than long John silvers. Food was fast and hot and that's about all I can say positive about this place. COD and chicken were bland. Fries were generic. read more

This is a really cool, large, bar/restaurant right on the water. In door and outdoor seating. The bartender, Sicily, is wonderful and very personable! Thanks for the great service! read more

In a sea of chowders, Ivar's Fish Bar clam chowder is a venture not to be missed, celebrating the best of what the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I dove into my culinary journey at the waterfront walk-up bar to savor this iconic bowl of deliciousness pier-side, with seagulls dancing in the air, entwined in the local culture. Hailing from the cold waters of the Puget Sound, it's packed with tender, delicate clams that lend a bouncy texture with a perfectly light oceanic flavor that suggests a true maritime experience. Succulent pieces of potato create a harmony of texture & flavor, while celery & onion add a little crunchy life to every creamy spoonful. However, the unseen hero of this dish is the subtle undercurrent of smoked bacon, herbs and seasonings. Keep Clam! read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - I should've ordered a TANKER!!!! - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great ambiance and delicious clam chowder! Our go to spot when in Seattle. Spent a week in the city and the location was amazing. Will come back for sure! read more

I would not recommend this place if you're wanting really good seafood. it was Okay at best and wished i knew it was a chain before going. don't get me wrong it was decent i just don't think the price justified the quality. it is a good restaurant if you have kids as we had the kids with us because they give you coloring paper and crayons to keep the kids distracted. it was a slightly noisier environment and the tables were quite close. i would hit my neighbor behind when i moved my chair to get out... which to me is a little too close. i wouldn't go here again nor would i recommend it but it works if its seafood you want and its right off the pier, which is what we ran into with the kids being hungry after a boat ride. they do have t parking at a nearby lot but i think it seems to be a popular lot during peak times. read more

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

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Tried the cod 3pc combo with fries. Service was ok, it's a window service place so it's just order and pay before sitting down at the tables outside by the dock. Fish tastes like fish sticks and fries were ok, nothing great, it tastes like it was frozen. It's a casual place, there's a nicer place next door which is the restaurant which is sit down and dine in. read more

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

Fish Nuggets! That is the only way to describe the fish in the fish & chips order I had during this visit. I have been an Ivar's fan since 2003. In fact, I was such a fan that, during the COVID period, I purchased gift certificates just so I could say I patronized the restaurant even when I could not visit. After tonight, though, I'm not so sure. But this day's visit was not just an eye-opener. I am simply glad that I visited the restaurant alone, and not accompanied by a guest. I would have been terribly embarrassed by the quality of the batterd fish - the batter coating was thin (hardly any); and did not have any of the usual signs that it was freshly fried. In short, it was fish nuggets - albeit a slightly larger size than a chicken nugget. I was essentially served fish from a box that was heated to make the diner think it was freshly made. Note that the fish & chips I was served looked nothing at all like any of the fish & chip pictures that others have shared. You know, I might have been more forgiving (perhaps they ran out of hand-cut raw fish - if it had been a busy day) had they also adjust the price to reflect the fact the they served pre-fab fish. But at full price, it just was NOT acceptable. I'm writing this review, hopefully, so they would do something about this in future - Ivar's is, after all, a local institution. But this band-aid alternative is totally bizarre & totally unacceptable - they should have just said that they ran out of fish and chips, and I could have ordered something else. As for the rest of the dining experience, it was fine. But the terrible quality of the main dish... that was not only disappointing, It was downright insulting. It totally ruined dinner! read more

Delicious, great price, hot, and fresh. I enjoy coming here and I love the halibut!! I went there and Duke's last week, and for half the price of Duke's it was also double the taste! 10/10 read more

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

The worst seafood restaurant I've ever tasted along with one of the most expensive! We ordered fish and chips with halibut, thinking it would be tender and juicy. It turned out to be dry like it was three days old! Same goes for the clams and calamari definitely frozen they weren't fresh at all.! to top it off the guy wanted to tip for takeout! This place totally sucks and it's just a tourist trap. I can't believe people actually eat at this place! Avoid at all costs unless you want shit food for a big price ! Don't be scammed like we were! read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - This is a rip off bill total waste of money. I threw up shortly after eating this crap.! - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We order sangria, fish and chips, shrimp and chips, and a plate of clams. Overall food was good. For a sit down meal if was fine, but I normally prefer the takeout and it seemed a bit better. The heat/taste was a bit lower than other other locations. The lower stars were mainly due to the mediocre sangria drinks - alcohol was decent but I would have liked a bit more balance to the fruit taste. Views of the pier was amazing and service was great! I would return but likely to the takeout. read more

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Easy to go eatery with ample outdoor seating. I was not terribly impressed with the quality of food. There was a high fries to seafood ratio. I wish onion rings were a possible substitution. My kiddos gobbled up the calamari so they must have been good. The clam chowder was decent without an overwhelming amount of potatoes altho somewhat thin. I would try the sit down restaurant next time altho it seems substantially more expensive. read more

Ivars is a MUST if you are visiting the downtown Seattle area. We had a 25 min wait but plenty of spots to sit and chill while we waited. The service was fine since they are so busy which is understandable. The food is top notch though. I got the cajun salmon with fries and I thought is was AMAZING! Their chowder was a bit bland but whatever. They are right on the water and it was fun feeding the seagulls your leftover fries. They are quite the little fry catchers lol. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - View from the water - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Meh, it is mostly for tourists. Overpriced for what you get. I can tell that the Oysters are not fresh. Workers seem very tired and overworked, thus come off brusk (which idc but if you do try the Alki location instead). This location two stars. I do not believe there is anything vegan but French Fries maybe fried with fish/seafood. I mostly leave vegan reviews because I am mostly vegan, partly because of a severe allergy to milk which people often won't take seriously until I start going into Anaphylactic Shock... so I can confirm their batter is dairy free (as of a couple weeks ago, at least... bc I didn't die if that was not clear). There is also another location on Alki (also tourist trap) but slightly cheaper and way better quality. Idk why. This location easily gets three stars. I did try the fish at the Alki location once and it was good. Here a serving fills me, the other locations leave me wishing there was just a bit more. And the workers generally are more friendly and seem to enjoy their job. They also have a great wall of pictures and historical information. The Renton location was more like the Pier location but I have only been once. Service was nice. Two star as in I would eat there again since it is one of the only place in that part of Renton I can find anything to eat. I mean they are all walk ups so not fine dining. They all have the ambiance of a fast food cafe from the 1970-80s so counter service, fast food, but I never feel like I am at like Burger King, etc. Smaller portions and tastes less fresh plus costs more. I do not mind paying for food when it is worth the cost. read more

Waste your money !I feel I should've read the review before I ordered this, $22 of disappointment. I got a halibut fish and chip. Overrated. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - The halibut was very thin, this place is very overrated - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tried the 3-piece Cajun fish'n chips, and while it tasted fine, the portions were underwhelming, more like the frozen fish sticks from Walmart. Eating by the water sounds nice in theory, but the fish bar tent next door wasn't well-maintained, and some tables were left dirty by previous patrons. It's a convenient spot, but the experience could be better with a little more care. read more

Came here for lunch while visiting Seattle and after visiting the aquarium. Sat outside and received great service from our waiter. I'm not a seafood lover, so I got a burger with the blue cheese sauce and it was delicious, I was impressed with the burger for it being a seafood restaurant. The people I was with got seafood and said their dishes were good too. read more

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

Food is great as usual! However, the fish portion size shocked my wife and I with just how small each piece was and how much we paid!

Lucked out on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon with bar seating, happy hour prices and a killer bartender who travels the country in her van. We enjoyed the super crispy clam strips and the salmon caesar salad from their happy hour menu. The Ivarita (margarita) was bombastic and the local draft beer was cold and flavorful. It's a busy place but the service was great. Cheers! read more

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I have heard a lot about Ivars and I see it all over Seattle and even Burien, so I was excited to try and out myself. We went to the take-out window and sat outside on the pier. I know there is a restaurant inside, but for fish and chips, something outdoors is better. The environment was fun and fresh with lots of seagulls staring us down. I found the fish size a bit small though for four pieces. The batter was well salted and so were the fries. I thought the crowning moment was the smoked salmon chowder, which was creamy and rich. the only downside is how salty it was. I am definitely downing a bottle of water later tonight but it was yummy. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - 4 Piece Fish 'N Chips and Tanker of Smoked Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Location is convenient and service was good. HOWEVER, it's a total tourist trap. Beware. We ordered the most basic menu item for any seafood-themed restaurant: Fish & Chips. It was so bad. Fish and chips were both soggy and tasteless. And bill was expensive. Would not recommend. Go somewhere more local. read more

Service was good and food came quick! You get plenty of food for what it cost. They provide a covered dining area to sit and eat. We came on a Saturday around 4pm and mine wasn't too long. read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Salmon fish and chips $14 - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Mediocre food and terrible service. We're there for an hour and half and maybe saw our server 3 times. Had to ration water at the table to make it through the meal. Everybody that worked there was miserable. read more

Cajun Clam chowder was amazing as well has the fish and chips definitely worth a stop. Staff was helpful and courteous and tables were clean. read more

We got the famous clam chowder with the sourdough bread Also the fish and chips. The fish and chips were amazing %100 fresh cod (well that's what the sign says anyways) The clam chowder was ok, the husband liked it. It was fast paced with his cashier and the person taking my order. Didn't wait long at all to get our food The outside dining was a bit dirty. The floor was dirty and seems like they don't clean the tables and the windows. read more

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I always pass by this takeout spot whenever I am walking around the Waterfront. Today was the day I was finally tempted to try it as a mid-day snack! The food came out pretty quick and the staff were efficient. Among the various fish & chips options... I went for the classic Cod and Chips! The batter on the fish was light and fairly crispy. The cod itself was cooked fine. Soft and not dry at all. The fries were tasty! Gotta dunk everything in their tartar sauce to tie it all together. Pretty standard and decent! My boyfriend tried their Classic White Chowder and really enjoyed it! Overall, not a bad idea for some takeout. read more

Yes, this is an institution on the waterfront and on every tourist's list to eat at because who hasn't heard of Ivar's. Surprisingly made then after all my decades in Seattle I had never tried it until this summer. It wasn't bad but it did not live up to its hype. It is high prices for what you get. Service was mediocre but not poor. There is a nice outside patio to sit and look out to the Sound. I would say if you want to go because you have heard of it, then go. I think everyone should try it once. read more

Fish and chips was kind of unflavored, not very salted. They didn't taste like anything unless you dipped it in the sauce the service was quite quick and the seating area was quite ample but dirty. This place is OK. read more

Amazing service. I ordered the Ahi Steak. It was amazing as were the side dishes. The view was nice. We got to watch the sun set. It's a challenge to find parking so if you're visiting the Seattle waterfront from out of town, I suggest parking in Bremerton and taking the ferry across to avoid the traffic and parking challenges. read more

Food/Taste/Flavor: 5/5 - tanker of white clam chowder was the perfect balance of savory and creamy with bits of clam and potatoes. It was a great consistency without being too thick but not soupy either Ambience: N/A - we ordered at the counter for to go and ate it at the little alley behind with a waterfront view with all the seagulls. Very entertaining to watch the interaction between people and seagulls! Service: 5/5 - very fast service that's to the point Value for price: 5/5 - reasonable price, amazing food, quick service! read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Tanker of White Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ivar's at the waterfront is perfect if you're looking for a quick seafood fix, especially chowder but don't want to throw yourself in the Pike Place Chowder line. Ivar's chowder seems a little less thick than Pike Place Chowder's, but it's still incredibly tasty and packed with flavor. Chowder is kept hot enough that even ordering to go, and going home it's still ready to eat without having to reheat. The 3 piece Fish 'N Chips may look like a small helping, but the fish is meaty enough that it's really filling (even before you start to tackle the fries). I have noticed a bit of inconsistency with how crisp the fish is (sometimes the outer layer will be chewy and not as fried), but I've found that happens if Ivar's is really busy. Still recommend if you're in the area to stop in and try it. Street parking is available, but I wouldn't recommend it with the traffic and high level of pedestrians (plus it's near the ferries and cruise ships, which add to the driving congestion). read more

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I had to have Ivar's while in Seattle. At least a little taste. The rest of the family went and had burgers and I took off with my daughter for the fried fish. I talked my daughter into it because she wanted to try Clam Chowder in a bread bowl. The outside ordering was confusing and lovely German family completely cut the line and just started ordering. I looked at the employee who also saw what happened and called us to the side to order. Which was awesome. We got the bread bowl with clam chowder. I got the three piece cod fish and chips with cole slaw. She looooved the soup. She was in heaven. She walked with it around the waterfront eating it. One of her step sisters shared it too. They loved it. My food was terrible. Probably the worst fried fish I've ever eaten. It was so bad. The fries were fries and fine. The cole slaw was excellent. Ill give them that. The outside seating isn't great. We walked down a ways and just sat on some concrete pylons. Too many vagrants and also very aggressive seagulls are in and near the outdoor sun room seating thing they have. I was disappointed to say the least. I was however very happy that my daughter enjoyed her first foray into soup bread bowls. That's really all that matters anyway. read more

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

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Great clam chowder! I didn't eat any of the other things, but this review is on mostly the service and the take away food. There's a nice side location to eat outdoors and view the water. Which is where we sat. There's also indoor-glass enclosure ,outside location that has glass all around it so you could still see the water! this is known for their clam chowder and I can see why! It also was served at the Delta club when I went back to the airport. On my way home! Would definitely come back and visit and get more clam chowder! read more

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Fresh and flavorful! We really enjoyed it. Even tried beignets and they were yummy.

Actually some of the worst service I've ever experienced. Slow service, unfriendly server, hair in my salad, and I had to find a water pitcher and refill our water throughout our meal. Awful. read more

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

It's been 11 years since my last review, so figured it's time for an update. We have been coming to this spot on the way to the ferry for decades. Since I was born, and it's a well-lived tradition. We get some fish & chips, clam chowder and feed the squawking pushy seagulls. This clam chowder is definitely better than the Ivar's chowder on the ferry. The fish & chips aren't the best you can get in Seattle, but pretty good. And reasonably priced. Cole slaw was just ok for me. But we will definitely keep coming back! read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Lunch before the ferry - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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the white chowder with bacon is great but i wished they warmed up the sourdough bread bowl before handing it to us. it was fun to sit by the pier and throw our scraps to the birds. a good alternative spot if you don't want to wait for the long lines at pike place chowder. barely any wait time is around 10 mins read more

Ivar's Fish Bar - Bowl of White with sourdough Bread Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

10/10! Right by the water so you KNOW you're getting it fresh. This was one of our first stops upon getting to Seattle and man this was great. We got mini shrimps and their chowder. With it being a bit chilly out that chowder hit the spot! It was creamy and chunky and flavorful. It was quick to get as we did their fast food outside area. They did have a restaurant area with seating if I'm not mistaken. read more

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

We were walking near the waterfront and after taking pictures of the area we saw a bunch of people standing in line to order lunch. We looked at the menu and said let's try it. We ordered Salmon N Chips and a Bread Bowl with Red Chowder and we both liked our meals. One nice thing is that were tables outside that allowed us to enjoy our food while looking at the water. read more

I don think I have ever been to Seattle without eating at Ivar's. Once you have their fried fish everyone else's pales in comparison. It's so fresh and crispy. You cannot get better fish anywhere. The service is always spot on. We usually sit outside so we can watch and feed the seagulls but it was raining today so we are inside. It was a very cool day eating our wonderful fish lunch and watching the rain. Be sure to try Ivar's if you haven't eaten there. It's truly great. read more

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