Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Half-shell flights of Kumamoto, Olympia, Shigoku and Pacific oysters from Hood Canal and Willapa Bay. Briny in winter, melon-sweet in summer, eaten standing up.
The Olympia is the only oyster native to Washington, harvested by Squaxin and Suquamish people for generations and prized for a coppery finish the size of a thumbnail. By 1900 over-fishing had collapsed the wild beds; growers introduced Pacific oysters from Japan in 1902 to rebuild the industry, then Kumamotos in the 1940s. Taylor Shellfish Farms, founded in 1890 on Samish Bay, now grows all four commercial species and runs three Seattle oyster bars. The Walrus and the Carpenter opened in Old Ballard in 2010 and codified the local format.
4 editor picks for Pacific Northwest oysters in Seattle, ranked by editorial score. All Seattle signature dishes · Pacific Northwest oysters across every city.
Also in: Vancouver.
The Walrus and the Carpenter in Seattle's Ballard is Renee Erickson's 2010 oyster room, a wood and marble bar, a chalkboard of 14 oysters. Priced at $$$.
OrderA flight of Hood Canal and Samish Bay oysters with the steak tartare and rye toast.
TipWalk-ins from 17:00 on Tuesday to Thursday; Friday and Saturday line up by 16:45 or take Resy at 16:30.
Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar in Seattle's Pioneer Square is the on-counter outpost of the 135-year Samish Bay farm: half-shells, geoduck crudo, manila clams.
OrderA dozen Olympias and Kumamotos from the farm, with a glass of grower's Champagne.
TipHappy hour 16:00-17:00 drops the oysters to $1.75 each; the Occidental location is the largest and quietest of the three.
Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar Melrose in Seattle's Capitol Hill is the Capitol Hill outpost inside Melrose Market: a marble bar, Samish Bay oysters.
OrderHalf-shell oyster flight with the steamed manilas in white wine, butter and parsley.
TipWalk in for the marble bar; the back room books on Tock and turns slower.
Shaker + Spear in Seattle's Belltown is the Kimpton Palladian seafood room: a kitchen working off the Pike Place fishmongers and Hood Canal shellfish growers.
OrderThe whole roasted rockfish with brown butter and capers, deboned tableside.
TipThe two top by the kitchen pass is the best seat for solos; happy hour runs 16:00-18:00 with $2 oysters.
Pacific Northwest oysters makes more sense with someone from Seattle explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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