Pike Place Chowder ★ 4.7
Pike Place Chowder in Seattle is Larry Mellum's 2003 Post Alley counter: eight national chowder cook-off wins, the New England with manila clams.
OrderAward-winning clam chowder
The thick, cream-based New England chowder that Larry Mellum reverse-engineered at his Pike Place Market counter in 2003. Eight national chowder cook-off wins and counting.
Pike Place Chowder is not a Seattle invention so much as a Seattle perfection. Larry Mellum opened the counter in Post Alley in 2003, then carried Pike Place Chowder's New England Clam Chowder to the Great Chowder Cook-Off in Newport, Rhode Island, where it won the people's pick in 2008. The kitchen has now collected eight national championships. The Pike Place Market location at 1530 Post Alley still trades on the cobblestoned chowder queue; the second shop opened at Pacific Place in 2008.
3 editor picks for Pike Place clam chowder in Seattle, ranked by editorial score. All Seattle signature dishes · Pike Place clam chowder across every city.
Matt's in the Market ★ 4.4
Matt's in the Market in Seattle is the Pike Place Corner Market room with windows over the clock: a Pacific Northwest kitchen sourcing five floors down.
OrderThe catfish sandwich at lunch, on Macrina sourdough with house remoulade.
TipLunch counter seats walk in at 11:30 and turn quickly; dinner needs a reservation, especially for window tables.
Ivar's Acres of Clams ★ 4.0
Ivar's Acres of Clams in Seattle on Pier 54 is Ivar Haglund's 1946 waterfront fish house, a wood-walled dining room over Elliott Bay with pan-fried oysters.
OrderPan-fried Olympia oysters with the alderwood-smoked salmon plate at a window table.
TipThe Pier 54 fish bar to the side is the cheap counter: same clams, lower price, ferry views.
Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide
Pike Place clam chowder makes more sense with someone from Seattle explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Taste Pike Place clam chowder with a local in Seattle
This dish
Private tour · 2 hours
Private Seattle World Cup Fans Food Tour Pike Place Market
Taste Seattle’s culinary culture on a private food walking tour through Pike Place Market. Discover local flavors, iconic sights, and vibrant market traditions with a guide.
from$2,202 Check dates
This dish
2 hours
Seattle: Leather Tote-Making Workshop at Pike Place Market
Join a tote-making workshop at Pike Place Market in Seattle. Choose your leather color, size the straps, and use tools like mallets and rivets to create a personalized...
from$400 Check dates
This dish
2 hours
Seattle: Leather Belt-Making Workshop at Pike Place Market
Join a leather belt-making workshop in Seattle's Pike Place Market. Choose your dye color, personalize your belt with engraving, and take home a full-grain leather bel...
from$200 Check dates