Pike Place Chowder

Pike Place Chowder is a counter-service chowder shop at 1530 Post Alley, Suite 1, in Seattle's Pike Place Market, reached through the Post Alley passage below the main market arcade. The shop has won chowder competitions and is widely regarded as one of the top places in Washington state for the dish, serving both New England-style cream chowders and Pacific Northwest variations built on local seafood. The signature order is the clam chowder, which can be served in a bread bowl, alongside a seafood bisque and a smoked salmon chowder that reflects the region's Pacific salmon tradition. Visitors who cannot choose can request small tastes of several varieties before ordering. Cuisine here is casual seafood, with the focus squarely on the soups, plus rolls and a few extras. The setting is small and busy: a narrow counter, limited seating and a queue that frequently runs out the door, with a brisk, communal feel and moderate noise. Dress is entirely casual and visitors typically eat standing, at a small number of tables, or carry their bowls elsewhere in the market. Beverages are simple, with soft drinks and bottled drinks rather than a wine programme. Prices are moderate, around $12-25 per person depending on bowl size and add-ons. The restaurant does not take reservations, so timing is the main planning variable; lines peak at midday and on weekends, and arriving shortly after opening or in mid-afternoon shortens the wait considerably. A bread bowl is substantial, and a cup with a roll is enough for a lighter lunch. Because the shop is tucked into the lower passage, first-time visitors should follow signs for Post Alley, then look for the queue near the entrance. It pairs naturally with a walk through the market, the fish-throwing stalls and the waterfront. The shop also sells chowder to take away, which suits visitors on a tight schedule, and the quick turnover at the counter means even a long line usually moves steadily.