Skip to content

Food & Drink

Where to Get the Best Clam Chowder in Seattle

By Jessica Yadegaran, Chelsea Lin and Cynthia Nims; with additional reporting by Haley Durslag June 15, 2016

A bowl of soup with a spoon in it.
A bowl of soup with a spoon in it.

This article originally appeared in the June 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.

Clam chowder, particularly outside its native New England, can be easily overlooked—too thick, too chewy, too frequently relegated to a bread bowl. But done right, it is the stuff of legend.

At Duke’s Chowder House, it’s precisely that—a family recipe (using a bacon roux and unique combination of herbs) on which a local empire with six locations was built. $8.40–$17.90. Green Lake, 7850 Green Lake Drive N; 206.522.4908; dukeschowderhouse.com. Steelhead Diner takes a slightly more sophisticated approach with an Alaskan razor clam chowder that’s finished with a drizzle of truffle oil. $8–$10. Pike Place Market, 95 Pine St.; 206.625.0129; steelheaddiner.com.

And at Seattle Fish Company’s in-shop grill, you can sample perhaps the simplest version: ultrarich, generously salted and dense with clams ($5). Feeling inspired? The store sells fresh clams you can take home and throw into your favorite recipe. West Seattle, 4435 California Ave. SW; 206.938.7576; seattlefishcompany.com

Get the recipe for Duke’s Classic clam chowder.

 

Follow Us

Where To Find ‘Authentic’ Mexican Food in Seattle

Where To Find ‘Authentic’ Mexican Food in Seattle

A primer ahead of Cinco de Mayo

With Cinco de Mayo upon us May 5, thoughts turn to Mexican cuisine. What is “authentic” Mexican cuisine, anyways? Gino Garcia, who grew up California’s Central Valley and traces his family roots to Mexico going back more than a century, says it’s a futile exercise to search for “real” Mexican cuisine in Seattle. “I don’t bother much with authenticity,” says Garcia, who is…

Seattle Restaurant Roundup: Tourists, Canadians, Hot Honey, and Cider

Seattle Restaurant Roundup: Tourists, Canadians, Hot Honey, and Cider

Remember when hot honey burst onto the dining scene last year? You’d find it drizzled on pizza, slathered on fried chicken, even as a dipping option for cornbread. But if the temperature has turned down a bit for you on this trendy condiment, let Queen Bee’s Hot Honey — made and served up with Caribbean…

Restaurant Roundup: Take a Bite of the Latest Seattle Food News

Restaurant Roundup: Take a Bite of the Latest Seattle Food News

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City

Seattle is a special place to eat — you know it, we know it — so it’s not exactly a surprise when local culinary talent makes the headlines. Nevertheless, it’s always worth throwing a little more shine to the spotlight — take a peek to find out which star gained some national acclaim this week,…

Counter Culture: Time Out Greek & American Restaurant

Counter Culture: Time Out Greek & American Restaurant

Cozy Mountlake Terrace gem delivers every time

Time Out Greek & American Restaurant, a hidden gem in Mountlake Terrace, has been serving up delicious comfort food since 2004. Founded by Emmanuel and Georgia Flemetakis, this family-owned restaurant is now run by the next generation of the Flemetakis family. The menu is packed with classic Greek comfort food, offering everything from gyros and…