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
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.
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