Readers' Choice 2026
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Best Seafood Restaurant: Ray’s Boathouse
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Seattle magazine.
Rooted in Ballard’s longstanding fishing community, Ray’s Boathouse captures everything that makes Northwest dining unique. Known for championing regional seafood such as Copper River Salmon, singing scallops, and Olympia oysters, Ray’s was the first Seattle restaurant to obtain its own wholesale fish-buyer’s license (in 1976), allowing it to purchase the freshest catch directly from local fishermen. This dedication to upholding Northwest flavors remains today, telling a story with every dish—from shrimp scampi to steamed clams—and supporting a historic industry that still thrives just a few miles away.
Runner Up: Mondello Italian Restaurant
About Readers' Choice 2026
Once a year, we turn the tables and ask our readers about their favorite local spots. The neighborhood café with the best coffee, the restaurant you book for every special occasion, and where you send out-of-town guests for top-tier cocktails. Seattleites have opinions, and they shared them with us. This year, we received more votes than ever before, with some familiar favorites returning and plenty of new names making the list.
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