Ivar’s Seafood Bar

Candice with Comfort Inn recommended Ivar’s famous Clam chowder. this place was just down the block where I was staying. I ordered a bowl of clam chowder, fish and chips, side caesar salad and added the calamari, it was all good. Candice was right, the clam chowder was awesome. The staff was friendly and service with a smile. Highly recommend, I’ll be back when I’m in town again

This is a review for the bathroom. I came across a poor woman in a wheelchair who couldn’t possibly use the bathroom alone. The wheelchair can’t fit in there and the door can’t open wide enough. Ridiculous and should be addressed !!

This location is better then any other one in Seattle. Not sure why but the fish tastes so good here. I get the salmon and chips and love this place. I come by maybe like once or twice a month in my days off to realy have a lovely meal. The lady with the dark brown hair who packages the food is really sweet and has great customer service.

I don’t typically review what I would consider ‘fast food’, but Ivar’s is a local company, so warrants more attention than some national chain.
The food, while not spectacular, was fresh and tasted fine, and the service was quick and efficient.
I hope to visit more often and support this local chain of restaurants.

Good friday snack no meat meal till 12 MN… neat place for a fast food… fresh foods you can tell it from the taste of the foods… average service… im impressed with the cleanliness of wash room when we get there… smells so awesome and clean… great fish and chips… soda fountain is kinda confusing at first to use… accept all cards and cash, noise level moderate… free parking… patio sitting…

Lisa, is one of the best, funnest and friendly helpful restaurant staff ever! We always have the best food and experience there! She always has a smile and a laugh for everyone. She’s very personable, remembers everyone. Also the younger guy that brings the food out and takes care of the customers is super nice and helpful! The food is always fresh and yummy! Hands down the best seafood around. Always consistent and delicious! The general manager was cooking today and it was amazing! Good to know management will do any job and doesn’t act too good!
Super happy.

My first time at an Ivar’s, I was pleasantly surprised.
The chowder is excellent! The fish and fries were your average fast food, along the lines of Skippers, but they did their job well.
The gregarious chef and generous, boisterous cashier/​waitress were a hoot. It was a clear they had worked together for years and knew several of their regular customers who were happy to fling sarcastic comments at them.
Food: 3
Service: 5
Parking: 5
Ambiance: 4

When you see an inspired hard working cashier being helped by a positive and enthusiastic manager it really makes you happy you spent your money at Ivar’s.
Add the absolutely delicious food and you’re in a great spot.
Thank you Ivar’s!

Always drove by this place when I would head over to LA Fitness. Thought I would give it a shot because I had a big craving for fish and chips after a workout.
The Ivar’s is pretty standard. The interior was meh, pretty much what you would expect at a fast food restaurant. I bought the cod fish and chips along with a side clam chowder and overall, it was pretty mediocre. The only plus I would say is that you can get your own condiments and that the staff is relatively nice.

Not bad for a fast food restaurant. People behind the counter were really friendly and nice. When we got there, the cashier was really friendly and patiently waited while we decided on what we wanted to order. I noticed that the woman (I think, the manager) who was working the kitchen came out to clean tables. She really was vigorously cleaning the table tops and felt like she took a lot of pride in how conscientious she was about keeping the restaurant really clean. Sometimes I see workers just give a flimsy swipe and would brush the food items onto the ground but she was really giving a good scrub. She was really nice too because she came over and asked how our food was. She also gave us tips on what to order for our next visit.
The food in itself was good too. The panko crusted fish was crunchy on the outside and flaky on the inside. It wasn’t over cooked at all. The clam chowder was the best part of it all. It was DELICIOUS. I ordered a cup and it tasted so good. Initially, I was skeptical about their clam chowder because it seems like everyone proclaims that their chowder is the «best.» For example, at Pike Place Market, there is a restaurant called Pike Place Chowder. There are long lines of people waiting to get a taste. It was such a disappointing experience where it tasted like canned chowder. Anyways, surprisingly enough their chowder was so good. It was the perfect balance of clams/​creaminess/​seasoning. I loved it.
The only issues I had were 1) the price is a bit high for a fast food joint. For $ 9, you get a small portioned fish and chips and $ 3.50 for a cup of soup. It is on the pricier side in comparison to restaurants like KFC. Another issue was that their fries were not that yummy. Jack in the Box fries are even better than their fries recipe.

Pros: Local, independent chain. Friendly staff — both counter and the ones working the line. Clean restaurant. Free parking. Consistent, decent priced food — especially when the family is craving fish & chips, clam strips, and chowder. Food is ready in a reasonable amount of time whether dining in the restaurant or as takeout.
Cons: Sketchy part of North Seattle along Hwy 99/​Aurora, but fortunately there’s a constant stream of customers at Ivar’s and the KFC next door. Icky outdoor seating, especially when the seagulls are out on sunny days.

This location was crazy busy on ⁹⁄₁ for dinner. Half n half original and Cajun fish n chips. Very tasty. Grilled Salmon salad was good. It’s a nice family friendly fast food joint. The clam chowder was excellent. Service was great. I watched the teamwork as I waited and was very impressed with their attitudes and work ethic.

Not bad at all. First time here and a newcomer to the city. I found myself starving and jonesing for some seafood at lunchtime. Unilocaled my phone and saw this was nearby and stopped in. Had the prawns and chips and found them done quite well. Parking was a tad confusing but manageable. Luckily I arrived before the lunch rush, the line was almost to the door.

Wow!!! I was not prepared for how good this place really is. I came in to have some fish and chips which often disappoint in the breading to fish ratio. I’ll say it again «Wow!!» — the breading was light but the fish (and I had the standard fish not the upgraded halibut) was incredible — thick, meaty, flavorful, not greasy or over cooked. I will forever compare fish and chips to this place and sure wish there was something even remotely comparable in SoCal. I followed some of the Unilocalers suggestion to order the fish meal and the prawns without chips — the prawns were fantastic also — future trips to WA I may not eat anywhere else just to get as much of their fish as I can

Sorry but no.
I like the Ivar’s Seafood Bar in Edmonds. The service is great and it’s clean and well lit and pleasant. It’s still fast food but that’s okay. The food is identical here, unsurprisingly. It’s just the atmosphere and service that makes me say I’ve experienced better.
First of all the location is not the greatest right along a seedy stretch of 99. I’m not against this strip. I live close by and run a lot of errands and go the gym close by. It’s just not the nicest area.
Once inside I ordered the chicken strips and a bowl of chowder. The lady did not give me my receipt so I didn’t see it. The guy behind the counter explained to me the chicken strips would take longer to cook than the fish would because the strips were frozen. Now I am not expecting gourmet strips. I’ve had them many times and think they’re a decent guilty pleasure food. I’m not expecting high end chicken here. But for him to explain to me that they were pre-​frozen seemed kind of strange. Like why advertise a low point?
When I got my order I saw the guy put a cup of chowder in the bag. I said I ordered a bowl. He showed me the receipt and said «She charged you for a cup». I said «But I ordered a bowl.» He said «She already left» even though she was sitting close by in the dining area. Whatever. The interaction just rubbed me the wrong way. No responsibility whatsoever. No move to try and make the small mistake right.
Won’t be back. I’ll just go to the Edmonds location if I want a quick fix or to Ivar’s Salmon House in Wallingford.

You can never go wrong when ordering the clam chowder! I always have to have a cup size at the least when I come to Ivar’s. I love adding Tabasco for some kick! Aside from the clam chowder, I also ordered the prawns and chips since I don’t like fish. They’re always warm and fresh. I love their tartar sauce and I also mix in Tabasco to give it some kick.
Staff is always really nice and super friendly! The place is always clean.
Knocked off a star because I do feel it is somewhat over priced. But I still go back no matter what because their chowder is just so yummy!

I could eat their salmon and chips or their scallops and chips every day. Their staff is unbelievably friendly.
There is an older gentleman who questions every customer that wants more than one ketchup and one tartar sauce which I think is odd. At first I thought it was just me, but I went in on a busy day and while waiting for my order I heard him question every person that ordered behind me if they wanted more than one ketchup. Kinda weird. Does the price of the ketchup come directly out of his paycheck?!?
Honestly, all things considered I love this place if I am looking for a quick tasty meal.

Delicious clam chowder, tasty fish and chips, friendly helpful people. What a great mix. I’ve never tried the salmon or halibut but I intend to one of these days.

I’m a sucker for Ivar’s. I’m a Seattle transplant of 13 years and I love Ivar’s. The food is reliable and the prices are never a surprise.
My fish of choice is cod. Snacking on calamari is also a favorite past time for me. The fish is cooked consistently. The chowder is made just the way I like it. The tartar sauce and choice of different vinegars top it all off. I do occasionally eat different things but those are my favorites. I typically order different dishes at the restaurant locations.
This location, from my perspective has much friendlier staff compared to other locations I’ve been to. Efficient service and a kind word goes a long way.
I love the addition of the soda machine — you can mix flavors of soda with a variety of syrups. Free refills! Fun for kids and adults alike.

Here’s my short review: fish and chips. They do it well here so you’re safe with the regular variety or their halibut. I’d stick with either of those or one of their chowders. I am partial to the smoked salmon. Grab some of their cornbread muffins (two to one order), they are slightly sweet and moist.
Free refills on drinks with posted calorie counts on all of their menu items. It can keep things in perspective when you are ordering your meal. You can also order your fish without chips if you prefer. I do that usually and am fine with opting for cole slaw or cornbread to go with the fish.
Bathrooms were clean and the dining area is patrolled by the staff pretty regularly. If you are eating in, they ask you to take a seat and they bring you your meal. During my times there, employees have checked on me to bring me drink refills, wet naps and generally if everything was okay. I liked that attention at a ‘fast food’ place.
There’s some outdoor seating but your view would be Aurora or Sam’s Club… best to stay inside with your iPhone and check e-​mail or talk with your dining companion.