Chinook’s

I have been going to Chinook’s for many years, ever since it opened. I always held it in very high regard. So much so, that we took some friends visiting from out of town there today for breakfast. In fairness — I have never had breakfast at Chinook’s before, just lunch and dinner.
We were very disappointed in the quality of the food this morning, and the overall lackluster efforts the chef had (not) put into it. Bland and flavorless. Obviously not made with love.
Worst faux pas? My scrambled eggs were not cooked to order, but were obviously mixed from powder and cooked in large batches then kept hot in a chafing dish. The kind that used to say on the outside of the box, «Guaranteed not to turn green.»
That sort of thing may be standard for a Holiday Inn free breakfast buffet, but not is not what you expect to receive, or pay for at a high end table service restaurant like Chinook’s, or really any restaurant of the Anthony’s chain. What’s next, guys? Eggos and toaster pancakes?

The view is great and everything I’ve tried off the menu was fantastic. Looking forward to coming again.

The food here is SO good. We got the salmon tacos, which were awesome and came with the best chowder I’ve ever had, fish and chips, and the shrimp mac and cheese. It was all excellent. We also got berry shortcake and a berry sundae, with the best vanilla ice cream I’ve ever had. Great service, too. We will be back!

Try the Hangtown Fry for brunch, deep fried yearling oysters, superb! Walk to docks w loved ones

Didn’t meet my expectations.
I came with my friend after having him talk it up. We went on a Sunday and it was fairly crowded. There was a lot of open tables and seemed to be well staffed, but there was still a 20 minute wait. We decided to get a drink in the bar, where we were met with prompt service.
We eventually got moved to the restaurant side and the experience began to fall. Our waiter was slow, inattentive and generally didn’t seem to care. He just wanted us to order as fast as we could and get out kind of mentality.
The prices didn’t quite match up to the quality. Everyone’s food items seemed greasier than they should have been.
I’d be willing to give it another try. The service in the bar was amazing though, maybe should just eat there.

I loved the view and the open, airy feel of the restaurant!
Everyone in our group enjoyed the food — San Juan scramble, pancakes, salmon hash, French toast — though I’d probably order something different next time. I got the pancakes, and while they were good, they weren’t $ 13.95 good, considering they only came with 2 pieces of bacon.
The Bloody Mary was also decent, but note that it’s $ 7.50 and was really small (half-​pint?). Their espresso machine was also down so we had coffee instead ($ 4).
Aside from some items being overpriced, our service was subpar. The server never really checked in, and neglected to bring us the free scones with orange honey butter. We had to ask someone else about it, as we’d seen it mentioned in the menu. After we asked, though, we got some scones — and they were DELICIOUS with the butter!
So if you don’t get the scones, ask for them!

I have been here twice and left underwhelmed both times.
The service was slow both times, but both servers were very kind and helpful. I don’t believe the slow service was their fault, I believe they had too many tables and I also believe the kitchen/​bar just could’t keep up.
The cocktails here are really hit or miss. I had a cocktail last time that was described as being similar to a manhattan. It tasted like bourbon with way too much vermouth and about a half gallon of bitters, no thank you.
The last menu item I ordered was the seafood platter. It’s pretty expensive so I expect a decent sized portion and for the food to be good. (P.S. the online menu is wayyyy out of date. They list the seafood platter at $ 19.95 and it was significantly more expensive.) The portion was average. The batter was completely soggy with oil and my basket had a pool of oil at the bottom. Nothing was crispy or properly fried. I would not order anything fried here again. The slaw was not my favorite style, but it was good.
Our bill for lunch for four people came to $ 150 and we all agreed that the only thing that we’d order again was our cajun shrimp appetizer. That is definitely a let down.
I probably won’t be bringing visiting friends back to Chinooks, we’ll just walk the pier for the experience and get seafood elsewhere.

Probably the best seafood in Seattle. Very fresh, always cooked to perfection. The space is always great and the view nice.
Family friendly and fast even when it’s packed. I just love going there.
The fish and chips is absolutely amazing. Definitely recommend it.

Been going here for many years, and it’s as consistently great as ever! Fantastic food, wonderful view, and the best staff in town.
And as we were just there this evening, I can update you that the 3% gratuity fee they had recently added to all checks has been reversed. This was confirmed by our server.
So do yourself a favor and go have a meal at Chinook’s!

I liked having breakfast at Chinook’s. It’s big and bright with lots of bustling energy and great views of the water all around. The service is efficient, prompt, friendly. I ordered the salmon scramble and received scrambled eggs with flecks of dry salmon and some bland minced vegetables. After eating so much good salmon in Seattle, I guess I was expecting something better. If I go back, I’ll try something different.

Come for the view — stay for the food and the service. We recently had a Friday night dinner here, and I was a little worried about seating because they don’t take reservations, but it turned out to be no problem. There was no wait and plenty of parking just outside.
We sat right next to the window, and enjoyed watching the boats outside and the beautiful sunshiny evening. Our waiter was wonderfully friendly and helpful. I had fish tacos, which had a very tasty sauce, and lots of fresh cabbage and pineapple — delicious. My friend had a shrimp scampi that was also very good. We all loved the focaccia at the start of the meal, so much so that we emptied the basket, which was promptly refilled.
We were there during rhubarb season, and I loved the menu of seasonal rhubarb specials — drinks and desserts. We shared a rhubarb slump and it was very tasty and a perfect size for sharing.
My daughter was unfortunately not feeling well, and ended up not eating most of her meal as a result. The waiter could not have been more gracious, and even though we explained that it was nothing to do with the food, he took her meal off the bill anyway, without being asked to. Great customer service — great experience overall.

Here it is in a nutshell:
1) Great selection of quality food
2) Reasonably priced
3) Fantastic service
4) Waterfront location
What else do you want or need when dining out?

The food is 2 star «meh» the view is 3.5 stars but the real 1 star earning feature is their new policy of adding a sneaky 3% «fee/​tax» onto all orders in order to pay their employees. In fine print at the bottom of their menu they now have a «3% Seattle Wage fee». Apparently unlike every business in the world, they think that paying employees to work for the business shouldn’t be built into the prices but instead should be secretly tacked on to the bill after the fact. Presumably this 3% wage fee is intended to thumb its nose at Seattle voters who enacted a living wage law. Well, here is me thumbing my nose right back.
I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, maybe I should expect this at every business going forward. Maybe now when I go to Gap and buy a shirt it’ll end up being «only $ 0.99 for the shirt», $ 2.99 for marketing fee, $ 1.25 for Seattle Wage fee, $ 5.00 for real-​estate expense tax, $ 1.00 for tax liability remibursement and $ 1.15 for sweatshop labor compensation fee.

What can I say? Food is amazing here. Taken here by a local and was told the place usually get pretty packed. Luckily we arrived earlier and we were seated almost immediately. Although we didn’t sit next to the window, the higher dining area allowed us to have a wonderful view of the dock.
The 4 of us ordered some mussels, clams, oysters, and I the first-​of-​season halibut as entrée. Every single bite was fresh, flavorful, and delicious. Best of all, I was happy that the portion was not so big that I could truly savor every last drip of the sauce.
Big parking lot. Friendly service. Prices might be high but the quality is top-​notch.

This is one of our favorite locations in town. We go there for fresh seafood, fresh salads, and to watch sporting events and enjoy micro beer and good cocktails. There is always plenty of parking, a great view of fisherman’s terminal, and the staff is always very professional and friendly.

In agreement with the majority sentiment here, Chinook’s has great food, stellar views, but most impressive was the service. Not often do you receive the same level of respect, courtesy and attentiveness on a late-​day, mid-​week lunch as one does when dining out on a Saturday evening. From the time we stepped in the door to the time we left, the customer service was exceptional!
The hostess was engaging on both ends of the experience and went above and beyond to answer questions about walks we might take in the area. Our waiter, an apt professional, was amazing. He graciously double-​checked on an item, concerned because I had mentioned a gluten-​allergy. Our food arrived quickly and was delicious!
I have to say to you all at Chinook, well done! Thank you and we will most certainly be back!

We are visiting from out of town, and I am so glad we found this place! I loved coming here. We had a late lunch and got to sit along the windows overlooking the marina. Joe was our server, and he was fabulous!!! The Boston clam chowder is really delicious. The Manhattan chowder is good too, but more of a hearty, vegetable-​bases chowder, where as the Boston is that good, creamy, soul-​warming chowder. I got a chicken caesar salad, which was huge! Chicken was delicious and the lettuce was very fresh. My fiancé had the salmon fish tacos. He said they were really yummy. The fish was good; good filet portions and cooked well. We had some good beers along with our meal, and overall had a really wonderful lunch. We will definitely be back next time we visit Seattle!

Great view. The food was average. The price point was okay given the location. The seafood was average but not as fantastic as would expect being in Seattle. It’s good for groups and kids and found the staff accommodating and helpful.

Delicious.
The only word that comes to mind, particularly when it comes to their delicious chowder and fresh seafood. My first impression was the abundance of seating. I arrived on a Saturday afternoon expecting a wait and was greeted with a view. It was overcast and dreary, so basically a perfect afternoon for Seattle. I got the plate of snow crab legs and they arrived before I could even finish my chowder. Piping hot, delicious. The complimentary biscuits are on par with an addictive narcotic, so monitor your consumption or else ruin your appetite. Highly recommend! Good parking, good location, good food, good service. You can’t go wrong. Will return soon to try their fish tacos! :D

Food is OUTSTANDING for a fastfood-​esque restaurant. Not a whole lot of seating so get there early. Some of the best fish and chips anywhere. Their slaw is simple but uses red cabbage and a sweet vinagrette. Off the charts. Fish is made to order and very fresh. Friendly staff and lots of parking. Must-​try if u are in seattle.

Love the ambiance here. The view of the fishing boats from the bar is pure bliss. Great Fish tacos on happy hour.

Great atmosphere for local eats. Views are great for was good after a long day of hiking. Only complainant was our server wasn’t friendly and forgot about us on many occasions. Waitresses don’t have to be friendly but at least pretend you care about visitors to your beautiful city

Actually great seafood. Great view of Ballard fishing fleet. Superior wait staff. As you walk in, you see the chefs and if they see you, they always nod n smile or say ‘hi’. I’ve had a fairly wide variety from the menu; it’s all great. Neither I, nor anyone there with me has ever complained. Water is always full, even when the place is jammed. The price isn’t out of reach — $ 180 for 6 — That seems ok to me. Kid friendly.

Our party of three went to Chinook’s on December 20^th, 2015, for an early Sunday dinner. Our waiter, Matthew, was excellent and the meal was the best we had had in a long time.
We were seated quickly and our waiter brought water and a basket of herbed focaccia bread to the table as we reviewed the menu. This focaccia was fantastic, piping hot like it had just come out of the oven, buttery and delicious. Everyone enjoyed it immensely and we asked for a second basket during the meal.
While most of my group didn’t want any appetizers (they were satisfied with the focaccia), I ordered the Hearts of Romaine with Blue Cheese small salad and a bowl of Boston Clam Chowder, which I shared with one of my companions.
Even thought the salad was under the small salad menu items, it was pretty large. The salad was very fresh, with a whole head of romaine, very clean, covered with crumbled blue cheese, croutons, hazelnuts and blue cheese dressing. The hazelnuts and croutons gave the salad a nice crunch and the blue cheese crumbles and dressing were strong, creamy with that blue cheese zing and delicious.
The bowl of Boston Clam Chowder that I shared with my friend was excellent, creamy and with a good amount of clams. We both consider it in the top two chowders available in the area (the chowder available at the Mulkilteo Arnie’s is a tie with this one).
For the main meal, one of my friends chose the London Broil and the other chose the Garlic Baked Prawn Scampi. I had the Chargrilled Cheeseburger.
The London Broil was medium rare as requested and came with Kalbi sauce, which our waiter kindly offered to place on the side. It was also served with roasted red potatoes and green beans. My friend enjoyed the meal, it was moist and flavorful.
The Garlic Baked Prawn Scampi was also served with roasted red potatoes and green beans. The scampi was nicely cooked, with good flavor and a good amount of prawns. The potatoes were not dry at all, they were very moist and the green beans were nicely sautèed.
The Chargrilled Cheeseburger came in a big stack, with cheddar cheese, red onion and tomato on a soft bun, and thin-​cut fries. The fries were hot and well cooked, not oily.
The burger was excellent, juicy and messy but the bun held together nicely. To me, a hamburger is the litmus test for most restaurants. If they can cook a good hamburger then I am more than willing to return. That a sea food restaurant can provide as excellent a hamburger as they did was impressive.
While we didn’t try any of the desserts (although we saw several delicious-​looking ice cream sundaes going to other tables), we were all impressed with the meal we did choose: the focaccia, the starters and the entrèes.
Excellent job, Chinook’s! We’ll be back!

Took some out of town friends to Chinook’s. I thought it would be good enough to make an impression, but it was just A-​OK. The food was fine, but nothing memorable. For example, the salmon seemed really dry. The drinks were fine, but nothing to write home about. The service was fine, I can’t really complain about that. The atmosphere was pretty casual, maybe more casual than I was expecting. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was overall disappointed by the food.

Great friendly service with a fantastic view of the water and ships. We got seated right away bc we sat at the bar, but the bar seats were at the window so it was a beautiful view. The crab cakes are like deep fried clumps of crab, sitting in sauce. I wish I had gotten the sauce on the side but there was definitely enough crab meat which I liked! We ordered the salmon med rare and got it well done. Told the waiter who took it back apologetically and quickly and had a fresh one that was perfectly cooked and delicious. The halibut was also very good.
The seasonal rhubarb dessert was good, standard grocery store ice cream but I wasn’t complaining!

Chinooks is fantastic! I had the crab and shrimp linguini and it was the best thing I have had since we arrived in Seattle. I highly recommend it. Parking is easy and you can tell that locals know about this place more than the tourists. The food is very affordable and you get plenty. Highly recommend!

Chinook’s is one of the places we think of when we crave good seafood for our meals. Personally, I particularly like this place because the food is fresh (being around the Salmon Bay area helps with that!), the prices are reasonable, service is attentive and, best of all, I never have to worry about parking situation like other restaurants in Seattle area.
Whenever our friends from out of town come over for a visit and ask about trying seafood in a casual-​ish restaurant, we always think of Chinook’s as one of the top options in our mind. I’ve been there at least 3 – 4 times over the past year and had anything from fish/​seafood (various types) and chips, chowder, taco, or fillet steak type and everything tasted good. One of my most memorable dishes were fried razor clams. my gosh.they were so yummy. not too soft and chewy and, yet still have some fresh crunch when I bit into it. I also loved their complementary bread… it was a bit buttery at the bottom but I loved their bread’s soft texture, buttery smell and the little spice it had on top as well.
Our recent visits we also got to try their seasonal desserts (the other times, we were too full to even think of having desserts!), the huckleberry slump and loved it. It was a nice huckleberry compote (not too overly sweet) with a warm baked pie crust covered it, and topped with vanilla ice cream.
If you are looking for a casual, not too upscale sit down place for seafood with good quality, definitely keep Chinook’s in mind. We’ve been coming back to this place ever since we discovered it a few years ago. Also, ask for a seat next to the pier… the seating gives you a cool view into the pier while waiting for your food, too!

This is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. If you’re visiting the Ballard area you need to come here. The atmosphere is one of a kind, you have to experience it. The menu can be overwhelming but in a good way; it’s neatly organized and the pickiest eaters shouldn’t have a problem finding a dish to their liking.
Their fresh sheet is tops and has no problem keeping it fresh (no pun intended), for the regulars who have been eating here for over 20 years.
The Dungeness crab & shrimp Caesar salad is my favorite dish. Their lingcod & chips is a notorious staple too.
Their bread hits the right spot on cold rainy Seattle days, you can’t go too long without craving it and you’ll most like become addicted after trying it.
The majority of the time they have seasonal fruit which you can order in dessert and alcoholic beverage form. I recommend the slump.
Many years ago they changed their delicious white sauce coleslaw to new hip crap sauce. Not too happy about it… I’ll be okay I guess but, I’ll always remember the good sauce.

After years of great meals at Chinook’s, we had a less than perfect one. We mentioned it to the manager, Amy, and she took care of it to our complete satisfaction. Every business makes mistakes, it’s how they respond to problems that tests their quality. Chinook’s passes with flying colors. We will eat at Chinook’s again and again.
P. S. The food is great.

Well, when you’re in a place like Seattle that has great seafood and you end up at one place twice on purpose, you know you owe them a good review. If you have kids who eat seafood, you NEED to go here. It is super family friendly without being uncomfortable for kidless groups. Excellent fresh fish, great service and beautiful views of the marina. Clam chowder was some of the best we’ve had and the cioppino was very good. My littlest does not eat fish but ate salmon here, twice. Enough said.
Also, if you time it right and they are still making concoctions with fresh huckleberries, I would highly recommend them. Desserts, cocktails you name it. So good.

Last night we attended Chinooks on a recommendation from a friend while visiting Seattle from Toronto. All I should say is. I’ll be back!
We arrived at the restaurant on a Sunday evening around 7pm and it was packed! We waited 20 mins at most for a table (worth the wait).
Once seated we were brought out cold glasses of water and hot bread immediately. After mulling over the menu for about 5 – 10 minutes we placed our orders! My girlfriend and I started with the mussels, I then had the Boston white clam chowder and 2 Mahi Mahi fish tacos (so good!) she had a platter of shrimp with corn, and fresh cut potatoes.
We did not stay for dessert as we were extremely full! Needless to say I will recommend Chinooks to anyone traveling to Seattle in the future.
Bön appetite !

Located in Salmon Bay, Chinook’s is in one of Seattle’s few areas where you can still see working fishing boats moored. Growing up it was my privilege to come and visit my friend’s family fishing vessels. That’s true, old-​school Seattle!
Chinook’s has been one of my extended family’s meeting places for over 20 years. We enjoy the food and everyone finds something they like, little kids to seniors. They have a large selection covering not just seafood, but other proteins, pasta, salads, soups and apps.
Part of the Anthony’s restaurant chain, Chinook’s is considered one of their «casual» restaurants — and to a degree it is, as you don’t have to dress up to eat here. But people show up very neat, upscale casual most of the time. Prices are slightly more upscale as well. Expect to average about $ 15 – 20 per meal — not off the fresh sheet. There is a reasonably priced kid’s menu.
To note: it can get loud in here. It’s almost always busy. The space is large with high ceilings and giant windows that allow the light & sights to pour in. The wait staff is seriously one of the most professional I’ve encountered — veterans tend to want to work here and you will see the same great waiters for decades — yes, decades. They’re wonderful here.
You can get great fish here and they have a daily fresh sheet. It can be a little on the pricey side for casual dining. (I recommend going to their adjacent «Little Chinook’s» for chowder and fish & chips). I love the chowders — they have both white and red. I mix the two, which most of you know is a «New Jersey». Delicious. All you can eat fish and chips are Monday nights. Yum.
Desserts are tasty here. They have nice hot fudge sundaes. They also tend to have marionberry desserts, as that is a local thing… very yummy. But many Chinook’s devotees are slaves to the bread pudding, which is gigantic. It does not have raisins — my personal preference anyway –but it does have a delicious custard sauce. All the women in my family take pieces home to gorge on later.
One of my favorite places in my home town. Seattle is becoming more and more unrecognizable, but at least this so far is safe!

I love coming here for happy hour!!! It is actually pretty decent in price and just enough food. I think this is nice for a date, with family or with coworkers!
My Personal Restaurant Rating Key
One star: the food was bad and I had a negative experience.
Two star: I had a more negative experience and would not come here again but the food was good so I may.
Three store: Everything is good except one thing. Example-​the food is good, the price is more reasonable but the atmosphere is lacking class. Or the food is good, the atmosphere is good, but they over charged us. These three stars are actually my favorite types of restaurants to go eat at if the reason is due to the atmosphere because they are usually delicious and reasonably priced.
Four stars: Everything is great, food and experience. However the price is definitely on the upper end. I would not recommend this first to Obama unless he didn’t like my five stars. These are restaurants you can take your boss or your mother-​in-​laws to impress them, however they still don’t fit into the five star category. A bit fancier than my three stars, hence I don’t often eat here unless there is an occasion for it or there is a groupon that gives me a bit of a discount!
Five stars: I would recommend this to Obama. The price may be on the upper end but the experience and the taste is so exquisite, it is actually worth every nickel and dime.

Yummy! This was my final evening in Seattle and I’m happy to say that I spent it dining at Chinook’s. We arrived at 8:00pm on a Friday night and got seated immediately. Perfect! We were then greeted by our server who brought us our refreshing beverages, the usual for me (iced tea), water for my man, a cold beer and a berry cosmopolitan for our folks. If you drink and enjoy fruity cocktails, this was a hit!
The bread… oh my, this was deee-​licious! Just as the Unilocalers said it would be. :)
For dinner, I ordered the half or appetizer portion of the dungeness crab cakes which is not on the menu but prepared for me anyways. This was a perfect portion for my small appetite (2 crab cakes) and would allow me room for dessert. The crab cakes were amazing. It seemed like 100% crab and no filler… absolutely divine! My love got the salmon tacos, his folks got the rockfish and breaded sole. I’m not lying when I say that our dinner table was super quiet because we were all too busy stuffing our faces!!!
The meal ended with dessert. Since berries are in season, my love ordered the berry cobbler which was generously topped with vanilla ice cream. His folks had a mixed berry Sunday and I ordered burned cream, aka crème brûlée. I’ve never had a bad crème brûlée but this one was pretty darn tasty. No complaints… not a single one. Thanks for the awesome evening Chinook’s. Only complaint I have is that you’re not in Texas!

A really nice seafood restaurant– family friendly and another great spot to take out of towners!
Located right by the Fisherman’s terminal, Chinook is a large seafood restaurant overlooking the wharf. There’s plenty of parking and lots of seating in the main dining area and the bar. I didn’t sit at the bar but they had pretty nice bar stools positioned so that you could watch some of the raw food being prepped. Most of the tables in the dining area have a great view of the docked boats.
The menu is largely seafood but there’s a few non-​seafood options. Not many veg options, though. I like the variety of seafood and prep methods the offer– grilled, baked, and fried. I tried the oysters and chips, and my mom tried the endless fish and chips (the Monday dinner special). Both the oysters and cod were battered in a light beer batter and served with seasoned fries and coleslaw.
My oysters were huge and there were at least 6 – 7 of them. The fries were a little limp but incredibly tasty. I’m not usually crazy about coleslaw but the coleslaw they serve here is fantastic. They dressed it with a creamy poppyseed dressing and it was so tasty. I kept going back for bites of coleslaw and pretty much ignored the fries, which is not what I’d usually do.
Our server was friendly and helpful, and the food came out incredibly quickly. The prices are lower than most in the area and you get a generous amount of food. I will definitely be back when I want to have some good, fresh seafood.

The food was actually a 3.5−4 stars but the service was a 0 – 1 star
We got seated outside in the corner and was promptly ignored for about 20 minutes. It was confusing because the waiter took the order of the table next to us but completely ignored us.
I eventually had to get up and walk over to the waiter who was just hanging out talking to another waiter.
We ordered the salmon fish and chips and alder plank salmon. Honestly both dishes were really good. The fish and chips were exceptional, easily better than most. The alder plank salmon was also cooked properly and had tons of flavor.
Oh yah, when the waiter came back to drop off the food i wanted to ask for ketchup but he pretty much dropped off the plates and booked it out of there… never to be seen again until I flagged him down for the check.

Kinda torn … I want to give it a 4 but it was just really average for me.
Got the fish taco & clam chowder lunch special … fish was bland but the chowder was decent.
Shared an order of the Cod Fish n Chips … pretty average nothing amazing. Probably didn’t help that I ate at what I consider to be the BEST FISH n CHIPS I ever had in my life.
Overall, good service. Seems like a very popular local spot.