On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: MagnoliaMon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Loading...
For one, I feel bad that my review isn't great b/c someone else paid for me...anyway...
There's Red Lobster and then there's Chinook: a slight upgrade because their menu isn't overwhelmed by deep fry and butter. But on some level during my visit to Chinook, I did envy some tastier bites that I know I could have had if I were at Red Lobster.
Halibut cakes: 3.5 stars because it was deep fried.
Silver salmon: 3 stars. A bit spongy and the finish was bland.
Boston chowder: 4 stars.
I like Chinook's better for breakfast than for lunch or dinner. Breakfast begins with a basket of oversized scones, warm and moist, topped with big granules of sugar. They're so flavorful --- make sure to leave room for the main course! I also like breakfast because of the coffee and espresso selections. I usually have a Belgian waffle, and despite the carbohydrate overload, it's a solid choice. Another thing I like about breakfast is that the restaurant is quieter and feels less hectic.
For lunch or dinner, Chinook's becomes a fairly banal fish & seafood restaurant. The salmon pot pie sounds tasty but has a few faults. One, the crust is always a bit soggy. Two, the salmon has too much of that gray stuff left on the underside. Three, the potatoes always come out a little under-done. A more traditional fish or chicken entree would be a better choice than the salmon pot pie. Still, the service and the water views are always great.
Fresh Seafood right on the water.
I went here for lunch while on business nearby.
The place was pretty busy, we ended up sitting at the bar, which serves the full menu. Excellent
My husband and I met a friend for breakfast at Chinook's. We had breakfast tacos and huckleberry pancakes. My husband was more impressed with the food than I was. I thought the breakfast tacos needed more flavor and I would have liked thicker pancakes.
The service and atmosphere was nice, and I think Chinook's would be a good place to take out of town guests because of the location. The dining room offers great views of the fishing boats, and you can walk around the waterfront after breakfast.
Bear in mind that this review is based solely on the food I received being slightly sub-par. The service was very attentive, aside from my water glass being empty for the greater duration of the evening. Everyone else at the table fully enjoyed their entrees.
But dammit Chinooks, how could you mess up fish and chips?
I've been on a long winded journey to find the best fish and chips anywhere. Basically, if you drag me to a seafood restaurant - I will probably be ordering a plate filled with breaded halibut and french fries. Partially for evaluation's sake, but also for the fact that it (usually) tastes SO damn good. Now you may be asking, "Oh dearest David, with your ravishing good looks and witty smile... where might one find the best?" Well, unfortunately the best place I've visited - from the US to the UK - was in a the small town of Gualala in Northern California. Sadly that location, Oceansong, was closed earlier this year - giving even more fuel to my quest.
Anyways... on to Chinooks and my whole reason for not actually working at this very moment and instead, typing up a review. My first indication of a not-so-great meal was the complete lack of malt vinegar on the table. Yes, I understand this traditional condiment has escaped many US seafood restaurants as a primary topping, but I'll be damned if I have to eat my fishy meal with nothing more than tarter sauce and a squeezed lemon. (That's just bollocks!) My food arrived and I was a bit turned away. The breading bordered on abysmal and the fries looked nothing like my Mum's chips, that is for certain. For the love of all that is holy in this world, throw some seasoning on them solanum tuberosums! Maybe a little parmesan or lemon pepper, because damn where they soulless.
Alright, main event time! I squeezed some malt vinegar all up and around them halibut slices hoping for the best. What I got was, well... blah/uninspiring/as-exciting-as-paying-taxes. Eh, at least the fish was fresh and decent. But the whole thing that makes an excellent dish of fish and chips = the batter. There should be fireworks of seasoning going off rather than a dousing of grease. Maybe my expectations where set high being this was one of the seafood spots sitting at the top shelf in Seattle. The whole mess was just lacking any passion. Varying amounts of vinegar and lemon where no answer on the rest of my meal. I left sad - depressed even - and yearend for the chips of yore. I can only hope that I received a deficient batch and plan on returning for a second visit soon.
The location = wonderful. The service = wonderful. All the other dishes served at our table = equally wonderful. Though unfortunately, my search goes on...
I ventured here with several of my family members on a Thursday evening. Our cousin and his wife were in town from Arkansas and we thought this would be a good place to show them two of the great things about Seattle: seafood and scenery. After a few minutes of waiting we were seated and our waitress promptly took our drink orders.
We started out with some oysters which were delicious. Five out of the seven people in our party got salmon, which they seemed to enjoy. I ordered the tempura prawns which were perfectly fried and equally as tasty. One thing I really liked about this dish is that it's served with tempura veggies instead of fries. Tempura zucchini and onions make me happy.
Chinooks has a great view and even though we were seated in the middle of the restaurant we could still enjoy it. The only unfortunate part about our dinner was the volume in the restaurant. Since it was packed everyone's voices were echoing like crazy. We were sitting at a round table and that made it kind of hard to talk to the person directly across from you.
Overall this is a solid choice for dinner, and even better if you have out of town guests. We took a nice little stroll along the water after we were done eating. It was a good way to end a night of quality family time.
I love chinooks its right by my house love the batter the all u can eat prawns mmm they have really good crab fetachini there halibit is amazing !!! and the crab cakes are to die for the plum sauce is so good 5 star!!
Chinooks get three stars for good seafood, a plentiful menu, and a lovely outdoor seating area.
I had the Seared Sesame Tombo Salad (Sesame crusted rare tuna on "mixed greens" with tomato and mango salsa and a mango dressing with crispy wontons) which was good, but by the time my order was taken and delivered to me I had a stomach ache from not eating all day (I traveled 12 hours from NYC!) and then stuffing myself on their complimentary bread.
The Peach lemonade was delicious.
-2 stars for the slow wait staff.
Oh Chinooks.
How many summer dinners did I eat with you as a child?
How may plates of fried clams…
Read more »
After cruising to AK for a week one would think one could get his fill of salmon. Smoked salmon in the monring, sometimes filet of salmon at lunch and salmon as the main course or on the side at supper time. Alder smoked salmon at the AK salmon bake on shore (better than ship's salmon) plus some halibut and rock fish at other ports.
No, still needed the one type of salmon only availalbe in the spring, Copper River Salmon. After departing the ship, took the local bus system to SEATAC to pick up a rental car for the weekend and then onto Chinooks for an afternoon lunch. Upon arriving I asked if Copper River was available and it was... Fantastic... I was seated on the patio with a nice breeze and ordered the AK Amber Ale that I had grown accustomed to aboard ship and on shore. For an appetizer I ordered clam strips. They were generally small but very tasty with both the red and white sauces. After pretending to look over the menu I orderd the alder smoked CR Sockeye on the lunch, Pricey but what a treat. It came with some very good fresh green beans and potato cubes with the salmon in the center I savored every morsel of salmon like it was gold so now am finally satisfied or at least until tomorrow.
When visiting Erik & Laina in Seattle one time we (or was it she) got lost but eventually we found… Read more »
Keep the whole family happy. Grandma & grandpa will be right at home with the Ballard old timers. Junior will be happy with his crayons & kids menu. And the noise level is such that a few loud kids won't make any difference. The food is above average but not haute cuisine.
Mmmm . . . Fresh Alaskan halibut with spring chives. So delicious. So tender. No knife necessary. Wow. A little pricey, yes, but so worth it, especially as you sit there and look at out on the water at one of the boats that may have brought in that very fish. Mmmm.
I also love that you can get a comfy seat at the counter -- where the service is great, by the way -- at lunch time.
The food here is good for the price, and it's a good place to go for seafood if you want something nicer than Ivar's, but you don't want to deal with Ray's.
While the food is solid and you can always get a table, it's always a little too crowded for say, a date.
That said, it is a great place to go if you have kids, or to take your parents.
How can you not love Chinook's?! If you want extremely fresh and delicious food without the high price, go here. The place is always loud, bustling and fun, but still casual. Even when it's packed, it never takes long to get a seat!!
Their foccacia bread is to DIE FOR, but be sure to check your teeth afterwards - the green herbs usually stick!! For the people in your group who aren't seafood lovers (like me), some other AMAZING options are their yakisoba, london broil, almond chicken salad and teriyaki chicken breast.
DON'T MISS DESSERT!!! The cobbler and bread pudding are incredible.
Chinook's is great for families and groups. There'a a ton of free parking in front, and it's an amazing spot to take someone visiting Seattle to try the fresh seafood!
Our last brunch trip:
Coffee was burnt and cold. She produced a fresh pot when asked.
Scones perfect. Butter un-fresh, but edible. (they must scoop these into their lil plastic bowlhomes days prior)
San Juan Scramble, delicious, smaller portion that previous visit.
Fisherman's Big Scramble, almost enough crab to satiate my crab-addict friend, very good fish embedded.
Waffles were fresh, nice that it didn't spend too much time tanning under the heat lamp, nothing worse than a moisture-free belgian.
This is a pretty regular brunch haunt for us, and a staple when friends come from out of town that like to ogle boats for all their sexiness.
The turnover rate seems to increase food production, so it is insanely fast & fresh. We've never been forced out of our seats during busy times...yet. The staff we've had has been very attentive and kind
(nowhere near as obnoxious as our last server at Anthony's who told us her personal drama without prompt. bleh.)
We started coming here when we received an Anthony's gift certificate, and did not want to touch Anthony's or Woodfire grill, after recent abysmal service and second rate food.
We love the charmingly-named scrambles, and there is always a box traveling home from someone at the table.
The scones have a foodgasmic marmalade butter, which only occasionally tastes like a fridge.
We manage to get the same area of the restaurant, the westernmost tables at the window - noise hasn't been a huge issue.
Economical & Clean, and *mostly* family friendly.
The other patrons, as one reviewer exampled at below, are not so patient with families. We saw one man in his late twenties blatantly stare down a quiet, well-mannered 5 year old who accidentally bumped chairs with him. It was pathetic, if you don't like normal human kid behavior, don't go to this brunch, brain.
Overall, we love the Sunday mornings, the food/parking/view make it worth it.
Added pics
If you like Anthony's food but don't like the prices then Chinooks is the place for you.
It's like the Rack of Seafood Restaurants, you can get all of the same dishes for 1/3 of the price.
I love Chinooks because they have Anthony's crab cakes made with real dungeoness crab no fillers here. My favorite is the seafood chop and their halibut is fantastic too. The crab cake entree comes with corn or red potatoes, veggies etc. It is made with a ginger plum sauce and a beurre blanc.
I have had their calamari that is great too, light flaky, not to greasy
I also like the fact that this restaurant has character, you sit in the bar and there are walls of pictures of all the trollers that brought the fish in. It makes you realize how hard these people work.
Because they have Anthony's menu, I cannot complain, there food is fresh, their blackberry cobbler is to die for. Their service is amazing. It is right on the shores of the canal. I think this place is great.
Fun to watch a sport's game or go for a great seafood meal and not have to dress up or pay for a valet. Great for families too, easy parking.
This continues to be one of our favorite seafood places in Seattle. It is casual (therefore family friendly), has a pleasant water-side location, the service is friendly, and the prices are not outrageous.
Seafood aficionados/snobs may argue that the fish is not always fresh, or not always cooked perfectly. And they may be right, some of the time. But friendly service and reasonable prices go a long way toward increasing my tolerance for less-than-perfect seafood.
Also, they have an outdoor patio with water views. But if you're dining in the evening, dress warmly, as there is a pretty serious breeze that comes off the water as the sun drops.
Chinook's is a great place to take out of towners. You can't beat the on-the-waterfront location… Read more »
When my parents came to town and I wanted to show them Ballard, I took them to Chinook's. While not technically even in Ballard, the seafood restaurant down on the water provides an incredible view of boats and the Ballard Bridge. I ate there again last night for a special event, and I couldn't stop just looking out at the water and the sunset.
Along with the view, the food is great as well. The clam chowder is good, the starter bread is very tasty (I usually eat a basket myself), and everything I've ordered so far, I've been very pleased with. A very picky grandpa didn't like his salmon fish and chips last night, and on previous visits other fried food hasn't been so great, but my (not-fried) halibut tacos last night were very flavorful and rather cheap. Pastas have all been at the quality of pasta-specific restaurants. The salad options are many and the small caesar (my usual) is very good. The blackberry cobbler dessert is amazing as well.
Can't say enough good things about Chinook's. Great place, incredible view, and cheaper than other high-quality seafood restaurants in town.
I had a group of 8, no reservations and we had a severe oyster craving, enter Chinook's. We had the oyster sampler as well as several others, meals and wine. And it all came to about $33 a head. Not bad at all for the quality and they were pretty quick with the service too.
I am a fan.
Upgrading from a 2 to 3-star review because of a sincere response from management.
So overrated!
Hospitality was non-existant. $200 for dinner for four and the food was barely adequate. The acoustics are awful, if you plan on talking to your dining companions, don't come here. There were children playing on the floor. I will not be back.
If you like the chowder, and it is good - go to Little Chinook's.
Hi my name is bobby and i'm a spoiled little shit.. my parents bought me some heelies-- you know those little shoes with wheels in the heels? Oh what fun. I decided to wear them to brunch one morning at chinook's and rip around the restaurant because it's a good idea let's face it. So i blaze down the handicap ramp which is actually a jungle gym because my shithead parents didn't care. WEEEEEEE! Time for brunch. I think it might be a good idea to whip around blind corners at a high volume restaurant where bussers are carrying large trays with everything from plates, silverware, glassware, and other destructive things high above my little head. Unfortunately, i was wrong. I took out a busser coming out of the corner in turn #3 and gotta big ass table's food, glasses, syrup ramikins and empty coffee mugs dropped right on my nose. And there was blood.
Try the Fisherman's scramble.
I hate to give such a low review, but after going to Chinooks as a kid when they first opened and experiencing great service and food, it was always one of my favorite restaurants. The last few times I've had the displeasure of experiencing their current cruddy service and being disappointed with how bad and expensive the food has been. My Dad and I walked out after sitting for 20 minutes and not being served, not even getting a menu. I'd rather give it 2.5 stars. The manager followed us out and complimented us with a free meal, but it was too late. The more I go, the more I'm disappointed and wish they'd just get their act together.
They do have great seasonal drinks and desserts. I'd recommend their clam chowder, as always, and the bread is always fantastic. That's pretty much all I get nowadays when I visit.
"Classic PNW seafood!"
Good seafood for a moderate price.
Pre-dinner rolls are great and soup as an appetizer won't disappoint.
Seafood is always fresh and cooked well, but once in a while your fish comes just a bit to dry and over done.
This place can get busy during the evening hours so call for a reservation.
Come here for a hearty northwest experience.
I think I'm just now waking up from the carb-induced coma that I slipped into after eating here. Three weeks ago. Seriously. My only memory is of baskets upon baskets of focaccia bread. It. Was. So. Good. Just a tiny bit crispy on the outside, sprinkled with herbs and salt, plus olive oil to give it a little (lot of) moisture.
My entree shrimp ceasar salad was pretty forgettable, but that's what you get for going cheap at a fine dining restaurant. It did have lots of shrimp, though, like a thousand of those itty bitty ones. My compatriots had clam chowder and other such lite fare, so it's hard to say what their full-on dinners are like.
We did order dessert, since we were entertaining someone from Singapore in town for just a few days. The blackberry cobbler was really really good. Worth the 15 minutes we waited for it, because they clearly baked it on the spot. Topped off with ice cream and little coffee to go with, it was the perfect redemption to an average meal.
Except for the bread. I'd go back for the bread in a heartbeat.
This is a great quirky seafood restaraunt. The fish is absolutely great. I love salmon and theirs definitely did not dissapoint.
We went for work with a large group and they were quick to accomodate us. They serves us all very smoothly and there were no problems at all.
The feel is interesting being on the Firsherman's Terminal and all.
If you lvoe seafood and want it fresh, this is the place to go.
A family favorite of ours for many years, chinook's still provides a great breakfast in their savory breakfast tacos, and their different pancakes and crisp, buttery waffles. Also, the pre-meal scones with orange peel butter are always the highlight of the meal.
Chinook's. Meh.
While I liked the ample, free parking, and the view of the working docks (not to mention the drawbridge) was nice, the food was just bleh.
Let's begin at the begin. The gratis foccacia bread was excellent and the waitstaff was attentive. The chowder was quite good (but I'm new here, so I'm no expert). Fried baby squid? The best, tenderest and most delectable I've ever had. So at this point, the stage is set for a great meal. And then it just fell apart.
The halibut, a seasonal specialty, was odd tasting. Burnt, maybe. My husband's prawns were nice, but my son's fish and chips were not tasty and the mini-hot fudge sundae had an unexpected, unpleasant almondy flavor. The waiter did tell us that the key lime pie was made with real key limes. He didn't mention, however, that they don't remove the seeds from the juice. Lime seeds are not good. Not good at all. And the coffee tasted burnt and old. All and all, not what I expected.
While visiting my parents wanted seafood. But see my parents are very casual people, so they didn't want anything fancy for fear they'd feel underdressed and uncomfortable. So since my dad wears jeans with sandals and black socks and my mother wears polyester elastic waist pants, (now can see where I get my fashion sense from), I decided Chinook's would be the perfect casual seafood place. And guess what it was, there were shorts and t-shirts and more with sandals and black socks than just my dads.
We all picked something off the fresh sheet, it was something I demanded my parents do, nothing from the menu, the menu always disappoints me but the fresh sheet is always delicious. My dad had alder salmon, my mom had the blue plate cod special and I had the halibut with peach and nectarine salsa. All I can tell you is all our plates were cleaned, well I didn't eat all my potatoes but the halibut and green beans went down with out a fight. It was magic in my mouth, the peaches and halibut were a match made in heaven put into my mouth.
As always service was great, and we even scored a table by the window so we had a nice view of the sun setting over the marina. My parents patted me on the back for yet another excellent meal and after dinner we were all so stuffed I dropped them off at their hotel and I went home and passed out happily in a food coma.
Chinook's is Anthony's casual dinning experience. It's right at fisherman terminal with a great… Read more »
Reading other reviews, I suppose I need to come back for breakfast...
because... if you know me... I HATE SEAFOOD. I know, I know! But let's PRETEND for a sec that I love the stuff. Eat it up, have shrimp and lobster and salmon every morning, noon and night... I think I'd still give it 3 stars.
Why so harsh?
Well, I came here during a Sunday evening with the fam... table for 6. It was pointless to try and carry on a conversation in there. My mom who was sitting all of 18 inches from me had to scream just to ask for a piece of bread. Also, the floors were disgusting. Very greasy. Yuck.
The view? Superb. But to scream to the hubby, "ISN'T THIS JUST BEAUTIFUL??" would seem out of place.
Here's a better idea - have said landlubber run to Red Mill and get yummy Verde chicken sandwich, bring it back and have seafood diners get food from Little Chinook's (right next door) and enjoy dining al fresco. Enjoy the view, without having to scream, and everyone is happy.
Back to the review... I had the chicken yakisoba which was "eh" but filling. The bread was delicious also.
So until then happy campers... 3 stars.
Good fish and chips, decent service, and no wait make for a pleasurable dining experience. We split the halibut & chips as well as the "Northwest Dueling Tacos" (one salmon & one halibut taco).
The fish & chips were very tasty - the fish was fresh and flaky, the batter was not too thick or bready, the fries were thick and golden. I thought that the portion was a little small - we only got 3 chunks of fish which seemed a little stingy for $18. It also didn't come with malt vinegar though the tartar sauce was decent. The coleslaw was also refreshingly tart, and not mayonnaise-based (yay!).
The halibut emerged the clear winner of the dueling tacos. It tasted much fresher than the salmon taco though the slight fishiness of the salmon was partially masked by the mild spiciness. It came with a pile of tortilla chips and a small cup of salsa.
We saved room for their "signature" wild blackberry cobbler dessert. It was served very hot with a thick layer of vanilla ice cream smeared (not scooped) on top. The blackberries were very tart as well, but I enjoyed it. Definitely on the pricy side for dessert ($10) but overall, worth it.
This is one of those places that I keep wanting to be better than it is. The restaurant itself is airy, right by the water, just the kind of atmosphere you want to experience -- or have guests who are in town experience.
I've been to Chinook's probably just under a dozen times, always for a weekend brunch. I have no idea what it's like at dinner or any other time. For brunch, while the atmosphere is great, the food is sub par. I mean it ... totally and utterly sub par.
Whenever I discover a dish I like at a restaurant, I tend to order it again and again, every time I go back. I think at Chinook's I've had as many different entrees as times I've been there, because I haven't found one single thing that I've liked, entree wise. That's pretty sad. What's sadder is that I don't think I'm a particularly picky eater. In fact, my friends always tease me for how much I can and will eat.
What I do like is what they give for free -- hot scones at the table with orange marmalade butter. That always starts things off with a bang. Me and my fellow diners begin happy. Then the entrees come, and I remember yet again why I never walk out satisfied. :/
This place is abysmal. Noisy, cold and industrial, the room screamed "get the heck out of here, we need to turn this table". I had the pan fried oysters. The oysters were stuck together leaving the breading a gluey paste. The sides, fried potatoes and butternut squash were underdone and inedible. I would of sent them back to the kitchen if I had any confidence they could of done any better. My date ordered the smoked salmon fettuccine to which he remarked "hey look you can actually see the salmon". We shared the famous berry cobbler. It was fine, but lacking in actual berries.
I felt sorry for the poor people dining there. They spent their hard earned money on over-priced mediocre food. I wanted to lead an exodus out of the restaurant screaming "You don't have to put up with this."
This is an excellent place to go if you have small children--which is why my family has been here a number of times since my nephews came on the scene. The restaurant has terrible acoustics, which means that you have to shout to be heard at the other end of the table, but it also means that you don't need to worry about an over-excited toddler disturbing any other diners. The open kitchen is also a hit with little kids (and with me, frankly, I like watching the action). The service is very fast (you kinda get the sense that they're looking to turn their tables quickly), and the food runs the gamut from okay to pretty good. It's also fairly reasonably priced for seafood.
I would never come here for a quiet evening or romantic date but it is a great place for a large family to go out without worrying about disturbing other diners or dealing with irritated servers.
Maybe it's because I was really hung over and in desperate need of some sort of gut bomb, but it was pretty tasty. My friend made me walk to meet him at a car repair shop a few blocks from my place and suggested we go to eat. I thought we'd better hurry before i dry heave again.
I got the 3 eggs w/ corned beef. Hashbrowns are my favorite potato product. Everything was great, except when you eat really quickly and then realize that you ate too much too fast? Yeah. I was in heaven.
Service was pretty good, friendly staff and overall nice people.
Reasons to go to Chinooks: For the cool view of the fishing boats and docks. For the casual atmosphere, decent service and cold beers. For OK food at reasonable prices.
Chinooks and the Bell Street diner are Anthony's casual seafood diners. Both offer similar foods items that could have come out of the same kitchen. Food is nothing too special here. Their fried foods are a bit too greasy, cannery bread is boaring. Best bets: fish tacos, fresh fish, salads or the blue plate special and a nice day to sit outside (or get a window table) and enjoy the view. I like bringing out of town guests here for a casual dinner.
This is just one of those fish places, the kind that you go to on special occasions or with big parties that has good views, good food, and a fun atmosphere. In my old hometown of Chicago, this place was Bob Chins, Chinook's was quite similar.
Pictures of fishermen line the walls and out of the large windows, fishing boats crowd the docks. The food very much a fishmonger's delight, loads of salmon, halibut, tuna, mussels, clams, etc. All of it prepared with a hearty helping of butter, which I usually don't like but just seems to work well with fish. The mussels I had were very tasty a bathed in a mop-it-up-with-bread-it's-that-good broth. The halibut cakes that followed were also quite tasty with a nice side of potatoes.
All in all, an delightful meal.
One of my two favorite fish and chips restaurants in Seattle. I especially love their Monday all you can eat special. I snack on the first plate they bring out but what comes after is so hot and fresh and served in little baskets for as long as you want! They have great herb bread and I fill up on way too much! Its fun to watch real fishing boats working outside.
To the entire staff at Chinooks....Thank you!! I have been racking my brain for a week trying to remember where it was that I will only eat fish and chips and it was you. I mean it the only place EVER that I will eat fish and chips. You have the best. That goes from the moment that I stepped in to the moment I left. I am so happy that I found you again. Not only are the fish and chips the best but the bread you serve, the cole slaw, the onion rings, the bloddy marys I can go on and on. The staff was great the view was great, cna't wait to come back, very very soon.
A scenic, reasonably-priced, no-nonsense, casual dining seafood place.
FOOD - From my two visits my wife and I have had the baja shrimp cocktail, blackened halibut, rockfish, crab and shrimp salad, and the tuna burger. Throughout all of these dishes, the seafood has been fresh and the execution pretty OK. OK because the dishes aren't especially inspired, but done well in the standard way. Classic example was my tuna burger, which despite the albacore tuna not being on the fresh list, was very fresh and generous. I was hoping the "wasabi mayo" would give it some zing, but I could barely detect it. So order accordingly: Don't expect zingy dishes, but do expect very fresh (especially if from the fresh list) standard seafood at good prices!
PRICE - Probably the cheapest seafood I've had in Seattle given it's freshness (compared to Anthony's, Elliott's, McCormick's and Schmidts, Anthony's). To those who say it was too expensive, what the hell did you order? You are either cheap (stick to Ivar's or non-seafood or cook it yourself) or ordered way too much (you are not entitled to better entrées than everyone else because you spent like an emperor on appetizers and drinks).
AMBIANCE - A little hard to hear your date because of the acoustics, but that is over-compensated by the nice view of the boats docked outside. Sunsets are especially nice there. The place is "family-friendly" I suppose, but I neither have kids nor remembered there being any loud ones (perhaps because of the black-hole acoustics).
SERVICE - Both times has been excellent. No complaints. The fantastic , free focaccia just keeps on coming.
*WARNING* THERE MIGHT BE SOME BIAS IN THIS REVIEW*
Now I've been eating at Chinooks since the mid-20th century, 1995 actually...and since 1995, I always order the same things....a pint of hef, and the Hangtown Fry. Every now and then a shrimp cocktail, and I think that I once ordered the dungeness crab omelette and one other time the Cioppino...other than that, for 15 years, it's always been a pint of hef and the hangtown fry. Now it's not because everything else sucks, because it's all really good, it is just what comforts me. And that is what this place means to me. It's one of those comfort places. Been going there so long, they would be hard pressed to make me never come back again. They've always served this wonderful bread....Oh and I have had the chowder there......so tastey, especially with the bread....
It's always busy, kinda loud sometimes, but for some reason I like the atmosphere there. The pictures of the crabbers and fishermen, the view of all the fishing boats in Fishermen's Terminal, the Fishermen's memorial, it's very Seattle and very comforting to me. Tables are nice, but I personally prefer the bar if you can get a table.
And with the boats all out there, you can pretty much bet that all the seafood served there is fresh...that would just be silly if it wasn't.
So you ask me...."Why only 4 and not 5 stars?" Because one time back in 2003, I had to send my Hangtown Fry back....2X! Because who ever made it kept forgetting to add the damn oysters to it! I might've forgiven this if they had taken it off the bill for my troubles, but they didn't, just some apologies and a tastey remake. Plus they make it a little different in the recent compared to how I originally had it. They place the oysters ontop of a fritatta (SP), not the mixed in scramble I loved....it's still good, but not the same....so yeah, with a heavy heart, my favorite seafood place in all of Seattle gets only a four star. I still love eating there though and if you are as sickly sentimental as me....you might too.
Review is based on a dinner.
Bring your Tums. All four of our dishes were extremely oily. My King Salmon had more oil coming out of it than any Salmon I've been served in a restaurant in Seattle. Definitely not worth $25. The Oyster Pot Pie had four poor Oysters in it. The Seafood Platter was all fry and little food. The Calamari starter was really bad. Again, all fry, little food.
All in, it was $160 between four of us. One drink each. Starter, main, and no dessert. Not worth it. Even if you have to spend a few bucks more, there are so many better options.
Sign up for amazing twitter…
Neighborhood: Belltown
1/2 Price Wine
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Neighborhood: Magnolia
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Magnolia
Category: Seafood
Seattle, WA
Category: American (New)
Bellevue, WA
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: Restaurants
Obviously not a complete list. I can only review…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
I always like to find good fish and chips ya know!…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
They say it's the most important meal of the…
This list = all the places that get to share the…
For those nights when you want to eat out, but…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
