Living in Western Washington is made all the more wonderful by the endless variety of delicious food to be had here. My personal favorite being seafood. Seafood is all kinds of delicious and the Pacific Northwest has plenty of it. However, for this particular article, we will be discussing Oysters and where to find them.
Oysters have only recently become a favorite of mine. I was never very interested in them before. The idea of those slimy suckers was not very appealing. Then, one day while out and about in Seattle with my sister, we stopped to eat at the Fisherman’s restaurant and decided to try them (because she wanted to). I was very pleasantly surprised at how non slimy they really were. The accompanying sauces were very tasty and the meat was tender, silky and flavorful. That was about 5-6 years ago and now I get a real hankering for some fresh oysters and my boyfriend and I go hunt them down.
With that said, I have many oyster places yet to explore and taste test. First on my list to try is Hamma Hamma Oyster Saloon in Lilliwaup. I have heard from numerous people that it is the best place to go for fresh oysters. As soon as I get out there, I will write all about it. So, keep an eye out for that one.
For now, I am going to bring your attention to a few of my favorite places in Western Washington to sit down and enjoy some fresh oysters.
Let’s get to it:
5 Great Places To Enjoy Fresh Oysters in Western Washington
#1: Oysterville Seafarms, Oysterville
If you're looking for a truly amazing, complete oyster experience, look no further than Oysterville Seafarms in Oysterville.
Oysterville is on the North end and the East side of the Long Beach Peninsula, about 15 miles North of the town of Long Beach. It is roughly a 3 1/2 hour drive from the Seattle area, and very worth a weekend getaway.
Oysterville itself is an adorable place to visit. It is a historic ghost town that is lovingly maintained. The stretch of beautiful historic homes and church are very picturesque and part of the National Register of Historic Places. Included in this roster of historic buildings is the Oyster cannery itself, which is the last oyster cannery left in Oysterville.
The cannery here tops this list because it is a simple, laid back oyster experience with a gorgeous view of Willapa Bay and the surrounding wild life, such as Eagles and Great Blue Herons.
The cannery has a cute little store with a variety of products to purchase as well as fresh clams and oysters to enjoy out on the deck.
Last time we were there was for my boyfriend’s birthday on the last day of April. We ordered 2 dozen oysters that they shucked right there for us with astounding speed and skill.
The staff here are so friendly and informative. We learned so much, such as, I had never before heard of the “R” rule for eating oysters. Wild oysters should only be eaten during months with an R in it, so basically…don’t eat them in the summer. They also mentioned that it had something to do with them changing genders. Now, I had no idea that they changed genders, but apparently most of them start as males and then change to female or are both. I don’t follow how this plays a role in not eating them in the summer, but it was pretty interesting none the less. Oysters are much more complicated little creatures than I had ever realized.
We were told all of this because that day we were there was the last day that they were allowed to sell us fresh oysters to eat. We were quite lucky since it was also about 15 minutes before they closed for the day. Armed with knowledge and gratitude for this last minute opportunity, we took our oysters out to the deck to finish out the gorgeous day.
If you are looking for a great weekend getaway outside of the summer months and desire an amazing oyster experience, check them out.
#2 Olympia Oyster House, Olympia
If you are looking for a cozy place to sit down and enjoy a delicious variety of fresh oysters as well many other seafood items, this historic spot down from the state capital is the perfect place!
The Olympia Oyster House is the oldest standing seafood restaurant in the state of Washington. For a history buff like myself, this makes it even more special. The owners that renovated and reopened it 2019 did so with loving care and I so appreciate them for doing so.
Along with the historic aspect, the staff go out of their way to make sure you have a great dining experience, including having an oyster bar that you can try a sample of their fresh hand shucked oysters, which I found very exciting.
The oysters are some of the most tender, smooth, and flavorful that I have ever had. They are accompanied by a lovely array of sauces that we greatly enjoyed. We have also feasted on some very yummy crab and shrimp cocktails, cheesy mac, clam chowder, baked oysters and of course, dozens of fresh oysters in half shell.
No review can be complete without mentioning the incredible water view that welcomes you as you sit and enjoy some tasty local brews and peruse the extensive menu.
With it being only a 45 minute drive, it’s variety, friendly staff, good prices and water view, Olympia Oyster House is our go to place for fresh oysters.
Check them out next time you have a fresh oyster craving.
https://www.olympiaoysterhouse.com/
#3: The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive, Bow
In the mood for a drive along the coast to enjoy amazing food with stunning ocean views? The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive is the perfect dining destination.
Located on a scenic stretch of Chuckanut Drive, The Oyster Bar is a must for seafood lovers and nature lovers alike. They have a variety of incredible meat and seafood, including fresh oysters in the half shell as well as baked oysters, crab cakes, and steak.
The views of Samish Bay are the perfect complement to the delicious food and is the perfect place for a romantic evening or special occasion.
We were fortunate to get there in between lunch and dinner, so we were able to get in before the full list of dinner reservations started. I recommend calling in advance to reserve your table.
With that said, this cozy, intimate space is enhanced by the astounding water views. The location and view alone are worth stopping for. We saw eagles in the trees around us and felt such peace and gratitude while enjoying delicious local fresh oysters as well as the best baked oysters I have ever had and yummy crab cakes and salad.
If you are looking for a scenic road trip, Chuckanut Drive and the Oyster Bar is highly recommended and only around an hour and a half North of Seattle.
#4: Anthony's at Sinclair Inlet, Bremerton
Do you enjoy delicious food and stunning water views? Anthony’s restaurants are top on the list for any occasion. You can not go wrong with any Anthony’s location. Okay, honestly, I haven’t been to every location but I have been to the following:
- Des Moines
- Bellingham
- Everett
- Seattle
- Gig Harbor
- Spokane
- Anacortes
Do you know what they all have in common? Amazing food and the best views!
The Anthony’s at Sinclair Inlet is no different. Overlooking the Bremerton marina, it does not disappoint in the views department. We were there on a very cloudy, rainy day…as happens often in the non summer months of Washington…but we still enjoyed the view of the marina, the boats, the naval ships and Sinclair Inlet.
It is the only Anthony’s on this list of oyster spots because it is the only one where I have enjoyed some fresh oysters, although I am sure the others have them as well. Anthony’s does tend to have a similar menu no matter which location you go to. This means that it is a true favorite since I know I will enjoy the food and the view even if I haven’t been to a specific location before.
On this particular visit, along with my boyfriend's halibut and my seafood alfredo, we had fresh oysters in a half shell with a delightful cucumber mignonette. I do appreciate the various sauces one gets at different places for oysters and of course, cocktail sauce is one of my favorite condiments. The more horseradishy (that a word?) the better.
The oysters did not disappoint. They were delightfully tender and briny, just what we wanted.
So, if you are out and about in the Bremerton area, or in need of an easy road trip, check out Anthony's in Bremerton. It is roughly an hour away from Seattle depending on when you go, and the naval ships are super cool to see.
https://www.anthonys.com/restaurant/anthonys-at-sinclair-inlet/
#5: The Fisherman's Restaurant and Bar, Seattle
The Fisherman’s Restaurant would be on any of my food lists. I have been here many times for many occasions and tried many different menu items. It is simply a great place to go in Seattle that is on the waterfront, has outdoor seating, and near all of the cool activities, such as the Great Wheel and the Aquarium. Now, I was enjoying this place long before the Great Wheel was there, but anyone doing these tourist activities should definitely stop at The Fisherman's’ Restaurant.
It is on this list because, as I said in my introduction to this article, it is where I first sampled and enjoyed a fresh oyster in a half shell.
We only ordered half a dozen oysters as we were just trying them out and after we tried, we wished we had ordered more. They were the smaller variety, sweet, smooth, and scrumptious. The Fisherman's Restaurant serves only fresh, locally harvested oysters, which being on the Puget Sound, there is no reason not to.
As I said, there are so many great things about this place, including amazing water views, great location, super cool vibe, and delicious burgers, fish, shrimp, beer and chowder. However, for this article, it is the super yummy oysters, the simple sauces they come with, the cool servers that bring it to you, and the fresh, local variety that are worth bringing to your attention.
Personally, I haven’t visited Seattle much in the past few years, but when I do, I will have to make a stop at the Fisherman’s Restaurant on Pier 57 at the end of miners landing. Apparently, they now offer private dining inside the Great Wheel. That certainly sounds like a unique experience worth checking out.
https://www.fishermansrestaurantseattle.com/
There you have it.
My list of 5 great places to eat fresh oysters in Western Washington. Honestly, even if you didn't like oysters, these places would totally be worth your time. That is due to the fact that they require a bit of travel and exploration, which is I personally feel that everyone should try. The PNW is just too beautiful and incredible to not get out and explore.
So, get out there!