When you travel to a new city and want to find great local food, you usually know to skip the tourist trap spots that love to jack up prices for mediocre food. This is mostly true except for the case of Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. Yes, it is touristy, and you should avoid a few shops, but you can still find great food at decent prices if you know where to look.
You can find it all at Pike Place Market. Restaurants, stores, food stands, and small stalls serve and sell everything from fresh fish and seafood, fruit, vegetables, exotic spices, flowers, clam chowder, fish and chips, and some of the best smoked salmon in Seattle.
Here is a list of some of my favorite places to eat at Pike Place Market:
1 – Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese is a cheese lovers paradise. Other than cheese, they make some tasty sandwiches, soups, and the “World’s Best” Mac & Cheese using their delicious artisan house-made cheeses.
I went with the popular “World’s Best” Mac and cheese. This simple but tasty mac and cheese combined perfectly cooked penne pasta with Beecher’s award-winning Flagship cheese. Beecher’s definitely did not skimp out on adding cheese, as the al dente noodles were drenched in a thick and powerful cheese mixture—maybe a little too much for some. It also had a slightly grainy texture.
That said, the surprisingly simple “World’s Best” Mac & Cheese might not be the world’s best, but it’s worth a try if you pass by the shop.
Address
1600 Pike Place
Seattle, WA 98101
206-956-1964
Hours
Daily: 9:00 AM -7:00 PM
Website
https://beechershandmadecheese.com/
2 – Pike Place Chowder
As the name implies, Pike Place Chowder off Pike Place Market Post Alley serves up a good selection of bowls of chowder and bisque. They also have a small selection of sandwiches and salads.
I went with the chef-picked Market Chowder, which changes often. The Market Chowder was made on this visit using crab, oysters, chorizo, and vegetables. Served with the chowder was a side of bread.
The chowder served here may not be the best I have ever had, but the consistency was great—not too thick, not too thin, and just the right amount of seasoning and cream. The pieces of crab, oysters, and chorizo were quite small, though. I wouldn’t mind if they were a little bigger, but for the price, I’m not complaining.
Pike Place Chowder also offers various chowders, including classic New England, Smoked Salmon, Manhattan, Southwestern Chicken and corn, Steamed Scallops, and Vegan.
Address
1530 Post Alley
Seattle, WA 98101
206-267-2537
Hours
Daily: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website
https://www.pikeplacechowder.com/
3 – Piroshky Piroshky
Piroshky? What the heck is a piroshky? It turns out a piroshky, or pirozhki, is a baked or fried bun stuffed with any type of filling you desire.
I didn’t know what to order, so I went with the best-selling Smoked Salmon Pate piroshky. I love anything with smoked salmon.
The Smoked Salmon Pate piroshky was a spin on a traditional piroshky. The filling inside was a mixture of smoked salmon and cream cheese with a dash of dill and onion.
Warm and flaky, this savory piroshky is excellent for any salmon lover and is lovely on a cool day. The blend of smoked salmon and cream cheese had an interesting texture. It’s not necessarily as smooth as cream cheese, but it’s far from smoked salmon’s velvety and delicate texture. If you hate fish, know you have plenty of other nonseafood options that are just as delicious.
The line at Piroshky Piroshky is often long, but rest assured it moves quickly.
Address
1908 Pike Place
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 441-6068
Hours
Daily: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Website
https://piroshkybakery.com/
4 – The Crumpet Shop
The Crumpet Shop serves a wide variety of sweet and savory crumpets that will leave you full for less than a few bucks. It’s definitely a great stop for a quick breakfast.
Like the piroshky, I didn’t know much about crumpets except for the saying tea and crumpets. A crumpet is a circular griddle cake made using flour and yeast. Think of it as a cross between a biscuit and an English muffin.
I continued the smoked salmon theme on this trip and ordered the Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese & Cucumbers Crumpet. The smoked salmon and cream cheese blend was very smooth and intensely bright pink. The bottom of the crumpet was crispy, while the inside was spongy like a cake. Very unique. The slices of cucumbers on top added a much-needed crunchy texture and saltiness.
Address
1503 1st Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
206-682-1598
Hours
Daily: 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Website
https://thecrumpetshop.com/
Conclusion
Pike Place Market in Seattle is an amazing experience even when so many other tourists surround you. Even if you do not like the foods listed above, walk around the market and stop at whatever place interests you. You will not be disappointed if you love food and markets as much as I do.
Last Updated on April 17, 2024
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