January 15th 2023: On every trip to Seattle one of my first stops is always Ivars Fish Bar right on the waterfront. Ivars was founded in 1938 by folk singer Ivar Haglund who opened Seattle’s first aquarium on Pier 54. He also opened first a bar and, then a restaurant next to it. The first aquarium didn’t last neither did the bar but the restaurant is still there and, is a Seattle landmark.
I grew up in England and moved to Southern California which has amazing food from all around the world but really good fish and chips are hard to find. The breading used on the fish at Ivar’s is not too heavy and the fish is always flaky and cooked perfectly. I prefer the traditional English way with malt vinegar as you can see in the picture below but you also get tartar sauce if you prefer.
I generally visit Ivars Fish Bar on the waterfront in Seattle but the also have full service restaurants the nearby one plus Ivars Mukilteo in Mukilteo, Washington and Ivar’s Salmon House in Seattle Northlake neighborhood. The company also operates other Fish Bars around the area plus a chain of burger restaurants called Kidd Valley Hamburgers. Maybe one day i will check out them all which sounds like a tasty goal to have.
