Northwest cuisine isn't so much about a particular set of dishes or a specific list of ingredients. It's more of a philosophy. It's about fresh, local ingredients. It's about the changing of the seasons. It's artisan; it's craft. Pike Place Market (Seattle's original market, founded in 1907) is the hub of this philosophy.

Its nine acres offer farmers selling fresh local veggies, fishmongers throwing pacific salmon and halibut, beautiful flowers, artisan cheeses and breads, and more. The restaurants take advantage of this abundance.

Fish Throwing at Pike Place Market in Seattle

Five Pike Place Market Restaurants to Check Out:

Pike Place Chowder:

Pike Place Chowder

Pike Place Chowder first opened its doors in 2003 in Pike Place Market. A simple lunch counter in an alley off the market with bus your own tables, Pike Place offers what many claim is the finest chowder in the country.

Enjoy a sampler of four chowders of your choice (four 5 oz. cups of chowder for $11.95) including slices of bread. What will it be for you: New England, Manhattan, seared scallop, smoked salmon, southwest chicken and corn, seafood bisque or even Vegan?

Lowell's Restaurant and Bar:

Lowell's Restaurant and Bar

This Seattle mainstay has been serving the public since 1957. Their motto is "Almost Classy since 1957.

Enjoy a view of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound from any of three floors of seating at Lowell's Restaurant while enjoying the fresh grilled wild Alaskan king salmon filet. Huge platters of this salmon are picked up each morning from Solly Amon's "Pure Food Fish" each morning (The owner Sol Amon has been at the market since 1931).

"We love eating and drinking, and are constantly inspired by both the freshest of all ingredients the Pike Place Market has to offer as well as the inspiration of many famous chef's original recipes that we adapt with our own tweaks with what's adjacent in the fresh stalls and from all the vendors we have as a family of friends! Working in the middle of Pike Place Market is the greatest place people like us can be and we never take our positions in the heart of the market for granted."

Market Grill:

Market Grill

Pike Place Market may be known for attracting a huge assortment of tourists, but Market Grill has a loyal following of locals who keep returning for its salmon and halibut sandwiches. The sandwiches are served on grilled baguettes with lettuce, tomatoes, grilled onions, and the house tartar sauce. The fresh fish is coated with Cajun "blackened" seasoning.

If you don't want fish checkout versions of the sandwich with prawns, mushroom, or chicken. Don't forget to try their simple coleslaw or old-fashioned chowder, both are homemade, simple, unassuming, and to die for.

Uli's Famous Sausage:

Uli's Famous Sausage

Uli’s Famous Sausage is owned and operated by Uli Lengenberg, the son of German restaurant owners. Uli is a specially trained and certified Meister from Westphalia Germany, an area known locally as “Sausage Country.” Uli's offers an array of handmade authentic German and international sausages--of the highest standard and containing no coloring agents or preservatives.

So what'll it be? German bratwurst, Cajun andouille, bacon sausage, Polish kielbasa, South African Boerewors, Thueringer, Rostbratwurst, or lamb? And don't forget to check out the beer--they have three rotating taps.

The Crumpet Shop:

The Crumpet Shop

At The Crumpet Shop they've been making crumpets fresh every day for 36 years. Recently they've begun making all their crumpets organic and all their preserves are local from Sidhu Farms.

Enjoy crumpets with smoked salmon, tomato and pesto, English cheese, nutella, or lemon curd and ricotta. Don't forget to try the loose leaf teas, greens, blacks, and Chai.

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