The Best New England Clam Chowder in America - Pike Place Chowder
By The Food Editorial Team
Seattle is known for many things - the Space Needle, the birthplace of Starbucks, and (seemingly) never-ending rain. However, its food scene should not be dismissed. From mouth-watering steak (The Metropolitan Grill) to scrumptious donuts (General Porpoise) and amazing Russian pastries (Piroshky Piroshky), Seattle has a food scene that matches almost any big city in the U.S. It may even take the crown when it comes to one item in particular - clam chowder.
We always hear about Boston's clam chowder, but if you ever go to Seattle, you're sure to visit Pike Place Market. Hidden within the classic marketplace and the original Starbucks location is a restaurant by the name of Pike Place Chowder.
Founded in the early 90s by Larry Mellum, Pike Place Chowder has established itself as the title-holder for arguably the best clam chowder in the nation. You can certainly see the awards and accolades on the walls of its small shop in downtown Seattle. Locals and tourists alike line up all day to try the items on their menu, and not only that, they ship items nationwide within two days!
Although they have quite a few mouth-watering items on the menu, from Lobster Rolls to Daily Specials, it really is their classic New England Clam Chowder that truly shines.
One word - flavor. It's as traditional as you can get with a clam chowder. They don't add in too many unnecessary ingredients. Their goal is not to try to be different or unique. Their goal is to make an amazing-tasting cup of classic clam chowder and they succeed times ten.
The key to this chowder is its simplicity and deep but clean flavor. It's heavy on the most important element of all - clams. Along with a piece of delicious sourdough bread, every spoonful is full of fresh clams and potatoes with the right amount of spice that gives it a richness that cannot be denied. It may not have as thick of a consistency as some of the clam chowders you'll find on in the Northeast, but that's actually a good (not to mention smart) thing because once you finish your first cup of chowder, you'll come to realize that one is definitely not enough.
Next time you're in Seattle, make it a mission to stop by Pike Place Chowder, located at 1530 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101. If you go close to when they open, you likely won't have much of a wait, but the line does get relatively long later on in the day (and especially during weekends), but the wait is absolutely worth it. You'll come to realize why Pike Place Chowder is not only home to the best clam chowder in Seattle but all of America.