Astoria sits at the mouth of the Columbia River, where the Pacific Ocean, a working fishing fleet, and over a century of cannery culture converge on your plate. This is not a town where seafood is a menu category — it’s the reason people come. Fishing boats still unload their catch on the docks. Smokehouse fires have burned continuously since 1920. And a converted gillnet boat on Duane Street draws lines that stretch half a block on a busy summer afternoon.
Whether you want to eat crab pulled from a live tank, sit on a waterfront deck with a bowl of chowder and a view of cargo ships passing under the Astoria-Megler Bridge, or leave town with a bag of smoked salmon for the drive home, Astoria delivers. Here’s where to find the best of it.
The Best Seafood Restaurants & Spots in Astoria, OR
1. South Bay Wild Fish House — Oregon’s #1 Rated Seafood Spot
262 9th St, Astoria, OR 97103
If you only have time for one meal in Astoria, this is the place. South Bay Wild was named Oregon’s best seafood restaurant by Yelp — and not just once. In 2024, it landed at #9 on Yelp’s list of America’s top 100 seafood restaurants, one of only three Oregon spots to make the cut.
What sets it apart is the ownership model: co-owners Rob and Tiffani Seitz are fishermen first. Rob and his crew catch much of what ends up on the menu, and the rest comes from a tight network of local fishermen they know personally. The result is a level of freshness that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
Must-order: The clam chowder is widely considered one of the best on the coast, and the rockfish and chips consistently draws raves. Don’t miss the smoked black cod — it won a Good Food Award in 2017 for being both exceptionally delicious and environmentally responsible, and it’s still the dish regulars drive hours to eat. Served atop pillowy, crispy fry bread, it’s a true standout.
South Bay also runs an adjoining seafood market, so you can take fresh or smoked fish home with you.
2. Bowpicker Fish & Chips — Astoria’s Most Iconic Eat
1634 Duane St, Astoria, OR 97103 Hours: Wed–Sat, 11am–4pm (closed Sat–Tue; often sells out early)
There is nothing quite like Bowpicker. A real decommissioned gillnet boat, parked one block off the Columbia River, serving exactly one thing: beer-battered albacore tuna fish and chips. No salmon, no cod, no halibut. Just tuna — and the line to prove it’s the right call.
Most fish and chip shops default to cod or rockfish. Bowpicker’s albacore is meaty, rich, and surprisingly delicate, with a crust that shatters like panko breading without being heavy. In summer, expect a wait of 20–45 minutes. The line regularly stretches half a block. Come anyway.
Tips: Bowpicker keeps limited hours — Wednesday through Saturday only, 11am to 4pm, and they frequently sell out before closing. Arrive by noon on a summer weekend visit to avoid disappointment. Cash only as well so be sure to stop at the bank first! Also, bring a blanket to sit on the grass nearby.
3. Josephson’s Smokehouse — A Century of Smoke
106 Marine Dr, Astoria, OR 97103 Hours: Mon–Sun, 10am–5pm
Anton Josephson started cold-smoking Columbia River salmon in 1920. More than 100 years and five generations later, his family is still at it — using the same gravity smokehouse and a wood-smoke process that produces flavors you can’t replicate in a conventional kitchen.
Today Josephson’s hot- and cold-smokes an extraordinary range of seafood daily: Chinook salmon, albacore, sturgeon, black cod, oysters, mussels, prawns, and more. Everything is sold retail fresh off the smoker, available for mail order, and packed to travel.
Must-try: The wine-maple smoked salmon has cult status — regulars describe it as one of the best things they’ve ever eaten and mail-order it for birthdays and holidays. The hot-smoked Chinook spring salmon and smoked sturgeon are equally exceptional. They also make a knockout clam chowder and serve smoked salmon on bagels with capers and shallots for a quick lunch.
This is also the best spot in Astoria for edible souvenirs: canned albacore, smoked fish jerky (the black pepper salmon jerky has its own devoted following), jarred chowder, and gift boxes ship nationwide.
4. Ship Out Fish & Chips — The Spiritual Successor to a Legend
91878 Lewis & Clark Rd, Astoria area (near Warrenton)
Ship Out is technically just outside Astoria city limits — a humble food cart parked outside a garden shop off Lewis and Clark Road — but it earns its place on every serious list of the area’s best seafood.
The backstory matters: owner Enola Baeten spent 15 years at The Ship Inn, the iconic waterfront restaurant that served what many considered the best fish and chips on the entire North Oregon Coast from 1974 until it closed in 2017. When it shut down, Baeten took many of its beloved recipes with her and opened Ship Out.
What to order: Halibut and cod are always on the menu; seasonal catches like salmon, scallops, oysters, and calamari rotate in. The fish arrives ultra-fresh, the flour dredge is light enough to let the fish flavor come through, and the fries are thick and hot. The house coleslaw is made fresh daily. Regular customers drive from Portland specifically to eat here.
Portland Monthly has called it one of the best fish-and-chip spots on the entire North Coast.
5. Bridgewater Bistro — Waterfront Fine Dining
20 Basin St, Suite A, Astoria, OR 97103
For a sit-down dinner with some of the most dramatic views in town, Bridgewater Bistro is the go-to. The restaurant occupies a historic building right on the Astoria Riverwalk, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Columbia River and the Astoria-Megler Bridge. When the light hits the water at sunset, it’s one of the better meals you’ll have anywhere.
The menu is locally focused and changes with the seasons. Expect preparations like Columbia River sturgeon, Dungeness crab cakes, cedar-plank salmon, and fresh seafood pasta alongside an extensive selection of Pacific Northwest wines. Service is professional and the kitchen handles dietary restrictions — including a notably strong gluten-free menu — better than most coastal restaurants.
Tip: Make a reservation, especially in summer and on weekends. This place fills up fast, and walk-ins can wait a long time for a table by the window.
6. OleBob’s Seafood Market — Pick Your Own Live Crab
Pier 39 and Pier 11, Astoria
OleBob’s is run by a fourth-generation fishing family, and the centerpiece of their operation is Astoria’s largest live crab tank. You walk up, pick your crab, they steam it on the spot and clean it for you. Sit outside with drawn butter and a view of the river, and you’ve got one of the most satisfying — and affordable — seafood experiences in town.
Beyond Dungeness crab, OleBob’s carries fresh and smoked oysters, salmon, shrimp, and a rotating selection of whatever is coming off local boats. Their crab melt is a local favorite for a quick, no-fuss lunch.
Two locations: Pier 39 (where you can also grab coffee at the excellent Coffee Girl café) and Pier 11 closer to downtown.
7. Buoy Beer Company — Fresh Seafood + Craft Beer on the Water
1343 Duane St, Astoria, OR 97103
Buoy Beer combines a working brewery with a casual waterfront seafood restaurant in a historic building right on the Columbia. The combination of handcrafted lagers and ales, a seafood-forward pub menu, and a location that puts you directly over the water — with harbor seals sometimes visible beneath the glass floor panels — makes it one of the most enjoyable places to spend a couple of hours in Astoria.
The fish and chips here use rockfish or salmon and come out beautifully fried. The clam chowder is consistently good, and the cioppino (when available) is rich and loaded with fresh shellfish. If you’re not driving, the Czech-style Pilsner is excellent with anything from the fryer.
8. Clemente’s Café & Public House — Casual, Hearty, Unpretentious
For a relaxed meal without the wait or the premium price tag, Clemente’s delivers. Hearty portions of fish and chips, shrimp po’ boys, and seafood mac and cheese in a laid-back atmosphere — this is the kind of place locals bring their families on a Tuesday. Pair your meal with something from their solid local craft beer selection.
Seafood Specialties Worth Seeking Out in Astoria
Dungeness Crab — The star of the Pacific Northwest seafood calendar. Live and whole-cooked crab is available at OleBob’s, South Bay Wild, and several of the seafood markets along the waterfront. Best eaten the same day it’s cooked, with nothing but melted butter.
Clam Chowder — Every restaurant in Astoria serves it, but the best bowls have a rich, properly creamy base (not starchy) and a serious amount of clam. South Bay Wild and Josephson’s are the benchmarks.
Albacore Tuna — Local albacore from the Pacific has a cleaner, less fishy flavor than the canned variety most people know. Bowpicker’s preparation is the definitive version.
Columbia River Sturgeon — A regional specialty rarely found outside the Pacific Northwest. Bridgewater Bistro and South Bay Wild both do it justice.
Smoked Seafood — Josephson’s is the authority, but look for smoked salmon, smoked black cod, and smoked oysters at markets throughout town.
Rockfish — The workhorse of Oregon Coast fish and chips, mild and flaky. South Bay Wild’s rockfish and chips is one of the most-praised versions in the region.
Tips for Eating Seafood in Astoria
- Bowpicker’s hours are some what limited — Wednesday through Staurday, 11am–4pm only. If you can’t make these hours, try Ship Out 🙂
- Ask what came off the boat that morning. At places like South Bay Wild and OleBob’s, the daily specials often reflect the freshest available catch, which isn’t always on the main menu.
- Don’t skip the markets. Josephson’s and OleBob’s are all worth a stop even if you’re not eating in — they have excellent product to take home or ship.
- Pair with local beer. Astoria has one of the best craft beer scenes on the Oregon Coast. Fort George Brewery, Buoy Beer, Obelisk Beer Co., and Astoria Brewing Company are all within walking distance of the waterfront. Fish and chips with a cold lager is hard to improve upon.
- Come hungry in the morning. Josephson’s smoked salmon on a bagel with capers makes one of the best breakfasts in town.
Getting to Astoria
Astoria sits at the northwest corner of Oregon, roughly 95 miles from Portland via Highway 30 or Highway 26 to 101. It’s a two-hour drive from Portland without traffic. The Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Astoria Column, and Fort Clatsop National Memorial are all nearby — plan to spend the better part of a day or a full weekend.
Astoria’s seafood scene reflects everything that makes this corner of Oregon special: real fishing families, deep history, and food that tastes like it came straight from the water — because it did.