Ivar's Acres of Clams

The overview

Keep clam. Since 1938.

Ivar's Acres of Clams has anchored Seattle's Pier 54 since 1938, when folk singer and showman Ivar Haglund opened a fish-and-chips stand beside his aquarium and started a Northwest institution. "Keep Clam" became the city's favorite pun, and the chowder and fried fish became waterfront staples.

Nearly a century later, generations of Seattleites and visitors still line up on the pier — making Ivar's the 2026 Centurion Award winner in Seattle.

What they're known for

Fish 'n chips
World-famous clam chowder
Alder-grilled wild salmon

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

Google Maps
Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. Ivar's Acres of Clams cleared every one.

✓Years in operation. Operating in Seattle since 1938 — 88 years of continuous business.
✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Seattle.
✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Seattle has kept Ivar's Acres of Clams busy for 88 years.
✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Seattle regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
✓Recognition in the local community. Named best seafood institution in Seattle for 2026 for nearly 90 years of clam chowder and fish and chips on the working waterfront.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2026

Best Seafood Institution in Seattle Seattle, WA · Awarded under the 2026 evaluation

All awards for Ivar's Acres of Clams →

Visit Ivar's Acres of Clams

Websiteivars.com ↗

Location1001 Alaskan Way, Pier 54, Seattle, WA 98104

In business since1938

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about Ivar's Acres of Clams — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

Legal / trading name: Ivar's Acres of Clams
Category: Restaurant
Founded: 1938, Seattle, WA
Founders: Ivar Haglund
Location: 1001 Alaskan Way, Pier 54, Seattle, WA 98104
Centurion Award: Best Seafood Institution in Seattle — 2026
Record last verified: July 2026

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after Ivar's Acres of Clams cleared the 2026 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions.

What is Ivar's Acres of Clams?

Waterfront seafood institution founded by Ivar Haglund in 1938, famous for clam chowder, fish bars, and the motto 'Keep Clam.'

Is Ivar's Acres of Clams award-winning?

Yes — Ivar's Acres of Clams is the 2026 Centurion Award winner for Best Seafood Institution in Seattle, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best seafood institution in Seattle for 2026 for nearly 90 years of clam chowder and fish and chips on the working waterfront.

Where is Ivar's Acres of Clams?

Ivar's Acres of Clams is in Seattle, WA.