Where to find heaven on the half shell in the PNW
The calendar still says 2024, but a new year has already arrived for oysters.
Last month, we celebrated “Oyster New Year” at Elliott’s Oyster House on Seattle’s waterfront. The party, an annual event at Seattle’s biggest oyster emporium, celebrates the PNW’s bountiful selection of bivalves and signals the start of a new season.
It was quite a scene: Countless dozens of freshly shucked oysters from providers around the Salish Sea were available to sample -- as many as patrons could slurp.
The Going Mobile team arrived, checked out the incredible array, and proclaimed, “Challenge accepted!” A couple of hours later, we were in a blissful oyster coma, dozens of bivalves now sloshing around in our stomachs.
At the time, the oysters were just coming into their peak. After a couple of months in the cold water, it’s now peak oyster season. So where can you pick up this PNW treasure?
Seattle oyster options
Of all the big West Coast cities, Seattle might have the best collection of restaurants that showcase oysters. Here are a few of our favorites in the Emerald City.
Elliott’s Oyster House: This restaurant on Seattle’s waterfront has the biggest selection of oysters from around the Salish Sea. This year features the return of Elliott’s popular oyster happy hour.
Taylor Shellfish: Three locations in Seattle feature Taylor’s proprietary bivalves. The Totten Virginica is a perennial favorite, along with Fat Bastards and Shigokus. Taylor also offers oysters for retail saie so you can take them home and shuck at your leisure.
Half Shell: Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas offers this newish oyster emporium in Pike Place Market. If you’re lucky, you might even spy the award-winning chef shucking during happy hour.
Do a regional oyster tour
Here’s where the RV comes in handy. Several oyster operations around the Salish Sea are available to visit.
Taylor Shellfish, Samish Bay: This location might be our favorite. Off of Chuckanut Drive (State Route 11) between Bellingham and Burlington, this Taylor outpost has lots and lots of oysters, plus a full kitchen and a sit-down seating area. You can’t beat the view from this rustic waterfront hangout, a popular place on weekends, so plan accordingly.
If you go, Bay View State Park near Edison, WA., is the closest RV camping hangout. Caution: The road to Taylor’s Samish Bay operation is steep and narrow, not suitable for RVs, so you’ll need another vehicle if you hope to visit.
Hood Canal Tour: You can make a loop through prime oyster country, starting in Seattle. Head to Bremerton (either by ferry or by driving through Tacoma), then go southwest on State Route 3. On Hood Canal, you’ll find camping at Belfair State Park or Twanoh State Park.
For oysters, take a look on the beach at Twanoh, where you will need a fishing license to harvest anything you find. Check the state’s website to ensure they are safe to eat.
Commercial operations are located along U.S. 101 in Shelton (Taylor Shellfish) and in Hamma Hamma. There you will find the excellent Hama Hama Oyster Saloon, a restaurant that offers fresh-shucked options and also retail if you want to grab your own.
Keep your eyes peeled for smaller operations as you drive north. Port Townsend is a fantastic place to spend the night and return to Seattle the next day via either Edmonds or Bainbridge Island. If you stay in Port Townsend, we highly recommend Finistere restaurant, where you guessed it, they have oysters on the menu.
