Some restaurants outlast the buildings around them. They become the fixed points — the places where three generations ate the same thing off the same counter. This page documents the long-running food institutions of the Puget Sound, from ferry-landing fish bars to retro diners, from 1908 taverns to 12-egg omelets. The ones that lasted did so because the place and the food were inseparable.
Mukilteo & the Ferry Landing est. 1909–present
The ferry landing has drawn restaurants since before Washington was a generation old. The site where Ivar's Mukilteo Landing now stands has served food continuously since 1909.
Ivar's Mukilteo Landing
Ivar Haglund (1905–1985) was a folk singer, aquarium builder, and marketing genius who opened Seattle's first aquarium on Pier 54 in 1938, then added a fish and chips counter. By 1946 he'd opened Ivar's Acres of Clams. His motto: "Keep Clam."
Ivar Haglund purchased Smith Tower in 1976 — once the tallest building west of the Mississippi. He was elected port commissioner in 1983 "as a prank." In 2009, Ivar's planted fake "historic billboards" on the floor of Puget Sound, conspiring with a local historian to "discover" them. The chain now runs 24+ seafood bars, 3 fish bars, and 3 full-service restaurants. They also own Kidd Valley burgers.
Charles at Smugglers Cove
The building was constructed during Prohibition by C.P. Richards, a former police officer turned rum-runner. A second basement hidden behind a fake furnace concealed a 9×9-foot room with a still. A tunnel ran to the gulch and Puget Sound for escape. Allegedly connected to Roy Olmstead's bootlegging network — Olmstead was the "King of the Puget Sound Bootleggers."
Panoramic views of Possession Sound from the bluff. Previously known as "53rd Street Manor" and "Mukilteo Chop and Oyster House." Claude had been head chef at Chez Claude in Edmonds before opening here.
Whidbey Island est. 1908–present
The other side of the ferry. South Whidbey's village of Langley sits on a bluff above Saratoga Passage, looking back toward Camano Island. The Dog House is its oldest surviving building.
The Dog House
Built in 1908 as The Olympic Club, a gentlemen's sports facility. The grand opening was a disaster — the promoter absconded with the funds, stranding all the guests.
Three levels: street level became Langley Mercantile & General Merchandise; upstairs was the game club; the basement served as the basketball court for Langley High School. The building hosted the first movie shown in Langley, functioning as the town's movie theater from 1922 to 1937.
Interior featured an 1881 tavern bar, oak tables, a restored 1923 player piano, and a 1910 water buffalo head. The exterior resembles an old West saloon. Sweeping wall-to-wall window view of Saratoga Passage and Camano Island. The only one of the four original buildings at the downtown intersection that survived — the large hotel burned in 1921. Langley's only structure on the National Register.
Seattle Icons est. 1938–present
The restaurants that defined Seattle's food identity — from the waterfront to Aurora Avenue to the Central District.
Dick's Drive-In
Founded by Dick Spady, H. Warren Ghormley, and Dr. B.O.A. Thomas. No substitutions allowed. All burgers cooked to well done. The Dick's Deluxe — lettuce, mayo, chopped pickles — unchanged since 1954.
Voted "the most life-changing burger joint in America" by Esquire (2013). Appears in Sir Mix-a-Lot's 1988 song and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's 2012 video. $18M revenue, 270 employees (2021). Employee benefits include 100% employer-paid healthcare, $28,000 college tuition scholarship after six months.
Ezell's Famous Chicken
Founded by Lewis Rudd, his sister Faye Rudd, and her husband Ezell Stephens. All three grew up in Marshall, a small town in East Texas. They became friends working at Brown's Chicken in Marshall, dreamed of their own place since 1978, waited six years for an SBA loan.
The founders later split: Stephens opened unauthorized locations, a court case followed, and he renamed his stores "Heaven Sent Fried Chicken" in 2011 (all eventually closed). Rudd kept the Ezell's name. In 2021, Ezell's launched the R.U.B.B. Initiative — 20 grants of $2,500 to Black-owned businesses in Washington. 40th anniversary celebrated February 2024.
Beth's Cafe
Opened by Beth and Harold Eisenstadt as a nickel-slots gambling parlor that evolved into a restaurant. The 12-egg omelet, served on a pizza tray with all-you-can-eat hash browns, is served for sharing (no prizes for finishing solo). The "Triple Bypass" — bacon, sausage, ham, two cheeses — is the most popular variant. The cafe goes through over 450,000 eggs per year.
Featured on "Man v. Food" (2009), listed in 1,000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die. Voted "Best Place to Cure a Hangover" by Seattle Magazine. Walls covered in patron artwork — a tradition spanning decades.
Closed October 2020 during COVID. Reopened February 2023. Chris Dalton, who bought the cafe from a classified ad in 2002 and transformed it with fresh ingredients, died of pancreatic cancer in April 2020. Mason Reed took over management January 2024. One of the last true greasy-spoon diners on the Aurora corridor.
Bakeman's Restaurant
Cafeteria-style lunch counter serving 300–400 downtown office workers daily. Turkey sandwiches on homemade bread ($5) were the signature. Binary choice: white or wheat. Founded by Matthew Wang; run by his son Jason Wang, known as "Seattle's Sandwich Nazi" for his strict ordering protocol: know what you want, have cash ready, keep the line moving.
Jason retired before 66. He'd hoped his sons would take over, but they declined. On one of its final days, an enormous line snaked out the door as people came to pay tribute. The Seattle Times, Cascade PBS, and KNKX eulogized it as the death of "old Seattle."
Pike Place Market est. 1907–present
The Crumpet Shop
Founder Gary Lasater originally named it "The United Metropolitan Improved Crumpet Baking & Punctual Delivery Company" — customers just called it The Crumpet Shop. He introduced Seattle to English griddle cakes: unsweetened batter of water, flour, yeast, and salt, cooked in rings on a hot griddle.
Corby Kummer of The Atlantic (2007) called it "the most authentic and best scone I know in the country." Nearly 50 years of continuous operation. New owners Amy and Cooper Golding opened a second location in downtown Edmonds.
Ivar's Acres of Clams
The flagship. Ivar Haglund's original aquarium site, expanded to a full restaurant on July 22, 1946. The Salmon House (1971) was designed as "an almost exact replica of an old Indian longhouse." Ivar's sponsored the Fourth of Jul-Ivar's fireworks at Myrtle Edwards Park from 1964 through 2008, drawing 300,000 annually. The tradition ended in 2009 when they redirected funds to Northwest Harvest.
Haglund was born March 21, 1905, to Swedish and Norwegian immigrant families. His maternal grandparents purchased Alki Point in 1869. His mother died in 1908 under the care of Linda Hazzard, a controversial "fasting specialist," though autopsy revealed terminal cancer. He graduated UW in 1928, built his aquarium in 1938, and died of a heart attack January 30, 1985. With no heirs, his estate went to the UW School of Business Restaurant Program.
Snohomish County est. 1947–present
From retro diners to legendary cinnamon rolls — the county's own food institutions, many predating the suburban expansion.
Totem Family Dining
The building has housed a restaurant since 1947, starting as the Totem Drive-In with carhops and counter service. Bliss and Joyce Settergren purchased it in 1953 and converted to full sit-down. Current owners (since 2011) added competition barbecue — their father Wayne pioneered competition BBQ 20+ years ago, earning invitations to the Memphis in May World BBQ Competition.
Voted "Snohomish County's Best Breakfast" by the Everett Herald every year since 2014. Iconic retro neon sign with totem pole. The oldest continuously operating restaurant in Everett (78+ years at this location).
Maltby Cafe
Operates in the lower portion of a 1937 gymnasium and cafeteria built for the adjacent 1907 school. The giant cinnamon rolls take over 2 hours to make — the recipe came with the restaurant and has never been changed. On busy weekend mornings, bakers turn out up to 200 fresh-baked rolls.
Purchased in 1988 by Tana Baumler and three friends. Now a true family business with Baumler's daughter Keesha Laws as manager. People drive from across the region for weekend breakfast. Country-style everything, homemade, chopped fresh.
Buzz Inn Steakhouse
Bill Tackitt bought the Buzz Inn Tavern and Bee Hive Cafe in 1981 and merged them the next year. Now 12 locations, nine in Snohomish County: Arlington, Everett (two), Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Monroe, Snohomish. Tackitt remains majority owner. Generations of families have eaten here.
Cabbage Patch Restaurant
The building dates to 1905 and has served as a residence, boarding house, and antique store containing Native American artifacts before becoming a restaurant. Located in the heart of downtown Snohomish, "Antique Capitol of the World." Rebuilt after a fire by owner Sandra, restored to its original character.
Mr. Bill's
1950s retro diner with pink neon, Howdy Doody imagery, red flocked wallpaper, and music from the '50s and '60s. Voted "best pastrami sandwich in the Northwest." Huge portions, especially the chicken-fried steak. The Everett Mall location opened 1993 and ran until January 31, 2005, when the mall's new owners bought out the lease for a Borders Books.
Represents the lost era of kitschy, family-friendly themed diners on the Aurora corridor and in suburban malls. A Facebook nostalgia group post drew significant engagement from people recalling family meals.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Alfy's Pizza
Classic pizzas, all-you-can-eat salad bar, arcade games. A staple for kids and families for nearly 50 years. The last Everett location was converted to a thrift shop.