You have to order first before getting a seat - it can get really busy. However, it is definitely worth the wait as the food was incredible! We got fried oysters for starters and it did not disappoint. The clam chowder was flavorful and perfect for a cold rainy night. We also got the rockfish banh mi... No wonder people keep recommending it. All the flavors melded well and it was overall a very satisfying meal!

There's always a line here and for good reason. The food is delicious! You wait in line to order, then if the staff will help get you a table. You can also go next door to the bar and order if you don't want to wait. You generally don't have to wait long for a table. It's pretty casual here. The stand outs were the shrimp toast (this is a Vietnamese inspired dish and there's no where really that you can get something like this in Seattle, it's so unique) and smoked salmon belly dip. You can really tell their dip is made in house with the huge chunks of salmon in them. I've also had the smash burger and rock fish sandwich. I also really enjoyed the simple salt and pepper fries. Next time, I'll definitely try the crab roll.

Everything was tasty and well done. I really loved their shrimp toast and would definitely get again. It's a small restaurant so not a lot of seats. People tend to not linger as long so it's not a terrible wait for a table. The staff is super friendly and accommodating.

Absolutely love love love Local Tide! I visited because I searched best clam chowder in Seattle. Also, my husband is a huge smash burger fan which they have so it was a win win. It's a very busy place when we came there was a line out the door. I noticed it moved pretty quickly. We also didn't have any issues getting a seat. When you order they help you find a table. We chose to sit at the bar so we found Eagle eye the chef as he prepared our delicious food. The restaurant and seating area is clean. The decor is bright and comfortable with a lot of cool art. I really liked the vibe and how friendly all the staff were. The wait for our food was about 15-20 min. I was not upset about this because it's such a busy place. I had fun watching the chef and all the beautiful food going out of the kitchen. My chowder was everything I imagined and more. I was excited that they added fresh in shell clams to their chowder! You rarely find this anywhere. My favorite chowder in the world is Hog Island chowder in San Francisco because they top their chowder with fresh clams, a lot of them. At Local Tide you get about 4 clams in shell (as decor) but for the price point and the delicious well seasoned and savory base it's excellent. The smashburger was excellent as well. It had 2 crispy edge but juicy patties, melty American cheese and a buttery bun. This seriously is a melt in your mouth smash burger. We returned for a second visit a month later and were excited to find out we could avoid the lines by sitting next door at Aslan Brewing and ordered from their friendly staff. Same delicious food and more seating options. However, the food wait is still around 20 to 30 min because it all comes from the same kitchen.

Dropped by for lunch prior to the SC UW game -- Fight On!! UW got the win but still a good time in Seattle. There is a line outside local tide but moves fairly quick TIp of the Day: Aslan Brewery is next door and you can find more seats there and they serve most of the menu from local tide. I ordered the teriyaki salmon bowl. It was very good with a good mix of flavors. We ate as Aslan, the only critique is that it took quite a while to arrive.

Decided to try out Local Tide for a pre-happy hour snack. Got there right around lunch time on a Tuesday and the place was full and bustling. It's not a large space. You order and then they find a seat for you. They were very kind and attentive about working to get us a spot. Very easy going and great service. The clam chowder was filled with fresh clams (shell included, so had to pick them out), shrimp toast was yummy and interesting. Crispy toast with a cooked shrimp paste. Chili sauce and mayo for dipping. Ended up mixing the chili and mayo together, was much easier! The fried fish special was panko Dover sole. Was fresh and crispy. I'm saucy type of guy, so could have used more sauce. Would come back if we're in the area.

Local tide is a standout causal seafood restaurant in Fremont. We came here on a Friday night and there was a long line at the door. After waiting for around 15-20 minutes we ordered our food and sat at the counter. The food was definitely worth the wait though. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share : shrimp toast, rockfish bahn mi and salmon bowl. The fish was fresh and great quality. The shrimp toast was so crispy - it was our favorite. They were already sold out of the crab roll, so we will have to come back to try that next time!

Don't let the long lines and packed seating turn you away - due to the nature of the dining experience the tables turn pretty fast and you'll be seated in a timely fashion. I opted for a lighter fare and ordered the fried oysters that is part of the starters. I had previously tried some of their other items on the menu on the Aslan side but this was my first time dining inside local tide. Not everything available at local tide is available at Aslan so do take caution. It was on the smaller portion (yes I realize it's an app) but the oysters were smaller than I expected and the side "salad" was a dressed parsley medley which was quite nice but would have been nicer with some other vegetals. It seemed to be short staff but they'll ensure you're taken care of. All in all a nice place to grab a quick bite but don't overstay your welcome and get some tried seafood goods!

Came here around 7pm on a Thursday night, and the line was quite long. We ended up waiting ~30 minutes to place our order and get seated (I think we were close to one of the last parties they sat, because they closed at 8). It's a relatively small shop indoors and they seat you after you place your order. Definitely worth the wait though! The shrimp toast is a must-get and lives up to all the hype and positive reviews - it comes with chili sauce, a sweet mayo sauce, and a cabbage salad which was really refreshing. Both the rockfish banh mi and the dover fish and chips were also good, and their home-style fries were crisped to perfection. I do wish that the Dover fish was a little bit thicker though - I get that it's probably the style, but it always left me wanting more from a bite.

My dear friend took me here for my birthday and WOW, I was so amazed! my advice is to get there as soon as it opens, regardless of weekend or weekday because the place fills up fast. Your order first the grab a seat. Out order: Shrimp toast $14 Smash burger $10 Rockfish banh mi $18 Bread pudding $12 I've had shrimp toast before but did not expect then flavour bomb and crunch on Local Tide's shrimp toast. 10/10 would order again! Smash burger and banh mi was good too, but a bit messy. 8/10. With bread pudding for dessert we were thoroughly stuffed. On weekends I hear it's crazy due to the crab cakes & lobster rolls that always sell out. If you're in Ballard and you want some fresh seafood delight do check out Local Tide.