Winter on the Oregon coast means gray skies, big waves, and quieter beach towns. It is also prime time for a hot bowl of clam chowder.
This list follows Highway 101 from Seaside down to Bandon, stopping at seven chowder spots that each bring something different to the table. Some serve chowder in bread bowls, some pile on bay shrimp, and one even offers salmon chowder.
1. Dooger’s Seafood & Grill, Seaside, OR
Crab cakes and chowder are the two things Dooger’s built its name on. The Broadway Street location in Seaside serves as headquarters for this small chain of classic fish houses.
The clam chowder comes loaded with clams in a creamy broth that stays light instead of heavy. That balance makes it easy to finish a bowl and still have room for a halibut fish and chips order or a shrimp sandwich.
The menu goes well beyond soup. Steamer clams, seafood pasta, Crab Louie, and filet mignon all show up, and key lime pie rounds things out for dessert.
Hours run 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and reservations are accepted. Friday and Saturday evenings get busy, and parking downtown can take a few laps, so an earlier lunch is the easier move.
Kids are welcome, with a kids’ menu and high chairs on hand.
2. Mo’s Seafood & Chowder, Tolovana Park, OR
Ask almost anyone who grew up road tripping the Oregon coast about Mo’s, and you will probably hear about chowder. The name has been a coastal staple for decades, and the Tolovana Park location adds a beach view to the deal.
The star here is the Cannonball Bread Bowl. It is a crusty sourdough round filled with Mo’s signature clam chowder, then topped with Oregon bay shrimp and shredded cheddar.
Not hungry enough for that? A regular bowl comes family style with bread.
Cod fish tacos, a Bay Shrimp Louie salad, oyster shooters, and hot bay shrimp artichoke dip fill out the menu, with peanut butter pie for dessert.
I like this one for chowder fans who want to take some home. Mo’s sells hot chowder by the quart and a 2 lb clam chowder base you can heat up later.
Prices land mostly in the $10 to $20 range, and parking is usually plentiful. Weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds.
3. Old Oregon Smoke House, Rockaway Beach, OR
Smoked salmon and smoked oysters share the spotlight with chowder at this little counter right on Highway 101. It sits steps from the beach in Rockaway Beach, which makes it an easy stop between towns.
The menu proudly lists an award winning clam chowder, served hot and full of clams. Order it by the cup or bowl and pair it with halibut and chips, clam strips, a crab cake, or the lobster melt.
Service is counter style, so you order, grab a seat, and eat picnic style. There is a compact patio and indoor seating, but no restroom on site, which is good to know before a long drive.
Hours are noon to 7 p.m. daily. Reservations are not taken, and dogs are welcome outside.
4. Chowder Bowl, Newport, OR
A restaurant named Chowder Bowl has to back up the name, and this Nye Beach spot does. It sits along Beach Drive in Newport’s historic neighborhood, close enough to the sand to make a post-walk lunch feel natural.
The chowder is thick and creamy with plenty of tender clams. You can get it in a sourdough bread bowl, as a cup with oyster crackers, or as the Chowder Cannonball.
Fish and chips is the other specialty, including a smaller Mates Portion. Fried oysters, chipotle shrimp tacos, coconut shrimp, and bread pudding also have fans.
The patio is dog friendly, which is handy for coast trips with a four-legged passenger. Reservations are not accepted, and weekends get busy in the afternoon.
Hours run 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days, with service until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
5. Gracie’s Sea Hag, Depoe Bay, OR
Breakfast at 8 a.m. and chowder by lunch is a real option at Gracie’s Sea Hag. It is one of the earliest openers on this list, and that fits a winter morning drive nicely.
The house has been a fixture on Highway 101 in Depoe Bay for years, with a maritime theme, a fireplace, and live music. It looks out toward the ocean in a town known for its tiny harbor.
Gracie’s Sea Hag Famous Clam Chowder is the headliner, and it also comes in a bread bowl. Halibut fish and chips, a crab melt, stuffed salmon, steamer clams, and a Monte Cristo are also on the menu.
Portions on the fried seafood run generous, and there is a salad bar too. Reservations are accepted, which helps on busy Friday and Saturday evenings.
6. Luna Sea Fish House Seal Rock, Seal Rock, OR
Blue-checkered tablecloths set the tone at Luna Sea Fish House. The Seal Rock spot has rustic, old-school digs along the Pacific Coast Highway south of Newport.
Two chowders sit on the menu here. There is Homemade Clam Chowder, plus a house specialty called Slumgullion Chowder, a name that alone makes it worth ordering once.
The kitchen leans into wild, non-farmed fish, and the halibut fish and chips is the dish many people plan around. Cod and chips, steamer clams, crab cakes, fried oysters, and a cheeseburger round things out.
Doors open at 8 a.m. daily and stay open until 9 p.m. Dogs are allowed inside and out, parking is usually easy, and reservations are accepted.
7. Bandon Fish Market, Bandon, OR
Salmon chowder is the twist that sets Bandon Fish Market apart from the rest of this list. It sits right next to the classic clam chowder on the menu, so ordering both is fair game.
The busy counter is on the Bandon Boardwalk along the waterfront in southern Oregon. Seating is limited to a small dining room and outdoor tables.
Fish and chips is the other big draw, with halibut, cod, and rockfish options. Fried oysters, a shrimp basket, and a combo of fish and chips with clam chowder make it simple to try a bit of everything.
Plan for a wait, since lines are common and reservations are not taken. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, so this is a lunch or early dinner stop.
I would save this one as the final chowder of a southbound coast trip. Prices mostly stay between $10 and $20.
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