Salty's

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Salty's Waterfront Seafood Grills, [1] or simply Salty's, is a restaurant chain in the United States. The business has operated multiple locations. [2] The restaurant was established in Portland, Oregon in 1978, operating as Salty's on the Columbia. Subsequent locations opened in Des Moines, Washington in 1981, West Seattle (Salty's on Alki Beach) in 1985, and Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (Salty's at the SEA). The business is owned by Gerry and Kathy Kingen. [1] The Des Moines location has since closed.

Contents

Description

Exterior of the Seattle location at night, 2025 Seattle, July 2025 - 21.jpg
Exterior of the Seattle location at night, 2025

The restaurant Salty's operates in northeast Portland, Oregon's Sunderland neighborhood, and Seattle, Washington. The Portland restaurant, called Salty's on the Columbia, has a nautical-themed dining room and large windows with views of the Columbia River. [3] [4] The interior has "eclectic" and "fun" artwork, according to Eater Portland . [5] The location has hosted live jazz. [6] The Seattle location, called Salty's at Alki Beach, [7] offers views of the city's skyline. [1]

The menu includes American cuisine and seafood such as halibut and salmon, [1] [8] clams and mussels, [9] Dungeness crab, macaroni and cheese with crab, [5] oysters, prawns, [3] steak, and wine. [6] The restaurant has also served chicken, [9] eggs, ham, prime rib, waffles, and desserts. [8] The happy hour menu has included crab nachos and "adult Lunchables". [5]

History

Interior of the Seattle location in 2025 Seattle, July 2025 - 19.jpg
Interior of the Seattle location in 2025

The business is owned by Gerry and Kathy Kingen. The Portland location opened in 1978. A second location opened in Des Moines, Washington in 1981. The Seattle location opened in 1985. [1] Salty's at the SEA operates at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. [10] [11] [12]

The Portland location has hosted a buffet for Thanksgiving with cocktail shrimp and oysters, garlic bread stuffing, and turkey with chanterelle gravy. [13] For Veterans Day, the restaurant has served white chocolate mousse for veterans at no cost. [14] In 2024, a car drove into a support column for the carport of the Portland location. [15]

Reception

In her 2014 food guide to Portland, Laurie Wolf called the brunch buffet "pretty amazing". [8] In 2015, Cristina Cerullo of Eater Portland said the Portland location was "one of the best" seafood and steak restaurants in the city. [16] In 2017, the website said the location had "a slightly more dressed-up vibe than you get at most fried fish spots". [17] In the website's 2025 overview of Portland's best seafood, Ben Coleman said the restaurant serves "impeccably plated" dishes and offers one of the city's best happy hours. [5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Brewer, Karen Gaudette (2014-11-04). Seafood Lover's Pacific Northwest: Restaurants, Markets, Recipes & Traditions. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   978-1-4930-1526-9.
  2. ↑ Restaurant Business. Restaurant Business. 2005.
  3. 1 2 "Salty's - Review - Northeast - Portland, OR". The Infatuation. 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  4. ↑ Lapetina, Adam (2017-10-05). "Salty's on the Columbia River". Thrillist. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Coleman, Ben (2018-02-06). "The Best Seafood in Portland". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  6. 1 2 Ostgarden, Jo (2010-08-03). Best Places Northwest, 17th Edition. Sasquatch Books. ISBN   978-1-57061-735-5.
  7. ↑ Cheadle, Harry (2022-07-08). "The Best Restaurants for Weddings in Seattle". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  8. 1 2 3 Wolf, Laurie (2014-01-14). Food Lovers' Guide to® Portland, Oregon: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   978-1-4930-0670-0.
  9. 1 2 Portland. Fodor's Travel Publications. 2008-07-01. ISBN   978-1-4000-0748-6.
  10. ↑ Cheadle, Harry (2023-06-30). "Where to Eat and Drink at Sea-Tac Airport". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  11. ↑ Hill, Megan (2018-10-19). "West Seattle's Iconic Seafood Restaurant Is Opening at Sea-Tac Airport". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  12. ↑ Forster, Tim (2019-02-15). "Seafood Restaurant Salty's Will Get a Giant Sea-Tac Airport Location". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  13. ↑ DeJesus, Erin (2013-11-07). "Where to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner in Portland, 2013". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  14. ↑ Bamman, Mattie John (2015-11-05). "John Gorham Announces More Finger-Lickin' Expansion | Salty's Veterans Day Special". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  15. ↑ "Salty's restaurant entrance carport damaged by car crash". kgw.com. 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  16. ↑ Cerullo, Cristina (2015-02-19). "It's Dining Month in Portland — You Should Probably Go There". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  17. ↑ "Where to Eat and Drink Like a Pirate in Portland, Mapped". Eater Portland. 2017-11-02. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
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