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Name: Salmon Bay Café
Address: 5109 Shilshole Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98107
Telephone: (206) 782-5539
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.51

Salmon Bay Café

5109 Shilshole Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98107

(206) 782-5539
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Salmon Bay Café Menu

Egg Combinations

One Egg

Two Eggs

Bacon And Two Eggs

Sausage And Two Eggs

Ham And Two Eggs

Hamburger Patty And Two Eggs

Polish Sausage And Two Eggs

Steak And Two Eggs

Biscuits And Sausage Gravy

Chicken Fried Steak
Scrambles

Special Scramble

Seafood Scramble

Veggie Scramble

Jill’s Scramble

Joe’s Scramble

Minced Ham Scramble

Minced Ham And Cheddar Cheese Scramble
Omelets

Ham And Cheddar Cheese

Bacon And Cheddar Cheese

Denver

Western

Mexi

Florentine

Hawaiian

Crab And Shrimp

Seafair

Ballard

Fremont

Magnolia

Queen Anne

Phinney

Meat Lovers

Farmer’s

Greenwood
Omelets - Extras

Cheese

Veggies

Meat

Avocado

Seafood
From The Griddle - Pancakes

Pancakes

Blueberry Pancakes

Pancake Combo
From The Griddle - French Toast

French Toast

French Toast Combo

Stuffed French Toast
From The Griddle - Waffles

Belgium Waffle

Banana Blueberry Or Bacon Belgium Waffle

Belgium Waffle Combo
Mexican Favorites

Huevos Rancheros

Breakfast Burrito

Quesadilla
Oatmeal

Oatmeal

Bowl Of Oats And Toast

Bowl Of Oats With Fresh Fruit And Toast
Eggs Benedict

Eggs Benedict

Sausage Benedict

Seafood Benedict

Veggie Benedict

Country Benedict
Soups

Soup

Chili
Salads

Green Salad

Chef

Taco

Spinach

Cobb

Caesar Salad

Seafood Caesar

Steak Salad

Crab And Shrimp

Green Salad And Bowl Of Soup
Burgers And Combo’s

Bay Burger

Cheese Burger

Bacon Cheese Burger

California Burger

Chili Burger

Mushroom Bacon And Swiss Burger

Blue Cheese Bacon Burger

Cowboy Burger

Burger Dip

Garden Burger

Salmon Bay’s Fish And Chips

Chicken Strips And Chips
Hot / Grilled Sandwiches

Crab Melt

Patty Melt

Turkey Supreme

Bbq Chicken

Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich

Grilled Sourdough Burger

Fish Sandwich

Santa Cruz Chicken

Hawaiian Chicken

Crispy Chicken

French Dip

Ham And Swiss Cheese

Grilled Cheese And Tomato

Tuna Melt
Cold Sandwiches

Sandwich And Cup Of Soup Or Green Salad

Tuna

Roast Beef

Turkey And Swiss Cheese

Blt

Blat

Ham

Veggie

Triple Decker Clubhouse

Healthy Meal suggestions for Salmon Bay Café

Egg Combinations

One Egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Two Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon And Two Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage And Two Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ham And Two Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hamburger Patty And Two Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Polish Sausage And Two Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak And Two Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Biscuits And Sausage Gravy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Fried Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Scrambles

Special Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jill’s Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Joe’s Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Minced Ham Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Minced Ham And Cheddar Cheese Scramble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Omelets

Ham And Cheddar Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon And Cheddar Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Denver [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Western [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mexi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Florentine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hawaiian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab And Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafair [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ballard [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fremont [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Magnolia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Queen Anne [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Phinney [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Lovers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Farmer’s [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greenwood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Omelets - Extras

Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggies [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
From The Griddle - Pancakes

Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blueberry Pancakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pancake Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
From The Griddle - French Toast

French Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Toast Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stuffed French Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
From The Griddle - Waffles

Belgium Waffle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Banana Blueberry Or Bacon Belgium Waffle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Belgium Waffle Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Mexican Favorites

Huevos Rancheros [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breakfast Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Oatmeal

Oatmeal [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowl Of Oats And Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowl Of Oats With Fresh Fruit And Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Eggs Benedict

Eggs Benedict [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage Benedict [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Benedict [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Benedict [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Country Benedict [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups

Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chili [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Green Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cobb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab And Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Salad And Bowl Of Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Burgers And Combo’s

Bay Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon Cheese Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

California Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chili Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom Bacon And Swiss Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blue Cheese Bacon Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cowboy Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burger Dip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garden Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Bay’s Fish And Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Strips And Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Hot / Grilled Sandwiches

Crab Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Patty Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Supreme [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bbq Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Sourdough Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fish Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Santa Cruz Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hawaiian Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Dip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ham And Swiss Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese And Tomato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cold Sandwiches

Sandwich And Cup Of Soup Or Green Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roast Beef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey And Swiss Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ham [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Triple Decker Clubhouse [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Julie C.

Yummy food. Banana and raspberry cream cheese stuffed French toast. Yeah.
(4)
Adriana K.

Apparently no place is open for breakfast at 6:30 am in Ballard - except for Salmon Bay Cafe! How disappointing to find that bakeries in the neighborhood open at 8 am??! Tangent aside, we were seated promptly, given piping hot coffee (that wasn't too bad!) and I have to say, the veggie scramble was pretty good - the toast was much better than expected - wheat bread that was from an artisanal loaf of some kind, although the fruit was pretty standard - orange, bananas, melons. Friendly unpretentious service with decent food!
(3)
Andrea Marie B.

Great food I think only one cook back in the kitchen. Don't be hurry it's worth wait. Ok waitress was hostile when I asked where my hash browns was she then told me they only have hash brown patties. That's not real hash browns. Then she tried to take my whole plate to make me wait longer when I asked her to leave the omelette she became hostile and questioning.
(1)
Carol H.

I love the Salmon Bay CafÃ©, home fries over hash browns or fresh fruit. Food is always really good and the staff is awesome . This is one of the best places to eat in Ballard. They are always busy. Have eaten here so many, many times. I have never, ever had a bad meal here. Fun place. You never know who you'll see here. Let them eat in peace.
(5)
Howard L.

It does not get much better than this if you want feels like a working man's diner. Where else can you find one these days. I always ordered breakfast (any time of day) but a friend ordered a chop salad. It looked great. I might have to look at the rest of the menu the next time I am there. Walk down the dock before or after the meal. It reminds me of being in SE Alaska. Oh yes, I love SE Alaska. Friendly first class service.
(4)
A A.

Our server was SO RUDE and made everyone feel uncomfortable. Will not be returning, based solely on that, but the food was also just mediocre and the ambience is terrible.
(2)
Delwin I.

Had a great breakfast this morning. Staff is very friend and cooks do a great job in cooking items the way the customer wants. Prices are very reasonable, will be back again.
(5)
Tabitha T.

This place is A-OK in my book. I go here every couple of weeks when I forget to bring lunch to work or if I dont have protein powder left for breakfast. I order a side of potatoes and scrambled eggs. The eggs and potatoes are cheap, delicious, and hot at pick up. I also really like the gentleman who works the register during the week. He is really friendly and chats brifley with me when I come in. Another thing is this place gets things together quick. I work about 3blocks from Salmon Bay Cafe and have only ever waited 2-3minutes for my food after placing the order before walking over. This time is usually just them bagging it up. The take out comes in a nice big paper bag with napkins, condiments (ketchup), and plastic silverware. They are very careful to make sure you have what you need to get going. I really need to go here when I have more time to get something diffrent, but I will admit there takeout gets a huge thumbs up in my book.
(3)
Tim C.

People...you have to come in here with the correct expectations. This is a divey place...and for that I love it. The dÃ©cor is hideous, the seats are worn and tattered, the parking lot is full of potholes and the food is awesome. I've only been here for breakfast but enjoy hanging out with the fishermen and other locals. The omelets are fantastic as are the pancakes. The coffee is basic but refills are free so who is to complain? This is a like a throwback to the 70's and if you go with that expectation, you'll find this place rocks!
(4)
Peter O.

This restaurant is near my slip and I've been coming here for years. It's part of Salmon Bay Marina complex. The restaurant itself is pretty run down and they share the bathroom with other tenants and it's kinda of gas station clean. The food and prices are decent. They serve breakfast the whole day and service is generally good. I wouldn't drive to eat here but if you are close by, it's good.
(3)
Erica W.

Looked up breakfast places in Ballard and decided to go to Salmon Bay due to the proximity to Rabid Hands. Because the key to a successful tattoo experience is a HUGE meal before hand! I decided to get a "savory" breakfast, as opposed to a "sweet" breakfast. I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy with home fries (chunked up potatoes) and eggs. Upon arrival I tore into the biscuit. Gravy was delicious. Potatoes had chives on top, not a fan so I took them off. Potatoes were good, but I would've much rather had hash browns. After I the my eggs and home fries, I went back to my last biscuit. Unfortunately the biscuit had hardened and was not edible 2nd time around. Boooooo...... :( On to my moms pancakes for dessert.... Bomb-diggity! Sooooooo good!!!! There is something about restaurant pancakes that can not be matched! LOVED them! Next time I am all about the SWEET breakfast!
(4)
Matthew G.

Terrible service plain and simple! I've sat at my table for over 15mins without anyone asking if I needed something to drink. When the entire staff is comprised of 20yr old hipsters I should have known that the service was going to suck. Live and learn.
(1)
Brad C.

My coffee cup was never empty. Never even half way before the observant server filled it back up. For breakfast, take the fresh fruit option (ie: fruit, toast, or potatoes). Cozy & clean, comfortable & well priced.
(5)
Mike F.

First we need to establish that the Salmon Bay cafe really is a bit of a dive joint. If you want to eat at some trendy hip Ballard restaurant walk up a block to Ballard Avenue. Also since it is NOT a trendy Ballard restaurant won't be paying trendy Ballard prices for your food. Reasons are probably numerous, the place hasn't been redecorated since Doogie Howser was on TV and they probably buy all of their food from the cheapest distributor around. If you're into the eat local movement this may not be the place for you. At the Salmon Bay cafe you will get good sized portions and the food will be tasty. The menu has a wide selection of breakfast and lunch items. I recently tried the turkey supreme sandwich and the Ruben they were both good (they're served hot) and I especially like the fact that they serve great big steak fries. The minced ham and cheddar cheese scrambled is pretty good too. Parking is never quite the hassle it is up on Ballard Avenue or on Market Street, this is a big plus. It's the kind of place where you can drop in for breakfast or lunch if you just crawled out from under your car, out of the engine room of your boat or if you just finished painting a house . Don't worry, your t-shirt and jeans will just look fine against the duct tape on the upholstery.
(3)
Maria A.

This place was very underwhelming. We ordered an egg scrambled and pancakes. Everything was bland, even the pancakes. The one thing that I liked was the portion and variety of their fruit that came with our plates.
(3)
Rose B.

I honestly had a two start experience while I was here but they did say they were rather short staffed and the restaurant was quite full... I expected a bit more from this place though after reading the reviews on Yelp. The restaurant itself looks a bit run down. I almost drove past thinking the building would look nicer. Parking is cramped and a bit awkward to get out of. We had a 15 minute wait to be seated, another 10 or so minutes to get a menu and a bit longer after that to get our order taken. The food took a long time to come out as well. Our food was adequate - I think this would be a good place to bring kids or maybe come when you're so hung over anything will do.
(3)
Sally W.

I had the seafood eggs Benedict and it was delicious, except maybe for the baby shrimps, I could have done without those. The fresh fruit was actually fresh and delightful. I would definitely go back, especially to try the mimosas!
(4)
Zoe S.

Dafq happened?? I used to love the Salmon Bay Cafe.... frozen hashbrown patties?? Eggs Benedict sitting on the food counter for 8 minuets... Goodbye yolk. I love Eggs Benedict. I love hashbrowns. I feel sick right now. I am so mad. I usually love classic divey working man diners. That is what I grew up on, and in my experience they usually have the best hashbrowns and if the food is taking a bit longer to come out they come by and say "Sorry its taking a bit long, your food should be out in X minuets." If one dish is ready and the other one is taking a bit, they bring it out. Nothing wrong with that. Especially with time sensitive food like eggs Benedict. WTF?
(1)
Nathan N.

We were a party of three. After placing our orders, we waited 45 minutes for our food, and here's the kicker - the place was EMPTY! Like 30% of capacity! An Asian woman (the owner?) sat at a table and surveyed the lack of customers dispassionately, greeted no one, spoke to no one. Maybe she was taking a census. I think the "cook" is incapable of multi-tasking, like 3 orders is more than he can handle. On top of that, the food, when it arrived, left A LOT to be desired. Frozen hash brown patties? How can that offer a better margin than hash browns made from scratch? I had dark rye toast with my order, and I didn't know bread could be sliced so *thin* - it was like that super-thin diet bread. If you have to skimp on BREAD, to make a profit, you're in trouble. Our waitress was really slow on the coffee fill-ups too; if the place was really busy I think she wouldn't be able to handle it. I look forward to the next new owner to take over. Until that time, we won't be back!
(1)
Angela G.

No matter how depressingly whiny and gentrified the rest of Ballard gets, the day Salmon Bay folds up its tent is the day we just go ahead and wall the neighborhood off. Until then, this wonderful breakfast-and-lunch place is holding the line -- great diner-type food, totally unprepossessing decor, friendly staff, and zero attitude. Long may it run.
(4)
Andrew Z.

I used to really dig the Salmon Bay Cafe a long time ago. It used to be the place you would imagine fishermen eating. The servings were huge with tons of quality, simple good breakfast food. Something happened to that place. The food was so bland and I think the wait staff was more focused on making sure their tattoos and hipster attire were spot on than anything else. The hashbrowns were those little patties like you get from McDonalds. Seriously. The pancake for kids was cute but you would need a steak knife to cut it. The only reason for the 2 stars is because my last breakfast there had gravy on it and it the chef probably isn't talented enough to ruin gravy.
(2)
ellen e.

Amid all the new, hip and trendy places to eat in Ballard these days, it's nice to have a regular standby to come to. I sometimes forget about this little gem of a place when I'm craving breakfast for lunch or lunch for breakfast. Most of all, they have the nicest staff. Special shout out to Lisa!
(4)
Dana S.

I love classic, slightly divey diners, so I really *really* wanted to like this place. I wanted it to be a hidden gem. But it wasn't. It took an hour to get our food, then the server forgot my potatoes and disappeared for ten minutes, so I pretty much had them as a second course. The omelet was just okay, and the huevos rancheros were nothing at all like heuvos rancheros. There was some cheese melted on some tortillas with some beans and eggs on the side. I was ravenous by the time they came, tho, so I devoured every morsel. It's not terrible, but there's really nothing to recommend here.
(2)
Mary K.

Fast service on a Saturday morning, coupled with good food! It's also in an area with plenty of parking.
(4)
Miles G.

Pretty darn good American dinner food. It has a smooth laid back field, and nice people. Only thing i hate...it is hardly ever open :(
(4)
Calvin Y.

Four things you need to know about Salmon Bay Cafe: 1. Stuffed French Toast -- at minimum, I feel that when you stuff something, it should be fully encased. I received a Raspberry Cream Cheese Sandwich with cream cheese glooping out. Definitely not what I was expecting. 2. Garnishing is questionable -- it seems they either over decorate or under decorate. Yes, I realize that French Toast is not necessarily of French origin, but I feel having a non-French flag toothpick is a bit random and forced. Or the dishes are simply under-garnished (their Chicken Fried Steak just had the steak and two eggs on the plate). 3. The quality of food simply does not match the price they've attached to each dish. 4. WORST OF ALL? I found a couple of pieces of blond hair hiding underneath my French Toast. However, I will give them an extra star because their assortment of fruit was rather impressive and fresh.
(2)
Edgar M.

Located in the harbor area of Ballard. I got the meat lovers Omelet and it was pretty damn heart attack maker, in a good way. The pancakes could use a little bit working on but i was too full to finish it. Don't expect fancy breakfast lunch place because it is not, but the food was good and the price was excellent. Staff I thought was really nice and friendly also. Portions are huge, food was delish to me, price is cheap. this gets a thumbs up in my book!
(4)
Chris D.

There are many places to get a fancy schmany breakfast in Seattle and Salmon Bay in not one of them. For that very reason it has been our go to place for lazy Sunday morning breakfasts. There's just something about a massive menu, ripped booth seats and waitresses that I seem to fall in love with every single time that make overcoming the shock of having to get dressed on a weekend that much more bearable. The food isn't going to win any awards and you may end up waiting for a table on weekends, but what else are you gonna do with your time? I just wish they had a bloody mary on the menu.
(4)
Ian S.

Salmon Bay Cafe is the least pretentious breakfast place in all of Seattle. This place is less pretentious than IHOP. This is where Billy Joel would eat breakfast were he a Seattleite. ASIDE: Don't be thrown off by my comparison to IHOP -- Salmon Bay Cafe is a lot better. I was only comparing them on the pretentiousness axis. A useful thought experiment is to separate Seattle breakfast places into four quadrants: I (pretentious and delicious): too many places to name II (unpretentious and delicious): Salmon Bay Cafe III (unpretentious and not delicious): IHOP, Voula's IV (pretentious and not delicious): Portage Bay Cafe Anyway, I get the same thing every time: the Joe's Scramble with wheat toast and fruit. It's always delicious and always healthy as long as you think sour cream is good for you, which you should. I feel a little bit bad about not giving them 5 stars, but I haven't explored enough of the menu -- for all I know, they make a terrible pancake.
(4)
Michael A.

I kept hearing great things about this place, so I finally went. I was disappointed, which I couldn't believe. I love breakfast food, and for it to underwhelm was very surprising. The service was slow, even though the restaurant was not that busy, and the food was very bland and did not stand out at all. If i'm going to get the divey diner feel, I want amazing food, this place only delivers on one. I can think of many places with better atmosphere and food in Ballard. Sorry.
(2)
Chris B.

My girlfriend and I like to try new places especially in her neighborhood so we decided to take a long walk and finish at Salmon Bay Cafe. The place is coffee shop sorta stuck in time. The quintessential 70-80's decor and the basic seating and table. They have a decent menu with all the classics for breakfast. Since it was close to lunch I deviated from the breakfast menu and went with the BLAT and fries. It was nothing special and the avocado was a little past it prime, but beyond that it was a good size meal for the price. The Salmon Bay Cafe wouldn't be my first choice but it wouldn't be my last choice either.
(3)
Lisa S.

Not impressed. 4 different waiters/servers. Took a long time for the order to be taken. Omelet looked like a taco- fully cooked egg shell, with ingredients on top of each other. I had to open it up and mix it together myself. Our waiter was having bites of his breakfast at the counter in between tasks, which meant he was walking around chewing his food. Definitely won't be going back.
(2)
Alan N.

I'd heard some good things about this place in the past and the group I was with had been here before and loves it. Me? Not so impressed. Our wait for a table was only a couple minutes but then we sat for 15 before they even brought coffee. Then another 20 before they took out order and another 15-20 before our food actually came (at least it seemed that long). Once the food arrived (I got an omelet with 'home fries') it was bland. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't throw away bad it just wasn't anything to write home about. There are no booths and the tables are kinda close together so it can get a bit loud too. Therefore, Meh. I've had better...
(2)
Simone T.

Nothing fancy or pretentious - food snobs, hit the road! This is a simple diner with fresh ingredients & huge portions. Service is slow, but a nice way to ease into a lazy day. Our table had chicken fried steak w/eggs, biscuits & gravy Benedict, seafood Benedict, and a seafood omelette. Hearty, fresh, DELICIOUS! This was our first time in Seattle; this is a breakfast place we will come to again the next time we visit! Good enough for the fishermen & dock crews, great for the rest of us!
(5)
Heather W.

There are days when you don't want a Something Reduction on your meat or a Creme de la Something sauce on your veggies. Sometimes you just want food. The kind that goes in your mouth and moves around a little bit before siding down your throat into your waiting belly. You aren't looking for lettuce that was petted and named before it was ruthlessly harvested for your hamburger. No _________-free, ______-harvested, ______-raised ingredients here. I'm pretty sure the food comes in big trucks and the veggies aren't local or organic. AND FOR ONCE I'M OKAY WITH IT DAMMIT. It's more of a mystery...think of it as foreign and exotic. The food is tasty and not in a chef-won-a-James-Beard-for-this-omelette sorta way. There will be no artistry on your plate and by golly you will get twice the amount of food than is healthy for you to eat in one sitting. Deal. I'm sure there are trans fats and trans carbs and trans sugars in just about everything on the menu. And if you're one of those GF people, please eat elsewhere. You're annoying. But for the rest of you, Salmon Bay Cafe is your place my friend. And mine. Cheap, basic, diner, open for breakfast/lunch.
(4)
Denise M.

This cafe has never disappointed! Service is always with a smile and prompt. The food has always kept us coming back wanting to try something new.
(4)
Julian V.

Well, this place has all the makings of a five star place. Super cheap, super local, super filling, and sort of delicious? Sort of being the operative word here. I'm from the south, and we kind of have a desire for more heavily seasoned foods, which this place does not really do. But that's fine, I salt and peppered the hell out of my omelette, and even still something was lacking. I then realized that it was the seafood itself. The omelette I had was a seafood omelette with shrimp and crab, and some kind of sort of bland sauce. The seafood was NOT fresh at all, which is so disappointing considering I was literally a skip away from the water, and this is where "fishermen and boat workers go to eat." I think I just ordered the wrong thing, but seriously folks, my plate (albeit filling) was very underwhelming. I know there's good breakfast in Seattle, I was hoping I wouldn't be relegated to only portage bay for it though.
(3)
L R.

Best breakfast or lunch place EVER! !! I've been going there for 14 years and they never disappoint. The friends that I've bought there over the years who didn't know about it , immediately fell in love. No pretense, the decor and atmosphere is what it is, BUT the quality of the food and drink plus friendly service and good prices for tons of food, AMAZING! So first off, they have the best mimosas of anywhere that I've ever heard of! Fresh squeezed orange juice topping off a pint glass of champagne and ice with cranberry or grenadine for $6. NUM! !!!!! Then the food! Their side options are home fries or fruit so don't expect hash browns. Other than that, everything is incredible! My usuals are the Magnolia or Fremont omelette or the seafood Benedict which I had today. Huge chunks of crab with bay shrimp with a homemade sauce, incredible! !!! I have no idea why anyone could possibly complain, they are the best! !!! And I have no idea who the rest of these reviewers are or what restaurant they went to because I've never had bad food or bad service there.
(5)
Leah R.

I needed to get my wide-awake toddler out of my friend's house before she woke everyone up on Saturday morning at her ungodly hour of 6 am. So I bribed her with pancakes and then looked on Yelp for breakfast restaurants open early. The closest in proximity and early hours was Salmon Bay Cafe, so we ventured out. When I pulled up in the parking lot, the ambiance of waterfront dive diner was immediately clear. As soon as we stepped in and I saw the wood paneled walls (a la 1970s) and ripped booth seats covered in duct tape I had slight second thoughts, but figured that my kid would go crazy if we had to get back in the car. So I smiled and we ventured in and were seated at a two person booth. The table had salt, pepper, jam, sugar in a jar, artificial sweetener in a packet, a small pitcher of half-and-half and two kinds of hot sauce on it... Holy toddler hell! She immediately wanted to play with all of it!!! So I moved most of it to my side of the table and allowed her to "count" the pink an yellow sweetener packets to keep her distracted before our order was taken. The service was thankfully swift, and I ordered the kids pancake breakfast with bacon for her and the Mexican omlette for me - requesting to substitute the ground beef for jalapenos. I also had the egg bread and fresh fruit as sides and ordered coffee for me and orange juice for her.... her juice never arrived, but it wasn't added to the ticket. Luckily, along with the waitress forgetting it, so did the toddler. The kids pancakes were served creatively with chocolate chips, and arranged like a Mickey Mouse with two little ear pancakes and a big face cake with banana chunks for eyes, chocolate chips for pupils and a slice of cantaloupe for a smile. She ate the pile of chocolate chips (that must have been the hair) first, then enjoyed the rest of the pancakes and single slice of bacon. The ears had a pink cocktail umbrella and a flag sandwich toothpick on them, so that was good for some mild distraction. The waitress came back and informed me that they didn't have jalapenos, and offered an alternative substitution for the meat, but I was fine with just not having the meat. The omlette was good enough, but the green onions were rather raw. Would have preferred a sauteed yellow onion... The egg bread was nicely toasted and the jam on the table (in the aforementioned jar of jam) was nice. Nothing to crave here, but if we found ourselves awake early again some morning in this neighborhood, I wouldn't hesitate to return.
(3)
Marianne S.

This place gets 4 stars because their service is so slow! It was about 1pm on a Sunday when we walked in and we waited about 15 minutes to get a table, another 15 mintues to order, and probably at least a half hour for the food. When we did see a server, they were really nice, so I'm not complaining about that, just their unspeediness. When we finally did get our food, the portions were huge! I had the freemont omelete with cream cheese instead of cheddar and it was delicious! My boyfriend got the crispy chicken sandwich with fries, which was also very good, and my cousin got the huevos rancheros. She said they were tasty, but not exactly what she expected. We left with full stomachs and even though we waited forever, we liked the place overall. A little divey cafe by the bay!
(4)
Heidi P.

This place was recommended to my husband and I so we decided to try it out for breakfast recently on a Sunday morning. I'm not sure how long the Salmon Bay Cafe has existed, but I'm guessing a while. It definitely seems like a favorite with the locals. The inside was outdated, but I enjoyed it. It seemed like this is what Seattle once was, twenty years back before Seattle was inundated with "transplants." The menu had a ton of options. I personally thought the menu was flawless for breakfast options. I loved that most breakfasts came with the choice of home fries or fresh fruit, as well as a cinnamon bun or toast. I chose the fruit as a healthier option and it was fresh and delicious. I also ordered the special, which was a chorizo scramble. My husband ordered the sausage gravy and biscuits. I didn't want toast or cinnamon roll so I ordered the cinnamon roll and gave it to the hubby. He scarfed it down happily. If we had good service, I would have given this place 4 or 5 stars. That was the only thing that was really "off." The waitstaff was friendly, but seemed like they didn't care and were floating about casually. The kitchen staff seemed to have no problem pumping out the food, however the timing was off. I saw people around us getting food at nearby tables, but not everyone was getting food at the same time. Dishes were literally coming out 5 to 10 minutes after each other for the same table, and then it happened to us. My husband ordered home fries and they didn't come out with our food. Our server said they would be right out, but after getting ready to finish our breakfast, we asked where they were. He realized he had forgot about them and went back to the kitchen, returning with potatoes that looked boiled then slapped on a greasy skillet for a few seconds. The potatoes were not browned at all and had not been seasoned. Overall the prices were very good, portion sized generous, and I was very happy with my chorizo scramble. The flavors of everything were good, however the sausage gravy was just ok. I would definitely return though if in the Ballard area, but with hopes of improved service.
(3)
Morgan R.

A great neighborhood joint where you are likely to meet commercial fishermen, and others in Ballard's marine supply and repair world. The service is down to earth, and the food is hardy, mixing traditional American breakfast fare with Scandanavian touches and seafood. I recommend this as a breakfast place, straight forward and solid, part of what Ballard used to be 50 years ago when Ballard and Fisherman's terminal were the home of half of the Alaska fishing fleet. Something of a greasy spoon, but with character, solid food and friendly people.
(3)
Cathy G.

I used to go here occasionally with a Mountaineer group. They treated us very well as a large group. The food was simple cafe breakfast. I had a shrimp omelette.. slight on the shrimp. Potatoes fine, bread uhh not many choices. People raved about this. The location is odd. The food is normal; ok but not great. I decided on 4 stars because they treated us really well as a group which had people coming and adding to the group from time to time. That can create a headache for servers and they were cool!
(4)
Kate S.

"Bacon should always be eaten with butter" said Hollie, my fellow classmate after pretty much licking her plate after finishing her bacon waffle. And you know what, arteries be damned I agree! We were a pack of hungry museology students -- with a craving for breakfast and drinks come lunchtime. A little quick research and we hit this greasy spoon for what was declared as "the best lunch we've had together yet." Interior is what you would expect from you standard diner, large booths, white boards with the daily special, and some semi-hairy clientele. We were seated quickly and a round of mimosa's were ordered first thing. And holy cow. Talk about a GIANT mimosa. Nearly big-gulped size -- when it was brought to the table I was certain my drink would cost more than my lunch item, but nope. $5.95 and you can be pleasantly buzzed before it's 12:30 pm. We all ended up sharing, and I opted for the stuffed french toast. I mean, how could I say no to raspberry cream cheese, bananas & fruit topping? Well, im glad I didnt -- and the fruit? Holy crap -- more bananas, pineapple, cantaloupe, blueberries, and a side of toasted pecans to polish it all off. Huge portion and groan worth table round. Seafood scramble - amazing! The biscuits and gravy stuck to your ribs and real biscuits used here - light fluffy and definitely not from a can. The real winner of the afternoon though was Hollie and her bacon waffle. The moment it was placed on the table we all had to take photos of it then attack it with our forks. It's a life-changer I tell you. You just probably don't want to have it for breakfast all the time since it came with a generous pad of butter and plenty of warm maple syrup for your bacon to swim in. It's cheap. It's good. & if you are like me and my friends you will return to class smelling of bacon and booze.
(4)
Stacy K.

This place is like your typical diner with nothing impressive inside. But the food was delightful and a great price! You can get breakfast all day which definitely won me over.
(4)
Beth H.

This is one of my favorite places for breakfast. It has cafe food, vibe and coffee that reminds me of the old Ballard, before we got hip.
(4)
Karen D.

I love this place. I'm on a committee at work that always has our annual holiday breakfast meeting at Salmon Bay Cafe', and I enjoy it every time. The have decent coffee, very good food, and ample portions for a reasonable price. I always order my omelet with three eggs instead of four, and the portion size is just right. This last time I got eggs and bacon, and my over-easy eggs were done perfectly, and came with a huge mound of delicious, chewy/crunchy bacon...I couldn't even finish the bacon! They offer two different types of potatoes...home fries or hash brown cakes, but personally I prefer the fruit option...the selection varies, but this time it came with a huge slice of perfectly sweet juicy pineapple, as well as a banana half, orange and grapefruit wedges, and canteloupe...really refreshing. The customer service is also excellent. I only wish that I lived closer to be able to visit more often!
(4)
Terri L.

No muss, no fuss casual diner in Ballard that serves breakfast all day; What more do you need? I had driven by Salmon Bay Cafe several times and always wondered about this place, so one morning my guy and I decided to give it a shot. The diner kind of reminded me of the one in Dumb and Dumber - the decor was minimal and I could imagine Sea Bass sittin' at the back corner table with his buddies. No Flo, but the server was super chill and very attentive with the coffee refills. I ordered the Joe's Scramble - eggs (duh), spinach, sausage, mushrooms, parmesan and a dollop of sour cream on top. YUM! I opted for a side of home fries which were also tasty. My guy ordered the Biscuits and Gravy - pretty standard fare, nothing spectacular, with a side of fruit. This was the oddball of our meal. The fruit selection was very...eclectic if you will. I would say, opt for the home fries when in doubt. The prices were VERY reasonable and the service was fast. Will definitely be a go-to place for breakfast in the future.
(4)
Kristen G.

The best well-kept secret as far as breakfast is concerned! Usually pretty packed, yet always fast and friendly staff with lots of suggestions if you just cannot seem to make up your mind. It is a short distance from my house and I ALWAYS reccomend this place to hungry friends and adventerous travellers. My favorite is the Ballard Omellete- cream cheese, green onions and tomatoes. With an additional charge, you can add whatever else you deem worthy into your concotion :)
(5)
Neil K.

While the neighborhood is a bit industrial and not super pretty (you literally drive across train tracks multiple times) this cafe is still awesome in my book. Lots of menu items to choose from, bountiful servings, good food, pint sized mimosas, good coffee AND very friendly/helpful staff. We were asked multiple times if we need coffee refills or anything else. Overall I like this place a lot and would definitely go back for some brunch again!
(4)
Joe B.

Torn faux leather seats. Views of the train tracks. Waitresses with no time to chat. These are all things you will get at the Salmon Bay Cafe. What you will also get is a great big plate of soul satisfying food. I come for breakfast. I don't care if the seat has all of it's stuffing spilling out as long as I get stuffed with well prepared grub. The Huevos Rancheros isn't really but that's OK because it IS a large plate of tasty food. The waffles are big and tender and they don't severely overcook the egg dishes as many other restaurants do. Check your attitude and preconceived ideas at the door and enjoy a very good breakfast.
(4)
Car L.

Salmon Bay CafÃ© isn't the place to come if you want fancy food and spectacular ambiance. But if you want reliably amazing food that tastes like home cookin' at a pretty good price served by warm, friendly, unpretentious staff, come here! I have been coming to this place for years and every single time I leave very satisfied and most likely stuffed. (And with another free notepad, which are located near the door!) For about $9 bucks you can get a good-sized egg scramble, toast, and either home fries or fruit. And unlike many other restaurants that serve fruit, Salmon Bay's fruit is fresh, not from a can and it wasn't purchased 3 weeks ago. It is truly FRESH! And you can expect to get a nice mix of a banana, orange slices, grapefruit, cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, strawberries, pineapple, apples, and more (depending on which fruits are in season) that takes up about 1/3 of your plate. This is not a one or two slices of orange kind of place. For, I think, 50 cents to $1 more, you can substitute your toast for a biscuit, muffin, or cinnamon roll. My favorite of the scrambles is the veggie scramble, which is DELISH!!!! Jill's Scramble is also very good. Additionally, they have scrambles named after many different neighborhoods in Seattle, which is pretty neat. I have had the belgian waffles, which are yummy as well. I can't review the sandwiches and lunch offerings, because admittedly I always choose breakfast food over lunch. You can expect outdated decor and likely a tear or two in the fake leather booth you'll be sitting on, but Salmon Bay's amazing, filling, and fresh food never goes out of style. I am someone who loves to get dressed up and go out to fancy places, and yet Salmon Bay Cafe remains my favorite restaurant. If it ever closes, I will hold a funeral for it and cry. Despite similar prices to places like Denny's and Beth's (on Aurora), Salmon Bay is many, many steps above them in quality food and personable staff. And one last thing, the staff here are amazing! They are never pushy about getting you to leave so others can sit down (and yet I've never waited even 15 seconds to be seated). They'll even engage you in real conversations, not forced chit chat, if you initiate. My favorite is the thin, black-haired woman who appears to be in her late twenties or early thirties and always wears cute, funky outfits. She is so nice!
(5)
Sally P.

I went there for brunch on a Sunday and had the blueberry pancakes, I'm a big blueberry pancake person. The pancakes were just ok. The bacon was good and crispy, the OJ was tasty, and the coffee was alright. Overall, not bad but definitely not great. There are so many better places with awesome blueberry pancakes around Seattle, I doubt I'll go back to Salmon Bay. My friend had a seafood omelette and she seemed very pleased with it!
(3)
Delilah R.

NEVER disappoints. Disclaimer: This review pertains to breakfast/brunch only. This is MY hangover spot!! If I'm in Ballard on any given morning of any weekend, you will find me hear....loyally waiting for my carbs and calories!! Not only can I sit, talk about the wild and crazy night previously spent, include vulgarity if need be AND give details of my "encounters", I get to sip on strong coffee and be waited on attentively. It may seem unimpressive but they bring me water as soon as I sit down. I know what you're thinking, it's water and you always get water! Right? Wrong!! One of my biggest peeves at diners is that I've got to ask for a water, then wait for it. When you are dehydrated, head is pounding and you feel like you would drink anything...you'll come to appreciate the super efficient service here. I've had almost everything! The Magnolia Omelet, almost all of their burgers, their salmon burger, Mexican omelet and am a fan of their seafood benedict. It is definitely a place where I can walk in washed or worn, wearing sweats and hoop earrings or a pea coat and scarf. There is no bias or pretension here. It's also right next to a Marina so you get a lot of fisherman and people in who live on their boats. 5-10 min. wait on the weekends if you show up around 11am or later. Someone once said this place reminds them of Denny's pre-chain and I totally agree. It's a good spot to hang out with the homies hungover, eat good greasy food and relax. No rush!!
(5)
Kirsten E.

I have been here twice now and have loved it each time. I mainly go here for a seafood breakfast which is so worth it. As other reviewers have mentioned you get hearty portions. This first time I went I got the sea air omlette and my husband got the seafood scramble. Both were amazing. We got plenty of seafood in both our dishes. We both ended up taking food home. The second time I went we split the seafood omlette, and it was still enough food. . The service is friendly and the food comes out quickly.
(5)
Allison S.

The last time I was here, it was a really positive experience, but this time....not so much. We went for brunch on a weekend, so yeah, it was busy and the food took forever, but we expected that. The servers were super friendly and you will never want for more coffee, but there were some bumps. My friend ordered a basic two egg breakfast and got breakfast meat and potatoes- no eggs, no toast. The server was very nice about it, but after waiting 1/2 hour for your food, having to wait 10-15 minutes more minutes for the rest of your meal was somewhat irritating. I got a scramble and was immediately put off by the serving- the eggs were overcooked and lukewarm, and the portion was tiny. To add to that, there was a inordinate amount of sour cream and cold shredded cheese placed on top of the tiny serving of scramble. Perhaps it was just an off morning for the crew, but I didn't find it to be particularly cheap or worth the wait.
(2)
Derek R.

Servers that seem almost mad you think you can just walk in at any time of the morning and order breakfast like this is some sort of public restaurant. The below average food brings this place down another notch, then the price on the bill makes you wonder why you came here to begin with. Not that it's pricey, but I can think of a great place (maybe 100 feet away), that has great food, for roughly the same price, they give you complimentary hot scones, and it even looks like they might sweep, mop and vacuum the floors! I came here to begin with because I like good dive that you can count on in the neighborhood. After several trips here I realized it's not that fun to pay to get treated like dirt.
(2)
Zachary Sam Z.

I've never been more misdirected by Yelp. Salmon Bay Cafe is not a 4 star restaurant by any stretch of the imagination. The food we had was bland and forgettable. I ordered the Chicken-Fried Steak (I was craving it since my awesome experience at Geraldine's Counter), and the plate just looked depressing. A giant plate with a tiny portion in the middle, gravy sitting neatly on top, not even covering the dish. It tasted how it looked. I bumped up to two stars because of the fruit that is discussed extensively in reviews here. It's refreshing to get an order of fruit and REALLY get a nice helping of fruit. I swear I was given 3 servings, all very fresh - I was set for the whole day! Just what I needed to help me bounce back from a cold. But c'mon folks, a nice plate of fresh fruit doesn't warrant 4 stars, and it's definitely not enough to get me to come back here.
(2)
Todd B.

There is nothing fancy about the Salmon Bay cafe. It looks like a converted cafeteria or something inside, so you are all pretty much in the wait station. I half expected Mel, Flo and Alice to show up with my water. Servings are gut busting portions. There was at least a full pint of sour cream sitting atop my Joe's Special scramble. Easy enough to shovel to the side though, to enjoy the spinach, sausage, mushroom and mozerella scramble. Home potatoes are hearty and cooked to perfection and even the toast came in fat pieces. Lady had the sausage benedict and it was lovely too. All reasonably priced, especially since you will take half of it home for lunch. Attentive wait staff filled coffees and bustled about without seeming rushed. The only disappointment was having to wait until I got home to kiss someone's grits.
(4)
Colleen W.

If you're looking for a no-frills (kinda tired) joint where they serve breakfast all day, come here. There are many great options from omelettes to benedicts to french toasts on the menu...all of which are pretty dang tasty. My only recommendation is to get the fresh fruit over the home fries. The home fries disappoint. They're too bland/soft/mushy for me. If I'm taking in those kind of calories, they better have a little crispy action on them.
(3)
Aly B.

Food is edible. Middle of the road...nothing impressive.
(2)
Wesh W.

I like their breakfasts. Lots of tasty egg dishes in so many combinations it'll make your head swim. Good drip coffee. My opinion of Salmon Bay Cafe was forever colored by learning in 2007 it was one of the ten most cited restaurants for health violations by Seattle/King County Public Health. While I have never knowingly brought home any unwelcome bacterial passengers from eating at Salmon Bay (quite the opposite in fact...I only bring home a stuffed gut and an urge to take a six-hour nap), apparently others have substantive concerns. My advice? Presume the concerns have been rectified and go have a great breakfast with friends. Also, for some reason the back (to the left as you come in) can be cold in winter, not that you can do anything about where you're seated, especially on a busy weekend morning. The bathroom is always cold in winter, so pee before you leave home or face major shrinkage.
(3)
Jay C.

Salmon Bay is a nice little diner. Nothing too fancy... omelets and scrambles are your best bet. I've had some not so great dishes here, but I love the atmosphere and the old comfy booths. The service has always been great and I've always left having thoroughly enjoyed myself.
(4)
Dk T.

I walked into this cafe and was immediately worried. The decor was straight from the 1970's and not in the cute, kitschy way... In the way that this restaurant has never been updated... Dark wood paneling, forest green and orange trim. The menus handed to us were old, laminated plastic (as opposed to the tasteful web site menu) was laden with breakfast and lunch options at extraordinarily reasonable. I ordered a seafood benedict with much trepidation and hope. I ordered homefries as the side but quickly regretted that decision when I watched the man at the table next to me ordered a side of fruit that looked fresh and amazing (cherries, fresh cantalope, watermelon) But then my food arrived. The poached eggs done perfectly, drenched in tasty hollandaise sauce topped with a smidgen of paprika... and below these perfect eggs staring at me was a plethora of gulf shrimp and fresh snow crab. The seafood oozed out of every crevasse around the side much to my delight. As I ran out of egg and english muffin well before I finished the seafood. I was contemplating the love letters I could write to my seafood benedict. The homefries were nothing to write home about. Fresh potatoes but they felt a bit like they had sat under a heat lamp for hours. But, I was too full to even attempt to finish them. The view from the cafe, so close to the water was disappointing, it is a lovely view of the marina parking lot. However, we were just sitting far enough way from the window, I could only see the tops of boat masts. It was a tease of a good view that should be.
(4)
Cork H.

This is a great place for diner type food. The portions are really generous. You want onion rings instead of french fries? No problem. No charge for the substitution. The meat on the French dip sandwiches was about an inch and a half stack. The bacon cheeseburger had the meat larger than the bun, and the bun was large, and generous thick sliced bacon on top. The Cobb salad was a large bowl and had everything it should have had though it might not have been presented in the most up - scale manner, but it was complete and fresh. The waitress "Chris" is as sharp as a tack and her sidekick "Jeff" also did a good job. This is the kind of place you would see on the TV show DDD.
(4)
Doug C.

From the wood interior, vinyl seats and panoramic views of the Ballard Hardware building, Salmon Bay CafÃ© hits pretty close to an authentic diner feel. I'm guessing the place is a converted office with the classic ceiling tiles and fans you'd see in a Dilbert comic strip. The inside is divided into two portions: one facing the marina and the other is facing Shilshole avenue. Seating is ample and the marina side was closed during the visit. Service here was very prompt and we were greeted immediately with window seats available. Throughout the meal, the waiter was very quick and refilled my coffee about every five minutes. As a hopeless omelet addict, I ordered the Denver omelet which came with a choice of home fries and fruit. Having slept through nutrition class, I ordered the home fries. The fries were well done with the appropriate amount of seasoning. Whole grain toast was also part of the meal with two thick slabs which were run of the mill. But the problem was with the omelet. I'm not so sure it should be billed as a Denver omelet. How they served it was the onions, green peppers, cheese and diced ham on the plate with a plain omelet laying across the top. I suppose this type of presentation would be good for the obsessive breakfast eater; you'd be able to control the exact components of each bite. But I tend to prefer the ingredients folded inside the omelet and found this a more awkward meal. The omelet itself tasted fine, but I can't say I'm a fan of this set up. Overall, it's a basic diner-type place with good service and odd omelets.
(3)
Andy K.

After the waitress asked "Have you had our waffle?? It's awesome!" I was sold on the waffle combo but when it arrived there were two things wrong: the links I ordered had decided to become bacon without asking me, and the waffle was the most wholly unremarkable waffle I've ever eaten. The waffles we used to make at the college dining hall (where the batter sat around in styrofoam cups) were way better. Covered in butter and thin syrup there was a little taste, but mostly I just want the space in my stomach back. Or my ten bucks. Or both. Two stars for being a diner, having really friendly servers, and at east managing to get the eggs right. Diner food comes with diner food level expectations but, even so, Salmon Bay wasn't worth getting up for. Really Yelp, 4 stars? You are broken :(
(2)
Sanobia H.

Love this place! i would go here every Sunday with my husband before moving out of Ballard. They make a great seafood omelet. Very casual, lots of good times.
(4)
bruce s.

Went there with a friend last Sunday. Mamosas were so so. Breakfast was okay, but we both got sick later that day! Actually mine was good, hers was pretty skimpy, then I ordered an IPA and the waitress gave me a wierd look and said she'd never heard of "IPA" beer... No biggie, but the getting sick part kinda freaked us both out. I'll give them another try in the future.
(2)
Tinker B.

Came here because the stuffed French toast on a photo looked awesome but turned out to be not so great. They forgot the nuts on the dish but regardless of the missing nuts it still tasted very bland. Nothing special about it. We also had the Fremont omelet and that was ok. Was disappointed with the stuffed French toast.
(3)
Stan F.

My daughter's favorite restaurant and I like it too! This place is casual / no pressure. The food is pretty good for breakfast & brunch....I haven't tried their lunch menu. The portion sizes are on the larger size. I typically have the Greenwood Omelet which includes avocado, black beans, sour cream,,,,just plain o'l yummy when you add some cheese and mushrooms. Sometimes I steal some of my wife's salsa that she gets with her meal to make it an even more enjoying breakfast. Salmon Bay Cafe also has nice fruit plates or sides to their meals. An assortment of whatever is fresh. If you don't get the fruit, you have to have their side of home potatoes which are cooked nicely and topped off with some scallions for a little more flavor. My toddler daughter always feels comfortable here. They have coloring pads and crayons and have some vending machines where she can get her Ike and Mikes. They also have kid breakfast plates that have parasols or flags in them and pancakes shaped like faces which helps make her eat her meal The servers are always friendly and efficient. You get a good meal and your in and your out unless you want to stay longer...no pressure.
(5)
Jammypac B.

I'm so sick of everyone whining about the loss of "Old Ballard". Hey people: It's alive and kicking at the Salmon Bay Cafe. The decor is as worn down as most of the clientele, but the food is really damn good for the prices that they're asking. My god if those walls could talk.
(4)
Liz R.

Straightforward, delicious, full of seafood, Salmon Bay is a solid Ballard breakfast spot. So far we've only sampled the salmon benedict and seafood scramble, but both are gigantic and satisfying. Atmosphere is old-school diner-y, like Vera's up the street . Personally, I think Salmon bay does seafood better, but Vera's has better coffee and atmosphere. Both are great greasy, filling breakfast choices.
(4)
Otto F.

I like this place a lot. I think the service staff is terrific, the food is more than adequate, and basically the only thing I'd change is the pothole filled parking lot, which recently has gone from annoying to dangerous. The place is a goldmine, and I'd implore the owners to spend some money on the parking lot and the shredded upholstery. Failing that they might want to turn over the keys to the place to a new owner that might care about the place and want it to thrive.
(4)
Cindy L.

As soon as we walked in, I noticed "Almond Joy Muffin" on the daily specials board. Aaaaaaaand sold. I ordered the Queen Anne omelette with home fries, the AJ muffin (toast can be substituted by the muffin for $0.50), and coffee. The omelet was good, but was so greasy I had to pour the oil out into a separate plate (1 star off - they could have drained it before bringing it to the table). Everything else was great. The home fries were well seasoned and the muffin was warm. The two friends there with me also enjoyed their food. Big portions. Reasonable prices. Great service. Definitely check this place out!
(4)
Megan S.

Classic Ballard breakfast joint. I hadn't been out to breakfast in awhile as I'm simply trying to save money and waistline, but a group of pals and I got together before heading to the racetrack for the Longacre Mile one Sunday morning and without hesitation we agreed that Salmon Bay was the joint. I usually get one of the omelets as you can't go wrong, but I love the bene variety too. Love me some Hollandaise. This last time, in honor of my brother who is away on a roadtrip I ordered the Seafair omelet. OMG. Heaven on Earth, my friends. Real fresh crab meat and shrimp for an ungodly cheap price. Their home fries are fantastic, but I love that they offer a real fresh fruit option if you don't feel like filling up on potato. I'm talkin' whole slices of apple, banana, watermelon. I love it. I've been for lunch a handful of times as this really is a breakfast place, but I can say that the vegetarian sandwich is also out of this world. Huge and stacked w/many veggies. And I must vouch for the cleanliness. I saw many reviews saying this "dive" breakfast joint scared them. They must be from Bellevue or Mercer Island methinks. This is greasy spoon at its finest. Oh and the chick who said her daddy was right about Vera's eggs being better is incorrect. I've been to Vera's and Salmon Bay's EVERYTHING is better. The staff is sassy and that's the way I like it! My only qualm was they were out of champagne that day so I didn't get my mimosa with fancy umbrella. One tear.
(5)
Amanda L.

I really like this place. I work in the Ballard area and I don't start till 10:30. So that leaves me with enough time to relax, have a nice breakfast and people watch. The waitresses are all great, not too intrusive which is something I always like. Their hot coco is served in a big mug and tastes delicious! But my favorite is their scrambles! Joe's Scramble to be exact, it has sausage, spinach, mushrooms, sour cream and parmesan cheese (I might be missing something) but it's great and really filling. You also get to choose between potatoes and fruit. I've tried both. Their fruit is fresh and tasty. But I have to admit, I really like the potatoes. Over all I really like the place. You should check it out.
(4)
Dan H.

The service was good and fast, although we went during the week at off peak hours. I ordered the eggs benedict and it was pretty good. If I was basing the rating on my meal alone, it would be three stars. Unfortunately, my wife ordered the veggie scramble and it was quite bad, soggy and without flavor. On the flip side, the food is pretty inexpensive. Normally, I find the overall rating on yelp to be pretty accurate but not in this case, this restaurant should not be four stars.
(2)
jk w.

Not in my top 10 classic eggs benedict of all time, but likely in my top 20 - very highly recommended! Other reviewers are correct in directing you to get the fruit instead of the home fries, which looked great but had a really unpleasant taste, not so much rancid oil as just...odd. I shoulda listened. There isn't a lot else to say about the place, pretty standard diner fare, coffee a half-step up from Dennys, prices okay, service okay. It's on my way to work and I appreciate that they open so early - I don't often eat breakfast but they'll be my go-to spot when I want it now. Better than Vera's.
(3)
Lauren G.

I'm sad to have to tell you this, and I'm kind of embarrassed because it really doesn't affect my fond fond feelings for the Salmon Bay, but one time I found a staple in my tuna melt. I removed it and kept eating. I mean, it's greasy spoon, right? I can't really fathom why an industrial size staple would be even somewhat near to my food, but even so. I feel like it should be more off-putting. But you know, I didn't actually ingest the staple, so all is well with the world. Right? Listen, I just really like tuna melts. But let's focus. I love it here. I miss it. It's perfect for a hangover breakfast (the food and the setting). The scrambles are delicious and fairly unfancy, the sandwiches are classically tasty, they do in fact have delicious freezer jam, but they DON'T serve salad OR chili on Sundays. I can't say why, I just thought you should know.
(4)
Mariana B.

Not sure what to make of this place... the location and name alone have so much potential. The food is inexpensive, and not that great. I got my standard breakfast, which is eggs, bacon and toast. The egg white were kinda runny, which always grosses me out, but normal right? My friend got eggs benedict and had her poached eggs overcooked. Maybe it was the average food in combination with the lack of character that made this place turn downhill for me. I guess I just didn't feel the mojo of this place..
(2)
Nick D.

I read a number of reviews and it sounded like a great place to have breakfast. The food was barely above OK, but please clean up this place and work on enhancing the flavors a bit more.
(3)
James F.

Good after a long night out. Not the best breakfast in town, but a good deal for lots of warm greasy food and friendly service.
(3)
James E.

The vegan option at Salmon Bay Cafe: oatmeal, fresh fruit and dry toast. $7.25. To their favor, the breakfast is huge. This review reads better when you add a Scottish accent to it all. Be sure to add a lot of "bluudy fookin'" wherever appropriate.
(3)
Lauren D.

One of our favorite places to go to "brunch" (ie breakfast when you wake up at noon on a weekend). It's casual, it's basic...but they've got everything you could want, from big ol' omelettes to great sandwiches. It's a good spot to sit and read the paper. If you're lucky, you'll end up with the piece with the crossword puzzle! Sure sign of a good day.
(4)
Natalie W.

My dad was right... Vera's egg dishes are better... just sayin'... No wait and we were seated promptly with menus and drinks. The decor is definitely homey dive diner with a splash of minimalism. If you sit in the back you can see the boats. The omelets are named after areas of Seattle and my dad ordered the Queen Anne. The sausage that was in it was very greasy but very good. The egg dishes came with cut up potatoes with are light on flavor and heavy on grease- I couldn't finish them but I didn't dislike them. My eggs Benedict was good but light on the sauce and that wasn't the best thing. The prices were under $10 dollars and the food perfect for the morning after a night out or for a long catch up breakfast with an old friend that likes finding new holes in the wall. I grabbed a note pad on the way out as a souvenir and made a mental note to come back to try a grilled sandwich as to fully form my opinion of this normal dive where anyone can roll in and eat without thought.
(3)
Zarah M.

The food is excellent! The prices are affordable. More than a couple of times I felt like the servers were having a bad day but I don't mind too much, I'm busy with my food and coffee. This is my favorite place to have breakfast but I live on the other side of town and can't visit very often. I always order a coffee (HA! ofcourse) and their seafood omelet with hollandaise sauce. MMMmmmmm good!! If it wasn't already almost 2pm I'd ask Don to take me there for today's breakfast. Photos the next time I visit.
(5)
Jen J.

went to salmon bay cafe on a vacation with my husband. it's off the beaten path for visitors to seattle and not the easiest to find when coming from the bus, but that's just because it's right along the water. most folks clearly drive there from the many parked cars outside. yup, it's a diner, no fancy atmosphere and standard laminated menus, but locals go here and eat consistently prepared fresh food and that's what we're about. my husband was really happy, excited even, about his rasberry cream cheese stuffed french toast and he loved how the fresh fruit was cut with it on the side. his chunk of banana was peeled open, then the fruit itself was sliced, but left in the rest of the peel. for some reason, he thought that was really cool. i had the fremont omelet (with avocado, bacon, cheddar, and tomatoes), lots of my own pieces of fresh fruit cut in large wedges so you could verify its freshness (cantalope, watermelon, apple, banana) with an english muffin on the side. my english muffin did come out after my omelet, but the waitress apologized immediately and got it to me right after it was toasted. my only complaint about the omelet was the distribution--there was lots of bacon (too much really) all throughout, but the avocado was in the middle, the cheese on one side of the avocado and the tomato on the other side of the avocado. i would have liked them to be more mixed, but really that's what my utensils are for. it was tasty and fresh and we left full for our walk through the ballard street market.
(4)
Mike L.

I've been eating here for years and it has never disappointed me. Parking can be scarce on the weekend mornings and a 15 minute wait should be expected. The food and service are worth it. Suggestions: Seafood scramble is always a favorite of mine. Opt for fruit instead of the potatoes as the fruit is always fresh and generous.
(4)
Matt C.

OK, This is going to be a strange review. I believe you should have a broad window of things in life that make you happy - anything else and you're just setting yourself up to be an unhappy snob. Seriously, are there really any truly happy elitists out there? Seems to me like most of them are grumps. Point is: this place is a simple greasy spoon, and I say that in the most sincere form of flattery. No pretension here. No gimmickry. Just a straight up grill type place like Denny's was before it turned into a big chain. The pancakes were great. The service was attentive with the coffee and the prices low. Casual, basic, and none of the urban snootery you might get elsewhere in a thousand other places. Be casual and stop trying to look cool for a couple hours on a Sunday. Get anything from the omelet section. Go hungry. Portions are big.
(4)
Brooke S.

I'm giving a rose to Salmon Bay, because it is currently my favorite hangover spot. Mostly because I can wander in with a combo of borrowed pjs and clothes from the night before and no one will bat an eye. It's ok to stare at your plate for a while, slowly taking in the delicious Queen Anne omelette and sipping on coffee to get through your morning-after...SB doesn't judge. The service can be slow. I don't really mind on Saturday morning. They have real good freezer jam. I took my parents there this weekend and they said, "Is this like the Totem of Ballard"? - if you know Everett, well, then you know this is true. The server was real nice to them and laughed at my dad's corny jokes, so he gets a rose too.
(4)
Ryan K.

A good spot fora decent breakfast. Lots of seafood on the menu.
(3)
Gabe R.

This place reminds me of a restaurant that the fishermen could walk to from the docks. The inside is old and run down and the menu is cheap. I'm okay with a restaurant being nothing fancy if the food is cheap, and that was the case here. However I ordered the club sandwich and it came with processed cheese on it. REALLY?! processed cheese. If I pay for anything other than a fastfood cheeseburger I expect real cheese. I was terribly dissapointed.
(1)
Chad J.

Not 'wow food', but really close. I've driven past this place a lot of times and said to myself that it was such a shame that this eatery had gone out of business, because it looked like the place one could get a decent meal. As it would happen, I was trying to find food to soothe my wife's hangover (she'll shoot me for sure if she ever reads this) and happened upon the review by Brooke S. from four days ago. So I called the number to see if they were open at 7AM on a Sunday and asked if they were still at 5109 Shilshole. The way I asked the question, I'm surprised they didn't think I was pulling an April Fool's Joke on them when I placed my order. We ordered biscuits and gravy with potatoes and egg over hard on the side, and a ham, cheese and onion omelette with a side of fruit and whole-wheat toast. There was nothing to complain about in the whole deal. The food was not greasy, and although I got it to-go, was still quite warm by the time I made it home. The biscuits and gravy really did wonders for the hangover. I'm definitely going to go back and sample their lunch fare. I just wish I had not let the looks of the place's exterior that faces Shilshole deceive me. I think I was right -- it is the place a person can get a decent meal, at least for breakfast.
(4)
G S.

Good "divey" type breakfast, but better than your average dive. I had the french toast, which was delicious, but not filling enough at all. My husband had the special for that day, blueberry pancakes with tons of fruit and cream, egg and bacon, and thought it was great and he is picky and always says there is never enough on the plate. This time he approved, plenty of food. The fruit that comes with the dishes is amazing. The melon was amazing, sweet and flavorful and the strawberries were huge and very good. Amazing to get so much great fruit with your dish. Only thing is - although this is near the water, the windowsills are so high you can't see out, only up to the sky. If they only cut the windowsills down about 2 inches you'd see the water! (from the back room)
(4)
Jason H.

Discovering the Salmon Bay Cafe was truly a great day. Its delicious. You should try it out.
(5)
maria f.

I had the special, an amazing turkey sandwich with slabs of turkey (not processed turkey) and a side of fruit (cherries, watermelon..good summery fruits). I was perfectly content if not a little too full...but that was my fault. Everyone I was with loved what they ordered and it looked really clean and well put together. Like food ready for a job interview. Really friendly service, I'll definitely be back..hopefully soon!
(5)
Erin P.

Great breakfast & good prices! I had the omelet with cream cheese, bacon, and diced fresh tomatoes. SO GOOD! Great breakfast place & then you can walk around Ballard after.
(4)
Stephen J.

Seattle LOVES to go out to breakfast. Go to any trendy breakfast place on the weekend and you can wait up to an hour for a table. Not at Salmon Bay. Granted it is not the classiest joint around but it is a great breakfast and I have rarely had to wait more than a couple of minutes for a table. Also, we volunteer at the Seatle Animal Shelter on Sunday mornings and often go out to breakfast afterword. Sometimes we get a little grungy at the shelter yet we have never felt out of place at Salmon Bay. Not that the people there are grungy, just that they don't care how you present yourself. The food is always above average. They have your basics covered with a few specialty items available. My over-medium eggs are never runny, unlike many a trendy place. The staff will attend to your needs without being overbearing. My coffee never ran out, a BIG pet peeve of mine. So if you want a great breakfast with no attitude at a good price, check out the Salmon Bay Cafe
(5)
Dwayne S.

I ordered the Western omelette and a short stack. They were delicious. Get the potatoes, I think they call them fries here, instead of the fruit.
(4)
Stina T.

Don't wait in that silly crowd outside of The Dish every Saturday morning. Have a seat on the cozy pews inside Salmon Bay Cafe! It's a fisherman's breakfast joint, a hangover cure, a "I-think-I'll-tell-work-the-bridge-is-up-again" excuse to roll into work a little late. Some would call the SB a greasy spoon, but I have to say I've always had variable levels of grease, and usually quite low. Maybe this is because I get the veggie scramble with fruit. Hmmm...perhaps. Nonetheless, my fave seat is the curved booth in the window and my fave souvenirs are the little notepads that you can grab on your way out the door. Genius! In this day and age, one can never have too many notepads featuring squirrels, birds, and the blessed address of the Salmon Bay Cafe. Mwah! I love ya!
(4)
Rachel J.

Interested to see what the fuss was all about.. . John and I woke up and walked down to the Salmon Bay Cafe Sunday morning. The ambiance looks like it was a office of some sort before becoming a restaurant, florescent lighting and all. Even with the old yellow vinyl seating, sticky with syrup menus and the wait staff quickly trying to seat, pour coffee and seat everyone... the food was pretty good. We both ordered the french toast on whole wheat. The food was good, the coffee didn't stop coming and the price was right. I couldn't ask for more from the little cafe down the road from my house. I would happily go again.
(4)
Megan H.

The interior reminds me of a Wes Anderson film, which I love. The food is hearty and the egg combinations are immense. I dig the Greek Omelette and predict that you will too.
(4)
a b.

Best place to breakfast. Hands. Down.
(5)
Iris M.

Classic breakfast joint and spacious, but for the price, I've experience better quality.
(2)
Kathy S.

Look folks, don't come here for things like huevos rancheros. This is your down home, all american breakfast home run hitter. Huge helpings, but stick to basics, the old time basics, eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, omelettes. Pancakes are also so-so even though they'd fit into the old american classic category...bland and can be tough as a paper plate. It's also BEST for breakfast, so if you're in a lunch mood, there might be better choices. Like so many eateries, know what the cooks turn out best and stick to it.
(3)
Megan R.

We came on a Sunday morning around 10:30. I was expecting a long wait (because really on a Sunday morning, anywhere you go is crowded). We only had to wait for about 10 minutes. I happily enjoyed my copy of Seattle Weekly. I was not in the breakfast mood, so I turned to an all time fave, the tuna melt. Just sounded good! The melt came closed face (not used to that) so I was a bit skeptical at first. The fries were not too greasy and reminded me of the fries from Skippers which is a good thing believe me. The tuna melt was stupendous. One of the best Ive had. Typically they come with cheddar cheese, but this one came with swiss which was perfect. The tuna wasn't too wet (which can make for a bad tuna melt) but was the perfect consistency. The bread retained its crunch which is a feat in itself. Basically... it was amazing. Also they serve their soda in a can... which makes me laugh. I want to try breakfast before I can give it a full 5. I will be back!
(4)
Jamie C.

Maybe we were missin' the Yankee Grill and Roaster. maybe we thought- its divey, it MUST be good breakfast. Its not. Ew.
(2)
Paula R.

There are times when I want to call in "late" to work, just so I can head down to the Salmon Bay Cafe and sit with fisherman and read the paper and eat one of the best breakfasts in Seattle. Their omlettes, named after Seattle neighborhoods, are always a sure bet, and their bacon is cut thick and just thinking about it makes me drool a bit. The only problem is that I'm guessing they're short staffed because service is few and far between. OJ and coffee and "sides" are all lined up on the wall near the kitchen and most times I'm tempted to stand up and get what I need myself because they take so long. But the "makes me cry it's so good" breakfasts are well worth the frustrating service.
(4)
Maia C.

This is one of the few places left now in Ballard with no hint of pretention--I can't believe I've lived in Ballard for almost a year and just found it now. I've only had food I've liked really well so far. The service varies, but that's true with any place. If you're looking for a change from the bistro scene, check it out.
(4)
jaci d.

I am allergic to wheat, and yet sometimes I plan a cheat day when company is visiting so I can enjoy the blueberry pancakes here. I've never had a problem with the service, but I usually come with a group and as long as they keep the coffee coming I'm happy!
(4)
erik b.

i couldn't tell you how many times salmon bay saved me from a brutal hang-over. the food is good, the service is friendly, and it's never too packed. i also like the fact that they have mimosas as well. thanks for making my "day after" a lot easier to deal with salmon bay cafe!
(4)
Latife N.

Everything your current breakfast fave has without the hour wait for a table. The food is 100% dependably good. I love the stuffed french toast because it comes with about a pound of fresh friut and three tiny paper flags (usually some combination of US and Mexican), very festive. The scrambles are also good, but without flags.
(5)

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Address : 5109 Shilshole Ave NW
Seattle, WA, 98107
Phone (206) 782-5539
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :6:30 am - 2:3

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Good for Working : No

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Salmon Bay Café

5109 Shilshole Ave NW, Seattle, WA, 98107

Salmon Bay Café Menu

Egg Combinations

Scrambles

Omelets

Omelets - Extras

From The Griddle - Pancakes

From The Griddle - French Toast

From The Griddle - Waffles

Mexican Favorites

Oatmeal

Eggs Benedict

Soups

Salads

Burgers And Combo’s

Hot / Grilled Sandwiches

Cold Sandwiches

Healthy Meal suggestions for Salmon Bay Café

Egg Combinations

Scrambles

Omelets

Omelets - Extras

From The Griddle - Pancakes

From The Griddle - French Toast

From The Griddle - Waffles

Mexican Favorites

Oatmeal

Eggs Benedict

Soups

Salads

Burgers And Combo’s

Hot / Grilled Sandwiches

Cold Sandwiches

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