They're kicking things off with a grand opening party this Sunday, September 4.

By Rosin Saez
September 2, 2016

Chinatown–International District and the Rainier Valley are home to some of our favorite seafood markets—including four markets we think are not to be missed—but the Central District, which is wedged between these two neighborhoods, could use more access to fresh seafood. Well, that changes this weekend with the opening of Seattle Fish Guys at the corner of 23rd Avenue and Jackson Street South.

Seattle Met reports:

“Salvador Panelo, or Sal as most people call him, is a fish guy. Hence his aptly named market, Seattle Fish Guys. Panelo grew up on Beacon Hill, his father graduated from Garfield High School in ’69, then opened a tackle shop on Jackson Street. And in lieu of culinary school, Panelo took his father’s advice about getting into the seafood industry himself: “I was two years into college and my dad says, ‘Why don’t you go work at the fish market down the street?’” He’s been a local fishmonger ever since.”

Seattle Fish Guys owner Sal Panelo says. “We don’t hold back. If a customer wants to try the fish right then and there, we’ll figure out a way so they know it’s fresh. I found that if your product is really good and if you can serve it to them right then and there, that makes a big difference.” And Panelo knows his stuff. He’s been a local fishmonger for 32 years, learning from the best—the Yoshimura family at Mutual Fish Co.—and worked at places like Pike Place Market and Uwajimaya too.
Current menu at Seattle Fish Guys. Photo via Facebook

Current menu at Seattle Fish Guys. Photo via Facebook

This will also be a great spot for lunch, dine in or take it to-go. Seattle Fish Guys will have the ever-trendy poke bowls, but fellow fishmonger and manager, Ian Tanaka, says it won’t be served the same way everyone else does it. Tanaka, being from Hawaii, makes sure the fish is marinated for a day, is served chilled, and won’t be piled on top of hot rice. Currently, they have tuna, salmon, and tako (octopus) poke bowls with seaweed salad and kimchee on the side.

Photo via Seattle Fish Guys/Facebook

Photo via Seattle Fish Guys/Facebook

Also here: shrimp and crab cocktails, smoked salmon of all sorts, oysters shucked to order, sashimi sliced to order, plus of course plenty of fresh seafood, fish, and shellfish available to take home. Panelo plans on adding more to the menu soon, such as shrimp po’ boys and fish and chips. Come November you can enjoy your meals with beer and wine.

Grand opening party, Sunday, September 4, from 1 to 4

Join us as we celebrate the opening of Seattle Fish Guys in the heart of the Central District.

– Lion dance performance to bring good fortune and success!
– Penn Cove mussel eating Contest
– Tasty samples
– Raffle drawings and prizes
– Hawaiian cake and a whole roasted pig

“I’m gonna be here for 10 years, so we’ll what happens.”—Sal Panelo

Seattle Fish Guys
411 23rd Aveune South
(206) 485-7388
Mon–Sat: 10-6:30
Sun: 10-5:30