Local guide

Where to Eat in Port Orchard

Where is the best food near Olalla, WA? Drive fifteen minutes to Port Orchard: a walkable Bay Street with a waterfront gastropub, a brewpub with 33 taps, Thai and Korean comfort food, two fish and chips shops, wood-fired pizza, and a bakery whose scratch-made cakes draw regulars from across Kitsap County.

Fifteen minutes from the house, and the food is worth the drive.

By Assaf, the Olalla Bay editor. Updated October 2026.

Port Orchard is the closest real town to Olalla Bay, and it is the one most visitors miss. Gig Harbor gets the postcards. Port Orchard gets the errands, the courthouse, and the ferry dock. But Bay Street, the waterfront strip that runs along Sinclair Inlet, has quietly become one of the best places to eat in Kitsap County. The restaurants are independent, the portions are generous, and the water is right there.

This list covers fifteen places, all verified and open. Four sit on or beside the water. Four are casual eats. Two bring Thai and Korean cooking to Bay Street. Five cover coffee, bakery, and sweets. Every one is an easy drive from the house, and most of Bay Street is walkable once you park.

A few notes before you go. Parking on Bay Street is street parking and small lots. Weekends fill up, especially in summer. Hi-Tide Bar and Grill is 21 and over. Blue Ocean Fish and Chips is closed Sundays. Damn Fine Pizza is closed Mondays. And if you want to make a day of it, the Port Orchard waterfront boardwalk runs along the same stretch, so you can walk off lunch before dessert.

Waterfront dining

Four restaurants with water views, each with a different personality. Whiskey Gulch is the only one directly on the water. The rest sit on Bay Street with patios and window seats facing Sinclair Inlet and Bremerton across the water.

Whiskey Gulch

The anchor of Port Orchard dining, and the only restaurant directly on the water. Whiskey Gulch has been serving since 2011, family owned, on the pier in the Annapolis area at the west end of Bay Street. The room is casual, the deck faces Sinclair Inlet and the Olympic Mountains, and kids can play on the beach while adults sit with a cocktail.

The whiskey list is the headline: more than 150 whiskeys from around the world, with flights available if you want to sample without committing to a full pour. The food is pub cooking done with care. The Royale with Cheese is a house-ground burger that reviewers name as the burger to order. The shrimp po boy and the seafood stuffed mushrooms are the seafood picks. The fries get their own following; one reviewer called them the best he had eaten anywhere. The Bloody Mary arrives with a bacon-wrapped jalapeno popper. The menu also includes street tacos, salads, and a house-made clam chowder.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 2065 Bay St. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm. Parking: on site. Reservations: walk-in, with a second-floor banquet room for private events. What to order: Royale with Cheese, shrimp po boy, seafood stuffed mushrooms, Bloody Mary, fries. Best time: a clear afternoon on the deck. whiskeygulchpo.com

Peninsula BevCo

The brewpub on the waterfront, and the liveliest room in Port Orchard. Peninsula BevCo sits at 110 Harrison Ave, steps from the Bremerton foot ferry, with a full bar, 33 craft draft beers, and a bottle shop. The business started as Manchester BevCo in 2017, in a 185-square-foot space open only on weekends, and grew into this waterfront location with the same community-first approach.

The food is New American with a taco streak. The Banh Mi tacos, with hoisin pork, pickled onions and slaw, jalapenos, taco sauce, and cilantro, are the most ordered dish. The Thai peanut tacos and the jumbo pretzel are close behind. The menu also includes a Cuban sandwich, bacon gouda mac and cheese, drunken pork grilled cheese, and eggs Benedict at brunch. Reviewers praise the carrot cake and the watermelon cider. The patio faces the water, and live music fills the room on weekends.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 110 Harrison Ave. Hours: Sunday 9am to 9pm, Monday through Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday 11am to 11pm, Saturday 9am to 10pm. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: Banh Mi tacos, Thai peanut tacos, jumbo pretzel, carrot cake. Best time: weekend lunch on the patio. peninsulabevco.com

Hi-Tide Bar and Grill

The local watering hole, and the most Port Orchard place on this list. Hi-Tide sits at 1371 Bay St with a beer garden, pool tables, darts, pull-tabs, and big screens. The view from the outdoor seating faces Sinclair Inlet. One reviewer called it the best observation point for the water.

The food is bar food, done well. The club sandwich on rye gets praise. The potato salad is a regular favorite. The weekly rhythm is the draw: trivia or naughty bingo on Sundays, Micro Mondays with micro brews, Taco Thursday, Fish and Chip Fridays, and live music on Saturdays. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday 4pm to 6pm. Drinks are a heavy pour. This is a 21 and over establishment, so it is the adults-only night.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 1371 Bay St. Hours: Sunday 9am to midnight, Monday through Thursday 10am to 1am, Friday 10am to 2am, Saturday 9am to 2am. Parking: plentiful, including handicapped parking. What to order: club sandwich on rye, potato salad, fish and chips on Friday. Best time: happy hour, or a Saturday night with live music. facebook.com/HiTideNW

Golden Grill On the Bay

Chinese food with a water view. Golden Grill sits at 1014 Bay St with window seats facing the bay and a cocktail lounge that stays open late. The menu is classic Chinese-American, with generous portions and strong flavors. The almond chicken, with gravy, is the dish reviewers name first. The honey walnut shrimp and the house sizzling platter are the other standouts. The menu also includes sweet and sour pork, Szechwan tofu, Hunan shrimp, pineapple chicken, moo shu chicken, and firecracker beef and chicken. The restaurant takes reservations for large gatherings, offers takeout and delivery, and runs karaoke nights.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 1014 Bay St. Hours: Sunday noon to 9:30pm, Monday through Saturday 11am to 10pm. The lounge is open until midnight Monday through Thursday and until 2am Friday through Sunday. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. Reservations: yes, for large gatherings. What to order: almond chicken, honey walnut shrimp, house sizzling platter. Best time: dinner with a window seat. goldenonthebaywa.com

Casual eats

Four places for a straightforward, satisfying meal. A gastropub, a pizza joint with cocktails, and two fish and chips shops, each with its own following.

Brickhouse 714 Bar and Grill

The family-friendly gastropub on Bay Street. Brickhouse 714 sits at 714 Bay St with a pet-friendly patio, live music every weekend, and a banquet space for private events. The room is stylish and comfortable, and the service is the kind that turns first-time visitors into regulars.

The menu is American gastropub: the Cowboy Burger, poutine fries, and a blood orange margarita are the signature orders. Reviewers praise the onion rings, the double bacon cheeseburger, and the fried pickles. The Kraken Hot Buttered Rum gets its own mentions. The kitchen also serves a full dinner menu, and the bar pours flavored sodas by the flight.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 714 Bay St. Hours: Sunday 10:30am to 7:30pm, Monday through Thursday 11:30am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am to 10pm. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: Cowboy Burger, poutine, onion rings, blood orange margarita. Best time: weekend evening with live music. brickhousebarandgrill.com

Damn Fine Pizza

The pizza place with a bar. Damn Fine Pizza sits at 1307 Bay St with a 4.7-star rating and a menu that mixes wood-fired pizza with cocktails. The pizza is the draw, but the extras are what reviewers remember: bougie cheese bread, a pistachio tiramisu, and a brownie. The bar serves cocktails alongside the pizza, and the room has a casual, neighborhood feel. Note: closed Mondays.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 1307 Bay St. Hours: Sunday, Tuesday through Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm, closed Monday. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: pizza, bougie cheese bread, pistachio tiramisu. Best time: Friday or Saturday evening. damnfinepizza.wixsite.com

Blue Ocean Fish and Chips

The local favorite for fish and chips, and the most interesting menu on this list. Blue Ocean sits at 4292 SE Mile Hill Dr, a short drive from Bay Street, with a menu that swings from fish and chips to pho to burgers. The restaurant won a best burger contest from the Kitsap Sun, and the cheeseburger is described as huge, juicy, and made to order.

The fish and chips are the main draw: crisp, not overcooked, with fries and coleslaw. The crab boil and the bacon pho are the other signatures. But the dish reviewers single out is the clam chowder. One reviewer called it exceptional, not too thick, not too runny, with great flavor and plenty of clam. The service is friendly, the room is clean, and the portions are generous. Note: closed Sundays.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 4292 SE Mile Hill Dr. Hours: Monday through Saturday 11am to 8pm, closed Sunday. Parking: on site. What to order: fish and chips, clam chowder, bacon pho, cheeseburger. Best time: weekday lunch. blue-ocean-fish.com

King's Fish and Chips

The second fish and chips shop, with a Japanese streak. King's sits at 1044 Bethel Ave with a menu that mixes seafood and Japanese dishes: Alaskan cod fish and chips, yakisoba combo, teriyaki beef, catfish, and a California burger. The clam chowder gets praise from reviewers. The room is straightforward and the service is quick. A good choice when Blue Ocean is closed on Sunday, or when the group wants Japanese alongside the fish and chips.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 1044 Bethel Ave. Hours: Monday through Saturday 11am to 8:30pm. Parking: on site. What to order: Alaskan cod fish and chips, yakisoba combo, clam chowder. Best time: lunch. kingsfishnchips.com

International

Two restaurants that bring Thai and Korean cooking to Bay Street, both with loyal followings and waterfront views.

Thai Charlie's

The Thai restaurant on Bay Street, in a yellow building with water views from the windows. Thai Charlie's sits at 920 Bay St with a 4.7-star rating and a menu of Thai classics done well. The garden rolls, with peanut sauce, are the appetizer to order. The pineapple fried rice is the dish reviewers name as the one to get. The pad see ew with beef, garlic golden prawns, tamarind duck, and pad kee mao round out the menu. Portions are generous. The room is small, colorful, and comfortable.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 920 Bay St. Hours: Sunday and Saturday 4pm to 8pm, Monday through Friday 11:30am to 8pm. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: garden rolls, pineapple fried rice, pad see ew, garlic golden prawns. Best time: weekday lunch, when the room is quiet. thaicharlie.com

Mina's Cafe

The Korean-American comfort spot on Bay Street. Mina's sits at 1309 Bay St with a small, wheelchair-accessible room and outdoor seating. The menu blends Korean and American comfort food: chicken katsu, teriyaki chicken, chicken over rice, and a breakfast fried rice with combination meats that reviewers call out by name. The early bird menu offers smaller portions at any time of day. The service is speedy, the portions are large, and the room feels like a neighborhood regular spot.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 1309 Bay St. Hours: Sunday, Tuesday through Saturday 8am to 7pm. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: breakfast fried rice, chicken katsu, teriyaki chicken. Best time: weekend breakfast. minas-cafe.poi.place

Coffee, bakery, and sweets

Five places for coffee, pastries, and treats, all on or near Bay Street. A bakery with scratch-made cakes, a nonprofit coffee shop, a coffee nook inside a vintage store, a country breakfast cafe, and an old-time candy store.

Carter and Company

The bakery and cafe on Bay Street, and the highest-rated spot on this list at 4.9 stars. Carter and Company sits at 707 Bay St with a sunny outdoor patio, indoor seating, and Wi-Fi. Everything is made from scratch on site: cakes, cheesecakes, chocolates, ice cream, pastries, and espresso. The pecan and cinnamon rolls are the morning draw. The White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse cake and the Brickleberry ice cream are the signatures. The menu also includes lunch food, gluten-free options, and special orders for celebrations.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 707 Bay St. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 9am to 8pm, Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 8am to 9pm. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: pecan roll, White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse cake, Brickleberry ice cream, latte. Best time: morning, for fresh pastries. carterandco.biz

The Coffee Oasis

The coffee shop with a mission. The Coffee Oasis sits at 807 Bay St as a nonprofit supporting homeless youth, serving direct-trade organic coffee. The veggie breakfast burrito and the cortado are the signatures. The triple white chocolate breve and the sweet strawberry matcha are the other drinks reviewers name. The room is relaxed and clean, with takeout and delivery. The staff are friendly, and the coffee supports a good cause.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 807 Bay St. Hours: Monday through Friday 7am to 4pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: veggie breakfast burrito, cortado, triple white chocolate breve. Best time: morning. thecoffeeoasis.com

Mercantile Coffee Company

The coffee nook inside Josephine's Mercantile. Mercantile Coffee sits at 701 Bay St, tucked inside the vintage store, with a cozy room and a menu of lattes, scones, and cookies. The honey lavender latte is the signature. The gluten-free Almond Joy macaroon, the pumpkin latte, the snickerdoodle bar, and the kitchen sink cookies round out the menu. Reviewers call it the best whole milk latte in Port Orchard and the cutest coffee shop in town. The vintage store around it is worth a browse while you wait.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 701 Bay St, inside Josephine's Mercantile. Hours: Sunday through Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: honey lavender latte, Almond Joy macaroon, smoked black tea scone. Best time: morning, before the store gets busy. josephinesmerc.com

Sherry's Country Caffe and Bakery

The country breakfast spot. Sherry's sits at 1341 Bay St Suite 100 with a menu of country-style comfort food, freshly baked pastries, and sweet treats. The chicken fried steak, smothered in homemade country gravy, is the dish reviewers call the best around. The biscuits and gravy, the cajun omelette, and the eggs Benedict with homemade hollandaise are the other breakfast signatures. The strawberry-filled donuts and the sourdough bread get their own praise. The room is cozy, the portions are generous, and the coffee is good. Opens at 5am on weekdays, so it is the earliest breakfast on Bay Street.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 1341 Bay St Suite 100. Hours: Sunday and Saturday 7am to 3pm, Monday through Friday 5am to 3pm. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy, strawberry-filled donut, eggs Benedict. Best time: early morning, for fresh donuts. facebook.com

The Candy Shoppe

The old-time candy store, and the sweetest stop on Bay Street. The Candy Shoppe sits at 833 Bay St with more than 500 fudge flavors, 60 saltwater taffy varieties, and 75 licorice types. The fudge is made fresh in the shop. The saltwater taffy is the largest selection in Kitsap County. The store also carries truffles, gourmet chocolates, toys, and games. The new owners kept the business going, and the staff hand out samples. A good stop with kids, or for a bag of taffy to take back to the house.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 833 Bay St. Hours: Sunday 11am to 5pm, Monday through Thursday 11am to 6pm, Friday 11am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm. Parking: street parking on Bay Street. What to order: fudge, saltwater taffy, truffles. Best time: afternoon, after lunch. thecandyshoppe.org

Questions people ask

How far is Port Orchard from Olalla Bay?

About fifteen minutes by car, roughly eight miles. Bay Street is the main dining strip, and most of the restaurants on this list are within a few walkable blocks of each other.

Where is the best waterfront dining in Port Orchard?

Whiskey Gulch is the only restaurant directly on the water in Port Orchard, with views across Sinclair Inlet. Peninsula BevCo and Hi-Tide Bar and Grill also have waterfront patios. Golden Grill On the Bay has window seats with water views.

Which Port Orchard restaurants are kid friendly?

Whiskey Gulch, Peninsula BevCo, Brickhouse 714, Damn Fine Pizza, Blue Ocean Fish and Chips, Thai Charlie's, Mina's Cafe, Carter and Company, The Coffee Oasis, Mercantile Coffee, Sherry's, and The Candy Shoppe all welcome families. Hi-Tide Bar and Grill is 21 and over.

Where can I get coffee in Port Orchard?

The Coffee Oasis on Bay Street serves direct-trade organic coffee and supports homeless youth. Mercantile Coffee Company inside Josephine's Mercantile serves honey lavender lattes. Carter and Company has espresso alongside its bakery. Sherry's serves coffee with country breakfast.

What is the best fish and chips in Port Orchard?

Blue Ocean Fish and Chips is the local favorite, with a clam chowder that reviewers call exceptional. King's Fish and Chips offers Alaskan cod and Japanese dishes. Hi-Tide Bar and Grill serves fish and chips on Fridays.