Ivar’s Famous Tartar Sauce
By Kath Dedon
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People in Seattle have been enjoying Ivar’s Famous Tartar Sauce since 1938. That’s when Ivar Haglund opened a small fish and chips stand on the Seattle waterfront. By 1946 his business was doing well but he realized that people wanted a sit-down restaurant so he opened Ivar’s Acres of Clams. Ivar’s Acres of Clams is still on the waterfront, although it is temporarily closed for the city’s seawall restoration project. Ivar’s website advises to “Keep Clam”; they’re planning to reopen on July 1, 2015.
Fortunately for Ivar’s fans, people have been able to get their Ivar’s fix during this closure at one of their many other venues. There are two other restaurants, seafood bars, and seafood stands at the major sports venues in town.
Throughout his career, Ivar was one of the greatest cheerleaders for the Pacific Northwest. He was famous for his puns, wacky publicity stunts, and later for his television commercials. He was truly a beloved Seattle character. He died in 1985 at the age of 79 but his legacy lives on with his restaurants and seafood company.
In December 2013 I went to a Tom Douglas Cookbook Social with Joan, Laura, and Carrie. Bob Donegan, the current President of Ivar’s, Inc., was there with a newly published cookbook celebrating Ivar’s 75 years, Ivar’s Seafood Cookbook, the O-fish-al Guide to Cooking the Northwest Catch by “The Crew at Ivar’s” and Jess Thompson. He was also serving samples of Chris Garr’s House-Made Bacon-Wrapped Halibut which was delicious. I made a mental note that I wanted to check out the book. Laura secretly bought an autographed copy and surprised me with it for my birthday a few weeks later!
The cookbook is a delightful history of Ivar’s with lots of photos, historical information, cartoons, and trivia. It’s a fun look at the past for anyone who was in Seattle in the ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. Jess Thompson is credited for all of the puns that are in the book. They really capture the spirit of Ivar Haglund.
I made Ivar’s Famous Tartar Sauce and it worked really well with my Homemade Dungeness Crab Cakes. Making your own tartar sauce means you get to control the ingredients. I wanted to make an egg-free version so I subbed a vegan mayonnaise for regular mayonnaise. Serious Eats did a taste test of 4 different brands of vegan mayonnaise and Hampton Creek’s Just Mayo came out on top. I have to say that it’s pretty hard to tell the difference between it and regular mayonnaise.
Ivar’s Famous Tartar Sauce is great with seafood, but it would also be a delicious dip for vegetables or French fries. The cookbook even suggests adding some lemon juice and using it as a dip for asparagus. If you like being in charge of the ingredients in your food, I think you’ll enjoy this one. And if you love seafood and would like a glimpse into mid-century Seattle, I highly recommend Ivar’s Seafood Cookbook!
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Ivar’s Famous Tartar Sauce
(Adapted from the recipe in Ivar’s Seafood Cookbook)
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Makes 2 cups
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¼ cup chopped yellow onions
2 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper
2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1½ teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups mayonnaise (Use a vegan mayonnaise for vegan or egg-free.)
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Unsweetened pickle relish
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1. Put everything except the mayonnaise in a food processor and process for 10 seconds. (A small 3-cup capacity food processor works fine.)
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2. Add the mayonnaise and process for an additional 15 seconds.
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Finished tartar sauce made with egg-free (vegan) Just Mayo
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In the kitchen with Kath 
Closest to Ivars I have had. To try new today adding 1/8 tsp capers
I like the idea of adding capers, Roberta! Thanks for your comment.
Thank you, I’m trying this tonight. I would love to find out the ingredients for the coating on Ivar’s Salmon and chips. I bought the cookbook but that only shows the batter coating which is different.
Hi Dave, I hope you enjoy the tartar sauce as much as we do. I don’t have any other recipes for Ivar’s salmon other than what’s in the book.
Try Louisiana Fish Fry, regular not spicy. No Ivar’s in Arizona so I use this, pretty close. Ivar’s customer since ‘49.
I do enjoy the Louisiana Fish Fry, but I guess I’ll have to get a job at Ivars at Sea Tac so can find out just what’s in their mix.
Try this for the breading. If you can tell it from Ivar’s you have better taste buds than I do. In fact I’ll just tell you how I make “Ivar’s” fish… Put 1/2″ of peanut oil in a large frying pan. Insert a temperature probe in the pan (with a remote meter).. to monitor the temperature. You MUST! us peanut oil. It is the only one that will stand up to the heat of the frying. Next, take a sleeve of SALTED saltine crackers and put them in a blender or food processor. Grind them until fine. Arrange 4 plates (with sides to hold the contents). First plate, put the (rinsed and dried) cod fish pieces in it… Second plate, put the cracker crumbs in it. Third plate, put two beaten eggs with about a tablespoon of milk… fourth plate will hold the breaded fish, prior to frying. Put the stove burner to about 3/4 of maximum. Heat the oil to 375F. Put two or three pieces of fish in the oil… then turn the heat down to about 60% of maximum. Using tongs, peek at the bottom of the fish and flip them when they are golden brown. Usually about 4 mins, but your mileage may vary. Keep an eye on your thermometer and try to keep it between 330F and 350F. When cooked remove the fish to a plate with some paper towels on it, to drain. Bring the temperature back up to 375F and repeat. I’ve been cooking cod this way for decades… then we moved to the Pacific NW, from Minnesota, only to find out that Ivar’s was just like mine. We eat there fairly frequently for the fish and chips. But now! due to COVID-19 they have closed all their eastern Washington stores. Have no fear though… you now have the instructions to make your own. Whip up a batch of their famous tartar sauce and you are good to go. Enjoy and Keep Clam!
Thanks so much for your wonderful comment, Larry! I can almost taste your cod. Sounds like a perfect way to make fried fish. And I totally agree that you MUST use a thermometer. Indeed, Keep Clam! 🙂
Try this for the breading. If you can tell it from Ivar’s you have better taste buds than I do. In fact I’ll just tell you how I make “Ivar’s” fish… Put 1/2″ of peanut oil in a large frying pan. Insert a temperature probe in the pan (with a remote meter).. to monitor the temperature. You MUST! us peanut oil. It is the only one that will stand up to the heat of the frying. Next, take a sleeve of SALTED saltine crackers and put them in a blender or food processor. Grind them until fine. Arrange 4 plates (with sides to hold the contents). First plate, put the (rinsed and dried) cod fish pieces in it… Second plate, put the cracker crumbs in it. Third plate, put two beaten eggs with about a tablespoon of milk… fourth plate will hold the breaded fish, prior to frying. First cover the fish in the egg mixture then into the cracker crumbs and set aside. If you wish you can double bread the fish. Just dunk it in the egg mixture again and into the cracker crumbs… Put the stove burner to about 3/4 of maximum. Heat the oil to 375F. Put two or three pieces of fish in the oil… then turn the heat down to about 60% of maximum. Using tongs, peek at the bottom of the fish and flip them when they are golden brown. Usually about 4 mins, but your mileage may vary. Keep an eye on your thermometer and try to keep it between 330F and 350F. When cooked remove the fish to a plate with some paper towels on it, to drain. Bring the temperature back up to 375F and repeat. I’ve been cooking cod this way for decades… then we moved to the Pacific NW, from Minnesota, only to find out that Ivar’s was just like mine. We eat there fairly frequently for the fish and chips. But now! due to COVID-19 they have closed all their eastern Washington stores. Have no fear though… you now have the instructions to make your own. Whip up a batch of their famous tartar sauce and you are good to go. Enjoy and Keep Clam!
Thanks! I grew up in the Seattle area and that is one of the food items I miss a lot from the northwest. Along with maple bars and other stuff. 😦 Since moving to PA, every tartar sauce pales in comparison to Ivar’s(especially all the tartar sauces that use sweet pickles instead of dill!) and I have tried a LOT of them. I am bookmarking this to try making later.
Ivar’s used to sell their tartar sauce on their website but apparently shut it down because of rising fedex costs. They were going to get me an estimate for shipping to the east coast but never got back to me once I gave them my address. So, I’ll try making it myself instead.
I love your comment, Justin! I hope you enjoy this version. The ingredients are slightly different from the ones on the tartar sauce that Ivar’s sells commercially, but I think that’s because they have to include some things as preservatives. This recipe is the one they published in their “Ivar’s Seafood Cookbook” so it’s the real deal and it’s good.