Pike Place Chowder has won the New England Clam Chowder competition at the Boston Chowder Fest four times, which is either an extraordinary achievement or an indication that the judges need to get out more. Either way, the chowder is excellent — thick, full of clams, served in a bread bowl if you want one. The stall is in Pike Place Market at 1530 Post Alley, and the queue is usually long enough to justify skipping the bread bowl.
The Sourdough Bread Bowl is the standard order: generous, warming, and portable enough to eat while walking along the waterfront. They also do a Manhattan-style red chowder, a salmon bisque, and a rotating seasonal option. Arrive before noon or after 3pm to avoid the worst of the lunchtime queue.