Mo's Seafood & Chowder — Restaurant in Cannon Beach

When you’re at Cannon Beach, with Haystack Rock towering in the distance and the salty breeze in the air, there’s no better way to complete the experience than a stop at Mo’s Seafood & Chowder. This beloved Oregon institution captures the essence of the Pacific Northwest in every bite — and if you’re looking to treat yourself to the full Mo’s experience, the Cannonball Bowl, Combination Plate, Oregon Oyster Shooter, and Hot Bay Shrimp Artichoke Dip are a power lineup that delivers on every front.

⸻

🔥 Cannonball Bowl

This is not just a chowder — it’s a chowder event. Served in a warm, crusty sourdough bread bowl, the Cannonball is overflowing with their signature clam chowder, topped generously with Oregon bay shrimp and shredded cheddar. The chowder is creamy and full of flavor, rich with tender clams and just the right touch of smoky bacon. The shrimp adds a sweet, briny lift, and the melted cheese ties everything together into a hearty, soul-warming dish. Eat the bowl — trust me, every bite of the sourdough soaked in chowder is worth it.

⸻

🍤 Combination Plate

If variety is the spice of life, the Combination Plate is where Mo’s shows off its strengths. You get a generous mix of breaded shrimp, wild Pacific cod, and tender clam strips — all fried to golden perfection. The seafood is fresh and never greasy, with a light, crispy coating that doesn’t overpower the natural flavors. Served with fries, tangy coleslaw, and their house tartar sauce, it’s the perfect introduction to Oregon’s coastal seafood in one plate.

⸻

🦪 Oregon Oyster Shooter

Small but mighty. This shot of ocean-fresh brine packs a flavorful punch. Served with cocktail sauce and a dash of horseradish, the Oregon oyster shooter is an exhilarating palate cleanser. It’s fresh, clean, and just spicy enough to awaken the senses. A must for oyster lovers — and an ideal way to kick off your meal.

⸻

🧄🧀 Hot Bay Shrimp Artichoke Dip

This appetizer is addictive. Creamy, cheesy, and loaded with tender bay shrimp and artichoke hearts, it’s served bubbling hot with toasted baguette slices on the side. The shrimp adds a savory sweetness that perfectly complements the richness of the dip, and there’s just enough garlic to give it depth without overpowering the seafood. It’s perfect for sharing — though you might want it all for yourself.

⸻

✨ Atmosphere & Service

Mo’s at Cannon Beach has that classic Oregon coast charm — casual, friendly, and always welcoming. The large windows let in natural light and, if you snag a window seat, you’ll enjoy a picturesque view of the beach while you dine. The staff are knowledgeable, quick with recommendations, and clearly take pride in the food they serve.

⸻

🌊 Final Verdict:

Mo’s delivers on its legacy with a seafood experience that’s authentic, flavorful, and full of coastal character. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time visitor, this combination of dishes offers a little bit of everything — warmth, comfort, and bold Oregon flavor.

Don’t just stop by — come hungry. 5/5 stars — A perfect Cannon Beach experience from first...

This place showed gross negligence in checking for allergies, and their response was far from responsible when we reported it. Our 13-year-old daughter has a severe egg allergy. When ordering Mac & Cheese along with other foods for takeout, we specifically asked the cashier to ensure there was no egg in the macaroni because some varieties do contain eggs.

Halfway through our wait, we went inside the restaurant to ask the cashier again whether she had checked. We were told to go back to the reception area. When the food was ready to pick up, we asked once more if there was any egg. The cashier seemed uncertain, so we requested again that she check with the chef. She went inside and came back confirming there was no egg. "It's all good," she said.

An hour later, after our daughter had eaten a few bites of the Mac & Cheese and we were miles away on the road, she began showing severe symptoms of an egg allergy (sore throat, vomiting, breathing difficulty, nausea). Unsure of the cause, we searched online and phoned the restaurant to double-check about the egg. Only then did the manager confirm that the Mac & Cheese contained egg in its ingredients. She apologized sincerely and offered to make it up to us in any way possible.

But it turned out we had called the wrong branch of Mo's (Astoria) in our panic. When we reached the correct branch (Cannon Beach), the duty manager there seemed uninterested in investigating what had happened and instead suggested it was our responsibility to be better prepared for our daughter's allergy, adding that they could not always guarantee their foods would be free of allergens.

Here’s the problem: we asked three times to double-check. Each time, they said the Mac & Cheese had no egg. The third time, the cashier said she checked with the chef and "it's all good." It was the manager's duty to read the ingredients carefully when a customer asked about food allergies. Yet none of them—the cashier, chef, or duty manager—checked the actual ingredients despite our repeated requests.

This small but dangerous failure ruined our vacation. Our daughter had a terrible evening and was sick for the rest of the night. Fortunately, it was not severe enough to require a hospital visit, but it could have been if she had eaten a few more bites.

We demand a full investigation, a written apology from the management, and a commitment to implement stricter allergy-safety procedures immediately. Customers should not have to risk their children’s lives because of carelessness and lack of...

This place is a classic NW Coast spot to eat. It is very popular, this is just one of the locations. Every time we visit a place that has one, we will eat at Mo's. A lot of people have the same idea, it was crowded with families! The interior dining area reminded us of a cafeteria with long wooden bench seats and big tables. It is nice to have the huge windows overlooking the beach. Even on a rainy day it's worth getting the window seat.

The food was ok. Of course the best dish is their clam chowder, as that is what they are most famous for. The secret ingredient, I believe, is bacon. It adds a nice smokey, salty flavor to the chowder. Each entre comes with an option for a cup of chowder. I ordered the cod and chips. The fish was high quality as far as meatiness and texture. Not too much breading, and not too greasy. However the flavor was almost non existent. It didn't really taste like anything. Their tarter sauce is good, I usually do not like tarter sauce, but I used it to add some zest to my fish. The chips were not too bad, they were crunchy, but also didn't have much of a flavor besides being fried.

The service was adequate. I imagine it is difficult taking care of so many customers per day. We did get our food in a timely manner.

My recommendation is to go for a full bowl of the chowder and skip the fish and chips. The halibut is a few dollars more than the cod, and I do not know if they are worth it unless they taste better than the cod. Usually they are better, but for the price I didn't feel like paying for it, I may have been more annoyed about paying more and have the same poor quality.

There is a gift shop when you come in and they have lots of neat souvenirs. Lots of toys for the kids. They had some specific to Mo's, like shirts and magnets with their logo, but most of the things you could find in most any gift shop in the small coastal towns in the area.

Next time I come by, I won't go out of my way to eat here. I might come in for the chowder for nostalgia reasons, but I would not be upset if...