Red Bar, Shorty's and Stinky's for far better than average coastal fare (heavy on the seafood) at good prices and great atmosphere. I'd bring a large party of visitors here.
View for miles and leisure meal -- Bud and Alley's and/or The Pizza Bar. Excellent, top quality food at prices that include the environment. I'd bring visitors here for lunch after touring Seaside and the shops.
Barbeque and other inventive menu items -- Jambones. Particularly their eggs benedict on Sunday mornings. Locals mostly, but I'd bring visitors as well, but not if they wanted a leisurely beachy-view dining experience.
Upscale/unusual fare at good prices -- Fire at Grayton, and Vint'j across from the outlet mall. I'd bring the foodies in our group here.
Fresh, cheap thrill Mexican -- Don Pedros. Primarily locals, and not really "special" enough to entice out-of-town visitors (no view, little seafood, very casual atmosphere), but a place we visit often for inexpensive weeknight meals. I don't eat meat so El Mercadito isn't really a place I can eat.
Unusual mix of cuisines (seafood, bar food, and some Korean) all of it quite good at excellent prices -- Steamboat Landing. This is the place we go when we want something simple, delicious, fast and cheap with no concern for view and no wait. Very clean place as well.