Anderson’s family once ran a chicken and waffle restaurant up on MLK, so any order that involves fried bird feels like a sure bet. Seattle used to be full of neighborly restaurants that were by no means fancy, but delivered vivid, personal fare worth a drive across town. Rajah Gargour’s lively Middle Eastern spot in Loyal Heights opened in 2012 and feels like a souvenir from that glorious era. La Cabaña in Greenwood is Seattle’s undisputed champion of Central American food.
Seattle Met
A lively Korean-fusion restaurant that seamlessly blends Asian and Pacific Northwest flavors in the Wallingford neighborhood. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities what is a bad debt ratio for a business inside out. Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).
- Communion is a restaurant that acts as a lipstick-stamped love letter to the American south while also taking inspiration from dishes and flavors you can find in the Central District and beyond.
- The former DJ cheerfully ditches the air of mystique some highly skilled sushi chefs seem to cultivate.
- You’ll find this popular Taiwanese hot pot restaurant at 610 5th Ave.
- The garlic mussels, baccala fritters, and grilled octopus with corona beans are also exceptional, and reservations tend to go fast.
Seattle Destinations for Homestyle Hawaiian Food
Brunchers linger over veg scrambles, rosemary biscuits obscured by savory vegan gravy and the famed cinnamon rolls (also vegan). Even devout carnivores appreciate the artful ingredient interplay in hearty lunch and dinner plates, not to mention the plant-filled atrium and a handsome year-round patio. Flora’s impressive pastry program is also on display at Flora Bakehouse on Beacon Hill and the Floret spinoff at Sea-Tac, an essential pre-flight destination. Maybe eight people per seating form a rapt audience as Aaron Verzosa and Amber Manuguid present roughly 10 courses that explore the Philippines’ many-faceted relationship with the Pacific Northwest. Historical lessons, cultural context, and childhood memories get wrapped around a menu of heirloom grain pandesal, miki noodles, and myriad other smart seasonal creations.
The Top 9 Seattle Restaurants for Outdoor Dining
The expansive beer garden patio offers umbrellas, striking views, and a host of summery drinks. If you can’t steal away, a counter at Sixth and Virginia is an office lunch game changer. Any list of Seattle’s best restaurants might include one of a half dozen of the spots from Renee Erickson and her Sea Creatures group, each with European elegance, Pacific Northwest core, and a lively coolness. But Boat Bar, the seafoam and white ode to the French coast and its fruits de mer, marries the chilled oyster bar vibes of Erickson’s breakout star Walrus and the Carpenter to the hip, beefy Bateau right next door. Fresh-shucked shellfish, seafood platters, and clam dip share the menu with artful salads, steak tartare, and a burger.
The 25 Best Restaurants In Seattle
Soma serves traditional soba shop dishes like seiro soba (cold with dipping sauce) and super-crunchy tempura, but also more creative dishes like noodles topped with tri tips or oreo tempura. Chef Soma is a sake connoisseur (she also owns next-door sake bar Hannyatou) and the drinks menu includes items like habanero-infused umeshi (plum wine), which is an order for the brave. Ono, named for Oahu-born owner Steven Ono, is a seafood lover’s dream in Edmonds, offering possibly the highest-quality poke in the Seattle area on a menu that rotates depending on what’s fresh.
At the Junction, Indofusion offers Mexican-Indian (like masala chicken tacos) and Indian-Italian (paneer masala lasagna) fusion dishes, but its specialty is more Indian-Chinese, which has caught on around the Puget Sound area. In Belltown, Mama’s Crawfish and Seafood House opens at the corner of Cedar Street and First Avenue, a block northwest from The Crocodile. A modern space serving the best sushi in town, crafted by Seattle’s very own sushi master, Shiro Kashiba. We’re not sure, but regardless many Seattleites called it out as their favorite. It’s true that you can’t beat Dick’s Drive-In for a fast and affordable meal—not to mention its icon status here in the Seattle area. Head to Tat’s Deli in Pioneer Square to see what all the hype is about.
Pimienta Bistro and Bar
Don’t miss the chance to dine at one of the many waterfront restaurants serving oysters and Pacific-caught seafood. Take a stroll downtown and wander in and out of bookshops and bakeries. Arguably the birthplace of American coffee culture, there’s hardly a better place to enjoy leisurely lattes accompanied by hours of computing and the occasional pen and paper sketch. This chill Beacon Hill Mediterranean spot is named after a dog but it could just as well be named after the Greek poet because we want to write epics about its wood-fired vegetables. Or it could be named after the Simpsons character, because the “d’oh” it uses for its pitas is fantastic! Star chef Mutsuko Soma makes soba from scratch at this petite Fremont destination, which was one of Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America in 2018.
- You’ll also never have to wait for a table, whether that’s for an early lunch with the soundtrack of pool playing or a weeknight dinner with a big group of friends.
- And you know that, no matter what time you go, there will be outstanding Vietnamese dishes waiting—and maybe an intense game of nine-ball, too.
- There will be a waitlist if you’re too slow, and if you’re flexible on timing, there are last-minute bookings that pop up here and there, typically towards 4pm when they first open.
- And the schmear variety knows no bounds, as you’ll find a tub of humble scallion rubbing elbows with Biscoff-chocolate-espresso-bean.
Aside from velcro footwear, troll statues, and the occasional hit TV show about an abnormal concentration of attractive doctors, Seattle’s “thing” is casual seafood. This bright counter spot is all about sourcing local, be it fried Washington-caught dover sole, or a sandwich stuffed with seared albacore tuna from the Oregon Coast. You’ll still find PNW classics like clam chowder and plenty of salmon, though it’s dishes like their Filet-O-Fish dupe and golden triangles of pork fat-spiked shrimp toast that keep us coming back. And if something from the sea isn’t your thing, the smashburger (with a tasty mess of beef drippings and caramelized onions) is just as incredible as the pescatarian stuff.
You can pair your ‘sters with a cocktail or wine or a Rainier tallboy, depending on your mood. The dining room is bright and airy, and the heated, covered patio sparkles with string lights. Be warned that you can’t make reservations at this perennial favorite; on the upside, this is one of the few Seattle-area date-night restaurants open on Mondays. The drinks include Khmer ingredients like peanut fish sauce orgeat, Kampot pepper (the Cambodian version of black pepper), and clarified coconut. In Wallingford, 30-seat wine bar Occhi Belli has become a surprise hit on the main drag of 45th. The menu of shared plates includes fresh pasta along with many dishes under $20, from meatballs to sausages, all to be paired with vino from a rotating list of Italian wines.
The menu teaches diners how to pronounce waakye (wah-che, a rice and beans dish) and tells them to eat with their hands; they can use fufu, a starchy, almost mashed potato–like side to sop up the creamy, carefully spiced broth from the soups. The user-friendly experience here is a recognition that many Seattleites aren’t familiar with food from countries like Liberia (where Fahnbulleh was born) or Ghana (where she spent her early childhood). Come to Gold Coast Ghal, though, and you’ll soon start craving potato greens. Moving south to Pioneer Square, office workers and hungry fans on gameday are hitting DeLeo Bros Pizza for New York-style slices, calzones and salads.
Rondo offers ramen, sushi, bento boxes, and delicious Japanese cocktails. This Central District restaurant has garnered lots of buzz for its soul food. One of the top Italian restaurant recommendations from locals is Spinasse. This charming spot in Capitol Hill is hard to get into but it’s worth the wait for the handmade pasta and cozy ambiance. Owner Jerry Corso’s expert Neapolitan-style pizzas are the primary draw for this Beacon Hill hideaway; simple toppings like spicy salami harmonize with light, airy, and slightly salty crusts. The garlic mussels, baccala fritters, and grilled octopus with corona beans are also exceptional, and reservations tend to go fast.
Sushi Bar: Chef’s Special kaiseki Course
Lunch prioritizing succulent grilled khao man gai yang will be as soul-fulfilling as dinner involving a sticky pile of the pad thai special. Yeah, it’s ambitious to operate a restaurant whose name translates to “Very Delicious.” But Aroy Mak is not just a name—it’s a prophecy. Delish Ethiopian Cuisine has a bar area and a comfortable atmosphere in which husband and wife Delish Lemma and Amy Abera of Addis Ababa share recipes passed down from Abera’s mother and grandmother. Run the meat-free section of the menu with the 10-item veggie combo or try succulent beef tibs pan-fried in garlic, butter, onion, and berbere spice. Delish also offers an Ethiopian coffee ceremony for five or more diners. The minimalist seven-sandwich menu features Italian cheeses and meats served on fresh-baked schiacciata, which is like a crispier, less fluffy focaccia.
That Boat Bar takes reservations and offers the option to order a steak from Bateau makes it the most crowd-pleasing of the Sea Creatures spots. These days, Seattle Met’s first-ever Restaurant of the Year serves a fixed tasting menu that begins with a flurry of stuzzichini, or single-bite snacks. Chef Nathan Lockwood takes Northwest ingredients in unexpected and elegant directions. Beautiful dishes plated with moss, rocks, or leaves deliver a sense of the rustic, despite consistently deep finesse. Much has changed at Altura over the years, but the hand-carved wooden angel still looks down from an overhead alcove; the service is down-to-earth, the wine list smart.
You could certainly appreciate these flavors even without the backstory, but in Verzosa’s hands, the combination is a rare sort of magic. Have you ever woken up and thought, “Gosh, I’d love to eat at a second-best restaurant today? Whether you’ve lived here your entire life or are visiting for the first time, it’s human nature to want to experience the best of the best.
I’m a Seattle transplant who has traveled the world for over a decade and lives for tasting authentic flavors and mouthwatering cuisines. I’m constantly trying new restaurants in Seattle, looking for amazing dining experiences for all budgets, and revisiting favorites. Every restaurant on this list has been selected independently by Condé Nast Traveler editors and reviewed by a local contributor who has visited that restaurant. Our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries, and weigh stand-out dishes, location, and service—as well as inclusivity and sustainability credentials. We update this list as new restaurants open and existing ones evolve. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Three-course tasting menus are rife with classic French elements, but actual ingredients can globe-trot from Italy to Japan with plenty of Northwest stops. Nearly seven decades of history, hospitality, and cliffhanging views from atop Queen Anne Hill cemented Canlis’s icon status long ago. But third-generation owners Mark and Brian keep Canlis in league with the country’s dining vanguard. Technically, this storefront in a row of Ethiopian restaurants is a butcher, though your only clue might be the long line of customers who arrive twice weekly to pick up parcels of fresh meat. Ironically, you’ll not find a better veggie combo than chef Menbere Medhane’s composition of shiro, beets, lentils, cabbage, and fossolia, a flavorful blend of green beans and carrots.
The “London royal,” the Rodney Dangerfield of beef cuts, gets redeemed with careful prep and lots of butter. Sometimes the best place to eat is the closest slice to you, other times it’s the place that knows your order. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Communion will announce on Instagram when reservations open up for the next month. There will be a waitlist if you’re too slow, and if you’re flexible on timing, there are last-minute bookings that pop up here and there, typically towards 4pm when they first open. We never accept free meals, allow spots to arrange our visits, or do paid reviews.
