5 Best Restaurants in Ballard, Seattle

There's an unassuming air to this family-run Lebanese restaurant: it's in a relatively remote north Ballard neighborhood, and there's nothing flashy about the dining room's white walls and tablecloths. But when you look at the menu, you start to sense that something special is going on. Dishes are described in tantalizing detail, promising traditional Middle Eastern flavors in creative combinations. It's all as good as it sounds. The grilled meat skewers are delicious, but you won't go wrong making a meal of mezzes—pears with tahini and pomegranate, eggplant with fresh cheese and honey, and lamb-filled phyllo "cigars" are a few of your many choices.

Brandon Pettit spent years developing his thin-but-chewy pizza crust, and the final product has made him a contender for the city's best pies. Neighborhood families and far-flung travelers alike line up before opening time for seasonal pizzas topped with anything from fresh sausage to local clams to blistered padrón peppers. The wine list is is short but elegant; desserts are simple but inspired—the homemade chocolate chip cookie with sea salt is delicious. Long wait? Pop next door to charming Essex, the owners' artisanal cocktail bar.

This tiny café, which looks like a cross between a truck-stop diner and a Tex-Mex joint, serves an outstanding Mexican-style breakfast (and lunch and dinner are just as good). Wait for a space in the tiny dining room, belly up to the counter, or just watch the frenetic activity as everything from soup to salsa is made from scratch. Try delectable pork carnitas; chorizo from the state of Michoacán; mole negro over pork or chicken; rockfish with cinnamon and guajillo chiles; or mouthwatering chilaquiles—tortilla chips cooked in green or red salsa and topped with cream.

True to its name, this low-key, bustling Ballard favorite serves traditional Mexican food from the Oaxaca region. The mole negro is a must, served over chicken, pork, or tamales, and there's a long menu of other good options, from tacos to pozole to rack of lamb. It's a small, casual space with comfortable tables, seating at the counter overlooking the open kitchen, and gorgeous black-and-white photos adorning the walls. It can get busy, especially on weekend evenings, and they don't take reservations.

This is a hyper-focused "only-in-Seattle" kind of place, serving only congee (Asian rice porridge), only for breakfast and lunch, in a a breezy location along Shilshole Bay. Congee, like risotto, is really a vehicle for other ingredients, and the choices here shine, whether it's a classic, like chicken or tofu, or something more distinctive, like blue crab or wild boar. The simple dining area doesn't have water views, but it's a quick trip with a to-go order to the beach at Golden Gardens or the gardens at Chittenden Locks.