5 Best Restaurants in International District, Seattle

For a nice pastry or quick lunch, pop by this street corner window for passionfruit malasadas or a chicken katsu sando. A Japanese artisan bakery at its core, Fuji happily (and expertly) dabbles across cultures and styles, making everything from twice-baked almond croissants to bacon-and-cheese breads, plus stunning desserts such as filled cream puffs, fruit tarts, and souffle cheesecakes. The beef curry-stuffed kare-pan (curry bread) paired with a hojicha tea latte makes an excellent afternoon perk-up. 

This simple spot serves the best Chinese barbecue in the I.D. Large cuts of meat hang in the window, enticing customers to try the famous BBQ pork. Plenty of Cantonese noodle, rice, and vegetable dishes round out the menu.

This serene teahouse on the ground floor of the historic Panama Hotel has tons of personality and a subtle Asian flair that reflects its former life as a Japanese bathhouse. The space is lovely, with exposed-brick walls, shiny hardwood floors, and black-and-white photos of old Seattle (many of them relating to the history of the city's Japanese immigrants). Kick back with an individual pot of tea—there are dozens of varieties—or an espresso, along with a plate of small Japanese confections. This is a good place to bring a book, as it's usually calm and quiet. A clear panel in the floor shows the room still full of luggage left by Japanese Americans forced into internment camps during World War II.

Part café and part love letter to Vietnamese coffee tradition, all the drinks here are brewed on the small metal filter from which the coffee shop takes its name. The commitment to quality shows in the house-made condensed milks (dairy or oat) used for the cà phê sữa—classic Vietnamese coffee—and various related drinks. The lush greenery and soft colors of the walls give it a serene, peaceful feel that invites you to sit down and enjoy one of the impressively bright green pandan waffles from the food menu.

Every Seattleite knows their favorite banh mi shop, and this quick, convenient spot is often a winner; try the "three kinds of ham" sandwich here to see if you agree. Tables brim with colorful Vietnamese sweets and grab-and-go meals. Order at the counter for the hot buffet or a freshly made sandwich.