4 Best Restaurants in International District, Seattle

Phở Bắc first brought its eponymous noodle soup to Seattle in the early 1980s; now, the children of the original owners proffer an equally pioneering Vietnamese restaurant. The recipes and flavors hew tightly to tradition, but the space and style come wholly from a young, modern perspective. The photogenic oversized beef ribs sticking out from an enormous bowl of noodles and broth have become iconic, as have the shots of whiskey served with hot pho broth. Multiple locations around town vary in menu; the benefit of this one is its prime location in Little Saigon, just across the parking lot from the boat-shaped original location—now a Vietnamese fried chicken restaurant from the same family.

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.

Wildly popular with savvy diners from across the city, this Vietnamese haunt really doesn't look like much from the outside—and the entrance is through a cramped parking lot (which it shares with Sichuanese Cuisine restaurant)—but once you're inside, the elegantly simple space is extremely welcoming. Try the spring rolls, which are stuffed with fresh herbs, fried tofu, peanuts, coconut, jicama, and carrots; authentic bánh xèo (a crispy, stuffed rice pancake); spicy pho; the signature "seven courses of beef"; and, to finish, grilled banana cake with warm coconut milk. Service is attentive and reservations are recommended.