5 Best Restaurants in The Central District, Seattle

This acclaimed Black-owned restaurant dishes up “Seattle soul" in a vibrant setting. Think exquisitely prepared soul food that pays homage to family traditions, alongside creative fare honoring Seattle's multicultural intersections, like the whole fried catfish topped with a Thai-inspired papaya salad. The cocktail menu is just as creative, featuring Seattle-meets-the-South cocktails concocted with bourbon, pecan liqueur, Jamaican rum, and apple brandy, to name a few. 

Traveling around Vietnam together led two friends to open Reckless, which taps Vietnamese and other Asian flavors for its inventive street food-style noodle and rice bowls, salads, and crispy rolls. The craft cocktail list is just as creative as the culinary offerings at this cozy spot with dark walls, rustic wood booths, and eclectic artwork that is a favorite for locals. Start with the crispy duck roll before digging into dishes that blend the flavors of Vietnam with coastal inspiration, such as the turmeric rockfish simmered in coconut cream atop vermicelli noodles and the lobster fried rice. 

Don't let the modest digs dissuade you: the Ethiopian cuisine here is delicious. Open all day, Cafe Selam serves specialties like beef or lamb tibs (cubed meat sautéed with onions and spices) and ketfo (steak tartare), but is particularly known for its ful, a spicy breakfast dish of lightly pureed fava beans topped with eggs, onions, peppers, and feta cheese, served with two fluffy French loaves.

Offering a taste of New Orleans in the Central District, Fat's Chicken & Waffles serves authentic Southern cuisine in a hip spot filled with furniture and murals made by local artists. Helmed by a chef with deep Louisiana roots, Fat's serves shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, biscuit sandwiches, and other soul food classics in addition to the namesake chicken and waffles.

This seafood shop-cafe hybrid sells some of the freshest fish around town. They makes some of the best poke around Seattle, along with sides like kimchi and mac salad, and dishes like a crab panini and clam chowder. Containers of daily catches and shellfish line the walls, and there's more to see in the glass case. Everything changes with the season. There are a few tables to the right of the busy counter, or take your food to go and enjoy it in nearby Judkins Park. The smoked salmon is a delicious souvenir to bring home.