119 Best Restaurants in Seattle, Washington

Walk into the dining room here, with its long bar and simple wooden tables, and you might not guess that this is one of Seattle's most indulgent special-occasion restaurants. Chef-owner Nathan Lockwood gives distinctive Northwest ingredients an Italian touch on his changing, nine-course prix fixe menu. The result is a mix of classics (grilled king salmon) and dishes you're unlikely to find anywhere else (pappardelle with huckeberries). When you eat here, expect to make a night of it—meals can last up to three hours. For a more casual experience, head across the street to Lockwood's a la carte spot, Carrello.

Artusi calls itself a bar, which isn't inaccurate—it specializes in craft cocktails and amari—but it shares a kitchen, and a chef, with much-heralded Spinasse next door, and most patrons are here to eat. Like its more sophisticated sibling, Artusi offers a short menu of antipasti, handmade pasta, and main courses, and everything is made with similar care, but the spirit of the food (and the place) is more casual, even playful. Meatballs and beef ravioli, two staples of Italian-American cuisine, are simply delicious. Prices are more casual too, particularly if you make it for happy hour or the Sunday and Monday pasta-and-wine specials.

This lobster-roll specialist brings a breezy Maine-coast vibe to South Lake Union’s 400 Fairview complex. The star, of course, is the lobster roll. It's rich, buttery, and undeniably indulgent—but the menu also reels in more approachable options like crab and shrimp sandwiches, hearty chowder, and fresh salads. In summer, slushy cocktails join the lineup alongside local craft beers and wines. A long bar and communal patio seating round out the easygoing, waterfront spirit—more seaside shack than city storefront.

Located in the hip State Hotel, Ben Paris has become a neighborhood favorite for elevated classic American fare for brunch and dinner. Consider a fried chicken sandwich with spicy mayo and kimchi coleslaw, breakfast hashes, or mussels in a garlic wine sauce, dished up in a stylish space with graphic wallpaper and a bustling bar. Don't miss the outstanding braised octopus or the creative cocktail list designed by Abigail Gullo, a star bartender from New Orleans. 

Welcome to the year-round beach party at this Caribbean barbecue and sandwich shop located in an old gas station—even though the water is only Green Lake and it's across a six-lane highway. The neon-green building with hot pink and blue graffiti sets the tone and the enormous covered patio drives the message home that no matter the weather in Seattle, Bongos brings the island sunshine. The menu of sandwiches and casual plates includes Jamaican, Cuban, and Trinidadian flavors, like the Desi with citrus braised pork and caramelized onions, or the shrimp po'boy with chili sauce and mango slaw, while plantains and yuca fries are must-order sides.

Set in a largely residential section of eastern Ballard, this place has everything you could hope for in a neighborhood restaurant: a comfortable, warm setting, attentive service, and creative comfort food made from local, seasonal ingredients. They’re known for their bread; often a restaurant afterthought, here it’s given star treatment—cut thick, grilled, and topped with butter as though it were a ribeye. Everything on the small menu gets that same kind of care and attention, whether it’s a steak, a fish, a vegetable, or a cocktail. If the weather’s nice, try for a table on the garden patio.

This upscale vegetarian diner near the Arboretum is a Seattle institution, serving satisfying classics—black-bean burgers, pizzas, salads, polenta, succotash—since the 1990s. Weekend brunch draws lots of families for the tasty pancakes, waffles, and tofu scrambles. Prime seats are in the atrium, which has a stone fountain, skylight, and garden-style café tables.

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.

Canlis has set the standard for fine dining in Seattle since the 1950s. The prix fixe menu includes a choice of appetizer, entrée, and dessert, plus a few elegant surprises between courses. The food is consistently excellent—creative and carefully composed without straying into showiness—but the real draw is the experience. The service is famously attentive, and the mid-century-modern dining room, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Union, feels like a step back in time. This is the only restaurant in town with a dress code: jackets are “recommended” for men (they’re happy to loan one), and casual attire won’t fly. To soak in the atmosphere without committing to the full meal, grab a seat at the bar but still make sure to dress the part.

The 16th-story, panoramic views of Downtown, Elliott Bay, and Smith Tower make Charlotte one of Seattle's top special-occasion destinations. While dinner service is definitely a splurge—Charlotte offers a la carte options but the four-course prix fixe menu of creative Pacific Northwest fare is their calling card—the restaurant also serves a lovely breakfast with dishes including Dungeness crab toast and kimchi grilled cheese. On the top floor of the luxury hotel Lotte (Charlotte is pronounced "Char-lot-tay"), the blonde-wood-heavy, mid-century-inspired dining room has a handful of spaced-out tables right by the floor-to-ceiling windows, making for a spectacular perch at sunset if you're lucky.

In addition to its navy-blue exterior and cheeky name, this small, upscale gastropub is known for simple yet crafty cocktails and a concise menu of creative comfort foods. The bar offers snacks and small plates ideal for sharing, as well as heartier options featuring seasonal veggies, local seafood, and pastas. Tucked into a historic Pioneer Square building, Damn the Weather is the perfect spot to cozy up in during a Seattle downpour.

This local chain of hamburger drive-ins is a Seattle institution dating back to the 1950s. The fries are hand-cut, the shakes are hand-dipped (made with real ice cream), and the burgers hit the spot. The classic order in the indulgent (but still cheap) Dick's Deluxe—two beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, onions, and dollop of Dick's special sauce. Open until 2 am daily, the Capitol Hill location can be a hopping late-night scene.

The xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, are the famous attraction at Din Tai Fung, a U.S. branch of the famed Taipei-based chain. Watch dumplings being pleated by hand through the large glass windows in the waiting area; it's a good thing the sight is so entertaining, because there's often a long wait. The rest of the lengthy menu is nearly as enticing, from shrimp-stuffed wontons to fried rice. Shaved snow with fresh mango is a refreshing end to your meal, a cross between ice cream and shave ice. The large restaurant is busy and brisk, but a fun experience and worth the wait. There are additional locations in Seattle's University Village, Pacific Place Mall in Downtown Seattle, and Southcenter Mall in Tukwila.

Brandon Pettit, the mastermind behind acclaimed artisanal pizzeria Delancey in Ballard, opened Dino's with the goal of replicating the neighborhood joints of his New Jersey childhood. That means two kinds of pie—thick, square Sicilian, and cheesy, char-crusted round—and old-school toppings: pepperoni, anchovies, even pineapple. It also means you can get pizza by the slice. Pettit's pizza-making talent shines through, but to judge from the Dino's, his childhood may have been a little rough: there's a strong dive-bar vibe, you have to be 21 or older to enter, and it stays open into the morning hours. 

Luxury touches take the hot pot experience upscale with personal broth bowls, an extensive sauce buffet, and high-end ingredients like A5 Miyazaki beef, live prawns, and house-made noodles. This local outlet of an international chain that began in Macau knows that you eat with your eyes first, and everything here comes out looking straight out of a glossy magazine photo shoot. The fancy ingredients can make the a la carte orders add up fast, but customers can either order judiciously and save room for the free ice cream at the end, or go all-in on a feast.

This homegrown chain lives up to its name, serving freshly made carb-filled delights of many types: noodles, flatbreads, crepes, and dumplings. The signature steamed juicy pork dumplings and fried jian buns, both filled with a meat and soup filling, have earned it a reputation and helped it expand to locations around the city and along the entire West Coast. This flagship location opened in 2021, not far from the original in the Crossroads neighborhood.

What started as a small dumpling restaurant has grown into a juggernaut local chain, with this location as its flagship. Crowds pack in for juicy pork dumplings, crisp-bottomed q-bao, and artfully arranged noodles and vegetables. With a large, modern space, affordable prices, and the kinds of foods locals once drove to Canada or flew to China for, this spot packs in the crowds during weekday lunches. Service is friendly and efficient, though, making sure everyone gets their meaty soup dumplings in time to get back to the office. For visitors, arriving at an off-hour is recommended; you can also join the waitlist via Yelp.

Waistcoated waitstaff coolly navigate the packed floor of this retro steak house, serving satisfying fare in a swanky, expansive room. Dungeness crab cakes, oven-roasted chicken, crispy Brussels sprouts, and cool tableside Caesar salads (possibly the city's best) all tantalize, but the eatery is best known for perfectly cooked steaks—and the virtuoso presentation seems to make everything taste better. Ritzy yet comfortable, a meal at El Gaucho can make you relax no matter how stressful your day. Of course, you may get heart palpitations once again when you see the prices—just sit back, enjoy your luscious cut of meat, and listen to the live piano music. Valet parking is available for $12.

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.

If you’re craving oysters with a side of salt air, Elliott’s Oyster House on Pier 56 delivers. Since 1975, this waterfront institution has built its reputation on fresh, sustainably sourced seafood—especially its impressive lineup of Washington oysters, shucked to order and served with a view. The rest of the menu keeps pace: Dungeness crab cakes, rich crab-and-corn chowder, and Pacific fish entrées make it easy for even oyster skeptics to dive in. On a sunny day, ask for a seat outside to watch sailboats drift across Elliott Bay while you sip something cold and coastal.

Though slammed at lunchtime thanks to the high school across the street, this fast-food restaurant (the original location of a popular local chain) serves up some of the best fried chicken in Seattle—Oprah once had the founders fly to Chicago to make it for her birthday. Both original and spicy flavors are terrific, but be warned that the spicy is exactly that. The rolls are big, fluffy, and baked in generously greased muffin tins. 

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.

Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen adds a dose of spice to First Hill's otherwise slim dining scene. Owner and Chef Tina Fahnbulleh draws inspiration from her West African roots and her current Pacific Northwest home to create a space that celebrates the flavors of Liberia and Ghana. Spiced jolof rice, goat peanut soup, and red red (black eyed peas cooked with tomatoes, onions, spices, and plantains) are just a few of the dishes that bring a piece of West Africa to Seattle. Food is encouraged to be shared and eaten with hands, and cocktails—tastefully infused with flavors like mango, passion fruit, and tamarind—are not to be missed.

This modern twist on the classic American burger joint doubles as a love letter to the Pacific Northwest—and proof that fast food can be thoughtful. Organic, grass-fed beef is ground in-house, milkshakes are made with local ice cream, and the nostalgic crinkle-cut fries taste like a childhood memory done right. The taps pour regional sodas and craft beers, and the bright, welcoming space channels the efficiency of a fast-food spot without sacrificing flavor or integrity.

In a time when many of the corner-store-style shops serving Seattle's unique signature teriyaki are fading into the rapidly modernizing city, Grillbird keeps it classic, showing that the affordable plates of chicken in sauce, rice, and salad still matter to the city. Stop by for a quick lunch and for a taste of the city's typical workday lunch dish. Though teriyaki exists all over, the specific serving style and sweet sauce used at most Seattle joints was developed here and once dominated the menu of every lunch counter and mini-mart. 

Harry's Beach House, where the breeze is always scented with saltwater, is a casual yet exciting restaurant that opened in an old coffee shop in 2019. Spacious, warmly lit, and friendly, it's the perfect place to enjoy a long brunch or a drink and a snack after a day on the beach. The food is elegant but homey, with biscuits at brunch, a beloved burger at lunch, and fresh seafood on the dinner menu. Service can be slow, but that just gives you more time to enjoy the view.

This tiny spot north of the Arboretum is a sweet, cheerful place to enjoy delicious Basque tapas, including chorizo with grilled bread, pan-seared tuna belly with vanilla-bean-infused oil, grilled sardines, and duck confit. There's an impressive selection of Spanish wine, sherry, and vermouth. Seats at the chef's counter are the most atmospheric, and some are set aside for walk-ins. 

This is Upper Queen Anne’s idea of a neighborhood restaurant: cozy wood-paneled dining room, casual and friendly service, and food that’s sophisticated without trying too hard. The menu leans Italian, but ingredients like king salmon and blackberries keep it rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Regulars swear by the bone marrow with shallot jam. (And no, they don’t serve wolf; the name comes from M.F.K. Fisher’s classic book about making the most of limited ingredients.)

Housed in a historic log cabin a block from Alki Beach, Il Nido (the nest) takes a playful look at Italian culinary traditions. House-made fresh pasta is the star, joined by creative focaccia breads, chicory salads, and entrées like pork coppa. Reservations book out 30 days ahead of time, but you can always try for a seat at the bar for an aperitivo and a snack.

Since the 1980s, Il Terrazo Carmine has specialized in Tuscan and southern Italian cooking, creating soul-satisfying dishes such as homemade ravioli, linguine alle vongole (with clams), and eggplant Parmesan. The impressive wine list represents vintages from the West Coast of the U.S. to Italy and France. Ceiling-to-floor draperies give the dining room understated dignity, and intoxicating aromas waft from the kitchen to the restaurant's small outdoor patio that sits beneath a canopy of lights. It's your Italian home-away-from-home that you may never want to leave.