46 Best Restaurants in Seattle, Washington

The oldest Japanese restaurant in Seattle, Maneki is no longer a hidden gem catering to in-the-know locals and chefs, but that doesn't mean the food is any less impressive. Though the James Beard American Classic winner serves good sushi, it's better known for home-style Japanese dishes, which can be ordered as small plates and accompanied with sake. Try the miso black cod collar or the delicious daily fish specials. Rice-paper lamps and screens add a bit of old Japan to the otherwise plain main dining room, but parties of four to ten can reserve a charming tatami room. Maneki is always packed, especially on weekends, so don't even think about coming without a reservation.

You’d never guess from its unassuming storefront that this is Lower Queen Anne’s go-to for Neapolitan-style pizza. Ten rotating varieties emerge from the wood-fired oven, each with a perfectly blistered crust. The space also doubles as a tasting room for microbrewery Fast Fashion, so you’ll find an inventive beer list to match your meal—just note that it’s 21 and over only.

Take a seat on the aqua-painted chairs and tables beneath leafy trees with a flaky croissant in hand, and you’ll almost believe you’re in Paris. A new neighborhood favorite, Mirabelle is a French-inspired pâtisserie located next to Occidental Park. Browse the mouth-watering case filled with croissants, macarons, and berry-topped tarts, or take a seat and order a croque monsieur, salade Niçoise, or quiche. Given the cafe's proximity to the stadiums, expect to find lines out the door on game days, but it moves quickly and is worth the wait. Mirabelle is also stocked with a few French specialty items, including fromage and baguette.

This lakeside location of a local dumpling specialist brings a wide assortment of Chinese cuisine to an area of town not normally known for big flavor. The sprawling menu has crowd-pleasing options like northern-style dumplings, dim sum, and American Chinese food, as well as in-depth dishes from Sichuan and Hunan for the spice-nerds out there. Extremely casual, with dark wood tables and a nice wraparound patio looking out toward the park, the restaurant is a pleasant place to sit—helpful since the kitchen is quite small, and thus sometimes requires patience from diners.

Right in the center of the Pike–Pine universe, this huge, ultrahip space anchoring the Oddfellows Building, across from Cal Anderson Park, serves inspired American food from breakfast straight through to dinner. The day might start with biscuits and eggs or thick brioche French toast; later on you could opt for salmon nicoise salad, spaghetti and meatballs, or roast chicken. Service can be hit-or-miss, but the communal-style seating, Capitol Hill hipster-chic vibe, and festive music make this a fun place, whether you're watching the day go by or spending an evening out.

The centerpiece of this Cuban-influenced menu is the mouthwatering Famous Caribbean Roast sandwich: marinated pork topped with sautéed onions and served on a chewy baguette. It's doused with an amazing top-secret sauce that keeps folks coming back for more. The entrées are also delicious, from fresh fish in garlic tapenade to prawns in a spicy red sauce. There are a few tables, but Paseo gets so busy the line usually snakes way out the door, and most people opt for takeout.

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.

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.

Serious artisanal pizzas are worth the wait here—and there will be a wait at this tiny Belltown restaurant. Famed local restaurateur Tom Douglas delivers chewy, buttery crusts anchored by such toppings as roasted oyster mushrooms and truffle cheese; or Penn Cove mussels, pancetta, lemon thyme, and chili flakes. Wash it down with a local brew, a glass of local wine, or some bubbly. High seats and communal tables crowd this bustling space.

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.

This Belltown favorite is helmed by superstar-chef Ethan Stowell (also of How to Cook a Wolf and Staple & Fancy), who is known for his fresh pasta. Serving up Italian goodness by the plateful in an industrial-chic bi-level space, Tavolàta is a decidedly lively, loud, and delicious night out on the town. The bar serves simple, elegant cocktails (Campari or Cynar with soda never fails). Start with an arugula and chickpea salad, croquettes, or bruschetta. Homemade pasta is the main draw here, such as fresh campanelle with dandelion green pesto, pecorino, and sunflower seeds, or pappardelle ragu. Entree offerings are traditional with flair: king salmon with pistachio and eggplant puree, or grilled steak with pickled baby veggies.

The waters off the Washington coast produce some of the world's tastiest shellfish. This cozy bar, located on a lively block between Starbucks Reserve and Melrose Market, is a great place to take a deep dive into the deliciousness. Along with local oysters, you can sample clams, mussels, crab, shrimp, and, if you're feeling adventurous, geoduck. (It's not all raw; there are steamed, stewed, and baked options.) The Taylor family has been farming shellfish for five generations, and they know their stuff. They also have bars in Lower Queen Anne and Pioneer Square, and their the Samish Bay farm makes a great day trip stop.

One of Washington’s largest shellfish farmers, Taylor shows off its harvest at this bright, high-energy bar. Oysters take center stage, but you’ll also find crab, prawns, clams, mussels, and geoduck—and the indulgent Salish Sampler lets you try a bit of everything. This is more a place for a raw shellfish feast than a full meal, though hearty chowders and stews can fill in the gaps. Located across the street from Seattle Center, it’s a favorite pre- or post-event stop.

The classic American pizza spot gets an intriguing update from the owners' Midwestern roots and Japanese heritage. Unfussy slices and sandwiches made from local ingredients (or housemade, like the ricotta) feed the crowds in the large, welcoming space at lunchtime. Dinners bring table service and an excellent selection of contemporary cocktails and natural wines. Multigenerational and other mixed groups love that picky eaters can stick to standards while more adventurous eaters can try dishes that weave Japanese ingredients like miso, panko, and sesame into staples like Caesar salad, bagna cauda, or focaccia. 

Familiar brunch dishes and pastries take on new personalities as this all-day café weaves them with Japanese ingredients. Chashu pork flavors the biscuits and gravy, teriyaki-glazed bacon, and a sandwich filled with tamago-style omelette. At the pastry case in front, scones are laced with ginger and scallions, and the icebox pie uses sudachi citrus. This is comfort food that has traveled back and forth across the Pacific, reflecting restaurateur Yasuaki Saito's childhood with one parent each from northern Japan and the southern U.S. The minimal decor and bare walls help to further highlight the colorful food and eclectic selection of serving dishes, which give the impression of all having been selected at the world's cutest thrift shop.

This waterfront pub pairs fresh, creative seafood with some of the best views in the city—stretching from the Space Needle across Lake Union’s sparkling north shore. The kitchen leans into local bounty with dishes like crab hush puppies, seafood poutine, and perfectly grilled halibut, all served in a relaxed, nautical setting. Tucked just east of Lake Union Park, it still manages to buzz on sunny days, when the patio fills with brunch-goers and locals lingering over pints in the afternoon light.