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Thanks to inventive chefs, first-rate local produce, adventurous diners, and a bold entrepreneurial spirit, Seattle has become one of the culinary capitals of the nation. Fearless young chefs have stepped in and raised the bar. Fresh and often foraged produce, local seafood, and imaginative techniques make the quality of local cuisine even higher.
Seattle's dining scene has been stoked like a wildfire by culinary rock stars who compete on shows like Iron Chef, Top Chef, and regularly dominate "best of" lists. Seattle chefs have won big in the prestigious James Beard competition, with Renee Erickson of Bateau, Walrus and the Carpenter, and the Whale Wins taking the "Best Chef Northwest" title in 2016 and creative genius Edouardo Jordan named one of Food and Wine Magazine's "Best New Chefs." The city is particularly strong on new American, Japanese, and Vietnamese cuisines. Chefs continuously fine-tune what can best be called Pacific Northwest cuisine, which features fresh, local ingredients, including anything from nettles and mushrooms foraged in nearby forests; colorful berries, apples, and cherries grown by Washington State farmers; and outstanding seafood from the cold northern waters of the Pacific Ocean, like wild salmon, halibut, oysters, Dungeness crab, and geoduck. Seattle boasts quite a few outstanding bakeries, too, whose breads and desserts you'll see touted on many menus.
Seattle is also seeing a resurgence in American comfort food, often with a gourmet twist, as well as gastropub fare, which can mean anything from divine burgers on locally baked ciabatta rolls to grilled foie gras with brioche toast. But innovation still reigns supreme: local salmon cooked sous vide and accompanied with pickled kimchi or fresh-picked peas can be just as common as aspic spiked with sake and reindeer meat. Many menus feature fusion cuisine or pages of small-plate offerings, and even high-end chefs are dabbling in casual ventures like pop-up eateries or gourmet food trucks. Many, if not most, of the top chefs own their businesses as well, and in recent years they’ve spread their talents around, operating two or three complementary ventures (or, in Ethan Stowell’s case, more than a dozen and counting, while Tom Douglas has nearly 20, plus a cooking school and farm). The trend toward informality and simplicity particularly plays out when it comes to dessert; most neighborhoods boast branches of at least one of the city’s popular, independently owned cupcake, doughnut, or ice-cream shops. Regardless of the format or focus, one thing's for sure: chefs are highlighting their inventions with the top-notch ingredients that make Pacific Northwest cooking famous.
Like the Edgewater Hotel that houses it, Six Seven is noteworthy for its views of Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound, especially if you opt to dine at the tables lining the deck at sunset. Regionally sourced seafood, such as cedar plank salmon, miso-glazed black cod, and a flavorful bouillabaisse, are menu standouts.
One of Seattle's top Thai restaurants (in a crowded field), Srivilai quietly proffers an excellent slate of standards. Friendly, accommodating service in a spare but elegant space combined with a moderately heavy hand with flavors and spices make it a local favorite. Though it serves a fairly simple menu, look for a few of the specials that allow the kitchen to show off, like roasted duck salad and wild salmon curry. A good list of beer, wine, and cocktails also helps this place stand out.
The sushi selection here is vast and top-quality, but chef Taichi Kitamura really distinguishes himself with his ippins—small, delicate dishes such as egg custard, grilled black cod, braised wagyu beef, and mustard greens and albacore with almond-wasabi sauce (among more than a dozen choices). You can order a la carte, choose from several set menus, or sit at the sushi bar and indulge yourself with omakase. The location is in Eastlake, just west of Capitol Hill.
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 elegant Lebanese spot offers an expansive Halal menu that balances comfort and sophistication. Mezze plates burst with bright, layered flavors, while the grill turns out juicy skewers, shawarma, and tender flatbreads. There’s plenty for vegetarians, too, from smoky baba ghanoush to herb-packed salads, all served with warm, pillowy pita fresh from the oven. Though fully Halal, the restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol—but the drinks menu shines regardless, with fragrant options like cardamom-spiced Turkish coffee and freshly blended fruit juices that feel just as celebratory.
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.
This might be the cheapest Thai restaurant in town, but rock-bottom prices aren't the only reason this place is always packed—the food is delicious, authentic, and spicy (two stars is usually pretty hot). Plus, you get dinner and a show as the flames lick up the woks in the open kitchen. Students and foodies pack in for garlic chicken, spicy curries, Thai coconut soup with shrimp, and flavorful pad Thai. Tables can be hard to come by during the dinner rush, but there's usually space at the counter in front of the kitchen kitchen.
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.
This Green Lake sandwich shop is as cute and modern as the illustrations on the menu board hanging over its counter. The Vietnamese sandwiches on offer get fun new names like the Mekong (grilled pork) and Sapa (sauteed tofu) but stay true to the flavor of classic banh mi, stacked with jalapeños, pickled carrots and daikon, and basil-cilantro aioli. They also offer similar ingredients in bowl form, as well as a wide variety of customizable bubble tea options. Food and drinks come out quickly, and the Green Lake adjacent location makes it an excellent stop for picking up a picnic to take to the park.
There's a battle between Paseo (in Fremont) and Un Bien for the title of best Caribbean roast sandwich in Seattle—and everyone's a winner. At both places, the signature sandwich consists of succulent, slow-roasted pork shoulder, stuffed in a baguette along with caramelized onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and aioli. That's the classic, but the menu has a dozen variations, including steak, chicken, tofu, and prawns, and you can ditch the bread for a rice bowl. Whatever way you go, you'll end up with a sweet, savory, juicy indulgence. There are a few picnic benches for eating on site, but a takeout order makes an easy, delicious picnic up the road at Golden Gardens.
A casual burger shack from a fine-dining chef means flavor and execution that are always on point. The controlled chaos of this family-friendly joint can make it hard to get an outdoor table on sunny days, but the lines and wait are worth it for the perfectly cooked burgers that range from a classic beef patty to a house-made vegetarian option. The local meat is flavorful and stands alone, but the creative toppings and combo burgers, like lamb with griddled peppers and onions, Manchego cheese, and fried lemons, make this more than just another roadside shack. Giant milk shakes and crispy onion rings are a must for kids, while adults will want to check out the row of local craft brew on tap.
By bus or car, this is on the way from the Downtown tourist area to the zoo.
The big windows and modern, Scandinavian-esque design accented by light woods, bookshelves, plants, and a record player make this a popular spot among locals for a remote working space. URL's drink menu is simple, focusing mostly on coffee drinks (serving Maru roasts), as well as a few teas. The kitchen serves a small but popular menu of tasty toasts and sandwiches Tuesday through Saturday—but come early, as food tends to sell out, especially on weekends.
Uwajimaya has a lively food court offering a quick tour of Asian cuisines at lunch-counter prices. The deli offers sushi, teriyaki, and barbecued duck; fresh spring rolls served with hot chili sauce at Saigon Streets; plus tacos and a poke counter. Finish your meal with some cream puffs at Beard Papa's, fish-shaped pastries at BeanFish, or mochi doughnuts from Dochi, or simply stroll the aisles for fun snacks like rice candy, gummy delicacies, and mochi ice cream.
If you visit Valhalla for lunch, be sure to bring a Viking-size appetite. The sandwiches are enormous, like the piled-high house BBQ pork with chipotle sauce, or El Duderino, which features chicken topped with chorizo, avocado, and jack cheese. The sides are hearty as well: macaroni salad, tots, and slaw. If you want to save a few calories, you can order the sandwiches bowl-style. You’ll still leave stuffed.
Cute as a button and beloved by locals, VPC has a sort of style-conscious general-store feel: shelves are lined with a few select groceries, and inside a glass case at the counter, decadent (but nutritious) pastries are ready for their closeup. The main draw is the egg-and-cheese (bacon optional) breakfast sandwich, which has earned a reputation as the best in the city. There's also a simple lunch menu offering a few toasts (avocado, beet hummus, halloumi), a salad, and a soup. Note that the location is four blocks east of the park, not in it.
The specialty at this no-frills spot is biang biang noodles, made by hand (in a dramatic process of stretching and slapping) and topped with spicy, well-oiled meats or vegetables. Xi’an serves the cuisine of China’s Shaanxi province, which is known for its heavy hand with the spices, but the flatbreads, salads, and soups here can be on the milder side.
Located in the heart of the Olive Way bar scene, this Middle Eastern walk-up window is all about saj, a thin bread that wraps around eggplant, meat, cheese, or falafel like a burrito, or comes with dips like muhummara, baba ghanouj, or hummus. It's popular with the late-night drinking crowd, but it's great for a delicious meal any time of day. There's no seating; many customers bring their food next door to Hillside Bar or to one of the nearby parklets.
