50 Best Restaurants in Washington Cascade Mountains and Valleys, Washington

It's a scenic 20-minute drive east from downtown to reach this intimate but lively contemporary bistro near the north shore of Lake Whatcom, where the chefs emphasize local, seasonal ingredients. In the evening, you might start with Cajun-style shrimp and three-cheese grits or mac and cheese with tasso ham, before moving on to Low Country–style bouillabaisse or seared duck breast with a cherry reduction. Breakfast and lunch are served on weekends—try the eggs Benedict with pork belly, accompanied by a Bellini cocktail. The owners also run a similarly good sister restaurant in La Conner, the Fork at Skagit Bay.

Occupying a light-filled, cheerfully painted late-Victorian building a few blocks from the port and train station in Fairhaven, this hugely popular breakfast and lunch spot adjoins an inviting little coffeehouse called Tony's, which is a nice option for lighter snacking and fueling up on espresso. In the main café, you can kick off a day of exploring with a filling Sitka omelet (smoked salmon, feta, roasted garlic, tomatoes, and pesto), or dig into one of the lunch options, such as the Matterhorn Burger, topped with mushrooms and Swiss cheese. The café closes at 2, but Tony's remains open till 6 pm.

This sleekly modern, dimly lighted space with a gurgling stone and glass fountain in the center serves generous portions of pan-Asian fare. The well-prepared array of Thai, Chinese, Indian, and Japanese cuisines includes curries, stir-fries, soups, and seafood, from honey-glazed walnut prawns to Filipino pork adobo.

The vibe is friendly and upbeat at this downtown taproom offering a menu of made-from-scratch Caribbean dishes, with an emphasis on healthy organic ingredients, along with notable Northwest wines and a well-curated selection of local brews and ciders on tap. Dishes like Cuban-style borscht, smoked tofu with pineapple kraut, and king salmon po'boy sandwiches burst with flavor.

In a converted historic netshed perched dramatically over the water in Gig Harbor, this is a lively and picturesque spot for breakfast or lunch—especially on warm days when you can soak up the soft breezes from a seat on the deck. Standout dishes include the fluffy biscuit stuffed with Portuguese sausage and Beecher's cheddar and topped with red gravy, and apple pie waffles with sweet-almond streusel.

This cheery, simple downtown breakfast and lunch spot renowned for its house-made blackberry jam and funky vibe is a cooperative, owned entirely by its staff. The filling omelets, including the Northwestern (with smoked salmon, spinach, and cream cheese) and Benedicts are among the mainstays that keep regulars coming back, but the decadent blackberry French toast is the café's showstopper.

Brewing memorabilia, including a big wall of vintage beer bottles known as the "beer shrine," greet patrons to this rambling roadhouse and brewery along the scenic Mt. Baker Highway, about 20 miles northeast of Bellingham. After a day of skiing or hiking, stop in for a pint of Bavarian-style hefeweizen or a heady barley wine, along with one of the filling pizzas or a bowl of clams steamed in garlic-chipotle broth.

Epicureans flock to this bustling, high-ceilinged deli and specialty market in the heart of downtown for delicious  sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie and cheese plates featuring the best goods from Portland's famed Olympia Provisions and Seattle's vaunted Salumi. The muffaletta sandwich with pistachio-flecked mortadella, salami, ham, provolone, and olive salad, served on a baguette from renowned Bread Farm bakery, is a favorite. The shelves lining the dining room are stocked with hard-to-find imported and regional wines, plus fine sauces and chocolates.

Above the shore on a steep, wooded bluff in the northern reaches of Bow, this intimate restaurant is famous for having one of the best marine views of any Washington restaurant. People come here to dine on refined seafood, wild game, and steaks while watching the sun disappear behind the San Juan Islands to the west or the full moon reflect off the waters of Samish Bay.

With its clubby interior, huge wine list, and proximity to downtown attractions, it's easy to see how this flashy restaurant is a favorite for special occasions and high-end business meals. Here you can expect a menu of contemporary variations on seafood and steak, including Columbia River steelhead with a maple-balsamic glaze and New York strip with red-flannel hash and a red-wine sauce; vegetarians shouldn't pass up the unusual roasted cauliflower "steak" served with olive gremolata, tomatoes, orange, and capers.

This warmly lighted, inviting downtown spot for Pacific Northwest–inspired Spanish tapas is adjacent to similarly excellent Burrata Bistro and is popular for its afternoon and late-night happy hours as well as for lunch and dinner. Paella is the big star here—it's studded with fresh local seafood, but you could easily make a meal of delicious tapas, including achiote-marinated beef short ribs over polenta, and roasted brussels sprouts with pancetta and manchego cheese.

This funky breakfast and lunch café in Everett Public Market is as popular now as when it opened in 1983. Perhaps that's because the blueberry or pecan hotcakes, rich soups, and overflowing sandwiches are as good as ever. Eye-opening espresso drinks start the morning; homemade pies in more than a dozen flavors are a perfect end to the afternoon.

In the morning, fuel up at this convivial, sprawling tavern with a latte and a breakfast burrito or bagel and lox plate before a local hike or skiing at nearby Snoqualmie Pass; South Fork is on a rural road surrounded by greenery. Later in the day, a friendly, outdoorsy crowd gathers to mingle over well-prepared gastropub fare, including tofu banh mi bowls, blistered shishito peppers with garlic aioli, and blackened-chicken Alfredo.

Serving some of the most flavorful and original Thai food in Washington, this cheerfully decorated restaurant in an unassuming strip mall in Burlington (10 miles northeast of La Conner) is helmed by a young, gracious chef-owner who learned her trade at Bangkok's Thai Royal Grand Palace. Authentically prepared standouts include a salad of poached chicken with coconut milk, banana blossoms, and fried shallots, and a fragrant massaman curry with fresh pineapple.

Reservations are a must—try to book well ahead for weekends—at this compact and quirky South Tacoma brunch destination featuring the wonderfully weird cuisine of chef-owner Shawn Tibbitts. The payoff is the chance to stuff yourself with prodigious plates of candied-bacon-wrapped breakfast burritos and salted-caramel banana pancakes. Tibbitts is both personable and a bit of a showman, and there's a good chance he'll take your order personally.

The wood-fired pizzas with thin, blistered crusts and gourmet toppings are just one draw of this cheerful neighborhood restaurant within steps of the many wineries of Woodinville's Hollywood District. Vivi also serves first-rate arugula-pear salads, spaghetti carbonara, and prawn- and clam-studded cioppino.

This cavernous downtown brewhouse has a soaring, barrel-vaulted ceiling, monitors airing regional sports, and plenty of bar and booth seating, but it's known first and foremost for turning out some of the area's best ales—strong, barrel-aged Belgian-style beers are a specialty. There are tasty, filling pizzas and pub fare, too, including a notably good bacon burger with mustard, grilled onions, and a tangy house sauce.

If you're looking to fuel up before a big hike in the park, this festive restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating is a good bet. It's run by record-shattering Mt. Everest climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa and his wife, Fulamu, who helms the kitchen, serving up a mix of Nepalese and classic American dishes, including traditional pork momo dumplings and thali chicken, mushroom, and garbanzo bean platters. On the American side of the menu are hefty burgers, sandwiches, and fish-and-chips.

Although new owners took over and renamed the restaurant in 2015, this reliable fueling stop on the way to Snoqualmie Pass remains a trusted community favorite for fresh-made doughnuts, pastries, and breads. Good coffee and a full deli menu of sandwiches, soups, quiches, and calzones are also available.