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One of the things I love about Seattle is its fantastic foodie scene. There are so many fun restaurants in Seattle!
When I was at Google I traveled to Seattle quite a bit for work trips, so between that and visiting my cousin (big thanks to Claire for helping me edit and add to this list!) and her husband who live in Seattle I’ve gotten to eat my way through a lot of Seattle’s best restaurants.
Pssst, heading to Seattle? Don’t miss these travel guides to help you plan your trip!
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Serious Pie: Serious Pie is seriously delicious, and it’s my go-to spot for pizza in Seattle. There are a couple locations in Seattle, and they both serve up hand-crafted pizza pies made with their special dough and topped with artisan ingrdients like their homemade charcuterie or imported cheeses. Serious Pie is owned by Seattle celeb chef, Tom Douglas. It’s great for large groups or for takeaway.
The Walrus and the Carpenter: This spot in Ballard is super popular with locals, and they only take walk-ins, so try to get there right when they open at 4pm. They’re known for their fresh oysters and excellent cocktails, but they also have a selection of delicious small plates featuring vegetables and meats. The Walrus and the Carpenter is owned by Renee Erickson, who won the 2016 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest and owns several popular Seattle restaurants.
Steelhead Diner: Steelhead Diner has some of the best real estate in the city, and is located right at Pike Place Market,. The menu is seafood-focused and features Pacific Northwest gourmet comfort fare. Some of my favorite items include their fish and chips, clam chowder, crab cakes, and crab and shrimp tater tots.
JuneBaby: Upscale Southern food? I’m here for it. And apparently a lot of other people are too—when JuneBaby first opened in 2018, founding chef Edouardo Jordan won two Beard awards: “Best New Restaurant” and “Best Chef: Northwest.” Enjoy a handcrafted cocktail while starting with cast iron cornbread and pimento cheese, and then diving into mains like smoked meats. Their Sunday fried chicken dinner has become a popular dining experience, and while JuneBaby is primarily walk-in only, they do take two reservations per night of parties of 8 to 12.
Joule: Joule is a modern Korean-fusion steakhouse with a huge menu and dishes that have bold flavor combinations. Your best bet is to go with a group and order a bunch of dishes to share. Don’t miss dishes like the spicy rice cake, summer corn, short rib steak.
Stateside: Stateside is a French-Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Capitol Hill, serving creative dinners and brunches. The decor is tropical and the vibe is inviting, with its hanging lights and palm tree wallpaper. Don’t miss the crispy duck rolls and their Asian-inspired cocktails.
Bateau: Another Renee Erickson spot, Bateau is a unique French-style whole-animal steakhouse that reminds me of Anthony Bourdain’s famous quote about vegetarians: “Vegetarians are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit, and an affront to all I stand for.” The restaurant lists its entire menu of cuts of beef on a chalkboard for all of the dining room to see, and each item is crossed off the chalkboard in real time as diners order. Your knowledgable server will be able to walk you through all of the options, but some not-to-be-missed items include their burger, flatiron steak, french fries (fried in beef fat), and kale gratin side dish.
The Pink Door: The Pink Door is part restaurant, part circus act, and an iconic Seattle spot. Since 1981, The Pink Door has been serving Italian-American food with a side of eclectic entertainment in the form of trapeze and cabaret. Don’t miss the lasagna, as it’s a fan favorite. Reserve a table online.
Lark: Lark is known for its delicious small plates like crudo and charcuterie, as well as their seasonal dishes. Their new location in Capitol Hill is beautiful, and the atmosphere is warm and chic.
Dahlia Lounge: My cousin hosted her bridal shower brunch at Dahlia Lounge and I just loved it! Since then I’ve gone back a couple times with friends and their menu is so fabulous. This spot is Tom Douglas’ first restaurant venture and is still a favorite among locals for its coconut cream pie and spit-roasted duck.
Black Bottle: Black Bottle is trendy, minimalist, and delicious.—just like I like it. The shareable small plates have bold flavors and their cocktails are fab. Do not miss the roasted broccoli!
Matt’s in the Market: Matt’s in the Market has a primo spot in Pike’s Place. Expect it to be busy with limited seating, but fabulous views of, you guess it, the market, and the water. Their rotates and features a lot of seafood—the fried catfish sandwich is a local fav.
Bangrak Market: Ok, this is quite possibly the best Thai restaurant I’ve ever been to. Bangrak Market opened this summer in Seattle and it just might be one of Seattle’s best new restaurants. Omied found it on Yelp when we were looking for new places to try during our recent trip and it was so, so good. The restaurant is named after a popular night market in Bangkok, and the atmosphere is really fun, with colorful hanging baskets, spices, and beams everywhere you look. The menu is huge and overwhelming, but our sever expertly guided us through. Favorites were their pad see eiw, green curry, and coconut rice cakes for dessert.
Cascina Spinasse: Spinasse is pricey, but it just might be the best Italian food in Seattle. It has all the vibes of a local trattoria in Italy, with fantastic handmade pasta to go with the aesthetic. Don’t miss: fried zucchini blossoms (summer menu item) and their gnocchi.
No Anchor: This somehow simultaneously casual but fancy beer bar was nominated for a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in Washington. If you’re a craft beer nerd like my husband, you’ll be elated with the beer menu. If you’re not a beer lover (like me), their cocktails are also great. And either way, you’re still in for a great meal on top of the beer situation, because they don’t just serve bar food here—every dish is carefully prepared and full of flavor. Pro tip: the crab roll is not to be missed.
Sushi Kashiba: Sushi chef Shiro Kashiba (who famously trained under Jiro—you know, the one who dreams of sushi) left his namesake restaurant Shiro’s to open this new hot spot at Pike Place Market. Sushi Kashiba is not the easiest sushi restaurant to get into in Seattle, but it’s known for being the best. To dine here, you can either make a reservation for a table, where you can order from a few prix fixe options (that range from $75-$85) as well as a la carte. Or you can sit at the sushi counter, but you’ll have to line up outside the restaurant two hours before they open.
Marination: Marination has several locations in Seattle, but the most picturesque is Marination Ma Kai, which has a large outdoor patio and views of Seattle’s skyline. Their food is a delicious Hawaiian-Korean-Mexican mashup, and you’ll find things like bulgogi tacos and and pork katsu sandwiches on their menu. Grab a lychee margarita and sit outside for happy hour.
Goldfinch Tavern: Goldfinch Tavern is the beautiful restaurant inside the Four Seasons Seattle. Their new American food is truly delicious, and we had an amazing brunch here. If you’re not going to dine here, it’d also be a perfect spot for drinks at the bar and views of the Puget Sound.
Beecher’s Cheese: Beecher’s Cheese at Pike Place is a must, and perfect for a cheap lunch. You can expect a line, but at least you’ll get to watch curds (or is it whey ?) getting mixed. Their crab mac & cheese is bomb, as are their grilled cheese sandwiches.
Bakery Nouveau: Be sure to get some of the best pastries in town at Bakery Nouveau. You won’t regret getting their twice baked almond croissants.
Molly Moon’s: To end things on a sweet note, hit Molly Moon’s for ice cream! You’ll find extremely well-done classics like strawberry, and twists on your old standbys like nutmeg-scented cookie dough.
Love food and love to travel? Same. Peep my travel page for all my guides and restaurant lists, organized by destination!
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