Seattle is a restaurant-lover’s paradise. There’s a spot for every craving, from East Coast-style pizza to Saigon-style street food, all made with the bounty of fresh produce that makes the Pacific Northwest a true dining destination. The hardest part is deciding where to eat. This guide to some of the most popular restaurants in the city, informed by spots you love to order from, might not solve the eternal debate over what to order for dinner — it might make it even worse! But rest assured: There are no wrong choices here.
FOB Poke Bar
Ready to take matters into your own hands? Every part of your poke bowl at FOB Poke Bar is ready to be customized. Start by picking a base, from white rice to kale or even crunchy tortilla chips. Add mix-ins like jalapeños, sweet onions, or seaweed, but don’t forget to save room for the protein! There’s everything from seared ahi tuna and Spam to octopus and albacore.
Momiji
Momiji uses local produce to make traditional Japanese fare with a Pacific Northwest spin. Don’t skip their stacked lineup of specialty rolls, which load up fresh fish with maximalist toppings like habañero, tobiko, truffle oil, and jalapeño-citrus sauce.
The Other Coast Cafe
Craving a really good sandwich? Head to The Other Coast Cafe, a long-standing cornerstone of Ballard’s rich culinary scene. Whether you need a cold sub to take to a picnic or a hot Reuben to devour ASAP, you’ll be in good hands. The Other Coast Cafe even offers extra-large or small sandwiches to cover every appetite at the table.
Manao Thai Street Eats
This cozy Capitol Hill mainstay showcases Thai street food at its fiery best. Named after the Thai word for lime, Manao goes big on bold flavors like herbal crispy chicken and fresh spring rolls, plus plenty of rice and noodle dishes. There’s no wrong way to order.
Din Tai Fung (U Village)
In the mood for soup dumplings? There’s no better place to go than Seattle’s outpost of Din Tai Fung, a world-renowned Taiwanese restaurant chain specializing in Chinese Huaiyang cuisine. Their extra-tender, plump dumplings are stuffed with everything from chicken and mushrooms to rich Kurobuta pork.
Dough Zone Dumpling House (Pine)
Owners Jason and Nancy Zhai have kept Seattle well-fed with homemade Chinese comfort food since their first Dough Zone Dumpling House opened in 2014. Come for tender dumplings stuffed with Pacific deep sea crab, pan-fried Q-Bao pork buns, and plenty of springy, freshly made noodles.
Japonessa
Want to shake up your usual sushi night? Japonessa gives Japanese classics like nigiri and sashimi a Latin twist with unexpected ingredients like mango, cilantro, and jalapeño. Yes, there are sukiyaki beef tacos, plus more traditional rolls and sashimi to satisfy everyone at the table.
Ezell’s Famous Chicken
When you’re craving fried chicken, only Ezell’s Famous Chicken will do. The favorite chicken spot of Oprah Winfrey — and basically everyone in Seattle — hasn’t changed their recipe since 1984, and for good reason. Each golden piece is both shatteringly crisp and tender, perfect for pairing with a freshly baked roll and plenty of dipping sauce.
Shake Shack
There are some cravings only a truly great burger can satisfy, and Shake Shack is always up for the challenge. Of course their burgers are fantastic, but the menu is also well stocked with fried chicken sandwiches, vegetarian-friendly cheese-stuffed mushrooms, and all the crispy crinkle fries your group needs to make it through the meal without fighting over just one order.
Mamnoon Street
Mama Restaurant Group has built a mini empire of soul-satisfying Levantine restaurants across the city, and Mamnoon Street is one of our absolute favorites. Their flavorful takes on street classics like shawarma-stuffed pita and crispy fried falafel are some of the best in the city. Don’t skip the all-star array of sauces.
Dué Cucina Italiana
Real pasta lovers know there’s nothing better than biting into a fresh, chewy noodle coated in silky sauce. But did you know there’s no better place to get fresh pasta in Seattle than Dué Cucina Italiana? Helmed by the (very Italian) Davide Macchi and Filippo Fiori, the welcoming café offers handmade ravioli stuffed with artisan ricotta, hearty slabs of eggplant Parmigiana, and all your other favorites.
Mamnoon
Levantine and Persian foodways shine at this popular Capitol Hill destination. People flock from all over the city for Mamnoon’s mezze alone. Think: lemony hummus, creamy labneh topped with caramelized onions, and all the pillowy pita you need to wrap up each bite. Don’t skip the crispy fried falafel or tender, spiced shawarma.
Homegrown
Come to Homegrown for feel-good food in its truest sense. The Seattle chain partners with the organic Ecolibrium Farms in Woodinville, Washington, to ensure the best produce goes into their sandwiches, salads, and soups. Best of all, the vibrant flavors are just as on-point as the sourcing.
Un Bien
Un Bien uses family recipes to make glorious homestyle Caribbean food that satisfies your stomach and soul. Their fully loaded sandwiches feature tender roast pork, thinly sliced palomilla steak, pan-seared fish, and even firm tofu cooked in an extra-garlicky green tapenade.
Ba Bar
Get Saigon street food without a trip to Vietnam at Sophie and Eric Banh’s raucously delicious Capitol Hill restaurant. There are freshly made rice noodles, slow-roasted rotisserie served with broken rice or banh hoi, and ultra-restorative pho (perhaps the best hangover remedy in town).
Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar
What does the Northwest’s take on modern Mexican food taste like? In a word: delicious. Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar offers tacos piled high with classic Baja-style fish and al pastor, plus unconventional fillings like fried chicken, banh mi-style pork, and roast beets coated in a chipotle-orange vinaigrette.
Taste of India
Taste of India is basically a vegetarian’s paradise. The family-run restaurant overflows with delicious meat-free options, from crispy vegetable samosas to comforting tadka dal and rich coconut curry. There’s also plenty of tandoori chicken, fiery lamb vindaloo, and other meaty options.
Pablo y Pablo
It’s impossible to have food from Pablo y Pablo without craving one of their high-octane cocktails. (Trust us, we’ve tried.) It’s also impossible to stare down their menu of imaginative tacos without wanting to order one of everything on the menu. Our advice? Give in to the temptation.
Garlic Crush
Garlic lovers, this one's for you! Garlic Crush enlists plenty of everyone’s favorite allium to make Mediterranean classics like tender lamb gyros, fried cauliflower topped with tahini, and chicken kebabs. Don’t miss their flaky homemade baklava, which thankfully has no garlic but lots of pistachios and cashews.
The Golden Olive
The Golden Olive has been a Queen Anne neighborhood favorite for high-quality Mediterranean food since 2014. Grab an overstuffed gyro and feta-topped Greek fries for a quick lunch, or go in on kebab plates for the family-style dinner of your dreams. Bonus: No dishes required.
Evergreens
There’s no such thing as a sad salad at Evergreens, Seattle’s homegrown answer to Sweetgreen. Their unabashedly bold lineup of grain bowls, salads, and wraps pairs fresh produce with turbocharged salad dressings for a truly craveable take on good-for-you food.
Bok a Bok
Bok a Bok takes Korean fried chicken to new heights of crispy deliciousness. Each piece is air-dried, hand-dipped, and double-fried for the crunchiest chicken in the city. It’s delicious enough to devour alone, but even better paired with handmade biscuits and kimchi mac n’ cheese.
Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizza
What puts Neapolitan-style pizza in a league of its own? A perfectly chewy crust, creamy mozzarella cheese, a puddle of tomato sauce, and a piping hot wood-burning oven. Tutta Bella does all of this — then layers on toppings like pistachio puree, prosciutto di Parma, and caramelized onions.
Dino’s Tomato Pie
When a pizza craving hits and only East Coast-style will do, head to Dino’s Tomato Pie. The Capitol Hill mainstay offers wonderfully nostalgic suburban vibes plus two different styles of pies: round and square Sicilian. Both are loaded up with toppings, supported by deeply burnished, chewy crusts.
Annapurna Café
If you’re in search of deeply spiced comfort food, Annapurna Café should be at the top of your dining destination list. The charming underground café specializes in the traditional dishes of India, Nepal, and Tibet, from chicken momo dumplings and crisp vegetable samosas to vegetable kofta and tender, slow-cooked lamb curry.
Thai Thani Kitchen
Chewy stir-fried pad see ew, fragrant coconut curry, and crispy, garlicky fried chicken are just a few of the Thai classics that set Thai Thani Kitchen apart. Their food is perfect for any craving or occasion, but especially good for lunch, thanks to special combos that pair favorite curries with fresh noodles.
Tat’s Delicatessen
East Coast-style deli sandwiches and subs get the Seattle treatment at Tat’s, a lunchtime mainstay since opening in 2004. Owners Brian Tatman and Jason Simodejka both grew up on the East Coast, and their love of deli classics like Reubens and Philly cheesesteaks is evident in every bite.
La Palmera Mexican Restaurant
This family-owned restaurant has been feeding Seattleites exceptional Mexican food for over 25 years. Their sprawling menu has something for everyone at your table, from hulking deluxe burritos to sizzling fajitas and fully stuffed enchiladas.
Serious Pie Ballard
The glory of Pacific Northwest produce is on full display at this artisanal pizza spot. Think: Foraged mushrooms, housemade charcuterie, and fresh produce grown in nearby Prosser, Washington. It’s all piled on slow-fermented pizza dough and baked in a fiery 600-degree oven for some of the best pizza in the city.
Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge
When you’re craving Cajun-Creole cuisine but don’t have time for a trip to the Big Easy, head to Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge. Brunch lovers will swoon for the sugar-dusted beignets and buttery shrimp and grits, plus there’s plenty of po’ boys and spicy seafood gumbo for dinner too. And of course, the drinks are not to be missed.
Cactus
Maybe it’s raining and tortilla soup sounds like the perfect lunch. Maybe you have a burning craving for melty cheese that only queso can solve. Whatever your dining situation, Cactus is here to meet your Southwestern cuisine needs. Their curated menu includes Navajo fry bread, smoked chicken quesadillas, and plenty of Hatch green chiles.
Bai Tong Thai Street Cafe
For over 15 years, Bai Tong Thai Street Cafe has been known as one of the city’s most beloved Thai restaurants. Two generations of one family — helmed by a former Thai Airways flight attendant — run this restaurant, which offers everything from restorative tom kha soup to naem, a delicious fermented pork sausage.
Fremont Bowl
Fremont Bowl is an ode to homestyle Japanese comfort food, from nameko mushroom miso soup to zuke maguro don — soy-marinated tuna over warm sushi rice. A huge degree of thoughtfulness and care goes into each dish — even down to the housemade soy sauce.
Bounty Kitchen
If you’re the kind of person to pace the farmers market waiting for the latest seasonal produce to drop, Bounty Kitchen is the place for you. True to its name, both the Queen Anne and Capitol Hill locations celebrate the bounty of organic Pacific Northwest produce through vegetable-laden sandwiches, scrambles, salads, juices, and noodle bowls. Eating green never tasted better.
8oz Burger & Co.
When a juicy burger is calling your name, 8oz Burger & Co. is the place to go. Opened in 2011 by chef Kevin Chung, the local chain is still a Seattle favorite thanks to thoughtful sourcing and flavorful preparations. The housemade patties are made from antibiotic- and hormone-free Black Angus cows from Open Prairie located in Pasco, Washington.
Umi Sake House
Seafood and sake shine at this Belltown Japanese mainstay. The large izakaya-style small-plates menu has a wide range of seafood dishes, from seared scallops to lobster tempura with oyster sauce. During happy hour, take advantage of the great sushi and sashimi specials.
Gorditos
Ever had a “baby burrito”? The burrito grande at Gorditos is truly the size of an infant, held together by two flour tortillas. Fill it with your choice of meat or fajita-style tofu, then rice, beans, and salsa for an unforgettably gigantic meal. There’s also huevos rancheros, smaller breakfast burritos, and plenty of tacos.
Veraci Pizza
Dream up your ultimate pizza pie at Veraci Pizza, where customization is always welcome. Add classics like mushrooms and pepperoni, experiment with dairy-free pesto and fresh pineapple … or stick to the menu of predesigned pies.
Mioposto
Ready to eat on the smoky side? Tiah and Jeremy Hardy opened the first Mioposto back in 2006 — and they’re still serving up excellent wood-fired pizza, Mediterranean-inspired salads, and other favorites. Don’t skip any of the wood-fired sides, from freshly baked bread to local Penn Cove mussels roasted over an open flame with butter, garlic, and truffle oil.
