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$ | University District |
The stained glass saint, holding wheat in one hand and a Japanese melonpan (bun) in the other, summarizes this eccentric but excellent bakery perched on the shore of the Ship Canal. Scandanavian-style cardamom knots, classic French croissants, and fried egg sandwiches with Thai-style turkey sausage exemplify the breakfast selection here. The grab-and-go counter displays pre-made salads and sandwiches, an equally intriguing array. While the counter and kitchen take up the entire indoor space, a covered patio on the side keeps diners warm and dry.
1421 NE Boat St., Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
Known For
- Eclectic but interesting menu
- Innovative breakfast sandwiches
- Lovely covered outdoor patio
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The lines are long for hearty, unforgettable sandwiches filled with superior house-cured meats and more at this shop, originally founded by famed New York chef Mario Batali's father Armandino. The oxtail sandwich special is unbeatable, but if it's unavailable or sold out (as specials often are by the lunchtime peak) order a salami, bresaola, porchetta, meatball, sausage, or lamb prosciutto sandwich with onions, peppers, cheese, and olive oil. You can order whole or half sandwiches. Most people opt for takeout, or grab one of the tables in the packed dining room.
404 Occidental Ave. S, Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
Known For
- Cured meats
- Oxtail sandwich
- Famous chef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.-Mon.
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Only in Seattle would rice porridge qualify as a beach eat, but like Sam I Am, you should eat this anywhere. In 2022, this congee-only shop moved from a shared space into its own location on Golden Gardens, where it continues to use its single dish as a canvas on which it paints museum-worthy flavors. Each bowl comes stuffed full of plump shrimp, tender fish, or spicy beef, and the only side is fried dough for dipping: nothing more is needed, as these are meals unto themselves.
6301 Seaview Ave. NW, Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
Known For
- Crispy fried dough
- Southeast Asian flavors
- Creative congee
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
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Founder Shiro Kashiba is no longer here (he's now at Downtown's Sushi Kashiba), but this sushi spot is still the best in Belltown, with simple decor, ultra-fresh fish, and an omakase service that's a bit more affordable than at other spots.
2401 2nd Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Chef's choice omakase
- Affordable sushi
- Simple ambience
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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After decades spent earning a reputation as one of Seattle’s top sushi chefs, Shiro Kashiba opened his own spot in a location as notable as his skill with seafood deserves. Diners in the spare-but-elegant Pike Place Market space can opt for the omakase (chef’s choice) selection of the best fish from around the world and just up the street, or order from the menu of Japanese classics and sashimi. Arrive early for a coveted spot at the sushi bar or reserve ahead of time for a table.
86 Pine St., Seattle, Washington, 98101, USA
Known For
- Local celebrity chef
- Memorable omakase
- Outstanding service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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When the family behind a fifth-generation shellfish farm decides to open a restaurant devoted to their signature products, the result is a temple to those oysters, mussels, and clams. Cool colors, a metal bar, and big windows give the urban restaurant a distinctly beachy feel, which seems appropriate for digging into dozens of the region's acclaimed bivalves. Start with the raw oysters and a few other types of chilled seafood for the most pure taste of the Pacific Northwest, but know there's plenty of chowder and steamed mussels to warm you up afterwards.
124 Republican St., Seattle, Washington, 98109, USA
Known For
- The Salish sampler—a giant tray of chilled seafood
- Tide-to-table seafood
- Soul-warming chowder
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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The first oyster bar from a fifth-generation family-owned aquaculture farm, it's designed to give the diner the ultimate experience of eating a raw oyster. The elegant but casual wood bar and subway-tiled walls frame big tubs of bubbling water keeping the shellfish alive. The menu stays simple, with a focus on the half-dozen varieties of oyster usually on offer and helpful staff that explain each one and shuck them to order. They also sell geoduck (the local giant clam) sashimi, cracked Dungeness crab, shellfish chowder, and a few other dishes for those who want a more complete meal. The wine list is specially curated with glasses that pair well with raw oysters. You can also purchase raw and live shellfish here, to shuck or cook yourself. The Queen Anne and Pioneer Square locations serve more complete meals, while the Samish Bay location makes a great day trip stop.
1521 Melrose Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
Known For
- Live shellfish
- Family-owned business
- Oyster-focused dining
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Oysters don’t get any fresher than this: Taylor, a fifth-generation, family-owned company, opened its own restaurant in order to serve their products in the manner most befitting such pristine shellfish. The simple preparations—raw, cooked, and chilled—are all designed to best show off the seafood with light broths and sauces and a few accoutrements. This is the place to come for a true sense of the Pacific Northwest’s “merroir”—taste of the local waters, including the (in)famous local giant clam, the geoduck, which is mostly known for its unique, somewhat lewd shape. Proximity to the stadium makes this the perfect destination for Seattle’s quirky local tailgaters, who often prefer a dozen fresh-shucked bivalves to chili or barbecue.
410 Occidental Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
Known For
- Popular with locals
- Expert shucking
- Unlikely pre-stadium tailgating stop
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An Instagram-perfect brunch spot, this Ballard charmer deals in trends like thick ricotta toast, and classic comforts like Benedicts and cheesy egg bakes. The light-filled café offers house-made baked goods and coffee from the marble countertop. Once seated, brunchers dig into house-made yogurt, granola, and the legendary crispy potatoes, and, later in the day, heartier savory lunches. As befits such a great morning spot, fresh-squeezed juices and a well-curated wine list make for excellent day drinking of all types.
1418 NW 70th St., Seattle, Washington, 98117, USA
Known For
- Hearty brunch
- Comforting egg bakes
- Stunning ricotta toast
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Reservations essential
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$$ | Madison Park |
Across the street from the popular Madison Park Beach, this worker-owned shop quietly and consistently turns out some of the city's best pies. Chewy, thin, crispy, and full of flavor, the crusts defy a specific style, beyond "a New Yorker would approve." Toppings include classics as well as creative combinations like the No Brainer, with morel mushrooms and house-made cultured cream. A smattering of first-come, first-serve bistro tables on the patio clue diners into the mostly takeout nature of the business, but with the grassy shore just a few steps away, it works out well.
4235 E. Madison St., Seattle, Washington, 98112, USA
Known For
- Blistered-crust pizzas
- Worker owned
- Beachfront location
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Wed., Currently takeout only
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Art meets seasonal ingredients in the traditional multi-course kaiseki meal, and here, it also intersects with the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Eight courses of local seafood, premium meat, and foraged treasures show off the chef's mastery of various techniques. Look for fresh nigiri, grilled Wagyu beef, and refreshing broths, served at the chef's counter or the tables, in a minimalist setting that keeps the focus on the quite attractive plates.
411 Cedar St., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Kaiseki-style meal
- Luxury ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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Westward singularly nails the dream of Seattle visitors and locals alike: serving high-quality, fresh local seafood from a waterfront location with a view. Lake Union laps at the rocky shore just feet from where diners look out toward Downtown as just-shucked oysters gleam from seafood towers. Owned by Seattle's seafood queen, Renee Erickson, Westward takes its mission to present pristine seafood in a simple fashion very seriously, starting with the splurge-worthy shellfish tower. The short menu focuses on chilled and raw seafood, but also includes a few small salads and larger dishes that come from the wood-fired oven. The wine list is excellent, but the full bar also offers a flight of mezcal to pair with the oysters.
2501 N. Northlake Way, Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
Known For
- Variety of fresh oysters
- Waterfront and view tables
- Elegant shellfish towers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Weaving local seafood into gastropub-style favorites, this waterfront restaurant makes food as good as the view, which stretches up to the Space Needle to the west and over to Lake Union to the north. Seafood chowder, both on its own and over fries as "Poutine o' the Sea," Dungeness Crab Louie salad, and amazing oysters show off the kitchen's skill with the local treasures. The menu offers plenty of options from snacks to seafood platters, plus some meat and vegetable dishes for any landlubbers. In the summer, grab a quick chowder at the 100-Pound Clam, the restaurant's sister shack on the patio, or stop by on weekday afternoons for "Shells and Champagne" happy hour specials.
1001 Fairview Ave. N, Seattle, Washington, 98109, USA
Known For
- Inventive seafood dishes
- Seafood happy hour
- Jaw-dropping views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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Wallingford's strip of Japanese food holds sushi, grilled meats, and ramen for every budget, with this slip of a spot ranking among the best. Ramen comes in a wide variety, including high-end versions made with Wagyu broth and super traditional shio and shoyu options, plus vegan mushroom and gluten-free versions. A smattering of small plates rounds out the offerings, including a focus on zangi (Japanese-style fried chicken).
After your meal, head to the ice cream window, Indigo Cow, and try Hokkaido milk soft-serve from the first place to serve it in the U.S.
1911 N. 45th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
Known For
- Deeply flavorful ramen broth
- Drinking snacks
- Okonomiyaki (savory pancakes)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Baja California Mexican cuisine and a laid-back vibe define this casual spot that's done up in bright, beachy colors, with a lively deck come summertime. Regulars swear by the fresh fish tacos and mangodillas (quesadillas with mango and poblano chilies). Be sure to pay a visit to the salsa bar and wash it all down with a salt-rimmed margarita or house-made agua fresca. Waits are long on sunny days and hours vary seasonally, so call ahead.
Agua Verde is perched waterside on a street surrounded by quirky boat-repair shops; in the warmer months, you can rent kayaks under the restaurant and paddle around Portage Bay.
1303 NE Boat St., Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
Known For
- Stellar views of the Ship Canal
- Baja-style tacos with wild local fish
- Prickly pear margaritas
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Lamb gyros, falafel sandwiches, and hummus platters are all excellent here.
4541 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
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The hipster and third-wave coffee dreams combine at this picture-perfect café on the Capitol Hill's west slope. Bright, light, and with big windows onto a quiet street, it invites coffee drinkers in to sit for a spell. As per the name, the music spins on records and they stock paper newspapers, but the coffee is decidedly modern. Beans come from a variety of local roasters, and brews include the standards plus cold brew on tap, pourover, and espresso tonics.
235 Summit Ave. E, Seattle, Washington, 98102, USA
Known For
- Quality coffee
- Cold brew on tap
- Attractive decor
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Anchorhead is serious about coffee: everybody raves about their smooth roasts that need no doctoring, from pour-overs to perfectly pulled espresso. They also serve unique milk-substitute creations, like the popular creamy-green pistachio matcha and the Shy Bear Fog Latte (oolong, burnt honey, and oat milk) along with a menu of pastries and breakfast sandwiches. One of Anchorhead's star menu items is the Quaffle: a cinnamon roll made of laminated croissant dough pressed in a waffle iron. Finding seating at the industrial-chic cafe can be tricky on busy mornings so you may end up having to grab-and-go.
2003 Western Ave., Seattle, Washington, 98121, USA
Known For
- Unique flavors
- In the heart of Downtown
- Something for everyone
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Small, pricey, and utterly unforgettable, Art of the Table is a constantly changing tour de force where you're sure to experience an inspired meal. Fresh farmers' market finds are an absolute obsession here, and, on any given night, diners might enjoy offerings like caramelized Brussels sprouts with pistachios, braised oxtail, rockfish ceviche, manila clams with cauliflower, and rhubarb soup with crème fraîche. The dining menu offers a standard or vegetarian five-course tasting menu and the wine pairings are elegant and worth the splurge.
3801 Stone Way N, Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
Known For
- Tasting menu
- Unforgettable experience
- Local ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues., Reservations essential
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Widely considered one of the best bakeries in the city, Bakery Nouveau has perfected many things, including cakes, croissants, and tarts. Their chocolate cake, in particular, might make you swoon, though twice-baked almond croissants are so good you might think you're in France when you take a bite—and owner William Leaman did lead a U.S. team to victory in France's Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie. Sandwiches, quiches, and pizzas are also on offer if you need something delicious and substantial before a banana mousse, pistachio macaron, or chocolate éclair. Artisan breads round out the offerings. If you don't make it out to West Seattle, they have Capitol Hill and Burien locations as well.
4737 California Ave. SW, Seattle, Washington, 98116, USA
Known For
- Flaky croissants
- Delicious chocolate cake
- Great savory options for lunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Tues.