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This steak house incorporates high-quality beef into the culinary traditions of northern Mexico. Barley-fed Australian Angus and American, Japanese, and Australian Wagyu hit the grill, while USDA Prime meat goes into tacos and tortas. The salsa bar and appetizers show the finest ingredients and flavors, along with a touch of tradition in the handmade guacamole. Along with a strong wine list, the bar stocks a superb selection of mezcals that includes niche and rare bottles.
5405 Leary Ave. NW, Seattle, Washington, 98107, USA
Known For
- Varied mezcal collection
- Colorful salsa bar
- High-quality beef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations recommended
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$$ | Madison Park |
Enormous bowls filled with light, complex broths and the star of the show—handmade udon noodles—grace the tables at this tiny Madison Valley shop. Along with the various noodle dishes, the surprisingly large menu includes Japanese specialties including sushi, salads, tofu, and rice bowls. The lunch specials and combination meals allow diners to taste more than just a single dish, but if you only try one thing, make it the signature beef made with bonito flake broth and soy sauce.
2711 E. Madison St., Seattle, Washington, 98112, USA
Known For
- Good combo meal options
- Traditional Japanese dishes
- Handmade udon noodles
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$ | Greenwood |
One of the city’s neighborhood charmers, this beloved bakery churns out the best of French, British, and American pastry traditions, as well as their own unique treats. Mornings mean the espresso bar is busy and the croissants are flying off the shelves, while midday offers light salads, quiches, and their savory signature, the cretzel—a buttery, crisp, pretzel-knotted treat. Loose-leaf tea in the afternoon goes perfectly with their beautiful cakes, such as the stunning Victoria sponge, as well as on Friday when they offer a full tea service.
8300 Greenwood Ave. N, Seattle, Washington, USA
Known For
- Cretzels
- Full tea service
- Cake
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Tues.
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An organic café with everything you need for a picnic to-go or a leisurely lunch, Deru Market has something for everything. The bright, modern space starts the day with excellent coffee and pastries, with filling brunches on weekends. Lunch brings pizza, sandwiches, and salads, plus a few larger plates, while dinner brings a few extra main dishes. Vegetable side dishes compete with excellent French fries for table space, and most diners save room for a slice of the layer cakes that sit temptingly on the counter.
723 9th Ave, Seattle, Washington, 98033, USA
Known For
- Beautiful cakes
- Pretty interior
- Excellent vegetable dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Tues., The line can get long, but you can join it remotely from the restaurant\'s website
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$ | International District |
Starting out small and growing on word of mouth, Chera Amlag's bakery and bar sprouted from the desserts she made for her husband's Filipino pop-up dinners. A 2022 expansion grew this elegant I.D. space where she serves her dazzling purple ube cheesecake, alongside cafe foods with Filipino touches, like hot dog ensaymadas and pan de sal sandwiches. Their coffee program can compete with some of Seattle's best, using beans from the Philippines and around Southeast Asia to make pour-over, espresso, and specialty drinks. In the evening, the menu changes to more dinner-style dishes along with drinks, still focused on Filipino flavors.
504 5th Ave. S, Seattle, Washington, 98104, USA
Known For
- Bright purple cheesecake
- Filipino flavors
- Asian coffee
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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The best view of Downtown comes at an affordable price: the brightly colored Adirondack chairs outside this Korean-Hawaiian fish shack offer a panoramic view of the entire Downtown area. Inside, you’ll find tacos filled with Korean beef or “sexy tofu,” Spam slider sandwiches, and a classic fish-and-chips—served with kimchi tartar sauce. For dessert, the Hawaiian shaved ice makes it the perfect place to begin or end a beach walk on Alki—and to order more drinks through the sliding cocktail window on the side of the patio.
1660 Harbor Ave. SW, Seattle, Washington, 98126, USA
Known For
- Epic views
- Spam sliders
- Hawaiian shave ice
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One of the most beloved of Pike Place Market's restaurants, Matt's is all about intimate dining, fresh ingredients, and superb service. You can perch at the bar for pints and the signature deviled eggs or be seated at a table—complete with vases filled with flowers from the market—for a seasonal menu that synthesizes the best picks from the restaurant's produce vendors and an excellent wine list. Dinner entrées always include at least one catch of the day—perhaps a whole fish in saffron broth or Alaskan halibut with pea vines. Your first dinner at Matt's is like a first date you hope will never end. It is owned by Dan Bugge, a bit of a celebrity himself, having appeared on TV shows with Martha Stewart, Anthony Bourdain, and Bobby Flay.
94 Pike St., Seattle, Washington, 98101, USA
Known For
- Wonderful Market and water views
- Fresh catch of the day
- Late-night hours
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | International District |
Phở Bắc first brought its eponymous noodle soup to Seattle in the early 1980s; now, the children of the original owners proffer an equally pioneering Vietnamese restaurant. The recipes and flavors hew tightly to tradition, but the space and style come wholly from a young, modern perspective. The photogenic oversized beef ribs sticking out from an enormous bowl of noodles and broth have become iconic, as have the shots of whiskey served with hot pho broth. Multiple locations around town vary in menu; the benefit of this one is its prime location in Little Saigon, just across the parking lot from the boat-shaped original location.
1240 S. Jackson St., Seattle, Washington, 98144, USA
Known For
- Absurdly big beef ribs
- Fun versions of Vietnamese classics
- Excellent pho
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Adventurous enough for the most committed gourmands but accessible enough to be a neighborhood favorite, Revel starts with Korean street food and shakes it up with a variety of influences, from French to Americana. Noodle dishes at this sleek industrial-chic spot with ample outdoor seating might feature smoked tea noodles with roast duck or seaweed noodles with Dungeness crab, while irresistibly spicy dumplings might be stuffed with bites of short ribs, shallots, and scallions, or perhaps chickpeas, roasted cauliflower, and mustard yogurt. Plates are small enough so that you can save room for one of the playful desserts riffing off Junior Mints or butterscotch pudding.
401 N. 36th St., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
206-547–2040-Reservations
Known For
- Fusion flavors that work
- Playful desserts
- Creative rice bowls
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations recommended
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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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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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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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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.
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Straddling an indoor space and outdoor patio of the large 400 Fairview building, this lobster specialist channels a Maine shoreline shack into an urban west coast landscape. Seafood is the star here, particularly in the lobster roll, but also in other sandwiches, a range of salads, and the clam dip. They serve craft beer on tap, a few wines, and slushy cocktails in the summer.
400 Fairview Ave. N, Seattle, Washington, 98109, USA
Known For
- Frozen drinks in summer
- Big outdoor patio
- Many styles of lobster roll
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Mon.
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Located in the hip State Hotel, Ben Paris has become a neighborhood favorite for elevated classic American fare—think shrimp cocktail, wedge salads, fried chicken, and crab Louie—dished up in a stylish space with graphic wallpaper and a bustling bar. Don't miss the outstanding grilled octopus or the creative cocktail list designed by Abigail Gullo, a star bartender from New Orleans (one drink is served in a darling copper bird mug).
130 Pike St., Seattle, Washington, 98101, USA
Known For
- Avocado or tuna confit toast for breakfast or lunch
- Craft cocktails with unique ingredients
- Inside one of Seattle's coolest hotels
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Welcome to the year-round beach party at this Caribbean barbecue and sandwich shop located in an old gas station—even though the water is only Green Lake and its across a six-lane highway. The neon-green building with hot pink and blue graffiti sets the tone and the sand-covered floor drives the message home that no matter the weather in Seattle, Bongos brings the island sunshine. The menu of sandwiches and casual plates includes Jamaican, Cuban, and Trinidadian flavors, like the Desi with citrus braised pork and caramelized onions, or the shrimp po'boy with chili sauce and mango slaw, while plantains and yuca fries are must-order sides. Make sure you dress appropriately: this beach party is all outdoors and the partial cover doesn't offer much protection from the elements.
6501 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle, Washington, 98103, USA
Known For
- Great outdoor seating
- Flavorful sandwiches
- Beach party vibes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Tues.