34 Best Restaurants in Spokane and Eastern Washington, Washington

Background Illustration for Restaurants

Nearly every small town in eastern Washington has at least one fast-food drive-through for a quick meal on the go, but choosing a slower pace will reward visitors with an authentic dining experience that often doesn't cost much more. Local diners and cafés are great spots for getting a hearty breakfast of traditional favorites like farm-fresh eggs or biscuits and gravy. Somewhat surprisingly, several of the small towns have outstanding dining options, too. At many restaurants there's an emphasis on locally grown, organic foods. With the region's many farms, it's easy to source produce, grains, poultry, meat, and dairy items, and some restaurants have their own gardens on-site for the freshest produce of all. Spokane has a good diversity of cuisines and some highly acclaimed restaurants, but up-and-coming Walla Walla is also becoming a mecca for foodies and wine lovers.

Breadline Cafe

$$ Fodor's choice

Since the early 1980s, Breadline has been a top dining destination in the Okanogan Valley for hearty servings of eclectic fare. The menu features local organic produce, a variety of freshly baked breads, and locally raised natural Angus beef. You'll find Cajun dishes such as jambalaya, as well as an around-the-world assortment of cuisines, including Italian and Greek. The bakery features such sweet treats as lavender shortbread cookies, espresso brownies, elaborately-decorated cakes, and other pastries and breads for take-out.

102 S. Ash St., Omak, 98841, USA
509-826–5836
Known For
  • The apple pie, pink cookie, and fresh baked bread are local favorites
  • Soda fountain treats like huckleberry milkshakes
  • Take-out cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat.–Mon.

Clinkerdagger

$$$$ Fodor's choice

In a former flour mill with great views of the Spokane River, Clink's has been a Spokane institution since 1974. The seafood, steaks, and prime rib are excellent; the Broadway pea salad, French onion soup, and beer-battered fish-and-chips are all popular at lunch. Some favorite dessert choices include seasonal bread pudding, molten chocolate cake, and key lime pie.

Frank's Diner

$$ Fodor's choice

Right off the Maple Street Bridge, this is the state's oldest railroad-car restaurant; built as an observation car in 1906, it has original light fixtures, stained-glass windows, and mahogany details. Generously sized breakfasts are the specialty here, including unique items like Creole Benedict with lobster, shrimp, and crab. On the sweeter side, there's orange cranberry French toast and cinnamon roll waffles. For dinner there's such comfort food as turkey with mashed potatoes, meat loaf, and chicken-fried steak.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Whitehouse-Crawford Restaurant

$$$$ Fodor's choice

In a former wood mill, this fine-dining destination has gained a reputation for quality and excellence, thanks to chef-owner Jamie Guerin. Local is the watchword here, where hamburgers are made with grass-fed beef from Blue Valley Meats, and other nearby purveyors supply produce, cheese, meat, eggs, and even popcorn for the bar. Start with the warm spinach salad with trout or the orange avocado salad, then move on to the beef tenderloin steak, Japanese-style fried chicken, and fresh fish that varies by season.

55 W. Cherry St., Walla Walla, 99362, USA
509-525–2222
Known For
  • Extensive wine list features many Walla Walla Valley winemakers
  • House-made ice cream and sorbet
  • More casual dining at bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch, Credit cards accepted

Anthony's at Columbia Point

$$$$

The Anthony's chain is renowned for fine waterfront dining in western Washington, and this outpost on the Columbia River waterfront continues the tradition. Seafood is the specialty—from fish-focused appetizers, including panfried Willapa Bay oysters and fresh Northwest manila clams, to entrées with Dungeness crab (whole, in fettuccine, or in crab cakes), Idaho rainbow trout, Alaskan weathervane scallops, char-grilled Alaskan halibut, and salmon. Several steaks are among the other entrée offerings.

550 Columbia Point Dr., Richland, 99352, USA
509-946–3474
Known For
  • Weekday sunset three-course dinners
  • Fresh seafood from the Northwest and Alaska regions
  • Moorage for guests arriving by boat

Atomic Ale Brewpub and Eatery

$$

The staff is friendly at this small, casual brewpub, which serves several house-brewed beers to go with the delicious wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches (the hot grinder is a specialty), salads, and soups. Local memorabilia is displayed throughout the restaurant, and the history of the Hanford Nuclear Site is depicted in photos on the walls. Dessert choices get clever names to match the nuclear theme, like the B-Reactor brownie.

1015 Lee Blvd., Richland, 99352, USA
509-946–5465
Known For
  • Red-potato soup made with in-house brew
  • Spicy "nuclear butter" adds heat to dishes
  • Creative pizza options and weekly specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.

Birch & Barley

$$

This Pullman spot has a loyal following of both local residents and out-of-towners, who come for the excellent bar and the Southern-inspired menu that also highlights WSU's locally produced cheese in such dishes as Cougar lobster mac and cheese and Pullman poutine. Gulf gumbo, Bayou catfish, shrimp/crab etouffe, and the "Rajin' Cajun Pasta" (which comes with chicken, shrimp, Andouille sausage, and a heat warning) give a decidedly Louisiana slant to the menu. The bar offers more than a dozen craft cocktails and groups them as "beginner," "intermediate," and "advanced" to reflect their sweetness and alcohol taste.

1360 Bishop Blvd., Pullman, 99163, USA
509-332–0108
Known For
  • Bloody Mary bar
  • 80 whiskey options
  • Cougar Gold cheese in several dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.

Casper Fry

$$
In Spokane's South Perry District, this restaurant has food and ambience that would fit right into a hip Seattle or Portland foodie neighborhood, the menu includes such comfort foods as cast-iron-skillet mac and cheese, buttermilk fried chicken, blackened catfish, po' boys, and shrimp and grits. Biscuits (with sausage gravy or fried chicken), beef brisket, and cinnamon French toast are some of the fare served up at weekend brunch. Desserts include chocolate-peanut-butter pie, banana-bread pudding, beignets, and house-made ice cream.
928 S. Perry, Spokane, 99202, USA
509-535--0536
Known For
  • Barrel-aged cocktails and an impressive list of whiskeys
  • Dishes hot from a charcoal-burning oven
  • Great brunch spot
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.

Colville Street Patisserie

$

This delicious little café has a modern, sleek vibe, and welcoming staff who will be happy to give details about the delightful French treats, including kouign amann, four kinds of croissants, canelé, eclairs, brioche, palmiers, and an ever-changing selection of macarons. Espresso drinks feature local Walla Walla Roastery coffee; there's a house-made chai and some looseleaf teas too. Decadent tarts and cakes also beckon from the pastry cake, and if you didn't save room for gelato or sorbet, be sure and get a pint to take home.

de España

$$$

Local restaurateur/chef Adam Hegsted keeps coming up with new restaurant concepts—de España, which opened in 2022, brings a Spanish tapas bar scene to downtown Spokane in a colorful and lively setting. The small plate choices include deviled eggs with n’duja, a spicy Italian sausage with a spreadable texture; gazpacho; and a filling Tortilla Española, while larger appetites will be satisfied with the paella—offered both in the traditional form and in a roasted vegetable version. The twice-daily happy hour is a good way to try more of the menu. Sangria is one of many Spanish-inspired beverages from the bar. The dessert menu features baked treats and some warm after-dinner drinks, too.

909 W. 1st Ave., Spokane, 99201, USA
509-443–4215
Known For
  • Flavorful, varied menu
  • Friendly, energetic staff
  • Great happy hour
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch

Elk Public House

$$

This casual eatery in the relaxed Browne's Addition neighborhood serves tasty pub food like grilled lamb sandwiches, blackened chicken alfredo, and a Korean pork bowl, and you can wash it all down with one of the 16 beers on tap. A copper bar stands along one wall, backed by a mirror and lots of memorabilia, giving the interior a saloonlike appearance.

1931 W. Pacific Ave., Spokane, 99201, USA
509-363–1973
Known For
  • Good selection of microbrews, most from the Northwest
  • Hipster vibe, but families are just as welcome
  • Nice patio for outdoor dining

Europa Restaurant and Bakery

$$$

Artisanal pizza is featured here (including gluten-free), along with lots of pastas, calzones, salads, seafood, steak, and chicken dishes. Candles on the tables, murals, exposed brick, and wood beams give a European flavor to the dining room and adjacent pub. If you can't save room for dessert, take home treats from the in-house bakery.

125 S. Wall St., Spokane, 99201, USA
509-455–4051
Known For
  • A popular spot for happy hour
  • Really good desserts
  • Easygoing atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch

Francaise

$$$$

After acclaimed restaurant Caspar Fry closed in 2022 following a decade-long run, Francaise opened in the same spot just a couple of months later, bringing the flavors of France to the South Perry district. Much of the interior is the same and it's still a great spot to meet friends for brunch, and to enjoy an array of cocktails with such dishes as croque madame, rolled French toast, omelets, or the ultra-rich macaroni with truffle sauce. The dinner menu includes coq au vin served with smashed potatoes, dry aged pork ribeye, escargot, and French onion soup. Beignets are available for brunch and as an after-dinner treat.

928 S. Perry St., Spokane, 99202, USA
509-315–4153
Known For
  • Rich and filling brunch options
  • Poutine made with Idaho potatoes
  • Deviled eggs with caviar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, brunch only on weekends

Fresh Soul

$$

Operated by a neighborhood nonprofit that helps young people learn job skills, Fresh Soul blends a worthy purpose with really good Southern food. At lunchtime, a pulled pork or catfish sandwich will hit the spot, and for dinner, the big combo meals (think fried chicken legs with beans, potato salad, and cornbread) are tasty and filling. The colorful cafe has a few tables, but everything is also nicely packaged for take-out.

3029 E. 5th Ave., Spokane, 99202, USA
509-242–3377
Known For
  • Tasty ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender
  • Favorite beverages include sweet tea
  • Family combos are a good value
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. in summer, Sun.–Wed. in winter, and mid-Dec.–Feb.

Gilded Unicorn

$$

This speakeasy-style restaurant/bar, steps down from the Montvale Hotel, has a cool vibe, with brick and stone walls that feel medieval, juxtaposed with very modern comfort food. Menu choices include a tater tot casserole with brisket and roasted wild mushrooms, salmon n' grits, harissa meatloaf, and wild mushroom stroganoff. Coconut cream pie with banana whipped cream is a delicious end to a meal.

110 S. Monroe St., Spokane, 99201, USA
509-309–3698
Known For
  • Great spot for pre- and post-theater eating and drinking
  • 20 unicorns in the decor
  • Early and late evening happy hours
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch

Hattaway's on Alder

$$$

Downtown Walla Walla is home to some excellent eateries, and Hattaway's on Alder has continued to raise the bar even higher with innovative and delicious dishes like Dungeness crab fritters, pecan crusted cod, and shrimp perloo risotto. Tasty starters include the pimiento cheese with crostini and the smoked oysters with Walla Walla sweet onions. Chicken cassoulet, braised beef cheeks, and curry fish chowder show the versatility of restaurant's menu. Friendly co-owner Lindsay Hattaway is likely to stop by your table and say hello.

125 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, USA
509-525–4433
Known For
  • Inventive menu with both Southern and Northwest influences
  • Creative cocktails and many wine choices
  • Save room for the delicious pecan pie
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch

Huckleberry's 9th Street Bistro

$

Set inside Huckleberry's Natural Market, this bistro has a coffee and juice bar, pre-made sandwiches and salads, and lots of items that can be made fresh to eat in or take-out, including sandwiches, salads, burgers, and wraps. If you're in a hurry, call in your order so it will be ready when you arrive; otherwise there may be a wait during the busy lunch hour. Evenings are more leisurely and you can kick by with a beer or glass of wine while your food is prepared, or try the pasta bar available Friday and Saturday evenings.

Ice Harbor at the Marina

$$

There are 10 ales on tap at Ice Harbor Brewery's restaurant, along with a rotating hard seltzer and cider, and a good selection of cocktails and local wines. You can order your favorite bar snacks like pulled pork nachos, wings, and pretzels, along with more substantial fare including bacon cheddar prime rib panini, shrimp po boy, beer-battered cod-and-chips, and several burger options. For a late lunch or early dinner, the weekday happy hour is a great value.

Kinglet

$$$$

Chef Maximilien Petty, founder/owner of the Eden Hill and Big Max Burgers restaurants in Seattle, opened Kinglet in the former space of Whitehouse-Crawford in 2022 and quickly received acclaim for the elevated dining experience it offers. From small plates in the bar to the seven-course tasting dinners, available both in the dining room and at the chef's counter, the emphasis is on savoring delicious and artfully presented meals. Offerings change seasonally, highlighting local produce and purveyors, and might include the Walla Walla Waldorf salad, fried chicken thigh, or gouda cheeseburger in the bar, while tasting dinners might include Snake River steak or rack of lamb as entrees, perhaps with a chicken liver mousse starter. Reservations are essential for tasting dinners.

55 W. Cherry St., Walla Walla, 99362, USA
509-676–4550
Known For
  • Seven-course tasting dinner
  • Three-course brunch
  • Pizza pop-up nights
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed. Tues. and Wed. and mid-Jan.-early Feb., Reservations required for tasting dinner

Latah Bistro

$$$

Tucked into a strip mall in south Spokane near the Creek at Qualchan Golf Course, this neighborhood restaurant serves a wide-ranging menu that changes frequently. Some standards include salmon with asparagus and fingerling potatoes, seared scallops, bistro salad with gorgonzola and figs, and rich desserts. For a sweet ending to your meal, try the seasonal fruit cobbler, peanut butter chocolate cake, or the "bucket of love" (gluten-free flourless mini-chocolate cakes dusted with spices). Sunday brunch features varied choices, from English-toffee-banana-pecan French toast to corned-beef hash with apples.

Luna

$$$$

You'll find inventive approaches to classics here, from grass-fed beef burgers to duck with kumquat marmalade. Salmon charcuterie, coconut curry prawns, and oxtail sliders are good choices from the small plates menu. The luscious desserts are worth a visit on their own—especially the Grand Marnier beignets, cookies and cream layer cake, and house-made gelato. There's a curbside menu if you want to enjoy your meal in another setting; it includes some family-style options for salads and small plates.

5620 S. Perry St., Spokane, 99223, USA
509-448–2383
Known For
  • Rose terrace and courtyard dining in summer
  • Tasty wood-fired pizzas
  • Extensive wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch

Mary Lou's Milk Bottle

$

Built in 1933, this restaurant is shaped like a gigantic milk bottle; since 1978 the eatery has been selling homemade ice cream. Fries are made from hand-cut potatoes, buns are made in-house, and burgers, sandwiches, salads, and soup (in winter only) round out the menu. The Milk Bottle makes a cameo in Johnny Depp's rom-com Benny & Joon.

Michael's on the Lake

$$$

As the late-afternoon rays of sunlight wash over the dining room and deck at this lakeside restaurant, you can indulge in main courses like Parmesan-crusted halibut over linguine and baby back ribs or share several of the smaller plates like ginger-chicken lettuce wraps, mahimahi tacos, and fried calamari. Chocolate lovers will appreciate the mile-high mud pie, half-baked chocolate-chip cookies, and chocolate-banana bread pudding.

Mizuna

$$$$

Fresh flowers and redbrick walls lend color and charm to this downtown eatery, where a patio is open for outdoor dining when the weather gets warm. Depending on the season, the daily seafood might be steelhead, scallops, salmon, or halibut, usually served with grilled vegetables. Grilled pork tenderloin comes with bacon-fat roasted brussel sprouts, and local produce is the inspiration for such scrumptious vegetarian fare as white-cheddar-and-apple salad. Dessert specialties include vegan carrot cake and flourless dark chocolate and crystallized ginger torte.

214 N. Howard St., Spokane, 99201, USA
509-747–2004
Known For
  • An entire menu of vegetarian and vegan dishes
  • Smoked trout bruschetta gets rave reviews
  • Northwest regional wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch

Monterosso's Italian Restaurant

$$

In a refurbished railroad dining car, this small and charming Italian restaurant is fun for the whole family, but it's also a nice choice for a romantic meal. The traditional fare includes bruschetta, chicken and veal Parmesan, and several steak and seafood options. The house specialty, tortellini Oreste, features rose-shaped tortellini stuffed with ricotta cheese and sautéed with tomatoes and walnuts in pesto sauce; scallops or prawns can be added. Family-style dinners are available for take-out, too.

1026 Lee Blvd., Richland, 99352, USA
509-946–4525
Known For
  • House-made desserts including tiramisu
  • More than two dozen wine choices
  • Authentic Italian dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch

Porter House Steakhouse

$$$

The owners of one of Moses Lake's oldest restaurants set out to make it a favorite family gathering place where, as the name implies, steaks are the main event, ranging from an 8-ounce sirloin to a 24-ounce porterhouse. Green bean fries are a popular appetizer choice and salad choices are varied, including a hot chicken salad. Check out the house-made desserts, including Texas sheet cake and strawberry shortbread ice cream cake.

Post Street Ale House

$$

Adjacent to The Davenport Lusso, this casual eatery offers standard pub fare like fish-and-chips, beef sliders, and several kinds of burgers. Starters include the signature fried pickles, hand-cut onion rings, and wings with your choice of sauce. Two of the signature cocktails feature huckleberries and there's a beer sampler option.

Sella's Calzone and Pastas

$$

Made daily from scratch, the calzones are always fresh at this cozy storefront and include the most popular, Coug (pepperoni, mushrooms, and black olives), followed by the Gourmet (artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, and pesto sauce). Pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, and salads are also served.

Steelhead Bar & Grille

$$$

This pub-style eatery, housed in one of Spokane's many historic brick buildings, has an urban contemporary vibe thanks to lots of burnished-metal artwork by local artists. Sandwiches and burgers make this a handy place for a weekend lunch or lighter dinner; halibut-and-chips, whiskey-sauced ribeye steak with roasted potatoes, and (of course) a steelhead fillet with garlic-parmesan butter are heartier fare. The bar menu features reasonably-priced signature cocktails.

218 N. Howard St., Spokane, 99201, USA
509-747–1303
Known For
  • Dig into the half-pound bison burger
  • Smoked steelhead chowder
  • Great happy hour specials
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch weekdays, No reservations

The Onion Taphouse & Grill

$$

Pressed-tin ceilings, vintage photographs, and a century-old bar with ornate columns evoke the past at this former saloon and pharmacy, enthusiastically serving American fare for decades. There are more than a dozen sandwiches and burgers on the menu, along with heartier dishes like pot roast dinner, two kinds of fish-and-chips, wild Alaskan salmon, and sirloin steak. For sharing, there's the baked Cougar Gold cheese dip with flatbread and a decadent warm chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Area 51 Taphouse is located inside the restaurant and offers 51 beverages on tap.

302 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, 99201, USA
509-747–3852
Known For
  • Excellent desserts, including huckleberry pound cake
  • Six good choices on the "leaner menu"
  • Salads are a meal on their own