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In a strip mall a short drive east of downtown, this simply decorated pan-Asian restaurant serves creative, often complex, dishes that often reflect Latin American influences—think ahi tacos and birria ramen. Fried soft-shell crab with tuna poke are stars among the noodle bowls, but also consider the gochujang-braised short ribs with kimchi-fried rice, pickled Fresno chilies, and a sunny-side-up egg.
8404 Bowdoin Way, Edmonds, Washington, 98020, USA
Known For
- Great deals during late-night happy hour
- Plenty of creative plant-based options
- Asian-Latino taco nights on Tuesday
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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With a dining room and spacious terrace overlooking the downtown's Waterfront District and Bellingham Bay, this spacious craft cider taproom is an inviting, family-friendly place to sample the rotating selection of small-batch sippers. This is a legit dining option, too, with a kitchen that turns out well-crafted contemporary Northwest fare, from pan-roasted diver scallops with gnocchi to pork tenderloin with rosemary spaetzle and a mustard cream sauce. There's also an impressive selection of beer, wine, and cocktails.
205 Prospect St., Bellingham, Washington, 98225, USA
Known For
- Interesting cider flavors like blood orange and blackberry-ginger
- Popular Sunday brunch
- Cider–poached apples with vanilla ice cream
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch weekdays
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Equal parts artisan coffee roaster and casual-chic brunch room, this airy café on a busy downtown corner stands out for both the quality and creativity of its food and drink. Highlights on the food side include the toast with balsamic rainbow beets and Humboldt Fog goat cheese; notable sippers range from a ginger-turmeric latte to local-blueberry mimosas.
221 W. Holly St., Bellingham, Washington, 98225, USA
Known For
- First-rate single-origin coffees and espresso drinks
- Seasonal lattes (cranberry crumble, candied pecan)
- Inventive brunch fare
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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Arguably the best restaurant inside the bustling 222 Market food hall, and one of the top dining destinations in the city, this beautifully designed contemporary seafood restaurant with a marble-top bar and striking oyster-shell chandeliers is a winning choice for anything from a snack of oysters on the half shell to a grand feast. Consider sharing a couple of starters—maybe charred carrots with white-bean hummus and local mussels, before diving into more substantial dishes, like whole Dungeness crab with brown butter, lemon, and capers.
222 Capitol Way N, Olympia, Washington, 98501, USA
Known For
- Popular weekend brunch
- Local shellfish prepared in inventive ways
- House-made focaccia with sea salt and sea bean powder
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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This decidedly offbeat breakfast and lunch spot in a quiet neighborhood just north of downtown stands out both for its prodigious portions of rib-sticking all-day breakfast fare and its funny (and often freaky) decorative elements, from dozens of clown paintings and figurines to its psychedelic color scheme. Prepare for a wait, especially on weekend mornings, and if you can possibly save room for dessert, the seasonal fruit (peach-blueberry, for example) bread puddings are to die for.
521 Kentucky St., Bellingham, Washington, 98225, USA
Known For
- Wonderfully bizarre and kitschy decor
- Chicken-fried steak with chorizo gravy
- Homemade cinnamon-roll French toast
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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On a breezy, sunny day, it's hard to find a more inviting spot for lunch or dinner than the deck of this upscale farm-to-table restaurant overlooking the pleasure boats chugging along downtown La Conner's Swinomish Channel. Whether you dine inside or out, expect a menu of stellar Pacific Northwest fare, perhaps lightly fried local oysters with lemon aioli to start, followed by a bone-in Kurobuta pork chop with stone-ground mustard demi-glace.
116 1st St., La Conner, Washington, 98257, USA
Known For
- Many organic ingredients, and locally sourced seafood and meats
- Delicious desserts including an apple tart
- Seasonally inspired cocktails
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This playfully named restaurant near the Capitol does indeed specialize in tapas, including—naturally—giant Pacific octopus, cured in olive oil and served with crusty house bread. Others treats from the seafood-centric menu are smoked oysters with lemon, mussels in a Thai lemongrass curry, and prawn tacos with pineapple salsa, but the menu lists plenty of meat and veggie options, too.
610 Water St. SW, Olympia, Washington, 98501, USA
Known For
- Generous three-hour-long happy hour
- Live music and brunch on weekends
- Friendly staff
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch weekdays.
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Country-style Italian cooking is the specialty at this delightful roadside restaurant on Mt. Baker Highway, which offers seats in a cozy art-filled dining room or outside on a glorious pine-scented patio. Hearty dishes like lasagna Bolognese and seafood stew with crusty house-baked bread feature locally grown or harvested ingredients. A thoughtful wine list draws from both the Pacific Northwest and Italy.
5415 Mt. Baker Hwy., Glacier, Washington, 98244, USA
Known For
- Après-ski and post-hike dining
- Festive Sunday brunches
- Double chocolate tiramisu with balsamic sauce
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Thurs. No lunch
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Reasonably priced pastas and pizzas with local and seasonal ingredients, expertly crafted cocktails, a large covered sidewalk seating area, and a convenient downtown location are the hallmarks of this casually hip trattoria. Menu highlights include squid ink mezze maniche pasta (a ridged, tube-shape pasta) with shrimp, clams, pancetta, and chiles in white wine sauce, and the starter of house-made pork-beef meatballs with focaccia.
109 Grand Ave., Bellingham, Washington, 98225, USA
Known For
- Pizzas with dough created from a 1971 sourdough starter
- Made-from-scratch pastas
- Happy hour deals
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This hillside neighborhood tavern just south of downtown doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's an appealing option for lunch (or weekend brunch), dinner, or cocktails, as the drinks selection is extensive and the affordable food—from tacos to tofu—far exceeds typical pub grub. Favorites include crispy pork-belly tacos with apple-cabbage slaw and tart cherries, Moroccan-style quinoa salad with harissa-agave vinaigrette and seared tofu, and a commendable Reuben on rye bread. For brunch, fill up on chorizo Benedicts or the dangerously decadent "hangover homies"—home fries topped with melted cheese, scallions, two fried eggs, and spicy cheddar sour cream.
3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, Washington, 98438, USA
Known For
- Sidewalk seating on warm days
- Jukebox with plenty of old-school tunes
- Some of the best sandwiches in town
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Tucked into chic Marina Village, this handsome waterfront outpost of the popular Washington-based seafood chain has large windows opening on to a panorama of Port Gardner Bay. The specials, which change daily, might include meaty Dungeness crab, wild chinook salmon, and other sea creatures caught just offshore. Desserts are fabulous, especially those crafted from the state's succulent berries and fruits.
1726 W. Marine View Dr., Everett, Washington, 98201, USA
Known For
- Renowned clam chowder
- Weekday three-course "sunset dinners" for $30
- Superb fruit desserts
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It's all about the fresh and flavorful tacos at this hip little tavern with exposed brick walls, a white tile and varnished wood bar, and a light-filled upstairs seating annex—oh, and the deftly poured cocktails. The hand-pressed soft tacos are available in about 10 flavors, both meat and veggie, and are served with house-made salsas.
211 W. Holly St., Bellingham, Washington, 98225, USA
Known For
- Creative fillings like rockfish, sweet potato, and steak-and-egg
- Cocktails with premium tequila and mezcal
- Covered sidewalk seating
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At this deliberately rustic waterfront eatery with impressive water views, diners share a casual, seaside camaraderie as they slurp up clam chowder, steamed clams, and mussels, plus larger plates of creatively prepared seafood grills and pastas—cioppino, chargrilled garlic prawns, and smoked-salmon linguine are some of the best bets. Sailors, who enjoy free boat moorage, arrive early for the popular weekend brunch.
101 Shore Dr., Bremerton, Washington, 98311, USA
Known For
- Expansive patio overlooking the water
- Good variety of seafood pasta dishes
- Cod fish-and-chips
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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A local favorite, this storefront bakery, with branches nearby in Anacortes and Mount Vernon, turns out heavenly pastries, plus big portions of breakfast and lunch fare. Lunches focus on fresh and creative salads, soups, and burgers; huge and hearty breakfasts may leave you with little need for lunch—the roasted-butternut-squash hash and migas are a couple of favorites. Buy goodies at the take-out counter for a picnic adventure.
720 S. 1st St., La Conner, Washington, 98257, USA
Known For
- Deck seating overlooking Swinomish Channel
- Filling and delicious breakfasts served all day
- Rustic, savory breads
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Credit cards accepted
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This old-fashioned, glassed-in dining room and bar overlook the mouth of the Samish River, Samish Bay, and the mudflats, where great blue herons hang out and bald eagles are occasionally spotted gliding by. It's a popular spot for bird-watching, with finches, chickadees, and red-winged blackbirds at the feeders outside the picture windows. Besides the view, folks come here for inventive American fare with an emphasis on steak and fresh seafood, from miso-glazed black cod to coffee-crusted filet mignon.
3056 Chuckanut Dr., Bow, Washington, 98232, USA
Known For
- Hosts a popular Champagne brunch on Sunday
- Sunset views of Samish Bay
- Tasty whiskey crab soup
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted
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This warmly lighted tavern in the historic North End operates under a clever and ambitious premise: every four months the kitchen unveils a new menu dedicated to the cuisine of a different region of the Americas or Europe, from Barcelona to Montreal to Argentina. To keep fans with less adventurous tastes happy, the restaurant maintains a number of noteworthy dishes on every menu.
3201 N. 26th St., Tacoma, Washington, 98407, USA
Known For
- Jointly owned craft beer bar next door
- There's always a great burger available
- Fun brunches with refreshing cocktails
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The 1907 brick building that once housed the horse-drawn fire-engine brigade is now a convivial pub that's filled with firehouse memorabilia. The hearty, eclectic comfort food—burgers, tacos, mac and cheese—are well-priced and tasty. The adjacent E9 brewery turns out a nice range of craft ales and serves creatively topped pizzas.
611 N. Pine St., Tacoma, Washington, 98406, USA
Known For
- Quirky and fun historic memorabilia
- Tasty local craft beers
- Elevated pub fare
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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Along Highway 99's "restaurant row" a few miles east of downtown, this compact spot in an unassuming strip mall enjoys a sterling reputation for authentic dim sum. Bring a group of friends and select several plates per person, and don't miss the piggy buns (decorated with adorable piggy faces), salted egg yolk buns, shrimp-scallop shumai (a type of Chinese dumpling), crispy taro shrimp cakes, and sausage rice.
22923 Hwy. 99, Edmonds, Washington, 98026, USA
Known For
- Impressive selection of buns and dumplings
- A fun experience for family-style dining
- No one leaves here hungry
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
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This long-running microbrewery and tavern in a slightly industrial section of downtown has a bustling, open dining room with mounted fish on the walls. It's a funky and fun standby for big portions of pub standards—nachos, smoked wild salmon platters, black-bean burgers, fish-and-chips, and a much beloved Mudshark Porter dark-chocolate cheesecake. The ales are well crafted—try the Winterfish Organic Seasonal Ale during the cooler months, or cool off with a light Organic Blonde Ale on a hot summer night.
515 Jefferson St. SE, Olympia, Washington, 98501, USA
Known For
- Mudshark Porter dark-chocolate cheesecake
- Plenty of interesting seasonal ales
- Outdoor seating along the sidewalk
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It's a scenic 20-minute drive east from downtown to reach this intimate but lively contemporary bistro near the north shore of Lake Whatcom, where the chefs emphasize local, seasonal ingredients. In the evening, you might start with Cajun-style shrimp and three-cheese grits or mac and cheese with tasso ham, before moving on to Low Country–style bouillabaisse or seared duck breast with a cherry reduction. Breakfast and lunch are served on weekends—try the eggs Benedict with pork belly, accompanied by a Bellini cocktail. The owners also run a similarly good sister restaurant in La Conner, the Fork at Skagit Bay.
2530 N. Shore Rd., Bellingham, Washington, 98226, USA
Known For
- Cajun- and European-influenced fare
- Nice breakfast menu
- Wood-fired flatbread pizzas
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed.–Fri.
