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A couple of miles east of downtown in a strip mall, this hot spot serves creative, often complex modern Asian fare, with an emphasis on local ingredients. Pork-belly ramen and fried soft-shell crab with tuna poke are stars among the noodle bowls, but also consider the grilled lemongrass chicken with a white wine–oyster sauce. The early-evening and late-night happy hours are hugely popular, with great bargains on food and drinks.
8404 Bowdoin Way, Edmonds, Washington, 98020, USA
Known For
- Great deals during late-night happy hour
- Asian-inspired steaks and seafood grills
- Asian-Latino taco nights on Tuesday
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Long a top venue in downtown Bellingham, both for sampling distinctive, well-crafted microbrews and enjoying big portions of delicious pub fare, this convivial spot occupies a vintage former garage—the huge central door is rolled open in warm weather, and there's also a good-size side patio. Boundary garners high marks among beer lovers for its ruby-red Scottish ale, smooth oatmeal stout, and rotating seasonal ales. From the food menu, you won't go wrong with the Bavarian-style pretzels (served with spicy brown mustard), smoked-clam chowder, beer-barbecue-sauce pizzas, and char-grilled lamb burger.
1107 Railroad Ave., Bellingham, Washington, 98225, USA
Known For
- Bavarian-style pretzels
- Imperial oatmeal stout
- Pecan brownie sundae
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Simple dishes and classic European fare are beautifully presented in this light-filled dining room with expansive outdoor terraces overlooking Gig Harbor. Dinners are elaborate affairs that feature seafood—perhaps Thai curry and coconut-steamed mussels—and rich classics such as grilled filet mignon with crab-compound butter. Tempting desserts include an array of cakes, gelatos, sorbets, and cobblers, and there's a fine wine to match every course.
3315 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor, Washington, 98332, USA
Known For
- Terrific daily happy hour in the bar
- Try booking one of the chef's dinners
- Sweeping harbor views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch, Credit cards accepted
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You'll find everything from thoughtfully curated artisanal groceries and prepared foods to a selection of creative contemporary American and international fare in the cheerful dining room of this stylish market set inside a retrofitted auto repair shop. Try the chilaquiles or croque madame at breakfast, and later in the day sample the salmon gravlax bagels and whole fried rainbow trout with grilled asparagus. Stock up on scones, cookies, and pecan sticky buns in the bakery.
4719 Hwy. 104, Port Gamble, Washington, 98364, USA
Known For
- Short walk from the Port Gamble Museum and General Store
- Hefty sandwiches with creative ingredients
- Great selection of gourmet picnic provisions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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Dimly lighted, smartly furnished, and urbane, this hip spot in the heart of downtown serves seasonally driven Mediterranean food with plenty of Northwestern influences. It's very easy to make a meal here of several tantalizing small plates, like sautéed brussels sprouts with bacon, chili, and garlic and Penn Cove mussels with saffron, orange, and leeks. But there are plenty of tasty main dishes to consider, too, including braised-beef short rib with garlic-mashed potatoes.
526 Main St., Edmonds, Washington, 98020, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired pizzas are a stellar options
- Cured meat boards and fresh burrata
- Sunday half-price wine nights
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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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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Fans of Michoacán-style Mexican food have been known to schedule their Portland–Seattle road trips to hit this festive but unfussy family-run restaurant for dinner. Authentic meals start with pickled carrots instead of chips and salsa, and favorite dishes include classic chicken mole and carne en su jugo, a heady soup of steak strips, bacon, onion, and cilantro, served with tortillas.
1001 W. Main St., Centralia, Washington, 98531, USA
Known For
- Save room for the rich and spicy bread pudding
- Dining room has a casual, colorful vibe
- Regional dishes like chicken mole
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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In a vintage brick building in downtown Chehalis, a 10-minute drive south of Centralia, you'll find the region's most sophisticated restaurant, a source of consistently imaginative, fresh Pacific Northwest fare at reasonable prices. The seasonally driven menu changes daily but might feature a starter of cheddar ale fondue with apple, artisan bread, and sausage, followed by Parmesan-crusted whitefish with a light lemon-dill sauce, or sliced duck breast with a black-cherry-and-walnut reduction—it's pretty urbane fare for this laid-back, down-home part of Washington.
545 N. Market St., Chehalis, Washington, 98532, USA
Known For
- Extensive list of local beers and wines
- Beautifully presented dishes
- Chocolate-coffee pots de creme
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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Tucked down an alley near Wright Park, this quirky and cozy neighborhood bistro serves first-rate Northwest-influenced Italian fare, including bounteous salads and creative grills. It's worth seeking out this art-filled space with exposed-brick walls for such delectable fare as slow-cooked short-rib ragù over rigatoni and pan-seared, bourbon-glazed salmon fillet.
709 Opera Alley, Tacoma, Washington, 98402, USA
Known For
- Desserts, including banana pie, are a major draw
- Decadent lobster mac and cheese
- Close to the theater district
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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The first thing you notice inside this bustling tavern and hot-dog joint are the dozens of beer taps hanging from the ceiling, each one representing a particular ale that's been poured here. Indeed, this quirky spot is a must for beer lovers, with plenty of interesting varieties on tap and available by the bottle, from Northwest craft brews to Belgian Trappist tripels. But it's the dogs and brats that set Red Hot apart—the kitchen here serves up the classics, like a Chicago-style beef dog topped with mustard, relish, and celery salt, as well as unusual versions, like the Hound Dog, which is slathered in peanut butter and crowned with crispy bacon. Vegan dogs are served, too.
2914 6th Ave., Tacoma, Washington, 98406, USA
Known For
- The place for German-style bratwurst
- Lots of great beers on tap
- Late-night dining
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Sure, it's awfully far north to be specializing in down-home Southern cooking, but this bustling, casual spot on Tacoma's north side, a little west of Wright Park, serves remarkably authentic and absolutely delicious soul food. In the morning, regulars swing by for heaping plates of chicken-fried steak with grits and eggs, or homemade biscuits and gravy. Later, move on to fried catfish strips with a side of hush puppies, Texas-style hand-trimmed brisket, and hot-links sandwiches. Dinners come with corn cakes and lots of tasty sides. Note that the restaurant closes on the early side most evenings.
1716 6th Ave., Tacoma, Washington, 98405, USA
Known For
- Save room for the sweet-potato pie
- Hand-battered fried catfish
- Jalapeño hush puppies
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A couple of blocks from the river on a bluff with expansive views of the village, this homey restaurant with a rustic dark-wood interior serves some of the best seafood in the area, plus a few well-prepared French classics, such as cassoulet with duck confit and house-cured bacon, and fall-off-the-bone pork shank with wild-mushroom risotto. Simpler fare—caramelized-onion flatbread, shepherd's pie—is served in the adjoining pub.
205 E. Washington St., La Conner, Washington, 98257, USA
Known For
- Extensive selection of regional oysters
- Impressive list of Northwest and French wines
- Specialities like paella and bouillabaisse
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Tues.–Thurs.
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This hillside neighborhood tavern just south of downtown makes a convivial option for lunch (or weekend brunch), dinner, or cocktails, as the drinks selection is extensive and the affordable food—from tacos to tofu—is a cut or two above your typical pub grub. Favorites include crispy pork-belly tacos with apple-cabbage slaw and tart cherries, Moroccan-style quinoa salad with harrisa-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
- Grab a seat on the sidewalk on warm days
- Jukebox with plenty of old-school tunes
- Some of the best sandwiches in town
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The spacious, high-ceilinged downtown branch of this local chain is steps from the Museum of Glass and other attractions and is a great place to kick off the day with a well-crafted espresso drink and breakfast sandwich, or linger later in the day over a naan flatbread pizza.
1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, Washington, 98402, USA
Known For
- On warm days you can relax at an outdoor table
- Tall windows let in plenty of sunlight
- Craft beers and local wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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Tucked into chic Marina Village, this handsome waterfront outpost of a popular Washington-based seafood chain has large windows opening 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
- The clam chowder is justly renowned
- Weekday "sunset dinners" for $25
- Great views of the bay
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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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 casual burger joint with a small but decent beer list and an outdoor space draws hikers, skiers, and other outdoors enthusiasts on their way to Mt. Rainier and Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Fish-and-chips, vegan bean burgers, and BLTs share the menu with a variety of hearty meat patties, including some wild-game options, with a wide variety of toppings.
12968 U.S. 12, Packwood, Washington, 98361, USA
Known For
- Jalapeño burger topped with Swiss cheese and a tangy secret sauce
- Your chance to sample buffalo and elk burgers
- Berry milkshakes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. in winter
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You'll find some of northern Washington's tastiest Mexican food, from wild-cod ceviche to chicken in a 30-ingredient mole sauce, at this cheerful and unpretentious downtown eatery that also specializes in made-to-order premium margaritas (try the smooth "top shelf" with Jimador Blanco tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar). There additional location in La Conner.
102 S. 10th St., Mount Vernon, Washington, 98274, USA
Known For
- Desserts include deep-fried ice cream
- Traditional dishes like chiles rellenos
- Impressive cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.