417 Best Restaurants in Washington, USA

Since the early '90s, this cheerful art-filled spot has been a go-to on the peninsula for celebrating special occasions and simply enjoying stellar comfort food with locally sourced ingredients. Consider kicking off your meal with goat cheese fondue or a half pound of Willapa Bay clams steamed in white wine, before graduating to flash-fried razor clams with seasonal vegetables, or ravioli stuffed with wild mushrooms and topped with tomato sauce. Rich chocolate rum truffle cheesecake is a popular dessert.

Look to this easygoing, art-filled restaurant for inventive, locally sourced, and mostly organic dishes, including pizzas from the wood-fired oven with creative toppings like pesto, truffled goat cheese, and pickled onions. The menu's sustainably harvested seafood selections highlight whatever is in season and also get the wood-fire treatment. Even the bacon-wrapped meat loaf features local grass-fed beef, along with buttermilk mashed potatoes and greens.

A hand-carved cedar angel statue watches over diners at this lively spot, where chef-owner Nathan Lockwood lends a Northwest focus to seasonal Italian cuisine. The set tasting menu weaves rare, intriguing, and fascinating local and global ingredients into classic Italian techniques. Finger limes dot starters, Hokkaido scallops come lightly seared, and huckleberries pop up in pappardelle. The five to seven courses come interspersed with little bites and extra treats. Those wishing for a beverage pairing can choose between the classic wine pairing and a mixed option of cocktails, beers, and juices. Service is hyper-solicitous but the atmosphere is louder and more lively than you might expect given the price tag. For a more casual meal, head across the street to Lockwood's sibling spot Carrello.

Located on the edge of a pear orchard in Cashmere, this family-owned bakeshop has an unusual and appealing industrial–vintage-farmhouse feel. It offers up some of the region's best breads and pastries, from bread pudding to almond meringue cookies to lemon cheesecake. Enjoy an espresso or European-style sandwich (baguette, butter, cured meats, cheeses) at a picnic table indoors or on the sunny patio anchored by a modern, concrete water feature and lots of lavender.

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.

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.

At this convivial two-level downtown tavern with exposed brick walls and tall windows, boldly flavored Southern fare—prominently featuring rotisserie or fried (buttermilk or spicy-hot) chicken—rules the day. The chicken dishes come with a variety of sauces and sides and in several different formats, from chicken and waffles to fried chicken thigh sandwiches with Tabasco mayo.

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. 

Equal parts indie bookstore, bar, and coffee house, this hip hangout set in one of Roslyn's quirky Victorian storefronts turns out creatively prepared American classics morning to night, including elk sausage scrambles, candied-bacon and blue-cheese burgers, apple-maple salads, and turkey potpies. Espresso drinks are brewed using a beautiful teal La Marzocco machine, and craft cocktails are served in the cozy basement tavern. On the adjacent patio, an airstream trailer doles out snacks and is staffed by employees who can recommend local hikes and activities.

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. 

With a festive sidewalk seating area and a rustic timber-clad dining room, this trendy spot offers some of the best craft beer in Leavenworth. There are several great IPAs on hand, as well as a rich Maple stout. The menu includes tasty pizzas such as the Hot Mama, topped with thick-cut bacon, Mama Lil's Peppers, aged mozzarella, and arugula.

Convivial, cozy, and a bit off-the-wall, this is one of Port Townsend's best sources of generous, unfussy breakfasts and lunches, like thick pancakes and decadent eggs Benedicts, plus hefty burgers and sandwiches. Long popular with sailors and shipwrights who work in the surrounding Port Townsend Boat Haven, this hole-in-the-wall fills up fast on weekends, but you can help yourself to a mug of drip coffee while you wait.

Renee Erickson made her name serving Seattle's seafood, and takes a new spin on the same at this cool, marble-topped ode to Parisian fish and shellfish bistros. The menu offers seafood both raw and cooked, as well as meaty continental classics like steak tartare and a burger (and steaks borrowed from Bateau next door). Seafoam-green seats pop with color from the white walls in front of the long L-shape bar and tables that surround it. Baskets of fresh oysters await shucking from beds of ice, while nautically named cocktails are shaken nearby. Boat Bar is part of Erickson’s trio of restaurants on this corner: General Porpoise Coffee and Doughnuts serves oversized filled doughnuts until the afternoon, and diners looking for a more substantial meal can head to the steakhouse sibling, Bateau.

A favorite stop on the Bow-Edison Food Trail, this cozy purveyor of savory artisan breads and delectable pastries is a great place to stock up on picnic supplies before venturing up scenic Chuckanut Drive. The offerings change regularly and feature ingredients from local farms—you might find pumpkin brioche, herb focaccia, black olive baguettes, ham-and-cheese pastries, and chocolate babkas.

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.

Seasonally sourced contemporary American and European dishes 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 scampi-compound butter. Tempting desserts include an array of cakes, ice creams, and cobblers, and there's a fine wine to match every course. This wine-focused bistro takes its name from the term used by winemakers to describe the natural sugar content of grapes and wines.

Dig in to some of the tastiest and most flavorful barbecue in the state at this upbeat restaurant in a handsome 1923 brick building that has at various times served as the local bank, police station, and city hall. The chef-owner describes his barbecue as Cascadian, and his specialties do reflect some creative regional influences—consider the gochujang-marinated burnt ends with chanterelle mushrooms, pickled onions, and sour corn, or the roast-veggie salad with pulled pork and black-garlic ranch dressing. 

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 in 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.

There are many ways for a pricey "destination restaurant" to go overboard, making itself nothing more than a special-occasion spectacle, but Café Juanita gets everything just right. This Kirkland space is refined without being overly posh, and the food—much of which has a northern Italian influence—is perfectly balanced. One bite of lauded chef Holly Smith's tender saddle of Oregon lamb with baby artichokes, fava beans, and lemon emulsion and you'll be sold. The seven-course tasting menu comes in omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan versions. The restaurant is extremely accommodating for gluten-free guests and other special requests. To top it all off, the restaurant has an excellent wine list.

Perhaps the best-kept secret in the city, this neighborhood Lebanese joint is adorable and affordable. Whitewashed walls sparsely populated by old-world art match the white tablecloths, which are topped with intricate metal candleholders. The menu offers Middle Eastern classics, such as the sizzling lamb-topped hummus, a few pastries, and some kebab options, but its true expertise lies in the vegetable mezze. Seasonal ingredients weave into Lebanese flavors, creating a cross-cultural feast: pears with tahini and pomegranate, eggplant with fresh cheese and honey, tabbouleh with cauliflower instead of bulgur. As an extra treat, the chef keeps a fascinating collection of whiskey and offers one on special each week. On Sunday, the menu is prix-fixe, chef’s choice.

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.

Helmed by James Beard finalist and ardent fly-fisherman Kevin Davis, this modern restaurant on a picturesque bend in Yakima River Canyon has tall windows and a covered deck overlooking the scenery. Stop for a hearty breakfast before a day of recreation on the river, or for a memorable lunch or dinner of artfully prepared contemporary American fare, such as grilled Idaho trout with roasted pecan–brown butter or tagliatelle with goat Bolognese and burrata. 

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.

Tucked beside the popular Glover Street Market, this bakery is justly renowned for both savory and sweet treats, including—most famously—cinnamon "twisps" (the bakery's own decadent version of cinnamon rolls). Note that they often sell out by late morning, so arrive early if you want to get one. There are also smoothies, milk shakes, and build-your-own sandwiches.

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.

An instant Central District classic upon opening in late 2020, this acclaimed Black-owned restaurant dishes up “Seattle soul" in a vibrant setting. Think exquisitely prepared soul food that pays homage to family traditions—fried chicken, mac ‘n’ cheese, greens, and cornbread—alongside creative fare honoring Seattle's multicultural intersections, like the Fried Catfish Po’mi, a mashup of po’boy and bánh mi sandwiches. Don’t miss COMMUNION's overnight-simmered neck-bone stew, thick with lima beans and pork bones meant to be sucked clean of their smoky meat bits; it’s the chef’s mother’s time-perfected recipe. 

Named for one of the region's most famous canyons for hiking, this hip downtown restaurant offers contemporary, elevated comfort fare like tandoori chicken wings, balsamic-braised lamb shank, and butcher's cut steaks with a chimichurri glaze. Notable for its sleek design, the restaurant uses antique ice hooks and smudge pots, which double as light fixtures, to pay homage to the region's past, and the high-ceilinged bar is lined with the wood used to mold the restaurant's board-formed concrete walls.

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. 

The menu at this urbane farm-to-table downtown bistro changes according to whatever's fresh in the Yakima Valley, showcasing anything from braised short ribs with local cherries, horseradish, and pureed apples in summer to grilled albacore with a Thai chili vinaigrette, root vegetables, dried shrimp, and pickled ginger. Certain dishes you can always expect to find on the menu, like local oysters on the half-shell and wood-fired feta, along with seasonal sorbets for dessert.

Brandon Pettit spent years developing his thin-but-chewy pizza crust, and the final product has made him a contender for the city's best pies. Neighborhood families and far-flung travelers alike line up before opening time for seasonal pizzas topped with anything from fresh sausage and local clams to blistered padrón peppers and cremini mushrooms. The small wine list is well edited and elegant; desserts are simple but inspired—the homemade chocolate chip cookie with sea salt is delicious. Long wait? Pop next door to charming Essex, the couple's artisanal cocktail bar.  A coveted few reservations are permitted via Tock.com.