157 Best Restaurants in Seattle, Washington

Just stepping in to this cozy corner coffeehouse awakens the senses. Lighthouse Roasters roasts its beans on-site in a vintage cast-iron roaster, filling the space with a heady aroma. Appreciated for dark chocolate flavors, hints of sweet toffee, and just the right amount of bite, the full-bodied coffee tastes as good as it smells here. The neighborhood spot, which has a small counter lined with red swivel bar stools, opened in 1993, giving it three decades of Seattle coffee cred.

Already a familiar name in the Seattle wine scene, Locus Wines recently debuted a bright, modern tasting room that showcases food-and-wine pairings. The small menu features flights served with a small bite that perfectly complements each pour—like a caramelized onion and lamb pastry square matched with the signature Locus Red—although Locus also offers wine by the glass and a few light snacks, including a kale salad and pillowy meatballs, as well as a brunch on weekends.

Tom Douglas dishes out his signature Northwest style, spiked with Greek and Mediterranean touches—another huge success for the local celebrity chef. Try a spice-rubbed lamb chop or the eggplant shakshuka, which elevates the humble eggplant to new heights. Also on the menu: a variety of kebabs (including a halloumi cheese-and-fig version for vegetarians) and scrumptious spreads including hummus, tzatziki, and harissa (a red-pepper concoction). Booths are usually full at this bustling, dimly lit restaurant, which anchors the Hotel Ändra. The weekend brunch is also fabulous; save room for the doughnuts.

One of Seattle's favorite bakeries is also popular for breakfast and brunch and an excellent place to take a delicious break on your way to or from the Olympic Sculpture Park. With its perfectly executed breads and pastries—from Nutella brioche and ginger cookies to almond croissants and dark chocolate, sugar-dusted brownies—it's become a true Belltown institution. You can also wait for a table and have a larger breakfast or lunch—sandwiches, quiches, and salads are all fresh and expertly made.

The oldest Japanese restaurant in Seattle, Maneki is no longer a hidden gem catering to in-the-know locals and chefs, but that doesn't mean the food is any less impressive. Though the James Beard American Classic winner serves good sushi, it's better known for home-style Japanese dishes, which can be ordered as small plates and accompanied with sake. Try the miso black cod collar or the delicious daily fish specials. Rice-paper lamps and screens add a bit of old Japan to the otherwise plain main dining room, but parties of four to ten can reserve a charming tatami room. Maneki is always packed, especially on weekends, so don't even think about coming without a reservation.

This is a favorite lunch spot for the professional crowd but it's not for timid eaters: custom dry-aged mesquite-grilled steaks and chops—among the best in Seattle—are huge and come with a hearty side option. The Met's take on a steak house is either classic or a caricature, depending on how you take to the cigar-and-cognac vibe: servers wear tuxes and everything is clad in fine wood, brass, and velvet.

Modern, hip Miro Tea is the place to go for a wide variety of interesting, high-quality teas, fascinating people-watching, and artisan Japanese pastries. A serious tea shop with well-sourced leaves and informed staff, Miro is also a product of its location—a pleasant seating area looking out on Ballard Avenue makes it a bit of a hipster hang out.

With an elegant bar and laid-back roof deck, this serene Vietnamese restaurant on a tree-lined residential stretch of Capitol Hill is a better bet than ever. Upscale fare blends Vietnamese and Pacific Northwest elements, including wild prawns with lemongrass, catfish clay pot with fresh coconut juice and green onion, and lamb with fermented soybeans and sweet onions. Homemade ice creams include lychee and mango, but the restaurant's most famous dessert is the coconut crème caramel. The wine cellar has nearly 250 varieties, including many French selections. The weekend brunch—which serves traditional Vietnamese offerings, dim sum, and favorites like French toast and eggs en cocotte—is divine.

The Eastside sibling of Capitol Hill's darling Vietnamese eatery is utterly polished and sleek— much fancier than the original restaurant. But the favorites remain the same: diners love the bo la lot beef, crispy drunken chicken, catfish clay pot, and barbecued hoisin pork ribs, and all go impressively well with the specialty cocktails. In signature Bellevue style, diners dress up a bit more than in, say, Capitol Hill or Ballard, though the weekend dim sum brunches draw more casual diners. The free parking in the garage behind the restaurant is a boon on busy Main Street.

Cozy leather bar seats surround the wide wood bar at the stylish, modern Mr. West Cafe Bar, where they’ve got you covered from morning pick-me-up to early-evening imbibing. The coffee menu offers the usuals, from drips and cortados to cappuccinos and lattes, as well as creative espresso-based options like coffee soda, coffee egg cream, and a cardamom tonic. There’s also a separate tea drinks menu, as well as breakfast and lunch fare, and a solid wine, beer, and cocktails list.

Though it shares its name with a half-dozen other teriyaki shops in town, this location on the Ave is the original, and while it shows its age, it also shows why so many tried to emulate it. Ignore the many options and stick to what they do best: cook up exceptional versions of the classic Seattle-style teriyaki. Expect a heaping portion of rice and meat with a gently sweet teriyaki sauce, plus a portion of the traditional salad with creamy dressing.

A neighborhood favorite that now has two additional locations, this artisan shop isn’t quite a trip to Italy but the gelato is the real deal, including stracciatella, pistachio, and other classic flavors, all with high-quality ingredients. The namesake-for-a-reason Nutty Squirrel swirls salty peanut butter with dulce de leche caramel and chocolate chips. 

Right in the center of the Pike–Pine universe, this huge, ultrahip space anchoring the Oddfellows Building, across from Cal Anderson Park, serves inspired American food from morning coffee to evening drinks. The day might start with breakfast biscuits and thick brioche French toast; later on you can order the "Oddball" sandwich of meatballs in marinara sauce with provolone and Parmesan and roasted free-range chicken. Service is sometimes a bit lacking, but the communal-style seating, Capitol Hill hipster-chic vibe, cold brews, and festive music make this a fun place to watch the day go by or spend an evening out.

This small restaurant brings together the flavors and techniques of Korean cuisine and cutting-edge global style to create a unique, innovative combination. The concise menu features intriguing combinations such as pistachio cream and lettuce, along with new spins on comforting classics, like the beloved house fried rice with squid ink. Though portions are on the light side, that just makes it easier to order everything you want to try, and all of the dishes come to the table looking like works of art.

This Seattle classic has been bringing the flavors of the Caribbean to the city for more than two decades, since the owner moved to town and grew frustrated with the lack of dishes like roti, curry, and jerk that she missed from home in Trinidad. Open only a few days each week, and only for a few hours, people clamor to get in and grab Pam's aloo pies, flaky breads, and tender curry goat. Keep an eye out for specials featuring her famous doubles and wash everything down with a glass of sorrel. 

This serene teahouse on the ground floor of the historic Panama Hotel has tons of personality and a subtle Asian flair that reflects its former life as a Japanese bathhouse. The space is lovely, with exposed-brick walls, shiny hardwood floors, and black-and-white photos of old Seattle (many of them relating to the history of the city's Japanese immigrants). Kick back with an individual pot of tea—there are dozens of varieties—or an espresso, along with a plate of small Japanese confections. This is a good place to bring a book, as it's usually calm and quiet. A clear panel in the floor shows the room still full of luggage left by Japanese Americans forced into internment camps during World War II.

The centerpiece of this Cuban-influenced menu is the mouthwatering Famous Caribbean Roast sandwich: marinated pork topped with sautéed onions and served on a chewy baguette. It's doused with an amazing top-secret sauce that keeps folks coming back for more. The entrées are also delicious, from fresh fish in garlic tapenade to prawns in a spicy red sauce. There are a few tables, but Paseo gets so busy the line usually snakes way out the door, and most people opt for takeout.

PCC Community Markets, an upscale food co-op, has all the fixings you need for a picnic along the canal, including sandwiches and salads. You can also order fresh coffee from the deli.

Part café and part love letter to Vietnamese coffee tradition, all the drinks here are brewed on the small metal filter from which the coffee shop takes its name. The commitment to quality shows in the house-made condensed milks (dairy or oat) used for the cà phê sữa—classic Vietnamese coffee—and various related drinks. The lush greenery and soft colors of the walls give it a serene, peaceful feel that invites you to sit down and enjoy one of the impressively bright green pandan waffles from the food menu.

With its Post Alley entrance and meager signage, the Pink Door's speakeasy vibe draws Pike Place Market regulars almost as much as its savory, seasonal Italian food does. The food is good, and the pappardelle al ragù Bolognese and cioppino are reliably standout entrées, but people come here mostly for the atmosphere (which includes tasteful cabaret acts) and shaded outdoor deck with views of Elliott Bay.

Large windows look out on Elliott Bay in this cozy spot tucked behind a meat vendor in Pike Place Market's main arcade. In nice weather, open windows let in the fresh salt breeze. Flowers brighten each table, and the staff is warm and welcoming. Despite its name, this restaurant has only a few French flourishes on an otherwise American/Pacific Northwest menu. Go for the rich oyster stew, the sea scallops with rosé hampagne beurre blanc, Dungeness crab (in season), poussin with barley risotto, or the fish of the day. Local microbrews are on tap, and the wine list is thoughtfully compact, but if you want to feel more like you're in France, sip a pastis as you gaze out the window.

Quick and sleek, this bubble tea and banh mi shop makes it easy to pop in for a customized beverage or flavorful sandwich. The screen menu shows the extensive tea and coffee options, including pink salt cheese crema. The food menu also includes vermicelli bowls, pho, and a few small bites if you're sticking around at the indoor tables or the parking lot patio.

What began as an effort to clear the fridges during a pandemic shutdown resulted in a new concept for this small Ballard café. Some of the city's best bagels come stacked into towering sandwiches slathered with traditional toppings like cream cheese and lox, and creative originals like scallion cheddar spread with baked egg, kale, and king oyster mushrooms. The one-pound breakfast burritos all start with scrambled eggs and include fresh salsas that show the restaurant's commitment to making everything from scratch starting with excellent ingredients.

You can order ahead online so you won’t experience the heartbreak of an empty bakery case---doughnuts go fast here. Tucked into the ground floor of one of the Central District’s newest multi-use developments, Raised Doughnuts and Cakes turns out simple but perfectly airy classics like a basic glazed, maple and chocolate bars, and creative monthly specials with seasonal flavors and a mochi-flour gluten-free option. They also make raised cakes that fall somewhere between Asia’s light and fruity cakes and American-style, oil-based cakes–they’re sold by-the-slice on weekends.

The view of Shilshole Bay might be the main draw, but the seafood is also fresh and well prepared. Perennial favorites include grilled salmon, Kasu sake–marinated sablefish, Dungeness crab, and regional oysters on the half shell. Ray's has a split personality: there's a fancy dinner-only dining room downstairs (reservations essential) and a casual café and bar upstairs. Be forewarned that during happy hour in high season, the café's service can suffer greatly because of the crowds.

Sure, it's touristy, but snagging a spot on the sun-drenched balcony to watch the boats floating past after an afternoon exploring the Ballard Locks is quintessential Seattle summer fun.

A temple to uniquely prepared seafood, this is the restaurant that locals want to bring visitors to: an example of the casual way seafood weaves into all sorts of dishes when you live so close to such bounty. The mix of appetizers, oyster shooters, small plates, and full entrées makes the long menu an epic adventure filled with fresh local, domestic, and global fish—from local oysters to Hawaiian tuna, and back to black cod from Washington’s own Neah Bay. The dining room, built with ample wood and wall-sized murals of waterscapes, invokes the idea of a modern fishing lodge, but the high ceilings and sharp metals keep it more lively than cozy.

Just steps from Fremont's Stalin statue, Royal Grinders serves hearty hot subs on pillowy rolls. We're talking classic combos of meat, cheese, and veggies piled high and baked in the oven. The Crown and the Italian are the best.