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Thanks to inventive chefs, first-rate local produce, adventurous diners, and a bold entrepreneurial spirit, Seattle has become one of the culinary capitals of the nation. Fearless young chefs have stepped in and raised the bar. Fresh and often foraged produce, local seafood, and imaginative techniques make the quality of local cuisine even higher.
Seattle's dining scene has been stoked like a wildfire by culinary rock stars who compete on shows like Iron Chef, Top Chef, and regularly dominate "best of" lists. Seattle chefs have won big in the prestigious James Beard competition, with Renee Erickson of Bateau, Walrus and the Carpenter, and the Whale Wins taking the "Best Chef Northwest" title in 2016 and creative genius Edouardo Jordan named one of Food and Wine Magazine's "Best New Chefs." The city is particularly strong on new American, Japanese, and Vietnamese cuisines. Chefs continuously fine-tune what can best be called Pacific Northwest cuisine, which features fresh, local ingredients, including anything from nettles and mushrooms foraged in nearby forests; colorful berries, apples, and cherries grown by Washington State farmers; and outstanding seafood from the cold northern waters of the Pacific Ocean, like wild salmon, halibut, oysters, Dungeness crab, and geoduck. Seattle boasts quite a few outstanding bakeries, too, whose breads and desserts you'll see touted on many menus.
Seattle is also seeing a resurgence in American comfort food, often with a gourmet twist, as well as gastropub fare, which can mean anything from divine burgers on locally baked ciabatta rolls to grilled foie gras with brioche toast. But innovation still reigns supreme: local salmon cooked sous vide and accompanied with pickled kimchi or fresh-picked peas can be just as common as aspic spiked with sake and reindeer meat. Many menus feature fusion cuisine or pages of small-plate offerings, and even high-end chefs are dabbling in casual ventures like pop-up eateries or gourmet food trucks. Many, if not most, of the top chefs own their businesses as well, and in recent years they’ve spread their talents around, operating two or three complementary ventures (or, in Ethan Stowell’s case, more than a dozen and counting, while Tom Douglas has nearly 20, plus a cooking school and farm). The trend toward informality and simplicity particularly plays out when it comes to dessert; most neighborhoods boast branches of at least one of the city’s popular, independently owned cupcake, doughnut, or ice-cream shops. Regardless of the format or focus, one thing's for sure: chefs are highlighting their inventions with the top-notch ingredients that make Pacific Northwest cooking famous.
This steak house gives high-quality beef a Mexican accent. 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, including handmade guacamole, are fresh and flavorful. There's a strong wine list to go along with all the beef, and the bar stocks a superb selection of mezcals.
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 multi-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.
Stepping foot into Lenox transports you from the streets of Belltown to the warm atmosphere of Puerto Rico and Cuba. Chef Jhonny Reyes draws on his roots in both islands and the flavors of his childhood, evident in the seasonal menu featuring tantalizing bites like snow crab hush puppies and seared halibut in an herbaceous coconut sauce, served with traditional sides like red beans and rice and plantains.
One of the most beloved of Pike Place Market's restaurants, Matt's is all about intimate dining, fresh ingredients, and superb service. You can perch at the bar for pints and the signature deviled eggs or be seated at a table—complete with vases filled with flowers from the market—for a seasonal menu that synthesizes the best picks from the restaurant's produce vendors and an excellent wine list. Dinner entrées always include at least one catch of the day—perhaps a whole fish in saffron broth or Alaskan halibut with pea vines. Your first dinner at Matt's is like a first date you hope will never end. It is owned by Dan Bugge, a bit of a celebrity himself, having appeared on TV shows with Martha Stewart, Anthony Bourdain, and Bobby Flay.
Located on the first floor of Populus Hotel, Salt Harvest echoes the hotel's commitment to sustainability and the local ecosystem; its menu is an ode to the flavors of Washington's land and seas. Dine on green marble tables enveloped by draping plants and bold paintings, tasting your way through seasonal plates sourced from local farms. Meats, fish, and some vegetable dishes are wood-fired, subtly infusing the food with hints of smoke from local woods. The cocktail menu is equally as enticing, drawing on seasonally-sourced herbs and fruits to inspire its libations. While dinner steals the show, breakfast and lunch aren't to be overlooked, with dishes like breakfast fried rice, Turkish eggs, and a crispy fish sandwich.
Founder Shiro Kashiba is no longer here (he's now at his namesake restaurant Sushi Kashiba in Pike Place), but this sushi spot is still the best in Belltown. Settle into the minimalist space for ultra-fresh fish and omakase service that's a bit more affordable than at other spots. The happy hour (4:30-6:00 pm Monday through Thursday) is a particularly good deal.
Spinasse, focusing on the cuisine of the Piedmont region, is Capitol Hill's palace of pasta. The menu is short, simple, and elegant, and Spinasse pulls it off in true Italian style. The signature dish is tajarin con burro e salvia—thin-cut egg noodles with butter and sage. There are usually a couple of other pasta dishes sauced with meat ragu, and three or four antipasti and secondi; milk-braised pork is another specialty. Not surprisingly, the Italian wines and cocktails are top notch, and the ambience is as warm and welcoming as the food.
After decades spent earning a reputation as one of Seattle’s top sushi chefs, Shiro Kashiba opened his own spot in a location as notable as his skills with seafood. Diners in the simple-but-elegant Pike Place Market space can opt for the omakase (chef’s choice) selection of the best fish from around the world and just up the street, or order from the menu of Japanese classics and sashimi. Arrive early for a coveted spot at the sushi bar or reserve ahead of time for a table.
If Julia Child ran a restaurant in Seattle, this would be it. The menu is old-school: we're talking meat and potatoes (plus vegetarian options) done with elegant, pan-European flair. Dinner is lovely, but lunch or brunch is when you’ll find their signature dish: the Dutch baby, a crispy, custardy cross between a pancake and a soufflé, served with sweet or savory toppings. With only 11 tables and a four-day schedule, reservations are essential. The spot sits just a couple of blocks south of the Space Needle. Visit both in one go evening for a perfect contrast in Seattle experiences.
Westward singularly nails the dream of Seattle visitors and locals alike: serving high-quality, fresh local seafood from a waterfront location with a view. Lake Union laps at the rocky shore just feet from where diners look out toward Downtown as just-shucked oysters gleam from seafood towers. Owned by Seattle's seafood queen, Renee Erickson, Westward takes its mission to present pristine seafood in a simple fashion very seriously, starting with the splurge-worthy shellfish tower. The short menu focuses on chilled and raw seafood, but also includes a few small salads and larger dishes that come from the wood-fired oven. The wine list is excellent, but the full bar also offers a flight of mezcal to pair with the oysters.
Walk into the dining room here, with its long bar and simple wooden tables, and you might not guess that this is one of Seattle's most indulgent special-occasion restaurants. Chef-owner Nathan Lockwood gives distinctive Northwest ingredients an Italian touch on his changing, nine-course prix fixe menu. The result is a mix of classics (grilled king salmon) and dishes you're unlikely to find anywhere else (pappardelle with huckeberries). When you eat here, expect to make a night of it—meals can last up to three hours. For a more casual experience, head across the street to Lockwood's a la carte spot, Carrello.
Canlis has set the standard for fine dining in Seattle since the 1950s. The prix fixe menu includes a choice of appetizer, entrée, and dessert, plus a few elegant surprises between courses. The food is consistently excellent—creative and carefully composed without straying into showiness—but the real draw is the experience. The service is famously attentive, and the mid-century-modern dining room, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Union, feels like a step back in time. This is the only restaurant in town with a dress code: jackets are “recommended” for men (they’re happy to loan one), and casual attire won’t fly. To soak in the atmosphere without committing to the full meal, grab a seat at the bar but still make sure to dress the part.
The 16th-story, panoramic views of Downtown, Elliott Bay, and Smith Tower make Charlotte one of Seattle's top special-occasion destinations. While dinner service is definitely a splurge—Charlotte offers a la carte options but the four-course prix fixe menu of creative Pacific Northwest fare is their calling card—the restaurant also serves a lovely breakfast with dishes including Dungeness crab toast and kimchi grilled cheese. On the top floor of the luxury hotel Lotte (Charlotte is pronounced "Char-lot-tay"), the blonde-wood-heavy, mid-century-inspired dining room has a handful of spaced-out tables right by the floor-to-ceiling windows, making for a spectacular perch at sunset if you're lucky.
Luxury touches take the hot pot experience upscale with personal broth bowls, an extensive sauce buffet, and high-end ingredients like A5 Miyazaki beef, live prawns, and house-made noodles. This local outlet of an international chain that began in Macau knows that you eat with your eyes first, and everything here comes out looking straight out of a glossy magazine photo shoot. The fancy ingredients can make the a la carte orders add up fast, but customers can either order judiciously and save room for the free ice cream at the end, or go all-in on a feast.
Waistcoated waitstaff coolly navigate the packed floor of this retro steak house, serving satisfying fare in a swanky, expansive room. Dungeness crab cakes, oven-roasted chicken, crispy Brussels sprouts, and cool tableside Caesar salads (possibly the city's best) all tantalize, but the eatery is best known for perfectly cooked steaks—and the virtuoso presentation seems to make everything taste better. Ritzy yet comfortable, a meal at El Gaucho can make you relax no matter how stressful your day. Of course, you may get heart palpitations once again when you see the prices—just sit back, enjoy your luscious cut of meat, and listen to the live piano music. Valet parking is available for $12.
If you’re craving oysters with a side of salt air, Elliott’s Oyster House on Pier 56 delivers. Since 1975, this waterfront institution has built its reputation on fresh, sustainably sourced seafood—especially its impressive lineup of Washington oysters, shucked to order and served with a view. The rest of the menu keeps pace: Dungeness crab cakes, rich crab-and-corn chowder, and Pacific fish entrées make it easy for even oyster skeptics to dive in. On a sunny day, ask for a seat outside to watch sailboats drift across Elliott Bay while you sip something cold and coastal.
Housed in a historic log cabin a block from Alki Beach, Il Nido (the nest) takes a playful look at Italian culinary traditions. House-made fresh pasta is the star, joined by creative focaccia breads, chicory salads, and entrées like pork coppa. Reservations book out 30 days ahead of time, but you can always try for a seat at the bar for an aperitivo and a snack.
This long dining room facing Lake Union has original Northwest Indian artwork collected by the restaurant's namesake founder. It's touristy, often gimmicky, and always packed. You are paying for the setting here: a building designed as a loose replica of a traditional longhouse with terrific views of Lake Union and Downtown. Try to snag a table on the deck.
This outstanding sushi restaurant quietly nestled in Green Lake brings diners in droves. Fresh sushi is the mainstay, along with signature rolls such as the Green Lake variety, with salmon, flying fish eggs, asparagus, avocado, and marinated seaweed, or the Wallingford, with yellowtail, green onion, cucumber, radish, sprouts, and flying fish eggs. Definitely spring for the omakase (chef's menu), which can include anything from fatty tuna, shrimp, octopus, and albacore to salmon, yellow tail, hammer jack, and unagi. Straightforward decor and ambiance make it easy to concentrate on the delicious food in front of you. Regulars swear by the agedashi tofu. Non-sushi entrées are also available, including teriyaki and a tempura dinner with prawns.
Lark is a classic example of fine dining, Seattle style. Carefully sources local ingredients are prepared in ways that show a worldwide range of influences—on the same menu you might find tuna tataki, lamb kofta, ricotta gnudi, and grilled peach salad with cotija. (Bring your phone; you’re likely to be Googling some of the culinary terms.) The atmosphere is casual but sophisticated, set in a former warehouse that won awards for its handsome redesign.
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. Non-steak eaters aren't excluded and can sample regional specialties such as Alaskan halibut and Dungeness crab fettuccine. 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.
Ray's has a split personality: there's a fancy dinner-only dining room downstairs (reservations essential) and a casual café and bar upstairs. Both serve fresh seafood in classic preparations—clam chowder, steamed mussels, crab cakes, grilled salmon—but the main draw here is the view over Shilshole Bay. Competition can be stiff for seats on the café's deck, especially at happy hour. If you're going to splurge on dinner downstairs, reserve a window table.
It's undeniably touristy, but the views here simply can't be beat on a summer afternoon. Famed for its Sunday and holiday brunches and view of Seattle's skyline across the harbor, Salty's offers more in the way of quantity than quality—and sometimes a bit too much of its namesake ingredient—but it's a couple of steps up from the mainstream seafood chains. If you can get a table with a view, order a wine by the glass and a cup of chowder or some crab legs, and enjoy.
Like the Edgewater Hotel that houses it, Six Seven is noteworthy for its views of Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound, especially if you opt to dine at the tables lining the deck at sunset. Regionally sourced seafood, such as cedar plank salmon, miso-glazed black cod, and a flavorful bouillabaisse, are menu standouts.
A "Staple" at this glam Italian restaurant might mean spaghetti with clams or a grilled half chicken. But visitors looking for a special experience are best served by going "fancy"—settling in at their table in the exposed-brick dining room and choosing the chef's menu. Four courses are served family-style and change nightly—expect handmade pasta, something for the wood-fired grill, and a surprise or two.
The sushi selection here is vast and top-quality, but chef Taichi Kitamura really distinguishes himself with his ippins—small, delicate dishes such as egg custard, grilled black cod, braised wagyu beef, and mustard greens and albacore with almond-wasabi sauce (among more than a dozen choices). You can order a la carte, choose from several set menus, or sit at the sushi bar and indulge yourself with omakase. The location is in Eastlake, just west of Capitol Hill.
If you're a sushi lover with some money to spend, this is the place for you. Set off the street amid a nondescript row of storefronts, it's a modest-looking, nine-seat sushi bar that serves only omakase—two dozen offerings, featuring exotic nigiri and sashimi interspersed with cooked dishes, all meticulously curated by chef Taneda. The end result is likely Seattle's most carefully crafted meal. Getting a reservation is like scoring tickets to a hot concert: go online as soon as seats become available (usually two weeks in advance) and hope the sushi gods on smiling on you.
