4 Best Restaurants in Southeastern Washington, Washington

Have a seat on the sidewalk or inside the colorfully painted dining room of this upbeat contemporary taqueria that turns out delicious, boldly flavored snacks—like house-pickled vegetables with mezcal salt and fried cheese with chili gastrique and honeycomb. Be sure to save room for the main event, though: delicious street tacos with creative fillings, from cochinita pibil (braised pork shoulder in bitter-orange sauce) to grilled achiote-marinated steelhead with avocado mousse. 

This sophisticated, locally focused modern American bistro offers a relatively affordable menu, with many dinner entrées clocking in under $25, including a daily-changing risotto and a wild-salmon nicoise salad. Other highlights include one of the best cheeseburgers in town, ricotta doughnuts with caramel sauce for dessert, and a well-chosen wine list with a mix of international and Northwest bottles. There's a second location in Hazel Dell, on the north side of the city.

A tradition with hikers, bikers, fishermen, and scenic drivers out exploring the Gorge, especially for weekend breakfast but also at lunch and dinnertime, this colorful roadhouse in the center of town is festooned with license plates, vintage signs, and kitschy artwork. Grab a seat at the counter or in one of the high-back wooden booths, and tuck into a plate of smoked Columbia River sturgeon spread, home-style fried chicken with garlic-mashed potatoes, home-style meat loaf with seasonal vegetables, and other hearty, reasonably priced fare.