Seattle has renowned chefs, fresh seafood, endless cups of coffee (and ways to brew them), hole-in-the-wall cult favorites, global flavors, local wines, European pastries, and so much more. Foodies and drink geeks, consider this your primer to sample all that the city has to offer.
Browse the links below to reveal an A-Z sample of Seattle’s culinary delights:
Caffe Vita Photo: Olivia Brent
A – Americano (aka Coffee)
Great coffee is everywhere, from micro caffeine temples like Elm Coffee Roasters (240 Second Ave S, Ste 103; elmcoffeeroasters.com) to local chainlets like Caffe Vita (multiple locations; caffevita.com). Espresso Vivace (multiple locations; espressovivace.com), was founded nearly 30 years ago and still pours its darker, Northern Italian–style roast. Others like Tougo Coffee (860 Yesler Way; tougocoffee.com) source beans from various roasters. Starbucks (multiple locations; starbucks.com) in Pike Place Market is a can’t-miss piece of coffee history, but the coffee giant’s Starbucks Reserve Roastery (1124 Pike St; roastery.starbucks.com) is a showroom of small-batch beans, roasted before your eyes. Sip through a cold-brew tasting flight, or sample Roastery-only creations like a smoked butterscotch latte.
Back to Top
Serious Biscuit Photo: Olivia Brent
B – Biscuit Sandwiches
Start the day off right: with a fluffy biscuit split in half and stuffed with all manner of sweet and savory fillings. Honest Biscuits (1901 Western Ave Suite E; honestbiscuits.com) ladles its biscuits with a gravy so hearty you’d never guess it’s gluten-free and vegan (fear not, carnivores—you can add sausage). The MacGregor biscuit is a tribute of sorts to Market vendors, made with Beecher’s Flagship cheese and Bavarian Meats bacon.
Back to Top
C – Charcuterie
A tiny shop called Salumi (404 Occidental Ave S; salumideli.com) has transformed Italian-style cured meats into a Seattle institution. Retired Boeing engineer Armandino Batali founded the eatery—maybe you’ve heard of his chef son, Mario—and built a second career out of flavorful coppa, sopressata, and salami. Salumi is more of a pilgrimage than a lunch of convenience—seating is scarce, it’s only open for weekday lunch—but it’s always worth it.
Up on Capitol Hill, butchery Rain Shadow Meats (1531 Melrose Ave; rainshadowmeats.com) offers its own range of careful charcuterie. Order a sandwich piled with house-made corned beef brisket or pressed with Rain Shadow’s own roast beef and mortadella. Still, you can’t go wrong with a charcuterie board, some cheese, and a glass of wine.
Back to Top
Etta's Courtesy: Tom Douglas Seattle Kitchen
D – Dungeness Crab
Washington’s native crab has a delicate, almost sweet taste, well worth the work to crack it out of the shell. Duke’s Seafood (multiple locations; dukesseafood.com), shows off the full range of this crustacean, from meaty crabcakes livened up with a bit of zesty lime aoli to decadent Dungeness crab dip, crab stuffed halibut, Dungeness crab salad with an olive oil-honey-raspberry vinaigrette, and more. Another seafood spot that specializes in the delicacy is Cutters Crabhouse (2001 Western Ave, Ste 100; cutterscrabhouse.com). Dungeness crab here comes steamed and whole with a side of herbed couscous, seasonal market vegetables, drawn butter and fresh lemon.
Back to Top
E – Eggs Benedict
Dive into the rich flavors of eggs Benedict at The Fat Hen (1418 NW 70th Street; thefathenseattle.com), a neighborhood restaurant serving up unique dishes in a cozy space, including eggs Benedict served on English muffins with your choice of European-style smoked salmon, Pancetta, or Mixed mushroom. At Portage Bay Cafe (multiple locations; portagebaycafe.com), you can go for a Seattle Benedict, complete with Dungeness crab, arugula, and avocado, or a Yucatan Benedict with braised pork shoulder, adobo hollandaise, and pickled vegetables.
Back to Top
Blueacre Photo: Olivia Brent
F – Fish
Fresh fish and shellfish can be found everywhere in Seattle. One standout is RockCreek (4300 Fremont Ave N; rockcreekseattle.com). Chef Eric Donnelly celebrates sustainable seafood and has a special knack for presenting Pacific Northwest staples in an unexpected way, like baking local oysters with bacon and tamarind butter, or giving Neah Bay cod—a fish most chefs prepare with Japanese-inspired ingredients—a French twist with sherry, shallots, and Provencal herbs.
Back to Top
Stockfood/Hussey Clinton
G – Geoduck
This funny-looking clam (pronounced “gooey duck”) is a Washington delicacy that carries the flavor of the ocean. Local legend Shiro Kashiba was the first Seattle chef to serve geoduck raw; sample his geoduck sushi at Sushi Kashiba (86 Pine St; sushikashiba.com). Or dip into Taylor Shellfish (multiple locations; taylorshellfishfarms.com) for geoduck sashimi, served with one of three finishes.
Back to Top
Salish Lodge Courtesy: Salish Lodge & Spa
H – Honey
On the roof of Fairmont Olympic Hotel (411 University St; fairmont.com/seattle), several beehives provide honey for the hotel’s bar and restaurant menus. Taste some in Seattle Cider Co.’s semisweet honey cider. Farther afield, the magnificently scenic Salish Lodge (6501 Railroad Ave SE; salishlodge.com) in Snoqualmie manages an apiary on the hillside above its perch overlooking Snoqualmie Falls. Its honey shows up all over the menus at the lodge’s restaurants, from honey-roasted yams to tumbled oysters topped with honey-blood orange mignonette; look for menu items marked with a bee or buy some from the gift shop.
Back to Top
Stoup Brewing Photo: Lauren Stelling
I – India Pale Ale
When you live in a state that grows around 80 percent of the nation’s hops, it’s no surprise the beer culture is built around this hoppy, highly drinkable beer style. Pike Brewing Company (1415 First Ave; pikebrewing.com) pours Pike’s classic IPA and a more floral version brewed in tribute to the Space Needle (plus other brews like the Scotch-style Kilt Lifter ale).
Tiny Cloudburst Brewing (multiple locations; cloudburstbrew.com) serves a rotating lineup of inventive beers, with an emphasis on IPAs. Brewer Steve Luke uses different varieties of hops, varying brew methods, and unexpected ingredients like oats to coax a range of flavors out of this beer style.
Nearly a dozen breweries are concentrated in the Ballard neighborhood. Start with
a visit to Reuben’s Brews (5010 14th Ave NW; reubensbrews.com), where British-born brewer Adam Robbings melds European beer styles with the assertive flavors of his adopted hometown. Nearby Stoup Brewing (1108 NW 52nd St; stoupbrewing.com) plays with different hop combos to create a range of IPAs, plus other impeccable styles like porter and Berliner weisse.
Back to Top
Courtesy: James Beard Foundation
J – James Beard Award Chefs
Some of Seattle’s notable James Beard winners include Renee Erickson, who won Best Chef: Northwest for The Whale Wins (3506 Stone Way N; thewhalewins.com), a Fremont favorite dedicated to wood-fired food. John Sundstrom’s Lark (952 E Seneca St; larkseattle.com) stars impeccable local ingredients with cannelloni of braised lamb and duck confit. Meanwhile, Rupee Bar (6307 24th Ave NW; rupeeseattle.com), an Indian-Sri-Lanken restaurant in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, boasts delicious food and beautiful design, which earned them the James Beard Award in the Best Design category. While you’re in Pike Place Market, don’t forget to visit Oriental Mart (1506 Pike Pl #509) where you will find the complex, tangy flavor profile distinct to Filipino cooking. Try the signature tamarind-infused sinigang soup, made with salmon collar and fresh vegetables sourced from the Market itself.
Back to Top
K – Kale
Ah, kale. It’s practically an official food of Seattle these days, as evidenced by the mass quantity of well-constructed kale salads you’ll find on local restaurant menus. Skillet’s (multiple locations; skilletfood.com) kale caesar helped usher in the city’s civic kale obsession; it pairs tender lacinato kale with a seriously creamy, tangy caesar dressing. The assertive flavors are a perfect match for this hearty green. On top, buttery croutons are so good they could be a snack on their own. Add a fried chicken thigh to make your salad a meal, or order it as a side option with one of Skillet’s decadent grilled cheese sandwiches, made with three types of cheese. At Joe & the Juice (2118 seventh Ave; joejuice.com), a Lake Union cafe specializing in natural juices and delicious virtuous food, you can drink your kale in the form of green juice, paired with cucumber and celery.
Back to Top
Cupcake Royale Courtesy: Cupcake Royale
L – Lavender
Molly Moon‘s (multiple locations; mollymoon.com) honey lavender ice cream is made with organic lavender harvested on the Olympic Peninsula. Meanwhile, Cupcake Royale (multiple locations; cupcakeroyale.com) stirs lavender buds into its buttercream.
Back to Top
Campfire BBQ Photo: Charity Burggraaf
M – Meat
Seattle has its share of slow-smoked meats to devour around the city. At Jack’s BBQ (3924 Airport Way S; jacksbbq.com), a roomy Georgetown roadhouse strung with white lights, a duo of 18- and 22-foot smokers crank out superlative pork ribs and brisket, which people consume alongside hush puppies, frito pie, and easy-drinking cocktails like a combo of sweet tea, vodka, and smoked simple syrup. At Bitterroot BBQ (5239 Ballard Ave NW; bitterrootbbq.com), a rustically stylish spot on the main drag in Ballard, smoked ribs, chicken, and pulled pork coexist with an impressive bourbon selection, not to mention slightly-fancier-than-average side dishes like mac and cheese with a choose-your-own toppings list that includes bacon, smoked jalapenos, and (indeed) more pulled pork. Finally, head to Wood Shop BBQ (2513 S Jackson; thewoodshopbbq.com) to get your hands on The Woody—a hearty portion of smoked jalapeno mac and cheese topped with a pile of pulled pork, plus vividly purple pickled onions for crunch.
Back to Top
N – Nachos
The nachos at Barrio (1420 12th Ave; barriorestaurant.com) start with a pile of thick corn tortilla chips, layered with oaxaca and jack cheese and toppings like cascabel salsa, pickled jalapeños, and your choice of protein (vegan options available, too!). In Ballard, Matador (5410 Ballard Ave NW; matadorrestaurants.com) serves an equally delicious plate with cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, black beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, and cilantro-lime sour cream.
Back to Top
The Walrus and the Carpenter Photo: Olivia Brent
O – Oysters
There’s no better place to savor the beauty of an oyster than in the Pacific Northwest. Taylor Shellfish Farms (multiple locations; taylorshellfish.com) is the state’s largest oyster company. Its oyster bars let you compare and contrast different oysters, like Washington’s coppery-tasting native Olympias and big, briny Virginicas. Across town in Ballard, at Renee Erickson’s companionably chic oyster bar The Walrus and the Carpenter (4743 Ballard Ave NW; thewalrusbar.com), wire baskets full of ice hold a half dozen local oyster varieties that change almost daily. If you prefer your oysters with waterfront views, Elliott’s Oyster House (1201 Alaskan Way; elliottsoysterhouse.com) offers the city’s biggest oyster list, organized by species and origin, each platter served with a memorable pink peppercorn mignonette.
Back to Top
P – Pasta
Handmade pastas and communal tables are the heart of Ethan Stowell’s Tavolàta (multiple locations;ethanstowellrestaurants.com). Each features a long table in the middle of the restaurant, where guests are invited to chat over such decadent fare as gnocchi in a lobster mushroom ragu and black truffle ravioli.
Back to Top
Via Tribunali Photo: Olivia Brent
Q – Quattro Formaggi
Local chainlet Via Tribunali (multiple locations; viatribunali.com) embraces the thin wood-fired pizza of Naples, mostly with toppings like fresh mozzarella, salami, and basil. Venture up to Delancey (1415 NW 70th St; delanceyseattle.com) for pizza with perfectly blistered crusts, topped with bacon and onions.
Back to Top
Courtesy Kizuki Ramen
R – Ramen
Kizuki Ramen (multiple locations; kizuki.com) focuses on lighter broth styles like shio (salt) or shoyu (soy), garnished with springy noodles. Nuna Ramen (515 S Main St; nuna-ramen.com) is known for its modern interpretation of classic Japanese dishes. Pay their Fremont restaurant a visit for steaming bowls of ramen complete with toppings like egg, corn, kimchi, and vegetables.
Back to Top
Delicatus Photo: Olivia Brent
S – Sandwiches
A tangled tale of beloved sandwiches has given Seattle multiple destinations for crusty toasted rolls filled with tender meats, aioli, and caramelized onions. When beloved sandwich shop Paseo (multiple locations; paseorestaurants.com) shuttered in Fremont, a new owner bought the business and hired back former staff to reverse engineer its recipes. Meanwhile the sons of Paseo’s original owner opened their own sandwich counter Un Bien (multiple locations; unbienseattle.com) and retained the family’s original recipes. Both operations are good bets for Caribbean-inspired sandwiches like the Caribbean Roast, filled with marinated pork shoulder, and the Press, which marries smoked ham, roasted pork, sweet peppers, and Swiss cheese. Unrelated to this sandwich saga, Delicatus (103 First Ave S; delicatusseattle.com) puts a Seattle twist on the classic deli experience with a menu featuring sammies piled high with locally sourced salmon lox, brisket pastrami, and tender porchetta.
Back to Top
Courtesy Fran's Chocolates
T – Theobromine
This ingredient within the cacao plant is what gives one of Seattle’s premier chocolatiers its name. Theo Chocolate’s (3400 Phinney Ave N; theochocolate.com) artisan creations include bars studded with salted almonds, peanut butter cups, or caramels made with ghost chilies. Another favorite, Fran’s Chocolates (multiple locations; franschocolates.com), has glass cases full of tiny, beautiful caramels, plus artful truffles in flavors like espresso, raspberry, and oolong tea.
Back to Top
U – Undiscovered Gems
The top of Queen Anne Hill is just two miles north of downtown but feels like its own little world, complete with some destination-worthy restaurants. In Eden Hill’s (2209 Queen Anne Ave N; edenhillrestaurant.com) intimate dining room, chef Maximillian Petty serves plates that somehow manage to be both unexpected and comforting. His signature crispy pig head “candybar” is an oblong combo of braised pig head, herbs, and fermented black beans that’s breaded and fried. The foie gras cake batter is quickly becoming a signature dessert; it’s served complete with pieces of seared pound cake and with your own personal spatula.
Back to Top
Westward Photo: Sarah Flotard
V – Views
No surprise—a city surrounded by water has plenty of options for dinner with a view. At The Pink Door (1919 Post Alley; thepinkdoor.net), the charms of classic Italian food, like an unforgettable lasagna, pair perfectly with the charms of the patio, which offers rooftop views of ferries streaming in and out of Elliott Bay. At restaurateur Renee Erickson’s Westward (2501 N Northlake Way; westwardseattle.com), on Lake Union’s northern shore, you can sit on the patio or along the dining room’s roll-up glass walls to admire the water sparkling against Seattle’s skyline as you tuck into some oysters and fish roasted in the wood oven. Along the shoreline in Ballard is Ray’s Boathouse (6049 Seaview Ave NW; rays.com), a Seattle staple that serves a classic menu of Northwest seafood—think grilled king salmon or spicy prawns—against a backdrop of Shilshole Bay, where the water appears endless.
Back to Top
Charles Smith Wines Jet City Photo: Richard Duval
W – Wine
Washington has more than 900 wineries—and counting. Find 100-plus in Woodinville Wine Country (woodinvillewinecountry.com), a 30-minute drive from downtown Seattle. At the state’s oldest winery Chateau Ste. Michelle (14111 NE 145th St; ste-michelle.com), sample its famed rieslings before sipping full-bodied pours at Efeste (19730 144th Ave NE; efeste.com) and balanced wines at Novelty Hill Januik (14710 Woodinville-Redmond Rd; noveltyhilljanuik.com). In Seattle, House of Smith Jet City (1136 S Albro Pl; houseofsmith.com) is the West Coast’s largest urban winery. Find around 20 more urban tasting rooms under the Seattle Urban Wineries (seattleurbanwineries.com) umbrella.
Or plan a visit to Taste Washington (tastewashington.org). It’s the largest single-region food and wine event in the country, featuring pours from more than 200 Washington wineries.
Back to Top
Courtesy Din Tai Fung
X – Xiao Long Bao
Seattle’s love of these delicate Shanghainese dumplings, filled with pork and a splash of hot broth, runs deep. Find them at the two Seattle outposts of Taiwanese chain Din Tai Fung (multiple locations; dintaifungusa.com) in the University District and downtown. Watching the staff expertly pleat xiao long bao through a window by the entrance is half the fun.
Back to Top
Ellenos Greek Yogurt Photo: Olivia Brent
Y – Yogurt
How exciting can yogurt really be? Just ask the fans who flock to Ellenos Greek Yogurt’s (multiple locations; ellenos.com) stand in Pike Place Market—and stock up on the stuff at farmers markets and grocery stores. They’re drawn here by custom-blended yogurt so rich and thick it’s every bit as decadent as ice cream. No, really. Ellenos comes in a rainbow of flavors like latte and mango, plus seasonal creations like rhubarb, pumpkin pie, and ginger-raspberry. Flavors are arranged in a glass case like a European gelato shop; if you can’t decide which one you want, ask to mix two flavors.
Back to Top
Mamnoon Photo: Olivia Brent
Z – Za’atar Maneesh
A perfectly pillowy flatbread wrapped around a brisk combination of tomatoes, olives, herbs, and strained yogurt comes from Mamnoon Street (2020 Sixth Ave; mamnoonstreet.com), a fast-casual sibling to the impeccable Middle Eastern restaurant Mamnoon (1508 Melrose Ave; mamnoonrestaurant.com) in Capitol Hill.
Back to Top
* Visit Seattle Partner
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SEATTLE LOCALIST
Seattle’s best every month in your inbox
Book Your Trip
Partner Advertisements