Seattle is the food Mecca of the Pacific Northwest and therefore has some of the best restaurants. Each neighborhood adds its own flare to its food scene and a huge variety of menu items. For a first-time visitor it can be daunting trying to decide where to eat.
These are some of my favorite places to eat, including my go-to Seattle restaurants, broken down by neighborhood.
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill has so much to offer, not just in food, but its lively LGBTQ+ community is amazing. I am always finding new and fun places in Capitol Hill and though it does have a bit of a crime and homeless problem (I mean the whole city does), I love Capitol Hill.
Rondo
224 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102
Because my husband and I are huge seafood lovers one of the first places we ate at in Capitol Hill was Rondo. This Japanese restaurant has incredibly fresh seafood and is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Make sure to try some of their sashimi and also the Bara-chirashi donburi bowl. I have never tasted such fresh seafood; it was as if it had been brought out of the ocean the day it was served.
Nue
1519 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Nue is an extremely unique place. With only a small amount of seating it is the perfect place to try food from around the world, including bugs. The owners take inspiration from their journeys around the globe to offer dishes unique to the regions they visited. From Sri Lankan curry to dessert wine from Bordeaux, the food truly spans the globe.
Terra Plata
1501 Melrose Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Terra Plata is a popular spot in the warmer months for its patio seating on the roof of the restaurant. It is a farm to table spot with local ingredients from local farmers. My husband and I ate here on our wedding day with a couple friends, and it was perfect. Surrounding the patio are fresh herbs and vegetables growing with hummingbirds enjoying the flowers. It’s a haven in the midst of the city.
Morfire
1806 12th Ave Ste 100, Seattle, WA 98122
This is one of my favorite hotpot locations in the city. It even competes with the hotpot restaurants in the International District. I recommend making a reservation and get two types of broth. The ingredients are extremely fresh, and they have amazing mushrooms. I could have kept eating, even though I was definitely over full. This is one spot I will definitely be going back to over and over again.
Tavern Law
1406 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
A very unique spot to come for dinner, this place doesn’t look like much outside, but inside there is a large bar with just a few seating options. The really fun part and probably the best thing about this location is it is the entrance to Needle and Thread, a hidden speakeasy. You need reservations for Needle and Thread and there is no menu for the drinks, bartenders ask what types of things you like in a drink and then make you something special. It truly is a unique experience. An expensive one, but definitely worth doing at least once.
But before your reservation at the speakeasy, make sure to grab dinner at Tavern Law. The food is good, and it’s got a cool law firm vibe.
Seattle center
We all know that one of the most popular places to check out in Seattle is Pike Place Market. And though I would recommend branching out to other areas in the city these are a couple of the best downtown Seattle restaurants (in my opinion). One of the must try things, if you are into seafood, is the Dungeness crab. Two places you can get good Dungeness crab is Seatown Rub shack and fishfry (2010 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 98121) and Cutters Crabhouse (2001 Western Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121).
Seatown is a small, casual spot with some outdoor seating. In my opinion, the prices in this area are slightly elevated because of its location, but this is the cheaper of the two options I recommend. Cutters is a sit down, fine dining style spot right on the water. It has a huge dining room and is a great spot to escape the summer heat.
University District
Sizzle and Crunch
1313 NE 42nd St, Seattle, WA 98105
This spot is one of our go-to places to eat on the regular. The prices are great with meals costing around $13 and it’s nothing special but it is good. If you need a quick but tasty meal this is your spot. You build your own meal with a base of either rice or salad and then add your choice of meat or tofu (I really like the tofu personally) and then they have a bunch of different veggie options to choose from. On a nice day you can take your food to a grassy spot on the University of Washington campus to enjoy.
U DupBop
4120 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Another great, budget friendly spot is U DupBop. There is some patio seating that allows dogs (Seattle is extremely dog friendly) and the food is delicious. No matter what you choose here you can’t go wrong, but I recommend the soft tofu soup or the pork bulgogi.
Din Tai Fung
2621 NE 46th St, Seattle, WA 98105
If you like soup dumplings, you will love this place. Located in U Village, Din Tai Fung is a very busy spot. Reservations are definitely recommended unless you don’t mind waiting for a table. Their specialty is of course the soup dumplings, all made in house, but their menu is huge. Watch them make the fresh dumplings through their kitchen viewing window.
And if you have room, definitely try the chocolate dumplings for dessert!
International district
If you want authentic food, particularly amazing Asian cuisine, the International district is the place to go. Jackson street is the main street where the light rail station is located and surrounded by great food.
Two spots I highly recommend are Chengdu Memory and the Dough Zone (though this place has multiple locations).
Chengdu Memory
520 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
This is one of the top hotpot locations in the city. It is also the perfect place to go on Thanksgiving if you are not into the traditional turkey dinner. But keep in mind that it’s a busy spot on a normal day but it is packed on Thanksgiving with wait times up to 3 hours. The broth can also be very spicy, so keep that in mind during your pick. If you are like me and can’t handle a lot of spice, make sure you tell your server.
The first thing they give you when you settle in, other than an apron and cover your chairs and coat to protect them from the hotpot, is a tiramisu. And it is divine! I really couldn’t wait until after my meal to at least taste it.
Dough Zone
504 5th Ave S Ste 109, Seattle, WA 98104
Great dumplings and great pig ears. I’m not kidding, the pig ears as an appetizer are one of our favorite things to order. This spot is located near the light rail station and when you arrive there is an IPad to sign in on and you will be placed on the waitlist until your turn. It’s a great spot for a pregame meal if you are heading to a football or baseball game.
The Fish Guys
411 23rd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
I love poke and Seattle has a ton of options. If you follow Jackson St. from the international district all the way to 23rd Ave, you will arrive at the Fish Guys (you can also hop on a bus that will take you from the light rail all the way to 23rd Ave if you aren’t into walking that far and uphill. This fish market not only has great fresh fish you can take home, it also has delicious poke and other meals. There are only a couple of seats inside and 2-3 tables outside, but it’s a great poke spot with good prices and huge portions.
Queen Anne neighborhood
Byen Bakeri
Modern Nordic café
15 Nickerson St, Seattle, WA 98109
You cannot have a food list in Seattle without including a coffee shop. This café has amazing baked goods made in house. On the opposite side of the canal from Fremont is the Queen Anne area and the Byen Bakeri is a short 1-2 minute peddle on a bike up the ship canal trail. I recommend the lavender matcha oatmilk and a whole assortment of cookies. The prices are extremely reasonable compared to other places, for example, we got two drinks, an almond pastry and 9 little cookies for $17. The staff are super friendly and you know it’s a local favorite when people come in and the staff know them by name.
Fisherman’s Terminal
Chinooks
1900 W Nickerson St, Seattle, WA 98119
The Fisherman’s Terminal is a great spot for seafood and to watch the boats come and go. It is also the best place to see the boats from the TV show Deadliest Catch (if you are into that sort of thing). There is, naturally, a fish market here, Chinooks, that also has a full fine dining restaurant and a smaller quick bites spot all in the same area. The main restaurant has an open kitchen and large windows along one wall facing the docks. I highly recommend the seafood soup with their fresh baked bread.
Ballard
The food truck scene in the Ballard brewery district is a popular choice for locals and people out enjoying a few beers at their favorite brewery. Two of my favorite food trucks are Tisket Tasket and Impeckable Chicken. Tisket Tasket are all about the French fry and my favorite menu item, naturally, is the poutine (it makes my little Canadian heart happy).
Impeckable Chicken is, however, a personal favorite. Not always found outside the Ballard breweries they have the best chicken sandwiches I have ever had. The chicken is from sustainable, local free-range farms and the sandwich is huge! It also perfectly moist, something I always find hard to get in a chicken sandwich.
If you are looking for a great lunch spot in Ballard, make sure to check out Sen Noodle Bar (2307 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107). The staff are extremely friendly, and they use some of the freshest ingredients.
For date night, or another special occasion, head to Walrus and the Carpenter (not going to lie, the name is what got me initially – 4743 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107). They of course have some of the freshest oysters from around the state and the restaurant is mostly seafood based. The outside of the restaurant is really unassuming but the ambience inside is warm and inviting and the staff are top notch.
Special mention
Ono Authentic Hawaiian Poke
10016 Edmonds Way, Edmonds, WA 98020
You can’t have a list of best Seattle restaurants and not talk about Ono Authentic Hawaiian Poke. Located in Edmonds, it is a bit of a drive from the city proper, but it is so incredibly worth it. Lines back up outside the little restaurant and once they run out, that’s it. It is made fresh every day and you do not get a choice of what goes into the poke but trust me, you are in for a treat.
Concluding Thoughts
There is no shortage of good food in Seattle. If it is your first time visiting Washington State, these recommendations will definitely leave you wanting more.
If you love a good beer to go with that delicious food, check out my recommendations for best breweries in Seattle.
