Best Restaurants in Seattle

Seattle’s food scene is anchored by the Pacific Northwest’s extraordinary seafood — salmon, Dungeness crab, oysters, geoduck — combined with strong Asian influences from the city’s large Japanese, Vietnamese, and Chinese communities.

Pike Place Market

Pike Place Chowder — Award-winning clam chowder and seafood bisques. The New England clam chowder is the standard, but the smoked salmon chowder is the sleeper hit. Small space, long line, worth it.

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese — Watch cheese being made through the window, then order mac and cheese or a grilled cheese sandwich. The flagship white cheddar is excellent.

The Crumpet Shop — Handmade crumpets (English muffin-like cakes) with toppings. The lavender crumpet with honey is the signature. Simple and satisfying.

Piroshky Piroshky — Russian hand pies with savory and sweet fillings. Smoked salmon pâté, beef and cheese, and the chocolate cream cheese roll are favorites.

Seafood

Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar (multiple locations) — Oysters from their own farms in Puget Sound. The freshest oysters you’ll eat in Seattle.

The Walrus and the Carpenter (Ballard) — Renee Erickson’s oyster bar. Small, packed, and some of the best seafood in the city. No reservations — arrive early.

Ivar’s Acres of Clams (waterfront) — Seattle institution since 1938. Seafood on the waterfront. Touristy but genuine. The fish bar next door is cheaper with the same view.

Asian Dining

Chinatown-International District (CID) — Seattle’s CID has excellent Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino food.

Dough Zone (CID + multiple locations) — Soup dumplings (xiao long bao) that rival New York and Shanghai. Watch them being hand-folded.

Maneki (CID) — Seattle’s oldest Japanese restaurant (since 1904). Sushi, izakaya dishes, and a hidden speakeasy in the basement.

Pho Bac (CID) — The pho standard in Seattle. Rich broth, fresh herbs, and huge bowls.

Capitol Hill & Neighborhoods

Altura (Capitol Hill) — Italian fine dining with a Pacific NW sensibility. Pasta made daily. Intimate and excellent.

Stateside (Capitol Hill) — Vietnamese-French fusion. The bo kho (Vietnamese beef stew) and the banh mi are standouts.

Canlis (Queen Anne) — Seattle’s premier fine dining since 1950. Pacific NW tasting menu with views of Lake Union. Jacket required. Splurge-worthy.

→ Seattle Fun Things To Do → Seattle Timeshare Promotions