Best Seattle Food & Where to Find It in 2024
If you are looking for delicious Seattle food to try next time you are in the Pacific Northwest, this guide will tell you some of the best options and what some of the Seattle food places are for visitors and locals alike.
Known as the Emerald City, Seattle has been home to Native American tribes for centuries, but the first non-native settlers arrived around 1851.
According to the National Parks Service, once the settlers arrived, expansion occurred quickly, with the first university opening in Seattle just ten short years later in 1861. This quick growth has characterized the city’s entire history and innovation in many areas has become part of Seattle's culture.
Seattle’s innovations extend all the way to food and drink options in the Emerald City! Whether you are looking for the best new restaurants in Seattle, date ideas in Seattle, finding fun new ideas like paint and sip in Seattle or you are simply trying to decide what your favorite Seattle food is, our comprehensive guide will tell you more about the best food in Seattle and where to find it.
Jump to Section
- What Are Some of Seattle's Famous Foods?
- Cook Authentic Seattle Food With Local Chefs
- Where to Find the Best Seattle Food
What Are Some of Seattle's Famous Foods?
Seattle is a city that has a lot to offer in the way of famous foods. Here are just a few of the delicacies that they are known for:
Coffee
Seattle is a caffeine lover’s dream city, as they have been home to excellent coffee roasters for well over 100 years.
Home to many national chains, including the first Starbucks location, be sure to stop by a Seattle coffee shop for a cup of joe to warm you up on a chilly northwestern day.
The Seattle Dog
What is Seattle's famous food? You can’t visit Seattle without trying a Seattle Dog, a hot dog made (typically) with Polish sausage and served with your favorite toppings.
Be sure to try it with cream cheese and onions, as these are two of the most common toppings for this Seattle treat.
Sushi
Sushi is another staple in Seattle. Because of the city’s proximity to fresh water, there are some great Seattle food places serving up exceptionally fresh sushi.
Pho
Seattle boasts a thriving Vietnamese community, and one Vietnamese staple to enjoy during the cold, rainy days of the winter is Pho.
This noodle soup with veggies and meat is some of the best food in Seattle, meaning that you will be able to find plenty of downtown Seattle restaurants serving up this savory dish.
Chocolate
What candy is Seattle famous for? The answer might surprise you: chocolate! From artisanal, handmade candy to brands that have become world-famous, Seattle is home to plenty of this sweet treat.
They host the Northwest Chocolate Festival each fall, which would be a great time to visit the city if you are a chocolate lover.
Cook Authentic Seattle Food With Local Chefs
If you’d like to learn how to make some or all of these Seattle delicacies, try scheduling cooking classes in Seattle. You’ll learn more how to get the most out of your time in the kitchen, plus you’ll be taught by world-class local chefs.
Even if you’re simply looking to brush up on your skills or try something new, cooking classes are some of the best experience gifts in Seattle, and can really take your cooking skills up a notch or two. Throw in a few photography classes in Seattle so that you can capture all your culinary delights for your socials.
Where to Find the Best Seattle Food
Bar del Corso
Everyone loves pizza night, so make a reservation at Bar del Corso to enjoy one of the best casual nights out in Seattle.
They offer pizza, of course, but also Italian small plates and house-made bread and desserts that are perfect for date night on Beacon Avenue.
Quick Pack Food Mart
If fried chicken is calling your name, Quick Pack Food Mart is home to some of the best in Seattle. This is fried chicken at its best: hot, juicy and packed full of spices and flavors.
Their chicken goes fast, so be sure to stop by and claim a drumstick (or three) at one of the best casual restaurants in Seattle.
Musang
Musang is another Beacon Hill hotspot that you should add to your Seattle food map. Serving traditional Filipino dishes and seasonal beverage offerings, this is one of the 10 best restaurants in Seattle, and its interesting menu gives you a chance to try out a new cultural cuisine that you might not have tasted before.
Xi’an Noodles
When it comes to Seattle food, you can’t go wrong with a bowl of biang biang noodles from Xi’an Noodles. This restaurant was founded in 2016, when it quickly became one of the best new restaurants in Seattle.
Now with several different locations to choose from, you can find these delicious, authentic noodles wherever your travels in the city might take you.
Canlis
If you are searching for fine dining experiences, or trying to hit the top 10 best restaurants in Seattle, try Canlis. This truly is one of the best restaurants in the city, and it books out months in advance, so plan ahead!
At Canlis, you’ll find multi-course meals served with excellence. Plus, this is also one of the best restaurants in Seattle with a view of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains.
Pho Bac Súp Shop
Pho Back Súp Shop is one of the downtown Seattle restaurants to try if you’re looking for authentic Seattle food. With savory dishes of noodles featuring tender meat and fresh cooked veggies, this is the perfect dish for a cold or rainy Seattle day.
Marination Ma Kai
Marination Ma Kai started out as a food truck selling Korean-Hawaiian cuisine, and today they have expanded to offer plenty of locations to choose from.
But if you’re looking for one of the best restaurants in Seattle with a view, be sure to visit their West Seattle location on Harbor Avenue. You will be able to enjoy your meal while looking out over the city skyline and Elliot Bay.
So, is Seattle a foodie city? The definite answer is “yes!” Seattle is filled with great restaurants and new dishes to try, no matter your taste or how long you’ll be staying in the city. Taking your better half out to some of the best restaurants is the perfect Seattle gift. Or just treat yo'self!
We hope some of these restaurants make their way onto your Seattle food map, because there really is no better way to get to know a new city than by discovering its food culture.
For even more fun things to do in Seattle, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
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