1. The Midnight Cuban Press Sandwich Is A Gift from God
Paseo4225 Fremont Ave. N.(206) 545-7440
Yelp: 4.5 stars – 2909 reviews
This sandwich from Paseo Caribbean simple enough: warm, crisp bread; succulent morsels of roasted pork, sweet banana peppers, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, and caramelized onions.
OK, admittedly, it sounds pretty damn good. But when you actually
taste it, well, as one Yelp user put it “sometimes [you’ll] have to take a break to look at the sky and thank the heavens that [you] have the pleasure of eating such tasty food.”
2. Sushi So Good You’ll Want To Watch Yourself Eating It
Mashiko Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar4725 California Ave.(206) 935-4339
Yelp: 4 stars – 377 reviews
Mashiko Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar is certainly one of the most unique sushi places I’ve heard of. Not only is all of their fish sustainable, the chef, Hajime, is also some sort of sushi wizard, coming up with magically delicious concoctions every night of the week.
Plus, there is a live
webcam filming the sushi bar, so if you want, you can even watch yourself enjoying your sushi. Ya know, If you’re into that kind of thing.
3. The Best Pho In The Pacific Northwest
Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant418 8th Ave. S.(206) 340-1388
Yelp: 4 stars – 754 reviews
I understand, this is quite a claim, especially in Seattle where there seem to be more pho restaurants than corner grocery stores. But once you try the pho at Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant—boneless chicken, beef, or vegetarian—I think you’ll agree it’s the best.
And if you don’t, well, take it to the comments section.
4. Coffee Counts As Food, Right?
Lighthouse Coffee Roasters400 North 43rd St.(206) 633-4444
Yelp: 4 stars – 131 reviews
Anywhere else in the world, I’d say coffee probably doesn’t count as food; but this is Seattle we’re talking about here. I mean, people drink so much coffee here the
ocean is caffeinated.
But which of the hundreds and hundreds of coffee shops is the best? Well if you ask me (and if you’re reading this I am going to assume you are) Lighthouse Coffee Roasters in Fremont, is the best of the best.
5. The Garlic Eggplant At Thai Tom Will Be Your New Veggie Go-To
Thai Tom4543 University Way NE(206) 548-9548
Yelp: 4 stars – 1101 reviews
As one Yelp user said about the garlic eggplant dish: “Get it. Eat it. Love it. Repeat.” I couldn’t agree more.
6. The Thing You Never Knew Your Life Was Missing: A Falafel
Mr. Gyros8411 Greenwood Ave. N.(206) 706-7472
Yelp: 4.5 stars – 567 reviews
Not just any falafel, mind you; but Mr. Gyro’s, specifically, the falafel plate. Which isn’t really a plate at all, but more like a giant box filled with hummus, olives, Greek salad, rice, warm, gooey, pita bread, and the most delectable falafel your mouth has ever met.
Also, get the garlic fries on the side if you know what’s good for you—and by good for you, I mean probably terrible for you, but tastes so good it’s worth it.
7. Mexican Food… In Seattle? Really? Yep!
La Carta de Oaxaca5431 Ballard Ave. NW(206) 782-8722
Yelp: 4 stars – 835 reviews
I know, I know; when most people think of good Mexican food, Seattle probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. But those people just haven’t been to La Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard yet.
Pro tip: the tacos al pastor and the halibut tacos are by far the best things on the menu.
8. The Best Shrimp Po Boy This Side Of Seattle
Jemil’s Big Easy2nd Ave. and Pike St.v(206) 930-8915
Yelp: 4.5 stars – 86 reviews
For some delicious casual Cajun, head to Jemil’s Big Easy food truck downtown; they’ve got po boys, jambalaya, shrimp gumbo, the works.
If you’re looking for Cajun that is more restaurant, less eating out of the side of someone’s car, head to
Toulouse Petite in Queen Anne and ask for the Croque Madame.
9. If Seattle Had a Flavor, It Would be Fresh Oysters. Well, that and Coffee.
Taylor Shellfish Farms1521 Melrose Ave.(206) 501-4321
Yelp: 4.5 stars – 299 reviews
Fresh oysters and coffee... Perhaps best enjoyed separately.
Anyway, with all of the oyster options in Seattle, it is hard to pick a favorite; but Taylor Shellfish Farms in Capitol Hill stands out among the rest.
It is casual and unpretentious, because the focus is entirely on the food. Which, after one bite, you’ll see all that attention is well-deserved.
10. Speaking of Seafood...How About Creamy Clam Chowder In A Bowl of Warm Bread?
Pike Place Chowder1530 Post Alley(206) 267-2537
Yelp: 4.5 stars – 1896 reviews
If you're talking about clam chowder from Pikes Place then
yes. The answer is always yes.
11. This Ain’t Your Cafeteria's Sloppy Joe
Quinn’s Pub1001 E Pike St.(206) 325-7711
Yelp: 4. stars – 910 reviews
The Wild Boar Sloppy Joe at Quinn’s Pub is a delicious combination of thinly chopped, rich, wild boar, sweet, greasy, onion shoestrings, and to top it off, a duck egg. Or quail egg. Maybe it was an ostrich egg. Dinosaur egg? Who knows. Whatever it was, though, it was
delicious
12. Keep It Classy At Table
Art of the Table1054 N. 39th St.(206) 282-0942Yelp: 4.5 – 330 reviews
If you’re looking to take your date someplace with finer fare, you might want to check out Art of the Table in Fremont.
It is the kind of place where you can order things like the “chef’s nine-course special,” where you can dine on seared foie gras, sip flutes of champagne, excellently selected wine pairings, and treat your sweet tooth to a chocolate torte with pear puree.
Basically, it’s expensive. So maybe a third or fourth date type of place.
13. Tapas So Good You’ll Feel Like You’re in the Rain in Spain
The Harvest Vine2701 E. Madison St.(206) 320-9771Yelp: 4.5 stars – 328 reviews
As everybody who has ever seen My Fair Lady knows, “the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain.” A good lesson to remember. On a completely different note, though, the food from Spain seems to taste better in the rain—i.e., in Seattle.
At the Harvest Vine you can order authentic Spanish tapas, like cured meats, paella, squid, and of course, real Spanish tortillas. Yum!
14. The Best Pizza In Seattle—Seriously
Serious Pie316 Virginia St.(206) 838-7388Yelp: 4 stars – 2175 reviews
If you want some seriously good pizza, you need to head to Serious Pie and order the fennel sausage pizza. Right now. For real. You’re welcome.
15. Dang, Those Are Some Hot Cakes
Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery5427 Ballard Ave. NW(206) 420-3431Yelp: 4 stars – 323 reviews
And I mean that both literally and figuratively. Just look at the picture (A PB Cub Chocolate Cake). Seriously. That is one sexy cake.
Feature Image Source: Harvest Vine via Facebook
