When you’re in a city for two weeks, of course you have to eat, so why not choose great food? Before my family and I arrived in Seattle, we heard from various people that seafood and Asian cuisine were the way to go, so we found plenty of restaurants that offered both, but we also discovered restaurants that offered other cuisines that were just as tasty.

Breakfast

The Hart and the Hunter

Not a far walk from Pike Place Market, we had a delicious brunch at The Hart and the Hunter. It is described as an elevated diner, which I would agree, and brunch is served daily, in addition to dinner and cocktails. I ordered the delicious cinnamon french toast and side of bacon, but the butter biscuit and H&H parfait were also highly recommended. I also ordered the house made lemonade, which was fresh and tasty.

Biscuit Bitch

There are two Biscuit Bitch downtown locations that are open seven days a week, and if you love breakfast biscuits, I would say this is a must. Depending on the day and time you go, the line may be down the street, but if you have the time to wait, it’s worth it. I ordered the sausage Bitchwich that comes with egg, cheddar, pork sausage, and I added bacon, but what really makes the biscuit amazing is the Bitchy sauce. For just about $10, this is a great breakfast before getting your day started in the city.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery

Starbucks was founded in Seattle in 1971, so there you’ll see Starbucks literally everywhere in the city. the Reserve Roastery is a more built out version of the typical brick and mortar locations we see, with a full bar and more food options. You can purchase coffee from all over the world and other coffee related items, and you also can book tasting experiences if it interests you to try several of their coffee creations.

We tried the lavender blueberry donut, which had a unique and interesting taste, and I also ordered the Prosciutto & Parmigiano-Reggiano on Herb Cornetto, which was delicious.

Dahlia Bakery

Directly across from Hotel Ändra and attached to Serious Pie, this was one of our top picks. I had the bacon egg sandwich (bacon, fried egg, beecher's cheddar, arugula, smoked paprika aioli, toasted english muffin), which looks like such a simple sandwich, but the taste was exceptional. My brother also recommends the turkey foccacia sandwich.

Lunch/Dinner

Luke’s Lobster

As I mentioned fresh seafood is a staple in Seattle, and Luke’s Lobster at Pike Place Market is a quick and easy choice, especially if you’re an east coaster who loves seafood. It’s an East Coast-style seafood shack that serves buttery, perfectly toasted lobster, crab, or shrimp rolls. I opted for the classic Lobster Roll, which was delicious, but you can also do a flight to try all of the rolls they offer.

Pike Place Chowder

Apparently a visit to Seattle is not complete without trying Pike Place Chowder, a city staple. I wanted to try several of the chowders on the menu, so I ordered the Chowder Flight for about $20. I chose the classic New England Clam Chowder, the Smoked Salmon Chowder, the slightly spicy Seafood Bisque, and the Crab and Oyster Chowder. Each of them was rich and deeply flavorful, but I think the classic New England Clam Chowder stood out as my favorite.

The only downside is that the line can be long, but it moves fast, and the chowder is absolutely worth the wait.

Cortina

Cortina serves delicious Italian food in a sleek, modern setting. I ordered the Pufftown Focaccia ($12) as an appetizer, and Wagyu Bavette ($55) with Fried Potatoes ($16) and Brussel Sprouts ($16) for my meal. For a birthday meal, this is the best I could have asked for. The steak was cooked to perfection and the sides were amazing. I should also mention that the sides come in large portions that are shareable between two or three people. The restaurant is a nice vibe for a romantic date, a small group like me and my family, or large parties.

Vivienne’s Bistro

In the Queen Anne neighborhood, Vivienne’s Bistro is a gem that serves top-tier Chinese food, and when I say top-tier, I really mean that. This was hands down the best general tso’s chicken I’ve ever had—the sauce could not have been more perfect. It’s a must-visit if you’re craving authentic Chinese food in Seattle.

Japonessa

Japonessa isn’t your typical sushi spot—it blends Japanese techniques with bold Mexican flavors, creating some unique dishes. Here, we had the belly sampler, which was my first taste of sashimi, the salmon karaage tacos, and calamari Japonessa as starters. There are so many specialty sushi rolls to choose from, but I landed on the Sweet Kiss that had shrimp tempura, snow crab mix and cilantro topped with seared salmon, tobiko, and sweet chili jalapeño citrus.

Umi Sake House

Seattle has plenty of sushi spots, but Umi Sake House was recommended as the best for traditional Japanese flavors, and I can see why. To start, we had the crispy calamari, chicken karaage, and like Japonessa, there were so many specialty rolls, but I chose the Rockstar, a scallop, avocado tempura fried roll topped with spicy snow crab mix, tobiko, spicy aioli, and soy glaze. The atmosphere is intimate and the service was excellent.

Wild Fish Poke

If you’re in the mood for something light yet satisfying while at Pike Place Market, Wild Fish Poke is a great quick lunch or grab-and-go spot, especially for seafood lovers.

Pho Bac

Seattle’s Pho Bac is often named the best pho spot in the city, and after trying it, I can see why. The noodle portion was large, the brisket tender, and the broth perfectly flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth good. It felt well-balanced and surprisingly filling. I would also recommend the limeade to drink. The service left a little to be desired, but if you’re here for the pho (and you should be), it’s worth a visit.

Lola

Lola is a Mediterranean restaurant attached to Hotel Andra. The chef Tom Douglas is a James Beard Award winner, which guarantees good food and likely good hospitality as well. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and we ultimately ended up dining here one evening after a long day of being out and about in the city.

We started with the Lola spreads—you can do one for $6 or all six for $34. We chose the tzatziki, blue cheese-feta kopanisti, and roasted sweet red pepper. For my meal, I went with the lamb burger, served with pickled peppers, bibb lettuce, rosemary fries, harissa ketchup and tzatziki. I would also recommend the pomegranate lemonade.

I’ve had Mediterranean food before but none as good as this, so if you’re in the mood for it, I would try Lola.

Serious Pie

Seattle is not known for pizza, which I could tell, but that doesn’t mean Serious Pie wasn’t good. I ordered the Fennel Sausage Pizza that features house-made sausage and a tangy tomato sauce, which hit the spot for the only night we ordered in. Conveniently right across from Hotel Andra, all we had to do was cross the street to pick up, but there is plenty of room to dine inside if you choose. If you love wood-fired, artisan-style pizza, Serious Pie might be your stop while in Seattle.

Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung’s was highly recommended, and while we were staying at the Sheraton Grand, it was a hop, skip and a jump to pick up from the mall right across the street. Here we had the chicken spicy wontons, bok choy with scallion-infused oil, and shrimp fried noodles. You should also try the honey lemonade—it’s amazing!

Sweets & Desserts

Daily Dozen Doughnut Company

Doughnuts from the Daily Doughnut Company are a perfect way to start the morning or good for an afternoon snack. I ordered the maple bacon half dozen and kept them in bag to eat while strolling through the market for a second or third time during my trip. The doughnuts are perfectly crisp on the outside and soft inside, and they have a variety of other flavors if you want to try several at once.

Boehm's Candies

A bit outside of Seattle, Boehm’s Candies is worth the trip for anyone with a sweet tooth. Their handmade truffles and Swiss-style chocolates are rich and indulgent, and the shop itself has an old-world charm. I loved the dark chocolate sea salt caramels, which had the perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness.

Rachel’s Ginger Beer

For a refreshing, non-alcoholic option, Rachel’s Ginger Beer is a Seattle favorite. I tried the passionfruit ginger beer, which had just the right amount of spice and tartness. They also serve fun cocktails using their house-made ginger beer, making it a great spot to grab a drink after a day of exploring.