I was born and raised in the best city of the Pacific Northwest. While I’m a little sad that I can no longer call it home, I feel that it has served me quite well as far as unpretentious yet decently metropolitan areas go. Seattle is hip (just look at all the hipsters!), diverse and has pretty much everything you could want from a city. And did I mention we invented Starbucks?
I compiled this list for the benefit of some friends who will be moving there after graduation (yeah, I’m a little jealous). Note that the category of coffeeshops has been excluded. There are far too many and they’re literally everywhere.
Any Seattlites that take issue with my choices can suck it agree to disagree.
Affordable Afternoon Tea: Remedy Teas (Capitol Hill)
Breakfast/Brunch: Portage Bay Cafe (Roosevelt, Ballard, South Lake Union - best IMO), Geraldine’s (Columbia City), Silence Heart Nest (Fremont; great for vegans/vegetarians)
Burgers: Dick’s (Wallingford, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill)
Cheap Sushi: Sushi Land (Queen Anne)
Chinese Bakery: A Piece of Cake (International District)
Cupcakes: Trophy (Wallingford, University District)
Dim Sum: Harbor City (International District)
Diner: Luna Park Cafe (West Seattle)
Ethiopian: Central District (Lalibela, Meskel)
French Bakery: Le Fournil (Eastlake), Le Panier (Downtown)
Fish and Chips: Ivar’s (Wallingford, Downtown)
Fried Chicken: Ezell’s (Central District)
Happy Hour: downtown Bellevue, Belltown, Ivar’s Salmon House (make sure you sit in the bar area or you don’t get HH prices)
Hot Chocolate: Chocolati (multiple locations)
Japanese (sushi bar/tapas): Kaname (International District), Mashiko (West Seattle)
Mexican: El Sombrero (Columbia City)
Pho: Than Brothers (multiple locations)
Pie: Pie (Fremont). This is a serious recommendation because I have high standards for pie.
Ramen: Samurai Noodle (multiple locations)
Thai: U District (Appethai, Thaiger Room, Veggie Veggie, Araya)
Traditional Japanese: Fuji’s (International District), Maneki (ID), Maekawa (ID)
Vietnamese: Moonlight Cafe (Central District), Seattle Deli (ID)