The 19 best restaurants in Seattle

There's nothing quite like fine dining, and Canlis know it. Great for an important date or a super fancy celebration, the restaurant has expert sommeliers to help you pick out a perfect pairing from their extensive wine list, gorgeous panoramic views of the city (including the Cascade Mountain range and Lake Union), and delicious dishes to boot. 

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This intimate, inventive restaurant in Hillman City melds Pacific Northwest cuisine with Filipino-American flavors. Offering a seasonal tasting menu, the meal weaves flavors with the story of the chef-owner's journeys as immigrants to the region. The focus is on local produce, enhanced with a bit of history.

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Taste Indian cuisine in a whole new way at Meesha. The contemporary dishes are bursting with flavor, a simple celebration. Familiar dishes like pakoras and butter chicken are on the menu but don't miss Amritsari fish (pan-fried rockfish with cardamom and fenugreek), paneer in a spiced tomato sauce, or Bukhara dal. 

Xi'an Noodles is an unassuming spot in the University District where you'll find some of the best noodles in Seattle. Chewy, tender, hand-pulled noodles are best served with hot chili oil, and toppings like spicy cumin lamb and stewed pork.

Taking a ferry to visit a restaurant may sound a bit excessive, but in this case, it’s exactly what you should be doing. With a wood-burning stove on-site, Bruciato serves one of the best slices you’ll ever nosh on. Offering pies bursting with chorizo, honey, and morel mushrooms (only when they are in season, of course), the eatery promises to deliver one of the most transcendent pizza-eating experiences of your life.

Celebrated for serving some of the best Nashville fried chicken outside of the south, Sisters and Brothers is always a go-to for lunch or dinner. Heat levels range from “naked” to “insane”—try the latter at your own risk. On weekends, order the famous hot chicken and waffles, which you can eat at one of the four vintage video game tables.

If you’re in Pike Place market and you need to get away from the crowds, you’ll want to head to Matt’s in the Market. A little hard to find—it’s up some pretty nondescript back stairs off of First Avenue—Matt’s in the Market serves fish and veggies found in the market below it. With a view of the Olympic Mountains, the Pike Place Market Sign, and the bustling street below, you are going to be Instagramming your meal and your surroundings.

Believe it or not, Pike Place Market is home to a James Beard Outstanding Chef nominee. Seats at the bar are the most coveted, as you can watch said master sushi chef at work. The omakase option will feature seasonal offerings, but every item on the menu will be fresh and delicious.

Chew on what many consider Seattle’s most delicious sandwich offerings at Un Bien. Hours-long cooked meats drenched in the best Caribbean juices make waiting on the side of the street for your order worth it. Trust us on this one.

Overlooking Seattle’s Lake Union, Westward shows off all the goodies the Pacific Northwest offers in every dish. The venue is a fantastic destination for a romantic evening, during which lovers can gaze at the sunset from one of the Adirondack chairs overlooking the lake.

For spot-on Neapolitan pizzas, head to Beacon Hill. Though slightly hidden, Bar del Corso is frequently packed, but the wait is worth it for the pizzas with a bubbly, crispy crust. The rest of the menu is equally tasty, with items like meatballs, salt cod fritters, or grilled octopus with corona beans.

Master chef Rachel Yang helms a few spots in Seattle (Revel, Revelry), but Joule is her crowning achievement. The upscale yet casual Korean eatery focuses on different cuts and preparations of beef—each one more delicious than the next.

Sure, all the restaurants lining the International District offer delicious BBQ pork, but to enjoy the very best, you’ll want to dine at Kau Kau. The festive and casual Chinese restaurant sells so much BBQ pork that the staff has even set up a window service for takeout—the ideal excuse for a late-night snack if you ask us.

In the mood for noodles? Thai Tom in the University District is your best bet. This Thai noodle shop offers a limited menu and even fewer seats (less than 20)—but don’t let that deter you! The wait is completely worth it.

Francophiles are going to feel right at home at Le Pichet. Another Seattle institution, the eatery’s menu is almost entirely in French. Don’t fret, though: No matter what you order, you will end up with something fantastically delicious.

At one point, every newspaper reporter from the Seattle Times would head to 13 Coins to grab a steak and a beer after a long day at the newsroom. Now that both the Seattle Times and 13 Coins have moved from their original locations, the steak/news legacy is only part of Seattle lore. One thing has remained the same: The steak is still oh-so-delicious.

If you’re looking for a strong cup of coffee and a warm meal while strolling through Capitol Hill, Oddfellows is the best place to rest your weary self. Serving traditional cafe eats, this is the ultimate cool place to hang out during a rainy afternoon in Seattle. Fun fact: 90 percent of Oddfellows decor is salvaged and repurposed to save on waste and give the space that vintage feel everyone seems to appreciate.

If you see a giant clam shell walking on two legs, follow it all the way to Ivar’s. Anybody who grew up in Seattle knows about the outrageous television commercials from the '80s and '90s touting the restaurant’s “acres of clams.” This downtown waterfront staple serves some of the best fish in the city, with views to match. Grab a seat by the fireplace and enjoy some smoked salmon from the foodie gods.

It’s not a trip to (or a regular week in) Seattle without a meal at Dick’s Burger. The low-key burger joints are scattered throughout the city and have been a favorite of all Pacific Northwesterners for years. The chain recently started accepting credit cards, so you don’t have to think twice about the ten-cent charge for ketchup.