While Portland might hold the title of Foodie Capital, Seattle comes in at a very close second. Pacific Northwest cuisine is hard to describe, but local, sustainable, and organic are a few of its tenets. Be forewarned: you can easily spend your time eating your way across Seattle’s restaurant scene. Below we’ve highlighted a few of the spots we frequent the most, broken out by the type of meal we usually eat at each restaurant.

Unless otherwise noted, all the places we’ve listed are both carnivore and vegetarian friendly. For those folks that are gluten intolerant, we’d recommend reviewing menus online before dining.

Breakfast (see below for Brunch)

Café Presse (Capitol Hill) – A great spot for Francophiles, we enjoy the early breakfast (they open at 7am) and brunch.  We dare you to try the “pain au chocolat a l’ancienne,” which is essentially a warm baguette with a huge block of chocolate melted on top (ahh, the French). They also have dinner but we don’t find it to be as good. Inexpensive for breakfast.

Silence Heart Nest (Fremont) – Affectionately known as “the cult place,” this all-vegetarian spot serves delicious and inexpensive breakfast dishes. They’ve never tried to convert us, but they do readily share the wise sayings of their late Swami. As long as it doesn’t delay the arrival of one of their many egg dishes, we’re not concerned. Inexpensive.

Roxy’s Delicatessen (Fremont) – Roxy’s motto is “Real East Coast on the West Coast,” and while that might be a stretch for any of us familiar with real east coast delis, they do solid diner-style breakfasts. Inexpensive. There is also a backdoor bar that serves some solid cocktails in the evenings.

Eltana (Wallingford or Capitol Hill) – If you’ve never had a “Montreal-style” bagel, get thee to Eltana and be prepared for deliciousness. Bio-Willy’s coffee is pretty great and served here. Inexpensive.

Top Pot (Various locations) – Doughnuts are a thing in the PNW with both Seattle and Portland having locally famous and beloved brands. Top Pot’s “hand-forged” treats are worth the indulgence. They also source and roast their own coffee, and you are assured a Seattle-quality cup at any of their locations. Cheap.

Lunch

Paseo (Fremont and Ballard) – Listen, if you want lunch, go here.  Don’t think about it, don’t read about it, just go get in line (which can be long on any day when the sun is shining – and yes, those days are the exception in Seattle). This tiny hole in the wall serves the most incredible Cuban sandwiches this side of Havana. Courtney’s favorite is the Onion Obsession Sandwich (5-star heat level) and John’s is the Caribbean Roast Sandwich. Closed Sunday and Monday. Cash only. Inexpensive. One of our favorite places to go to in Seattle has closed. Apparently Paseo was bought and will be re-opening with the same staff and food but we have to take this off the list until we can see how it goes. So… Paseo is back open under a new owner. Just the Fremont location is open and we haven’t been back yet but the reviews suggest it is mostly on track to returning to it’s former glory.

Dot’s Delicatessen (Fremont) – Another place right around the corner from our house, Dot’s is an old-world style charcuterie blended with PNW ethics of sustainably- and humanely-raised meats. John would eat here everyday if he could. Not vegetarian friendly. Inexpensive. It kills me to say it but Dot’s recently closed:(

Mr. Gyro (Greenwood/Phinney and Ballard) and Main St. Gyro (Pioneer Square) – We have two favorite falafel places in town, each run by a pair of affable brothers. If you’re nearby any of the three locations, you’ll find a filling and satisfying falafel or gyro. Cheap.

Pho Ba(c) (International District) – They officially changed the name from Pho Bac to Pho Ba but the Internet has not kept up. This place is a total dive based on looks, but don’t worry about that. Pho Ba has the best pho in a city with high pho standards. And they have vegetarian pho. Cash Only. Cheap.

Homegrown (Various) – A self-proclaimed “sustainable sandwich shop,” Homegrown features deliciously simple sandwiches, salads, and soups.  They also make a fantastic egg sandwich if you’re in need of a quick and hearty breakfast. Inexpensive.

Salumi (Pioneer Square) – Founded by Armandino Batali (Mario’s father), this is a mecca for meat eaters. The meat is house-cured and widely known for high-quality and mouth-watering flavor. They have one vegetarian sandwich on the menu, which is incredible. Inexpensive.

Dinner

Via Tribunali (Fremont and several other locations) – Some say the Neapolitan-style pizza here rivals that cooked up in Italy. I’m not sure we’d go quite that far, but it’s damn good and tied for best pizza in Seattle. We’re regulars at the Fremont location, where you can find us ensconced at the bar at least once a week.  Moderate.

Delancey Pizza & Essex Bar (North Ballard) – Possibly better than Motorino in Brooklyn, which is saying something. They don’t take reservations, but you can wait for your table while enjoying a cocktail next door at Essex. Moderate.

Ocho (Ballard) – Having lived in Spain, Courtney has a pretty high standard for Spanish tapas. This shoe-box sized restaurant does not disappoint, with some of the best Patatas Bravas outside of Madrid.  A great place if you have a small group and are ready to share several courses of small plates. Also features craft cocktails, beer, and wine. Moderate.

Revel (Fremont) – Serving “urban style Korean comfort food,” this restaurant regularly delivers dishes that surprise and delight. With an open kitchen and a welcoming deck for dining outside, the entire experience is wonderful. Reservations recommended. Moderate.

Bastille (Ballard) – This French bistro does not disappoint. It also has a somewhat secret bar in the back for getting a pre-dinner drink. Moderate.

Poppy (Capitol Hill) – This is another one of those, “Don’t read about it, just go” sort of places. The specialty is Indian thalis with Pacific Northwest flair. The menu changes frequently, but rest assured that everything is delicious. The eggplant fries are to die for. Reservations recommended. This is John’s favorite restaurant in the city. Expensive.

Umi Sake House (Belltown) – This is one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle. They also serve a large, diverse list of sake and cocktails. The only drawback is the clientele, which can get a bit clubby on a Friday night. Reservations recommended. Moderate.

Cantinetta – (Wallingford) A hidden gem unknown to even some long-time Seattleites, this delightful neighborhoody spot serves up tantalizing home-made Italian dishes. Expensive.

Other Highly Recommended Spots:
Señor Moose (Ballard) – Mexican. Surprising, delicious, and very popular. Inexpensive.
Walrus and Carpenter (Ballard) – This oyster bar is a local favorite. Not vegetarian-friendly. Moderate.
Joule (Wallingford) – Difficult to describe, but absolutely mouth-watering. If they’re booked, try the Whale Wins next door. Expensive.
Palace Kitchen (Belltown) – American. One of our favorite spots from local celebrity chef Tom Douglas. Not a ton of vegetarian options. Expensive.
Tanakasan (Belltown) – Modern Asian. Right across the street from what will be Amazon’s biosphere campus, this innovative offering from Tom Douglas is full of tasty options. Moderate.

Dinner or Brunch

Rock Creek (Fremont) – For fish eaters, this is the place to go for local, fresh Pacific Northwest cuisine. The brunch is outstanding – a mix of traditional items (i.e., eggs Benedict) and some dishes that are purely unique. It’s fantastic. Brunch is vegetarian friendly, but dinner is not. Moderate.

Local 360 (Belltown) – Seattle considers itself to be at the heart of the local food movement in the US.  About 90% of the ingredients at this Pacific Northwest comfort food restaurant are sourced within 360 miles of Seattle, helping to make it one of our favorite restaurants. Both dinner and brunch are incredibly delicious, and we are frequently found in the homey wooden booths. Reservations recommended. Moderate.

Terra Plata (Capitol Hill) – Another one of our favorites, the fare here is the best of the Pacific Northwest. For dinner or brunch, the offerings are fresh, local, and can all be enjoyed on a lovely rooftop deck overlooking downtown. Reservations recommended. Expensive.

And if you made it this far, here’s the cheat sheet of our favorites that are not to be missed:
Paseo (with the caveat it does have new owners)
Rock Creek
Poppy
Local 360
Terra Plata