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Experts Pick Seattle’s Top New Restaurants of 2018

New restaurants like Homer, Pho Bac Sup Shop, Pasta Casalinga, and Sawyer rocked the restaurant world this year

A bird’s eye view of an array of colorful dishes and drinks at Sawyer.
Ballard’s Sawyer was a big hit among local food writers this year.
Suzi Pratt for Eater

As is tradition, Eater closes out the year by surveying local food writers on various restaurant-related topics. Readers, please feel free to chime in with your own thoughts in the comments section below.

What were your top Seattle restaurant newcomers of 2018?

Jill Lightner, food writer:

Dynasty Room, Good Day Donuts, Breezy Town Pizza, Little Chengdu. Maybe I should go have a salad or something?

Chelsea Lin, dining/lifestyle editor, Seattle Magazine:

I thoroughly enjoyed Sawyer and Homer, both of which feel like true neighborhood restaurants (though neither are in my neighborhood and I’d happily travel for either) with exceptionally talented chefs. Pasta Casalinga was such a delightful find, and close to my office for maximum lunchtime enjoyment. And I’m a major cake snob because I generally bake my own, but I really love Deep Sea Sugar and Salt — the cakes are amazing, and the owner is the kind of wonderful, passionate person it’s a joy to write about.

Allecia Vermillion, deputy editor, Seattle Met:

Homer and Sawyer. Full stop. I haven’t been to Archipelago yet, but I hear wonderful things.

Jackie Varriano, food writer:

I should preface this by saying that I had a baby this year...so getting out and about to the hottest restaurants was a little bit tougher. I loved Westman’s and Salt and Straw. My list of new restaurants to hit is embarrassingly long.

Rosin Saez, associate food and drink editor, Seattle Met:

At the risk of echoing every other food writer in town, I’d have to say Homer was one of my favorite restaurants to arrive this year. What Logan Cox and Sara Knowles have created on Beacon Hill is downright lovely.

It seems like an old, reliable friend at this point, but Pho Bac Sup Shop opened on the first day of 2018, and I’ve been burying my head in bowls of turmeric noodles ever since. Westman’s also debuted early in the year, yet the Madison walkup window feels like a seasoned mainstay. What else? Reckless Noodles, Sawyer, Archipelago in Hillman City.

Providence Cicero, food critic, The Seattle Times:

I picked eight for my annual “Critic’s Choice” list: Kamonegi, Jerk Shack, Le Messe, Tamari Bar, Sawyer, Ascend Prime Steak and Sushi, Plenty of Clouds, Central Smoke. Homer opened just as that list went to press, or it would have been number nine.

Naomi Tomky, food writer:

Sizzling Pot King (Chinatown-International District location), Pho Bac Sup Shop, and Pasta Casalinga.

Reckless Noodles

2519 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 329-5499 Visit Website

Ascend Prime Steak and Sushi

10400 NE 4th Street #3100, Bellevue, WA 98004 (425) 625-2080 Visit Website

Good Day Donuts

9823 15th Avenue Southwest, , WA 98106 (206) 503-2898 Visit Website

List

2226 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 206 441 1000

Le Messe

1903 Yale Place East, , WA 98102 (206) 402-6106 Visit Website

Plenty of Clouds

1550 15th Avenue, , WA 98122 (206) 279-5900 Visit Website

Kamonegi

1054 North 39th Street, , WA 98103 (206) 632-0185 Visit Website

Breezy Town Pizza

4864 Beacon Avenue South, , WA 98108 (312) 884-9527 Visit Website

Archipelago

5607 Rainier Ave, Seattle, WA

Pho Bac Sup Shop

1240 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 568-0882 Visit Website

Dynasty Room

714 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 682-0297 Visit Website

Tamari Bar

500 East Pine Street, , WA 98122 (206) 979-8800 Visit Website

Sawyer

5309 22nd Avenue Northwest, , WA 98107 (206) 420-7225 Visit Website

Jerk Shack

2510 1st Avenue, , WA 98121 (206) 441-7817 Visit Website

Deep Sea Sugar And Salt

6601 Carleton Avenue South, , WA 98108 (206) 588-1186 Visit Website

Central Smoke

1305 E Jefferson St., Seattle, WA 98122 (206) 328-7090 Visit Website

Pasta Casalinga

93 Pike Street, , WA 98101 (206) 445-2987 Visit Website

Homer

3013 Beacon Avenue South, , WA 98144 (206) 785-6099 Visit Website