Sea-Tac Scores Sunset Fried Chicken and Skillet

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport just released a total of ten new dining options coming soon, and the list is pretty darn exciting, headlined by outposts of chef Monica Dimas’ Sunset Fried Chicken Sandwiches (resident purveyor at Rachel’s Ginger Beer on Capitol Hill) and popular diner and food truck chainlet Skillet.

Other appealing names include a French spot called Lummi Marché and Bar from French chef Thierry Rautureau; Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen, which has five locations in Portland (including Portland International Airport); Caffe D’arte; and a locally focused place called Seattle Beer Union. The list also features a new Starbucks location; a Pacific Northwest-themed deli called Sourced Market; a wine tasting room called Vyne; and a sandwich, wrap, and salad restaurant called 9th and Pike Artisanal Sandwiches and Salads operated by the Bambuza owners.

These announcements follow the recent opening of Floret, a spin-off of Cafe Flora’s respected vegetarian restaurant, and also add to last summer’s announcements of soon-to-open outposts of Li’l Woody’s, Good Bar, and a Salt and Straw grab-and-go freezer.

It’s all part of a massive overhaul that will see a total of 135 new dining and retail options at the airport. Construction and contract negotiation timelines put the initial arrivals out by a year or more.

But for all the excitement around these new options, not everyone has been happy. In the reshuffling of restaurants, Ivar’s Fish Bar lost its lease for its coveted Central Terminal spot, leading to an outcry from the company and its fans. The airport finally offered an olive branch, giving Ivar’s a food cart to replace its lost restaurant lease.