Popular Fast Food Burger Chain Heads to West Seattle

Welcome to the Eater Seattle restaurant tracker, a regularly-updated post with intel on the latest openings from around the city. In this update, West Seattle gets a popular fast food burger chain, Ethan Stowell opens a downtown cafe, and a new nanobrewery starts brewing in Greenwood.

Have intel about a newly opened restaurant, bar, cafe, or other food emporium that’s been overlooked? Tipping is essential: Send Eater the details over the Seattle tipline and we’ll check it out. Meanwhile, check out this other post for more of Seattle’s restaurant openings from 2019.

June 7, 2019

DOWNTOWN — Ethan Stowell opened Cafe Cortina on the second floor lobby in Two Union Square, just above his Italian restaurant Cortina. The quick-service cafe specializes in coffee, breakfast, and lunch. The space overlooks Freeway Park and has open and semi-private work/meeting spaces. The menu includes coffee and espresso from Caffe Vita; nitro cold brew on tap; grab-and-go salads and sandwiches; Rubinstein bagels and shmears; and pastries from local spots Nuflours, Lil Rae Bakery, and La Toscanella. Status: Certified open. 621 Union Street.

WEST SEATTLE — The Habit Burger Grill opened its second Seattle location — and its eighth in Washington State — this week. Habit Burger gained national attention in 2014 when Consumer Reports named it the best (fast food) burger in America. The Charburger is the most well known item, and the restaurant also offers a slew of other burgers, grilled sandwiches, salads, kids’ meals, shakes and malts. The company recently opened a Ballard restaurant, and there’s also a Kent location. Status: Certified open. 3501 SW Avalon Way.

GREENWOOD — There’s a new nanobrewery called Snapshot Brewing in the back of the Stretch and Staple fine art print shop. Come summer, the brewery will add sidewalk seating and photo trivia. The brewing capacity is around five barrels per month, with beers like Aperture Amber, Out of Focus IIPA, and Parallax Pale. Status: Certified open. 8005 Greenwood Ave. N.

May 28, 2019

Hot Pot World Rotary/Official

TUKWILA — Famous around the world for its Filipino cuisine, the chain Max’s Restaurant recently opened a Tukwila location. Favorite dishes include fried chicken, pork hock crispy pata, pinakbet (vegetable stew), and sinigang (tamarind soup with monkfish). It’s part of a growing number of Filipino restaurants, including recently opened Archipelago, and soon to come Musang, making their mark on Seattle’s food scene. Status: Certified open. 16830 Southcenter Pkwy.

RENTON — Jackson’s Catfish Corner, the beloved Central District-born institution, has been on hiatus for a year. Now it appears in Renton’s Skyway area as, simply, Catfish Corner, which was the business’s original name. Owner Terrell Jackson has refined his brand over the last year, and has two expansions in the works: one at 23rd and Jackson, and another in Puyallup. His menu features fried catfish in a number of iterations, plus fried okra, collard greens, cornbread muffins, and sweet tea. Status: Certified open. 11805 Renton Ave South.

TUKWILA — At Hot Pot World Rotary, ingredients like meat, seafood, and vegetables make the rounds through the restaurant via conveyor belt. Customers can select their preferences for dipping into their choice of stock — options include Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Korean and Mongolian broth. Unlike other hot pot restaurants, soup pots are individual rather than communal. Status: Certified open. 17055 Southcenter Pkwy.

May 21, 2019

BALLARD — The new Mexican breakfast and brunch spot Sazon Kitchen has opened across the street from Caribbean sandwich shop Un Bien, serving up chilaquiles (fried corn tortillas with salsa and eggs), machaca (beef stew, served with eggs and beans), and grain casseroles, along with Mediterranean dishes. Run by the family that operated the popular pop-up Sazon Tacos, the restaurant is already drawing long lines. Pastries from Macrina Bakery, coffee from Caffe Vita roasters, and mimosas are on hand, with wine and beer to come soon. Status: Certified open. 7301 15th Ave NW.

EDMONDS — 85°C Bakery Café — occasionally referred to as the “Starbucks of Taiwan” — recently opened its latest Puget Sound-area location in Edmonds. Expect long lines for such delicacies as Japanese-style brioche, iced sea salt coffee, mango creme brulee, and salted butter bread. This is the chain’s fifth store in the area, joining other locations in the Chinatown-International District, Federal Way, Tukwila, and Lynnwood. Status: Certified open. 22611 76th Ave West #100.

WALLINGFORD — Speaking of bakeries, Pacific Northwest local chain Grand Central Bakery has opened up a new outpost on North 45th Street in Wallingford, the shop’s fifth location in the Seattle area (there are also seven in Portland). The three-decade only brand — once named one of the top 20 bread bakeries in the country by Saveur — is known best for its rustic hearth-baked breads, which can be enjoyed in the cafe’s outdoor patio. Status: Certified open. 1607 N 45th St.

May 9, 2019

Katsu Burger/Facebook

CENTRAL DISTRICT — Emily Allport’s popular Lowrider Baking Company, which developed a fan base through pop-ups and farmers market appearances, is putting down roots in the Central District. Allport is taking over the former home of cookie shop Street Treats, and will open this Saturday, May 11. The space doesn’t have seating, so it will mostly be used for baking, but Allport will also sell take-away cookies, Full Tilt ice cream, coffee, cold brew, and chocolate milk. Lowrider will also maintain its Georgetown location. Status: Opening soon. 2407 E Union.

FEDERAL WAY — Katsu Burger, the local chainlet with a reputation for massive burgers with deep-fried patties and Japanese-inspired flavors, opened a new location in Federal Way. Katsu Burger was born in Georgetown and now has restaurants in Ballard, Capitol Hill, Lynnwood, and Bellevue. This marks the chain’s sixth location. The Federal Way addition has a menu similar to the one fans have become accustomed to, with burger patties that are breaded and deep-fried in the katsu method popular in Japan and Hawaii. Though katsu traditionally involves chicken, Katsu Burger takes the practice to new heights by dropping every patty into the deep fryer. Status: Certified open. 1706 S 320th St.

WEST SEATTLE — Replacing Fresh Bistro in West Seattle is Agave Cocina, which peddles Mexican cuisine with plenty of local and sustainable seafood, meat, and vegetables. The cocktail list leans heavily on tequila, mixed with fresh juices and purees. Dishes include predictable options like soft tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and more. The West Seattle spot joins other Agave Cocina locations in Issaquah and Lower Queen Anne. Status: Certified open. 4727 42nd SW.

May 6, 2019

Erik Jackson

WHITE CENTER — For those who need a brat fix, there’s a new sausage truck in town. Das Wagon — from the team behind the popular Good Day Donuts — has quietly opened near Future Primitive Brewery in White Center, slinging bratwurst, currywurst, vienna schnitzel, obatza (German beer cheese), and pickle dip. There are also grilled apple fritters on hand, courtesy of Good Day. Owner Erik Jackson — former head chef at the Madrona Italian restaurant Vendemmia — tells Eater the food truck has started off with a light schedule of Thursday through Sunday, 4:30ish to 8:30ish, with hours extended on Saturday, opening at 12:30pm. Status: Certified open. 9832 14th Ave. SW.

CAPITOL HILL — After serving up its popular kathi rolls as a popup in Fremont and South Lake Union markets, Spice Waala has recently opened up a permanent outpost in Capitol Hill. Those aforementioned rolls are on the menu, along with aloo tikki chaat and Indian beer, all at wallet-friendly prices (full meals cost than $10). Spice Waala’s owners also aim to develop a socially-conscious business — proceeds from the sales during their first weekend went to a charity to feed the hungry, and they also pay their workers a living wage. Status: Certified open. 340 15th Ave. E.

RAVENNA — Caffe Ladro is celebrating its 25th anniversary in style. The mini-chain — on Eater Seattle’s list of Essential Coffee Shops — just opened up its 16th location in Ravenna, on the corner of NE 65th Street and Brooklyn Avenue. The new outpost has outdoor seating and, of course, all the usual items on Caffe Ladro’s extensive menu, including tumeric lattes and baked goods (rum-soaked almond croissants, gluten-free cranberry cakes, for example) made in-house. There’s also another Caffe Ladro spot planned for Kirkland later this year. Status: Certified open. 1222 NE 65th St.

GREENWOOD — Northsiders can welcome a new beer bottle shop with a punny name. Draft Punk — from the owner of Maple Leaf’s popular Last Drop — sells beer from local brewers on tap, and in cans and growlers, with seating for 30 for those who want to chill for a bit (bring your own food). Among the featured selections at the moment are beers from Cloudburst, Holy Mountain, Skookum, Stoup, and Grains of Wrath. The spot has a low-key, throwback vibe, with a TV tuned to old sci-fi classics and vinyl records playing. Just don’t ask for “Get Lucky.” Status: Certified open. 7702 Greenwood Ave. N.

April 23, 2019

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INTERBAY — U District-born Ugly Mug has added its Interbay cafe. Set in a former Starbucks, the new location serves as the company’s main roastery, giving customers the chance to watch the process. In addition to the coffee, there’s a food menu of avocado toast, a bulgogi cheesesteak, Belgian waffle, and more. Status: Certified open. 1609 W. Dravus St.

SOUTH LAKE UNION — Denizens of Amazonia have a new watering hole at their disposal in Thomas Street Warehouse. The lively space has classic bar fare like burgers, tacos, and chicken wings, plus a full bar. All the food is priced at $5.95 — and not just for happy hour. The restaurant is part of a Canada-based restaurant group called The Warehouse Group, which operates bars across British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. Status: Certified open. 915 Thomas St.

GREENWOOD — Greenwood also now has cheap burgers on hand via Greenwood Flame Burger, which serves beef, chicken, and veggie burgers, with much of the menu priced under $7. Other classic burger joint items make up the rest of the menu: fried mushrooms, mac and cheese, French fries, onion rings, chicken tenders, and the like. Early Yelp reviews hit both ends of the spectrum, with some reviewers raving about the food, and others completely panning it. Status: Certified open. 10410 Greenwood Ave N #B.

April 10, 2019

Skål Beer Hall/Facebook

BALLARD — Small batch, organic ice cream scoops are now available by way of Sweet Alchemy. Today marks the opening of the company’s second location, which started in the U District. The Ballard location has more vegan options and shares a space with Mighty-O Donuts, which happens to specialize in vegan treats. One of the flavors at the scoop shop is a collaboration of sorts: The Neapolitan will feature Mighty-O’s chocolate donuts, mixed strawberry compote from local Shuh Farms, and organic vanilla coconut cream. Status: Certified open. 1555 NW Market St.

FIRST HILL — Tougo Coffee, which operates its flagship cafe in the Central District, recently added a First Hill location. The shop features beans from multiple roasters — including Kuma, Heart, and Velton’s — and celebrates ethical coffee farming practices and sustainability. Tougo uses a variety of brewing methods, from French press to Aeropress to Chemex. Status: Certified open. 860 Yesler Way.

BALLARD — Skål Beer Hall opens today in the former home of the People’s Pub. Skål has been in the works since last year as a project of Old Ballard Liquor Co. owner Lexi, who closed her distillery last summer. The menu will include Nordic-inspired beers, aquavit and aquavit cocktails, mead, boards of fish pickled on site, and roasted or rotisserie game meats. There’s also a huge fireplace and big communal tables, making the whole thing reminiscent of a Viking drinking hall. Status: Certified open. 5429 Ballard Ave NW.

April 8, 2019

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DOWNTOWN — The renovated State Hotel near Pike Place Market has a new restaurant in Ben Paris, which borrows its name from a 1930s Seattle entrepreneur who owned a restaurant and bar called Ben Paris Cigars, Lunch & Cards in the building’s basement. The menu sources ingredients from the market for its modern American food and cocktails, like the Market-sourced seafood tempura, albacore tuna loin, and duck confit crepe. Status: Certified open. 130 Pike Street.

REDMOND — Tony and Carolyn Scott, who own Woodblock in Redmond, have added a pizza restaurant. Spark Pizza sits in a converted residential house and serves wood-fired pies with seasonal ingredients, plus salads, appetizers, and dessert. There’s also a deck for nice weather enjoyment. Status: Certified open. 8110 164th Ave NE.

DOWNTOWN — Mr. Saigon, the fast-casual banh mi shop near Seattle University, is in expansion mode. The restaurant, which serves some of Seattle’s best banh mi sandwiches, now has a new location downtown, and another on the way in Pioneer Square. The menu centers around various classic and modern banh mi sandwiches, all on in-house baked baguettes. Noodle bowls, spring rolls, and bubble tea round things out. Status: Certified open. 215 Pike Street.

March 26, 2019

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CAPITOL HILL — A La Vida Tapas has replaced Itto’s Tapas on Summit Ave. The new business has a theme similar to that of Itto’s, with a colorful array of Spanish-style small plates. There’s a daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m., and half-price bottles of wine on Sundays and Mondays. Early Yelp reviews are mostly positive, with diners citing favorites like eggplant-wrapped dates with goat cheese, steak, and paella. Status: Certified open. 601 Summit Ave E, Ste 103.

BALLARD — Korean flavors enliven the menu at Watson’s Counter, a new cafe and restaurant in upper Ballard. In addition to a full espresso bar, the business serves an all-day food menu of chicken wings with gochujang, Korean poutine with braised short ribs or mushrooms, and cereal-topped French toast. The business professes to value sustainability, sourcing local ingredients when possible. The website lists partnerships with local companies like Anchorhead Coffee and Macrina Bakery. Status: Certified open. 6201 15th Ave NW.

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT — Texians BBQ adds Southern-style smoked meats to the array of food options on The Ave. There are the classics like ribs and brisket, and a $20 meal option that involves an entire pound of meat. The menu also has a whole category dedicated to burritos, quesadillas, and tortilla salad bowls stuffed with brisket, pulled pork, chicken, or chili. Portions look pretty generous all around. Status: Certified open. 4520 University Way NE.