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An Epic Guide to Readers' Favorite Eastside Dining Spots

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Eastsiders, with their eastside dining opinions, may not always get the attention of judgy Westside gastronomes, but they sure are a passionate bunch. After posing the question, "Where do you like to dine on the eastside?" last Friday, the comments and tipline were flooded with responses with not only where to go, but why you should give east a chance.

Here now, an alphabetical guide (including reader-supporting quotes) to the top 26 vote-getters. For a good read, and some dining destinations you may have never heard of, check out the rest of the suggestions in the honor roll directly following the map. Is your favorite eastside spot still missing? Let's cross that bridge in the comments. No charge.


Honorable Mention: Belle Pastry, Bellevue Brewing, Broiler Bay, Cactus, Cantinetta, Chace's Pancake Corral, Clay Pit (Mill Creek), Daniel's Broiler, Firenze, Garlic Crush, Golden Chopsticks, Izumi, King and I, Joey, Kukai Ramen, Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot, Little Taipei, Lot No. 3, Lynn's Bistro, Musashi's, Mediterranean Kitchen, Milagro Cantina, Plume, Preservation Kitchen, Purple Cafe & Wine Bar, Ranch Drive-In, Red Corner, Regent Bakery & Cafe, Ristorante Paradiso, Spice Route, Square Lotus, The Station Pizzeria (Woodinville), Sunset Alehouse, Szechuan Chef, Teapot Vegetarian, Teriyaki Madness, Top Gun, Trellis, Volterra, Vovito and Yummy Teriyaki (Redmond). Phew!

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Bai Tong Thai Restaurant

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"Bai Tong was great. I asked for a 5-star Larb Gai and it was hot and delicious, huge menu and very tasty."

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Bamboo Garden - Bellevue

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"Bamboo Garden in Bellevue is my favorite; it serves a largely Chinese clientele. Spicy Talk and Spiced are good too."

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Bis on Main

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"Bis on Main in downtown Bellevue is one of Bellevue's best restaurants, bar none. One of the best restaurants on the Eastside."

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Black Bottle Postern

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"Black Bottle is my go-to if I need a quick bite. Only place I've eaten on the eastside since I stay on the WS mostly."

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Cafe Juanita

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"It's one of the best restaurants in the country, much less in the Puget Sound region. It's a Big Night Out but it never disappoints. Have the rabbit. You'll be happy."

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Cafe Ori

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"Cafe Ori is still an undiscovered gem for plentiful, tasty Cantonese. And if you love hot n sour soup, it's worth the pilgrimage alone."

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Chantanee Thai Restaurant & Bar

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"My personal favorite Thai is Chantanee in Bellevue, mostly because they have a lot of things on their menu that you don't see in most of the Thai restaurants in this area."

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Din Tai Fung Dumpling House 鼎泰豐

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"Din Tai Fung Bellevue has the best pork dumplings, especially the ones that have the wonton soup in them."
"If you have kids, love good food, and love drinking even more, go here. You can watch the chefs making noodles right in front of you (great for the kiddos)."

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Facing East

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"Facing East for a young, upscale vibe and great Taiwainese street food."

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"Best sushi is Flo, without question."
"Absolutely do not miss Flo for sushi."

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The French Bakery

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"French Bakery in Crossroads area of Bellevue has delicious pastries and crepes."

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"Ginza (sushi/Japanese) in downtown Bellevue is fantastic. It doesn't even need a website or an ad campaign, it's constantly packed."
"I second Ginza not just for sushi, but for their inexhaustible menu of unique Japanese sides. Their Pumpkin Rice, Shishito Peppers and Ohitashi Spinach are divine. Never ever had anything but a superb culinary experience."

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John Howie Steak

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"Not only a great happy hour, but great lunch with amazing prices for such a nice restaurant. And of course, the best steaks on the Eastside."

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JaK's Grill

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"Jak's for steaks and the best burger east or west; a half-pound of top Nebraska aged beef on a bun."

Le Grand Bistro Americain

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"A big shout out to Le Grand Bistro Américain overlooking the lake in Kirkland for their gorgeous dining room, excellent Beef Bourguignonne, shellfish, and onion soup to die for."

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Lunchbox Laboratory

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"Good burgers. Great shakes. It's my lunch stop when I want to spoil myself."
"Lunchbox Lab, Jak's and John Howie Steak for burgers, no question."

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Monsoon East

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"Vietnamese would be Monsoon East, and they have a really good cocktail program also."
"Solid food, always. Ambience is some of the best on the eastside. Incredible cocktails, too."

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Noodle Boat Thai Restaurant

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"Noodle Boat in Issaquah is the best Thai in the region."
"Noodle Boat in Issaquah is some of the best [Thai] you'll find anywhere."

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Pogacha Restaurant & Café

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"Pogacha Restaurant is a great find in Bellevue & Issaquah. Cafe Pogacha is great for breakfast. Unreal prices for the quality."

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Pomegranate Bistro

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"Best all around good food experience is Pomegranate Bistro in Redmond. The menu is small but everything is top notch. The main dining area has an industrial feel that puts a lot of people off, but the recently added bar area is very nice."
"Pomegranate is amazing. Unassuming location and simply delicious food with a great staff!"

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Santorini Greek Grill

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"Everyone that has been knows it's the best Gyro in the Seattle area. Perhaps not as well known is that the Lamb Souvlaki, Spanakopita, and Mousaka are also all five star!"

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Seastar Restaurant And Raw Bar

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"Seastar Restaurant for seafood is unbeatable in Bellevue for consistency, quality and value. Always packed."

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Spiced Chinese Cuisine

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"Spiced is great on 156th in Bellevue. It has the edge over Szechuan Chef for heat."

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Spicy Talk

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"Spicy Talk, for their hand-shaven noodles."
"The chef at Spicey Talk started in Greenwood, then 7 Star in the ID then Szechuan Chef, so he is old school great."
"Spicy Talk in Redmond for noodles, dumplings and Szechuan pepper dishes."

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Yea's Wok

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"You need to order the Taiwanese stuff. Skip the standard Chinese-America."

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Yeh Yeh's Sandwiches

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"Yeh Yeh's - great tasting Vietnamese sandwhiches minus the health code violations you would find in a Seattle joint."
"I have to second Yeh Yeh's, best bahn mi hands down."

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Bai Tong Thai Restaurant

"Bai Tong was great. I asked for a 5-star Larb Gai and it was hot and delicious, huge menu and very tasty."

[Photo Credit]

Bamboo Garden - Bellevue

"Bamboo Garden in Bellevue is my favorite; it serves a largely Chinese clientele. Spicy Talk and Spiced are good too."

[Photo Credit]

Bis on Main

"Bis on Main in downtown Bellevue is one of Bellevue's best restaurants, bar none. One of the best restaurants on the Eastside."

[Photo Credit]

Black Bottle Postern

"Black Bottle is my go-to if I need a quick bite. Only place I've eaten on the eastside since I stay on the WS mostly."

[Photo Credit]

Cafe Juanita

"It's one of the best restaurants in the country, much less in the Puget Sound region. It's a Big Night Out but it never disappoints. Have the rabbit. You'll be happy."

[Photo Credit]

Cafe Ori

"Cafe Ori is still an undiscovered gem for plentiful, tasty Cantonese. And if you love hot n sour soup, it's worth the pilgrimage alone."

[Photo Credit]

Chantanee Thai Restaurant & Bar

"My personal favorite Thai is Chantanee in Bellevue, mostly because they have a lot of things on their menu that you don't see in most of the Thai restaurants in this area."

[Photo Credit]

Din Tai Fung Dumpling House 鼎泰豐

"Din Tai Fung Bellevue has the best pork dumplings, especially the ones that have the wonton soup in them."
"If you have kids, love good food, and love drinking even more, go here. You can watch the chefs making noodles right in front of you (great for the kiddos)."

[Photo Credit]

Facing East

"Facing East for a young, upscale vibe and great Taiwainese street food."

[Photo Credit]

Flo

"Best sushi is Flo, without question."
"Absolutely do not miss Flo for sushi."

[Photo Credit]

The French Bakery

"French Bakery in Crossroads area of Bellevue has delicious pastries and crepes."

[Photo Credit]

Ginza

"Ginza (sushi/Japanese) in downtown Bellevue is fantastic. It doesn't even need a website or an ad campaign, it's constantly packed."
"I second Ginza not just for sushi, but for their inexhaustible menu of unique Japanese sides. Their Pumpkin Rice, Shishito Peppers and Ohitashi Spinach are divine. Never ever had anything but a superb culinary experience."

[Photo Credit]

John Howie Steak

"Not only a great happy hour, but great lunch with amazing prices for such a nice restaurant. And of course, the best steaks on the Eastside."

[Photo Credit]

JaK's Grill

"Jak's for steaks and the best burger east or west; a half-pound of top Nebraska aged beef on a bun."

Le Grand Bistro Americain

"A big shout out to Le Grand Bistro Américain overlooking the lake in Kirkland for their gorgeous dining room, excellent Beef Bourguignonne, shellfish, and onion soup to die for."

[Photo Credit]

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Lunchbox Laboratory

"Good burgers. Great shakes. It's my lunch stop when I want to spoil myself."
"Lunchbox Lab, Jak's and John Howie Steak for burgers, no question."

[Photo Credit]

Monsoon East

"Vietnamese would be Monsoon East, and they have a really good cocktail program also."
"Solid food, always. Ambience is some of the best on the eastside. Incredible cocktails, too."

[Photo Credit]