clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

Seattle Restaurants and Breweries with Great Patios for Outdoor Dining

15 Incredible Takeout Places in Seattle

Where to Get Cheap, Delicious Food in Seattle

More in Seattle See more maps
A bowl of pho in a metal bowl topped with a whole beef rib.
The beef rib pho at Pho Bac.
Jade Yamazaki Stewart/Eater Seattle

16 Amazing Restaurants in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District

Steaming bowls of pho, juicy xiao long bao, and other outstanding bites in the C-ID

by Jay Friedman Updated
View as Map
The beef rib pho at Pho Bac.
| Jade Yamazaki Stewart/Eater Seattle
by Jay Friedman Updated

Seattle’s Chinatown-International District is one of the city’s finest cultural and food destinations. Even as the neighborhood has struggled during the pandemic, its restaurants have remained resilient. The area comprising Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon has dozens of restaurants, so it can be daunting to determine the best places for noodles, dumplings, and other Asian foods. Here are recommendations highlighting some of the best cuisines and dishes the neighborhood has to offer.

As usual, this list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically. Know of a spot that should be on our radar? Send us a tip by emailing seattle@eater.com.

For all the latest Seattle dining intel, subscribe to Eater Seattle’s newsletter.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Saigon Vietnam Deli

Copy Link

The barbecue pork banh mi here is a treat, but don’t overlook the “lunch box” of two or three entrees and a ton of rice for just a few bucks more. Beef stew, stuffed bitter melon, and coconut chicken are among the top picks. As with the other nearby delis, diners can also buy fresh spring rolls, banh cuon (rice crepes), and other Vietnamese bites, including neon-colored sweets.

1200 S Jackson St #7, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 328-2357
(206) 328-2357
A spread of various soups, vegetable stir-fries, noodle dishes, and other foods in metal trays or containers in a deli.
The deli at Saigon Vietnam Deli.
Jay Friedman

Also featured in:

Vietnam House Restaurant

Copy Link

Vietnam House shares the same parking lot as Tamarind Tree, though it attracts more of a Vietnamese clientele. This is a reliable spot for broken rice dishes, including one with a grilled pork chop, shrimp on sugar cane, deep-fried bean curd, and a fried egg. With more than 100 items, the menu may be a bit overwhelming. Note, though, that nearly every table orders bun mang vit (duck and bamboo vermicelli noodle soup). It’s available one hour after opening, and typically sells out before the end of the day.

1038 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 325-0180
(206) 325-0180

Also featured in:

Dong Thap Noodles

Copy Link

Named for a Vietnamese province known for rice production, Dong Thap turns rice into fresh noodles that form the foundation of the menu, including soup noodles and dry “bun” bowls of vermicelli topped with meat, vegetables, and egg rolls. Diners can order pho with a choice of two noodles—one is a wide, flat version that is traditional in pho but hard to find locally. The noodles are soft and slippery, yet slightly chewy and diners can buy them at the counter to cook at home.

303 12th Ave S Suite A, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 325-1122
(206) 325-1122

Also featured in:

Maneki

Copy Link

Maneki has been a mainstay in Japantown for more than 100 years; while now primarily serving takeout, it does accept reservations through a text line. The menu is comprehensive and affordable, with Japanese classics from agedashi tofu to tempura and sukiyaki to sushi. Its signature dishes, like black cod collar miso, will make your home smell like a Japanese kitchen.

304 6th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 622-2631
(206) 622-2631

Also featured in:

Pho Bac Súp Shop

Copy Link

Pho Bac Sup Shop is a Little Saigon landmark and the center of the restaurant empire of sisters Yenvy and Quynh Pham, who were recently longlisted for a James Beard award. (The first Pho Bac location, started by their parents, is just across the parking lot and is now a brunch spot called The Boat.) The second generation of the Pham family has expanded the original menu far beyond soup noodles. The pho tron (“dry pho”) is outstanding, and there are tasty bites like pho fries and twice-fried chicken wings with tamarind fish sauce glaze.

1240 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 568-0882
(206) 568-0882

Also featured in:

Phnom Penh Noodle House

Copy Link

This long-revered Cambodian restaurant has enjoyed a revival in a slick new space after a two-year closure. Longtime staples, including the honey-black pepper chicken wings, mee katang (wide rice noodles in gravy), and beef lok lac (wok-tossed marinated steak cubes), satisfy old and new diners alike. Soothingly porky bone soup is available in limited quantity, along with plenty of freezes and shakes for a cool finish.

913 S Jackson St suite A, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 785-6936
(206) 785-6936
Phnom Penh Noodle House’s soup, with prawns, sliced pork, fish cakes, and calamari, topped with cilantro.
Phnom Penh Noodle House reopened in 2020 after a two-year hiatus.
Kong Lu

Also featured in:

Mike's Noodle House

Copy Link

Mike’s Noodle House may be the ultimate in C-ID Chinese comfort food. For a quick and inexpensive meal, it’s hard to beat bowls of wontons, dumplings, and toothpick-thin egg noodles. This place gets especially crowded on weekends, when diners start their day choosing from a wide variety of congee bowls (choices include preserved egg, rock cod, and pork liver), paired with a youtiao (savory Chinese cruller).

418 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 389-7099
(206) 389-7099
Soup with a light broth, wontons, and meat from Mike’s Noodle House
Mike’s Noodle House is known for its great soups.
Jay Friedman

Also featured in:

A + Hong Kong Kitchen

Copy Link

This bustling restaurant has an expansive menu featuring the subdued flavors of Cantonese cuisine. Especially popular are the stone pots containing rice that’s fluffy in the middle and crispy along the edges topped with meats like spare ribs and Chinese sausage. Other favorites include the fried rice rolls with XO sauce, kissed by the wok for the perfect pan-sear. For a unique taste of Hong Kong, try the baked pork chop with spaghetti and add a pineapple bun stuffed with a generous pat of chilled butter.

419 6th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 682-1267
(206) 682-1267
A closeup of Chinese sausage rice stone pot at A + Hong Kong Kitchen.
Chinese sausage rice stone pot
Jay Friedman

Sizzling Pot King

Copy Link

This Hunan-inspired restaurant uses pickled chilies in contrast to the dry chilies synonymous with the numerous Sichuan restaurants in the area. Mortar and pestle-pounded eggplant with bell pepper and century egg is a must-order, as are the customizable dry pots with a wide variety of meats and vegetables. Smoky plum juice is a nice pairing to the sourness, salt, and spiciness of the food.

660 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 624-0314
(206) 624-0314

Also featured in:

Mochinut - CID (ChungChun Rice Hot Dog)

Copy Link

Formerly known as ChungChun Rice Hot Dog, Mochinut serves guilty pleasures made with rice flour. The mochi donuts have a texture that’s stretchy and chewy, and that chewiness extends to the batter on the hot dogs—thinner than what’s found on a corn dog. “Half and half” hot dogs are a great entry point, with mozzarella cheese on top and beef sausage on the bottom. Toppings run the gamut from sugar to ramen to sweet potato to hot Cheetos.

502 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 682-1300
(206) 682-1300

Fuji Bakery

Copy Link

Fuji Bakery is an east-meets-west enterprise, combining ingredients and techniques from Japan and France to create wonders like the mustard bacon epi (shaped like a head of a wheat stalk). With savory breads and pastries, such as kare-pan (curry bun) and brioche saumon (salmon brioche), to sweets, like anpan (bun stuffed with sweet red bean paste), matcha creme croissant, and the best-selling crunchy cream malasada, there’s no wrong occasion to stop by for a bite or just ogle the golden treats in the window.

2834, 526 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 623-4050
(206) 623-4050
A golden-brown bun cut in half, filled with red bean paste and topped with a few black sesame seeds.
Fuji Bakery serves Japanese pastries like anpan (sweet bun filled with red bean paste).
Jay Friedman

Tai Tung

Copy Link

Tai Tung is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seattle, and the history is everywhere. You can sit in the Bruce Lee Memorial Booth and have his cut-out watch as you eat his beloved beef with oyster sauce. The extensive menu is full of classics from chop suey to egg foo young to chow mein, especially fun to eat family-style.

655 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 622-7372
(206) 622-7372

Also featured in:

Chengdu Taste

Copy Link

The celebrated Sichuan chain from Southern California opened its first Seattle location in 2020, serving popular specialties such as toothpick lamb with cumin, mung bean jelly noodles drenched in chili sauce, and a cold spring onion chicken in pepper sauce. Diners will delight in the ma la (numbing and spicy) aftermath of the Sichuan peppercorn and chili-laden dishes; ma po tofu aficionados should especially give Chengdu Taste’s version a try.

504 5th Ave S #106, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 333-0457
(206) 333-0457

Also featured in:

Hood Famous Cafe and Bar

Copy Link

Famous for its bright purple ube cheesecake, this cafe serves a variety of delectable Filipino treats accompanied by single origin Asian-Pacific coffee drinks. (Try a pandan latte or durian white chocolate mocha.) At night, Hood Famous transforms to a cocktail bar offering pulutan (drinking snack) bites. Look for flavors like tamarind, guava, and calamansi appearing in both the food and drinks.

504 5th Ave S #107a, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 485-7049
(206) 485-7049

Also featured in:

Dough Zone Dumpling House

Copy Link

Dough Zone is a chain on the move nationally but with roots in Bellevue. This is the place for small portions of noodles, dumplings, buns, and more, all at reasonable prices with efficient service. The xiao long bao are juicy soup dumplings that give legendary Din Tai Fung’s a run for their money. Dough Zone also serves a fried version: sheng jian bao, called Q-bao here, that are both crispy and juicy.

504 5th Ave S #109, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 285-9999
(206) 285-9999

More in Maps

Ton Kiang Barbeque Noodle House

Copy Link

It’s easy to overlook this sliver of a storefront, but the compelling sight of hanging meats and the thwacking sound of cleaver against chopping block draw attentive diners in, while the amazing flavors ensure they return. The roasted duck has crackly skin, while the poached free-range chicken comes with a superb ginger-scallion sauce. With a week’s notice, the restaurant will even set you up with a roasted whole pig for an at-home party.

668 S Weller St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 622-3388
(206) 622-3388
A closeup of roasted duck from Ton Kiang.
Roasted duck is among Ton Kiang’s specialties.
Jay Friedman

Also featured in:

More in Maps

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Saigon Vietnam Deli

1200 S Jackson St #7, Seattle, WA 98144

The barbecue pork banh mi here is a treat, but don’t overlook the “lunch box” of two or three entrees and a ton of rice for just a few bucks more. Beef stew, stuffed bitter melon, and coconut chicken are among the top picks. As with the other nearby delis, diners can also buy fresh spring rolls, banh cuon (rice crepes), and other Vietnamese bites, including neon-colored sweets.

1200 S Jackson St #7, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 328-2357
(206) 328-2357
A spread of various soups, vegetable stir-fries, noodle dishes, and other foods in metal trays or containers in a deli.
The deli at Saigon Vietnam Deli.
Jay Friedman

Vietnam House Restaurant

1038 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104

Vietnam House shares the same parking lot as Tamarind Tree, though it attracts more of a Vietnamese clientele. This is a reliable spot for broken rice dishes, including one with a grilled pork chop, shrimp on sugar cane, deep-fried bean curd, and a fried egg. With more than 100 items, the menu may be a bit overwhelming. Note, though, that nearly every table orders bun mang vit (duck and bamboo vermicelli noodle soup). It’s available one hour after opening, and typically sells out before the end of the day.

1038 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 325-0180
(206) 325-0180

Dong Thap Noodles

303 12th Ave S Suite A, Seattle, WA 98144

Named for a Vietnamese province known for rice production, Dong Thap turns rice into fresh noodles that form the foundation of the menu, including soup noodles and dry “bun” bowls of vermicelli topped with meat, vegetables, and egg rolls. Diners can order pho with a choice of two noodles—one is a wide, flat version that is traditional in pho but hard to find locally. The noodles are soft and slippery, yet slightly chewy and diners can buy them at the counter to cook at home.

303 12th Ave S Suite A, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 325-1122
(206) 325-1122

Maneki

304 6th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104

Maneki has been a mainstay in Japantown for more than 100 years; while now primarily serving takeout, it does accept reservations through a text line. The menu is comprehensive and affordable, with Japanese classics from agedashi tofu to tempura and sukiyaki to sushi. Its signature dishes, like black cod collar miso, will make your home smell like a Japanese kitchen.

304 6th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 622-2631
(206) 622-2631

Pho Bac Súp Shop

1240 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144

Pho Bac Sup Shop is a Little Saigon landmark and the center of the restaurant empire of sisters Yenvy and Quynh Pham, who were recently longlisted for a James Beard award. (The first Pho Bac location, started by their parents, is just across the parking lot and is now a brunch spot called The Boat.) The second generation of the Pham family has expanded the original menu far beyond soup noodles. The pho tron (“dry pho”) is outstanding, and there are tasty bites like pho fries and twice-fried chicken wings with tamarind fish sauce glaze.

1240 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 568-0882
(206) 568-0882

Phnom Penh Noodle House

913 S Jackson St suite A, Seattle, WA 98104

This long-revered Cambodian restaurant has enjoyed a revival in a slick new space after a two-year closure. Longtime staples, including the honey-black pepper chicken wings, mee katang (wide rice noodles in gravy), and beef lok lac (wok-tossed marinated steak cubes), satisfy old and new diners alike. Soothingly porky bone soup is available in limited quantity, along with plenty of freezes and shakes for a cool finish.

913 S Jackson St suite A, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 785-6936
(206) 785-6936
Phnom Penh Noodle House’s soup, with prawns, sliced pork, fish cakes, and calamari, topped with cilantro.
Phnom Penh Noodle House reopened in 2020 after a two-year hiatus.
Kong Lu

Mike's Noodle House

418 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104

Mike’s Noodle House may be the ultimate in C-ID Chinese comfort food. For a quick and inexpensive meal, it’s hard to beat bowls of wontons, dumplings, and toothpick-thin egg noodles. This place gets especially crowded on weekends, when diners start their day choosing from a wide variety of congee bowls (choices include preserved egg, rock cod, and pork liver), paired with a youtiao (savory Chinese cruller).

418 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 389-7099
(206) 389-7099
Soup with a light broth, wontons, and meat from Mike’s Noodle House
Mike’s Noodle House is known for its great soups.
Jay Friedman

A + Hong Kong Kitchen

419 6th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104

This bustling restaurant has an expansive menu featuring the subdued flavors of Cantonese cuisine. Especially popular are the stone pots containing rice that’s fluffy in the middle and crispy along the edges topped with meats like spare ribs and Chinese sausage. Other favorites include the fried rice rolls with XO sauce, kissed by the wok for the perfect pan-sear. For a unique taste of Hong Kong, try the baked pork chop with spaghetti and add a pineapple bun stuffed with a generous pat of chilled butter.

419 6th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 682-1267
(206) 682-1267
A closeup of Chinese sausage rice stone pot at A + Hong Kong Kitchen.
Chinese sausage rice stone pot
Jay Friedman

Sizzling Pot King

660 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104

This Hunan-inspired restaurant uses pickled chilies in contrast to the dry chilies synonymous with the numerous Sichuan restaurants in the area. Mortar and pestle-pounded eggplant with bell pepper and century egg is a must-order, as are the customizable dry pots with a wide variety of meats and vegetables. Smoky plum juice is a nice pairing to the sourness, salt, and spiciness of the food.

660 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 624-0314
(206) 624-0314

Mochinut - CID (ChungChun Rice Hot Dog)

502 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104

Formerly known as ChungChun Rice Hot Dog, Mochinut serves guilty pleasures made with rice flour. The mochi donuts have a texture that’s stretchy and chewy, and that chewiness extends to the batter on the hot dogs—thinner than what’s found on a corn dog. “Half and half” hot dogs are a great entry point, with mozzarella cheese on top and beef sausage on the bottom. Toppings run the gamut from sugar to ramen to sweet potato to hot Cheetos.

502 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 682-1300
(206) 682-1300

Fuji Bakery

2834, 526 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104

Fuji Bakery is an east-meets-west enterprise, combining ingredients and techniques from Japan and France to create wonders like the mustard bacon epi (shaped like a head of a wheat stalk). With savory breads and pastries, such as kare-pan (curry bun) and brioche saumon (salmon brioche), to sweets, like anpan (bun stuffed with sweet red bean paste), matcha creme croissant, and the best-selling crunchy cream malasada, there’s no wrong occasion to stop by for a bite or just ogle the golden treats in the window.

2834, 526 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 623-4050
(206) 623-4050
A golden-brown bun cut in half, filled with red bean paste and topped with a few black sesame seeds.
Fuji Bakery serves Japanese pastries like anpan (sweet bun filled with red bean paste).
Jay Friedman

Tai Tung

655 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104

Tai Tung is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seattle, and the history is everywhere. You can sit in the Bruce Lee Memorial Booth and have his cut-out watch as you eat his beloved beef with oyster sauce. The extensive menu is full of classics from chop suey to egg foo young to chow mein, especially fun to eat family-style.

655 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 622-7372
(206) 622-7372

Chengdu Taste

504 5th Ave S #106, Seattle, WA 98104

The celebrated Sichuan chain from Southern California opened its first Seattle location in 2020, serving popular specialties such as toothpick lamb with cumin, mung bean jelly noodles drenched in chili sauce, and a cold spring onion chicken in pepper sauce. Diners will delight in the ma la (numbing and spicy) aftermath of the Sichuan peppercorn and chili-laden dishes; ma po tofu aficionados should especially give Chengdu Taste’s version a try.

504 5th Ave S #106, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 333-0457
(206) 333-0457

Hood Famous Cafe and Bar

504 5th Ave S #107a, Seattle, WA 98104

Famous for its bright purple ube cheesecake, this cafe serves a variety of delectable Filipino treats accompanied by single origin Asian-Pacific coffee drinks. (Try a pandan latte or durian white chocolate mocha.) At night, Hood Famous transforms to a cocktail bar offering pulutan (drinking snack) bites. Look for flavors like tamarind, guava, and calamansi appearing in both the food and drinks.

504 5th Ave S #107a, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 485-7049
(206) 485-7049

Dough Zone Dumpling House

504 5th Ave S #109, Seattle, WA 98104

Dough Zone is a chain on the move nationally but with roots in Bellevue. This is the place for small portions of noodles, dumplings, buns, and more, all at reasonable prices with efficient service. The xiao long bao are juicy soup dumplings that give legendary Din Tai Fung’s a run for their money. Dough Zone also serves a fried version: sheng jian bao, called Q-bao here, that are both crispy and juicy.

504 5th Ave S #109, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 285-9999
(206) 285-9999

Related Maps

Ton Kiang Barbeque Noodle House

668 S Weller St, Seattle, WA 98104

It’s easy to overlook this sliver of a storefront, but the compelling sight of hanging meats and the thwacking sound of cleaver against chopping block draw attentive diners in, while the amazing flavors ensure they return. The roasted duck has crackly skin, while the poached free-range chicken comes with a superb ginger-scallion sauce. With a week’s notice, the restaurant will even set you up with a roasted whole pig for an at-home party.

668 S Weller St, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 622-3388
(206) 622-3388
A closeup of roasted duck from Ton Kiang.
Roasted duck is among Ton Kiang’s specialties.
Jay Friedman

Related Maps