Pinehurst’s charming Jewish deli and bakery is the versatile, comfort food spot that every neighborhood should have. Owner Josh Grunig offers baked goods from family recipes, plus smoked meats galore, full meal pop-ups, and some of the best bagels in town. There’s still no onsite dining at the moment, but the takeout menu is robust and delivery covers most of the city.

Kirkland’s Northern Italian fine-dining mainstay recently reopened its warm, modern dining room for the first time in more than a year. Chef Holly Smith and her team have crafted several excellent tasting menus (including pescatarian and vegan options), as well as an exhaustive wine list. But the restaurant continues substantial takeout service, including cook-at-home braised lamb sugo and handcut tajarin.

This Ballard restaurant’s food, with influences from owner Rajah Gargour’s Lebanese background, is a vegetarian’s dream. The small plates of lentils ground with roasted garlic, house labneh, and sweet pears in savory tahini always impress. Patrons should also check Instagram for seasonal items that keep the menu vibrant, and the romantic dining room recently reopened.

From a farmers market favorite to a permanent spot north of the city, this popular Mexican spot from founders Osbaldo Hernandez and Dennis Ramey (with Hernandez’s parents helping to run the operation) serves some of the most satisfying, lovingly-made tamales in Seattle. The salsa roja pork version is a must-try, best washed down with the shop’s wonderful agua de horchata.

This no-frills spot in the U District has been slinging some of the city’s best biang biang noodles — made from scratch every day — since it opened five years ago. The simplicity of hot chili oil showcases the dish best, though meat toppings are also available, with spicy cumin lamb is a notable option. Open only for takeout and delivery at the moment.

Seattle’s only Native American-owned food truck opened its first restaurant in 2019 at the Burke Museum in the U District. Its menu is also as vibrant as ever, offering fluffy fry bread tacos topped with 12-hour smoked pulled pork, braised bison, or vegetarian chili, plus wild rice bowls. Diners can order on the official website for takeout and delivery; no onsite dining at the moment.

Star chef Mutsuko Soma makes magical soba at this Fremont destination, which an Eater Best New Restaurant in 2018. Soma serves the noodles in classic styles, including seiro (cold with dipping sauce) and nanban (bathed in warm broth), alongside gratifyingly crunch tempura dishes in an intimate space. One can make a full night of it by sampling some sake and snacks at next door sibling bar Hannyatou, before heading over for dinner.

After building a strong following as a pop-up inside Fremont’s Pomerol, the contemporary Indian tasting menu specialist Meesha became a full-fledged restaurant in 2020. Among some of the can’t-miss dishes from chef Preeti Agarwal are rarah keema pao with expertly prepared ground lamb, the fried Amritsari fish, and the paneer in cardamom tomato fenugreek sauce. Takeout is still an option, but the gorgeous dining room and patio are also open for business.

Chef Renee Erickson’s former full-service restaurant in Fremont transformed into a fast-casual counter spot and grocer in 2020, but hasn’t lost its charm. Customers can find charcuterie, cheese, wine, and fresh pasta, as well as a selection of full made-to-order meals, including Alaskan halibut with aleppo pepper crust and gnocchi with foraged mushrooms and snap peas.

In March 2020, Brian Canlis — co-owner of the 71-year-old Queen Anne icon — said “fine dining is not what Seattle needs right now.” Since then, the restaurant wasn’t afraid to try out a host of different looks, including a burger drive-thru, but has now returned to full indoor service with new executive chef Aisha Ibrahim at the helm. The past year of creative endeavors, and a much-welcome new perspective from Ibrahim, has re-energized a classic.

Vietnamese siblings Trinh and Thai Nguyen— who came to the US as refugees — explore the food of their childhood at this excellent modern Bainbridge Island restaurant, with ingredients sourced locally. Those flavors find their way into succulent Viet-Cajun plates, such as King crab boil and a crawfish etoufee, alongside coconut lemongrass mussels and Rock Point oysters.

More than ten years in, and this romantic trattoria on Capitol Hill continues to amaze with fare from Italy’s Piedmont region. The nest of delicate tajarin pasta with butter and sage sauce is a true Seattle comfort food mainstay, but every dish from chef Stuart Lane is memorable. After a satisfying dinner at Spinasse, one might want to head over to next door sibling bar Artusi for a digestif and dessert.

Chef-owner Trey Lamont crafts Jamaican dishes and other Caribbean-influenced fare at this lively Belltown spot. The namesake jerk chicken has a sneaky kick, while the remoulade sauce on the fried white fish is a star on its own — and the portions are always generous. Don’t forget about the many potent rum cocktails on the menu, which enhance the party vibes.

This upscale but approachable Capitol Hill restaurant specializing in Southeast Asian cuisine has won over diners with items such as chili cumin pork ribs, fried master stock chicken, crispy duck rolls, and turmeric rockfish. In addition to reopening for dine-in, it’s also bottling some sauces for retail (the Sriracha made with Alvarez Farms chilis should be a staple in any pantry), and the well-conceived cocktails typically pack a punch.

Capitol Hill’s vegan restaurant from celebrated chef Makini Howell is as versatile as it is magnificent. Some of the biggest hits include “chicken” fried seitan, a mac and cheese spin called Mac and Yease (made with alternative milk), and sweet potato gnocchi. Takeout orders go through Toast, delivery is available via Caviar and Doordash, and there’s now onsite dining in the lovely dining room.

Chef Kristi Brown — who runs the successful catering operation That Brown Girl Cooks — calls the food at her nationally praised Central District restaurant “Seattle soul.” Southern influences show up in the shrimp and grits, while Brown’s memories of shopping at Chinatown-International District markets results in creative banh mi-po boy hybrids and a mind-blowing catfish sushi roll. For those looking to experience the splendor of the magnificent space in the historic Liberty Bank Building, Communion’s first indoor dining service starts July 14.

This longtime Pike Place wonder from chef Daisley Gordon is well-regarded for its dedication to classic Parisian fare, served in a warmly lit dining room. Ingredients from the market go into preparations for the restaurant’s most popular dishes, such as the crispy duck leg confit and beef bourguignon. The quiches (available at lunch) also earn raves, and the chocolate cognac mousse is a delightful end to any meal.

This relaxed Central District Ethiopian restaurant, with excellent injera and generous piles of flavorful spiced legumes and meats, is just as ideal for date night as a group dinner. The vegetable combination and the barbecue special (strips of beef and sliced peppers simmered in oil) are easy wins, but the menu also has plenty of other outstanding menu options, including kitfo, a tartare-like raw minced beef with cheese.

Pioneer Square’s Indian food destination restaurant serves soups, biryani, and curries from a variety of regions, and happily caters to pescatarians and vegetarians with items like paneer-stuffed bell pepper with spicy tomato sauce. Owners Oliver and Gita Bangera have always made sure the takeout service is as robust as the dine-in experience — although seeing the gregarious Oliver in person usually adds a sparkle to the meal.

The Pham family’s Pho Bac “boat” restaurant was a pioneer in the Vietnamese dining scene — and the more modern Pho Bac Sup Shop continues its legacy with aplomb in LIttle Saigon. Tenderized slow-cooked beef chunks fall right off the bone for a spiritual Seattle pho experience, and the restaurant also has an excellent bun bo hue. Chilling at the bar with a steaming bowl of noodle soup, washed down with any number of the terrific cocktails or wine, is the way to go.

It’s difficult to find a restaurant more representative of Seattle’s Central District than Jackson’s Catfish Corner. Woodrow and Rosemary Jackson opened the original Catfish Corner in 1985 in the Central District on East Cherry Street and MLK Way. When the restaurant closed in 2014, their grandson Terrell Jackson took on the business. After some short-lived incarnations on the South End, Jackson reopened in the Central District on Juneteenth in 2021. Try the fried catfish, prawns, hush puppies, or the Ohbama Burger to get your fix of comfort food.

After a two-year hiatus, this beloved Cambodian restaurant from the Ung family got a revival in 2020 at a slick new location in Little Saigon. The menu is pared down, but longtime staples, including the honey-black pepper chicken wings, mee katang (wide rice noodles in gravy), and beef lok lac (marinated steak cubes), are still on point. And the cheerful new digs are perfect for settling in for a leisurely comfort meal.

Acclaimed chef Mike Easton turned the historic Alki Homestead into a classic Seattle dining experience, with his famed pastas and pleasing entrees, such as the coveted seared ribeye. Easton also recently added Roman-style pizza to the menu, and aims to make the restaurant more accessible with a new “aperitivo hour” that doesn’t require reservations, as well as a patio. But the main dinner service continues to be one of the more sought-after tickets in town.

Chef and owner Jerry Corso’s expert Neapolitan-style pizzas are the primary draw for this Beacon Hill hideaway, thanks to their light, airy, and slightly salty crusts. The garlic mussels, baccala fritters, and grilled octopus with corona beans are also exceptional, and reservations often go fast — although the restaurant recently added some additional sidewalk seating, great for people watching on Beacon Avenue.

Marination co-owners Kamala Saxton and Roz Edison created a hit in this Columbia City Korean-Hawaiian restaurant housed in a former auto repair shop. Spam sliders, loco moco, and pancakes with toasted macadamia butter always hit the spot, and the malasadas are among Seattle’s best sugary treats. Lines are typically long on weekends to secure a table, but with a large, sunny patio, there’s a festival-like atmosphere that makes the time pass quickly.

Run by husband and wife duo Delish Lemma and Amy Abera, both hailing from Addis Ababa, Delish Ethiopian Cuisine features recipes passed down from Abera’s mother and grandmother. A relative newcomer to the vibrant Hillman City Ethiopian restaurant scene, Delish has a comfortable, classy atmosphere with a bar area. Try the veggie combo, which includes 10 vegan selections (most veggie combos offer about five), or the beef tibs, slices of beef pan-fried in garlic, butter, onion and spices. Delish also offers a coffee ceremony with three rounds of coffee, served with popcorn or a sweet bread, and incense.

Many Seattleites likely have their own preferred banh mi destination, but it’s hard to beat this South Seattle spot for its perfectly flaky baguettes and juicy grilled pork (though the fried catfish version is a favorite as well). No sit-down service here — Tony’s is a small deli and market, but many of the other prepared foods (like steamed hum bao) are worth a look for a takeout feast, washed down with any of the boba tea options.

This enormously popular food truck in White Center (with two locations in the neighborhood and one in North Seattle) has been a steady presence for years that gives a lot of bang for the buck. Plates pile up with carne asada, adobada, and lengua versions, and a special request for extra grilled mini-onions and spicy Serrano peppers is key. There’s also a small covered patio next to the truck that provides a comfortable place to dig in while the plates are piping hot.