The Eater 38 is an attempt to recognize the most quintessential Seattle restaurants, those that best exemplify the city’s thriving culinary scene and an answer to the question: “Can you recommend a restaurant?” In an ongoing pandemic, many local restaurants have struggled to endure, but consistently show innovation, heart, and, of course, a dedication to quality food, no matter how (or where) it’s served. Now that indoor dining can resume at full capacity in Washington, destinations around Seattle are returning to a familiar form of hospitality, while holding on to some adjustments that may last for the long term. Here are the places that display the wonders of eating in Seattle. Note that removal from the list does not mean a restaurant isn’t still essential to the scene and won’t return in the future (many often do), but seasonal changes allow for new additions, keeping the 38 fresh. For a list of the best restaurants that opened in the last six months, check out the Eater Seattle Heatmap.
Added to the 38 in April: Off Alley, Tomo, The Walrus and The Carpenter, Plenty of Clouds, Seattle Fish Guys, Yoroshiku.
Know of a spot that should be on our radar? Send us a tip by emailing seattle@eater.com. As usual, this list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically.
Note: Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.
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