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The coffee counter at Ballard’s Sabine Cafe & Market.
Courtesy of Sabine

Where to Find Seattle’s Most Essential Brunches

Vietnamese-style chicken and waffles, shakshuka, Dutch babies, and more

by Megan Hill, Jade Yamazaki Stewart, and Sophie Grossman Updated
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The coffee counter at Ballard’s Sabine Cafe & Market.
| Courtesy of Sabine
by Megan Hill, Jade Yamazaki Stewart, and Sophie Grossman Updated

Brunch is a mystery. Is it a meal you eat between breakfast and lunch, or a meal you eat sometime around 2 p.m.? Does it help you nurse your hangover from the night before or is it part of a long ramping-up process to a big night out? At its worst, brunch is a dumbed-down, overpriced version of a restaurant’s regular menu. But there are loads of places in Seattle doing genuinely creative riffs on the brunch classics: gluten-free steel-cut oat pancakes, Vietnamese-style chicken and waffles, and of course the Dutch baby, that symbol of Seattle civic pride.

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 north to south.

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El Parche Colombiano

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This Colombian restaurant up in the Northgate area has an all-day menu of lovingly crafted comfort food. Among the items on the brunch side of things are the bandeja paisa, with grilled skirt steak, chicharron, chorizo, sweet plantains, and an egg. And the empanadas, made with shatteringly crisp fried corn dough, are also supremely satisfying.

11740 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 407-6821
(206) 407-6821
A brunch dish of eggs, rice, beans, and avocado from El Parche Colombiano
El Parche Colombiano has a selection of satisfying brunch plates.
El Parche/Facebook

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Sabine Café & Market

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Sabine is a great spot to have brunch on Sundays before or after wandering the neighborhood Ballard Farmers Market. There’s a covered, heated, patio with decorated with palm fronds, a Mediterranean-style indoor area with sky-blue arches behind the bar, and an excellent brunch menu. Standouts include a shockingly complex gluten-free steel-cut oat pancake served with apple butter and hazelnut dukkah, satisfying breakfast sandwiches, house-baked pita, and hummus (which is often served as a breakfast food in the Levant). Sabine also serves fresh-squeezed juices, espresso and coffee, and cocktails from a full bar.

5307 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 208-0281
(206) 208-0281

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China Harbor Restaurant

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The massive black rectangle next to Lake Union on Westlake Avenue is instantly recognizable — if not a little out of place. Chef Danna Hwang puts her own twists on classic Chinese dim sum dishes, crafting beautiful bites that are as ornate as the dining room decor: deep-fried taro balls filled with abalone, pan-fried chive dumplings, crispy pork belly in shrimp sauce, and more.

2040 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 286-1688
(206) 286-1688

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Tilikum Place Café

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Despite its proximity to Seattle Center and the Space Needle, this wildly popular cafe is no tourist trap, but a favorite among locals. With a European feel and an eclectic menu, the restaurant also has one definitive star: the Dutch baby pancake, whose cast iron-baked goodness has earned fame far and wide. Come see what all the fuss is about.

407 Cedar St, Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 282-4830
(206) 282-4830

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Nue

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The cheerfully miscellaneous menu at Nue corresponds to the snug Capitol Hill restaurant’s globe-trotting theme, with spicy Chengdu-style chicken and waffles living peacefully alongside exceptional shakshuka and a Burmese fermented tea leaf salad, all of which you can wash down with an espresso martini, the world-conquering cocktail. A relatively large chunk of the menu is available to vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free folks. 

1519 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 257-0312
(206) 257-0312

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COMMUNION Restaurant & Bar

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Should you manage to score a coveted spot at one Seattle’s buzziest restaurants, your hard work will be well rewarded. The brunch here reflects chef Kristi Brown’s perspective on Seattle soul food, an artful combination of Southern, Asian, and Northwest fare. Prawns and cheese grits and corn bread French toast are a couple of the highlights. The food, drinks, and service are unpretentious, despite the restaurant’s growing list of accolades — which is just how chef Brown and her son, Damon Bomar, want it to be. 

2350 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 391-8140
(206) 391-8140

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Cafe Campagne

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This Pike Place Market mainstay pays obsessive attention to classic French cuisine. Even the decor exudes the spirit of a Parisian cafe, down to the people-watching patio in front. Brunch is long and leisurely, with tables available from 9 a.m. to 3 and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, respectively. There are loads of simple pleasures here, like the baguette with French-style butter and jam, and more decadent wonders, like the Oeufs en Meurette, a dish of poached eggs, red wine-foie gras sauce, pearl onions, and bacon.

1600 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 728-2233
(206) 728-2233

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Fat's Chicken and Waffles

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The stars at this Central District favorite are the honey butter chicken biscuit sandwich and the restaurant’s namesake sampler, with two pieces of chicken served alongside fried green tomatoes, cheese grits, and garlic toast. Brunch is popular and the restaurant can feel hectic, but the warm service and fantastic food are worth it.

2726 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 602-6863
(206) 602-6863

Also featured in:

The Boat

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For nearly 20 years, this Little Saigon landmark has remained a symbol of the Pham family’s growing pho-centric restaurant empire, which includes locations in Downtown and Rainier Valley. In 2022, Yenvy and Quynh-Vy Pham revamped the menu here to focus on exactly three items: Com ga mam toi, a sticky, garlicky chicken and rice dish; mi ga chien, that same garlic chicken served alongside a light egg noodle soup; and banh kep, chewy Vietnamese-style waffles, paired with a side of pillowy, salty whipped coconut cream. The waffles come in two varieties, pink pineapple and pandan (a delicate, almost citrusy flavor), and you’d be wise to do a half-and-half order. And the drinks! The Vietnamese-style coffees are show-stoppers, the cocktails well-balanced wonders.

1314 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 323-4387
(206) 323-4387

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Mioposto Pizzeria

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Sometimes the best brunch is the one that’s close by — especially if you’re looking to treat a hangover with some hair of the dog. A merrily crackling wood-fired oven presides over the dining room at all four locations of this neighborhood pizzeria, issuing breakfast strombolis packed with pancetta and pizzas topped with perfectly. fgooey sunny side-up eggs to a dedicated contingent of regulars. This is a resolutely savory brunch menu, where the house spin on a cinnamon and apple bread pudding is laced with pancetta. 

2139 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 466-2677
(206) 466-2677

Also featured in:

Musang

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The flavors of the Philippines meet Northwest ingredients at this nationally recognized Beacon Hill restaurant set inside a craftsman house. The short rib kare kare, with eggplant, okra, and peanut butter, is one recurring standout. And the silog — a classic breakfast dish of fried rice and heaps of garlic — comes with two rotating variations each week. There’s also a good selection of vegetarian, vegan, and dairy- and gluten-free dishes,.

2524 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 708-6871
(206) 708-6871

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Geraldine's Counter Restaurant

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This Columbia City classic is renowned for its French toast, but its scrambles, omelets, and hashes are no slouches either. The diner also has some brunch cocktails, as well as crab Benedicts and chicken fried steak with pork sausage gravy. If there’s a long wait, diners may want to consider to-go orders to eat on the neighborhood’s nearby outdoor patio.

4872 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 723-2080
(206) 723-2080

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Fonda La Catrina

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This bustling Georgetown favorite spills out into a courtyard perfect for whiling away a sunny weekend afternoon sipping on modestly-priced bloody marys and mimosas. The menu is a tight lineup of carefully-crafted Mexican breakfast classics, from chilaquiles to costillas en chile pasilla, locally-sourced pork ribs served with a deeply savory chile sauce and fresh cactus salad.

5905 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 767-2787
(206) 767-2787

Also featured in:

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El Parche Colombiano

11740 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125

This Colombian restaurant up in the Northgate area has an all-day menu of lovingly crafted comfort food. Among the items on the brunch side of things are the bandeja paisa, with grilled skirt steak, chicharron, chorizo, sweet plantains, and an egg. And the empanadas, made with shatteringly crisp fried corn dough, are also supremely satisfying.

11740 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 407-6821
(206) 407-6821
A brunch dish of eggs, rice, beans, and avocado from El Parche Colombiano
El Parche Colombiano has a selection of satisfying brunch plates.
El Parche/Facebook

Sabine Café & Market

5307 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Sabine is a great spot to have brunch on Sundays before or after wandering the neighborhood Ballard Farmers Market. There’s a covered, heated, patio with decorated with palm fronds, a Mediterranean-style indoor area with sky-blue arches behind the bar, and an excellent brunch menu. Standouts include a shockingly complex gluten-free steel-cut oat pancake served with apple butter and hazelnut dukkah, satisfying breakfast sandwiches, house-baked pita, and hummus (which is often served as a breakfast food in the Levant). Sabine also serves fresh-squeezed juices, espresso and coffee, and cocktails from a full bar.

5307 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 208-0281
(206) 208-0281

China Harbor Restaurant

2040 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

The massive black rectangle next to Lake Union on Westlake Avenue is instantly recognizable — if not a little out of place. Chef Danna Hwang puts her own twists on classic Chinese dim sum dishes, crafting beautiful bites that are as ornate as the dining room decor: deep-fried taro balls filled with abalone, pan-fried chive dumplings, crispy pork belly in shrimp sauce, and more.

2040 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 286-1688
(206) 286-1688

Tilikum Place Café

407 Cedar St, Seattle, WA 98121

Despite its proximity to Seattle Center and the Space Needle, this wildly popular cafe is no tourist trap, but a favorite among locals. With a European feel and an eclectic menu, the restaurant also has one definitive star: the Dutch baby pancake, whose cast iron-baked goodness has earned fame far and wide. Come see what all the fuss is about.

407 Cedar St, Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 282-4830
(206) 282-4830

Nue

1519 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

The cheerfully miscellaneous menu at Nue corresponds to the snug Capitol Hill restaurant’s globe-trotting theme, with spicy Chengdu-style chicken and waffles living peacefully alongside exceptional shakshuka and a Burmese fermented tea leaf salad, all of which you can wash down with an espresso martini, the world-conquering cocktail. A relatively large chunk of the menu is available to vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free folks. 

1519 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 257-0312
(206) 257-0312

COMMUNION Restaurant & Bar

2350 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122

Should you manage to score a coveted spot at one Seattle’s buzziest restaurants, your hard work will be well rewarded. The brunch here reflects chef Kristi Brown’s perspective on Seattle soul food, an artful combination of Southern, Asian, and Northwest fare. Prawns and cheese grits and corn bread French toast are a couple of the highlights. The food, drinks, and service are unpretentious, despite the restaurant’s growing list of accolades — which is just how chef Brown and her son, Damon Bomar, want it to be. 

2350 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 391-8140
(206) 391-8140

Cafe Campagne

1600 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101

This Pike Place Market mainstay pays obsessive attention to classic French cuisine. Even the decor exudes the spirit of a Parisian cafe, down to the people-watching patio in front. Brunch is long and leisurely, with tables available from 9 a.m. to 3 and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, respectively. There are loads of simple pleasures here, like the baguette with French-style butter and jam, and more decadent wonders, like the Oeufs en Meurette, a dish of poached eggs, red wine-foie gras sauce, pearl onions, and bacon.

1600 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 728-2233
(206) 728-2233

Fat's Chicken and Waffles

2726 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122

The stars at this Central District favorite are the honey butter chicken biscuit sandwich and the restaurant’s namesake sampler, with two pieces of chicken served alongside fried green tomatoes, cheese grits, and garlic toast. Brunch is popular and the restaurant can feel hectic, but the warm service and fantastic food are worth it.

2726 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 602-6863
(206) 602-6863

The Boat

1314 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144

For nearly 20 years, this Little Saigon landmark has remained a symbol of the Pham family’s growing pho-centric restaurant empire, which includes locations in Downtown and Rainier Valley. In 2022, Yenvy and Quynh-Vy Pham revamped the menu here to focus on exactly three items: Com ga mam toi, a sticky, garlicky chicken and rice dish; mi ga chien, that same garlic chicken served alongside a light egg noodle soup; and banh kep, chewy Vietnamese-style waffles, paired with a side of pillowy, salty whipped coconut cream. The waffles come in two varieties, pink pineapple and pandan (a delicate, almost citrusy flavor), and you’d be wise to do a half-and-half order. And the drinks! The Vietnamese-style coffees are show-stoppers, the cocktails well-balanced wonders.

1314 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 323-4387
(206) 323-4387

Mioposto Pizzeria

2139 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Sometimes the best brunch is the one that’s close by — especially if you’re looking to treat a hangover with some hair of the dog. A merrily crackling wood-fired oven presides over the dining room at all four locations of this neighborhood pizzeria, issuing breakfast strombolis packed with pancetta and pizzas topped with perfectly. fgooey sunny side-up eggs to a dedicated contingent of regulars. This is a resolutely savory brunch menu, where the house spin on a cinnamon and apple bread pudding is laced with pancetta. 

2139 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 466-2677
(206) 466-2677

Musang

2524 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144

The flavors of the Philippines meet Northwest ingredients at this nationally recognized Beacon Hill restaurant set inside a craftsman house. The short rib kare kare, with eggplant, okra, and peanut butter, is one recurring standout. And the silog — a classic breakfast dish of fried rice and heaps of garlic — comes with two rotating variations each week. There’s also a good selection of vegetarian, vegan, and dairy- and gluten-free dishes,.

2524 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 708-6871
(206) 708-6871

Geraldine's Counter Restaurant

4872 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118

This Columbia City classic is renowned for its French toast, but its scrambles, omelets, and hashes are no slouches either. The diner also has some brunch cocktails, as well as crab Benedicts and chicken fried steak with pork sausage gravy. If there’s a long wait, diners may want to consider to-go orders to eat on the neighborhood’s nearby outdoor patio.

4872 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 723-2080
(206) 723-2080

Fonda La Catrina

5905 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA 98108

This bustling Georgetown favorite spills out into a courtyard perfect for whiling away a sunny weekend afternoon sipping on modestly-priced bloody marys and mimosas. The menu is a tight lineup of carefully-crafted Mexican breakfast classics, from chilaquiles to costillas en chile pasilla, locally-sourced pork ribs served with a deeply savory chile sauce and fresh cactus salad.

5905 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 767-2787
(206) 767-2787

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