The happy hour at Ba Bar is very worth knowing about if you’re into things on a stick. Their grilled skewers (shitake mushroom, Carlton Farms pork belly, Painted Hills lemongrass beef, or Draper Valley garlic chicken) are two skewers for $5 bucks, which feels like a pretty great deal when they land on the table. They’re all freakin’ delicious, but the lemongrass beef is usually the winner.

Deep in Ballard there lies a mystical restaurant with meat skewers that leave their customers needing more, always more… Lahem Mishwiyeh (beef marinated with tomato, olives and herbs), Kafta Mishwiyeh (ground lamb with spices and bulgar), these are the dishes you’ll never forget. Burned into your taste memory, Café Munir’s meat on a stick is something to behold (and then immediately devour.)

This is premium meat on a stick people, served with charred onion, lemon, and ouzo. It’s important to note that one order of kebabs is generally not enough food for one person, so you'll want to get a couple. The best possible way to do kebabs at Lola is to go with a few people you really like and share a bunch of them, or go during happy hour (hh tip: don’t miss the spicy smoked oysters with pickled vegetables). Lamb with caramelized garlic is meaty and exactly what you’re hoping for, but the squid with crushed chili and chermoula is definitely a stand out; your vegetarian friends will love the portobello mushroom kebabs.

There are a million great Vietnamese restaurants in Seattle, and despite this spot being hit or miss, Pho Cyclo always keeps me coming back. Bun Thit Nuong, charbroiled pork with rice noodles, is my go-to when meat on a stick needs a refresh twist, but there are a variety of skewered options from pineapple marinated grilled shrimp to the Bun Cyclo (which is everything you could ever want on a stick – pork, shrimp, meatball, and a shrimp cake!). Something about the combination of cucumber, carrot, and daikon with fresh herbs and shredded lettuce is just so crave-able on a summer day. Another reason Pho Cyclo is a summer favorite? The street facing façade is made of windows that are open when weather allows, making their space feel airy and light despite its busy Broadway location.

Satay brought killer Malaysian street food to Wallingford (does anyone else feel like Wallingford is having a moment?) Their satay is definitely worth writing home about, which is good considering they named the whole restaurant after it. The beef is delightfully tangy with honey, chili flake, and a sweet tamarind glaze. Their chicken satay is all about traditional flavors, lemongrass and a three-spice blend, with their delicious peanut sauce for dipping. It’s worth noting that Satay sells their sauce by the jar; so if you love it, grab one on the way out!

What happens when a Hebrew National hot dog meets classic crunchy-yet-rich corn batter? Magic. True American corn dog magic. Only the standard style corn dog comes on a stick, but if you’ve got a vegetarian friend they can get a veggie dog, so we’ll call it even. And if you just happen to be super stoned (let’s be real: you’re eating a corn dog and it’s legal now) they also have deep-fried Snickers bars with coca cola batter and cola syrup.