Heather Earnhardt and Zac Young, who once operated Capitol Hill’s popular cafe, The Wandering Goose, relocated and now run the Tokeland Hotel and Restaurant full time. Here, visitors can find Southern-influenced dishes like rockfish and grits, chicken-fried pork chop, and buttermilk biscuits and gravy. There’s also an impressive pastry case, stocked with chevre cheesecake, key lime pie, and biscuit cinnamon rolls.

This fine-dining destination in Union celebrates all things Hood Canal, with gems like spot prawns, fish, Dungeness crab, and some oysters and clams from the resort's own beach just a few steps away. There’s an all-day menu, but dinner is the real draw, with its carefully composed plates and superb wine list. Recent renovations closed the restaurant (it reopens June 3), but in the meantime, check out the resort’s expanded dining options, like brunch or dinner served on the terrace.

A serious player in Olympia's dining scene is Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar. Seafood, including the farm's own sustainably-harvested oysters, is the natural focus, and it's matched by fantastic beers, wines, and cocktails. Diners can slurp raw oysters or get a full meal of gorgeous plates that range from damn fine fish and chips to whole Dungeness crab (or a tenderloin steak for landlubbers).

Makoto Kimoto, owner of Rondo and Tamari Bar, opened Hi Life on Bainbridge island earlier this year, bringing bento boxes, poke bowls, and Suntory whiskey highballs all close to the ferry terminal. Enjoy a grab and go option like salmon sashimi or wasabi-marinated octopus while you wait for the next ferry.

Vashon’s bakery, vegetarian cafe, and bar is a local favorite. The bakery serves up a delicious assortment of cinnamon rolls and danishes, and the seasonal Mediterranean-leaning breakfast and lunch selections have been known to include cheesy egg enchiladas, and empanadas with chimmichurri sauce. The bar is a regular spot for trivia nights and live music.

It’s very much worth making the trip across the water to Vashon for a taste of chef Rustle Biehn and butcher Lauren Garaventa’s restaurant and whole-animal butcher shop. The signature bone broth soup, named after the pair’s former popular pop-up, is satisfying, even on a hot day. Plenty of other options abound, including braised beef and noodle bowls, blue cheese and mushroom toast, and pork meatballs.

Bow-Edison, the darling Skagit Valley pocket of art and farm-focused food, gives visitors several worthwhile restaurant detours. At the top of the list is Tweets, the flower-filled cafe that offers a weekly changing menu plus an array of wonderful pastries using local ingredients. Recent selections have included lamb shakshuka, and hummingbird cake with browned butter, bananas, and pineapple.

Perched right next to the breathtaking Snoqualmie Falls, the Salish Lodge & Spa is a perfect Pacific Northwest retreat, and the restaurant is equally impressive. Try the bluefin tuna with uni and togarashi, or the roasted drake duck breast with squash and pinenut za’atar. The Attic bar has a fine selection of smaller plates. Stay for a multiple-course breakfast experience where honey from the on-site apiary is drizzled from high onto fluffy biscuits.

Three top-notch chefs run the Watershed Cafe, an impressive addition to the Leavenworth restaurant scene that will meet even big-city expectations. The menu is farm-to-table, with plenty of Pacific Northwest ingredients like Hama Hama oysters and Double R Ranch beef. Expect a new culinary experience every visit. There’s a sweet patio, too, with mountain views.

This Union Gap icon finally gained the national recognition it deserves in 2018 with a James Beard Classics Award. Serving only tamales since 1990, owner Felipe Hernandez's warm, unassuming shop is a worthy destination for its namesake specialties, including the famous asparagus and pepper jack cheese tamales. They're available hot and ready to eat onsite, but there are also some frozen options for dining at home and one can also purchase masa by the bag.