Coffee
Also a great spot for espresso—and interestingly, it’s combined with a bike shop, which is kind of a random but fun mix. It’s located inside Chophouse Row, and the overall space has a really nice vibe.
Rich, bold coffee. I used to work nearby and would often stop by to grab an espresso.
A hidden coffee shop tucked away in an alley, right by a university. It’s a long-standing local spot with plenty of seating—you’ll often see students working on their laptops here. The coffee is a classic Seattle-style dark roast.
A classic, long-standing Seattle coffee shop. The Upper Queen Anne location is likely the original—small, charming, and full of old-school character.
Coffee is solid, but the space is the real highlight—huge, beautifully designed, and perfect for working on your laptop. This is the recording studio for KEXP, and sometimes you can watch them live on air through the glass. The music quality is so good I usually don’t even bother wearing headphones. There’s also a vinyl record shop inside, which makes the whole place feel extra cool.
Also one of my favorite Seattle-style dark roasts. I usually come here to pick up a few bags of their F2 espresso beans as souvenirs from Seattle.
My favorite coffee shop. I highly recommend getting an espresso—and drinking it right at the bar as soon as it’s served. They always bring it out at the perfect temperature, so by the time you take it back to your seat, it cools down too quickly and you miss that rich, full flavor.
An extremely, *extremely* bold and caffeine-heavy coffee. You can smell the intense aroma from the street as you walk by, along with the chocolatey notes from their dark roast beans. Their latte art is also very impressive and worth the wait—there are even photos on the wall showcasing it, including one where they made a design that looks like a pair of breasts.
It used to be on my commute, so I’d stop by every day to grab an espresso to start my morning. It’s also a great example of the deep, bold Seattle-style roast that I really love.
A very popular coffee shop tucked on a small corner—there’s often a line out the door. The espresso is excellent, and the pour-over is pretty solid too.
A coffee shop I really like, with a strong and well-made espresso that leans on the bolder side. The space is great too—perfect for working or having a relaxed chat.
Food
A small, cozy restaurant with a great atmosphere—reservations are recommended. Many of the appetizers are unique and absolutely delicious.
Seattle has a large Ethiopian community, so the Ethiopian food here is quite good. I personally love it, but it might be a bit unfamiliar for some Asian palates—definitely recommended if you’re feeling adventurous.
Dim sum in Seattle is surprisingly good—but for some reason, everything is huge. Just order a serving of siu mai and you’ll immediately see what I mean.
A classic, long-standing oyster spot in Seattle—the oysters are genuinely excellent. Just make sure to go early, because the later batches tend to be less fresh and not as good.
A really great brunch spot with a fusion of different styles. Last time I ordered the Braised Beef Bowl—I was curious how they’d reinterpret something like Chinese braised beef, but it turned out surprisingly delicious with a distinctly American twist.
A really delicious Turkish/Middle Eastern spot that I discovered after wandering through the Fremont Sunday Market.
Affordable and really delicious tacos—located on the second floor, so it’s a bit tricky to find.
One of my favorite brunch spots in Seattle, known for its cozy European-style atmosphere and creative, comforting dishes. Their Dutch babies are the highlight—crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and served in both sweet and savory variations. It’s a small, intimate space, perfect for a relaxed brunch. Expect a bit of a wait, especially on weekends, but it’s definitely worth it.
A really delicious Thai restaurant with a very friendly owner. The crab curry is amazing, and the fried chicken is incredibly tender and juicy—almost like frog legs. Pair it with a Singha beer and it’s an absolute delight.
Considered one of the most famous restaurants in Seattle, serving Southern Louisiana-style cuisine with strong French influences. My personal favorites are the Lucy, duck confit, bouillabaisse, and pecan pie—these might not be their most well-known dishes, but I really love them. Also, their Aperol Spritz is somehow magical—seriously one of the best I’ve had. Their brunch is great too.
My favorite brunch spot in Seattle, with a great mix of different influences. The first time I went, my friends and I ordered the Smoked Brisket Hash, Cornmeal Pancake, and Avocado Toast—everything was delicious.
A Mexican-inspired steakhouse where the steak is genuinely excellent. If your budget allows, their Wagyu flight is absolutely worth it. The sangria and margaritas are both really good too.
I think this place has the best pasta in Seattle—the noodles are house-made. The Seattle Sea Stew is also amazing. I’d skip the pizza though—it’s pretty disappointing.
My favorite Neapolitan-style pizza spot in Seattle. I usually order the Bufalina DOC, and the calzones and antipasti are also really good. The wine selection is great too. I’d skip the pasta though—it’s pretty underwhelming. This place is a personal favorite.
A hardcore Southern-style American BBQ spot with great value for the price. I’d recommend ordering The Dorfman Platter—it lets you try two different meats in smaller portions. Last time I had the baby back ribs, spare ribs, and pit beef. The spare ribs were the standout, but everything was delicious. There used to be a Brunswick stew on the menu that people said was amazing, but it seems to be gone now. Pairing BBQ with beer here is incredibly satisfying. A quick fun fact: in many Chinese-speaking communities, American BBQ often gets lumped together as Texas BBQ. But according to people from the American South, Texas BBQ is typically served without sauce—so this place isn’t really Texas-style BBQ overall (though there might be one or two items on the menu that are).
A slightly upscale tapas bar with lots of creative house dishes. Everything is delicious, and I’d highly recommend pairing it with wine. It’s a small, cozy spot with a great atmosphere. The standout for me was the octopus and potatoes—I never knew potatoes could taste that good.
A delicious upscale Vietnamese restaurant. The flavors are quite bold, so I’d recommend pairing the dishes with rice and wine. If I remember correctly, the catfish claypot was especially outstanding.
You’ve got to have a sandwich when you’re in the U.S. A lot of people complain that American sandwiches are dry, hard, and end up scraping the roof of your mouth—but honestly, they just haven’t had a well-made one. This place does it right—the bread, meat, veggies, and sauces all come together perfectly. The portion isn’t overwhelming, and the flavors aren’t too heavy either. I had the Notorious P.I.G. before, and it was absolutely delicious.
Detroit-style pizza—something I had never even heard of before. It’s baked in a rectangular pan, with a thick yet airy crust that soaks up the oil and sauce from the toppings. The edges are lined with a thin layer of crispy, caramelized cheese, which adds great texture. The flavors balance sweet, tangy, and savory elements, making it rich but not overly heavy. This place is extremely popular among locals and tends to draw long lines, so I’d recommend going right when they open. For us, it’s probably not worth waiting in line or pre-ordering takeout two months in advance—but I can see how for people from the Midwest or the East Coast, it might offer a comforting taste of home.
Not exactly a Seattle specialty, but it’s my top pick for Korean fried chicken in the city—after all, it’s a brand that actually came from Korea.
A long-standing Indian restaurant in Seattle that’s also been recommended by my former Indian coworkers. I personally like their lamb dishes and vegetarian options. I’d suggest ordering a thali—it’s like a set meal with a main, sides, flatbread, and rice. The variety of flavors pairs really well together, so it doesn’t feel heavy, and you get to try different styles of curry in one meal.
A hard-to-categorize restaurant with seriously crafted fusion cuisine. It feels like every dish name is mildly offensive to some country’s cuisine—but it’s actually really good. If I remember correctly, the shakshuka was especially delicious.
A really delicious Mexican food truck with some dishes you won’t typically find at standard Mexican restaurants, located in a surprisingly unexpected spot.
A classic Seattle institution serving iconic soul food, taking fried dishes to the next level. The fried chicken sandwich is amazing, and the fries—though thin-cut—completely changed my mind about skinny fries.
Listed as Korean cuisine on Google Maps, but it’s actually not. It’s a really delicious fusion restaurant, and I recommend pairing it with wine. It’s quite pricey, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you have a big appetite.
Drinks
A very popular hidden alley gin bar—the drinks are strong but really good.
A spacious, lively bar in Fremont with a fun, social vibe. It’s a popular spot for groups, with multiple levels and both indoor and outdoor seating. Great for casual drinks, especially on a nice day—the rooftop/patio area is a highlight. The drinks are solid, and it’s more about the atmosphere and energy than anything super fancy.
A beautiful beer bar—perfect if you’re indecisive. You pour your own beer and pay by the ounce, so you can try a little bit of everything.
A classic Seattle brewery. My personal favorite is their Sky Kraken IPA—though you can find it pretty much everywhere, from most bars to local grocery stores.
My personal favorite brewery—a smaller brand that’s not easy to find elsewhere, and it just happens to be near my place. I highly recommend their Triple IPA: not too bitter, packed with hoppy aroma, and at around 10% ABV, it can sneak up on you pretty quickly.
Creative cocktails that are really well done. It’s a small spot and often packed.
A small, atmospheric whisky bar with a great selection. The whisky is excellent, though you’ll likely have to wait in line for a while these days. I like ordering a whisky flight to try three or four different ones.
A classic, long-standing Seattle brewery. Their IPAs are bold and really well done, and you can find their beers in most grocery stores. The food at the brewery is pretty solid too.
The cocktails are pretty good, and the decor is super cute. The vibe feels similar to bars in Taipei—on the sweeter side and not too alcohol-forward. Great for people who don’t like strong-tasting drinks.
My favorite spot—great wine, delicious cheese, and an amazing atmosphere. It used to be near my old office, and I’d sometimes stop by for a drink after work before heading home.
A large beer hall—the drinks are decent but nothing particularly standout. It’s a popular spot for group gatherings; last time I went, I saw four tables playing mahjong. There’s even a space for kids, which makes it feel pretty family-friendly.
Great cocktails in a dim, atmospheric space. Most drinks lean strong, but they balance the base spirits really well—you can still taste the quality of the liquor while each cocktail highlights its own mix of sweetness, aroma, and acidity. It’s very popular, so reservations are recommended, and there’s usually a time limit.
A cocktail bar with lots of creative drinks—if I remember correctly, they lean on the sweeter side and aren’t too alcohol-forward.
A cocktail bar with great drinks and a nice atmosphere. From what I remember, the cocktails lean on the stronger side.
Neighborhood
A Vietnamese restaurant with really great drinks—the food is pretty solid too.
A pretty solid pizza spot close to my place. I usually go for the Deluxe Pizza. Their wine and cocktails are pretty good too.
An insanely greasy sandwich. I usually order the Brisket Special with extra BBQ sauce—learned that combo from an American coworker. It’s ridiculously oily, but honestly so satisfying.
A big beer bar right across from my place—it gets absolutely packed during games, which is quite a sight. The food is pretty solid too, and the Sky Kraken Dog is especially good!
A nearly century-old dive bar that used to be open 24 hours, but now closes around 2 AM. The classic American brunch is solid—I usually go for the eggs Benedict or the Uptown Slam. Their dinner burgers are great too; my favorites are the Hickory BBQ and the Bourbon Bacon Bleu. It does have a very white, old-school vibe—I’m often the only non-white person there. The staff can be a bit hard to understand, sometimes crack jokes that don’t quite land, or seem like they’ve been high all day. The quality isn’t always consistent either, so every now and then it can be a bit hit or miss.
A shawarma spot near my place that I often go to for lunch. I usually get the lamb shawarma sandwich or the chicken—both the meat and sauces are really solid. The wrap portion is just right, and the hummus is great too. The plate option can be a bit too much, though.
A pretty mediocre burger joint, but somehow I know I’ll miss it when I leave Seattle. It’s just quick, cheap, no-frills fast food—my go-to when I’m busy. Also hits the spot after a night of drinking or getting high. I usually order the deluxe + fries + root beer—the other burgers besides the deluxe are honestly pretty bad.
A poké spot near the office that I occasionally go to for lunch. They’re really generous with the fish, and it’s honestly way better than Just Poké.