Food · Seattle · United States
What to eat in Seattle
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Seattle, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jeffery Hayes, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Wild Pacific salmon, Dungeness crab and Pacific Northwest oysters. Build a breakfast or lunch from the market: a pastry, smoked salmon, fresh fruit and a cup of chowder, eaten on the benches overlooking Elliott Bay. Seattle eats early by US big-city standards; many kitchens wind down around 9–10pm outside Capitol Hill and downtown.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Wild Pacific salmon
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 3
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Wild Pacific salmon
King, sockeye and coho salmon are grilled, smoked or cedar-planked across the city. The arrival of Copper River salmon from Alaska in May or June is an annual event on restaurant menus.
Where: Fish stalls and restaurants at Pike Place Market, seafood restaurants on the waterfront and in Ballard.
Dish
2.Dungeness crab
Sweet-fleshed Dungeness crab is served whole and cracked with butter, in crab cakes or in crab rolls.
Where: Seafood restaurants on the waterfront and in Ballard; Pike Place fish stalls sell cooked crab to take away.
Dish
3.Pacific Northwest oysters
Washington is a major oyster-producing state, with Kumamoto, Shigoku, Totten Inlet and other varieties from the inlets of Puget Sound and the coast, eaten raw on the half shell.
Where: Oyster bars in Ballard, Capitol Hill and downtown; many run happy-hour oyster deals.
Street food
4.Seattle-style hot dog
A grilled hot dog or Polish sausage in a toasted bun spread with cream cheese, often topped with grilled onions and jalapeños — the classic late-night street food.
Where: Street carts outside bars and stadiums in Pioneer Square, Capitol Hill and Belltown.
Dish
5.Seattle teriyaki
Charred chicken thighs glazed in sweet teriyaki sauce with rice and a simple salad, sold at hundreds of small counter shops since the first opened in the 1970s.
Where: Neighbourhood teriyaki shops citywide; the Chinatown-International District and Capitol Hill have many.
Dish
6.Clam chowder
Creamy chowder with clams, potatoes and sometimes smoked salmon, served in bread bowls at the market and seafood counters.
Where: Chowder counters at Pike Place Market; expect a queue at the best-known stalls.
Drink · Vegetarian
7.Espresso
Seattle is where Starbucks began in 1971, and the city's independent roasters and espresso bars still set its coffee culture. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Capitol Hill roasts beans on site.
Where: Independent cafés on Capitol Hill and in Fremont and Ballard; the original Starbucks shop at Pike Place Market.
Dish
8.Pho and banh mi
Seattle has a large Vietnamese community, and pho is a local comfort food on rainy days; banh mi sandwiches make a quick lunch.
Where: Little Saigon in the Chinatown-International District, around South Jackson Street and 12th Avenue.
Snack · Vegetarian
9.Rainier cherries
Sweet yellow-and-red cherries developed at Washington State University, sold fresh in early summer alongside other Washington fruit such as apples and berries.
Where: Produce stalls at Pike Place Market and neighbourhood farmers' markets, usually June to July.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Washington wine and craft beer
Washington is one of the largest wine-producing US states, known for Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah and Riesling from the east of the state, while Seattle has dozens of breweries, many in Ballard.
Where: Ballard's brewery district, wine bars downtown and tasting rooms in Woodinville.
Food experiences
Pike Place grazing
Build a breakfast or lunch from the market: a pastry, smoked salmon, fresh fruit and a cup of chowder, eaten on the benches overlooking Elliott Bay.
Oyster happy hour
Many oyster bars offer reduced-price oysters in the late afternoon; Ballard and Capitol Hill have several within walking distance of each other.
Ballard brewery crawl
More than a dozen breweries and taprooms cluster in Ballard's industrial blocks north of the ship canal, many with food trucks outside.
Chinatown-International District food walk
Dim sum, Japanese groceries at Uwajimaya, bakeries and Vietnamese restaurants in Little Saigon make for an easy afternoon of grazing south of downtown.
Quick bites and street food
- Seattle-style hot dog — Street carts outside bars and stadiums in Pioneer Square, Capitol Hill and Belltown.
- Rainier cherries — Produce stalls at Pike Place Market and neighbourhood farmers' markets, usually June to July.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 3 are usually vegetarian: Espresso, Rainier cherries and Washington wine and craft beer. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Seattle eats early by US big-city standards; many kitchens wind down around 9–10pm outside Capitol Hill and downtown.
- Some restaurants add a service or staff-wellness surcharge to the bill; read the menu footnotes before tipping on top.
- Weekend brunch is popular, and queues form at well-known spots by mid-morning.
- Dress is relaxed almost everywhere; rain jackets and fleeces are acceptable in many good restaurants.
- Book ahead for dinner at popular restaurants on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tipping
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares. Some restaurants add service charges instead; read the bill.
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Seattle famous for?
Wild Pacific salmon, Dungeness crab, Pacific Northwest oysters and Seattle-style hot dog. King, sockeye and coho salmon are grilled, smoked or cedar-planked across the city.
+Is Seattle good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Espresso, Rainier cherries and Washington wine and craft beer.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Seattle?
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares. Some restaurants add service charges instead; read the bill.