Taste the World in One City
A visit to the Wing Luke Museum will give you an opportunity to taste some of the world’s finest cuisine. You’ll find out where to go for the best Ichiro Teriyaki, Huong Binh, and Dong Thap Noodles, and enjoy complete museum access. If you’re hungry, you might want to sample some Sichuan food and try a Cinnabon cinnamon bun.
Canlis Salad
For decades, Peter Canlis and his son Chris ran the restaurant, which is now owned by their sons Mark and Brian. Peter passed away from lung cancer in 1977, leaving his sons to carry on the family legacy. Today, the restaurant is run by their sons Mark and Brian, and their oldest son lives in Scotland. As the first owners of Canlis, the restaurant has an Asian DNA. In fact, Peter Canlis’s first restaurant in Honolulu was called Broiler. Its waitresses were Japanese, and the two chefs were Asian-American. Now, the staff is made up of mostly younger employees, including manager David Kim and several servers.
The famous Canlis salad is based on a recipe from Canlis’ Lebanese mother. The dish has changed little over the years, but it’s still as delicious as ever. New ingredients include fresh herbs instead of dried, and the salad is served tableside. For a limited time, Nomad Bar is serving the salad for two weeks. Canlis’ salad will be available Monday, July 21.
Ichiro Teriyaki
Toshi’s Teriyaki first introduced the Seattle teriyaki sauce in the 1970s. This delicious marinade uses soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, fresh ginger, and garlic. It’s an Asian staple that is popular with both locals and tourists alike. Whether you want to sample the best of both worlds or try something new, this is a must-visit.
From the Japanese gyoza to the Nepalese momo, this Seattle teriyaki restaurant serves a variety of international dishes. You can choose to try a chicken teriyaki marinated in soy sauce or a thicker glaze. Both versions are delicious. Try them all and then order more! We recommend the Ichiro Teriyaki, which is a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
This Japanese teriyaki restaurant grew into a specialty in Seattle. After Toshi Chung’s shop opened, other Koreans wanted to open their own shops. They all bonded over the food and the church, which was a hub of community and ties to each other. The Seattle teriyaki scene has grown since then. In 1992, the Seattle Times declared Teriyaki Takes the Town. In the same year, Jonathan Kauffman wrote an article for Seattle Weekly, which described the menu as a “cuisine hodgepodge.”
Cinnabon cinnamon bun
If you’ve ever watched the HBO series Better Call Saul, you might have come across the Cinnabon cinnamon buns. It’s one of the many popular food brands owned by Focus Brands, a subsidiary of private equity firm Roark Capital Group. In fact, the series is based in Seattle, and the franchise has over 5,000 locations worldwide. In the show, a character from the hit series works at a Cinnabon bakery in Nebraska.
Despite being headquartered in Atlanta, the company actually originated in Seattle, where a single tester created the first version of the cinnamon bun in the early 1980s. Today, the brand maintains its reputation as unrepentant decadence, outlasting its less crave-inducing food court competition, despite its nutritional dubiousness. Despite this, many people are willing to make an exception for the classic cinnamon bun, which can be a great way to introduce a new product to the market.
Founded in 1985, the company is now an international phenomenon, with more than 750 locations across 30 countries. The brand has been a popular snack for children and adults alike, and in fact, the first franchise opened after the fall of Gaddafi in Libya. Each European country has added its own twist to the cinnamon bun, such as cardamom or pearl sugar. The Finnish version is 8 inches in diameter and carries an estimated eight hundred calories.
Sichuan food scene
If you love Sichuan cuisine, you’ll be glad to know that Seattle is starting a thriving Sichuan food scene. There are plenty of restaurants that offer authentic Sichuan dishes, including several major international chains. Seattle was home to the first Seattle outpost of Chengdu Taste, widely considered the best Sichuan restaurant in the country. Several local Sichuan restaurants bear a close relationship to Chengdu Taste. Cheng Biao Yang and his team opened numerous Seattle outposts and sold them off to other owners. The menu at Szechuan Bistro features the same dishes and is available for takeout or dine-in service.
If you’re looking for a more traditional Sichuan meal, you might want to try Uptown China. This Chinese restaurant, which has been serving up heaping bowls of delicious Chinese food for over 30 years, recently added a vegan menu with a few plant-based options. You can order an array of noodle dishes and vegan apps to start your meal. And if you’re vegetarian, you can try their vegan version of the popular Sichuan dandan soup.
If you’re interested in sampling Cantonese food, you can try A+ Hong Kong Kitchen in Ballard. This new restaurant has a fun Dozfy mural that adorns the wall. The food here is slightly less spicy than that of Sichuan restaurants, but you can still order an appetizer such as cheesy pork lumpia. The restaurant’s menu also includes housemade spiced ham wrapped in nori. The restaurant also serves cocktails and larger dishes.
German food scene
If you’re looking for an authentic German meal in Seattle, you’ve come to the right place. German food is a delicious way to sample the diversity of the Pacific Northwest. In the early 1990s, German coffeehouses were illegal but they became very popular after the laws were changed to allow them. German coffeehouses often featured live music and served only beer and coffee. Today, however, the German food scene in Seattle is as vibrant as it was back then.
Authentic German food is meat-based, with a focus on sausage. Sausage is the classic German dish, and it’s available in hundreds of varieties. You’ll find it on the menu at nearly every restaurant, though it’s usually the cheapest option. If you’re looking for a more affordable version, look for a take-out hot dog stand. You can even get one in a harness!
There are several authentic German bakeries in Seattle, including Hess Bakery & Deli, which is located outside of the city. Hoffman’s Cafe offers breakfast and lunch specialties, including a variety of German breads. Another authentic German bakery is Hoffman’s Bakery & Deli, which also offers specialty cakes. If you’re traveling alone or with a large group, don’t miss out on a visit to Muriel’s in Seward Park.
Japanese food scene
The Japanese food scene in Seattle has roots that date back over a century. Nihonmachi (Japantown) was a bustling district in the early 1900s and is home to Seattle’s oldest sushi bar, Maneki. With a rich history of Japanese culture, the city naturally boasts many great sushi and ramen establishments. The city is home to many other unique Japanese businesses, from soba noodles made from scratch to delicate rice flour confectionaries.
Wa’z Café is Seattle’s only kaiseki restaurant. Chef Hiro Tawara, a former sommelier in Kyoto, adapted kaiseki to the Seattle palate. He serves a six-course menu in the dining room but recommends the eight-course counter menu for an engaging dining experience. The chef offers two styles of menus – one that focuses on seasonal ingredients and a traditional six-course menu.
If you’re looking for traditional Japanese food, a popular Capitol Hill restaurant is Adana. Inside, you’ll find pencil drawings of the chef’s dishes and sake cups he collected while studying in Japan. Nakajima weaves his serious training into a tasting menu that costs $37 for three courses. Guests will be able to sample dishes like fat asparagus with Dunness crab, fried chicken with leeks and potatoes, and a variety of sushi.
French food scene
RN74 is a French bistro in downtown Seattle with inventive interpretations of regional cuisine. The restaurant’s lobby features a bar and speakeasy-style Back Bar, and the menu includes duck fat fries, bacon-flavored popcorn, and jazzed-up deviled eggs. The restaurant’s menu features seasonal highlights such as house-aged steaks, Puget Sound seafood, and vegetables from organic farms. The restaurant’s extensive wine list features wines from the Burgundy region of France, as well as boutique Washington winemakers.
Since opening in 2007, two Seattle restaurants with a distinctly French flair have gained fame. Cafe Presse and Le Pichet have a French-American flair that resonates with many Seattleites. Both places were lauded by celebrated New York Times critic R.W. Apple Jr., and the chef’s oxtail terrine was raved about by Anthony Bourdain. While the menu isn’t a classic French cuisine concept, its ambiance is rustic and modern, fitting with the couple’s commitment to fresh ingredients and sourcing local ingredients.
While Seattle’s French food scene has changed, its culinary scene has remained strong. Newcomers are emerging, and some venerable classics have made way for newcomers. Many of the city’s finest dining establishments are out of the city center, making it possible to spend a full day sampling the offerings of one neighborhood. But before you visit, there are 15 essential dishes you should sample while visiting Seattle.
