THE OFFICIAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEBSITE OF THE UNITED STATES

Seattle

Places : Pacific Region : Washington : Seattle

Introduction

Seattle has been a culinary capital since the influx of Microsoft money created a demand for a more expansive and creative restaurant scene. The city's reputation among foodies owes as much to its thriving ethnic communities -- particularly Japanese, Chinese, and Thai -- as it does to its access to wonderful local produce, organic meats, and, of course, seafood. It seems as though half of the restaurants in the city are Pan-Asian and the other half are Pacific Northwest fusion; however, far from creating gimmicky food, chefs here create great things when they blend styles.

Seattle is a great place to splurge on higher-end restaurants. No matter how sophisticated the tastes of its diners get, Seattle is still a small, informal city, and warm, personable service is the norm, not the exception. Also, unlike in New York or Los Angeles, where wait lists for the top restaurants are often laughable, you might actually get to eat in the places you read about. You needn't spend a lot of money to get great food in Seattle. No neighborhood is without a good, cheap Thai restaurant; in fact, it'll be surprising if you find just one. Many small cafés and bakeries make old standards taste new again simply by using all organic ingredients. Even local chains are a cut above East Coast counterparts -- there's no shame in grabbing a fish taco at a Taco del Mar, a burger at a McMenamins, or a bowl of pho at one of the Than Brothers restaurants.

Note that outside of the busy downtown area, you might have trouble finding a mid-priced or high-end restaurant that serves lunch. Many of the best restaurants in Seattle's outer neighborhoods are dinner only. You'll find plenty of choices in Fremont and the U-District (along University Avenue), but your options will be more limited in Capitol Hill (though you'll be able to find something on Broadway), Queen Anne, and Ballard.

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