Phnom Penh Noodle House in Seattle's International District is the Sam family's 1987 Cambodian kitchen: hu tieu, bai sach chrouk, cha houy teuk, back open after the pandemic.
Signature dishes: Hu tieu Phnom Penh, Bai sach chrouk, Cha houy teuk
Must order: Hu tieu noodle soup with pork and prawn, plus a bai sach chrouk grilled-pork rice plate.
Tip: Closed Monday and Tuesday; lunch crowd lines up at 11:00 and bai sach chrouk sells out by 14:00.
Address: 913 S Jackson St, Suite A, Seattle, WA 98104
The Boat in Seattle's Little Saigon is the original Pho Bac since 1982: the city's first pho restaurant, still in a red boat-shaped building at 13th and Jackson.
Signature: Pho tai, Com ga mam toi, Banh cuon
Order: Original Pho Bac tai with rare flank, or the com ga mam toi.
Tip: Cash and card, walk-in only; arrive at 11:30 or after 14:00 to skip the line through the parking lot.
The Boat in Seattle's Little Saigon is the original Pho Bac since 1982: the city's first pho restaurant, still in a red boat-shaped building at 13th and Jackson.
Signature: Pho tai, Com ga mam toi, Banh cuon
Order: Original Pho Bac tai with rare flank, or the com ga mam toi.
Tip: Cash and card, walk-in only; arrive at 11:30 or after 14:00 to skip the line through the parking lot.
Salumi in Seattle's Pioneer Square is the Armandino Batali institution: house-cured charcuterie, porchetta sandwiches and the rotating seasonal menu since 1999.
Signature: Porchetta sandwich, Mole salami, Hot pepper sub
Order: The braised porchetta sandwich with Calabrian chimichurri and pickled peppers.
Tip: Open Monday to Friday 10:00 to 18:00; weekends 10:00 to 15:00, and the porchetta sells out by 14:00 Saturday.
Ivar's Acres of Clams in Seattle on Pier 54 is Ivar Haglund's 1946 waterfront fish house: a wood-walled dining room over Elliott Bay with institutional pan-fried oysters.
Signature: Pan-fried oysters, Clam chowder, Alderwood-smoked salmon
Order: Pan-fried Olympia oysters with the alderwood-smoked salmon at a window table.
Tip: The Pier 54 fish bar to the side is the cheap counter: same clams, lower price, ferry views.
Tat's Delicatessen in Seattle's Pioneer Square is the East Coast deli proxy: cheesesteaks, pastrami subs and in-house brining since 2004, run by Brian Tatman.
Signature: Cheesesteak, Pastrami sub, Tat's bomb
Order: The Philly cheesesteak with house-brined pastrami on the side; bring cash for the bomb.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the Tat's Bomb is a sandwich with everything plus a fried egg, on a custom roll.
Tacos Chukis Capitol Hill in Seattle is the Broadway taco counter that opens until 22:00: al pastor off the trompo, adobada, mulitas and salsas built fresh daily.
Signature: Al pastor taco, Adobada quesadilla, Mulita
Order: Al pastor with pineapple, two with adobada, and a mulita to split.
Tip: Cash and card; the al pastor turns out fastest between 17:00 and 19:00 when the trompo is hottest.
Ba Bar Capitol Hill in Seattle is Eric Banh's 2011 Vietnamese street-food room: pho running until 02:00 weeknights, 03:30 weekends, banh mi at the front counter.
Signature: Pho ga, Bun cha, Banh mi
Order: Pho ga at 02:00 with a side of bun cha and a Vietnamese iced coffee.
Tip: Late-night menu after midnight is shorter and faster; the front counter does banh mi to-go.
