Ramie in Seattle's Capitol Hill is the Nguyen siblings' 2024 modern Vietnamese room: Ba Sa veterans channelling pho and nuoc cham into Wagyu carpaccio and crudo.
Signature dishes: Hamachi crudo with nuoc cham, Wagyu carpaccio, Pho risotto
Must order: Hamachi crudo with nuoc cham, herbs and lime to start, then the pho risotto.
Tip: Wednesday and Sunday early seatings have the chef at the pass; ask for the bar to watch the line.
Address: 1529 14th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
Salty's on Alki in Seattle's West Seattle is the across-the-bay waterfront seafood grill: the Sunday brunch buffet has run since the 1980s, with the skyline as a backdrop.
Signature: Sunday brunch buffet, Crab legs, Smoked salmon
Order: Sunday brunch buffet with the prime rib carving and chilled crab legs.
Tip: Take the King County Water Taxi from Pier 50; it docks a five-minute walk from the front door.
Mike's Noodle House in Seattle's International District is the city's most enduring Cantonese noodle counter: wonton soup, brisket noodles, congee, every day until 21:00.
Signature: Wonton noodle soup, Beef brisket noodle, Congee
Order: Wonton noodle soup with beef brisket and a side of choy sum.
Tip: Cash and card; the queue moves fast and there is no reservation policy.
Damn the Weather in Seattle's Pioneer Square is the cocktail-driven gastropub since 2013: brick walls, 24-seat bar, kitchen open until midnight Friday and Saturday.
Signature: Cheeseburger, Wood-grilled fish, Cocktails
Order: The cheeseburger and a Sazerac, in that order; kitchen runs late on weekends.
Tip: Mondays the cocktail list goes half price after 21:00; Sundays the kitchen takes the day off.
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: Hu tieu Phnom Penh, Bai sach chrouk, Cha houy teuk
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.
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.
