Vietnamese street food$$capitol-hill
Ba Bar Capitol Hill in Seattle is Eric Banh's 2011 Vietnamese street-food room: pho running until 02:00 weeknights, 03:30 weekends, banh mi at the front counter.
Signature: Pho ga, Bun cha, Banh mi
Order: Pho ga at 02:00 with a side of bun cha and a Vietnamese iced coffee.
Tip: Late-night menu after midnight is shorter and faster; the front counter does banh mi to-go.
Malaysian$$capitol-hill
Kedai Makan in Seattle's Capitol Hill is the Malaysian street-food kitchen rebooted at 15th and Pine: nasi lemak, char kway teow and roti canai with kaya butter.
Signature: Nasi lemak, Char kway teow, Roti canai
Order: Nasi lemak with the rendang, plus an order of char kway teow for the table.
Tip: The Belltown second location at 2234 1st Avenue opened May 2025 and is calmer at lunch.
Italian American$$$pike-place-market
The Pink Door in Seattle's Pike Place is the unmarked Post Alley Italian since 1981: red-sauce kitchen, Elliott Bay deck, nightly cabaret on Thursday to Saturday.
Signature: Lasagne alla Bolognese, Ricotta gnocchi, Cioppino
Order: The Bolognese lasagne with a glass of Sangiovese on the deck overlooking Elliott Bay.
Tip: The deck takes Resy only April through October; aerial cabaret runs Thursday to Saturday at 21:30.
Pacific Northwest$$$pike-place-market
Matt's in the Market in Seattle is the Pike Place Corner Market room with windows on the clock: a Pacific Northwest kitchen sourcing five floors down at the stalls.
Signature: Catfish sandwich, Salmon plate, Half-pound mac
Order: The catfish sandwich at lunch, on Macrina sourdough with house remoulade.
Tip: Lunch counter seats walk in at 11:30 and turn fast; dinner needs a reservation for window tables.
French bistro$$$pike-place-market
Cafe Campagne in Seattle's Pike Place is the city's foremost French bistro since 1994: zinc bar, Post Alley address, cassoulet and croque madame.
Signature: Cassoulet, Steak frites, Croque madame
Order: Croque madame at brunch with a glass of Sancerre; cassoulet on a rainy night.
Tip: Brunch from 09:00 weekends fills first; walk in at 08:30 Saturday for a window table.
French bistro$$$pike-place-market
Le Pichet in Seattle near Pike Place is the unhurried French bistro since 2000: tile floor, zinc bar, slate boards and a kitchen that does poulet roti as well as anywhere.
Signature: Poulet roti, Tartine de jambon, Cassoulet
Order: Poulet roti for two, ordered on arrival; it needs 60 minutes from the oven.
Tip: The bar is first-come first-served from 16:00; ask for the corner two-top in the window.