Full wallets, fuller stomachs.
Over the past decade, Seattle has quickly become one of America's most exciting food cities. And if there's one word to describe Seattle's culinary scene, it's diverse.
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Not only can you find just about any type of cuisine in Seattle, but you can find exceptional global fare. Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, Cuban, Japanese, Italian, Ethiopian...you name it, Seattle is bursting with authentic restaurants that showcase flavors from all over the world.
And the best part of all: You don’t have to spend a fortune to eat well. Here are some of the best cheap eats around the city to keep your stomach and your wallet satisfied, and you can find more Seattle travel tips in this video.
1. Il Corvo
This Italian eatery in Pioneer Square is open only for lunch on weekdays, and the menu changes every day depending on what's made fresh, but expect classics like pappardelle alla bolognese and more creative dishes like cauliflower cacio e pepe. The best part: Most of the homemade pastas will only set you back about $9.
2. Pike Place Chowder
When visiting Seattle, a trip to the world-famous Pike Place Market is a must, and while you're there, don't miss a lunch stop at Pike Place Chowder. Order the seafood bisque and New England clam chowder ($8), you'll immediately understand what makes Seattle one of the country's best food cities.
3. Marination Ma Kai
Originally a food truck, Marination Ma Kai is now a full-fledged restaurant in West Seattle dishing out creative Hawaiian-Korean fusion. Think: Kimchi fried rice ($8.25), spam musubi ($4.25), and loco moco ($10.25).
4. Un Bien
For the best Caribbean food in the city, look no further than Un Bien. Try the Caribbean Pork Roast, made with slow-roasted pork shoulder on a toasted baguette with aioli, cilantro, pickled jalapeños, and caramelized onions. For $11, it can easily feed you for two meals.
5. Wood Shop BBQ
Turns out, you don't need to visit the south for delicious barbecue. Wood Shop BBQ is doing amazing things in the Pacific Northwest. There are also some great bargains to be found here like the heaping pulled pork sandwich ($10) and the mac 'n' cheese bowls, which are loaded with jalapeños, pickled onions, barbecue sauce, and your choice of barbecue meat.
6. Emerald City Fish & Chips
Set on the Pacific Ocean, Seattle is famous for its seafood, so while visiting, you should be eating as much fish and shellfish as possible. The menu at Emerald City Fish & Chips veers on the southern side, featuring dishes like oyster po' boys ($10) and crab hush puppies ($6). But you can't go wrong with the fish and chips, which can be ordered with salmon, cod, halibut, or catfish ($8.95-$10.95).
7. Aviv Hummus Bar
This counter-service eatery on Capitol Hill is the place to go for delicious, crispy falafel loaded with veggies and tahini in warm pita ($11). The rich and creamy hummus ($10) is pretty spectacular as well. You can order it plain or topped with ground beef and pine nuts or with sautéed mushrooms and onions.
8. Biscuit Bitch
With three spots around the city, Biscuit Bitch is where you want to be starting your weekend morning. Go simple with the "Straight up Bitch," a biscuit and gravy topped with two over easy eggs ($8.45), or try something a bit more adventurous like the "Hot Mess Bitch," a biscuit drowning in gravy, scrambled eggs, jalapeño, cheese, garlic grits, and a Louisiana hot link.
9. Beecher's Handmade Cheese
Don't think of Seattle's often-rainy weather as dreary; rather, consider it the perfect climate for comfort food. And that's where Beecher's comes in. Located in Pike Place Market, it's where you should go to satisfy all your cheesiest cravings. Try the flagship grilled cheese sandwich ($8) or the ooey-gooey, indulgent mac 'n' cheese ($6).
10. Tacos Chukis
If it weren't for the constant lines, you could easily walk by this Capitol Hill hole-in-the-wall that is housed in a mini mall and not notice it. But you should definitely not miss the original Tacos Chukis. Order the house tacos ($2 a piece), which are made with rotisserie-cooked pork, melted cheese, guacamole, and grilled pineapple on a corn tortilla.
11. Salumi
This artisan deli is open only on weekdays and only at lunchtime. Stop by for some of Seattle's best sandwiches. You really can't go wrong with whatever you order like the eggplant diavolo ($10.50), the meatball sub ($12) or the hot sopressata and provelone cheese ($12).
12. Monster Dogs
You've probably never had a hot dog like this before. They come in beef or veggie and are topped with cream cheese and grilled onions, and they're all $6 a piece.
13. Tat's Delicatessen
Tat's is a gem. It's one of few West Coast delis that can really reproduce delicious versions of East Coast specialties like Reubens, pastrami sandwiches, and Philly cheesesteaks. Don't miss the Tat'strami, their signature sandwich made with house-smoked pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing ($10.25).
