26 Best Restaurants in Washington Cascade Mountains and Valleys, Washington

At this convivial two-level downtown tavern with exposed brick walls and tall windows, boldly flavored Southern fare—prominently featuring rotisserie or fried (buttermilk or spicy-hot) chicken—rules the day. The chicken dishes come with a variety of sauces and sides and in several different formats, from chicken and waffles to fried chicken thigh sandwiches with Tabasco mayo.

In a strip mall a short drive east of downtown, this simply decorated pan-Asian restaurant serves creative, often complex, dishes that often reflect Latin American influences—think ahi tacos and birria ramen. Fried soft-shell crab with tuna poke are stars among the noodle bowls, but also consider the gochujang-braised short ribs with kimchi-fried rice, pickled Fresno chilies, and a sunny-side-up egg. 

Dig in to some of the tastiest and most flavorful barbecue in the state at this upbeat restaurant in a handsome 1923 brick building that has at various times served as the local bank, police station, and city hall. The chef-owner describes his barbecue as Cascadian, and his specialties do reflect some creative regional influences—consider the gochujang-marinated burnt ends with chanterelle mushrooms, pickled onions, and sour corn, or the roast-veggie salad with pulled pork and black-garlic ranch dressing. 

You'll find everything from thoughtfully curated artisanal groceries and prepared foods to a selection of creative contemporary American and international fare in the cheerful dining room of this stylish market in a retrofitted auto repair shop. Try the chilaquiles or croque madame at breakfast, and later in the day sample the salmon gravlax bagels and whole fried rainbow trout with grilled asparagus. Stock up on scones, cookies, and pecan sticky buns in the bakery.

Murals of tropical flowers and, of course, massive ferns decorate the softly lighted, sunny dining room of this superb restaurant in the heart of downtown Bellevue, which serves some of the best Thai food in greater Seattle. Specialties include Gai Tod Hat Yai, a deep-fried marinated half-chicken served with a panang curry dipping sauce and roti bread, and salmon grilled and served over a rich coconut curry sauce with eggplant and green beans. 

In a vintage brick building in downtown Chehalis, a 10-minute drive south of Centralia, you'll find the region's most sophisticated restaurant, a source of consistently imaginative, fresh Pacific Northwest fare at reasonable prices. The seasonally driven menu changes daily but might feature a starter of cheddar ale fondue with apple, artisan bread, and sausage, followed by Parmesan-crusted whitefish with a light lemon-dill sauce, or sliced duck breast with a black-cherry-and-walnut reduction—it's pretty urbane fare for this laid-back, down-home part of Washington.

This playfully named restaurant near the Capitol does indeed specialize in tapas, including—naturally—giant Pacific octopus, cured in olive oil and served with crusty house bread. Others treats from the seafood-centric menu are smoked oysters with lemon, mussels in a Thai lemongrass curry, and prawn tacos with pineapple salsa, but the menu lists plenty of meat and veggie options, too.

This casually contemporary spot with a tented seasonal outdoor seating area is a great option for breaking up a day of wine touring in the surrounding Warehouse District. The kitchen turns out creative sandwiches (try the one with burrata, delicata squash, and poached tart cherries) as well as meat and cheese boards and more substantial entrées, such as cauliflower steaks and braised beef short ribs. 

This bustling, casual spot along Tacoma's colorful 6th Avenue strip serves remarkably authentic and absolutely delicious soul food. In the morning, regulars swing by for heaping plates of chicken-fried steak with grits and eggs, or homemade biscuits and gravy. Later, move on to fried catfish strips with a side of hush puppies, Texas-style hand-trimmed brisket, and hot-links sandwiches. Dinners come with corn cakes and lots of tasty sides. 

Reasonably priced pastas and pizzas with local and seasonal ingredients, expertly crafted cocktails, a large covered sidewalk seating area, and a convenient downtown location are the hallmarks of this casually hip trattoria. Menu highlights include squid ink mezze maniche pasta (a ridged, tube-shape pasta) with shrimp, clams, pancetta, and chiles in white wine sauce, and the starter of house-made pork-beef meatballs with focaccia. 

A good bet for tasty bar food or a more substantial meal before or after visiting Bremerton's museums, this stylishly rustic gastropub with varnished wood tables, ample bar seating, and exposed ducts is just a couple of blocks from the USS Turner Joy battleship. Good bets from the kitchen, which specializes in American and Pacific Islander fare, include smoked kalua pork sliders, Wagyu beef loco moco, and Polynesian-style tempura fish tacos.

Drop by this urbane, high-ceilinged gastropub with an industrial-chic vibe for anything from creative cocktails and fine wines with a few snacks to a full dinner. The menu leans toward shareable appetizers—avocado fries, sautéed haloumi cheese with dates, flatbread with crab-artichoke gratin dip—and more substantial large plates, often with Latin American and Asian influences.

At this deliberately rustic waterfront eatery with impressive water views, diners share a casual, seaside camaraderie as they slurp up clam chowder, steamed clams, and mussels, plus larger plates of creatively prepared seafood grills and pastas—cioppino, chargrilled garlic prawns, and smoked-salmon linguine are some of the best bets. Sailors, who enjoy free boat moorage, arrive early for the popular weekend brunch.

An artificial cherry tree in full bloom rises over the brick-walled dining room of this superb ramen and cocktail bar on a historic block of downtown Everett. Warm your soul with a steaming bowl of vegetarian shoyu, pork tonkatsu, spicy miso, or seafood ramen. Tack on a couple of the tasty sides, like squid salad or pork belly buns.

You'll find some of northern Washington's tastiest Mexican food, from wild-cod ceviche to chicken in a 30-ingredient mole sauce, at this cheerful and unpretentious eatery that also specializes in made-to-order premium margaritas (try the smooth "top shelf" with Jimador Blanco tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar). There's another location in Mount Vernon.

This warmly lighted tavern in the historic North End operates under a clever and ambitious premise: every four months the kitchen unveils a new menu dedicated to the cuisine of a different region of the Americas or Europe, from Barcelona to Montreal to Argentina. To keep fans with less adventurous tastes happy, the restaurant maintains a number of noteworthy dishes on every menu.

Nestled beneath towering trees, this old-fashioned roadhouse with rough-hewn fir floors and knotty-pine walls is along the main road to Mt. Rainier. It's been a favorite lunch and dinner stop since it opened in the 1940s, and these days parkgoers still come by in droves to fill up on hearty, straightforward comfort fare, such as biscuits and gravy and chicken-fried steak and eggs in the morning, bacon-and-blue-cheese burgers at lunch, and wild Alaskan salmon with blackberry vinaigrette in the evening. The restaurant is part of a rustic inn with conventional rooms and cabins.

With its soaring ceilings and windows, mod lighting, and streamlined wooden booths, the downtown location of a growing Chinese dumpling empire that began in Bellevue in 2014 is as much fun for people-watching as for devouring perfectly formed pan-fried, boiled, soup, and steamed dumplings. Fillings run the gamut from chicken and vegetables with spicy garlic sauce to shrimp and zucchini, and the menu has an extensive array of sides and appetizers—try the braised pig ears or five-spice beef shank.

The rarefied setting—soaring ceilings, Palladian windows, polished-wood tables—inside downtown's neoclassical 1910 post office building is one good reason to book a table here. But don't overlook the well-prepared classic Italian and Spanish fare, which ranges from simple but hearty meatballs in red sauce and garganelli pasta (a short, tubular variety) with venison Bolognese to Spanish lentil stew with chorizo, paprika, and sherry.

The 1907 brick building that once housed the horse-drawn fire-engine brigade is now a convivial pub that's filled with firehouse memorabilia. The hearty, eclectic comfort food—burgers, tacos, mac and cheese—are well-priced and tasty. The adjacent E9 brewery turns out a nice range of craft ales and serves creatively topped pizzas.

This sleekly modern, dimly lighted space with a gurgling stone and glass fountain in the center serves generous portions of pan-Asian fare. The well-prepared array of Thai, Chinese, Indian, and Japanese cuisines includes curries, stir-fries, soups, and seafood, from honey-glazed walnut prawns to Filipino pork adobo.

Brewing memorabilia, including a big wall of vintage beer bottles known as the "beer shrine," greet patrons to this rambling roadhouse and brewery along the scenic Mt. Baker Highway, about 20 miles northeast of Bellingham. After a day of skiing or hiking, stop in for a pint of Bavarian-style hefeweizen or a heady barley wine, along with one of the filling pizzas or a bowl of clams steamed in garlic-chipotle broth.

This warmly lighted, inviting downtown spot for Pacific Northwest–inspired Spanish tapas is adjacent to similarly excellent Burrata Bistro and is popular for its afternoon and late-night happy hours as well as for lunch and dinner. Paella is the big star here—it's studded with fresh local seafood, but you could easily make a meal of delicious tapas, including achiote-marinated beef short ribs over polenta, and roasted brussels sprouts with pancetta and manchego cheese.

In the morning, fuel up at this convivial, sprawling tavern with a latte and a breakfast burrito or bagel and lox plate before a local hike or skiing at nearby Snoqualmie Pass; South Fork is on a rural road surrounded by greenery. Later in the day, a friendly, outdoorsy crowd gathers to mingle over well-prepared gastropub fare, including tofu banh mi bowls, blistered shishito peppers with garlic aioli, and blackened-chicken Alfredo.

Reservations are a must—try to book well ahead for weekends—at this compact and quirky South Tacoma brunch destination featuring the wonderfully weird cuisine of chef-owner Shawn Tibbitts. The payoff is the chance to stuff yourself with prodigious plates of candied-bacon-wrapped breakfast burritos and salted-caramel banana pancakes. Tibbitts is both personable and a bit of a showman, and there's a good chance he'll take your order personally.

The wood-fired pizzas with thin, blistered crusts and gourmet toppings are just one draw of this cheerful neighborhood restaurant within steps of the many wineries of Woodinville's Hollywood District. Vivi also serves first-rate arugula-pear salads, spaghetti carbonara, and prawn- and clam-studded cioppino.