Date indicates the most recent update of the restaurants listed
Bold indicates my recommendations; others come from what I consider to be good sources

Aberdeen

Breakwater–306 S. F St. (Seafood) Open daily until 7pm (6 on Sun). According to reviews, the fish and chips and the clam chowder seem to be as good as anywhere in the region. The chowder gets particularly good comments. Map (Dining room is open 2-2-22)

La Salvadoreña–122 N. H St. (Salvadoran) Open Daily. Food looks good and authentic (has good reviews). Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Anacortes

Bamboo Bistro–3401 Commercial Ave. (Vietnamese) Open daily (closed from 3 to 4:30 pm). People say the pho is excellent, but has a good selection of other items that are also good. Map (Dining room is open 12-18-21)

Frida’s Gourmet Mexican–416 Commercial Ave. (Mexican) Open daily 11:30 am to 8 pm. Authentic mole poblano and other upscale Mexican food that has rave reviews from people who are familiar with the “real deal” in Mexico. Map (Dining room is open 2-2-24)

Ashford

Copper Creek Inn–35707 SR 706 E. (American) Closed Tue & Wed. Has burgers, trout, and other popular local dishes. Pot roast is recommended. Probably the main draw here is the blackberry pie. Map (Dining room is open 8-20-21)

Ukrainian Cuisine–31811 SR 706 (Ukrainian) Open daily 8 am to 8 pm. Breakfast is crepes, eggs, or Belgian waffle. Several types of pierogies and other Ukrainian dishes make up the dinner menu along with steak, shish kebab, salmon, and burgers. Map (Dining room is open 8-6-22)

Bellingham

Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill–7 Bellwether Way (American) Open Daily. I have been to a couple of the Anthony’s restaurants and found them to be a good place for seafood–salmon, etc. (but reviewers say go to Chuckanut Dr. in Bow for more high-end seafood). Note: Anthony’s at Squalicum Harbor is at 25 Bellwether Way and might be worth checking out (they have a 3 course dinner that costs $25 in 2021 and is served until 5 pm). Map (Dining room is open 2-2-24)

Dragon River–1319 Cornwall Ave. (Chinese) Closed Sun. Chinese food from Heilongjiang Province in northeast China. Food is excellent. Some recommend dishes with yu xiang sauce. Dumplings in hot chile oil are recommended. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Muto Izakaya–105 E. Chestnut St. (Japanese) Dinner only (closed Tue). Specializes in ramen–also has sushi and chicken katsu. Reviews are very good. Also in Lynnwood. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Bow

The Oyster Bar–2578 Chuckanut Dr. (Seafood) Open Daily. An upscale restaurant with an ocean view. Even though oysters are its specialty, it has a wide range of seafood including Copper River salmon. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Bremerton

4 Sisters–1600 NE Roseway Ln. (Vietnamese) Closed Sun. Pho is popular, but also has other dishes. The people leaving the most positive reviews seem to be ones from Vietnam and those who are very familiar with Vietnamese food, so this is a good sign. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Hit Da Spot–308 N. Callow Ave. (Hawaiian) Lunch only (closed Sun & Mon). Reviewers like the Hawaiian plate lunches and poke. Has a larger selection of items than most Hawaiian restaurants. Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Suzy’s Kitchen–2665 6th St. (Korean) Closed Sun & Mon). One of the top rated restaurants in Bremerton–consistently excellent reviews. Map (Dining room is open 2-2-22)

Centralia

La Tarasca–1001 W. Main St. (Mexican) Open to 7 pm (6 on Sun); (closed Tue). This restaurant is worthy of a stop according to reviews that have been coming in for a number of years. The most recommended dishes are the ones with any kind of sauce–mole, chile verde, etc. Map (Dining room is open 12-18-21)

Chehalis

Mackinaw’s–545 N. Market Blvd. (American) Dinner only (open Wed-Sat). Farm to table restaurant that has a different menu every day. Even if you don’t know exactly what they are going to have, Guy Fieri says they “take full advantage of the local farmers and produce to create one of the best menus we’ve ever seen.” Map (Dining room is open 9-28-22)

Chelan

Fonda Oaxaqueña–127 E. Johnson Ave. (Mexican) Open daily 11 am to 8 pm. Oaxaca style Mexican food with mole, mocaljete, etc. Map (Dining room is open 9-28-22)

Cle Elum

Teelak Thai–321 E. 1st (Thai) Closed Mon (and closed 2:30 to 4:30 pm). Good and authentic Thai food. Most people say, though, to order the food on the low end of the spicy scale (or else it may come out too hot). Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Dayton

Ray’s Drive In–221 W. Main St. (Burgers) Open 6 am to 6 pm (open daily). Reviewers say it is a good place for burgers, breakfast, milkshakes, and smoothies. Map (Dining room is open 11-3-21)

Ellensburg

Cafe C5–213 W. 4th Ave. (New American) Open 11 am to 4 pm Wed-Fri only. Food is high quality (fresh). A couple of items are especially popular–Cajun shrimp (wrap or salad) and the Southwest veggie wrap. Has Thai salad and Asian vegetable bowl. Map (Dining room is open 12-18-21)

Palace Cafe–323 N. Main St. (American) Open daily (serves breakfast). Recommended items include fresh fruit bowl (with granola for the breakfast version), hamburger, Hawaiian chicken burger, and prime rib. Map (Dining room is open 12-26-21)

Everett

Anthony’s HomePort–1726 W. Marine View Dr. (Seafood) Dinner daily; Lunch Wed-Sun. Part of a mini-chain of upscale seafood restaurants with great ocean views. For seafood this is hard to pass up. Map (Dining room is open 12-18-21)

Brooklyn Bros Pizza–1919 Hewitt Ave. (Pizza) Closed Mon. Reviewers say it is good New York style pizza, and that the thin crust pizza is very tasty. This is a local chain with locations in Snohomish Co. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Curries–7318 Evergreen Way (Indian) Closed Tue (and closed from 2:30 to 5 pm). Reviewers say it is one of the best Indian restaurants in the Seattle area. Spice level is appropriate (not dumbed down). Serves north Indian cuisine. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Katya’s Bakery–12811 8th Ave. W. (Ukrainian) Open 10 am to 7 pm Mon-Fri; 10-6 Sat. This is a bakery and cafe. It is the top rated bakery on Yelp, and is described as being made with fresh ingredients such as real cream and not any shortcuts such as mixes (the specialty is Eastern European pastries). The cafe serves authentic Described as the best Russian food you will find in the U.S. (but it is actually Ukrainian). This is a casual cafe and you will get typical dishes rather than elaborate dinners such as might be served in other Eastern European restaurants. I don’t know if it’s cheap because it’s so good most people say you will not be able to limit yourself to just a few items (from the bakery as well as the cafe). Map (Dining room is open 8-6-22)

King Noodle House–7815 Evergreen Way (Chinese) Open 11 am to 9:30 pm (closed Tue). Said to be authentic and very good Chinese food. Specializes in hand pulled noodles. Map (Dining room is open 8-6-22)

The New Mexicans–1416 Hewitt Ave. (New Mexican) Dinner Wed-Sat; Lunch Fri-Sun. New Mexico style food (some say it is not totally authentic but most say the red and green enchiladas are quite good). Map (Dining room is open 8-6-22)

Yummy Deli–8630 Evergreen Way (Vietnamese) Open 10 am to 7 pm (closed Sun) . The menu is simple–banh mi, pho, vermicelli bowls, and bubble tea. Banh mi is the most reviewed item and what gives this restaurant very high ratings (but the other items seem to be good as well). Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Zab Thai–11108 Evergreen Way (Thai) Open Daily. Has classic Thai dishes, but the specialty of the chef is Northeastern (Issan) style food. Reviewers also say this is “easily the best Thai in Everett.” Map (Dining room is open 12-18-21)

Friday Harbor

Cask and Schooner–1 Front St. (Seafood) Closed Tue & Wed; closed Thu lunch. The most recommended seafood restaurant on the island. Clam chowder, crab cakes, and steamed clams are recommended. However, the highest rated dishes seem to be the chicken sandwich and the poutine. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Golden Triangle Thai–140 1st St. S. (Thai) Open 11-2:30 and 5-7 (closed Sun). Apparently the owners are from Chiang Mai (and food may be this style). People like the food. Some say it is overpriced, but it seems that everything on the island is overpriced. Lunch looks like it gives you a choice of less expensive dinners or else you can get a combo plate with either two or three items. Map (Dining room is open 8-6-22)

The Bait Shop–175 Spring St. (Seafood) Open 11 am to 7 pm (closed Wed &Thu). This restaurant serves fish and chips and chowder. Many say it is the best on the island. Map (Dining room is open 8-6-22)

Gig Harbor

Taste of Peru–5500 Olympic Dr. NW (Peruvian) Dinner Tue-Sat; lunch Fri & Sat (dinner is until 7 pm). Reviewers say it has very good Peruvian food. Because of the seafood in this area, the ceviche is one of the items that should definitely be considered. Map (Dining room is open 12-18-21)

Tides Tavern–2925 Harborview Dr. (American) Open Daily. I was looking for seafood in the $$ or lower category, and this place came up. For this price you get fish and chips, fish tacos, and chowder (all are said to be excellent). Chicken pot pie is also said to be excellent. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Wok on Fire–5500 Olympic Dr. NW (Asian) Open 11:30 am to 8 pm (7 pm on Sun). This is probably the best Asian restaurant in town. People say they do the Mongolian Grill very well. Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Gold Bar

Zeke’s Drive In–43918 State Rt. 2 (American) Closed Tue & Wed. Good roadfood type hamburger place, but has other items such as reubens. Probably the most popular feature is the make-your-own flavor milkshakes. Map (Dining room is open 8-27-21)

Kennewick

Dagupan Grill–3911 W. 27th Ave. (Filipino) Closed Sun evening & Mon (and closed from 2:30 to 5 pm). Some say this is the only legit Filipino food in the eastern part of Washington. Reviewers say the food is fresh and “worth the wait” (for it to be individually cooked). Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Masala Indian–3321 W. Kennewick Ave. (Indian) Open daily except Tue lunch (and closed from 2:30 to 5:00 pm). One of the few Asian restaurants in the Tri Cities that get good reviews from people who are from Portland or Seattle. Has thali sampler plate. Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Lacey

Cebu–9408 Martin Way E. (Filipino) Closed Sun. Small family run place. Food has very good reviews. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Hot Ginger Pho–1401 Marvin Rd. NE (Vietnamese) Closed Sun. New restaurant that opened in Dec. 2015.Good reviews for the food, but sometimes not for the service. Has a large menu, but most reviews are for the pho and the more well known dishes. Some people say the pho is better at the “other” Vietnamese restaurant in town. Map (Dining room is open 2-2-22)

Pattaya Thai–8640 Martin Way E (Thai) Open Daily. Large number of good reviews. I think it’s because they make the food spicy (when you want) and they have a great number of choices on the menu. Some also say Olympia restaurants are very bland but this one is like the Thai food you find in larger cities. Map (Dining room is open 12-18-21)

Lakewood

Bruno’s European–10902 Bridgeport Way SW (Polish) Closed Sun & Mon. A Polish restaurant that also has a number of German items (and reviewers say they are good). Reviewers say if you get pierogi they don’t taste frozen (nor does anything else here). Map (Dining room is open 9-28-22)

Leavenworth

Andreas Keller–829 Front St. (German) Open Daily. Good for schnitzel cordon bleu, polish sausage (and other sausages), red cabbage, Russian crumble cake, and apple strudel. However, the prices are high to the point that it gets lower ratings than the other German restaurants, and it may not be suitable for this list because of exceeding the $$ category. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Colchuck’s–801 Front St. (German) Closed Tue & Wed. Good for jager schnitzel and huhner schnitzel (chicken) if you want something other than pork. Side dishes are said to be good. Has non-German dishes such as salmon carpaccio and a large selection of burgers. Map (Dining room is open 12-18-21)

Munchen Haus–709 Front St. (German) Lunch daily; dinner Fri-Sun. Known for bratwurst & choice of mustards. Reviewers say the sausages are better than across the street. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Long Beach

Malai Thai–509 Pacific Ave. S. (Thai) Open 1 pm to 7 pm (closed Wed). Reviewers say this is not big city Thai, but it is good, and particularly for a tourist town. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Note: See Seaview for more local listings

Lynden

Chandara House–655 Front St. (Thai) Open 11 am to 8 pm (closed Sun). Said to be authentic and very good Thai food. Pad thai, noodle dishes, and curry are recommended. One of the real attractions here, though, is the fact that they have unusual Thai dishes that are not found at many restaurants. Reviewers also make the point that it is affordable. Map (Dining room is open 2-26-22)

Lynden Dutch Bakery–421 Front St. (Bakery) Breakfast & lunch only (open daily). Large variety of pastries, especially Dutch desserts. Muffins, pies, cookies, coffee cake, crepes. Sells drinks to go with them if you want to eat in the store. Map (Takeout only 4-22-22)

Mount Vernon

Kyoto Kitchen–2001 E. College Way (Japanese) Open Mon-Sat 11:30 am to 8 pm (closed from 2 to 5 pm). Full Japanese menu restaurant that is authentic in a way that makes it delicious and very popular with customers (even those driving through who are used to very good Japanese restaurants). Ramen, Japanese curry, katsu, tempura, and teriyaki are recommended. Sukiyaki is said to be very authentic (and recommended). There are good reviews for the sushi also (but this is not primarily a sushi restaurant). Map (Dining room is open 12-26-21)

Rachawadee Thai Cafe–410 W. Gates St. (Thai) Closed Sat dinner, Sun & Mon. Apparently it is an authentic Thai restaurant with about 10 tables (there is frequently a long wait for a table). Has Thai spice levels with the food. Note: in 2021 they have had a staff shortage and is usually closed on Sat. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Skagit Valley Food Co-Op–201 S. 1st St. (Organic) Open daily 7 am to 9 pm. In addition to being very popular with reviewers, I noticed this place because of its salads. Probably the most memorable salad I’ve ever had (because of its freshness and flavor) was in a now closed Mt. Vernon restaurant, and I would definitely seek out other restaurants in the area for the same thing. The food here is organic, and is not totally vegetarian, but the most popular items are vegetarian (such as the garden burger, salad, etc.). The emphasis here is on health rather than flavor, but reviewers say in many items the flavor comes through as well. As the name implies, this is also a grocery store. Map (Takeout only 4-22-22)

Mukilteo

Red Cork Bistro–11700 Mukilteo Speedway (American) Closed Sun. Local, all fresh menu. This is not necessarily a seafood restaurant, but many say this is the thing to get (such as the halibut daily special). Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Oak Harbor

Seabolt’s–31640 SH 20 (Seafood) Open Daily. A lot of good dishes, but the best seems to be the clam chowder. Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Olympia

Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill–1675 Marine Dr. NE (Seafood) Open Daily. Reviews are mixed, but I attribute this to high expectations. I had good food, and I think the fish is good. Does a good job with plain fish where the fish flavor stands on its own. Map (Dining room is open 9-28-22)

(Note: Anthony’s Homeport at 704 Columbia St. NW has an abbreviated menu, is less expensive (specializes in things like chowder) and is a good choice if you want something that is not as upscale).

Dockside Bistro–501 Columbia St. NW (New American) Closed Sun & Mon (closed from 3 to 5 pm in summer and 2 to 5 in winter). Mostly a seafood restaurant. I tend not to like seafood too “fancy” (as they do here, with a lot of sauces and extras to jazz it up), but it sounds as if they do it right in this place. According to reviews the food is hit or miss, but when it is a hit it is really a hit (so it’s worth taking a shot). Price is $$$ on Yelp (so it may be higher priced than I would like). Parties of 4 or more are requested to make a reservation. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Hotstone Korean–119 5th Ave. SW (Korean) Open 11 am to 9 pm (closed Sun). Good reviews, especially for the quality of the meats and the flavors they have. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Mediterranean Breeze–2302 Harrison Ave. NW (Turkish) Dinner only (closed Mon). Very good reviews. This is much more than a kabob restaurants–has a large variety of items. Map (Dining room is open 12-26-21)

Narai Asian Cuisine–320 4th Ave. E. (Thai) Closed Mon & Tue. I do not know if it is authentic or just not as sweet as most of the Thai restaurants in WA, but it seems to be a good restaurant. Map (Dining room is open 12-18-21)

Tugboat Annie’s–2100 West Bay Dr. NW (American) Open Daily. Another good seafood place that is less expensive than Anthony’s and also has burgers and other items (but reviewers mainly recommend the seafood). Mostly good reviews for fish and chips, salmon, shrimp cocktail, etc. but mixed reviews on the chowder and hamburgers). Map (Dining room is open 2-2-24)

Pasco

El Antojito–1915 W. Court St. (Mexican) Open 8 am to 8 pm (8-6 on Sun). Authentic style food. One reviewer found the mole here to be the best they have found outside of Mexico. Map (Dining room is open 12-26-21)

Rice and Noodles–3315 W. Court St. (Korean) Closed Mon. Most people really like the food, and say it is uniformly good (there are not one or two dishes that most people order). The negative reviews are mostly for the quantity and/or quality of the beef (the sauces, etc. all seem to be good). Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Note: Pasco is full of Mexican restaurants, and most have a reputation of being very good (I found Mi Hacienda to be very good). When faced with such an overwhelming number of choices my strategy was to go to a Mexican market and ask the people there for recommendations (that is, if you want real Mexican food).

Port Angeles

Jasmine Bistro–222 N. Lincoln St. (Thai) Closed Sun & Tue (closed from 2:30 to 4 pm). I originally found Sabai Thai and it had good reviews, but I think this one might be better if you want “regular” Thai dishes at lower prices (not Dungeness crab, etc.). Basil stir fry is a recommended dish. Some also like it because you can get a smaller order of items for a lower price. Some say the spice level is quite high and they caution against anything above level 3. Map (Dining room is open 2-2-24)

Kokopelli Grill-203 E. Front St. (Seafood) Open 4 pm to 8 pm (closed Mon). Said to be high quality seafood but with better prices than some other places. Salmon and halibut are two of the most popular items (salmon chowder is also recommended). Map (Dining room is open 12-26-21)

Pho New Saigon–106 W. Front St. (Vietnamese) Closed Mon. Pho and a number of other dishes, said to taste the way they should. Some say the prices are expensive, though. Map (Dining room is open 12-26-21)

Sabai Thai–903 W. 8th St. (Thai) Dinner only (closed Sun & Mon). Upscale, and has quite a few seafood dishes (some say try the halibut and the local Dungeness crab dishes). Prices seem quite high from the menu posted on line, but I think are probably justified for seafood items (and maybe some other items such as ones that have kaffir lime leaves). One review said they have pad prik king (which I like) but I didn’t see it on the menu. They do have several other items which I normally like to order. Map (Dining room is open 4-7-24)

Port Townsend

Blue Moose–311 Haines Pl. (American) Open 7 am to 2 pm (closed Tue & Wed). Very popular for breakfast. Seems to serve the typical Northwestern huge breakfast portions. Cash or checks only. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Doc’s Marina Grill–141 Hudson St. (Seafood) Open 11 am to 9 pm (closed Tue & Wed). A place to go for basic non-pretentious seafood. Best reviews are for the fish and chips, but chowder is also popular. Also in Bainbridge Island. Map (Dining room is open 2-2-24)

Finistere-1025 Lawrence St. (New American) Dinner only (closed Sun-Tue). Upscale restaurant if you like fancy and original recipes. Seems to be especially known for its oysters. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Hanazono Asian Noodle–225 Taylor St. (Japanese) Closed Mon-Wed. Has a varied Japanese menu. I think ramen noodle and yakisoba are supposed to be their specialty dishes, but other items get good reviews as well. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Poulsbo

Pho T&N–19641 7th Ave. NE (Vietnamese) Closed Sun. Seems to be the most highly rated Asian restaurant in town–food is the “real deal.” Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Tizley’s Europub–18928 Front St. NE (German) Closed Wed. Reviews are very good for schnitzel and sausage, and they are said to be authentic by reviewers. Swedish meatballs are popular, and has a few items from other European countries like English Pub Shepherd’s Pie, and also a local style clam chowder. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Pullman

Minh–102 NW Stadium Way (Chinese) Open daily 11 am to 10 pm. Reviewers say the off the menu items here are the best authentic Asian food in Pullman. Standard menu items offer food from several countries (Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, and apparently western China halal style food). Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Note: Minh’s also owns Iron Wok in Moscow, ID

Old European Breakfast House–455 S. Grand Ave. (Danish) Breakfast & lunch daily. Complimentary aebelskivers given to first time visitors. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Tan’s Chinese–1195 SE Bishop Blvd. (Chinese) Open 11 am to 9:30 pm (closed Tue). Has xiao long bao and is attempting to be more authentic than American style, but some say it is not like the Chinese food you will get in Seattle. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Roche Harbor

Madrona Bar & Grill–248 Reuben Memorial Dr. (American) Open daily 11 am to 9 pm. Varied menu which includes seafood and hamburgers. Food is not too expensive by San Juan Island standards. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Seaview

42nd Street Cafe & Bistro–4201 Pacific Way (New American) Breakfast Wed-Sun; Dinner Wed-Sat. Currently serves breakfast & dinner only (closed from noon to 4:30 pm). Majors in seafood, and reviewers say this is the upscale version. Breakfast seems to be the most popular time, though. Has standard breakfast items (some with seafood), but a very popular item is the beignet. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Sequim

Dynasty–380 E. Washington St. (Chinese) Closed Sat lunch; closed Sun & Mon. Hand shaved noodles are the main authentic dish here. The American style dishes, though, all have good reviews. Map (Dining room is open 9-28-22)

Oak Table–292 W. Bell St. (American) Open 7 am to 3 pm (open daily). Popular at breakfast–on the upscale side with big portions. Omelet, quiche, crepes, pancakes, etc. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Sawadee–271 S. 7th Ave. (Thai) Closed Wed (and closed 3 to 4:30 pm). This seems to be the best choice in town for authentic Asian food. Curries and basil chicken are popular. People point out that they have high prices, but also good quality. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Shelton

Somsiri Thai–506 W. Railroad Ave. (Thai) Closed Sat lunch, Sun, & Mon lunch. Excellent reviews, especially for the pad thai. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Silverdale

Family Thai–9601 Mickelberry Rd. NW (Thai) Dinner Tue-Sun; lunch Sat & Sun. Dishes seem to be northern Thai style. Has a lunch menu including ginger, peanut sauce, basil, and other interesting looking dishes. Map (Dining room is open 2-26-22)

Nattamit–9001 Pacific Ave. NW (Thai) Closed Sun & Mon (and closes early–6 or earlier). Said to be good Thai in an area where it is mostly American style. Panang curry and pad thai are recommended. Some say it has MSG, though (but tastes good). Map (Dining room is open 9-28-22)

South Bend

Linda’s Fish and Chips–313 Robert Bush Blvd. (Seafood) Open 11am to 4pm (closed Tue & Wed). Reviewers emphasize the freshness of the cod and oysters, and that the shrimp is very good as well. Everyone seems to like the fish but some think the breading on the fish & chips is a little greasy. Map (Temporarily closed 9-28-22)

Spokane

Elliotts an Urban Kitchen–2209 N. Monroe St. (New American) Closed Sun evening. In addition to the food being very good (according to reviewers), it also looks very interesting. Has items such as scotch egg, green chicken curry, pork belly appetizer, green chile pork, house made chocolate torte, etc. Most reviews seem to be for the Sunday brunch, and this seems to be what diners like the best about the restaurant. Map (Dining room is open 9-28-22)

Gordy’s Sichuan–501 E. 30th Ave. (Sichuanese) Closed Sun & Mon. For authentic food, you can get off-menu recommendations from the staff. Closes at 9 pm, but web site says it closes “later” if there is a demand for it. Map (Dining room is open 2-26-22)

Mizuna–214 N. Howard St. (New American) Open daily 4 pm to 9 pm. Many say this is the best food in Spokane. Idaho trout, pork, carrot cake. Specializes in vegetarian dishes. Has quite a few unusual (international) dishes but many seem to be Italian. Map (Dining room is open 9-28-22)

Old European Breakfast House–7640 N. Division St. (Danish) Open daily 7 am to 2 pm. Aebelskivers (these also come on a sampler plate). Most people come for breakfast–lunch menu is sandwiches, etc. (not Danish food). Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Phonthip Style Thai–1006 E. Francis Ave. (Thai) Closed Sun & Tue. Said to be authentic & flavorful. Food is not American style sweet like other Thai places in town. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Tacoma

Fujiya–1125 Court C (Japanese) Closed Sat lunch & Sun (and closed from 2 to 5 pm). A full menu Japanese restaurant (as opposed to the many sushi or teriyaki restaurants in the area). Best dish here may be the ramen. Map (Dining room is open 9-28-22)

Indochine–1924 Pacific Ave. S. (Thai) Dinner only (closed Mon). I ate at the location in Federal Way and found it to be a good Thai restaurant. Best items seem to be basil, lemongrass, ginger flavored, etc. (instead of pad thai or curry). Map (Dining room is open 2-26-22)

Loak Toung Thai–3807 Center St. (Thai) Open Wed-Sat (closed from 2:30 to 4:30 pm). Authentic Isan cuisine including the way they prepare the fish sauce. Has a number of specials in addition to the menu items. Map (Dining room is open 2-26-22)

MSM Deli–2220 6th Ave. (Sandwiches) Open daily 10 am to 7 pm. From looking at the reviews, these must be the best sandwiches in the State of Washington. However, the wait can be long sometimes. Map (Takeout only 9-28-22)

Pho King–1020 Martin Luther King Jr Way (Vietnamese) Closed Sun (closes at 8 pm other days). Normally I think there are better things on the menu than pho and bahn mi sandwiches, but reviewers say they are so good here that they are must tries. Many varieties of pho are available (including vegetarian). For sandwiches pork is the most recommended. Map (Dining room is open 9-22-22)

Stanley & Seafort’s–115 E. 34th St. (Seafood) Open Daily (dinner only). Upscale food that’s a little expensive, but you get a great view of the harbor (and I do think it’s worth getting seafood as much as possible in the Pacific NW). Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Vuelve A La Vida–5312 Pacific Ave. (Mexican) Open daily (serves breakfast). A lot of places in the PNW claim to be authentic, but reviewers of this place are pretty convincing that it really is (the food is prepared as it would be in Mexico). Recommended items include the tacos (including the fish tacos), tamales made in house, posole, carnitas, and pollo a la crema. Some say the mole is not very flavorful, but the fact that they offer something like this would make me want to try it.Chile relleno (Thurs. only) is popular with patrons. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Toppenish

Bamboo Thai–13 E. Toppenish Ave. (Thai) Closed Sun. Reviewers like almost everything, but some say the pad thai is not as impressive as other dishes. Tom kha soup, pad kee mao and curries are recommended. This restaurant moved from Yakima. Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Union Gap

Los Hernandez–3706 Main St. (Mexican) Open daily (closes at 6:00 pm except 7 on Sat). Tamales (most people like the asparagus and cheese tamales). Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Walla Walla

Chiang Mai–25 S. Spokane St. (Thai). May be the most authentic Thai in WW, but people also like Bangkok 103 at 44 N. College Ave. Map (Takeout only 2-26-22)

Ming Court–1533 E. Isaacs Ave. (Chinese) Closed Sun & Mon. The place to go if you don’t want Chinese food with MSG. My impression, though, is that you’d be better off with Thai food. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen–330 W. Main (Middle Eastern) Open 4:30 pm to 9 pm (closed Sun & Mon). Food here is very upscale (WW is known for its upscale restaurants). Many dishes are Egyptian, and they are not kabobs but more like a feast people would have on special occasions. Looks like it may be worth a splurge. Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Wenatchee

Inna’s Cuisine–26 N. Wenatchee Ave. (Ukranian) Closed Sun & Mon (and closed from 2 to 4:30 pm). Everything here gets good reviews–the food, the service, the setting, and the price. Map (Dining room is open 2-26-22)

Om Cooking–749 Riverside Dr. (Lao) Closed Sun. Lao food is not as well known as the Thai food that was served here under a previous owner, but patrons are being won over based on reviews. Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

VN Pho–1010 Springwater Ave. (Vietnamese) Open daily 10:30 am to 7:30 pm. Serves pho, bun, and rice plates, all with good reviews. Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

Yakima

Antojitos Mexicanos–3512 Summitview Ave. (Mexican) Closed Sun night & Mon. Authentic–chile verde and pozole are good. One of the best features is the variety of salsas. Some say the tacos are not the thing to get here (go to Tacos Los Primos instead). Map (Dining room is open 4-22-22)

EZ Tiger–222 E. Chestnut Ave. (Dim Sum) Closed Sun & Mon. Serves dim sum, noodles, pho, and some Thai food. Reviews are good, and the food served is said to be real Asian (not Americanized). Map (Dining room is open 9-8-22)

For additional explanation of this list see Index
Please feel free to leave your own comments or suggestions.

James Beard Foundation America’s Classics

The following are locally owned restaurants that are distinguished by their timeless appeal, and which serve quality food that represents the character of their communities:

Union Gap: Los Hernandez–3706 Main St.

Closed (Formerly on the Restaurant Guide)

Pacific Pantry Deli–229 S. Sequim Ave., Sequim (closed 2022) Soup and sandwich place that sourced local ingredients and had some interesting items such as carrot soup. As of 2022 it is still open as a catering service for special events and festivals.
Rhododendron Cafe–5521 Chuckanut Dr., Bow (closed 2020) Upscale seafood restaurant often recommended by reviewers
Tamayo’s–800 SE Pioneer Parkway, Oak Harbor (closed 2022) Lao restaurant with good Lao sausage and Vietnamese pho