Compared to other places in Seattle, Tacoma is not as known for its culinary scene. When the pandemic began, its growth was stalled. Today, more and more Tacoma restaurants appeared, which made the place a go-to place for people who love to try the taste of Seattle.
Yes, Tacoma made a culinary come back and a lot of new restaurants started to appear. There are tons of food stands, fine-dining restaurants, and exciting food spots to try. We listed down some of the top food places that you can visit while you’re staying in Tacoma.
1. Lobster Shop
Lobster Shop opened n 1977 and it’s considered one of the oldest restaurants in the Pacific Northwest. It is also one of the best places to enjoy seafood dishes. You can check out the outdoor dining space of the restaurant if you want to have the best view of Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountain Range.
The most popular choice on their menu is their Lobster Bisque. Well, it is a lobster restaurant so their most popular cuisine would be made from lobster. The soup is perfectly creamy and it is filled with lobster flavor.
You should definitely try their Lobster Carbonara. The cream that they used is very smooth, creamy, and rich and the pasta is perfectly cooked as well. The bacon and the huge lobster meat will surely take your breath away.
What to order: Lobster Bisque, Lobster Carbonara, Lobster Melt
Address: 4015 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402
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2. Indo-Asian Street Eatery
If you’re craving Southeast Asian Food, Indo Asian Street Eatery is the best destination. They have dumplings, noodles, curries, Asian sandwiches, and many more. As for their interior, it has a rustic and relaxing vibe.
Fresh Spring Rolls – this is definitely the first thing that you need to get once you’re here. You can pick between pork, tofu, grilled chicken, or shrimp for the filling. The dipping sauce is already good, but it’s better to ask for their peanut sauce.
Pad Thai Chicken is a must if you are here. The savory and sweet flavors will surely be a treat if you are craving Asian cuisine. As for the curry and noodles, go with their Khao Soi Chicken.
What to order: Fresh Spring Rolls, Chinese Egg Rolls, Pad Thai Chicken, Khao Soi Chicken
Address: 110 N Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98403
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3. Wooden City Tacoma
Classic American food – this is something that you can find in Wooden City Tacoma. If you need American comfort food, this restaurant has everything. From toast to pizzas, to pasta, and specialty drinks, it is one of the top places to visit.
One of the top favorites would be the Lamb Bolognese. The house-made tagliatelle, the extremely rich sauce with great flavor, and the tasty lamb will bring a whole new taste to your mouth.
You have to try their Smoked Salmon Toast as it is also one of the favorites in this restaurant. It comes with beet relish, creamy egg mousse, red onions, and creamy salmon.
What to order: Lamb Bolognese, Smoked Salmon Toast, Blistered Hungarian Peppers, Apple Crisp
Address: 714 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402
4. El Gaucho Tacoma
El Gaucho is one of the most popular steakhouses in Tacoma and it is known for its amazing classics, Angus beef, and tableside Caesar’s. With its open exhibition-style kitchen, a lot of people from around the United States come here to enjoy this elegant dining experience.
The Steak El Gaucho will also b a top favorite. Since it has the restaurant’s name, it means that this is their specialty. This is one of the best steaks that you will ever pop in your mouth.
The dry age flavor and its amazing smokiness will surely make you want more. The lobster medallions are also the best along with its bearnaise sauce.
For the appetizer, the Dungeness Crab Cakes will surely be a good pick. The fresh crab and its moist and sweet meat along with the herb aioli will make your mouth water.
What to order: Steal El Gaucho, Dungeness Crab Cakes, Wicked Shrimp, Bananas Foster
Address: 2119 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
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5. Over the Moon Café
Over the Moon Café can be found in the Historic Passages Building. It is a small boutique-inspired restaurant. As for their menu, it is seasonal with rotating favorites. You can also expect French and Italian dishes from this restaurant.
Always start your meal with their Crab Bisque. There are a lot of crabs with a creamy base. You can ask for artisan sourdough bread that you can dip in it.
If you’re looking for the best Italian comfort food, nothing beats their Braised Short Rib Ragu Rigatoni. The meat is perfectly tender and the sauce is complex and bold.
What to order: Crab Bisque, Braised Short Rib Ragu Rigatoni, Croutes de Fromage
Address: 709 Opera Valley, Tacoma, WA 98402
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6. en Rama
If it’s Italian food you’re looking for, en Rama is the best food destination. The menu features a lot of homemade pasta, sherry on tap, Spanish small plates, and signature cocktails. The interior features a warm and cozy vibe and you will surely love their patio if you plan to have a date night.
You can try their Pimento Cheese small plate with pickled vegetables and grilled bread. The cheese is definitely on a whole new level, but it’s better if you can get the berried onion compote to create a flavor explosion.
If you love seafood, their Mussels would be a good pick. It comes with white wine butter sauce, creating a rich, buttery taste.
What to order: Pimento Cheese, Mussels, Mushroom Bucatini
Address: 1102 A St Suite 220, Tacoma, WA 98402
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7. Quickie Too
Quickie Too is a restaurant made for vegans and they have been serving a wide range of plant-based meals. There are burgers, pizza, salads, wraps, and more.
Mac & Yease (a plant-based version of mac & cheese) is definitely delectable. It’s very creamy and delicious. It also comes in different styles: Classic, Buffalo, and Chili.
You can try their Crazy Jamaican Burger with a tofu patty. It is perfectly seasoned with spicy jerk flavor and you can experience this with every bite.
You can also enjoy their Sweet Jamaican Wrap as it is full of textures and flavors that you won’t even imagine.
What to order: Mac & Yease, Crazy Jamaican Burger, Sweet Jamaican Wrap
Address: 1324 ML King Jr Way, Tacoma, WA 98405
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8. Mandolin
When it comes to sushi and teppanyaki, Mandolin is one of the top places to visit. It has a classy and relaxing interior that will make you want to stay for a few more hours. This is a perfect place for your friends and coworkers to dine and relax.
Mandolin is known for its Hibachi Dinner. Both the entertainment skills of the chef and the delicious food will make you return to this restaurant. There are so many options to choose from like seafood, chicken, steak, and more.
You can try the Mongolian Beef as well. The beef is extremely tender with crispy edges. Savor their Spicy Tuna Roll and Spicy California Roll.
What to order: Hibachi Dinner, Spicy California Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Mongolian Beef
Address: 3923 South 12th Street, Tacoma, WA 98405
9. Asado
If you’re looking for an Argentine-themed steakhouse, Asado is the best restaurant to try. This place has a rustic interior and it’s a perfect spot for your friends and family to dine.
Go there and try there Garron de Cordero / Braised Lamb Shank. The lamb is perfectly cooked, rich, and succulent and it pairs well with the acidic bacon leek butterbeans.
The Espalda Asado / Flat Iron Steak should be a nice pick as well because the steak is tender and extremely flavorful.
What to order: Braised Lamb Shank, Flat Iron Steak, Vegetarian Empanadas
Address: 2810 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98406
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10. 3uilt Tacoma
3uilt Tacoma is a typical sandwich counter that provides gourmet sandwiches, drinks, and more. They have tons of gluten-free options and the portions are large so it will surely satisfy your appetite.
Make sure that you try their Vegan 3LT as it has everything that you’re looking for in a traditional BLT. Their salads are amazing as well. Try their Kasbah Quinoa Salad which comes with beets, carrots, cashews, avocado, and cucumber.
What to order: Vegan 3LT, Kasbah Quinoa Salad, Elemental sandwich
Address: 1101 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402
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11. Pomodoro Italian Restaurant & Bar
Pomodoro Italian Restaurant & Bar is also a popular food spot as it offers great food for affordable prices. The interior vibe is very comfortable and casual and it comes with an open kitchen concept.
A crowd favorite that you should never miss is the Prawns Milano. They used linguine topped with jumbo prawns, veggies, and mushrooms.
You can try their Smoke Salmon Penne. You can definitely savor the smokiness of the salmon and it pairs well with their garlic cream sauce.
Make sure that you check out their Seafood Medley as well. It has the best seafood that you will ever taste.
What to order: Prawns Milano, Smoked Salmon Penne, Seafood Medley
Address: 3819 N 26th Street, Tacoma, WA 98407
12. Loak Toung Thai
Loak Toung Thai is a family-owned restaurant offering the best Thai cuisine in Tacoma. The interior of the restaurant gives a family-friendly vibe and there are a lot of photos covering the wall as well.
You should try their Red Curry as it is the most popular dish on the menu. This is a coconut-based curry that is full of flavor. You can also choose the spice level of your curry starting from level 2. You can go with their level 4 spice as it offers the best taste.
The Panang Curry is vegetable-based, but you can add tofu or chicken to it. This curry comes with unique flavors and textures.
What to order: Red Curry, Panang Curry, Spicy Chicken Wings
Address: 3807 South Center Street, Tacoma, WA 98409
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There are tons of amazing restaurants in Seattle that you should try. There are some that are hidden and some of them are popular enough to be at full capacity every time.
If you are looking for other amazing food spots, you can check out the best Seattle restaurants for more information.
