Going around West Seattle and appreciating its beauty can be very satisfying, but tiring at the same time. With all the activities that you can do like whale-watching and kayaking, your hunger will surely be stimulated. It’s a good thing that there are tons of amazing West Seattle restaurants where you can eat at.
If you’re just a tourist or a resident, you need to check out the best cuisines that this place has to offer. We listed down some of the best West Seattle restaurants you gotta check out.
1. Haymaker
Haymaker is one of the most popular restaurants in West Seattle. As a small restaurant on California Avenue, it provides a bright and airy space for the customers to dine in. The polished and relaxed finish along with their amazing Italian cuisine are perfect for dinner time.
Haymaker’s Rigatoni is one of the top picks on the menu. It’s spicy, buttery, and meaty so you will surely love every bite of it. You’ll definitely love their garlic cream sauce, which would make the dish complete.
If you’re coming here with your family or friends, you should try their Chef’s Tasting Menu. You’ll taste small bites coming from their starters, special dishes, and pasta that you won’t see on the menu.
What to order: Rigatoni, Chef’s Tasting Menu
Address: 4706 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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2. Raccolto
Raccolto is also a popular restaurant focusing on Italian food. From the ambiance to the amazing food that they offer, Raccolto is definitely a good place to dine with your family and friends. The best thing about this is their open kitchen where you can see the chef cooking your meals while you’re waiting.
One of the popular picks on their menu is the Strozzapreti with Bolognese and parmesan. It is perfectly creamy and rich, but not too heavy so you can enjoy the other foods on their menu.
The most special meal in this restaurant is their Kurobuta Pork Shank. The meat is extremely soft and it melts in your mouth.
What to order: Strozzapreti, Kurobuta Pork Shank, Buttermilk Panna Cotta
Address: 4147 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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3. Il Nido
Do you want to enjoy a hearty meal beside the Alki beach? You don’t need to go elsewhere because Il Nido will make this a reality. This restaurant offers some of the best Italian foods that you can find in the area. Together with their long wine list, you will fully enjoy the food and ambiance if you visit here with your family and friends.
The Burrata salad with Prosciutto is definitely a good pick for starters. It’s fresh and light and it comes with just the right amount of saltiness.
The Bucatini by Il Nido is a great way to fully immerse yourself in the taste of this restaurant. The flavor will get better with every bite. You will surely enjoy the different flavors that you will taste when you get this dish.
What to order: Burrata, Prosciutto di Parma, Bucatini
Address: 2717 61st Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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4. Itto’s Tapas
Itto’s Tapas, as the name implies, is a little restaurant offering the best tapas in town. Their tapas are unique because they use Spanish and Moroccan spices. This cute little spot is also perfect for romantic dates because of the classy atmosphere.
Looking for something heavy, their Mixed Paella is a good way to start your day. It is full of meat, seafood, and rice. The flavor is unique because of the Moroccan spices added to the dish.
You should try their Beef Tenderloin. They use truffle oil to bring out and enhance the flavors in the dish. The meat is cooked medium rare so it is perfectly tender and scrumptious.
What to order: Mixed Paella, Beef Tenderloin
Address: 4160 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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5. Seattle Fish Guys
Seattle Fish Guys can be found in the Central District and it is known as a famous seafood restaurant. They serve fresh and premium seafood starting from chowder to sashimi. With the casual and modern space that they have, you will surely enjoy eating fresh seafood.
The Salmon Poke Bowl should always be at the top of your list. The fatty fish along with the original poke flavors with white or brown rice will leave you wanting more.
You should try their Crab Sub as well. This is a made-to-order dish that is composed of fresh crab meat, a toasted bun with Japanese mayo, green onion, and sriracha.
What to order: Salmon Poke Bowl, Crab Sub, Idako
Address: 411 23rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98144
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6. Mashiko
Mashiko is known for its creative and delicious fish menus that are made using Japanese techniques. The omakase course along with the sake recommendations can provide the ultimate Japan experience for everyone.
Mashiko pays close attention to how they make their omakase meals. The Nami Omakase is a personal favorite as it comes with a variety of fish. It comes with an appetizer, sashimi combo, miso soup, nigiri combo, and dessert.
You can try their fresh Nigiri as you can taste the freshness of the ingredient. It is definitely one of the best in the area.
What to order: Nami Omakase, Fresh Nigiri of the Day
Address: 4725 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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7. Lady Jaye
Known for its “Meat N’ Three” style menu, Lady Jaye allows you to pick a main dish from their daily specials and three sides. This restaurant is a great pick if you want to plan a night out with your friends. The casual vibe will make your meal more fun.
With their rotating daily special, you will always have something to expect when you visit the restaurant. If you missed a day, you can just come back next week. The Smoked Wagyu Cheeseburger is a popular choice on Tuesdays and it’s one of the reasons why this day is always packed.
The Prime Bulgogi Short Rib Melt is definitely a part of their staple menu. It’s cooked to perfection and it melts in your mouth.
What to order: Smoked Wagyu Cheeseburger, Prime Bulgogi Short Rib Melt
Address: 4523 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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8. Falafel Salam
If you’re craving Mediterranean foods, Falafel Salam is a good restaurant to visit. They are known for their in-house baked pitas, lamb and chicken dishes, and more.
One of the best picks on their menu is the Falafel Pita Wrap. The pita is perfectly chewy and it has a very distinct flavor that would complement the falafel.
If you don’t have any idea what to order, you should get “The Hesitator” combo. This will allow you to taste almost all the foods that they have on the menu.
What to order: Falafel Pita Wrap, The Hesitator Combo
Address: 4746 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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9. Shadowland
Don’t be intimidated by its name because all of the foods that they offer can bring light to your day. As a cool bar and restaurant in the heart of West Seattle, Shadowland is a top pick if you want to have a drink while eating a hearty meal.
Shadowland’s Shadow Burger is definitely the ultimate burger that you can taste here in West Seattle. The fresh ground Angus beef and the caramelized onions will drive you crazy.
You can also get their delectable Arugula Salad. It comes with pecans, parmesan cheese, and citrus vinaigrette.
What to order: Shadow Burger, Arugula Salad
Address: 4458 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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10. Buddha Ruksa
If you’ve never been to Thailand, but you want to taste their cuisines, Buddha Ruksa is the best choice. The restaurant is divided into two parts: the dining room to the right and the bar to the left.
For first-timers, you should try their Crispy Garlic Chicken. The crispiness and the flavor are definitely at their best. You can also decide on the spice level depending on how much you can tolerate.
Of course, their Pad Thai is also a must-have on the menu. Their Phad See Lew is made from wide rice noodles combined with black bean sauce.
What to order: Crispy Garlic Chicken, Phad See Iew
Address: 3520 SW Genesee St, Seattle, WA 98126
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11. Harry’s Beach House
Harry’s Beach House is a perfect destination if you want to eat brunch or lunch on a sunny day. The restaurant has its own local beach house where you can view the beauty of Elliot Bay.
One of the best choices on their menu is Harry’s Burger. It is one of the juiciest burgers that you will ever try. It’s rich in flavor and you can taste all of the quality and fresh ingredients.
You should check out their Salmon Sandwich as well. The crispy salmon and the thick bun create a unique texture and taste in your mouth.
What to order: Harry’s Burger, Salmon Sandwich
Address: 2676 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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12. MOTO
If you want a bit of adventure in the food that you eat, you should try MOTO. This is a restaurant known for its odd and innovative pizzas. Their pizzas are not only unique, but they taste so good that you will have to wait for two months just to have a taste.
The most popular pizza on their menu is Mr. Pig. This is a pizza with a combination of salty and sweet exotic ingredients. If you love Filipino food, you will surely love this pizza as well.
For vegetarians, The Plant is a perfect choice as it comes with mixed seasonal greens. Even if you are not a fan of leafy veggies, you will surely love this at the first bite.
What to order: Mr. Pig, The Plant
Address: 4526 42nd Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
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Searching for top restaurants in West Seattle doesn’t have to be too complicated. There are so many ways to find amazing dives and cafes in the area without spending a lot of time. If you want to know more about the restaurants in Seattle, you can check our list of the best Seattle restaurants.
