When the gloomy Pacific Northwest weather seems never-ending, I’m always seeking out the best comfort food Seattle. No matter what I’m craving, there always seems to be a spot around the corner that can satisfy my hunger.
So, if comfort food is what you’re hungry for, consider this your ultimate roundup of all of Seattle’s best comfort food restaurants. Expect to find everything from pizza to soul food to Hawaiian, and much more!
Best Comfort Food in Seattle
Save this to Pinterest for later and check back because I’ll keep updating and adding to this list as I discover more of the best comfort food in Seattle!
The Comfort Zone
website | neighborhoods: Columbia City (get directions) & Mt. Baker (get directions) | cuisine: soul food | best for: meatloaf
Despite its unassuming appearance, one peek at The Comfort Zone’s menu and you’ll see they really know their soul food. The menu features classic southern favorites like seafood gumbo, mac and cheese, and catfish po’ boys.
I especially love the meatloaf, which has a sweet and slightly tangy gravy that reminds me of Swedish meatballs. The pro move is to get this as a side dish to whatever other scrumptious dish you decide to order.
If you’ve never tried catfish before, this is the perfect spot to rectify that. Their fried catfish is fried until crispy on the outside, but still tender on the inside, with the perfect balance of spices. Don’t like catfish? They have a comforting fried chicken sandwich too.
Pro tip: They really emphasize catering and takeout because the space is quite small, so it’s definitely a good spot to keep in mind the next time you’re looking for comfort food but don’t want to get out of your PJs.
Sisters and Brothers
website | get directions | neighborhood: Queen Anne | cuisine: southern | best for: fried chicken sandwich
I’m always looking for the perfect fried chicken. It’s one of those comfort foods that has to be done right; otherwise, it’s a huge disappointment. Luckily, Sisters and Brothers does a great job.
With its quirky retro 80’s vibe, you might not think they’d be known for Nashville-style hot fried chicken. But this place is one of the best places to get this spicy dish.
You can customize the spice level, which ranges from “naked” to “insane.” I usually panic at the last minute and downgrade to the medium since I like it a little spicy but not overpowering.
You can get just chicken pieces, but I really like their huge fried chicken sandwich served on buttery brioche buns. The chicken has a ton of breading that shatters when you bite into it, revealing juicy and well-seasoned meat.
Pro tip: They don’t take reservations because it’s an order-at-the-counter-spot, but I’ve never had a problem snagging an outdoor table. However, if it’s rainy, you may want to consider taking this to go.
My Friend Derek’s
website | get directions (takeout only) | neighborhood: Fremont | cuisine: pizza | best for: comforting deep dish pizza
Pizza is some of the best comfort food in Seattle, and I’ve done my fair share of research on the best pizza in Seattle. While I will also consider Neapolitan and New York-style to be the best type of pizza, I grew up eating at Pizza Hut and so have a sweet spot for Detroit-style deep dish.
Derek started making pizza during the pandemic out of his home. He’s still running a takeout-only operation, but he’ll sometimes host dinner parties.
You can expect dough that is the perfect spongy consistency and irresistibly crisp edges. I also love how the pepperoni sticks out a bit from the sauce and cheese so you get some crispy bits.
Kauai Family Restaurant
website | get directions | neighborhood: Georgetown | cuisine: Hawaiian | best for: plate lunch
Everyone knows I’m a sucker for Hawaiian food since I go to Maui once a year. So every time I return home, I search for the best Hawaiian food in Seattle. Kauai Family Restaurant is at the top of that list.
The owners fully embrace the rich and complex flavors from the island and execute them perfectly on the mainland. While unassumingly located in a strip mall, this is a must-stop spot with tons of Hawaiian comfort food options.
They offer breakfast all day, along with plate lunches. I love their loco moco, a classic Hawaiian breakfast comfort food made up of white rice, hamburger, egg, and sautéed onions. The combination of flavors is perfect, and it’s the best loco moco I’ve found in Seattle so far.
Pro tip: Since the pandemic, Kauai has transitioned to takeout only, so plan ahead. Walk-up orders are welcome, but calling is preferred if you’re planning on stopping by.
Tio Baby’s
website | get directions | neighborhood: Fremont | cuisine: bar grub | best for: nachos
If you love cozy dive bars but always end up disappointed when you order a plate of flabby nachos, you will find your home at Tio Baby’s. Adorably named after the Head Chef’s nephew who said he looked like “a giant baby,” this spot has culminated after years of Chef Will Gordon’s love for queso and divey drinking spots.
Their menu features classic bar grub taken up a notch. Things like peanuts and pickled veggies are crafted in-house with elevated ingredients. But, of course, nothing quite compares to their infamous nachos, which they offer with melted cheddar cheese and queso.
In addition to having a bar food menu that puts most to shame, they also have a lengthy cocktail list. This includes housemade non-alcoholic cocktails and a decent list of beer and wine options.
But the most expected item on the menu? The salad. I bet most people don’t come to Tio Baby’s and order salad, but that’s a mistake. It’s supper complex, funky, and well balanced!
Pie Bar
website | locations: Ballard (get directions), Phinney Ridge (get directions) | cuisine: pies & cocktails | best for: apple pie
I’ve tried my fair share of desserts in Seattle, but honestly, I think this one takes the cake…er, pie…for creativity. As the name implies, Pie Bar is both a spot for sweet and savory pies and unique cocktails. Genius.
I keep meaning to try their savory pot pies, but I typically gravitate toward the apple pie or the berry bramble. Out of all the pie-focused spots I’ve tried in Seattle, I think Pie Bar has the best crust and most well-balanced fillings.
They also have an interesting cocktail menu with fun drinks like PB&J Pietini. I’ve actually never gotten a drink here since I treat them more like a dessert spot than a bar, but I’m intrigued!
Pro tips: Pie Bar’s Ballard location stays open until midnight or 2 AM while the Phinney one closes around 10 PM. In addition, they also offer catering, and they have a bright pink food truck that I’ve seen more than once around town.
Tres’ House of Cheesesteaks
website | get directions (food cart in ballard) & get directions (inside The Lamplighter in Greenwood) | cuisine: cheesesteaks | best for: the original cheesesteak
East coasters will want to pay attention to this section of the best comfort food in Seattle. If you’re looking to inhale perfectly cooked, juicy cheesesteaks covered in gooey cheese that melt into crevices you didn’t even know that cheese could, then you need to try Tres’ House of Cheesesteaks. It’s my go to place for some of the best sandwiches in Seattle.
Each cheesesteak comes loaded with a heavy serving of sliced meat, which has a noticeable balance of seasonings compared to most other cheesesteaks I’ve tried. And that’s saying something since I’m an OG east coaster.
Pro tip: If you’re not a big beef eater, all of their cheesesteaks come with the choice of either beef or chicken. Tres also offers burgers on giant buttered brioche buns and generous portions of a variety of side dishes.
Made in House / BOPBOX
BOPBOX website | Made in House website | locations: BOPBOX (get directions), Made in House (get directions) | neighborhoods: Georgetown, Fremont | cuisine: Korean | best for: japchae and bibimbop
These two sister restaurants are the epitome of casual-yet-authentic Korean food cafe. BOPBOX came first and is based in Georgetown, while Made in House is relatively new and based in Fremont.
At BOPBOX, owner Jeanny Rhee focuses on more of a casual takeout spot, whereas Made in House is more of a bustling cafe to linger over a coffee or tea drink with friends. Both offer similar dishes, but Made in House is better if you’re looking for pre-made, grab-and-go options like bento boxes. Made in House also offers a full espresso bar alongside their housemade hemp cashew mylk.
Both spots offer Korean comfort food classics like japchae and bibimbop, made with seasonally-driven ingredients. My go-to order is the Mom’s Medley bibimbop with bulgogi ribeye steak. I always look forward to the rice that’s the perfect balance of gummy yet crisp and well-seasoned.
Dahlia Bakery
website | get directions | neighborhood: Downtown | cuisine: American | best for: peanut butter cookie
Dahlia Bakery is a Tom Douglas restaurant that shares the building with Serious Pie. It’s one of my go-to stops for freshly baked pastries, sandwiches, and soup. And since it’s a few blocks from restaurants in Pike Place, it’s a great spot to visit after exploring the market.
Dahlia Bakery takes American comfort food classics like doughnuts, BLT, and tomato soup and makes them with elevated and locally-sourced ingredients. The tomato soup is beyond decadent but is still simple with that pure tomato flavor.
Also, if you want an authentic taste of what Beecher’s Cheese is all about, then you really can’t go wrong with their grilled cheese. I usually get a cup of tomato soup and a grilled cheese, but I always leave room for one of their peanut butter cookie sandwiches. They’re soft and super peanut buttery, which surprisingly is unlike than most other PB cookies I’ve had!
Macleod’s
website | get directions | neighborhood: Ballard | cuisine: Scottish | best for: fish & chips
If I had to pick the best comfort food in Seattle that perfectly embodies our city, I think it would be fish and chips…Macleod’s makes one of the best versions in the city. That’s because they proudly offer only sustainably-caught fish, including line-caught Pacific cod.
Aside from their fish, which is always seasoned as opposed to just being battered and fried, Macleod’s also boasts a lengthy list of scotch and whiskey, along with a super reasonable happy hour.
Pro tip: This is definitely a seafood-centric spot with little in the way of land fare (though they have a pretty darn good scotch egg), so be prepared to stick with the chicken strips if fish isn’t your thing.
Lowrider Cookie Company
website | locations: Central District (get directions), Georgetown (get directions), Burien (get directions) | cuisine: cookies | best for: classic, soft and chewy cookies
When it comes to cookies, everyone has a preference. However, if you’re the kind of person who likes soft and chewy cookies like I do, then you’ll enjoy Lowrider Cookie Company.
Lowrider has all the usual suspects for cookie flavors like chocolate chip and cookies ‘n cream, plus seasonally rotating flavors like churro cheesecake. If you’re looking for more than your average cookie, then they also offer cookie cakes with a minimum 48-hour notice.
Pro tips: Lowrider offers free shipping nationwide, so if you’re just visiting and like what you see, you can have them shipped straight to your door. Also note that the Georgetown location is only open on weekends.
DERU Market
website | get directions | neighborhood: Kirkland | cuisine: American | best for: cakes
Technically located in Kirkland, this place deserves a mention. DERU is a heavily seasonal and ingredient-driven restaurant that offers brunch, lunch, and dinner on a limited basis.
That said, I would be lying if I didn’t mention my absolute favorite thing on the menu: their cakes! I’m quite literally obsessed with their salted peanut butter chocolate cake, which has a thick and rich buttercream frosting that’s irresistible. If you like moist cakes, you absolutely must try DERU!
Daily Dozen Doughnut Company
website | get directions | neighborhood: Downtown (located inside Pike Place Market) | cuisine: doughnuts | best for: cinnamon sugar doughnuts
I’ll admit I can be a bit skeptical of some of the places at Pike Place Market, only because they have so much foot traffic. That said, I always think of the Daily Dozen when I’m craving doughnuts as my comfort food.
Now it seems most doughnut shops are trying to reinvent the wheel and be artisanal, but I love Daily Dozen because they aren’t trying to be anything other than an old-fashioned doughnut stop. You’ll find fresh-made mini doughnuts in classic flavors like plain, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, and chocolate sprinkles. All of them are good, but I’m partial to the cinnamon sugar flavor.
Loretta’s Northwesterner / Star Brass Works Lounge
website | Loretta’s Northwesterner (get directions), Star Brass Works Lounge (get directions) | neighborhoods: South Park, Georgetown | cuisine: bar grub | best for: drive-in style burger
Loretta’s Northwesterner and Star Brass Works Lounge offer low key one of the best burger in Seattle, not to mention one of the cheapest burgers in town at ~$8. These taverns in south Seattle emphasize alcohol and bar grub. That said, their drive-in-style burger is guaranteed to be way better than anything you’d find at your basic dive bar.
Made smash style with a charbroiled patty on a buttery bun and served with a heavy dose of special sauce, this is one of my favorite “burger-and-a-beer” spots around. It’s simple with all those classic American flavors that you’d expect on a list of the best comfort food in Seattle.
Machiavelli’s
website | get directions | neighborhood: Edmonds | cuisine: Italian | best for: spaghetti with meatballs
Machiavelli’s has been a Capitol Hill staple since the late 80s and has been at the top of my list for their tomato sauce ever since I first moved to Seattle. While they’re no long in Cap Hill, their sauce is still my favorite thanks to its perfect balance of rich flavor and just enough acidity.
With Italian American classics like fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna, and linguine with clam sauce, I always have an internal struggle over whether to get something new or stick with the classics.
In the end, I almost always go for their spaghetti and meatballs. It has the perfect portion of seasoned meat and chewy, perfectly-cooked spaghetti. Luckily, they serve family style so I can usually snag a bite off my friend’s plate and try more of the menu.
Shawn O’Donnell’s
website | get directions | neighborhoods: Fremont & Pioneer Square | cuisine: Irish | best for: meatloaf, corned beef, and clam chowder
I grew up eating classic Irish dishes because my maternal grandfather’s side of the family is Irish through and through. As a result I’m really picky when it comes to Irish cuisine and haven’t found a place worth sharing. That is, until now.
Shawn O’Donnell’s is an unassuming pub that I used to think was just a bar. However, I realized they’re making some really legit versions of traditional Irish comfort food.
My favorite dishes include the meatloaf, clam chowder, and corned beef. The meatloaf is juicy and comes with a deeply-flavored gravy and great version of mashed potatoes. The spicy, peppery clam chowder is some of the best clam chowder in Seattle, and the corned beef had the perfect shredded consistency I grew up with. Oh yeah, and they make great Irish soda bread.
All in all, Shawn O’Donnell’s is a comfort food win. Plus the space is like a comforting hug from friends thanks to their live Irish music, trivia, and other lively events.
Arashi Ramen
website | get directions | neighborhood: Ballard | cuisine: Japanese | best for: black garlic ramen
I’m constantly on the hunt for the best soups in Seattle, and no matter how many ramen places I try, I always end up back at Arashi Ramen. Their menu is pretty simple; just ramen centered around their signature pork bone broth (they do have vegetable broth as well), along with toppings, some appetizers, and a few rice bowls.
Inside is a tight squeeze, so it’s better for a singleton or a couple looking for a quick lunch. That said, what they lack in space, they make up for in flavor. I usually go for the black garlic ramen, which comes in the most aromatic and flavorful broth I’ve ever had.
Carnitas Michoacán
website | get directions | neighborhood: Beacon Hill | cuisine: Mexican | best for: al pastor tacos
I’ll never turn down street tacos in Seattle, and Carnitas Michoacán does an excellent job of serving a no-frills, authentic menu of daily street tacos and burritos. I especially love their al pastor tacos, which are always perfectly seasoned and served in succulent chunks.
Considering trendy spots like Musang, Coupe & Flute, and Homer are down the street, the casual Carnitas Michoacán doesn’t look super impressive on the outside. But their menu is very reasonable and their portions are generous.
Snappy Dragon
website | get directions | neighborhood: Maple Leaf | cuisine: Chinese | best for: crispy eggplant
No list of the best comfort food in Seattle would be complete without a mention of where to find Chinese-American classics. Well, I’ll leave you with this: Snappy Dragon is my Chinese comfort food go-to. I love their combination of approachable Chinese-American dishes like General Tso’s along with more authentic dishes like their clay pot stews.
Specializing in Sichuan/Mandarin styles of Chinese cooking, I usually gravitate towards their crispy eggplant, which comes in a tangy glaze with the perfect amount of spice. It surprisingly reminds me of chicken parm, which is why I find it some comforting. They also offer great hand-shaven noodles and soft, chewy dumplings, which you can buy fresh or frozen to take home.
Pro tip: Inside is cozy, but I usually don’t have a problem finding a table for four if I’m having dinner with friends. That said, if you’re dining solo or with a friend, then I definitely recommend snagging a seat at their Jiao-zi bar, where they make their dumplings.
More Seattle comfort food spots to try
One of my favorite things about the phrase “comfort food” is how it can encompass many different types of cuisine. There are quite a few comfort food spots that are still on my list to try.
- Bigfoot Long’s – I hear their gourmet hot dogs are amazing.
- Fireside Burien – Midwestern comfort food? Sign me up.
- Jackson’s Catfish Corner – Their name says it all!
- Simply Soulful – I can’t wait to try this soul food spot in the Central District.
Other things to eat in Seattle
After you make your way through this list of the best comfort food in Seattle, check out my other guides to the best eats in the city. And remember, I’m here to help plan your trip if you’re visiting and overwhelmed by all the options!
- All the Black-Owned Restaurants in Seattle
- The Controversial List of Seattle’s Best Ice Cream
- Cheap Eats in Seattle That are Out of This World
- Best Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Food in Seattle
- Indian Food That’ll Make You Forget You’re in Seattle
- Thai Restaurants in Seattle You’ll Love
- Cute Restaurants in Seattle That’ll Make You Swoon
