Best Restaurants in South Lake Union

Considering I used to work in the neighborhood, I’ve made it a full-time sport hunting down the best restaurants in South Lake Union. I became the go-to person for recommendations on where to eat near the office because I used to plan morale events for my colleagues and, you know, have a food travel business. 😛

When I first moved to Seattle more than 12 years ago, South Lake Union as we know it was a wasteland. I used to drive through it everyday on my way to work in Capitol Hill and it was just empty lots with no buildings. Fast forward to now and it’s where you find all the tech offices.

As a result, the South Lake Union restaurant scene has exploded with many awesome Seattle restaurants opening up second locations in the neighborhood to feed the hungry lunch break crowd. If you find yourself in the area for lunch or dinner and are wondering where to eat, make your way through this list of the best restaurants in South Lake Union.

Best Restaurants in South Lake Union

Below are South Lake Union’s best restaurants in alphabetical order. I also rated each places prices from $-$$$, with $ being cheap eats and $$$ being more like fine dining.

Note that South Lake Union has a pretty big food truck scene during lunchtime. There’s also a great farmers market on Saturdays with lots of eats. So after you make your way through this list of restaurants with permanent locations, make your way to these other places for good food in South Lake Union!

45th Stop n’ Shop & Poké Bar

website | 2121 Terry Ave | cuisine: Hawaiian | prices: $

45th Stop n’ Shop’s first location was in Wallingford. You’d often seen a line around the block at the mysterious-looking convenience store. Most people thought it must just be a hoppin’ place to grab lottery tickets, but insiders knew they were serving some of the most authentic poke in Seattle.

They now have a location in South Lake Union. This place is a hybrid between a traditional poke shop you might find when spending 5 days in Maui and one of the new-style ones that lets you customize everything a la Subway. They serve a traditional bowl with a soy poke sauce, imitation crab, seaweed salad, ginger, masago, and edamame, but you have options of fish and add ons. My favorite is the tuna and salmon poke bowl combo.

Bounty Kitchen

website | 801 Lenora St | cuisine: healthy American | prices: $

Bounty Kitchen is one of my favorite healthy restaurants in Seattle. Their first location was in Queen Anne, but they’ve since opened a second one in South Lake Union. You’ll find organic and healthy fare in the form of sandwiches, bowls, and toasts.

My favorite item on their menu is the Good Morning Sweetheart Sandwich. It includes Sea Wolf Bakers bread, Beecher’s Flagship cheddar, Olympia Provisions “Sweetheart Ham,” arugula, roasted cherry tomatoes, and a poached egg. I love the combination of flavors, especially the summery sweetness that the juicy tomatoes provides.

The Butcher’s Table

website | 2121 Westlake Ave | cuisine: steakhouse | prices: $$$

The Butcher’s Table is one of the best restaurants in South Lake Union that also happens to be the fanciest on this list. It’s a multi-story steakhouse with a grand chandelier, a smoking lounge-like dining room downstairs, and beautiful ornate decor you’d find at the steakhouses in Las Vegas.

This is a great place to come on your company’s dime given the prices and swank factor. However, they also have a lunch menu that includes one of the best burgers in Seattle. Get the burger with Beecher’s mac and cheese and their revelatory fries on the side.

If you come for dinner, definitely get the steak flight. It lets you try a bunch of different cuts of USDA prime meat, many you may not have had before.

G.H. Pasta Co.

website | 2305 6th Ave | cuisine: Italian | prices: $

While G.H. Pasta Co. has some non-Italian items like a fried chicken sandwich and fried oysters, the thing to get here is pasta. This spot is owned by General Harvest Group, the same group that owns restaurants making some of the best pasta in Seattle like Haymaker, Vendemmia, and Raccolto.

G.H. is their more casual lunch-time only pasta spot. For under $13 you can get a big bowl of yummy Italian comfort food. While a lot of their pastas are good, my go-to is the tonnarelli with truffle butter, parmigiano, and black pepper. It’s a simple take on the classic Roman dish cacio e pepe, but elevated thanks to the presence of earthy truffles.

cacio e pepe spaghetti being pulled high on a fork from a pasta restaurant in Seattle

The Halal Guys

website | 333 8th Ave N | cuisine: Halal | prices: $

As a native to New Jersey, I knew how popular The Halal Guys food cart in New York City was. The line would be around the block as locals, tourists, and taxi drivers got their halal food fix. One time my girlfriends and I took the bus from Jersey here only to be met with and intimidating line that had us turn back.

They’ve since franchised and opened up shops all over, including South Lake Union. I love their chicken gyro platter with tasty rice and excellent white sauce.

Jack’s BBQ

website | 228 9th Ave | cuisine: barbecue | prices: $$

We’re lucky to count this popular Georgetown barbecue joint as one of the best restaurants in South Lake Union. They smoke their meat for hours at their Georgetown location and make extremely good brisket, pork, ribs, and the like. Plus owner Jack is just an incredible human being with great stories.

For example, before making BBQ, he went to school for electrical engineering and then a MBA. He worked at Boeing, Microsoft, and a few other corporate places. After seeing an ad about becoming a producer, he moved to LA to produce a movie about burlesque training that you can still find on Netflix today (called A Wink and a Smile).

BBQ wasn’t his long-term plan, but then again, Jack seems to live life to seize the next opportunity that comes his way. When asked how he did eventually get into BBQ, he said he always had smokers in his backyard because he’s from central Texas. There wasn’t anybody focusing on smoking the meat instead of slathering it in sauce so he started running popups in his backyard. When one of them sold out in 9 minutes on Twitter, he knew he had to make a legitimate business.

brisket nachos from one of the best restaurants in South Lake Union

They used to have happy hour at their South Lake Union location with the most incredible cheddar jalapeño Seattle dog. However, if that’s not available I love getting their brisket nachos. I can’t say no to nachos ever, so I love how they serve their smoked meat on this Mexican classic.

Kati Vegan Thai

website | 1190 Thomas St | cuisine: Thai | prices: $$

Yes, one of the best vegan restaurants in Seattle is also on the best restaurants in South Lake Union list. Hell, it’s also on my best Thai food in Seattle roundup!

Kati Thai is making excellent vegan takes on authentic Thai dishes, served inside a trendy mid century-esque restaurant a bit north of the tech buildings in South Lake Union. I love their khao soi and mango salad, but I’d say the must get here is the angel wings. These crispy oyster mushrooms are fried and make an addictive appetizer. You can even get them “devil” style with extra spice.

Mamnoon Street

website | 2020 6th Ave | cuisine: Middle Eastern | prices: $

Mamnoon Street is part of the Nadi Mama restaurant group, which has a few different locations around Seattle serving good Middle Eastern cuisine. Their first locations was Mamnoon in Capitol Hill, but they’ve since opened up the more casual Mamnoon Street in South Lake Union to service the office worker crowd.

I love their chicken, so definitely get the shawarma if you’re there for lunch. They also make a mean muhammara, which is a roast red pepper dip served with pita.

Marination

website | 2000 6th Ave | cuisine: Hawaiian-Korean fusion | prices: $

Marination started as a food truck, which is really fitting for the tech crowd given that there are so many parked around office buildings in South Lake Union. But this location is their permanent brick and mortar perfectly located for both the South Lake Union and downtown office crowd.

The must-get here is the aloha sliders. They have kalua pork and their zingy homemade coleslaw served on a sweet Hawaiian roll.

Mbar

website | 400 Fairview Ave N | cuisine: Middle Eastern | prices: $$

Mbar is another location owned by the Nadi Mama restaurant group who own Mamnoon Street. This one is also in South Lake Union, but the entrance is sort of hidden in a retail building alongside other restaurants and stores. But seeking it out is worth it because it’s one of the best restaurants in Seattle with a view.

People eating and drinking on a Seattle rooftop bar with Space Needle in the distance

That’s because to access it you actually go up to the 14th floor of the building. Once there you’ll be greeted with cool decor, bumping music, and amazing views of Lake Union and the Space Needle. This place can feel a bit clubby at times, but it’s a popular spot for after work drinks during warm weather.

Similar to Mamnoon Street, get the chicken kebab and muhammara. They also have a good cocktail program and wine list with Lebanese wines you won’t find elsewhere in Seattle.

Portage Bay Cafe

website | 391 Terry Ave N | cuisine: American | prices: $$

I used to go to Portage Bay Cafe regularly for breakfast because they have one of the best brunch in Seattle. There are a few locations around Seattle, including South Lake Union. They focus on making All-American breakfasts with high-quality local ingredients. In fact their motto is “eat like you give a damn.”

They’re most famous for their toppings bar that you’re entitled to visit if you order pancakes, French toast, or waffles. However, my favorite item is the migas. It’s a huge tortilla stuffed with egg, potato, cheese, salsa, and a few other ingredients to make it Mexican leaning and oh so good.

Rubinstein Bagels

website | 2121 6th Ave | cuisine: Jewish | prices: $

Rubinstein has the best bagels in Seattle hands down. Being from the east coast I always wanted for New York-style bagels. That is until Rubinstein came around.

plate of poppy seed bagels from the spot with the best bagels in Seattle

This Jewish deli-like spot makes excellent bagels, schmears, and must-try duck fat matzo ball soup. Owner Andrew is pretty intense with his bagel recipe, using a sourdough start, lye, and a few other tricks to make yeasty chewy orbs of delight. If you’ve been craving New York-style bagels, get them here!

Tacos Chukis

website | 832 Dexter Ave N | cuisine: Mexican | prices: $

Taco Chukis is one of the best street tacos in Seattle. They also happen to be one of the best restaurants in South Lake Union, especially for the lunch crowd given how cheap their tacos are.

But what makes this place special is their signature taco chukis. It has pork with melted cheese and grilled pineapple that adds the perfect smoky sweetness.

Tutta Bella

website | 2200 Westlake Ave | cuisine: Italian | prices: $$

Tutta Bella is one of the first pizza places I went to in Seattle and it’s still one of my go-tos when I’m in South Lake Union. They serve great Neapolitan-style pizza that comes out quick. Plus they have a nice outdoor patio on top of Whole Foods so you get some city views.

My favorite thing to order here is the plain Jane Margherita pizza. It lets you really enjoy the flavor of their dough, sweet tomato sauce, and fresh mozzarella.

White Swan Public House

website | 1001 Fairview Ave N | cuisine: seafood | prices: $$

While their sister restaurant The 100 Pound Clam is closer to the office buildings, White Swan Public House is right on Lake Union and worth the extra steps. It offers stunning views, a lively outdoor patio with walk-up bar, and great seafood that puts it on the list of the best fish restaurants in Seattle.

person picking clam out of shell at one of the best restaurants in South Lake Union

My go-to order here is the poutine of the sea. It has a chowder-style gravy, steamed clams, scallions, and bacon smothered over fries. Every time I eat it I wonder why clam chowder poutine isn’t more of a thing in this country.

Willmott’s Ghost

website | 2100 6th Ave | cuisine: Italian | prices: $$$

Willmott’s Ghost wins the prize for the most Instagrammable restaurant in South Lake Union. it’s inside the Amazon Spheres and is absolutely stunning inside with its brass, pastel colors, and whimsical touches. Consider it’s owned by James Beard-winning Renee Erickson who has some of the most trendy restaurants in Seattle, the top-notch ambiance is no surprise.

inside a beautiful South Lake Union restaurant

While admittedly this isn’t my favorite Erickson restaurant, they serve solid food and some of the best pizza in Seattle. Make sure to get the white pizza with mushroom, ricotta, and lemon if available.

Also make sure you don’t miss their meatballs. They have sesame seeds on them which was kind of a revelation and are served in impeccable red sauce that they actually sell.

Pro tip: I haven’t been to her speakeasy-style bar, Deep Dive, underneath the Spheres, but it’s a vibe and I’ve heard it has a great fancy hot dog.