Food
Year in Review - 2024
The Oak Table Cafe
Where: Silverdale, WA
What: Pigs in a Blanket Pancakes, w/ a side of bacon
Though this list is not a ranking, this is absolutely my top meal of the year. When Mara and I stopped into this local breakfast hub in Silverdale, WA, I could already tell it was the spot to be on a Sunday morning (with a long wait list to boot). I generally prefer savory to sweet when it comes to breakfast, but perhaps it was the novelty of not having seen Pigs in a Blanket on a menu in a while, I went for it!
Wow am I glad I did, this meal set the standard for quality breakfasts I’ve ever had, and has (re?)ignited an obsession with pigs in a blanket, a high I’ve been trying to chase ever since that cozy day in February…
Lighthouse Roasters
Where: Seattle, WA (Fremont)
What: Cold Brew, Parmesan Bacon Scone, and sometimes a cookie
Lighthouse Roasters was my food savior of the year, simply for the number of times it picked me up and got me through a busy workday. There’s a whole lot of specialty coffee here that I’d love to explore one day, but I’m a simple man with a simple order, and I’m often the quickest customer in line as I escape with my cold brew.
I love how much of a community establishment this place is, and there is often a line out the door if you get there at peak times in the morning. Very dog friendly as well, and it’s always fun to see dogs getting treats at the counter, just another part of the charm and routine of a local coffee spot.
Da Tiki Hut
Where: Tacoma, WA
What: Plate Lunch - Tiki Chicken w/ Macaroni Salad and Rice
Visiting a couple friends in Tacoma, they were eager to show this Hawaiian restaurant with a trick up its sleeve. Upon entering, there’s a standard counter for takeout orders and a small waiting area. But this non-descript entrance belies a far more exciting secret behind closed doors; upon opening of a “secret” door, there is a whole back area decorated with whimsical fare and creating quite the unique dining experience. The food is simple but really yummy as well, the type of plate lunch you might find at an outdoor BBQ, but leaves you coming back for seconds.
Dumpling the Noodle
Where: Seattle, WA (Wallingford)
What: My first slice of NY Pizza
This dumpling spot was a takeout favorite of Mara’s during the pandemic, but it was my first time trying it in 2024. It’s another expansion for me in Seattle’s dumpling season, as I’m intimately familiar with Dough Zone and Din Tai Fung.
The standout here for me relative to its peers is the crispy fried chicken, which is sized almost like popcorn chicken, and has a delicious savory seasoning. The classics like garlic string beans and spicy pork wontons are also great.
Le Coin
Where: Seattle, WA
What: Wagyu Steak - Potato Purée / Foraged Mushrooms / Smoked Onions / Broccolini / Demi
Le Coin makes my food list for two years in a row now, this time having tried their dinner offering for the first time. Living up to the fancy French presentation, dinner at Le Coin is an expensive proposition, but highly recommended if you’re looking for a date night spot for a special occasion, which is what Mara and I did.
The Wagyu steak was perfection, and enhanced by the delicious potato puree. Mara got the lamb chops and we each shared a glass of red wine. I love this little local spot in Fremont, the service is always friendly, and food is incredible!
Valhalla Sandwiches
Where: Seattle, WA (Greenwood)
What: Steak Beastie w/ Tots
Shame on me for taking so long to try this sandwich spot a mere 10 minutes from my house! I didn’t try too many new sandwiches in 2024, mostly electing to stick to tried-and-true favorites. Valhalla was a notable exception, and I’m glad I pushed myself to try it. I ended up going on my birthday, using the excuse to treat myself to something new.
I love any sandwich shop that offers tots as a side for starters. The sandwich itself was also great, reminding me in construction and flavor of a Philly Cheesesteak funny enough. I want to spend more time in Greenwood, and this seems like a great place to hit up after a brewery.
Rupee Bar
Where: Seattle, WA (Ballard)
What: Kerala Fried Chicken, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Cocktails
Rupee Bar was a recommendation from a friend for a double date night and wow was it a good one. The fried chicken here had such an incredible texture to go along with the amazing flavor. The Indian flavors are great, though truthfully I feel like I didn’t maximize everything the menu had to offer, instead maintaining a laser focus on my chicken.
We dined at an outside table because the inside was packed, but the ambience of the restaurant was great, and I’d love to try getting a table inside the next time I visit.
Blue Star Donuts
Where: Portland, OR
What: Half-Dozen Assortment
This was only my third trip to Portland, but supposedly I was very overdue in not trying Portland’s donut scene. In truth, it’s been Voodoo Donuts that’s been recommended to me, but Blue Star was closer to us and also had good recs. These are expensive donuts, no doubt, but definitely high quality.
Rich, decadent, sugary, I appreciated the unique flavors even though I mostly went for the classics like cinnamon sugar and chocolate cake. I’m really curious to try Voodoo donuts now to compare, and I hear there’s one finally coming to Seattle…
Razzis
Where: Seattle, WA (Greenwood)
What: Pizza
The reality is that I’m going to like almost any slice of pizza that finds its way to me. But it does take a little something extra for a new pizza place to really stand out above the crowd, and Razzis did that late last year. Like many great food discoveries, it was a total surprise to me, having been ordered for a game night by two close friends.
This experience is all about the bready crust that each slice ends with (unless you’re eating backwards, in which case, more power to you). The crust is unlike anything I’ve tasted in a pizza before, doughy, salty, and with a certain sourness that keeps me coming back for more. This definitely isn’t my favorite pizza in Seattle, but I appreciate that it offers something unique in its “crust profile” that makes it more novel than your typical pizza joint.
Roam
Where: Seattle, WA (Ballard)
What: Chicken Tenders w/ Spicy Honey Mustard, Burger, Fries
Roam is a newish spot in Ballard that is a bit tucked away and still trying to find its audience. Mara and I were drawn in via a work happy hour, but I’m glad we discovered this place. The happy hour prices for food are quite cheap which is very appealing, and last time we went we even got free drinks from a bartender in training!
Thai Thani
Where: Seattle, WA (Ballard)
What: Crispy Chicken
Ahhh yes, my takeout king. What is it about Thai restaurants and crispy chicken? That’s an origin story that I am ignorant to, but that I need to educate myself on given my obsession with this dish.
Thai Thani has taken the crown from Tuk Tuk Thai, another spot I love in Seattle and was addicted to during the pandemic. I plan to continue patronizing my local Thai restaurants for a long time to come, but this is a dish that I would love to learn how to make myself one day.
Cookies Country Chicken
Where: Seattle, WA (Ballard)
What: Bag O’ Bites, Fries, Mac & Cheese, CHICKENNNNN
I’ve been hoping to find a great friend chicken place in Seattle for a bit, having really only tried Ezell’s which is good but not great in my humble opinion. As a fast food gremlin, I was always satisfied with an irresponsible trip to KFC, but fully recognize that there is higher quality chicken out there.
I can finally say I’ve found at least one of those places in Seattle with Cookie’s. I love that they have traditional wings and breasts as well as their Bag O’ Bites, essentially popcorn chicken, with a variety of sauces. The chicken is fantastic to be sure, but I swear the best thing about this place might be the crispy fries! Best fries in Seattle, fight me.
Staple & Fancy
Where: Seattle, WA (Ballard)
What: Restaurant Week - Variety of Dishes, Soup Cups pictured
Mara and I tried this Ballard restaurant on our anniversary, which happened to coincide with Seattle’s Restaurant Week. We were treated to a few courses of appetizers, all delicious, but what I really remember is the soup in a cup! The soup had a rich texture and was smooth to sip, but perhaps it was just the weirdly delightful feeling sipping out of a cup that makes it stand out in my memory.
Everything here was great, if a little pricey, but the dessert menu also absolutely delivered! Overall, a fun place to try as a treat!
Ada’s
Where: Seattle, WA (Phinney Ridge)
What: Sac Kavurma, Borek
Ada’s is a local Turkish restaurant that I visited with my parents while they were in town for the holidays this year. You gotta cash in those free meal perks when your parents are paying!
This spot is so close to where we live, so it was high on the list for new spots to try. I’m glad to say it mostly delivered, everything was very yummy and I would definitely go there. Given that I didn’t have to foot the bill, though, hard to say definitively if it is fully worth the price, but no doubt a great date night spot with delicious flavors.
BB’s Teriyaki
Where: Seattle, WA
What: Spicy Chicken w/ Rice, Cabbage, and Yakisoba Noodles
This was another Mara takeout discovery that she has successfully exported into the craving part of my brain. I swear I’m the one recommending BB’s for takeout more than her sometimes now.
It was only last year that I really started to learn that Teriyaki is a uniquely Seattle thing relative to the rest of the country, and it makes me want to learn more and try lots of the other teriyaki places in Seattle.
Ultimately, I’ve taken from my dad in falling in love with a savory chicken dish over a bed of white rice. Sometimes the simple things in life are the best.