9 Washington Restaurants Locals Skip & 9 Evergreen State Spots Everyone Loves
Every state has its food hits and misses, and Washington is no exception. Locals know exactly which restaurants don’t live up to the hype and which spots deserve all the love they get.
From disappointing menus that fall flat to hidden gems that capture the heart of the Evergreen State, the contrast couldn’t be clearer.
Whether you’re planning a foodie road trip or just curious about the local dining scene, this lineup tells you where the real flavor lives.
1. The Crab Pot: Seafood Spectacle Tourists Love, Locals Leave
Hammer-wielding diners crack shellfish atop paper-covered tables while wearing plastic bibs. The theatrical seafood boil might impress out-of-towners, but Seattleites know better.
Most locals skip the overpriced, underwhelming seafood experience for more authentic options. The waterfront location sells the experience, not the quality of what’s on your plate.
2. The Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar: Waterfront Views, Forgettable Food
Gorgeous Elliott Bay views can’t compensate for mediocre seafood at inflated prices. Seattle natives rarely mention this spot when recommending places to eat.
Tourists flock here for Instagram-worthy photos of the harbor, ferries, and Olympic Mountains.
Meanwhile, locals quietly head elsewhere for truly memorable seafood that doesn’t rely on scenery to justify the bill.
3. Athenian Seafood Restaurant & Bar: Famous from ‘Sleepless’ but Sleeping on Quality
Movie fame brought this Pike Place Market fixture eternal tourist attention after Tom Hanks sat at its counter in “Sleepless in Seattle.” Visitors still pose at the famous stool while locals walk right past.
The menu offers standard fare at premium prices. Washingtonians know the market houses far better seafood options just steps away, without the Hollywood markup.
4. Pike Place Chowder: Long Lines, Short on Local Fans
Award-winning chowder brings snaking lines of tourists to this tiny Pike Place spot. Oddly enough, you’ll rarely spot a Seattle resident waiting 45 minutes for soup.
Is the chowder good? Sure. Worth the marathon wait? Not according to locals who know equally delicious options without the crowd.
The restaurant has mastered marketing to guidebook readers while Seattleites quietly eat elsewhere.
5. The Cheesecake Factory: Mall Food Masquerading as Special Occasion Dining
Bellevue Square shoppers flock to this chain restaurant with its novel-length menu and gargantuan portions. Washington food enthusiasts roll their eyes at the suggestion.
Locals know the paradox of choice leads to mediocrity across the board. The real shame? Authentic, chef-driven restaurants struggle nearby while tourists and mall-goers pack into this predictable chain for unremarkable meals and factory-produced desserts.
6. Buca di Beppo: Family-Style Disappointment
Walking through this kitschy Italian chain feels like stumbling into someone’s cluttered basement filled with random memorabilia. The family-style portions arrive massive but mediocre.
Seattle’s vibrant Italian restaurant scene offers authentic alternatives in nearly every neighborhood.
Locals bypass this theme-park version of Italian dining for family-owned trattorias serving properly al dente pasta without the manufactured nostalgia.
7. The Melting Pot (Bellevue): Fondue Folly at Premium Prices
Cooking your own food at restaurant prices never made sense to savvy Washingtonians. This chain charges premium prices for the privilege of doing the chef’s job yourself.
The dimly-lit dining rooms host mostly prom dates and anniversary couples who haven’t discovered better options.
Meanwhile, locals wonder why anyone would pay $100+ per couple to dip bread into cheese when the region offers world-class dining alternatives.
8. The Melting Pot (Tacoma): Same Concept, Different City, Equal Avoidance
Tacoma’s version of this fondue chain suffers the same fate as its Bellevue sibling: locals simply don’t bother. The novelty wears thin when you realize you’re paying to cook raw ingredients yourself.
Pierce County residents with culinary knowledge steer visitors toward Tacoma’s flourishing food scene instead.
The city’s renaissance has brought excellent dining options that make this dated fondue concept feel like a relic from another era.
9. The Old Spaghetti Factory: Nostalgia Can’t Save Subpar Pasta
Trolley car seating and Tiffany lamps can’t disguise the uninspired food at this aging chain. Parents bring children for the atmosphere while longing for better pasta.
Tacoma locals appreciate the restaurant’s history but rarely recommend it for quality dining.
The complimentary spumoni ice cream after mediocre meals feels less like a treat and more like an apology for what preceded it.
10. Canlis: Seattle’s Crown Jewel of Fine Dining
Perched above Lake Union since 1950, this family-owned institution represents Washington dining at its pinnacle. The mid-century modern building houses culinary innovation that locals save for their most special celebrations.
Generations of Seattleites have marked milestones here, watching the sunset over the Cascade Mountains while sampling Pacific Northwest ingredients transformed through impeccable technique. The legendary hospitality makes even first-timers feel like regulars.
11. Sushi Kashiba: Master’s Touch Worth Every Penny
Shiro Kashiba, Seattle’s sushi godfather, crafts pristine seafood creations that locals willingly wait hours to experience. His Pike Place Market restaurant showcases Edomae-style sushi that rivals Tokyo’s finest.
Washington residents know to skip the tables and head straight for the sushi bar, where the master himself often serves omakase with fish selected that morning.
The reverent silence as diners savor each perfect bite tells you everything about why this place matters.
12. The Walrus and the Carpenter: Oyster Heaven in Ballard
Tiny, bright, and perpetually packed, this Ballard oyster bar captures Seattle’s maritime spirit perfectly. Locals strategize about arrival times to minimize waits for the freshest bivalves in town.
The rotating selection of Washington oysters arrives with minimal adornment, allowing their natural flavors to shine.
Knowledgeable staff guide newcomers through the day’s harvest while regulars confidently slurp down briny treasures accompanied by natural wines.
13. Maneki: Century-Old Japanese Gem
Seattle’s oldest Japanese restaurant has served the International District since 1904, surviving even Japanese internment during WWII.
Locals treasure this unpretentious spot for authentic dishes at reasonable prices. Families crowd into tatami rooms while solo diners perch at the sushi bar.
The weathered exterior hides a warm interior where generations of Washingtonians have discovered real Japanese home cooking before sushi was trendy.
14. Ray’s Boathouse: Sunset Seafood Sanctuary
Ballard’s waterfront institution has been serving impeccable seafood since 1973 without succumbing to tourist-trap tendencies.
Locals reserve window tables weeks in advance for special occasions. The Olympic Mountain sunset view competes with perfectly prepared salmon and black cod.
Upstairs, the more casual Cafe attracts regular neighborhood visitors, while downstairs hosts milestone celebrations for generations of Seattle families who know quality seafood.
15. Salty’s on Alki Beach: Brunch with Seattle’s Best View
West Seattle’s beloved waterfront restaurant draws locals for special-occasion brunches with panoramic city skyline views.
The sprawling seafood buffet becomes a weekend ritual for many Washington families. Unlike other view restaurants, Salty’s maintains food quality that matches the scenery.
Regulars know to request window tables when making reservations weeks ahead, especially for summer brunches when the skyline gleams across Elliott Bay.
16. The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive: Scenic Seafood Pilgrimage
Clinging to Chuckanut Mountain with sweeping Samish Bay views, this hidden gem rewards those willing to drive the winding scenic byway north of Seattle.
Washington seafood aficionados consider it worth every mile.
For over 40 years, locals have celebrated special occasions here, watching sunsets over the San Juan Islands while savoring oysters harvested from waters visible from their tables.
The seasonal menu showcases the bounty of local waters without pretension.
17. Frank’s Diner: Breakfast in a Historic Train Car
Spokane residents queue up for massive breakfasts served inside a converted 1906 Northern Pacific dining car. The historic railcar creates an atmosphere chain restaurants can’t replicate.
Locals love the “Garbage Breakfast” – a mountain of eggs, hash browns, and meats that challenges even the heartiest appetites.
Weekend mornings find multi-generational families crowded into booths, continuing traditions started decades ago in this Eastern Washington institution.
18. The Flying Goat: Neighborhood Pizza Perfection
Spokane’s north-end pizza haven attracts fierce loyalty from locals who appreciate wood-fired creativity beyond standard delivery fare. Regulars pack the small space nightly for innovative pies and craft beers.
The “D Street” pizza with dates, bacon and balsamic reduction converts even traditional pizza purists.
Neighborhood families, young couples, and solo diners create a community atmosphere that perfectly represents Spokane’s evolving food culture.