The Top Restaurants by Cuisine in Seattle

by The OpenTable team

Updated February 20, 2020

Where’s the best Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, or Indian food in town? Where’s the best steak, the best pizza, the best plate of oysters? We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among Seattle’s most expert, seasoned diners, broken down by each type of cuisine.

Spinasse

4.8

4.8 (3794)

$50 and over

Italian

Capitol Hill / First Hill

About the restaurant

ITALIAN: There’s no shortage of great Italian restaurants in Seattle, but Spinasse consistently shines as one of the brightest. Come here for superlative dishes like hand-cut tajarin with butter and sage; lamb agnolotti en brodo; and cavatelli with morel ragu.

Top review

Noelle

Dined 4 days ago

We were able to snag a reservation for Spinasse about one month before our visit-even then, the times available were 5 or 9 PM. We opted for 5 PM, and were seated promptly when they opened. My husband and I ordered the Tajarin Al Ragu and it did not disappoint! Loved watched the fresh pasta in the making, and our server was fantastic. Not local to SEA, but would visit again.

The Whale Wins

4.7

4.7 (930)

$31 to $50

American

Wallingford

About the restaurant

AMERICAN: There’s a reason The Whale Wins is one of Seattle’s most acclaimed and talked-about-restaurants: James Beard Award–winning chef Renee Erickson’s food is some of the best in town. This is seasonal, hearth-driving cooking at its finest, with an ever-changing menu that never ceases to delight.

Top review

clayVIP

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

Just isn’t what it once was. Pork shoulder was unremarkable, a bit dry and on a bed of overcooked cabbage. Service was fine, wine list is scant. No one was there. Is this place going down?

Sushi Kappo Tamura - Dining Room

4.8

4.8 (1739)

$50 and over

Japanese

Lake Union / Eastlake

About the restaurant

JAPANESE: It’s easy for sushi restaurants to feel serious, quiet, austere. Not Sushi Kappo Tamura. Here, it’s clear that chef Taichi Kitamura and the rest of the staff are having a great time, and you certainly will, too; this is some of the best sushi in Seattle, with ingredients that are prepared thoughtfully and elegantly, blending Seattle’s incredible bounty with Japanese tradition.

Top review

rahmin

Dined today

Our favorite sushi experience in Seattle. Food and service is amazing.

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4.7

4.7 (3031)

$31 to $50

French

Belltown / Pike Place Market

About the restaurant

FRENCH: Smack in the middle of Pike Place Market you’ll find Cafe Campagne, a classic French brasserie that’s been churning out duck confit, beef tartare, and steak frites since 1994. The space is warm and inviting, the banquettes are comfortable, and the waitstaff is always friendly and attentive.

Top review

KirkVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The food and services were excellent. Make sure you try the cassoulet. Loved to see that the restaurant was packed and noisy for lunch. Love this place.

Joule

4.7

4.7 (1399)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Wallingford

About the restaurant

STEAKHOUSE: Yes, Joule has a section of the menu dedicated to steak, but that doesn’t make it your average steakhouse. This is chefs Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi’s take on a Korean steakhouse, with dishes like kalbi with grilled kimchi, chuck flap steak with harissa, and rib eye with spicy peanut oil. The rest of the menu is just as exciting as the beef, especially the crispy eggplant, spicy rice cakes, and black-sesame noodles.

Top review

JuliaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

We had a beautiful dinner at the bar with Emily. The food was so flavorful and perfectly made. The seasonal drinks were amazing.

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4.8

4.8 (1158)

$50 and over

Vegan

Wallingford

About the restaurant

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN: Whether or not you’re into the “woo-woo” stuff that accompanies a meal at Harvest Beat—yes, they ring a gong before dinner—you will certainly be into the food, which is a set menu of deeply delicious vegetarian cooking. Each dish is layered and complex, with combinations of vegetables and spices and acid that will leave you thinking about your meal well after heading home for the night.

Top review

Bennett

Dined on Dec 13, 2024

We love Harvest Beat! Incredibly creative and tasty vegan dishes that are made with gratitude for the land and farmers who produce the ingredients. Everything is completely natural and again, tastes so good. Both the wine and non-alcoholic pairings match perfectly with each course.