I had a blast coming up with the best restaurants in the Seattle International District. I mean, how could I not? Since Chinese immigrants began flocking to the Pacific Northwest in the 1800s, the Chinatown-International District has become one of Seattle’s most prominent foodie destinations. And since there are so many restaurants compacted into a few short blocks, it’s one of my favorite areas to go on a food crawl.
Today the C-ID is home to a wide selection of Asian cuisines thank to waves of immigration, from Chinese to Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and so much more. This can make choosing where to eat a daunting task. So, I’m dedicating this post to sharing the best restaurants in the Seattle International District, from the mainstream faves to hidden gems.
Best Restaurants in Seattle International District
Make sure to pin this for later, as I’ll update this list as I discover more delicious restaurants in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District!
A+ Hong Kong Kitchen
website | 419 6th Ave S (get directions) | cuisine: Cantonese | price point: $$
A+ Hong Kong Kitchen was recommended to me during a dumpling food tour. I was initially skeptical given the lengthy menu and the fact they no longer seemed to have dumplings. Still, my dad and I pressed on and were happy we did. A+ is now one of my favorite Cantonese restaurants in the Chinatown-ID area.
The rice rolls have become one of my go-to dishes at A+. They have that classic gummy texture and pair well with the savory sesame sauce.
Another standout is the honey walnut prawns. They’re crispy, but slightly softened thanks to the creamy sauce. Definitely make sure they’re part of your order!
Hong Kong Bistro
website | 507 Maynard Ave S (get directions) | cuisine: Cantonese | price point: $$
People often compare A+ to Hong Kong Bistro since they’re around the block from each other and both have Hong Kong in their name. But HK Bistro is a fancier dim sum spot that’s open late, so it’s a popular spot for after the bars.
Standout dishes include the huge pan-fried shrimp dumplings, juicy overstuffed shu mai, and honey walnut shrimp. Unlike A+’s version, Hong Kong Bistro’s honey walnut prawns have a subtle vinegar flavor that helps cut through the sweetness.
HK Bistro also makes great soup dumplings. They come in a delicious aromatic broth and the dough has just the right level of chew. If you want to grace your table with some greens, don’t miss the garlic pea vines.
Tai Tung
website | 655 S King St (get directions) | cuisine: Chinese | price point: $$
Tai Tung is Seattle’s oldest Chinese restaurant, so it’s a no brainer to include on a list of the best restaurants in the Seattle International District. The dining room is covered with various trophies, news articles, and pictures of famous diners like Bruce Lee, who used to live across the street.
The chicken chow mein with soft noodles is one of my favorite dishes. It comes with a thickened chicken broth sauce and tender onions and celery. Or, if you want something a bit more delicate, try the wonton soup with its silky thin broth.
Ping’s Dumpling House
website | 508 S King St (get directions) | cuisine: Northern Chinese | price point: $
Ping’s is your typical hole-in-the-wall serving housemade xiao long bao, soups, and noodle dishes. However everyone knows their best dish is the pan-fried buns.
I still think about the pork and chive ones. The dough is less spongey and sweet than your typical bao, which I prefer. The inside of the bun is balanced with huge bites of chive that complimented the savory crackling top.
Kau Kau BBQ Restaurant
website | 656 S King St (get directions) | cuisine: Cantonese | price point: $
Kau Kau is famous for their barbecued meats, especially duck, which can be ordered by the pound for takeout. If you don’t love eating bones and cartilage, I’d skip the duck for the barbecue pork instead. It has a sweet and caramelized lacquer that balances the savory meat beautifully. When you go, ask for extra plum sauce for dipping.
Dim Sum King
website | 617 S Jackson St (get directions) | cuisine: Chinese dim sum | price point: $
Dim Sum King is a takeout-only dim sum shop. They give you a piece of paper to mark what you want and have a reputation for being pretty to-the-point service wise, but try not to take it personally. The prices are super affordable and the quality is good considering many of their items are kept in a deli case.
I really like all of their dumplings, especially the shrimp and shu mai. Some other standouts are the beef rice rolls, sesame balls, and pork footballs. And since each piece is only about $1-$3, you can try a bunch on a budget.
Chengdu Taste
website | 504 5th Ave S (get directions) | cuisine: Sichuan | price point: $$
This California chain makes unapologetically spicy Sichuan cuisine. Like, I can usually handle spice okay, but even I wouldn’t go past a level 2. The service is always quick and while the space is relatively small, they usually have no trouble accommodating parties of up to 6.
My favorite dish is the cumin lamb, which is made with obviously high-quality meat and has a balance of gaminess, fresh cilantro flavor, and the perfect touch of spice. The Chengdu fried rice is another hit that’s floral, savory, and helpful in taming a burning palate.
Itsumono
website | 610 S Jackson St (get directions) | cuisine: Japanese | price point: $$$
Itsumono is one of the best restaurants in the Seattle International District because it offers something a bit different than the majority of spots in the neighborhood. It’s a gastropub that serves classic Japanese dishes with a twist. For example, the dish that you’ll see all over Instagram is their take mash up of spam musubi and Seattle dog. They also have a full bar and specialize in fun sake and shochu cocktails.
My two favorite dishes are the cauliflower karaage and Scotch egg. The egg has a perfect gooey yolk and awesome beefy flavor that reminds me of the loco mocos in Hawaii. On the other end of the spectrum is the karaage, which takes a traditionally heavy dish and lightens it up with vegetables and a bunch of lemon. Make sure both of these end up on your table!
Hello Em
website | 1227 S Weller St (get directions) | cuisine: Vietnamese | price point: $
Hello Em is a coffee roastery and cafe in Seattle’s Little Saigon specializing in coffees made with robusta beans directly sourced from Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam. They share the space with Little Saigon Creative, a community gathering space dedicated to sharing Vietnamese culture.
The cafe makes classic Vietnamese coffee, which you can get as espresso, with simple syrup, or with their signature egg cloud. They also have bánh mì sandwiches. I love the breakfast one with egg, ham, and bone marrow pate. The pate adds so much moistness and works well with the crusty bread.
Saigon Deli
website | 1237 S Jackson St (get directions) | cuisine: Vietnamese | price point: $
Saigon Deli has been around for a long time. They make overstuffed bánh mìs with an assortment of fillings for only about $5.50-$6.75 a pop. There are also hot dishes like meatballs and stewed meat, along with smoothies, bubble tea, and an assortment of cold dishes like fresh rolls and rice cakes. My go-to order is the ham three ways sandwich, plus barbecue ham. I love the texture and balance of creamy pate and grilled ham.
The Boat
website | 1314 S Jackson St (get directions) | cuisine: Vietnamese fried chicken | price point: $$
Hello Em owns the Boat and specializes in Vietnamese fried chicken, which is a thing and is totally different from southern fried chicken. The chicken comes out crackling with a shiny umami lacquer and toasted sesame seeds. They serve the chicken “khao mung gai style” with savory rice and a light, delicate broth. The combination of flavors and textures is unbeatable, so it’s easily one of my favorite fried chicken spots in Seattle.
Pho Bac Sup Shop
website | 1240 S Jackson St (get directions) | cuisine: Vietnamese | price point: $$
Pho Bac is also owned by Hello Em and is located in the main building next to The Boat. This is more of your typical Vietnamese spot, with flavorful and aromatic pho dishes alongside vermicelli and small bites like pho fries, crispy fries piled high and smothered with a pate gravy, fried shallots, and jalapeños.
Their pho is some of the best soup I’ve had in Seattle, and while I usually opt for pho ga (chicken pho), I’m partial to their short rib pho, which comes with a giant bone and succulent meat.
Honey Court
website | 516 Maynard Ave S (get directions) | cuisine: Cantonese | price point: $$
Honey Court Seafood is a popular spot mainly since they’re open well into the wee hours of the night, as late as 1:30 AM on Saturdays. If you go on weekends, expect it to be packed and service slow. But it’ll be worth it to get your hands on their sautéed pea vines and honey walnut shrimp.
Chengdu Memory
website | 520 S Jackson St (get directions) | cuisine: Sichuan hot pot | price point: $$
Chengdu Memory is an always bumpin’ hot spot spot with notoriously evasive service. Getting a seat can be the biggest hurdle, but once you’re in, everything is smooth sailing. They even have a sauce bar with assorted fresh veg like edamame and cucumber. Note: the cucumber is super spicy, so get a lot of watermelon to cool off your palate.
I always recommend getting the tri broth option so you can try a bunch. I like the mushroom and “spicy medium” broth best, which be warned is really spicy. They’re the perfect base for Chengdu Memory’s chewy noodles and beef.
Fuji Bakery
website | 526 S King St (get directions) | cuisine: Japanese bakery | price point: $
When it comes to Asian bakeries a lot of people really like Hood Famous for their cheesecakes, which is good, but I’ll always choose Fuji. They specialize in Japanese and French pastries, ranging from simple but good croissants to chicken katsu sandos and custard-filled cream puffs. It’s one of my favorite spots in Seattle for cheap eats, with the creamy egg salad sando and beef curry bun being my die-hard faves.
Onibaba
website | 515 South Main St (get directions) | cuisine: Japanese | price point: $$
Onibaba is a bustling spot known mainly for noodle soups, donburi, and onigiri, AKA chewy rice balls stuffed with interesting ingredients and then wrapped in seaweed. It’s owned by the owners of the late Tsukushinbo, a place that used to be beloved for sushi and ramen before they pivoted to this more casual concept. It can get crowded, but if you can’t get a table you can take onigiri to go at the front counter.
I usually get one or two onigiri, but I try not to overdo it since it’s mostly rice you’re eating. I enjoy the unagi onigiri, which is sweet but balanced by the fluffy rice and savory seaweed.
Jade Garden
website | 424 7th Ave S (get directions) | cuisine: Chinese | price point: $$
Ever since discovering Harbor City, I haven’t frequented Jade Garden as much as I used to. Still, as far as restaurants in the Chinatown-International district go, I enjoy their no-frills vibe and abundant selection of juicy, plump dim sum.
The pan-fried shrimp and chives dumplings are full of flavor, and the roasted duck comes out with a shattering crispy skin and juicy meat. However, my heart still belongs to their honey walnut shrimp.
Phnom Penh Noodle House
website | 913 S Jackson St (get directions) | cuisine: Cambodian | price point: $
Phnom Penh Noodle House is a sleek, modern Cambodian spot serving heartwarming noodle soups alongside spicy salads, grilled meat, and stir-fried noodle dishes. A lot of people lean towards Mike’s Noodle House, but I prefer here for their comforting and abundantly portioned noodle soups.
Their Phnom Penh chicken wings come out glistening in a jalapeño and sweet black pepper garlic sauce. Of the several soups I’ve tried, the foursome beef is my favorite, with a spiced beef stew, meatballs, sliced beef, and honeycomb tripe served with wide rice noodles and topped with herbs and roasted garlic.
Dough Zone
website | 504 5th Ave S (get directions) | cuisine: Chinese | price point: $$
Dough Zone may be a multi-state chain, but I give credit where credit is due, and they do a great job with having a wide selection of fresh and flavorful dim sum. Their speciality is xiao long bao soup dumplings, which you can get with pork, chicken, or pork and crab. A lot of people say they like these XLB better than Din Tai Fung. I prefer DTF better, but these are close and the best in the Seattle International District.
ChungChun Rice Dog
website | 502 S King St (get directions) | cuisine: Korean hot dogs & mochi donuts | price point: $
ChungChun Rice Dog is a Korean-based hot dog chain that also sells mochi doughnuts. Combined, These two comfort foods are clearly an unstoppable force since I’ve never visited without a line.
The donuts are made with rice flour, which gives them a chewy texture and subtle nuttiness you won’t find in a regular donut. They come in unique flavors like black sesame and taro, neither of which is overly sweet but rather subtle and flavorful.
The hot dogs are extravagant, to say the least. They’re deep-fried in a rice flour batter and dipped in an assortment of toppings like potato crisps and hot Cheetos. You can also get the hot dogs smothered in melted cheese because, why not?
Tamarind Tree
website | 1036 S Jackson St (get directions) | cuisine: Vietnamese | price point: $$
I always love getting to eat at Tamarind Tree. The dining space is so cute, with warm colors and a spacious dining room seamlessly transitioning into the greenery-rich patio. The food is equally is romantic, and it’s one of the few places where I’ll opt for vegetarian dishes.
If you’re sticking with the veggie stuff, opt for the tofu satay, which has the most perfect crispy texture. If you’re in the mood for meat, you can’t beat the seven courses of beef. Both will be enough to help you understand why Tamarind Tree is one of the best restaurants in the Seattle International District.
Kilig
website | 710 8th Ave S (get directions) | cuisine: Filipino | price point: $$$
Kilig is the more casual sister restaurant to James Beard-nominated Musang, one of the best Beacon Hill restaurants. You’ll find all the classic comfort foods that makes Filipino cuisine iconic: lumpia, sisig, chicken adobo, and more. They also have a fun tropical drink program fitting of their bright and cheery space.
Two of my favorite dishes are on the appetizer menu. The first is their crispy lumpia that is served with the most perfectly-balanced sawsawan dipping sauce. Hamachi kimmie-law is the other dish I can’t get enough of. It’s a crudo that’s acidic, crispy, and smooth.
Bellwether BBQ & Grill
website | 609 S Well St Suite C (get directions) | cuisine: Korean | price point: $$$
Bellwether is the best Korean BBQ option out of all the restaurants in Seattle International District. The space is a bit clubby, often pumping loud dance music later into the night.
They’re best known for their all-you-can-eat (AYCE) option. For 2 hours at $35-$65 per person, you get unlimited meat and trips up to the sides bar where you’ll find yummy wings, veg egg rolls, tofu soup, rice cakes, and more. My favorite meats are the pork belly, beefs, spicy pork jowl, and calamari if you need ideas of where to focus with all the options!
Maneki
website | 304 6th Ave S (get directions) | cuisine: Japanese | price point: $$
Ask anyone where the best sushi is in Seattle, and chances are Maneki will be on their list. This is one of the OG spots for no-fuss sushi pieces, rolls, and hot plates. They also have one of the few chabudai set ups in Seattle. These tables low to the ground have guests sit on the floor in traditional Japanese style. You can reserve them for your party to have a fun authentic experience.
More to explore near Chinatown-International District
After you try all the best restaurants in the Seattle International District, check out my other guides.
