Best Restaurants in Skagit County, WA

There are so many exceptional restaurants in Skagit County, WA, an area about 1.5 hours north of Seattle made up of a bunch of tiny towns and farms. This makes sense, given the Skagit Valley is one of the top agricultural areas in Washington thanks to its prime location along the Samish Bay.

If you love exploring small towns and seeking out hidden gems, here are the must-visit restaurants in Skagit County, Washington.

Best Restaurants in Skagit County

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The Rex Bar & Grill

website | Mount Vernon | 19271 Best Rd | best for: sandwiches

Yelp claimed this spot was closed for years, but it’s not. They rebranded from Rexville Grocery to “The Rex” and I think people got confused. I’m thrilled they didn’t close, as this place is a must stop if you’re heading to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

The Rex is inside a tiny, unassuming vintage gas station in Mt. Vernon, WA a bit south of the tulip fields. When you enter you’ll be met with what looks like mostly a convenience store curated with local foodie gifts. But you can also order some mean sandwiches from the center counter and take it to the side patio if it’s nice outside.

They make just about everything in house, even down to roasting their own coffee. Make sure to order the meatloaf sandwich and some of their homemade cookies if they’re available. I’m really picky with meatloaf, but this is so juicy and light while still tasting exactly like the quintessential comfort food we grew up eating.

Skagit’s Own Fish Market

website | Burlington | 18042 WA-20 | best for: fish sandwiches

Skagit County is right along the water by Samish Bay and the San Juan Islands, giving it prime access to some of the freshest fish in Washington. In fact, one of the best fish restaurants in Seattle has its oyster farm up here!

Locals know the best place to pick up fresh seafood is Skagit’s Own Market. It has a case filled with that day’s fresh catch and a bunch of shelves lined with local pantry staples from super small producers. You can also order fresh seafood sandwiches and bites perfect for enjoying in the parking lot or back patio.

This place is one of the best restaurants in Skagit County, WA. Heck, it’s one of the best restaurants worth the drive from Seattle period. So make sure to stop here when you visit Skagit Valley.

My go-to orders are the lobster roll and fried oyster sandwich. Both are so fresh and flavorful. I especially like how they both feel light despite being typically a more gluttonous dish.

Breadfarm

website | Bow | 5766 Cains Ct | best for: breakfast croissant

Make sure to stop at Breadfarm when visiting restaurants in Skagit County, WA. They’re a small bakery in Edison, WA open for breakfast and lunch. They’re famous for making breads and pastries using hyper local grains.

The potato bread is one of their best sellers, but my favorite thing to get there is the ham, cheese, and egg croissant…and I don’t even usually like croissants! But this one is so flavorful and flakey, and it’s the perfect size for a small bite as you shop around. I also recommend grabbing a package of their graham crackers for a snack or s’mores later on.

Slough Foods

website | Bow | 5766 Cains Ct | best for: wine & picnic foods

When you walk in, Slough Foods looks like a tiny deli-like charcuterie and pantry staple shop. But if you go out in back you’re met with a beautiful outdoor dining space overlooking a small swamp. But don’t worry, this swamp is pretty!

The menu here is pretty tight, but you can expect to find great sandwiches and finger foods like charcuterie and cheese. Don’t miss ordering off their wine list, and if you’re lucky enough to visit when they’re doing grilled oysters, definitely get those!

Mariposa Taqueria

website | Bow | 14003 Gilmore Ave | best for: tacos

This tiny spot in Edison, Washington is serving authentic Mexican-inspired cuisine, most notably of which is awesome tacos on homemade tortillas. The indoor dining room is tiny, but they have a cute front garden with some tables. You can’t go wrong with any taco really, but I really enjoy their carne asada ones!

Pro tip: Breadfarm, Slough Foods, and Mariposa are all next to each other on the same street. That means you can easily do a food crawl! Afterwards, wash it down with a drink at Terramar Brewstillery.

The Oyster Shuckers

website | Bow | 17036 Allen West Rd | best for: seafood direct from a farmer

This tiny seafood shack is owned by Samish Gold Seafoods, an oyster and seafood farm owned by Gerardo Rodarte. I first met Gerardo when he worked at the now-defunct Blau Oysters, where he took me on a tour of how oysters are grown and harvested. This man knows his stuff, and now he’s working for himself serving excellent seaside snacks like fish and chips, grilled oysters, and more.

Don’t miss the grilled oysters with butter and garlic. They are meaty and addictive. The oyster taco is also good, but admittedly it disappoints me you only get one oyster. But if you get fried oysters too, you can add another one!

Good Bagels

website | Anacortes | 2001 Commercial Ave | best for: East-coast style bagels

I’m always on the hunt trying to find the best bagels in Seattle and it’s tough. So I went to Good Bagels with low expectations. However, they thoroughly impressed me with their excellent bagels that taste similar to the ones I grew up eating on the east coast. It makes sense, as Good Bagels is owned by New York-native brothers Alex and Nick.

I prefer getting just plain cream cheese on my bagels, but every once in a while I’ll also get lox. Good Bagels’ version is quite good, with extra lemon-y zing in the cream cheese that make it have a poppy seed-esque flavor.

Pro tip: Good Bagels also serves burgers at night!

Martini Brunch

website | Mt. Vernon | 1300 S 2nd St | best for: breakfast

I was driving toward the Mount Vernon Farmers Market one Saturday and slammed on my brakes after driving by Martini Brunch. I’d never heard of this cute-as-a-button cafe, so obviously I had to go in.

The menu didn’t disappoint. They serve all-day breakfast with a lot of fun cocktails and a cheery staff. The breakfast sandwich is a god send because it tastes like a McMuffin, but way better quality. If you only have room for one dish, make sure you order this!

GERE-a-DELI

website | Anacortes | 502 Commercial Ave | best for: sandwiches

Ask anyone where to stop for lunch on the way to San Juan Islands and they’ll undoubtedly say GERE-a-DELI. This large sandwich shop is inside a historic brick building. It’s always buzzing with people who flock to them for great sandwiches, so obviously it deserves to be on this list of the best restaurants in Skagit County.

I always like to get their Rueben because the meat is piled high and it comes with an addictive sweet mustard. The clam chowder is also a great accompaniment.

Mad Hatter’s Ice Cream

website | Anacortes | 801 6th St | best for: soft serve ice cream

Another great spot to eat is Anacortes Farmers Market if you’re visiting on a Saturday. Not only does it have great ready-to-eat food, but it sits right in front of Mad Hatter’s. That means it’s a given that you should get ice cream after checking out the market stalls.

Mad Hatter’s sells Washington-made Edaleen Dairy ice cream. You’ll find all the typical hard-serve flavors like cookies & cream, coffee, and mint chip, but my go-to is the vanilla soft serve. It has a thick consistency with swirls almost like Dairy Queen, but you can really taste the vanilla flavor.

Pro tip: This spot is only open seasonally, so check hours before you visit!

Taylor Shellfish Farms

website | Bow | 2182 Chuckanut Drive | best for: fresh oysters

There are two quintessential things to do when visiting Skagit Valley. The first is do Chuckanut Drive, the second is visit Taylor Shellfish Farms. And given this spot is on Chuckanut, it makes sense to cross both items off your bucket list at the same time.

Taylor Shellfish offers some of the best oysters in Seattle, which they harvest at their Skagit Valley farm. You can visit for exceptional views and to get a feel of what an oyster bed looks like. They serve a focused menu of seasonal dishes like ceviche, gazpacho, and more, but the must get here is fresh oysters!

Tweets

website | Bow | 5800 Cains Ct | best for: breakfast

This cash/Venmo only spot in downtown Bow opens a bit later than your typical breakfast spot, but it’s well worth getting there right at open on the weekends to snag a seat (they’re only open Saturday and Sunday). You can expect a focused menu of seasonally-rotating dishes written on a chalkboard.

The service can be brusk, but it’s worth it to try their yummy baked goods and egg-forward dishes.

Cocina Sabores & Catering

website | Mt. Vernon | 810 W Division St | best for: tacos

This Mexican restaurant is off-the-beaten-path and not a place most visitors go to. It’s inside a retro-looking building and is always filled with Spanish locals looking to get their authentic Mexican fix.

You’ll find all kinds of Mexican food on the menu, but the must get are the tacos. The barbacoa is especially good. It comes in a deep red, almost al pastor-like sauce that’s less sweet. The meat is heaping on homemade tortillas, which add a vegetal sweetness to each bite.

Taco Tecalitlan

website | Burlington, Anacortes, & Mt. Vernon | best for: more tacos

This taco shop has three locations around the Skagit Valley. They serve tiny street tacos perfect for sampling a ton of flavors. You’ll also find a great selection of Mexican snacks perfect for take-home souvenirs.

One person can easily eat a tray of six tacos. Mix and match the meats, but make sure the carne asada, birria, shrimp, and adobada are part of your order.

Calico Cupboard

website | La Conner, Mt. Vernon, & Anacortes | best for: cinnamon rolls

No list of the best restaurants in Skagit County would be complete without mentioning this popular breakfast cafe with multiple locations. You can expect to find big portions of typical diner fare like BLTs, omelets, scrambles, and more.

Breakfast dish wise, I like to get the corned beef hash. It’s served with huge chunks of well-cooked meat and a ton of veggies. They make pretty mean potatoes, so getting them as the base of this classic brunch food is the pro move.

However, the best thing on the menu is hands down their cinnamon rolls. They sell out fast, so snag one as soon as you arrive if available. The apple and pumpkin pie flavors available in the fall are a must. And don’t forget to order it warmed up!

Dad’s Diner

website | Anacortes | 906 Commercial Ave | best for: greasy spoon fare

This is another beloved breakfast spot in the Skagit Valley, but known more by locals than tourists. Service can be slow, but it’s worth putting your name on the wait list via the QR code and walking around the shops in downtown Anacortes while you wait.

I like to get their Benedicts especially. The pulled pork one is interesting because it’s tangy and adds a bright acidic note to an otherwise belly-bomb dish.

Harbin Dumplings

website | Anacortes | 1019 Q Avenue | best for: dumplings

This food truck is parked in front of a marina alongside a few other carts that form a mini pod. They offer a focused menu of dumplings, pot stickers, noodles, and soup.

The dumplings are the obvious order. Expect juicy chunks of meat in each. They’re so good that they don’t need sauce, but if you want some don’t get the spicy soy sauce. It’s served with cayenne instead of Asian chili sauce, which is surprising and not my preferred heat source.

M&C BBQ

website | Anacortes | 1019 Q Avenue | best for: brisket and beans

M&C BBQ is another truck parked next to Harbin Dumplings. It’s run by the nicest guy, Steven, who gave us samples of his meat and free brisket because it was the end of the day. He even let us try spicy sausage he was grilling up for himself since he doesn’t sell it out of respect for Dockside Dogs next door.

The brisket ends are some of the best meat he offers, with great fat content and concentrated meaty flavor. My boyfriend loved the cowboy beans, too, which also has brisket in them so they’re earthy and umami filled. They make the perfect side dish!

Rhododendron Cafe

website | Bow | 5521 Chuckanut Dr | best for: Senegalese soup

This spot is known as The Rhody Cafe to locals. It’s a cute spot serving down-home cooking in a non-stuffy setting. It’s the type of place where the owners greet customers by name, which is a fun atmosphere to step into if you’re visiting from Seattle.

When you go, make sure to get the Senegalese soup. It may not be on the brunch menu, but if you ask nicely they will give it to you if available. I also recommend the steak and eggs, which is especially good if they’re serving it with prime rib like they did when we went.

Farm to Market Bakery

website | Bow | 5507 Chuckanut Dr | best for: baked goods

If you visit The Rhody Cafe, pick up some baked goodies from Farm to Market Bakery next door. I’ve only ever had their yummy cookies and brownies, but they’re known for their polenta cake. And they have some serious looking cinnamon buns!

The Oyster & Thistle

website | La Conner | 205 Washington St | best for: fried oyster fettuccini

This place advertises itself as a French-inspired pub, but if you dine upstairs I’d say it’s more like a cozy, fine dining establishment. While I’ve had things here that are hit or miss, the pan-fried oysters with fettuccini, garlic, and oil is so good. The oysters are huge and meaty, and they perfectly balance the bite of al dente fettuccini with tons of garlic. If you go here, make sure to get this dish if it’s on the menu!

More to explore in Skagit Valley

Once you make it through my list of the best restaurants in Skagit County, WA, check out my other guides on things to do in the area.

I’ll also leave you with my Google Map that has all the places I’ve been or want to go to in the area. Check out the details in each pin for more information on if I’ve been and what I thought.