The Top Restaurants by Cuisine in Seattle

by The OpenTable team

Updated 20 February 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 (3829)

$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

DianeVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Our server Louise was wonderful and knowledgeable about the menu. We wanted to order everything on the menu. He helped us to manage and enjoy our food experience. The shareable antipasti was the perfect choice. All the pastas were delicious. It was definitely a taste of Italy. We will have to try the risotto next time. The pork tenderloin and the house special trout was delectable and cooked perfectly. We did save room for dessert. The limone cake and the chocolate torte were very tasty. My husband was very happy that he picked the restaurant for his birthday dinner. We enjoyed every moment. We will definitely return to try the rest of the menu :)

The Whale Wins

4.8

4.8 (939)

$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

dougs

Dined 6 days ago

Great meal and good service but the mandatory 22% service charge is outrageous.

Sushi Kappo Tamura - Dining Room

4.8

4.8 (1763)

$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

LisaVIP

Dined today

Exceptional rolls and fish. Best in seattle by far.

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4.8

4.8 (3085)

$50 and over

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

LaurieVIP

Dined 5 days ago

What a wonderful lunch! Perfect, authentic French cuisine - delicious all around. Service was attentive and friendly without being overbearing. We’ll be back!

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4.7

4.7 (1424)

$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

ThomasMVIP

Dined today

Great fusion dishes at Joule. Helpful service and a pleasant atmosphere too.

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4.7

4.7 (976)

$31 to $50

Middle Eastern

Capitol Hill / First Hill

About the restaurant

MIDDLE EASTERN: It’s hard to make a restaurant that feels both upscale and comfortable, and Mamnoon manages to be both at once. This is modern Mediterranean food that’s as elegant as it is cravable, with dishes like kefta, mujaddara, whole fried cauliflower, and a constellation of dips, ready for dunking.

Top review

DianaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Helpful food suggestions(; fast service; excellent food.

Harvest Beat

4.7

4.7 (1171)

$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

Steven

Dined on 28 Feb 2025

Top quality inputs yielding a delicious set of courses. Inventive and tasty non-alcoholic option (if you don't do the wine pairing). It's a joy not to have worry about what might be in it before taking a bite. The single seating meant you were eating at the pace of all the other tables, which is imperfect, but the service was very well executed. A memorable and scrumptious (if pricey) meal.