5-Star Restaurants in Seattle: A Local's Take on the Best Places to Eat

paella from one of the five-star restaurants in Seattle

We’re lucky to have so many five-star restaurants in Seattle. From fine dining to casual eats, we have high-quality dining options for every palate and budget.

What do I consider a five-star restaurant? Well, if it has 5 stars on Yelp, that’s a good start. But it also needs to be consistently excellent in creativity, execution, and service…maybe so much so that it’s earned awards. Even a place that has a lower Yelp score can be rated five stars in my book if it meets this criteria.

To help you weed through the noise, here’s a list of the best five-star restaurants in Seattle. Get ready for some of the best meals of your life!

Five-Star Restaurants in Seattle

Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll add more five-star restaurants in Seattle when I discover them!

What’s considered a 5-star restaurant?

As I mentioned briefly, Yelp is a good crowd-sourced indicator if a restaurant is five stars. I also look at Google reviews, but I find that people tend to be more positive there than on Yelp. So if a restaurant has about 4.5 stars out of more than 50 reviews on Yelp, that’s usually a good sign in my book.

I also use my judgement, as there are some Yelp and Google ratings I don’t agree with. Everyone prioritizes something a little different when they go out to eat. Some care most about service, others care about price or portions-to price ratio as an indicator of “value”. For me, I know wait staff can have a bad day and Seattle is an extremely expensive city, so I prioritize the consistency of culinary craft and flavors when I evaluate a restaurant. I can deal if it’s expensive or service isn’t great, but subpar food is a dealbreaker.

To help you find the best five-star restaurants in Seattle, I’ve done the triangulation research among review platforms and eaten my way around most of the city. Here are the spots I’d consider the best of the best.

Best restaurants in Seattle

Here are my favorite restaurants in Seattle that can be considered “5 stars” thanks to a Yelp and Google rating over 4.5. I put them in priority order starting at the highest-rated restaurants.

Taneda

Taneda is one of the five-star restaurants in Seattle that deserves its premium rating. I consider it one of the best sushi restaurants in Seattle…heck, it’s one of my favorite restaurants in the city period!

That’s because Chef Hideaki Taneda makes flawless sushi dishes right in front of you at a 9-seat chef’s counter. He sources fish from both the Pacific Northwest and abroad. He actually has a live feed set up with his contacts in Japan so he can see what’s fresh each morning. That’s the commitment to quality you’re getting when you dine here.

The one downside is unanimous among all the five-star reviews: this place is near impossible to get into. That’s because they only offer two seatings a night. Keep an eye on Instagram for when they announce reservations will drop. Then wait for when the moment strikes to try and snag a spot before they are gone within mere seconds.

Chef Taneda chopping wagyu beef at an omakase chefs counter, one of the five-star restaurants in Seattle

Un Bien

I never would have guessed that the best sandwiches in Seattle would be Caribbean-themed, but Un Bien changed the game. The Caribbean Roast sandwich is always my first choice. It’s incredibly tender and is served with cilantro and jalapeños for a hint of spice. If you’re super hungry, the Smokin’ Thighs basted with their top-secret marinade are worth any potential drips.

Pro tip: Paseo is another option for great Caribbean sandwiches. It’s fiercely debated which is better, but I’m strictly in camp Un Bien. However, both are great as Paseo’s 4.4-star rating on Yelp can attest.

Caribbean sandwich, a famous Seattle food

Archipelago

It took me a while to visit Archipelago for the first time as the pandemic kind of got in the way. I had a reservation for March 2020 that was unfortunately delayed.

But when I finally did visit, I realized why this place gets so much hype. It’s fancy, but it doesn’t feel overly bougie. Instead, it’s warm, intimate, and completely relaxed… almost as if you were invited into owners Amber and Aaron’s home for a dinner party. And this is totally fitting, as the cuisine is a glimpse into their Filipino-American heritage. They’re regale you with stories from their childhood, making each beautifully-plated dish that more meaningful.

It’s tricky to score a seat since only 12 people can dine at the chef’s table. This is great for creating an intimate atmosphere and giving you a prime look into the cooking process though! Plus it gives them the opportunity to talk to you and adjust the portions to match how hungry you are.

plate of Filipino food from one of the best five-star restaurants in Seattle

Cakes of Paradise

You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten dessert at Cakes of Paradise. I don’t know how they do it, but they create the moistest cakes in town. And if you’re tying the knot, they even make full-size wedding cakes.

You won’t find typical red velvet or chocolate cake on the menu. Nope, this place is all about tropical flavors like guava, coconut, lime, and mango. The buttercream and curd they use are pleasantly sweet. But it’s never sickly, so you can have multiple slices without getting a sugar rush.

If you’re a cheesecake fan, the Hawaiian mango cheesecake is creamy and delicious. And hey, you won’t regret taking a few snaps of these bad boys to spice up your Instagram feed!

Beast & Cleaver (The Peasant)

Beast & Cleaver is a family-owned butcher shop I frequent for prime cuts. But what makes them unique is that they also serve food using their sustainably-sourced meats.

During the daytime on Thursdays and Fridays, they serve delicious sandwiches and burgers. As you’d expect from a butcher, the meat is always perfectly trimmed and moist. Try to get here when they open because things sell out quickly.

Come nighttime on weekends, they transform the butcher shop into an intimate five-star Seattle restaurant called Peasant. You get multiple courses of creative dishes featuring whole animal butchery. They keep the wine flowing too, so it feels as if you’re hanging with the kitchen crew after hours.

Pro tip: They also have an elevated English pub in downtown Ballard called The Little Beast.

Ltd Edition Sushi

Ltd Edition Sushi is another omakase-style restaurant serving excellent sushi. You’ll find some of the best quality fish you’ve ever had, all served with minimal intervention to let each ingredient shine. They even offer temperature-controlled sake pairings for every course.

It’s worth knowing that they limit orders to 32 each day to keep things as fresh as possible. For this reason, I always make sure to book a reservation in advance to secure a spot.

close up of baby squid sushi from a Seattle sushi omakase

S/T Hooligans

If you’re searching for the best burgers in Seattle, make a beeline for S/T Hooligans. It’s a cool and trendy restaurant in Fremont that serves comfort food in a casual atmosphere.

Their most popular dish is the fried chicken sandwich, but they do awesome BBQ meats and Creole classics if you’re after something heartier. Their Bal-Mont burger is topped with Tillamook cheddar, sweet onions, romaine lettuce, tomato, and an amazing garlic-chili aioli that has just the right amount of spice.

The Chicken Supply

I think The Chicken Supply describes their food best. They serve “really awesome chicken” in Phinney Ridge that’s packed with flavor and always super moist.

Seriously, the crisp outer layer on the chicken was unreal. But honestly, everything from the mongo beans to the spicy chicken thighs is worth trying. To make things even better, it’s one of the five-star restaurants in Seattle that doesn’t break the bank!

La Cabaña

One of my favorite five-star restaurants in Seattle is La Cabaña, as I live just around the corner. It’s a lesser-known spot for amazing Central American takeout and you just can’t beat the prices.

You can usually grab a decent meal for under $20, but you’ll want seconds and thirds of their plantains and pupusas. I don’t know how they do it, but everything is perfectly flavored without ever being greasy. And their spicy food? It’s not for the fainthearted but it’s so delicious.

take out from one of the best casual restaurants in Seattle for Central American food

Le Caviste

Le Caviste is a charming wine bar that I’ve been keeping under wraps for years. It’s owned by master sommelier David Butler and he’s created a glorious wine program that has taken Seattle by storm. You’ll find all the available wines on a large blackboard, but the staff will walk you through what to order if you’re a newbie.

It’s one of the five-star restaurants in Seattle that doesn’t serve much food, but the fish in parchment and charcuterie plate (which includes the world’s most delicious butter) are perfect for soaking up any booze.

people sitting inside a French wine bar in Seattle

Pasta Casalinga

As an Italian, I know good pasta when I taste it. And I can confidently say that Pasta Casalinga serves some of the best pasta in Seattle. It’s so authentic because the co-owner and chef Michela was born in Italy before moving to the United States. If you keep an eye out, you can often see her making fresh pasta in the open-air kitchen!

The menu here is seasonal so it’s tricky to pin down a reliable favorite that you can order year-round. But the rich ragu bolognese which is served with fresh parmesan and olive oil is pretty much faultless. It’s a bit hidden in the atrium of the market, but it’s one of the best Pike Place restaurants!

MOTO

website | various locations | cuisine: pizza | Yelp: 4.6 stars | Google: 4.5 – 4.7 stars

MOTO used to be one of the new kids on the block, but it quickly made its mark as one of the best spots for pizza in Seattle. I’m surprised they haven’t earned 5-stars on Yelp considering you used to have to order their pies two months in advance before they opened more locations! Luckily they’re easier to get now…in fact, they even have a spot in T-Mobile Park!

First-timers should try the crab pizza as it’s zesty and fresh. However, anything on the menu that’s smothered with cheese is a good shout. The toppings are fabulous and the perfectly fluffy crust always keeps diners coming back for seconds. If you have time, pick up one of their ridiculously smooth soft-serve ice creams for dessert.

person grabbing slice of Detroit style pizza in Seattle

Spice Waala

website | Capitol Hill (get directions), Ballard (get directions), & Columbia City (get directions) | cuisine: Indian | Yelp: 4.5 stars | Google: 4.4 – 4.7 stars

If anyone ever asks where to get Indian food in Seattle, I’ll always mention Spice Waala. This place is incredibly affordable and serves amazing kathi rolls and chaat that you won’t find elsewhere in the city. You’ll also find me putting their sweet tamarind sauce on everything as it’s just that good.

person holding stacks of sliced kathi rolls, a must get at Seattle Indian restaurants.

Made in House / BOPBOX

websites: Made In House, BOPBOX | Fremont (get directions) & Georgetown (get directions) cuisine: Korean | Yelp: 4.5 stars / 4.5 stars | Google: 4.6 stars

Made-In-House and BOPBOX are sister restaurants with pretty much the same menu, so it doesn’t really matter which one you visit. Made In House is my go-to spot since it’s in north Seattle where I live. It’s popular with the lunch crowd as it’s one of the best restaurants for takeout in Seattle. Don’t miss the bibimbop bulgogi beef!

Korean food in takeout containers from one of the best Seattle takeout restaurants

More well-rated restaurants in Seattle

Now we’re getting into territory where Yelp reviews are just shy of 4.4 stars, but Google has a bit higher of ratings to average out the restaurants overall rating within the 5-star band. And honestly, these spots are some of my favorites, so I think Yelp reviews are wrong.

Ciudad

Ciudad is should be among the best five-star restaurants in Seattle, especially for group dining. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it has a private room and a super cool atmosphere with a vibrant mural wall. The main dining area has colorful cushions and relaxed wall seating which, is ideal for casual hangouts and first dates. It’s one of the most consistently good restaurants in the city, so I send everyone here.

These are the dishes I always order: cauliflower, halloumi, kofta, eggplant dip, and a butt-ton of grilled meats. I’m partial to the steak and chicken, but they also have octopus and mushrooms. Since you can order by the quarter pound, mix and match to try a bunch.

roast cauliflower Mediterranean food in Seattle

Spinasse

Wow, I can’t believe Spinasse doesn’t have higher Yelp reviews. It’s one of the best five-star restaurants in Seattle, hands down. Ask literally anyone who knows anything about the Seattle food scene, and the will recommend dining here.

Spinasse serves some of the best Italian food in Seattle. It’s pricey, but you should splurge for the tasting menu to try it all. It’s around $135 per person and covers every single item on the regular menu (except sides and desserts). I always find that this takes menu paralysis out of the equation which is great if you’re a first-time visitor.

Don’t have a big appetite? The tajarin is some of the best pasta in Seattle and will instantly transport you to a cozy spot on the Italian coast.

fish, cabbage rolls, and pork dishes at an Italian restaurant in Seattle

RockCreek

Another north Seattle gem that I love visiting is RockCreek. It’s the best place in town for fresh seafood and the high ceilings and airy layout makes it feel worlds away from Seattle’s metropolitan center. And that’s exactly what owner Eric Donnelly is going for. He’s tried to make it feel like a cabin in the woods and I completely get those vibes.

When it comes to food, the fish Provençal will always be the standout dish. It’s served with crispy shallots and Vietnamese-style nuoc cham sauce with herbs. I’m also a sucker for their key lime pie and s’mores cups, which are some of the best desserts in Seattle by a mile. Oh, and if you’re looking for discounts on cocktails, they have one of the best happy hours in Seattle!

Pro tip: They also have a Kirkland location on the Eastside.

Seafood and fish Restaurants in Seattle, WA

Homer

Homer serves posh Mediterranean food in Seattle, so it’s hard to get a table here (particularly because they don’t take reservations for parties under 6). The atmosphere feels upscale but casual and the portions are pretty generous.

I suggest getting the pita and dips to start. They come straight out of the oven to your table and are always super fluffy. The pork shoulder is also fabulous as it melts in your mouth and is so tender. If you fancy something sweet to finish, grab a bowl of their famous soft serve!

dish from Homer, one of the best healthy restaurants in Seattle

The Pink Door

The Pink Door is one of the best restaurants in Seattle with a view. If you’re on the patio, you’ll get incredible panoramas over Elliott Bay and the bustling Pike Place Market. It’s a great place to escape from the madness of the market, and the Venetian décor, hanging lights, and weekly aerial performances make it one of the cutest restaurants in Seattle for adventurous couples.

I’d say the ambiance was the main draw of this place, but I can’t fault the food either. Seriously, I still think about the bolognese and the lasagna!

person picking up lasagna from a pasta place in Seattle

Harvest Beat

Harvest Beat was one of the first vegan restaurants in Seattle that I tried and it made a stellar impression. It’s a fine dining spot that serves everything from a fancy 5-course tasting menu to unbelievable deserts and complex wines. If you don’t like alcohol, their non-alcoholic drink pairing is packed with bougie mocktails that rival the real deal.

And don’t even get me started on the romantic mood lighting and intimate dining room if you’re on the hunt for date night restaurants in Seattle. I’m not vegetarian or vegan, but the mushroom lasagna made me seriously consider working Meatless Mondays into my weekly meal plan.

Atoma

It always surprised me that Atoma doesn’t have over 4.5 stars on Yelp. This relative newcomer to Seattle took over the darling home-turned-restaurant space that used to house Maria Hines’ late Tilth. They kept the space equally as cozy, but elevated the food preparation to include more Michelin-level techniques. And the world is noticing: Atoma has landed on New York Times’ best restaurant list and was a James Beard finalist.

You can expect fun, playful dishes that leverage what’s in season. Some items stay on the menu though, like Atoma’s famous savory rosette cookie. It’s stuffed with caramelized onions and is as beautiful as it is tasty.

Stoneburner

I’m in the business of trying new restaurants, so the places I frequent again and again are few and far between. Stoneburner is one of my repeat go to’s.

The first thing you’ll notice is how beautiful the restaurant is. It’s filled with vintage treasures and designer-magazine-worthy tile. But this place isn’t all looks. The food is just as good.

My go-to order at Stoneburner includes steak tartare if available, salad, and pasta. I especially like their take on a Caesar that switches in snap peas for spring and Brussel sprouts for winter. It’s balanced and texturally interesting.

Pasta-wise I always get the carbonara-like dish on the menu. Sometimes it’s made with lamb belly and other times pork, but you can expect that creamy texture and a touch of sweetness from lightly-caramelized onions.

Delancey

Delancey is another restaurant that Yelp has done dirty. It’s received just shy of 5 stars from Yelpers, but I think it serves the best pizza in Seattle if you love New York-style pies. I grew up eating the real deal and it’s as close as you’ll get without hot-footing it to the Big Apple.

You can easily feed a family with two pizzas which keeps costs down. But what I love most is the perfect balance they get between the cheese and sauce layers. You can get seasonal toppings if you want, but I usually get The Brooklyn and eat it as-is. For white pizza lovers, the White Pie with house-made ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, and Grana is a winner.

Famous Seattle chefs

There are quite a few Seattle restauranteurs and chefs who’ve earned national recognition. If you want to make sure you cover your bases, prioritize eating at their establishments, too.

Renee Erickson

I can’t believe Renee Erickson’s restaurants don’t earn higher ratings on Yelp and Google, as she’s my favorite restauranteur in the city. She helms the Sea Creatures Group that owns the following restaurants:

The Walrus and the Carpenter (Ballard, French seafood)
Jeffry’s (Capitol Hill, steakhouse)
Willmott’s Ghost (Downtown, Roman)
Barnacle (Ballard, amaro bar)
Deep Dive (Downtown, cocktail bar)
Westward (Northlake, Mediterranean seafood)
Lioness (Phinney Ridge, Italian)
General Porpoise (Downtown & Pioneer Square, doughnuts)
Mio Oh Mio (Pioneer Square, Rome meets London)
Un Po Tipsy (Pioneer Square, pizza by the slice)
Lowlander Brewing (Pioneer Square, pub grub)

Yes, some of these are better than others and the restaurant group has gotten heat for its pricing practices that resulted in them sharing the restaurant’s books. But disagreements aside, all of Renee’s restaurants are beautiful and have thoughtful menus leveraging local ingredients.

The Walrus and the Carpenter (4.2 on Yelp, 4.5 on Google) is my favorite of her restaurants, so it’s the one I’d prioritize. The dining room is super Instagrammable and the menu is seafood-based with a strong focus on seasonal oysters and fresh catches. It’s expensive, but I wouldn’t say it veers into fine dining territory.

The must-have dishes here are the grilled sardines with gremolata made from parsley and nuts. It’s incredibly light and fresh, so it leaves tons of room for a larger dish if you’re hungry. But it’s the steak tartare that’s my ultimate guilty pleasure food. It’s honestly the best steak tartare in Seattle as it’s not too chewy and is served with crunchy rye toasts to bulk things out.

Mutsuko Soma

Chef Mutsuko Soma is the award-winning chef behind the Japanese restaurant Kamonegi in Fremont, next door sake bar Hannyatou, and irregular Pizzakaya pop up that serves Japanese-style pizzas and appetizers. Some of her accolades include being a James Beard finalist and named one of the best new chefs by Food & Wine.

Kamonegi is her most revered space (4.2 on Yelp, 4.4 on Google). You’d think she’d focus on sushi like other Japanese restaurants common in America, but instead you’ll find small plates and what she’s most famous for: soba noodles. Very few people in the US make these noodles from scratch. In an interview with Eater she explained why:

“The primary difficulty of making soba by hand is the fact that buckwheat has no gluten,It’s a common misconception that buckwheat is a grain, but it is actually a seed. Making noodles from a seed, with little gluten, requires deftness and technique in making and in cooking. It also means that the fresh noodles we make are perishable. They can dry out, become brittle, and fall apart in the water if kept too long or not made properly.”

The soba noodles here are made using old-school techniques, and you can truly taste the difference. It doesn’t matter whether you order cold or hot broth with tons of toppings; the noodles are always the star. I’m not a huge fan of cold noodles, but Soma balances them beautifully and turned me into a believer.

Shiro Kashiba

If you ever watched Netflix’s documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”, you know what a big deal his and his proteges’ sushi is. Well, we’re lucky to have one of his understudies here in Seattle: Shiro Kashiba. Most of Jiro’s students stayed in Japan, but Shiro had a dream of bringing the edo-mae style and “shun” (local & seasonal) philosophy of Japan to the seafood offerings of the Pacific Northwest.

His first restaurant, Shiro’s, is still in existence and offering one of the most affordable chef’s tasting sushi meals in the city. However, he’s no longer affiliated with the restaurant and has since opened up Sushi Kashiba in Pike Place Market (4.4 on Yelp, 4.6 on Google).

Sushi Kashiba is arguably one of the best fish restaurants in Seattle. I won’t lie and say it’s affordable, as it’ll set you back around $250 per person. But it’s worth visiting for the high-end food and market views.

Chef Kashiba is usually here during the weekends, but weekday visitors won’t be disappointed by the line of trained chefs on hand to create the most immaculate nigiri rolls and salt cod dishes around. And yep – some of the sushi is even elevated with a serving of caviar!

Holly Smith

I remember watching Holly Smith compete on The Next Iron Chef. This James Beard-award winning chef was a household name in the early-mid 2000s, being invited to compete on Top Chef Masters and featured in countless national foodie magazines.

Today she holds a quieter presence, with likely only her die-hard fans knowing just how exceptional she is. She helms Cafe Juanita in Kirkland, my favorite fine dining restaurant in Seattle. I can’t believe it only earns 4.2 stars on Yelp because Cafe Juanita is one of the best five star restaurants in Seattle, no contest. Thankfully Google reviewers give it a 4.6, which is much more what I’d expect.

You can expect Michelin-level dishes focusing on northern Italian cuisine. Guests can choose between a omnivorous, pescatarian, or vegetarian set menu. Each will include food that matches the season, but you can always expect perfectly-cooked pasta and a basket of their homemade breads. I still think about that damn bread basket, that’s the level of cookery happening in Cafe Juanita’s kitchen.

Tom Douglas

Tom Douglas is another celebrity chef that was prolific in the 90s and 00s. He’s a multi-James Beard award and Iron Chef winner, plus has made it on the top of many national magazine lists over the years.

While he’s a bit quieter these days, he still owns many restaurants around Seattle, most of them located in dowtown Seattle, through his restaurant group TD & Co:

Dahlia Bakery (American)
Lola (Mediterranean)
Half Shell (Seafood)
Mr. Fish (Seafood, more casual)
Palace Kitchen (Pacific Northwest)
Neb (Italian)
Serious Pie (Pizza, also located in Ballard and Totem Lake)
The Carlile Room (Veg-forward American)

He also has a lot of other projects, like the Hot Stove Society cooking school, Rub with Love pantry products, and Prosser Farm out near the Yakima wineries.

Of all Tommy D’s restaurants, Dahlia Bakery is my favorite (4.3 on Yelp, 4.5 on Google). I used to eat there regularly for lunch when I worked downtown. My order was always the same: a turkey, avocado, bacon sandwich with a cup of his famous tomato soup, followed by a peanut butter cookie. This PB cookie especially is worth awards alone. It’s one of the best I’ve ever had in my life thanks to its chewy texture and thin coating of peanut butter in the middle.

Ethan Stowell

Another prolific restauranteur is Ethan Stowell. His restaurant group, One House Hospitality (previously called ESR Hospitality), owns a whopping 13 restaurants, many of which have multiple locations spanning Seattle, Spokane, and Idaho. Here are the restaurants in the Seattle area:

Ballard Pizza Company (Ballard, Woodinville, SODO in T-Mobile Park)
Bombo Italian Kitchen (Downtown)
Cortina and Cortina Cafe (Italian, both Downtown)
How to Cook a Wolf (Pacific Northwest, Queen Anne and Madison Park)
Red Cow (Madrona, French steakhouse)
Rubenstein Bagels (Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, Eastlake, and Bellevue)
Staple & Fancy (Ballard, Italian)
Tavolàta (Italian, Fremont, Belltown, Capitol Hill, and Redmond)
The Victor Tavern (Gastropub, Downtown and Edmonds)

He also has a few of his own projects outside of the restaurant group, such as Cut Club in downtown’s Hotel Max and Lime Social at the Village at Totem Lake. While I personally don’t think ESR has five-star restaurants in Seattle, all of them are respectable and producing yummy food.

While I’ve had a great dishes at Tavolàta, Cortina, Red Cow, and How to Cook a Wolf, my favorite Ethan Stowell Restaurant is Staple & Fancy (4.1 on Yelp, 4.6 on Google). It shares an old building with Renee Erickson’s The Walrus and the Carpenter, so it has a lot of historic character. You can expect a lot of seasonal Italian dishes that feel elevated, but in a less fancy atmosphere than some of their other restaurants. They have one of the most affordable tasting menus in the city at ~$85pp served family style.

Private dining room at a Seattle restaurant — *Image of private dining space courtesy of Staple & Fancy*

Melissa Miranda

Melissa Miranda is credited as being the reason that Filipino restaurants in Seattle are prolific. While old-school joints like Ludi’s and Oriental Mart opened before she was born, Melissa saw a huge gap in the market given how vital Filipinos are to Seattle’s history. So she opened up Musang followed by Kilig and went on to become a James Beard finalist and get featured in national magazines like Food & Wine.

Musang was her first restaurant and my favorite between the two (4.4 on Yelp, 4.5 on Google). The restaurant is open for brunch and dinner and serves modern Filipino dishes with a Pacific Northwest twist. The dining room is cool and contemporary, which matches the eclectic menu and buzzy vibe.

Food-wise, you can’t go wrong with the silog if you’re here for brunch. It’s a traditional Filipino breakfast food that’s served with steak, chicken, or grilled eggplant and a fried egg. For dinner, try a selection of their mouthwatering small plates. Between you and me, you can’t beat the pancit lomi noodles if you want a well-rounded dish with tons of flavor.

person dipping lumpia from one of the five-star restaurants in Seattle

Michelin-star restaurants in Seattle

It’s a crime, but Michelin doesn’t come to the Pacific Northwest so there aren’t any Michelin restaurants in Seattle. However, there are outposts of restaurants that have earned Michelin stars elsewhere and chefs that worked at Michelin kitchens around the world. Here are the restaurants connected to Michelin in some way.

Hamdi

Hamdi is one of my go-to spots for Mediterranean food in Seattle. They’ve scaled from a tiny pop-up to a full restaurant, but their flavors have remained authentic over the years.

Owners Berk Guldal and Katrina Schult hail from some seriously-impressive Michelin restaurants: The French Laundry and Singlethread in California’s Napa/Sonoma Valley. Chef Guldal is Turkish and all about using traditional cooking methods and old-school flavors, but he elevates them to Michelin-level dishes.

While the food here is elevated, the atmosphere is never stuffy. There’s an open kitchen and the staff is always having a good time. They tend to operate a seasonal menu so you should expect changes throughout the year. But I always order the kebap, which is a glorious mainstay that’s served with juicy meat and warm pita.

takeout containers of Mediterranean food from one of the best five-star restaurants in Seattle

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants

Scratch Restaurants is a mini restaurant chain with locations all around the US. Their Montecito, California location was featured in the Michelin guide, so Seattle went crazy when they opened a location here. There was a lot of misinformation going around that they have a Michelin star, which they don’t, but even being recognized is a huge feat.

You can expect a dimly-lit sushi omakase experience. There are under 20 seats and the chefs deftly prepare unique nigiri pieces with showmanship. This isn’t your traditional Japanese restaurant, as you’ll often find more global ingredients and techniques, but you can expect every piece to melt in your mouth.

Canlis

Canlis is one of the most polarizing restaurants in Seattle. It’s the city’s old school fine dining establishment with iconic views of Lake Union and mid century modern architecture. Regulars who have been going since the 50s swear by it. New diners often complain it’s not worth the hype, especially for the price. Others think it’d earn a Michelin star if Michelin came to Seattle.

It’s hard to sustain a restaurant over the decades, but Canlis has a tradition of bringing in Michelin-star chefs to lead its kitchen. For example, it was once led by Brady Ishiwata Williams, who worked at Michelin kitchens and won a James Beard Award before opening his restaurant Tomo in White Center. Then there was Aisha Ibrahim, a James Beard finalist and Michelin-star kitchen alum who also went on to open her own restaurant.

While the kitchen is now helmed by James Huffman, a local chef who never worked in Michelin kitchens, he’s still leading the restaurant with Canlis’ guests’ expectations of five-star restaurants in Seattle.

Canlis restaurant, one of the best Seattle restaurants with views — *Image courtesy of Canlis*

More delicious restaurants in Seattle

If you’ve been inspired by these five-star restaurants in Seattle, why not check out a few more?