Visiting Seattle and looking for the best Asian food in town? Here are our fave spots.
Although we love experiencing a region’s specialty food, after several days, we end up craving Asian food. There’s a familiarity that brings us comfort and transports us to our childhood.
On a recent trip, we dove deeper into the heart and history of Seattle’s Asian community. Since the city’s founding, Asian immigrants have settled in and around its historic core, including Chinatown, Little Saigon, Japantown, and Manilatown. They also influenced and helped found Pike Place Market from nearby heritage farming communities on Bainbridge Island and throughout the Snoqualmie, Kent, Auburn, and Carnation Valleys.
Last Updated: June 24, 2026
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Located just steps from where the city will host games for this year’s FIFA World Cup, Chinatown-International District (CID), acts as the beating heart of this community. You can find delicious dishes from nearly any Asian food community within minutes, proving that in Seattle, Asian Food Lives Here – an effort to recognize the generational contributions of makers and next-gen Asian restaurants, bakeries, and artisans alike, while shaping the city’s future.
Like Asians everywhere, the community revolves around food. In fact, as we filled our bellies, we reflected on the phrase Asian Food Lives Here and what it means to us.
Your Guide to the Best Asian Food in Seattle WA
Here are our go-to Asian food spots in Seattle. I know there’s more, so let us know which places we need to check out next!
1. Ramie
1529 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122, map
Because Ramie is the sister restaurant of Ba Sa, where we had our favorite meal on Bainbridge Island, we knew we had to eat here. It ended up being our favorite meal of this Olympic Peninsula trip, too. Everything we ordered was delicious, but you can’t miss the pommes pave (stop to appreciate the hundreds of layers of crispy potato perfection), pork floss croissants, and the shrimp benedict with XO beurre blanc.
Additionally, we tried the Banh bot chien, Banh mi xiu mai (pork meatballs), and bo ne (ny strip banh mi).
See More: How to Spend the Perfect 3 Days in Seattle
2. Hood Famous
504 5th Ave S #107a, Seattle, WA 98104, map
I love stories like Hood Famous, where, much like myself, it started as a fun passion project that accidentally turned into a career.
Hood Famous originally started as a pop-up dining experience for Chera and Geo’s 10th anniversary. However, the popularity of Chera’s Hood Famous Ube Cheesecake, nicknamed by their friends and community, eventually led to what you know as the Hood Famous Bakeshop today.
While we were there, we tried their Calamansi espresso tonic, beef mechando, and of course, their ube cheesecake, which started it all.
3. Mee Sum Pastry
1526 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101, map
If you’re looking for a delicious, quick snack while exploring Pike Place, this is a popular pastry shop that has been in Pike Place for 40 years. We picked up BBQ pork and curry beef hom bows and a crispy green tea black sesame ball. If you only have space for one, we suggest the curry beef hom bow, since it’s more unique, and you can find BBQ pork in many other places.
See More: 7 Best Seattle Neighborhoods to Spend the Weekened
4. SuSHi Kashiba
86 Pine St, Suite #1, Seattle, WA 98101, United States, map
Chef Shiro is known as the Sushi Sensei of Seattle, and this is perfect if you want to celebrate or want a nicer dinner out. Overall, we had a solid omakase experience, and you can walk around Pike Place Market before dinner since it’s really close.
5. Jade Garden
424 7th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104, map
Jade Garden is the most popular dim sum restaurant in Seattle and has been around for over 20 years. They make everything in-house daily, starting at 3 am. The har gow (shrimp dumplings) were the fattest ones we’ve eaten.
We had the pleasure of meeting Eric, the eldest son of the original owner, who has taken over the business. He told us that “There’s no secret to good dim sum. You just have to wake up at 3 am,” and it has changed how we see dim sum spots.
See More: Ultimate Seattle Bucketlist
6. Rondo Japanese Kitchen
224 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102, United States, map
Jacob loves a good value, and Rondo Japanese Kitchen had the best happy hour specials. I highly recommend the Tasty BB noodles and their appetizer special, which comes with multiple apps, a large glass of sake, and a beer for $10.
7. Tai Tung
655 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104, map
Tai Tung is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seattle and is an icon. In fact, Bruce Lee used to be a regular, and you can dine in his booth and order his favorites, oyster sauce beef and garlic shrimp. On our first night in Seattle, we shared a meal and connected with the super Asians of Seattle and tried several classic Canto-American dishes we’ve never tried before.
See More: 15 Best Day Tips from Seattle
9. Fuji Bakery
526 S King St #2834, Seattle, WA 98104, map
The malasadas at Fuji Bakery are a must. We got the lilikoi malasada and the beef kare-pan.
See More: 11 Amazing Museums in Seattle You Can’t Miss
10. Taz Matcha & Bar
410 Stewart St, Seattle, WA 98101, United States, map
Taz Matcha and Bar aims to be a tranquil space for the community, serving ceremonial-grade matcha beverages. Our Seattleite friend visited in the morning and told us it’s usually a quieter experience. Although it was buzzing with a line out the door when we visited, so we grabbed our drinks to go instead.
11. PHIN Vietnamese Coffee
913 S Jackson St ste d, Seattle, WA 98104, map
We went for coffee and dessert, and the pandan waffles are so good. You can also pick up a mix to take and make at home.
See More: 15 Best Weekend Getaways from Seattle
12. King Noodle
615 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104, United States, map
This is a no-nonsense, build-your-own noodle place. It’s affordable, has large portions, and is perfect for colder Seattle days.
13. Uwajimaya
600 5th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104, map
This iconic Japanese grocery store is where we stop by on almost all our Seattle trips to pick up Asian snacks to fuel our adventures. It also has a bookstore attached.
Uwajimaya plays a huge role in the history of Asian food in Seattle. It was founded in 1928 in Tacoma; however, following the WWII internment, the family moved the business to Seattle’s CID in 1945. Today, it is PNW’s largest Asian grocery.
Short on Time? Build a Bento Go on a picnic
If you’re short on time or want to try many different places in one day, you can build your own Bento. On the last day before our flight, we picked up a bento box from Uwajimaya to fill with sweet and savory snacks from all over the Chinatown International District (CID). This included Hood Famous, Fuji Bakery, Jade Garden, and Uwajimaya.
Afterward, we stopped at Hing Hay Park in CID for a snack and packed the rest for our plane ride home.
Map of Best Asian Spots in Seattle
Where to Stay in Seattle
We stayed at The Charter Hotel Seattle, which offers modern, clean, and comfortable rooms. Most importantly, the location was a convenient 5-minute walk from Pike Place Market and the waterfront. In addition, it’s only a 5-minute ride to CID, where we had all our good food.
For more hotel options, explore the map below.
Planning Checklist
- Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
- Download these helpful language apps.
- Find a great deal on Seattle hotels.
- Arrange a rental car for your trip.
- Book a tour for your visit.
- Get airport lounge access.
- Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
- Get a new backpack for your trip.
- Buy a Seattle travel guide.
- Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
- Don’t forget your in-flight essentials.
- Save money on attractions with a CityPass.
Have you tried any of these? What are your favorite Asian restaurants in Seattle?
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Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
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