Seattle spent a whopping $800 million dollars on the new waterfront to create a vibrant public space. But is it just a tourist trap with expensive food? Seattle Times writers chat about the history of the waterfront and the food spots worth braving the crowds to check out on Seattle's new "front porch." Read more of Tan's reporting on the Waterfront food scene here. Check out David’s essay on the Seattle’s “front porch” here . Recommendations in this episode: Mee Sum Pastry Lowell’s Jack’s Fish ...
Jul 24, 2025•16 min
It’s restaurant season in Seattle! Dozens of new spots are opening in hopes of riding a summer wave of tourists and sunshine. In this episode, Tan highlights three restaurants the industry is watching and reviews the menus at each. Read more of Tan’s reporting on new restaurants in The Seattle Times . Recommendations in this episode: The Wayland Mill, Wallingford Mr. Fish, Downtown La Loba, South Lake Union Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You ...
Jul 17, 2025•18 min
Seattle Times food critics Tan Vinh and Jackie Varriano eat hundreds of meals each month: At new restaurants, old-school dive bars, tiny pop-ups and national chains. In this episode, Tan and Jackie highlight five of the best dishes they’ve tasted recently, from high-concept Vietnamese fusion to an Italian cookie pop-up. Read more about Tan and Jackie’s picks in The Seattle Times, linked below. Recommendations in this episode: Ramie , Capitol Hill – Hột Vịt Lộn (duck) custard Nue, Capitol Hill – ...
Jul 10, 2025•18 min
Who makes the best slice of pizza in Seattle? Last summer, the Seattle Times food team went in search of an answer to that question. They polled Seattle diners and narrowed 32 pizzerias down to 4 finalists and 1 winner. Today, we’re re-sharing our episode breaking down the results, so you can enjoy a pristine slice this holiday weekend. Read more about the results of The Seattle Times Pizza Smackdown . Recommendations in this episode: Bar del Corso , Beacon Hill Delancey , Ballard The Independen...
Jul 03, 2025•19 min
June brought a slate of closed restaurants in Seattle, from a half-century-old dive bar to some of the city’s most high-end dining. But it was also a good month for new spots, with two popular rooftop bars debuting in Central Seattle just as the weather heats up. Tan breaks down all the trends in openings and closings this month with Seattle Eats producer Clare McGrane. Read more about The College Inn Pub ’s closure, Sea Creatures Restaurants’ pivot and this summer’s new openings in The Seattle ...
Jun 26, 2025•22 min
This week, 25 restaurants and chefs were crowned with James Beard Awards – the Oscars of the food world. And for the fifth year in a row, Washington state came away with zero wins. Tan breaks down the three Seattle-area finalists with Seattle Times food writer Jackie Varriano, and asks: What are we doing wrong? Read more about this year’s local James Beard Award finalists, including seven-time finalist Jay Blackington , in The Seattle Times . Recommendations in this episode: Atoma, Wallingford –...
Jun 19, 2025•12 min
Dinner parties are a staple in many cultures, but in Georgia – in the Caucus mountains of Eastern Europe — dinner parties are another deal all together. Almost any occasion in Georgia calls for a Supra, a feasting tradition that goes far beyond the food on the table and the wine in the glasses. It’s about connecting with the other people around the table, sometimes getting extremely vulnerable. The Supra Dinner Society wants to make this Georgian tradition a feature in Seattle. In this episode, ...
Jun 12, 2025•15 min
Ever stopped by a Seattle bar or casual food spot and noticed a pinball machine or two? The region is a center for pinball enthusiasts, in part thanks to its culture of barcades and general geekiness. Today, we’re sharing a glimpse into Seattle’s pinball haunts from Meet Me Here, a new podcast from KUOW. Find more episodes of Meet Me Here in the KUOW app or your favorite podcast app. Recommendations in this episode: 8-bit, Renton ADD-A-Ball, Fremont Ice Box, Ballard (all ages) Jupiter, Belltown ...
Jun 05, 2025•17 min
Memorial Day is behind us, meaning summer has officially started. The Seattle Eats team is taking a short summer break to cook up new shows. To get the vacation vibes going, we asked friends of the show to send us their favorite patio to enjoy the summer weather. Seattle Eats will be back with regular episodes June 12. Patio recommendations: Marination Ma Kai – West Seattle (Rachel Belle) Little Water Cantina – Eastlake (Trevor Lenzmeier) Bar Harbor – South Lake Union (Bethany Jean Clement) Hook...
May 29, 2025•6 min
The Pacific Northwest is a great place to hunt for clams of all types: Razor, manilla, butter, and even the elusive geoduck. But one bivalve flies under the radar: horse clams. Horse clams are the little cousin of the geoduck and share many of the qualities that make geoduck a delicacy. But while geoduck costs upwards of $40 a pound, horse clams aren’t available in stores. The only way to eat them is to get a $15 license, find a beach at low tide and start digging. In this episode, Tan takes a h...
May 22, 2025•19 min
Roy Choi is best known as the father of the Korean fusion taco. His food truck Kogi went viral in 2008, making him one of the first food influencers on social media. But in his new book The Choi of Cooking, Roy offers a look into a different part of his life: His journey to eat healthier while still having the comfort foods he loves. Tan interviewed Roy in front of a sold-out audience at Freemont Abbey in Seattle during his book tour. Special thanks to Book Larder for organizing the event. More ...
May 15, 2025•15 min
Mexican Seoul is making waves among Seattle foodies. But instead of traditional carne asada or cheesy quesadillas, the food truck in Roosevelt is serving up a meld of Korean and Mexican flavors. Their menu features bulgogi-style pork cooked al pastor, kimchi pico de gallo and steak marinated in spices from Korean kalbi. Tan tastes two of Mexican Seoul’s most popular tacos with local Korean food aficionados Ellen Acuario and Jane Park, co-hosts of the podcast Reply Yeochin. Plus, the trio debates...
May 08, 2025•26 min
Seattle has some truly stellar food that draws on cultures from around the world, but not all cuisines get equal time in the limelight. At a recent live event at Town Hall Seattle for the Splendid Table podcast, Tan and Seattle chef Melissa Miranda joined Splendid Table host Francis Lam to put a spotlight on fine dining in Vietnamese and Filipino cuisines. Recommendations in this episode: Musang, Beacon Hill (Filipino) Ramie, Capitol Hill Pho Hein Trang, Renton Café La Vie, Tacoma Ba Bar, variou...
May 01, 2025•21 min
Two big-name Washington breweries are expanding with new locations in Seattle, complete with food offerings from local chefs. Tan explains how the news points to two trends shaping the city’s brewery scene. Plus, Seattle Times editor Trevor Lenzmeier tells the story of an acclaimed sushi restaurant that shut down this month, and not for reasons you would expect. Tell us about your favorite neighborhood hang out spot! Email us at SeattleEats@kuow.org Read Tan’s coverage of brewery expansions and ...
Apr 24, 2025•20 min
There are plenty of good hot sandwiches in any town. But making a great hot sandwich is something of an art form. There are too many ways for things to go wrong: Sharp crusts that scratch the roof of the mouth; one-note fillings; sad lettuce; etc. Seattle Times journalist and restaurant critic Bethany Jean Clement joins Tan to discuss her criteria for a stellar hot sandwich, and they taste three from her top-10 list. Read Bethany’s list of the 10 best hot sandwiches in the city in The Seattle Ti...
Apr 17, 2025•21 min
Like many cities, Seattle has a long history of turning pre-made cacao into chocolate confections. But there’s a new kind of chocolate maker in town: Small, artisanal makers that are crafting “bean to bar” chocolates that retail for as much as $13 a bar. Seattle Times food writer Jackie Varriano dug into this shift, and the kind of chocolate these new operations are churning out. She joins Tan for a taste test of three Seattle-area brands and they ask the question: Is this fancy treat worth the ...
Apr 10, 2025•26 min
Tahini is a simple ingredient — toasted sesame seeds, ground into an oily paste. It had a moment in the food fad cycle in 2016, but has since faded into the background. Local writer and cookbook author Rachel Belle thinks that is a mistake. In her new book Open Sesame! , she argues that tahini deserves a spot in the center of every kitchen. In this episode, Tan visits Rachel for a blind taste test of four tahinis, and learns the role the ingredient plays in Rachel’s homemade hummus recipe. Rache...
Apr 03, 2025•23 min
This month, Seattle lost three iconic restaurants, including one in the heart of Chinatown. At the same time, the two hottest new restaurants in the region are Chinese spots in cities outside Seattle. On this episode, Tan and dining partner and writer Chris Solomon share some of their favorite bites at these new restaurants and discuss what this shift says about the region. Read more about the hottest new restaurants in The Seattle Times . Recommendations in this episode: Jiang Nan, Downtown Bel...
Mar 27, 2025•16 min
Eating out is getting pricier. But if you’re looking for a great deal at Seattle-area restaurants, all you have to do is adventure out on a quieter day. Many local eateries run deals during their slowest hours, like Monday evenings or mid-week lunch times. In this episode, Tan explains his list of the 5 best meal deals in the region. Read more about Tan’s meal deal picks in The Seattle Times . Recommendations in this episode: Itadaki Yakiniku, Bellevue — $9.99 Wagyu cheeseburger (lunch only, M-F...
Mar 20, 2025•20 min
There is a new trend popping up all over the Seattle Pizza Scene: Fusion pizzas. And we’re not talking about controversial toppings like pineapple or olives. Instead, think pizza topped with ingredients for a Seattle Dog, or a crust slathered in mac and cheese. Tan is joined by Seattle Times Food Editor Trevor Lenzmeier for a breakdown of the best and wildest fusion pies in the city. Read Tan’s reporting on fusion pizzas in The Seattle Times . Recommendations in this episode: Bar Flohr & Piz...
Mar 13, 2025•15 min
You’re not imagining it: Restaurant prices are soaring, particularly in Seattle. A combination of food inflation, bird flu and the city’s recent minimum wage hike mean many restaurant owners are raising prices and getting creative to stay in business. Tan explains how things might be changing at your favorite spot, and what budget-friendly dishes to look for if your wallet is feeling the sting. Read Tan’s reporting on the effects of the minimum wage increase in The Seattle Times . Restaurants we...
Mar 06, 2025•21 min
Our town was made for soup. The sooty dusks of December. The dampness of March. We dive into caldrons of smoking pho and ramen. So, why not udon? On today’s episode, Tan ventures out to find some of the best udon in Seattle. He visits Azuki in Madison Valley to learn about how Chef Ryuji Miyata makes his noodles by hand. Later, Tan recommends some more casual and budget-friendly udon places. Read more about Tan’s udon picks . Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW . You can s...
Feb 27, 2025•19 min
There are 15 new bars and restaurants that Tan check-marked as must visit this year. But there’s one opening that just might be the most anticipated. It’s called My Friend Derek’s. A hotspot for Detroit-style pizza, run by self-taught baker Derek Reiff. It’s in the Tangletown neighborhood, just south of Green Lake. On today’s episode, Tan visits Derek at his restaurant the day before it opens to talk about what Detroit-style pizza is and what it’s like to go from a pop-up sensation to a sit-down...
Feb 20, 2025•14 min
There are thousands of restaurants all over Puget Sound, and each of these restaurants serve different dishes. So how do you know which ones to pick? Well, The Seattle Times food team tried over 1500 dishes in the past year, so you don’t have to. In this episode, Tan talks with Times food writers Jackie Varriano and Bethany Jean Clement about the best dishes they ate last year. Read more about their favorite dishes here . Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW . You can suppo...
Feb 13, 2025•25 min
Costco is a great place to stock up on holiday staples, and nowhere is that more true than its wine selection. Tan and sommelier Owen Bargreen break down their picks for this year’s best wine offerings, and share tips on how to find them. Plus, a loophole at restaurants that lets you save money by bringing your own bottle of wine to dinner. Recommendations in this episode: Sparkling wine: Kirkland brand champagne, $19.99 Red wine: 2022 Kirkland Signature Malbec, $6.99 White wine: 2022 Kirkland S...
Dec 12, 2024•28 min
$20 burgers. $50 pizzas. Eating out in Seattle has never been so expensive – and there’s lots of reasons why. In this bonus episode of Seattle Eats, we share a conversation about the economics of restaurant prices with four local chefs and restaurateurs. Panel: Kristi Brown (Communion) Victor Steinbrueck (Local Tide) Ethan Stowell (Ethan Stowell Restaurants) Rachel Yang (Revel, Joule) Moderated by Jackie Varriano, Seattle Times food writer See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 28, 2024•25 min
Food pop-ups, trucks and carts are blossoming all over Seattle – but not all of them are above board. The city is seeing a huge spike in mobile food vendors that aren’t permitted. Today we tell the story of how Tan found out about this trend thanks to the hottest food truck of the summer, and talk to Seattle Times reporter Jackie Varriano about how to tell if a food vendor is following health rules. Plus, Seattle is having an al pastor taco moment. Tan shares tips for where to get a great bite. ...
Nov 14, 2024•27 min
Teriyaki as we know it was invented in Seattle in the 1970s. It’s why there’s a teriyaki joint almost every other block across the city. On this episode, we join author and food influencer J. Kenji López-Alt on his mission to eat at every single teriyaki restaurant in Seattle (and some outside) and discover the ultimate form of this native Seattle cuisine. Plus, Kenji and Tan discuss one of the best restaurants in Colombia that may soon be making an appearance in the Seattle area. Recommendation...
Oct 31, 2024•29 min
Pho and Banh mi shops are ubiquitous in Seattle, but Vietnamese food here is evolving far beyond these two dishes. In this episode, Seattle Times Food Writers Bethany Jean Clement and Jackie Varriano join Tan for a taste test of their favorite Vietnamese dishes in the city, courtesy of the Times’ Vietnamese Food Guide. Plus, a neighborhood in Seattle with great cheap eats that you’ve probably never heard of. Read the Vietnamese Food Guide: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/the-best-of...
Oct 17, 2024•31 min
Only one spot in Washington state made the New York Time’s list of 50 best restaurants this year: familyfriend. The Beacon Hill eatery’s menu is filled with stand-out meals from Guam and other Pacific Islands, but the one responsible for its meteoric rise is all American. In this episode, Tan chats with familyfriend owner Elmer Dulla about the restaurant’s sudden success and its Guamanian roots. Plus, tips for enjoying fresh hop season in Seattle, even if you’re not a beer fan. Read more about E...
Oct 03, 2024•26 min
