Explore Washington State
Washington State Food and Drink
Washington State’s food and drink scene has grown into something genuinely worth making a trip for. The same state that produces world class wines in the Walla Walla Valley and Yakima hop farms is also home to a craft brewery scene that punches above its weight, independent coffee roasters doing serious work, and a coastal seafood tradition that starts about as close to the source as you can get.
This section covers the eating and drinking side of exploring Washington. You will find restaurant recommendations, brewery and winery guides, coffee shops worth seeking out, food trucks worth tracking down, and the kind of local food finds that do not show up on national best of lists but should. Every post is written by someone who actually ordered the food and formed an opinion.
Washington is a genuinely interesting food state. The agricultural diversity east of the Cascades alone produces ingredients most other states can only import. Pair that with a Pacific coast seafood supply and a serious Pacific Northwest food culture and you have the conditions for some exceptional eating, whether you are in a city or a small town.
Browse recent posts below, or use the county tags to find food and drink recommendations near where you are headed.
With the weather getting colder outside, there’s never been a better time to get a warm cup of hot chocolate. This is especially true if you love the outdoors, as you get to reward all your activity with a tasty mug of chocolate. I’ve been in Seattle for over 25 years, so here are my...
Bagels: More than just fat pieces of bread, the right bagel can take you back to your childhood, brunch moments with friends, places you’ve traveled — or just heartily fill you up. Bagels seem simple: round bread made of easy-to-find ingredients with a hole in the middle. However, a bagel is so much more than...
When I was in high school, I had the good fortune to be an exchange student in Switzerland. On my return from this life-changing experience, one of the things I missed the most was crusty European bread. Fast forward to the present and one can find bakeries making real bread all over America, hurrah! Even...
Scrolling through Instagram, Pinterest or your favorite food sites, it’s pretty difficult not to spot a charcuterie board or two. Charcuterie boards (or cheese plates, cheese boards, antipasto platters) have been rising in popularity, whether they’re being served at fancy dinner parties or weddings, or serving as the perfect replacement for dinner when you don’t...
Kitty Cantina is Spokane’s first and only cat café. Its long-awaited opening took place on June 8th, 2020, having been delayed a few months due to the Covid-19 statewide shutdown. Their original opening date was set in April, but they were only able to operate their drive-thru coffee window until Phase 2 of Washington’s reopening...
Anchored by classic northwest brewpubs like Boundary Bay and Chuckanut Brewery, “Brewingham” has long been a favorite Washington beer destination. Bellingham’s modern brewery boom began around 2012 with the opening of Kulshan Brewing — followed by Aslan, Wander, Structures and many more. If you haven’t been to town in a while, you might have missed...
Editor’s note (April 2026): This article was originally published in June 2020. The Point Ruston location referenced below opened but has since closed and been sold. Owens Meats today operates from its single flagship location in Cle Elum, along with its meat machines around Washington. The history, products, and Cle Elum details below remain accurate....
Although much of life has been changing over the past few months, one thing stays consistent — support for local restaurants. While some businesses have chosen to close during this time, Ellensburg Pasta Company (EPC), a local staple of Kittitas County, has kept their doors open with modifications to the usual dining room experience. From...
Many of us rely on restaurants to source the best cheese from local creameries. Pairing cheese with food and wine is mysterious work, perhaps best left to chefs and sommeliers. But how do we select the best cheese pairings to enjoy at home right now? We got a little help from our friends. Cheese Pairings...
Skamania and Klickitat counties are known for their gorge-ous (pun intended) Columbia River Gorge views and a variety of outdoor recreation options. But did you know it’s also a fantastic area for locally made craft beer, cider and spirits? Read on for some of my favorites, including where to find great sour beers and family-friendly...
Are you looking for a family-friendly restaurant with a community feel? Because you’re in luck! Daily Bread and Mercantile, nestled in the heart of Central Washington, is your next lunch destination. Located in Ellensburg, this restaurant is a local secret and the perfect stopping point for your next road trip through the state. And while...
Being new to Washington state, my family and I are always trying to explore and learn about our new home… basically spending our free time seeing where the road takes us. Venturing just 15 miles outside of downtown Vancouver, we recently spent the day in Camas. On the way there, as we traveled east along...
