The Best Bowls in Seattle
In a city with so much great food, we wanted to know: What really takes the prize? Our critics tasted dozens of the very best bowls to find out
By Chelsea Lin August 17, 2018
This article originally appeared in the September 2018 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print as the cover story of the September 2018 issue. Read more from the Best of the Best Restaurants feature story here. Click here to subscribe.
Best of the Best: Vif
Perhaps it’s our increasingly harried midday mealtimes; maybe it’s just an excuse to wash fewer dishes. Regardless of the reason, bowls—filled with everything from greens to grains to poke—are in in a major way.
The best ones capitalize on contrast when it comes to texture, flavor and color. The truly extraordinary ones, like the ever-changing breakfast bowl ($10) at this chic café and wine bar, manage all that while also delivering superfoods you can smugly post to Instagram. (You may not want to include in that post the two great chocolate chip cookies from Vif’s that you also consumed).
Whether the day’s bowl is filled with savory grains, lentils and greens or hearty beans, make sure it also includes a jammy six-minute egg to ooze all over everything. Just keep in mind it’s only available for breakfast/brunch.
Fremont, 4401 Fremont Ave. N; 206.557.7357; vifseattle.com
OTHER FAVORITES
Fremont Bowl
Fremont, 4258 Fremont Ave. N; 206.504.3095; fremontbowl.com
TIP: Just down the street from Vif, Fremont Bowl makes a chirashi bowl that has become one of our favorite meals of the past year—but getting a seat there is damn near impossible.
B-Side Foods
Capitol Hill, 421 E Thomas St.; bside.cool
Revel
South Lake Union, 513 Westlake Ave. N; 206.547.2040; relayrestaurantgroup.com/restaurants/revel
Follow Us
Restaurant Roundup: “Pho-potle” and Yemeni Cuisine
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
This is it. The week (or two) that you, as a food and drink aficionado, wait for every year. A double whammy of epic portions. Seattle Cocktail Week (April 19-26) and Seattle Restaurant Week (April 19-May 2) are finally here. Let’s start with a beverage Seattle Cocktail Week is your chance to get out and…
Seattle Restaurant Week Is Back
Go out with friends and support local restaurants while you’re at it.
The name still undersells it a little. It lasts two weeks, not one, but it’s a pretty great opportunity to try somewhere new or go back to an old favorite. This spring’s run, April 19-May 2, brings curated menus priced at $20, $35, $50, and $65 to restaurants, bars, cafes, food trucks, and pop-ups across…
Magical Mollusks
Oysters are one the Northwest’s favorite harvests. The hardworking farmers behind this bounty share a deep appreciation for its source and a personal connection to the processes that yield our food.
It’s hard to describe people who are undeniably connected to the land—often, it’s about a feeling they transmit. Grounded, knowledgeable about their work, and passionate in their care for nature’s resources. Oyster farmers along Hood Canal, like Matthew Macias, give off a certain vibe, as though they have some secret to life that I don’t…
Restaurant Roundup: National Attention and a Sweet Detour
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
Just south of Bellingham, the northbound lanes of I-5 have been closed for weeks following a massive landslide, pushing travelers onto Chuckanut Drive (SR 11). If you’ve got the time, we’re here to encourage you to embrace the detour and take the sugary scenic route, so to speak. Along the way, you’ll find plenty of…