Restaurant Roundup: R-Day, Chowder Charity, and Bourdain’s Order

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

By Ben McBee September 11, 2026

A person holding a spoon over a bowl of creamy soup garnished with herbs, with bread, butter, and blue napkins on a wooden table.

Seattle loves clam chowder—and helping out people in need. With the help of hungry customers, Duke’s Seafood raised $10,000 for wildfire relief in Washington.

Photo courtesy of Duke’s Seafood

With the salty Puget Sound air teasing your palate, there tend to be a few bites that float to the top of the list—perhaps a bagel topped with smoked salmon or a dozen oysters on ice. But what really hits the mark, especially on the drizzly gray days that lie ahead, is a basket of piping hot fish and chips. Few have been in that particular business longer than Alki Spud, which started business in 1935 as a walk-up stand and now offers a second floor with a view. It’s the best kind of nostalgia (golden and crispy) and well worth a visit for a picnic in the sand.

Speaking of good vibes and long-running spectacles…

A Triple D party

As was suspected a few weeks ago when a bright red Camaro was spotted outside of Lupe’s Situ Tacos, the long-running Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives was indeed in town and filming. The Ballard restaurant was closed for a day and a half to hang with Guy Fieri, and now staff are ready to celebrate their time in the Flavortown spotlight by inviting customers to watch their episode’s debut on Friday, Sept. 11 at 9 p.m. in the back bar, Tilda’s Lounge.

In other famous chef news…

Tony, a new movie about the late Anthony Bourdain’s early years and his introduction to cooking, is currently showing in theaters across the country. Ten years ago, the Parts Unknown host came to Seattle and visited Revel; in honor of the film, chef Rachel Yang joined King 5 News to share some of the dishes that Bourdain ordered during his visit, including a short rib dumpling and lemongrass beef noodle, while also demonstrating how to prepare them.

A dose of Vitamin R

Rainier’s annual “R-Day” festival is set to crack open a few cold ones this weekend (Saturday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m.), celebrating the anniversary of the return of the iconic R neon sign at the brewery’s original location. Admission to the 21+ event is free, and proceeds from the beer garden will benefit the Georgetown Business Association. On top of live music and an arcade, you can also expect an expanded selection of food trucks, including Fonda La Catrina, Star Brass Lounge, and Off the Rez.

Make it mobile

Mercer Island might not be the first food cart destination you think of, but there are more than a few worth crossing Lake Washington for, according to Seattle Weekly’s Mindy Stern, also a Mercer Island resident. From the SPO (sausage, peppers, and onions) at Wise Guy Italian Food Truck to the lengua tacos at Las Bugambilias, the delicious truck eats often come with a story and a smile.

4,503 bowls of clam chowder

That’s a lot of clam chowder. Last month, Duke’s Seafood found a way to turn all that soup into some much-needed help for people affected by Washington’s wildfires. The restaurant’s two-week Chowder Fundraiser, held at all six of its regional locations, donated $2 for each of the 4,503 bowls of clam chowder that customers ordered, rounding up to make a $10,000 donation to the American Red Cross’ relief and recovery efforts.

About Restaurant Roundup

Restaurant Roundup is Seattle magazine’s weekly look at what’s new, notable, and worth eating and drinking around the city—from restaurant openings and closings to pop-ups, events, and the occasional very good burger.