What’s more American than watching Joey Chestnut inhale franks on Independence Day? It may be blasphemous to speak of royalty around this particular holiday, but while the king of calories chews toward his 18th title this weekend on Coney Island, the hot dog crown resides firmly on the West Coast. That’s right, the Seattle dog has topped The New York Times’ taste test bracket, beating out Chicago and its celery salt, the bacon-wrapped Sonoran dog, and five other regional recipes. Caramelized onions and cream cheese, for the win!

Red, white, and on the money

Flight Club Seattle hit the bullseye when it comes to Fourth of July fun. In honor of our country’s 250th birthday, the bar will serve up $2.50 beef sliders, Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, while also hosting darts game challenges where the winners earn a $250 bar tab. The festive and fiery Stars & Spice Sour cocktail will stick around all month, featuring chile-infused vodka, fresh watermelon syrup and lemon juice, a silky egg-white foam topping, and red, white, and blue salt around the rim.

Go big or go hungry

You’ll want a more spacious stomach, and honestly, a couple more hands would probably be useful when you take on the enormous eats on this list from Seattle Refined. From a bowl of pho so large you could take a bath in it, to salmon nigiri that requires a forklift certification just to get the morsels to your mouth, these foodie finds are gluttony at its finest.

I will follow you into that restaurant

Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard has called Seattle home for many years, and his expertise in music is on par with choosing where to eat around town. In the lead-up to the band’s Bumbershoot performance this summer, give his recommendations a try; you won’t find any “Styrofoam Plates,” but there are a few picks ideal for family dinners (Spinasse, Harry’s Fine Foods), as well as casual options and can’t-miss takeout.

Incredible gas station Indian food

Yes, you read that right, and there are a few such fuel stops you should check out on your next road trip around the Olympic Peninsula, starting with Namaste, a rather unexpected restaurant inside of a Chevron in Poulsbo. Thanks to its tandoori clay oven and heavenly aromas of naan and curry, travelers are often taken aback by this departure from the typical jalapeño poppers that spent too long in the tanning bed. You’ll find similar stops in Port Townsend, Sequim, and Port Angeles. 

Live-fire dinner on the water

This August 13, as part of Noble House Hotels & Resorts’ Great Plates Expedition, guests can enjoy an immersive dinner designed to explore the unique destination-inspired flavors of The Edgewater Hotel. To help bring the salt and sizzle of Seattle to life, James Beard-nominated chef and TV personality Adam Glick will host a multi-course meal prepared over open fire on the terrace, featuring fresh seafood sourced from Pike Place Market and Hama Hama oysters, all set against marvelous views of the Sound and the distant skyline. Each attendee will also take home a Messermeister chef knife and a signed copy of Glick’s cookbook, “Live Free, Eat Well: Elevated Cuisine for Outdoorsy Travelers and Modern Nomads.”

Michelin-star chef to join the Harvest Yard

The heavily anticipated Woodinville development—which already features an extensive list of prestigious dining and wine tasting options—has announced a new restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Hari Nayak. The name is still under wraps, but the menu will offer “a fresh perspective to Indian cuisine through the lens of the Pacific Northwest.” Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients will set the table for shareable plates, with a focus on “community, hospitality and the joy of gathering around the table.” The Yard’s first wave of openings is expected in July.