Restaurant Roundup: Taiwanese Street Food and Watchpost Whiskey
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City
By Ben McBee August 8, 2025
Hot dogs are quintessential summer food, but frankly, the ones they’re cooking up at Fido Hot Dogs, in the parking lot of Omar’s Tires, go way beyond your typical ketchup and mustard creations. We’re definitely not complaining, in fact the Venezuelan-style toppings — like hard-boiled egg, shredded beef stew, onion, cabbage, carrots, and fried potato — are just the kind of genius we’re looking for.
Sprinkle these stories in to add some more flavor to the season.
The weekend tastes like bubble tea and popcorn chicken
This Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 8-9, 4-9 p.m.), Seattle’s revamped Pier 58 will host a Taiwanese night market, complete with vendors selling delicious xiǎo lóng bāo, panna cotta taro cake, and other authentic street food from the island nation. For many, it will also be the first-view of the public plaza in between the Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel. Admission is free but bring some dough if you want to eat.
Man, it’s a hot one
Buldak, a fiery South Korean sauce made by Samyang Foods, is the secret ingredient to Dynamite Sweet & Sour Chicken, the spiciest dish to ever be served at Panda Express — and five Seattle area locations will test it. Gen Z’s growing cravings for spicy food was a main factor in exploring this recipe, the fast food chain said in a press release.
Ice ice, baby
If just reading that has you panting for water, might we suggest grabbing a cold treat from PJ’s Classic Homemade Ice Cream & Bon Bons in Seattle’s Central District to cool off. The new Black- and female-owned business is the new go-to for nostalgic desserts, including the “Lil Funky Drummer,” covered in dark chocolate and crunchy nuts in a way Nestle could never. Co-owners and sisters, Michelle and Danielle Forbes, see the shop as an ode to their late mother, who went to Garfield High School (located right across the street).
Bites of Bombay and Beirut
The flavors of India and Lebanon are on the menu at INDNON Café, a new eatery coming to Belltown (across the street from Olympic Sculpture Park). An opening date is still up in the air, but guests can expect breakfast, lunch, and evening tapas to go alongside local coffees, teas from overseas, and artisanal cocktails. Chef Abhijit Sakar, of Mint Progressive Indian fame, will take charge of this project.
“Good Friends, Safe Travels”
That’s the motto of the brand new Watchpost Whiskey, a Washington state exclusive 8-year-old American Blended Whiskey made by Westland Distillery. The easygoing spirit packs layered notes of roasted grain, milk chocolate, toasted biscuit, apricot, and cherry pie. Sip it or bring a bottle home at the tasting room in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood. Watchpost Whiskey can now be found in retail stores statewide. Over the next two years, $1 from every bottle purchase will be donated to Washington Trails Association to protect and maintain public access to trails across the state.
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