Readers' Choice 2026
Read More ›
Best Restaurant: Pink Salt
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2026 issue of Seattle magazine.
Peruvian cooking reflects centuries of cultures coming together, and Pink Salt makes that breadth the point. The Magnolia restaurant moves from classics such as lomo saltado, a beef tenderloin stir-fry with tomatoes and onions, and ceviche with leche de tigre to Nikkei, the Japanese-Peruvian tradition represented in yellowfin tuna tiradito dressed in a passion fruit sauce. Peru’s Chinese influence shows up, too, in chaufa fried rice. The jewel-toned space is warm and comfortable, with deep blues, pale pinks, and natural greens; behind the bar, a glowing wall of Pink Salt gives the restaurant its visual signature.
Runner Up: Salt Harvest
About Readers' Choice 2026
Once a year, we turn the tables and ask our readers about their favorite local spots. The neighborhood café with the best coffee, the restaurant you book for every special occasion, and where you send out-of-town guests for top-tier cocktails. Seattleites have opinions, and they shared them with us. This year, we received more votes than ever before, with some familiar favorites returning and plenty of new names making the list.
Follow Us
Best Brunch: Portage Bay Cafe
At Portage Bay Cafe, ordering pancakes or French toast comes with a decision: how high to pile the toppings. The cafe’s signature toppings bar, stocked with berries, other fruit, and organic whipped cream, lets diners fi nish their plates exactly as they like. There’s plenty for the savory brunch crowd, too, with benedicts, scrambles, hashes,…
Best Fine Dining Restaurant: Canlis
A recurring winner in the Fine Dining category, Canlis has been a Seattle staple for more than 75 years. Perched over Lake Union in a building designed by Northwest modernist architect Roland Terry, Canlis offers fine dining rooted in regional cuisine and unmatched service. Last year, the restaurant appointed a new executive chef—Seattle-area native James…
Best Food Truck: Good Morning Tacos
Tacos for breakfast? Absolutely. Good Morning Tacos owner Kinga Borkowski started the business as a pop-up in spring 2022 before taking the operation on the road, serving a lineup of Austin-style breakfast tacos. The Classic piles scrambled eggs, cheese, seasoned tater tots, and chipotle crema onto a tortilla, with bacon or chorizo. Better yet, there…
Best Sandwich Shop: MEAN Sandwich
Fresh mint on a corned beef sandwich tells you everything you need to know about MEAN Sandwich. It’s playful, creative, and not particularly interested in doing things the expected way. The Ballard shop’s namesake layers thick-cut griddled corned beef with house- made yellow mustard, pickled red cabbage, and mint. There’s also a Hama Hama oyster…