Seattle, WA

Here Are 2023’s Eater Award Winners for Seattle

Published

1 year ago

December 6, 2023

Here Are 2023’s Eater Award Winners for Seattle

You don’t open a restaurant because you want to get rich. Restaurant work has always been physically and mentally demanding, and today in Seattle owner-operators have to deal with a host of headaches: rising costs, supply chain problems affecting everything from building renovations to food orders, and a labor shortage that makes finding workers more difficult. This year, as we survey the Seattle dining landscape to give our awards for 2023, we’re celebrating the new (or reopened) restaurants that have persevered and given the city’s dining scene a little bit of joy, a smidge more variety, or an extra oomph. Below are the spots with more oomph than the average restaurant.

The interior of Layers.

Virgina Rollison

A grilled cheese sandwich. — The I’d Date a Jalapeno sandwich.

A salami and arugula sandwich on a Dutch crunch roll. — The Peace, Love, and Salame sandwich.

Restaurant of the Year: Layers Green Lake

What’s a sandwich? At Layers, a sandwich can be literally anything between two slices of bread. The grilled cheese has dates and jalapeños; the house specialty has slow-roasted pork belly, Fresno chiles, pickled onions, and chicories; Layers’ salami sandwich is a riff on a banh mi elegantly piled in the middle of a Dutch crunch roll. (All the bread is baked on site, naturally.) What you get from a sandwich here in terms of flavors and textures is what you get from a sit-down meal at one of Seattle’s best restaurants; a single bite is a revelation.

Owners Ashley and Avery Hardin built Layers’ reputation as a food truck, and their devoted regulars have followed them to the new lakeside location, where they’ve added sensational breakfast biscuits and pastries from London Plane alum Ellary Collins. They’re creating new regulars now too. “We had someone come in for breakfast,” Ashley says, “then they went for a walk around the lake, and they came back for lunch. And that was their plan from the get-go.” Others will order sandwiches to eat there, then get to-go sandwiches for dinner. Layers is a place you simply don’t get tired of.

A metal beam inside a restaurant with fridge magnets stuck onto it next to an old photo of a white woman and a Filipino man. — A photo of Ludi’s owner Greg Rosas.

A plate of pancakes covered in bright purple ube sauce under a neon sign that says “Ludi’s.” — The ube pancakes at Ludi’s.

Best Comeback: Ludi’s Restaurant

When Ludi’s closed in 2019 after the Filipino American diner lost its lease, it inspired an outpouring of grief from its working-class downtown customer base to Seattle’s most famous Filipino chefs. When Ludi’s returned this June, it was the revival everyone needed, and not just because of its comfort food — the longanisa, the lumpia, the weekends-only pancakes slathered in bright purple ube-coconut sauce. Even back when it was a cozy dive/diner called the Turf, Ludi’s had a homespun, welcoming quality, an atmosphere cultivated by owner “Tito” Greg Rosas, who started as a dishwasher there in 1978. The restaurant has gone through four locations since then, all in the same narrow slice of downtown, though its present incarnation is its most light-filled and welcoming. (In the old days, Rosas says, there was a “bad element” sometimes that came with people who drank at the bar in the morning; Ludi’s serves alcohol but is no longer dive-like.) No matter who you are, you can come in and get the same great treatment. Earlier this year, the musician H.E.R. showed up, security and management in tow. Rosas was unfazed. “Are you a celebrity?” he asked her. “Yeah, but you’re a celebrity too,” she replied.

A plate of Ritz crackers and a cheese dip next to a plate of meatballs.

An Asian woman and Latino man stand next to a wall of photos and a neon sign reading, “Take some shots.”

A cocktail served in a flute next to a Polaroid camera.

The Pisco and Paparazzi at Dark Room.

Best New Bar: Dark Room

There are a lot of cocktail bars in Seattle, but how many cocktail bars have the chops to concoct a drink that combines sake, three aperitifs (sesame-infused Suze, Cap Corse, Aperol), and celery bitters? And how many would call it Nigorni Weaver? Just one: Greenwood’s Dark Room, where co-owner Matthew Gomez lets his bartender imagination — and his puckish sense of humor — run wild. There’s a drink that comes garnished with a Polaroid of you drinking it and another that comes in a Spam container. But don’t mistake whimsy for a lack of seriousness. Dark Room is that rare cocktail bar where you can have a great dinner. The bar food from co-owner Amy Beaumier includes gems like incredible kimchi pimento cheese and a hot dog on a shokupan bun she makes herself. And both owners want to build Dark Room not just into a neighborhood institution but also a platform for other bartenders and chefs of color — and a truly superlative bar. “I would like for us to be at that level where people are coming from all over the United States or the world,” says Gomez. Dark Room may well get to that level.

A pair of Korean rice bowls topped with egg and avocado. — Two lunch bowls at Bapshim.

Best Takeout: Bapshim

Wes Yoo had more than enough going on running WeRo, his Ballard Avenue Korean restaurant. So why launch a lunch bowl takeout place from WeRo’s back door? For one thing, when Yoo lived in the neighborhood, he realized there weren’t enough lunch places in restaurant-heavy Ballard, and too few spots serving light but filling fare. Enter Bapshim. The purple rice or green bowls are loaded with pickled and refreshing vegetables and topped with day-changing marinating meat or tofu. Yoo has hardly publicized Bapshim — he’s still staffing it up and hoping to add some Korean-related retail goods in the space — but nearly everyone who has stumbled upon it is a convert. In the city of our dreams, there are as many Bapshims as Chipotles.

A place of three tacos, rice, and beans. — Tacos at Rojo’s Mexican Food.

A young Latino man inside a restaurant holding a plate of Mexican food. — Daniel Rojo.

Most Delightful Surprise: Rojo’s Mexican Food

Rojo’s arrived without media hype or widespread press releases; the vegan Mexican restaurant just kinda showed up this March in the Pioneer Square space formerly occupied by pasta legend Il Corvo. It’s the brainchild of Daniel Rojo, a 26-year-old former punk-scene kid from the Skagit Valley who started it by cooking vegan Mexican food in his kitchen in Edmonds during the height of the pandemic and delivering it to customers himself before serving food at markets around the city. The soy al pastor is a flag-planting type dish from a newcomer: through the magic of an achiote paste and vinegar marinade plus grilling it with pineapples, the “fake meat” is imbued with genuine char, crispiness, and a welcome punch of sweetness. At $10 for three tacos with rice and beans on the side, this also happens to be one of the best bargain lunches in all of Seattle.

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Seattle, WA

Seahawks Rule Out Ken Walker III For TNF at Bears

Published

1 hour ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Seahawks Rule Out Ken Walker III For TNF at Bears

Three days after suffering an ankle injury in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Seattle Seahawks will be without running back Ken Walker III when they travel for a post-Christmas battle against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

Walker exited Sunday’s loss to Minnesota late in the fourth quarter following a goal line run and the team quickly declared him doubtful to return. With Seattle only holding two walkthroughs leading up to Thursday’s Week 17 contest in Chicago, he was listed as a non-participant for both, a clear sign he wouldn’t be able to recover in time to suit up for the critical late-season matchup.

Injuries have been a significant problem for Walker in his third season with the Seahawks, as he already missed four games earlier in the year with oblique and calf injuries, including two games earlier this month against the Cardinals and Packers.

With Walker sidelined, Seattle will turn to Zach Charbonnet for his fifth start of the season after the second-year back wasn’t listed on the final injury report. He only had one carry against Minnesota after missing practice time last week with an oblique strain, but he was upgraded to full participant on Tuesday and Wednesday’s walkthrough.

Behind Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh will serve as the primary backup and should see extensive action, especially with Charbonnet not being 100 percent healthy himself. The team could also sign George Holani off of the practice squad to the 53-man roster, but a corresponding move would need to be made to create a spot for him.

Aside from Walker, the Seahawks also ruled out tight end Brady Russell with a foot issue and he will miss his fifth game out of the past seven. He could be a candidate for injured reserve if the team wants to sign Holani to help replace Walker on the depth chart at running back.

Safety K’Von Wallace, who returned to practice two weeks ago from injured reserve, will not be activated prior to Thursday’s game in Chicago. Seattle will have to make a decision on whether or not to activate him for the season finale in Los Angeles next week.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle bakery near UW named one of best in US

Published

11 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Seattle bakery near UW named one of best in U.S.

The New York Times just declared a local Seattle bakery as one of the best in America. That’s right, Saint Bread on Portage Bay Waterfront near the University of Washington has made the list of “22 best bakeries across the U.S. right now.”

SEATTLE – The New York Times just declared a local Seattle bakery as one of the best in America.

That’s right, Saint Bread on Portage Bay Waterfront near the University of Washington has made the list of “22 best bakeries across the U.S. right now.”

The Times picked out the bakeries based on their travels across the country this past year. Some of the baked goods featured by the magazine include Saint Bread’s cardamom croissant and its cinnamon-Okinawan sugar toast.

Saint Bread Bakery in Seattle

We caught up with the owner, Yasuaki Saito, who told FOX 13 he had no idea his bakery was going to make the list.

“Oh you know they don’t tell you about these sorts of things, they kind of show up in the press. We are very fortunate here. We’ve had some good press over the years…this is another one of those recognitions of the hard work and effort the team puts in every day. We are the type of place that is based in our community, and we make sure the product going out is really great, and we are serving it with a smile.”

Saito says they will be closed for the holidays, so the next time you can check them out will be on Friday, January 3.

Saint Bread Bakery in Seattle

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Seattle, WA

Seattle weather: Blustery Christmas Day in western Washington

Published

19 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Seattle weather: Blustery Christmas Day in western Washington

Seattle weather: Christmas rain, wind, and snow across western WA

FOX 13 Meteorologist has your 7-day forecast, including which areas will see a white Christmas and where snow won’t fall across western Washington.

SEATTLE – A potent atmospheric river arrives on Christmas Day. Conditions will be blustery with increasing wind along the coast, through the Inlet and for some portions of the North Sound.

Heavy lowland rain and mountain snow will increase throughout the morning and into the evening.

We’re tracking the chance for heavy mountain snow from Wednesday into Thursday in Washington. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Luckily, Santa will scoot in and out of Western Washington before all the rain settles in. Rainfall totals will range between 1-2″ during the day tomorrow. Heavy snow will impact pass travel beginning tomorrow through perhaps Friday.

A blustery Christmas day with wind, rain and mountain snow.

An atmospheric river will arrive on Christmas day, bringing wind, rain and mountain snow.

Along with the rain and mountain snow, winds will be gusty at times with the arrival of the front tomorrow. A high wind watch will be in effect for the coastal regions, along with the Inlet and Western Skagit and Whatcom counties.

Forceful winds are on the way for the North Sound and coast on Christmas and the day after.

Powerful winds could lead to power outages and damage along the coast and North Sound on Wednesday and Thursday.

Powerful winds could lead to power outages and damage along the coast and North Sound on Wednesday and Thursday. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Heavy mountain snow totaling 1-3′, along with gusty winds will be possible. A winter storm warning will go into effect early Wednesday morning. Travel will be very difficult in the coming days over the passes.

Please monitor the weather conditions along with road conditions before traveling.

Winter weather alerts for the mountains.

Heavy mountain snow is forecast to hit our area passes from Wednesday-Friday.

A weather alert day is in effect for Wednesday and Thursday for rain, wind and snow. The week remains unsettled with more chances for rain. By New Year’s Eve, conditions are looking a little drier to enjoy the show at the Space Needle.