Not For Tourists Guide to Seattle (2016)

Central Seattle

Map 8

This historic neighborhood has provided a cultural hub for Seattle's sizable Asian-American population since the 19th century. Home to Filipino, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Japanese, and Chinese businesses of every stripe, the International District truly feels, well, international. It's hardly the most glamorous area of the city, but strolling through the ID is highly recommended.

✵ Site of the Former Wah Mee Club ✵

S King St & Maynard Alley S

Site of 1983 gang massacre.

✵ Wing Luke Museum ✵ 719 S King St

206-623-5124

A gem of a museum in the heart of the ID.

✵ Gossip Espresso & Tea ✵ 651 S King St

206-624-5402

Bubble tea.

✵ Oasis Tea Zone ✵ 519 6th Ave S

206-447-8098

Bubble tea and other Asian junk food. In other words, delicious.

✵ Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House ✵ 607 S Main St

206-515-4000

Lavazza beans.

✵ Bush Garden ✵ 614 Maynard Ave S

206-682-6830

Drunken late-night karaoke. Beware of bachelorettes.

✵ Fort St. George ✵ 601 S King St

206-382-0662

Japan meets the UK at this pub that also serves decent food.

✵ Venus Karaoke ✵ 601 S King St

206-264-1779

Rent a room and get lost in translation.

✵ 663 Bistro ✵ 663 S Weller St

206-667-8760 ✵ $

Chinese with a rare, incomparably light touch. A shining highlight in the ID.

✵ Fuji Bakery ✵ 526 S King St

206-623-4050 ✵ $

Gorgeous Asian-inspired patries, which shame the entire nation of France.

✵ Hing Loon ✵ 628 S Weller St

206-682-2828 ✵ $$

The smoked duck: primal, carnivorous pleasure.

✵ Honey Court Seafood Restaurant ✵

516 Maynard Ave S

206-292-8828 ✵ $$

Late night Chinese for your drinking and dumpling pleasure.

✵ House of Hong ✵ 409 8th Ave S

206-622-7997 ✵ $$

Great food, even better name.

✵ Hue Ky Mi Gia ✵ 1207 S Jackson St

206-568-1268 ✵ $

Ooddles of tasty noodles.

✵ Huong Binh ✵ 1207 S Jackson St

206-720-4907 ✵ $$

Fresh, revelatory Vietnamese going way beyond pho.

✵ Jade Garden ✵ 704 S King St

206-622-8181 ✵ $$

Some argue it's Seattle's best dim sum; honestly, it probably is.

✵ Loving Hut ✵ 1226 S Jackson St

206-299-2219 ✵ $

Comfort food just like your militant vegan Grandma used to make.

✵ Malay Satay Hut ✵ 212 12th Ave S

206-324-4091 ✵ $$

Three cuisines unite under one roof, with delicious results.

✵ Maneki ✵ 304 6th Ave S

206-622-2631 ✵ $$

Tasty traditional Japanese food. A Seattle institution.

✵ Mikado Teppanyaki ✵ 1306 S King St

206-860-1556 ✵ $$$

Like Benihana, but classier.

✵ Phnom Penh ✵ 660 S King St

206-748-9825 ✵ $

Cambodian noodle joint.

✵ Pho Bac ✵ 415 7th Ave S

206-621-0532 ✵ $

A reliable pho filling station. Try the banh mi and spring rolls too.

✵ Ping’s Dumpling House ✵ 508 S King St

206-623-6764 ✵ $

If a house full of dumplings sounds good to you, it's hard to go wrong here.

✵ Saigon Vietnam Deli ✵ 1200 S Jackson St

206-328-2357 ✵ $$

Some of the best banh mi you'll find. Cheap, fast, and so good.

✵ Samurai Noodle ✵ 606 5th Ave S

206-624-9321 ✵ $

If your experience has been more Top Ramen than top notch, prepare to get your mind blown.

Uwajimaya Village features an awesome food court, a bookstore, apartments, and even a bank—you could move in and never leave. But hit the streets of the ID for the real eats. Maneki, a Seattle gem, has been dishing up sushi and traditional Japanese for over 100 years. If you want to try Cambodian, head toPhnom Penh. Or grab a super cheap bahn mi at Saigon Deli. Meanwhile, Momo is a unique boutique.

✵ Shanghai Garden ✵ 524 6th Ave S

206-625-1688 ✵ $$

Delicious hand-shaved barley noodles and at least 100 other options.

✵ Spring Garden ✵ 1032 S Jackson St

206-859-6998 ✵ $

Chow down and pretend you can get vitamin D from a sky-painted ceiling.

✵ Szechuan Noodle Bowl ✵ 420 8th Ave S

206-623-4198 ✵ $

Perfect scallion pancakes. Perfect noodle soups. Perfect dumplings.

✵ Tai Tung ✵ 655 S King St

206-622-7372 ✵ $$

Sit at the counter with the regulars and soothe yourself with one of many comforting soups.

✵ Tamarind Tree ✵ 1036 S Jackson St

206-860-1404 ✵ $

Exotically droolworthy Vietnamese cuisine.

✵ Tea Garden ✵ 708 Rainier Ave S

206-709-9038 ✵ $$

The dim sum flows freely, and it is fantastic. One of Seattle's best.

✵ Tsukushinbo ✵ 515 S Main St

206-467-4004 ✵ $

Hidden Japanese gem is a favorite of local chefs.

✵ Uwajimaya ✵ 600 5th Ave S

206-624-6248 ✵ $

Hawaiian, Filipino, Korean, and more. All food courts should be this tasty.

✵ World Pizza ✵ 672 S King St

206-682-4161 ✵ $

Bringing a little vegetarian Italian flair to the I.D.

✵ Big John’s Pacific Food Importers ✵

1001 6th Ave S

206-682-2022

Primarily Meditteranean grocery. Bulk and otherwise.

✵ International Model Toys ✵ 601 S King St

206-682-8534

Pac Man belt buckles for the kids…or, ya know, you.

✵ Kinokuniya Bookstore ✵ 525 S Weller St

206-587-2477

If NFT was available in Japanese, it would be sold here.

✵ Momo ✵ 600 S Jackson St

206-329-4736

Your new favorite boutique, and truly unique.

✵ Pink Gorilla ✵ 601 S King St

206-264-2434

You'll love this place if you played video games in the 80's…or still do.

✵ RE-PC ✵ 1565 6th Ave S

206-623-9151

Bins and bins of computer stuff.

✵ Star Tea Shop ✵ 616 S Jackson St

206-382-7827

A beautiful collection of tea and tea accessories. Sample before you buy.

✵ Tsue Chong Company ✵ 800 S Weller St

206-623-0801

Giant bags of fortune cookies.

✵ Uwajimaya ✵ 600 5th Ave S

206-624-6248

Asian superstore with groceries, gifts, restaurants, even apartments.