Hungry for news? Welcome to our Friday Feed, where we run through all the local food and restaurant news this week—and maybe help you figure out where to eat this weekend.
Nobody Wants to Call It Closing
Masa No Más
The city’s first small-batch tortilla maker ceased operations last week. Milpa Masa began its nixtamalization operation in 2021, but after almost five years, found itself in need of a new business plan and serious investment in equipment upgrades to keep going. They hope to find that funding and, down the line, make a return. For now, the business is on pause.
A Little Less Aloha
Feisty and fun Chinatown–International District restaurant Itsumono posted about its upcoming evolution: Founding chef Sean Arakaki is moving back to Hawai'i and will end his run in mid-February. The six-year-old eclectic Hawaiian-Japanese restaurant plans to stay open beyond that with a more limited menu, as it looks for a buyer.
A Longer Nap
Capitol Hill wine bar and home to many a great pop-up, Light Sleeper, announced its final service will be February 13. Founder Ezra Wicks wrote a very sweet goodbye on Instagram and promises that the final month of Light Sleeper will be “characteristically unpredictable.”
GH Pasta & Pizza takes over from sibling Autumn on Phinney Ridge.
Noodling on Change
Tomorrow is the final day of operations for Phinney Ridge’s Autumn, as Brian Clevenger’s General Harvest restaurant group transitions it to GH Pasta & Pizza, opening the first week of February. The more casual, family-friendly concept already has one location in West Seattle and a third planned to open this summer in Suncadia.
Better News
Palestinian Pride
Greenwood, home to a surprisingly large selection of Middle Eastern restaurants, gained yet another this week, as Mr. Maqluba took over the former Olive and the Grape space. Along with the time-intensive Palestinian chicken and rice dish for which the restaurant is named, it offers more casual sandwiches, grilled meats, and large family platters.
Dim Sum, Part Deux
The Bellevue location of Sun Sui Wah, the Vancouver dim sum minichain that opened to much fanfare in the spring of 2024, has rebranded as Sum Yee Kae. Per a note in The Seattle Times last summer, the change comes after Asian Family Market owner Ken Tan bought out his Sun Sui Wah partners.
Don’t Get Confused
A franchise of Korean chain Bobae Noodle House moved into Bellevue this week, a rebranding from the same owners and in the same space as Chi Chi. This is unrelated, and not to be confused with, the very popular Eastside boba and doughnut shop, Bobae. The Korean-Chinese noodle shop has 200 locations around the world, including in Las Vegas, and plans to keep late-night hours on weekends.
Re-Phormatted
Seattle pho entrepreneur Quyen Phan of Vinason Pho Kitchen, which has locations in Sodo, SLU, Kirkland, and Issaquah, recently opened a new concept in Kent that he’s calling “Chi-Pho-tle.” As you might guess, customers pick their broth, their noodles, their meats, and end up with a custom bowl before heading over to the all-you-can-eat garnish bar.
Tapas Time
A sign in the window of the former Robin’s Restaurant and Market (and, before that, Art of the Table) says that the space will become Balandra Tapas, sometime “soon.”
Oh, BTW, here’s what you missed last time.