Tech corporations like Google have pushed a surge of latest eating places—on the lakefront, in Kirkland’s walkable downtown, and in its turbocharged developments like Kirkland City and the Village at Totem Lake. However longtime favorites maintain their very own throughout city.
Kathakali
Juanita
Chef Ajay Panicker makes destination-worthy South Indian meals, from ample dosas to a complete fish with spices wrapped in a banana leaf to even the rice noodles often known as idiyappam, or string hoppers. Pay particular consideration to menu gadgets highlighted with stars, and the complete “Dosas and Kerala Specials” part. One of the best meals end with an order of housemade jackfruit ice cream.
Deru Market
Norkirk
A Kirkland staple, this pastoral white cafe excels at brunch, pizza, layer muffins, and the overall capability to consolation you with seasonal meals. The menu seems pretty simple, however smoked turkey sandwiches, pistachio meatloaf, pancakes—even simply an order of fries—show a ton of care. The unassuming location has restricted seating, however honed its curbside takeout expertise throughout the depths of the pandemic. Critically, order a slice of cake.
El Encanto
Carillon Level/Lakeview
On sunny days, diners lounge on couches mere ft from the sting of Lake Washington. The inside is almost as spectacular. When restaurateur Trevor Greenwood (Como, Cantinetta) gave longtime chef Gabriel Chavez his personal restaurant, he went large. Chavez, for probably the most half, holds up his finish of issues within the kitchen. Guacamole comes with nutty totopos instead of chips and the chile en nogada, made with assist from Chavez’s mother, is simply as thrilling because the view.
Aria Meals and Bakery
Totem Lake
All however hidden in a nondescript strip mall is a Persian bakery that balances sangak flatbread and baklava with a takeaway menu of flatbread sandwiches and pizza, completed off in one of many two home ovens. Toppings skew Persian and Mediterranean, together with a pie topped with Iran’s herb-packed ghormeh sabzi stew.
Cafe Juanita
Juanita
Kirkland has modified dramatically within the years since Holly Smith took over the nice eating landmark in 2000. Whereas the Northwest-Italian ethos doesn’t waver, Cafe Juanita has developed, too. A renovation made the eating room extra comfy; the present tasting menu setup gives variations for omnivores, vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians. Particular events are in succesful fingers right here.
Como
Carillon Level/Lakeview
Carillon Level is a great distance from Lake Como, however this restaurant from the Cantinetta founder gives a surprisingly respectable substitute: whitewashed partitions, waves of Italian wine, and a glittering stretch of Lake Washington view. Antipasti (like flawless crispy artichokes), handmade pasta, and some shareable pizzas discover artwork within the classics.
The Village at Totem Lake
Totem Lake
The outside buying middle is basically its personal eating district. Tom Douglas’s Critical Pie pizzeria has an outlet right here. So does the fast-casual pasta spot Dué Cucina and Kati Vegan Thai. Los Angeles–primarily based Silverlake Ramen serves bowls of tonkotsu and shoyu broth. Formidable sushi hides at Umigawa, a spot from the proprietor of Kisaku in Wallingford. Hanoon, the Eastside sibling to Seattle’s Mamnoon, serves stunning Levantine fare.
