When flying out of Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA), higher identified to all as Sea-Tac Airport, it’s tempting to seize no matter possibility is closest handy, even when it’s a sub-mediocre sandwich that’s nothing greater than energy to get you thru your flight. Don’t do that. Not like most American airports, SEA is loaded with lush eating choices, from native seafood to Congolese delicacies — if you understand the place to look.
Under is a present checklist of some notable spots to take a look at for hungry and thirsty vacationers. For a extra complete checklist of airport eating choices, try Sea-Tac’s official web site.
Central Terminal
Fortunate Louie Fish Shack
The home specialty right here is sustainable Alaskan pollock and salmon, served classically (that’s, battered and deep-fried with chips). A brand new addition to the menu, the fish tacos, are a mélange of Pacific Rim flavors: crispy Baja-style salmon, sesame slaw, pickled crimson onions, and creamy sriracha sauce. Different strong picks embrace clam chowder, honey teriyaki salmon, and taiyaki, a fish-shaped waffle filled with cheesecake filling.
Koi Shi Sushi Bento
This walk-up counter focuses on pre-packaged rolls. However vacationers who’ve extra time can go for a build-your-own poke bowl.
Salty’s on the SEA
In case you have time for a sit-down meal, this department of West Seattle seafood vacation spot Salty’s on Alki has a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner choices in addition to an oyster bar — plus a show that reveals Salty’s waterfront views on sunny days. Beats the (most likely) wet sky.
A Gates
Africa Lounge
What was as soon as a normal American gastropub has modified its menu and now serves Congolese dishes corresponding to sambusas, jollof rice, and fried plantains. Normal supervisor Yves Maganya, initially from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was influenced by co-owner’s Rod O’Neal’s heritage when he crafted the menu. The Port of Seattle billed it because the “first-ever menu of African meals in a U.S. airport,” and The Stranger’s Charles Mudede wrote in regards to the significance of the event.
Floret
On the intersection of Concourses A and B, subsequent to the Delta Lounge, this spin-off of famend Seattle vegetarian restaurant Cafe Flora serves a very meat-free menu. Dishes embrace brioche breakfast sandwiches, seasonal veggie scrambles, and pastries, like Flora’s widespread vegan cinnamon rolls; Floret has loads of lunch and dinner choices too, corresponding to grain bowls, salads, and a black bean burger.
Lowrider Cookie Firm
Typically you want a burst of carbs to get you to your gate, and Lowrider is an efficient possibility for a candy pick-me-up. Cookie flavors rotate month-to-month, however everlasting ones embrace brown butter triple chocolate chunk, salted toffee pecan, s’mores, and birthday cake. The A gates are one thing of a dessert hub, as macaron shoppe Woman Yum and specialty sweet retailer the Confectionery even have outposts right here.
B Gates
Mi Casa Cantina
This colourful Tex-Mex bar-resto is a strong selection for nachos, tacos, and burritos, and the guac is crowd fave. It additionally has an in depth cocktail menu that showcases tequila and mezcal, and there’s even a collection of frozen margs. They make a high-quality paloma too.
LouLou Market and Bar
Thierry Rautureau, Seattle’s well-known “Chef within the Hat,” died earlier this 12 months. After a storied profession, his final remaining restaurant is LouLou Market and Bar, that includes dishes like salade Niçoise and a chief rib French dip sandwich.
C Gates
Dish D’Lish
TV chef Kathy Casey’s grab-and-go spot is of one of the best locations to eat within the airport for these with dietary restrictions, stocked as it’s with loads of gluten-free choices. Salads embrace wasabi potatoes, Mediterranean quinoa, and Northwest couscous.
Hachi-ko
This restaurant provides wide-ranging Asian cuisines. Diners can discover scorching dishes like teriyaki and the hen adobo, plus made-to-order poke bowls. There’s additionally a grab-and-go case with sandwiches, salads, and Spam musubis.
D Gates
Sam Choy’s Poke to the Max
A contemporary Seattle icon, Sam Choy’s Poke to the Max serves Hawaiian classics from early morning by means of late night. Choices embrace customizable poke bowls, loco moco topped with sunny-side-up eggs, burgers and kalua pork sandwiches on King’s Hawaiian buns, and ice cream flavors like lilikoʻi (aka ardour fruit) and pineapple whip from Seattle’s personal Laina’s Handcrafted Ice Cream.
Ballard Brew Corridor
That is your spot if you would like another brew earlier than heading out of city. Alongside dozens of craft beers, the Ballard Brew Corridor additionally has a bloody mary menu and a big selection of breakfast dishes, like cinnamon French toast and biscuits and gravy.
Neighborhood
This bubble tea store options Filipino flavors like leche flan milk tea — made with black tea, evaporated milk, condensed milk, caramel, and home syrup — and turon turon milk tea — made with black tea, jackfruit, banana syrup, and brown sugar. However even if you happen to’re not a boba fan, it’s value a go to for the Fulcrum espresso (Neighborhood makes use of it in a beautiful sesame latte) and grab-and-go meals from Umami Kushi.
Seattle Dawg Home
This scorching dog-focused sports activities bar (locals will get it — canines like scorching canines and dawgs like Huskies) additionally serves Belgian liège waffles, replete with pearl sugar, for some purpose. They’re scrumptious, in fact. Different menu choices embrace a singular tackle the Seattle canine, which ornaments the unique with barbecue sauce and jalapenos. Positive, why not?
S Gates
The Membership SEA
Not a lot occurring on the S Gates food-wise, so the 24-hour Membership SEA is your finest wager. For those who roll up inside three hours of your departure time, you possibly can commerce $50 for limitless salads, soups, chips, crudités, and so forth, alongside drinks — each alcoholic and non — and a view of Mt. Rainier. (There’s a Membership SEA on the A gates as effectively, but it surely doesn’t have the candy view.)
Smith Cove
This Palisade restaurant on Elliott Bay will get a the sit-down remedy within the airport. Anticipate fried hen (fingers and sandwiches), fish and chips, a salmon and spinach salad, and the like. The cocktail menu is longer than the meals menu, and simply as costly, but it surely’s the place one finds a yuzu bloody Mary, pineapple mint mimosa, mezcal Manhattan, and extra scrumptious indulgences.
N Gates
Caffe Vita
There’s fairly a number of espresso choices at SEA, it being the principle airport for Seattle and all, however if you happen to’re in any respect finicky about your espresso, Caffe Vita is what you need. There’s at all times a line, but it surely goes quick. The golden milk latte with turmeric, ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon (amongst different spices) is an opulent favourite. There’s additionally a Caffe Vita stand on the C gates.
Dangerous Egg
Opened in 2023, this all-day breakfast restaurant gained a prestigious FAB Moody award for Airport Informal Eating Restaurant of the Yr. It focuses on breakfast sandwiches and does rather a lot with doughnuts — you may get one thing right here referred to as a “Donut and Spam Outback Sandwich.”
Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen and Bar
This family-owned restaurant has a pleasant collection of Vietnamese dishes, and the parts are beneficiant. Banh mi, pho, large noodle and rice bowls, and bubble tea smoothies are among the many highlights.
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese
Along with its namesake cheeses, this quintessential Pike Place cheesemaker has an satellite tv for pc station at SEA, providing Beecher’s well-known mac and cheese, scorching breakfast objects, and grilled sandwiches. It additionally has a small grab-and-go freezer stocked with fabulous Salt and Straw ice cream. There’s one other Beecher’s on the N gates too.
