Seattle is a big coffee town. It's also known for its literary scene. So it's only natural that reading and coffee go hand-in-hand. Seattle Times arts and economy reporter Margo Vansynghel joins Tan to share her favorite cozy coffee shops to grab a warm beverage and read a good book. 

Read more about cozy coffee shops in The Seattle Times: 

https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/6-cozy-seattle-coffeeshops-that-are-great-for-reading/ 

Recommendations in this episode:

• Open Form
• Espresso Vivace
• C&P Coffee Company
• Yeobo Cafe and Bar
• KUOW Book Club

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 When it comes to writing about Tacoma’s bar scene, Seattle Times food and drink writer, Tan Vinh almost ran out of ink. From kitschy tiki bars to serious cocktails, there is plenty to drink and even better food to wash it all down with.

Kristine Sherred, a food reporter at The Tacoma News Tribune, joins Tan for a bar hopping chat about her neck of the woods.

Read all ten of Tan’s picks and more on the Tacoma food scene at The Seattle Times:

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/10-great-tacoma-bars-that-our-drinks-writer-loves/ 

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/3-great-tacoma-spots-to-try-in-a-city-of-restaurant-possibilities/ 

Recommendations in this episode:

• Proof
• Field Bar + Bottle
• Parky’s Pizza Bar
• Da Tiki Hut
• Bonus from Kristine: Cider & Cedar

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stadium food can be a letdown. Many sports games and concerts are accompanied by soggy chicken fingers or cold burgers — at a premium price, of course. But the Seattle Seahawks and Lumen Field are making a big play for dining. They want 12s to see the stadium as a destination for dinner as well as a show. 

Tan and KUOW producer Brandi Fullwood sample new menu items on offer during the Hawks season and pick the three best items to eat at a game. 

Read more of Tan’s takes about stadium food in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/best-food-at-seahawks-games-new-dishes-land-at-lumen-field-in-2025/ 

Recommendations in this episode:

• King’s Hawaiian BBQ — Rib Sandwich platter (serves 2-4 people)
  • $48.99 
  • Sections 120, 131, 305, 335
• Big Walt’s Kitchen — Flaming Hot Cheetos Chicken Tenders
  • $17.49
  • Sections 126, 214, 230
• ChungChun — Game Day Rice Hot Dog with Squid Ink and Spicy Half & Half Rice Hot Dog
  • $12.99 - $13.99
  • Section 323

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle Times food writers discuss a hot food neighborhood in South Seattle. From a very hyped pizza to neighborhood staple ban xeo you’ll learn how to order like a local …and a very meticulous food writer.

Read more about the Othello neighborhood eats in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/is-seattles-hottest-ak-pizza-worth-the-hype-and-more-good-food-in-othello/ 

Recommendations in this episode:

• A.K. Pizza
• Nissi Banh
• Sma5h

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

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From fancy street food to, yes, even more pizza – Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh highlights the most anticipated restaurants of 2026 with two-time Emmy-winning journalist, filmmaker Thanh Tân. Plus, he gives tips on how to navigate the never-ending list of new restaurants from the best ones.

Read more about the top picks so far for 2026 in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/20-seattle-area-restaurants-and-bars-were-most-excited-about-in-2026/ 

Check out Second Wave with Thanh Tân’s episode on Pho: https://www.kuow.org/stories/pho-second-wave 

Recommendations in this episode:

• Roma Roma, Capitol Hill
• Tacos Cometa, Capitol Hill
• Ilmu, Bothell
• Baiana, Pike Place

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible:

Become a member today at kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotesSubscribe today at seattletimes.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pizza, bagels, best date night spots and the unwritten rules of hot pot etiquette. Culinary luminaries J Kenji López-Alt and Rachel Belle covered a wide range of topics with Tan at Seattle Eats live event at Town Hall Seattle on November 10, 2025. 

Recommendations in this episode:

Favorite bagel spot

• Hey Bagel - University Village
• Backyard bagel - Fremont
• Mt. Bagel - Madison Valley

Favorite sandwich

• Post Alley Pizza - Pike Place Market - try the hoagie with side of hoagie jazz 
• Fortuna - Greenwood - mortadella sandwich
• Tivoli - Fremont - mortadella sandwich

Favorite pizza:

• Lupo - Fremont
• The Independent - Madison Park
• my friend derek’s - Tangletown
• AK Pizza - Othello 
• Ben’s Bread - Phinney Ridge
• Windy City Pie - Phinney Ridge 
• Sunny Hill - Ballard 

Best date night spot:

• The Tin Hat (Taco Tuesday) - Phinney Ridge
• Hattie’s Hat - Ballard
• Sushi Kappo Tamura - Eastlake
• Serafina - Eastlake
• Canlis - Queen Anne

Favorite third place

• Open Form - Capitol Hill
• Olympia Pizza III - Capitol Hill
• Metropolitan Grill - Downtown Seattle  
• Empire Roosters and Records - Columbia City
• Standard Brewing - Central District

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible:

• Become a member today at kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes
• Subscribe today at seattletimes.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our town was made for soup. The sooty dusks of December. The dampness of March. We dive into caldrons of smoking pho and ramen.

So, why not udon?

On today’s episode, Tan ventures out to find some of the best udon in Seattle. He visits Azuki in Madison Valley to learn about how Chef Ryuji Miyata makes his noodles by hand. Later, Tan recommends some more casual and budget-friendly udon places.

Read more about Tan’s udon picks.

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible:

• Become a member today at kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes
• Subscribe today at seattletimes.com

Recommendations in this episode:

• Azuki, Madison Valley
• Marugame Udon, Tukwila
• U:Don, University District and Capitol Hill
• Onibaba, Chinatown International District

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of year! Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh is back with the best Costco wines you will want to buy for holiday dinner parties… or last minute gifts. Plus, Tan has pairings to go with the top three wines! Seattle Times politics reporter (and former French sous chef) David Gutman, joins Tan for an early morning wine tasting and review.

 

Read more about the top rated Costco wines of 2025 in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/costco-wine-best-cheapest-bottles-rated-by-our-holiday-sommeliers/ 

Recommendations in this episode:

• NV Prosecco Rosé + Roy Thai, Phinney Ridge
• 2023 Gigondas + Meat Moot (take out!), SLU
• 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino + Stevie’s Famous Pizza

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Support the show at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another round of closures hits the Seattle food scene. But when one door closes, the employees buy it to save it?? Seattle Times restaurant critic Tan Vinh shares his latest closing and three new spots that have the restaurant industry buzzing.

Read more about the latest restaurant openings and closings in The Seattle Times:

• https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/22-new-seattle-restaurant-openings-for-november-2025/ 
• https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/22-recent-seattle-restaurant-closures-including-a-few-big-names/ 

Recommendations in this episode:

• Carmine’s on Fifth, Downtown
• Meat Moot, South Lake Union
• Kingfisher, Bainbridge Island

 

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades Seattle fine dining has been synonymous with Canlis. But things have changed since 1950 when Canlis first hit the scene creating dishes that highlighted Pacific Northwest cuisine. Seattle Times food critics weigh in on their controversial review of a beloved special occasion spot as Canlis rings in its 75th anniversary on December 11th this year. Plus, they tell you where they’re seeing Seattle better celebrated on the plate.

Read the Canlis review in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/review-why-our-critic-no-longer-recommends-seattles-famous-canlis/ 

Recommendations in this episode:

• Tomo, White Center
• Houlme, Orcas Island
• La Marea, Ballard
• Ramie, Capitol Hill

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.