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.

The holiday season is a great time to hit happy hour with co-workers, friends or out-of-town visitors. But where should you go? Tan and friends of Seattle Eats share their favorite happy hour spots. 

Happy Hour recommendations: 

• Lupe Situ Tacos (Ballard, all day Mondays) – Bethany Jean Clement
• Vindictive Wings (Belltown, 99c Wing Wednesdays) — Jackie Varriano
• Rumba (Capitol Hill) – Adam Weintraub
• Oyster Happy Hour at The Garrison (Ballard) Half Shell (Pike Place) Taylor’s Shellfish and  Kokkaku (Wallingford) –Rachel Belle 
• Tamari Bar –  (Capitol Hill) Trevor Lenzmeier 
• Donna’s (Capitol Hill, every day from 4-6PM and 10PM-12am) –Brandi Fullwood 
• Rockcreek (Fremont and Kirkland) –Tan Vinh 

 

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.

This is an excerpt from Tan’s conversation with J Kenji Lopez-Alt and Rachel Belle about their Thanksgiving meal preparation tips. But mostly it’s about green bean casserole.This was recorded at a Seattle Eats live event at Town Hall Seattle on Nov 10, 2025.

References from this episode:

• The recipe for Tan’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish, green bean casserole.
• In Memory of Dorkus Reilly inventor of the green bean casserole

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.

Every year it seems like there’s a new way to make the dry, beige Thanksgiving turkey taste…better. Deep fried, spatchcocking, herb butters. But what about a Seattle way? Seattle Times food writer, Tan Vinh, sits down with Taichi Kitamura, chef and co-owner of Sushi Kappo Tamura to talk about his teriyaki turkey twist. Plus, this recipe revolutionary comes with sides!

Read more about teriyaki turkey (and grab a special bonus recipe) in The Seattle Times here.

Recommendations for sides:

• Steamy, hot rice
• Kenji Lopez-Alt’s roasted potatoes
• Green bean salad with sesame
• Peach cobbler

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.

The food scene in Phinney Ridge is popping off. There are long lines for pizza, shrimp sandwiches and Italian delis. The biggest challenge is finding a place to park. Seattle Times food writers, Tan Vinh and Jackie Varriano, highlight the neighborhood spots so good you won’t even care about driving around the block five times to find parking.

Read more about this hot food neighborhoods in The Seattle Times.

Recommendations in this episode:

• Ben’s Bread (particularly pizza night)
• Grillbird/Salad Party
• Fortuna
• Roy Thai
• Sweet Bakery

BONUS! Steve's Famous Pizza is coming to Phinney Ridge: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/stevies-famous-will-open-third-pizzeria-in-this-seattle-neighborhood/ 

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.

The fine dining spots are nixing their prix fixe menus in favor of a more casual model. Seattle Times food writer, Tan Vinh, talks with producer Brandi Fullwood about why these changes are helping keep doors open. Plus, Tan shares why change is good for customer’s wallets and appetites.

Read more about changes in high end dining in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/in-seattle-prix-fixe-menus-are-out-lower-price-points-are-en-vogue/ 

Recommendations in this episode:

• Bateau, Capital Hill
• Tomo, White Center
• Off Alley, Columbia City

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 is a haven for coffee fans. And the price of that fandom just got a whole lot more expensive. Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh speaks with Seattle Times Business reporter Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton to find out why jitter juice prices are skyrocketing. But don’t fret, they also share some good-cheap coffee spots and tips for navigating the high priced bean juice landscape.  

Read more about rising coffee prices in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/seattle-a-coffee-haven-is-watching-java-prices-spike-why/ 

Recommendations in this episode:

• The Seattle Grind, Seattle Center
• Herkimer Coffee, Capitol Hill, SLU, and U-District
• Espresso Vivace, Capitol Hill
• Push/Pull, Central District
• Stella Deli and Market, Lower Queen Anne

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.

If it seems like the best bites around town are gourmet twists on fast food classics, well, you’re onto something. Seattle Times writers Tan Vinh and David Gutman share their latest food finds from around Seattle– including what Gutman calls the best cheap breakfast sandwich in the city. Tan shares his pick for the best nachos in the entire Pacific Northwest. 

Recommendations in this episode:

• Ken’s Market, Greenwood for $3.99 breakfast sandwich 
• Grillbird, Phinney Ridge for a shrimp forward fast food twist
• Due Cucina, Capitol Hill for fast casual pasta
• Ben’s Bread, Phinney Ridge for chef-y cheese crackers
• Friendship BBQ, Haller Lake for tiny, juicy lambs skewers
• Delille Cellars, Woodinville for glistening, bougie nachos with carnitas

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.