UW is a great university for foodies. There may not be much fine dining on campus, but head north to the Ave, and you’ll find a huge variety of international cuisines. To help you sort through the options, here’s a list of highlights.
Asian Cuisine
By this point, many Americans are familiar with Cantonese dumplings and Szechuan stir fries. Yet food from the Shaanxi province is still a relative unknown. It’s a shame, because the region’s hand-ripped noodles should count as an eighth world wonder. Of all the restaurants on this list, Xi’an Noodles most demands a visit. Their biang biang noodles come with cumin lamb, pork, soup broth, and other options. These slick, chewy, spicy noodles are a showstopper; they’re made quickly, and at low prices. Alternatively, there is also a range of starters and street foods on the menu.
It is difficult to find authentic, high quality sushi in America. And for college students, it’s even harder to afford it. Musashi’s is something of a miracle: they serve generous chirashi bowls for around $15, maki rolls for less than four dollars, and an affordable lunch selection. Despite what the prices would suggest, the fish is impossibly fresh. So, if you’re craving a bowl of glazed unagi or a board of glistening sashimi, go to Musashi’s. It’s good quality, it’s comforting, and it won’t bankrupt you.
Americans are finally giving Korean cuisine the credit it deserves. Accordingly, there’s a plethora of Korean restaurants on the Ave, and many more in the wider Seattle area. Many of the restaurants effectively fuse Japanese and Korean cuisine, and are worth a visit. Let’s focus on an authentic, home-style Korean joint: Korean Tofu House. This spot is frequented by college students, and offers familiar fare such as galbi, bibimbap, tteokbokki, japchae, and an extensive list of soups. The tofu soups are especially beloved. Of course, Korean food is best enjoyed with a group of friends, so if you find your tribe at UW, you know where to take them.
The Seattle Experience
The childhood of many a Seattleite consisted of pho, teriyaki, and bubble tea. We’ll cover the former two options later in this list. As for the bubble tea, it’s hard to determine which place is best, as the amount of options is overwhelming. That said, WOW Bubble Tea is popular. It presents quirky tea flavors, such as brown sugar jasmine, coconut taro, and piña colada. It is a family-owned business, with games, yogurt machines, and a unique ambience. Seattle is widely reputed to be a coffee oriented city, but don’t overlook other beverages. These huge plastic cups of ultra-sweet bubble tea are a vital part of the Pacific Northwestern experience. Just don’t end up going into a diabetic coma.
Teriyaki is not fine dining. It is cheap food, with big portion sizes. If a distant friend were to visit you, you may hesitate to take them to a teriyaki joint to showcase the culinary wonders of Seattle. That said, teriyaki was something of a fixture in the Seattle area throughout the 2000’s. Though the trend is fading now, a plate of sweet and sticky chicken will evoke nostalgia in many a Seattleite. If you’re inclined to taste a humble piece of Northwestern food history, Nasai Teriyaki 3 may be worth a try. This particular restaurant offers a rotating lunch special, allowing you to try out different options while saving a bit of cash.
Pho Shizzle
Pho has historically been a staple in Seattle. Washington state has a particularly high Vietnamese population, so these steaming bowls of savory soup are available all around the city. Pho is cheap, healthy, refreshing, and served in generous portions. The dish is enjoyed by meat lovers, chicken fans, and vegetarians alike. On a cold rainy day when your sinuses are congested, this pungent herbaceous broth is a comfort. If you’re a fan of soup, Pho Shizzle has you covered. If you’d rather snack on something solid, there’s plenty of other East Asian staples on the menu. And remember- there’s a multitude of Vietnamese spots in this neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to explore.
Local Oddities
Dick’s Drive-In
This drive-in burger joint is by far the cheapest option on this list. Burgers are served for as little as $1.60. If you like all the fixings, such as cheese and toppings, you may wind up spending as much as a whopping $4. The most popular burger is the Special, which sells for $2.50. There’s also astonishingly affordable fries, ice cream, and milkshakes. Dick’s is a beloved Seattle institution, and a lifesaver for broke college students. Are these gourmet burgers? No. Are they the best burgers you can find in the city? Definitely not. But for the price point, they’re the most you can ask for. When you’re craving fast food, they hit the spot. You can find a line of loyal customers outside, every day of the week.
Off the Rez Cafe
The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture has an impressive collection of artifacts on Native Americans, as well as many exhibits on the ecology of the Pacific Northwest. If that’s not reason enough to visit, there’s also the Off the Rez Cafe, located inside the museum. In the 1800s, US politicians forced the relocation of Native tribes. The displaced families were granted lard, sugar, and flour through government aid. Consequently, fry bread became a fixture of Native cuisine. While some still consider them a reminder of injustice, these fluffy, crispy, decadent dough clouds are undeniably delicious. They’re the cornerstone of the menu at Off the Rez, one of Seattle’s rare Native American-owned restaurants. So come down to the Burke Museum, try the frybread, and learn a thing or two about Northwestern history if you have the time.
