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A lunch spread from Spice Bridge Food Hall. Photo credit: Angelica Lai
What do foodie families love more than a really great restaurant? How about a bunch of really great restaurants all in the same place? With several counter-service stalls in one space, food halls are the perfect compromise for families with picky eaters, adventurous epicureans, diners with dietary restrictions and just about everyone else — a one-stop dining destination that ensures no one leaves hangry.
In recent years, another fresh food concept has sprung up: restaurant co-ops, which use a shared commercial kitchen to prepare and serve a rotating selection of menus from different providers, primarily for takeout. Just the thing for those late dinners after sports practice.
All sorts of delicious fare in one convenient location — we are here for it! Here’s where to get your tasty food fix.
Spice Bridge, Tukwila
The bustling, 2,800-square-foot Spice Bridge Global Food Hall in Tukwila was first cooked up by the Food Innovation Network in an effort to remove some of the economic barriers for immigrants attempting to launch a restaurant business. Now the hall is a busy culinary hub for immigrant and refugee business owners. The kitchen hosts several cooking stations and food stalls along with a laid-back dining area. Eight diverse vendors dish out authentic flavors from around the globe on a rotating basis. Kid-tested favorites include mantu — juicy meat-filled dumplings — from Jazze’s Organic Afghan Fusion; hearty beef stew from Taste of Congo; and a Zanzibar spin on doughnuts from African fusion stall Moyo Kitchen.
Lincoln South Food Hall, Bellevue
Looking to grab a bite in downtown Bellevue, perhaps after a romp at the Inspiration Playground or KidsQuest Children’s Museum? Head over to the second floor of Lincoln Square, across from Bellevue Square, for its fabulously chic food hall that will satisfy both kids and grown-ups with its delicious, health-conscious options. Choose from flavor-packed Korean barbecue from Seoul Bowl; authentic street tacos from West Coast Tacos; or a colorful and nutritious grain bowl from Wonderbowl, a great gluten-free and vegan option for those with dietary restrictions. Parents can fuel up with artisanal coffee from the sleek Dote Coffee Bar; and teens will appreciate the bubble tea drinks from Drip Tea, with tongue-in-cheek names, such as B.F.F. and Flower Boy.
Crossroads Public Market, Bellevue
Another Eastside food destination, the Public Market, at the border of Bellevue and Redmond, inside Crossroads Bellevue, makes for a welcoming hangout on a bad-weather weekend. Sample your way through 17 stalls offering international eats from around the globe. Among the family-friendly choices are Laotian hot pots from Blazing Bowl; Chinese dumplings from MiniMoon; and Piroshky Bakery’s piping-hot piroshki, a Russian handheld pie with sweet or savory fillings. Stop by after a play session at WiggleWorks or rock climbing at Edgeworks; or enjoy the mall carousel, the giant chess set or a live weekend performance on the Market Stage.
ASEAN Streat Food Hall, Seattle
Want to take a trip through the street markets of Southeast Asia? Now you can — no flying required. Just step inside the ASEAN Streat Food Hall, in downtown Seattle’s Westlake Center. Founded by a former restaurateur and avid traveler from Thailand, the food hall brings traditional Southeast Asian street food to the city. Funky decor and playful touches, like the colorful plastic crates suspended from the ceiling, re-create the vibrant market atmosphere, with eight food carts serving authentic street-food specialties from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and other Southeast Asian countries. Must-trys are the noodles from Rolling Wok, served in an Insta-worthy instant ramen cup; fruit-topped honey toast from Sweet Moon; and for a parent’s much-needed caffeine fix, a Southeast Asian–style coffee from Kopi Cafe, brewed using a special steeping process.
Armory Food and Event Hall, Seattle
If you find yourself around Seattle Center — perhaps for a play at Seattle Children’s Theatre, a visit to the Pacific Science Center or a session of outdoor fun at the Artists at Play Playground — consider this pit stop for fueling up before or after playtime. The Armory Food and Event Hall gives off a playful patio vibe with pagodas, string lights and colorful seating, and has several crowd-pleasing food choices on offer. Picky-eater-approved options include the loaded fry plates at Cool Guys Fry Bar; crispy fish and chips from Matt’s Fish Basket; and Mexican coastal-style tacos at Blue Water Taco Grill. For dessert, head over to Seattle Fudge for an old-fashioned sweet treat.
The Kitchen at 9th & Hennepin, West Seattle
This commissary kitchen space in West Seattle started with an artisan doughnut shop and food truck. Now, besides the made-to-order doughnuts (which are absolutely delicious, and include inventive flavors such as Asian pear and lychee, and Chinese red date brioche), the kitchen hosts a number of other rotating food trucks and independent takeout-only restaurants. Among them: Melton’s BBQ, known for its succulent brisket and a white mac and cheese that your kids might just prefer over your homemade version; Loxsmith Bagels, for those yummy circles of carby deliciousness; wood-fired pizza; a burger joint; and three Thai options. All items are available for pickup or delivery. Let’s just say it’s a tough choice.
Uwajimaya Food Hall, Chinatown–International District
In the center of Seattle’s Chinatown–International District, Uwajimaya Village is a cultural hub — a bustling one-stop cooperative of primarily small, family-owned retailers and businesses run by members of the local Asian American community. And the centerpiece is, of course, the food hall, which houses 12 unique restaurants, each taking you on a taste tour of different Asian cuisines. Kids will go wild for BeanFish’s taiyaki, cute fish-shaped Japanese waffles stuffed with various fillings; or the chewy mochi doughnuts from Dochi. Family dinner options include the interactive hot pot experience at Boiling Point, or grab some hearty sandwiches from Hawaiian-themed Los Costeños.
Lake Union Eats, U District Eats and Cap Hill Kitchens, Seattle
These three different locations offer essentially the same concept: a restaurant co-op that is a spin on the traditional food hall experience. There is no seating space available, but food for pickup or delivery, through most delivery apps, can be ordered from a number of local restaurants. Each of the three Eats branches works with independently owned restaurants in the surrounding area, taking orders that can be placed online or through the touchscreen kiosks at the co-op location. Try the Fruity Pebbles cannoli and Italian milkshakes from Cannolo; Nigerian cuisine from Pass D Jollof or fun Asian fusion bites from Shaka Snacks at U District Eats; or a Mexican take on the hot dog at Cap Hill’s Hot Dogs Perrones, followed by churros from El Churro Bar.
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