Seattle-Area Restaurants Serving Comfort Food to Get You Through Winter

The advent of the chilly, rainy season has many of us setting off to our kitchens to lovingly prepare nourishing, comfort food that warms the body and soul. Or at least, that’s the fantasy. The reality? School runs, fall sports, holiday preparations and dreary days of 5 p.m. sunsets leave us with precious little time and energy left for cooking up a storm.

A welcome change from the chaotic “what’s for dinner?” routine: Taking your fam for a meal out with all the comfort of home cooking. Lucky for us, there is no shortage of local dining spots dishing out hearty, cozy, stick-to-your-ribs fare. From homestyle soul food to steaming bowls of soup, these 10 kid-friendly Seattle-area comfort food restaurants will get you through the winter slump.

The Comfort Zone, Seattle

The name alone was enough to propel The Comfort Zone to the top of our list. Run by a vibrant mother-daughter duo, this WOC-owned restaurant on Seattle’s southeast side brings the traditional flavors of Southern soul food to our neck of the woods. Think juicy, perfectly crispy fried chicken; creamy grits, warm buttered cornbread; and — as your kids will likely be thrilled to hear — decadent mac and cheese (but do warn them it’s most certainly not the Kraft kind). If you have a more adventurous palate, give Southern specialties like flavorful collard greens, gumbo or oxtail a try.

Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya, multiple locations

I can think of few things more soothing in the dead of winter than a giant, steaming bowl of flavorful broth and thick, slurp-worthy noodles. Ramen is Japan’s answer to our familiar chicken noodle soup — made with a rich broth base and piled with oodles of noodles, veggies, meat, poached egg and other toppings. I love Kizuki Ramen for its multiple convenient locations, detailed menu and fun decor. A simple kids menu is available, along with a vegetarian broth option. For even more ramen goodness, try Ooink in Fremont or Jinya Ramen Bar in Bellevue, known for its vegan offerings.

Vinason Pho, multiple locations

While we’re on the topic of oversized noodle soup bowls, no comfort-food list would be complete without pho. Made with a base of bone broth slow-cooked for hours and topped with rice noodles and fresh herbs, this Vietnamese favorite manages to be hearty and refreshing at the same time. Plus, it’s loaded with health benefits — making it the perfect take-out when your household is nursing a case of the sniffles. My vote for a great bowl goes to Vinason: Its five locations boast spacious interiors with family-style seating, and the pho is not overly greasy or spiced. Pick up a banh mi (a Vietnamese baguette sandwich) to go with the soup for an even more filling meal. Craving more pho? Check out the very authentic Pho Bac Sup Shop, or cozy Pho Viet Anh.

Biscuit Bitch, Seattle

OK, OK, you may want to delay a visit to this popular eatery if your kiddos are young enough to need an explanation for the name. For everyone else though, Biscuit Bitch, with two locations in Pike Place and Belltown, is not to be missed when it comes to comfort eats. As the name would suggest, the star of the show here is the warm, flaky, buttery biscuit — served up in a variety of ways, from smothered in creamy homemade gravy, to loaded with cheese, eggs, bacon and more in their famous “Bitchwitches.” Warm beverages, caffeinated and not, are on tap to wash it all down. Be warned: This hot spot is only open till 1 p.m. and draws a crowd, so come early!

Secret Congee, Seattle

Ever heard of congee? This savory rice porridge, topped with some combo of meat, veggies, tofu and more, is popular throughout Asia and has all the makings of the ultimate comfort dish: nourishing, easy on the tummy, and delightfully creamy and delicious. Your first stop for trying this delicacy in Seattle should be Secret Congee, an unexpected hidden gem tucked into a commercial block in Ballard. The Thai meatball congee makes a good starting point for kiddos, while grown-ups can tuck into the blue crab or five-spice tofu versions. And don’t skip the youtiao — a side of donut-like crispy fried dough bites to dip into your congee bowl.

Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, Seattle and Bellevue

Nothing conjures up a sense of nostalgia like dipping a toasty corner of a grilled cheese sandwich into a cup of creamy tomato soup. Be warned: Satisfying that craving at Beecher’s is quite a step up from the canned Campbell’s soup and American cheese singles of our childhoods. This Seattle landmark is famous for its flagship cheddar, which you can watch being made in giant vats at the iconic Pike Place location. Try it in one of their signature thick-cut sandwiches, or in a tuna melt for an extra retro factor, alongside a cup of soup made with fresh tomatoes and even more cheese. Impossibly cheesy mac is on the menu, too — and be sure to pick up some goodies to snack on at home from their to-go case!

Ristorante Machiavelli, Edmonds

Some Italian restaurants are best left to date nights, with their candlelit, romantic ambience and fancily plated take on the cuisine. Not so with Ristorante Machiavelli in Edmonds: a homey, decidedly unstuffy eatery that goes back to the basics. Expect an uncomplicated menu and generous platters of simple, classic pastas, from Bolognese to Alfredo, that could’ve come straight out of Nonna’s kitchen. A lunch menu also features hearty sandwiches like the chicken Milanese. Don’t miss the popular weekend brunch with an Italian spin — a lovely way to warm up after a walk through Edmonds’ quaint downtown and waterfront.

Uneeda Burger, Seattle

Exploring new flavors is fun, but sometimes, a tried-and-true favorite is where it’s at. If you have burgers-and-shakes fans in your crew, the aptly named Uneeda Burger hits the spot. The funky Fremont joint, housed in a former garage, turns out creative spins on classic roadside fare, including burgers featuring elk or bison patties, crispy fried cheese curds, and hand-dipped shakes. Spice lovers can dig into the Big Star Burger — dubbed the ultimate winter warmer, and topped with coleslaw, barbecue sauce and a whole roasted chili. Kid burgers, hot dogs, and tempura chicken strips are on board for littles. A covered patio keeps outdoor dining an option all winter long.

Piroshky Bakery, Bellevue

My Slavic heritage could not let me skip this unassuming little spot, owned by an Estonian couple and part of the International Marketplace food court in Bellevue’s Crossroads shopping center. To be fair, it would be tough to walk past and not be drawn in by the display case of plump, freshly-baked piroshki — a version of handheld mini pies, made with yeasted dough and a variety of savory or sweet fillings, like beef, potato or fruit. The savory ones make the perfect sidekick to hot soup, a daily mainstay of Eastern European lunches. Try a bowl of borscht, the classic Ukrainian beet soup that would make my babushka proud; or pelmeni, juicy meat-filled dumplings, served in rich broth and topped with sour cream and fresh dill.

Dingfelder’s Delicatessen, Seattle

The concept of the Jewish deli, a ubiquitous sight on the East Coast, has not taken off in Seattle to quite the same extent — and that’s a shame, because these casual eateries dish out the ultimate “home away from home” comfort meals. Luckily, we have Dingfelder’s in our corner: a Capitol Hill institution owned by a former New Yorker. Takeout-ready specialties span from soul-warming golden matzo ball soup — they don’t call it Jewish penicillin for nothing — to family meals of whole roasted chicken or tender brisket. Their specialties include crispy potato latkes, knishes (potato and onion stuffed pastries), and babka (a pastry braided with chocolate cream). The menu is extensive, so even the pickiest of eaters are bound to find something to tickle their fancy.