As we do each week, we've gathered all the food news you need to know: Read on to learn about new Taiwanese pork belly burgers to try, Monica Dimas's new sit-down restaurant Little Neon Taco, where to drink craft brews and meet baby goats, a new cafe with CBD lattes coming to downtown, and more. Hungry for more ideas? Check out our list of all the April food specials going on right now (from rhubarb doughnuts to Lucky Charms ice cream), our guide to Seattle Restaurant Week 2018, our complete restaurant listings, or our food & drink calendar.
OPENINGS
Bua 9
Owned by the previous owner of Lotus Thai in the Central District, this Thai place (whose first Yelp review appeared on February 25) serves pad kee mao, larb, roti with peanut sauce, and mango sticky rice, among other dishes.
In Bocca Al Lupo
The name of this new Neapolitan pizzeria in the former space of Fremont's Via Tribunali literally translates to "in the mouth of the wolf" and means "good luck" or "break a leg." The ambience is romantic, sparkling, and chandeliered (and features a Fremont troll shrine), and the menu includes classic pizzas, calzones, salads, pastas, wine, beer, and cocktails. Their first Yelp review appeared on March 20.
Little Neon Taco
Chef Monica Dimas's first sit-down restaurant is now open. The menu will build on offerings from the Neon Taco counter in Nacho Borracho, with tacos in flavors like adobada and carnitas, as well as her tortas from Tortas Condesa.
MOD Pizza
The made-to-order pizza chain will launch its new location in the Village at Totem Lake in Kirkland with a grand opening this Saturday, with free pizza for the first 52 people in line.
NW Peaks Brewery
The Ballard brewery is re-opening after a renovation.
QQ Taiwanese Bites
This sister restaurant to Facing East Taiwanese Restaurant in Bellevue features similar offerings, like pork bao, bubble tea, and most excitingly, their popular pork burgers (braised pork belly with pickled mustard greens, cilantro, roasted sugared peanuts, and sweet and sour sauce on a steamed bun). Their first Yelp review appeared on February 21.
Radish Creative Salad Co.
In the style of Evergreens, this new healthy eatery in Bellevue offers customizable, made-to-order salads and bowls. Their first Yelp reviews appeared March 6.
Taste of Xi'an
Not to be confused with Xi'an Noodles, this Shaanxi-style Chinese spot in the U-District (whose first Yelp reviews appeared last week) has hand-pulled noodles, clay pot boils, snow ice, paomo (a Shaanxi-style stew), and more.
Wood Shop BBQ
Wood Shop BBQ, owned by James Barrington and Matt Davis, has taken over the former space of its sister food truck Hallava Falafel in Georgetown. They'll serve their same selection of favorites like hickory-smoked pulled pork and smoked jalapeño mac and cheese.
CLOSURES
Benitoâs Chicago Eatery
The Chicago-style eatery, which served Windy City delicacies like deep-dish pizza and Chicago dogs, appears to have shuttered. However, Seattle Met notes that in a Facebook post, Benito and staff tell customers to âstay tuned for the next chapterâ by following their Facebook page.
Maree Bistro
The West Seattle French bistro in a stunning location on Alki closed on March 31 after two years of business.
Phnom Penh Noodle House
The beloved Cambodian restaurant, which has been run by sisters Dawn Ung and Darlene Le since their parents retired in 2007, will close after 30 years of business. Tragically, Ung's 18-year-old son was hit by a car last September and has been in a coma ever since, making the responsibilities of running a business difficult for Ung, who says she and Le may re-open in a smaller space in the future. A Szechuan restaurant will take over the space on May 31. A GoFundMe to support funds for Ung's son Devin's recovery can be found here.
OTHER FOOD NEWS
Cafe Hitchcock Express coming to downtown
Chef Brandon McGill will open Cafe Hitchcock Express downtown at 821 2nd Ave., also in the former space of a Tully's, in the same building as his establishment Cafe Hitchcock. The new cafe will focus on coffee, CBD "wellness lattes" (which contain the non-psychoactive element of cannabis for a calming effect and are currently offered at Cafe Hitchcock), and grab-and-go food, including sandwiches on Sea Wolf Bakery bread, wraps, yogurt, granola parfaits, salads, and rice bowls. The space will open as a pop-up later this month and become permanent after summer.
Capitol Hill Tully's will become a Macrina Bakery
Macrina Bakery revealed a first look at their upcoming fifth location in the former space of the recently closed Tully's on Aloha and 19th. Macrina founder Leslie Mackie says that the new space will be inspired by the Surrogate Hostess, the beloved bakery that occupied the space before Tully's.
Copperworks named distillery of the year
Seattle-based Copperworks Distilling Company was named Distillery of the Year by the American Distilling Institute.
Dick's Drive-In starts construction in Kent
After announcing plans to open a new location in Kent, Dick's Drive-In began construction on the new site this Tuesday. The Kent restaurant will be the company's seventh location.
El Diablo Coffee receives unexpected notice to vacate
The Cuban coffee shop El Diablo in Queen Anne, which has been in business for over 18 years, has received a notice from their landlord demanding they vacate the premises by April 30. Owner Jill Killen, who claims to be current on rent and allegedly has never missed a payment, hopes to work with the building's owners to find a solution and may move next door to 1825 Queen Anne Ave N (the former space of Nana's Family Kitchen and Cantina).
Filipino restaurant opening in Hillman City
Chef Aaron Verzosa (formerly of Modernist Cuisine and Harvest Vine) and his wife Amber Manuguid will open a high-end Filipino restaurant called Archipelago in the former space of Eymanâs Pizza. The new restaurant will focus on a Pacific Northwest approach to Filipino cooking, using local and seasonal ingredients, and will offer tasting menus with two seatings per night. It's set to open in early summer.
Jack's BBQ coming to South Lake Union
Jack's BBQ, the barbecue joint owned by former Microsoft employee and barbecue nerd Jack Timmons (who's spent time at the BBQ Summer Camp at the Meat Sciences department of Texas A&M and paid his respects at Louis Mueller's, Snow's, Cooper's, and other legendary Central Texas barbecue names), is opening a new location in the 9th and Thomas building. The new space is expected to open by midsummer 2018 and will retain the menu of the original (with the addition of Hush Dogs, the hush-puppy-battered smoked sausage corn dogs Jack's sells at Safeco Field).
Locust Cider coming to Tacoma
According to a press release, Locust Cider will open a new taproom in Tacoma this spring, next door to Jazzbones on Sixth Avenue. Like their recently opened Ballard taproom, the Tacoma location will have 12 taps, including favorites like dark cherry and honey pear, seasonal flavors like hibiscus, and limited specials like cilantro jalapeño, as well as custom barrel-aged ciders made by their staff.
Pho Bac SĂșp Shop featured in Bon Appetit
The recently opened Pho Bac SĂșp Shop, which is run by siblings Khoa, Quynh, and Yenvy Pham (the children of the owners of Pho Bac) and houses the natural wine shop Vita Uva, was profiled in Bon Appetit by Stranger contributor and food writer Angela Garbes.
Westman's Bagel and Coffee announces plans for second location
In a Facebook post sharing Naomi Tomky's piece for The Stranger's 2018 Food & Drink Guide titled "Our Favorite Places to Get Jewish and Israeli Food in Seattle," restaurateur Monica Dimas (who just opened Little Neon Taco, her first sit-down space) announced that she is working on opening a "future second location with more perks & bagels forever."
FOOD EVENTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 6
Date Night with Unexpected Productions
At this two-in-one date night package, customize your own cocoa with toppings from indi chocolate's hot chocolate bar and then head over to take in some improv from Unexpected Productions.
Delicatus Island Fever
The sandwich slingers at Delicatus will take you on a trip to the original Sandwich Islands, with a sunny Hawaiian-inspired menu that includes musubi, wasabi deviled eggs, slow roasted pork shoulder, and poi beignets.
French Cider Showcase
French Cider founder and "Chief Calvador/Cider Enthusiast" Joan Harkins will highlight a selection of unique French cidres and share the "incredible heritage of cidre-making and Calvados production, and the amazing people behind the beverages that we offer."
Plant-Based Dinner with Vegan Wine
Who knew vegan wine was a thing? Some winemakers use animal products like gelatin, caseins, and bone marrow as fining agents, making their wines not vegan. This four-course dinner hosted by guest speaker Stewart Rose, Vice President of the Vegetarians of Washington and Luke Wohlers from Walden Selections will feature vegan wine pairings as well as intriguing plant-based takes on dishes like poke and loco moco.
Seattle Cosmic Collaboration Release Party
Reuben's Brews will premiere their extraterrestrial "cosmic collaboration" with Portland-based Ecliptic Brewing: Crimson Star Hazy Double Pomegranate IPA.
Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale Ale Release Party
Celebrate the release of Elysian's Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale Ale by breaking out your finest '70s threads and grooving to funk from DJ Riz Rollins. A prize will be awarded for best outfit.
APRIL 6-8
NW Peaks Ballard Tap Room Grand Re-Opening
To debut their newly renovated brewery, NW Peaks will showcase new food and drink specials and release their Whiskey Barrel-Aged Double Redoubt, a "a souped up take" on their Redoubt Red "featuring powerful overtones of whiskey, oak, and vanilla" aged in whiskey barrels from Woodinville Whiskey Company. They'll also have bottles of their flagship beers available for purchase.
APRIL 6â9
Old Engine Oil
The appetizingly named "Old Engine Oil," a rare beer from Scotland's Harviestoun Brewery with "viscous," "chocolatey," and "roasty" qualities, is available here only once a year. You can get it at Columbia City Ale House, 74th St. Ale House, and Hilltop Alehouse.
APRIL 7â8
Vegfest 2018
This festival dedicated to all things herbivorous will feature vegetarian food samples, chef demonstrations, nutrition information, free health screenings, books and cookbooks, and a kids' section with clowns and games.
SATURDAY, APRIL 7
4th Annual Masonry Farmhouse Beer Festival
The Fremont wood-oven pizzeria is throwing a "celebration of all things mixed fermentation," with food, drink, and tasting glass included. Proceeds benefit KEXP.
Beer and Baby Goats
Enjoy the irresistible combination of cold craft brews and adorable baby goats. The farmer to whom SnoTown Brewery gives their spent grain will bring along his farm's litter of baby goats for guests to pet, and will also answer questions about farming and livestock.
Chuck's Hop Shop Anniversary
Help the brewery's Greenwood location celebrate their anniversary.
Second Annual Taco Crawl
Grab a ticket from El Costeno and spend the day inhaling tortilla-wrapped delights from taquerias and other restaurants all over Fremont, Ballard, Capitol Hill, Downtown, Belltown, Pioneer Square, and Georgetown at your leisure. Tax and gratuity is already included, and you'll also get drink specials and swag.
Sip + Slide
Sip beverages from regional breweries and cideries while snacking on tasty sliders from local restaurants. Proceeds benefit Treehouse.
Sour Beer Day
Lucky Envelope will release six different pleasingly tart, limited-release libations in flavors like raspberry, lychee, and blackberry shake, including "kettle sours, barrel-aged sours, and brett sours." They're expected to sell out by the end of the day, so get there early. SoSo Good Food Truck will provide New Mexican nosh.
The Flour Box Donut Pop-Up
Devour pillowy doughnuts from coveted pop-up Flour Box created to complement flavors from Central District Ice Cream, in delicious pairings like cherry rhubarb cream meringue with rhubarb mimosa ice cream.
SUNDAY, APRIL 8
Atwood Ales Beer Pairing
Blaine-based farm-to-table Atwood Ales will provide pairings for the lovingly house-made artisan foods of Preserve & Gather, including "cured meats and pickled delights."
Food Truck Round-Up
This free, family-friendly gathering of deliciousness on wheels happens the second Sunday of each month and features local food trucks, food booths, and over 75 different handmade and vintage shops.
Saturday Brunch: Swipe Right Diner (addo:Incubator)
At this brunch pop-up from addo's culinary incubator program, chef Charlotte Graves will present her take on American diner favorites with a weekly brunch tasting menu.
Spice Waala Opening Day
Be the first to try the wares of the brand-new authentic Indian street food purveyor Spice Waala, which "aims to take Indians on a nostalgic journey back home while simultaneously introducing non-Indians to the multitude of authentic Indian flavors." They'll have kathi rolls, mango lassi, and masala chai ("not the Starbucks kind"), and the first few customers will get free rolls and/or drinks.
TavolĂ ta Belltown Sunday Feast: Spring Lamb
Feast on lamb in a myriad of preparations at this family-style dinner, which will use lamb in almost every dish.
MONDAY, APRIL 9
Sharpie Mustache Day
The Sharpie Mustache is a cheeky modern-classic whiskey cocktail invented at New York "bitters haven" Amor y Amargo in 2012 (apparently named for its sneaky ability to get the drinker passed out and susceptible to having a Sharpie mustache drawn on them). No Anchor previously did a barrel-aged version of it and finished a single-malt whiskey from Copperworks Distilling in the barrel, then finished King's Head beer from Holy Mountain Brewing in the same barrel. At this event, they'll feature the resulting "Holy Mountain Sharpie Mustache Barrel Aged Kings Head" on tap, as well as flights of Sharpie Mustache Cask-Aged Whiskey and original Sharpie Mustache cocktails.
