Dick's Drive-In

Capitol Hill, Lower Queen Anne, Wallingford

With a moniker that inspires countless titters in middle schoolers and has been name-checked by Sir Mix-A-Lot in "Posse on Broadway," the old-school Seattle fixture might not make the best burgers you've ever had, but that hardly matters to the scores of fans drawn like moths to a flame by the nostalgic glow of its orange neon sign. Get the Dick's Deluxe (a special-sauce-laden piece of heaven), their perfect peppermint stick hot fudge sundae, and/or a hand-dipped chocolate shake for dunking their salty, squishy fries.

Beecher's Handmade Cheese

Pike Place Market

You may have seen Beecher's Flagship cheese in stores around the country, or perhaps you've been to their cafe in New York City, but Kurt Beecher Dammeier's storefront in Pike Place Market is where it all started. The main attraction at the famous fromagerie is peering in the windows and gawking at the cheese-making process in real time, but they also make superlative grilled cheese sandwiches and mac and cheese. Also of note are their curds, habit-forming nuggets of cheese made as a byproduct from their Flagship cheese.

Ellenos Yogurt

Pike Place Market

You know all those terrible yogurt commercials where women are really, really blissed out of their gourds about cultured dairy products? Ellenos Yogurt makes Greek yogurt that's so good, it actually makes you feel that way. Creamy, dreamy, dessert-like, and thick enough to hold a spoon, it's guaranteed to be unlike any other yogurt you've ever tasted before.

Geoduck

Various Locations

Pronounced "gooey duck," this long, oversized saltwater clam that's native to the Pacific Northwest has got to be one of the weirdest-looking things you can eat. If you can get past the undeniably phallic appearance, you'll be rewarded with a clean, sweet flavor and crunchy texture. You'll find them on the menu in various preparations at restaurants including Shiro's Sushi, Sushi Kashiba, and Taylor Shellfish locations.

Dahlia Lounge's Triple Coconut Cream Pie

Belltown

Local restaurant mogul Tom Douglas's world-famous triple coconut cream pie, a fluffy coconut whipped-cream confection topped with fat chips of toasted coconut and shards of white chocolate in a coconut-spiked crust, is so coveted that it sometimes commands hundreds of dollars at charity auctions. Luckily for you, you can claim it for yourself at a much more modest sum at Douglas's Dahlia Lounge.

Rachel's Ginger Beer

Pike Place Market, University District, capitol Hill

Rachel Marshall started selling her fizzy, spicy-sweet ginger beer at Seattle farmers markets in 2013, and the ever-popular eponymous elixir is now available in three locations across the city (plus one in Portland). Stop by to try it in a killer Moscow mule, or grab a picnic-ready growler in distinctive flavors like pink guava, cucumber tarragon, and caramelized pineapple.

Ivar's

Waterfront, Wallingford

Ivar's is a local seafood chain known for its idiosyncratic founder (entrepreneur and folk singer Ivar Haglund) and its motto "Keep clam." Perch outside with some crispy-battered fish and chips or creamy clam chowder at their Pier 54 Fish Bar and amuse yourself by feeding french fries to errant seagulls (a practice endorsed by signs on the premises).

Seattle Dogs

Various Locations

There's something quasi-spiritual about the uniquely Northwest experience of ordering a hot dog from a street vendor at 2 a.m., toasty after a night of drinking or giddy after a live show at Neumos. Slathered with cream cheese and piled with grilled caramelized onions, it's the apotheosis of late-night food. Look for Monster Dogs or Dante's Inferno Dogs and load up the condiments of your choosing (sriracha and jalapeños very much recommended).

Hot Cakes

Ballard, Capitol Hill

Pastry chef Autumn Martin first conceived the winning idea for take-and-bake molten chocolate cakes in mason jars as a side hustle when she was working as head chocolatier at Seattle's Theo Chocolate. It caught on immediately and started selling like, well, you know. Visit her immensely popular Ballard and Capitol Hill cakeries to plunge a spoon into the ooey-gooey delicacy in house, perhaps alongside a boozy milkshake, or pick up a jar of ready-to-bake batter as a delicious souvenir.

Ezell's Famous Chicken

Central District, Columbia City, Wallingford

This crispy fried chicken is famous for being a certified favorite of Oprah Winfrey, who's said to have the chicken flown to her in Chicago when cravings strike. If it's good enough for the billionaire philanthropist/mogul, then surely it's good enough for you.