Tacoma Restaurants Foster Community and Bold Flavor

When it comes to food, Tacoma’s flavor is in the blend. This port town, just south of Seattle, offers rich history and bold food, but nothing compares to the tightknit community. Here’s an introduction to the city’s diverse food scene.

Once the terminus for the Northern Pacific Railroad and now the fourth largest port in the U.S., Tacoma has always been a transportation hub. The city has attracted people from around the globe and each one has left a mark on Tacoma’s culinary scene, a haven for developing unique spins on traditional flavors, with influences from Croatia, Korea, Norway, the Philippines, Vietnam, and beyond.

The city continues to be a refuge for entrepreneurial chefs and gourmandes to experiment boldly and develop their styles. Also a craft beer capital, Tacoma is decidedly blue collar but with a deep artistic side. It’s a railroad town that gave us grunge artists, novelist Frank Herbert, and famed glass artist Dale Chihuly alike. No wonder one can find so many restaurants elevating comfort food to something transcendent.

Speaking with food influencer Erika Diama of Erika Taste Test, I get a sense of how deeply the community plays a role in the local food scene. “I originally thought that there wasn’t a good food scene in Tacoma, but on one [scouting] trip, I saw a food truck; Burger Seoul. We ordered, I took a bite of the burger and thought, ‘Okay, this is it.’ I tell my friends that this is the burger that made me move to Tacoma.”

Burger Seoul

Burger Seoul owner, Young La, launched his Korean-inspired burger truck in a parking lot in Central Tacoma and rose to local stardom with his signature burgers like the Seoul Burger, a stack of thinly sliced Northwest beef and short rib cloaked in cheddar cheese, then topped with spinach, onions, and Seoul sauce. Another fan favorite, the spicy Fire Soul, is Korean grilled pork, lettuce, pickled spicy cucumber, and hot sauce wrapped in a soft brioche bun. It’s no wonder Burger Seoul has gained the status of a folk hero and is opening a brick and mortar in June. 

Reyna Filipina Kitchen

Diama was also drawn to fellow Filipina, chef Jan Parker, whose dedication to promoting Filipino cuisine to a wider audience and highlighting diversity in the culinary world has made her a prominent figure in Tacoma’s food scene. Parker has created an assortment of traditional offerings like sweet ube drizzled beignets, chili garlic noodles, and the unbelievably good fried chicken adobo. Parker is opening a brick and mortar backed by a Kickstarter after her pop-up at farmers markets garnered a following of devoted fans. The city will welcome Reyna Filipina Kitchen in the near future.

Bob’s Bar-B-Q Pit

Some of the restaurants in Tacoma feature pure comfort food. Bob’s Bar-B-Q Pit first showed up in Tacoma in 1948 and has been an institution in the Hilltop neighborhood for decades. The founder, Bob Littles brought true Texan barbecue up to Tacoma after he was stationed in nearby Fort Lewis, Washington, and fell in love with this town. Since then, the rich smoke of tender ribs and chopped pork drifts along the street from the Texas-style smoker that sits on the street in front of Bob’s, beckoning you in to a wild ride of flavor.

E9 Brewing Co.

If you want even more casual flavor you can roll up to E9. This iconic microbrewery in Tacoma crafts PNW beers in a former 1950s muffler and auto-body shop, serving thin crust pizzas. Order a Rick’s Truffle Hustle with roasted garlic oil, light grande mozz, truffle cheese, mixed roasted mushrooms, and thinly sliced prosciutto slices. Grab a draft and sit out on the brew-floor right in the heart of where the magic happens to get that pure Tacoma vibe.

Wooden City

Truly communal Wooden City set up shop on Pacific Avenue, the heart of historic Tacoma where the soaring Italian-inspired brick structures along the famed “whiskey row” harken back to the time that this was the terminus for the Northern Pacific Railroad’s transcontinental line. The gorgeous restaurant unwinds through a brick-walled warehouse from 1888. Inside, the food reflects the spirit of community and joy that Tacoma fosters. With blistered Hungarian peppers, smoked salmon toast, and wood fired bone marrow, it’s easy to find a local PNW flavor that honors the past while reaching for the future. While a lot of the regulars go for the wood-fired pizzas, I favor the country-style pork chop and seared scallops.

El Cuerno Bravo

One of the most high-end dining experiences in Tacoma is El Cuerno Bravo. This Mexican-inspired steakhouse sits unassumingly on the ground floor of a downtown historic structure. The chic and minimalist decor keeps the focus on the star of a meal here: the steak. This is an all-or-nothing dining experience. The price tag is high, but the flavor is worth it. A signature steak flight will generally feature a portion of luxury barley-fed Angus, Japanese A5 Wagyu, and full blooded Australian Wagyu. The trio of steaks is served on a searing hot stone with a mound of rock salt and house chimichurri. It may feel like something is missing, but after the first bite you will be transported through a magical world of vivid flavor, more stunning than a Chihuly sculpture. This is a refined and passionate approach to dining with a sharp focus on the meat and preparation.

The Church Cantina

A little southwest of historic downtown Tacoma, you’ll reach South Tacoma Way. Here you’ll find a gritty yet delicious assortment of Tacoma eateries. The Church Cantina offers a fun Cuban-inspired menu served in a Goth-themed restaurant. No need to apply heavy dark makeup to enter though, all are welcome in this little hideaway along former Highway 99. Chimichurri steaks, spicy chorizo, and nachos are as easy to access as the venue.

Pull up beneath their skeleton chandelier and try the smooth and smoky flavors of the flagship Cantina sandwich, complete with decadent mojo pork, ham, gruyere, and a garlic aioli. Want to take the plunge into true Tacoma? Order the tostones, a fried and mashed plantain with drizzled garlic oil, and pair it with the cherry mole barbecue chicken covered in white cheddar and red onion. The roasted corn queso dip is so delicious you might even consider moving to town just to be closer to this local joint.

Howdy Bagel

Just across the street from Church Cantina is one of the most famous and beloved spots in town.  Howdy Bagel opened in 2023 to much anticipation and adoration from Tacoma and beyond. When you first arrive you might be greeted with a line down the block. Don’t you dare walk away. The bagels here are worth every moment. Each handmade bagel is a work of art, whether plain, sesame, rosemary, or sea salt. The pastrami and egg sandwich with diced pepperoncini is a particular favorite as well as the Kimchi Cowgirl, a bagel of your choice slathered with kimchi cream cheese and then topped with pickled radish, greens, and chili oil. One goes to Howdy Bagel for the food then stays for the welcoming and inclusive ambiance. Howdy Bagel slings a delicious breakfast in a safe space for the LGBTQIA community. 

New Gangnam BBQ

For more Asia-inspired cuisine, we have some of the finest options in the state. Tacoma has been the landing location for individuals coming across the Pacific for generations. Communities of Cambodian, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese immigrants have given the region a strong culinary foundation for Tacomans to take pride in. New Gangnam BBQ sits close to the southern border of Tacoma in Lakewood and offers some of the most authentic and delicious Korean barbecue in the county. 

Vietnamese in the Lincoln District

Head to the Lincoln District to treat yourself to a healing bowl of pho or a fresh bánh mì from any of the Vietnamese restaurants that dot the strip. One of the city’s great loves is actually boba tea, a blended smoothie with endless options on the bottom of the cup. The most traditional is sweet tapioca balls, but if fruity popping jellies are more your style, many of the Tacoma locations can abide.

If Tacoma was to have its own blend of secret herbs and spices, it would be a dash of endurance, a sprinkle of pride, and a heaping dollop of community. Chefs add their personal experiences, their longing for distant homes, or close family, and let it simmer in this city. The low heat of a rich network of support allows the subtlest of flavors to come through and become something more.