Best Seattle Street Food
When it comes to street food, Seattle remains far behind our neighbor city of Portland. City laws make it very difficult for street food vendors to operate in Seattle (they can only set up on private property). However, the Seattle City Council is finally considering liberalizing the street food laws, igniting, one hopes, a street food renaissance.
Until that day, however, here are the pioneering Seattle street food vendors that have been fighting the odds to bring you tasty, cheap food.
Type: Americana
Where: Location varies, currently in Starbucks HQ parking lot
Started in 2007, Skillet is a genuine Seattle food phenomenon. Chef Josh Henderson crafts a unique menu each week (usually heavy on beef, gravy, and cheese) and has developed a cult following. So successful, he’s opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Capitol Hill later this year.More »
Type: Americana
Where: Downtown
If you’ve seen it, you’ll never forget it. Driving down the road you spy what you thinkis an old Airstream trailer with plenty of wear. But then you realize it’s a giant iron pig and you know you live in the best city in the world. Even better than the image is the food, with two basic options (Maximus/spicy or Minimus/sweet) for most menu items, and everything made of great local ingredients (like Beecher’s cheese). More »
Type: Taco Truck
Where: Aurora
Everyone has their favorite taco truck--usually one closest to your home or workplace. But few who try El Camion, tucked next to the Home Depot parking lot on Aurora, can deny its greatness. On cold days they’ll hand you a free cup of horchata as you wait for your order to cook. Pretty much everything on the menu is a hit, but carnivores should not pass up their carnitas. And like all great taco trucks, the prices are mind-blowingly cheap. More »
Type: Vietnamese Sandwiches
Where: Capitol Hill
While Baguette is carved out of the side of a building and not situated in a vehicle, there’s no seating, the food is served quick and cheap, and their hours are limited--in short, it’s still street food. The specialty here is Vietnamese sandwiches, and unlike many (admittedly tasty) ones you’ll find at Vietnamese restaurants, these are not minimally adorned sandwiches. The baguettes are fresh and tasty, the ingredients are vibrant and piled on generously. More »
Type: Hombow (Chinese)
Where: Pike Place Market
One of the market’s greatest unsung treasures, Mee Sum Pastry has been dishing out the city’s best hombow for decades. Definitely go for the hombow (delicious barbecue-like meat cooked into fresh pastries) over the average-at-best pork stick. Show up near closing time when they’ve got stock on hand and you’ll start getting offered deals even crazier than their already low prices. A trip to the market without a stop at Mee Sum is a trip wasted.More »
Type: Lumpia (Filipino)
Where: Capitol Hill
The Filipino version of a spring roll, lumpia are the ideal late night meal or snack. It’s no surprise that Leilani’s is strategically placed between downtown and Capitol Hill, luring late-night carousers on their way back home up the hill. The menu is simple and very cheap ($1 for the staple lumpia--$10 for a dozen). Just be careful if you’ve had a few to drink, lumpia come out very hot and can burn you!
Until that day, however, here are the pioneering Seattle street food vendors that have been fighting the odds to bring you tasty, cheap food.
•Skillet
Type: Americana
Where: Location varies, currently in Starbucks HQ parking lot
Started in 2007, Skillet is a genuine Seattle food phenomenon. Chef Josh Henderson crafts a unique menu each week (usually heavy on beef, gravy, and cheese) and has developed a cult following. So successful, he’s opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Capitol Hill later this year.More »
•Maximus/Minimus
Type: Americana
Where: Downtown
If you’ve seen it, you’ll never forget it. Driving down the road you spy what you thinkis an old Airstream trailer with plenty of wear. But then you realize it’s a giant iron pig and you know you live in the best city in the world. Even better than the image is the food, with two basic options (Maximus/spicy or Minimus/sweet) for most menu items, and everything made of great local ingredients (like Beecher’s cheese). More »
•El Camion
Type: Taco Truck
Where: Aurora
Everyone has their favorite taco truck--usually one closest to your home or workplace. But few who try El Camion, tucked next to the Home Depot parking lot on Aurora, can deny its greatness. On cold days they’ll hand you a free cup of horchata as you wait for your order to cook. Pretty much everything on the menu is a hit, but carnivores should not pass up their carnitas. And like all great taco trucks, the prices are mind-blowingly cheap. More »
•Baguette
Type: Vietnamese Sandwiches
Where: Capitol Hill
While Baguette is carved out of the side of a building and not situated in a vehicle, there’s no seating, the food is served quick and cheap, and their hours are limited--in short, it’s still street food. The specialty here is Vietnamese sandwiches, and unlike many (admittedly tasty) ones you’ll find at Vietnamese restaurants, these are not minimally adorned sandwiches. The baguettes are fresh and tasty, the ingredients are vibrant and piled on generously. More »
•Mee Sum Pastry
Type: Hombow (Chinese)
Where: Pike Place Market
One of the market’s greatest unsung treasures, Mee Sum Pastry has been dishing out the city’s best hombow for decades. Definitely go for the hombow (delicious barbecue-like meat cooked into fresh pastries) over the average-at-best pork stick. Show up near closing time when they’ve got stock on hand and you’ll start getting offered deals even crazier than their already low prices. A trip to the market without a stop at Mee Sum is a trip wasted.More »
•Leilani’s Lumpia Land
Type: Lumpia (Filipino)
Where: Capitol Hill
The Filipino version of a spring roll, lumpia are the ideal late night meal or snack. It’s no surprise that Leilani’s is strategically placed between downtown and Capitol Hill, luring late-night carousers on their way back home up the hill. The menu is simple and very cheap ($1 for the staple lumpia--$10 for a dozen). Just be careful if you’ve had a few to drink, lumpia come out very hot and can burn you!