Here you are, ready to feast upon all the treats your new city has to offer! One of the perks about being a medical professional is that you're free to explore the unique things about your travel assignment location. That includes scoping out all the great restaurants and food hot spots in your city. So, what sounds good?
Top Places To Eat in the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is known worldwide for its exceptional and fresh coastal seafood, world-renowned apples and grapes, and farm-grown veggies like asparagus, mushrooms, and peated barley. So, while you’re working a med travel job in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S., don’t just live like the locals do, but eat like them, too. Wondering where this foodie journey will take you? Here's a sneak peek:
Seattle, Washington
Photo from VisitSeattle.org
You may not be Tom Hanks or Meg Ryan, but you could be sleepless in Seattle. You work hard! And what better way to wake up than taste-test fantastic food at the top restaurants in the Seattle area?! Don’t worry, we’ve done all the research and hard work for you, so all you have to do is get there, and decide what to order!
Samburna Indian Restaurant
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4 stars
- Offers delivery and takeout
- Takes reservations
If your tastebuds are one for spicy, rich, diverse flavors, then do them a favor and visit Samburna Indian Restaurant. With owners from Tamil Nadu, located at the Southern tip of the Indian Subcontinent, Samburna is Seattle’s “best option for Indian food,” according to Eater.
Not sure what to order. Let us help you out! Word on the street is Samburna is the dosa staple in Seattle. Never had a dosa? Okay, now you have to check out Samburna! A dosa is a thin flat bread made of lentils and rice and at Samburna, there are several different versions, including one that’s more than three feet long! According to Eater, the goat curry is also a “must-try” and the madras coffee with a milk-based dessert puts a nice finishing touch on the meal. Don’t worry, you can thank us later.
Kedai Makan
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4.5 stars
- Vegan options
- Offers takeout
Another Seattle staple is one of the only Malaysian restaurants in Seattle, Kedai Makan. What was born as a simple takeout window in 2013 quickly grew to be a local favorite and by 2015, the restaurant found its home inside a turquoise-walled dining room in Capitol Hill.
When you enter the quaint and casual dining area, you’re instantly hit with the rich aromatics of various herbs and spices like lemongrass, nutmeg, and turmeric. According to Eater, you’ll want to try the preserved duck egg or beef ribs stewed in black vinegar and soy. As they say on their website, they’re not here to “try to reproduce your mom’s food.”
Mean Sandwich
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4 stars
- Offers takeout
The name doesn’t lie—Mean Sandwich does, in fact, make a mighty mean sandwich. And ironically (or not so ironically), that’s also the name of the signature sandwich that keeps foodies coming back for more. In this Mean Sandwich, you’ll find a “swift roundhouse kick to a classic deli corned beef sandwich,” as described by The Infatuation. Stuffed in between the sandwich shop’s seeded bun is thick, tender corned beef with a squirt of yellow mustard, red pickled cabbage, maple syrup, and a generous handful of fresh mint. Needless to say, it’s a sandwich that will require two hands to fully enjoy.
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Spokane, Washington
Photo from VisitSpokane.com
If you’re a basketball fanatic, you may already be familiar with what Spokane has to offer. If not, then you’re in for a real treat! Spokane is not only the host of the annual Spokane Hoopfest, the world’s largest basketball tournament, but it’s also home to a thriving foodie scene with a wide variety of American, Asian, African, and Italian influence—and that’s only covers some of the top eateries in the city. If you’re working an assignment nearby, take time to immerse yourself in the diverse flavors of Spokane.
Mary Lou's Milk Bottle
- Price: $
- Yelp review: 4.6 stars
- Offers delivery and takeout
A lactose pill may be in your future with this special Spokane eatery. Just like you may have guessed from the 84-year-old giant exterior milk bottle, Mary Lou’s specializes in—drum roll, please—dairy. In fact, they have more than 20 different flavors of milkshakes on the menu, all made with creamy, homemade ice cream that’s churned right across the street! And to go along, fresh hand-cut French fries for dipping, and an all-American burger with freshly made buns to top it all off.
Set in a 50s-style diner (when diners were at their peak), stepping into Mary Lou’s is a nostalgic blast from the past. Once you arrive, you’re immediately drawn to where the magic happens, the galley-style kitchen lined with bar stools for a first-row seat into the action. As the Eater said, this iconic Spokane diner is a “fun find” that you won’t want to miss out on!
Photo from Mary Lou's Facebook
D'Bali Asian Bistro
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4.5 stars
- Offers delivery and takeout
- Vegan options
In search of Korean, Thai, Singaporean, Indonesian, Malaysian, or Vietnamese? What would you say if we told you there’s somewhere near Spokane where you can get a little taste of everything? Is your mouth watering yet?
D’Bali Asian Bistro offers a delicious array of Asian-inspired dishes, all of which are made with love and joy by owner “Mama Jeannie” Choi, who’s known for “intensely garlicky garlic chicken, coconut-simmered fall-apart Sumatran beef rendang, and a warm, welcoming smile,” according to Eater. And she may just be one of the reasons why guests can’t seem to get enough of D’Bali.
That, and as soon as you enter the restaurant, you’re overwhelmed by a warm, welcoming feeling of belonging. “If you look at the décor, the feeling we were trying to go for is that you are coming to [Mama Jeannie’s] home, and everything has her fingerprint on it,” said D’Bali’s marketing manager, Kelly Bishop, to Inlander.
Zona Blanca
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4.5 stars
- Offers takeout
Have you seen “Top Chef”? You know, the cooking competition show that has legendary judges like Padma Lakshmi, Gail Simmons, and Tom Colicchio. Well, get this. “Top Chef” alum, Chad White, opened up Spokane’s first (and only) cevichería, Zona Blanca.
Yep, you read that right. Here at Zona Blanca, you can experience the refreshing, light, clean, bright, spicy, and pleasantly acidic flavors of the various ceviche cuisine. In fact, at Zona Blanca, they focus on three main ingredients: Lime, fish, and salt. But don’t worry. If you’re not big on this Southern American seafood dish, there are lots of other options like oysters, tostadas, and tacos!
“The fish taco is one of my favorite items because it was an idea that I didn’t really understand when chef Chad presented it to me,” said one of Zona Blanca’s chefs, Jeana Pecha, to Spokesman. “It took me a long time to figure out how it would work. But the second his brain and my brain finally synced up on this one taco, I fell in love with it. It’s a great representation of he and I working together.”
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Tacoma, Washington
Photo from TravelTacoma.com
Located smack-dab in the middle of Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, Tacoma is boppin’ with trendy eateries, shops, and then some. So next time you’re in the area for a med travel job, take yourself or a foodie buddy on a date to one of Tacoma’s top restaurants.
Gilman House
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4 stars
- Offers takeout
- Takes reservations
- Vegan and vegetarian options
Did someone say Sunday brunch? Sign me up! Oh wait, do you work during brunch-time? What about a Friday or Saturday night dinner date instead? No matter when you visit the Gilman House, stretchy pants are a must.
Gilman House isn’t your normal eatery, it’s a cool eatery. While it may only be open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon brunch, it’s well worth the wait (and the calories). As for brunch, take our word for it and order the house-made buttermilk biscuits as a starter. Served with butter and raspberry jam, the biscuits are ultra-buttery and flakey, falling apart with every bite.
The dinner menu is pub food with unique chef touches and a focus on plant-based ingredients—vegans and vegetarians are welcome! Plus, as a bonus, the drinks menu offers 25 gin cocktails, with 10 of those available in double portions for takeout.
Of the 25 specialty cocktails, the Gilman House has every concoction an aficionado would expect, including a gin-themed mule and buck, gin-themed old fashioned, gin Bloody Marys, a sling, rickey, fruit cup, and more.
Infinite Soup
- Price: $
- Yelp review: 4.5 stars
- Offers takeout
- Vegan and vegetarian options
Did you know, on average, Tacoma experiences some type of precipitation 154 days out of the year? And on a wet, chilly day, what warms up your insides better than a nice cup of soup? Answer: A delightful bowl of soup from Infinite Soups.
With more than 20 daily soup choices, including options for vegans and vegetarians, Infinite Soup is a Tacoma mainstay. According to the Food Network, foodies have been drawn to this soup shop for its spicy curried chicken—a combination of onions, ginger, and garlic, tossed with turmeric, coriander, cumin, and cayenne mixed with tomatoes, chicken broth, basmati rice, and chicken topped off with cream, garam masala, and fresh cilantro. And also, anything with bacon in it, naturally.
Photo from Courthouse Square Tacoma
Bob's Bar-B-Q Pit
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4 stars
- Offers takeout
- Vegan and vegetarian options
Since 1948, Bob’s Bar-B-Q Pit has been delivering mouth-watering sloppy sandwiches, tender ribs, supple pulled pork, hot wings, chopped beef, and more. Originally founded by Bob and Elizabeth Littles, today, this Tacoma BBQ joint is still family-owned and operated by their daughter Carolyn and her sons, who stay true to the classic Texas pit family recipes. Not only does this family restaurant specialize in barbequed meats, but they also serve “Tacoma’s best peach cobbler,” according to the Eater.
Bob’s Bar-B-Q Pit has a long history of making people happy with its delicious creations and bottled barbeque sauce. And their philosophy is simple: “It all starts with a great fire. Then, the meat with a special blend of seasonings, cooked to perfection, basted with Bob’s secret Hot Dip, cut, and served to the public.”
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Portland, Oregon
Photo from VisitPortland.com
Surrounded by both oceanside and magnificent mountains, Portland is a must-see city. Even better, it ranks no. 1 (out of 182 places in the U.S.) for foodie cities, according to a study done by WalletHub. What’s that mean? It means that Portland has countless restaurants, fast food joints, and other eateries with diverse flavors that are guaranteed to make your tastebuds dance! These are just a few.
Gracie's Apizza
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4.5 stars
- Offers takeout and delivery
- Vegan and vegetarian options
They say there’s two kinds of pizzas: Good pizzas and great pizzas. Well, if that’s true, then Gracie’s Apizza pies are glorious and pizzaiolo Craig Melillo is a genius.
To say each pizza created at Gracie’s is made with love would be an understatement. Hand-crafted with a slow-fermented sourdough crust and homemade mozzarella cheese, these distinct pizza pies are handled with care and decorated with char-dotted crusts and house-pickled accoutrement. For dessert, you can take home a pint of house-made ice cream flavors like amarena cherry or tahini chip.
According to Eater, Melillo’s humbleness is one of the things that makes Gracie’s a success. There’s no doubt that he’s extremely talented, yet he doesn’t make a big fuss over it. “That’s part of what makes his food so special,” said Eater. “It’s something people get to discover.”
Oma's Hideaway
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4.5 stars
- Offers takeout and delivery
- Vegan and vegetarian options
Described as a “little rain of sunshine” by Bon Appétit, Oma’s Hideaway is a Portland restaurant that has a little something for every kind of foodie. According to Portland Monthly, this trendy eatery serves a mix of “Malaysian Chinese barbecue, Indonesian sambals, French sausages, and psychedelic stoner food fun.”
This Southeast Asian restaurant is the brilliant creation of Mariah and Thomas Pisha-Duffly, who also founded Gado Gado, another one of Portland’s prime eateries. Once you step into this 70s pop art hot spot, you can’t go wrong with what you order.
“The sweet potato dumplings arrived first: Marshmallow-fluffy and floating in a peppy green curry sauce. The roti canai, paired with a little ramekin of curry, was the buttery, flaky follow-up that I challenge you to stop eating,” said Bon Appétit. “And the finale: Wanton mee—a glorious plate of handmade noodles, char siu, chili jams, and ferments. With a rhinestone bar, ornate wallpaper for days, and the funkiest bathrooms, the whole vibe is as bright and memorable as the food.”
Güero
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4.5 stars
- Offers takeout and delivery
- Vegan and vegetarian options
For Meghan Trainor, it might be all about that bass. But, for Güero chef and restaurant owner, Megan Sanchez, it’s all about the tortas.
This Mexican sandwich shop takes on the classic idea of what a torta is and makes it even better. Served hot, Güero tortas are stuffed full of a variety of offerings like achiote-marinated chicken or braised beef met with slaw, avocado, peppers, and cotija cheese, all between a fresh, crispy telera roll. If meat isn’t your thing, there are tons of vegetarian options, too from fried masa to potato pancakes to refried bean sandwiches, Güero has something that’ll make everyone’s mouth water.
Sure, you can’t go wrong with what you order, but the real trademark item of this restaurant is the ahogado, according to Eater. This messy treat will need both hands, a wide-open mouth, and lots of napkins on standby. This iconic sandwich starts with a grilled bolillo roll. From there, the chef adds layers of savory pork, lathers on jalapeno slaw, and tops it off to perfection with fresh cilantro.
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Oregon City, Oregon
Photo from TravelOregonCity.com
Remember playing the “Oregon Trail” computer game as a kid? There, you’ve time-traveled back to the 19th Century as a pioneer, trekking along the Oregon Trail fighting to survive the elements and to keep your family safe. The pressure is on. But what the game doesn’t show is how the pioneers celebrated once they finally arrived in Oregon City—we like to think it was with a flavorful feast. So, feast we shall!
Nebbiolo Restaurant and Wine Bar
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4.5 stars
- Offers takeout and delivery
- Takes reservations
- Vegetarian options
After a life-changing trip to Italy, Joe and Yvette didn’t want to leave. So instead, they decided to bring Italy back home to Oregon City. And that’s exactly what they did with Nebbiolo Restaurant and Wine Bar.
Located in the Weinhard Building, where rumor has it, Portland brewer Henry Weinhard ran a small tavern back in the 1800s, this restaurant comes with decades of culture and history. Which, honestly, just makes the food taste that much better.
Although Nebbiolo has classic entrees like mushroom ravioli and pan-seared salmon, what sets this restaurant apart from others are its tapas with cured meats, cheeses, and local seafoods. Sure, tapas may traditionally be a small snack, but Nebbiolo tapas are bursting with flavors that keep your tastebuds excited for every bite.
Even better? Nebbiolo features a salumeria, aka a market stocked with cured meats, sausages, cheeses, pasta, antipasto, wine, and an assortment of artisan ingredients for sale. That way, you can try your hand at making your own quattro funghi ravioli.
The Highland Stillhouse
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4 stars
- Offers takeout
- Vegetarian options
- Gluten-free options
Have you ever been to Scotland? Well, go to The Highland Stillhouse and you can kinda say you’ve been there. This Scottish-inspired eatery is perfectly placed atop the cliffs that overlook Willamette Falls so you can enjoy both the menu and the view.
The second you step into this Scottish pub, you instantly forget you’re in the U.S. Not only does this cozy eatery feature all the Scottish foodie faves, but it’s also decked out in Scottish-inspired décor and mahogany woodwork to give it that real north-of-the-border feel. And sure, the menu may be influenced by Scottish traditions, but it’s met with a Northwest twist that’s sure to knock your socks off.
According to Eater, you can’t go wrong with the cottage pies, pasties, and salmon coated in barley grist. Spoiler alert: The grist is shipped in from an isle in Scotland—it doesn’t get more legit than that. As an added cherry on top, The Highland Stillhouse also features the largest malt scotch selection in the Portland-area.
Mike's Drive-In
- Price: $
- Yelp review: 4 stars
- Offers takeout
If you thought drive-ins were just a thing of “Grease,” prepare to be amazed! According to their website, Mike’s Drive-In has been making the “best burgers and shakes in town” since 1971. I mean, their motto says it all: “All food cooked fresh to order so it’s fresh and hot just for you! It may take a little longer, but we feel you’re worth it.” Can’t argue with that.
If you’re not really in the mood for a classic burger, this old-fashioned drive-in restaurant also specializes in hand-prepped fish and chips, hot sandwiches, and for those of us with a sweet tooth, creates more than 30 different milkshake flavors, all perfect for French fry dipping.
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Bend, Oregon
Photo from VisitBend.com
Bend may be known to many as the “beer capital of Oregon,” but everyone knows you shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach. Before you go hopping around from brewery to brewery, make a pit-stop at one (or all!) of these delicious eateries. You won’t be sorry.
Bangers and Brews
- Price: $
- Yelp review: 5 stars
- Offers takeout and delivery
- Vegan and vegetarian options
Bangers and Brews is a counter-service, family-owned restaurant that takes brats to a whole new level. No, not brats like a spoiled child or Bratz like the early 20s doll, but brats like bratwurst, the German sausage. If you have a hankering for smokey sausage, Bangers and Brews is the place to go.
Not to brag, but Eater calls this brat shop “one of the best spots to dine off Century Drive.” And when you see their extensive tap list, sausage toppings, and wide variety of bratwursts, it’s obvious why. Complete with lamb, elk, wild boar, and vegan sausage options, all you have to do is pick your sausage, decide on toppings, and top it off with one of the specialty sauces. We’re talking chimichurri, garlic aioli, sweet peppers, and then some. And if you like it, you might even be able to buy a jar of the sauce to take home!
El Sancho Taco Shop
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4.5 stars
- Offers takeout and delivery
- Vegan and vegetarian options
With a mission to “provide the community with high-quality street food at an affordable price and in a sustainable manner,” what was once a food truck is now “one of Bend’s most happening local hangouts,” according to Eater. Say hello to El Sancho.
El Sancho is decked out with vintage booths, colorful paintings, and funky margaritas. Of course, the real draw here are the Mexican street-style tacos. With more than 10 showstopping proteins across two Bend locations and a food cart to choose from, El Sancho takes authentic Mexican cuisine and combines it with a Northwest touch that leave you wanting more.
Wild Rose Northern Thai Eats
- Price: $$
- Yelp review: 4 stars
- Offers takeout
- Takes reservations
- Vegan and vegetarian options
Grab your foodie friends and head over to Wild Rose Northern Thai Eats for a traditional Northern Thai meal with sizeable dishes meant to be shared. And eaten with your hands (although a fork is okay, too).
This family-run restaurant features recipes that were handed down from generation to generation and they have the sophisticated flavors to prove it. You won’t find courses or typical Thai meals like pad Thai on this menu. In fact, according to Eater, some of the must-haves on the “expansive” menu include the kanom jeen and khao soi.
No matter what you order, the owners challenge you to step out of your comfy zone. “Think of our restaurant as a friend’s home,” they said on their website. “Join us for a meal and learn about a new culture. Nothing haunts us like the things we did not order.”
Whether you’re fueling up before a long shift or rewarding yourself for a hard day’s work, you deserve more than an overpriced, greasy fast-food meal. Part of the fun of being a professional medical traveler is experiencing the local flavors and ingredients of where you’re working an assignment! So, if you find yourself in the Pacific Northwest, use this foodie guide to taste your way through some of the region’s best restaurants.
Ready to expand your horizons? Check out our other travel guides by restaurant in the entire Med Traveler's Foodie Guide series!
