Two big-name Washington breweries have expanded with new locations in Seattle, complete with food offerings from local chefs. Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh explains how the news points to two trends shaping the city’s brewery scene. He's joined by Seattle Times editor Trevor Lenzmeier!

Plus, a listener tells us about his favorite family friendly (and dog friendly) spots to check out.

Tell us about your favorite neighborhood hang out! Email us at SeattleEats@kuow.org

Read Tan’s coverage of brewery expansions and follow the saga of Sushi by Scratch in The Seattle Times.

Family-friendly beer tasting rooms with great food:

• Aslan Brewing with seafood by Ethan Stowell (Tangletown, not yet open)
• Ruben’s Brews with fish and chips (Downtown, not yet open)
• Project 9 Brewing with food from Mexican Seoul (Roosevelt)
• Figurehead Brewing with food from Midnite Ramen and Nanking Ramen (Fremont)
• Fair Isle Brewing with Tacos Extranjeros (Ballard)
• Holy Mountain Brewing with a pasta pop-up (Phinney Ridge)

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle’s restaurant scene is playing chess, not checkers. And the latest moves reveal what is actually thriving in this economy. Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh and editor Trevor Lenzmeier break down the openings focused on sandwiches and fast-casual small plates, while large format restaurants and fine dining spots are closing or pivoting.

Read more about openings, closures, and pivots in The Seattle Times:

• https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/why-5-seattle-area-restaurants-are-pivoting-or-closing-in-2025/
• https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/seabird-acclaimed-bainbridge-island-restaurant-will-close-next-month/
• https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/mamnoon-to-close-after-13-years-as-capitol-hills-levantine-restaurant/

Recommendations in this episode:

• M Bar, South Lake Union
• Beast and Cleaver, Ballard area
• Communion, Central District
• Fortuna Bottega, Greenwood/Phinney Ridge
• Occhi Belli, Wallingford

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this kind of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stadium food can be a letdown. Many sports games and concerts are accompanied by soggy chicken fingers or cold burgers — at a premium price, of course. But the Seattle Seahawks and Lumen Field are making a big play for dining. They want 12s to see the stadium as a destination for dinner as well as a show.

Today, Tan and producer Brandi Fullwood sample new menu items on offer during the Hawks season and pick the three best items to eat at a game.

Read more of Tan’s takes about stadium food in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/best-food-at-seahawks-games-new-dishes-land-at-lumen-field-in-2025/

Recommendations in this episode:

• King’s Hawaiian BBQ — Rib Sandwich platter (serves 2-4 people)
  • $48.99
  • Sections 120, 131, 305, 335
• Big Walt’s Kitchen — Flaming Hot Cheetos Chicken Tenders
  • $17.49
  • Sections 126, 214, 230
• ChungChun — Game Day Rice Hot Dog with Squid Ink and Spicy Half & Half Rice Hot Dog
  • $12.99 - $13.99
  • Section 323

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.