The best way to understand a culture is to taste it, right? For lucky residents of Joya Townhomes in Seattle’s Atlantic district, you can roam an entire gastronomic universe without ever leaving the community. How tasty!
BUDDHA BRUDDAH
2201 Rainier Ave S
To start, head to the long-time culinary mashup Buddha Bruddah — an Asian-Hawaiian eatery whose “plate lunches” give you a little taste of everything. Pack your order with garlic shrimp, sweet and spicy pork, Hawaiian grilled beef, and staples like mac salad and Asian slaw. Saffron Spice is another legendary spot, one that combines Indian cuisine with Indochinese fare. Here, your pakoras can come with a side of manchow soup, sesame chicken, chilli paneer and fried deliciousness of every sort.
TOSHI’S TERIYAKI
1706 Rainier Ave S
For more Asian flair, try Toshio’s Teriyaki. Its namesake dish sits alongside tempura yakisoba, tonkatsu and oyakodon, making this a neighborhood staple for a decade. Same goes for the Tamarind Tree. This is southern and northern Vietnamese food perfected, from fragrant pho to crispy prawn baguettes, stuffed squid to pandan leaf ice cream. The courtyard is divine for outdoor dining but go early — this joint is hopping. (Also: their egg rolls might be the only thing people on the internet agree on. Order a bunch).
CHEF CAFE
2200 S Jackson St
Never tried Ethiopian food? Might be time. The city’s best restaurant is the family-run Chef Cafe. The veggie combo, fish goulash and abundant portions get consistently high praise. Then continue your Ethiopian experience at Wonder Restaurant and Sports Bar with live jazz on Fridays and big screens to watch the game. (Rumor has it their Ethiopian coffee will blow your ears back.)
THE LOVING HUT
1226 S Jackson St
The Loving Hut is another yummy standout. Its vegan fare includes banh mi sandwiches, wonton soup, and something called “Divine Broccoli” that’s so satisfying it might just convert some die-hard carnivores. If not, head to the Wood Shop BBQ with its juicy smoked brisket, dry-rubbed ribs and signature pulled pork. Go on, count the number of shocked reviewers from Texas who can’t believe meat this good exists outside the Lonestar State.
With all of these global tastes tucked into one community, it’s not surprising that niche.com gives the Atlantic area an A+ for “Diversity” and “Nightlife”. Want an added bonus? The community also gets an A in the “Good for Families” and “Schools” categories. That means a home here will satisfy big people and little people, the casual diners and the adventurous eaters. Talk about diversity.
Check out Joya, Intracorp’s new 2& 3-bedroom townhomes in the heart of the (delish) Atlantic neighborhood.