The 12 Best Restaurants in Redmond Washington - Seattle Travel (2023)

Ask anyone about Redmond Washington and the first thing that comes to mind is likely to be "Microsoft." Long home to the computer giant, Redmond has historically been known as a quiet suburb, filled with tech professionals. However, in recent decades, downtown Redmond has been transformed and dozens of apartments have sprung up.

As the city has become denser, the old chain restaurants have been replaced by a more diverse dining scene. Today, Redmond boasts a mix of great ethnic cuisine, breweries and wineries, Northwestern-inspired restaurants, and much more.

Let's dive into 12 of the best restaurants in Redmond Washington.

O 12 Best Restaurants in Redmond Washington

Before we dive into more detail, here's a full list of the best restaurants we'll be looking at below:

1. grenade bistro
2. wood block
3. drunk cow
4. pizza chips
5. third place
6. Matador
7. Bakery and Café Farine
8. Kanishka
9. blue sardinia
10. Matt's Rotisserie and Oyster Lounge
11. mass area
12. Bandido's Mexican Cafe

1.) Bistro grenade

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ADDRESS: 18005 NE 68th St A-150, Redmond, WA 98052

Better for:A little southern hospitality in the Northwest

Pomegranate Bistro is located across from Whole Foods on Redmond-Fall City Road. The restaurant specializes in sourcing local ingredients on its menu, with a list of local farms and vendors proudly displayed.on your website.

The restaurant offers bakery items to go (including desserts), breakfast and dinner.including happy hourdrink specials and a choice of about six smaller dishes. still forbetterThe reason for a trip to Pomegranate is for weekend brunch. Available on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Entrees range from cinnamon rolls to warm savannah scones to honey butter and jam biscuits. This is truly a taste of southern hospitality. For entrees, stick with the southern theme and order entrees like chicken and waffles or shrimp and hominy.ofYou can enjoy more traditional options.

Before you go, please note that (as of late 2022) a 20% service charge will be added to your check.

2.) Wood block

ADDRESS: 16175 Cleveland Street, Suite 109 Redmond, Washington 98052
Better for:almost a mealelkthe group can agree and a great bar

Woodblock is in the back of one of the many Redmond apartments springing up downtown. The kitchen is modern American, which means it has gnocchi.chest,a whole section is for burgers, and the main courses are mostly seafood and meat.

The general menu is well done and should satisfy most groups. However thebetterThe reason to visit Woodblock is the bar that sets the restaurant apart from many options in the same price range. The house specialty is whiskey, and they smoke cocktails and bring them to your table before taking the top off. In addition to the novelty of seeing a smoked cocktail, they are commonTasteful.

Another of our favorites at Woodblock is the Scotch Egg. It is boiled, wrapped in chorizo, coated in panko, and deep-fried. Then add sides like arugula, mustard aioli, and caramelized onions.even more flavor.falls, and isborn

3.) drunken cow

ADDRESS: 16325 Cleveland Street Redmond, Washington 98052
Better for:Creative burgers and fries and well made shakes.

If you're looking for the best burgers on the East Side, chances are your search will lead you to Tipsy Cow, and with good reason.

Tipsy Cow serves gourmet burgers (think the opposite of shake shack burgers) plus an assortment of chips and shakes. In general, the burgers are creative and very varied. There's a salmon burger, chicken, ahi tuna, black bean, and various ground beef burgers. If you're stuck picking out a burger from their extensive menu, our vote is to give it a go and try Beecher's Tipsy White Cheddar Burger.

It should be noted that since these are gourmet burgers, the cost will be a little higher. If you would like a drink with your beer, there is a selection of local beers on tap.

4.) Sparks-pizza

ADDRESS: 16175 Cleveland Street, Suite 109 Redmond, Washington 98052
Better for:Delicious ingredients and excellent pizzas.

if you have onea long timeRedmond resident, you probably remember Frankie's Pizza. The low-key pizzeria, a downtown staple, has hosted a garlic fest, where you can add anywhere from one to five cloves to dishes.

(Believe me when I say that adding five teeth is onebad selection!)

Like many previous Redmond staples, Frankie's Pizza is out of stock today. However, his legacy lives on at Sparks Pizza. Their 'Frankie's Tribute' pizza is delicious. It has Italian sausage, pepperoni, basil, pickled peppers, mushrooms and red onion.

Creativity is fully reflected in Spark's selection of pizzas. They have seasonal pizzas that keep changing and their "Legend Pizzas" are packed with toppings.

Spark is starting to get a lot of attention, so don't be surprised if there's a good wait on a Friday or Saturday night. Our bet is that the wait will be worth it. This is not only the best pizza in Redmond, but it may be the best pizza in the entire Seattle area.

5.) Third place

ADDRESS: 7844 Leary Way NE Ste 110 Redmon, Washington 98052
Better for:Delicious Korean food and fried wings

Third place certainly doesn't sound like much. Located in Old Redmond near Matador, it would be easy to walk past this restaurant without realizing it. Once inside, the interior is also quite spartan.

Skipping this hidden gem, however, would be a mistake if you want to experience some of the best flavor Redmond has to offer. Third Place is a Korean restaurant that specializes in Korean fried chicken. For years, discerning fans of Korean fried chicken have driven to Federal Way for the best the area has to offer, but The Third Place offers an East Side option that requires fewer trips. Our favorite is the honey garlic fried chicken, but there are so many options to try.

In addition to fried chicken, you'll also find great dishes like mason jar bibimbap, udon noodle dishes, and soups.

6.) Bullfighter

ADDRESS: 7824 NE Leary Way, Redmond, Washington 98052
Better for:A good happy hour spot for the 21+ crowd

say with me,marinated steak nachos.matador is onehappy hour favoritepartly because their Grandes Nachos start at $6. The standard nachos are good, but so arebeyond averagewhen adding marinated steak. Other happy hour options include quesadillas, street tacos, and shrimp. The reality is that most happy hours have not been the same since Covid hit and while Matador may not bequiteas it used to be, still one of the best happy hours in the city.

Other than happy hour, if you want to try tequila, Matador is probably the best place in Redmond (see photo above for a snapshot of the bar). In addition to a wide selection of tequila to sample on its own, Matador also offers a wide variety of seasonal cocktails, many of which are tequila-based. The last time we stopped in we had a blood orange margarita and enjoyed it.

If you're looking to dine in, the menu is above average with a wide variety of tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and entrees like fajitas. An important observation is that Matador is an establishment with more than 21 years; so if you have kids in tow you should look for another option.

7.) Farine Bakery and Cafe

ADDRESS: 16450 Redmond Way Ste 100, Redmond, Washington 98052
Better for:A European-style bakerygraveabout their baked goods

There is simply no better place in Redmond on a nice Saturday morning than Farine Bakery. This bakery takes your bread awaygrave. Farine is inspired by Belgian cafes and is open every day of the week from 7 am to 3 pm. Seating is first-come, first-served, but on a good day we recommend trying an outdoor seat.

What do you eat in Farine? They serve bread baskets, cheese, meat and nut boards, breakfast sandwiches and the more classic egg breakfast. However, our favorite is their tartines. A tartine is essentially a very fancy slice of toasted bread and you can choose between croque madame, smoked salmon, avocado and shellfish. The tartine options are about to change as we have enjoyed their baked pear tartine with whipped ricotta in the past, but it is currently not on the menu.

Last but not least, don't forget to pick up some of their great baked goods and desserts when you leave.

8.) Kanishka

ADDRESS: 16651 Redmond Way Ste 180, Redmond, WA 98052
Better for:Delicious Indian food with Thaalis lunch.

Kanishka has long been a staple in downtown Redmond, having started in 1999. The cuisine is primarily North Indian, with many hearty curry dishes that are a mix of vegetarian and meat options. Trust us when we say that the menu is quite extensive.

Our biggest complaint? Kanishka used to have one of the best buffets with a delicious variety of sambals. However, like many restaurants, Kanishka has removed its post-Covid buffet and has yet to return. Instead, there is a special thali that costs $14.99 for vegetarians or $16.99 for non-vegetarians. The thali comes with a choice of curry, naan, rice, salad, samosa and a small dessert.

9.) Sardinia Blue

ADDRESS: 8862 161st Ave NE Redmond, Washington 98052
Better for:A refined Italian dinner

If you are looking for a more classic meal, Blue Sardinia is one of the best options in Redmond. The cuisine is Italian, with chicken stuffed with ricotta, steak, and wild salmon as main courses. Don't be fooled by the menu, though, as the restaurant has a strong rotation of specialties that often include items like rack of lamb, scallops, and other savory dishes.

If you prefer a light meal, the antipasti are grilled octopus, charcuterie, or you can enjoy a pizza or their many pasta dishes (we have enjoyed the bucatini pesto with prawns on previous visits).

10.) Matt's Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge

ADDRESS: 7325 166th Ave NE f210, Redmond, WA 98052
Better for:Upscale Casual Who Takes Oysters Seriously

Matt's first opened in 2003 and has long been a favorite of the Redmond food scene. The restaurant bills itself as "upscale casual." The main courses are what you'd expect, with a mix of steak, chicken, pork, and other classic entrees like salmon.

However, Matt's offers a few surprises that you might not expect. For example, the menu includes a section for Argentinian street tacos and alternative seasonal selections. We ate at Matt's in October and had pumpkin gnocchi for example.

Unsurprisingly from the name, the emphasis is on the oysters and shellfish dishes on the menu. If you really want to indulge in oysters, Matt's keeps them on their happy hour menu.

11.) massaged

ADDRESS: 7625 170th Ave NE, Redmond, Washington 98052
Better for:Delicioso xiao long bao sin la espera de Din Tai Fung

One of the biggest dining news in Seattle was the announcement that Din Tai Fung would be heading to Seattle in late 2015. The Taiwanese restaurant chain has built a devoted following and been awarded a coveted Michelin star. Today, there are three Din Tai Fungs in the Seattle area, including one in Bellevue. However, Din Tai Fung has a number of drawbacks and frequent complaints, including long wait times and declining service.

With that in mind, Dough Zone was created as an alternative to Chinese comfort food. The star of the show is the xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. We are happy to report that the quality of the soup dumplings at Dough Zone is very similar to what you will find at Din Tai Fung. Other notable items are also their dan dan sandwiches and noodles.

Founded alone in 2014, Dough Zone now has 10 locations in Washington state, seven of them on the East Side alone. If you're not near downtown Redmond, another option is Dough Zone next to Fred Meyer's in Overlake.

12.) Bandido's Mexican Grill

ADDRESS: 8151 164th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052
Better for:Delicious tacos at a reasonable price.

Bandido's Mexican Grill is a little different than what you've seen before on this list. In fact, it's not even really a restaurant, it's a food truck.

that's oneGood thingthough when it comes to street tacos. The best, most authentic flavors often come from smaller operations. Whether you're looking for a basic carne asada, carnitas, or trying some beef tongue, the entire selection of tacos is worth trying. If you're looking for something tasty, Bandido's also offers Californian and wet burritos, as well as more common dishes like roast beef, fajitas, and quesadillas.

Trust us when we say that a great taco stand is worth its weight in gold. Definitely try Bandidos.