Jeffrey’s Fave Tacoma Eats
My favorite local restaurants and bars
I've lived in Tacoma almost a year and go out exploring the city quite a bit. I eat out several times a week and have found some gems that I'd recommend.
Hip restaurant with fantastic bartenders. The menu is eclectic and fun. I love the Fried chicken sandwich with fries and a side of roasted Brussel sprouts. The grilled cheese and tomato soup combo is also legit. Best of all, it's only two blocks from the house
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
1022 South J
1022 S J St
Hip restaurant with fantastic bartenders. The menu is eclectic and fun. I love the Fried chicken sandwich with fries and a side of roasted Brussel sprouts. The grilled cheese and tomato soup combo is also legit. Best of all, it's only two blocks from the house
Fun no frills Camping themed bar with a decent menu. I like he Chicken Bacon Ranch wrap with fries or tots. Good selection of beers. BINGO is every Tuesday from 6:30-9. Free play for first five games, sixth game is $1 per card and winner gets the whole pot. I've won a few times, it's a good time on a Tuesday. Fri and Sat they have karaoke beginning at 9pm, usually always a good crowd.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Camp Bar
1310 Tacoma Ave SFun no frills Camping themed bar with a decent menu. I like he Chicken Bacon Ranch wrap with fries or tots. Good selection of beers. BINGO is every Tuesday from 6:30-9. Free play for first five games, sixth game is $1 per card and winner gets the whole pot. I've won a few times, it's a good time on a Tuesday. Fri and Sat they have karaoke beginning at 9pm, usually always a good crowd.
Famous 85 year old Tacoma bar with an outstanding beer list. Monday nights are Randall nights where they take a standard beer and run it through whatever Sean thinks will send it next level - usually more hops, fruit, and/or sometimes even chocolate, coffee, and marshmallows. I think I've seen him put Butterfinger candy bars in there. They have a small patio out front that is perfect for enjoying a nice afternoon or evening. There is a pool table in the back, as well as a few other games.
40 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parkway Tavern
313 N I StFamous 85 year old Tacoma bar with an outstanding beer list. Monday nights are Randall nights where they take a standard beer and run it through whatever Sean thinks will send it next level - usually more hops, fruit, and/or sometimes even chocolate, coffee, and marshmallows. I think I've seen him put Butterfinger candy bars in there. They have a small patio out front that is perfect for enjoying a nice afternoon or evening. There is a pool table in the back, as well as a few other games.
If you have a taste for Ramen I couldn't recommend this place more. They make the noodles in house and they are perfect. I recommend the curry ramen, it's so good!
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Moshi Moshi
110B N Tacoma AveIf you have a taste for Ramen I couldn't recommend this place more. They make the noodles in house and they are perfect. I recommend the curry ramen, it's so good!
Cool restaurant/bar in an actual 100 year old firehouse. They kept the horses in the room to the side. They brew their own beer, but have a lot of other local brews on tap. My go to meal is either the Bison burger, Steelhead Tacos, or Steelhead plate with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Wednesday nights are Quiz nights beginning at 7 and running for three rounds, one starting each hour. It's free to play and prize is $10 for top score each round.
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Engine House No. 9
611 N Pine StCool restaurant/bar in an actual 100 year old firehouse. They kept the horses in the room to the side. They brew their own beer, but have a lot of other local brews on tap. My go to meal is either the Bison burger, Steelhead Tacos, or Steelhead plate with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Wednesday nights are Quiz nights beginning at 7 and running for three rounds, one starting each hour. It's free to play and prize is $10 for top score each round.
650 beers in the cooler and about 30 on tap. Great sandwiches and always a good crowd, but not too crowded. It's in the Proctor neighborhood, which has quite a few cool shops and restaurants.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Peaks and Pints Craft Beer Store, Taproom & Eatery
3816 N 26th St650 beers in the cooler and about 30 on tap. Great sandwiches and always a good crowd, but not too crowded. It's in the Proctor neighborhood, which has quite a few cool shops and restaurants.
My favorite brunch spot in the city; I love the omelet. The menu is really good and the friendly staff will surely please.
33 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cooks Tavern
3201 N 26th StMy favorite brunch spot in the city; I love the omelet. The menu is really good and the friendly staff will surely please.
Great food!! Note, it's on Pacific Ave, which is full of other restaurant/bar choices. Odd Otter Brewery is right next door and is veteran owned and operated.
33 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Wooden City
714 Pacific AveGreat food!! Note, it's on Pacific Ave, which is full of other restaurant/bar choices. Odd Otter Brewery is right next door and is veteran owned and operated.
THE hot place to check out in Tacoma! Ten years in the making it finally opened in late April. It's got 7 floors, five bars, 20+ themed hotel rooms, a 700 person capacity music venue, cave like tiki bar, cafe, sheesh. It's so cool!! You'll get lost in here exploring while carrying around your cocktail of choice. Make sure you find the hidden bar!
60 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
McMenamins Elks Temple
565 BroadwayTHE hot place to check out in Tacoma! Ten years in the making it finally opened in late April. It's got 7 floors, five bars, 20+ themed hotel rooms, a 700 person capacity music venue, cave like tiki bar, cafe, sheesh. It's so cool!! You'll get lost in here exploring while carrying around your cocktail of choice. Make sure you find the hidden bar!
Got a taste for sushi? look no further. This place is fantastic! Tip: After dinner go for a walk around Pac Avenue and take a walk across the bridge of glass, it's gorgeous at night!
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
THEKOI Japanese Cuisine
1552 Commerce StGot a taste for sushi? look no further. This place is fantastic! Tip: After dinner go for a walk around Pac Avenue and take a walk across the bridge of glass, it's gorgeous at night!
You grill your own meats around a big grill. It's fun and a pretty cool venue only a block from my home.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Zodiac Supper Club
1116 Martin Luther King Junior WayYou grill your own meats around a big grill. It's fun and a pretty cool venue only a block from my home.
Great dive bar in Hilltop just across the street from my home. You'll satisfy your sandwich fix and the beer list is always rotating. 1111 is a local's favorite. It's open until 2am.
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Peterson Bros. 1111
1111 S 11th StGreat dive bar in Hilltop just across the street from my home. You'll satisfy your sandwich fix and the beer list is always rotating. 1111 is a local's favorite. It's open until 2am.
Authentic German eats. Decent brunch. They have indoor mini golf, which is pretty cool, as well as a couple of Bocce Ball areas. The patio is great when the weather is warmer. It's located in the heart of Stadium District where there are plenty of other restaurant choices and it's right next to Wright Park, one of the largest city parks in the country. A visit to Tacoma without seeing Wright Park is not complete.
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rhein Haus Tacoma
649 Division AveAuthentic German eats. Decent brunch. They have indoor mini golf, which is pretty cool, as well as a couple of Bocce Ball areas. The patio is great when the weather is warmer. It's located in the heart of Stadium District where there are plenty of other restaurant choices and it's right next to Wright Park, one of the largest city parks in the country. A visit to Tacoma without seeing Wright Park is not complete.
Not far from Central Tacoma lies Top of Tacoma. It's a local's favorite. Great food, I love the tacos and pretty much everything they serve. Always an eclectic crowd in here.
44 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe
3529 McKinley AveNot far from Central Tacoma lies Top of Tacoma. It's a local's favorite. Great food, I love the tacos and pretty much everything they serve. Always an eclectic crowd in here.
Everything Hot Dogs and beer. Pretty much anything goes with the dogs in here. Right on 6th Ave, and across from Jazzbones, a great music venue to catch and band and move your body.
59 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Red Hot
2914 6th AveEverything Hot Dogs and beer. Pretty much anything goes with the dogs in here. Right on 6th Ave, and across from Jazzbones, a great music venue to catch and band and move your body.
Duke's has by far some of the best clam chowder I've ever had, and I've lived in some places with great clam chowder. The views are beautiful right on Ruston Way, and they have fantastic sourdough bread. Like seriously, you'll want some bread to take home.
43 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Duke's Seafood & Chowder
3327 Ruston WayDuke's has by far some of the best clam chowder I've ever had, and I've lived in some places with great clam chowder. The views are beautiful right on Ruston Way, and they have fantastic sourdough bread. Like seriously, you'll want some bread to take home.
Great sandwiches and other eats in a really cool building. Relaxed and comfy seating options and they host weekly open mics and belly dancing. That's right, they have belly dancing on various Sunday's. Great spot to stop for a bite after hiking the trails at Point Defiance.
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Antique Sandwich Co
5102 N Pearl StGreat sandwiches and other eats in a really cool building. Relaxed and comfy seating options and they host weekly open mics and belly dancing. That's right, they have belly dancing on various Sunday's. Great spot to stop for a bite after hiking the trails at Point Defiance.
Great Mexican food and beer, right next door to Cook's Tavern. The brunch is fantastic, I love the huevos rancheros. Sit out front on the patio or a window stool and enjoy.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Brewers Row
3205 N 26th StGreat Mexican food and beer, right next door to Cook's Tavern. The brunch is fantastic, I love the huevos rancheros. Sit out front on the patio or a window stool and enjoy.
Fantastic 50's era restaurant with great pizza! It's truly unique crust makes it a memorable visit. Crispy and light, you're going to thank me later.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cloverleaf
6430 6th AveFantastic 50's era restaurant with great pizza! It's truly unique crust makes it a memorable visit. Crispy and light, you're going to thank me later.
This place is literally just steps away from your front door and is the hippest new spot in town. Craft cocktails and the best wood oven pizzas in town. The atmosphere is trendy yet casual; reservations not accepted, so be prepared to wait for a table on weekends (I recommend getting on the list and just hanging out at the Airbnb until your table is ready)
Bar Rosa
1202 South 11th StreetThis place is literally just steps away from your front door and is the hippest new spot in town. Craft cocktails and the best wood oven pizzas in town. The atmosphere is trendy yet casual; reservations not accepted, so be prepared to wait for a table on weekends (I recommend getting on the list and just hanging out at the Airbnb until your table is ready)