With such a varied, international population, Bellevue is a hub for cultural cuisine. Taste signature dishes from around the globe, without ever leaving downtown Bellevue. No matter your cravings, you’re sure to find something to satisfy them right in the heart of Bellevue.
Baron’s Sino Kitchen and Bar
Take the elevator to the second floor of Bellevue’s Lincoln Square South and be greeted by the sleek black-and-gold facade of Baron’s Sino Kitchen and Bar. The first overseas project of Barony Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Baron’s contemporary take on authentic Chinese food is truly one-of-a-kind. Using traditional Chinese cooking methods, Baron’s offers a variety of authentically prepared dishes with a contemporary twist, such as their standout signature Peking duck, black pepper wagyu sirloins, and MaPo Tofu. Before you leave, make sure you order their aesthetically pleasing Black Gold Buns for dessert.
Cantina Monarca
Inspired by the upscale boutique hotels of Tulum, Mexico, Cantina Monarca provides an elevated dining experience in the heart of downtown Bellevue. Encapsulated with luscious greenery, warm earth tones, and walls and ceilings lined with sticks and vines imported straight from the Mayan jungle, the décor alone will leave you speechless. And the pleasant surprises continue onto the menu. Peruse bountiful tequila and mezcal offerings, with over 100 world-renowned selections. Try one straight up in a shot, or order a margarita flight. Food offerings here are meant to be shared, so order a few for your table. The carne asada, slow-braised duck carnitas, and handmade tortilla tacos are just a few of the highlights; however, you really can’t go wrong with any of the quality offerings, including some that are gluten-free or vegan.
Castilla
Immerse yourself in the flavors of Spain at Castilla. This premiere restaurant and tapas bar was designed with Spanish Chef Clara Gutierrez Carroll’s homeland in mind. Menu items blend the traditional flavors of the Castilla region of Spain with locally sourced ingredients. Start with the bacon-wrapped dates for a mouth-watering savory-sweet combo. As a main course, feast on paella, a perfectly baked flatbread, or a collection of small bites from the lengthy list of tapas. Complete the experience with a craft cocktail — perhaps a gin and tonic, customized by your selection from a number of tonic water options. Alternatively, opt for a glass (or pitcher) of sangria to fully partake in Spanish culture.
Farzi Cafe
Downtown Bellevue is now home to the world-renowned Farzi Cafe. This award-winning Indian restaurant has several international locations, but this is its first location to open in the United States. Farzi Cafe’s mission is to modernize and popularize Indian cuisine through inventive and innovative techniques, and they are doing just that. Their mixologists, for example, enlist the use of a centrifuge to concoct whimsical (and very drinkable) ideations of the zodiac signs. Their elevated food presentations and flavor profiles also push boundaries. Their take on the traditional street food of kiwi puchka tartlets (flavored water in fried dough balls) is beautifully presented floating in a bowl with cascading fog. The chicken tikka masala arrives to the table in an attractive earthen bowl carried in a miniature phone booth. Finish your meal with rich chocolate ice cream bars delivered on a bed of aromatic coffee beans.
L’Experience Paris
You don’t need to book an expensive flight to be captivated by the City of Love, because L’Experience Paris brings the magic right to you. This all-in-one French bakery, restaurant, wine bar, bistro, cafe, and shop is a concept that lives up to its name. In the morning, select from an assortment of decadent pastries and coffee for breakfast. Grab a quick Parisian lunch of a quiche or sandwich on a baguette in the afternoon. For dinner, enjoy an elegant meal and stay to savor the night at their wine bar filled with hand-selected wines from all over the world. Before you leave, pick up a box of the world-famous Pierre Hermé macarons as a token of your experience.
Minamoto Japanese Restaurant
Take the time-consuming decision-making out of dining out by going omakase at Minamoto Japanese Restaurant. Omakase is the Japanese tradition of trusting the chef to prepare a curated dining experience for you. At Minamoto, this means savoring 15 to 17 carefully crafted courses made from only the finest and freshest ingredients. You would need to book the exclusive omakase tasting event in advance, but if you just want to just pop in for sushi rolls, fried rice, or ramen, you can do that, too. Or consider the popular Minamoto TOTS (Treasure of the Sea), a presentation of blue o-toro (tuna), Japanese uni (sea urchin), and ikura (salmon caviar), topped with sturgeon caviar, green onion, and fresh wasabi, and completed with bourbon oak infused smoke.
Araya’s Place
When it comes to vegan food, it can be hard to find a restaurant that gets it right, but Araya’s Place does just that. When you visit this restaurant that opened more than 30 years ago as the first vegan-Thai restaurant in the Pacific Northwest, it’s safe to say you’re in good hands. Stop by to try their unforgettable Avocado Curry, made with soft and fried tofu, plant-based meat, bell peppers, and avocado. Their unbeatable lunch special includes two spring rolls, a house salad, curry or stir-fried pad Thai, rice, and a house dessert, all for $15. This place will have even die-hard carnivores coming back for more.
Facing East
Facing East, a take-out and delivery Taiwanese restaurant in Bellevue, has made it onto many top-restaurant lists for a reason. Not only do they make the ordering process convenient by providing pre-packaged grab-and-go meals, their conglomeration of traditional Taiwanese culture and flavors keeps people raving. Top menu items include spiced pork stew over rice, beef noodle soup, and pork buns. However, the real star is their Taiwanese pork burger, a fluffy bao bun overfilled with juicy braised pork and topped with a heaping pile of peanuts and leafy greens.
Woobling Korean BBQ
Although Woobling Korean BBQ is a relatively new addition to the Bellevue food scene, it has quickly become a favorite. Woobling offers a large selection of meats from a chef-picked menu that are always fresh and never frozen. Since you are in control of cooking each bite you consume, the meat quality is evident from initial presentation to consumption. Unlike most Korean BBQ spots that mainly use gas or charcoal grills, Woobling uses specialized electric grills to provide a smokeless grilling experience. With meat combos for up to four people and refillable side dishes, this is a great spot for a meal with family or friends.
Chicha San Chen
Initially started in Taiwan, bubble tea, or boba tea, has become an increasingly popular beverage in the United States in recent years. Bellevue’s Chicha San Chen is a boba tea shop unlike any other, as they brew each tea fresh and made-to-order using their state-of-the-art Teapresso machines. This brewing technique guarantees that each tea will be brewed at the optimal temperature for the best balance of flavors. Try their Michelin-star-recognized take on the Dong Ding Oolong Tea. If that’s not your vibe, fret not. You can choose your adventure from their diverse array of other fruity and milky options that are sure to invigorate your senses.
With so many mouthwatering options to choose from around town, you may find that you will want to extend your stay simply to sample just one more of Bellevue’s cultural cuisine offerings. We say give in!
