Whether you’re early before a flight or just need somewhere to grab a bite after a flight, there are plenty of reasons to want good food near SeaTac Airport.
The good news: there are plenty of options from quick bites to 24-hour restaurants serving excellent food. So fear not if you’re near SeaTac and looking for the perfect meal, we have your best options from high-end dining, to seafood, to grab-and-go bites.
Let’s review the best restaurants near SeaTac Airport!
The Best Restaurants Near SeaTac Airport
- 13 Coins
- Sharps RoastHouse
- Taco Time NW
- Din Tai Fung
- Jollibee
- JOEY Restaurants
- Duke’s Seafood
- Patty’s Eggnest
- Qdoba
- Bakery Noveau
- Ivar’s Seafood Bar
1.13 Coins
13 Coins first opened in the Seattle area in 1967 and is a famous late-night stop. Today, they’re not quite open 24 hours but do stay open until 2 a.m. on the weekend nights and 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday. So, if you have a flight landing at about 9 p.m. into SeaTac, this should be a top option for grabbing a bite. They’re also open at 6 a.m. for breakfast service.
What kind of food does 13 Coins offer? Aside from a massive listing of breakfast options, you’ll find entrees like chicken parmigiana, fettuccine Venetia, roasted salmon, salads, filet mignon, sea scallops, assorted veal dishes, and chicken marsala.
Trust me when I say, in terms of food quality 13 Coins will be a top option near SeaTac and its right across the street from the airport. There are also locations in Bellevue and downtown Seattle if you’re traveling from the airport. I’ve spent many late nights at 13 Coins and have never been disappointed by the food.
2. Sharps Roasthouse
There are three general areas next to SeaTac we’ll cover in this restaurant guide.
- Highway 99: This is the road that sits next to SeaTac Airport and is home to most the hotels travelers stay at. The first three restaurants on our list are on Highway 99.
- Southcenter: This is a large mall that’s about 2.5 miles from the airport. It’s convenient because it straddles interstates 5 and 405, which is the two main routes to the airport.
- Burien: Downtown Burien is the closest city center to the airport. However, its on the opposite side of the airport’s entrance so we’ve limited it to just options 10 and 11 on this list.
With that laid out, Sharps Roasthouse makes the list in part because like 13 Coins, it’s located on Highway 99 next to the hotels serving SeaTac.
While it lacks the breakfast options of 13 Coins, it is also open until midnight seven days a week (you can confirm their current hours on the restaurant’s website) and offers an afternoon happy hour if you’re in the area. Scratch Manhattans are only $7 during happy hour.
Sharps is without question the best place on this list if you’re looking to grab a drink. They have a family-operated distillery that makes spirits for their bar (so, try the cocktails!) and a wide selection of local draft beers.
The menu specializes in smoked meats. There are smaller bites available like wings, tacos, and pork nachos if you’re looking for a quick bite. Or if you’re looking for a larger meal after a long flight, you’ll be happy to see prime rib, rotisserie chicken, smoked ribs, and other options.
Beyond smoked meats, there are sandwiches, salads, seafood, and pasta dishes. All the pasta and bread on the menu are sourdough, so keep that in mind if you’re in a group that has picky eaters.
3. Taco Time Northwest
Every city has restaurants and chains that are “its own.” In California there’s In-N-Out, Texas has Whataburger, Chicago has Al’s #1 Roast Beef.
One obsession you’ll find in Seattle and nowhere else is Taco Time Northwest. While Taco Time can be found across the Western United States, Taco Time locations in Seattle are run by entirely different ownership (Taco Time Northwest). The quality of these Taco Times is significantly higher than you’ll find elsewhere.
Taco Time is “American” Mexican food. Yes, there are soft tacos and burritos, but there are also fried options, ranch in many items, and every meal comes with tater tots as an option. What can I say, it’s unique! But, it’s also on Highway 99, less than a mile from the entrance of SeaTac. So, if you’re looking for a quick bite near the airport and want to try something local, Taco Time makes our list of the best options near SeaTac.
4. Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung is one of my favorite restaurants not just near SeaTac, but across the entire world.
The Din Tai Fung closest to SeaTac is in located in a restaurant space on the outside of Southcenter Mall, about 2.5 miles from the airport. It’s one of four locations in the Seattle area.
If you’ve never heard of Din Tai Fung, it’s Taiwanese food. The restaurant’s Hong Kong location has been awarded a Michelin star, so you know it’s only using the most high-quality ingredients. Dishes include its famous Xiao Long Bao, or soup dumplings. They’re individually wrapped dumplings that burst soup after biting into them and are widely considered the standout dish at Din Tai Fung.
Beyond Xia Long Bao, the restaurant carries a variety of buns, wontons, and other noodle dishes. If you’ve never tried Din Tai Fung and are a fan of Asian cuisine, it’s quite the treat being able to try this restaurant so close to an airport!
5. Jollibee
Another fast food option on the list is Jollibee. If you’re not familiar, it’s the most popular fast food chain in the Philippines and has recently begun expanding across America. The location near SeaTac is located on the outside of Southcenter Mall.
The menu at Jollibee is fairly unique. The centerpiece is fried chicken, which is served with mashed potatoes and gravy. But you’ll also find more unconventional fast food items like spaghetti and “burger steaks” with mushroom gravy. On my visits to Jollibee, I’ve stuck to the regular burgers and chicken sandwiches. They’re quite good and a more interesting meal than stopping by the same fast food restaurants you’d stop by at home if you’re grabbing a quick bite near the airport.
6. JOEY Restaurants
If you’re from Canada, odds are you’re familiar with JOEY restaurants. They’re found across most major Canadian cities but also have a handful of US locations in California, Seattle, and Texas.
JOEY is the most “trendy” option on this list. Their restaurants are chicly decorated and waiters and waitresses are generally dressed in form-fitting black outfits. Picture cutting the Cheesecake Factory’s menu options by 50%, increasing the quality of food, charging about 50% more, making the atmosphere far more trendy, and you’ll have a good idea of what JOEY offers. It’s a more premium option, but if you’re looking to eat well in the area is among the top options.
There are entrees like spaghetti pomodoro, Indian butter chicken, Mediterranean bowls, steaks, sushi, burgers, and salads. In short, no matter the group you’re with, most diners will find something on the menu that looks delicious. It’s also worth noting that JOEY hosts a happy hour from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily and 9 p.m. to close on Sunday to Thursday, so if you’re looking to kill some time near the airport during these windows you can get discounted food and drinks.
7. Duke’s Seafood
Seafood lovers rejoice! There are seafood restaurants near SeaTac Airport that are worthy dining options. Duke’s Seafood is a local chain, with seven restaurants in the Seattle area. One of these is located on the outside of Southcenter Mall.
The menu at Duke’s changes seasonally, but you can always expect fresh and sustainable seafood. My recommendation is to start your meal with one of their chowders, which are excellent. From there, the best entree options are either wild-caught salmon, local shellfish, or halibut. If you’re looking for a cheaper meal, they do have some options like fish and chips or fish tacos as well.
Lastly, while it should be noted Duke’s is a seafood restaurant, they normally keep specials that include non-seafood options like filet mignon and have burgers and salads as well.
8. Patty’s Eggnest
A list of restaurants near SeaTac wouldn’t be complete without adding some brunch options if you’re in the area in the morning. Our two best bets at this time of day would be 13 Coins (number one on our list) and Patty’s Eggnest.
Patty’s is another Seattle area chain, but their Southcenter location sits within three miles of the airport. Hours are limited to the morning and lunch hours. The trade-off to those more limited hours is the restaurant entirely specializes in made-from-scratch breakfast items.
My favorites at Patty’s Eggnest include the ‘Crabby Joe’s’ scramble, pumpkin pancakes, Swedish pancakes, and biscuits and gravy. As you can see, there’s quite a selection of both breakfast and lunch items on their menu!
9. Qdoba
Let’s get this out of the way, Qdoba isn’t as “interesting” as some of the local options on this list. However, we know that travelers around SeaTac are often looking for quick bites shortly before or after a plane ride, so we wanted to include it as one of the better fast food options in the area.
The closest Qdoba by SeaTac is located near Southcenter Mall, next to a Bowlero location. If you’ve never been to Qdoba, they’re very similar to Chipotle locations. Menu items include burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and more. The location is especially convenient if you’re heading up Interstate 405 as its located next to an entrance to the freeway.
10. Bakery Noveau
If you’ve got a few hours to kill before a flight and want to sit in a cafe atmosphere, Bakery Noveau is an excellent option. Their menu features delicious breakfast pastries, bread baked on-site, desserts, treats like macarons and chocolate (pack them to take home!), and also more filling options like sandwiches, pizza, and quiches.
Bakery Nouveau has three locations, but the one near SeaTac is located in downtown Burien. That means you can also grab a coffee or specialty drink to go along with your treat and walk around Burien’s shops and parks to get some exercise before a flight!
11. Ivar’s Seafood Bar
We’ve included several beloved Seattle favorites on this list (like 13 Coins and Taco Time), but one final suggestion of a local favorite is Ivar’s Seafood Bar. There’s a location in downtown Burien located right off Highway 518, which leads to the airport.
Ivar’s Seafood Bars are more casual, you’ll be able to grab a bite and go fairly quickly. The specialty is their clam chowder, but other options include fish ‘n chips, prawns, shellfish like oysters, prawns, clams, and scallops, fish sandwiches, and fish tacos.
Needless to say, this is a restaurant for seafood lovers! One note, there used to be an Ivar’s in SeaTac airport but it closed in 2018, so if you’re looking to try this local icon you’ll need to stop in before arriving at the airport itself!
