Delicious Destinations: Global Cuisine Restaurants for Seattle-Area Families

Dinner “travel”

Transport your family across the globe — via a delicious meal! A sampling of global cuisines is a fun and easily accessible gateway to learning about new cultures, countries and cuisines. Here in the greater Seattle area, we are fortunate to be surrounded by an astonishing diversity of cultures and ethnicities sharing traditional and modern dishes.

Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff to nine local destinations for delicious global eats!

First on the menu: Get a taste of Georgia ►

1. Get a taste of Georgia at Skalka

Your kiddos may be familiar with Georgia, the state, but what about Georgia, the country? Nestled between Western Asia and Eastern Europe, this nation (a former Soviet republic) is known for its sunny climate, warm hospitality and unique foods. Its cuisine is a bright fusion of Mediterranean and Central Asian flavors, using lots of herbs, nuts and sun-dried fruits.

Skalka (Russian for “rolling pin”) is a welcome addition to Seattle’s downtown waterfront, and the first eatery to bring Georgian cuisine to the area. Chef Khatuna Kopaliani serves favorites from her hometown of Batumi: khinkali, juicy dumplings with savory fillings; and khachapuri, which are kid-pleasing “boats” of buttery dough filled with gooey melted cheese and topped with egg. Owner and pastry chef Mariia Tarasova, a local mom of two toddlers, whips up freshly baked treats every day. Pickup and delivery options are available.

Culture side dish: Check out one of the Eastern European markets in the area, such as Marvel Food and Deli or Arbat Natural Foods, to discover fun, novel treats (try the cheesecake-like Dadu bars!) and traditional items, such as matryoshka nesting dolls, to take home.

Next stop: Make your way to Morocco ►

2. Make your way to Morocco with Marrakesh

This popular Belltown spot offers its lovely meals for takeout, but you may want to make time for an utterly unique in-person dining experience. This place promises a visual and culinary feast. The inconspicuous storefront leads into an opulent dining room straight out of an “Arabian Nights” tale, swathed in Oriental rugs, ornate tapestries and elaborately embroidered floor poufs.

Prepare to spend at least a couple of hours enjoying the multicourse menu of soup, salad, sweet and savory b’stilla pie and dessert, with traditional mint tea served on a silver tray at each meal. Entrées include signature items such as tagines (spiced stews named after the conical cooking vessels in which they are traditionally cooked) or couscous layered with meat or vegetables — all meant to be shared family-style. Plus, the belly dancing show is back, performed on Friday and Saturday nights (reservations are required)!

Culture side dish: Staying in for dinner? Bring the mystique of Morocco home. Surround a low table with pillows, drape scarves and twinkly lights around the area, and put on some Middle Eastern tunes. You can even give belly dancing a shot!

Next stop: Explore Eritrea and Ethiopia ►

3. Explore Eritrea and Ethiopia at Habesha Cafe Amy’s Merkato

Seattle has a vibrant East African community and a robust share of excellent eateries showcasing the food of neighboring countries Ethiopia and Eritrea, which share a similar cuisine. The flavors are hearty and generously spiced. Traditional dishes include thick stews (wots); tibs, a meaty stir fry; and, of course, spongy injera bread, used to scoop up the food in lieu of utensils — a custom your messy eaters will surely embrace.

All these items and much more can be found at Habesha Café, formerly known as Amy’s Merkato, in Hillman City. The restaurant got its start 20 years ago as Seattle’s first East African market and today it serves a full breakfast, lunch and dinner; it also offers café and deli service. Vegetarian families will love the extensive veg menu, while Mom and Dad will appreciate the fragrant Ethiopian coffee. Don’t miss the market, where you can stock up on a dazzling variety of spices to try to re-create your fave dishes at home! 

Culture side dish: Make and play your own game of tegre, an Ethiopian version of mancala, with the easy tutorial found on Kid World Citizen.

Next stop: Journey to Guatemala ►

4. Journey to Guatemala at Antigua Guatemala Restaurant

Your kiddos have probably had Mexican food (or at least the Americanized version thereof), but there’s so much more to the fascinating world of Latin American cuisine than salsa and tacos! The beautiful Central American country of Guatemala has shaped its local food profile from its ancient Mayan roots, a culture that featured foods such as corn, chilis, beans and the country’s native avocados, and later incorporated Spanish influences. Fun fact: Guatemala is also the birthplace of chocolate!

Ready to sample? Head to Antigua Guatemala Restaurant in Kent, named in honor of the nation’s historic capital city. This homey, no-frills joint dishes out generous portions of authentic eats, such as garnachas, deep-fried tortillas topped with spiced meat; and chuchitos, a Guatemalan take on the tamale. Kiddos will love the elotes locos, literally “crazy” sauce-drenched ears of corn; and shuco, a version of the hot dog that’s loaded with no fewer than 13 funky toppings.

Culture side dish: Try a simple and colorful tissue paper craft to make a brightly colored quetzal, Guatemala’s national bird, and a symbol of liberty. 

Next stop: Cultural oneness ►

5. Experience cultural oneness at Ubuntu Street Café

Looking for an experience that combines takeout with a good cause? The weekly family meal at Kent’s Ubuntu Street Café fills the order. Ubuntu, a South African philosophy that centers on the bond that unites humanity, is celebrated at the café through food, cooking and the bringing together of cultures and people. The café is operated by Project Feast, a nonprofit organization that runs training programs for immigrants and refugees looking to work in the food industry in the United States.

Each week, an affordable family meal is offered for pickup, providing an opportunity for the program apprentices to learn skills and gain real-life experience. Each meal features a different authentic dish inspired by one of the program’s past or present trainees: Mexican, Somali, Burmese and Pakistani are only a few of the cuisines represented. Meal menus are announced on Fridays and ordering is open through the following Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. You pick it up on Wednesday along with reheating instructions. Meals can be picked up at the café in Kent from noon–2 p.m., or at a pick-up hub in Northeast Seattle, West Seattle and South Seattle from 3–6 p.m.

Culture side dish: The issues surrounding refugee and immigrant communities are a heavy but essential topic to tackle with your kids. Get the conversation going with an age-appropriate read, such as “The Journey” by Francesca Sanna.

Next stop: Bridging cultures through food ►

6. Bridge cultural backgrounds with Spice Bridge

For another experience that combines tasty food with a good cause, head over to Tukwila Village, where a global food hall celebrates the Puget Sound region’s culinary diversity while giving a boost to talented refugee and immigrant cooks. Spice Bridge Food Hall, a project launched by the Food Innovation Network, provides opportunities for immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs who would otherwise face barriers to entering the food industry, such as the high rents for commercial spaces. This space provides a commercial kitchen and several market stalls for vendors to prepare and serve food that showcases their cultural background. 

Gambian, Congolese, Somali and Argentine are examples of cuisines in rotation, plus Cambodian, Afghan and more. Get adventurous with ntaba, a grilled goat dish served with boiled fermented cassava, from Taste of Congo; or play it a little more mainstream with empanadas and sweet pastries from Seatango’s Argentine bakery.

Next stop: Visit the Philippines ►

7. Visit the Philippines with Musang

With more than 7,500 islands in Southeast Asia, the Philippines present a trove of history, nature, hospitality and, of course, food! Filipino cuisine has been shaped by several different cultures, including Spanish and Mexican influences, yielding lots of hearty dishes featuring meat, rice, vegetables and abundant tropical fruits.

A Filipino food presence has been growing in Seattle, with spots like Musang on Beacon Hill at the forefront. Sourcing freshly grown produce from local Filipino-run farms, chef-owner Melissa Miranda, along with her team of ambitious Filipino chefs, set out to re-create the flavors of her childhood with dishes such as lumpiang Shanghai, a Filipino take on the spring roll, and a whole grilled pompano fish. For a real crowd-pleaser, try the chicken adobo in a caramel-like sweet and tangy sauce.

Culture side dish: Musang partners with local organizations on occasion for workshops and special events. Check the website!

Next stop: The British Pantry ►

8. Stock up on U.K. staples at The British Pantry

Since 1978, this unassuming facade in a Redmond strip mall has opened to reveal a jewel box filled with delicious treasures and treats. A family business with three generations of baking traditions behind it, this is your one-stop-shop for all things British. Here you’ll find a full-service restaurant, café and market stocked with one-of-a-kind finds, from squash (not the gourd, but the fruity soft drink) and rows upon rows of imported “biscuits” (British-speak for cookies) to pretty porcelain cups worthy of tea with the queen.

The baked goods definitely are a must-try: think pasties (a meaty pocket pie), crumbly scones piled with jam and clotted cream, sausage rolls and rich butter tarts. The dining room serves homestyle English favorites, such as steak-and-kidney pie (that one may be a tough sell to the littles) and (of course) fish and chips, that never-fail kid option. 

Culture side dish: The essential accessory to a British-themed dinner? Why, Harry Potter, of course! Pair a read-aloud story time or family movie night with a meal straight out of Hogwarts. For the younger crowd, cuddly Paddington makes for a sweet reading and dining companion. 

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2020 and updated for 2023.