The Coziest Restaurants in Washington

Sometimes you just need some comfort food, but you don't feel like cooking. We're here to help you find the perfect restaurant to warm you up inside!

Comfort food comes in all shapes and sizes, and the foods that you find most comforting often trace back to your formative years – which dishes are nostalgic for you from childhood, or which smells remind you of your grandma’s kitchen, etc. It's science: we actually experience increased brain levels of serotonin when we eat foods that remind us of happy memories.

Since every person alive has a different set of happy memories, listing the Washington restaurants with the best comfort foods is a very subjective undertaking. You could ask 100 people for their lists and get 100 different answers. We tried to start with a simple question: if you were meeting a friend for dinner on a chilly November evening, where would you be most excited to eat? Whether you're on the rainy side of the Cascades or the snowy side, cold weather just makes certain foods hit different.

While all the restaurants on our list have lots of variety on their menus, our editorial team especially loved their cozy comfort-food dishes: creamy pastas, soups and stews, and hearty potato dishes. For that reason, our reviews are focused on those specific dishes. We also gave bonus points for a “cozy” interior design aesthetic– which is similarly subjective. Guess you'll have to visit these restaurants and test the cozy vibes for yourself!

Gilded Unicorn
Gilded Unicorn in Spokane feels like it was dreamed up by owner Adam Hegsted on a snowy winter solstice. When you enter the restaurant’s front doors, you immediately descend a flight of stairs and step out into a cozy dining room that looks like it was once an underground speakeasy. The stone walls and vintage art make you feel like there must be a hearth fire burning just around the corner or behind the large and ornate bar. But the interior design isn’t the only thing that’s cozy: the menu at Gilded Unicorn is peppered with comfort foods. The pizza mac and cheese or the rich tater tot casserole, made with braised brisket and a sherry cream sauce, is certain to warm you up even on the coldest days.

Gilded Unicorn shared with us the recipe for their famous Mushroom Stroganoff back in Season 8 – find the recipe here.

Reviews: “Love this place! Comfort food done well!!! Sometimes places lose the charm of comfort food when they try to make it fancy, but these guys nail it! Some of the best food I've had downtown.” –Keith, Google reviewer
“This has to be one of my favorites! Tucked away below the streets of Spokane you will find this humble yet fancy restaurant with what appears to be comfort food on the menu!?? I love it! Mac & cheese, deviled eggs, and my personal favorite tater tot casserole.” – Google reviewer

Rhein Haus Capitol Hill & Leavenworth
If anyone knows about the comfort of warm, hearty foods on a chilly night, it’s the hardy people of Bavaria. So if you’re on the hunt for comfort foods, the Munich-inspired menu of Rhein Haus would hit the spot. The Washington Grown TV crew visited Rhein Haus’ location in Capitol Hill, but they also have a prominent location in Leavenworth’s town square – which is just about the coziest location one can imagine. At either location, make sure to try a plate of the bratwurst and frites, with their special curry ketchup. Sit around one of the fire pits with a meal and stein of beer and imagine you’re in the Alps!

Rhein Haus shared with us the recipe for their famous German Potatoes back in Season 6 –find the recipe here.

Reviews: “Favorite stop up here in Seattle. Whenever we have an event to attend we always come by for the great food and beer! They have a great schwartzbier on tap and today I had a great Kölsch imported from Cologne.” –Rick, Google reviewer
“Honestly one of my favorite places in town. The food is spectacular, the beer choice is extensive, they allow dogs, and the service is perfect. I’ve also never had to wait for a seat. The curry ketchup is the secret weapon.” –Jackson, Google reviewer

Provisions - Yakima
Provisions has made a name in the Yakima Valley for an innovative, ever-changing menu that uses ultra-fresh ingredients – often sourced from farm stands and markets around Yakima. But when that winter chill creeps in, customers come looking for comfort food. Regulars know to start with the warm, crispy brussels sprouts. Order the french onion chicken, served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, for a delightful taste of home.

Provisions shared with us the recipe for their Potato and Apple Gratin back in Season 9 – find the recipe here.

Reviews: “Definitely my favorite place I’ve dined in Yakima (so far). Very tasty food, great service, and a comfortable atmosphere.” –Travis, Google reviewer
“Relaxed yet really satisfying comfort food in a pleasant environment. Will be back for more.” –Peter, Google reviewer

Woodblock - Redmond
Nestled in downtown Redmond, Woodblock is an elevated version of a local diner. The space is open and inviting, and the food has some familiar favorites, but it’s made with high-end ingredients. If you’re looking for comfort food, they offer a delicious, juicy meatloaf and a sophisticated grown-up mac and cheese – but one menu item is a combination of TWO comfort-food favorites. The brisket gnocchi strikes a perfect balance: the homemade gnocchi are surprisingly light and fluffy, and the rich fattiness of the brisket is balanced out by the sweet brightness of the tomato sauce.

Woodblock shared with us the recipe for their Brisket Gnocchi back in Season 8 – find the recipe here.

Reviews: “Swanky atmosphere, fantastic service, very delicious food. I love gnocchi, and theirs was right up there on my list of favorites.” –Aly, Google reviewer
“Food was off the charts. I had the scotch egg, and my lady had the brisket gnocchi, which was honestly the best I've ever had. Been a chef for 15 years.” –Justin, Google reviewer

Araya’s Place Bellevue and University Way
Araya’s Place was the first vegan Thai restaurant in the Northwest, opening all the way back in 1987, so they’ve had decades to perfect their soups, curries, and noodle dishes. Customers rave about the tom yum soup, loaded with onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and chile flavor. On a cold day, you just can’t beat their delicious curry, which comes in 11 different preparations! Try the red or green curry, the panang curry, or their own invention, the avocado curry. No matter what you choose, you’ll feel that warmth spreading from your head to your toes.

Araya's Place shared with us the recipe for their Potato Curry back in Season 8 – find the recipe here.

Reviews: “The food is exquisite, we have come multiple times and each time the food is delicious … the soups are my favorite.” –Christian, Google reviewer
“One of the best meals of my life so far! The service was quick, and the food was hot and full of flavor. This place fed my heart and soul.” –Eva, Google reviewer