Forbes Highlights Bellevue’s Thriving Culinary Scene

Bellevue is making headlines with its emerging culinary scene. Recently featured in Forbes, Bellevue is garnering attention for its diverse food offerings. Known for its tech industry giants like Microsoft and Amazon, the city is now turning heads with its wide variety of restaurants, from fine dining to trendy cafes and ethnic eateries.

Forbes highlights several standout spots that contribute to Bellevue’s rising culinary reputation. The Lakehouse, led by James Beard Award-winning Chef Jason Wilson, offers a rustic Northwest dining experience with a focus on farm-to-table freshness. Chef John Howie’s trio of restaurants—Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar, John Howie Steak, and Whiskey by John Howie—provides a diverse menu that includes seafood, steaks, and an extensive whiskey selection. Duke’s Seafood is renowned for its commitment to sustainable seafood. Additionally, Din Tai Fung introduces Bellevue to its acclaimed Taiwanese dumplings, further enriching the city’s diverse dining scene.

Brunch enthusiasts will find plenty to love in the featured restaurants. Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi, situated on the 31st floor, offers stunning panoramic views and a distinctive tableside brunch experience called Carts & Carousels. Meanwhile, Bis on Main serves a tempting brunch menu that includes huevos rancheros and beignets with marionberry cream cheese.

Chef Shota Nakajima, known for his Japanese restaurant Taku, praises Bellevue’s growing food scene. He notes the city’s fresh seafood and inventive Asian cuisine as key highlights, reflecting his excitement about the city’s evolving dining options.

Castilla, created by Chef Clara Gutierrez Carroll, is another standout eatery in Bellevue’s culinary scene. Carroll’s restaurant serves over 40 types of tapas and classic Spanish dishes like seafood paella, aiming to deliver an authentic taste of Spain.

The article then goes on to highlight that Bellevue’s food culture is further showcased through events like Bellevue Beats & Bites, which combines food trucks with local music, and the Northwest Chocolate Festival, attracting chocolatiers from around the world. The city also participates in Seattle Restaurant Week, offering a chance to explore top regional dishes.

Brad Jones, executive director of Visit Bellevue, shared with Forbes that the city’s tourism profile is set to rise significantly, with a projected one-third increase in overnight visitors this year. Jones notes that while Bellevue has been known for its business travel, efforts by Visit Bellevue since 2018 have aimed to elevate the city’s profile as a destination for culinary tourism.

This fall, Bellevue’s Culinary Tourism Council will launch a new food and beverage festival, with Chef Nakajima acting as the culinary ambassador. Together, they will offer a walking food tour, “Bites of Bellevue” with Savor Food Tours to highlight the city’s diverse food scene.

Taryn White, the author of the Forbes article, brings a wealth of travel experience to her writing, having explored over 75 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Her travels have given her a deep appreciation for the broad culinary offerings, including many of the 400 multicultural restaurants that Bellevue features.