The 12 Best Restaurants in Redmond, WA - Seattle Travel (2023)

Ask anyone about Redmond Washington and probably the first thing that comes to mind is "Microsoft". Redmond, the former home of the computer giant, has traditionally been known as a sleepy suburb with no shortage of tech workers. However, in recent decades, downtown Redmond has been transformed and dozens of apartments have been built.

As the city became denser, the old chain restaurants were replaced by a more diverse food scene. Today, Redmond offers a mix of fine ethnic cuisine, breweries and wineries, Northwest restaurants, and more.

Let's dive into 12 of the best restaurants in Redmond, Washington.

The The 12 best restaurants in Redmond, Washington

Before we go into more detail, here is a complete list of the best restaurants, which we will cover below:

1. Pomegranate Bistro
2. Wooden cube
3. tipsy cow
4. Pizza Sparks
5. Third place
6. Matador
7. Farine Bakery and Café
8. Kanishka
9. Blue Sardinia
10. Matt’s Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge
11. Cake belt
12. Bandido Mexican Cafe

1.) Pomegranate Bistro

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Address: 18005 NE 68th St A-150, Redmond, WA 98052

Best for:A bit of Southern hospitality in the Northwest

Pomegranate Bistro is located opposite Whole Foods on Redmond-Fall City Road. The restaurant specializes in sourcing local ingredients from its menu, proudly featured on a list of local farms and vendorson her website.

The restaurant offers bread (including desserts), breakfasts and dinners.Happy hour includesspecial drinks and a choice of about six smaller dishes. Howeverbetterthe reason for going to Pomegranate is the weekend brunch. Available Saturday and Sunday from 9am. until 15:00

Appetizers include cinnamon rolls, warm Savannah puffs, cookies with jam and honey butter. It really is a little foretaste of southern hospitality. When it comes to food, you can stick to the southern theme and order dishes like chicken and waffles or shrimp and gritstheyou can enjoy more traditional options.

Before you go, please note that (from late 2022) a 20% service charge will be added to your check.

2.) Wood

Address: 16175 Cleveland Street, Suite 109 Redmond, Washington 98052
Best for:A meal almostEveryonegroup can agree and amazing bar

The Woodblock is at the bottom of one of Redmond's many apartments that sprout up downtown. The kitchen is modern American which means they have gnocchianimal breast,the whole section is dedicated to burgers and the main dishes are mainly seafood and steaks.

The menu is generally well done and should please most groups. HoweverbetterThe reason to visit Woodblock is its bar, which sets the restaurant apart from many options in the same price range. The specialty of the place is whiskey and they roast the cocktails and bring them to your table before removing the lid. In addition to the novelty of a smoky cocktail, it is simpletasty.

Another of our favorites at Woodblock is their Scotch Egg. It is soft, wrapped in sausage, breaded and deep fried. Then add toppings such as arugula, mustard and caramelized onioneven more flavor.It's offensive and allGood.

3.) A tipsy cow

Address: 16325 Cleveland Street Redmond, WA 98052
Best for:Inventive burgers and well done fries and smoothies

If you're looking for the best burgers in the Eastside, chances are you'll end up at Tipsy Cow, and for good reason.

Tipsy Cow serves gourmet burgers (think the opposite of Shake Shack small burgers) along with various fries and milkshakes. Overall, the burgers are creative and extremely diverse. There's a salmon burger, chicken, ahi tuna, black beans, and plenty of roast options. If you're stuck choosing a burger from their extensive menu, our vote is not to overdo it and give Tipsy Burger with Beecher's White Cheddar a try.

It should be noted that since this is a gourmet burger, the cost will be slightly higher. If you want a beer there is a selection of local beers on tap.

4.) Pizza Sparks

Address: 16175 Cleveland Street, Suite 109 Redmond, Washington 98052
Best for:Delicious toppings and amazing pizzas

if you arelongRedmond resident, you probably remember Frankie's Pizza. An ordinary pizzeria in the city center hosted a garlic fest where one to five cloves could be added to dishes.

(Trust me when I say adding five cloves wasbad decision!)

Like many previous Redmond products, Frankie's Pizza is gone today. However, his legacy lives on at Sparks Pizza. Their "Homage to Frankie's" pizza is delicious. It has Italian sausage, pepperoni, basil, pickled peppers, mushrooms and red onion.

Creativity is on full display in Spark's pizza collection. They have rotating seasonal pizzas and their "Legend Pizzas" which are filled with toppings.

Spark is starting to get a lot of attention, so don't be surprised if there's plenty of time on a Friday or Saturday night. We bet it will be worth the wait. Not only is this the best pizza in Redmond, but it may be the best pizza in all of Seattle.

5.) Third place

Address: 7844 Leary Way NE Ste 110 Redmon, Washington 98052
Best for:Delicious Korean food and fried wings

Third place certainly doesn't look like much. Located in Old Redmond near Matador, it would be easy to walk past this restaurant without even noticing. Inside, the interior is also quite spartan.

However, it would be a mistake to miss this hidden gem if you want to sample the best flavors Redmond has to offer. Third Place is a Korean restaurant specializing in Korean fried chicken. For years, discerning fans of Korean fried chicken have been going to the Federal Way for the best in the area, but The Third Place offers an Eastside option that requires less travel. Our personal favorite is the honey garlic fried chicken, but there are plenty of options to try.

In addition to fried chicken, you will also find great dishes such as stone bibimbap, noodle dishes and soups.

6.) Matador

Address: 7824 NE Leary Way, Redmond, Washington 98052
Best for:Good place for happy hour for the 21+ crowd

say it with memarinated nacho steaks.The matador has been around for a long timefavorite place for happy hourin part because their Grande Nachos start at $6. Standard nachos are good but that's about itexceptionalwhen adding marinated steak. Other happy hour options include quesadillas, street tacos, and shrimp. The Reality Is Most Happy Hours Haven't Been The Same Since Covid And The Matador Might Not Be The Samesufficientlyas it used to be, it is still one of the best happy hours in town.

Happy hour aside, if you want to try tequila, Matador is probably the best place in Redmond (see photo above for a shot of their bar). In addition to the wide variety of tequilas that you can try in order, Matador also has a large selection of seasonal cocktails that are heavily tequila-based. Last time we stayed we had an orange margarita and enjoyed it.

If you're looking for dinner, the menu is above average with a wide range of tacos, enchiladas, burritos and entrees such as fajitas. The important information is that Matador is an over 21 band, so if you have kids at home you will have to look elsewhere.

7.) Farine Bakery and Café

Address: 16450 Redmond Way Ste 100, Redmond, WA 98052
Best for:This is a European style bakeryseriousfor his pastries

There is simply no better place in Redmond on a beautiful Saturday morning than Farine Bakery. This oven takes its breadseriously. Farine is inspired by Belgian cafes and is open from 7am. until 3:00 p.m. every day of the week. First come, first served, first served, but on a nice day, we recommend trying to sit outside.

What can you eat at Farine? They serve bread baskets, cheese boards, cold cuts and nuts, breakfast sandwiches and more classic egg breakfasts. However, our favorite is their tartines. Tartine is basically a very fancy piece of toast and their options include Croque madame, smoked salmon, avocado and seafood. The tartin options will change as we previously enjoyed their baked pear with whipped ricotta tart, but it is currently not on the menu.

Finally, be sure to bring excellent pastries and desserts along the way.

8.) Kanishka

Address: 16651 Redmond Way Ste 180, Redmond, WA 98052
Best for:Delicious Indian food with thaalis lunch

Kanishka is a longtime staple in downtown Redmond that opened in 1999. The cuisine is mainly North Indian with many hearty curry dishes that are a mix of vegetarian and meat options. Trust us when we say the menu is quite extensive.

Our biggest complaint? Kanishka had one of the best buffets with a wide range of sambals. However, like many other restaurants, Kanishka has removed its buffet after Covid and has yet to return. In its place is a special thali priced at $14.99 for vegetarians and $16.99 for non-vegetarians. The thali comes with a selection of curry, naan bread, rice, salad, samosa and a small dessert.

9.) Blue Sardinia

Address: 8862 161st Ave NE Redmond, Washington 98052
Best for:Superior Italian Dinner

If you're looking for a more classic sit down meal, Blue Sardinia is one of the best choices in Redmond. The cuisine is Italian, mainly with chicken stuffed with ricotta, fillet and wild salmon. Don't be fooled by the menu though, as the restaurant maintains a steady rotation of specials that often include items such as lamb, scallops and other hearty items.

If you're in the mood for a light meal, entrees include grilled octopus, cold cuts or pizza, or one of the many pasta dishes (we've enjoyed bucatini shrimp pesto on previous visits).

10.) Matt’s Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge

Address: 7325 166th Ave NE f210, Redmond, WA 98052
Best for:Upscale casual that takes its oysters seriously

Matt's first opened in 2003 and has long been a favorite restaurant in Redmond. The restaurant advertises itself as "upscale, casual". Mains are what you'd expect with a mix of steak, chicken, pork and other classics like salmon.

However, Matt's offers a few surprises that you might not expect. For example, the menu includes a section on Argentinian street tacos and rotates seasonal options. We ate at Matt's in October and enjoyed the butternut squash gnocchi, for example.

As you might expect from the name, the menu focuses on oysters and seafood entrees. If you want to really enjoy oysters, Matt's keeps them on the happy hour menu.

11.) Dough tape

Address: 7625 170th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052
Best for:Delicious xiao long bao without waiting for Din Tai Fung

One of Seattle's biggest culinary news was the announcement that Din Tai Fung was heading to Seattle in late 2015. The Taiwanese restaurant chain has gained devoted fans and has been awarded the coveted Michelin star. There are currently three Din Tai Mushrooms in the Seattle area, including one in Bellevue. However, Din Tai Fung has some typical downsides and complaints which include long waiting times and poor service.

With this in mind, Dough Zone emerged as an alternative to Chinese comfort food. The star of the show is xiao long bao – noodles for soup. We are pleased to report that the quality of the soup noodles at Dough Zone is very comparable to what you'd find at Din Tai Fung. Other than that, other standout items include pan friend buns and dan dan noodles.

Dough Zone was only founded in 2014, but now has 10 locations across Washington State, including seven in Eastside alone. If you're not near a downtown Redmond location, another option is the Dough Zone located next to Fred Meyer in Overlake.

12.) Mexican Bandido Grill

Address: 8151 164th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052
Best for:Delicious tacos at a reasonable price

The Bandido Mexican Grill is a little different than what you've seen before on this list. Actually, it's not even a restaurant, it's a food truck.

this is onegood stuffhowever when it comes to street tacos. The best and most authentic flavors usually come from smaller establishments. Whether you want to get the standard carne asada, carnitas or want to try the beef tongue, their entire range of tacos is worth a try. If you're looking for something more filling, Bandido's also has Californian and wet burritos in addition to more standard fare like carne asada, fajitas and quesadillas.

Trust us when we say a great taco stand is worth its weight in gold. Be sure to try Bandido.