Top 10 Adventurous Drinks & Dishes at Seattle Southside Restaurants

Last Updated: August 13, 2026

Hungry to try something off the beaten path?

If culinary exploration is your thing, you've come to the right place. As one of the Northwest's most diverse regions, Seattle Southside is home to traditional dishes you won't find in many parts of the U.S., as well as creative fusion cuisine. Stoke your curiosity with these 10 must-try dishes.

Pictured: Make-your-own hot pot at YFG MalaTang in Tukwila.
Durian Sugarcane Juice
Esquites with Flamin' Hot Cheetos
Kitfo
Build-Your-Own Hot Pot
Rose Creamy Tteokbokki
Egg Coffee
Pani Puri
Paneer Tikka Pizza
Birria Ramen
Elvis French Toast

Durian Sugarcane Juice

For a drink that's unlike anything you've tried before, order the durian sugarcane juice at Natalie's Sugarcane & Dessert inside The Eatery at Lam's Seafood Asian Market. Fresh-pressed sugarcane juice is a popular beverage in Vietnam, served by street vendors throughout neighborhoods. You could get it plain...or you could stretch your horizons and order it with durian, a spiky fruit famous for its strong aroma and rich, custard-like flavor, sometimes described as having hints of vanilla and onions. While the fruit can be polarizing on its own, it's surprisingly refreshing when blended with freshly pressed sugarcane juice, creating a sweet, creamy drink.

Esquites with Flamin' Hot Cheetos

Flamin' Hot Cheetos lovers, this one's for you. At Sweet D'licias in Des Moines, numerous menu items come with a generous dusting of spicy, neon-red Cheetos dust, including elotes (corn on the cob) and nachos served right in a Hot Cheetos bag. Our favorite, however, is the esquites - a type of Mexican street corn served in a cup and mixed with a mayonnaise-based sauce. It's a bit sweet, a bit tangy, and with the Cheetos dust, it has the perfect amount of spice. Plus, the slight crunch perfectly complements the creamy corn.

Want even more of your favorite snack? Try the Flamin' Hot Cheetos Ricedog at Mochinut (inside Westfield Southcenter).

Kitfo (Raw Beef)

What may seem adventurous to first-time diners is actually one of Ethiopia's most beloved traditional dishes. Kitfo features finely minced beef, often served raw and seasoned with fragrant spiced butter and other warming seasonings. You can try this specialty at several Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle Southside, such as Langano Coffee & Sandwich and Star Coffee Restaurant.* If you're not comfortable trying it fully raw, you can also ask for it to be prepared medium-rare or fully cooked. Enjoy your dish with fresh injera, a spongy, slightly tangy flatbread that's a staple of Ethiopian cuisine.

*Star Coffee is temporarily closed for renovations. Check with the restaurant before visiting.

Build-Your-Own Hot Pot

For one of the most customizable meals you'll find in Seattle Southside, head to YGF Malatang in Tukwila. This casual soup spot lets you grab a bowl and build your own meal by choosing from dozens of ingredients, then paying by weight. If you love trying new stuff, you'll have a blast browsing the fridge for everything from beancurd knots and kelp to spinach or purple yam noodles to quail eggs and seafood like shrimp balls with salted duck egg yolk, fish balls stuffed with cheese, and abalone (sea snail). Once you've made your selections, the kitchen cooks everything together in a rich, flavorful broth with the signature spicy, tongue-tingling kick that makes this Chinese style of hot pot so addictive.

Rose Creamy Tteokbokki

Korean cuisine has grown in popularity, but even many who love the cuisine are only familiar with a handful of dishes like bibimbap (mixed rice bowl) and bulgogi (marinated grilled beef). Sumi Korean Grill in Tukwila offers standards and unique dishes. The Rose Creamy Tteokbokki riffs on a popular Korean street food made primarily from chewy tteok (rice cakes) and gochujang (Korean red chili paste). Sumi’s version, named for its red hue, is cooked in a sweet, creamy sauce that tones down the spice, then topped with parmesan cheese.

Egg Coffee

Don't let the name fool you. Vietnamese egg coffee is rich, creamy, and more like a decadent dessert than your average cup of coffee. At Drip & Sip in Tukwila, this Hanoi specialty is topped with a velvety whipped egg cream that creates a smooth, custard-like finish over bold Vietnamese coffee. The cozy café offers both indoor and outdoor seating, making it a great place to linger, and if you can't decide on just one drink, order a coffee flight to sample three different Vietnamese coffee varieties side by side.

Pani Puri

For a snack that's as fun to eat as it is flavorful, order the pani puri at Urban Tapri in SeaTac. This popular Indian street food comes with six crisp, hollow puris that you fill with a tangy, spiced water and a flavorful potato-chickpea filling. Eat one in a single bite and experience a burst of cool, savory, spicy, and tangy flavors all at once. While you're there, you'll probably want to check out other fun, plant-based street foods, like a seasoned noodle burger or UFO burger.

Paneer Tikka Pizza

You've had Indian cuisine. You've had pizza. But have you had Indian-style pizza?

Tandoori Slice reinvents the genre, flavoring its pies with Indian ingredients like tikka, a popular curry sauce made with spices like garam masala and cumin, and paneer, a fresh, soft Indian cheese. These flavors pair surprisingly well with traditional Italian toppings like mozzarella cheese, green peppers, and olives. If you're looking for something different, this family-owned spot is a must-try. There's ample seating inside and a festive bar where you can also try fusion cocktails such as the Gulab Jamun Old-Fashioned.

Indian fusion pizza is also available at Pizza Station and Pizza Time, both locally owned shops in SeaTac, popular for takeout and delivery.

Birria Ramen

Birria ramen has become a favorite comfort-food mash-up, and Birrieria Grumpy's in Tukwila serves a delicious version. Tender, slow-braised birria is paired with springy ramen noodles in a rich, deeply flavorful consommé, then finished with fresh onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. It's a hearty bowl that brings together the bold flavors of traditional Mexican birria with the satisfying slurp of ramen. The dining area is casual and spacious, making it a great place to meet a friend or date for lunch or dinner.

Elvis French Toast

Not every culinary adventure comes from a far-off locale. If you're ready to take on a seriously over-the-top breakfast that pays homage to an American icon, order the Elvis French Toast at Patty's Eggnest in Tukwila. Thick slices of French toast are coated in crispy panko, stuffed with peanut butter and sweet cream, then topped with fresh bananas and rich Devonshire cream. Served with your choice of bacon or sausage, it's a decadent, larger-than-life breakfast inspired by the King's famous love of peanut butter and bananas.

You may also be interested in...