Explore Seattle Southside Celebrates Culinary Excellence with New People's Choice Awards

Explore Seattle Southside today announced the launch of the inaugural Best of Seattle Southside Awards, a new community-driven program celebrating the region’s vibrant food and drink scene. From brunch to bubble tea, the contest invites residents, visitors, and local businesses to cast their votes for their favorite culinary spots across SeaTac, Tukwila, and Des Moines.

This year’s categories showcase the area’s diverse flavors and culinary excellence, featuring categories such as brunch/breakfast, pizza, bubble tea, happy hour, noodles, dessert, coffee, tacos, dumplings, and halal. Categories are populated, yet a write-in nomination option allows voters to nominate their favorites. Voting opens today, October 13, and continues through December 31, 2025. Winners will be announced in February 2026 during a special awards ceremony.

“Seattle Southside is one of the region’s most diverse dining destinations, and this new program gives the community a voice in celebrating the restaurants, cafés, and eateries they love most,” said Mark Everton, CEO of Explore Seattle Southside. “The Best of Seattle Southside Awards not only recognize excellence but also shine a spotlight on the local businesses that make our region such a rich culinary destination.”

The Best of Seattle Southside Awards were designed to put the power in the community’s hands, with open voting that allows residents and visitors to champion their favorite spots across multiple categories. Participation is flexible and straightforward, while winners gain valuable recognition. By spotlighting standout local businesses, the program also elevates Seattle Southside’s growing reputation as a diverse and dynamic foodie destination.

Local businesses are encouraged to spread the word and rally their patrons. Explore Seattle Southside will provide participating businesses with a promotional toolkit featuring press release templates, social media graphics, and other resources to maximize engagement.

The Best of Seattle Southside Awards will become an annual tradition, expanding categories in future years and continuing to celebrate the flavors and diversity of the region.

About Explore Seattle Southside
Explore Seattle Southside (Seattle Southside Regional Tourism Authority) has a bold vision to reimagine the way people travel. Established over 25 years ago in 1999, Explore Seattle Southside is the destination marketing organization for the cities of SeaTac, Tukwila, Des Moines and beyond. Also known as the curiously wonderful destination for exploring the Pacific Northwest, Explore Seattle Southside showcases the Seattle Southside region with pride and imagination as an ideal travel destination for leisure and business travelers to explore Western Washington and as an idyllic place for meeting and event planners to hold their events. Explore Seattle Southside is funded by a Tourism Promotion Area (TPA) assessment and was recognized in 2023, 2024, and 2025 —thanks to a commitment to empowering employees and an ambitious vision for the future—as one of Washington State’s Top 100 Best Workplaces. Learn more at www.seattlesouthside.com.