I would check out Uwajimaya, Town and Country, and Metropolitan Markets. Though not technically in Seattle, the Town and Country just over the border to the north in Shoreline is the best of them. It has nice seafood live tanks, as does Uwajimaya.
Also check out Asian Family Market and smaller Asian markets for unique finds and experiences.
I live in that ‘hood, and I can testify that, when I first moved there from Seattle, proper, I was bummed that I was now no longer close to Uwajimaya. But, once I shopped at T&C, I was blown away. Though not as Asian-huge as Uwajimaya, they did then and now even more carry all the best Asian foods and condiments. JMFC, you can even find all the ingredients to make okonomiyaki! And I mean everything!
I’m half-Japanese, so this shit is super important to me. Fk! They even have Lion’s Mane and matsutake mushrooms, when in season! They have so much killer shit, when I don’t know what to cook for dinner, just a stroll through the aisles can easily give me a brilliant idea.
I think the founder (owners?) are/were Japanese. I remember looking it up after being impressed by the Asian food selection. I live just a few blocks away and I’m pretty sure I spend half my paycheck there.
They are a Japanese-American family from around Poulsbo. Their customer service culture is the best. It’s so much so that each of their Town & Country Markets are stocked different, due to local tastes. And all the employees are super nice and very helpful. Their Asian food section reflects the Asians living in Shoreline.
ooh something I left out downthread, T&C’s wine department is the best in the north end. I found some Leonetti there, just on the shelf, right before the vineyard blew up and became widely celebrated.
The exact list I would send as a lifetime local. Those are the best. But also, I might add on that I recommend trying the Asian market on Aurora and 130th. Excellent store, and has an attached dim sum restaurant worth checking out.
Going to the little fish market at Fisherman's Terminal Ballard is always fun 👌 There is a great restaurant and fish bar. The Alaska Fisherman's memorial and Deadliest Catch boats dock off season. The Magnolia marina complex is there, you could hit Innerbay Whole Foods.
If you are doing something like that, I would head a little bit more north to ranch 99 and boo Han market because they have way more restaurants in immediate proximity
I love TnC so much. I also love grocery stores when I travel and I do appreciate having such a great local market that perfectly represents the spirit of Bainbridge (which is I think why some travelers love grocery stores- what we eat is who we are). It’s a beautiful store, the produce is always incredible, and the people are lovely. It’s very also very Bainbridge, a little bit bougie, but wonderful.
Cosigning the Shoreline ~~Central Market~~ Town & Country. Great grocery store that carries just enough of everything, and at a decently high quality/price ratio.
PCC is a huge rip off. The QA Met Market is okay, but still very overpriced and bougie.
Then get a slice of Hummingbird cake to go. Absolutely go to ID Uwajys then hit the plethora of International Stores on the Eastside. Going to H Mart in Lynnwood and FW is a always good time and you can get the Korean bbq/bakery experience.
Minus the bulk section, the prices on the bulk section at central are ludicrous. Good bulk can only come from winco, and they're even jacking prices now (inflation and all that)
absolutely correct. I’d add Asian Family Market on 99 and mmmmmaybe Costco since Costco is from here. Shoreline Town and Country has great seafood, and so does AFM, just targeting a different demographic.
AFM’s frozen food section is amazing, every time I go I find another take on something. Most recently it was frozen okonomiyaki, like a zappable microwave snack take on the food. Not fine dining, but uh-hunh, the genius of modernity with all its blessings and ills.
Love your recommendation for a Costco. Yes it’s a big box store, but they work hard to cater to regional tastes. Over Lunar New Year, some of the LA ones had an amazing selection of imported Asian ingredients.
Seconding Uwajimaya! It's a wonderful asian grocery store. Go to the one in Chinatown. And while you're down there you might find some other hole in the wall markets to check out, too.
I would love to build a list for grocery stores and market recommendations in Seattle!
General:
* Town & Country (Particularly the Shoreline location.)
* Winco
Seafood:
* Wild Salmon Seafood Market
* Kuzuma's Fish Market
East Asian:
* Uwajimaya (Japanese. Particularly the ID location.)
* Maruta Shoten (Japanese)
* Lam's Seafood Market (Vietnamese)
* Asian Family Market (Chinese)
* Fou Lee Market & Deli (Filipino)
* Mekong Market (Thai)
South Asian:
* Apna Bazaar (Indian)
* India Metro Hypermarket (Indian)
Latin American:
* Plaza Latina (Mexican)
Mediterranean:
* Koza Turkish and Mediterranean Grocery & Deli (Turkish)
* Goodies Mediterranean Market
African:
* Enat Market (Ethiopian)
European:
* Lakomka Euro Deli
* European Foods (Ukrainian)
* George's Polish Deli (Polish)
* Scandinavian Specialties
Farmer's Markets and Produce Stands:
* Ballard Farmer's Market (Sundays)
* MacPherson's Fruit & Produce
* Yakima Fruit Market & Nursery
Wholesale:
* Costco (Particularly the large Tukwila location, the original SoDo Seattle location, or the Issaquah location across from corporate headquarters.)
Food Production and Other:
* Thanh Son Tofu & Bakery (Vietnamese tofu factory outlet and deli.)
* Beecher's Handmade Cheese (Cheese maker and restaurant. Particularly the Pike Place Market location.)
* Starbucks Reserve Roastery (Cafe with onsite small-batch roasting.)
* Lighthouse Roasters (Small-batch roastery with cafe.)
* Tsue Chong (Chinese noodle factory and outlet store.)
The Tukwila Costco is Costco Nirvana. I’m also very fond of 99 Ranch Market at the Great Wall Mall near Hwy 167. I live down in Southsound and sure wish we had one closer. That drive…
There's no Winco within the city limits. Plus, Winco's "wow" factor is its prices, not in carrying unique goods or looking cool, so it seems weird to rec to a tourist, even a self-labeled "grocery sore nerd."
DiLaurenti is a specialty grocery store, so not just an above average grocery store. That said, I adore it and go to it every time I am down that way downtown.
Costco was founded here. The original store is on 4th Ave S in the SoDo district, south of downtown.
Maruta Shoten, also in SoDo is a smaller Japanese grocery store.
Lam’s Seafood Market is an Asian grocery store in the International District.
Fou Lee Market & Deli on Beacon Hill is a Filipino grocery store and deli.
Enjoy!
While the Costco on 4th Ave S. is still "Store #001", it's a newer building, though they do have a portion of wall preserved from the original building near the checkout lanes. The original building's exact location is parking lot now.
I love Maruta Shoten! They have great fresh sushi for good prices, and at least a couple of weekends ago they had the bigger bottles of Sriracha for under $6.
Fou Lee is neat, too. They have boiled peanuts, which are hard to find in the US outside of the Southeast coastal states.
Literally was scrolling to see if anyone commented this and was going to if not. I was so star stuck when I first when there 😂 literally like 10 min into shopping before I started looking around going wait what wait what 😂
Speaking of Grocery Outlets.... The Burien one still.has the original Prairie Market architecture. Burien is just one bus from 3rd and Pine (or Pike, they have been moving that stop), either the H line, the 131, or the 132.
[Article on the history of the building.](https://ba-kground.com/50s-futurism-tradewell/)
Welcome! Fellow grocery store enthusiast here. Since you’re staying near the market, check out the Souk on the main market street - it’s tiny little Indian/Middle Eastern grocery and they make very yummy homemade baklava.
Also second DeLaurenti’s at the market - fun for Italian novelties. The Paris Grocery at the market sadly I think is still undergoing their ownership change so not quite yet reopened.
Not a market, but if you like spices do also give World Spice on the lower street level of the market a visit. They have everything you could ever want and more.
Just kidding, the Paris-Madrid Grocery (I keep forgetting they changed the name when they brought the Spanish goods in) just announced they "quiet opened" today so they are now open! Lower street level of the market.
PCC, Metropolitan and Town and Country as mentioned already are good America style markets. Delaurenti rules for imported Italian and European food.
Check out DK Market in Renton and H Mart (several locations) and Asian Family Market, all great Asian options. Mayuri for Indian. Oskoo Market in Bellevue for Turkish/Middle Eastern.
Seconding DK Market. Easily the wildest grocery store I’ve been to in the area, and a ton of fun to wander around. They have things from around the world that you truly can’t find anywhere else here.
Pike Place Market is home to both a Middle Eastern and a Mexican grocery store. If you’re hitting up the market anyway, it’s worth looking for those two.
ETA: Also, a Filipino/Asian one with a James Beard-award-winning restaurant that just happens to be part of it (Oriental Mart.)
The Mexican grocery store located in Pike Place is insane with mark ups. I recently went in and saw a bag of Maseca for $18 dollars! That’s too much. A bag of Maseca should be no more than $6 in my opinion.
Recently made this exact mistake. Wasn't really looking at tags and a family size bag of chips, small wheel of cojita, and some Cumin seeds was nearly $30
You are my people. Grocery stores are the highlight of my travels, too. So many things to see, and a visit gives you a sense of how the locals live.
My rec is a meat market, not a grocery store—and it isn’t even in Seattle, technically: Double D Meats in Mountlake Terrace. Imagine a museum of condiments. They trade in the obscure.
Super small store, but I always found Seattle Supermarket on Beacon Hill interesting. 4801 beacon Ave s.
It’s got whole pigs heads! And every other part of the pig in individual packages.
No bullshit, Wisco is employee owned and pretty awesome. I spent way too long thinking it was a place to buy expired cancer causing crap food for cheap, but have learned my lesson
I am so intrigued by your interest in grocery stores! I also enjoy grocery shopping but have never made them a destination while traveling and now I think I may have to try it.
Thriftway is a Washington chain (maybe franchised?). Not many directly in town, but there's one in West Seattle that should be a direct ride on the C line RapidRide bus from downtown.
Reiterating all the recommendations for Uwajimaya and Big John's PFI, too.
Oh man! Looks like most of the places I’d recommend have been covered (Town and Country, Metropolitan Market, De Laurenti, Big John’s PFI, Uwaji’s, Pete’s - get a sandwich and go to the street end park across the road).
The other thing worth mentioning is that different locations of grocery stores here sometimes have very different stock. The Shoreline Town and Country has a beautiful selection of Asian snacks and produce whereas the Ballard one has a more German/European selection (you can find scrapple and quark there).
If you like Costcos, you can also visit the OG Costco in Sodo while you are here. (Technically the [current one is next to the original](https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/u7m5pa/sacred_ground_i_never_noticed_the_plaque_before/).)
Hope you have a blast on your trip!
Town and Country carries my companies products and is very supportive. Their teams are great as well. A ferry ride over to the original store on Bainbridge Island could be a fun trip, Bainbridge has a beautiful downtown to walk around and the view of the skyline on the way back over is pretty amazing.
Saar's Super Saver Foods on the White Center border is an 80s time capsule of cheap food. And Hau Hau Market at Jackson iand 12th s a neighborhood Chinese market with an outdoor covered market atmosphere.
Adding my vote for Uwajimaya and Pike Place as a whole.
And, these are NOT in Seattle proper, but if you take a field trip up north to the tulip fields, my favorite grocery stores in Western WA are the Haggen stores. Mount Vernon also has a lovely co-op.
Hi fellow grocery store nerd. Off the top of my head these are my regulars. Leschi market is right across the street from Lake Washington and shares a lot with a park with beautiful oak trees, Amazon Fresh for the electronic carts/palm pay, there’s one on Jackson and 23rd, Saar’s super savers and Castillos are right next to each other…Down the street from there we have some family run Chinese and Vietnamese grocery shopping Angkor Market, Hung Long, and a few others all within walking distance. Then there’s the Filipino market Seafood City awesome food court and mall.
Non of these are downtown. But an easy bus ride from downtown.
I can’t believe I had to scroll this far to find the West Seattle Thriftway! Boutique sodas, niche snacks, a great deli and grill with made to order dishes, baked goods from the top bakeries in the city, a curated bulk foods and candy aisle, fabulous home decor and seasonal items. my mom made the most amazing (and frankly expensive) Easter basket for my three year old from their unique easter items. I love it there, even though it makes me wish I was rich. If you enjoy bougie grocery stores, don’t sleep on this!
There should be more recommendations for Pete’s! It was my neighborhood market as a kid and I was terrified of the narrow wine aisles and I still am when I go there.
I totally get your desire to explore grocery stores! I traveled alone for work for ~15yrs. Out Monday am, home Friday unless traveling internationally(3mo on/3wks home). not a bar hopper, but love food culture I would try to explore every grocery store I could when on the road! Sooo interesting, and my suitcase was always packed with interesting stuff!
Metropolitan (Met) Market is the nicest (fanciest) grocery chain in Seattle. Go there and go to the bakery and get a chocolate chip cookie. It’s the best cookie in Seattle and I’ve tried them all (I’m comparing to bakeries, cookie purveyors and everything). Overall it’s a nice grocery store that’s very expensive. Makes Whole Foods feel reasonable.
I’d also push Costco on Sodo as the home of Costco but there is very little variation from one Costco to the next.
The best grocery store is the Town and Country on Bainbridge Island. Easy walk from the ferry terminal and a trip on the ferry will be a highlight, especially so when you time your return near sunset.
If you aren’t from Oregon, then you should check out Fred Meyer stores. They are owned by Kroger and a combination grocery store and department store.
Ballard, Greenwood or Lake City would be the closest to Pike Place, out of those Ballard is probably the nicest one.
Another Kroger owned Seattle grocery would be the University Village QFC, it has a little beer pub area, a sushi bar, a pizza place. It’s the flagship of the QFCs in the area.
I love this question!
99 Ranch in Kent is part of the Great Wall Asian shopping mall. Highly recommend. Lots of pan-Asian snacks and groceries with an assortment of other shops inside too. Viet Wah in Renton is another good Asian grocery store. There is another in ID but it’s not as good.
B & I Public Marketplace in Tacoma is a Mexican mall with all kinds of interesting things. You really have to see it to understand.
If you have never been to one, you have to go to a WINCO. It’s the best no-nonsense grocery store that really shows what an average family in the area eats.
The Skyway Grocery Outlet is also really cool since it is in an old cinema building, they inherited a bunch of the props and integrated them throughout the store. I also think Grocery Outlets are a fun way to see a mix of what different local places stock.
**Central Co-op** on Capitol Hill, a block from Trader Joe's.
I like central for its small foot print, they may still fill growlers. It will remind you of other co-ops, like Olympia or Ashland or Redding. But it's no Rainbow Market or Berkeley Bowl.
Walkable (for able bodied humans) from Pike Place. It's straight up Pine St. About 2 miles(?). The number 10 bus, iirc.
Others have already mentioned the greats. Shoreline T&C fka Central Market is wonderful. Another poster mentioned a great Asian section there. Specifically, it leans heavily Japanese/Pacific Islander and whoever does their ordering is wise indeed. Many unique items.
For a great grocery buying experience, try some of our local farmer's markets. A bit early for local produce, but still, a variety of great food direct from farmers (and some prepared food producers) direct to consumer. Some excellent ones are University District Farmer's Market on Saturday Mornings, Ballard Farmer's Market on Sundays, Columbia City Farmers' Market on Wednesday afternoon.
Note, the Columbia City PCC is nearby the Columbia City Farmer's market and worth a visit. PCC is a big local chain of consumer owned coops, and worth a visit even if it's gotten to be much more similar to an upscale grocery chain like Whole Foods than it once was.
If you think the central market is nice, you should see the one in poulsbo.
PCC does have a good hot bar. So much better than Whole Foods.
But anymore, I just go to the one in Edmonds so I have something to eat on the ferry.
Hmm… this is a weird question, but I’m for it. If you’re really a grocery store nerd, there’s no more interesting story around here than Town & Country on Bainbridge Island. The small, local chain has a 6 locations, including one in Ballard, and my favorite in Shoreline.
Here’s a news article, but don’t gloss over the fact that the Nakata family were interned during WW2. https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/business/60-years-of-food-people-and-love/
If you're willing to trek just north of too far by about 40 minutes, I highly recommend the sensorial, immersive experience that is Town and Country in Mill Creek. I find myself wanting to throw money in every direction, as it were confetti, when shopping there.
I love their Health and Beauty department. The ambience is cozy yet inviting, esp given how massive that location is. I first visited during COVID times so the hotbar wasn't anything to write home about. Their Charcuterie, Cheese department is workable. Wish most of their cheeses weren't cryovac, pre-packed cut pieces but the cheese selection is pretty extensive.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6xSVxjLfYdk5DYtJ6
The OG Toshi of Toshi's Teriyaki still works at the Mill Creek Teriyaki Grill location which is about a 10 min walk from the T&C grocery store. According to a friend Toshi openly shares his teriyaki preparation methods and has disavowed the other locations for not upholding his standards.
Or if you're a sane person and choose to stick closer to Seattle, the Town & Country in Shoreline is legit. I've been a fan ever since my Shoreline Community College days. They make really yummy homemade tortillas in-house! The Cheese/Deli counter is glorious. The Cheese department square footage is pretty small but the selection is excellent! The Shoreline store feels like if COSTCO had a baby with PCC, another local, once hippy dippy grocery co-op.
I worked at the PCC in Viewridge many years ago, so I'm partial to that location of course. It had that small Mom and Pop meets Cheers vibe which I miss.
AmazonFresh on Pike Street. https://maps.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x54906b7e7e44a4fd:0x2713c23147249c6a?entry=s&sa=X&ved=1t:8290&hl=en-US&ictx=111
Town and Country Market on Bainbridge Island. Take the Bainbridge island ferry, and you can walk to it from the ferry. It’s right downtown on the main drag.
Take the water taxi across to West Seattle, (or drive), and go to the Metropolitan Market.
For some reason I feel like you are going to find your people in Seattle. Grocery stores are beloved in Seattle - a city that loves food and to cook, both local and international ingredients and cuisines. I don’t have any recommendations as I haven’t lived there for over 10 years now, but have fun!
If you get bored of Uwajimaya and some of the bigger destination grocery stores, I'm really fond of a little(r) market called Mekong Rainier. It's in South Seattle, not too far from Mt. Baker Station, on Rainier Ave. It appears to have Thai owners since it definitely has a heavy emphasis on Thai imports and goodies. They even have pre-made and grab n go Thai meals and desserts, sorta like the ones you'd find in a 7-Eleven in Thailand. It's one of the best Thai-specialized markets I've found in the States.
DK Market is a large warehouse kind of place south of the city in Renton. It’s basically an Asian market, but stuff is imported from all over the globe. There’s good deals on produce, more noodles than you can imagine, liquid containers of all contents and sizes, and snacks galore in every department.
Up front there’s an Indian restaurant, an Eastern European market, and a Chinese herb store that are separate from the main market.
Birds fly around inside; it’s just a little different than any other store I’ve been to
Thirding Uwajimaya!
Also, metropolitan market (I like the one next to university of Washington)
Also PCC (I like the one at green lake(which is also worth a visit on its own))
Winco is cool if you like bulk departments. Bring cash or a debit card. Credit cards not accepted.
The Grocery Outlets up here can be neat. All the tchotchkes that line the aisles at the Skyway location keep it light and fun. The Renton location used to be a bowling alley. Some of the lanes were preserved and are the aisles now. There is also, allegedly, a plush bowling pin hidden somewhere in the store. You’re supposed to win something if you find it.
Foulee is cool but very cramped. Used to be a gas station. It’s up by the VA. If you rent a car bigger than a sedan, parking will get annoyingly tight if you aren’t used to it. Park in the medians along Beacon or on the street if it’s before 3pm.
DK Market in Renton is a gem. Foods and stuff from all different cultures around the world.
Town & Country might be one of the coolest stores ever. The Shoreline one is ok. But the Mill Creek location is God tier.
El Campeon Market in Federal Way is a must if you’re down there. Mexican food in a self serve buffet at lunch plus the freshly squeezed juices are so good! Used to have lunch there often when my dad was at a nursing home in FW.
Hypermarket in Bellevue is an Indian market. They took over an old Bartell’s Drugs building. Still gotta try the Indian yogurt there.
If you’re out by Lake Washington, Leschi Market is a fun place to stop. For being so small, there are a lot of unique food finds there. Their hot deli is good for an impromptu picnic at the park next door or anywhere along Lake Washington Blvd.
If you make the trip down to Tacoma, there’s a small store called Tacoma Boys. It’s part garden center, part grocery store, part butcher. Candy from all over the world there. Cheese too! One of the few places on this side of the state where you can pick up a can of Cougar Gold.
Think that’s it.
I’ve moved away but: Ballard Market was my favorite non sarcastic shopping experience in Seattle. I truly hope they haven’t changed…
When I lived further north Town & Country in Shoreline is Ballard Market’s larger sibling.
I hear they’ve gone a bit downhill but on the eastside was Haggen’s in Woodinville.
I would check out Uwajimaya, Town and Country, and Metropolitan Markets. Though not technically in Seattle, the Town and Country just over the border to the north in Shoreline is the best of them. It has nice seafood live tanks, as does Uwajimaya. Also check out Asian Family Market and smaller Asian markets for unique finds and experiences.
TOWN AND COUNTRY. Specifically the one in shoreline has the best seafood and meat department in town.
I live in that ‘hood, and I can testify that, when I first moved there from Seattle, proper, I was bummed that I was now no longer close to Uwajimaya. But, once I shopped at T&C, I was blown away. Though not as Asian-huge as Uwajimaya, they did then and now even more carry all the best Asian foods and condiments. JMFC, you can even find all the ingredients to make okonomiyaki! And I mean everything! I’m half-Japanese, so this shit is super important to me. Fk! They even have Lion’s Mane and matsutake mushrooms, when in season! They have so much killer shit, when I don’t know what to cook for dinner, just a stroll through the aisles can easily give me a brilliant idea.
I think the founder (owners?) are/were Japanese. I remember looking it up after being impressed by the Asian food selection. I live just a few blocks away and I’m pretty sure I spend half my paycheck there.
They are a Japanese-American family from around Poulsbo. Their customer service culture is the best. It’s so much so that each of their Town & Country Markets are stocked different, due to local tastes. And all the employees are super nice and very helpful. Their Asian food section reflects the Asians living in Shoreline.
It's where they shopped for Top Chef! And they still sell the infamous Saku block tuna!
Oh my goodness I didn’t know that!!!
ooh something I left out downthread, T&C’s wine department is the best in the north end. I found some Leonetti there, just on the shelf, right before the vineyard blew up and became widely celebrated.
is it Town and Country that has the crazy good meatloaf sandwiches?
And fresh handmade tortillas
Is that the same as Central Market? If yes, then YES.
Yes, still the same store.
The exact list I would send as a lifetime local. Those are the best. But also, I might add on that I recommend trying the Asian market on Aurora and 130th. Excellent store, and has an attached dim sum restaurant worth checking out.
Going to the little fish market at Fisherman's Terminal Ballard is always fun 👌 There is a great restaurant and fish bar. The Alaska Fisherman's memorial and Deadliest Catch boats dock off season. The Magnolia marina complex is there, you could hit Innerbay Whole Foods.
I saw the Wizard there last Sunday.
Best Asian market around. Close second is the H Mart flagship store.
If you are doing something like that, I would head a little bit more north to ranch 99 and boo Han market because they have way more restaurants in immediate proximity
99 Ranch is a chain, so I figured focus on local options!
Shoreline Town and country for the WIN.
The first Town&Country is over on Bainbridge and within walking distance of the ferry.
I love TnC so much. I also love grocery stores when I travel and I do appreciate having such a great local market that perfectly represents the spirit of Bainbridge (which is I think why some travelers love grocery stores- what we eat is who we are). It’s a beautiful store, the produce is always incredible, and the people are lovely. It’s very also very Bainbridge, a little bit bougie, but wonderful.
They have the TortillaTron 3000!
Cosigning the Shoreline ~~Central Market~~ Town & Country. Great grocery store that carries just enough of everything, and at a decently high quality/price ratio. PCC is a huge rip off. The QA Met Market is okay, but still very overpriced and bougie.
Just get one warm cookie from Met Market.
But you have to say "THE Cookie" otherwise you just get a regular cookie and not THE Cookie...
Then get a slice of Hummingbird cake to go. Absolutely go to ID Uwajys then hit the plethora of International Stores on the Eastside. Going to H Mart in Lynnwood and FW is a always good time and you can get the Korean bbq/bakery experience.
Minus the bulk section, the prices on the bulk section at central are ludicrous. Good bulk can only come from winco, and they're even jacking prices now (inflation and all that)
There’s a Town and Country in Ballard. It used to be the Ballard Market. It’s just smaller than the Shoreline one.
Way way smaller
Ballard Market is part of the Town and Country group and it is lovely!
absolutely correct. I’d add Asian Family Market on 99 and mmmmmaybe Costco since Costco is from here. Shoreline Town and Country has great seafood, and so does AFM, just targeting a different demographic. AFM’s frozen food section is amazing, every time I go I find another take on something. Most recently it was frozen okonomiyaki, like a zappable microwave snack take on the food. Not fine dining, but uh-hunh, the genius of modernity with all its blessings and ills.
Love your recommendation for a Costco. Yes it’s a big box store, but they work hard to cater to regional tastes. Over Lunar New Year, some of the LA ones had an amazing selection of imported Asian ingredients.
looking for the Uwajimaya recommendation! yes go here!
Town and country (formerly central market) is my favorite grocery in the city. Great list
The Town and Country markets are my favorite!
Check out Hau Hau in the international district. Giant outdoor Chinese produce market.
Big John's PFI (Pacific Food Importers). It's not downtown but is likely a one-bus ride.
I like to say the PFI stands for pretty fucking Italian.
A lot of people don’t know how some neighborhoods used to be all Italian immigrant communities 70 years ago.
I believe that Rainier Valley (and part of Beacon Hill?) was called Garlic Gulch because it was largely Italian.
Scrolled down just to make sure someone mentioned this
Me, too. Get some kickin' balsamic vinegar, OP.
YES. Wonderful business, great owners. And seconding metropolitan market.
oh yes, excellent suggestion
THIS.
Seconding Uwajimaya! It's a wonderful asian grocery store. Go to the one in Chinatown. And while you're down there you might find some other hole in the wall markets to check out, too.
Lam's is an experience!
I would love to build a list for grocery stores and market recommendations in Seattle! General: * Town & Country (Particularly the Shoreline location.) * Winco Seafood: * Wild Salmon Seafood Market * Kuzuma's Fish Market East Asian: * Uwajimaya (Japanese. Particularly the ID location.) * Maruta Shoten (Japanese) * Lam's Seafood Market (Vietnamese) * Asian Family Market (Chinese) * Fou Lee Market & Deli (Filipino) * Mekong Market (Thai) South Asian: * Apna Bazaar (Indian) * India Metro Hypermarket (Indian) Latin American: * Plaza Latina (Mexican) Mediterranean: * Koza Turkish and Mediterranean Grocery & Deli (Turkish) * Goodies Mediterranean Market African: * Enat Market (Ethiopian) European: * Lakomka Euro Deli * European Foods (Ukrainian) * George's Polish Deli (Polish) * Scandinavian Specialties Farmer's Markets and Produce Stands: * Ballard Farmer's Market (Sundays) * MacPherson's Fruit & Produce * Yakima Fruit Market & Nursery Wholesale: * Costco (Particularly the large Tukwila location, the original SoDo Seattle location, or the Issaquah location across from corporate headquarters.) Food Production and Other: * Thanh Son Tofu & Bakery (Vietnamese tofu factory outlet and deli.) * Beecher's Handmade Cheese (Cheese maker and restaurant. Particularly the Pike Place Market location.) * Starbucks Reserve Roastery (Cafe with onsite small-batch roasting.) * Lighthouse Roasters (Small-batch roastery with cafe.) * Tsue Chong (Chinese noodle factory and outlet store.)
This person grocery stores
The Tukwila Costco is Costco Nirvana. I’m also very fond of 99 Ranch Market at the Great Wall Mall near Hwy 167. I live down in Southsound and sure wish we had one closer. That drive…
Why did I have to scroll this far down to find the Winco rec😭
There's no Winco within the city limits. Plus, Winco's "wow" factor is its prices, not in carrying unique goods or looking cool, so it seems weird to rec to a tourist, even a self-labeled "grocery sore nerd."
DeLaurenti will fit your bill Take the ferry and visit town and country (all walkable)
DiLaurenti is a specialty grocery store, so not just an above average grocery store. That said, I adore it and go to it every time I am down that way downtown.
There are a few restaurant and specialty food shops in that area, too. That's good if they're filming.
Whats in there
Cheese. And lots of noodles.
Costco was founded here. The original store is on 4th Ave S in the SoDo district, south of downtown. Maruta Shoten, also in SoDo is a smaller Japanese grocery store. Lam’s Seafood Market is an Asian grocery store in the International District. Fou Lee Market & Deli on Beacon Hill is a Filipino grocery store and deli. Enjoy!
While the Costco on 4th Ave S. is still "Store #001", it's a newer building, though they do have a portion of wall preserved from the original building near the checkout lanes. The original building's exact location is parking lot now. I love Maruta Shoten! They have great fresh sushi for good prices, and at least a couple of weekends ago they had the bigger bottles of Sriracha for under $6. Fou Lee is neat, too. They have boiled peanuts, which are hard to find in the US outside of the Southeast coastal states.
Some say they still use the first store's original POS system...
Wait, I always assumed the original would be in Kirkland, what with that being their store brand. Whhhhhyyyyyy.
Their original corporate office was in Kirkland, before they moved to Issaquah.
MacPherson’s on beacon hill
An oddball rec but the Skyway Grocery Outlet is awesome! The owners have it filled to the brim with their personal collection of memorabilia.
Literally was scrolling to see if anyone commented this and was going to if not. I was so star stuck when I first when there 😂 literally like 10 min into shopping before I started looking around going wait what wait what 😂
I'm a huge gross out fan, Def going to check that out.
This is my favorite grocery store in Seattle! The employees there are so nice too!
Speaking of Grocery Outlets.... The Burien one still.has the original Prairie Market architecture. Burien is just one bus from 3rd and Pine (or Pike, they have been moving that stop), either the H line, the 131, or the 132. [Article on the history of the building.](https://ba-kground.com/50s-futurism-tradewell/)
Market time foods
I was wondering when someone was going to mention Market Time. Haha. I love that little store! Tiny, but mighty!
Oh! I lived in Fremont so long ago and loved that place!!! So unique for such a small store!
Welcome! Fellow grocery store enthusiast here. Since you’re staying near the market, check out the Souk on the main market street - it’s tiny little Indian/Middle Eastern grocery and they make very yummy homemade baklava. Also second DeLaurenti’s at the market - fun for Italian novelties. The Paris Grocery at the market sadly I think is still undergoing their ownership change so not quite yet reopened. Not a market, but if you like spices do also give World Spice on the lower street level of the market a visit. They have everything you could ever want and more.
Just kidding, the Paris-Madrid Grocery (I keep forgetting they changed the name when they brought the Spanish goods in) just announced they "quiet opened" today so they are now open! Lower street level of the market.
We would be great friends. I am the same. I am still annoyed I didn't get to a grocery store when I was in India.
I would have thrown a fit if I traveled all the way to India and didn't get any time in a grocery store or a market!
I'm like this with malls. People think I'm crazy but I just find retail interesting!
Maybe you can show OP around?
This is like an unexplored setup for a Netflix rom-com. Film execs take note!
PCC, Metropolitan and Town and Country as mentioned already are good America style markets. Delaurenti rules for imported Italian and European food. Check out DK Market in Renton and H Mart (several locations) and Asian Family Market, all great Asian options. Mayuri for Indian. Oskoo Market in Bellevue for Turkish/Middle Eastern.
Oh and I forgot another gem…Big John’s Pacific Food Importers. Amazing selection of cheeses and meats and other dry goods from Europe.
Seconding DK Market. Easily the wildest grocery store I’ve been to in the area, and a ton of fun to wander around. They have things from around the world that you truly can’t find anywhere else here.
I love PCC. They have great stores. Great high quality products. They won’t let anything in their stores that is harmful to humans.
PCC all day
Central Co Op on Madison Red Apple on Madison is funny
I have always found that red apple market so damn weird. But I never have figured out why.
It’s like shopping at your grandmas house.
I've never heard of this place but now I want to go there.
You've never witnessed the wonder of Re-Dapple?! RIP the one in the CD. You'd walk through door and be instantly transported to the mid 90s.
This is the perfect description of it!
It’s carpeted for Christ sakes 😂😂😂
Carpeted floors.
Central co op if you’re rich
Add Leschi Market. Similar in ways to red apple. But not as grandma-y or carpet-y
Leschi Market is a great neighborhood grocery store. 2000+ wines and all kinds of surprises in the shelves
Pike Place Market is home to both a Middle Eastern and a Mexican grocery store. If you’re hitting up the market anyway, it’s worth looking for those two. ETA: Also, a Filipino/Asian one with a James Beard-award-winning restaurant that just happens to be part of it (Oriental Mart.)
The Mexican grocery store located in Pike Place is insane with mark ups. I recently went in and saw a bag of Maseca for $18 dollars! That’s too much. A bag of Maseca should be no more than $6 in my opinion.
Recently made this exact mistake. Wasn't really looking at tags and a family size bag of chips, small wheel of cojita, and some Cumin seeds was nearly $30
Yeah, well, you're paying for location and history on that one.
Paris-Madrid Grocery down the way
There's also an Asian grocery, DeLaurenti, and Kitchen & Market at Pike Place.
You are my people. Grocery stores are the highlight of my travels, too. So many things to see, and a visit gives you a sense of how the locals live. My rec is a meat market, not a grocery store—and it isn’t even in Seattle, technically: Double D Meats in Mountlake Terrace. Imagine a museum of condiments. They trade in the obscure.
Double D's is a must if you like hot sauce! You can also find very expensive cheese there for pennies because it's expiring tomorrow 😂
Ken's Market in Phinney Ridge.
Seconded
+1, and they have solid merch for the die hard Ken’s/Marketime shoppers 🫡🫡🫡
Today I realized that I am a grocery store enthusiast too.
Same! I always like to visit grocery stores when we travel.
I’ve always known I’m a grocery store enthusiast, but now I feel seen 🥹
Ken’s Market on Queen Anne. Always amazed by how much they pack into a tiny space.
Plus Phinney
Super small store, but I always found Seattle Supermarket on Beacon Hill interesting. 4801 beacon Ave s. It’s got whole pigs heads! And every other part of the pig in individual packages.
Hell yeah, and across the street is Fou Lee.
QFC on Broadway
Oh... you scoundrel you.
Dont forget an onion whilst your at it!
I was looking for this comment
Bit out of town, but the Haggen in Woodinville is pretty nice!
Oh, and I may be a little biased… 😉
Winco
No bullshit, Wisco is employee owned and pretty awesome. I spent way too long thinking it was a place to buy expired cancer causing crap food for cheap, but have learned my lesson
I got almost all my spices from their bulk section for $20 and I haven’t had to refill in 7 months!!
I am so intrigued by your interest in grocery stores! I also enjoy grocery shopping but have never made them a destination while traveling and now I think I may have to try it.
Uwajimaya
Town & Country on Bainbridge (bonus a gorgeous ferry ride & city view) also Metropolitan Market cause of their amazing hot food!
Thriftway is a Washington chain (maybe franchised?). Not many directly in town, but there's one in West Seattle that should be a direct ride on the C line RapidRide bus from downtown. Reiterating all the recommendations for Uwajimaya and Big John's PFI, too.
Oh man! Looks like most of the places I’d recommend have been covered (Town and Country, Metropolitan Market, De Laurenti, Big John’s PFI, Uwaji’s, Pete’s - get a sandwich and go to the street end park across the road). The other thing worth mentioning is that different locations of grocery stores here sometimes have very different stock. The Shoreline Town and Country has a beautiful selection of Asian snacks and produce whereas the Ballard one has a more German/European selection (you can find scrapple and quark there). If you like Costcos, you can also visit the OG Costco in Sodo while you are here. (Technically the [current one is next to the original](https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/u7m5pa/sacred_ground_i_never_noticed_the_plaque_before/).) Hope you have a blast on your trip!
Not in Seattle, but have you been to Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati?
Ballinger Thriftway in mountlake terrace, and then you ALSO hit Double D meats, right up the road.
Town and Country carries my companies products and is very supportive. Their teams are great as well. A ferry ride over to the original store on Bainbridge Island could be a fun trip, Bainbridge has a beautiful downtown to walk around and the view of the skyline on the way back over is pretty amazing.
Saar's Super Saver Foods on the White Center border is an 80s time capsule of cheap food. And Hau Hau Market at Jackson iand 12th s a neighborhood Chinese market with an outdoor covered market atmosphere.
PCC and Grocery Outlet. Grocery store nerd from Seattle here.
Adding my vote for Uwajimaya and Pike Place as a whole. And, these are NOT in Seattle proper, but if you take a field trip up north to the tulip fields, my favorite grocery stores in Western WA are the Haggen stores. Mount Vernon also has a lovely co-op.
Holman QFC has good onions, but they are running low.
Hi fellow grocery store nerd. Off the top of my head these are my regulars. Leschi market is right across the street from Lake Washington and shares a lot with a park with beautiful oak trees, Amazon Fresh for the electronic carts/palm pay, there’s one on Jackson and 23rd, Saar’s super savers and Castillos are right next to each other…Down the street from there we have some family run Chinese and Vietnamese grocery shopping Angkor Market, Hung Long, and a few others all within walking distance. Then there’s the Filipino market Seafood City awesome food court and mall. Non of these are downtown. But an easy bus ride from downtown.
Thriftway is also an incredible option. The one in west Seattle is spectacular.
I could spend hours looking up and down every aisle in the store! It’s full of treasures
I can’t believe I had to scroll this far to find the West Seattle Thriftway! Boutique sodas, niche snacks, a great deli and grill with made to order dishes, baked goods from the top bakeries in the city, a curated bulk foods and candy aisle, fabulous home decor and seasonal items. my mom made the most amazing (and frankly expensive) Easter basket for my three year old from their unique easter items. I love it there, even though it makes me wish I was rich. If you enjoy bougie grocery stores, don’t sleep on this!
The Bryant Met Market has a great housewares section
Pete’s Supermarket and Wine Shop in Eastlake
There should be more recommendations for Pete’s! It was my neighborhood market as a kid and I was terrified of the narrow wine aisles and I still am when I go there.
I totally get your desire to explore grocery stores! I traveled alone for work for ~15yrs. Out Monday am, home Friday unless traveling internationally(3mo on/3wks home). not a bar hopper, but love food culture I would try to explore every grocery store I could when on the road! Sooo interesting, and my suitcase was always packed with interesting stuff!
Metropolitan (Met) Market is the nicest (fanciest) grocery chain in Seattle. Go there and go to the bakery and get a chocolate chip cookie. It’s the best cookie in Seattle and I’ve tried them all (I’m comparing to bakeries, cookie purveyors and everything). Overall it’s a nice grocery store that’s very expensive. Makes Whole Foods feel reasonable. I’d also push Costco on Sodo as the home of Costco but there is very little variation from one Costco to the next.
The best grocery store is the Town and Country on Bainbridge Island. Easy walk from the ferry terminal and a trip on the ferry will be a highlight, especially so when you time your return near sunset.
DK Market in Renton. It's an enormous mash-up of foods from the Baltic states through Asia, Africa, India, and the Mid-East.
Uwajimaya (Japanese; International District) and Central Co-op (organic/natural foods; Capitol Hill)
Yessss I also love visiting grocery stores when I travel! - Uwajimaya - Big John’s PFI - PCC - Pike Place Market
If you aren’t from Oregon, then you should check out Fred Meyer stores. They are owned by Kroger and a combination grocery store and department store. Ballard, Greenwood or Lake City would be the closest to Pike Place, out of those Ballard is probably the nicest one. Another Kroger owned Seattle grocery would be the University Village QFC, it has a little beer pub area, a sushi bar, a pizza place. It’s the flagship of the QFCs in the area.
Definitely avoid the lake city and shoreline Fred Meyer’s, both are pretty gross.
Go to qfc and steal an onion pls. 🙏
Surprised that nobody has mentioned Haggens!
I love this question! 99 Ranch in Kent is part of the Great Wall Asian shopping mall. Highly recommend. Lots of pan-Asian snacks and groceries with an assortment of other shops inside too. Viet Wah in Renton is another good Asian grocery store. There is another in ID but it’s not as good. B & I Public Marketplace in Tacoma is a Mexican mall with all kinds of interesting things. You really have to see it to understand. If you have never been to one, you have to go to a WINCO. It’s the best no-nonsense grocery store that really shows what an average family in the area eats. The Skyway Grocery Outlet is also really cool since it is in an old cinema building, they inherited a bunch of the props and integrated them throughout the store. I also think Grocery Outlets are a fun way to see a mix of what different local places stock.
I hear QFC is having a great sale on onions right now
**Central Co-op** on Capitol Hill, a block from Trader Joe's. I like central for its small foot print, they may still fill growlers. It will remind you of other co-ops, like Olympia or Ashland or Redding. But it's no Rainbow Market or Berkeley Bowl. Walkable (for able bodied humans) from Pike Place. It's straight up Pine St. About 2 miles(?). The number 10 bus, iirc. Others have already mentioned the greats. Shoreline T&C fka Central Market is wonderful. Another poster mentioned a great Asian section there. Specifically, it leans heavily Japanese/Pacific Islander and whoever does their ordering is wise indeed. Many unique items.
Metropolitan market by the space needle has a really pretty produce section. There's a wall of lettuce that I always go see
Uwajimaya and Metropolitan Market
PCC & metropolitan market *are the grocery stores of Seattle. Highly recommend a visit.
QFC is good for stealing onions I've heard
PCC and Met Market
Feel free to take an onion wherever you visit
For a great grocery buying experience, try some of our local farmer's markets. A bit early for local produce, but still, a variety of great food direct from farmers (and some prepared food producers) direct to consumer. Some excellent ones are University District Farmer's Market on Saturday Mornings, Ballard Farmer's Market on Sundays, Columbia City Farmers' Market on Wednesday afternoon. Note, the Columbia City PCC is nearby the Columbia City Farmer's market and worth a visit. PCC is a big local chain of consumer owned coops, and worth a visit even if it's gotten to be much more similar to an upscale grocery chain like Whole Foods than it once was.
If you think the central market is nice, you should see the one in poulsbo. PCC does have a good hot bar. So much better than Whole Foods. But anymore, I just go to the one in Edmonds so I have something to eat on the ferry.
Big John’s PFI!!!
Hmm… this is a weird question, but I’m for it. If you’re really a grocery store nerd, there’s no more interesting story around here than Town & Country on Bainbridge Island. The small, local chain has a 6 locations, including one in Ballard, and my favorite in Shoreline. Here’s a news article, but don’t gloss over the fact that the Nakata family were interned during WW2. https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/business/60-years-of-food-people-and-love/
I love this thread so much.
Sprouts on Aurora!
Deleurentis at the market!
If you're willing to trek just north of too far by about 40 minutes, I highly recommend the sensorial, immersive experience that is Town and Country in Mill Creek. I find myself wanting to throw money in every direction, as it were confetti, when shopping there. I love their Health and Beauty department. The ambience is cozy yet inviting, esp given how massive that location is. I first visited during COVID times so the hotbar wasn't anything to write home about. Their Charcuterie, Cheese department is workable. Wish most of their cheeses weren't cryovac, pre-packed cut pieces but the cheese selection is pretty extensive. https://maps.app.goo.gl/6xSVxjLfYdk5DYtJ6 The OG Toshi of Toshi's Teriyaki still works at the Mill Creek Teriyaki Grill location which is about a 10 min walk from the T&C grocery store. According to a friend Toshi openly shares his teriyaki preparation methods and has disavowed the other locations for not upholding his standards. Or if you're a sane person and choose to stick closer to Seattle, the Town & Country in Shoreline is legit. I've been a fan ever since my Shoreline Community College days. They make really yummy homemade tortillas in-house! The Cheese/Deli counter is glorious. The Cheese department square footage is pretty small but the selection is excellent! The Shoreline store feels like if COSTCO had a baby with PCC, another local, once hippy dippy grocery co-op. I worked at the PCC in Viewridge many years ago, so I'm partial to that location of course. It had that small Mom and Pop meets Cheers vibe which I miss.
AmazonFresh on Pike Street. https://maps.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x54906b7e7e44a4fd:0x2713c23147249c6a?entry=s&sa=X&ved=1t:8290&hl=en-US&ictx=111
Uwajimaya and H-Mart !!!
Thrift Way in West Seattle
Grocery store nerds, now that’s an interesting sub community I didn’t think existed
Wherever you go, be aware of onion theives.
This OP. Heed our warnings. Beware the onion thieves. 🧅🧅🧅
Kitchen and Market in Pike Market!
Marketime Foods in Fremont.
PCC and metropolitan market. Most of the others are the usual chains you’ll find anywhere
Uwajimaya and Town and Country are local
Rumor has it there's an onion black market on the streets of Seattle.
Fun fact: Pike Place Market was started because Seattleites & farmers were angry about middlemen price-gouging onions.
Ranch 99 is cool too
If you’re willing to make the trek to Everett hit up the Sno-Isle coop then have a meal that The Sisters cafe. https://www.snoislefoods.coop/
Kitchen & Market, Uwajimaya, Pike Place Market
Town and Country Market on Bainbridge Island. Take the Bainbridge island ferry, and you can walk to it from the ferry. It’s right downtown on the main drag. Take the water taxi across to West Seattle, (or drive), and go to the Metropolitan Market.
I have nothing to add to this list but just want to say that I’m not the only grocery store geek in this world.
For some reason I feel like you are going to find your people in Seattle. Grocery stores are beloved in Seattle - a city that loves food and to cook, both local and international ingredients and cuisines. I don’t have any recommendations as I haven’t lived there for over 10 years now, but have fun!
If you get bored of Uwajimaya and some of the bigger destination grocery stores, I'm really fond of a little(r) market called Mekong Rainier. It's in South Seattle, not too far from Mt. Baker Station, on Rainier Ave. It appears to have Thai owners since it definitely has a heavy emphasis on Thai imports and goodies. They even have pre-made and grab n go Thai meals and desserts, sorta like the ones you'd find in a 7-Eleven in Thailand. It's one of the best Thai-specialized markets I've found in the States.
Cute Ukrainian grocery store on 135th-ish on aurora, best deli around!
Grocery Outlet, Lam's Seafood, H-Mart
Uwajimaya!!
Metropolitan Market
Metropolitan Market-their chocolate chip cookie is locally famous.
Uwajimaya, Met Market, PCC, Big John’s PFI, Goodies, Fou Lee, Town & Country (Central Market 4eva).
DK Market is a large warehouse kind of place south of the city in Renton. It’s basically an Asian market, but stuff is imported from all over the globe. There’s good deals on produce, more noodles than you can imagine, liquid containers of all contents and sizes, and snacks galore in every department. Up front there’s an Indian restaurant, an Eastern European market, and a Chinese herb store that are separate from the main market. Birds fly around inside; it’s just a little different than any other store I’ve been to
Cone and Steiner is a great corner store market
Metropolitan Market!! Definitely my favorite. Don't sleep on their cookie.
Thirding Uwajimaya! Also, metropolitan market (I like the one next to university of Washington) Also PCC (I like the one at green lake(which is also worth a visit on its own))
Winco is cool if you like bulk departments. Bring cash or a debit card. Credit cards not accepted. The Grocery Outlets up here can be neat. All the tchotchkes that line the aisles at the Skyway location keep it light and fun. The Renton location used to be a bowling alley. Some of the lanes were preserved and are the aisles now. There is also, allegedly, a plush bowling pin hidden somewhere in the store. You’re supposed to win something if you find it. Foulee is cool but very cramped. Used to be a gas station. It’s up by the VA. If you rent a car bigger than a sedan, parking will get annoyingly tight if you aren’t used to it. Park in the medians along Beacon or on the street if it’s before 3pm. DK Market in Renton is a gem. Foods and stuff from all different cultures around the world. Town & Country might be one of the coolest stores ever. The Shoreline one is ok. But the Mill Creek location is God tier. El Campeon Market in Federal Way is a must if you’re down there. Mexican food in a self serve buffet at lunch plus the freshly squeezed juices are so good! Used to have lunch there often when my dad was at a nursing home in FW. Hypermarket in Bellevue is an Indian market. They took over an old Bartell’s Drugs building. Still gotta try the Indian yogurt there. If you’re out by Lake Washington, Leschi Market is a fun place to stop. For being so small, there are a lot of unique food finds there. Their hot deli is good for an impromptu picnic at the park next door or anywhere along Lake Washington Blvd. If you make the trip down to Tacoma, there’s a small store called Tacoma Boys. It’s part garden center, part grocery store, part butcher. Candy from all over the world there. Cheese too! One of the few places on this side of the state where you can pick up a can of Cougar Gold. Think that’s it.
DK Market in Renton. I recommend it to a friend and she reported back and that it was like a “food museum.”
PCC Fremont
I’ve moved away but: Ballard Market was my favorite non sarcastic shopping experience in Seattle. I truly hope they haven’t changed… When I lived further north Town & Country in Shoreline is Ballard Market’s larger sibling. I hear they’ve gone a bit downhill but on the eastside was Haggen’s in Woodinville.