Nearby food joints offering the best beach bites

Sunscreen? Check. Suits and towels? Check.

Food? Uhhhh. Pick up something on the fly?

If you’re heading for an impromptu day at one of the beaches featured here, nearby stores and sandwich shops offer plenty of choices for beach dining. Don’t worry about planning ahead – you can just drop in and grab something.

A few things to remember about beach eating:

 •  Pack out what you pack in. Don’t be that jerk who leaves trash behind.

 •  No alcohol is allowed in the parks and beaches featured here.

 •  Mayo-based salads, cheese and dairy products have a short shelf life in the sun and heat. If you don’t bring a cooler to keep food cold, eat it within an hour or you’ll risk bacteria growth.

Here are restaurants or stores with take-out selections near featured beaches:

DASH POINT STATE PARK

Trader Joe’s: 1758 S. 320th St., Federal Way, 253-941-6138

Trader Joe’s is the place to shop for quick, tasty take-out at fast-food prices.

Look at this meze spread shoppers can assemble for about $20: A roasted eggplant wrap ($3.99), a container of tzatziki dip ($3.49), a Greek olive medley ($3.49), tomato basil hummus dip ($1.99), a Middle East feast pack with falafel and tabbouleh salad ($3.99), flatbread ($1.99) and sea salt pita chips ($1.99).

Salads: More than 20 prepared salads include dressing and add-ins, priced $2.99-$4.69. The goat cheese, walnut and red bell pepper salad ($3.49) looked substantial for a lunch when paired with a wrap sandwich. The Mediterranean quinoa salad with chicken, Greek olives and feta ($2.99) would make a healthful meal for one.

Wraps and sandwiches: More than 10 kinds, including tuna salad in a wheat tortilla ($3.99), beef sirloin tri tip ($3.99), turkey club ($3.99), a roasted vegetable wrap ($3.99) and Vietnamese-style chicken wrap ($3.99).

Dips: More than 10 kinds of hummus, tzatziki, yogurt, artichoke and a handful of other dips (priced $1.99-$3.99). Also, fresh salsas in the refrigerated section ($2.29-$2.99) and jarred salsas on the canned-foods aisle.

Fresh fruits: Sliced mangoes ($3.69), sliced green or red apples ($2.99), bag of edamame ($2.29) and sliced pineapple wedges ($3.29)

Paldo World: 2200 S. 320th St., Federal Way, 253-941-8282

This Korean grocery store is where you can assemble your own banchan spread. Banchan is the Korean equivalent to meze or tapas – small, shareable dishes that together can make a meal. In the refrigerated section adjacent to the bakery, a refrigerator case offers 20 kinds of kimchi – a spicy, crunchy vegetable appetizer. You’ll find kimchi ranging from cucumber to young radish, cabbage, white kimchi and mustard leaf kimchi . Also available is a seasoned seaweed salad ($2.99), pan-fried tofu with a spicy sauce ($2.99) and marinated cucumber salad ($6.53).

Also in Paldo World are restaurants with takeout. Cho Dang Tofu has a wide selection of Korean food. Peking Garden has Chinese takeout. The bakery offers a daily selection of fresh pastries.

OWEN BEACH

Antique Sandwich Co.: 5102 N. Pearl St., Ruston, 253-752-4069

The Antique Sandwich Co. seems to perpetually waft of freshly baked cinnamon rolls (they’re available up front with other baked goods). This Ruston institution offers a wide selection of sandwiches that come with chips or a green salad. Many sandwiches cater to vegetarians, including sprout and avocado tomato sandwiches ($5.50-$7.95), cucumber and cream cheese ($4.75-$6.95) and veggie ($5.50-$7.95). Reuben, traditional meatloaf, corned beef, turkey, ham, salami and a poorboy also are on the menu ($4.75-$8.50). Check the board behind the counter and at the cash register for daily specials and soups.

Don’s Ruston Market: 5102 N. Winnifred St., Ruston, 253-759-8151

This one-of-a-kind, old-style luncheonette with a soda fountain and dine-in counter has everything from take-out picnic to sit-down service with cheeseburgers, dogs and more. For take-out, deli sandwiches ($3.50-$5.25) or bagel sandwiches ($3.25) are your best options. Potato and macaroni salad are sold in small containers ($1.25). From the soda fountain, order an ice cream float, sundae, egg cream, milkshake, malt or ice cream by the cone ($1-$4.25). Don’s carries a selection of old-style soda pops such as Bubble Up and sarsaparilla. Chips, cookies and other snacks can round out your picnic lunch.

Other nearby options: Tatanka takeout specializes in bison and vegetarian fare, 4915 N. Pearl St., 253-752-8778. Tacoma Boys for quick grab dips, salads, breads, cheeses and terrific produce finds, 5602 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253-756-0902.

TITLOW BEACH

This spot comes with two eating options at the beach.

Steamer’s: 8802 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253-565-4532

Affordable, classic seafood at fast-food prices. Order at the counter and take a seat for your food to be delivered, or get it to go and eat on the beach. The menu is fried fish and seafood with choices of cod and chips, beer-batter salmon, beer-batter prawns, clams and chips, scallops and chips, oysters and chips, crispy calamari, and steamed clams by the half or full pound. There also is clam chowder, burgers, sandwiches and wraps. The most expensive item on the menu tops out at $13.95 for a pound of manila clams or Dungeness crab cakes, but most menu items fall in the $7-$9 range. Kids meals are $4.95 each.

The Beach Cafe and Beach Tavern at Titlow: 8612 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253-564-9984

The Beach at Titlow comes with a tavern on one side (21 and older only) and a walk-in take-out fish and burger cafe. The walk-in restaurant offers an assortment of deli sandwiches and burgers ($5-$7 range) and snacks such as jo-jos, nachos and fried mushrooms. When we dropped in, the place looked like it needed a good cleaning and only accepted cash, no cards.

Other nearby options: Dania Market has gyros and falafel sandwiches, 6603 Sixth Ave., Tacoma; 253-566-0393. Tacoma Boys, mentioned above, also is a short drive away.