Favorite 6th Ave pub returns, plus more cheesesteaks and pho at new Tacoma restaurants

Summer restaurant openings in Tacoma include the return of Engine House No. 9, a new quick-service spot for Cambodian food and another cheesesteak destination.

In Fife, Emish Market finally opened with a full-service bakery and cafe, plus specialty goods and everyday staples.

Headed to Mount Rainier National Park for prime wildflower season in this sunshine? When traveling through the southwestern Nisqually entrance, you now have another choice for a pre- or post-hike meal.

Earlier this summer, Tacoma also gained a Mexican restaurant with Sinaloan-style sushi, a great choice for New York-style pizza, a Wisconsin-themed tavern and its first self-serve beer bar.

Here’s a look at restaurants that recently opened in and near Pierce County.

TRAILHEAD BAR & GRILL — ASHFORD

30319 WA-706 E., Ashford, 360-569-0118, instagram.com/thetrailheadbar

Just west of the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park, The Trailhead Bar & Grill opened in late June where Highlander Restaurant long stood. Owners Morgan Utt and Jenny Hannah — the latter behind Cruiser Cafe in Eatonville — have built a contemporary mountain pub with a menu of burgers, sandwiches, street-style tacos and more. They scrubbed top to bottom, painted, installed new floors and modernized the space with rustic wood, Edison light bulbs and a new pool table. Stop by for lunch or dinner, noon-midnight Tuesday-Saturday.

MY PHILLY TACOMA

4314 Portland Ave. E., Tacoma, 253-301-2022, myphillytacoma.com

Another Philly cheesesteak joint has landed in Tacoma, this time in the Salishan neighborhood on the Eastside. The quick-service restaurant opened in late June with a straightforward menu of the Eastern Pennsylvania sandwich, starting with seasoned steak, melted cheese and sauteed onions on a roll. Other fixings include bell peppers, lettuce-tomato-onion, mushrooms and pizza sauce, as well as the option to swap the beef for chicken. Now open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

ENGINE HOUSE NO. 9

611 N. Pine St., Tacoma, 253-272-3435, ehouse9.com

The beloved Sixth Avenue pub is back after closing temporarily last November. During that time, the X Group owners revamped the menu, streamlining it to focus on longtime favorites with the addition of a refined pizza recipe — now a square-cut, thin-crust style. With E9 beers on draft, the bar also received an upgrade in the wine and spirits department. It’s one of the bars we most looked forward to returning to as pandemic restrictions eased. Currently open Wednesday-Friday for dinner and Saturday-Sunday starting at noon.

HAPPY ASIAN FAST FOOD

1901 S. 72nd St., Tacoma, 253-301-0797, facebook.com

In the 72nd Street plaza in Tacoma’s South End, home to Winco Foods, Famous Dave’s and Let It Snow, a new shaved ice and boba tea shop, Happy Asian Fast Food, opened in late June. Note that the sign outside the restaurant says “Cambodian and Chinese Fast Food.” The bulk of the menu offers standard quick-service Chinese dishes like chow mein and fried rice, but the owners also specialize in other Southeast Asian favorites, including banh chao (similar to the Vietnamese crepe banh xeo) and beef lok lak — pungent, lightly seared steak. Open daily 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

UP PHO & TERIYAKI

2620 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253-212-1795, up-pho-teriyaki.business.site

Located next to Harbor Greens in University Place, this new Asian restaurant feels a step above the average teriyaki joint on the corner. The interior design is reminiscent of Zen Ramen & Sushi Burrito, with wood-lined walls and tables with newsprint sealed underneath a translucent top. The menu features standard apps like spring rolls, gyoza and various tempura; Vietnamese noodle bowls and banh mi; teriyaki combos and Chinese fried rice. Japanese dishes range from yakisoba to more than a dozen styles of pho, including a few spicy specials. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.

KOBE TERIYAKI — UNIVERSITY PLACE

4324 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253-460-2771, kobeteriyakiuniversityplace.com

Kobe Teriyaki is a new Asian restaurant, with a new owner, in the restaurant space previously known as Good Wok and Teriyaki No. 2. The broad menu covers all the bases, starting of course with teriyaki — regular portions go for under $12 and large for under $17, depending on the meat. Bento boxes and special combos include an $8.99 chicken katsu lunch, while takeout staples range from kimchi fried rice and shrimp yakisoba to kung pao chicken and broccoli beef. A short but sweet menu of bubble teas complete this fresh face in UP.

I LOVE TACOS LLC

716 E. 56th St., Tacoma, 253-495-7066, facebook.com

What started as a catering taco cart expanded to a truck parked at the corner of 56th and McKinley near Stewart Heights Park. With images of Los Angeles on the facade and the tagline “A Taste of L.A.,” the menu offers street-style tacos ($2-$2.49 each) and standard Mexican fare — quesadillas, burritos, mulitas and tortas. One specialty dish is the Love Asada Fries, a pile of them topped with carne asada, cheese, guacamole and drizzles of sour cream for $8.99. Hours vary but tend to stick around 4-9 p.m.; check Facebook for updates.

EMISH MARKET

2040 70th Ave. E., Fife, 253-262-6070,

The long-awaited Emish Market swung open the doors in early July. The full-service grocery store is stocked with everyday essentials, but it also specializes in Eastern European imports that make the store worth a trip from nearby or when traveling through Fife. It also features an in-house bakery full of Ukrainian pastries and cakes, plus a cafe making sandwiches and serving coffee daily. Check out the meat department! Open daily 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

This story was originally published August 1, 2021 at 5:00 AM.