Here are the most exciting restaurants and bars coming to the Tacoma area in 2022
Restaurant folk are a resilient bunch, embracing changes and pushing boundaries that have forever changed the industry. In spite of a pandemic that failed to abate, the local scene will continue to evolve in 2022.
On the heels of sharing the best new restaurants in Tacoma and Pierce County, we look forward to welcoming the next class. They will shower us with bagels, birria, waffles, beer, wine, cider and pizza.
About half of the entries here thought in 2020 they would open in 2021. Supply chain and staffing challenges affected everything from the cost of wood to the labor to install it and the inspectors to ensure its safety.
There are also two anticipated concepts missing from this list: BK’s Barbecue, a father-and-son operation set to serve Texas-style meats in an outdoor-only setup behind The Pine Room Events Center (also home to The Cat & Rabbitt Cake Shop’s walk-up window), is on pause for an indeterminate future. Likewise, Mogoso Noodles, which wooed us with hand-cut noodles at the farmers market in 2020, is also on indefinite hiatus.
Meanwhile, we will keep crossing our fingers that Harbor City opens its Tacoma restaurant to satiate our demand for dim sum, and that perhaps Killer Burger, the Portland-based franchise, finds a partner for Tacoma.
B’S BAGELS & BUTTERS
▪ 3308 Uddenberg Lane, Gig Harbor, instagram.com/bsbagelsnbutters
By last summer, I felt a bagel storm a-brewin’ in the South Sound. Thanks in part to reasonable cottage food laws in Washington, bread baking became an obvious pandemic option for people with time on their hands, whether due to working from home, being laid off or otherwise burned out. In a region desperate for good bagels not from Whole Foods? Gold. East Coast transplant and former Cooke Tavern chef Brittany Erwin will open her Gig Harbor shop, B’s Bagels & Butters, this spring with Bluebeard Coffee. She plans to serve the goods as sandwiches and with homemade schmears and, as the name implies, butters, and anticipates weekly Tacoma pickups. Follow on Instagram for a peek into her recipe development.
BIRRIERIA GOURMET
▪ 1126 Commerce St., Tacoma, birrieriagourmet.com
Moises Villasenor and his family served Tacoma for a brief spell at Ta Carbon, a casual Mexican steakhouse now home to La Ilusion al Carbon on 56th and Orchard. About six months ago, he introduced a food truck to Federal Way, showcasing the Instagram-famous birria dipped in consomé: in cheesy tacos, mulitas, vampiros and tortas. The truck slings its wagyu beef in ramen, too. Inspired by the dishes of their Guadalajara upbringing, all of this — plus a sushi roll and eggs benedict, undergoing recipe testing as we speak — will join the menu at a brick-and-mortar in downtown Tacoma, which hopes to open in late January.
BUDDY’S CHICKEN & WAFFLES
▪ 1127 Broadway, Tacoma, instagram.com/buddyschickenandwaffles
There are few things that saved me when I was feeling down in 2021, and one of them was the affable Buddy Brown’s Instagram posts, teasing his forthcoming restaurant dedicated to a certain sweet-and-savory, breakfast-all-day staple. As he awaits inspections and permits on the full-service spot downtown, he has been actively dredging poultry and pressing waffles — Southern Cornbread, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Red Velvet — from Whimsy Kitchen in South Tacoma. Order online and pickup at 5602 S. Washington St. (at 56th Street), and prepare yourself to add a tabletop with coffee and beer later this year.
CLOUD KITCHENS / MY COMMERCIAL KITCHEN
▪ 3726 S. G St. / 3812 S. Wright Ave., Tacoma
Ghost kitchens allow food businesses to cook without a formal storefront, selling their food through online platforms for pickup or delivery through third-party systems like DoorDash. They were pioneered by UberEats a few years ago, and recently the company’s former CEO Travis Kalanick has been scooping up buildings across the United States, outfitting them with new restaurant equipment, and renting space to fresh entrepreneurs and big chains alike. CloudKitchens will open in the Lincoln District, as The News Tribune reported in April 2021, and My Commercial Kitchen opened late last year in Central Tacoma. At the latter, Adam’s Bagels has already secured a spot. A common refrain from upstart chefs is a lack of shared kitchen space; with two new ones in the game, we are likely to see an influx of pickup- and delivery-only options as well as pop-ups at markets and festivals.
DISCOVERY CIDER CO. - TACOMA
▪ 5419 South Tacoma Way, Suite B, (entrance in alley between 54th and 56th streets), Tacoma, facebook.com/tinhatcider
From home garage to cool second-floor bar, cider maker Brennan Sandstrom brings his passion for apples to a more typical commercial space, formerly home to Stonegate Pizza. Fermenting primarily Washington fruit, Discovery Cider Co. has upgraded from a manual press to a more mechanical situation, allowing for more volume and styles. When it came time to move, he knew he wanted to stay in South Tacoma. Discovery landing in the heart of this neighborhood further enhances its eclectic nature, with several great eateries and bars, plus KVLT Mead. Now we just need a brewery, and maybe a distillery. [Update 01/04/2022: Discovery Cider Co. is open on South Tacoma Way.]
THE MILL BY JACK + ADELINE
▪ 445 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253-561-7711, jackandadeline.com
Leanne and Paul Franetovich have developed a loyal following over many months at The Waterfront Market at Point Ruston, offering sourdough breads and croissants (currently baked at a commissary in King County) alongside handmade boards carved from heirloom woods. When complete, the Jack + Adeline storefront will feature both a woodworking studio, a retail bakery and sit-down cafe. Soon, Leanne Franetovich said in early January, they will introduce the larder side of the business as they wrap construction and permitting on the production space. There you will find a veritable dinner party: spices, jams, honey, olive oils, charcuterie, cocktail goodies, Paul Franetovich’s boards, and plenty of cookbooks. [Update 04/16/2022: The Mill by Jack + Adeline has opened its retail shop and as of the summer, serves wine and beer on-site.]
POP POP BOTTLE SHOP - VASHON
▪ 17618 Vason Highway SW, Vashon, poppopvashon.com
In a storied tavern space on Vashon’s main drag, Adam Chumas and Christina McFadden will introduce a beer bar and, naturally, bottle shop along with specialty sodas and kombucha. They are in the midst of upgrading the 1924 building, most recently home to The Red Bicycle Bar & Bistro, which will also serve freshly styled teriyaki, as The Beachcomber reported last July. Chumas brings many years of hospitality experience, including time at Tom Douglas Restaurants in Seattle and The Hardware Store across the street. Like so many businesses on this intimate island, Pop Pop will be community-centric, adding yet another great reason to hop the speedy ferry ride from Point Defiance.
RUSTY GOAT BEER & COFFEE
▪ 712 Opera Alley, Tacoma, instagram.com/rustygoat4beerandcoffee
Following in the stead of Tacoma’s first axe-throwing venue, Opera Alley gains another new business in this (eventual) all-day cafe, where coffee and beer go hand in hand. Diamatris and Heidi Winston announced the opening of Rusty Goat more than a year ago; they spent what ended up being all of 2021 working full-time while renovating the bar. Open Thursday-Saturday nights to start, they hope to add daytime hours with the vision of becoming a community space, whether you’re reading a book, having a meeting or grabbing a drink with friends before heading to a play down the street. [Update 02/03/2022: Rusty Goat Tacoma is now open.]
SUR ARGENTINE BAKERY - LAKEWOOD
▪ 10518 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood, surargentinebakery.com
Osvaldo Lahoz opened Sur Bakery in late 2019, providing a destination for alfajores, facturas and cañoncitos. In an effort to provide other Argentinian expats with staples like mate and Quilmes beer, he also stocks these items and distributes them around the Sound. Since last year, he has been renovating the adjacent storefront to add a sit-down cafe: pastries will join hot or cold yerba mate, coffee, soda and more. I enjoyed a hot tea with the owner in early 2020, and later made a sandwich at home with his idyllic pain de miga. I eagerly await the opportunity to enjoy the full experience on-site. [Update 04/26/2022: Sur Argentine Bakery has opened its sit-down cafe with hearty sandwiches on housemade bread.]
TACOMA PIE
▪ 4417 6th Ave., Tacoma, tacomapie.com
Longtime bartender Dean Shivers took his early pandemic time off to hone his pizza-making skills, zeroing in on the Detroit style popularized by the likes of John Arena in Las Vegas and, lately, countless savvy chefs around the country. Tacoma Pie became the city’s perfect pandemic food: a flavorful, crisp caramelized crust that withstands reheating in a home oven. His success led to two years partaking in the Tacoma Farmers Market’s Grit City Gala To Go! and, importantly, a full-service restaurant set to open in the former Vino Aquino lot on Sixth Avenue. Teased amenities include bocce in a beer garden and, of course, the city’s finest squares. [Update 05/10/2022: Tacoma Pie has opened its Sixth Ave. restaurant and bar, plus courtyard seating.]
TACOMA WINE MERCHANTS - OLD TOWN
▪ 2112 N 30th St., Tacoma, tacomawinemerchants.com
After five years of running Tacoma Wine Merchants in the Stadium District, Rob and Kelly Richards announced their second location last summer. Like No. 1, the new digs will double as a retail store and wine bar, but with much more room to roam. “It’s pretty obvious that we need more space,” they wrote in their July newsletter. The original bar seats just 10 guests, and the store itself is packed to the brim with bottles from around the world. A hopeful 2021 opening in the former Starbucks building was delayed by myriad pandemic-related issues, but by Christmas they anticipated an early 2022 opening. [Update 05/10/2022: Tacoma Wine Merchants has opened its Old Town bar and retail shop.]
Reporter’s Note, Fall 2022: This article has been updated to reflect listings that opened so far this year.
This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 10:09 AM.