Dome Dining Guide: Where to eat before and after a show at Tacoma Dome

The Tacoma Dome, which turned 40 this year, can hold up to 21,000 people. Whenever you’re one of them, here’s where you should eat and drink before the show.

We created this guide as a resource for visitors and locals alike, with an eye toward meeting an array of potential wants and needs, whether that’s food on short notice or a planned dinner date. Selections are based on quality of the food and atmosphere, categorized either by what they offer or where it might fit into your schedule.

The list, which encompasses bars and restaurants in the Dome District, McKinley Hill and downtown, prioritizes walkability and quick public transit, with “Distance to the Dome” details alongside hours and essential info of prices, seating options and style of service. Most are also open for lunch — in case you’re the type that we saw queuing outside hours before Morgan Wallen on Oct. 7.

P!NK’s two Tacoma shows, Oct. 17-18, have been postponed as of Monday due to a family medical issue, the venue shared on social media. Tickets will be honored for the replacement dates, which have yet to be announced. Looking ahead, Tool plays Friday, and Zach Bryan already has two November 2024 dates on the calendar.

BEST IF YOU’RE IN A RUSH

Go Philly

▪ 1524 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, gophillycheesesteaks.com

▪ Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday noon to 9 p.m.

▪ Need to know: counter service, limited outdoor table seating; most dishes $12-$16

▪ Distance to the Dome: 0.3 miles to Link — Convention Center Station + 3 stops to Dome (approximately 23 minutes)

The cheesesteaks here are the real deal, loaded with steak (or chicken, if that’s your thing) and grilled onions swaddled in melted provolone. Spice it up with bell and cherry peppers, mushrooms or even pepperoni. Other sandwiches include po’boys (catfish, shrimp, oyster, cod), a reuben and the Harlem chopped cheese, a sort of deconstructed burger. Wings, chicken tenders and fried fish will also fill you up. No matter what, don’t sleep on the lemon-pepper fries!

Sam Choy’s Poke to the Max

▪ 1716 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, samchoyspoke.com

▪ Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

▪ Need to know: order at the counter, limited seating; most dishes $14-$16

▪ Distance to the Dome: steps from Link — Union Station + 2 stops to Dome (approximately 15 minutes)

Sam Choy’s is both fast and satisfying, with the bonus of being relatively light. Choose your poke (tuna or salmon, plus tofu for the vegetarians) in a variety of flavors such as simple shoyu, Samy’s Spicy with aioli, and Lava with extra chili oil and jalapenos. Get that fish in a bowl over rice with seaweed salad and pickled veggies, mixed lettuce with carrots and cucumber, or as nachos or tacos. There’s also a handful of rice plates with the likes of firecracker shrimp and Kalua pork, as well as musubis, loco moco and lumpia.

El Antojo

▪ 3801 E McKinley Ave., Tacoma, elantojo.com

▪ Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-midnight, Friday 10 a.m.-3 a.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-3 a.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-midnight

▪ Need to know: order at the counter, limited seating; most dishes $14-$16

▪ Distance to the Dome: 7-minute ride on Pierce Transit #42 bus, 25-minute straight-shot walk

Fashioned like a fast-food restaurant, this taqueria offers more than meets the eye — think homemade tortillas. Taco proteins run the gamut from adobada, asada, chorizo and pollo to solid carnitas, lengua and even mushrooms. Enjoy in tacos, mulitas, gorditas, sopes and burritos. Combo deals start at $9.71 for three tacos and a Favoritos. Share plates of enchiladas and chipotle chicken. If someone in your party doesn’t want tacos (does this person exist?), the connected Burger Broiler will save the day.

BEST IF YOU’RE NOT INTO WALKING MORE THAN 10 MINUTES

Freighthouse Square

▪ 2501 E. D St., Tacoma

▪ Hours vary for each vendor, but generally 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

▪ Need to know: order at the counter, ample table seating in food court

▪ Distance to the Dome: 0.4-mile/9-minute walk

Attached to the Sounder and Amtrak stations and just steps from the Link, Freighthouse Square houses a food court that isn’t fancy but does provide plenty of options. Especially in a big group, everyone can head to their counter of choice, order and pay independently.

▪ The owners of Paya Thai Fish & Chips have been fileting and frying cod since 1992. Platters come with two or three pieces, fries and coleslaw. Warm up with a cup of clam chowder. Most dishes $12-$16, facebook.com/PTFishNChips

▪ Little India Express serves hearty portions of vindaloo, tikka masala and curries, with plenty of vegetarian options and small bites, from naan to samosas. Most apps/sides $5-7 and shareable mains $18-$20, littleindiaexpresstacoma.com

▪ The Palace Kebab, one of the newer restaurants at Freighthouse, rocks a Mediterranean menu of refreshing salads, dolmes, pita wraps and, of course, kebabs. Most apps/sides $10 and mains $15-$27, thepalacekebab.com

The New Frontier Lounge

▪ 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, thenewfrontierlounge.com

▪ Daily 11 a.m.-midnight (open at 10 a.m. for brunch Saturday-Monday)

▪ Need to know: full-service restaurant and bar, with live music later at night; most dishes $7-$15

▪ Distance to the Dome: 0.3-mile/8-minute walk

This revamped lounge, known for live music, is the nearest choice for good food with a full bar. Share a basket of garlic fries tossed with bleu cheese or parmesan, homemade onion rings or keep it light with hummus, pita and pickled veggies. Mains focus on smashburgers, fancy quarter-pound hot dogs and sandwiches, such as Korean barbecue-style chicken, muffuletta and a five-cheese griddle served with tomato bisque. The kitchen serves through midnight, making The New Frontier a post-show destination, too — perhaps to catch another show.

BEST IF YOU’RE ON A DATE (& WILLING TO HOP ON THE LINK)

Amor Wine & Tapas

▪ 705 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-302-3706, amorwineandtapas.gosite.com

▪ Wednesday-Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

▪ Need to know: full-service restaurant and bar with seasonal courtyard patio; tapas $6-$12, most entrees $22-$32

▪ Distance to the Dome: 1 block to Link — Commerce Station + 4 stops to Dome (approximately 20 minutes)

Amor’s striking high ceilings, eccentric wine list and thoughtful tapas menu comprise the foundation of a perfect pre-show date. Start with one of 17 by-the-glass pours, or ask the sommelier for a recommendation of a reasonably priced bottle — many hover around $50-$60. Stick with the tapas menu for nibbles of palate-cleansing boquerones, a mini coq au vin, crunchy manchego croquettes and a modest portion of beef ragu. Filling up on tapas is encouraged, but ravenous appetites will appreciate the entrees, including a few pastas and a vegetarian cauliflower steak, which are large enough to share.

en Rama

▪ Courthouse Square, 1102 A St., Tacoma, 253-223-7184, enramatacoma.com

▪ Tuesday-Saturday 3-10 p.m.

▪ Need to know: full-service restaurant and bar with seasonal patio, reservations recommended; most dishes $12-$24

▪ Distance to the Dome: 3 blocks to Link — Theater District Station + 4 stops to Dome (approximately 20 minutes)

Settle into a sherry cocktail (or well-crafted nonalcoholic sparkler) at one of Tacoma’s best restaurants, then nibble on housemade bread and pickled veggies. Influenced by Italian and Spanish flavors, the menu is built for sharing, from the textural Caesar salad and braised chickpeas to small or large bowls of from-scratch pastas. The brisket burger — two patties nestled between asiago and white cheddar, served with patatas bravas — also sings. If you’re headed to the Dome early, arrive here before 5 p.m. for $10 happy hour cocktails and pimento cheese. It’s a great Tuesday choice, when all bottles of the intriguing list are half-off.

Fujiya Japanese Restaurant

▪ 1130 Broadway, Tacoma, facebook.com/fujiyatacoma

▪ Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. (until 9:30 Friday-Saturday)

▪ Need to know: full-service restaurant and bar, up the stairs from Broadway or enter from Court C; most dishes $18-$30

▪ Distance to the Dome: 1 block to Link — Theater District Station + 4 stops to Dome (approximately 20 minutes)

Sometimes only sushi will do. Fujiya has been rolling fresh fish from this semi-secret, minimalist yet cozy space above Broadway for nearly 40 years. Let the chef curate a sashimi plate or trio of maki, with a cup of miso soup for each guest. Maki shines here thanks to a restraint not common in the modern world of rolls, as in the Negihama with hamachi, roe and scallions or the tekka with, simply, tuna. From the stove, choose among teriyaki, katsu, yakisoba and donburi to enjoy with beer, sake or tea.

BEST IF YOU’RE IN A BIG GROUP BUT WANT TO SIT DOWN

Indita Mia

▪ 1126 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253-625-7362, inditamia.restaurant

▪ Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

▪ Need to know: full-service restaurant and bar with sidewalk seating, reservations recommended for large groups; most dishes $12-$20

▪ Distance to the Dome: steps to Link — Theater District Station + 4 stops to Dome (approximately 20 minutes), 0.9-mile/20-minute walk

A trove of flavorful, truly homemade fare awaits at Indita Mia, an oasis near one of the city’s transportation hubs. Dip into vibrant guacamole, a Oaxacan tamal delivered in its banana leaf and legitimately spicy carne con chile accompanied by warm, freshly griddled tortillas. Ensure that one person in your party orders Grandma’s quesadilla: a half-moon of masa enrobing cheese and beef, fried in tallow and ladled with a green salsa. Even the cocktails highlight Mexican ingredients, including a boozy horchata and the namesake number of mezcal, hibiscus syrup and serrano.

Indochine Asian Dining Lounge

▪ 1924 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, www.indochinedowntown.com

▪ Tuesday-Sunday 4-9 p.m., Tuesday & Thursday lunch noon to 2 p.m.

▪ Need to know: full-service restaurant and bar with sidewalk seating, reservations recommended for large groups; most dishes $14-$28

▪ Distance to the Dome: steps to Link — Union Station + 2 stops to Dome (approximately 15 minutes), 0.9-mile/20-minute walk

This expansive restaurant near the Museum District and University of Washington-Tacoma offers a dramatic setting for a group dinner. Beyond starters of spring rolls and coconut prawns, entree portions are so generous — and occasionally unexpected — that you’ll want to share. Pile into a plate of drunken beef noodles and the rarely seen black Thai rice curry. Flavors focus on Thai but take influence from across Southeast Asia, including Indian and Chinese dishes, as in the tikka masala curry and crispy orange chicken, made so by mandarins.

BEST IF YOU’RE ALWAYS EATING PIZZA

E9 Brewing Co. & Taproom

▪ 2506 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253-383-7707, e9brewingco.com

▪ Wednesday-Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3-10 p.m., Saturday noon to 10 p.m., Sunday noon to 9 p.m.

▪ Need to know: order at the bar, indoor and covered/heated patio; beer around $7, most pies $18-$20

▪ Distance to the Dome: 0.8-mile/18-minute walk, 3-minute rideshare

Always a good idea, E9’s flagship taproom pours more than a dozen house beers that pair perfectly with their wild-yeast pizzas, baked in about 90 seconds in an outdoor wood-fired oven. Mix and match no-cook red sauce pies — we love The Spicy Calabrian, with chili-infused ricotta sausage nubs and fresh mozz — with a white, perhaps the Heidelberg with mushrooms and walnut pesto or the Upper White Trash sprinkled with bacon, caramelized onions and crushed corn nuts, served with ranch. Weekly specials include an appetizer, from salads to meatballs.

Sig Brewing Co.

▪ 2534 Tacoma Ave. S, Tacoma, 253-503-6446, sigbrewingco.com

▪ Tuesday-Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday noon to 10 p.m., Sunday noon to 7 p.m.

▪ Need to know: full-service but casual brewpub, bar and table seating plus seasonal side patio; most plates $10-$17, 13-inch pizzas $18-$24

▪ Distance to the Dome: 0.9-mile/20-minute walk, 3-minute rideshare

In the cool cement environs of Sig Brewing, swig some of the region’s finest pints by brewer Jeff Stokes, from quintessential West Coast IPAs and dry stouts to spelt-imbued lagers and their specialty “slushies.” Also on tap: a trio of wines from Proletariat in Idaho. Then get pizza! The kitchen creates some fun-loving brick-oven pies topped charitably with the likes of cupping pepperoni (Spekemat), wild mushrooms and chevre (Man I Love Funghi) and potatoes, corn, sausage and Old Bay (The Sig Easy). Other shareables also hit the spot, especially the rotating deviled eggs, textural seasonal salads and chili-crunch gnocchi.

Camp Colvos Brewing Co.

2104 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253-314-5704, campcolvos.com

Monday-Thursday noon 9 p.m., Friday-Saturday noon to 11 p.m., Sunday noon to 8 p.m.

▪ Need to know: counter service, indoor and heated outdoor seating; slices around $5, pies $26-$33, subs $13-$18

▪ Distance to the Dome: 1 block to Link — Union Station + 2 stops to Dome (approximately 15 minutes), or 0.8-mile/20-minute walk

The Tacoma outpost of this Vashon Island brewery doubles as a New York-style pizzeria. If you’re short on time, grab a cheese, meat or veggie slice, but if your group can reach consensus, you’ll save by ordering a whole 18-inch pie or two. Keep it classic with pepperoni or sew discord with the Happy Camper, Colvos’ take on a Hawaiian with cured ham. The subs — on homemade loaves — are sleeper hits, too, especially the meatball and Italian with mortadella, sopressata and two kinds of salami. Don’t forget a pint!

APIZZA Little Italy

▪ 821 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-367-4992,

▪ Wednesday-Thursday 4-9 p.m., Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday 12-10 p.m., Sunday 12-8 p.m.

▪ Need to know: counter service from open kitchen, seat-yourself tables and sidewalk patio; slices $5-$7.50, 12-inch pies $16-$19 ($28-$35 for 16-inch)

▪ Distance to the Dome: 3 blocks to Link — Old City Hall station + 5 stops to Dome (approximately 20 minutes); steps to #42 bus stop + 14-minute ride

Yes, a pizza place not exactly within walking distance of the Dome — but APIZZA is that good. Survey the sizable slices of triple-cheese, pepperoni and daily specials through the window, then step into an old-world Italian haven with soaring ceilings and vintage oak tables in the heart of downtown Tacoma. Two can share a 12-inch pie, though, the crust crisp and cracker-thin with a delightful, Neapolitan chew. Get a pair for four to six people or consider a 16-inch. Ready your palate with a pint of local beer, a carafe of vino or perhaps an aperitivo. We recommend starting with a medium Caesar or Fresca salad, tossed with crunchy olive-oil croutons.

BEST IF YOU’RE JUST WANTING A GOOD BURGER

Canteen by Camp Colvos at 7 Seas

▪ 2101 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, campcolvos.com

▪ Daily 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

▪ Need to know: counter service inside brewery taproom, ample indoor seating and standing room; burgers and salads $13-$15

▪ Distance to the Dome: 1-mile/22-minute walk, 3-minute rideshare

The burger-maestros-in-residence at 7 Seas’ Tacoma taproom grill some pretty awesome smashburgers, available as a single, double or even triple. On a brioche bun, patties with lacy edges are layered with LTO, pickles and special sauce, paired with a bag of Tim’s chips. A trio of salads are big enough to split, and the seafood roll — priced reasonably at $15 — combines lobster with white fish, garlic aioli and cayenne.

Dusty’s Hideaway

▪ 723 E. 34th St., Tacoma, 253-292-0106, dustyshideaway.com

▪ Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight

▪ Need to know: full-service restaurant and bar with indoor seating plus ample outdoor tables; most dishes $7-$17

▪ Distance to the Dome: 0.6-mile/10-minute walk

Soak in Dusty’s desert-meets-Craftsman charm with one of six house burgers like The Murf, a double patty with grilled onions, mushrooms, white cheddar and horseradish mayo. Favorites also include the flagship with bacon and a fried egg and The Moody, a spicy peanut butter and chipotle-blackberry jam situation. Sandwiches, especially the Hot Honey Chicken and Sam Elliott also win the handheld game. Indulge in a boozy painkiller in the carefree dining room or, when the weather cooperates, one of many tables in the front, back and side yards.

BEST IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR TACOMA VIBES (& A BAR)

The Valley

▪ 1206 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma, thevalleytacoma.com

▪ Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-midnight, Saturday 9 a.m.-midnight, Sunday 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

▪ Need to know: order at the bar, indoor seating and spacious semi-covered/heated back patio; sandwiches/burgers $10-$13

▪ Distance to the Dome: 0.9-mile/20-minute walk, 2-minute rideshare

Little feels as Tacoma as The Valley, a pub on an otherwise industrial street near the train station with a stage for live music and a menu of Peterson Brothers’ hoagies. Upgrade the default chips to a cup of homemade soup or a refreshing side salad. Also between buns, the Dome District burgers are some of the best thin, double-patties in the city. Solo fans can belly up to the bar, while big groups can take up space on the semi-covered, fully fenced back patio that will help you forget you’re on Puyallup Avenue — almost.

Top of Tacoma

▪ 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, thetopoftacoma.com

▪ Daily 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

▪ Need to know: full-service restaurant and bar with indoor seating plus covered sidewalk patio; most dishes $10-$15

▪ Distance to the Dome: 0.7-mile/15-minute walk

The best part of a pre-show visit to The Top: happy hour runs 2-6 p.m., with select $6 beers and well drinks, plus $2 off any of seven taco pairs, including prawns and the veg option, loaded nachos on a sheet tray and quesadillas. On the full menu, you can’t go wrong with house sandwiches like the 253 Turkey to dip in a ramekin of creamy pesto and the Rainier Reuben with Oly Kraut and plenty of Russian dressing. Daily specials bring fried chicken to the fore on Wednesdays and half-price tacos on Thursdays.

Parky’s Pizza Bar

▪ 3551 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, parkyspizzabar.com

▪ Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-midnight, Friday-Saturday 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-midnight

▪ Need to know: throwback bar with indoor seating, pool tables and spacious back patio; salads and paninis $7-$10, pies and calzones $11-$14

▪ Distance to the Dome: 0.7-mile/15-minute walk

This rehabbed dive retains its old charm and foothold in the McKinley neighborhood, serving stiff drinks, local beer and an affordable menu of awesome pizza, any of which can be made into a calzone with the 5-day cold-ferment dough. They’re Neapolitan inspired but really ideal bar pies that a ravenous diner could probably polish off alone. Add some roughage, friends and maybe a round at one of two pool tables for the perfect pre-game.

This story was originally published October 18, 2023 at 5:30 AM.