15 new restaurants, bars around Tacoma bring arepas, dan-dan, shawarma, more
An experienced chef introduces a “French-ish” deli that fills a void in Tacoma, Puyallup gains another choice for pho and a University Place Mediterranean restaurant has new owners.
Despite a spate of closures in the first half of 2025, a few in seemingly desirable locations, new restaurants continue to take the chance in Tacoma and the South Sound this summer — including an always needed Szechuan spot in Federal Way. In other big news: Seattle’s Lil Woody’s anticipates opening in the Stadium District by next year.
In our last edition, we highlighted a Filipino restaurant in McKinley, a new food pod in Puyallup, expansions of Lincoln District favorites, a breezy daytime cafe in the downtown core and a takeout-only Caribbean concept from two mobile food businesses.
Here’s a look at recently opened restaurants and bars in and around Tacoma.
OBK WINERY
▪ 2307 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, obkwinery.com
On Blended Knee Winery, whose co-owner La’Rissa Dwyer was proudly raised in Tacoma, joins a growing roster of wineries that have opened tasting rooms in our little nook of Puget Sound. Dwyer envisioned a bar-like atmosphere, and the modern space — which has been in the works for more than a year — delivers. It quietly soft-opened in early July in anticipation of a grand opening in the coming weeks. Enjoy flights of house reds and whites, glass pours and bottles for here or for home. Local beer and NA options are also available. Open Wednesday-Sunday 1-8 p.m.
NOT BAD
▪ 1102 A St. (Court House Square), Tacoma, 253-327-1905, notbadtacoma.com
Chef Dave Cooper has brought his spin on a self-described “French-ish deli” to downtown Tacoma. Not Bad — cheeky name, presumably — replaces Outpost Sandwiches, which closed after an eight-year run that garnered many fans. The refreshed space has been brightened up, while the menu honors Cooper’s experience at prestigious Seattle French destination Le Pichet. Think baguette with fancy ham, comté and cornichons; Tunisian-inspired lox with preserved lemon, pickled peppers, harissa crunch and a jammy egg; tabbouleh and marinated beets with Dijon. There’s also house charcuterie and hopefully beer and wine on the way. Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
BEIRUT BITES
▪ 3555 Market Place W., University Place, 253-267-5550, beirutbitesnw.com
This new Lebanese restaurant took over what was Mediterranean Gyro Grill in UP, which still has an outpost in Federal Way. At Beirut Bites, start with favorites like hummus, mutabal batenjen (roasted eggplant with tahini), grape leaves, falafel and kibi — little fried delights of ground beef, bulgur wheat, nuts and spices. Meats including beef, lamb, kafta and tawook (chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon and garlic) are grilled with beef tallow and ghee. Wraps of chicken or beef shawarma, a Lebanese burger and fried veggie sandwich feature fresh Lebanese bread or Saj, an unleavened flatbread. Refresh with Lebanese coffee or fresh mint lemonade. Open daily at 11 a.m.
WELCOME RESTAURANT
▪ 5105 N. Pearl St., Ruston, 253-375-4049, instagram.com/welcomerestaurants
The “sabor sin fronteras” theme permeates this warm addition to Ruston and North Tacoma, from the hot and crunchy empanadas to the homemade arepas, well-coiffed burgers and platters of chicharron verde. Co-owner Paty Pinedo spent 18 months building out the space, while her husband and a good friend honed the recipes for a distinctly American, by way of Colombia and Mexico, experience. Check the full bar for fresh juices and cocktails, including mojitos and margaritas. Open daily at 11 a.m.
NARROWS BREWING
▪ 2620 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, narrowsbrewing.com
Narrows Brewing has expanded to a second location with its new Proctor taproom. The airy space offers flexible seating, and folks were already hanging with friends and working on their computers in the first week. The bar pours house brews, Washington wine, cider and NA drinks, while a modest kitchen serves customizable charcuterie boards. The owners have arranged for food trucks to routinely park right outside, too. Open daily at noon.
JOHNNY’S DOCK
▪ 1900 E. D St., Tacoma, 206-452-6695, johnnysdocks.com
The restaurant along Thea Foss, accessible only from D Street, reopened in June under new ownership. Johnny’s Dock new menu blends seafood and standard bar and grill fare with Indian dishes, including biryani, tandoori chicken and samosas. Catch views of downtown and Mount Rainier from the big windows, whether seated in the bi-level main dining room, the lounge or the deck. Open daily 11 am.-10 p.m. (bar only 3-4 p.m.).
I HEART MAC & CHEESE - RUSTON
▪ 5109 Grand Loop, 253-800-0022, iheartmacandcheese.com/locations/tacoma-wa
This locally owned franchise of a mac-and-cheese concept opened just in the time for the Fourth of July at Point Ruston. It’s fast-casual, so order at the counter and find a seat at one of the few tables or head toward the water with takeout. Bowls of mac can be topped with various proteins and veggies, or try the cheesy pasta on a short-rib sandwich. There’s also grilled cheese, a few flatbreads and sides of tomato soup. Open daily 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
THAI LIME LEAF (WOK ON FIRE ASIAN BBQ)
▪ 5500 Olympic Dr. (Olympic Village), Gig Harbor,
This space at the Olympic Village shopping plaza in Gig Harbor was home to a Mongolian grill for a decade. It closed in February, and new owners introduced a Thai concept in June. The same sign for Wok on Fire Asian BBQ remains, but Joy Allen anticipates changing it to Thai Lime Leaf — the name of her first restaurant in Everett. House specialties include ginger fried rice, salmon curry or crispy trout with lime leaf, and a Thai-style yakisoba. The menu otherwise runs through the usual apps (spring rolls, rangoon, fish cakes), soups from tom yum to tom kha, cold favorites like papaya salad and larb, noodles, curries and more. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday noon-8 p.m.
LOCUST CIDER
▪ 3207 57th St. Ct., Gig Harbor, 253-313-0310,
Locust Cider has had a rough go of it since last year when the Washington-based cidery shrunk as several taprooms closed. The small production facility and taproom across the Narrows continues, and this summer worked to further adjust the experience. After owners Jason and Rebecca Spears moved the bulk of their production to Ellensburg, they used the newfound space in Gig Harbor for pinball machines and a modest kitchen serving pan-style pizza, hot dogs and sausages. They anticipate live music, mini-golf and other activities. Open Wednesday-Thursday at 3 p.m. and Friday-Sunday at noon.
FAMILY PHO
▪ 5015 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma, 253-267-3222, ubereats.com/store/family-pho-5015-tacoma-mall-blvd
LeLe East West has closed near Tacoma Mall. In the same plaza as the new El Antojo and just south of Peanut Sauce Thai, Family Pho serves a combination of Vietnamese and Thai fare. There’s pho of course, including a kiddie bowl for $8.95, plus banh xeo, fried rice and vermicelli plates. About half the menu leans Thai, from pad see ew and pad Thai to stir-fried noodles with eggplant and a few curries. Open Monday-Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.
3 AMIGOS
▪ 4215 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253-268-0613, facebook.com
This new Mexican restaurant is not to be confused with its predecessor at this address, Los Amigos, which has closed. (That family still operates the great Tony’s Tacos from a bus parked behind the Chevron on Canyon Road and 176th Street in Frederickson.) 3 Amigos opened this spring with a full menu of caldo, including birria and menudo; burritos, enchiladas, platters of carnitas and steak ranchero. Meats include pollo, carnitas, pastor, birria, camaron, lengua and tripe. Tacos go for $3.25 or $11.75 with rice and beans, and party plates feed a crowd. There’s also birria pizza, tamales and a “side” chile relleno. Open daily at 9 a.m.
PHO KT
▪ 17014 Meridian E., Puyallup, 253-845-9797
This new Vietnamese restaurant across from the Pierce County Airport opened in June, expanding the options for pho and more in Puyallup. Bowls of the featured noodle soup are available in two sizes and 13 varieties, including a chicken option and “no meat.” Rice plates, vermicelli bowls, wonton soup and bò kho, a beef stew fragrant with lemongrass and ginger. A few teriyaki plates, fried rice and chow mein round out the menu, along with fruit smoothies (strawberry, avocado or jackfruit), coffee and 12 flavors of bubble tea. Prices top out at $15.75, but most mains hover around $12-$13. Open every day but Tuesday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
HALGATTEOK KOREAN RICE CAKE
▪ 2148 S. 314th St., Federal Way, 206-429-3435, instagram.com/halgatteok.federalway
This Korean franchise specializes in garae-tteok, a “jumbo” version of the chewy rice cakes usually enrobed in a gochujang-laced sauce. You pick your tteook ($13-$15), accompanied by an egg and fish cake, and then top away at the toppings bar — veggies, ramen noodles, seafood and more. If you want it cheesy, the kitchen adds “melting cheese” for you. Styles include the classic grandma, jjajang in a black bean sauce, the creamy rose and the spicy-to-the-point-of-numbing mara. Sides range from sweet potato tempura and crispy rice balls to mayak gimbap (mini kimbap) and fried dumplings. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
BAG O’ CRAB - FEDERAL WAY
▪ 31511 Pacific Highway S., Federal Way, 206-737-1888, bagocrabfederalway.com
Seafood in a bag might not be everyone’s thing, but judging by the influx of restaurants catering to the trend, it definitely has a fan base. This 15-year-old franchise also has a location in Kent; another Puget Sound location landed in Federal Way this spring. A medley of crustaceans — lobster, crab a-plenty, mussels, clams and crawfish — gets doused in your choice of seasoning, like the signature cajun, lemon-pepper or garlic butter. Choose a spice level up to “dynamite” and “on fire XX,” and add bites of corn on the cob, hard-boiled eggs, potatoes and sausage. There’s also fried seafood, a grilled fish and a Maine-style (the cold and mayo covered kind) lobster roll. Open daily at 9 a.m.
SZECHUAN IMPRESSION
▪ 2327 SW 336th St., Federal Way, 253-838-2329, szechuanimpressionwa.com
If the others didn’t do it for you, let this new restaurant be the reminder we all need: Northeast Tacoma is part of Tacoma, and Federal Way borders Tacoma. It’s close enough! Szechuan Impression has all the goods, from dan-dan to mapo tofu to dumplings. Proteins include beef, short rib, lamb, chicken, pork, shrimp and fish. The menu isn’t exclusively Szechuan, with ample Cantonese and Chinese American favorites like General Tso’s, Mongolian beef, sesame chicken and honey walnut shrimp. Most dishes run in the $12-$20 range. Dine-in and takeout available. Open every day but Tuesday at 11 a.m.
This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM.