Venezuelan hot dogs, late-night wings, dumplings at 12 new Tacoma restaurants
It’s been a busy spring in Tacoma, from the Wooden City move to the return of Gather Juice Co.
Tacoma Mall continues its culinary transformation with the debut of Happy Lamb Hot Pot. Balloon Roof has welcomed us into its beautiful brick-and-mortar bakery, and Katsu Burger has landed on Sixth Ave.
Our last edition of new restaurants around Tacoma highlighted revamps of old dive bars and teriyaki restaurants, Thai food and another entry to the city’s growing wine scene.
Here’s a look at recently opened restaurants in and around Tacoma.
Hungry AF Express
- 6332 Park Ave. S., Tacoma, instagram.com/hungryafexpresstacoma
This orange food truck has set up shop at the corner of South Park Avenue and 64th Street with a munchie-fueled menu and late-night hours. Wings ($11.50 for six with fries, up to $31.49 for 20) feature flavors like The Key Classic (Southern-style extra crispy), Honey Hawk (honey-sweetened lemon pepper), Downtown Freddie (a hot version of lemon pepper) and Rainier Blaze (super hot!). Fried shrimp also benefit from a honey-garlic sauce. The truck serves funky lemonades with customizable flavors served “fair-style” in a 32-ounce cup. Open Wednesday-Saturday at 7 p.m. ‘til late (1 a.m. on weekend nights) and Sunday at 5 p.m.
Bocao Latin Street Food
- Outside Untouchables Barbershop, 2910 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-352-3884, bocaotacoma.com
This pop-up restaurant has been setting up outside Untouchables Barbershop for the past few months. Miguel Mendoza serves Venezuelan street-food favorites of done-up hot dogs ($7-9) like the Clásico with slaw, onions, crispy potato sticks, cheddar cheese and queso de año (a salty Venezuelan cheese) and the Especial, which adds corn and bacon. The cachapa folds hot cheese and cream into a griddled sweet-corn pancake. Look for the tent and a sizzling grill next to the Taco Bell. Go here instead. Open Thursday-Saturday at 5 p.m. ‘til late — midnight on Thursday and 2:30 a.m. weekend nights — and Sunday 2-8 p.m.
Muñeca Honduras Kitchen - Tacoma
- 409 E. 26th St., Tacoma, 253-319-8724, munecaskitchenwa.com
This address near Tacoma Dome has struggled to keep a tenant for the past few years, but the owners of a Honduran restaurant in Burien took the chance earlier this year. The menu here is, at least for now, shorter than the original Muñeca. Specialties include pescado or pollo con tajadas, the protein fried and paired with plantains, cabbage and pico de gallo; pollo asado with salad, avocado and homemade tortillas; and pupusas made from corn or rice with fillings of beans, loroco (an herbaceous flower bud) or pork with cheese. Open daily 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Happy Lamb Hot Pot - Tacoma Mall
- 4502 S. Steele St., Tacoma, 253-393-6865, happylambhotpot.com
Tacoma Mall has stepped up! In the past year or so, Kura Revolving Sushi, Shake Shack and Dave’s Hot Chicken have opened at the new “Village” site. In April, Happy Lamb Hot Pot joined the party, opening to long lines on Day 1. The franchise is known for customizable hot pots for the table in flavors like “golden cabbage” (a sweet ’n’ spicy broth), a classic marrow or one touched by tomato. Order a tray of meats — marbled lamb, Angus beef, pork belly — to dip, and round out your meal with noodles, rice, wontons and snacks from the buffet, including desserts. Lunchtime is reportedly quieter than dinner, but you can easily join the waitlist from your phone and arrive around when a table is estimated to be ready. Open daily noon-9:30 p.m.
Happy Bun (Aloha Taste)
- Tacoma Farmers Market, Broadway from 9th to 11th, instagram.com/aloha.taste.llc
Most Thursdays from April through September, head to the Broadway market in downtown Tacoma for steamed goodness from Happy Bun. Every order should have a BBQ pork bun and a 10-pack of pork and cabbage dumplings. Then mix and match with pork, chicken and beef buns in pretty pastel hues. Sweet red-bean buns are too cute to skip, whether you go little piggy or panda. Don’t forget to fill a little to-go cup with sweet chili and soy sauce, then find a seat in the sun.
Balloon Roof Baking Co.
- 1702 6th Ave., Tacoma, balloonroof.com
Another local food business has skyrocketed from farmers market fame to a brick-and-mortar, and the wait was worth it. Balloon Roof opened in late March in its cool new home near the intersection of 6th and Sprague. Sourdough loaves, laminated pastries of croissants and kouign-amann, elegant focaccias with toppers of kimchi and roasted veggies, cookies, muffins and more are now readily available seven days a week. Pair with an Olympia Coffee drink and a seat in the contemporary setting, transformed from the former It’s Greek To Me fast-casual restaurant. Kids can play at a little mini kitchen near the front, and there’s a parking lot in the back (enter from South Grant Avenue). Open daily 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sliced / The Cat & Rabbitt at Museum of Glass
- 1901 Dock St., Tacoma, slicedsandwiches.com, thecatandrabbitt.com
The cafe space at Museum of Glass has been a revolving door in recent years. The most fitting concept needs to comfortably exceed the needs of museum visitors while being attractive to locals to go out of their way. Chef Kyle Campisi so far seems to have found that formula since the debut of his sandwich shop with deli-inspired sides this spring because these handhelds are worth a detour. Add the awesome multi-layered wonders from The Cat & Rabbitt Cake Shop and, well, see you there! Open Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
El Koreano at LeMay
- Inside America’s Car Museum, 2702 E. D St., Tacoma, elkoreano.com
Another local museum has leveled up its culinary offerings this spring. El Koreano opened in April at LeMay, on the mezzanine level with a view of the main floor and downtown Tacoma. The owners have run a food truck for a few years, while their Act 3 Catering has served the region for four decades. Now you can find their brand of Korean-Mexican fusion — bulgogi torta, fried rice quesadilla, gochujang-caramel ice cream sandwich — five days a week, during museum hours. Espresso drinks feature Caffe d’Arte; look for beer and wine soon. Open Thursday-Monday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wooden City
- 1102 Broadway, Tacoma, woodencitytacoma.com
In a major downtown shakeup, Wooden City has completed its move from Pac Ave to Broadway, next to Steel Creek. Already the new restaurant feels right at home — only now there’s almost three times as much space, which means sneaking into the long bar or even a table feels more realistic. The menu has largely carried over with a few updates, including a steak tartare, a new sauce and presentation for the pork chop, and an on-menu Gibson. Three seating areas offer a bar atmosphere or tables in the main dining room or on the mezzanine, plus space for private parties. Reservations still advisable for table seating; bar reserved for walk-ins. Open daily 4-10 p.m.
Gather Juice Co.
- 2612 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-353-2727, gatherjuice.co
Our cold-pressed juice prayers have been answered again. Gather Juice reopened on Sixth Ave in April with adjusted ownership: Founders Sean and Gretchen Doyel partnered with a longtime regular, Clayton Bray, to bring the shop back to life. Find the same menu of fresh-juice favorites served in bottles, hearty smoothies with no unnecessary add-ins (not even ice!), nutritious toasts and other plant-based snacks. Cleanses continue — pre-order encouraged, but they can often accommodate last-minute requests. Open weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Katsu Burger
- 2805 6th Ave., Tacoma, katsuburger.com
The Seattle-based Katsu Burger, which blends Japanese staples into Americana packages, opened in the former home of The Redd Dog taproom on Sixth Ave. The fast-casual restaurant offers katsu sandwiches made with pork, beef and/or chicken that staff grinds in-house, forms into patties and then deep-fries before layering on a bun with finely shredded cabbage and house sauces. Add nori fries and a black-sesame milkshake. The owners had been looking for the right space in Tacoma for some time; some locations are franchised, and this one is led by longtime operations manager Christopher Poetter. He hopes to add a late-night walkup window as the months progress. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (’til 9:30 p.m. on weekend nights).
Gyro Real Kabob - Parkland
- 11814 Pacific Ave. S., Parkland, 253-537-0766, gyrorealkabob.com
Gyro Real Kabob opened earlier this year in Parkland with a menu of gyros, souvlaki plates, falafel and salads. Saeed Saleh also owns Ikonos Real Greek Souvlaki in Gig Harbor and wanted to fill a void for Mediterranean far on the east/south side of Tacoma. Look west for the low-slung shopping plaza at 119th St., just south of Route 512. Order ahead by phone or online; delivery also available via DoorDash.