Food and dining becoming prime attractions at Tacoma, Tukwila malls
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- Westfield Southcenter adds at least seven dining vendors slated for 2026.
- Southcenter added Northside Restaurant Row iin 2024; Haidilao set to open next year.
- Tacoma Mall and Southcenter have pivoted to food and experiences to boost foot traffic.
As the Tacoma Mall has been busy updating and bringing in new restaurants set to open next year, another mall to the north also has plans for the new year.
Westfield Southcenter in Tukwila this month announced it would be “expanding its points of attraction and deepening its connection with the greater Seattle and Tukwila communities through exciting new additions slated for 2026.”
“Westfield Southcenter continues to evolve as a place where the community can come together to shop, dine, and enjoy new experiences,” said Navdeep Singh, general manager at Westfield Southcenter, in a statement. “With each enhancement, from unique restaurants to engaging entertainment options, we’re creating more reasons for people across the Seattle South Side to explore, connect, and celebrate the energy of our region.”
Over the past 18 months, Southcenter has expanded its dining space, introducing its Northside Restaurant Row in late 2024. That portion features Mr. Dim Sum, Marugame Udon and Gen Korean BBQ House alongside recent additions such as Capital One Café, Läderach, and Lviv Croissants.
According to the mall’s December announcement, “at least seven” new dining vendors are set to be added next year:
- Eggslut: Breakfast and casual dining with sandwiches and more spun from the original viral concept in Los Angeles.
- Sizzle and Crunch: Seattle-based Vietnamese grill known for its fresh, made-to-order banh mi and rice bowls.
- Molly Tea: Rapidly growing Chinese bubble tea brand.
- Kajiken: Japanese restaurant chain specializing in Nagoya-style noodles.
- Heavenly Desserts: Globally-inspired sweets.
- 777 Hawaiian: Modern Hawaiian eatery.
- The center’s Northside Restaurant Row also is adding Haidilao Huoguo, a popular Sichuanese hot-pot restaurant chain, next year.
On the entertainment front, the mall “has been actively expanding its experiential retail category,” it stated.
In 2025, The Escape Game, Great Big Game Show, Tutugether (craft store), and The Slime Factory joined Southcenter’s roster in 2025.
“As the center continues to evolve, so does the surrounding neighborhood,” the mall stated. “With 285 new apartments added through the opening of Prose Southcenter off Baker Boulevard, the local community continues to expand.”
Westfield Southcenter and the Tacoma Mall have become two examples of retail centers that have become destination points for new restaurants to enter the market. And for the malls, the pivot has helped attract customers beyond retail.
At Tacoma Mall, new or coming-soon dining sites to its new Village development include Shake Shack, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Simply Thai, Gong Cha bubble tea, Supreme Dumpling and Happy Lamb Hot Pot.
In the main mall building, Taco Street celebrated its grand opening Dec. 2.
The News Tribune’s Kristine Sherred contributed to this report.
