Just in case you haven’t seen it already, click here to check out PART ONE of the series.
Kamonegi (in the artsy Freemont neighborhood of Seattle, north of downtown)
When you think of Japanese cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind is probably sushi, immediately followed by ramen. Kamonegi goes its own way and features the flavors and dishes of traditional Japanese home cooking. The big feature here is hand made fresh soba noodles (buckwheat noodles, low in gluten when compared to commercially made dried noodle options) which are worth the trip on their own but what we’ve really come to appreciate are the various side dishes. Instead of ordering frozen ingredients the cook prefers to make her own fermented foods onsite, from natto (fermented soybeans), fermented vegetables to the classic umeboshi (Japanese pickled plums).
The menu at Kamonegi is constantly changing and features seasonal seafood, herbs, and vegetables (many of which come from their own garden). While the preparation is traditional you’ll often see creative variations of old classics and unexpected ingredients that serve to highlight that home cooked comfort food experience.
The chef is a certified “sake sommelier” and the restaurant features a wide array of delicious sakes running the gamut from sweet to dry that you won’t find anywhere else. If Brad ends up being your server you’ll find he’ll happily discuss sake with you as much as you like. Overall the experience dining here in this cozy space with friendly staff and great food is one not to be missed.
Cafe Flora (Madison Valley neighborhood of Seattle)
Cafe Flora is a casual restaurant that attracts an eclectic range of guests from all walks of life. With indoor plants in the sunroom it feels like eating in a garden cafe (even on a typical rainy day in Seattle). Every time I go I’m impressed by the creativity in the menu, friendly service and how allergy-aware it is. A great place for vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options.
This is a vegetarian restaurant for those who don’t consider themselves vegetarian. You will leave feeling full and satisfied. The cocktails are creative and strong! My husband’s burger-obsessed son was telling us how much he loved his burger. We all agreed the vegetarian flavors were amazing when he says “Wait, they don’t serve meat here?!” Yes, Micah, you’re eating a black bean burger. Teen omnivore approved.
As an aside, they also operate a restaurant in SeaTac called Floret. When my husband was travelling frequently for work it was his favorite place to stop and have a healthy meal before heading off to catch his flight.
Eating out is usually synonymous with unhealthy eating – it’s not always easy combining social life with nutritious food. But I think they are meant to go together! Seattle is a foodie city and if you look you can find places serving high quality, health conscious food. I hope this gives you a few options to make that happen on your next trip to Seattle.
In health,
Dr. Carin