This list has been a long time coming. It is nearly impossible to pick my favorite restaurant in Spokane (which I am asked daily), but I do have favorites in each category. I put together this post so y’all can easily locate my list by the type of food you desire.
When making this list, I constantly found myself thinking, “I have someone special coming into town, where am I going to take them for_______________.” The list below is what I came up with. I try to update my “favorites” list every year as more and more local spots pop up around town, menus change, ownership/chefs change etc., so here it is for 2017!
When you want breakfast in town: Yards Bruncheon (1248 W Summit Pkwy. Spokane, WA // 509.290.5952)
When you want an outdoor patio breakfast: Chaps Coffee Co (4237 Cheney Spokane Rd 99224 // 509.624.4182)
When you want Breakfast for Lunch: Bruncheonette– Couple of Chefs Catering & Food Truck (1011 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA // 509.443.5968)
When you want a traditional Breakfast: Franks Diner (North Spokane. 10929 North Newport Highway // 509.465.2464)
When you have a Business Lunch Meeting: Ruins (825 N Monroe St, Spokane, WA // 509.443.5606)
When you want Fresh Baked Bread: Central Food (1335 W Summit Pkwy Spokane, WA // 509.315.8039)
When you want a cheap Lunch: Aloha Island Grill (1724 N Monroe Street // 509.327.4270)
When you want a Salad: Mizuna Restaurant & Wine Bar (214 N Howard St, Spokane, WA // 509.747.2004)
When you want Pizza: Flying Goat (3318 W Northwest Blvd, Spokane, WA // 509.327.8277)
When you want to meet up for lunch with your girlfriends: Luna (5620 S Perry St, Spokane, WA // 509.448.2383)
When you want some bomb Ceviche: Zona Blanca (154 S Madison St, Spokane, WA // 509.443.5427)
When it is Restaurant Week: The Wandering Table (1242 W. Summit Pkwy. Kendall Yards. Spokane // 509.443.4410)
When you’re a Gonzaga student and your parents are in town: Clover (913 E Sharp Ave, Spokane, WA // 509.487.2937)
When you want to escape Spokane to Liberty Lake: Hay J’s Bistro (21706 E Mission Ave, Liberty Lake, WA // 509.926.2310)
When you are in the mood for a pub: Prohibition Gastropub ( 1914 N. Monroe St. Spokane // 509.474.9040)
When you are eating in Post Falls: Fleur De Sel (4365 Inverness Dr, Post Falls, ID / 208.777.7600)
When you want a unique Dining Experience: Inland Pacific Kitchen (310 W Pacific Ave, Spokane, WA 99201)
When you want to eat and drink on the Patio: Perry Street Brew (1025 S Perry St #2, Spokane, WA // 509.279.2820)
When you are looking for an outdoor Summer hangout: The Grand Terrace Bar (333 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA // 509.598.4200)
When it is Happy Hour: Great HH specials and they celebrate all day long on Wednesdays! Downriver Grill (3315 W Northwest Blvd Spokane, WA// 509.323.1600)
When you want a really good Sandwich: Domini (703 W Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA // 509.747.2324) /Brooklyn Deli (1001 W 1st Ave, Spokane, WA 99201 // 509.835.4177)
When you are craving Chicken Wings: Flaming Joes (7015 N Division St, Spokane, WA 99208 // 509.465.5052)
When you want some Fried Chicken/BBQ: Ezell’s Famous Chicken (4919 S Regal St, Spokane, WA // 509.448.4881)
When you are wanting something Healthy: Method (718 W Riverside Ave #101, Spokane, WA // 509.473.9579) & Wellness Tree Health Center & Juice Bar (1025 South Perry St. Spokane, WA //509.598.8558)
When you only want Appetizers/ Tapas: Table 13 (333 W Spokane Falls Blvd, Spokane, WA 99201 // 509.598.4300)
When you want food from a Truck: 3 Ninjas / Couple of Chefs
When you are Gluten Free: Cole’s Fine Foods (521 E. Holland, Suite 20 Spokane, WA / 509.413.1739)
When you want a great Burger: Durkins Liquor Bar (415 W Main Ave, Spokane, WA // 509.863.9501)/ Downriver Grill (3315 W Northwest Blvd // 509.323.1600) / Wisconsin Burger (916 S Hatch St, Spokane, WA // 509.241.3083)
When you are vegan: Boots Bakery & Lounge (24 W. Main Ave. Spokane, WA // 509.703.7223)
When it is late at night but you are hungry: Gerrardo’s Mexican Food (2706 N Monroe St, Spokane, WA // 509.340.9905) Azar’s Greek Restaurant (2501 N Monroe St, Spokane, WA // 509.326.7171) Zips (1320 N Division St, Spokane, WA // 509.328.0380)
When you are craving Mac & Cheese: Manito Tap House (3011 S Grand Blvd Spokane, WA // 509.279.2671) / Casper Fry (928 S Perry St, Spokane, WA // 509.535.0536)
When you want a really special dessert: The Scoop (1001 W 25th Ave // 509.535.7171)
When you want Ice Cream: Brain Freeze Creamery (1238 W Summit Pkwy // 509.321.7569)
When you want Donuts: Casual Friday Donuts (3402 N Division St, Spokane, WA // 509.328.1764)
When you want a Milk Shake: Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle (802 W Garland Ave Spokane, WA // 509.325.1772)
When you want Cheesecake: Spokane Cheesecakes (1420 E Sprague Ave #104B, Spokane, WA // 509.570.0658)
When it is National Pie Day: Rockwood Bakery (315 E 18th Ave, Spokane, WA // 509.747.8691)
When you need Cupcakes for a birthday: Sweet Frostings (15 S Washington St, Spokane, WA // 509.242.3845)
When you are craving Thai Food: Phonthip Style Thai Restaurant (1006 E Francis Ave, Spokane, WA / 509.487-3559)
When you want Chinese Food: Gordy’s Sichuan (501 E 30th Ave, Spokane, WA // 509.747.1170) / Peking North (4120 N Division St, Spokane, WA // 509.484.4321)
When you are in the mood for Pasta/Italian/Gelato: Ferrante’s Marketplace Cafe (4516 South Regal Street Spokane, WA // 509.443.6304)
When you want to eat with your hands: Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Cuisine (The Flour Mill, 621 W Mallon Ave #426, Spokane, WA // 509.328.3958)
When you want authentic Mexican food: La Michoacana (9907 E Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA / 509.926.8251)
When you want to go to a low-key hidden gem: Ephata Cafe (1908 W Northwest Blvd // 509.328.8888)
When you want Sushi: Yuzen (5204 N Division St Spokane, WA // 509.242.3534)- renamed to Aji BBQ & Sushi) / QQ Sushi & Kitchen (1902 W Francis Ave, Spokane, WA // 509.279.2721)
If you are feeling overwhelmed by this list, check out my instagram page @spokaneeats for a quick display of images. If this is just the list you were looking for, then great! If you are visiting, then I hope you have a wonderful trip and you fall in love with Spokane, as I have. If you are a local, then you know how great our city is and let’s keep it kind of a secret.
DISCLAIMER: This is my list. I’m sure I missed some of your favorites, but these are mine. I have been running this food blog for years now and I have tried a vast majority of the restaurants in Spokane. I’d love to hear your favorite places in the comments below.
Keep eating, Spokane.
And don’t forget to tell them we sent you!
XOXO
Hi! I'm Chandler, owner of Spokane Eats, and I think life is too short for the mediocre. Our team is here to help you discover why we fell (and continue to fall) in love with Spokane Washington!
Good call including 3 Ninjas!! We love their food and the guys behind the great food!
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Hey, you should check out Bardic Brewing & Cider, its fantastic beer, cider, and food. They have pizza, charcuterie, hand pies, and soup. Plus its pretty nerdy which is a huge plus for me!
OK what if you’re only in Spokane for the night ( with a 2 year old toddler in tow) and want to be able to walk to restaurants from your hotel…that are kid friendly? Where to stay to get the most diverse eating?? Husband is a chef!
I assume you are staying downtown… If so, Sante is a great option! Also, Durkins is fun with a great atmosphere. I know they are kid friendly during the day. Both are right in the middle of downtown. If you want breakfast, check our Madeleine’s Good luck and enjoy your visit!
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Older folks staying one night at the historic Davenport on s.post st. Good lunch spot easy walk…
Hi Joy! Domini Sandwiches is right down the street. Simple menu but fantastic meat and bread quality. There’s also Brooklyn Deli where you can get sandwiches, soup, salad, etc. Method Juice Cafe if you are looking for something healthy and simple. Enjoy your stay!
Sushi in the valley?
Toro Sushi!
Many of these are also our favorites. We also LOVE the food at The Backyard Public House. Their soft pretzels are out of this world!
Backyard Public House is delicious! I really like their burger also 🙂
Ill throw this up because i havent seen anyone mention it. Have you tried taste of thai? I love that place the food tastes outstanding. The building is a bit old and run down looking in a strip mall and I feel like that dissuades some people but its run by the most wonderful thai family and holy macaroni can they cook. Oh goodness lol I think I might go there today.
Do you have a recommendation for where to take a party of 15 for a graduation dinner? I’d prefer somewhere with a separate party room/area. We live in N. Spokane.
Hi Aimee,
A couple great options for group dinners in north Spokane are 1898 Public House and Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar! Congrats to the graduate 🙂
What are your (out to dinner with out of town friends) ideas?
Steam Plant Restaurant, Wild Sage, Mizuna, Sante, Casper Fry, Veraci Pizza, Downriver Grill are some of my dinner favorites!
I found the great options of dining with my family through this blog. I really like it. Thanks for the lovely post,
Thai Kitchen in Spokane Valley is easily the best Thai food in Spokane, if not Washington. Everything is made fresh and cooked to order. It is owned by an elderly Thai couple and he serves while she cooks. They’re only opened for lunch but it’s worth the effort to make it there, you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks for sharing!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on D’bali asian bistro in Airway Heights. It’s one of our favorites in A/H, if not all of Spokane area. You should definitely give a shot if you haven’t already.