10 Bellingham Restaurants to Satisfy Your Craving for Delicious Food

Did you know that Bellingham is considered one of the best places to live in the U.S.?

It isn’t just because of its breathtaking North Puget Sound scenery, diverse neighborhoods, and healthy economy. Bellingham is also home to several restaurants that residents and visitors routinely rave about. Here’s a look at ten Bellingham restaurants that are sure to make your belly happy.

1. Homeskillet

Find this small-but-mighty breakfast and lunch joint in the resident-friendly Sunnyland neighborhood.  Homeskillet has been pleasing palates since 2012. Splashes of aqua blue, lime green, and tangerine orange along with eccentric decor lend to the restaurant’s quirky vibe, but it’s the food that keeps people coming back for more.

The all-day breakfast menu is hearty.  Its selections range from traditional bacon and eggs to a decadent home skillet poutine, which augments this traditional French Canadian dish of fries and gravy with eggs and cheese.

Lunch takes on a lighter tone with an array of salads, vegetarian options, and paninis. The restaurant’s owners just ask that you don’t arrive with a party of more than four people so that everyone can be accommodated.

2. Pizza’zza

It’s probably not a coincidence that the word pizza is found in Pizza’zza‘s name. Since opening two Bellingham neighborhood locations (Alabama Hill and Fairhaven), they’ve been winning pizza fans over with their authentic New York style thin crust creations.

Virtually every ingredient used on their pizzas and sandwiches are organic and locally sourced. Customers can enjoy any number of signature pizzas for meat or veggies lovers or make their own. Custom sauces include basil-hazelnut pesto, buffalo wing, and Kansas City-style bbq.

A certified non-GMO, dairy and gluten free crust is available. This is not always easy to find in Bellingham restaurants.

3. Rock N Rye Oyster House

The always fresh seafood selection at Rock N Rye has been making diners exclaim “Shuck yeah!” since 2014. This dinner-only establishment makes its home in the historic Herald Building. Rock N Rye has the feel of a steakhouse with dark wood, high ceilings, and exposed brick.

A selection of seasonal oysters are always on the menu along with mussels, seared albacore, chinook salmon, and other ocean delights. Beef lovers can partake in the carpaccio, ribeye steak, or juicy burger featuring the restaurant’s secret “magic sauce.”

Happy hour brings a variety of small plates and specialty cocktails.

4. Boomer’s Drive-In

Boomer’s Drive-In is one of those Bellingham restaurants that will transport you back in time. It beckons to a time when diners and car hops dominated American towns. Milkshakes, burgers and fries are a commodity at Boomer’s Drive-In.

This retro-style family restaurant routinely wins awards for making the best burgers in Bellingham. Boomer’s also features some out of the ordinary items like waffle fries and hot dogs.  Shakes made with real ice cream, and onion rings are among their customer favorites.

Boomer’s is one of the few restaurants left in the U.S. that offers car hop service. Just turn on your lights and a server will bring your order to your window.

5. The Temple Bar

The Temple Bar puts an emphasis on the bar in its name with a wide selection of artfully mixed libations. What it does offer for food is extremely well done with a vegetarian flair. The roasted cauliflower wedge topped with herbed tahini will have you thinking of the vegetable in a whole new way. The Indian chickpea salad satisfies with a lime-yogurt dressing.

Meat lovers can partake in brisket sliders or the spiced lamb meatballs. The restaurant’s European bistro style interior and dimly lit atmosphere make it ideal for a first date or cozy spot to unwind after a long day.

6. Keenan’s at the Pier

If you’re looking for a Bellingham restaurant with a scenic water view, look no further than Keenan’s at the Pier. The restaurant overlooks the Northern reach of the Puget Sound, and stays true to it’s location.

Keenan’s serves some of the best, fresh bounty the Northwest has to offer That includes Dungeness crab cakes, a New England style seafood chowder, and cioppino. Cioppino is an Italian dish comprised of rock shrimp, scallops, clams, and other goodies.

For those more into the turf than the surf, Keenan’s offers local lamb chops, Misty Isle filet mignon,  and a signature styled burger.

A bar and terrace menu offers up small bites to enjoy while catching a Pacific breeze. Keenan’s is also open for breakfast and offers a Sunday brunch.

7. Brandywine Kitchen

Don’t let its location in the city’s austere business district fool you. Brandywine Kitchen calls itself a “seed to plate” restaurant. Besides growing their own heirloom tomatoes for several dishes, the owners also work closely with several local vendors to provide ingredients that are completely locally sourced.

As a result, there’s a little bit of everything to please all palates such as the apple-jalapeno chicken sandwich, the Bahn Mi (which is also available as a salad), mac and cheese with a roasted leeks twist, and pozole rojo, a Mexican-style stew.

All of which create a yummy melting pot for lunch and dinner every day of the week.

8. Aslan Brewing Company

Aslan Brewing Company is one place where you’ll come for the beer and stay for the food. You won’t find the same old buffalo wings and similar pub food offerings, however.

Aslan’s menu entices with a variety of savory appetizers (mac and cheese logs, anyone?), fresh salads and bowls, and tall burgers that will give your jaw a workout. All of it is made with organic ingredients and a focus on sustainability.

Then there’s the brew lineup, which includes over two dozen flagship and seasonal beers such as ginger rye ale and disco lemonade, a German-style sour Weisse beer. Cheers!

9. Punjabi Junction

It appears small on the outside. However, Punjabi Junction serves a large menu of authentic Indian dishes. It’s one of Bellingham’s most popular Indian restaurants. Punjabi Junction offers carefully prepared dishes, served with a smile by a friendly staff.

Vegetarian dishes made with paneer (a protein-packed Indian cheese) are available, as well as entrees for carnivores. Some dishes are even veggie free like the diner’s favorite, butter chicken.

The ethnic dining experience is rounded out with a variety of traditional Indian street foods favorites such as dahi poori (toasted flour balls) and puri chole (spicy chickpeas).

10. The Black Cat

The American cuisine plus the newly renovated sophisticated interior of The Black Cat is sure to make any hungry diner purr. The restaurant serves traditional fare such as French onion soup (topped with plenty of gooey Gruyere), roasted beet and arugula salad, and beer battered fish tacos. Sunday offers a brunch menu.

A selection of specialty and classic cocktails plus happy hour specials such as a dollar off wine or beer makes this restaurant the cat’s meow.

Bellingham Restaurants: Where Will You Eat?

As you can see, Bellingham has a variety of dining options to fit everyone’s taste and budget.

To stay updated on the latest Bellingham restaurants and to learn more about what the city and surrounding areas have to offer, check out our blog.