What to Eat in Bellingham, WA

Whether you’d like a casual bite or a formal night out, the beautiful city of Bellingham, WA is full of awesome options. We’ve scoured the web from Yelp to Eater and beyond to bring you this list of where to go if you’re hungry in Bellingham, aka “The City of Subdued Excitement”.

A plate on a table with a garden salad and clam chowder in a bread bowl
Clam Chowder at Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro in Bellingham, via Facebook

Bellingham Breweries & Distilleries

Bellingham is a drinks enthusiast’s dream, with many of its best eateries doing double duty as taprooms and breweries.

  • Aslan Brewing Company Brewpub: Playful takes on pub food, like waffle fry poutine, populate the menu of Aslan’s brewpub location. They also have burgers and bowls with flavorful options like Yambazano and Bahn Mi.
  • Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro (Pictured Above):  Local is the focus at this staple of the brewery scene in Bellingham, which has a fairly extensive menu with something for everyone (but no fries). In addition to their bevy of brews, they have craft cocktails and a small wine list.
  • The Penny Farthing: Ambiance abounds at Chuckanut Bay Distillery’s resident bar and restaurant. A tapas style menu features pairing suggestions for specialty cocktails and the full cocktail menu includes a variety of fun options featuring Chuckanut Bay spirits.

Bellingham Comfort Food

  • Old Town Cafe: Located in the heart of historic Old Town Bellingham, this popular diner serves breakfast all day and lunch beginning at 11am. Menu highlights include breakfast burritos, excellent eggs, and self-serve coffee while you wait for a table.
  • Jack’s BBQ: One of our Seattle favorites opened their Bellingham location in 2022. Smokers in the parking lot give away the secret to their melt-in-your-mouth meat. Their central Texan take on BBQ has made them a fast favorite in town.
  • Pepper Sisters: Locals eagerly anticipated the recent reopening of this Bellingham staple after they closed for renovations last fall. The menu features their take on Southwest cuisine, with plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
Cafe window with planter box in front of it and writing on it that reads Old Town Cafe
Old Town Cafe in Bellingham, via Facebook
Chef working in a wood-fired oven
Carnal Restaurant in Bellingham, via Facebook

Unique Restaurants Bellingham

  • Carnal: A smoky sensory experience awaits you at this spot! Diners rave about the open kitchen and unique menu featuring wood-fired fare.
  • The Black Cat: Ambiance alone is reason to visit this restaurant, with sweeping views of Bellingham Bay and the Fairhaven District. Upscale pub grub in a historic location plus classic and specialty cocktails keep ‘em coming back for more – expect it to be crowded lunch, brunch, dinner, and late-night.
  • Black Sheep: This trendy taqueria made multiple lists of Bellingham’s best restaurants. Hand-pressed tortillas provide the foundation for tasty taco options like rock fish and pork belly.
  • The Bistro at Shuksan: Southern-inspired farm-to-table awaits you at Shuksan Golf Course. The views are second only to the food, which focuses mainly on Cajun and Creole options.

Hire a Chef in Bellingham

Honest to Goodness, we would be remiss if we didn’t talk to you about enjoying a restaurant experience in your own home! While we love our restaurant friends and support that industry, we often hear from our clients that they are tired of eating out, spend too much on eating out, and want to eat healthier at home.

The average cost of eating out in Washington State is much higher than the national average. Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant is easily over $100 and oftentimes much more. When you hire a home chef to prepare your weekday dinners, your per portion price will be much less than $50 per person. In addition, an in-home chef saves you so much time and stress when you are tired of planning what to eat, doing your own grocery shopping, and cooking at the end of a long workday.

We are also seeing that people want to entertain at home again now that the pandemic is largely over. Consider what you would spend for a group to eat in a restaurant, and then book a chef to create a restaurant in the comforts of your home! You won’t have to worry about driving anywhere, paying to park, calling ahead for a reservation, and all the noise of a restaurant’s atmosphere. So for your next occasion to celebrate and gather with friends and family at home, contact us today to learn more and book our personal chef services in Bellingham