A Guide To The Best Local Restaurants In Seattle

Try these local favorites and enjoy Seattle's excellent offering of affordable, but delicious, dining choices.

Rain, coffee, and curling up with a good book may be the most common images associated with Seattle, but great food can also come to mind if one knows where to eat. Fine dining can be enjoyed in most cities, but a true challenge is finding cheap eats that taste like a million bucks. There are plenty of inexpensive yet delicious restaurants in Seattle, but finding them is another story. The best restaurants are often overlooked by visitors and those new to the city who most often order their meals in familiar chain restaurants rather than risking a bad meal at a local joint. Not surprisingly, the secret to finding the best food in Seattle is finding out where the locals eat. You can experience the best local restaurants in Seattle without fearing a bad meal by trying one of the following, tried and true Seattle favorites:

Paseo Caribbean Restaurant, 4225 Fremont Ave N. Casual, inexpensive, and always delicious, Paseo's $6.50 Midnight Cuban sandwich can't be beat! The food is wholesome and filling--the black beans are amazing; the only problem with Paseo is how popular it is with its devoted following. It is not unusual to see a line during the lunch and dinner hours, but trust the locals: it is well worth the wait.

With various locations throughout the city, it is easy to see how Paggliaci Pizza has become Seattle's most acclaimed pizzeria. Featured in Bon Appetit, citysearch.com, and a serial recipient of "best pizza" by the readers of Seattle Weekly, these gourmet pies are not to be missed. With seasonal offerings and a complete menu of choices, the plain cheese pizza is still the most popular""complemented with their house green salad, this is a pizza you won't easily forget.

Red Mill Burgers, 312 N 67th Street. Just a little north of the Woodland Park Zoo, this retro, local favorite boasts the best burgers in Seattle. Order a bacon deluxe with Tillamook cheddar and a side of their famous onion rings and you will be in heaven""for at least a half hour! Juicy and delicious, their burgers are a multi-napkin affair. Their milkshakes are thick and creamy""just right for an afternoon calorie splurge. Often busy at mealtime, take out from the Red Mill is a good option.

If you are a fan of authentic Italian sandwiches, then Salumi (309 3rd Ave. S.) is not to be missed. This closet-sized eatery near Pioneer Square is loved by all""the staff is friendly and the sandwiches, made with in house with artisan-cured meat, are to die for! They are only open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11am to 4pm, and the hot sandwiches are only available until 3; yet it the food is so good it is definitely worth working them into your schedule. Order yourself a meat plate with a side of cheese and some roasted red peppers. Enjoy the great breads and tapanades. Take a deep breath and bask, classic Italian style, in your perfect lunchtime repast""Buon Appetito!

With the inside scoop on the best local eats, try one of these favorites on your next trip to Seattle!

© Demand Media 2011