$20 burgers. $50 pizzas. Eating out in Seattle has never been so expensive – and there’s lots of reasons why. In this bonus episode of Seattle Eats, we share a conversation about the economics of restaurant prices with four local chefs and restaurateurs. 



Panel:
Kristi Brown (Communion)
Victor Steinbrueck (Local Tide)
Ethan Stowell (Ethan Stowell Restaurants) 
Rachel Yang (Revel, Joule)

Moderated by Jackie Varriano, Seattle Times food writer

$20 burgers. $50 pizzas. Eating out in Seattle has never been so expensive – and there’s lots of reasons why. In this bonus episode of Seattle Eats, we share a conversation about the economics of restaurant prices with four local chefs and restaurateurs. 
 
Panel:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Kristi Brown (Communion)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Victor Steinbrueck (Local Tide)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Ethan Stowell (Ethan Stowell Restaurants) </li>
<li dir="ltr">Rachel Yang (Revel, Joule)</li>
</ul>
Moderated by Jackie Varriano, Seattle Times food writer

Seattle is a buffet of great food... if you know where to look. Seattle Times journalist Tan Vinh invites listeners to the area's hottest restaurants, road-side food stalls and everywhere in between to find the best meals in the city and to meet the people who make them sing. New episodes every Thursday.

 

Seattle is a buffet of great food... if you know where to look. Seattle Times journalist Tan Vinh invites listeners to the area's hottest restaurants, road-side food stalls and everywhere in between to find the best meals in the city and to meet the people who make them sing.&nbsp;New episodes every Thursday.
&nbsp;

Seattle Eats with Tan Vinh

BONUS: Why are restaurants so expensive?

Stadium food can be a letdown. Many sports games and concerts are accompanied by soggy chicken fingers or cold burgers — at a premium price, of course. But the Seattle Seahawks and Lumen Field are making a big play for dining. They want 12s to see the stadium as a destination for dinner as well as a show. 

Tan and KUOW producer Brandi Fullwood sample new menu items on offer during the Hawks season and pick the three best items to eat at a game. 

Read more of Tan’s takes about stadium food in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/best-food-at-seahawks-games-new-dishes-land-at-lumen-field-in-2025/ 

Recommendations in this episode:
King’s Hawaiian BBQ — Rib Sandwich platter (serves 2-4 people)

$48.99 
Sections 120, 131, 305, 335
Big Walt’s Kitchen — Flaming Hot Cheetos Chicken Tenders

$17.49
Sections 126, 214, 230
ChungChun — Game Day Rice Hot Dog with Squid Ink and Spicy Half & Half Rice Hot Dog

$12.99 - $13.99
Section 323

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

Stadium food can be a letdown. Many sports games and concerts are accompanied by soggy chicken fingers or cold burgers &mdash; at a premium price, of course. But the Seattle Seahawks and Lumen Field are making a big play for dining. They want 12s to see the stadium as a destination for dinner as well as a show.&nbsp;
Tan and KUOW producer Brandi Fullwood sample new menu items on offer during the Hawks season and pick the three best items to eat at a game.&nbsp;
Read more of Tan&rsquo;s takes about stadium food in The Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/best-food-at-seahawks-games-new-dishes-land-at-lumen-field-in-2025/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/best-food-at-seahawks-games-new-dishes-land-at-lumen-field-in-2025/</a>&nbsp;
Recommendations in this episode:
<ul>
<li>King&rsquo;s Hawaiian BBQ &mdash; Rib Sandwich platter (serves 2-4 people)
<ul>
<li>$48.99&nbsp;</li>
<li>Sections 120, 131, 305, 335</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Big Walt&rsquo;s Kitchen &mdash; Flaming Hot Cheetos Chicken Tenders
<ul>
<li>$17.49</li>
<li>Sections 126, 214, 230</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>ChungChun &mdash; Game Day Rice Hot Dog with Squid Ink and Spicy Half &amp; Half Rice Hot Dog
<ul>
<li>$12.99 - $13.99</li>
<li>Section 323</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at <a href="http://kuow.org/eats">kuow.org/eats</a> and <a href="http://seattletimes.com">seattletimes.com</a>.

Tan and KUOW producer Brandi Fullwood sample new menu items on offer during the Hawks season and pick the three best items to eat at a game. 

Reprise: Lumen Field Food Guide for Seahawks Fans

Seattle Times food writers discuss a hot food neighborhood in South Seattle. From a very hyped pizza to neighborhood staple ban xeo you’ll learn how to order like a local …and a very meticulous food writer.

Read more about the Othello neighborhood eats in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/is-seattles-hottest-ak-pizza-worth-the-hype-and-more-good-food-in-othello/ 

Recommendations in this episode:
A.K. Pizza
Nissi Banh
Sma5h


Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

Seattle Times food writers discuss a hot food neighborhood in South Seattle. From a very hyped pizza to neighborhood staple ban xeo you&rsquo;ll learn how to order like a local &hellip;and a very meticulous food writer.
Read more about the Othello neighborhood eats in The Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/is-seattles-hottest-ak-pizza-worth-the-hype-and-more-good-food-in-othello/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/is-seattles-hottest-ak-pizza-worth-the-hype-and-more-good-food-in-othello/</a>&nbsp;
Recommendations in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">A.K. Pizza</li>
<li aria-level="1">Nissi Banh</li>
<li aria-level="1">Sma5h</li>
</ul>
 Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at <a href="http://kuow.org/eats">kuow.org/eats</a> and <a href="http://seattletimes.com">seattletimes.com</a>.

Seattle Times food writers discuss a hot food neighborhood in South Seattle. From a very hyped pizza to neighborhood staple ban xeo you’ll learn how to order like a local.

Three bites of Othello

From fancy street food to, yes, even more pizza – Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh highlights the most anticipated restaurants of 2026 with two-time Emmy-winning journalist, filmmaker Thanh Tân. Plus, he gives tips on how to navigate the never-ending list of new restaurants from the best ones.

Read more about the top picks so far for 2026 in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/20-seattle-area-restaurants-and-bars-were-most-excited-about-in-2026/ 

Check out Second Wave with Thanh Tân’s episode on Pho: https://www.kuow.org/stories/pho-second-wave 

Recommendations in this episode:
Roma Roma, Capitol Hill
Tacos Cometa, Capitol Hill
Ilmu, Bothell
Baiana, Pike Place

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible:

Become a member today at kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotesSubscribe today at seattletimes.com

From fancy street food to, yes, even more pizza &ndash; Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh highlights the most anticipated restaurants of 2026 with two-time Emmy-winning journalist, filmmaker Thanh T&acirc;n. Plus, he gives tips on how to navigate the never-ending list of new restaurants from the best ones.
Read more about the top picks so far for 2026 in The Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/20-seattle-area-restaurants-and-bars-were-most-excited-about-in-2026/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/20-seattle-area-restaurants-and-bars-were-most-excited-about-in-2026/</a>&nbsp;
Check out Second Wave with Thanh T&acirc;n&rsquo;s episode on Pho: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/pho-second-wave">https://www.kuow.org/stories/pho-second-wave</a>&nbsp;
Recommendations in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Roma Roma, Capitol Hill</li>
<li aria-level="1">Tacos Cometa, Capitol Hill</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ilmu, Bothell</li>
<li aria-level="1">Baiana, Pike Place</li>
</ul>
Seattle Eats is a production of<a href="http://seattletimes.com/"> The Seattle Times</a> and<a href="http://kuow.org/"> KUOW</a>. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible:
Become a member today at<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes"> kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes</a>Subscribe today at<a href="http://seattletimes.com"> seattletimes.com</a>

Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh highlights the most anticipated restaurants of 2026 Plus, he gives tips on how to navigate the neverending list of new restaurants from the best ones.

BONUS: Why are restaurants so expensive?

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