Tamarind Tree

Authentic and also upscale, Tamarind Tree is the International District's Vietnamese crown jewel.

When to Go: The restaurant accepts reservations until 6pm; make one and eat early or risk a long wait, even on weeknights.

What to Drink: Try one of their exotic, Asian-influenced cocktails, including a tamarind, lychee, kumquat or lemongrass martini.

Romantic lighting, white tablecloths and professional service distinguish Tamarind Tree from the plethora of the International District's nearby Vietnamese restaurants. Enjoy a guava or roasted chili martini at a granite-topped table or, weather permitting, relax on the umbrella-shaded patio adorned with lush greenery. While the 25-plus-page menu may be daunting, it's filled with a wide range...

Leave the International District strip mall behind and enter a room with tropical-colored walls, romantic lighting, and contemporary decor. Enjoy a guava or roasted chili martini at a granite-topped table or---weather permitting---relax on… Read More

Wildly popular with savvy diners from across the city, this Vietnamese haunt on the eastern side of the I.D. really doesn't look like much from the outside: you'll enter through a grungy parking lot (which it shares with Sichuanese Cuisine restaurant). But once you're inside, a simple, large, and warm space welcomes you. The food is the real draw—try the Tamarind Tree spring rolls, which are...

This restaurant is a bit hard to find but is well worth searching out. It's in the back corner of the dingy Asian Plaza strip mall at the northwest corner of South Jackson Street and 12th Avenue South. Step through the door and glance around at the packed tables, and you'll immediately get the idea that lots of Seattleites are in the know. Now take a deep breath and let the aromas of Vietnam...

Cheap Eats;Best Restaurants