Okay, so the The 2022 Seahawks season is not predicted to be an all-ages season. At least the food in Lumen Field and the adjacent T-Mobile Park gets better every year. Meanwhile, a myriad of bars and restaurants around the stadiums beckon anyone who wants to meet up with a group, or just don’t want to pay $20 for a Bud Light and some loaded fries.
Most game-oriented destinations are north of the stadiums in Pioneer Square. In the south, in SoDo, sandwiches and pizzas balance the predominance of fast food chains. Some people prefer to arrive in the east via Chinatown-International District. Navigating the tangle of train tracks separating the dumplings from the defensive equipment can be tricky, but a wealth of tasty food awaits depending on how far you want to walk.
Jump to:
Pioneer Square / SoDo / Chinatown
Pioneer Square
Gantry Public House
You can’t get much closer to the stadiums than a seat at this sports bar across the street from Lumen Field and near T-Mobile Park, flanked by hot dog stands. Its proximity means the Gantry’s long, narrow bar and beer garden patio are predictably chaotic, even for spirited Mariners games. The kitchen serves archetypal game dishes (nachos, wings, fries) to balance buckets of beer and a deep couch of whiskey and tequila.
Matsuz
A sushi restaurant with a meditative temple-like interior may seem like a tonal mismatch with the roar in Lumen. But there’s no shame in pre-gambling with sashimi or a 12th Man roll, filled with avocado and shrimp tempura. Matsu’s huge menu dedicates an entire section to fried stuff, including Korean-style karaage and wings. This stadium-adjacent spot shares ownership with Momiji and Umi Sake House, as evidenced by its emphasis on drinks and a generous happy hour menu.
Taylor Shellfish
The state’s largest oyster farm runs a handful of oyster bars, including this old-fashioned room on Occidental Avenue. Freshly shelled oysters are pristine (especially with the Northwest beer selection), but heartier dishes like fish and chips, geoduck soup, and smoked oyster dip provide an enrichment for fall games. Please note: walk-ins only and the happy hour menu does not operate on game days.
flat stick pub
Technically, this is a 21 and older putt-putt bar, but more than 30 taps of Washington beer, cider and seltzer also lend themselves well to meet up before walking to the stadiums. The kitchen serves a limited number of tacos, nachos, and chips and guac. But the game situation is good; sneak a round of duffleboard before kick-off.
damn the weather
A den of atmospheric old brick offers the happiest medium between pitchers of beer and fancy dishes that make you feel weird eating in a sweater. Damn the Weather is definitely a cocktail bar with destination-worthy food, but the menu features plenty of local beer and cider (plus non-alcoholic creations). On the food side, a burger and chips with aioli balance plates with pan-seared halibut or fettuccini draped in seasonal produce.
Elysian fields
If you’re looking for stadium proximity, a chance of seats and good beer (not to mention AB InBev’s ownership), Elysian’s sprawling bar next to Lumen Field is reliably open on match days. The food is pretty standard but the staff are adept at dealing with crowds.
Burbs Burgers
Skillet founder Josh Henderson is the man behind this chain of smash burgers, with a King Street location (formerly home to his Quality Athletics sports bar) just north of the Lumen Field parking lot.
Pioneer Square D&E
This spot on Second Avenue South remains relatively under the radar given the quality of the food, making for a more laid-back game day destination (both indoors and on the small patio) than sports bars further south. D&E’s fried chicken has become his business card, available as a meal, tender or sandwich. Also great: the brunch menu and dirty fries.
old town
German-style beer hall meets old-brick Pioneer Square: the result is anything but a sports bar and the energy is perfect for the game. Altstadt serves Northwestern and German beer in various sizes, from small to ‘giant glass boot’. The bar opens two hours before a Seahawks or Sounders game, giving you access to schnitzel and brats and giant pretzels.
Good bar
A striking old building (originally a bank) houses a cocktail joint that is not so much a sports bar as a great bar that happens to be close to sports. Head here if your idea of tailgating includes meticulous cocktails, a hearty whiskey list, and Mediterranean-inspired dishes like pita bread and grilled halloumi.
Hatback Bar and Grille and Steelheads Alley
The Mariners support this brand new restaurant, taproom and beer garden complex that is across from T-Mobile. The former Pyramid Brewing building is now dripping with baseball history, honoring Ken Griffey, Jr. and the 1940s Seattle Steelheads Negro League team. The interior is both beautiful and filled with TVs, pub food relies on local ingredients, and Rodney Hines, the founder of Métier Brewing Company, is the regular brewer of Steelheads Alley.
SoDo
SliceBox Pizza
This walk-up slice counter with a Sonics-worthy green-and-gold paint job is a favorite among Seattle pizza connoisseurs and a fantastic antidote to all those stadium beers. A double-decker glass case holds maybe 10 pies per slice, a mix of crunchy Sicilian-inspired squares and classic New York rounds. You can also order whole pies and salads to take away.
paseo
Fremont’s beloved sandwich shop continues to grow under its current ownership. The spacious outpost south of the stadiums has a counter interior built to handle crowds, plus an outdoor area filled with picnic tables. Hearty Caribbean sandwiches are highly compatible with brisk fall game days, and tropical cocktails help ease the chilly temperatures.
Chinatown
Dumpling house with dough zone
Spoiler: Din Tai Fung’s locations in Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park don’t sell the signature xiao long bao. But Seattle’s homegrown dumpling and noodle chain has a location in the Publix building, just across the track. Dough Zone is known for soup dumplings, dan dan noodles, and Q bao with a crispy bottom, as well as its prime time crowds. Using Yelp’s waitlist app can help manage wait times on match days.
Uwajimaya Food Hall
Are you a parent looking to fill your kids with quick, affordable food before braving the chaos of the major league sports ball? The venerable grocery store’s food court offers tacos, taiyaki, banh mi, and Hawaiian plate lunch, plus a seating area that forgives noise and crumbs. You can also get ready-made food from Uwajimaya’s in-house counters.
Chung Chun rice hot dog
This tiny spot below Chinatown paifang offers no seating, but Korean-style corn dogs are about as portable as they are on a hike to Lumen. These rice-battered beasts are dotted with diced baked potato, topped with twists of crispy ramen noodles or wrapped in cheddar. A popular version is essentially a mozzarella stick disguised as a corn dog; another pairs beef dog and cheese in a squid batter. Grab extra napkins.
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