Seattle’s Most Anticipated Restaurant and Bar Openings for Winter 2025

There’s a lot of uncertainty in the Seattle restaurant world right now, with the increase in the minimum wage – and the elimination of the tip credit – pushing some restaurants to adopt service charges or eliminate tipping. Meanwhile, other restaurants are closing altogether, either because of that higher pay or the already high cost of rent and ingredients. Add to all of this the basic reality that winter is often a slow season for dining out and you have a disappointing time.

But hope springs eternal, and restaurants continue to open – including some truly exciting pop-ups and food trucks that have just acquired physical spaces. Here’s a look at what to expect for the rest of the winter.

That of my friend Derek

Or: 2108 North 55th Street in Tangletown
WHO: Owner Derek Reiff
When: Any day now

Derek Reiff went from amateur pizza maker to one-man show behind the city’s hottest pizza pop-up, to now owning a pizzeria opening soon. My friend Derek’s specializes in Detroit-style pizza (still a relative rarity in Seattle) and the crust is so chewy and crackly that it barely needs any toppings. THE Seattle Times predicts opening in mid-December but now it’s January and we’re still waiting for the pizza. (Reiff did not respond to our messages regarding an opening date.) Follow Derek on Instagram for updates or just stroll outside the storefront. (Don’t really do that.)

Foreign BBQ

Fair Isle Brewery

Or: 4010 Leary Road in Ballard
WHO: Owner Onur Gulbay
When: Early February

Another pop-up that’s found a permanent home, Outsider BBQ is the brainchild of Onur Gulbay, a Turkish immigrant who caught the barbecue bug while living in Austin. He’s been serving his Texas-style barbecue with Turkish-inspired sides at pop-ups and food trucks for some time. a few years now and decided to become a brick-and-mortar business when the space that formerly housed a Ballard Pizza Company opened up. Coincidentally, its next-door neighbor is Hamdi, a renowned Turkish restaurant whose owners were among Gulbay’s early supporters. Gulbay says he might start smoking lamb in addition to his more traditional ribs and brisket. There will also be plenty of local beer on tap.

Rosette

Or: 9262 57th Avenue South in Rainier Beach
WHO: The team behind Jude’s Old Town, its next door neighbor
When: End of February/beginning of March

The team behind Jude’s Old Town is opening another bar next door, a small hallway-sized space that will serve oysters, small plates, biodynamic wine and cocktails. The problem is that there will be no alcohol behind Rosette’s bar — instead, it will specialize in no- and low-proof cocktails made with NA spirits or low-ABV ingredients like sherry and vermouths. The goal is to attract the sober, sober crowd and serve really, really good drinks that don’t get you drunk.

Amine

Harry Cheadle

Or: 2336 Cherry Street in the Central District
WHO: Owner Tarik Abdullah
When: To be determined

Tarik Abdullah, the chef known for his Feed The People community kitchen and more, is reportedly set to open his new restaurant near Garfield High School. Amin will be a walk-up storefront serving flatbreads and small plates that draw inspiration from the rich mix of cultures Abdullah grew up around in South Seattle. There will be a $10 menu just for Garfield and Nova students, and all meat and poultry will be halal.

Jiangnan

Or: 1111 Eighth Street Northeast, Suite 120 in Bellevue
WHO: A chain of high-end Chinese banquets
When: To be determined

This New York-based chain says it wants to expand to 40 locations across the country, and one of them will soon open in Bellevue at the Bravern, a luxury mixed-use building that already has many premium Asian chains. The new Jiang Nan restaurant will have 250 seats, according to the Seattle Timesand guests will be able to eat not only classics like Peking duck and soup dumplings, but also new dishes like chicken in coffee sauce.