How to Eat in Seattle on the Cheap

A great city for food lovers, Seattle has something to please everyone, regardless of budget restrictions or personal tastes. Here are some hints to help you get the most for your money when you eat out in the "Emerald City."

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Maps
• Restaurant Dining Guides
• Travel Guides
• Travelers' Checks
• Maps

1. Visit some of Seattle's many neighborhoods, rather than just staying within the central downtown core. Areas such as Greenlake, Wallingford and Ravenna contain many wonderful cafés, bistros and restaurants. Ask around to find out where the best deals are.

2. Eat ethnic, but choose carefully. Most Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern food will be cheaper than Continental cuisine, but there are notable exceptions.

3. Head to the University District for the best "starving student" food choices. There are lots of dining options, and you can always get takeout and eat it on the beautiful U.W. campus.

4. Buy a picnic at the Seattle Public Market (Pike Place Market) and eat it on a bench in the sunshine. Or get a quick and tasty meal from one of the many ethnic food stalls in and around the market.

5. Stop by the International District at the south end of downtown for excellent, reasonably priced Asian food.

6. Check out one of Seattle's famous drive-in burger joints ' any Seattleite should be able to give you the details.

7. Pick up a copy of the "Seattle Weekly," a free newspaper that contains lots of restaurant reviews and entertainment listings.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to limit your lattes and control your cappuccinos, or you may find your food budget slipping away more rapidly than you expected. Everyone in Seattle seems to have a cup of coffee in hand at all times; this can be a tempting habit, but it can also get expensive.