Foodie Finds in Anacortes, Washington
Of course! Grab your fork and pull up a chair, my friend. As your guide to the culinary heart of Anacortes, I’m thrilled to take you on a mouthwatering tour down Commercial Avenue and its charming side streets. This isn't just a list; it's a love letter to the flavors that make our little corner of Fidalgo Island so deliciously special. From the salty breeze of the marina to the warm, garlicky aroma of a family kitchen, let's explore the ten spots that define dining in Anacortes.
***
### **A Foodie's Pilgrimage Through Anacortes: Ten Flavors You Can't Miss**
Nestled between the evergreen forests and the sapphire waters of the Salish Sea, Anacortes is a haven for more than just boaters and artists. It’s a destination for those who live to eat. The heart of this culinary adventure beats along Commercial Avenue, a bustling artery where the scent of sizzling fajitas, fresh pasta, and salty sea air mingle into an irresistible invitation. This is where locals gather, where celebrations are held, and where every meal feels like coming home.
Let's embark on a tasting tour, one unforgettable plate at a time.
---
#### **1. Nonna Luisa Ristorante: A Hug from an Italian Grandmother**
**Location:** 314 Commercial Ave
Walk through the door of Nonna Luisa and you are immediately transported. It’s not just the checkered tablecloths or the soft glow of the lighting; it’s the aroma—a profound, soul-soothing blend of simmering tomatoes, fresh basil, roasted garlic, and warm dough. This is the kind of place where meals are lingered over, where every bite feels like a secret passed down through generations.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
Start your journey with the **Cozze alla Marinara**—a bowl of plump Penn Cove mussels steamed in a vibrant, garlicky tomato broth that demands to be sopped up with their crusty, house-baked bread. For your main event, you face a delightful dilemma. The **Osso Buco** is a masterpiece of fall-off-the-bone tender veal shank, braised for hours in a rich vegetable and wine reduction, served atop a creamy saffron risotto that is pure luxury.
If pasta calls your name, you cannot go wrong with the **Linguine alle Vongole**. The pasta is perfectly al dente, tossed with fresh local clams, white wine, garlic, and a kick of chili flake—a simple dish executed with flawless precision. Save room for the **Tiramisu**. It’s light, cloud-like, and perfectly balanced, providing the only fitting end to such a magnificent meal.
---
#### **2. Agave Taqueria: The Authentic Taco Temple**
**Location:** 2520 Commercial Ave
Forget everything you think you know about fast-casual Mexican. Agave Taqueria is a no-frills, order-at-the-counter gem that delivers some of the most authentic and explosively flavorful tacos north of the border. The vibe is bright, lively, and unpretentious, with the constant sizzle of the grill as its soundtrack.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
This is a build-your-own-adventure kind of place, but the path to enlightenment is clear. Order a trio of tacos on their soft, double-layer corn tortillas. The **Al Pastor** is the undisputed champion—succulent pork marinated with guajillo chiles and pineapple, thinly sliced from the trompo (spit), offering a perfect sweet-and-savory bite. The **Lengua** (beef tongue) is melt-in-your-mouth tender and a true test of a taqueria's chops. For something different, the **Pescado** (fish) taco, beer-battered and topped with a crisp cabbage slaw and creamy chipotle sauce, is a revelation.
Don’t skip the sides! Their **chips and guacamole** are essential—the guac is freshly mashed to order with just the right amount of lime and cilantro. Wash it all down with a horchata or a Mexican Coke.
---
#### **3. Happy Wok Teriyaki: Comfort in a Styrofoam Clamshell**
**Location:** 1708 Commercial Ave
In the Pacific Northwest, teriyaki isn’t just food; it’s a cultural institution. Happy Wok embodies this perfectly. It’s a humble, spotless storefront where the focus is squarely on the food: generous, glistening, and deeply satisfying. This is the meal you crave after a long day on the water or on the trails.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
You come here for one thing: the **Chicken Teriyaki**. It’s the benchmark. A heaping portion of grilled chicken, charred ever so slightly on the edges, drowned in that iconic, slightly sweet, and savory teriyaki glaze. It’s served with a mountain of steamed rice and a simple salad drenched in that tangy, creamy ginger-soy dressing. It’s a perfect, harmonious trifecta of flavors and textures.
Feeling adventurous? Their **Spicy Pork** is a fantastic alternative, packing a gentle heat that builds with each bite. And for a true local move, ask for an extra side of the teriyaki sauce. You’ll want it.
---
#### **4. Lucky Chopsticks: A Dive into Flavorful Tradition**
**Location:** 1407 Commercial Ave
Lucky Chopsticks is the kind of classic, family-run Chinese-American restaurant every town deserves. The decor is comfortably dated, the service is swift and friendly, and the portions are famously enormous. It’s a place for sharing, for laughter, and for leaving with a stack of leftover boxes.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
This is comfort food at its finest. Begin with the **Crab Cream Cheese Wontons**. Crispy, golden pockets filled with a smooth, savory-sweet cream cheese and crab mixture—they’re utterly addictive. For your main, the **House Special Chow Mein** is a spectacle. A vast platter arrives, piled high with crispy noodles, tender meat (choose pork or chicken), and a colorful array of fresh vegetables, all wok-tossed in a light, savory brown sauce.
If you’re craving something with a bit more punch, the **Kung Pao Chicken** is a stellar choice. It’s loaded with peanuts, celery, and chilies, delivering that classic sweet, sour, and spicy balance.
---
#### **5. Hong Kong Garden Restaurant: Cantonese Classics & Dim Sum Delights**
**Location:** 2501 Commercial Ave
A step up in ambiance from its cousin down the street, Hong Kong Garden offers a more extensive menu that dives into traditional Cantonese cuisine. With elegant dark wood decor and lazy susans on the larger tables, it’s a favorite for family gatherings and anyone seeking a more expansive Chinese dining experience.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
On the weekends, you must experience their **Dim Sum service**. Look for the carts weaving through the dining room and flag down the har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings)—they are steamed to perfection, with delicate, translucent wrappers. From the main menu, the **Salt and Pepper Prawns** are a must. They arrive head-on, shell-on, fried until impossibly light and crisp, and seasoned with a fiery kick of chili and aromatic five-spice. The **Beef with Black Bean Sauce** is another winner—tender slices of beef and crisp peppers in a rich, fermented black bean sauce that is deeply umami and complex.
---
#### **6. Real Tequila Bar and Restaurant: A Fiesta for the Senses**
**Location:** 2302 Commercial Ave
As the name implies, this place is serious about its tequila. With a massive selection lining the back bar, Real Tequila offers a vibrant, modern Mexican experience. The atmosphere is energetic, the margaritas are strong and fresh, and the food is a cut above the standard combo-plate fare.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
You must start with a **Top-Shelf Margarita** on the rocks with salt. The difference in using 100% agave tequila is profound—smoother, with a cleaner, more complex flavor. To eat, share an order of the **Queso Fundido**. This isn’t neon-yellow nacho cheese; it’s a bubbling, cast-iron skillet of melted Chihuahua cheese, chorizo, and roasted peppers, served with fresh tortillas for dipping. Pure, unadulterated joy.
For an entree, the **Molcajete** is a show-stopper. It arrives steaming in a volcanic stone bowl, filled with grilled steak, chicken, shrimp, nopales (cactus), and chorizo, all simmering in a rich, spicy red sauce. It’s a feast for both the eyes and the stomach.
---
#### **7. Taqueria MIS 5 ESTRELLAS: The Five-Star Truck (With a Home)**
**Location:** 1010 14th St
Don’t let the unassuming location fool you. This place, born from a legendary food truck, has earned its Five Star name through sheer flavor power. It’s a bare-bones, order-at-the-counter spot where the focus is 100% on authentic, no-shortcuts Mexican street food.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
You come here for one of the greatest burritos on the planet. The **Carne Asada Super Burrito** is a behemoth, expertly wrapped in foil. It’s stuffed with expertly grilled, marinated steak, creamy refried beans, rice, guacamole, salsa, and crema. Every ingredient sings. Their **Torta** is another masterpiece—a massive, grilled telera roll piled high with your choice of meat, beans, avocado, tomato, onion, and jalapeño. It’s messy, glorious, and deeply satisfying. The **al pastor** and **carnitas** are particularly stellar choices for any dish.
---
#### **8. El Jinete Mexican Restaurant: The Local's Favorite Fiesta**
**Location:** 509 Commercial Ave
A longstanding pillar of the Anacortes dining scene, El Jinete is where generations of locals have gone for consistent, dependable, and festive Mexican food. With its friendly service, strong drinks, and reliably satisfying plates, it’s the quintessential neighborhood Mexican joint.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
It’s all about the **Grande Combination Platter** for first-timers. It’s a sampler platter that lets you taste a bit of everything: a crispy ground beef taco, a cheesy enchilada, a tender chili verde burrito, a cheesy chile relleno, rice, and beans. It’s the perfect introduction. If you’re feeling celebratory, order a **Jinete Grande Margarita**—it’s famously large and potent. For something truly special from the kitchen, their **Camarones a la Diabla** (shrimp in a spicy devil sauce) packs a serious and delicious punch.
---
#### **9. Anthony's At Cap Sante Marina: Dining with a View**
**Location:** 1207 Q Ave
You simply cannot visit a seaside town without a waterfront meal. Anthony’s, perched right on the Cap Sante Marina, offers the quintessential Pacific Northwest dining experience. The views are breathtaking—yachts bobbing in the harbor, sun setting over the islands—and the seafood is impeccably fresh, sourced through the Anthony’s sustainable Dock to Dish program.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
This is the place to indulge in the bounty of the Northwest. Start with **Penn Cove Mussels**, steamed in white wine and garlic. For your main course, you have two perfect paths. The **Northwest Salmon** is a classic for a reason—grilled or roasted with a signature herb crust, it’s a celebration of our region's star fish. Alternatively, the **Ling Cod Fish and Chips** is arguably the best you’ll ever have. The beer-batter is ethereally light and crisp, letting the sweet, flaky cod inside shine. Pair it with a local IPA from Anacortes Brewery and enjoy the view.
---
#### **10. Union Tavern - Local 902: The Gastropub Heart of Town**
**Location:** 902 Commercial Ave
At the end of our tour, we land at the modern, buzzing heart of Anacortes: Union Tavern. With its exposed brick, craft cocktail menu, and elevated pub fare, it’s where the community gathers to connect over great food and drink. The energy is warm, convivial, and unmistakably Northwestern.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
Begin with a craft cocktail—their bartenders are artists. Then, you must try the **Crispy Brussel Sprouts**. Tossed in a fish sauce vinaigrette and topped with peanuts and cilantro, they will forever change how you feel about the humble sprout. For your burger fix, the **Union Burger** is a masterpiece of grass-fed beef, white cheddar, bacon, onion jam, and garlic aioli on a brioche bun. It’s messy, juicy, and perfect.
If you’re not in a burger mood, their **Fish Tacos** are a gourmet take on the classic, often featuring fresh local rockfish and a killer slaw. This is the place to see, be seen, and eat incredibly well.
***
So there you have it—a culinary map to the soul of Anacortes. From the white-tablecloth elegance of Nonna Luisa to the five-star foil-wrapped glory of a Mis 5 Estrellas burrito, this town feeds you not just with food, but with character, passion, and a deep sense of place. Now, go forth and eat! Your table is waiting.
***
### **A Foodie's Pilgrimage Through Anacortes: Ten Flavors You Can't Miss**
Nestled between the evergreen forests and the sapphire waters of the Salish Sea, Anacortes is a haven for more than just boaters and artists. It’s a destination for those who live to eat. The heart of this culinary adventure beats along Commercial Avenue, a bustling artery where the scent of sizzling fajitas, fresh pasta, and salty sea air mingle into an irresistible invitation. This is where locals gather, where celebrations are held, and where every meal feels like coming home.
Let's embark on a tasting tour, one unforgettable plate at a time.
---
#### **1. Nonna Luisa Ristorante: A Hug from an Italian Grandmother**
**Location:** 314 Commercial Ave
Walk through the door of Nonna Luisa and you are immediately transported. It’s not just the checkered tablecloths or the soft glow of the lighting; it’s the aroma—a profound, soul-soothing blend of simmering tomatoes, fresh basil, roasted garlic, and warm dough. This is the kind of place where meals are lingered over, where every bite feels like a secret passed down through generations.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
Start your journey with the **Cozze alla Marinara**—a bowl of plump Penn Cove mussels steamed in a vibrant, garlicky tomato broth that demands to be sopped up with their crusty, house-baked bread. For your main event, you face a delightful dilemma. The **Osso Buco** is a masterpiece of fall-off-the-bone tender veal shank, braised for hours in a rich vegetable and wine reduction, served atop a creamy saffron risotto that is pure luxury.
If pasta calls your name, you cannot go wrong with the **Linguine alle Vongole**. The pasta is perfectly al dente, tossed with fresh local clams, white wine, garlic, and a kick of chili flake—a simple dish executed with flawless precision. Save room for the **Tiramisu**. It’s light, cloud-like, and perfectly balanced, providing the only fitting end to such a magnificent meal.
---
#### **2. Agave Taqueria: The Authentic Taco Temple**
**Location:** 2520 Commercial Ave
Forget everything you think you know about fast-casual Mexican. Agave Taqueria is a no-frills, order-at-the-counter gem that delivers some of the most authentic and explosively flavorful tacos north of the border. The vibe is bright, lively, and unpretentious, with the constant sizzle of the grill as its soundtrack.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
This is a build-your-own-adventure kind of place, but the path to enlightenment is clear. Order a trio of tacos on their soft, double-layer corn tortillas. The **Al Pastor** is the undisputed champion—succulent pork marinated with guajillo chiles and pineapple, thinly sliced from the trompo (spit), offering a perfect sweet-and-savory bite. The **Lengua** (beef tongue) is melt-in-your-mouth tender and a true test of a taqueria's chops. For something different, the **Pescado** (fish) taco, beer-battered and topped with a crisp cabbage slaw and creamy chipotle sauce, is a revelation.
Don’t skip the sides! Their **chips and guacamole** are essential—the guac is freshly mashed to order with just the right amount of lime and cilantro. Wash it all down with a horchata or a Mexican Coke.
---
#### **3. Happy Wok Teriyaki: Comfort in a Styrofoam Clamshell**
**Location:** 1708 Commercial Ave
In the Pacific Northwest, teriyaki isn’t just food; it’s a cultural institution. Happy Wok embodies this perfectly. It’s a humble, spotless storefront where the focus is squarely on the food: generous, glistening, and deeply satisfying. This is the meal you crave after a long day on the water or on the trails.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
You come here for one thing: the **Chicken Teriyaki**. It’s the benchmark. A heaping portion of grilled chicken, charred ever so slightly on the edges, drowned in that iconic, slightly sweet, and savory teriyaki glaze. It’s served with a mountain of steamed rice and a simple salad drenched in that tangy, creamy ginger-soy dressing. It’s a perfect, harmonious trifecta of flavors and textures.
Feeling adventurous? Their **Spicy Pork** is a fantastic alternative, packing a gentle heat that builds with each bite. And for a true local move, ask for an extra side of the teriyaki sauce. You’ll want it.
---
#### **4. Lucky Chopsticks: A Dive into Flavorful Tradition**
**Location:** 1407 Commercial Ave
Lucky Chopsticks is the kind of classic, family-run Chinese-American restaurant every town deserves. The decor is comfortably dated, the service is swift and friendly, and the portions are famously enormous. It’s a place for sharing, for laughter, and for leaving with a stack of leftover boxes.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
This is comfort food at its finest. Begin with the **Crab Cream Cheese Wontons**. Crispy, golden pockets filled with a smooth, savory-sweet cream cheese and crab mixture—they’re utterly addictive. For your main, the **House Special Chow Mein** is a spectacle. A vast platter arrives, piled high with crispy noodles, tender meat (choose pork or chicken), and a colorful array of fresh vegetables, all wok-tossed in a light, savory brown sauce.
If you’re craving something with a bit more punch, the **Kung Pao Chicken** is a stellar choice. It’s loaded with peanuts, celery, and chilies, delivering that classic sweet, sour, and spicy balance.
---
#### **5. Hong Kong Garden Restaurant: Cantonese Classics & Dim Sum Delights**
**Location:** 2501 Commercial Ave
A step up in ambiance from its cousin down the street, Hong Kong Garden offers a more extensive menu that dives into traditional Cantonese cuisine. With elegant dark wood decor and lazy susans on the larger tables, it’s a favorite for family gatherings and anyone seeking a more expansive Chinese dining experience.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
On the weekends, you must experience their **Dim Sum service**. Look for the carts weaving through the dining room and flag down the har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings)—they are steamed to perfection, with delicate, translucent wrappers. From the main menu, the **Salt and Pepper Prawns** are a must. They arrive head-on, shell-on, fried until impossibly light and crisp, and seasoned with a fiery kick of chili and aromatic five-spice. The **Beef with Black Bean Sauce** is another winner—tender slices of beef and crisp peppers in a rich, fermented black bean sauce that is deeply umami and complex.
---
#### **6. Real Tequila Bar and Restaurant: A Fiesta for the Senses**
**Location:** 2302 Commercial Ave
As the name implies, this place is serious about its tequila. With a massive selection lining the back bar, Real Tequila offers a vibrant, modern Mexican experience. The atmosphere is energetic, the margaritas are strong and fresh, and the food is a cut above the standard combo-plate fare.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
You must start with a **Top-Shelf Margarita** on the rocks with salt. The difference in using 100% agave tequila is profound—smoother, with a cleaner, more complex flavor. To eat, share an order of the **Queso Fundido**. This isn’t neon-yellow nacho cheese; it’s a bubbling, cast-iron skillet of melted Chihuahua cheese, chorizo, and roasted peppers, served with fresh tortillas for dipping. Pure, unadulterated joy.
For an entree, the **Molcajete** is a show-stopper. It arrives steaming in a volcanic stone bowl, filled with grilled steak, chicken, shrimp, nopales (cactus), and chorizo, all simmering in a rich, spicy red sauce. It’s a feast for both the eyes and the stomach.
---
#### **7. Taqueria MIS 5 ESTRELLAS: The Five-Star Truck (With a Home)**
**Location:** 1010 14th St
Don’t let the unassuming location fool you. This place, born from a legendary food truck, has earned its Five Star name through sheer flavor power. It’s a bare-bones, order-at-the-counter spot where the focus is 100% on authentic, no-shortcuts Mexican street food.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
You come here for one of the greatest burritos on the planet. The **Carne Asada Super Burrito** is a behemoth, expertly wrapped in foil. It’s stuffed with expertly grilled, marinated steak, creamy refried beans, rice, guacamole, salsa, and crema. Every ingredient sings. Their **Torta** is another masterpiece—a massive, grilled telera roll piled high with your choice of meat, beans, avocado, tomato, onion, and jalapeño. It’s messy, glorious, and deeply satisfying. The **al pastor** and **carnitas** are particularly stellar choices for any dish.
---
#### **8. El Jinete Mexican Restaurant: The Local's Favorite Fiesta**
**Location:** 509 Commercial Ave
A longstanding pillar of the Anacortes dining scene, El Jinete is where generations of locals have gone for consistent, dependable, and festive Mexican food. With its friendly service, strong drinks, and reliably satisfying plates, it’s the quintessential neighborhood Mexican joint.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
It’s all about the **Grande Combination Platter** for first-timers. It’s a sampler platter that lets you taste a bit of everything: a crispy ground beef taco, a cheesy enchilada, a tender chili verde burrito, a cheesy chile relleno, rice, and beans. It’s the perfect introduction. If you’re feeling celebratory, order a **Jinete Grande Margarita**—it’s famously large and potent. For something truly special from the kitchen, their **Camarones a la Diabla** (shrimp in a spicy devil sauce) packs a serious and delicious punch.
---
#### **9. Anthony's At Cap Sante Marina: Dining with a View**
**Location:** 1207 Q Ave
You simply cannot visit a seaside town without a waterfront meal. Anthony’s, perched right on the Cap Sante Marina, offers the quintessential Pacific Northwest dining experience. The views are breathtaking—yachts bobbing in the harbor, sun setting over the islands—and the seafood is impeccably fresh, sourced through the Anthony’s sustainable Dock to Dish program.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
This is the place to indulge in the bounty of the Northwest. Start with **Penn Cove Mussels**, steamed in white wine and garlic. For your main course, you have two perfect paths. The **Northwest Salmon** is a classic for a reason—grilled or roasted with a signature herb crust, it’s a celebration of our region's star fish. Alternatively, the **Ling Cod Fish and Chips** is arguably the best you’ll ever have. The beer-batter is ethereally light and crisp, letting the sweet, flaky cod inside shine. Pair it with a local IPA from Anacortes Brewery and enjoy the view.
---
#### **10. Union Tavern - Local 902: The Gastropub Heart of Town**
**Location:** 902 Commercial Ave
At the end of our tour, we land at the modern, buzzing heart of Anacortes: Union Tavern. With its exposed brick, craft cocktail menu, and elevated pub fare, it’s where the community gathers to connect over great food and drink. The energy is warm, convivial, and unmistakably Northwestern.
**The Must-Order Experience:**
Begin with a craft cocktail—their bartenders are artists. Then, you must try the **Crispy Brussel Sprouts**. Tossed in a fish sauce vinaigrette and topped with peanuts and cilantro, they will forever change how you feel about the humble sprout. For your burger fix, the **Union Burger** is a masterpiece of grass-fed beef, white cheddar, bacon, onion jam, and garlic aioli on a brioche bun. It’s messy, juicy, and perfect.
If you’re not in a burger mood, their **Fish Tacos** are a gourmet take on the classic, often featuring fresh local rockfish and a killer slaw. This is the place to see, be seen, and eat incredibly well.
***
So there you have it—a culinary map to the soul of Anacortes. From the white-tablecloth elegance of Nonna Luisa to the five-star foil-wrapped glory of a Mis 5 Estrellas burrito, this town feeds you not just with food, but with character, passion, and a deep sense of place. Now, go forth and eat! Your table is waiting.
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