As back-to-school season kicks off remotely, re-adjusting as a parent can be stressful. For those days when you just need to take a little something off of your plate, a convenient family-style meal awaits you at a restaurant in your neighborhood!
If you’re ready to leave lunch and dinner to the pros, we’ve compiled our In-TEN-tionalist of family meals for a rainy day.
Ballard
The Pantry #SocialEnterprise #WomanOwned
The Pantry is a “community kitchen,” a social space made for local foodies. The Pantry regularly hosts culinary classes, five course family-style dinners, food swaps, and cookbook potlucks. Founded in 2011 by former executive pastry chef of Delancey pizzeria, Brandi Henderson, The Pantry seeks ways to donate to organizations that support education, education, political engagement, and social justice.
The Meal: Usually a “community kitchen,” The Pantry recently shifted to also offer family-style meals for pickup! Their rotating selection of chef-style meals change each month and serve 2-3 people. Some of their September meals include “The Greek Isles” with lamb souvlaki and baklava or “Farm Harvest Supper” with peach glazed chicken thighs and a blueberry pie.
Sazón Kitchen #FamilyOwned #LatinxOwned #WomanOwned
If you’re trying to shake up your usual brunch routine, head to Sazón Kitchen, the new brick-and-mortar café from Aldo and Angelica Gongóra, the chefs behind the popular Sazón Tacos pop-up. Munch on the family’s chilaquiles (corn tortillas fried with salsa and eggs), grain casseroles, loaded toasts, and machaca (beef stew with eggs) and sip agua frescas and local coffee. Bringing not-so-adventurous kiddos along? No worries, the Gongóras are still serving up classics like fruit-topped silver dollar pancakes and eggy sandwiches.
The Meal: Hungry for something hearty that will feed a family of four? The Family Feast Combo at Sazón Kitchen comes in six different varieties including machaca, enfrijoladas, burritos and french toast, tortas, chicken fajitas, and the chicken alambre and pastor combo.
Capitol Hill
Mamnoon #FamilyOwned #PoCOwned #WomanOwned
At Mamnoon, owners Racha and Wassef Haroun, strive to connect families and friends with their vibrant dishes hailing from Lebanon and Syria. The restaurant celebrates the fusion of cultures and flavors and fosters a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The Meal: The “Mama Family Meal” is a popular curbside pickup option that feeds 2-3 people. Customize the meal for your family by selecting a meat or vegetarian entree, seasonal salad, rotating side, and an order of labneh. You can add more orders to feed more people!
Plum Bistro #BlackOwned #WomanOwned
From the endlessly creative mind of chef Makini Howell, Plum Bistro offers the ultimate upscale vegan dining experience. Vegans and non-vegans alike will be pleasantly surprised by dishes that push the boundaries of vegan cuisine, from comfort classics to innovative creations.
The Meal: Plum Bistro recently released a kid-friendly family style dinner option available for pickup between 4-5pm. Options include their house-smoked tofu, Mac & Yease (dairy free, gluten free), and each purchase of their rotating Friday night community meal donates a meal to a family in need.
Fremont
Kamonegi #AsianOwned #WomanOwned
Chef and owner Mutsuko Soma, a Level 3 sake sommelier, returned to her roots to bring Seattle traditional soba noodles. While in Japan, Chef Soma discovered that Washington is one of the largest US producers of buckwheat, the staple soba ingredient–good news for Kamonegi, and for diners!
The Meal: If you have a little one under 12, when you order takeout from Kamonegi you get a free furikake (seaweed and sesame) onigiri! Lunchtime just got a little bit easier.
Hillman City
Sam Choy’s Poke to the Max #AsianOwned
Hawaiian celebrity chef Sam Choy opened the first location of his poke spot in San Bruno, California before opening a second spot in Seattle in 2018. The fresh seafood at this popular spot is regularly flown in from Hawaii, and used in modern poke combinations. Whether you opt for their Thai peanut poke or a poke taco, you’ll find that their menu items are as unique as they are tasty. Owners Sam Choy and Max Heigh have also reinvented musubis to be larger than typical, and smothered in aioli and unagi sauce.
The Meal: Sam Choy’s Poke to the Max offers three delicious options for Hawaiian-style family meals. The first meal option is the Hawaiian Kine which includes two choices of poke, your choice of fried chicken, kalua pork, steamed rice, and mac salad. Your second option is the Beach Pack which includes two spam musubi, your choice of fried chicken, and four Hawaiian sodas. Lastly, you can order the Island Taco Pack which includes six island street style tacos with the meat of your choice! Each meal feeds 2-3 people.
International District – Little Saigon
Pho Bac Súp Shop #AsianOwned #FamilyOwned #WomanOwned
In 1982, Cat’s Submarine’s Vietnamese customers requested pho instead of their American subs. Soon, the popular soup became the heart of the business, and it reopened as Pho Bac within a year. Co-owner Yenvy Pham and her siblings continue this legacy today.
The Meal: Pho Bac offers two different varieties of their Pho Kit Phamily Style that feed 2-4 people with spring rolls and egg rolls, large servings of pho, and your choice of dessert from Hood Famous Bakeshop.
Northgate
Indo Cafe #AsianOwned #FamilyOwned #WomanOwned
You might be surprised to learn that Seattle’s Indo Cafe is not only popular for its delicious Indonesian food but also for their avocado ice cream! Owners Kelsie Ngadisastra and Irwan Ngadisastra established the restaurant in 2004, and locals have continued to come back for delicious bakmi goreng jawa (egg noodle stir fry), nasi padang (rice plate with collard green curry), and gado-gado (warm salad with tofu and peanut sauce)! Bonus: Private rooms are available for parties and events!
The Meal: Indo Cafe launched an exclusive family meal program, available for preorder to feed 2, 4, or 6 people. Each meal includes either a meat or vegetarian entree and delicious sides. Check out their Facebook page for the menu!
West Seattle
Marination Ma Kai #AsianOwned #LGBTQOwned #WomanOwned
Since 2009, Kamala Saxton and Roz Edison have been serving their Hawaiian-Korean fusion cuisine with the motto “Everyday Aloha.” At Marination Ma Kai, situated on the shores of Alki, customers can enjoy favorites like the katsu sandwich or fish tacos on a dockside patio.
The Meal: Marination started offering at-home meal kits during the Stay-At-Home mandate. They offer three different meal options including their Luau Dinner which includes kalua pork or tofu poke, mac salad, signature slaw, white rice, hawaiian rolls with guava butter, and chocolate chip cookies. Feeling something else? Opt for a Big Blue Taco Pack that makes 10 tacos or a Slider 6-Pack!
Do you have a favorite go-to for delicious family meals? Let us know in the comments below!
Thanks for all that you do to #SpendLikeItMatters! Discover awesome brick + mortar small businesses in your community, suggest your favorites, and be sure that you’re following us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).
Intentionalist is your local guide to small businesses and the diverse people behind them. We believe that where you spend your money matters, and we’re sure glad you do too! Whether you identify as a localist, activist, or just a good neighbor, we make it easy for you to connect with, learn about, and support small businesses in your community through everyday decisions about where you eat, drink, and shop.