Dining 101: Your Guide to Whatcom County Restaurants
Casual, upscale, and everything in between: Here’s where to eat in Bellingham and Whatcom County
Ah, the perennial challenge of deciding where to eat. We’ve been there, which is why we’ve compiled a handy guide to help you navigate Whatcom’s dining scene.
Across the region, you can find any type of cuisine: authentic Mexican, elevated Italian, hidden gem sushi spots, casual burger joints, and of course, lots of seafood.
Find your next favorite restaurant in Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale, Blaine, and Birch Bay.
Food trucks
Nearly every brewery in the county has a regular lineup of food trucks, but many of these mobile restaurants are also stationed at farmers markets, popup events, and off-the-beaten-path. Check out our local brewery guide to see who’s serving where any night of the week, and follow your favorites stay up to date with these rolling restaurants.
The best part about these mobile eateries is the sheer variety of cuisine they collectively offer. For authentic Filipino food, try Lumpia Love; order gyros and loaded Greek fries from Greektown; get grilled cheese from the Burnt Side Down trailer; indulge in Southern-style smoked barbecue from Danielle’s Back East BBQ; and sample authentic Mexican food from El Tapatio—people rave about the burrito. If you’re in the mood for pizza, Tam Tam, which you can find at Bellingham’s farmers market and the Dockside Market, serves beautifully blistered pies with creative toppings.
Classy joints
In-laws in town? Want to impress your date? These spots are all about atmosphere and quality food.
Carnal in Bellingham, led by three chefs from Brooklyn, specializes in slow-cooked short rib and live-fire cooking. Their sister restaurant, Estelle in Fairhaven, serves seasonally-inspired comfort food and craft cocktails, and was recently voted one of the best new restaurants in America by Esquire. Storia Cucina, also in Bellingham, serves carefully-plated pasta, antipasti, and cocktails, and has outdoor patio seating. The Fork at Agate Bay, a 20-minute drive from downtown Bellingham, is a classic fine dining spot with menu items like dungeness crab, oysters, risotto, and dry-aged ribeye. Leader Block Trattoria & Bar is one of Ferndale’s best restaurants. Come for their Northern Italian-inspired dishes and extensive wine list.
No frills, just good food
We like to keep things casual in this corner of the PNW. These spots don’t have a dress code, so you can come as you are and enjoy top-quality bites.
Hokkai Ramen & Sushi is tucked away in a shopping plaza off Meridian Street. This family-owned, chef-led spot serves some of the best ramen and sushi rolls in the area. Another hidden gem in a shopping plaza, Thai Maison, adjacent to Trader Joe’s, is one of Bellingham’s top-rated Thai spots. The chef-owners met in culinary school in Bangkok before relocating to Bellingham. Cafe Rumba in Bellingham is well-known for their casual atmosphere and quality, authentic Peruvian food. Drayton Harbor in Blaine serves fresh oysters from a farm less than a mile away, plus apps like fries and shrimp kebabs. You can sit on the deck overlooking the Semiahmoo Bay or try your hand at darts indoors.
Fun for the whole family
All ages are welcome at a number of breweries in Bellingham and Whatcom County, and many locals take little ones along to Boundary Bay, which has plenty of food options for kids and adults. Plus, there’s room for kids to stretch their legs in the beer garden. Old Town Cafe in Bellingham, which sources the bulk of ingredients from local and regional vendors, has lots of kid favorites on the menu items like French toast, “teddy bear” hotcakes, and half-portion grilled cheese. They serve breakfast all day from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (8–2 on Sundays). Sliced on Bellis Fair Parkway in Bellingham has a wide selection of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and desserts to satisfy everyone in your party. Gateway 1890 in Blaine is a casual spot with burgers, sidewinder fries, and weekly specials like rustic pasta Wednesdays. They have indoor and deck seating overlooking the water. Syros in Lynden is a family-friendly spot serving large portions of affordable Greek and Italian cuisine.
All about the views
One of the main draws of Whatcom County is our landscapes: the coastline with islands in the distance, sprawling mountain ranges, and lush greenery. You can appreciate the natural beauty surrounding the area while dining at a number of restaurants. True to its name, the storied Waterfront Tavern in Bellingham overlooks Whatcom Creek. The low-key joint serves fish and chips and other fried favorites, and has pub games like pool, darts, and pull tabs. Packer’s Kitchen + Bar at the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine is equal parts classy and casual. They serve quality seafood, burgers, and pasta entrees, and offer incredible views of sunset over the bay through their floor to ceiling windows. The Black Cat in Fairhaven is on the top floor of the historic Mason Block Building, high enough to see views of downtown and the waterfront. The Bay Breeze in Birch Bay is as close as you can get to eating on the beach without being outside. The Lighthouse Bar and Grill, an elevated steak and seafood restaurant within the Bellweather Hotel, offers prime views of the Bellingham Bay from inside and on the patio.