Seattle’s dining scene has earned another national nod, with The Wayland Mill landing on Bon Appétit’s list of the 19 best new restaurants in America for 2026.
The annual list celebrates restaurants that opened between March 2025 and March 2026 and stand out for what the magazine describes as “bold visions and fearless menus.” Bon Appétit’s team looked for restaurants willing to challenge established formulas, take risks and put community and creativity at the center of the dining experience.
For Seattle diners, that means a spot in North Lake Union is getting national attention for a distinctly personal take on American comfort food.
Bon Appétit describes The Wayland Mill as “a Pacific Northwest love letter to the Midwest vis-à-vis Japan,” highlighting the all-day restaurant’s setting near a popular neighborhood trail. They also mention the lengthy lines that can form on weekends. The magazine says the experience, whether dining in or taking food to go, is defined by “indulgent hospitality.”
At the heart of the restaurant is chef and owner Yasuaki Saito’s concept of “yoshoku Americana,” a Japanese interpretation of American diner food shaped by his Japanese American background and upbringing in St. Louis.
That perspective shows up in dishes such as biscuits and gravy made with miso and tender chashu pork, while the meatloaf comes with sweet-tangy tonkatsu sauce and a soft slice of shokupan from Saito’s bakery, Saint Bread.
Bon Appétit also singled out the pastry case, developed with pastry chef Ellary Collins, which rotates through creations including smoked-bacon, ginger and scallion scones, and peanut-butter shoyu icebox pie.
For the magazine, the appeal goes beyond novelty. The Wayland Mill offers what it calls a “palate-expanding, mouthwatering trip,” rooted in nostalgia but willing to reinterpret it. That combination helped put the Seattle restaurant among the country’s most exciting new dining destinations of 2026.
