Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, also known as the Chinatown-ID or simply the CID, may be one of Seattle’s most underrated neighborhoods. The food scene there is among the city’s best, with exciting new fusion eateries as well as some of Seattle’s oldest restaurants. Not only will you never be hungry there, but you’ll also never be bored thanks to the museums, shops, and free community-based events in the neighborhood. Ready to explore the CID?
Read on for our full guide to visiting Seattle’s Chinatown-International District!
Getting there
Seattle’s Chinatown-International District has a conveniently central location and is easily accessed by public transit. It is located just south of the downtown core and east of the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. It is also very close to Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park, making it a great neighborhood for grabbing a bite before a game or concert.
To get to the CID via public transit, you can take the Link light rail, the First Hill streetcar, or the bus. You can also walk there from nearby neighborhoods such as Pioneer Square, the Central District, and downtown.
Restaurants and cafes
Maneki is the oldest sushi restaurant in Seattle and Tai Tung Restaurant is Seattle’s oldest Chinese restaurant (and it was Bruce Lee’s favorite!). More recent additions to the neighborhood are Phở Bắc Sup Shop and The Boat: buzzy Vietnamese restaurants that sit next to each other and are owned by the same family.
In need of a quick, cheap bite? You can’t go wrong with a bánh mì from Saigon Deli. This grab-and-go spot offers the hearty, filling Vietnamese sandwich for under $10.
If you like Filipino food, Kilig is owned by the same group behind Seattle’s popular Musang restaurant in Beacon Hill. They offer a modern twist on Filipino classics in a bright, colorful space with friendly service. You can also get a delicious coffee and pastries at Hood Famous Cafe & Bar. This Filipino-inspired cafe is known for its ube-flavored baked goods.
If you’re craving more sweet treats, you need to head to Fuji Bakery. At this walk-up window you can treat yourself to Japanese-French pastries both sweet and savory. You must try their malasada donuts filled with flavors such as ube, matcha, and passion fruit.
For coffee, you have to try Hello Em Việt Coffee & Roastery, where you can get strong Vietnamese coffee drinks as well as pastries and sandwiches. And if you’re in the neighborhood during Christmastime, be sure to check out the over-the-top holiday decor at Jollidaze Cafe. They usually keep the decorations up well into January.
Things to do
If you’re interested in the history of Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, you should visit the Wing Luke Museum. The museum has exhibits focusing on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders as well as the CID. You’ll also discover a rich trove of Japanese American history at the Panama Hotel and Tea House. The hotel is a historic landmark for Japanese American heritage, and you can even book a room if you’d like to stay there—or just relax with tea or coffee in the cozy street-level cafe.
Once you’ve gotten your fill of local history, you can go shopping for snacks and hot food at the large Asian grocery store Uwajimaya. While you’re there don’t miss Kinokuniya Bookstore, a two-story Japanese bookstore tucked inside that has lots of manga, Studio Ghibli merch, and more. Then take your snacks to Hing Hay Park and enjoy them while watching a ping pong match.
Another fun spot in the Chinatown-International District is the Seattle Pinball Museum. After paying an entrance fee of about $20, you can enjoy unlimited free play on their 50+ pinball machines all day. (Note that kids under age 7 are not admitted, with the exception of infants and toddlers.)
If you’re looking to do some retail therapy in the CID, we recommend shopping at Sairen. This woman-owned boutique is full of cute clothes, art, and home goods from independent Asian-American and local makers.
Upcoming events
Seattle’s Chinatown-International District has a close-knit community that is always putting together events that celebrate the neighborhood’s culture and small businesses. Here are some free events in the CID coming up this August:
- C-ID Monthly Community Clean-Up on Saturday, August 9 at Hing Hay Park at 10:00 a.m.
- Hai! Japantown on Saturday, August 9 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.
- Volunteer to Compost every Saturday in August at the Danny Woo Community Garden starting at 10:30 a.m.
- Coffee & Conversation on Monday, August 11 at 2:00 p.m. at The International District/Chinatown library branch.
- Celebrate Little Saigon 2025 on Saturday, August 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Hoa Mai Park.
- CID Food Walk on Saturday, August 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Summerween: End of summer celebration on Saturday, August 30 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the International District/Chinatown Community Center.
- Seattle Chinatown Book Club at 11:00 a.m. every last Sunday of the month at Mam’s Bookstore.
And here are some annual events to put in your calendar now:
- CID Night Market on Saturday, September 27.
- Small Business Saturday Food Walk on the last Saturday of November.
- Lunar New Year (2026 date TBD, typically in January or February).
You can find more details about the above events and more on the Seattle Chinatown-ID website. See you in the CID!