Bone-Sticking Comfort Meals Right Downtown Edmonds
Fall brings with it the return of many things: The consistent smell of cinnamon, the heat clicking on, soups, stews, and roasted poultry. And if we take a beat to look outside of ourselves, we see that many people associate the Pacific Northwest with the moodiness of this season specifically. So, embrace it we will, and we will be well fed while we do it.
Settle in as we detail some of our favorite bone-sticking comfort meals right Downtown Edmonds. From half birds to a newly-launched seafood-forward spice bag, you’ll find sustenance in this list.
And know we can’t be completely comprehensive, so there may be even more you discover on your self-guided comfort food tour around town!
Now, let’s eat through a Downtown full of meals that also feel like warm hugs.
Head to Calypso for Caribbean comforts! We’re talking Jalepeno Corn Bread, Adobo Camote Wedges (white sweet potatoes with sofrito and cilantro lime sauce), Sofrito Mac, or Oxtail Poutine to start. Then, warm up from the inside out with Peppered Beef Stew, Curried Goat, or Oxtail Tasta Pasta.
There’s just something about a pork tenderloin that says somebody loves you, and Charcoal’s is the perfect evidence of that affection. It arrives atop a caramelized carrot puree, accompanied by duck fat braised cabbage, pickled apple & pea vine slaw, and Pinot Noir gastrique. Add a beautiful glass of red or one of Charcoal’s brown liquor cocktails for extra warm and fuzzies.
And note, Charcoal changes its menu often, so you may come upon something new to try that’s equally comforting while you’re there!
The ChurchKey Pub
Nothing says comfort like pub fare does, and ChurchKey’s is on a whole other level. We love their Bavarian Pretzels (don’t sleep on the dessert version!), Baked Mashed Potatoes, House Chili, Shepherd’s Pie, Mac and Cheese, Bangers and Mash, and—of course—the Pot Pie. Oh, and don’t skip the most bone-sticking option of them all—Butter Chicken! Cheers to that.
If it were us, we’d start with an app, like Steak Bites (sauteed in red wine and garlic butter), Baked Brie, or Dungeness Crab Dip. For the main, we’d go with the rib-eye. Why? Obviously because of the garlic mashed potatoes.
There is so much to choose from here: We’d debate between the Pork Shank Ossobuchini with Wild Mushroom Linguini (Ossobuchini Maiale), Wild Boar Ragu with Pappardelle, or one of their Spaghettis. If you’re veggie-forward, consider the Wild Mushroom Risotto. And if we were going really hard on that warm fall feeling, we’d finish with the Molten Chocolate Lava Cake.
Fire & The Feast
The Specials here always show off seasonality. We’d go for the Butternut Squash Ravioli here since we know it won’t last for long. We’d add on Focaccia and Roman Meatballs for our appetizers. Then, we’d consider the Duck Carbonara, Manicotti all’Arrabbiata, Bolognese Rigatoni or Seafood Risotto for our main—in addition to that Ravioli we mentioned earlier. Might make sense to bring a larger group and share—just saying!
Pot Pie is the definition of fall comfort, and Leftcraft’s is made with house-made pie crust. We also love the Quarter Chicken Bowl, which comes with mixed grains, mushrooms, roasted veggies, and blistered cherry tomatoes. For a fall-forward drink, consider the Rose & Rye, which has rosemary syrup, cardamom, and orange bitters.
Maize & Barley
While many know them for their drinks, we love Maize & Barley for their food just as much. Consider the Beef Belly & Bean Stew, Black Eye Pea Dip, Ground Lamb Tacos, and Papas (potato wedges) with Garlic Sauce. Their house-made hot sauces are also so good you’ll be turning them around to look for a where to buy label.
With a newly-launched Spice Bag that’s already going viral on TikTok (here it is on Instagram, too), MARKET will lure you in with its legitimately delicious, video-worthy eats. The crab and lobster rolls are always a hit—especially for the new-to-Edmonds crew, like out-of-town relatives—and if we were looking to warm our bones, we’d order up a bowl of their Seafood Ramen. Plus, it’s an easy yes to order a chowder here. More of a bisque fan? Market’s comes in a mug or a sourdough bread loaf!
Pasta is arguably one of the most comforting of comfort foods. At Machiavelli, we’d consider the Fettuccine Alfredo (a classic), the Lasagna (also a classic), or Conchiglie Della Casa (shells, sausage, and marinara). If we want to be lower carb or are more into proteins, we’d consider the Veal or Chicken Parm, or Chicken Al Forno, a half-chicken roasted with rosemary and served with pan sauce.
You can keep it simple with a flavor-loaded Soup of the Day with garlic focaccia toast or go big with Rory’s Famous Baby Back Ribs. Talk about bone-sticking! These are also finger-licking.
Here, we’d start with Bread Service and Bone Marrow. Then, we’d go for a Seafood Chowder, the Filet, Maple Smoked Duck Breast, or Seafood Pot. Add a Sazerac, too—you’re celebrating the season!
SanKai
At SanKai, we’d start with the Miso Soup to warm our bellies and prepare for digestion. Then, we’d opt for the Hotate Gyoza (pan-fried scallop and prawn dumpling), Brussels Sprouts Tempura, and Gindara Kasuzuke (roasted, kasu-marinated black cod). We’d also consider the Shio-Koji Chicken Bowl, which comes with roasted chicken thigh marinated in salty rice malt and sauteed with assorted mushrooms and onion over steamed rice. Don’t forget the sake!
Santa Fe Mexican Grill & Cantina
Diners rave about the Queso Dip Con Jalapeño here, and if you want it extra bone-sticking, you’ll want to add Chorizo. Tortilla Soup and anything Mole are always comforts, but if we were going big, we’d order the Mar y Tierra, Santa Fe’s house specialty: Carne Asada paired with shrimp and mushrooms sautéed in white wine, butter, and garlic. It’s served with rice, beans, guacamole, and tortillas. The plates are big here, so we’d order this dish to share!
Remember, Camera Eats First
Show us where you’re enjoying your comfort meals! We’re @edmondsdowntown on Instagram and Facebook, and, while you’re tagging your favorite local accounts, we know the restaurants would appreciate any love you can give them, too.
By Whitney Popa, photos by Matt Hulbert
