Home to only a few of the city’s long-celebrated restaurants, Ballard has exploded with fine dining options over the past few years. Many of these popular restaurants are concentrated along a cluster of northwest Market Street, within walking distance of AMLI Mark24. Here is a handful of restaurants worth visiting in this Ballard dining hotspot.
8oz Burger
The Seattle burger market is saturated with great options, and 8oz Burger is definitely one of them. From the espresso-rubbed Union Burger to the fiery hot Pike Burger, options aside from the classic hamburger abound. A vegan pretzel roll can be substituted as the bun for any burger on the menu. Garlic truffle fries, roasted broccolini, and IPA onion rings make choosing a side a challenge. And an impressive draft beer menu and the daily happy hour further add to 8oz Burger’s great appeal. For residents of the Ballard apartments at AMLI Mark24, another plus is the fact that the chain’s second location recently opened directly across the street. AND since 8oz Burger is an AMLI PERKS Partner, residents also get a 15 percent discount!
Golden Beetle
Organic Mediterranean cuisine is Golden Beetle’s specialty, and the restaurant does it well. From the baba ganoush to the wood-fired Turkish pizza, every item on the Golden Beetle menu has an obvious Middle Eastern touch. The atmosphere and chef Maria Hines’ cooking make dinner at this Market Street restaurant, three blocks east of AMLI Mark24, a memorable experience.
Hazlewood
A two-minute walk from AMLI Mark24’s Ballard apartments, the artfully divey Hazlewood is a favorite for happy hour. The bar is cozy, and the upstairs loft where live music often plays cozier still. Discounts on drinks all day Sunday and between 4 and 7 PM every other day make Hazlewood’s craft cocktails and carefully curated beer selection all the more pleasing.
The Sloop Tavern
Many of Market Street’s most popular restaurants and bars today are relatively recent arrivals. This is not true of Sloop Tavern, a Ballard mainstay since 1953. Respectable pub grub is available in large quantities, and a”Sloopersized” one-liter beer will set you back just five dollars. Darts, pinball, and two pool tables can keep your happy hour lively. If you’re an AMLI Mark24 resident, you don’t have to worry about parking, designated driving, or a taxi. Sloop Tavern is a five-minute walk.
Pestle Rock Thai
Next door to Hazlewood and just a two-minute walk from AMLI Mark24, Pestle Rock Thai is one of the most celebrated Asian restaurants in Ballard. Serving authentic Isan food from Thailand’s culturally rich north, Pestle Rock is known for its kao soi, yum kao tod, savory pork dishes, rich sauces, and traditional Thai beverages. The hospitality and flavors at Pestle Rock Thai make it worth considering anytime someone in your party has a Thai food craving.
Ballard Avenue gives Market Street a run for its money where quality retail and dining options are concerned, but northwest Market Street may be the epicenter of the Ballard restaurant scene. If you live in an AMLI Mark24 apartment and have not visited any of these nearby establishments, check them out to get a taste of what’s around you.
Ballard residents, what are your favorite Market Street restaurants? Share in the comments.
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst