The October Hit List: Shiro’s, Lecosho, Il Nido, Super Six, Billiards Hoang, and More

While this sushi classic is known as a dine-in experience — namely one tied to the fame of the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi (chef Daisuke Nakazawa, like founder Shiro Kashiba, was an apprentice of Jiro Ono) — it’s also currently doing takeout, which doesn’t skip a beat in terms of quality and presentation. If you choose to dine in, expect masks to be required, hand sanitizer to be available and other sanitization protocols to be followed.

Dining status: Dining in by reservation only; takeout available.

Who ever said refined dining is dead? Mike Easton has set out to prove them wrong, in a time when that prediction seems to make perfect sense. Safety measures ranging from temperature checks in what Easton calls a “somewhat elegant” setting, to waiting in your car until your table is ready, and a socially distanced approach to service (be prepared to help pass a plate or two), are all signs of how Il Nido is trying to define a way forward in restaurant dining that’s reflective of the times.

Dining status: Indoor dining via reservation only.

Sophie and Eric Banh’s 19th Avenue spot remains a favorite for a spectrum of Vietnamese favorites beyond pho. From green papaya salad to the now-classic claypot catfish, expect top quality no matter how you choose to enjoy it. Pro tip: The swanky cocktail program has evolved with a to-go format; don’t miss the trio of sours.

Dining status: Takeout only in Seattle; Bellevue location has dining in (no reservations) and takeout.

Dim sum at this Seattle favorite requires quite a wait on the weekends, and in COVID times, there still manages to be a line at moments. While dim sum is an experience, at least when ordered off the carts here, and is usually best piping hot, takeout from doesn’t diminish the Jade Garden experience all that much — and without the wait. More info here.

Dining status: Indoor dining via walk-in; for takeout call 206-622-8181, or order here.

It requires skill to do takeout sushi right, and Sushi Kappo Tamura has finessed it — with fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation, and even a little dish for your soy sauce, if that’s your style of sushi-eating. If you’re open to dining in, the restaurant follows COVID protocols in seating only a handful of tables inside and on the patio, with a limit of five people per table, all of whom must be from the same household.

Dining status: Limited dining in; call 206-547-0937 for reservations. Takeout and delivery; more info here.

Matt Janke is used to being adaptable, having shined in his sliver of a former spot, Matt’s In the Market, and no different in these strange days. Expect his lovely take on European-influenced dishes, ranging from the familiar eats —the charcuterie plate and spaetzele — to more unique options, like Spanish octopus fried rice featuring ingredients like green tomato kimchi and berbere furikake. Lecosho requires diners to wear a face mask when not seated at their table, and expect employees to be masked at all times.

Dining status: Open for patio and indoor dining.

For some satisfying pho and banh mi, head to Billiards Hoang, which pre-COVID, doubled as a billiards hall. Takeout portions are generous, and while pho and banh-mi are favorites, rice plates and vermicelli bowls are also on the menu, as are a variety of noodle soups such as bánh canh, an udon noodle soup with shrimp, blood curd and sliced pork, and wonton noodle soup.

Dining status: Takeout only; call 206-723-2054 or order here.

Now there’s a permanent spot to fulfill your fry-bread taco cravings with the Native American food truck finding a home at the University of Washington’s Burke Museum. Try something simple like the sweet fry bread topped with your choice of jam, honey, lemon curd, nutella, or cinnamon-sugar (available all day!), or opt for a savory braised bison Indian taco and enjoy it with coffee, beer or wine, available to go.

Dining status: Dining in at the UW cafe; truck locations available here.

Any time the weather cools down, the ambiance of Smith makes you feel warm and cozy. Open for indoor dining, surround yourself with rustic decor and order the signature half-pound Smith burger with fries, and you’ll feel some semblance of normalcy. Other hearty dishes include poutine and roast chicken with a choice of two sides.

Dining status: Indoor dining via walk-in only; takeout available, including cocktails.

While summer might be over, it’s still nice enough to sit outside and enjoy a meal, especially when there’s covered tent seating, which Super Six has plenty of. Serving a mash-up of Asian-Hawaiian and American comfort food, if you’re not in the mood to head out for a meal, in addition to takeout, they also offer meal kits, like a Luau To Go and a Slider six-pack.

Dining status: Outdoor dining by walk-in; takeout available, including an online merch shop.

On the 16th floor of the Lotte Hotel Seattle is the newly opened Charlotte Restaurant & Lounge, which boasts rather stunning panoramic views of Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle, socially distanced, of course.

Dining stats: Indoor dining open for reservations.