Battle Local

This or That: Seattle Food Edition

A lightning round of local specialties, chosen by local chefs and restaurateurs.

By Naomi Tomky Illustrations by Betty Turbo October 20, 2025 Published in the Winter 2025/26 issue of Seattle Met

Forget the Apple Cup, Washington's hottest rivalries happen in the kitchen. Or on the streets under the lights of late-night al pastor taco stands and at the best Dick's locations in the city. We checked in with some of this year's industry movers and shakers to get their takes on the state's most fascinating informal culinary contests.

	Heong Soon Park Chef and restaurateur behind this year’s Gol Mok, Chan, Meet Korean BBQ, Luna Park Cafe, Cheese Room, and more.	Katrina Schult Co-owner and GM at Frelard’s upscale Turkish restaurant Hamdi.	James Huffman Recently appointed executive chef at Canlis.	Michelle Dean CEO and cofounder of Haitian-inspired mobile café/pop-up Bonhomie Coffee Bar.
Iconic dish Teriyaki or banh mi?	Teriyaki	Teriyaki	Teriyaki “Specifically Ichi Bento in Shoreline.”	Banh mi “I have a not-so-secret dream of doing a pop-up with a Vietnamese food vendor and call it ‘Banhomie.’ Given the shared French colonial history, I’ve been so intrigued by Vietnamese x Haitian cuisine collabs.”
Fancy fish Salmon or halibut?	Salmon	Salmon	Salmon if raw, halibut if cooked.	Salmon
Fast food Dick’s Drive-In or Taco Time NW?	Dick’s	Dick’s	Taco Time for lunch, Dick’s for late night.	“Is it a crime to say I haven’t had either?”
Nighttime nosh Cream cheese hot dog cart or tacos al pastor stand?	Al pastor tacos	Al pastor tacos	Al pastor tacos	Al pastor tacos “Taqueria El Ranchito is our go-to for the best tacos al pastor, chimichangas, etc.”
Premium produce Walla Walla onions or Yakima asparagus?	Walla Walla onions “Best onion in the world, sweet and underrated!”	Walla Walla onions	Asparagus in April and May, Walla Walla onions for the rest of the summer.	Asparagus