New Mexico Green Chile Sopa from Cactus. Photo source.
Some like it hot… especially when it’s cool outside! Here’s where to slurp a bowl of hearty soup at favorite Seattle spots.
Americana | 219 Broadway E | 206-328-4604
Fall flavors unite under the weekly specials menu at this Capitol Hill comfort food kitchen. Tuck into a bowl of creamy pumpkin bisque and pair it with the seasonal cocktail du jour: aged apple brandy, apple cider, cardamom bitters, and the chef’s own housemade ginger beer. Still hungry? Nothing spells comfort quite like carbs, and finishing your meal with a bacon flatbread with roasted sweet potato puree and fontina cheese will land you in a delightful food coma.
Bai Tong Thai Street Cafe | 1121 E Pike St | 206-787-8448
Spicy-sour or delicate and creamy, Thai soup is sure to thaw your chilly bones. Order a bowl of Tom Kah (coconut milk soup with straw mushroom caps, lemongrass, galangal root, and optional chicken, tofu, or prawns) or Tom Yum (spicy-sour broth with straw mushroom caps, lemongrass, galangal root, and optional chicken, tofu, or prawns).
Cactus | Multiple locations
Choose from any of five Cactus locations in the Seattle area, including SLU, Madison Park, and in Bellevue Square on the Eastside, and sit down for a hearty Southwestern-style soup at lunch or dinner. Options include tortilla soup (shredded chicken, ancho chiles and fire-roasted tomatoes topped with fresh avocado, chopped cilantro, and blue corn tortilla strips) and the New Mexico Green Chile Sopa (hatch green chiles, tomatoes, buttermilk crema, and cilantro). For a limited time, items on the rotating Feature Menu will benefit hurricane relief efforts for Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Order a bowl of Tomato-Chipotle Bisque (with buttermilk crema and fresh marjoram) and Cactus will donate $1 to the American Red Cross. Menu available for a limited time only, so call ahead to confirm availability.
Cure | 1641 Nagle Pl | 206-568-5475
Sometimes soup is best enjoyed with a sandwich on the side. This Capitol Hill charcuterie joint puts its own spin on classic tomato soup and grilled cheese with the Raclette and Housemade Tomato Soup, which features warm, melty raclette cheese atop a baguette. Alternatively, opt for a bowl of creamy, from-scratch artichoke soup.
Doc's Marina Grill | Multiple locations
Get a taste of Doc’s famous housemade clam chowder at either location in Port Townsend or Bainbridge Island (bonus: it’s gluten-free!). You can also find the She-Crab Soup exclusively on the Port Townsend menu (a Southern specialty featuring Pacific Northwest Dungeness Crab in a rich sherry-lemon cream sauce topped with red caviar). Tempted by the burger and sandwich list? Order a side of chowder with your main dish!
Wilde Rover | 111 Central Way, Kirkland | 425-822-8940
Across Lake Washington, Kirkland is the unexpected home of a cozy Irish pub with a comforting menu to boot. Peruse the hearty lunch and dinner soup list, which includes Celtic clam chowder (Pacific clams, red potatoes, onions, celery, smoky bacon, and fresh herbs served with a slice of housemade Irish soda bread), Ale & Onion (beef and onion broth, slow-roasted onions, and gruyere, parmesan, and crusty bread on top), and Guinness Lamb Stew (slow-cooked leg of lamb, carrots, sweet onions, and potatoes in a rich Guinness and rosemary gravy, all served with Irish soda bread). Head in on any weekday to take advantage of the lunch trio: your choice of half a sandwich, a cup of soup (or small salad), and chips (fries) or crisps. Don’t forget a cold draught beer to wash it all down. Sláinte!
