WA's First Steak 'n Shake; A Guide to Seattle's Chinese Restaurants

Welcome to CascadiaWire, a weekly collection of restaurant news from up-and-down the Pacific Northwest corridor.

DOWNTOWN — The adored Midwest-based Steak 'n Shake chain is headed to Seattle—and it's bringing alcohol. The new Steak 'n Shake, Washington state's first, will set up in the 2,800-square-foot former Bruno's space at 1417 3rd Avenue downtown. If you know the fast casual burger chain, you'll note some differences from the usual, says one of the franchise owners, former marketer Joe Fernandez. While most Steak 'n Shakes have traditionally lived in free-standing buildings, Seattle's will be a new version of the restaurant rolling out across the country in strip malls and other connected buildings.

EATER MAPS — Over the years, the Seattle area's Chinese food scene has been gradually expanding from the predominantly Cantonese fare found primarily in the International District to more diverse offerings that are particularly strong on the Eastside. While we're not yet able to give a ringing endorsement to any restaurant for dim sum service, there's good quality to be found in the way of hot pots, Sichuanese and Taiwanese cuisine, and Shanghai-style dumplings. We've traveled the area, downing dumplings and "suffering" through the spiciest of chili-laced dishes to bring you these 13 recommended Chinese restaurants.

FOOD MEDIA — Food writing legend Ruth Reichl has been in Seattle the last few days promoting her new cookbook, My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life. Her Friday dinner with Left Bank Books, and her duo of Book Larder events at Renee Erickson restaurants today —lunch at The Whale Wins and dinner at Walrus and the Carpenter—sold out in a flash, but we thought you might be interested in where (else) she's eaten while in our fair city. Eater Seattle is tracking her movements at local restaurants.