Thursday, October 1, 2026
By Maria A. Montalvo
Most of us have a favorite romantic restaurant or spot to meet a friend – those hidden gems we feel like we’ve discovered or are one of the few to enjoy, and, selfishly, we kind of hope remain hidden. If we want them to be successful, though, it is only right to share and hope that others come to love them as much as we do.
Not too long ago, residents had only a few spots to choose from, and not many outside visitors came to Edmonds, Mukilteo, or Mill Creek to dine. These days, though, south Snohomish County is brimming with fantastic restaurants. High-profile spots – like Salt and Iron in Edmonds, Hook & Cleaver in Mukilteo, and The Northern Public House in Mill Creek – are now big fish in an ever-growing pond.
When we talk about hidden gems, we’re referring to outstanding places that aren’t widely known or recognized. Finding a good one can make you feel like Indiana Jones or Dora the Explorer, or, since we are talking about food, perhaps bring to mind the late, great Anthony Bourdain.
Restaurants abound along the Mukilteo Speedway, and if you do not know what you are looking for, it can be overwhelming to choose a spot. Most know that some of the region’s best pizza is there (thank you, Brooklyn Brothers), as well as favorite brew-pubs (Tapped and Diamond Knot).
At the strip mall that shares space with the local QFC, you’ll find Taqueria Puebla. When you hear former Californians complaining about the lack of authentic Mexican food, tell them about this place. The food is inspired by the food and cafes of Puebla, Mexico. Chow down on a couple of street tacos, or jump in for the big classic burrito with your choice of meat. There’s more – mole poblano, quesadillas, sopes, among them. 11700 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo.
If you find yourself speeding on the Speedway, Pho Café is a spot worth slowing down for. Their menu offers a small but deliberate selection of pho, bun (vermicelli noodles), rice dishes, and Bahn mi sandwiches. They are also known for their egg and spring rolls, and once you try them, you’ll see why. Pho Café is about the food, and you will be happier once you try it. 8410 Mukilteo Speedway, Suite G, Mukilteo.
But there is much more to find when you keep looking.
You’ll have to get off the Speedway and into Old Town to find Little Prague Bakery, legendary in West Seattle, before opening a location on Second Street. Owner Blanka Ly channels her great-grandmother and offers clientele classic Eastern European baked goods. From apple strudel to Hungarian goulash with dumplings, the recipes from her family in the Czech Republic have been passed down for generations. (Now you know where you can taste Hungarian goulash with dumplings if that’s on your bucket list.)
The goulash is a slow-cooked beef stew served with, you guessed it, homemade steamed bread dumplings. If craving something sweet, Little Prague is famous for its kolaches, a sweet bread with a variety of fillings, as well as its sweet and savory breakfasts and lunches. 801 Second St., Mukilteo.
Highway 99, just east of Mukilteo, also has much to offer, like Rinconcito Peruano (18904 Highway 99, #4, Lynnwood) and
T Dumpling House (3625 148th St. SW, #A, Lynnwood).
Downtown Edmonds is known for many a favorite spot, so not too many hidden gems to mention, while Highway 99
and 196th Street SW feature so many spots that you will go back to again and again – once you find them.
Bangkok Boulevard is new to its location, and making fans of everyone who visits. It is just a few doors down from the fantastic Harvest Wonton Noodle (so yummy) and across the street from the beloved Rise & Shine Bakery. Hosoonyi and Dumpling Generation are two spots for deliciousness that are hard to find but right next to each other in a small strip mall on the south end of Edmonds. 22923 Highway 99, Edmonds.
Mr. Gyros Express is a food truck that is not quite a food truck, stationary in a parking lot by Tazza di Vita drive-through coffee (officially in Lynnwood). We drive by it nearly daily and have gotten into the habit of stopping regularly. Mediterranean food is one of my favorites, and nothing disappoints on this little menu from this little counter in this little yellow-and-black cabin. The falafel, the gyros, the hummus, the Greek fries. Yum! 5124 168th St. SW, Lynnwood.
Mill Creek has nearly endless shopping areas to explore for hidden gems. Locals love Bequest Coffee, Elliott Bay Pizza, Indigo Kitchen & Alehouse, and Claypit Indian Cuisine, but there are a number of other joints to duck into for a nice meal.
Wasabi Bay was one of the first restaurants we visited after moving here in the early 2000s, and lucky for all of us, it is still there serving the most delicious sushi. The restaurant and sushi master Jin Hwan Chung are committed to traditional ingredients and techniques. You will be treated to a beautiful platter of sushi (we have never been there and not made spectacles of ourselves). It is a bit hard to find if you do not know where to look. It’s south of the Mill Creek Town Center. 16300 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek.
Love a good steak? A good steak is certainly not cheap these days, but if you’re willing to splurge, you have to visit Rare Society. Open for three years now, you’ll have to leave the popular Town Center to dine at this retro spot, where Frank Sinatra would have felt welcome. There’s filet mignon, ribeye, New York, and Wagyu Denver, but also Snake River Farms Wagyu tri-tip. Californians have been gorging on tender, juicy tri-tip for decades. This could be your chance to experience the buzz. 13223 39th Ave. SE, Mill Creek.
Not officially in Mill Creek, but so very close, is Sabai Sabai. This restaurant serves Laotian and Thai cuisine with a dedication to freshness and quality that reminds you why people open restaurants – to share their love of food. I did not know green beans could taste so good (peanut phad prik khing), and their array of curries will have you going back for more. They also enjoy putting on a bit of a show, with an exhibition kitchen to watch the preparation. The staff are as lovely as the food is good. 1120 164th St. SW, #B, Lynnwood.
El Mariachi Birria y Tacos is the hands-down winner of all plates Mexican – once you know where to find it. I had pretty high expectations when we visited El Mariachi, given all the hype about the quality and flavors. It was even better than I could have imagined. It is not only the fresh ingredients, the deep, complex flavors in everything from a pickled onion to a salsa to pastor pork, or even the friendly service. 6100 Evergreen Way, Everett.
The team at El Mariachi Birria y Tacos clearly cares about putting out an incredibly tasty plate of food while also offering menu options deliciously created to meet the needs of nearly everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions. Taco Tuesdays is way too limiting when we have an affordable, authentic, delicious, and welcoming place like El Mariachi. 6100 Evergreen Way, Everett.
Who says you can’t get a delicious burger for under $20 these days? Have you heard of Mikie’s, not too far from Mukilteo (and El Mariachi) on Evergreen Way? Can you believe a single hamburger with ketchup, mustard, and pickle for $3.10? Double bacon cheeseburger for $7? Double bacon cheeseburger with small fries and a medium drink for $12? Other options: A three-piece order of fish and chips with coleslaw and fries for $12.50? 4532 Evergreen Way, Everett.
Dumpling World will rock your world. Enough said. Well, not really. Dumpling World is a new addition to the Pacific Northwest, opening its seventh location in Everett, just off Highway 99 on SE Everett Mall Way. The pan-fried soup dumplings are nothing short of magical, and the sheer range of choices of dumplings will have you going back time after time. (Note: definitely get the thumb buns, too.) This spot is hard to find, with a small storefront in a busy strip mall, but once you walk in and enter your name on the tablet to get on the waiting list, you will know you are in the right place. Those who know are so grateful they do, so don’t miss it. 620 SE Everett May Way, #400, Everett.
Port Gamble General Store and Café sets the standard for the locals across the Sound, so it is not much of a hidden gem on the Peninsula, but those of us on this side of the Puget Sound likely do not know about it. Every time we go across on the ferry, it is a necessary stop. Not only does the store offer a range of wonderful gifts, snacks, and items you just seem to need, but the café is also downright fantastic. Breakfast burritos, salads, and truly creative sandwiches round out the menu that always starts with a good cup of coffee and baked goods. While you might not be able to go there for lunch on any given day, the next time you take the ferry and drive north from Kingston, why stop anywhere else? 32400 Rainier Ave. NE, Port Gamble.
There are so many hidden gems across south Snohomish County. Take a chance and stop at any of these, but also go in search of others. Most restaurants are started by dreamers who love food and want to share something with their friends and neighbors – being a part of that is as special to them as it is to you.
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