15 new restaurants, cafes and a food pod to try around Pierce County
An ambitious cafe has opened downtown, an experience chef has landed in McKinley with an all-day Filipino restaurant, and pizza has returned to Proctor.
These are just a few of the new places to eat and drink around Tacoma and the South Sound this spring.
In our last edition of recently opened restaurants, we highlighted a cocktail bar in a coffee shop, several fresh faces on Tacoma's evolving Sixth Avenue, and a few spots in Fife and Federal Way.
As we look toward summer, here's a look at new restaurants and food trucks in Pierce County.
▪ 921 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-797-8605, thirdspacetacoma.com
Kevin Lee has assuredly made a splash since announcing his new breakfast and lunch spot in downtown Tacoma and opening in April. You won't recognize the old Pita Pit, as the space now feels airy and bright, ready for you to dig into a biscuit sandwich, a slice of quiche, a salad, a pastry from the awesome Lobo Bakery or a fun flavor from The Common Cookie. Eggs are cracked fresh. Espresso hails from down the street at Naomi Joe Coffee Roasters. Folks have swung by and returned already for more. Let's hope this invigorating energy leads to more investment in this stretch of Pac Ave. Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m.- 3 p.m.
▪ 764 Broadway, Tacoma, 253-302-5296, instagram.com/cafebostwick
Formerly Cremello Cafe, Bostwick Cafe's previous name has returned but again under new ownership. Cecile Lahti took over the downtown coffee shop in March and recently expanded to a full seven-day-a-week schedule. Find Caffe d'Arte coffee, pastries, light sandwiches, and lots of space and outlets to spread out and stay a while.
▪ 716 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-327-1680, oddotterbrewing.com
Under new ownership since January 2024, downtown Tacoma's only still-standing brewery (for the moment, perhaps) is now serving food. Former Grit City Greens co-owner Sean Guay spearheaded a new in-house food truck, from which taproom customers — or anyone in need of sustenance — can order paninis, sub-style sandwiches and brats. There's also charcuterie boards, potato salad and grilled cheese 'dunkers,' if you'd prefer a nibble during trivia or to accompany your beer.
▪ 3511 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, lechonlocorestaurant.com
At his new McKinley Hill restaurant, chef Gerold Castro blends years of hospitality experience with his Filipino heritage while honoring the many Mexican cooks who keep America's kitchens running. Dishes range from lumpia and crispy pork belly with guava-chili jam to mahi mahi or lechon and braised-pork tacos, from chicken mole to Filipino-style beef caldereta and pancit. Breakfast is served all day, including a longanisa burrito, ube French toast and lechon benedict, plus coffee and a full bar. Open Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m-7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
▪ 2515 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253-301-2994, fondi.com
Fondi has been a well-loved name in Gig Harbor dating to the early 2000s and in 2019 became independently owned and operated. Chris Olson scooped up the former Millhouse (and before that, Europa Bistro) space in the heart of Tacoma's Proctor District for its second location of this new era, opening in April. Here a gas-powered oven churns out the same Neapolitan-style pies. The salads come in three generous sizes, there's a full bar and the place is family-friendly. Brisk business for dine-in and takeout is anticipated. Open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
▪ 11101 Pacific Highway, Lakewood, 253-302-4564, facebook.com
This space near the Lakewood train station has seemingly been cursed in recent years, but its neighbors, Kko Kko Chicken and Los Cuervos, are busy destinations. VK has attracted a loyal following in the Lincoln District since opening in 2019, especially for its Northern Vietnamese specialties. Maybe these owners have the goods to hold strong here in Lakewood, too, which they introduced in early April. Beyond the usual, try the cha ca la vong (halibut cooked in turmeric, scattered with dill and served with baguette), grilled whole squid and cold duck salad. Open Thursday-Tuesday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (closed Wednesdays).
▪ 8408 Steilacoom Blvd., Lakewood, 253-495-5043, instagram.com/ilovetacos253
I Love Tacos first landed in Tacoma's East Side (716 E. 64th St.) and then added a second truck parked regularly in downtown Puyallup (203 W. Pioneer Ave.). This spring, co-owner Hugo Maldonado added a third truck in Lakewood, just east of Fort Steilacoom Park. Choose among asada, pastor, chorizo, pollo and tripe on tacos, quesadillas, mulitas and tortas. Other popular items include the classic California-style burrito, supreme nachos and the Love Asada fries. Open Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
▪ 2365 Tacoma Ave. S, Tacoma, caribbeantogo.com/order
The owners of two mobile restaurants have teamed up to offer their Caribbean food through a takeout-only kitchen near downtown Tacoma. Abby Woods of Trini Plate, which you can also find on Saturdays at Proctor Farmers Market, and Karen Stringer of Bajan Station are serving Trinidadian doubles (baras, or flatbreads, with channa and your choice of sauces, including a tamarind chutney and Scotch Bonnet pepper sauce), halal jerk wings, pigeon peas and rice cooked in coconut milk, salt-cod fritters, handpies and more. Orders preferred directly through Square online, but you can also use DoorDash — delivery is available for a fee, but you can also avoid extra costs by picking up at the commissary kitchen. Ordering open Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
▪ Waterfront Market, 5101 Yacht Club Road, Tacoma, instagram.com/bellysmoothieco
The Waterfront Market near Point Ruston has a new tenant in the anchor stall next to the main entrance. Belly Smoothie Co. opened in May with a menu of smoothies (Sunny Dee, Jelly Belly, Thin Mint and Get Nuts among them), fresh juices, espresso drinks and matcha lattes. It replaced Zaya, a Ukrainian bakery and cafe, which replaced Dancing Goats Coffee Bar. While at the market, you can also check out Bobaholic Cafe, Wild Sugar Gelato, Eco Purpose Boutique, The Kind Bee and Co., Shugie's Jewelry and Gifts, and more local businesses. The smoothie bar is open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
▪ Point Ruston, 5115 Grand Loop, Tacoma, 253-448-2145, wildfinamericangrill.com/whatacatchtacoma
The walk-up-only fish and chips counter from Wildfin American Grill is now open for the season. (Note that it sometimes closes in inclement weather.) Pick up a basket of Alaskan cod or halibut dipped to order in a beer batter, starting at two pieces for $15.59 or $19.48. The menu also features buttermilk-marinated, steak-cut fried calamari, crisp cod or banh mi-style seared cod tacos, and seafood chowder. Add a cup to any main for $3.99. Wash it down with a blackberry-basil milkshake or a soft-serve ice cream cone. Open Monday-Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Thursday-Sunday at 11:30 a.m., closing at dusk.
▪ Pind Kohala Food Pod, 1824 S. Meridian, Puyallup
The owners of Little India and RJ's Burgers at Tacoma's Freighthouse Square have opened a food pod in Puyallup. Just south of MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital, the outdoor food court hosts three trucks: one with a similar menu to Raj Singh and Rajinder Kaur's original Indian restaurant, one serving pizza and burgers with an Indian twist, plus a coffee shop called Mocha Stop. Open daily 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
▪ 1128 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, gvespresso.com
Good Vibes Espresso added a seventh location to its series of coffee huts in Pierce County, joining three other Tacoma shops, two in Puyallup and one in Fife. Using Dillano's roasts, the shop offers your typical espresso drinks in many sizes — from a two-shot 12-ounce to a four-shot 24-ounce hot, and up to a whopping five shots and 32 ounces cold. Specialties include Hawaiian salted caramel with white chocolate, Lava Flow with strawberry and coconut, and Liquid Sunshine with pear, white peach and pineapple. Smoothies, energy spritzers and Italian sodas are available, as well as on-the-go food and pastries. Open weekdays at 4:30 a.m., Saturdays at 5:30 a.m. and Sundays at 6:30 a.m.
▪ 8825 N. Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor, 253-432-4211, gigharborthaicuisine.com
Chili Thai, which operates five other restaurants in Pierce and Kitsap counties, took charge of Gig Harbor Thai Cuisine this spring. The owners had been seeking a restaurant on this side of the Narrows, but closer to the bridge than their existing Silverdale outpost, for about a year, manager Paul Tuncheleeporn told The Gateway in May. They decided in this case to keep the existing Gig Harbor moniker but have expanded the menu to match their other locations. Importantly for the summer months, they invested in air-conditioning! Open Monday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at noon.
▪ 3550 Market Place W., University Place, 253-541-2744, theessentialpantry.com
This new shop from Wendy Schutzler and David Coldiron is a cook's delight in University Place and a great place to shop for anyone in your life who loves a good home-cooked meal. The Essential Pantry specializes in curated goods including a range of olive oils sourced from around the world, various vinegars for cooking and drizzling, and dried herbs and spices a-plenty. The shelves also are stocked with select kitchen goods like mugs, bowls, linens and cookbooks. Across from Whole Foods, next to Pearl Tea and Chambers Bay Distillery. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kevin Costner Still Pining for Jewel After Rumored Romance: ‘She Has Other Priorities'
Kevin Costner and '90s folk-pop queen Jewel's rumored romance may have fizzled out a while ago, but he remains a huge admirer of her music, and he's looking forward to being front and center at her upcoming performances whilst quietly hoping it'll lead to more, Life & Style has exclusively learned. "Kevin's big miscalculation in his ongoing attempts to woo Jewel is his failing to understand that she isn't done yet, and she's certainly not in any frame of mind where she would want to be arm candy,' a source exclusively tells Life & Style. 'You talk to Jewel for five minutes and it becomes very clear that she still has a lot she wants to do with her music career and writing, and she still longs to win a Grammy after being nominated four times during her heyday.' The insider also makes it clear that the 'Who Will Save Your Soul' singer, 50, 'has other priorities ahead of finding a new romantic relationship.' 'For all of Kevin's lofty talk about his own musical ambitions, he is still not much more than an amateur while Jewel is undeniably a seasoned pro. It took a while for Kevin to really understand this, but he remains in awe of her talent and supportive of her career, even from a distance,' the source explains to Life & Style. 'He would have loved to collaborate with her and even date her, but he has to resign himself to being her number one fan instead, because she still has a lot of mountains she wants to climb herself!" Kevin, 70, and Jewel maintained a low-key romance after they sparked dating rumors in November 2023, seven months after the Yellowstone alum and ex-wife Christine Baumgartner separated. They finalized their divorce in February 2024. The pair met while participating in a pro-am tennis tournament at billionaire Richard Branson's Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. 'Kevin looked handsome, tan and fit. All the guests were going crazy over him,' a source told In Touch in December 2023. 'He really hit it off with Jewel.' The insider told the outlet that the pair were seated next to each other at a dinner and were 'laughing and chatting' and 'looked like they were having a lot of fun.' Chatter about Jewel and Kevin's romance continued to make headlines in the following months, leading the musician to address the speculation during an April 2024 interview with Elle. 'He's a great person,' Jewel told the publication, who noted that she was 'blushing' while talking about the Bodyguard actor. 'The public fascination is intense for sure.' Later that month, In Touch reported that Jewel was a positive aspect in Kevin's life during his nasty divorce battle with Christine, 51. 'Jewel's been through divorce too [with ex-husband Ty Murray], though not in such a public way as Kevin. The media interest in her romance with Kevin isn't something she's used to, but she's handled it remarkably well,' the second insider told the outlet. 'She's not someone who caters to the spotlight. She can turn it off. Her focus is on keeping her life as normal as possible. She sees Kevin for the sensitive, caring soul he is.' Kevin, for his part, addressed the dating rumors during a candid interview with Howard Stern in June 2024, claiming their relationship was strictly platonic while still singing her praises. 'No, Jewel and I are friends. We've never gone out, ever,' he said at the time. 'She's special, and I don't want these rumors to ruin our friendship because that's what we have. She's special to me. She's beautiful enough to go out with.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jennifer Aniston is 'always hard working' when it comes to her fitness routine
Jennifer Aniston is "always hard working" when it comes to her fitness routine. The 56-year-old actress often posts social media updates showcasing her workouts, and now her personal trainer Dani Coleman has revealed the Hollywood star's preferred way of moving through the Pvolve method. She told E! News: "She really trains in all three of our signature formats: Strength Sculpt, Progressive Weight Training class and Sculpt and Burn. "So, your strength, your mobility, as well as your cardiovascular health—she trains in it all, Keeping her practice has been truly incredible to witness firsthand. "Anything that can challenge Jen's core is probably like one of my favourite things to try to do with her. Because she's so strong and so finding new ways to challenge her with the Pvolve method has been so fun as a trainer. "I haven't given her anything yet that she said 'no' to. I'd say she is always hard working, always keeping me laughing with her humor, and it's a lot of fun. It's really a dream come true." Jennifer - who shot to fame alongside Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and the late Matthew Perry in the classic 1990s sitcom 'Friends' - previously revealed she would be keen for her former co-stars to take up the method that combines low-impact functional fitness with resistance-based equipment. She told 'Entertainment Tonight': "It's like I found a precious stone of some sort. It's just changed my whole outlook on working out. It's something I look forward to. I'm still trying to get Courteney to take a class with me, but I'm working on her. Lisa's working so often [that] I can barely get her in Los Angeles." But the 'Morning Show' star insisted that her new exercise regime is not a "fad" and claimed that it goes back to the age-old principle of "calories in and calories out". She said: "Fads are what they are - they're just fads. They come and they go, and it's not very science-based or backed by much. When I was in my 20s, was there a grapefruit diet for a second there? Sure. I remember doing that. I also remember doing Nutrisystem... Things like that just aren't sustainable. "Calories in, calories out. You put good, healthy vegetables, organic foods in your body, your body is gonna thrive on it. Put crap in your body, and your body's gonna show that. "Your body is just a reflection of everything that you do. It's about maintaining a balance. "Eighty percent straight as an arrow, doing all that we're supposed to do, and then give yourself 20 percent of fun. "That's like, let's go out with the girls and get Mexican food, margaritas. Let's have a pizza party. Let's barbeque burgers and fries, hot dogs, by the pool. It's indulging and enjoying yourself and maybe saying, 'I'm not gonna work out today
Business Upturn
2 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Dignity Made Launches to Fight Trafficking with Ethical Coconut Oil
St. Paul, MN, May 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dignity Coconuts, known for its premium, ethically sourced coconut oil, has rebranded as Dignity Made, a powerful new identity that puts its social mission front and center. More than a name change, the launch of Dignity Made signals a bold step forward in using business as a force to prevent human trafficking and empower coconut farmers in rural areas of the Philippines. Rooted in the belief that ethical jobs can prevent exploitation, Dignity Made partners directly with coconut farming communities in the Philippines to provide dignified work, education, and economic opportunity- especially for women vulnerable to trafficking. With each product sold, the brand fuels real solutions to generational poverty and systemic injustice. 'We're not just making coconut oil. We're creating a path out of poverty, one jar at a time,' said Erik Olson, CEO of Dignity Made. 'Our rebrand reflects who we've truly been all along: a company committed to making better products and a better world.' Same Mission, Bigger Vision Originally founded in 2010 as Dignity Coconuts, the company has earned awards for its raw, centrifuge-extracted coconut oil and transparent sourcing model. Now, with a growing lineup of clean beauty and wellness products, the Dignity Made name reflects a broader commitment to both consumers and the communities behind each product. With the tagline 'Better for You, Better for All,' Dignity Made continues its pledge to offer clean, safe products while empowering the people who make them through fair trade, safe jobs, and skills-based employment. Real Impact Where It Matters To date, the company has helped over 200 families rise above subsistence living. Through on-the-ground programs in financial literacy, education, and job creation, Dignity Made is breaking cycles of dependency and trafficking vulnerability—replacing them with dignity, purpose, and hope. 'I used to feel hopeless,' says Angeline, one of the women employed through Dignity Made. 'Now my child is in school, I have peace at home, and I'm always smiling. I can't explain the joy—it's spreading through our whole community.' As a verified member of the Fair Trade Federation, Dignity Made adheres to the highest standards of ethical production and environmental stewardship, including a goal to have zero-waste coconut processing that maximizes every part of the crop. To learn more or explore Dignity Made's product line, visit About Dignity Made Dignity Made is a purpose-driven social enterprise committed to fighting poverty and human trafficking through clean, coconut-based products. By building direct trade partnerships with Filipino farmers and investing in community transformation, Dignity Made goes beyond commerce to create lasting change. Every product supports ethical labor, environmental responsibility, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to live free from exploitation. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
