The Best Catering in Seattle: Eat Up in the Emerald City
- Meredith Bethune
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- 4 Min Read
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Whether it’s the sight of the fishmongers tossing fresh salmon across Pike Place Market, or the smell of freshly roasted beans wafting from the city’s famous coffee shops, Seattle’s residents have always shared a reverence for good food. But these days the diversity on the Seattle restaurant scene is receiving national attention and Zagat ranked it #5 on its list of the Hottest Food Cities. When it comes to Seattle catering, this welcoming port city has it all, from Mexican, to Chinese, Italian, and Indian. Here’s a list of 10 restaurants that offer the best catering in Seattle, and some of their standout dishes.
1. Taqueria Los Chilangos (Wallingford Ave. N, Seattle)
Start your day with breakfast burritos from the city’s beloved food truck Taqueria Los Chilangos. This Seattle caterer’s tortillas are stuffed with black beans, pico de gallo, cheese, eggs and your choice of authentic meat like spicy homemade chorizo or carne asada. For lunch, try the Street Soft Taco Bar. It comes with corn tortillas, rice, black beans, cilantro, onions, limes, hot salsa, mild salsa, and your choice of two meats (chicken with adobo sauce, carnitas, al pastor, or carne asada).
Notable: Breakfast Burritos, Street Soft Taco Bar, Chips & Salsa with Guacamole, Mexican Churros
2. Taco Del Mar (12th Ave, Seattle)
Look no further than Taco Del Mar, specializing in the cuisine of Coastal Mexico, for some of the best catering in Seattle. In addition to their popular Taco Bar, you can also select from some unique alternatives like a Taco Salad Bar, Baja Bowl Bar, and Nacho Bar. Each includes your choice of two meats (Braised Chicken, Ground Beef, Seasoned Pork, or Alaskan Fish). Their festive packages are built to feed a minimum of 20 people and and their staff gets rave reviews for their assistance setting it all up. Round it out with a few orders of Chips & Salsa or Rice & Beans, and your order is complete.
Notable: Taco Bar, Nacho Bar, Rice & Beans
3. Gyro House (5th Ave S, Seattle)
Gyro House brings the flavors of the Mediterranean to downtown Seattle catering. Their delicious Mezza Plate is brimming with hummus, falafel, dolmas, salad, tzatziki, and pita bread. If you’re crunched for time, cover all your bases with one of their catering packages that will satisfy vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The Catering Combo Deluxe Buffet includes chicken shawarma, gyro, falafel, kefta kabob, rice, hummus, garlic sauce, Greek salad, and pita bread. Or mix and match with a variety of dishes like pizza, salads, and some indulgent Greek fries topped with oregano and feta. Don’t forget to add an order of their famous baklava for dessert.
Notable: Mezza Plate, Catering Combo Deluxe Buffet, Gyro, Greek Salad, Baklava
4. P.F. Chang’s (Pine St., Seattle)
The history of this nationwide chain goes all the way back to the 1960’s when the legendary Celia Chang opened her first Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles. P.F. Chang’s was born three decades later when her son, Philip, collaborated with restaurateur Paul Fleming to bring the 2,000-year-old tradition of wok cooking to communities across the country. P.F. Chang’s Spicy Chicken is always a hit, and their signature Lettuce Wraps can be made gluten-free (along with seven other dishes on the menu). Or keep it simple with one of their catering packages— the Wok-Fried Feast comes with your choices of appetizer, two entrees, rice, salad, and drink.
Notable: Chang’s Classics Package, Gluten-Free Chang’s Lettuce Wraps with Chicken, Chang’s Spicy Chicken, Beef with Broccoli, Shrimp with Lobster Sauce
5. Auntie Anne’s (Southcenter Mall, Seattle)
Auntie Anne’s can provide something special for your next afternoon break or happy hour event. Their freshly baked, soft pretzels are available in so many flavors that they’re bound to please everyone. Those with a sweet tooth will go for Cinnamon Sugar or Sweet Almond, while salty snack fiends reach for varieties like Pepperoni, Jalapeno, Sour Cream & Onion, or Roasted Garlic & Parmesan. Try pairing them with a range of dipping sauces like Caramel, Marinara, Cheese, and Sweet Mustard.
Notable: Original Pretzel, Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel, Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Pretzel, Cheese Dip, Caramel Dip
6. Buca di Beppo (Westlake Ave N, Seattle)
Known for its great Italian dishes like Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Marsala, and family-style pastas and salads, Buca di Beppo is the ideal Seattle catering selection for top-notch food that can still feed a crowd. Get it done quickly with their Celebration Package 4 that includes your choices of entree, two pastas, salad, bread, and dessert like Tiramisu, Cannoli, or Cookies & Brownies.
Notable: Celebration Package 4, Chicken Parmigiana Pan, Spicy Chicken Rigatoni Pan, Chopped Antipasti Salad Pan, Sausage & Peppers Pan, Tiramisu Pan
7. Los Agaves (Pike Place Market, Seattle)
Find authentic Mexican cuisine right inside Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market. At Los Agaves, this family-run Seattle restaurant, founded by chef Jaime Mendez, cooks up a great selection of tacos, tamales, salads and burritos. Feed a large party with the Taco Bar or the Los Agaves Fiesta Menu that includes rice, beans, and your choice of two entrees like Chicken Mole, Chiles Rellenos, Barbacoa, or Carnitas. Appetizers like the Guacamole Bowl, Pico de Gallo Bowl, or even the cinnamon-sugar Churros make perfect happy hour snacks.
Notable: Breakfast Buffet, Guacamole Bowl, Taco Bar, Los Agaves Fiesta Menu, Assorted Churros
8. Subway (15th Ave E, Seattle)
For an easy working lunch, youcan’t go wrong with Subway for some of best catering in Seattle and across the metro area. Everyone loves their sandwiches served on freshly baked bread— choose from beloved items like Roast Beef, Spicy Italian, Turkey Breast, Veggie Delite, and more. They arrive as large platters of premade sandwiches or packaged as SUBWAY to GO Box Meals with your choice of sandwich, chips, and a cookie.
Notable: SUBWAY to GO Box Meals, Turkey Breast Sandwich, Roast Beef Sandwich, Veggie Delite Sandwich, Cookie Platter
9. Villa Italian Kitchen (Southcenter Mall, Seattle)
Get a taste of Naples by way of New York City, courtesy of Villa Italian Kitchen. Founder Michele “Michael” Scotto opened the first store in Manhattan back in 1964 but today there are locations all over the country. Customers crave their Neapolitan and Meatball Parm pizzas, made with homemade dough, whole milk mozzarella, and fresh sauce. For a more upscale event, consider a catering package centered around one of their hot entrees like Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Cacciatore, or Lasagna. Each dish comes with a salad and 15 of their legendary garlic rolls.
Notable: Villa Value Package with Pasta, Chicken Parmigiana, Meatball Parm Pizza, Chocolate Chunk Cookie Platter
10. Chutney’s Queen Anne (1st Ave N, Seattle)
Chutneys Queen Anne, specializes in outstanding Indian cuisine like samosas, pakoras, Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Coconut Curry, Palak Paneer, naan, and roti. Try Catering Package 3 which will please both vegetarians and meat-eaters, because it allows the whole group to a little of everything. The package comes complete with an appetizer, basmati rice, one lamb entree, one chicken entree, two vegetarian entrees, and dessert.
Notable: Package 3, Vegetable Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Saag, Palak Paneer, Naan, Kheer
Inspired to place your next catering order?