As it’s getting colder and darker in Seattle, it’s officially the season for cozy restaurants and hearty comfort food. Check out these three Seattle restaurants that are perfect for staying warm in the chilly weather.

Secret Congee

Located in Ballard, Secret Congee is a super cozy spot for breakfast or lunch. Secret Congee is an Asian-fusion restaurant serving warm, deliciously comforting bowls of congee with creative and flavorful toppings. Secret Congee was born during the pandemic, starting as a pop-up and more recently moving into a brick and mortar space. Our favorite dishes are the Garlic Blue Crab Congee with wild-caught blue crab meat, fried garlic, jasmine rice cooked in chicken bone broth, ginger, and scallions and the Roasted Lamb Congee with roasted lamb shank, chili oil, roasted peanuts, and vermicelli noodles. Other popular items come with Thai meatballs, black cod, Tom Yum shrimp, shredded chicken, slow cooked beef and kimchi, miso and squash, and Hokkaido scallops. We highly recommend ordering the Youtiao (crispy fried dough) to dip into your congee, or get it with condensed milk to have for dessert. For drinks, we loved the tea and coffee, especially the Thai iced tea and the matcha latte.

Sugo Hand Roll Bar

Sugo is Seattle’s first hand roll bar and is located just steps away from Pike Place Market. Led by Culinary Director Jane Kang and General Manager Sharon Lei, Sugo delivers an intimate dining experience featuring sustainably sourced fish and local ingredients. The menu highlights include signature, classic, and seasonal hand rolls, as well as special vegetarian options, all complemented by curated appetizer and beverage options. Sugo also offers light bites and sake cocktails from Shio by Sugo, a Japanese street food bar connected to the handroll bar. Excitingly, Sugo and Shio by Sugo just recently debuted a new happy hour, with amazing deals on hand rolls, shareables, craft cocktails, and more. We love the Spicy Bay Scallop hand roll, the Chicken Tatsu Taage with togarashi hot honey, and the Strawberry Matcha sake cocktail. Other favorites include the Torched Eel hand roll, the Bluefin Otoro hand roll, and ultra decandent hand rolls like the Surf + Turf which features Wagyu and snow crab leg. Rotating seasonal specialties include the Seared Salmon Bowl, the Crispy Shrimp Hand Roll, the Lychee Martini, and so many more. Sugo’s commitment to sustainability and community, combined with its innovative approach to Japanese cuisine, makes it a must-visit spot.

Noi Thai Cuisine – Green Lake

When it’s cold and rainy, one of the most comforting meals for me is Phad Thai and Phad Sei Iew at Noi Thai in Green Lake. They offer all of the classic Thai noodle dishes as well as unique appetizers, curries, and signature dishes. Noi Thai’s appetizer sampler is one of our favorite dishes, which comes with crispy taro rolls, Thai shrimp cakes, crab wontons, and cock-a-doodle-doo (creamy Tom Yum bisque mousse topped with deep fried shrimp and tobiko). Other must-tries at Noi Thai are the Massaman Lamb Curry with creamy peanut sauce, slowly simmered lamb rack, potatoes and onions, the Angry Ocean that features lobster, prawns, squid, scallops, and mussels, and the Crying Tiger that comes with tender flat iron steak that is grilled to perfection. You also can’t go wrong with the Crispy Garlic Chicken, the Clay Pot Shrimp and Glass Noodles, or any of their fried rice dishes. Noi Thai has an impressive selection of craft cocktails, with our favorites being the Basil Ginger Martini, the Mango Drop, and their boozy Thai tea cocktail made with three different kinds of rum. The beverage menu also includes several beer, wine, sake, and hot tea offerings. Certain days you can enjoy live music and fantastic happy hour deals.