Easy Street Records & Cafe
Record store · Genesee
4559 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
Highlights
Eclectic record store & cafe with music-themed dishes & vinyl
Eclectic record store & cafe with music-themed dishes & vinyl
"“Do you have The Melvins’ limited edition Houdini vinyl in mint condition?” you ask a little too loudly at the register, hoping the stylishly mulleted shoppers and DJs covered in head-to-toe tattoos overhear. Out of all the music nerd hubs in Seattle, Easy Street continually earns its place, hosting major album release parties that draw crowds of people in their finest black hoodies. The cafe is packed on weekends and is the only place here where you can get an omelet named after Woody Guthrie. Anyone who remembers when The Ramones played Bumbershoot in ‘95" - aimee rizzo, gabe guarente, kayla sager riley
"Nestled in one of the most famous record stores in Seattle, this cafe leans into its vinyl nerdiness with a large menu of music-themed breakfast and brunch dishes with names like New Wave-O Rancheros and Chicken Hoagie Carmichael. Old concerts are shown on a big screen above the tables, Soundgarden deep cuts play, and someone might brag about snagging a rare Mudhoney reissue, hoping the stylishly mulleted shoppers and DJs covered in head-to-toe tattoos overhear. Unfortunately, the food isn’t all that great. There’s still a long waitlist on weekend mornings, but there’s no need to endure the hassle for sad eggs. Just find a solo seat in the small upper-level bar and stick to coffee or a bloody mary, or go during the much mellower Happy Hours in the afternoon for some waffle fries. Just make sure you don’t get ketchup on that Mudhoney album. Food Rundown Coffee Caffe Vita roasts and nice mugs are a solid combo. The oat milk lattes are well-crafted, and they hit the spot if you live your nights like a Metallica roadie. photo credit: Gabe Guarente Eddie Fetta The restaurant proclaims that this bone-dry egg white omelette with runny chopped tomatoes and meager avocado is Eddie Vedder’s personal recipe. Well, we’re glad the singing thing worked out. Easy Rider This breakfast sandwich is a little bit better than the omelette, with buttery grilled bread that traps in all the eggs, bacon, and gooey cheese nicely. Nothing amazing, but it works. Paul Westerberger Not sure the Replacements frontman would approve of his namesake, which is a smashburger with barely any smash to it. But if you ignore the promise of crusty edges, it’s a decent $10 burger on the Happy Hour menu. photo credit: Gabe Guarente Waffle Fries Probably the best move you can make at Easy Street is to go at off-peak times, stock up on a few rare vinyl finds, and sit at the counter with a pile of these golden beauties that are as snappy as a Hendrix guitar lick. They’re sprinkled with just enough salt. photo credit: Gabe Guarente" - Gabe Guarente
"A cafe/record store in West Seattle known for breakfast, a killer soundtrack, and being a recovery/brunch spot after long nights." - Eater Staff
"What’s more Seattle than a bar inside a record store? Especially one with a bunch of framed covers from The Rocket and a huge mural of Chris Cornell’s face? Out in the West Seattle Junction, Easy Street Records has been repping Seattle hard since the late ‘80s — a cafe was added to the shop in 2001, and since 2022, there’s been a teeny bar upstairs with menus on the backs of old 45s and punny cocktail names. It’s less of a bar in the sense of a room you can go inside of and more just the piece of furniture that is called a bar, but it’s no less a blast to pull up a stool behind the vinyl bins and have a Shirley Temple of the Dog. (That’s Olympia Vodka, grenadine, and lemon/lime soda.)" - Meg van Huygen, Mark DeJoy, Eater Staff
"Vinyl and breakfast burrito lovers have been gravitating toward this laid-back spot on California Avenue for years to browse the stacks and have a quick bite. Opening at 8 a.m. for those ready to get the New Year off right (or never stopped partying from the night before), the cafe offers plenty of omelettes, hashes, and pancake dishes in keeping with the music them, such as the New Wave O’s Rancheros and the Johnny Cash Special (a top sirloin steak with three eggs and hash browns)." - Gabe Guarente
