Rainier Restaurant and BBQ

"Rainier BBQ's underground dining room feels like entering a secret society where everyone sits at large round tables huddling over an entire six-pound fried catfish. But this neighborhood staple is far from a secret. On the long menu, we gravitate towards the airy salt and pepper chicken wings, glistening short ribs, and that aforementioned catfish. These suckers start at five pounds and can go all the way up to 10, so come prepared to eat with a group. The blistered skin has a trove of fleshy white meat underneath that can be used to construct fresh rolls with snappy herbs and a pineapple dipping sauce. Before you do anything, though, get a selfie with the fish first." - kayla sager riley, aimee rizzo

"Ever since Anthony Bourdain made a stop here for an episode of The Layover, Rainier BBQ has been a busy destination for Vietnamese food in South Seattle. Recommendations include hu tieu nam vang (glass noodle soup packed with herbs and your choice of protein), shaking cube beef, and ong choy beef salad with its curly wisps of water spinach. The Rainier catfish is the head-turner for newcomers, as the deep-fried fish averages close to eight pounds each and overhang the platters as they come out of the kitchen with a sizzle." - Jay Friedman

"Ever since Anthony Bourdain made a stop here for an episode of “The Layover,” Rainier BBQ has been known for its suppers that include meats like cobra, deer, and frog. Now, it’s focused on more classic Vietnamese fare, such as tamarind crab and grilled short ribs, available for takeout or delivery on DoorDash and Postmates. It’s also been serving food to local medical workers." - Gabe Guarente

"We’re strongly considering having our next birthday party at this Vietnamese restaurant in Rainier Valley. Everything on their long menu feels like things you’d want to eat while with a big group, including preset family meals that come with a bunch of dishes to feed four or eight people, dishes that they call “exotic and drinking snacks” like grilled lemongrass goat and coconut milk snails, and different hot pots filled with anything from lobster to bitter melon. While it would take you years to work your way through the entire menu, we’re fans of their vermicelli dishes with grilled pork, whole ginger crab, and shrimp with string beans. And with a pretty big space and lots of round tables, it’s exactly the type of place to have beers with friends and crack open some crab claws—even if it's nobody's birthday." - Carlo Mantuano

"The snug new restaurant on Rainier Avenue in Columbia City gained attention for expertly crafted tasting menus that celebrate whole animal butchery. It soon turned into more of a fancy deli and market, featuring a fried rabbit sandwich that may be the best under-the-radar lunch item in Seattle right now. Diners should make sure to check out the ice cream selection, too, which usually includes terrific flavor combos." - Gabe Guarente