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SEATTLE - Seattle may be known for its coffee, the iconic "Seattle Dog," or the myriad of seafood and teriyaki options throughout the city.
But one restaurant is being singled out as one of the best new restaurants of 2026, and it predicates itself on providing a Midwestern style of hospitality through a Japanese lens.
The Wayland Mill earns recognition from Bon Appétit
What they're saying:
Bon Appétit, an American food and entertainment magazine, listed six restaurants on the West Coast among the 19 in the entire list.
But The Wayland Mill is the only one located in Washington.
"On weekends you can easily wait an hour in a crush of guests angling to get in before making it inside," the outlet writes. "But whether you land a coveted table or opt for carry-out boxes, you’ll be swept up in an indulgent hospitality that stays with you long after you’re gone."
Bon Appétit mentions biscuits and gravy made with miso and chasu pork as an item of note, as well as a meatloaf plate that is served with a "tangy tonkatsu sauce" alongside a slice of shokupan from Saint Bread.
Saint Bread is the bakery owned by The Wayland Mill's chef and owner, Yasuaki Saito.
"Saito takes you on a palate-expanding, mouthwatering trip that will leave you craving his version of nostalgia," Bon Appétit writes.
What we know:
The Wayland Mill, located at 3800 Latona Ave. NE in the North Lake Union area, describes itself as an "all-day cafe and restaurant."
On the restaurant's website, it states that its core concepts revolve around "Yoshoku" and "Yoshoku Americana."
Yoshoku, as defined by the Japan National Tourism Organization, translates to "Western food," but doesn't necessarily refer to typical dishes associated with the United States.
It refers to the concept of "incorporating Western ingredients into the diets of Japanese people." Some dishes the JNTO uses to reflect this concept are:
- Hambagu — a Japanese take on a traditional beef hamburger
- Napolitan — a spaghetti dish mixed with green peppers, onion, mushrooms, sausage and bacon
- Doria — defined as "the Japanese version of French gratin"
Yoshoku Americana is The Wayland Mill's interpretation of "yoshoku," which can be seen in dishes like:
- Japanese-American breakfast — an omelet with mirin, dashi, and aonori served with either teriyaki-glazed Candadian bacon or seared marinated shiitakes
- A Caesar Salad which seems to swap out traditional Caesar dressing for a Shottsuro-Yuzu dressing
- A breakfast sandwich served with foo young slaw and yum-yum sauce
The restaurant is open every day. Its hours from Sunday to Tuesday are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m, while its hours from Wednesday to Saturday are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
It also offers online ordering.
The Source: Information for this story came from Bon Appétit's article titled "The 19 Best New Restaurants of 2026," The Wayland Mill website, and the Japanese National Tourism Organization.
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