Guidebook for Tacoma

Clinton
Guidebook for Tacoma

Food Scene

Great take out. Their shawarma platter is incredible and can easily serve 2-3 people.
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Mediterranean Gyro Grill
34024 Hoyt Rd SW
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Great take out. Their shawarma platter is incredible and can easily serve 2-3 people.
Great take out. Not always the friendliest staff, but the food is very good. We especially enjoy their Green Curry and Duck Curry dishes.
Basil Thai
2318 Southwest 336th Street
Great take out. Not always the friendliest staff, but the food is very good. We especially enjoy their Green Curry and Duck Curry dishes.
It's just a classic diner with no pretension whatsoever. You can eat there all hours of the day, but we usually go there for breakfast--which is the best version of traditional diner fare.
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Browns Point Diner
6622 East Side Dr NE
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It's just a classic diner with no pretension whatsoever. You can eat there all hours of the day, but we usually go there for breakfast--which is the best version of traditional diner fare.
Upscale with probably the best view of any restaurant in Tacoma. Food is usually good, though not always as good as one might expect for the price. We would recommend getting a drink and hor d'oeuvres around sunset.
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Cliff House Restaurant
6300 Marine View Dr
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Upscale with probably the best view of any restaurant in Tacoma. Food is usually good, though not always as good as one might expect for the price. We would recommend getting a drink and hor d'oeuvres around sunset.
The restaurant's name is actually "Gino's at the Point," but Airbnb's guidebook feature won't allow me to plug in the correct name. Anyway, Gino's is an upscale Italian restaurant located in a converted house right next to the waterfront at Dash Point public beach. Gino's probably has the best Italian food in Tacoma. Even the bread is fantastic.
Beach Drive
Beach Drive
The restaurant's name is actually "Gino's at the Point," but Airbnb's guidebook feature won't allow me to plug in the correct name. Anyway, Gino's is an upscale Italian restaurant located in a converted house right next to the waterfront at Dash Point public beach. Gino's probably has the best Italian food in Tacoma. Even the bread is fantastic.
Located in a converted gas station/quick mart, Quickie Too's isn't remotely fancy, or even particularly well decorated. And the service could be charitably described as glacial. However, this place has some of the best food we've ever eaten. It's a vegan restaurant, and we go there for the burgers all the time. Go figure.
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Quickie Too A Vegan Cafe
1324 Martin Luther King Junior Way
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Located in a converted gas station/quick mart, Quickie Too's isn't remotely fancy, or even particularly well decorated. And the service could be charitably described as glacial. However, this place has some of the best food we've ever eaten. It's a vegan restaurant, and we go there for the burgers all the time. Go figure.
Cheapest, best Mexican food this side of the border. This is a true, family-owned Mexican bakery. They have everything from tres leches (thick chocolate cake), to amazing tortas (sandwiches), to fresh-squeezed juice. We highly recommend the Hawaiiana or Deliciosa as far as tortas are concerned. If you're a carnivore with a big stomach, you can't go wrong with the Alambre (which translates to "the hunger" in Spanish). Seriously, this place is so excellent and so cheap, you won't believe it. If you can overlook the somewhat run-down appearance, you won't regret eating here.
El Zocalo Tortas Y Bakery
701 S 38th St
Cheapest, best Mexican food this side of the border. This is a true, family-owned Mexican bakery. They have everything from tres leches (thick chocolate cake), to amazing tortas (sandwiches), to fresh-squeezed juice. We highly recommend the Hawaiiana or Deliciosa as far as tortas are concerned. If you're a carnivore with a big stomach, you can't go wrong with the Alambre (which translates to "the hunger" in Spanish). Seriously, this place is so excellent and so cheap, you won't believe it. If you can overlook the somewhat run-down appearance, you won't regret eating here.
If you want a real 1950s style hamburger experience, this is the place. Pick-Quick has been a Tacoma institution since before Elvis first picked up his guitar. Note: Pick-Quick closes for the winter!
PICK-QUICK Drive In
4306 Pacific Hwy E
If you want a real 1950s style hamburger experience, this is the place. Pick-Quick has been a Tacoma institution since before Elvis first picked up his guitar. Note: Pick-Quick closes for the winter!
There are a lot of seafood restaurants along Ruston Way, but only two that are reliably good: Duke's and WildFin. Duke's has amazing chowder, but (like WildFin)you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
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Duke's Seafood & Chowder
3327 Ruston Way
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There are a lot of seafood restaurants along Ruston Way, but only two that are reliably good: Duke's and WildFin. Duke's has amazing chowder, but (like WildFin)you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
There are a lot of seafood restaurants along Ruston Way, but only two that are reliably good: Duke's and WildFin. Mac and cheese is typically difficult to get right, but Wildfin's lobster mac is probably the best I've ever had, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
36 המלצות של מקומיים
WildFin American Grill - Tacoma
5115 Grand Loop
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There are a lot of seafood restaurants along Ruston Way, but only two that are reliably good: Duke's and WildFin. Mac and cheese is typically difficult to get right, but Wildfin's lobster mac is probably the best I've ever had, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
There are 4 bars and restaurants in Tacoma's North End neighborhood that provide a very Europeanesque dining experience, and Cook's Tavern has the best food. Cook's is really more of a restaurant than a bar (though it's a bar too). Some restaurants change their menus, but Cook's changes its entire theme every few months. 4 months ago, Cook's was a Tex-Mex restaurant; as of writing, it's a Hawaiian restaurant (though about half the menu is non-theme specific). But regardless of the current theme, you can always expect an outstanding meal from Cook's.
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Cooks Tavern
3201 N 26th St
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There are 4 bars and restaurants in Tacoma's North End neighborhood that provide a very Europeanesque dining experience, and Cook's Tavern has the best food. Cook's is really more of a restaurant than a bar (though it's a bar too). Some restaurants change their menus, but Cook's changes its entire theme every few months. 4 months ago, Cook's was a Tex-Mex restaurant; as of writing, it's a Hawaiian restaurant (though about half the menu is non-theme specific). But regardless of the current theme, you can always expect an outstanding meal from Cook's.
There are 4 bars and restaurants in Tacoma's North End neighborhood that provide a very Europeanesque dining experience, but Rosewood Cafe is probably the most reminiscent of a French boulangerie. Go there for a light lunch and coffee, especially if the weather is good and they have their glass garage door open.
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Rosewood Cafe
3323 N 26th St
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There are 4 bars and restaurants in Tacoma's North End neighborhood that provide a very Europeanesque dining experience, but Rosewood Cafe is probably the most reminiscent of a French boulangerie. Go there for a light lunch and coffee, especially if the weather is good and they have their glass garage door open.
Less like a cafe and more like an intimate, fine-dining restaurant, the Over the Moon Cafe sports an eclectic but stylish mix of decor and an intimate, almost speakeasy-like atmosphere (though it's definitely not a bar). Though a bit fussy/fancy, the food here has been reliably excellent in our experience.
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Over The Moon Cafe
709 Opera Alley
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Less like a cafe and more like an intimate, fine-dining restaurant, the Over the Moon Cafe sports an eclectic but stylish mix of decor and an intimate, almost speakeasy-like atmosphere (though it's definitely not a bar). Though a bit fussy/fancy, the food here has been reliably excellent in our experience.
The Table offers a group dining experience where strangers gather around a shared table to eat exquisite, multi-coursed, fine-dining meals in a not-so-formal atmosphere. The menu is small, but it changes seasonally, and the food is always amazing, despite its (relatively) reasonable price. Note: calling ahead and/or making a reservation definitely recommended here.
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The Table
2715 6th Ave
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The Table offers a group dining experience where strangers gather around a shared table to eat exquisite, multi-coursed, fine-dining meals in a not-so-formal atmosphere. The menu is small, but it changes seasonally, and the food is always amazing, despite its (relatively) reasonable price. Note: calling ahead and/or making a reservation definitely recommended here.
If you're looking for the quintessential northwest hipster coffee shop experience, but you don't want to travel all the way to Seattle, this place is for you. The food is excellent, though a bit experimental, and the decor and interior cladding is mostly glossy plywood. Expect to see lots of beanies, high-water skinny chinos, and oversized spectacles at this hipster Mecca. But even if you don't like hipsters, this place really does offer a great, off-the-beaten-track dining experience at a reasonable price.
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Honey at Alma Mater
1322 Fawcett Ave
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If you're looking for the quintessential northwest hipster coffee shop experience, but you don't want to travel all the way to Seattle, this place is for you. The food is excellent, though a bit experimental, and the decor and interior cladding is mostly glossy plywood. Expect to see lots of beanies, high-water skinny chinos, and oversized spectacles at this hipster Mecca. But even if you don't like hipsters, this place really does offer a great, off-the-beaten-track dining experience at a reasonable price.

Drinks & Nightlife

The microest micro brewery I've every been to. This little neighborhood joint has a loyal neighborhood clientele and a very well-attended trivia night (7PM on Thursdays). You might need to get there a little early to make sure you can secure a table on trivia nights.
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North 47 Brewing Co.
1000 Town Ctr NE
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The microest micro brewery I've every been to. This little neighborhood joint has a loyal neighborhood clientele and a very well-attended trivia night (7PM on Thursdays). You might need to get there a little early to make sure you can secure a table on trivia nights.
Small neighborhood bar with good vibes, a pool table, and karaoke every week (after 9PM on Thursday). They also have live music before karaoke on some nights. Note: the Sand Bar is attached to the Brown's Point Diner (people sometimes have trouble finding it without that tip).
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The Sand Bar
1941 Town Center NE
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Small neighborhood bar with good vibes, a pool table, and karaoke every week (after 9PM on Thursday). They also have live music before karaoke on some nights. Note: the Sand Bar is attached to the Brown's Point Diner (people sometimes have trouble finding it without that tip).
This place is for the adventurous travelers only. Bob's Java Jive (sometimes affectionately called "Bob's Java Dive," for reasons that will become obvious) was briefly owned and operated by the Brink family as "The Coffee Pot" back in the early 1950s before Bob bought it. Bob turned it into a tiki bar in the late fifties, and the place hasn't been redecorated since (but it needs it!). Today, Bob's Java Jive might be the grimiest and most run-down operating bar in all of Tacoma, but it's a haven for Tacoma's most interesting weirdos, and it wears its colorful past on its sleeve. Check it out on a Friday night to catch the best cringy stand-up open mic and karaoke you've ever heard.
10 המלצות של מקומיים
Bob's Java Jive
2102 S Tacoma Way
10 המלצות של מקומיים
This place is for the adventurous travelers only. Bob's Java Jive (sometimes affectionately called "Bob's Java Dive," for reasons that will become obvious) was briefly owned and operated by the Brink family as "The Coffee Pot" back in the early 1950s before Bob bought it. Bob turned it into a tiki bar in the late fifties, and the place hasn't been redecorated since (but it needs it!). Today, Bob's Java Jive might be the grimiest and most run-down operating bar in all of Tacoma, but it's a haven for Tacoma's most interesting weirdos, and it wears its colorful past on its sleeve. Check it out on a Friday night to catch the best cringy stand-up open mic and karaoke you've ever heard.
There are 4 bars and restaurants in Tacoma's north end neighborhood that provide a very Europeanesque dining experience, and Hank's is perhaps the best-decorated. Owned and operated by the same folks as Parkway Tavern, Hanks sports a breathtaking wood-paneled ceiling reclaimed from a local landmark that was about to be torn down (very reminiscent of a UK pub). It's an easy walk from Parkway, so keep Hank's in mind if you're interested in bar hopping.
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Hank's Bar and Grill
524 N K St
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There are 4 bars and restaurants in Tacoma's north end neighborhood that provide a very Europeanesque dining experience, and Hank's is perhaps the best-decorated. Owned and operated by the same folks as Parkway Tavern, Hanks sports a breathtaking wood-paneled ceiling reclaimed from a local landmark that was about to be torn down (very reminiscent of a UK pub). It's an easy walk from Parkway, so keep Hank's in mind if you're interested in bar hopping.
There are 4 bars and restaurants in Tacoma's North End neighborhood that provide a very Europeanesque dining experience, but the Parkway Tavern is probably the most well-rounded. The Parkway Tavern has very good food (nothing fancy, just tasty), a pool table, shuffleboard, and a great, local atmosphere.
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Parkway Tavern
313 N I St
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There are 4 bars and restaurants in Tacoma's North End neighborhood that provide a very Europeanesque dining experience, but the Parkway Tavern is probably the most well-rounded. The Parkway Tavern has very good food (nothing fancy, just tasty), a pool table, shuffleboard, and a great, local atmosphere.
The Top of Tacoma Bar isn't primarily a "restaurant," but the food is so good, we consider it more of a place to eat than a place to drink. The atmosphere is very informal, with a peculiar combination of hipsters, bikes, and neighborhood folks. All the employees sport tattoos and punk-rock haircuts. But service is good, and the food is even better. Note: expect standing room only on weekends.
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Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe
3529 McKinley Ave
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The Top of Tacoma Bar isn't primarily a "restaurant," but the food is so good, we consider it more of a place to eat than a place to drink. The atmosphere is very informal, with a peculiar combination of hipsters, bikes, and neighborhood folks. All the employees sport tattoos and punk-rock haircuts. But service is good, and the food is even better. Note: expect standing room only on weekends.

Parks & Nature

Dash Point isn't exactly a hiking destination, but it is a beautiful little section of woods with several miles of trails, a camping ground, and a public beach. It's an amazing place to take a jog or cross-country mountain bike (though it's not for the faint of heart, since the whole park is situated on a fairly steep slope). Best of all, it's located just 5 minutes from the house. We recommend parking here to start out at the top of the hill : https://goo.gl/maps/rRsNUa2AWQ82
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פארק מדינתי דאש פוינט
5700 SW Dash Point Rd
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Dash Point isn't exactly a hiking destination, but it is a beautiful little section of woods with several miles of trails, a camping ground, and a public beach. It's an amazing place to take a jog or cross-country mountain bike (though it's not for the faint of heart, since the whole park is situated on a fairly steep slope). Best of all, it's located just 5 minutes from the house. We recommend parking here to start out at the top of the hill : https://goo.gl/maps/rRsNUa2AWQ82

Entertainment & Activities

Located just across the water from the Brink House, Pacific Parasailing offers safe parasailing at an affordable price. Note: Pacific Parasailing closes for the winter.
Pacific Parasail
3001 Ruston Way
Located just across the water from the Brink House, Pacific Parasailing offers safe parasailing at an affordable price. Note: Pacific Parasailing closes for the winter.
If you're a nerd who isn't afflicted with claustrophobia, this activity might be perfect for you.
Enigma Escapes WA - Tacoma's Premier Escape Room
101 S 10th St
If you're a nerd who isn't afflicted with claustrophobia, this activity might be perfect for you.
The Tacoma Glassblowing Studio offers glassblowing experiences where you get to play a role in creating your own bowl, orb, or other glass-blown object. It really is a cool experience, but expect your assigned artist to do most of the work (the lawyers don't trust you to literally blow your own glass).
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Tacoma Glassblowing Studio
114 S 23rd St
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The Tacoma Glassblowing Studio offers glassblowing experiences where you get to play a role in creating your own bowl, orb, or other glass-blown object. It really is a cool experience, but expect your assigned artist to do most of the work (the lawyers don't trust you to literally blow your own glass).
It's a weird niche, but arcade game aficionados from across the country know and respect Dorky's' huge selection of iconic arcade games. But you don't have to be an arcade fanatic to have fun at Dorky's. Note: Dorky's serves alcohol and pizza and is 21 and up after certain hours.
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Dorky's Arcade
754 Pacific Ave
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It's a weird niche, but arcade game aficionados from across the country know and respect Dorky's' huge selection of iconic arcade games. But you don't have to be an arcade fanatic to have fun at Dorky's. Note: Dorky's serves alcohol and pizza and is 21 and up after certain hours.

Essentials

This is the closest full-service grocery store.
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QFC
4101 49th Ave NE
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This is the closest full-service grocery store.
Rudy's is an upscale Seattle-based barbershop chain with lots of character. My son won't let anyone besides Sam cut his hair. Expect to pay about $30 for a cut, but man is it worth it.
9 המלצות של מקומיים
Rudy's Barbershop
614 E Pine St
9 המלצות של מקומיים
Rudy's is an upscale Seattle-based barbershop chain with lots of character. My son won't let anyone besides Sam cut his hair. Expect to pay about $30 for a cut, but man is it worth it.

Shopping

Check out the best farmer's market in Tacoma (10AM-3PM Sunday).
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Point Ruston Farmers Market
5101 Grand Loop
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Check out the best farmer's market in Tacoma (10AM-3PM Sunday).
Once a week, they block off a street downtown and venders set up their stalls. Come hungry! (10AM-3PM Thursday)
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The Broadway Farmers Market
Broadway
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Once a week, they block off a street downtown and venders set up their stalls. Come hungry! (10AM-3PM Thursday)
Born from the ruins of the old Star-Lite drive-in movie theater, the Star-Lite Marketplace offers one of the least cliche market experiences in Tacoma. If I had to compare it to something, I'd say it's similar to the kind of bazaar or market you'd find in a developing country. It's run-down and ad hoc, but it has real character and vibrance to it that sanitized, overly-tidy American markets lack. From ethnic food, to items that just "fell off a truck," you can buy almost anything here. We recommend going on weekends, since there are usually more venders and better people watching, but the indoor stalls are open all week. Note: There is usually a $2/person entrance charge on weekends.
Star-Lite Market Place Square, LLC
8327 South Tacoma Way
Born from the ruins of the old Star-Lite drive-in movie theater, the Star-Lite Marketplace offers one of the least cliche market experiences in Tacoma. If I had to compare it to something, I'd say it's similar to the kind of bazaar or market you'd find in a developing country. It's run-down and ad hoc, but it has real character and vibrance to it that sanitized, overly-tidy American markets lack. From ethnic food, to items that just "fell off a truck," you can buy almost anything here. We recommend going on weekends, since there are usually more venders and better people watching, but the indoor stalls are open all week. Note: There is usually a $2/person entrance charge on weekends.
Arranged like a traditional antique mall (where each vender has his/her own stall) the Pacific Run Antique Mall is probably the least upscale of the three antique malls listed here. Expect a high junk-to-treasure ratio, but good deals on the treasures you do find. And don't be afraid to bargain!
Pacific Run Antique Mall
10228 Pacific Ave S
Arranged like a traditional antique mall (where each vender has his/her own stall) the Pacific Run Antique Mall is probably the least upscale of the three antique malls listed here. Expect a high junk-to-treasure ratio, but good deals on the treasures you do find. And don't be afraid to bargain!
Arranged like a traditional antique mall (where each vender has his/her own stall) the Tacoma Antique Center (which is confusingly located in the adjacent town of Fife) is probably the most upscale of the three antique malls listed here (though it's not fancy by any means! Seriously). You can expect a fairly low junk-to-treasure ratio, reasonable prices, and probably the biggest selection of the three antique malls listed here (though they're all huge!).
Tacoma Antique Center At Fife Llc
1414 54th Ave E
Arranged like a traditional antique mall (where each vender has his/her own stall) the Tacoma Antique Center (which is confusingly located in the adjacent town of Fife) is probably the most upscale of the three antique malls listed here (though it's not fancy by any means! Seriously). You can expect a fairly low junk-to-treasure ratio, reasonable prices, and probably the biggest selection of the three antique malls listed here (though they're all huge!).
The Brown and Haley's candy store offers a selection of discounted items made by Brown and Haley's in their Tacoma factory--includingAlmond Roca candies that Tacoma is low-key famous for. You can purchase everything from factory seconds to fancy boxes of candy fit for gifting.
Brown & Haley Fife Warehouse
3500 20th St E
The Brown and Haley's candy store offers a selection of discounted items made by Brown and Haley's in their Tacoma factory--includingAlmond Roca candies that Tacoma is low-key famous for. You can purchase everything from factory seconds to fancy boxes of candy fit for gifting.

Sightseeing

Named for the world-famous local glass-blowing artist, Dale Chihuly, the Chihuly Bridge of Glass is a skybridge that features a large collection of Chihuly's beautiful blown glass artwork. We recommend checking it out on a clear, sunny day. Bring your camera!
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Chihuly Bridge of Glass
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Named for the world-famous local glass-blowing artist, Dale Chihuly, the Chihuly Bridge of Glass is a skybridge that features a large collection of Chihuly's beautiful blown glass artwork. We recommend checking it out on a clear, sunny day. Bring your camera!