Tacoma boasts a vibrant culinary landscape, with a growing number of restaurants catering to health-conscious diners. From plant-based eateries to seafood-focused grills, there's something for everyone seeking a nutritious and delicious meal in the City of Destiny. This guide explores some of the best healthy restaurants in Tacoma, highlighting their unique offerings and commitment to fresh, wholesome ingredients.
Plant-Based Paradise: Vegan and Vegetarian Options
For those seeking exclusively plant-based cuisine, Tacoma offers several standout options.
Viva Tacoma: A Vegan Gem
Located in the Proctor District, Viva Tacoma has quickly gained popularity as one of the city's premier vegan restaurants. Their philosophy centers around using "only fresh, whole, organic, gluten-free, non-dairy products" in both raw and cooked dishes, ensuring a menu free of animal products and processed foods. Viva also emphasizes "raw or living food choices," incorporating sprouted plants, nuts, and seeds for added nutritional value.
Gather Juice Co: Plant-Based Goodness on 6th Avenue
Gather Juice Co. is situated on Tacoma's bustling 6th Avenue, surrounded by a diverse array of restaurants, shops, and bars. The interior features a modern and tasteful design, blending concrete, natural wood, and lush greenery. The menu is entirely plant-based, vegan, and focuses on healthy and delicious options.
Fresh and Customizable: Salads, Bowls, and More
For diners who enjoy customizable meals and fresh ingredients, several Tacoma restaurants offer a variety of salads, grain bowls, and other healthy options.
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Crisp Greens: A Staple for Healthy Eats
Crisp Greens began as a small shop on 6th Avenue, offering healthy soups, salads, and ready-to-eat meals. Due to their popularity, they expanded to a larger space on 6th Avenue and opened a downtown location. Crisp Greens specializes in high-quality salads, grain bowls, soups, and protein packs, with many dairy-free and gluten-free choices available. They cater to a wide range of dietary needs, including Whole30, paleo, vegan, gluten-free, and keto.
Happy Belly: Downtown Delights with Options for Everyone
Happy Belly, located in downtown Tacoma, is a health-focused restaurant and juice bar with a diverse menu. They offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan options alongside dishes for meat-eaters, including bowls, curries, salads, wraps, snacks, juices, and smoothies.
Northwest Flavors with a Healthy Twist
Tacoma's culinary scene also includes restaurants that showcase the region's fresh seafood, produce, and meats while prioritizing healthy preparations and ingredients.
Wild Fin: Waterfront Dining with Fresh, Local Fare
Wild Fin, situated at Point Ruston on the Tacoma waterfront, offers stunning views of the Puget Sound. They serve healthy, fresh seafood, locally sourced produce, and Northwest-raised meats. The restaurant's extensive menu caters to various dietary needs, making it easy for diners with restrictions to find suitable options. The superfood house salad and seasonal salmon dish are highly recommended. WildFin American Grill is your neighborhood restaurant, casual, affordable with a comfortable sense of style. WildFin is the place where friends and family gather to eat, drink and share life’s occasions. A safe adventure, a warm haven on a cool Northwest day. WildFin’s menu selections feature the finest the region has to offer, from Northwest meats, fresh fish, seafood, and produce. Our beverage selections include the best of the Northwest beers and wines, along with WildFin classic cocktails. At WildFin we are committed to delivering outstanding hand crafted food and beverage that will always exceed your expectations. WildFin’s service will accommodate your every need, whether it is a quick lunch, a casual dinner or a gathering with old friends.
Primo Grill: Mediterranean and Northwest Fusion
Primo Grill, located on 6th Avenue, offers a unique fusion of Mediterranean and Northwest flavors. This chef-driven restaurant sources ingredients from local farmers and creates dishes using the freshest seasonal produce and seafood. The menu is constantly evolving, ensuring a delicious and innovative dining experience. Primo also features an extensive wine list and handcrafted cocktails.
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Duke's Tacoma
Duke's Tacoma is an upscale casual Pacific Northwest seafood restaurant located on Ruston Way with spectacular waterfront dining and views. Duke's offers signature, flavorful, 100% sustainable wild seafood, Award Winning Chowder and grass fed burgers in a gathering place that is friendly, comfortable, unpretentious and filled with personality. We only source all natural, healthful ingredients. Duke's food is free of hormones, antibiotics and free of harmful chemicals. Guests sum up their favorable assessment of what Duke's has to offer with three words: It’s so good!
Other notable restaurants
Art House Cafe
Art House opened up back in 2013 and they’ve been serving up healthy and delicious meals ever since. They are located in the Stadium neighborhood of North Tacoma, right around the corner from Tacoma’s Stadium High School. This funky restaurant has an open, colorful dining room, featuring an open kitchen and bar where you can watch the chefs craft your favorite dish. At the time of writing this piece, they only serve breakfast and lunch, although they have dabbled with dinner from time to time.
Marzano's
The chefs at Marzano's attain the freshest ingredients to prepare authentic Italian cuisine. Owner Elisa Marzano grew up in Vicenza, Italy, and consistently refers to these roots to design Marzano's unique yet classic menu. Once a quaint two-bedroom home, the restaurant was transformed but still keeps the rustic, home-like feel for an inviting, welcoming atmosphere. The pleasing combination of intimate lighting and natural window light make it the ideal spot for either lunch or dinner. A top menu choice is the boscaiola, which features a creamy tomato and Bolognese sauce over rigatoni pasta, topped with various spices and forest mushrooms. Guests can enjoy complimentary bread and salad with every entree, so eating at Marzano's can ensure a satisfied appetite. Marzano’s is and has been a favorite spot for many years… see you again soon!
Ms. Jane's Fine Dining
Nestled inside BJ’s Bingo & Gaming in Fife, Washington, Ms. Jane’s Fine Dining offers a refined dining experience with a stunning view of Mount Rainier. The restaurant features a cozy fireplace and a high-end wine bar with curated selections.Culinary Excellence: Exec. Chef Joshua David curates a menu that highlights creativity and craft, with every dish telling a story. Ambience: Enhanced by an exhibition kitchen and murals celebrating Native American heritage.
Greenhouse Restaurant
Experience the freshest family favorites in Uptown Gig Harbor at the Greenhouse restaurant. This casual, family-friendly eatery features seasonal menus, bursting with local produce, seafood and spirits. Helmed by renowned chef Erik Smith, each dish is created to order, using responsibly, locally sourced ingredients, artfully prepared and plated in an elegant, inviting ambience. Greenhouse features full lunch and dinner menus, as well as appetizers, small and large bites and decadent desserts that change daily. It also offers a special Twilight Menu, with three-course meals ranging from light to hearty fare, and a Happy Hour menu that is featured in the bar. The extensive wine and beer list also changes daily, spotlighting local microbreweries and wineries, as well as perennial favorites that pair perfectly with the menu options. Greenhouse is open for lunch and dinner; information about private bookings for parties, meetings, receptions and corporate events is available on request.
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The Melting Pot
Located in historic downtown Tacoma, The Melting Pot provides a unique, interactive dining experience in a casually elegant, intimate atmosphere. Stop into our gourmet fondue restaurant after a concert at The Tacoma Dome, a visit to The Tacoma Art Museum to see the Dale Chihuly Museum of Glass, or a family outing at the Point Defiance Zoo.
Puyalapabs Café
Puyalapabs Café offers a beautifully intimate Northwest setting featuring steaks, seafood, Asian cuisine, and other regional favorites. 21+ only.
Woven Seafood & Chophouse
Tacoma’s newest waterfront restaurant, Woven Seafood & Chophouse, is a Roy Yamaguchi concept owned by The Puyallup Tribe of Indians. Woven celebrates a rich fusion of culinary traditions, honoring Yamaguchi’s Japanese heritage and pioneering Hawaii regional cuisine, along with the traditions of the Puyallup Tribe and the bounty of the Pacific Northwest.
Indochine
Indochine is a feast for your senses nestled in the heart of a great Northwest cultural center. Walking into this innovative space is like walking into a piece of artwork. Textures of cherry, iron, fine drapery, brick, and brushed sheet steel are all architecturally assembled in perfect harmony. As you dine, Indochine’s fine and creative cuisine will delight you. The flavors of Thailand, China, India, Japan, and Vietnam meld together to produce a wonderful culinary palette that is sure to impress your’s and your guests’ tastes. In complement to the meal, select from Indochine’s extensive wine list which features flavorsome and aroma rich wines from around the world. To finish your meal, select one of Indochine’s desserts, all of which are made in house, such as Gelato Italian Ice Cream flavors, or Crème Brûlée.
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