Best Take Out Restaurants in Seattle

Trying to figure out where to find the best barbecue in town? This casual eatery should climb its way to the top of your list, as it has for folks across Seattle. The staff's main belief? "BBQ is a festival of flavor." Have them pile a bun full of pork, beef or ham, and top it off with a drizzle of sauce for the best eating. If you like "hot" foods, just be careful, since their hot sauce makes others pale in comparison. Along with everything else, make sure to try the tasty baked beans too. The eatery is essentially an order window with outdoor tables, so don't expect sit-down service. This is barbecue, after all.

It won't take much time here in Seattle before you hear about this popular Pioneer Square deli outpost. For great Italian sausages, salamis, meatballs or pork, try Salumi, whose name means "dry-cured meat" in Italian. If you prefer a lighter, less meat-intensive meal, order their salad or soup. A comfortable interior with tin ceilings and wooden floors makes guests feel at home, as does a large communal table where guests can share conversation with their meals. Take home Coro by Salumi packages, the perfect gift for those you love, or share these unique salami flavors (think mole or lemongrass) with your own family at home.

Featuring a vibrant, neon exterior and an intimate, welcoming interior, Taste of India in the U District offers a fun dining experience from start to finish. Now you can pick up the venue's tasty Indian and Mediterranean dishes for takeout, ranging from rich curries and creamy masalas to tasty vindaloos. Other highlights include the chicken tikka masala, spinach naan and homemade mango pistachio ice cream. Vegetarian diners enjoy dishes like the Madras chili masala with crisp-cooked squash and peppers and the paneer tikka, which features tender pieces of cheese marinated in yogurt, ginger, garlic, herbs and spices (served on a bed of lettuce with cilantro and tamarind chutneys).

In Upper Fremont, RockCreek Seafood & Spirits proves a popular restaurant and bar that welcomes diners to its airy, inviting space. Yet these days, takeout is an excellent option, too. The culinary team perfectly prepares unexpected fish alongside the classics, flawlessly transitioning between warmer and colder seasons. Loyal guests return regularly for the friendly vibe, the savory stew dishes, the creative cocktails plus the cozy-chic decor inside this urban-industrial, two-story 'fishing lodge.' In this season, standout takeout dishes include the Seared Norwegian Mackeral Salad, Totten Inlet Mussels Bruschetta, Blackened Hawaiian Tombo Tuna and Slow Braised Oregon Lamb Ragout, among other seasonal offerings.

Pronounced "Gow sa mai," this Thai eatery delights diners from near (the Fremont neighborhood) and from far. An immigrant-, women- and family-owned establishment, Kaosamai has been a Fremont staple since 2001, when they first opened with a small family-based staff and much ambition. In 2004, the company opened its first mobile catering truck. Chefs use fresh ingredients to create delicious curry and noodle dishes, and sides range from fresh rolls with prawns or tofu to Giow Tawt, a crab meat and cream cheese mixture wrapped in a won ton and deep fried. Standout takeout dishes include Tom Yum soup, Pa'Nang Curry and some of the best Phad See Iew found in the entire Northwest.

In West Seattle, Marination Ma Kai brings the delectable flavors and happy vibes of Hawaii to a stunning beachside setting (near Alki). Now these dishes can be picked up and enjoyed from the comfort of home. The venue's Hawaiian-Korean cuisine "melts delicate heat and the flavors of aloha together in [diners'] mouths," while the expansive patio offers to-die-for skyline and water views. As the owners put it, "it started with a truck, some exquisite marinades and a lotta love," and now, more than one million tacos and five years later, Marination has expanded to three separate venues and "one big aloha family." Loyal fans rave about the Kimchi Fried Rice Bowl, spicy pork tacos, award-winning Pork Katsu Sandwich, the boozy shave ice bowls, hibiscus-tinged cocktails, the special tangy "NUNYA" sauce and so much more. At Marination, life is good!

Comfortable and unpretentious, Serafina has been a Seattle favorite for years. This charming outpost has become one of the main culinary draws of the Eastlake neighborhood, and now the venue's takeout dishes create an elevated culinary experience at home, too. Serafina's cuisine draws on rustic traditions of the Italian countryside and is eminently satisfying. Take-home dishes range from lasagna and spaghetti to Agnolotti dal Plin, featuring beef, pork, spinach, chive butter, hazelnut, Grana Padan and aged balsamic, and Tajarin (prawns, tomato, capesr, Calabrian chili, anchovy butter, pangrattato). Dessert options include Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta and Cannella, cinnamon sugar churro bites with spicy chocolate dipping sauce. Pick up cocktails-to-go and wine, too.

Stepping foot into Capitol Hill's Spice Waala sets future travel dreams in motion, thanks to the space's welcoming vibes and mesmerizing aromas that waft down 15th Street's sidewalks. Owners Aakanksha Sinha and Uttam Mukherjee aim to create, what they call: "Authentic (to us) Indian Street Food," bringing the magical flavors of India directly to Seattle diners. When ordering your takeaway treats, be sure to try the papdi chaat (Indian nachos), aloo tiki and lamb kebab rolls ("Calcutta-style," A.K.A. with an egg on top), and mango lassi or masala chai beverages. The eatery's meat offerings get marinated for 36 hours and then grilled, and a signature green chutney makes everything taste especially delightful.

Since late 2013, this charming neighborhood venue has been delighting loyal patrons in an environment they call "inviting, lively and comforting." (We concur; it's all true!) The friendly staff pridefully brings "a sense of playfulness" to everything they do, from the authentic hospitality and warm ambiance to an inventive menu of fresh, seasonal dishes. Standout takeaway dishes range from sides like the fingerling potatoes and Caesar kale and farro, to mains including the pork tenderloin, Dabob Bay Manilla clams and grilled wild salmon. (Don't miss the thick-cut bread from Grand Central Baking and daily sweet treats from the restaurant's on-site baker.) A covered and heated garden patio makes alfresco dining possible in any weather.

At Upper Fremont's Uneeda Burger, a classically trained chef brings a fine-dining approach to this fast-causal burger joint. The eatery serves some of the city's finest burgers plus seasonal salads, sides, hand-dipped shakes and more. Offerings range from the traditional to the creative, but all items consistently feature hormone- and antibiotic-free meats and fresh, local ingredients. Specials rotate regularly, and unexpected meats like elk, bison and Chinese water buffalo appear alongside beef, chicken, pork and fish offerings; vegetarian options include the housemade Veggie Burger and Vegetarian Chili.  Newer takeout offerings include the Basil Crusted Salmon Sandwich with fennel salad and the Boosted Bow, which features kale, spring mix and romaine lettuce, tomato, apple, sweet potato, chili-lime pepitas, feta, miso-clementine vinaigrette and your choice of a chicken or veggie patty.