If your mental list of places to eat around Pierce County hasn’t been updated lately, it may be time for a refresh.
The past year has brought soup dumplings to Tacoma, Korean fried chicken to Puyallup, a new seafood stop to Gig Harbor and a restaurant in University Place devoted largely to the noble pursuit of covering tortilla chips in salsa and calling it breakfast.
We’re obviously talking about chilaquiles.
From Tacoma and Lakewood to Sumner, Puyallup, Gig Harbor and tiny South Prairie, restaurants have continued opening across Pierce County over the past year.
Some are entirely new businesses. Others bring established regional or international restaurant brands into Pierce County for the first time. There’s even a former bank that now contains burgers, beer and enough televisions to make you wonder whether the ATM used to dispense ESPN.
Here are 15 newcomers worth knowing about.
1. Supreme Dumplings — Tacoma
4502 S. Steele St., Suite 1620, Tacoma
Tacoma no longer requires a trip north for a serious soup-dumpling fix.
Supreme Dumplings opened at The Village at Tacoma Mall in June, bringing the growing Chinese restaurant brand and its xiao long bao — better known as soup dumplings — to Pierce County.
For the uninitiated, xiao long bao are delicate steamed dumplings containing meat and hot broth. That last part is important. Biting directly into one like a chicken nugget is an excellent way to discover just how much soup a very small dumpling can contain.
The menu goes well beyond them, with pan-fried dumplings and buns, wontons, fried rice, noodles, soups and vegetables.
Still, the soup dumplings are the obvious place for a first-timer to start.
Supreme Dumplings is part of the growing restaurant cluster at The Village, the redevelopment of the former Sears property at Tacoma Mall.
Good for: Dumpling obsessives, date night, groups and anyone who has spent years asking why Tacoma didn’t have more soup dumplings.
Know before you go: This is a sit-down restaurant rather than a food-court operation, and new-location crowds can make peak dinner periods busy.
View their menu and hours.
2. Happy Lamb Hot Pot — Tacoma
4502 S. Steele St., Suite 1600, Tacoma
A few doors away, Tacoma gained another dining experience that previously often meant driving north.
Happy Lamb Hot Pot opened April 20 as the chain’s first South Sound location.
Hot pot is interactive: Diners choose a simmering broth and cook thinly sliced meat, seafood, vegetables, noodles, tofu and other ingredients right at the table.
Happy Lamb’s signature is its long-simmered broth, including an original marrow broth. Other choices include spicy, tomato, mushroom and sour-spicy varieties.
And yes, lamb is kind of a big deal here.
Diners can choose from lamb, beef, pork belly and other proteins, then pile on noodles, tofu, seafood and vegetables. An all-you-can-eat option is available for people who interpret the phrase “I’ve had enough thinly sliced beef” as a personal failure.
There’s also a sauce bar for building your own concoction.
Good for: Groups, birthdays, adventurous eaters and long social dinners.
Know before you go: This isn’t really a 25-minute lunch stop. You’re cooking at the table and ordering multiple rounds. First-timers should ask the server to explain the process, and joining the waitlist ahead of time can be wise during busy periods.
View their menu and hours.
3. Katsu Burger — Tacoma
2805 6th Ave., Tacoma
Imagine a hamburger and Japanese katsu had a baby.
That’s essentially the premise here.
Katsu Burger opened its first Tacoma location on Sixth Avenue this spring, serving breaded and fried beef, pork, chicken and vegetarian patties with Japanese-inspired sauces and toppings.
The Tokyo Classic is a logical starting point, combining the crispy katsu-style patty with tonkatsu sauce and Japanese mayo.
Things escalate from there.
The Godzilla Attack brings the heat, while larger creations can turn the concept into something requiring both hands and an optimistic number of napkins.
Fries get in on the theme with seasonings such as nori, and specialty sauces include wasabi mayo and curry mayo. There are also shakes, including Japanese-inspired flavors.
The restaurant has another unexpected feature: bonsai trees have become part of its Tacoma personality.
Because naturally your fried Japanese hamburger restaurant needed a horticultural subplot.
Good for: Burger lovers bored with regular burgers, families, Japanese-food fans and hungry people.
Know before you go: These are substantial, fried, sauce-heavy burgers. Come prepared for something closer to an event than a dainty sandwich.
View their menu and hours.
4. Cheers Bar & Grill — Downtown Tacoma
2317 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
This building used to handle deposits.
It now handles wings.
Cheers Bar & Grill opened downtown in February after owners converted a former U.S. Bank branch into a roughly 5,000-square-foot sports bar.
The transformation includes high ceilings, pool tables and televisions just about everywhere, including a particularly large screen behind the bar.
Food stays mostly in familiar sports-bar territory: burgers, wings, sandwiches, nachos, tacos, salads and pizzas made on naan-style crusts.
Most dishes were priced around $14 to $19 when the restaurant opened.
The owners already operate Cheers locations elsewhere in the South Sound, so the Tacoma restaurant isn’t an entirely new concept. But turning a 1960s bank into a giant sports bar certainly earns some novelty points.
Good for: Seahawks games, Mariners games, UFC, groups, pool and late-night food.
Know before you go: Cheers is open considerably later than most restaurants on this list, with current hours extending to 2 a.m. daily.
View their menu and hours.
5. Mikey’s Public House & Frog Bar — Downtown Tacoma
1702 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
If you’ve been here before but don’t recognize the name, you’re not losing it.
Mikey’s Public House opened Feb. 1 in the former downtown Zeeks Pizza space.
Owner Michael Goronkin kept the pizza ovens and staff but broke away from the Zeeks brand to create an independent restaurant with a broader pub personality.
Pizza remains central. The streamlined lineup includes familiar cheese and pepperoni alongside combinations involving wild mushrooms and hot honey, prosciutto and arugula, and BBQ brisket with bread-and-butter pickles.
There are also wings with an unusually large selection of sauces and dry rubs, plus cheese curds, jalapeño poppers, salads, burgers and desserts.
Upstairs is the Frog Bar, where the restaurant can lean further into happy hour, smaller pizzas and events.
Good for: Pizza, drinks before or after a downtown event, UW Tacoma crowds and casual groups.
Know before you go: Look for live music and other events on the restaurant’s calendar. There’s also a patio, making this more than a grab-a-pizza-and-leave operation.
View their menu and hours.
6. Shio Sushi — Sumner
813 Academy St., Sumner
Sumner gained a new sushi restaurant in May near the Sounder station.
Shio Sushi serves sashimi, nigiri and classic and specialty rolls, but there’s plenty here for someone in your group who responds to raw fish with a firm “absolutely not.”
The menu also includes ramen, udon, teriyaki, tempura, karaage and other cooked dishes.
For groups, the sushi boats are the spectacle. Smaller and larger combinations pile sashimi, nigiri and rolls together on a boat-shaped serving platter.
There’s also a dedicated selection of vegan rolls, making Shio particularly useful when you’ve assembled one of those dinner groups in which six people somehow have nine dietary preferences.
Boba milk teas round out the menu.
Good for: Sushi dates, families, mixed-diet groups and celebratory dinners.
Know before you go: Sushi is the star, but the size of the menu makes this an unusually easy Japanese restaurant for people who don’t eat sushi.
View their menu and hours.
7. bb.q Chicken — Puyallup
3850 S. Meridian, Suite A2, Puyallup
No, the name doesn’t mean barbecue chicken.
The Korean fried chicken chain bb.q Chicken expanded into Puyallup this year, bringing a substantial menu of ultra-crispy chicken and Korean-inspired sauces to South Hill.
Chicken can be ordered as wings, boneless pieces or larger chicken portions, and half-and-half orders make sense for newcomers who don’t want to commit an entire meal to one flavor.
Honey Garlic and Soy Garlic are approachable starting points. Gangnam Style, Secret Sauce and hotter varieties take things in increasingly aggressive directions.
And Korean fried chicken is only part of the equation.
Depending on the current menu, sides and snacks can include tteokbokki — chewy rice cakes in sauce — cheese balls, dumplings, fries, rice and pickled radish.
Good for: Wing nights, takeout, groups and people who take crispiness very seriously.
Know before you go: Some of the spicy options are legitimately spicy. If your definition of “hot” is Taco Bell Fire Sauce, perhaps don’t begin at the top of the scale.
View their menu and hours.
8. Ivar’s Seafood Bar — Gig Harbor
4901 Point Fosdick Dr., Gig Harbor
It took Ivar’s a while to get here.
The Seattle-born seafood institution had reportedly looked for the right Gig Harbor location for years before finally opening a Seafood Bar near Uptown on April 3.
This isn’t the white-tablecloth version of seafood dining. It’s the fast-casual Ivar’s most Washingtonians recognize: fish and chips, chowder and fried seafood ordered at the counter.
Cod, salmon and halibut are among the fish-and-chips options, alongside prawns, clams, oysters and other seafood choices.
The famous clam chowder is here, obviously.
The location also serves Kidd Valley burgers, giving the seafood skeptic in the family an escape hatch.
There’s room for more than 80 diners inside, plus outdoor seating.
Good for: Families, quick seafood lunches, chowder cravings and anyone who doesn’t want to cross the Narrows for their Ivar’s fix.
Know before you go: It’s a Seafood Bar, not a full-service Ivar’s Acres of Clams-style restaurant. Order at the counter or kiosk and keep things casual.
View their menu and hours.
9. The Midway — Gig Harbor
3118 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor
The Midway opened July 2 in the former Heritage Distilling tasting room in downtown Gig Harbor.
And it’s difficult to put neatly into one box.
It’s part bakery, part deli, part cafe and part market, created by Morso Bistro owner Trish Huff and her brother, chef Nick Hosea.
Glass cases display cakes, pastries, cookies and bars. Sandwiches, salads and grab-and-go items make it useful for lunch, while coffee makes it an easy morning stop.
Vegan and gluten-free bakery choices have also been part of the lineup.
The location itself may be one of the biggest selling points. It’s in walkable downtown Gig Harbor, making it easy to grab something and continue toward the waterfront.
The renovated interior includes vintage decorative pieces and plenty of natural light.
Good for: Coffee with a friend, lunch, pastries, waterfront wandering and picnic supplies.
Know before you go: The Midway initially opened with daytime hours, so don’t assume “restaurant” means late dinner. Check the current schedule before making an evening trip.
View their menu and hours.
10. Bánh Mì Bà Ba — Lakewood
8730 S. Tacoma Way, Suite 101, Lakewood
The sandwich is the headline, but don’t stop reading there.
Bánh Mì Bà Ba specializes in Vietnamese bánh mì built on crisp baguettes with fillings including BBQ pork, grilled beef and the traditional combination-style sandwich.
The restaurant leans heavily into Vietnamese cafe culture beyond the sandwiches, serving phin-brewed Vietnamese coffee, sugarcane drinks and chè desserts.
Pho is available, too.
That makes this considerably more versatile than a sandwich counter: You could stop for coffee in the morning, grab bánh mì for lunch or sit down with pho later in the day.
One useful detail for newcomers: bánh mì typically combines savory meat and spreads with pickled vegetables, herbs and the crunch of a baguette. If your sandwich universe begins and ends with turkey on wheat, this is an excellent place to expand it.
Good for: Affordable lunches, Vietnamese coffee, takeout and anyone who considers bread quality a serious matter.
Know before you go: It’s in the South Tacoma Way dining corridor, an area already packed with excellent Korean and Vietnamese food. Don’t judge the experience by the shopping-plaza exterior.
View their menu and hours.
11. Cluck & Stack — Puyallup
3500 S. Meridian, Puyallup
Sometimes you don’t need a tasting menu.
Sometimes you’re at the mall and want fried chicken.
Cluck & Stack is a new South Hill Mall food-court operation centered on burgers, fried chicken and tenders.
The menu includes its house “Cluck” burger and proprietary Cluck Sauce, along with other burger combinations.
Vegetarians aren’t completely abandoned at the food court: the restaurant has said it carries both Impossible and veggie patties.
This is among the newest restaurants on our list, so the operation is still developing. Its owners have publicly acknowledged early feedback about the restaurant’s menu presentation and said they were working on improvements.
Good for: Mall shoppers, quick lunches, burgers and fried-chicken cravings.
Know before you go: This is straightforward food-court dining, not a sit-down restaurant. Hours generally follow South Hill Mall.
View their menu and hours.
12. 6th Ave Food Truck Corral — Tacoma
4409 6th Ave., Tacoma
We’re stretching the definition of “restaurant” here.
We’re fine with that.
The 6th Ave Food Truck Corral opened in fall 2025 with a deceptively simple idea: Instead of making Tacoma diners chase food trucks around town based on Instagram posts and divine intervention, give several of them a regular home.
The paved lot has hosted vendors including Lumpia Love, Taquería El Nopalito and Buddy’s Chicken & Waffles.
That means one stop can potentially cover Filipino food, Mexican food and fried chicken and waffles.
The exact lineup and individual truck hours can change, which is both the fun and inconvenience of the format.
The corral is near Beer Star, which allows outside food, and Jefferson Park isn’t far away.
Good for: Groups that can’t agree on dinner, food-truck fans and takeout.
Know before you go: Check the individual trucks before making a special trip. The corral’s posted hours don’t necessarily mean every vendor is serving during every one of those hours.
View their menu and hours.
13. Fusion Bistro Bar & Lounge — University Place
2811 Bridgeport Way W., University Place
If you’re the person who opens a menu and wants options, congratulations.
Fusion Bistro has options.
The University Place newcomer has a sprawling Asian-fusion menu with a particularly strong Vietnamese influence.
Pho has emerged as one of its calling cards, with choices including brisket, rare steak, meatball, chicken and oxtail. Diners can also find vermicelli bowls, bánh mì, spring rolls, fried rice, stir-fried dishes and Vietnamese beef stew.
And portions have developed a reputation for being substantial.
That’s worth knowing before everyone at the table independently decides they need an appetizer.
Vietnamese coffee and fruit drinks add another reason to linger.
Good for: Pho, big appetites, families and groups where everyone wants something different.
Know before you go: The breadth of the menu can be intimidating. If it’s your first visit, pho and fresh rolls provide a pretty sensible introduction.
View their menu and hours.
14. South Prairie Bar & Grill — South Prairie
121 State Route 162, South Prairie
Pierce County extends considerably farther east than Tacoma, and South Prairie has a new neighborhood hangout of its own.
South Prairie Bar & Grill opened in January between Bonney Lake and Buckley with the kind of menu you’d hope to find after spending the day hiking, biking or otherwise behaving like a Pacific Northwesterner.
There are burgers, pizza, wings, sandwiches, salads, steak and seafood.
One of the more memorable appetizers is the “Hawk Eggs,” a cream-cheese popper-style creation involving shredded chicken and jalapeños.
The restaurant also serves breakfast on weekends and keeps the social calendar busy with events such as bingo, karaoke and game-day gatherings.
Pool and other games reinforce that this is as much neighborhood hangout as restaurant.
Good for: Burgers, sports, casual family meals, weekend breakfast and drinks with friends.
Know before you go: The atmosphere shifts depending on the hour. Earlier visits can be family-friendly; later evenings and event nights lean more toward neighborhood bar.
View their menu and hours.
15. Casa de los Chilaquiles — University Place
5502 Orchard St. W., University Place
Finally, breakfast.
But we’re not talking about two eggs, bacon and a sad triangle of toast.
Casa de los Chilaquiles opened in University Place in November with a menu built around its namesake Mexican breakfast dish.
Chilaquiles start with tortilla chips covered in salsa and typically layered with ingredients such as crema, cheese, eggs and meat. Here, diners can choose among different sauces and preparations, including a flight designed for people unwilling to choose just one.
There are also chilaquiles burritos, skillets, menudo, Mexican-inspired Benedict dishes and sweeter breakfast options.
Drinks include café de olla, Mexican-inspired coffee creations, mimosas and other brunch cocktails.
The atmosphere isn’t exactly library quiet.
Music, drinks and a busy dining room give the place a celebratory weekend-brunch personality, and crowds have followed.
Good for: Weekend brunch, birthdays, groups, Mexican breakfast and anyone bored senseless by another plate of pancakes.
Know before you go: Weekend waits are possible, and this is intentionally a lively restaurant. If your ideal Sunday breakfast involves whispering over the newspaper, you have been warned.
View their menu and hours.
Pierce County’s Restaurant Scene Isn’t Sitting Still
What’s striking about the past year’s openings isn’t simply the number of new places.
It’s the range.
Within a relatively short drive, Pierce County diners can now cook lamb in Mongolian-style hot pot broth, crack open soup dumplings, order Japanese katsu burgers, attack a sushi boat, eat Korean fried chicken, pick up Vietnamese bánh mì or sit down to a plate devoted almost entirely to chilaquiles.
And that’s before accounting for dozens of other restaurants, cafes, bars and bakeries that have opened during the same period.
The difficult part is no longer finding somewhere new to eat. It’s deciding where to start.
