The dining scene in Seattle, Washington isn't only about its famous waterfront seafood restaurants and fish fry joints. The Emerald City's large restaurant population spans a wide a gastronomical range. Spicy cravings and adventurous palates needn't search far to satiate the appetite with an unusual dish from another part of the world. Seattle is peppered with a diverse collection of exotic restaurants. Green Leaf In 2006, the Vietnamese restaurant Green Leaf opened in Seattle's International District, and quickly became the talk of the town. Described in Seattle's entertainment newspaper, The Stranger, as "culinary greatness at hole-in-the-wall prices," Green Leaf not only offers authentic Vietnamese dishes, but those that show an adventurous side of the restaurant's kitchen, such as the wildly fragrant and tasty bahn xeo, and the fried flour cake, a deep-fried dough covered with green onions and egg, to be dipped in a sweet soy sauce. For those who don't regularly indulge in this type of cuisine, typical Vietnamese dishes, like beef la lot, green papaya salad, or fried-duck noodle soup will be anything but typical.

La Carta De Oaxaca Who would have thought that Mexican cuisine could be considered exotic in the United States? La Carta De Oaxaca is proof that an authentic Mexican restaurant in an urban center, like Seattle, can provide a haven for foreign tastes. Forget burritos, sour cream, refried beans, heaps of cheese, and anything else that makes for "Americanized Mexican" food--Oaxaca dishes are prepared from age-old family recipes of the Oaxaca Mexican region. Many dishes, for example, are centered by mole (pronounced mole-ay) sauce, an unusual flavor combination of cacao and chiles, among other ingredients that attribute to this sauce's distinct and peculiar flavor. Tortillas are handmade with the traditional method, and pasole is always on the menu. "Community" tables offer authenticity of the Mexican Oaxaca region, as patrons who are total strangers are encouraged to enjoy their dining experience together by sharing a long table. Be prepared to wait--this place is often crowded. Habesha Ehtiopian Restaurant Habesha offers a genuine, silverware-free Ethiopian dining experience in the heart of downtown Seattle.

Melding an ambiance true to the upscale feel of the Belltown neighborhood with decor and communal seating true to Ethiopian culture, Habesha highlights the social significance of African dining, as a symbol of friendship and affection. Many dishes are prepared with the traditional mitmita and berbere, the keystone spices of Ethiopian cuisine, and the Habesha dining experience includes African staples, such as injera (a spongy bread) and wot (a spicy stew). Poppy Seattle's vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood is spilling over with experimental restaurant concepts, but Poppy's has set itself apart with its unique "thali" dining concept. Thali dining involves serving each guest a variety of nine small (even bite-sized) dishes on one large tray. Poppy's combines thali dining with a menu shaped by Northwest cooking, the freshest seasonal ingredients, and healthy herbs and spices as the stars of the show, rather than supporting roles. Poppy has combined the fundamentals of traditional Northwest cooking with a unique contemporary spin that somehow harmonizes local with exotic, and turns dining into an art form.

Nibbles may include eggplant fries with honey and sea salt, buffalo-ricotta dumplings with wild nettles, or chiogga beets with honey and walnuts. Umi Sake House While many tourists regard the Japanese dining experience as adventurous, Seattlites find sushi as commonplace as espressos, since Seattle is a hub for fresh fish and seafood, and, hence, is home to countless sushi restaurants. Umi Sake House in Belltown, however, sustains the exoticism of the sushi experience. Offering both traditional and innovative rolls prepared in plain view of the dining area by Japanese chefs who make cutlery use look like a martial art, Umi provides a swanky, club-like atmosphere with dim lighting, sleek decor, and an air of electronic beats around authentic Japanese dining. cooking sushi rice thermomixUmi also differentiates itself from other Seattle sushi experiences by offering more than 45 varieties of rice wine, as well as specialty cocktails made with Japanese herbs. jiro dreams of sushi oil

Suggest an Article CorrectionPart 6 of our series on restaurants that have stood the test of time and are successful after ten years or more. These are in no particular order; will find something to love at all of them. A cozy neighborhood spot with brick interior walls, wood tables and chairs, and an outdoor patio, you'll be pleased with its simplicity. occasionally use a sidewalk sign to clarify: "Come in and eat pizza and drink alcohol." Nothing could be clearer, although they do offer more than pizza:where to buy sushi grade tuna in vancouver calzones, appetizers, salads, and sandwiches. ichiban sushi menu tampaPazzo's has been around since probably 1990 with several owners, and it's still going strong. youda sushi chef strategy

to watch the games, and can handle small and large groups. Their patio is only available in warmer months, so take advantage. They are open daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. (late night!), and offer happy hour daily from 3-6 p.m., and Sunday-Thursday 10 p.m. to close. 2307 Eastlake Ave East, 206-329-6558 Salty's goes back further than you may realize. The first location was on the Willamette River in Portland and opened in 1980. Owner Gerry Kingen was using long names to capture people's attention and he named it Salty Pickerel & Angus McHereford. ichiban sushi menu richmond hillBut everyone just called it Salty's and it stuck. sushi grade tuna meaning moved the Portland location to the Columbia River in 1987. Their second location opened at Redondo Beach in Des Moines in 1981.

Salty's on Alki (photo) opened in 1985. Their brunches have become legendary and each location has a stunning view. Because of those views and their great catering staffs, they are very popular locations for private parties and weddings. Famous for seafood, they offer many other options as well, plus live music. Check the website for hours Alki: 1936 Harbor Ave SW, Seattle, 206-937-1600 Redondo: 28201 Redondo Beach Dr S, Des Moines, 253-946-0636 Columbia River: 3839 NE Marine Dr, Portland, 503-288-4444 Opened in 2006, Umi is just sliding in on our 10-year-or-more restaurant champion list. The interior is very fun: yes, a sushi bar, but it looks out onto a "back yard" (totally inside the building). The idea is that it's a house. When you're in the "back yard," you look back into the house and there is sidingThey offer a large list of appetizers that includes noodles; fried, baked, steamed and grilled items; A full bar offers cocktails and other beverages, but their sake list is amazing.

They are open daily from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. (late night!), with last call for food at midnight. Happy hour depends on where you are and when you're there. It's 4-6 p.m. daily, but 4-8 p.m. daily on the front porch and in the cocktail bar. Late night happy hour is 11 p.m. to close Sunday-Thursday. 2230 1st Ave in Belltown, 206-374-8717 Opened in 1991, Café Flora has always been vegetarian and led the way in convincing people that there is a lot of delicious food that just happens toThey also offer vegan and gluten-free items. From the beginning, they included giving back to the community and taking care of their employees as part of their concept. That didn't change when the original owners sold to Nat Stratton-Clarke. The dining room was remodeled in 2009, and the herb garden around 2012, allowing it to be used for dining as well as growing. The atrium was originally an outdoor space, but enclosed in 1996. remained the same and is a very popular space for private events, weddings, and, of course, their famous brunch (which can be had anywhere in the

They have a full bar and many non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy. Breakfast is offered weekdays until 2 p.m., lunch weekdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m., weekend brunch 9 a.m.-2 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m. On weekends, they are closed between 2-5 p.m. Happy Hour is available weekdays from 3-6 p.m. 2901 E Madison St, 206-325-9100 Marketing genius, really, to simply paint the door in Post Alley pink-no need for a sign, just find the pink door. Plus it was the color of tiles owner Jacquelina Di Roberto saw in Florence. Even in 1981 when it opened, it was about using all parts of the vegetable and animal, and appreciation for the small-to-medium farms and seasonal items. You'll find wonderful Italian-American food here; some of the items from the original menu, they're just thatBeyond the warm feel of the restaurant and the amazing deck with the Pike Place Market and water view, The Pink Door has always also been about the experience: cabaret, tarot, burlesque, opera, magic. You'll see trapeze artists or perhaps a tap-dancing saxophone player.