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50 Favorite Dishes

Pacific Grill's takoyaki is one of our favorite dishes in the South Sound.

Even soy-based, ink-stained wretches must eat. Some readers might argue the Weekly Volcano deserves to eat crow, dirt or other earth-toned substances. But no amount of mocking or scorn can keep us away from food. They'll have to pry pizza and takoyaki from our cold, dead fingers. Below, Weekly Volcano's editorial gastronomes reveal their 50 favorite dishes in the South Sound. We could have added another 50. We're gluttons like that. However, we were bound by a page count. Oh well, there's always next year.

Enjoy.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

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Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

It's one old timer that hasn't lost its step.

Pancakes and Sausage

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Pancakes and Sausage

As far as breakfast goes, you won't find a better plate of cakes.

Pesto Trio

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Pesto Trio

When you add the pesto trio to the mix: Magnifico.

Takoyaki (no longer on the menu)

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Takoyaki (no longer on the menu)

Each flavor bursts wide open in unison.

Lobster Sandwich

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Lobster Sandwich

The little town of Milton has a hidden gem.

Honey, Cardamom and Chevre Ice Cream

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Honey, Cardamom and Chevre Ice Cream

Think culinary perfection served in a bowl.

Chocolate Mousse with Homemade Marshmallows

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Chocolate Mousse with Homemade Marshmallows

The mousse from the Bearded Ladies makes you pause to roll your eyes.

Monte Cristo

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Monte Cristo

Cut into fours, their version stacks the ham, turkey, cheddar AND Swiss between egg bread which is then dipped in an a Grand Marnier egg batter.

Clam Chowder

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Clam Chowder

This tasty chowder always takes home the Seattle Chowder Cook Off trophy.

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Ham & Egg Breakfast

Take a jacket, you may end up waiting in line outside for a table to open up, but it will be worth it.

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Summer Basil Chicken Salad

Don't wait for summer to dive into this large plate of salad greens.

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Shahi Gosht Korma

It looks like a mini-dunk tank for torn pieces of pillowy naan bread.

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Southern Buttermilk Pie

The Southern buttermilk pie tastes like coconut and custard, and even better you can get it alongside coffee, a sandwich or ice cream.

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Swimming Angel

Swimming angel, a traditional Thai dish also called rama rama or swimming rama, is a huge plate of saucy goodness.

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O-Toro

It is the most expensive, the most sought-after, the most savored of all the many delights available at the hands of the best sushi chefs.

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Rosemary Ham, Turkey, Sopressata Sandwich

The sandwich takes a turn in the hearth oven to give it a nice toasted feel.

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Pineapple Fried Rice

The pineapple fried rice at Narai Asian Cuisine in Olympia is a pleasant surprise.

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Vietnamese Vermicelli Salad

Vien Dong in Tacoma's International District offers a heaping bowl of thin, undressed vermicelli noodles.

Calamari Frito

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Calamari Frito

Crunchy-edged, creamy-centered snack sticks

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Green Curry Tofu

The overall sweetness of the enveloping green curry sauce is pleasantly surprising.

Cheese Plate

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Cheese Plate

Given the opportunity, I could eat Enoteca wine bar's cheese plate for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bolognese Pasta

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Bolognese Pasta

It's a well-balanced stunner that could grace any Tuscan's table.

Nachos

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Nachos

It's difficult for two people to polish off.

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Beef Bulgogi

Typically the meat is barbequed, though at Lakewood's Obok Restaurant it tastes more like it has been simmered with large pieces of white onion and is heavy on red chili peppers.

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Fish Balls

Rolled in crunchy panko breading and given a turn in hot oil, these hand-formed morsels are made from tuna, scallop, crab and red snapper.

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Pepperoni Pizza

The best pizza in the South Sound?

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Fish Tacos

These are no ordinary tortillas folks.

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Asparagus and Eggs

It looks straight out of the pages of Food and Wine magazine.

Walker Burger

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Walker Burger

At Maxwell's Speakeasy, this dream burger exists.

The Coney

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The Coney

It's a traditional Flint-style Coney all the way.

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Flatbread with Cambazola

Flying Tomato Italian Grill in Graham makes pillowy, soft flatbread.

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Spanish Sardine

I was delighted by how the fish seemed to melt in my mouth and had a creamy texture without being mushy.

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Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

Plan to stand in line because lunch crowds swell out the door.

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Migas

The portions are generous, but you won't have trouble finishing them.

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Farfalle di Marine

No one flavor overpowers the others, each complements and builds on the whole.

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Stewed Goat Taco

These tacos could be pot roast if you didn't know the difference.

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Korean Barbecue Short Ribs

Comes with a silky, sugary sauce that blends nicely with the beef and fat hanging off the bones.

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Fried Oysters

Crown Bar has been a welcome addition to the Tacoma area, and the oysters are just cream on the top.

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Tamales

You might never think of tamales the same way again.

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Tongue Taco

Served on authentic, small corn tortillas, the tongue is stewed moist with mild flavor that works well with dashes of onion and cilantro.

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Signature Boeuf Bourguignon

Brix 25 will be happy to pair it with the perfect bottle of wine.

Croutes de Fromage

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Croutes de Fromage

Warning: If their tomato basil soup is the soup du jour, get your ass there early.

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BLT

This is one BLT you'll dream about.

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Penang Curry

Longbeach is stellar in many ways, but their Penang curry tops the list.

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Hot Pot

Pure hedonism.

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Pancit

The pancit at Cebu is the best I've had outside of the stuff made by Filipino mamas back home in Hawaii.

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BBQ Sampler Platter

I'm pleased that award-winning Pitmaster Amy Anderson goes easy with the ladle.

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Sweet Potato Gratin

It's heaven in a mouthful.

Babs Bodacious Biscuits

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Babs Bodacious Biscuits

Arriving in a bowl, Babs Bodacious Biscuits takes the standard biscuits and gravy concept and gives it a diamond shine.

New York Steak with Hashbrowns

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New York Steak with Hashbrowns

When I dine on El Gaucho's New York steak with hash browns, my taste buds are transported to the Big Apple.

Comments for "50 Favorite Dishes" (5)

Northwest Military is not responsible for the content of these comments. Northwest Military reserves the right to remove comments at their discretion.

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Scott Banfield said on Oct. 13, 2010 at 11:38am

If you were to post one article with the locations of all of these great dishes, your readers would be able to more easily work their way through all of this good eating. Or a map with all of the locations?

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Ron Swarner said on Oct. 13, 2010 at 11:47am

Excellent idea Scott. We'll add the one article soon. Thanks!

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Brooke Guthrie said on Nov. 05, 2010 at 9:10am

I took notes on most of the suggestions to try in the upcoming months. It's nice to know what the best dish to get is.

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lcopp said on Mar. 21, 2011 at 2:58pm

So where is the one stop listing of all 50?!

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Pappi Swarner said on Mar. 21, 2011 at 6:43pm

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