Five top Spokane spots from a teen’s point of view
The Discoverer recently named Spokane as a Top Foodie Destination in 2020. This honor begs the question: What makes Spokane restaurants so unique?
Chicago is known for its pizza, Seattle for its seafood and New York for its pastrami. However, Spokane is known for its wide range of quality restaurants.
Here are my picks for five of the best Spokane restaurants, each adding something significant to the Inland Northwest’s cuisine:
Taco Vado
As you drive down Ash Street, Taco Vado’s tangerine drive-through stand is easy to miss. However, when you order at this Mexican restaurant, the food is hard to forget.
The fast food place sells breakfast burritos, tacos, and vegan options. The lunch burrito with loaded queso is a personal favorite.
The barbacoa is the highlight of the burrito and cheese, rice, black beans and pico de gallo complement the soft tortilla.
Can’t decide which meat to order? Just ask the cook. He will tell you which meat is best that day.
When you go: 1602 N. Ash St., (509) 290-6221, tacovado.com
The shovel
Adorned with fairy lights and elementary school children, the scoop is the perfect destination for ice cream, waffles and a fun environment.
The ice-cream flavor of Scoop’s Mud Pie is every chocolate lover’s dream. The milk chocolate ice cream is littered with oreo cakes and pieces of biscuit as one of the few constant flavors in the store.
Don’t worry, dairy-free eaters: strawberry and raspberry guava sorbet often alternates.
When you go: 1238 W. Summit Parkway and 1001 W. 25th Ave., (509) 703-7042, thescoopspokane.com
Method juice cafe
Located in the heart of downtown, the Method Juice Cafe has a rare offer: healthy, unhealthy tasting options.
Method is highly regarded for its acai and rice bowls, salads, coffees, and juices. My favorite juice, the Authentic, contains coconut milk, banana, orange, pineapple, vanilla and raw agave.
The menu leaves customers with more energy and an urge to experiment with healthier foods.
When you go: 7704 N. Division St., 718 W. Riverside Ave. and 1309 W. St. Suite 101, (509) 473-9579, methodjuicecafe.com
Republic of Pi
Republic Pi is the pizzeria with the best starters. The Pi Bite dough is baked, fried until crispy and sprinkled with sea salt. Perry Street’s beer and cheese sauce is the perfect accompaniment to bites and prepares guests for an even more delicious pizza.
The Kiernan wood-fired oven pizza is unusual in that you will find a soft-boiled egg in the middle. Better still, Republic Pi donates $ 1 for every Kiernan order to the Team Gleason ALS Foundation.
When you go: Manito Shopping Center, E. 30th Ave., (509) 863-9196, republicpi.com
Missile market
The Rocket Market houses a restaurant, shop and café in its cozy space. The shop part of the market sells products, wine and flowers, an ideal mall without overwhelming the store.
Rocket sells delicious treats from Boots Bakery, Sweet Street, and Donut Parade. The bistro’s baked mac and cheese is the most exciting starter with semolina noodles, herbs and breadcrumbs.
When you go: 726 E. 43rd Ave., (509) 343-2253, rocketmarket.com
Sophia McFarland is a summer intern in high school. Her senior year at Gonzaga Prep begins in the fall.