To wrap up our 2023 recap, here is Part 3 of our Best of 2023 list, featuring all the categories that didn’t quite fit anywhere else, including seafood, tacos and a handful of other great restaurants. If you haven’t read Parts 1 and 2, you can access them here. And one more time, this list is not all-encompassing, but just the best of what we tried during 2023, and is my personal opinion only.

Seafood

Growing up in the PNW and having eaten seafood nearly my whole life, I am admittedly a seafood snob, and often find myself disappointed when eating at seafood venues. I’ve had really good (halibut in the Space Needle was to die for), and really bad (a specific fish and chowder house along Cape Cod) but…

🥇 Buck Bay Shellfish Farm – Olga, WA: This is my new #1 overall! When you first drive up, it might feel like you’ve taken a wrong turn; after all, the property is primarily the operations center for an active shellfish farm, with the beds laid out in the tideflats just across the street. But if you can snag a parking spot in the crowded gravel lot or overflow grassy field, you’re in for a treat. There will probably be a line out the door, but the food arrives quickly. Now for the bounty from the sea: Try the rotating chef’s choice chowder (our day was a Manhattan-style with just a hint of spice), and I dare you to grab an oyster or two. I’ve tried oysters in several places, and typically have not enjoyed them, but Buck Bay was the exception. Just slightly briny and a little sweet, the oysters did not have the characteristic mouthful of seawater sensation. We also shared a plate of the best fish ‘n chips we’ve tasted, and rounded out the stay with some smoked cod and salmon to go, which unfortunately ruined store-bought smoked fish for me!

🥈 Alaska Weathervane Scallops – Puget Sound-based food truck: If you’re lucky enough to happen upon this food truck at a fair, festival or similar event, be sure to at least try one item! The Scallorito was so good that I wanted to go back for another, had we not already been sharing several other food truck items. The scallops are seared perfectly: buttery, melt-in-your-mouth with just a little chewiness, and full of flavor.

Sadly, this category only has two qualifying restaurants, as most of the rest of the seafood we tried this past year fell short of our standards.

Tacos

The sad reality of tacos and Mexican food in the United States is so much of it has become so Americanized that it loses the authenticity and true local Mexican flavors. We try our best to find Mexican establishments that still adhere to traditional styles and family recipes, striving to experience the most authentic taste this side of the border.

🥇 Taqueria 29 – Twentynine Palms, CA: 2023 must have been the year of number 1s, because yet again, we discovered a place to take the top spot in our all-time list, this one in an obscure little Mexican shop off the main highway outside Joshua Tree National Park. Nothing about the location screams “tourists stop here” and maybe that’s a good thing, but if you find yourself with a hankering for Mexican after a day of hiking in Joshua Tree, a stop at Taqueria 29 will have you dreaming of their food long after you’re home. The Quesabirria is probably the best item I’ve ever tried at a Mexican restaurant, and the tacos weren’t far behind (my favorites were the Al Pastor and Pollo). The burritos were packed full of flavorful ingredients and provided more than enough for one meal.

🥈 El Taco Bout It – Lopez Island, WA: Another food truck, but one with a permanent home in the main Lopez Village. The truck offers a range of standard Mexican street food options, but you can’t go wrong with a platter of tacos, available with numerous fillings options, many locally sourced (they were so good, we went back and ordered another batch). Being a food truck, the stock is limited, so don’t be surprised if one or more meats are gone for the day if you get there awhile after opening. 

🥉 Tamaliza – Sedona, AZ: The Sedona tourist core features lots of shops and food options, but we’ve found that most of them are just average, catering to the masses and not looking for repeat customers. But if you travel just slightly away from the tourist center, Tamaliza offers not only a laid-back atmosphere, but some of the best food in the area. With the owner and head chef hailing from Mexico, the dishes are a cultural tour yet non-traditional at the same time. Carefully selected ingredients are often organic or non-GMO, a welcome change of pace from so much of the American restaurant scene. The result of the high level of care is a beautiful and memorable table-spread of dishes such as the Tamale Supremo or the Enchilada Plate with choice of meat.

Regional/Ethnic Cuisine

Definitely the area we need to explore more when traveling, this category encompasses both traditional items from other parts of the world (i.e.: Indian) or specific regional cuisine from the U.S.

🥇 COLT Grill BBQ & Spirits – Sedona, AZ: We almost missed the opportunity to try the food here, as we had an evening of debate over what kind of food we wanted. By some twist of fate, COLT was the only place within walking distance that was still open, so we placed an order. The result was some of the best BBQ we’ve had (sorry to everyone in the South). Both the pulled pork and smoked chicken sandwiches were piled generously with masterfully smoked meats so full of flavor they hardly needed any of the dozen-plus sauce options available. Sides of sweet baked beans, Texas toast and seasoned fries were great accompaniments, but the meats stole the night.

🥈 Himalayan Pun Hill Kitchen – Montrose, CO: We don’t have Indian food near as often as I’d like to when traveling, and I think it is because we typically find so many enticing regional fare options. But when in Colorado with our nieces, we were all craving something outside the normal pizza-burgers-whatever. At first glance, Himalayan Pun Hill Kitchen might not look like much; from the outside we couldn’t even tell if it was open. But once inside, the food was all we could talk about. The flavors and combinations were perfect, with large portion sizes, enough that we had a decent amount left to go. Definitely start with a plate of naan and an Aloo Achaar for the table, and then sample favorites such as Chicken Sekuwa, Chicken Annapurna or one of the curries. 

🥉 Francesco’s Cafe – Rancho Mirage, CA: The food here was excellent, but the real reason Francesco’s was memorable was the service. For some reason, our then 10-month old decided this was the night he was going to be unhappy. He was already grumpy when we sat down, then managed to knock his jar of food off the table, shattering it on the floor. After all this he was a basket case, but that’s where the incredible staff took over. Two of the younger servers rushed over to clean up the mess, refusing my offer to help. Our server, Maria, very eagerly asked if she could hold our son, and spent the next 15 minutes or so wandering around with him, trying everything she could think of to get him to calm down; whatever her magic, it worked, because he was finally happy! As far as the food goes, you can opt for either Italian or Persian (or both if you’re hungry). A few recommendations: Minestrone Soup, Canneloni, Chicken Parmigiano, and the Chicken Kabob plate.

Non-Genre Restaurants

Our final category, sort of a catch-all for anything that didn’t quite fit another category.

🥇 Farm Provisions – Prescott, AZ: I’m not sure how to fit Farm Provisions into any category; all I can say is it earns a spot on our top-10 list of restaurants encompassing all food styles. The atmosphere, food, drinks and service all play integral roles in an amazing dining experience. The food ranges from standard fare to atypical offerings (think deep-fried deviled eggs or New Zealand elk tenderloin), with numerous vegan and gluten-free options. Our absolute favorite shareable was the Smoked Gouda Chorizo Fondue, with artichoke, pita and fry bread (this also seemed to be the favorite of the couple at the next table over, as the wife kept making remarks like “oh, but that fondue” or our personal favorite “The only thing the fondue needed? More chorizo! More artichoke! More pita!” This line has since become an inside joke for us). We also shared the Vegan Roasted Squash Pasta and the FARM Tacos with local walleye, both of which were unique and exciting in their own ways.

🥈 The Black Cat – Fairhaven, WA: We visit the Bellingham area from time to time, and I’ve heard of The Black Cat for years, but we finally made it up for lunch this past autumn. Located on an upper level of a historic Fairhaven building, the location is sunny, cozy and inviting. The food is even better. If you are a chowder fan, absolutely start with a bowl of the hearty Seafood Chowder with seasonal seafood ingredients and lots of veggies. My other favorite was the Fried Chicken & Bacon Sandwich with gruyere and a dijon mayo, with some pretty tasty tempura fried green beans. I look forward to returning for brunch this coming year, so we’ll see if The Black Cat finds its way onto our brunch list next December!

🥉 Canna Cabana Subs & Shakes – Lacey, WA: On our routine trips down to Ocean Shores, we typically stop in Lacey for gas and coffee, and now, for subs! Canna Cabana is a tiny, drive-up only shop with a great local following. If you’re looking for a great meal on the go, and willing to hang out in your car for 5 minutes or so, you’ll be treated to giant, hearty favorites such as the Trainwreck with 6 meats, the Purple Haze with bacon, jalapeno and blackberry jam, or the famous Super Dank with meats and crushed Doritos! I regretfully do not have a photo to share, as I’m usually wolfing down my sub while cruising back down the freeway.

Just like that, 2023 is in the bag and we’re on to another year of searching out the best food and drinks in the country! With our travel schedule wide open for the year, we look forward to finding some great new experiences.

All content and photos © Eric S. Allan 2023 and 2024