Top 15 Affordable Restaurants in Tacoma, WA

Jake Baxter Visited Tacoma for the first time and a friend who lives close by recommended that we eat lunch at Dukes Seafood. Awesome location right over the water with beautiful views. Server was super friendly and helpful in deciding what to eat. We ended up going with the triple chowder sampler which includes small portions of clam chowder, lobster chowder, and seafood chowder. The lobster chowder was creamy and the sweet potato flavor was a pleasant surprise. For the main course I chose the stuffed halibut and went with the servers suggestion to add a side of stuffed prawns. Both had a Parmesan crust which added a crunch and depth of flavor to the excellent cook of the proteins. The pesto accent was the proverbial icing on the cake. A memorable combination of flavors and fresh seafood! Highly recommended!!

David W Great Mom and Pop in a nice neighborhood. I found this place from a Google search. Was highly rated. We got there an hour after they opened and it took about 20 minutes to get a seat. Wasnt a bad wait. Typical small business atmosphere and was very busy. They were offering their breakfast menu. Our server was pleasant and cheerful. It didnt take long to get our order and the potions were very generous. I had the chicken fried steak and eggs with sausage gravy. We also had French toast and bacon (sausage) and eggs. The chicken fried steak was awesome with the gravy but I could eat only one of the patties (too full). Everyone loves their meals. Thank you

Marcus Ruiz-Saavedra We hosted our rehearsal dinner at en Rama, and it was absolutely perfect. The team put together a beautiful five-course meal at such a reasonable price, and every dish was incredible. I heard endless compliments all night—especially about the fresh bread and the Mexican Street Corn pasta, which everyone is still talking about! The staff was warm, attentive, and genuinely excited to celebrate with us. They went above and beyond, even helping us organize speeches and making everything flow seamlessly. The atmosphere was Homely, lively, and relaxed, and it felt like the perfect space for such a special occasion. Alex, the owner, also created personalized menus to pair with our dinner, which was such a thoughtful touch and made the evening feel even more memorable. I would 100% recommend en Rama, not just for special events, but for any night you want amazing food, great service, and a truly wonderful experience.

Eric Hagen I came in here at around 4 on a Thursday and the place was mostly empty. I dont get it, I mean good for me, but they have a happy hour and its a great vibe. The menu is very unique with a variety of options. Is it an Irish bar? A German bar? Just a place that has an imagination? I dunno. I dont live here, but if I did Id be coming here as a regular. I went with the chili and a wedge salad because Im weird that way. The picture doesnt do the wedge justice. I was stuffed when I left. The server was just the right amount of attentive and the vibe of the place is outstanding. Ill make this a destination stop in the future because I live two hours south of here. If you live closer, and you like a good pub style atmosphere, youre missing out if you dont try Odd Fellas.

Jake Warm and inviting atmosphere. Its a very cozy place! The prices werent exorbitant or outrageous. My son and his wife hosted their wedding rehearsal dinner in the banquet room and the staff was exceptional. The food was fantastically flavorful and it came in a large portion.

Christine Restaneo We stopped here while driving through Tacoma on a rainy morning to look at properties, and we’re so glad we did. We originally noticed an IHOP and a Denny’s nearby, but Elmer’s caught our eye—and it turned out to be a great decision. The menu was excellent. I ordered a German pancake with lingonberries (they explained it’s similar to a cranberry and raspberry combined), and it was absolutely delicious. I also had the potato pancakes, which were wonderful. Ray ordered the avocado Benedict and said his eggs Benedict was great. The coffee was good and comforting. The atmosphere really stood out—fireplaces inside made it warm and cozy, which was perfect coming in from the rain. Our server, Kyle T., was amazing—very knowledgeable, helped guide me with my order, and made the whole experience even better. If we lived in the area, this would definitely be a regular breakfast spot for us. Highly recommend. PS we love your coffee mugs!!!

MKS 51 Everything was delicious! Their drinks are pretty tasty as well. Outdoor seating was perfect on this summer day with plenty of shade. Look out to yachts and some water views. Staff was friendly and attentive. House made fresh corn and flour tortillas.

Marisa Aptecker For the tiki aficionado this is as close to a Clifton’s of the north that we have so far. McMenamins really curated an exceptional exotic environment through a cabinet of curiosities/anthropological adventurer lens. This is a place to pilgrimage for the environment.

LY L We stayed at Marriott courtyard but chose to come over to the Great Room for an evening snacks and drink after my work at 9ish pm because we thought they might have better option. We were not disappointed. We came on a mid week (can’t remember if it was Wednesday or Thursday night sept 24/25) and met a very cheerful staff. Her name is probably Hannah (according to the front desk). We ordered chicken wings and clam chowder and cocktails. The drinks came quickly and so did our food. The chicken wing was soooo good ! We asked for the sauce to be on the side and the meat was well marinated and juicy. The soup was also tasty with generous serving of clams. Hannah was attentive and chatted with us. I love her bubbly personality and her smiles. We were back on Saturday 9/27 before our dinner reservation at the koi because of Hannah’s great service. We were helped by a male colleague as Hannah was busy . He too was very thoughtful. He brought our drinks swiftly with a check since we may be paged by Koi restaurant anytime soon. I just wanted to compliment this crew for making our dunning experience so memorable because of your thoughtfulness, attention to details and wonderful service.

Jeremy Snyder My friends and I loved this place. The food was Mexican but it had its own unique spin to the dishes. The ambiance had my favorite kind of design, rustic and chill. It was also neat how we felt a sense of privacy in our booth though there was people all around us. Drinks were also good.

Anibal Sousa We went there during happy hour, very good deals, lots of parking, waterfront. Food was very good, everyone liked their food. Good beer selection too.

Kimberly Smith Excuse me, I believe I asked for the mini salad? Seriously, tasty food. When this heaping plate of salad arrived, I actually had to question if it was the small serving. I had this and a super creamy bowl of Beechers mac. My husbands burger came with a generous portion of fries. We both loved our cocktails. Two servers were both attentive to us. The music was a nice chill vibe. Would happily come again!

ALW Great location with amazing views! We had Sunday brunch and we walked right in and was seated right away. Cocktails were nothing special but would love to come back and try more. Food was pretty good, but Im extremely disappointed in the popular fish and chips. The fish was pathetic! Three little nugget pieces, I thought it was a joke at first. Shrimp and grits was amazing! Service was good. I appreciated the open kitchen concept, that tells me that everything should be clean because customers can see it. Overall, Id go back for dinner.

Anna Berntsen Nice little spot with open air and a different chill vibe. Employees were really nice. It was dimly lit which was nice for the atmosphere but my phone had a hard time reading the qr code to look at the menu. I couldnt decide between 2 different pizzas. The one I ended up getting was okay but the salad was amazing! Drinks were different and fun (I love anything lavendar). There was a friendly employe that chatted with me at the bar and seemed to really enjoy working there. Its always nice when the employees are happy about the establishment as well. I will be back, nice spot.

Kelly Hennessy Stopped in to celebrate my adult daughters birthday and had an amazing night. Staff was attentive, kind and patient, we felt so welcomed and had one of the best overall dining experiences Ive had in awhile. We attempted to try a little bit of everything from the Hush puppies (perfectly seasoned and stacked) Shrimp roll (bread was warm and fresh, loads of delectable shrimp and sauce) Duck (Delish and moist) Fried green tomatoes (My New Orleans comfort food..... The breading was crunchy and even, with flavorful crawfish tail/tasso ham succotash which was a perfect pairing.) Steak and Fritas (tender, cooked to request perfectly, sauce was spot on) Fried Honey Catfish (Fish melted in your mouth with the just right crunch of perfectly seasoned breading and a perfect amount of sweetness and Creole touch.) We also had the beignets which we were told are now in house crafted from start to finish and can attest to their warm, sweet powdered perfection. We will be back to order more of the menu without hesitation and excited to get in on a Jazz night soon too! Also ..the views were absolutely beautiful, even on a rainy PNW night.