Seattle Restaurant Market Overview
$8 billion
Market Size
4,000+
Restaurants
350+
New/Year
$1.5 million/year
Avg Revenue
750,000
Population
$102,000
Median Income
Seattle Restaurant Startup Costs
Small Restaurant
Small cafe or quick-service (under 30 seats)
$200,000 - $450,000
Medium Restaurant
Casual dining restaurant (30-80 seats)
$450,000 - $950,000
Large Restaurant
Fine dining or large venue (80+ seats)
$950,000 - $2,800,000
* Costs vary by neighborhood, concept, and build-out requirements
Best Neighborhoods for Restaurants in Seattle
Location is everything. Here are the top neighborhoods for different restaurant concepts.
Capitol Hill
Best For:
Bars, late-night, trendy dining
Ballard
Best For:
Breweries, seafood, brunch
Pike Place/Downtown
Best For:
Seafood, quick-service
Fremont
Best For:
Neighborhood spots, cafes
South Lake Union
Best For:
Lunch spots, after-work
Required Licenses and Permits in Seattle
Food Establishment Permit
King County Public Health food service permit
Seattle Business License
City of Seattle business license
WSLCB Liquor License
Washington State liquor license
Food Worker Card
Required for all food handlers
Building Permit
For tenant improvements
Sidewalk Cafe Permit
Outdoor seating on sidewalk
Monthly Operating Costs in Seattle
Rent
$4,000 - $22,000/month
Labor Cost
32-38% of revenue
Minimum Wage
$19.97/hour (Seattle large employers)
Food Cost
28-35% of menu price
Utilities
$1,200 - $3,500/month
Insurance (Annual)
$10,000 - $30,000/year
Popular Cuisines in Seattle
Opportunities in Seattle
- Affluent tech workforce
- Strong local food movement
- Seafood supply excellence
- Coffee culture
- Outdoor recreation tie-ins
Challenges in Seattle
- Very high minimum wage
- Rainy weather limits outdoor
- Tech layoffs affect spending
- Limited parking
- High construction costs
Insider Tips for Seattle
- 1Tech companies drive lunch business
- 2Rain makes covered patios essential
- 3Pike Place Market vendors offer networking
- 4Sustainability matters to Seattle diners
- 5Late night scene is limited