Check out these 24 Whatcom County bars, restaurants and breweries that opened in 2024
Whatcom County welcomed many new restaurants, coffee shops, breweries and eateries throughout the year, from a new nacho bar, Irish pub, bakery, boba tea shop, nightclub, restaurants and new quick meal options inside the Bellis Fair mall.
Here’s your guide to the newest restaurants for you to try.
Tokyo Monster Sushi opens in Blaine
Tokyo Monster Sushi, a Japanese and Asian cuisine restaurant, held its grand opening in February.
The restaurant serves lunch and dinner menus including sushi, orange chicken, miso soup, ramen, yakisoba and bento boxes. Eventually, the restaurant will add a breakfast menu, according to Miller. The restaurant is currently hiring dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, waitresses and hostesses.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday at 8125 Birch Bay Square St. in Blaine.
Bella Ciao Pizza Tavern
Bella Ciao, a tavern-style pizza restaurant and bar, opened in March. The restaurant is modeled as a classic Midwest and eastern pizzeria, with TVs playing cartoons, old movies and sports and Chicago thin-crust pizzas.
Bella Ciao is open from 4 to 11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 4 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday at 1427 Railroad Ave. in Bellingham.
Nacho Problems
Nacho Problems, a 21-and-up bar serving nachos exclusively, opened in March. The restaurant serves a variety of nachos, craft cocktails and drinks.
Nacho Problems is open from 6 p.m. to midnight Thursday, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 6-11 p.m. Sunday at 1425 Railroad Ave., next to Bella Ciao, in Bellingham.
Lakeline
Lakeline, a new restaurant serving sandwiches, breakfast, coffee, cocktails, baked goods and other items, opened in March in Bellingham.
Lakeline is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at 601 Northshore Drive. in Bellingham.
Bry’s Filipino Cuisine opens
Bry’s Filipino Cuisine has opened its brick-and-mortar restaurant in March after months of preparation and transitioning from its food truck business.
The restaurant serves a variety of authentic Filipino dishes including smoked coconut chicken, lumpia, smoked pork, rice and curry.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at 1151 N. State St. in Bellingham.
Doug’s Burgers
Doug’s Burgers, a late-night food truck known for its burgers and fries, opened its brick-and-mortar location in June.
The new restaurant was first announced in March 2024 after the popular food truck opened in November 2023 and had pop-ups at Whatcom County breweries and spots..
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily at 2527 Meridian St. in Bellingham, the previous location of El Rey Latino Restaurant and next door to Menace Brewing.
Uisce Irish Pub
Uisce Irish Pub, pronounced “ish-kah,” reopened June 6 after owner Molly McGarry spent a year creating its new space at 1409 Cornwall Ave.
The popular Irish bar was located at 1319 Commercial Street in Bellingham for almost 20 years until the pub lost its lease. The building is now home to The Great Northern Bottle Shop & Lounge.
Uisce Irish Pub’s new location is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily at 1409 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham.
Mercato delle Bonta
Husband-and-wife duo Julia Tzortzatos and Francesco Di Vito opened Mercato delle Bonta in June. the menu is heavy with cooking influences from their Italian, Greek and New York City roots.
The new restaurant is split into two parts and occupies suites 127 and 128 of Bellingham’s Granary building, serving coffee, breakfast choices, baked goods, sandwiches, pasta, homemade focaccia and desserts.
Mercato delle Bonta is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 1211 Granary Ave. in Bellingham.
Yacht Dogs
The hot dog stand Yacht Dogs opened in July The stand is owned by Carly James, co-owner of Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress, who owns the stationary shop along with her husband, Kevin Nelson.
All the restaurant’s hot dogs are made with local, natural, grass-fed beef franks and small-batch organic toppings and condiments, such as dill pickle spears, mustard, sport peppers and sweet onions.
Yacht Dogs is open seasonally at 1207 Granary Ave., Suite 160. For the latest hours visit the business’ website.
Starla’s Tavern
Starla’s Tavern, a nostalgic natural wine bar and bottle shop fitted with thrifted tables, a record player and groovy music, opened in August.
Starla’s Tavern serves natural wines, beer on tap and a variety of snacks such as bread and butter, salads, and roasted meats. The tavern also has a bottle shop in the back, where visitors can drop in during open hours to purchase wine by the bottle.
The 21-and-up bar is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 4 to 11 p.m. Friday at 1149 N State St. in Bellingham.
Chipotle
Chipotle, , opened a second Bellingham location in August.
The chain Mexican restaurant known for its build-your-own burritos also serves rice bowls and salads with a drive-through for pick-up orders.
Chipotle is located at 104 Samish Way and is open from 10:45 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
ShareTea
ShareTea, an international boba tea chain restaurant, opened a new location in Bellingham in September.
The restaurant serves a variety of brewed, milk and fruit teas, as well as other drinks.
ShareTea is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 322 36th St.
Overflow Taps
Overflow Taps has opened a third Whatcom County location in West Lynden. The taproom serves a variety of beers, ciders, seltzers and food.
The taprooms serve a variety of food at each of its locations, from personal pizzas to wings, pretzel bites and tater tots.
Overflow Tap’s newest location is open from 3 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at 115 S. Duffner Drive, Suite E.
Sweet Haven Dessert Universe
Sweets shop and bakery Sweet Haven Dessert Universe opened in Fairhaven in September. The shop is at the previous location of Sweet Bellingham and serves a variety of cookies, pies, espresso, pastries and cakes.
The shop and bakery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at 1005 Harris Ave. in Bellingham.
Westside Pizza
Restaurant chain Westside Pizza opened a new location in Bellingham’s Silver Beach neighborhood in September.
Westside Pizza offers a dining area as well as delivery and pick-up options. Westside Pizza is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 607 Northshore Drive.
Bloomhaven Bottle Shop
Bloomhaven Bottle Shop, “Bellingham’s first and only non-alcoholic bottle shop,” opened Saturday, Sept. 15.
The business was launched by Molly Flynn, who curated the shop’s collection of non-alcoholic spirits, beer and wine. Visitors can take a bottle to go or enjoy it at the bottle shop’s indoor seating area.
Bloomhaven is open from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at 1201 11th St., Suite 101.
Bar Two Eleven
Since The Underground Nightclub in downtown Bellingham closed permanently, a new bar opened at its location.
Bar Two Eleven opened Friday, Sept. 14, according to a Facebook post that describes the new business as Bellingham’s newest “spot for live entertainment, games, cocktails, and so much more.”
Bar Two Eleven is open at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 211 E Chestnut St. in Bellingham.
Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse, a national steakhouse chain restaurant serving steaks, ribs, famous rolls and honey cinnamon butter and “legendary” margaritas, opened its Bellingham location in October.
The menu includes classic steaks, “fall-off-the-bone-ribs,” burgers, sandwiches, pulled pork, “The Legend Margarita,” fried pickles, “rattlesnake bites,” cactus blossoms, desserts, salads, baked potatoes, chicken and more.
Texas Roadhouse is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday at 4331 Meridian St. in Bellingham.
Red Star Taco Bar
Red Star Taco, a Mexican restaurant with locations in Seattle and Tacoma, opened its Bellingham location in October.
The restaurant is known for “eclectic tacos, frozen margaritas and high-quality tequila in an upbeat setting with late-night hours,” according to the restaurant’s website.
The menu includes blackberry jalapeno margaritas, cocktails, beer and wine choices, nachos, tortas, burritos and a long list of tacos such as siracha honey tofu, tequila lime chicken, carnitas, buffalo chicken, agave shrimp and elote, Philly cheese steak, sweet potato and black bean, breakfast and seasonal tacos.
Red Star Taco is open from 4 p.m. to midnight daily at 1327 N State St., the previous location of Jack’s BBQ, across the street from Schweinhaus Biergarten and Aslan Depot.
Sweet Bay Cafe
Sweet Bay Cafe, sister restaurant to Red Star Taco, opened Oct. 21.
The cafe has a full service coffee counter and serve breakfast, brunch and lunch options such as biscuits and gravy, French toast, a “monty cristo,” eggs Benedict, fried chicken sandwiches, smash burgers, smoothies, mac and cheese and even alcoholic breakfast drinks.
The coffee counter will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, and the full restaurant will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
The cafe is at the same location as its sister restaurant, Red Star Taco Bar, at 1327 N State St. in Bellingham.
Sugar & Co.
Sugar & Co., an “American Bistro that blends familiar comfort foods with unexpected flavors and high-quality ingredients,” opened in October.
The restaurant serves a variety of dishes such as oysters, filet mignon, chicken milanese, lamb burgers, pistachio-crusted herb fish, chocolate pot de crème, cotton candy and ice cream. A kids menu is also available.
The restaurant’s bar will have wine, beer and ciders, as well as craft cocktails such as “DollFace Daiquiri,” “Sugar’s Juice,” “That’s That Me Espresso Martini,” and “Tabi’s Old Fashioned,” according to the restaurant’s website.
Sugar & Co. is open for all ages and is open from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 1210 11th St. in Bellingham’s Fairhaven Village.
Cultured Harvests
Cultured Harvests, a restaurant serving soups, sandwiches, salads, toasts and spreads, opened in Bellis Fair’s food court in November.
The restaurant’s menu includes made-from-scratch items such as harvest pumpkin soup, Thai steak salad, Pacific roasted salmon sandwich, spiced avocado toast, crab salsa, berries and cream toast, a Reuben sandwich and build-your-own options.
Bellis Fair mall is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at 1 Bellis Fair Parkway in Bellingham.
Roman Artisan Bake
Roman Artisan Bake, an international bake shop in Bellis Fair mall’s food court, was started by Ed Roman, who previously operated the bakery out of a kiosk inside the mall. The new food court location opened in November.
The bakery’s menu features desserts from around the world including rum cake, creme brulee, torta maría luisa, cuatro leches and guava pastries.
Bellis Fair mall is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at 1 Bellis Fair Parkway in Bellingham.
Roe
Roe, a “ neighborhood restaurant on the corner of Unity & Flora,” is an American restaurant serving dishes with influences from Spain, Italy and France, according to the restaurant’s website.
The restaurant opened in November and serves dishes family style to share, such as caviar, Dungeness crab, focaccia, burgers, halibut and ricotta gnocchi, alongside craft cocktails and a selection of wines.
Roe is open from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 207 Unity St. Suite 101 in Bellingham.
