9 Washington State Spots Serving The Best Lentil Soup
Washington State isn’t just famous for apples and coffee – it’s also a hidden paradise for lentil soup lovers!
With the Palouse region producing some of America’s finest lentils, local restaurants transform these humble legumes into bowls of pure comfort.
From traditional Middle Eastern recipes to creative Northwest twists, these 9 spots serve up the most soul-warming lentil soups you’ll find in the Evergreen State.
1. Lebanon Restaurant & Café: Spokane’s Lentil Legend
Family recipes shine at this beloved Spokane gem where their lentil soup has achieved near-legendary status among locals.
Simmered slowly with imported spices and finished with a splash of lemon juice, each spoonful delivers authentic Lebanese flavor.
The owners, who arrived from Beirut in the 1990s, insist on using Palouse-grown lentils, creating a beautiful fusion of local ingredients and traditional technique.
2. Turkish Delight: Pike Place Market’s Hidden Gem
Market-goers who venture past the flying fish discover this cozy nook serving extraordinary mercimek çorbası (Turkish lentil soup).
Vibrant orange-red and impossibly smooth, each batch is made fresh daily using an old family recipe.
The owner, Mehmet, personally sources red lentils from eastern Washington farms.
3. Olive Tree Mediterranean: Auburn’s Aromatic Wonder
Lentil soup enthusiasts drive for miles to taste Olive Tree’s legendary offering.
Their signature version balances earthy brown lentils with a fragrant mix of cinnamon, cumin, and bay leaves that perfumes the entire restaurant.
Unlike creamier varieties, this one celebrates texture with tender chunks of carrot and celery. The family-run Auburn spot has been perfecting their recipe for three generations.
4. Zullee Mediterranean Grill: Spokane’s Spice Symphony
Zullee’s lentil soup packs a flavor punch that’ll wake up your taste buds! Their unique blend features both red and green lentils, creating a complex texture that keeps regulars coming back for more.
What really sets this Spokane spot apart is their custom spice mixture – a closely guarded family secret rumored to contain over fifteen different ingredients.
5. Amen Ethiopian Cafe: Spokane Valley’s Spicy Sensation
Fiery berbere spice transforms ordinary lentils into something extraordinary at this beloved Spokane Valley eatery.
Their misir wot (Ethiopian lentil stew) walks the line between soup and stew with a thick, hearty consistency that clings to their injera bread.
The cafe’s warm atmosphere matches its soul-satisfying soup.
6. Café Munir: Ballard’s Lebanese Lentil Luxury
Candlelit and cozy, Café Munir might be known for their mezze, but insiders come for the addictive adas bil hamod.
With its vibrant lemon notes, this Lebanese lentil and chard soup is the ideal combination of meaty and refreshing.
7. Petra Mediterranean Bistro: Belltown’s Bold Bowlful
Petra’s lentil soup arrives at your table with dramatic flair – a cinnamon stick standing upright in the center of a rustic clay bowl.
Red and yellow lentils combine to create a rich flavor profile that is both earthy and vibrant in this Belltown staple from Seattle.
8. Garlic Crush: Bellevue’s Cumin-Scented Creation
Don’t let the casual counter-service setup fool you – Garlic Crush serves some of the most flavorful lentil soup east of Lake Washington.
Both families and tech professionals in Bellevue have taken a strong interest in their unique cumin-forward recipe.
9. Laziza: Puyallup’s Palouse-Powered Perfection
Farm-to-table takes on new meaning at Laziza, where their exceptional lentil soup showcases the famous Palouse crop grown just hours away.
On their menu board, this Puyallup staple proudly identifies the particular farm that provided the star ingredient for each batch.
