Cattin’s is gone, but here are 16 spots still serving late-night food in & around Tacoma
Now that Pierce County has lost yet another 24-hour restaurant — Cattin’s closed after 48 years in Puyallup — options for late-night food have grown even more sparse.
All-day eateries are now more of an anomaly than a staple of American life. Of the handful of retro diners in Tacoma still kicking, most close around lunchtime. We just have other options these days, posited Cattin’s owner Herman Harris. He said dinner sales at his restaurant were dipping but took a real nosedive in the past two years.
The region also has said goodbye to several Shari’s Cafe restaurants, including the one in Central Tacoma earlier this year. The Sixth Avenue Denny’s also closed, but two Pierce County outposts remain.
Still, we still have a decent number of options for after-hours dining — or early morning, depending on your needs. Choices include Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese and Greek, but mostly they revolve around pub fare and deep-fried favorites.
We’ve rounded up 14 restaurants in Tacoma, Puyallup and Gig Harbor where the kitchen keeps the lights on past midnight — at least on weekends. Though a rarity, the latest runs til 3 a.m.
GYRO BITES
▪ 6409 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-212-2447, eatgyrobites.com
▪ How Late: until 3 a.m. daily
Get your falafel, spanakopita, gyro and shawarma fix from this Mediterranean go-to in the same plaza as Tower Lanes. Most sandwiches land around $10, with more vegetarian options than anywhere else on this list. Bonus: easy online ordering.
KKO KKO LAKEWOOD
▪ 11113 Pacific Highway SW, Lakewood, 253-584-1865
▪ How Late: until just before midnight Wednesday-Thursday, 1:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday
It’s not the best Korean fried chicken in town, but it’s the one you can have past midnight on weekends. Egg rolls, fried dumplings, bulgogi and fried rice round out the menu at this unassuming Lakewood restaurant. DoorDash delivery available.
HONG’S LAKEWOOD
▪ 11101 Pacific Highway SW, Lakewood, 253-212-2167, hongsrestaurants.com
How Late: until 1:45 a.m. Thursday-Tuesday (closed Wednesdays)
In the same Lakewood plaza as KKO KKO, Hong’s offers a broad menu of Chinese mainstays — chow mein, sesame chicken, broccoli stir-fry — plus fried wontons, potstickers and honey-walnut prawns, along with a few Vietnamese dishes and, heck, a cheeseburger. Bonus: On top of everyday late-night hours, happy hours starts at 10 p.m. with discounts on select drinks and appetizers.
LA CA BAR
▪ 606 S. Junett St., Tacoma, 253-267-5540, lacabartacoma.com
▪ How Late: until 11 p.m. weekdays, 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday in the upstairs bar
Sixth Avenue’s go-to for Vietnamese street food, La Ca Bar keeps its downstairs dining room open later than most. For later-night cravings, you’ll have to hit the upstairs, which turns into a bit of a nightclub, but you’ll be rewarded with crunchy spiced chicken wings, chili fried rice, banh mi and pho. After 10 p.m., get a discount on all apps. Bonus: easy online ordering.
MATADOR TACOMA
▪ 721 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-627-7100, matadorrestaurants.com
▪ How Late: around 11 p.m. weekdays and 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday
Seemingly always busy, Matador has anchored downtown Tacoma since 2006. From tacos to fajitas, carnitas enchiladas to a carne asada sandwich, the food pairs best with one of several house cocktails and one of the most extensive tequila selections in the area. Every day after 10 p.m., if you can find a seat, dig the happy hour menu, featuring $6-$7 apps and the bomb deal of three tacos for $5 or five for $8.
EL ANTOJO
▪ 3801 E. McKinley Ave., Tacoma, 253-475-0375, elantojo.com
▪ 11916 Pacific Highway S, Lakewood, 253-983-1550
▪ Antojo Mexican Grill, 253-212-0914, antojomexicangrill.com
▪ How Late: until just shy of midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends
Find a large menu of Mexican favorites at the El Antojos, where homemade tortillas enhance the experience. Tacos, enchiladas, menudo, burritos and more are available a la carte and in various combos. The University Place restaurant is full-service with beer and cocktails.
EL RINCONSITO
▪ 7210 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-671-1876, elrinconsito.com
▪ 305 39th Ave. SW, Puyallup, 253-845-5945
▪ How Late: until midnight weekdays, 3 a.m. Friday-Saturday
Taco and burrito deals abound at this local Mexican chain, also offering gorditas, tortas and several enchilada plates for under $15. El Rinconsito has been serving the region since 1997 — celebrating 25 years this July. Open late every day but later on weekends.
MEMO’S MEXICAN FOOD
▪ 1703 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-572-9503, memosmexicanfood.net
▪ 9602 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, 253-267-5968
▪ How Late: until 3 a.m. in Lakewood, 24 hours a day in Tacoma
Watch the drive-thru line grow at the Tacoma Memo’s to understand how valuable late-night can be. It’s about burritos here, filled with steak, chicken, pork, shrimp or just beans and rice. The restaurants are franchised, so note the different number and hours for the Lakewood location.
FRISKO FREEZE
▪ 1201 Division Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-4800, friskofreeze.com
▪ How Late: until midnight Sunday-Thursday, 2 a.m. Friday-Saturday
The iconic home of beefburgers and golden fries is back to its normally scheduled programming, after a couple of years with earlier closing times. Order at the window and wait patiently on a curb, as is tradition.
HANK’S TAVERN
▪ 524 N. K St., Tacoma, 253-627-3480, hankstacoma.com
▪ How Late: until 1 a.m. daily
One of Tacoma’s most popular haunts, Hank’s slings its pizza, wings, salads and sandwiches — not to mention jalapeno cheese dip with house crostini and a trio of marinara meatballs — until about 1 a.m. every day. Enjoy at a booth, at the bar or on the fully covered patio.
DOYLE’S PUBLIC HOUSE
▪ 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-7468, doylespublichouse.com
▪ How Late: last orders at 12:40 a.m.
The crowd stays strong until the last drop at this classic Tacoma pub, where the kitchen stays open until just before 1 a.m. The eclectic menu offers more than your average pub fare with an Irish-Cajun twist: reuben spring rolls, banger poutine, Scotch eggs and Bayou BBQ shrimp. In addition to sandwiches, full plates of brisket or meatloaf give Doyle’s a leg-up compared to the fried focus of many other late-night choices.
THE FORUM
▪ 815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-830-2151, eatattheforum.com
▪ 208 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253-446-6704
▪ How Late: full menu until around 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends, with fried food served until just before last call.
The kitchen slims down after a certain hour at both the Tacoma and Puyallup locations, but the fryer stays hot. Order some fried pickles, chicken tendies and onion rings for the table. Bonus: happy hour after 9 p.m.
THE LOOSE WHEEL
▪ 6108 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-301-1647, theloosewheel.com
▪ 715 River Road, Puyallup, 253-848-4444
▪ How Late: until 10:45 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 12:45 a.m. Friday-Saturday
The first Loose Wheel opened in Tacoma in 2010, followed by Puyallup two years later. Both menus are packed with pub fare, from burgers and tots to club sandwiches, “hubcap” pizzas and pressure-fried chicken.
THE OFFICE BAR & GRILL
▪ 813 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-572-3222, theofficeonpacific.com
▪ How Late: full menu until around 11 p.m., then fried food available until 12:45 a.m. on weekdays and a little later on weekends.
Like its neighbor, The Office serves its full menu later than a lot of restaurants but switches to fryer-only as the night wanes. Reach for their housemade mozzarella sticks, hot wings, mac and cheese balls or a half-and-half basket of regular and sweet potato fries.
HALFTIME SPORTS SALOON
▪ 5114 Point Fosdick Dr., Gig Harbor, 253-853-1456, facebook.com
▪ How Late: until midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends
Snag burgers, hot dogs, garlic fries and other game-time favorites at this Gig Harbor sports bar until at least midnight every day.
DENNY’S
▪ 5110 Pacific Highway E., Fife, 253-922-7173, dennys.com
▪ 11755 Pacific Highway SW, Lakewood, 253-584-1416, dennys.com
▪ How Late: 24 hours a day
Must we explain Denny’s? You need food and coffee. It’s 4 a.m. You go to Denny’s.
