Top Tri-Cities restaurant openings of 2021. And the closing of a few long-time favorites
As Washington state opened back up, so did new restaurants in the Tri-Cities.
Plenty of new dining options decided to make a home in the Tri-Cities. And that helped ease the loss of favorites that closed.
Here are some of the most popular new dining options the Tri-Cities had to offer in 2021.
Restaurants
Hooked Seafood Boil & Bar
A seafood restaurant took over the space occupied by P.F. Chang’s China Bistro in the northwest corner of the Columbia Center mall parking lot.
Hooked Seafood Boil & Bar is at 8108 W. Gage Blvd. in Kennewick next door to Maharaja: The Taste of India, which opened in fall 2020.
The restaurant has launched with a soft opening, and plans for an official opening in early January, making it the newest restaurant in the Tri-Cities.
Ara Sushi
Ara Sushi and Grill opened in January at the top of the small Riverwalk Shopping mall at 430 George Washington Way, Suite 201, across from Roasters Coffee.
The Korean and Japanese restaurant specializes in sushi rolls, sashimi (raw fish served by itself) and nigiri (thin slices of raw fish on rice).
Ciao Trattoria
Ciao Trattoria opened in downtown Pasco, and Ciao Kitchen will be among the first to open in the new Osprey Pointe Marketplace when it’s finished next spring or summer.
Ciao Trattoria is at 112 N. Fourth Ave. just down from Viera’s Bakery and focuses on a grab-and-go menu featuring favorites from the food trailer.
Soi 705 in The Parkway
A sit-down restaurant heavily focused on craft Asian street food and specialty cocktails opened in Richland’s growing dining district off George Washington Way.
Soi 705 takes its name, Soi, from the Thai word for “side street” and from its new address, 705 The Parkway, across the street from the ever-popular Frost Me Sweet Bakery and Bistro.
Soi 705 is the reincarnation of Mezzo Thai.
Pupuseria Salvadorean Restaurant
This Richland restaurant at 127 Gage Blvd. features pupusas from El Salvador, birria tacos and Central American dishes.
The Pupuseria Salvadorean Restaurant, is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.
Fast Casual
Fresh Leaf Co.
The cafe that offers organic, health-conscious options shut down in December when the building they were in was sold to make way for a Bruchi’s CheeseSteaks & Subs.
Fresh Leaf reopened in January in a new Richland location, at 1080 George Washington Way.
Crumbl Cookies
Crumbl Cookies took the Tri-Cities by storm. The first location opened in Richland at 2665 Queensgate Blvd.
A second Crumbl Cookie, opened near Target in Kennewick on Columbia Center Boulevard.
Habit Burger Grill
A Habit Burger Grill opened in the Queensgate area of Richland at 2831 Duportail St., in the corner of the Walmart parking lot.
The chain specializes in flame grilled burgers with 100% fresh meat. Burger options include a beef and portabello burger, teriyaki burger and avocado burger — although avocado can top any sandwich.
The Richland burger joint is the company’s second Eastern Washington location. The first opened in Yakima in April. There are eight Habit Burgers in the Seattle area.
Costa Vida
Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill opened a new restaurant in Pasco at 6627 Burden Blvd. next to Proof Kitchen & Bar.
It’s the fourth Costa Vida to open in the Tri-Cities and the first in Pasco.
Firehouse Subs
Firehouse Subs added a fifth Tri-Cities store in a Sun Market on Keene Road in West Richland.
The gas station, convenience store and the sandwich shop at 6225 Keene Road is near the new Richland School District main office.
Oh Sushi
Oh Sushi opened at 735 The Parkway in Richland — the storefront recently vacated by Graze when the sandwich shop moved to George Washington Way.
The Fresh Atomic Bomb stands out on the menu — deconstructed sushi on a plate. But owner Nick Oh also serves up the usual favorites, featuring smoked salmon, grilled mackerel, spicy tuna and tempura shrimp.
MOD Pizza
MOD Pizza opened its second restaurant in Tri-Cities, WA, at Columbia Center mall in Kennewick.
Jersey Mike’s
Four Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurants are coming to the Tri-Cities.
The first opened in October at 1659 Columbia Center Blvd. It’s sandwiched between a new Starbucks and the Mod Pizza.
The national franchise that features subs with fresh sliced meats and cheeses and grilled cheesesteaks is owned by Walla Walla native Tim Klinefelter.
He wanted to open a second one in Pasco.
Another Jersey Mike’s outlet opened in Vintner Square in the Queensgate area of Richland under different franchise owners, Derek Tonn, former CEO of the Roasters Coffee chain, and his son, Dylan Tonn.
The Tonns also intend to open another shop in the Columbia Point area of Richland near Winco by the end of 2022.
Rocco’s Pizza
Rocco’s Pizza opened a restaurant south of Columbia Center mall, at 7911 W. Grandridge Blvd.
Rocco’s Pizza’s original restaurant is at 6415 Burden Blvd. in Pasco near the HAPO Center.
Chicken Shack
The locally-owned Chicken Shack Tri-Cities expanded to Kennewick with its third restaurant, at 3320 W. Kennewick Ave.
But it closed in fall 2021 and its unclear if it will reopen. The West Richland and Pasco restaurants remain open.
The chain has franchises throughout California, but outside of Tri-Cities the only other other nearby restaurants are at Salem and Klamath Falls in Oregon.
Coffee and more
Just Juice
Just Juice opened in September in the former frozen yogurt shop, at 4309 W. 27th Place, just off South Union Street near Costa Vida.
Octavio Rodriguez, a Tri-Cities native and Southridge High grad, pursued an acting career and then was in the construction industry before returning to Tri-Cities to open the organic juice and coffee bar.
Black Rock Coffee Bar
An Oregon coffee chain took over the Roasters Coffee shops in the Tri-Cities.
Black Rock Coffee Bar bought the local caffeine supplier earlier this year and are in the process of switching them to the Black Rock brand.
Indaba Coffee
A growing Spokane coffee chain has taken over a popular hometown Kennewick coffee shop.
Bobby Enslow, the owner of Indaba Coffee, bought The Local from founders Michael and Jenna Tormanen, who moved to Nashville, Tenn., late last year.
Traveller Espresso
Traveler Espresso at 320 N. Kellogg St. took over Barracuda. The Barracuda shop in Richland on Van Giesen Street remains open.
Dutch Brothers
Dutch Brothers opened a new location in Kennewick, on 27th Avenue just west of Highway 395 in Kennewick.
The new location is between the Subway sandwich shop and the Cynergy Center building.
Beer and Wine
Sage Brewing
Sage Brewing Company in Pasco, WA, opened its second location and taproom in Kennewick, WA this fall in Hansen Park development.
The setup is much like the Pasco space — eat from the food trucks on site or feel free to bring something from another restaurant or from home. Or, have food delivered there.
In a Herald online poll Sage was the runner up for the area’s most popular brewery.
Iconic Brewing
Family-owned Iconic Brewing opened in the Horn Rapids area of Richland.
Iconic Brewing touts itself as a family- and dog-friendly brewery that sits on two acres with plenty of space for kids to run and play.
The large barn-style building at 2470 Henderson Loop has three garage doors and a large sliding door that open for maximum airflow
Non-Vintage Wines
A new wine boutique opened in Richland.
Non-Vintage Wines considers itself a wine concierge service and works to ensure they find the perfect bottle for every occasion.
The boutique boasts 650 different wines, with prices ranging from $8 per bottle to over $100.
Closings
- Barley’s BrewHub in Kennewick, WA, featured by Guy Fieri on Food Channel’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” closed at end of January 2021. COVID restrictions played a role.
After 40 years of serving up General Tso’s chicken and Mongolian beef to Tri-Cities residents, China Cafe shut its doors Nov. 30. They sold the building to the owners of the popular sandwich and salad shop, Graze. They plan to open their third Tri-Cities restaurant there.
- The Towne Crier in Richland closed its doors in November, after being in business for at least 50 years.
- The Richland Shari’s restaurant near Safeway permanently closed after over 40 years, to be torn down and replaced by new retail outlet in the parking lot off George Washington Way.
Longtime family owned Gamache Winery sold its Prosser, WA, tasting room to Wit Cellars — which has been making wine since 2016. The longtime family-run Prosser winery cited “an unprecedented economic disruption in 2020 as a factor in their decision.
This story was originally published December 31, 2021 at 12:58 PM.
