Exploring the Best Places to Eat in Yakima: A Review of Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Icehouse
Are you searching for the best places to eat in Yakima? Look no further than Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Icehouse. This restaurant stands out amidst Yakima’s blend of historic buildings, small businesses, and popular food chains. With its modern design and dedication to classic American cuisine, Cowiche Canyon provides an exceptional dining and drinking experience for anyone visiting Yakima, Washington.
My visit to Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Icehouse was part of the Yakima Craft Beverage Tour, and I was eager to explore the restaurant scene in Yakima. Our first dinner experience was at Cowiche Canyon, and it immediately impressed me with its lively atmosphere and delicious offerings.
Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Icehouse: A Yakima Dining Experience
First impressions matter, and Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Icehouse makes a strong one.
As a graphic designer, I believe a restaurant’s branding speaks volumes about the experience it offers. Cowiche Canyon is housed in a modern, industrial-style building that blends Pacific Northwest wood accents with concrete, glass, and metal.
The restaurant’s logo is a perfect representation of its culinary approach – a fusion of old cowboy wild west charm and modern hipster Pacific Northwest aesthetics. This theme carries through to the dishes served at Cowiche Canyon.
The interior is spacious and vibrant, filled with couples, families, celebratory diners, and groups of friends. The open restaurant layout features high ceilings, a large open bar, and a variety of seating options, including tables and booths.
The open kitchen adds to the energetic ambiance, allowing diners to witness the culinary magic firsthand.
Drink Bliss: Washington Wines at Cowiche Canyon
One of the highlights of Cowiche Canyon is its extensive selection of Wines by the Glass. The wine list showcases the best of Washington wines, with a focus on local vineyards. For a reasonable $7-15 per glass, you can enjoy wines from Gilbert Cellars, Naches Heights Vineyard, Charles Smith/K Vintners, and more.
The wine list is updated seasonally to reflect availability and ensure a delightful wine pairing experience with your meal.
Food Bliss: Classic American Cuisine Done Right
Cowiche Canyon excels in serving classic American cuisine with a focus on quality and flavor. The dishes are moderately priced, with the most expensive entree, the steak, priced at $33.
For starters, we sampled the Grilled Artichoke ($10) and the Dip Duo ($9), a creative twist on chips and salsa. Instead of traditional salsa, the Dip Duo features chips served with pimento cheese and guacamole. Both the pimento cheese and guacamole were delicious and paired perfectly with the crispy chips.
We also enjoyed the Deviled Eggs ($5) and the Calamari ($10).
Deviled eggs have made a stylish comeback in recent years, and Cowiche Canyon offers a classic rendition topped with bacon and chives. These deviled eggs are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The generous dash of paprika adds a personal touch that I particularly appreciated.
While the calamari may not be on the current summer menu, I highly recommend ordering it if it’s available during your visit. The calamari is lightly breaded with a balanced blend of salt and pepper, and fried to crispy perfection. It was a standout dish for me.
The Lateral A Rotisserie Chicken Salad ($14) is a substantial salad featuring romaine lettuce, pulled rotisserie chicken, cheddar cheese, apples, peas, corn, crushed almonds, green onions, crispy leeks, and Lateral A dressing. The diverse ingredients create a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
The Grilled Prawns and Avocado Salad ($15) includes grilled prawns, avocado, corn, queso fresco cheese, black beans, lettuce, jicama, cilantro, tortilla strips, and a green goddess dressing. While I felt it could have used a bit more seasoning, I generally enjoyed this refreshing salad.
The entrees at Cowiche Canyon are exceptional and contribute significantly to its reputation as one of the best places to eat in Yakima. We sampled the Steak Frites ($18), which were outstanding. Steak Frites is a favorite dish of my husband, and we often order it whenever we see it on a menu. The Steak Frites at Cowiche Canyon consists of grilled sirloin cap, black peppercorn sauce, and shoestring fries. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare with beautiful seared edges – a true delight.
The Icehouse: A Yakima Bar Experience
Adjacent to the restaurant is the Icehouse, a bar offering a curated selection of bar snacks, specialty cocktails, beer, and wine. Unfortunately, we arrived just before closing time and were unable to experience the Icehouse fully. Be sure to arrive earlier to enjoy drinks and snacks with friends.
Final Thoughts: Why Visit Cowiche Canyon?
If you’re looking for the perfect place to dine in Yakima, Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Icehouse is a fantastic choice. It offers a solid, classic meal that is both refined and approachable. Cowiche Canyon is an excellent destination for groups and families, and I am confident my children would enjoy dining here as well. It strikes a perfect balance between upscale dining and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Address: 202 East Yakima Avenue, Yakima, WA 98901
Phone: 509-457-2007
KITCHEN HOURS:
Sun & Mon: 11am – 9pm
Tues – Thurs: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
ICEHOUSE BAR HOURS:
Sun & Mon: 11am – 9pm
Tues & Wed: 11am – 11pm
Thurs – Sat: 11am – midnight
HAPPY HOUR:
Mon-Fri: 3pm – 6pm
Website: CowicheCanyon.com
Explore More of Washington: Food, Wine, and Travel
Discover other culinary and travel destinations in Washington State:
- Best Things To Do in Walla Walla, Washington
- Hotel Maison in Yakima, Washington Wine Country
- Gilbert Cellars in Yakima, Washington
- Yakima Wineries: AntoLin Cellars
- Seattle Wine and Food Experience Grand Tasting
Special thanks to the Yakima Craft Beverage Tour, Cowiche Canyon, and coordinator Jamie Peha for the complimentary dining experience. As always, all opinions and photos are my own.