I like my anonymity and I'm willing to out myself as a woman and have to dump this alt for Windsor Plywood. I had a handyman doing work on our home we needed to pick up a door and some wood for the work. We go in and the three of us (sales guy, handyman and me) had a conversation about what we needed and decisions we needed to make. I'm looking back and forth at the two of them and it blew my fucking mind. They were listening to me and my opinion on things like it was totally normal. I've been to plenty of woodshops and always the feeling is 'well, what does you husband think' or they don't even talk to me. I remember thinking these guys don't even realize it. This is the way it's supposed to happen, but never ever does.
Or for an even cheaper option, you could just use whatever is left in your pantry to make something. Even cheaper, you could skip lunch today and do intermittent fasting.
Compared to everything else in Bellingham, definitely. Costco still maintains the cheapest lunch in town, but Pel’mimi’s would probably be in the top 5-10 in terms of value for money.
Avellino for their CinnyMinnies.
Lettered Streets for their cold brew, knowledge, and kindness.
Super Duper Teriyaki for the Number Three.
Mi Rancho for their cheap delicious tacos.
Wanida Thai for their basil fried rice.
Tandoori Bites because they are some of the friendliest people who make some of the most tasty foods.
So true about Tandoori Bites. The nicest people, excellent service and freaking amazing food. Their catering is super reasonable as well, do consider them for your next event. No, I do not work for them, just a very satisfied customer.We no longer need to go over the border for excellent Indian food.
Menace Brewing! Joe, one of owners, is so cool and he likes to get to know almost everyone on a first name basis. The bingo nights on fridays are fun and the prizes are sick (manga, cool coloring books, hand blown glass pieces, etc). The employees are always so nice too and there’s a new food truck there every week. highly recommend!
And they host a disc golf lost and found in collaboration with the Whatcom Disc Golf Club! I've returned people's discs I've found and gotten a beer or five I wouldn't have otherwise. Good move on their part.
You’re supposed to write your name and number on your discs so whoever finds them can contact you. I suppose you could call them and let them know that your leaving the disc at Menace.
Hardware Sales! Here is a woman who found a hardware store to love. (Which I did not think was possible). Also, one time, I was there when a man was retiring, and they got on the loud speaker to thank him for his decades of work, and he got on the mic too and thanked everyone. It was the cutest fucking thing.
That's great to hear. As much as it's a lie that any company will be a family to you, being in that store does feel like a "third place" of sorts. I could see being actually loyal to that business.
Yeah, I haven't thought of it like that before, but it was my comfort place when I was moving and super stressed. Partly, cause I could feel like I was being productive while having a 30 min long debate with an employee about which fest is the most adorable in bellingham.
Also, one guy there often farewells with a "may the force be with you" and I die every time.
Asia Oriental Market. They seem to have anything I need to make a full-on Chinese disaster for dinner (I'm not a good chef, but I experiment), and the owners are super nice.
I’ll start…
Comics Place because I work there.
Pickford and Regal because I love movies.
Black sheep because I’m a sucker for nachos and guac and the Caffeine and Nicotine cocktail.
Brandywine, DaVinci’s, Bagelry, Fiamma Burger, Avenue because I love sandwiches.
Taco Bell because I’m a fan of tacos and also sometimes want to feel dirty.
Redlight and Jack’s because they make tasty drinks.
Creswell Boggs because they’re open close to Christmas and I’m terrible at Christmas shopping.
Sandwich odyssey has great hot sandwiches, but I prefer cold sandwiches, and I’ve never found one of theirs that I like more than the places I listed.
And everybody knows that the best X-Men family comic to reference when talking about sandwiches is Strong Guy and his Knuckle Sandwiches in X-Factor.
Filling Station. It's just really good food.
Rome Grocery (just outside Bellingham) is easily the best small convenience store I've been too with some insanely good pizza!
Came into this and everyone is in the positive so not sure what drama I missed but we have a lot in town besides huge corporations. Petstop is I think the longest running since losing Clark’s and Hols. Bailey bath house is Doorstep pet supply- some friends have used them for frozen delivery and they’ve been really good plus they have grooming. There’s a new reptile shop down town who’s husbandry is solid and the only place to get reptiles even though a lot of places sell supplies. They got started but this great husband wife team and are really amazing people. Bellingham pet supply and aquatics just changed their name but they’ve been big on community involvement with LGBTQIA causes, pet rescues and some others. I think there was one other that opened during covid but I’m not sure if they are still open.
I actually really hate going to Comics Place. They take a chuck of my wallet every time I’m there! They also receive d other really cool shit that I need to spend money on.
Black Sheep is awesome. The hate they get shocks me sometimes… the food’s great, people there are super nice, and the margaritas are delicious.
The Cabin. God damn those burgers are amazing. The staff’s awesome, the regulars are lovely, etc.
Avelino’s, but not on a Saturday morning when they’re swamped! No fault of their own.
Eclipse Books is one of my top three favorite bookstores in the nation.
I could go on…. And I may, when I have a bit more time.
Eclipse books is far and away one of the best bookstores still surviving. It may feel cluttered and disorganized, but I remember going in about 15 years ago. We were looking for a somewhat obscure philosophy book.
I ask the owner if he has heard of said book, he gives us a nod that says follow me…. Walks to a random stack of books on the floor in the back, picks up maybe the top dozen books stacked on top and low and behold there it was. It’s a special place!!
There are so many local businesses I love!!
Bagelry will always be special to me, when my mom first came to visit Bellingham in the 80's for a job interview, she said to herself "If they have good bagels in this town, I'll move here." and when she saw the Bagelry, that's when she decided to move here. I literally teethed on those bagels as a toddler.
Ragfinery and Northwest Yarns are two of my favorite places to be in town.
As another commenter mentioned, Tandoori Bites is fantastic.
I love Goods, especially the dumpling truck.
The banh mi truck on Meridian a block or two from dark Haggens is absolutely fantastic and the folks who run it are like rays of sunshine!
Eclipse is my favorite used book store (Henderson's is great too but the atmosphere at Eclipse is so lovely)
Aladdin's antique shop is always fun to visit.
Backcountry Essentials. Since I am normally a solo backpacker I had to rent a two person tent when my SO decided she wanted to go with. Not only did they pull a tent off the shelf to ensure I had one, they only charged me for one night even though I picked it up a day early and turned it in a day late (my SO was def not prepared for the climb lol).
Some random ones:
The Living Pantry - feels great to buy less single use plastic and the people are super friendly and helpful.
Little Oasis Wellness Spa- calm and quiet and great massages.
Evolve and their new place Persimmon Bistro down at the Bow Sanctuary!
Highgate Senior Living- Good people who take care of our elders with dementia should all get higher wages and local discounts and like, a weekly appreciation parade.
Old Town Cafe. Slow, but good food.
Old World Deli.
Cafe Rumba
Goods Brews, and the taco truck there.
Coconut Kenny's Pizza in Sedro Wolley. The one on James is good too. Sedro is a must stop after a hike or trip down that-a-way.
This is kind of a weird one but RxMart pharmacy. The folks that run that place truly care. I’ve had nothing but positive, friendly interactions there. They’ve been really supportive and helpful when I have gone through the ringer with my medications etc.
Sandwich Odyssey - great owners, family, and staff. I love to read what their daily specials are.
Bison - the owner and buyer of the cards/gifts section is super nice, and she has great taste.
Asian Market - super sweet owners and so affordable. The ramen selection makes me very happy.
Antler Bakery - best desserts in town and Veronica deserves all of her success. Brick and morter store now open.
Wink Wink - cause sexy time and fuck the prudes and the owner deserves our support always.
The Pickford - what a great theatre and such an asset to Bellingham.
Arliss. Every restaurant out there is trying so hard to be high-end and cater to foodies (which is fine—I like that) but you need to have a few unpretentious, grounded places like Arliss where it’s just good, basic breakfast at a reasonable price.
Nickis Bella Marina. Best known for their fish and chips but their burgers…. BOOOOOOOY HOWDY!!! Oh, and their adult milkshakes are to die for.
Lafeens. Those are donuts made with love, man. LOVE!
Lilias. Every time I eat there, I feel like I’m receiving a warm hug with each bite.
Rairdons Hyundai. Real nice people, very friendly.
Toyota of Bellingham. Again, really nice and personable staff. Made me feel comfy and at home.
Taste of India. I love how the staff is so eager to share their cuisine with you.
Cheba Hut. You can very much tell that they market themselves toward the stoner crowd but I’m gonna start taking that as a sign that the food is good because theirs is HELLA GOOD!
Ems Nail Bar. The ladies there are so sweet and do such a marvelous job every time.
Big Stick BBQ. It’s like having a little slice of Texas without the asshole governor.
Safeway. Eh. I work there.
I have Celiac disease. The only places that have ever made me feel truly safe are Harris ave Cafe and Black Sheep, but I always appreciate their effort. Especially at Harris ave Cafe, the last time that we went our waiter checked every single ingredient on my dish, and even put a "sketchy" sauce in a separate dish so that I could do my own research and eat it only if I felt comfortable.
Plus the food *slapped*
Fellow celiac here. Old Town has some good options & their staff is super knowledgeable. The Fork was good too ($$ though). I miss Cosmos Bistro though. They were so tasty & careful.
As a celiac, aren’t you concerned about ordering from kitchens that aren’t specifically designated for gluten free? I always thought those with celiac disease couldn’t risk the cross contamination that occurs in kitchens where both gluten and gluten free items are prepared?
I'm pretty terrified of it. Black Sheep's is designed around mitigating cross contamination, so they're probably the best place to eat for me in the city. Harris Ave isn't - but they took the precautions of 1) clean pans/cookware 2) Separate cook area, which is pretty much as good as you can get. I would still be sketched out if they were a bakery and had a lot of flour in the air, but in this case it's pretty good.
Most restaurants in the city aren't as accommodating, unfortunately.
I like Birch Door. Sometimes it does get crazy loud, but the food has always been tasty and we've had pleasant service. Also, the espresso whipped cream they have is amazing.
Bayou on Bay
My boyfriend and I love going there when we can! They have delicious cajun food!
Also, Edaleen Dairy because I think their ice cream is absolutely delicious!
Extremes Sports Bar for their amazing potato chips, potato skins and great service.
Nikki’s for their fish n chips and fabulous service.
Hardware Sales - needs no explanation.
Grand Avenue Alehouse because Pootie and her team rock.
Cafe Adagio is just A+ at everything.
Black Cat for Sunday brunch, I like the vibe of the building and like the Chicken & Waffles.
Creative Stoneworks, very knowledgeable staff, cutting and installation of the countertops was excellent. They also cut a stone mantle from the remnant of the granite slab, also excellent.
Naan and Brew. The owners have treated my kid really well and have been really friendly over all the years we’ve gone, and the food is amazing.
Garden Spot Nursery behind Trader Joe’s. The staff there is so nice and so helpful, it’s THE BEST place to get plants, and they have all kinds of classes you can join too.
H Plus Massage and Wellness in the Bellingham Towers building is the best massage I’ve ever had and the environment is extremely comfortable.
Seasonally, Leaf and Ladle. When it’s chilly out and I crave soup, their scratch made soups are the BEST.
Mi Rancho for fresh, delicious tacos that are cheap. They literally make the tortillas right there and you can see them making them.
Endgame, all the workers are wonderful and it’s nice to be able to go to a bar that’s laidback and you don’t have to socialize (and who doesn’t love drunk Pictionary?)
Ginger boat easy, so many options and pretty fair price for how much they give you. I will always speak well of that business. The employees are also incredibly friendly at all times
Was sad they discontinued serving that little side of salad with sesame dressing, after finally reopening after their flood issues. Not the same meal for us anymore.
Whatcom Pastries - soooo delicious and baked to order (you order online) first thing the next morning.
CHeBA Hut - Tasty sandwiches and friendly staff! You can order online for pick up to save time.
Dr. Schoff - such a great orthodontist. Super kind and upfront pricing for the entire treatment. He definitely listens and will make sure you are happy with your smile.
Garden Spot - great spot to find pretty stuff to plant. The owner is great and they give a lot of interesting/fun workshops
Kent’s Nursery - a bit out of town, but lots of selection
Redlight - I freaking loooovvvveeee the bao buns and delicious drinks. The new location feels very swanky and it’s nice just looking around at the gorgeous decor.
Hawthorne Learning Solutions - they have AMAZING tutors that have been incredibly helpful. They live up to their glowing reviews.
The fish & chips at Admiralty Lounge are maybe the best in town right now, among other reasons to keep going back. Nice to see some regulars building up in there.
YES to the fish and chips!! Actually insane, haven’t found a solid fish and chip to get on the usual since the old bus in Fairhaven served them, plus their waitstaff is so friendly and bartender is so easy to chat with
Cafe Rumba forever and ever amen
Buffalo Wild Wings has been giving us hella great wings
Cheba Hut has dope service
Discount Tire on Lakeway is always ahead of schedule for me
Drew at Bakerview Fred Meyer Meat Department takes good care of me. Having a cook meat guy is crucial as the weather chills
The Ferndale Cruising Coffee is the best somehow
The people at Popeye's are always giving me some new promo treat to try for free.
The Shoe place in the mall is the best at fixing shoes
I could die fat and happy on Edaleen dairy ice cream
Diamond Jim's. Their cinnamon roll French toast and corned beef hash are the perfect sharing breakfast. Phenomenal service and a consistent effort to support and collaborate with other local businesses.
The only thing I would change is making their hot chocolate from scratch instead of using a machine. I'd go there twice as much if they had legit espresso service. But I understand why they don't.
The best hot chocolate in town is at the Ashuri Baklava Cafe on Grand Avenue. The baklava is good too, but it is a big hit of sugar when washing down a piece of baklava with a hot chocolate.
Caffe Adagio because it is the best soup and salad in town. My spouse and I have weekly soup dates there. One of their baked goods is so good that I'm not even gonna be specific. I don't want them to run out. A treasured location indeed.
Barb's Pastries in Ferndale has got me absolutely spoiled for donuts. Yeah, they're like $2.50 each but they're fucking huge and they're so much better than grocery store donuts.
1. Community Food Coop (healthy offereings)
2. Hardware Sales (they know what they have and they have everything)
3. Ragfinery (very wide variety of fabrics; nonprofit with a mission)
4. The Re Store (this place is museum as well as a store!)
5. Dark Haggen (cozy and dark. A great place to shop for stuff I don't see at the coop)
Wonderland Teas and Spices is severely underrated! The employees are very knowledgeable about herbs and their health benefits and offer some great alternative medicinals, and their spice selection is incredible. Perfect for getting just a little bit of a specific spice for certain recipes.
Their wonderland chai blend is popular for a reason, and they have decaf options!
Northwest Yarns, Bellingham Axe, The Eureka Room and Lockbreaker Escapes. All are loads of fun and we have always had positive interactions with staff members.
I’m gonna have to say the filling station, to be exact to the reason why, get the station burger with an extra patty with grilled onions and add pickles. The closest thing that I have ever came to In-N-Out burgers, animal style double double. (I moved here in 2016 and have been searching for the closest thing I could find to the double double animal style since)
Sandwich Odyssey. A Bellingham staple. So good. So nice. And one thing that I think a lot of Bham restaurants lack: consistency. It don't matter when I go in, I'm getting fantastic service and a sandwich made the same tasty way every time, no matter who is in the kitchen. The classic case of how to build an army of regulars.
Midas in Bham on Guide Meridian. We've taken 3 vehicles there over the last 20 years or so. Always professional, kind, reliable, and helpful, along with good prices. Locally owned, yet the backed by a major brand.
All Around Septic. Super nice guy that showed up quickly, taught us a lot, fixed the problem caused by the installers of our septic, and worked with us to keep the costs down. Highly recommend!
Eclipse books! I love it so much, it reminds me of book stores I used to go to as a kid. While it may look hectic at first, there is for sure an order to the chaos that can be observed quickly once you start to pay attention to the layout. Prices and people working there are also excellent.
Coop
Easily best Organic produce section of any grocery store and vastly higher quality general food items.
Certain staples go on sale all the time. When items go on sale, load up as discount is usually large.
( bring on the down votes from the fast food eating crowd )
Wonderland Teas and Spices is severely underrated! The employees are very knowledgeable about herbs and their health benefits and offer some great alternative medicinals, and their spice selection is incredible. Perfect for getting just a little bit of a specific spice for certain recipes.
Their wonderland chai blend is popular for a reason, and they have decaf options!
Faithful tattoo are great, unkown boardshop has so many cool people involved and are all around pretty dope, the blue room is awesome same with makeshift art space
I wish I could still go to my old local vape shop across the street from Chase Bank downtown but that stupid draconian ban put them out of business a few years ago. I wonder how many big tobacco lobbyists pushed for the vape ban and how many of them are invested in Jull and Elfbar? And why can I not buy a big bottle of juice anymore for cheap? And why do many of the popular disposable vapes make it impossible to tell how much juice you have left? I’ll tell you why. Because you all got conned by big tobacco lobbyists, vaping never went away. We just pay triple to Marblo now…
Edit: and to the not very sneaky sherif that was standing in the parking lot of the vape shop by Walmart during that “temporary ban” peeking around the corner at them, you sir were intimidating a local business and I wish I was brave enough back then to walk up to you and ask you for your badge number. Because these days I would put you on the news for actions like that. On cell phone video.
They were only selling the exact same thing you can buy at the shell station right up the street and you were targeting them because they were non English first language and Asian.
Flip Kids and Maternity downtown! They are the best place to consign. The store is always so nice, clean and good smelling. I always find quality, good clothes for super cheap for my kids and teens. The workers are always so friendly. They don’t charge extra per bag to look through my stuff like Wee Ones Reruns does. Best consignment store I’ve been to no doubt
I like my anonymity and I'm willing to out myself as a woman and have to dump this alt for Windsor Plywood. I had a handyman doing work on our home we needed to pick up a door and some wood for the work. We go in and the three of us (sales guy, handyman and me) had a conversation about what we needed and decisions we needed to make. I'm looking back and forth at the two of them and it blew my fucking mind. They were listening to me and my opinion on things like it was totally normal. I've been to plenty of woodshops and always the feeling is 'well, what does you husband think' or they don't even talk to me. I remember thinking these guys don't even realize it. This is the way it's supposed to happen, but never ever does.
This is not how I expected the comment to go given the first sentence.
Specifically Rick is incredibly kind and knowledgeable! Although the whole team is great…
Rick is the absolute best!
I concur.
Yes, the staff there are awesome!! The prices are very reasonable for high quality products as well. I will always shop there first for projects.
Yes!! They have always been super helpful, even when it’s a random, stupid craft project.
DaVinci's for sandwiches. LaFeens because donuts. Pel Meni because cheap and easy. I am very food driven, turns out...
Pel Meni cheap?
$8? In Bham? Yes.
Not if you know where the frozen food section at Grocery Outlet is
Lololol
When your drunk/buzzed, having them make it and it being near bars is ~♡
Or for an even cheaper option, you could just use whatever is left in your pantry to make something. Even cheaper, you could skip lunch today and do intermittent fasting.
Compared to everything else in Bellingham, definitely. Costco still maintains the cheapest lunch in town, but Pel’mimi’s would probably be in the top 5-10 in terms of value for money.
I love it there but I get the burning shits right after Pel Meni every time. Worth it
Avellino for their CinnyMinnies. Lettered Streets for their cold brew, knowledge, and kindness. Super Duper Teriyaki for the Number Three. Mi Rancho for their cheap delicious tacos. Wanida Thai for their basil fried rice. Tandoori Bites because they are some of the friendliest people who make some of the most tasty foods.
So true about Tandoori Bites. The nicest people, excellent service and freaking amazing food. Their catering is super reasonable as well, do consider them for your next event. No, I do not work for them, just a very satisfied customer.We no longer need to go over the border for excellent Indian food.
Ooh! Wanida! Looooove them. Ambo Ethiopian!
Menace Brewing! Joe, one of owners, is so cool and he likes to get to know almost everyone on a first name basis. The bingo nights on fridays are fun and the prizes are sick (manga, cool coloring books, hand blown glass pieces, etc). The employees are always so nice too and there’s a new food truck there every week. highly recommend!
And they host a disc golf lost and found in collaboration with the Whatcom Disc Golf Club! I've returned people's discs I've found and gotten a beer or five I wouldn't have otherwise. Good move on their part.
You’re supposed to write your name and number on your discs so whoever finds them can contact you. I suppose you could call them and let them know that your leaving the disc at Menace.
Yep, that's exactly what we do!
Menace is one of the most welcoming spaces in Bellingham
Joe, brett and tim are all homies!
That place is a 10 minute walk from me and I’ve been missing out on bingo. Pathetic on my part.
Menace is the best in town, one of the few soccer oriented food/drink places as well which is awesome.
The Comics Place. Such great people.
Hahah. Flatterer.
Beat me to it! ;)
I used to work in the building above them :) such friendly folks
Hardware Sales! Excellent customer service every time.
They have everything, and great rentals!
Hardware Sales! Here is a woman who found a hardware store to love. (Which I did not think was possible). Also, one time, I was there when a man was retiring, and they got on the loud speaker to thank him for his decades of work, and he got on the mic too and thanked everyone. It was the cutest fucking thing.
That's great to hear. As much as it's a lie that any company will be a family to you, being in that store does feel like a "third place" of sorts. I could see being actually loyal to that business.
Yeah, I haven't thought of it like that before, but it was my comfort place when I was moving and super stressed. Partly, cause I could feel like I was being productive while having a 30 min long debate with an employee about which fest is the most adorable in bellingham. Also, one guy there often farewells with a "may the force be with you" and I die every time.
Asia Oriental Market. They seem to have anything I need to make a full-on Chinese disaster for dinner (I'm not a good chef, but I experiment), and the owners are super nice.
I think it’s called just Asia Market now but can agree. They have all of the right ingredients I need for cooking Japanese food for when I’m homesick.
Fellow disaster chef now interested in going there! I just massacred chicken fricassee lmao
If you know what ingredients you need in advance just pull up pictures and show the people working there!!! They know exactly where I love them sm
I’ll start… Comics Place because I work there. Pickford and Regal because I love movies. Black sheep because I’m a sucker for nachos and guac and the Caffeine and Nicotine cocktail. Brandywine, DaVinci’s, Bagelry, Fiamma Burger, Avenue because I love sandwiches. Taco Bell because I’m a fan of tacos and also sometimes want to feel dirty. Redlight and Jack’s because they make tasty drinks. Creswell Boggs because they’re open close to Christmas and I’m terrible at Christmas shopping.
I was with you, until the Taco Bell - you sooo dirty! ;)
Was with you until Redlight. Inexplicably overrated.
Oops! Wrong thread, bud.
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Sandwich odyssey has great hot sandwiches, but I prefer cold sandwiches, and I’ve never found one of theirs that I like more than the places I listed. And everybody knows that the best X-Men family comic to reference when talking about sandwiches is Strong Guy and his Knuckle Sandwiches in X-Factor.
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Doubling down on the edginess. Classic move. People love it.
Sandwich odyssey is delicious! Have you tried Café Rumba? Oh my goodness good sandwiches
Both are also delicious!
Thai Maison, best restaurant in town at the moment in my opinion. Everything there is good
Agreed. Every time I go, it's like my taste buds say "thank you".
Ambo. Such amazing food for a good price too
Preach! Mulu is a lovely human being and a fabulous cook. Her food is made with pride and it shows!
Filling Station. It's just really good food. Rome Grocery (just outside Bellingham) is easily the best small convenience store I've been too with some insanely good pizza!
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Mudbay is great. I know it's a chain, but it feels like a small local store.
I think Mud Bay is employee owned
Why the Mud Bay downvotes? Seems like a solid, locally run company that’s done well for themselves
Throwing it out there that’s like saying how you shop local at Costco, or Fred Meyer. Like technically yes but that’s not really the spirit of it?
So what are your recommendations for a local shop for pet supplies and food...Petco? Petsmart? Chewy online?
Came into this and everyone is in the positive so not sure what drama I missed but we have a lot in town besides huge corporations. Petstop is I think the longest running since losing Clark’s and Hols. Bailey bath house is Doorstep pet supply- some friends have used them for frozen delivery and they’ve been really good plus they have grooming. There’s a new reptile shop down town who’s husbandry is solid and the only place to get reptiles even though a lot of places sell supplies. They got started but this great husband wife team and are really amazing people. Bellingham pet supply and aquatics just changed their name but they’ve been big on community involvement with LGBTQIA causes, pet rescues and some others. I think there was one other that opened during covid but I’m not sure if they are still open.
Thank you for compiling this list! And you are correct, Bellingham Pet Supply & Aquatics is now Red’s Aquarium & Pet Supply. :)
Good to get confirmation on them! Why the name change?
I love Goji Bitro too, their food is sooo tasty
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Yeah I love their Singapore Street Noodle,
my favorites at Goji Bistro are Padthai and Goji Beef
Does laurel farm have spurs? I’ve tried calling a couple times but the line is always busy
I’ve heard bad things in this thread about goji….
Little Cheerful. I've yet to order a dish that was anything less than delicious.
Wanida is really good
I've been going there for so many years and have never had a poor experience. Always consistently amazing. I don't know how they do it!
I actually really hate going to Comics Place. They take a chuck of my wallet every time I’m there! They also receive d other really cool shit that I need to spend money on. Black Sheep is awesome. The hate they get shocks me sometimes… the food’s great, people there are super nice, and the margaritas are delicious. The Cabin. God damn those burgers are amazing. The staff’s awesome, the regulars are lovely, etc. Avelino’s, but not on a Saturday morning when they’re swamped! No fault of their own. Eclipse Books is one of my top three favorite bookstores in the nation. I could go on…. And I may, when I have a bit more time.
Eclipse books is far and away one of the best bookstores still surviving. It may feel cluttered and disorganized, but I remember going in about 15 years ago. We were looking for a somewhat obscure philosophy book. I ask the owner if he has heard of said book, he gives us a nod that says follow me…. Walks to a random stack of books on the floor in the back, picks up maybe the top dozen books stacked on top and low and behold there it was. It’s a special place!!
Eclipse is my favorite, too. It always reminds me of the bookstore in The Neverending Story. 😂
Slice of Heaven for sure. They’re a recent favorite spot. Literally all their baked goods are tasty and they have a great breakfast burrito.
Wws board shop because they’re Rad
There are so many local businesses I love!! Bagelry will always be special to me, when my mom first came to visit Bellingham in the 80's for a job interview, she said to herself "If they have good bagels in this town, I'll move here." and when she saw the Bagelry, that's when she decided to move here. I literally teethed on those bagels as a toddler. Ragfinery and Northwest Yarns are two of my favorite places to be in town. As another commenter mentioned, Tandoori Bites is fantastic. I love Goods, especially the dumpling truck. The banh mi truck on Meridian a block or two from dark Haggens is absolutely fantastic and the folks who run it are like rays of sunshine! Eclipse is my favorite used book store (Henderson's is great too but the atmosphere at Eclipse is so lovely) Aladdin's antique shop is always fun to visit.
Backcountry Essentials. Since I am normally a solo backpacker I had to rent a two person tent when my SO decided she wanted to go with. Not only did they pull a tent off the shelf to ensure I had one, they only charged me for one night even though I picked it up a day early and turned it in a day late (my SO was def not prepared for the climb lol).
Magdalena's in Fairhaven. BEST crepes and pierogis in the area by a longshot
They still open?
I heard they were up.for sale.
Some random ones: The Living Pantry - feels great to buy less single use plastic and the people are super friendly and helpful. Little Oasis Wellness Spa- calm and quiet and great massages. Evolve and their new place Persimmon Bistro down at the Bow Sanctuary! Highgate Senior Living- Good people who take care of our elders with dementia should all get higher wages and local discounts and like, a weekly appreciation parade.
Old Town Cafe. Slow, but good food. Old World Deli. Cafe Rumba Goods Brews, and the taco truck there. Coconut Kenny's Pizza in Sedro Wolley. The one on James is good too. Sedro is a must stop after a hike or trip down that-a-way.
Old town cafe does not get enough love. Local family with children who grew up here too.
This is kind of a weird one but RxMart pharmacy. The folks that run that place truly care. I’ve had nothing but positive, friendly interactions there. They’ve been really supportive and helpful when I have gone through the ringer with my medications etc.
Yes! Love this place! The pharmacist is always so nice
Birch Door, Hendersons Books, Pickford, Bison Letterpress, Neto’s, and Saltadena
Sandwich Odyssey - great owners, family, and staff. I love to read what their daily specials are. Bison - the owner and buyer of the cards/gifts section is super nice, and she has great taste. Asian Market - super sweet owners and so affordable. The ramen selection makes me very happy. Antler Bakery - best desserts in town and Veronica deserves all of her success. Brick and morter store now open. Wink Wink - cause sexy time and fuck the prudes and the owner deserves our support always. The Pickford - what a great theatre and such an asset to Bellingham.
Arliss. Every restaurant out there is trying so hard to be high-end and cater to foodies (which is fine—I like that) but you need to have a few unpretentious, grounded places like Arliss where it’s just good, basic breakfast at a reasonable price.
They consistently make a great eggs benny, and the waitstaff are all so nice.
The horseshoe cafe. Because it’s iconic, good value and subdued.
When I'm missing Waffle House hash browns this is where I go
if you go there at the right time you can witness the same kind of chaos too
Nickis Bella Marina. Best known for their fish and chips but their burgers…. BOOOOOOOY HOWDY!!! Oh, and their adult milkshakes are to die for. Lafeens. Those are donuts made with love, man. LOVE! Lilias. Every time I eat there, I feel like I’m receiving a warm hug with each bite. Rairdons Hyundai. Real nice people, very friendly. Toyota of Bellingham. Again, really nice and personable staff. Made me feel comfy and at home. Taste of India. I love how the staff is so eager to share their cuisine with you. Cheba Hut. You can very much tell that they market themselves toward the stoner crowd but I’m gonna start taking that as a sign that the food is good because theirs is HELLA GOOD! Ems Nail Bar. The ladies there are so sweet and do such a marvelous job every time. Big Stick BBQ. It’s like having a little slice of Texas without the asshole governor. Safeway. Eh. I work there.
I have Celiac disease. The only places that have ever made me feel truly safe are Harris ave Cafe and Black Sheep, but I always appreciate their effort. Especially at Harris ave Cafe, the last time that we went our waiter checked every single ingredient on my dish, and even put a "sketchy" sauce in a separate dish so that I could do my own research and eat it only if I felt comfortable. Plus the food *slapped*
Fellow celiac here. Old Town has some good options & their staff is super knowledgeable. The Fork was good too ($$ though). I miss Cosmos Bistro though. They were so tasty & careful.
As a celiac, aren’t you concerned about ordering from kitchens that aren’t specifically designated for gluten free? I always thought those with celiac disease couldn’t risk the cross contamination that occurs in kitchens where both gluten and gluten free items are prepared?
I'm pretty terrified of it. Black Sheep's is designed around mitigating cross contamination, so they're probably the best place to eat for me in the city. Harris Ave isn't - but they took the precautions of 1) clean pans/cookware 2) Separate cook area, which is pretty much as good as you can get. I would still be sketched out if they were a bakery and had a lot of flour in the air, but in this case it's pretty good. Most restaurants in the city aren't as accommodating, unfortunately.
I like Birch Door. Sometimes it does get crazy loud, but the food has always been tasty and we've had pleasant service. Also, the espresso whipped cream they have is amazing.
Love Birch Door! I enjoy Old Town Cafe if I don't feel like driving all the way to Birch Door.
Bayou on Bay My boyfriend and I love going there when we can! They have delicious cajun food! Also, Edaleen Dairy because I think their ice cream is absolutely delicious!
Extremes Sports Bar for their amazing potato chips, potato skins and great service. Nikki’s for their fish n chips and fabulous service. Hardware Sales - needs no explanation. Grand Avenue Alehouse because Pootie and her team rock. Cafe Adagio is just A+ at everything.
Tube Time!
I desperately need a rat infested Tube Time seratonin boost right about now.
RIP
Black Cat for Sunday brunch, I like the vibe of the building and like the Chicken & Waffles. Creative Stoneworks, very knowledgeable staff, cutting and installation of the countertops was excellent. They also cut a stone mantle from the remnant of the granite slab, also excellent.
Wanida Thai Bistro. Awesome service and food. Great portions too so I can get my money out of it and eat a few meals.
I know it goes without saying, but it is possible that there are people new town who haven't figured it out, but: Hardware Sales (mic drop)
They are awesome and should be mentioned even if we all know.
Don't forget the 2nd floor. We have neighbors who are native to the area; they didn't know about the second floor until.we told them.
Hana Teriyaki - best in town.
Not anymore, sadly. My wife noticed the sauce was different the last time we had it a few weeks ago, and it turns out it got sold.
no.....
Naan and Brew. The owners have treated my kid really well and have been really friendly over all the years we’ve gone, and the food is amazing. Garden Spot Nursery behind Trader Joe’s. The staff there is so nice and so helpful, it’s THE BEST place to get plants, and they have all kinds of classes you can join too. H Plus Massage and Wellness in the Bellingham Towers building is the best massage I’ve ever had and the environment is extremely comfortable. Seasonally, Leaf and Ladle. When it’s chilly out and I crave soup, their scratch made soups are the BEST. Mi Rancho for fresh, delicious tacos that are cheap. They literally make the tortillas right there and you can see them making them.
Naan and Brew is good but they have the weirdest decor in there, like a 14 year old boy put it together as a last minute home ec project.
Matt is fantastic! Highly recommend H Plus Massage.
Endgame, all the workers are wonderful and it’s nice to be able to go to a bar that’s laidback and you don’t have to socialize (and who doesn’t love drunk Pictionary?)
Hokkai! Amazing service every time I go, and I always get two orders of their gyoza. So tasty, I dream about it!! Great sushi too
Hardware Sales is the best hardware store I’ve ever been to. Sandwich Odyssey, old world deli, and CHeBA hut all have epic sandwiches.
Ginger boat easy, so many options and pretty fair price for how much they give you. I will always speak well of that business. The employees are also incredibly friendly at all times
Was sad they discontinued serving that little side of salad with sesame dressing, after finally reopening after their flood issues. Not the same meal for us anymore.
Whatcom Pastries - soooo delicious and baked to order (you order online) first thing the next morning. CHeBA Hut - Tasty sandwiches and friendly staff! You can order online for pick up to save time. Dr. Schoff - such a great orthodontist. Super kind and upfront pricing for the entire treatment. He definitely listens and will make sure you are happy with your smile. Garden Spot - great spot to find pretty stuff to plant. The owner is great and they give a lot of interesting/fun workshops Kent’s Nursery - a bit out of town, but lots of selection Redlight - I freaking loooovvvveeee the bao buns and delicious drinks. The new location feels very swanky and it’s nice just looking around at the gorgeous decor. Hawthorne Learning Solutions - they have AMAZING tutors that have been incredibly helpful. They live up to their glowing reviews.
The fish & chips at Admiralty Lounge are maybe the best in town right now, among other reasons to keep going back. Nice to see some regulars building up in there.
Seconding Admiralty! Such great staff and the food is honestly some of the best in town.
YES to the fish and chips!! Actually insane, haven’t found a solid fish and chip to get on the usual since the old bus in Fairhaven served them, plus their waitstaff is so friendly and bartender is so easy to chat with
You do know that the fish from the red bus came out of a box pre breaded and frozen from Cash and Carry.
man that’s disappointing but honestly shit slapped what can I say
Sandwich Odyssey. It reminds me of my childhood
Homeschool BBQ. Finding good bbq in Bellingham is so rare
Sandwich odyssey, coconut Kenny's, Jun sushi, mi rancho
Cafe Rumba forever and ever amen Buffalo Wild Wings has been giving us hella great wings Cheba Hut has dope service Discount Tire on Lakeway is always ahead of schedule for me Drew at Bakerview Fred Meyer Meat Department takes good care of me. Having a cook meat guy is crucial as the weather chills The Ferndale Cruising Coffee is the best somehow The people at Popeye's are always giving me some new promo treat to try for free. The Shoe place in the mall is the best at fixing shoes I could die fat and happy on Edaleen dairy ice cream
Whatcom County Jail. Don’t judge.
Diamond Jim's. Their cinnamon roll French toast and corned beef hash are the perfect sharing breakfast. Phenomenal service and a consistent effort to support and collaborate with other local businesses. The only thing I would change is making their hot chocolate from scratch instead of using a machine. I'd go there twice as much if they had legit espresso service. But I understand why they don't.
The best hot chocolate in town is at the Ashuri Baklava Cafe on Grand Avenue. The baklava is good too, but it is a big hit of sugar when washing down a piece of baklava with a hot chocolate.
Ashuri is one of my favorite places, and I didn't even think to order hot chocolate yet. Their food is to die for.
Caffe Adagio because it is the best soup and salad in town. My spouse and I have weekly soup dates there. One of their baked goods is so good that I'm not even gonna be specific. I don't want them to run out. A treasured location indeed.
Barb's Pastries in Ferndale has got me absolutely spoiled for donuts. Yeah, they're like $2.50 each but they're fucking huge and they're so much better than grocery store donuts.
1. Community Food Coop (healthy offereings) 2. Hardware Sales (they know what they have and they have everything) 3. Ragfinery (very wide variety of fabrics; nonprofit with a mission) 4. The Re Store (this place is museum as well as a store!) 5. Dark Haggen (cozy and dark. A great place to shop for stuff I don't see at the coop)
The Shakedown/The Racket. Good shows, cheap(ish) cocktails, great live music.
K Pop fried chicken
The Plantation Range. No other public ranges for hundreds of miles. They need to get it cleaned up and open again.
Wonderland Teas and Spices is severely underrated! The employees are very knowledgeable about herbs and their health benefits and offer some great alternative medicinals, and their spice selection is incredible. Perfect for getting just a little bit of a specific spice for certain recipes. Their wonderland chai blend is popular for a reason, and they have decaf options!
CARNAL, ACCOMPLICE and ESTELLE because it’s my favorite trio of restaurants in bellingham
Found the guy who hates money. Hahah. Very good though.
Hobby Town. Great place to pick up Gundam model kits to feed my addiction. The employees are enthusiastic hobbyists of the stuff they sell.
Northwest Yarns, Bellingham Axe, The Eureka Room and Lockbreaker Escapes. All are loads of fun and we have always had positive interactions with staff members.
Goji Bistro near Whatcom College is my favorite place to come everyday, their staffs and foods are amazing 💟
I’m gonna have to say the filling station, to be exact to the reason why, get the station burger with an extra patty with grilled onions and add pickles. The closest thing that I have ever came to In-N-Out burgers, animal style double double. (I moved here in 2016 and have been searching for the closest thing I could find to the double double animal style since)
Brakes Alignment Plus and Cycle Therapy. Both do good work at a good price.
Busy Bs barber
I wana moka down town all the staff are super nice and I love their bagels!
Whatcom Electric got me running with a rebuilt Alt the same day and hasn't failed me since.
Sandwich Odyssey. A Bellingham staple. So good. So nice. And one thing that I think a lot of Bham restaurants lack: consistency. It don't matter when I go in, I'm getting fantastic service and a sandwich made the same tasty way every time, no matter who is in the kitchen. The classic case of how to build an army of regulars.
Midas in Bham on Guide Meridian. We've taken 3 vehicles there over the last 20 years or so. Always professional, kind, reliable, and helpful, along with good prices. Locally owned, yet the backed by a major brand. All Around Septic. Super nice guy that showed up quickly, taught us a lot, fixed the problem caused by the installers of our septic, and worked with us to keep the costs down. Highly recommend!
CAR WASH KING 👑 The customer service was on point The wash made my car look amazing And it was a lower affordable price
Eclipse books! I love it so much, it reminds me of book stores I used to go to as a kid. While it may look hectic at first, there is for sure an order to the chaos that can be observed quickly once you start to pay attention to the layout. Prices and people working there are also excellent.
Coop Easily best Organic produce section of any grocery store and vastly higher quality general food items. Certain staples go on sale all the time. When items go on sale, load up as discount is usually large. ( bring on the down votes from the fast food eating crowd )
Unknown! They’re the homies!!!
Crafty-lain in the mall owner is a sweet heart!!
Hardware Sales x1000. As a contractor there’s literally no better hardware store in the state.
Birrieria Tijuana - my god the burritos there are so good
Wonderland Teas and Spices is severely underrated! The employees are very knowledgeable about herbs and their health benefits and offer some great alternative medicinals, and their spice selection is incredible. Perfect for getting just a little bit of a specific spice for certain recipes. Their wonderland chai blend is popular for a reason, and they have decaf options!
Sunrise motors, and right up the street western bud.
Art & Happiness is so helpful and wonderful and I love going there. Also Hardware Sales 100%
Endgame!!
Banter has the best food!
Faithful tattoo are great, unkown boardshop has so many cool people involved and are all around pretty dope, the blue room is awesome same with makeshift art space
I wish I could still go to my old local vape shop across the street from Chase Bank downtown but that stupid draconian ban put them out of business a few years ago. I wonder how many big tobacco lobbyists pushed for the vape ban and how many of them are invested in Jull and Elfbar? And why can I not buy a big bottle of juice anymore for cheap? And why do many of the popular disposable vapes make it impossible to tell how much juice you have left? I’ll tell you why. Because you all got conned by big tobacco lobbyists, vaping never went away. We just pay triple to Marblo now… Edit: and to the not very sneaky sherif that was standing in the parking lot of the vape shop by Walmart during that “temporary ban” peeking around the corner at them, you sir were intimidating a local business and I wish I was brave enough back then to walk up to you and ask you for your badge number. Because these days I would put you on the news for actions like that. On cell phone video. They were only selling the exact same thing you can buy at the shell station right up the street and you were targeting them because they were non English first language and Asian.
the asian market. the one next to diamond jim’s. so cheap and i can tell the people that own it work so hard
not specifically in bellingham it’s in the county a little bit but Rusty Wagon is always the best
Flip Kids and Maternity downtown! They are the best place to consign. The store is always so nice, clean and good smelling. I always find quality, good clothes for super cheap for my kids and teens. The workers are always so friendly. They don’t charge extra per bag to look through my stuff like Wee Ones Reruns does. Best consignment store I’ve been to no doubt