Eastern Washington, and more specifically, the Palouse is home to some delicious food and great restaurants. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to sample some of this mouth-watering cuisine and write my thoughts on it. You may not want to sift through past articles, so here is a simplified guide to some that stand out the most. 

While these are my favorite restaurants, none of the places I have reviewed have disappointed me. The Palouse is home to more good food, and it is just waiting to be found. 

Each of these restaurants offered something unique that made me want to come back to try out the rest of the menu. That being said, this is only the tip of the iceberg for dining in the Palouse. I hope to continue exploring the local areas for hidden gems.

South Fork Public House – 1680 S. Grand Ave.

Located right between Planet Fitness and Dollar Tree, South Fork is a popular spot for students and locals alike. Even though I had gone earlier in the evening on a weekday, the restaurant was still crowded. 

I ended up choosing the pulled pork sandwich with a side of fries and was not disappointed by my choice. The serving size was large enough to make for a filling meal and some good leftovers. 

While the food was tasty, the prices were not ideal for a college budget. Going to South Fork will not break the bank, but I would recommend it as a treat. You get what you pay for with good food and a welcoming atmosphere. If you have not checked out the restaurant, I would highly recommend it.

The Emerald Chinese Restaurant – 1140 N. Grand Ave. 

Right off campus, within walking distance of many student apartments and dorms, the Emerald offers a relatively cheap and delectable option for Chinese food. The restaurant was full without being crowded, and we were sat quickly by friendly wait staff.

Our group ordered a mound of food that included General Tso’s chicken, garlic pork, extra rice and a side of pork buns. At that stage, we did not understand the portion sizes we would receive, and mountains of food came to our table.

LocoGrinz Hawaiian BBQ – 113 N. Main St., Moscow 

Reaching out to our neighbors on the Palouse, LocoGrinz is a set right on the main street of Moscow and is difficult to miss. Each time I went in to try the food, the restaurant was busy without a huge wait time. 

While I tried a few things on the menu, the standout item was the kahlua pork and cabbage with a side of white rice and macaroni salad. The food comes out quickly with a portion size that is both shareable and enjoyable. 

The food is delicious enough to make me take the twenty-minute drive on multiple occasions. I continually find myself drawn to the locally-owned restaurant to try out new food. 

The price point only serves to compliment the delicious taste. Everything about the experience satisfies the customer. If you are getting some of your friends together to go down to Moscow, make sure that LocoGrinz is on your list. 

Vieux Carré NOLA Kitchen – 1403 W. Broadway Ave., Spokane

Among the restaurants featured here, Vieux Carré is the only one located in Spokane. Do not let the drive dissuade you from visiting this delicious eatery. Located just off the Kendall Yards neighborhood, my experience there is by far one of my favorites.

As a birthday gift from my mom, she treated me to dinner. I am glad that I was not paying for the meal this time, just looking through the menu caused me a headache. Still though, we proceeded with a full meal, including appetizers and drinks.

We started with fancy cocktails, whipped honey cornbread, and ended the night with Jambalaya and jerk spicy sticky ribs. 

Every part of the meal was better than the last. We wanted another bite of everything but were so full we could not eat more. 

The cost and long drive to Spokane make eating at Vieux Carré a rare treat. But if you are celebrating a big day or want to impress that special someone, make sure you keep Vieux Carré in mind.