Market rankings · Washington
Restaurants and cafes in Washington
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Washington, ranked by the Groundwork market score for restaurants and cafes, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 32,930
- 9,360 chain locations (28%)
- Official establishments
- 15,030
- +4.8% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $13.8B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 107.4
- 2% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $419K
- 13% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #6 of 51
- Market score 70 · Upper middle
A site report maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings around any address in Washington by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
There are 32,930 restaurants and cafes on map listings in Washington as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 28% of them, against 34% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 107.4, 2% below the U.S. rate of 109.8.
Households in Washington spend about $13.8B a year on food away from home, or $4,501 per household, 11% above the U.S. average. Spread across 32,930 restaurants and cafes, that is $419K per restaurant, 13% above the U.S. figure of $371K.
Official counts show 15,030 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in Washington in 2023, up 4.8% from 2019. That is one for every 204 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 905 SBA-backed loans worth $422M have gone to businesses classed as restaurants and other eating places in Washington.
Among the 50 states and DC, Washington ranks #6 for restaurants and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 70 (upper middle). Of the 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Washington, the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater metro area scores highest (78). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in Washington, the Shelton area scores highest (91).
Every market in Washington for restaurants and cafes
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Washington, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 78 | 1,051 | 88.4 | $484K | +2.8% | #23 of 387 |
| 2Longview-Kelso, WA | 73 | 369 | 84.0 | $450K | +3.5% | #41 of 387 |
| 3Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 71 | 1,036 | 95.5 | $478K | +2.7% | #51 of 387 |
| 4Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 66 | 18,327 | 113.9 | $433K | +3.3% | #85 of 387 |
| 5Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 65 | 2,166 | 91.1 | $426K | +3.5% | #92 of 387 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | 63 | 231 | 86.3 | $427K | +1.5% | #104 of 387 |
| 6Bellingham, WA | 54 | 988 | 105.1 | $383K | +3.9% | #163 of 387 |
| 7Kennewick-Richland, WA | 53 | 1,234 | 114.3 | $365K | +6.5% | #174 of 387 |
| 8Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 41 | 608 | 116.2 | $358K | +2.4% | #253 of 387 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 38 | 13,193 | 130.6 | $341K | +1.0% | #277 of 387 |
| 9Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 33 | 705 | 148.6 | $274K | +5.0% | #315 of 387 |
| 10Yakima, WA | 26 | 955 | 108.9 | $330K | +1.0% | #345 of 387 |
| 11Walla Walla, WA | 22 | 421 | 179.6 | $210K | −0.4% | #366 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Shelton, WA | 91 | 191 | 73.4 | $545K | +7.8% | #3 of 538 |
| 2Oak Harbor, WA | 73 | 291 | 80.9 | $518K | −1.5% | #58 of 538 |
| 3Port Angeles, WA | 61 | 305 | 87.0 | $423K | +1.1% | #158 of 538 |
| 4Centralia, WA | 61 | 323 | 98.1 | $380K | +6.7% | #161 of 538 |
| 5Port Townsend, WA | 61 | 177 | 108.3 | $356K | +2.7% | #162 of 538 |
| 6Pullman, WA | 56 | 177 | 94.5 | $365K | +1.5% | #203 of 538 |
| 7Moses Lake, WA | 48 | 407 | 115.0 | $317K | +6.3% | #283 of 538 |
| 8Aberdeen, WA | 44 | 318 | 103.8 | $334K | +3.0% | #337 of 538 |
| 9Othello, WA | 41 | 74 | 117.7 | $300K | +4.3% | #370 of 538 |
| 10Ellensburg, WA | 40 | 287 | 143.6 | $272K | +4.2% | #380 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lincoln County, WA | 82 | 33 | 68.5 | $533K | +9.7% | #111 of 2,405 |
| 2Pend Oreille County, WA | 81 | 39 | 65.6 | $551K | +7.1% | #122 of 2,405 |
| 3Douglas County, WA | 81 | 130 | 81.6 | $498K | +8.0% | #126 of 2,405 |
| 4Stevens County, WA | 80 | 127 | 65.6 | $553K | +6.6% | #139 of 2,405 |
| 5Mason County, WA | 80 | 191 | 73.4 | $545K | +7.8% | #140 of 2,405 |
| 6Clark County, WA | 77 | 1,669 | 85.1 | $518K | +5.3% | #205 of 2,405 |
| 7Skamania County, WA | 77 | 53 | 105.6 | $402K | +5.2% | #210 of 2,405 |
| 8Pierce County, WA | 69 | 3,055 | 87.0 | $512K | +2.5% | #424 of 2,405 |
| 9Snohomish County, WA | 69 | 2,970 | 93.9 | $512K | +4.9% | #425 of 2,405 |
| 10Asotin County, WA | 68 | 69 | 72.7 | $516K | +1.0% | #447 of 2,405 |
| 11Thurston County, WA | 68 | 1,051 | 88.4 | $484K | +2.8% | #450 of 2,405 |
| 12Franklin County, WA | 66 | 283 | 94.7 | $434K | +5.6% | #518 of 2,405 |
| 13Island County, WA | 64 | 291 | 80.9 | $518K | −1.5% | #593 of 2,405 |
| 14Kitsap County, WA | 64 | 1,036 | 95.5 | $478K | +2.7% | #600 of 2,405 |
| 15Cowlitz County, WA | 63 | 369 | 84.0 | $450K | +3.5% | #633 of 2,405 |
| 16Klickitat County, WA | 60 | 95 | 96.2 | $391K | +6.6% | #777 of 2,405 |
| 17Spokane County, WA | 57 | 2,039 | 93.4 | $418K | +3.2% | #877 of 2,405 |
| 18King County, WA | 53 | 12,302 | 130.7 | $394K | +3.1% | #1,060 of 2,405 |
| 19Whatcom County, WA | 53 | 988 | 105.1 | $383K | +3.9% | #1,064 of 2,405 |
| 20Lewis County, WA | 51 | 323 | 98.1 | $380K | +6.7% | #1,150 of 2,405 |
| 21Clallam County, WA | 50 | 305 | 87.0 | $423K | +1.1% | #1,174 of 2,405 |
| 22Jefferson County, WA | 50 | 177 | 108.3 | $356K | +2.7% | #1,202 of 2,405 |
| 23Benton County, WA | 50 | 951 | 121.9 | $344K | +6.9% | #1,206 of 2,405 |
| 24Okanogan County, WA | 48 | 199 | 113.5 | $306K | +7.3% | #1,294 of 2,405 |
| 25Skagit County, WA | 45 | 608 | 116.2 | $358K | +2.4% | #1,409 of 2,405 |
Show all 39 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Whitman County, WA | 44 | 177 | 94.5 | $365K | +1.5% | #1,454 of 2,405 |
| 27Grant County, WA | 41 | 407 | 115.0 | $317K | +6.3% | #1,588 of 2,405 |
| 28Grays Harbor County, WA | 36 | 318 | 103.8 | $334K | +3.0% | #1,784 of 2,405 |
| 29San Juan County, WA | 36 | 151 | 167.5 | $250K | +4.2% | #1,805 of 2,405 |
| 30Adams County, WA | 35 | 74 | 117.7 | $300K | +4.3% | #1,841 of 2,405 |
| 31Kittitas County, WA | 34 | 287 | 143.6 | $272K | +4.2% | #1,889 of 2,405 |
| 32Yakima County, WA | 33 | 955 | 108.9 | $330K | +1.0% | #1,908 of 2,405 |
| 33Chelan County, WA | 32 | 575 | 182.4 | $223K | +3.3% | #1,967 of 2,405 |
| 34Pacific County, WA | 31 | 143 | 130.3 | $273K | +3.6% | #1,994 of 2,405 |
| 35Walla Walla County, WA | 26 | 421 | 179.6 | $210K | −0.4% | #2,173 of 2,405 |
| Ferry County, WA | Not scored | 19 | 60.0 | $523K | +4.4% | |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | Not scored | 21 | 100.0 | $344K | +9.6% | |
| Columbia County, WA | Not scored | 21 | 112.8 | $315K | +4.7% | |
| Garfield County, WA | Not scored | 8 | 77.6 | $441K | +5.2% |
Markets with fewer than 5 restaurants and cafes on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many restaurants and cafes are in Washington?
As of September 2026, map listings count 32,930 restaurants and cafes in Washington. 9,360 of them (28%) are chain locations. The listings count every restaurant, cafe, bar, bakery and food truck. Official counts show 15,030 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in 2023, up 4.8% from 2019. Another 1,986 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in Washington spend on food away from home?
About $13.8B a year, or $4,501 per household. That is 11% above the U.S. average (an index of 111, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 32,930 restaurants and cafes on map listings, it comes to $419K per restaurant. It is estimated from the incomes of the 3,064,820 households in Washington and national spending patterns by income.
How does Washington compare with the U.S. for restaurants and cafes?
Washington has 107.4 restaurants and cafes per 10,000 households, 2% below the U.S. rate of 109.8. Spending per restaurant is $419K, 13% above the U.S. figure of $371K. At the U.S. ratio of restaurants and cafes to household spending, Washington would have about 37,206, against 32,930 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 204 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. The official count rose 4.8% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.0% for the U.S.
Which market in Washington has the highest market score for restaurants and cafes?
Among 13 scored metro areas in or partly in Washington, the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater metro area scores highest, at 78 (high). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in Washington, the Shelton area scores highest, at 91 (very high). Among 35 scored counties in Washington, Lincoln County scores highest, at 82 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Washington scores 70 for restaurants and cafes (upper middle), #6 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Washington. It maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Restaurants and cafes in other states
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Top markets for restaurants and cafes across the U.S. · All business types in Washington
Related business types in Washington
- Sit-down restaurants16,771 listings
- Fast food and sandwich shops3,230 listings
- Pizza1,861 listings
- Coffee shops and cafes5,426 listings
- Bakeries and dessert shops2,252 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Washington?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.