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Tan Vinh

Food and Drink Writer, Seattle Times

About

Tan Vin is the food and drink writer for The Seattle Times. Tan has won numerous regional and national awards for restaurant criticism and most recently took first place for excellence in food writing from the Society for Features Journalism.

Tan is also a whiskey connoisseur and judge who has written for Whiskey Advocate and other drink publications, and as he likes to tell his mom, “See, I told you all that drinking in college would pay off.”

Podcasts

Stories

  • Bar hoppin' in Tacoma

    From kitchy tiki drinks to serious cocktails, Tacoma is a vibrant bar town. Tan Vinh talks with Tacoma News Tribune food writer Kristine Sherred about the favorite waterholes in Tacoma.

  • Three bites of Othello

    Seattle Times food writers discuss a hot food neighborhood in South Seattle. From a very hyped pizza to neighborhood staple ban xeo you’ll learn how to order like a local.

  • Live from Town Hall: A conversation with Kenji Lopez-Alt and Rachel Belle

    At a special live event at Town Hall Seattle, culinary luminaries J Kenji López-Alt and Rachel Belle talk about their favorite local places to grab a slice of pizza or bagel, have a date night or just hang out. And most important of all they discussed hot pot etiquette.

  • Revisiting Seattle's udon scene

    Tan visits udon noodle house Azuki in Madison Valley to learn about how Chef Ryuji Miyata makes his noodles by hand. Later, Tan recommends some more casual and budget-friendly udon places.

  • The best Costco wines of 2025

    Seattle Times food critic, Tan Vinh is back with the best rated Costco wines of 2025 and he's got perfect pairings like smokehouse lamb and Stevie's Famous Pizza!

  • Goodbye bacon jam, hello Meat Moot Mondays!

    Another round of closures hits the Seattle food scene. But when one door closes, the employees buy it to save it?? Seattle Times restaurant critic Tan Vinh shares his latest closing and three new spots that have the restaurant industry buzzing.

  • What the heck is happening at Canlis?

    Seattle Times food critics weigh in on their controversial review of Canlis, a beloved special occasion spot. Plus, they tell you where they’re seeing Seattle better celebrated on the plate.

  • Teriyaki turkey: making the Thanksgiving staple uniquely Seattle

    Turkey is central to a Thanksgiving meal, but it's also notoriously hard to cook without losing flavor and moisture. Sushi Kappo Tamura chef Taichi Kitamura has hacked the Thanksgiving bird, in the most Seattle way. Meet the teriyaki turkey.  Hear the recipe's origin story and what to pair with it on this bonus episode of Seattle Eats.