Chaco Canyon Cafe
I was never one for scarfing down a platter of salty hash browns and runny eggs to cure a hangover. I am a firm believer in feeding a hangover, but I think a long meditation session and an hour of yoga will do the trick. Top that off with an organic meal (Chaco Canyon uses 90 percent organic ingredients), a glass of nutrient-rich juice, and a cup of shade-grown, organic Costa Rican coffee, and I’ll be ready to tackle the day. Chaco Canyon is like an oasis in the city. For starters, the servers are kind, with no trace of the self-righteous piety that often comes with all-organic and raw-food devotees. Secondly, the price is right, with most dishes topping out at under $8. And best of all, the deliciousness of the sandwiches will make firm believers out of anyone who remains fearful of healthy food. The hot pesto melt—Essential bread topped with a rich walnut-basil-parsley pesto, a slice of vegan mozzarella, onions, and tahini—is, without a doubt, one of the best vegan sandwiches I’ve had in the country (and I’ve had quite a few). Each sandwich comes with a side of crisp, colorful Terra Chips and my personal favorite, the coleslaw, whose sweetness is augmented by a spoonful of raisins. When really trying to feed that hangover, I recommend “the Boost,” a juice made from apple, carrot, wheatgrass, and ginger. It’s also effective when feeding a cold. BRIAN J. BARR
Serves: Vegetarian4757 12th Ave. N.E., 206-522-6966.
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http://www.chacocanyoncafe.com
Kauai Family Restaurant
No setting on earth could be more different from an ocean paradise than the industrial Georgetown strip mall that houses Seattle’s most authentic Hawaiian eatery, Kauai Family Restaurant. But then, when you’re in search of a hangover-curing meal, you don’t really care about the trappings—you want results. Sure, you could go to any number of diners and sop up the prior night’s hooch with a big plate of biscuits and gravy and a Bloody Mary back (the Mecca comes to mind). It’s more of a short-term fix, though, leaving you with booze on your breath and lead in your ass. However, should you secure a spot at one of Kauai’s in-demand tables during Saturday-morning brunch, you get love from the servers. And Spam. Ditto saimin, ahi poke, loco moco, and—best of all—malasadas: addictive, freshly-baked Portuguese doughnut holes that’ll erase all memory of the prior night’s tequila-shooting competition. But then, if you competed in a shot-drinking competition the night before, you’ve probably forgotten about it already. MIKE SEELY
Serves: Polynesian6324 6th Ave. S., 206-762-3469.
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http://www.kauaifamilyrestaurant.com/
Pete's Egg Nest
Nothing beats a breakfast place that can cover for you while your liver’s working overtime to process the previous night’s exploits. As long as you’re not too picky about your coffee, Pete’s Egg Nest has everything you need: foggy windows that prevent anyone from recognizing you from the outside, tacky, easy-clean tablecloths in case you lose it before your food comes, and a wonderful Greek matron who will either slap you and chide you in Greek for overdoing it last night or rub your back and bring you a free biscuit. Posters depicting sunny Greek islands are almost as pretty as the Athenian Greek scramble, a masterpiece of Olympic proportions with gyros meat, spinach, tomatoes, olives, and feta, smothered with tzatziki sauce and topped with a slab of surprisingly delicious pita bread. By the time you finish that, your stomach will be working so hard that your liver should feel relatively liberated. JESS THOMSON
Serves: American Mediterranean/Middle Eastern7717 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-784-5348.
Pho Bac
Many of us, when searching for a salve capable of soothing a vicious hangover, overlook the ID. While folks wait in line for up to an hour at traditional hash-slinging spots like the Dish and Glo’s, there’s rarely a time when an open seat can’t be found at this Vietnamese feeding ground’s original location. A rough night out can induce cravings for greasy goodness to soak up the boozy aftermath. Instead of eggs and bacon, Pho Bac abides with hearty dishes like bánh xèo, a pan-fried Vietnamese crepe filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts. Crispy spring rolls are accompanied by fragrant basil and lettuce leaves for wrapping, as well as a sweet chili dipping sauce—the perfect balance of fresh and fried. And they don’t put “pho” in the name of the place for nothing: Steaming bowls of Vietnamese noodle soup (available in baby size, small, or large) come garnished with paper-thin slices of beef, meatballs, chicken, or tofu. While the hair of the dog is noticeably absent (no booze is served), sometimes the bite from the night before is enough. We bet your liver would agree. AJA PECKNOLD
Serves: Vietnamese1214 S. Jackson St., 323-4387.
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Senor Moose Cafe
Word has spread about this fabulous little Mexican place, wedged into that part of Ballard that seems to be composed of construction sites and car dealerships. So if you get there much past 10 on a weekend morning, when the other pathetic lushes also manage to drag their asses out of bed, it’s going to be slammed. Don’t worry, though. Now that the weather’s nice, you can get coffee—as black and rich as your sins of the night before—and wait outside, where sweetly smiling waitresses will keep you in refills until your head’s clearer and your table’s ready. And the wait is worth it. It turns out there’s an entire world of Mexican breakfast deliciousness beyond huevos rancheros. You’ll get the expected beans, eggs, and tortillas, but they’re super-fresh and presented in ways you’ve never seen; huevos con nopalitos, for instance, really is eggs and cactus (it tastes similar to green peppers, but more tender). If your dish doesn’t come with them, be sure to add a side of Señor’s perfect chorizos. Thanks to the authenticity (no Azteca-style mountains of cheddar and sour cream) and sensible portion sizes, you’ll be on your way, residual alcohol absorbed but without the usual Mexican-food heaviness. Oh, and if you’ve got breakfast companions who can’t bear to stray from tradition, they’ve got your usual pancakes and omelets, too. DAVID STOESZ
Serves: Mexican5242 Leary Ave. N.W., 206-784-5568.
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