Last Christmas, I gifted myself a bright red cast iron Staub Dutch oven. It was marked down for Black Friday, then marked down again because it was the display. It was almost $200 cheaper than its usual price. I couldn't resist.
This big heavy pot is *chef's kiss* perfect for making soup. I was obsessed with it all last winter. As soon as temperatures dipped back into the 60s this year, I've spent hours making soup every week.
The apartment smells amazing. The gorgeous pot doubles as effortless fall decor. Everything is lovely — until it's not.
Sometimes, you don't want to wait hours for soup. Sometimes, you need soup now because your hands are chilly from apple picking, or your heart is broken because your favorite coffee shop ran out of pumpkin spice, or your hair is falling out because your epic plans for Thanksgiving are falling through.
Don't worry — soup's still got you.
Ditch your kitchen and get yourself to one of these soup shops for the coziest autumnal pick-me-up there is. If you see me spooning a bowl across the dining room, just don't tell my Staub, please? (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)
TONKOTSU RAMEN ($13.75)
King of Ramen, 1601 N. Division St., kingoframenspokane.com
Ever since a spectacular trip to Japan one year ago now, I've desperately craved the rich and widely diverse flavors of its cuisine. While Spokane is fortunate to have many great sushi spots, it's more difficult to find other washoku, or traditional Japanese food. Ramen, however, is the second-most reliable option that lets me almost believe I'm back in Tokyo.
While I've slurped plenty of noodle bowls around town, King of Ramen is a reliable go-to, and its tonkotsu (pork broth) doesn't disappoint. Especially in portion size — the bowl is literally bigger than my head. Unless you plan to take home leftovers, I don't recommend adding any sides or appetizers. We got a pair of chicken teriyaki skewers ($7), thinking they'd be smaller than they actually are, but because they came out after our ramen we ended up taking the skewers home as we'd already gotten so full.
As mentioned, ramen orders come out quick and piping hot; the perfect comfort food on a chilly fall night. While there are lots of add-ons to customize your bowl, I prefer to keep things simple and stick with the standards: a soft-boiled egg, chashu pork, pickled ginger, green onions and nori. The cloudy pork broth has the requisite rich umami flavor, but this particular tonkotsu is also quite garlicky. If that's not your jam (it's not always mine, to be honest), consider the tonkotsu that's blended with miso broth, called the King Ramen. Other variations include a veggie ramen and spicy versions of all bowls. (CHEY SCOTT)
PHO ($16.49)
Vina Asian Restaurant, 2303 N. Ash St., 509-328-2197
Yes, it's pronounced "fuh." Yes, it's prime for puns. But this is one of the most comforting dishes I can think of, whether you're dealing with allergies or heartbreak or an exhausting amount of pumpkin spice. I know this soup seems simple — broth, noodles, a little bit of meat, a little bit of veg — but that means there's no place to hide.
The broth needs to be perfectly savory from classic Vietnamese spices like star anise, cinnamon, cloves, coriander and cardamom that simmer for hours to give the right depth of flavor. The noodles need to be perfectly slurpable. The herbs ought to add a light aroma while the bean sprouts give a refreshing crunch. This is not something to be trifled with.
Thankfully, Vina knows what it's doing, which is probably pretty obvious considering it's been owning soup season in Spokane for two decades. When I lived in Hanoi, pho was an all-season dish, and my Vietnamese friends promised that a steaming hot bowl actually helped you cool off from the intense summer heat and humidity. That might be true — and you should absolutely go to Vina whichever month you get the chance — but there's something specifically wonderful about a warm bowl of pho as the leaves change. Also, always get the sliced beef. Always. (ELIZA BILLINGHAM)
CLAM CHOWDER ($8-$12)
Chowderhead, 825 N. Monroe St., instagram.com/chowderhead.spokane
There are few foods more sacred to my family than my grandma's clam chowder. She only brings it out on special occasions, but each time the thick mix of sea clams, spuds and crispy bacon meshes together for an indescribably tasty meal. So when I heard that Spokane had a restaurant literally called Chowderhead, I knew I had to try its clam chowder, too.
Admittedly, my hopes were sky-high, which is why it was so delightful when the restaurant's namesake met all my expectations. The bisque was neither too thick nor too thin. The potato chunks were sliced large enough to be a substantial portion, but dispersed enough to not overpower the entire bowl. Sometimes clams can be too chewy, but Chowderhead's clams were cooked to tender perfection. And of course, there was loads of bacon, too. While I think I'd be disowned if I said anyone's food was better than my grandma's, this clam chowder came pretty darn close.
The hearty 12-ounce bowl of clam chowder filled me up completely, but it can also be served in an 8-ounce cup for anyone looking for a smaller serving. For those more adventurous than me, Chowderhead's menu also includes a smoked steelhead chowder and an elote chowder that pulls its inspiration from the popular Mexican corn dish. Get a whole quart of any chowder to-go for $29 to stock your own fridge. (COLTON RASANEN)
TOMATO SOUP ($5)
Ruins, 225 W. Riverside Ave., 509-474-1262
I have a complicated relationship with tomato soup. A dish I once hated as a kid (thanks, Campbell's), it's now basically my favorite soup, as long as a few criteria are met.
Homemade is king, and I make a superb tomato soup with homegrown tomatoes. If I'm at home and that's not an option, however, it's gotta be either the Pacific Foods brand cartons of red pepper tomato soup or the same combo from Trader Joe's.
But if I'm eating out, well... I know I can't go wrong with the creamy scratch-made tomato soup from Chef Tony Brown at Ruins. A favorite since back in the Stella's Broadway Avenue days, this soup should probably be a required side alongside Brown's beloved sandos. Especially the grilled cheese, which probably deserves its own write-up separate from this. Buttered sourdough slices encase a mashup melt-up of two kinds of cheese, cheddar and provolone, and one side is crisped to perfection with a "cheese skirt," a crunchy, munchy thin layer of cheese on the outside of one side of the sandwich bread. Dipping the whole masterful creation in the creamy, sweet and herby tomato soup is utter perfection. (CHEY SCOTT)
ZOZO'S SOUP FLIGHTS ($12.95)
Zozo's Sandwich House, 2501 N. Monroe St., zozossandwichhouse.com
While it's great heading out for a specific soup to warm your innards, there are plenty of folks who happen to be indecisive eaters (I come from a whole family of them, and the struggle is real). That can be even more of the case at a place like Zozo's, which boasts four often wildly different but equally appealing homemade soups on its menu daily. Thankfully, that's where the soup flight comes in. For a baker's dozen bucks, diners can pick three cups of Zozo's soups to ladle up, with the option of adding a petite grilled cheese "souper dipper" for an additional $3.95.
My recent lunchtime soup flight included a delightful version of a classic broccoli cheddar soup, a robust cheeseburger chowder that didn't skimp on the burger and bacon (while also adding an atypical soup flavor with a pickle garnish), and a buffalo chicken chili with a spicy kick and blue cheese and tortilla chip topper. It was a filling flavor journey — one that customers can take frequently as the restaurant's small-batch approach to soupmaking means the menu offerings can turnover once or twice a week. If you feel the same decision paralysis when eating out as you do when scrolling trying to find something to watch on Netflix, a soup flight might just be your culinary salvation. (SETH SOMMERFELD) ♦
