For an inexpensive lunch in Pioneer Square, the format matters as much as the cuisine. Biryani & Curry King lists a Monday-to-Friday buffet where you can try several Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes; Tat’s Delicatessen takes a different route, with cheesesteaks, pastrami and hoagies from the counter. One offers variety for a set price—which is worth confirming that day—while the other serves a substantial meal that may be shared, depending on your appetite. Neither requires turning lunch into a formal occasion.
Biryani & Curry King’s buffet runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays, according to the restaurant’s website. The listing checked showed 4.7/5 from 260 votes, and recent comments repeatedly praise the naan, curries and friendly service. The restaurant does not publish a fixed buffet price on that page, so ask what it costs and which dishes are available before serving yourself. À la carte ordering is also possible, useful if you arrive on a non-buffet day or prefer to choose one dish.
Tat’s, a few minutes’ walk away, combines the pace of a lunch deli with a menu of hot sandwiches, house-cured meats, soups and salads. Its listing showed 4.7/5 from 2,707 reviews; many comments praise the cheesesteak, Tatstrami, generous portions and quick service, alongside occasional warnings about difficult parking and very full sandwiches. It is a clear choice if you prefer a sandwich to a plated meal, and sharing may help keep the bill down.
Biryani & Curry King is at 105 1st Avenue S and opens Wednesday to Monday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; it closes on Tuesdays and keeps the buffet to weekdays. Tat’s is at 159 Yesler Way, opens Monday to Friday until 2:30 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; it closes Sunday. Both are walkable from Pioneer Square Station. If you want variety within a set budget, confirm the buffet price first; if speed and a generous portion matter more, Tat’s may be more practical. In either case, lunch service ends early, so plan the stop before exploring the district.
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Biryani & Curry King offers a lunchtime alternative to the deli format found on some Pioneer Square corners: Indian and Indo-Chinese cooking with a weekday buffet. The restaurant serves curries, biryani, noodles and naan in a casual setting; the listing checked showed 4.7/5 from 260 votes. Recent co
Weekday lunch buffet and a menu of curries, biryani and Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes in Pioneer Square.
Tat’s Delicatessen brings an East Coast deli tradition to Pioneer Square: cheesesteaks, hoagies, pastrami and hot sandwiches made for eating in or taking away. The shop also prepares soups, salads and sides; its Tatstrami, made with pastrami, is one of the names that comes up repeatedly among custom
East Coast-style deli with cheesesteaks, hoagies, pastrami, soups and house-prepared sides.
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Biryani & Curry King ↗
Primary source
Biryani & Curry King, sitio oficial · Accessed October 2, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Biryani & Curry King ↗
Primary source
Biryani & Curry King, sitio oficial · Accessed October 2, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Tat’s Delicatessen ↗
Primary source
Pioneer Square, asociación del distrito · Accessed October 2, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Tat’s Delicatessen ↗
Primary source
Tat’s Delicatessen, sitio oficial · Accessed October 2, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Sitio oficial · Accessed October 2, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Visit Pioneer Square · Accessed October 2, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Experiencias de comensales ↗
Secondary source
Restaurant Guru, reseñas de Google agregadas · Accessed October 2, 2026
La ficha mostraba 4.7/5 en 260 votos. Comentarios recientes elogian sabor, amabilidad del personal, naan y platos de cordero; se consultó el 2/10/2026.
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Comentarios de clientes ↗
Secondary source
Restaurant Guru, reseñas de Google agregadas · Accessed October 2, 2026
La ficha mostraba 4.7/5 en 2,707 reseñas; aparecen elogios a cheesesteaks, pastrami, porciones y servicio atento, además de menciones ocasionales a estacionamiento difícil y sándwiches que pueden resultar abundantes. Consultado el 2/10/2026.
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Reseñas de comensales ↗
Secondary source
Restaurant Guru · Accessed October 2, 2026
Reseñas recientes y puntuación agregada consultadas el 2/10/2026.