Get ready Seattle food lovers, because Plate of Nations is back, and it’s highlighting a bounty of global flavors from the city’s South End. Think Seattle Restaurant Week, but ditch the downtown parking hassle. Between March 21 and April 6, prepare for a tasty trip through the neighborhoods along Martin Luther King Jr. Way and, excitingly, South Park this year.

Organized by HomeSight, a nonprofit championing equitable homeownership and community development, Plate of Nations spotlights around 75 independently owned restaurants along the Martin Luther King, Jr. corridor. Each one tells a story through its food, whether it’s the spongy layers of Ethiopian injera, the comfort of a steaming bowl of pho, or the smokiness of slow-cooked barbecue.

This year’s participants include some of our favorites like  Bang Bang Kitchen, Cafetal Quilombo, Habesha Cafe, Mawadda Cafe, and Vientiane Grocery. But that’s just a few of the Southeast gems that will be serving up dishes reflecting the global mosaic of the neighborhood during Plate of Nations. You can check out the full lineup here.

Beyond the plate, this year’s Plate of Nations is expanding its reach. Social media contests on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook will give lucky winners a chance to pair their meal with a show—prizes include gift cards to participating restaurants and tickets to theaters, live music venues, and movie houses throughout southeast Seattle.  You can also download a “passport” from the PON’s website—or available at participating restaurants—to keep track of your culinary adventures as you travel the world through food.

“With so many cultures represented here, our food scene has choices from all over the world, and it’s all as authentic as you can possibly get,” said HomeSight’s Community Development Director Sarah Valenta. “We’re so excited to partner with southeast Seattle’s cultural institutions as well this year. It’s a real celebration of what southeast Seattle has to offer.”

Originally founded in 2011 by Asari Mohamath, a Cham Muslim refugee from Vietnam and former owner of Salima, Plate of Nations has grown into a citywide celebration of culture and cuisine. This year’s expansion promises to be more than just a dining event—it’s an experience, one that brings Seattleites together to share in the stories, flavors, and traditions of their neighbors.