I love the Ave. Technically the place is called "University Way," but I've been eating, chilling, and just enjoying it since 2016. I actually ate and visited all the shops in 2017 (which many have sadly been replaced).

Here are some recommendations I have:

Orange King - A mom and pop teriyaki shop. I once ate here for a month straight in my freshmen year. Highly suggest the chicken katsu or regular chicken teriyaki.

Cedars - I'm friends with the owners, John and Janet. They have a bitter rivalry with other Greek/Arabic eateries like Sultans, Aladdin's, Shwarma King. I like the atmosphere and the chicken plate personally.

Full Tilt - Located near the 50th Safeway "Sketchway," this is the best ice cream shop in Seattle hands-down. Molly Moon's is not even close to the $3 pound scoop that they serve. It's delicious, and they have a variety of flavors that you won't find anywhere else.

Ivar's South Lake Union - It's a local institution that beats Spud's any day of the week. Get a bowl of chowder and the fish n' chips. Also, a great place to catch the Space Needle sunset and Lake Union.

Agua Verde - A Tex-Mex place that is by the Cut (the small junction between Lake Union and Lake Washington). Really great food (IMO), and definitely worth a visit. They also rent kayaks and paddle boards.

Some Thoughts on the Ave

I'm not going to lying to you all, but the Ave can get really sketchy at night. Bring a couple of friends and just ignore the weirdos who try to accost you or intimidate you.

Here are some interesting people that have populated the Ave:

"Stabby" - He used to roam the Ave when I was a freshmen. He would "race" people with a switchblade and was never caught.

Machete Man - This guy popped up last year and would wield a machete. Pretty self-explanatory why you should avoid him.

Lord Vader - He was a crusader for weed legalization who used to sing in front of the George Washington Statue. He's actually pretty cool and he used to patrol the Ave in his Darth Vader suit.