Below are the winners of the Best of Federal Way contest as nominated and voted on by the community. Listed are the top three vote-getters, with some ties for for runner-ups. Awards were presented 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. March 12 at an informal open house at the Federal Way Mirror’s office, 909 S. 336th St., #105.
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FOOD CATEGORY
Banh Mi
Winner: Pho Fusion and Grill
Runner-up: Honey Bear Vietnamese Sandwich
Runner-up: Pho My Chau 2
Barbecue
Winner: Pac Island Grill Hawaiian BBQ
Runner-up: Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse
Runner-up: Billy McHale’s
Breakfast
Winner: Poverty Bay Cafe
Runner-up: Black Bear Diner
Runner-up: Biscuits Cafe
Bubble Tea
Winner: Fusion Tea
Runner-up: BobaLust
Runner-up: Sharetea
Runner-up: Boba Factory
Burger
Winner: Burger Express
Runner-up: Dick’s Drive-In
Runner-up: Flame Burger Plus
Chicken wings
Winner: Buffalo Wild Wings
Runner-up: Honey Bear Vietnamese
Runner-up: Von’s Chicken
Coffee shop
Winner: Poverty Bay Cafe
Runner-up: Ebony & Ivory
Runner-up: Asensio Coffee
Family dining
Winner: Azteca Mexican Restaurant
Runner-up: Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse
Runner-up: Black Bear Diner
Fine dining
Winner: Mama Stortini’s Italian Restaurant
Runner-up: East India Grill
Runner-up: Gino’s at the Point
Runner-up: Tokyo Japanese Steak House
Runner-up: Pimienta Bistro and Bar
Lunch
Winner: Poverty Bay Cafe
Runner-up: Burger Express
Runner-up: Panera Bread
Runner-up: JP’s Tavern
Pho
Winner: Pho Fusion & Grill
Runner-up: Pho 7 Simmering Soup
Runner-up: Crazy Pho Cajun
Pizza
Winner: Pizza Pizazz
Runner-up: Mod Pizza
Runner-up: Round Table Pizza
Steakhouse
Winner: Black Angus
Runner-up: Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse
Runner-up: Tokyo Japanese Steak House
Sushi
Winner: Trapper’s Sushi
Runner-up: Nori Sushi
Runner-up: Nami Sushi
Sweet treats
Winner: Poverty Bay Cafe
Runner-up: 85°C Bakery Cafe
Runner-up: Crumbl Cookies
Teriyaki
Winner: Pac Island Grill
Runner-up: Hana Teriyaki Restaurant
Runner-up: Ichi Teriyaki
Chinese
Winner: New Peking Wok
Runner-up: Dough Zone
Runner-up: Engimono Ramen & Dim Sum
Indian
Winner: East India Grill
Runner-up: Maharaj Cuisine of India
Runner-up: Pabla Punjabi Palace
Runner-up: Can Am Pizza
Italian
Winner: Mama Stortini’s
Runner-up: Verrazano’s Italian Restaurant
Runner-up: Vince’s Italian Restaurant
Japanese
Winner: Tokyo Japanese Steak House
Runner-up: Akasaka
Runner-up: Nori Sushi
Runner-up: Tokyo-ya Ramen
Korean
Winner: UnderGround Kitchen
Runner-up: Seoul Hotdog
Runner-up: Jin Kook Korean Restaurant
Mexican
Winner: Azteca Mexican Restaurant
Runner-up: Puerto Vallarta
Runner-up: Los Bigotes de Villa
Thai
Winner: Thai Bistro
Runner-up: Ban Som Tum Issan Thai
Runner-up: Basil Thai
Vietnamese
Winner: Pho Fusion & Grill
Runner-up: Honey Bear Vietnamese Sandwich
Runner-up: Linh Son Restaurant
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LIVING CATEGORY
Bank
Winner: Umpqua Bank
Runner-up: HomeStreet Bank
Runner-up: Chase Bank
Bar/nightclub
Winner: Billy McHale’s
Runner-up: JP’s Tavern
Runner-up: Brickyard Pub
City leader
Winner: Susan Honda
Runner-up: Jim Ferrell
Runner-up: Dave Larson
Community volunteer
Winner: Rose Ehl
Runner-up: Shelley Pauls
Runner-up: Ted Colby
Credit union
Winner: BECU
Runner-up: Red Canoe Credit Union
Runner-up: Qualstar credit union
Educational facility
Winner: Pacific Christian Academy
Runner-up: Brooklake Christian School
Runner-up: Sylvan Learning
Firefighter
Winner: Brad Chaney
Runner-up: Ann Hoag
Runner-up: Alex Charoni
Fitness facility/location
Winner: Hotworx
Runner-up: Curves
Runner-up: Federal Way Community Center
Jewelry store
Winner: Federal Way Custom Jewelers
Runner-up: Jeffery’s Jewelry Design Studio
Runner-up: Fred Meyer Jewelers
Local arts group
Winner: St. Luke’s Theatre Company
Runner-up: Centerstage Theatre
Runner-up: Rosebud Children’s Theatre Conservatory
Local nonprofit
Winner: FUSION
Runner-up: Kiwanis Club
Runner-up: South King Tool Library
Runner-up: Multi-Service Center
Pet store
Winner: Mud Bay
Runner-up: Pet Supplies Plus
Runner-up: The Soggy Doggy
Police
Winner: Andy Hwang
Runner-up: Casey Jones
Runner-up: Kyle Sumpter
Senior living facility
Winner: Village Green Retirement
Runner-up: Brookdale Federal Way
Runner-up: SHAG – Celebration Senior Living
Teacher – Elementary
Winner: Bri Holt, PCA
Runner-up: Kiersten Stimets, PCA
Runner-up: Myrtle Dickson, PCA
Teacher – Middle School
Winner: Rachel Johnston, PCA
Runner-up: Helena Cho, PCA
Runner-up: Yvette Gregg, Illahee Middle School
Teacher – High School
Winner: Helena Cho, PCA
Runner-up: Keith Accisano, PCA
Runner-up: Lauren Hamilton, FWHS
Tire store
Winner: Les Schwab #378
Runner-up: Discount tire
Runner-up: Costco Federal Way
Tutor
Winner: Sylvan Learning
Runner-up: Kumon Math and Reading Center of Federal Way
Runner-up: Treehouse Learning Center
Yoga studio
Winner: Hotworx
Runner-up: Three Trees Yoga
Runner-up: Elev8 Hot Yoga
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SERVICE CATEGORY
Adult in-home care
Winner: Comfort Keepers
Runner-up: Senior Helpers
Runner-up: Just Like Home AFH
Auto body/collision
Winner: Pacific One Collision and Restoration
Runner-up: Complete Collision Carstar
Runner-up: Bjorneby’s Carstar Federal Way Collision
Auto detail
Winner: Brown Bear Car Wash
Runner-up: Jim’s Detail Shop
Runner-up: Pro Touch Auto Interiors
Auto repair shop
Winner (tie): Northshore Automotive
Winner (tie): Sparks Car Care
Runner-up: Eagle Tire and Automotive
Runner-up: Brad’s Automotive
Runner-up: Les Schwab
Chiropractor
Winner: Wolf Chiropractic & Massage
Runner-up: Twin Lakes Chiropractic
Runner-up: Ball Chiropractic
Daycare
Winner: Brooklake Childcare & Learning
Runner-up: Pacific Christian Academy Early Education
Runner-up: St. Luke’s Childcare & Daycare
Dentist
Winner: Dr. Daniel Shoop
Runner-up: Dr. Camille VanDevanter
Runner-up: Dr. Vien Nguyen
Runner-up: Dr. Graham Eggar
Runner-up: Dr. Stephen Pong
Doggy daycare/groomers
Winner: The Soggy Doggy
Runner-up: Pet Supplies Plus
Runner-up: Biscuits
Runner-up: Lucky Paws Pet Salon
Ethnic grocery store
Winner: H-Mart
Runner-up: Campeon Market
Runner-up: Valley Harvest
Financial advisor
Winner: Larissa Sklar, Edward Jones
Runner-up: Sam Shakhramanov, Edward Jones
Runner-up: Joseph Blackner, Merrill Lynch
Runner-up: Barney Hartley, Cetera
Florist
Winner: Buds and Blooms, Federal Way
Runner-up: Flowers by Chi
Runner-up: Trader Joe’s
Hair salon
Winner: Bella Red Salon
Runner-up: Hair Lounge
Runner-up: The Avenue
HVAC
Winner: Northwest Expert Heating & Cooling
Runner-up: Allred Heating & Cooling
Runner-up: Hunt Services
Insurance agent
Winner: Brady Nelson, State Farm
Runner-up: Michelle Morales, Farmers Insurance
Runner-up: Chuck Davis, American Family Insurance
Massage therapist
Winner: Toni Johnson @ You’re Wellness Massage
Runner-up: Massage Envy
Runner-up: Federal Way Muscular Therapy
Real estate agent
Winner: Vickie Chynoweth – KW Puget Sound
Runner-up: Michelle Wallace – KW Puget Sound
Runner-up: The Goelzer Home Team at KW Puget Sound
Residential painter
Winner: Five Star Painting
Runner-up: Brush N Roll
Runner-up: Federal Way Painters
Security services
Winner: F-Dub Security
Runner-up: Jaguar Security Inc.
Runner-up: Securitas
Veterinarian
Winner: Twin Lakes Veterinary Hospital
Runner-up: Cascade Veterinary Hospital
Runner-up: Sacajawea Healthcare For Pets
Local nonprofit FUSION and the cafe they own and operate, Poverty Bay Cafe, took home an armful of awards at the Mirror’s annual Best of Federal Way celebration this year. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror.
The Mirror’s Best of Federal Way 2025 open house March 12 was filled with opportunities to connect directly with the team to see behind the scenes at the Mirror’s office, including the ad staff, who help spread the word about local businesses and organizations. Pictured: Advertising representative Marie Skoor chats with some Best of Federal Way winners. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
