There has been a lot of buzz lately about Red Lantern, a Chinese restaurant that also serves some Korean dishes, located along the edge of the International District. Unlike most restaurants in the area, the prices are on the high side and the ambience more upscale than one typically finds in the ID. In 2011,... Continue Reading →
Soon Dubu at Seoul Hot Pot (Redmond, WA)
The first time I had soon dubu jjigae was in Santa Clara in 2002. My daughter's roommate, when they were living in the San Jose area at the time, took us to So Gong Dong Tofu House. I recall what a revelation it was, a savory and spicy stew featuring soft dubu (tofu). Since then, I've... Continue Reading →
Tonkotsu Ramen at Ai Sushi (Bellevue, WA)
While I was getting my Hawaiian meal at Island Grill (see below), my wife was ordering tonkotsu ramen from Ai Sushi, also located in the Crossroads Mall food court. Let me first start off by saying that I'm always wary when a restaurant that does not specialize in it offers tonkotsu, a ramen that requires... Continue Reading →
Lunch at Island Grill (Bellevue, WA)
We were excited to learn that a Hawaiian restaurant opened on the Eastside recently. When she was running an errand at Crossroads Mall last week, my wife first noticed it, now in the space previously occupied by Jones' BBQ and then Burney's BBQ. So far, I haven't found a satisfactory Hawaiian restaurant in the Greater... Continue Reading →
Dinner at Monsoon East (Bellevue, WA)
I've reviewed Monsoon East in a previous post. Located in Old Bellevue on the Eastside, it (along with the original Monsoon) is the best Asian fusion restaurant in the Seattle area. If there is any single reason why we don't come here often, it is that the restaurant seems more appropriate for a special occasion or... Continue Reading →
Dinner at MokSHA Indian Cuisine (Bellevue, WA)
After an enjoyable afternoon at the movies (we saw "Silver Linings Playbook"), we were trying to think of a place to eat around Bellevue Square. The thing is, there hardly are any appealing restaurants in what is arguably the hippest shopping complex in all of western Washington. I know people who live in Seattle who... Continue Reading →
Lunch at Wild Ginger (Bellevue, WA)
Over twenty years ago, Wild Ginger, then located behind Pike Place Market on the downhill side of Western Avenue, opened to rave reviews. It was the owners' attempt to recreate the tastes they experienced throughout Southeast Asia in the late 1980s. Wild Ginger moved to new, more upscale digs on 4th Avenue 12 years ago,... Continue Reading →
Lunch at U:Don (Seattle, WA)
When foodies talk about Japanese soup noodles, they usually think of ramen, arguably the most popular kind found all over Japan. Not as well known outside Japan is a different type of soup noodle, also of Chinese origin, that is widely popular, called udon. The wheat noodle is thick-cut and the very best freshly-made versions have... Continue Reading →
Fall Colors in the Seattle Japanese Garden (Seattle, WA)
The Seattle Japanese Garden, nestled in the Washington Park Arboretum near the University of Washington, is beautiful at any time of year, but never more so than in the autumn, when brilliant fall colors run riot among the Japanese maples. In the past, we never managed to visit the garden at the right moment when... Continue Reading →
Lunch at Pestle Rock (Seattle, WA)
We're fortunate in the Seattle metropolitan area that a large number of Asian restaurants have opened in the last, say, 20 years, one of the definite perks of living in a large city on the West Coast. Among the many ethnic varieties, a new Thai restaurant seems to be opening every week. Just last week,... Continue Reading →
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