Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bongos

    4.6 (1.5k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Bongos Takeout or Delivery

    Bongos Photos

    Business Info

    BONGOS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Bongos

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    West Indies plate
    Van P.

    Bongos always hits the spot every time, I've never had a bad meal here! The food is extremely flavorful with the right amount of spice and sides. They also have jalapeño and mango habanero hot sauces on the side. I have had a few of their dishes and my favorite is the West Indies plate because it's savory with a little sweetness + spice. The portion you get is great for the price, I always have leftovers. The ambiance is causal/chill and I love that there is both indoor and outdoor seating. During the winter their outdoor seating is insulated and heated which is a wonderful touch. Service is friendly, food can take some time especially if it's very busy during the summer but so worth it!

    BART sandwich
    Shrenik P.

    The first thing I have to comment on was the environment of this restaurant I came here on a pretty sunny day - and it was absolutely the perfect time to be here - as they have a fantastic outdoor seating area they even have a sand pit! the layout, architecture, and art of this place gives off a great tropical/caribbean vibe, which is not something I'd expect from a place in Seattle As for the sandwich itself - it was quite good The buns were roughly average I would say - there could've been more aioli added to it to give it a bit more flavor - and it was slightly harder than i would like The best part, by far, though, was the pork When I say this sandwich was absolutely loaded with pork I'm not exaggerating. It was quite literally overflowing out of the sandwich as I tried to pick it up Eating this with one hand is practically impossible as you'll lose so much pork to the wrapper The taste of it was quite fantastic as well - it had a slight sour flavor, had tons of fat, and most importantly had a nice, dark, almost-brown color There were certain pieces that were actually charred enough to have one side be fully black - and these were incredible Moving on to the other toppings, the sweet ham was also really good, as well as the cucumbers (which normally i don't like) and pickles I noticed maybe a couple jalapenos and didn't taste the onions much the swiss cheese i felt was a bit inconsistent. I didn't taste it much for most of the sandwich, but it showed up near the end a lot I recently got a similar sandwich from Paseo, so I feel like I should compare the two Paseo's sandwich certainly has a lot more oil, and this is less 'wet' than that one - this is also because the pork in Paseo is cooked to a lower temperature, which makes it more juicy so it releases more liquid, compared to the more brown pork we get here I do think i prefer the pork there slightly, but it's pretty close. You do get more pork here compared to there, though While I liked the type of bun at Paseo better, I do really like the fact that the buns here are toasted - which is something they don't do over there The onions are certainly more prevalent, larger, and in my opinion better at Paseo They have more aioli as well, but I would give the edge to the rest of the toppings here Pricing wise it's roughly the same - although I think Paseo's sandwich is slightly bigger and more filling I think I would give the slight edge to Paseo on this one - but it's pretty close. Both places are fantastic

    Citrus braised pork plate
    Barbara K.

    First time eating in. Have had takeout of empanadas which were delicious! Today i had the Desi plate, with citrus braised pork, caramelized onions and pickled peppers. Came with black beans, Cole slaw and maduro. Pork was great and i really liked the slaw. Beans a little sweet for me. Husband had Cuban Picadillo plate, with ground beef picadillo, really good. Can't wait to try more!

    The spicy shrimp is spicy! The mango slaw is a great compliment. An amazing meal!
    Kelsey G.

    Updating my review because Bongos continues to be one of our favorite places on rotation. Their West Indies plates are amazing and the portions are big- they've gotten a bit smaller over th years, I used to get almost two meals but it's still a great deal for a good price. Today I tried their toffee cheese cake and it was also great. Always bring friends when they're visiting from out of town, it's delicious. I miss the sand though.

    West Indies Plate
    Audrey L.

    Loved the food and experience here - really wish I found out about this place sooner! They have so many different Caribbean dishes, a bakery, and a bar. Everything looked delicious! I got the West Indies chicken plate and really liked it! The chicken had amazing flavor - savory, a little sweet, and a little spicy. The plate was balanced too, with sides of beans, coleslaw, rice, and a fried plantain. I also tried a bite of the spicy shrimp plate and really liked the flavors of the shrimp as well. We also a guava cheesecake from the bakery, which was delicious. The bakery had many unique items, it was difficult to choose! Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Bongos. The food is delicious and with very reasonable prices! I will definitely be back!

    Spicy Shrimp Plate
    Jay S.

    This may be one of my favorite spots in the United States. I ordered a few different plates to extend my experience, and everything was a hit. The amount of food included in each plate was so abundant that my friends and I had to take two plates back home, and what was pleasantly surprising was that the plates tasted even better the next day with a little bit of heating up in the microwave. For the price they listed, it's a truly economical option and a neighborhood gem. Honestly I enjoyed the mango slaw, the beans, and the garlic rice very much. The mango slaw wasn't too watery or had too much mayo, and the mango bits provided extra depth in its flavor profile. The rice and beans were very well seasoned and I could really just eat it by itself without the meat. Of course, though, the meat was the star. Some types were spicier than others, but it was amazing to find out that the spiciness they had was the flavorful kind of spiciness, if that makes sense. Every type of meat was tender, from the braised pork to the jerk spiced chicken to the jerk pork chop and more, and had distinct flavors so that each dish offered a unique culinary experience. Like I said just then, I could've just eaten the rice and beans alone, but I would like to emphasize that having the meat definitely elevated the dishes. In addition to such, I had a mimosa as well which tasted pretty normal, and a tres leches cake, which wasn't the best I have had anywhere but definitely solid. It was given in a box and when I took it out of the box, I could see the liquidy milky content at the bottom of the box, which was a good sign. In a city that has so many pricey food options, this establishment stands out because of how they offered a large portion for a very reasonable price, along with how tasty the food was. There are still so many dishes on the menu under plates, bowls, and even sandwiches, that I honestly see myself coming back multiple times in the future, if not everytime that I'm in Seattle. Shoutout to my friend who introduced me to this spot!

    Enclosed Gas Station Area Seating
    Albert T.

    We finally had a chance to visit Bongos, making it the last of the Big 3 (reduced from Big 4 now that Los Costenos removed sandwiches from their menu) Caribbean Sandwich places for us to try. This was on a typical rainy Sunday morning for lunch. Bongos, situated inside a renovated gas station, has tons of seating both inside and in the heated gas pump area. It wasn't too crowded when we arrived, but based on the small corridor line that wraps around a part of the dining area, it probably gets quite busy at times. We ordered a couple of items to try: Desi Sandwich ($11.99) - They certainly made some strange choices while constructing this sandwich. Caribbean sandwiches around Seattle are known for being sloppy sandwiches, dripping with juices, and generally messy to eat. This one takes things to a whole other level. There's so much pork braising liquid slathered onto the bread that it literally cannot be eaten as a sandwich at all. The bread is completely turned into a soppy mess, becoming bread pudding-like in texture. I could not manage to lift it up without giant pieces of bread sloughing off onto the tray. The bread has some blackened spots, so it's definitely toasted, but it's completely softened by the copious amount of juices soaked in, not to mention being steamed by being wrapped in two layers of foiled paper before service. I actually had a difficult time trying to get the sandwich out of the wrapper due to how delicate the bread had become, necessitating eventually having to eat the sandwich with a spoon - yes a plastic spoon was more than enough to cut through the sandwich. The sandwiches at the other shops use crusty baguettes for a reason - it stands up so much better to the sloppiness inside. With it being as is, the texture is very offputting - I ordered a sandwich, not bread pudding! On the positive side, it tastes pretty good. There's an acidic tang from the vinegar citrus braise, the pork is extremely tender, and there's plenty of sweetness and creaminess throughout. To add a hint of texture rather than being a complete mess, there's some sweet caramelized onion and really fragrant jalapenos, which also add a small bit of heat, inside. (2/5) West Indies Plate ($13.99) - Everything in this bowl has essentially the same base sweet and fruity flavor, but each element piles in additional aromas on top. The slaw is chopped very finely, it does give a bit of a crisp texture to the dish but I think it could be better if less finely chopped. It's mixed with cubed chunks of mango and then absolutely doused in a creamy mango mayo. The slaw as a whole is more sauce than vegetable. This allows the sauce to penetrate into the bed of rice on the very bottom, giving the rice also a certain creaminess. There's so much cream that the rice actually more resembles rice pudding (with a different flavor profile, of course), than rice by itself. There's a certain coconut-type flavor too, making me wonder if they soak the rice in coconut milk. The chicken is done pretty well. It has a bit of charred smokiness, then the distinct aromatic savory profile of a jerk seasoning. The amount of scotch bonnet added isn't much, so while the chicken gives a pleasant warmth in the mouth, it's not very spicy at all, at least compared to other jerk chickens I've eaten. That spicy levels are tempered down even further by the creamy sauces on the rice. The chicken itself seems to be boneless breast meat, but it's not overcooked at all, instead remaining tender and moist. Seattle does boneless chicken very well thanks to the proliferation of teriyaki in the area. My only issue with the dish is that base sweet taste. It permeates every bite, and while there are other flavors on top of the sweetness, it still feels very repetitive like the dish is missing variety even though it's not. (4/5) Tostone ($5.99) - An order comes with a stack of eight tostones. They are simply salted, fried to a good dense crisp. The smashing creates small crags and valleys to give extra surface area to make it extra crisp. The interiors aren't exactly fluffy inside, but aren't too firm. The tostones are drained well so there's no oily residue. On the side, the dish comes with cilantro mayo, adding flavor and creaminess. I'm a sucker for tostones. (5/5) For sandwiches, I'd choose Un Bien 10 times out of 10 over Bongos. If I'm ever craving a bowl of Carribbean food, however, I may visit Bongos again. Bathrooms - Two unisex rooms that require a code to enter. They are right in front of the restaurant on the outside and are impossible to miss.

    Outside
    Ariana M.

    Was looking for a sandwich, so we found this spot on social media and decided to give it a try. We were so glad we did! Online-ordered the Desi sandwich and 2 empanadas (beef and chicken) to go. Pick up was really easy and timely. Service was nice! The sandwich was hefty and definitely good enough to share. If you're looking for a light bite or side, I highly recommend the empanadas. They were crunchy and not doughy like other empanadas I've had before! Kind of like a fried texture -- but really delicious. For the brief moment I was inside the restaurant, I saw lots of seating both indoor and outdoor. Looks like they can accommodate for all party sizes.

    Pam W.

    We visited Bongos for a late lunch on Sunday. It was busy, but we still found plenty of seating, as they have indoor, covered outdoor, and uncovered outdoor options. It's also very dog-friendly, with lots of pups enjoying the outdoor area. Parking could be tricky. The food was delicious! We ordered the Desi Plate, and the pork was incredibly juicy and tender, pairing perfectly with the beans and slaw. We also tried "The Bart" sandwich, which is like the Desi Plate but with cheese. the sandwich was huge and delicious, but we preferred the plate because it offered more variety in flavor and texture. They have a fantastic dessert selection, with items like guava cake and coconut cake. We opted for the chocolate flan cake, and it was amazing--very rich and moist. We highly recommend this place!

    Erin M.

    I have eaten at Bongos now several times and tried many different meals. Every single one of them is delicious. It's a lot of food as well. The seating is great with a lot of outside seating. Alcohol and bakery options which were also delicious. You order up front and get a buzzer to pick up your food when it's ready. The staff was always helping picking out a new meal to try and never disappointing.

    Adam Z.

    The roast pork sandwich. The Desi. It was really good. Not quite on the level of Paseo IMO, but still great. - The citrus flavor really came through. Well, on some bites. It was nice. - The bread wasn't my favorite. A little dense and not the freshest. - The pork was solid. Each bite was different. Some were of fattier pieces but it wasn't chewy, it would melt in your mouth, which is great. Some were kinda juicy. Others were kinda dry. I would have preferred more juicy bites. - Overall there was a lot of flavor. - The price was good. It's a relatively big sandwich and is only $11.99. I also grabbed this smores thing for desert. I didn't like it. I was hoping they'd warm it up or something but they didn't. It was all room temperature, which I think kinda ruins it. The graham cracker was kinda dense and didn't have a crisp or freshness to it. No meltiness of the marshmallow. And the chocolate was very dense and overwhelming; I definitely could have used a glass of milk.

    West Indies Plate
    Kyra K.

    Bongos had my tastebuds dancing and my family happy! Visiting Seattle, we wanted to find a spot to dine that's dog-friendly and is beloved by locals. Yelp leads us here and I highly recommend this restaurant! First off, the vibes here are off the chart! Colorful, bustling, happy faces. When we arrived we were taken aback by how busy it was, but understandably so. You order at the counter, receive your buzzer, find a spot, and claim your food. It's all open seating with big communal tables and smaller tables for different party sizes. There's also space to sit indoors but outdoors is fun with music and colorful decor. Service was good, though interactions were limited. Based on reviews, I ordered the West Indies Plate. My family also got their meals. My spice tolerance is so low so I was burning from my dish. The flavors were off the hook and the chicken was cooked nicely! The rice, beans, plantain, and slaw were all tasty and everything accompanied each other. I ate about half my plate and most diners ended up taking theirs to go as portions are huge! My family all enjoyed their meals and I loved my mom's Desi Plate because the pork was so tender and flavorful. Bongos was our highlight meal and experience during our quick stay in Seattle. I encourage visitors and locals to make the trip to try this restaurant. They're located in Phinney Ridge off Aurora Ave. with a parking area out front.

    Side parking at bongo's
    Thomas B.

    This place is extremely high energy. And packed to the hill with people. You can tell it's been a hotspot for customers for a long time. They specialize in Cuban and Caribbean food. And it seems to be very popular with everyone here and the presentations are absolutely delightful. And they use recyclable bowls so you know that when you come here you're not living a footprint on the Earth. This evening's meal was a treat from my wife and a surprise for my daughter and we're having such a great time today with a nice way to finish up. All our dishes were superb. Friendly helpful staff. Worth the visit.

    Mac salad

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    The Desi Sami is to die for and their desserts are amazing! Great people, I hear there is one opening in Poulsbo, is that correct?

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eleazar P.

    Eleazar P.

    This is correct! We hope to see you there soon!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeremy W.
    406
    41
    62

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eleazar P.

    Eleazar P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eleazar P.

    Eleazar P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Natasha B.
    1
    130
    399

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P C.
    3
    136
    239

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    I love everything about this place. The food is ample and awesome. And why would you want a big serving if it didn't taste great?

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 39

    Bongos Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bongos

    Similar to the question about spicy shrimp is bucco chicken gone forever ? I thought those were the two most popular items on the menu

    You are in luck. We actually were able to bring the Bucco chicken back to the menu about 2 weeks ago. We had issues with getting certain ingredients for a period, but we are… Read more

    Is the outdoor seating area dog-friendly?

    Yes there are always lots of dog's when I am there in the outdoor seating area

    Where did the Spicy Shrimp plate go? Please don't say it's gone forever...! ☹️

    Sarah- UPDATE: We got our ingredients back in stock and the Spicy Shrimp is back!!!… Read more

    I'm getting conflicting information. Is Bongo's open for dinner hours?

    We are open Wed-Sun from 3-9. We will be closed next week Sept 29th and Sept 30th for an employee appreciation trip.

    Do you do catering?

    Yes we do offer catering as far as trays of food not full service. Please call restaurant and we can take your information and send you a catering menu

    Can they make things without cilantro?

    Yes of course we can. If you order a sandwich just tell cashier that you would like no cilantro. If you order Yuca or Tostones ask for no aioli. We no longer add cilantro to the slaw so you are good there. We cannot take out the cilantro from the… Read more

    Do they have french fries with the sandwiches?

    No, they are served without sides. But I recommend getting a side of plantains!

    Do they serve Vegetarian options?

    Yes. Not a huge selection though

    Are you open during coronavirus for carry out?

    Hi Karen. Yes we are open. Wednesday through Sunday from 11-8pm. We are doing carry out only and encourage you to call ahead so your order can be ready when you arrive. We are also partnered with Uber Eats for delivery. You can use their app or… Read more

    Can I bring my dog?

    I saw dogs in the outside seating area

    Is the outdoor patio open now?

    Yes it is! It gets packed though!

    Coke or Pepsi?

    They have Coke bottle in the fridge.

    Is there indoor seating?

    Yes!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Mean Sandwich - The Mean sandwich

    Mean Sandwich

    4.3(411 reviews)
    1.7 miBallard
    $$

    Highly recommended! The Mean corned beef sandwich was outstanding. Skins and in fried baked potato…read more chips way better than plain old fries . Sandwich snobs from Jersey , 2 thumbs up

    My husband and I were leaving the National Nordic Museum and wanted to grab some food to take home…read moreso we decided to order online at Mean Sandwich. My order was ready at the time that was specified (also received a text when it was done) and according to what I read, they keep your food on a warmer while they wait for you to pick it up. How nice! $20 for a sandwich seems pricey, but let me tell you, they definitely make a MEAN sandwich! The Mean - THICK pieces of juicy corned beef with housemade mustard, pickled red cabbage and mint. The cross section of the sandwich looks insane! The combination of flavors is excellent. The Hama Hama Oyster Po'Boy - Deep-fried Hama Hama yysters with housemade remoulade and lemon-pepper mayo. I loved this. The oysteres were nicely fried with not too much batter. You could really taste the oyster and appreciate the texture. The French roll was also very nice. It was similar to a Vietnamese Banh Mi roll. Soft, but with a light crispness on the outside. Fully Loaded Skins & Ins - Skins & Ins are basically a mixture of fried potato skins and potato chunks so you get a variety of texture: thin and crispy, or soft and meaty. The fully loaded option adds toppings similar to that of a loaded baked potato (white sauce, spices, scallions, and super crunchy bacon bits). This was a nice change from having the usual chips or fries with a sandwich. Parking can be somewhat of a challenge in this area, but if you're able to make it over then I think it's worth visiting.

    Photos
    Mean Sandwich - Cute table numbers.

    Cute table numbers.

    Mean Sandwich - Hama Hama Oyster Po'Boy

    Hama Hama Oyster Po'Boy

    Mean Sandwich - Interior

    See all

    Interior

    Un Bien - Seared Scallops sando

    Un Bien

    4.7(1.6k reviews)
    1.4 miLoyal Heights, Ballard, Phinney Ridge
    $$

    this sandwich was highly impressive as the main part of the…read moresandwich, it was pretty necessary that the pork be cooked to near-perfection, and i have to say it was here it gave off a deep, brown-ish color, which showed the extent of it's cooking and marination. It wasn't quite incredibly tender, but the marinade added an absolute ton of flavor. more importantly, it was present plentifully throughout the sandwich, so practically every bite came filled with pork I also have to mention how packed together the ingredients are between the buns. when you start eating, it's inevitable that a quarter of the ingredients will fall onto the wrap below, leaving a nice secondary meal to finish off after the sandwich is done. the sandwich is packed incredibly tight during the wrapping process, but it unravels a bit while eating. for me, the major highlights of this meal was the onions and the aioli Starting with the onions, these may be the best I've ever had on a sandwich. They're caramelized amazingly, placed onto the sandwich in astoundingly large pieces, are crunchy, and there's just a lot of them. They're just wonderful both texturally and taste-wise. This sandwich is absolutely lathered with aioli - practically dripping with it. This boosted the overall flavor so much, especially because this aioli was addictingly good. In my experience, the amount of sauce has been directly proportional to how much I enjoyed a sandwich, and when the sauce is this good - it's even on the top of the bun! - i absolutely loved it Somehow the lettuce stayed crunchy despite all the otherwise wetness going on in the sandwich. Props for that The jalapenos were great as well for that extra bit of spicy - I would've loved to have more of them while the bread was toasted well, the one downside was i thought it was pretty hard and tough, which made chewing kind of difficult. I found my jaw to be pretty tired at the end after eating this. I would've much preferred a softer roll that's easier to bite into I've had similar sandwiches from Paseo and Bongos, and in my opinion this does edge out both of those Comparing to Paseo, the sandwich there has way more oil, making it more sloppy and I do like the bread there a lot better, but the pork feels richer and better marinated here (although less fatty), and the onions are definitely caramelized better here as well. Bongos has a pretty similar level of pork with more, but onions are definitely a step down What moves this place above those two for me is the amount of aioli used here far exceeds those other places, which just makes the overall eating experience better For the price (about 14 dollars) this is a really filling meal

    Roast park sandwich here was awesome! I had gone to Paseo way back in the day, maybe 2007 or 2008,…read moreand the sandwich tasted very similar to what I remember. The rice and beans are also amazing. I think you could probably go with any sandwich that has your preferred protein source and it would be great. The guy working the register taking the orders was super friendly as well. Lots of street parking in the area. They have one bathroom and a good amount of seating. Definitely worth a visit for a great sandwich.

    Photos
    Un Bien - Seating area

    Seating area

    Un Bien - Spicy scallop - so yummy

    Spicy scallop - so yummy

    Un Bien - Caribbean Roast

    See all

    Caribbean Roast

    Serious Pie Ballard - smoked ham, beecher's cheddar, fried egg, buttermilk biscuit

    Serious Pie Ballard

    4.2(82 reviews)
    1.4 miBallard

    Serious Pie is the best and we were glad to discover this location…read more Stopped in for lunch on a Friday and they have happy hour from 12-5 then, with $8 individual pies! We had the special, with artichokes, and the sausage. Yummy!! Also kale salad, which we love. This time it surprisingly needed salt, but was good.

    We were excited to check out this Serious Pie location in Ballard during a recent holiday shopping…read moreexpedition, but honestly we were a little disappointed. While other Serious Pie locations tend to be semi-upscale-yet-casual pizza joints, this spot felt more like an afterthought with its small, dark space and decidedly hole-in-the-wall vibe. The good news is, the pizza was still delish, as it always is at Serious Pie. We enjoyed the sweet sausage pizza that has become a fave over the years, along with a couple of beers which were served in plastic pint "glasses". Okay, I'm sure this makes me sound like a beer snob, but plastic?! Good beer just doesn't taste good in plastic. (Unless you're at a frat party?) Our server (who, by the way, was excellent) later told us he'd accidentally used the wrong glasses for the beer; so apparently it's something they're fixing. Yay! It was also darn cold inside. We had to keep our coats on the entire time. A door between the restaurant area and the semi-open entrance to what appears to be their central storage area would most likely help. Again, this all probably seems a bit petty. I'll own that. But as someone who loves Tom Douglas and his restaurants, and has had great experiences at other Serious Pie locations, this one was a disappointment. Especially since they're charging the same (some might say elevated) prices as they do at the other locations. Maybe if they called it something else, to differentiate it? Serious Pie Lite? Semi-Serious Pie? I dunno, but I expected just a little bit better from this iconic local brand.

    Photos
    Serious Pie Ballard
    Serious Pie Ballard - The zack! fried chicken, applewood bacon, black pepper tabasco gravy, fried egg, buttermilk biscuit

    The zack! fried chicken, applewood bacon, black pepper tabasco gravy, fried egg, buttermilk biscuit

    Serious Pie Ballard - The ZACK

    See all

    The ZACK

    Take 5 Urban Market - Bread Pudding

    Take 5 Urban Market

    4.6(310 reviews)
    0.9 miPhinney Ridge, Ballard
    $

    I was actually not really familiar with this place until post-fire, when I heard a lot more buzz…read moreabout it. Given today was National Sandwich Day, I decided it was a great day to check them out! The sandwich menu is vast, so I had a hard time deciding what to get. I went with the Reuben ($14.75) (as I read it is made w/ their house-made brisket) and then I also got the Sriracha Chicken Club Melt ($16.75), as it seemed to be popular per reviews. I placed the order online - which was convenient! I showed up a few min late but my order was not ready yet, which was no issue.. the lady working (Rebecca, I think) was apologetic and was hustling. It seemed busy with lots of phone calls and orders. I loved the Reuben - the meat was so tender and not too fatty (which I prefer). Perfect ratios of sauce, meat and bread and not too greasy! Loved it and would order it again for sure. The Sriracha chicken club melt was huge, but I probably wouldn't order it again. Not that I didn't like it, but it was just too large and messy and didn't wow me. Still, nothing wrong with it per se. Besides the sandwiches, they also sell other things they make such as bread pudding, mac and cheese, quiche, etc. which you can see in the glass case. They also have soups, too. Besides the food they make, this is also a market, so they sell beer/wine, chips, hot sauce, and some other items. There is also a small seating area so it is possible to eat-in. I look forward to trying other sandwiches next time - hopefully the breakfast sandwich or the meatloaf one!

    It's a neighborhood Sammie place. One of my friends recommended it for a quick lunch on the way…read morehome. Sort of a deli type place, with some seats inside if you need to break bread there. Not a huge variety but you get something fresh and filling.

    Photos
    Take 5 Urban Market
    Take 5 Urban Market - Refrigerated case by front counter (6/1/25)

    Refrigerated case by front counter (6/1/25)

    Take 5 Urban Market - Exterior. Reopened 4/9/25 after a gas explosion months earlier (6/1/25)

    See all

    Exterior. Reopened 4/9/25 after a gas explosion months earlier (6/1/25)

    Fortuna Bottega - Fortuna

    Fortuna Bottega

    4.7(60 reviews)
    0.7 miPhinney Ridge, Greenwood

    For the west coast, I think this is close to one of the best sandwiches you are going to find. You…read morecan always tell when a place is doing something special because the people working are happy to be there, that's definitely the case here. I think the best move is the caprese sandwich add prosciutto, but the quality of ingredients are some good that the bambino, which is basically ham and soft cheese, is equally good. You could probably just eat the bread and be happy. Informal open-garage style sitting area adds to the vibe. Not flashy, just great Italian sandwiches made with intention.

    After hearing a lot about Fortuna, I was excited to try them. If there's a line it moves relatively…read morequickly and staff were super friendly. They were even able to give me a sample of the different cheeses as I wasn't sure if the gorgonzola would be super funky. I got the bambino sandwich and it was good. It's a simple sandwich with just a handful of ingredients but it goes well. The bread is pretty crunchy yet fluffy inside. The salty mortadella pairs well with the creamy straciatella (essentially a mozzarella cheese) and the crunchy pistachios. Also, it was a little pricey but the sandwich is relatively large so you get what you pay for. Overall, Fortuna Bottega brings a new sandwich shop to the area and they ingredients are simple however, all together, it works well!

    Photos
    Fortuna Bottega - (9/3/25)

    (9/3/25)

    Fortuna Bottega - Bambino: Bambino - Mortadella, Stracciatella Cheese, Olive Oil, Pistachio

    Bambino: Bambino - Mortadella, Stracciatella Cheese, Olive Oil, Pistachio

    Fortuna Bottega - Gran Sasso

    See all

    Gran Sasso

    Bongos - cuban - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...