Met my wife here 8 years ago. That day I came in with a single white rose preparing to meet someone catfishing me. But there she was. Exactly how I imagined her. Beautiful, leaving her car at the same time as me. I was nervous thinking we'd have nothing to talk about or have in common. We went in, I ordered a shaved ice and spilled some on myself. And I was surprised when we were talking for hours. I had to leave early cause someone at my part time job had cut off the tip of their pinky and had to go back. From there the rest was history. Anyway try their bulgogi sandwich, pretty bangin. read more

Came here after lunch for some bingsoo. We ordered some Italian sodas as well. The bingsoo was pretty big to share and was decent. The Italian sodas I'm used to has cream/half and half in it but it was just the syrup and the club soda so it tasted off. We had to go back and ask if they can ppour some in the drink. Service was alright. read more

Cafe Noir - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

Known for its Korean shaved ice - it's a solid sharing size and yummy. Unfortunately, I did not like the chai latte, it was way too sweet for my liking and I had some mini sugar chunks or some powder crumbs in mine that I bit into when sipping on it. (For context, I am a little more critical of my Chai Lattes because it's my go-to drink almost everywhere I go, so I do notice a big difference). The service was quick and the staff was friendly. The environment at the Cafe is generally pretty quiet to a moderate noise level, which makes this a perfect area to study and focus in. This is a go-to spot for a Cafe that's open until late at night, since they close at around 11 PM. read more

Cafe Noir - Chai and Fruit Bingsu - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

After eating all you can eat Korean BBQ, we stopped by Cafe Noir for some dessert! We ordered the Oreo and Green Tea shaved ice (팥빙수) to share amongst the seven of us. Each one serves about 2-3 people, depending on how full or hungry you are. Even though it was well into the evening hours, it was shockingly quiet in the cafe. It was actually full that evening, but still very quiet. A lot of people looked like they were studying or doing busy work on their laptops. read more

Cafe Noir - Green Tea Shaved Ice - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

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After my partner and I's Valentine dinner tonight, we came into Cafe Noir for dessert, specifically bingsu! I've been wanting to try out this place for a while, so I was quite excited and had high expectations. The inside of the cafe had a cozy feel and lots of seating. We ordered the Fruit Bingsu to share together. Their Bingsu is definitely for 2-3 people, so maybe not order one on your own if you're with friends (unless you have that kind of stomach). In terms of shaved ice, this has been one of my favourites I've tried all throughout Washington so far. The shaved ice was so smooth and melted straight in your mouth, and it retained a very flavourful taste whereas other bingsu places in Seattle are often plain. The only things that both my partner and I did not like was the fruit. It didn't taste right, probably because they weren't in season. Not entirely their fault but it made the bingsu not as enjoyable. Perhaps we would've liked the non-fruit bingsu's better. If you're in Federal Way, I would surely recommend this spot for Bingsu, and they have many other desserts and drinks there as well. I am 100% going to try their other flavours for bingsu! read more

Cafe Noir - Fruit Bingsu - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

Went here for bingsoo (shaved ice) years ago- it's HUGE, shareable for sure. It's opened late night so it's really popular. I usually go for a fruity tea here and the staff is always nice about giving suggestions! The venue is super old so it's not an aesthetically pleasing place. read more

I stopped by here for a quick stop before having to catch my flight at SeaTac. Such a bummer I had to vacuum up the bingsoo here. It was so good but I had to gobble it down so quickly. I couldn't finish it so I took half of it in a cup to go. The service was good and the bingsoo was brought to me after I ordered. Very refreshing treat on a hot summer day. read more

Cafe Noir - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

For $18, you can have an ice mountain surrounded by fruit and mochi big enough to feed 2-3 people. This would be our 3rd time here in 3+ years. It's alright. We had the fruit bowl which came with chopped strawberries, mango, blueberries, and mochi topped with strawberry ice cream scoop. Not the best but not the worst either. I prefer the taiwanese version of shaved ice with more Asian flavors and bigger mochi (sort of like what din Tai Fung has) with custard on top (ice cream makes it too sweet and melts to fast). It would be nice if they had more to offer or combos. It wasn't worth $18 for sure. read more

Cafe Noir - Fruit shaved ice - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

If you haven't had Korean bingsu before, you've got to try this place! They have the most authentic one I've had in the Seattle area so far. (Although there is a new one in Chinatown I haven't tried yet) I've been coming to Cafe Noir for a while with my mom to eat this delicious dessert. The shaved ice part is such a unique texture, and it's flavored basically like ice cream not just ice. It only came with 6 tiny pieces of mochi so that was a bit of a bummer. And the fruits were really good. Overall a pretty decent dessert attempting to be like the originals you find in Korea, but could use a few improvements. read more

Cafe Noir - Fruit Bingsu (aka shave ice) - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

I Won't be back. Got all 4 of my kids dressed to finally try this place out for a late night treat because I've been working so much all week. ** after reading a few other reviews seems like they lie and just say we close the kitchen at 9pm, 9:30pm, 10pm, etc. They just decide randomly who they don't want to serve! We walked in and he said they close down their shaved ice at 10:20pm. I looked at my phone it said 10:20pm exact. I said so it's exactly 10:20 and you can't make us something. He said NO They close at 11pm. I was so pissed and I usually don't get mad but you offer shaved ice, close down your dessert at a random 10:20pm. Their main item is shaved ice!! And you are open until 11pm. I hate bad customer service. I will never be back. I've nicer seen a restaurant close at 11pm but shut the kitchen almost a hour before. Unfortunate experience with bad customer service. I try to support small businesses but it's hard when they do stuff like this. read more

Cafe noir is my go to desert place in the area! I love getting their red bean with matcha ice cream waffle! Been going for years, but prices have increased more and more. I would skip on the shaved ice. Service is great. They will bring the food to you and you can bring plates back. Bathrooms have codes which can be found on receipt. WiFi password also on receipt which changes pretty often. Come here for the waffle and honest roast! read more

Cafe Noir - Red bean/ Green tea waffle, vanilla honey toast, and green tea latte with green tea Ice cream - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

This place was perfect for one of the hottest weekends in Seattle! My friends and I ordered 3 different types of bingsoo: fruit, matcha, and oreo. Fruit bingsoo: I like this one the best out of the 3 we ordered. It's straight forward. The ice flavor was good, not too sweet (best compliment from an Asian person lol). The fruits were fresh. Matcha bingsoo: I like this one second out of the 3. The matcha ice had a sweet green tea flavor, but the tea taste was lacking. I tried out different combos and I found that if you scoop the ice cream, ice, and red bean altogether and eat that, then it's a lot better. Oreo bingsoo: Least favorite. The oreo tasted weird, because the ice was coffee flavored and that threw me off. The only oreo tasting thing was the actual oreo cookie. Bottom line: I enjoyed the bingsoo for the most part. I'd come back to try other items. read more

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Service: gosh I eat out so much that I usually find service standard but here it was apparently below standard. Everyone seems disgruntled and angry as evidence being not approachable, not responding to my communication, and kind of having that "resting b*** face" I thought maybe it was just the cashier lady but then the server lady just threw the plate on our table even though I said thank you walk off without a comment. Food: I got the strawberry blueberry waffle. poor service and great food will usually met a 4 star in my book (I weigh food quite highly) but even the food was as bad as the service. I felt like the ice cream resemble generic grocery store bought ice cream. When I go out to eat at an establishment it has to be elevated more than what I can buy I a grocery store. The ice cream was just that. The waffle tasted like a pre made manufacture waffle that has tons of preservative. How do I know? From my experience when I bought pre made dessert waffle from a grocery store it has that similar texture. A fresh waffle should be hot crisp on the outside with an airy or dense (depending on the type of waffle) but it shouldn't take pre package like. Thank good ness the strawberry was firm along with the blueberry. It was the only thing I finished on the plate. Ambiance: a bit run down . Very open concept though. Again food usually hold a heavier weight so I don't gripe too much on ambiance unless I know I'm going to a fine dining establishment. Overall, eat at your own risk. The picture was not impressive but it was late at night and I needed to get dessert for my pregnant wife! read more

We were in the area and decided to save time by ordering our drinks online in advance. When we got there 10 minutes later, they hadn't even noticed our order! If you're going to offer the option to order online, at least pay attention to these orders just as you would with in-person orders. The place wasn't even crowded. Our matcha drinks were way too sweet for our liking (not entirely Cafe Noir's fault, we probably should have made a note in our online order or something). I hate wasting food and can usually tolerate a little bit of sweet flavor, but I had to throw away my drink only after 2 sips unfortunately. We won't repeat. read more

This establishment is incredibly racist. My family and I came in for a late night dessert and was met with the worst service. My brother asked for the code for the bathroom as he really had to go, and it was an emergency while we were in line ordering, the woman working, refused to give him the code even though we were paying for our items right then and there. A Caucasian gentleman walked up to the counter literally five seconds after he walked through the door and not ordering anything then asked for the bathroom code to which she gave it to him right in front of us. This is extremely racist as if we were not going to pay or purchase anything and just simply ask for the bathroom code. Is extremely frustrating that after all these decades, Korean American business owners still treat black patrons like garbage. The sad part is, there were eight of us and we spent at least $20 a person and we're still treated this way. Update: The owner is upset that I pointed out racism...if a customer is currently PAYING for their items and you won't give them the bathroom code...but will give it to a person who walked in and didn't wait in line who is white....tell me how your policy explains that.... read more

I'm a big ice cream fan, and I'm proud to say it! Korean shaved ice is also on my favorites list, so I knew I had to check Cafe Noir off my bucket list. I'd recommend bringing at least one other person with you to try the bingsu, just because they are HUGE. My boyfriend and I shared the Oreo bingsu, which totaled to around $18. From what I heard, the prices have been increasing over the past few years, and many told me that this is the most expensive it's been. I thought the Oreo bingsu was alright. Like it was advertised on the menu, it contained shaved ice, vanilla ice cream, Oreos, and chocolate drizzle. Because the Oreos were sitting in the shaved ice, they got extremely soggy by the time we finished half the bingsu. The last half was a bit difficult to get through, due to the texture. I suggest that they put some of the Oreos in a separate container so we can add as we eat. read more

Cafe Noir - Oreo bingsu - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

Came to this place for the bingsu and it did not disappoint. We ordered the fruit one which had fresh blueberries, strawberries, and mango, some mochi, and strawberry ice cream. It is a pretty large portion so I think it was perfect for 3 people. The shaved ice itself is delicious and refreshing- finely shaved, not too sweet and had a milky flavor rather than just plain ice. My only complaint is that I wish it had more mochi. Also just want to note that it's not super aesthetically pleasing inside the cafe, and it looks a bit run down. But if you're just looking for good bingsu then this is a the place for it. There is plenty of seating inside as well. read more

Cafe Noir - Fruit shaved ice - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

Better than most north places for bingsoo. I always get their injeolmi bingsoo and it usually hits the spot. While the other fruity ones are fine, I just don't like the sweetness of the others. The drinks are good, too. A usual stop for dessert when I'm in the area. read more

Cute spot with coffee and shaved ice as well as a few different sandwiches. There's plenty of seating and outlets and it seems like this is somewhere a lot of people come to sit and do work read more

This was a recommended place among friends, so we decided to go for dessert. We all got different types of bingsu, but we all got to try a little of everything. Definitely recommend the Matcha Bingsu, although they ran out of the matcha ice cream to go with it, it still tasted great with the vanilla ice cream. The taro one is my second choice just because I love taro and the red beans were tasty. Even though the fruit bingsu was my least favorite, it was still good! It just didn't fulfill my craving. They used fresh fruit and the fruits matched so well. Their atmosphere is also very chill and very cafe like, it is easily a great place to hangout and have a bite to eat. read more

Cafe Noir - Matcha bingsu, taro bingsu, fruit bingsu - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

Got their injeolmi/red bean shaved ice, I wish the injeolmi flavor was stronger and the shaved ice had a bit more flavor. It's a great place to come to share a shaved ice it can easily feed 5 people Also tried their sweet potato latte AMAZING read more

Cafe Noir - Injeolmi/red bean - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

I worked at Cafe Noir a few years and my goodness, I'm just baffled by the awful changes. Particularly the bingsoo (shaved ice). The plate to serve then have become so small yet the prices have beeb raised to 15.50? Additionally, they are as pretty or delicious as they were. Heck, I got oreo and taro shaved ice but there a bit of the last flavor in my taro and it looked gross. Glad to say I won't ever be coming back. You want amazing shaved ice? T-town or Melody are great options for better and less expensive shaved ice that is actually worth your money. read more

Cafe Noir - Oreo shaved ice. - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

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This place does not feel welcoming at all despite new staff being kind there is a sense of policing and judgment towards customers. Maybe it's the signs demanding patrons to pay before sitting down! And the multiple altercations I've encountered btwn customers and workers... just by reading the responses of the owner in these comments I realized their is zero accountability. If you are lactose intolerant... I had a small iced coffee 1.25 extra for a small amount of almond milk is a joke... not even NYC cafes charge that much for alternative milk. Despite this sometimes it is a good study space and it's very spacious. read more

I returned to Cafe Noir after many years for another visit and was happy to see that they still have really good bingsu. I tried the injeolmi for the first time, and revisited the green tea, and both were delicious. Powdery shaved ice topped with really good quality pat (sweet red bean) and a giant scoop of ice cream. I think the injeomi one is my favorite so far! I'm craving another one already! read more

Cafe Noir - Green tea - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

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The shaved ice here uses a block of ice that seems more milky mixture than creamy. It is very finely shaven like icy snow for a fluffy melt-immediately-in-the-mouth effect. Careful of brain freeze! Like how generous they are with their toppings & scoop of ice cream so that you aren't left with just the icy snow. The size of each shaved ice can satisfy 2-3 people. 4* Have only had shaved ice here but the cafe has a slew of other offerings like hot & cold beverages, smoothies and sandwiches. Lots of seating spread out in sectioned rooms feels more private & easier to social distance. All in a banal setting, even with a sofa in front of a fireplace. Shaved Ice. Soybean has almonds, mochi, red bean, soybean powder, vanilla ice cream. $16.94. 4-* Fruit has strawberry, mango, blueberry, mochi, strawberry ice cream $16.94. 4* Note to business: we asked for cups to share the shaved ice & were disappointed to be given really bad-for-the-environment styrofoam cups. Please switch to paper or reusable cups. Please. 1* Bathroom keypad entry code is printed on one's receipt Located -SE corner of Hwy 99/Pacific Hwy & S 333rd St -NE end in a Korean plaza with other eateries and businesses, making it an easy pre- or post- destination read more

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I've come to cafe noir before to study and take advantage of the atmosphere and WiFi. It's been about 5 years since I've been here and I never really liked the coffees so I got a "green tea-lemonade" today and it was such a solid disappointment. Lacked any flavor and tasted like water with a squeeze of lemon in it. Service is pretty basic - you pay and they bring you your drinks at your table. When you make a purchase you get bathroom codes and WiFi. read more

Cafe Noir - No ice in the drink. - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

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We ordered the fruit Patbingsu to go and I expected the dessert to be put together but it was given in separate containers. I should've checked the bag before leaving but I pretty surprised about that. It was $20 for a beautiful presentation too I thought. Next time, I'll order in. read more

Location is a bit run down. Chocolate crepe cake is delicious and not too sweet. Drinks are bit expensive but very good. Would come back again. read more

Cafe Noir - Chocolate crepe cake - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

Sweeet dessert I ordered the strawberry blueberry waffle with strawberry icecream... soooo good uber sweet and nice indoor seating available with 6 ft of separation between tables... I feel like the menu could be better laid out a tad confusing on some of the menu items. The girl at the counter didn't know what some of the items were and that was a bit disappointing... I also ordered London fog yummy n not too sweet with vanilla syrup... Highly recommend, my friend got the injeolmi toast really savory n peanut flavored soooo good.... read more

used to be a go-to study spot, but the prices have gotten crazy and the quality doesn't live up at all. came here to do hw but wi-fi barely works. I paid almost $8 for a small oatmilk latte the other day 2 stars because the inside is spacious and generally quiet for a study spot read more

Friendly staff, tons of seating, private parking lot, and good food! I am obsessed with their bulgogi sandwich, white chocolate mocha frappuccino, and peppermint mocha frappuccino! Their bingsu is large and shareable between 2-4 ppl depending on how hungry you are. Their shaved ice itself actually has flavor too and isn't just straight up ice. They don't skimp on the toppings either! It is a little pricey but for the portions, vibes, and being open til 11pm every day I think it's worth it! Definitely recommend. read more

Great bing su! Fresh fruit, friendly service. What's not to like? The interior can be a bit dark. But many folks are there studying, on a date, etc. Great, subdued ambiance. read more

Whoaaaaaa service is super bad here. Even if the place is a cute study/date cafe with unique items, it is not worth it when the service is that bad. The shaved ice is also not good as well;the size is big but the flavor is not. read more

I wanted to come here ever since it opened.. and it seems I arrived far too late from it's golden days. It was an unpleasant and slightly gross experience.. Crowded and sweaty with more people there to simply occupy space rather than to actually purchase anything. If you come at night, be mentally prepared to potentially not get a table; it's a place for a younger and more boisterous crowd. The Fruit [and Oreo..??] Bingsu was disappointing. While the texture of the ice was fine, the toppings were lackluster. The strawberry ice cream had notes of freezer burn (and wasn't a particularly good brand of generic ice cream), the fruits were bland, the rice cakes were rubbery, and the Oreos disintegrated to look.. very unappetizing. (I'm not sure why the Oreos were added to the bingsu. Didn't complement the fruit.) Not much else to say except that I'm sorry I didn't come earlier. read more

Cafe Noir - Fruit [and Oreo??] Bingsu - hard pass - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

Amazing dessert. My cousin and I shared the dessert we had. Large space enough for social distancing. We were there on a Saturday night and will definitely visit again to try the other wonderful desserts. read more

Cafe Noir - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

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Watch out people. I went there few a times. If you look at the receipt I order the same thing Seattle fog drink, but on two different day. The Korean girl with the blonde hair charge me extra $1.20. Wtf. I even tipped her in cash. Next time when I see you. I wont tipped you. You are shady as heck. I will tipped the other girl instead. Shame on you girl! You have no ethic... I rated 1/5 for being shady as f**k. I will change my rating until I see improvement. read more

Cafe Noir - I order Seattle fog drink on different day. Korean girl charge me more. - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

this place has the best bing soo i've had! the fruit was fresh and the dish was the perfect sweetness. our dish came out relatively fast and the presentation was great. the inside seems a little outdated but the vibe of the place is there! i will definitely be returning. read more

Cafe Noir - fruit bingsoo - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

It's a cute and cozy space that's perfect for hanging out with friends and just having some alone time! With that said, we came here for the shave ice and I was not impressed. We ordered a taro shave ice and the best part of it was the fresh strawberries(which are actually exceptionally good quality for a dessert store). The actual shave ice was lacking in flavor and a little disappointing. I also wished they had individual portions. I don't think I would come back here for shave ice again, but would try some other things on the menu. read more

DRINK/FOOD: Have order both coffee and the desserts from here and they have been consistently good. The bingsoo is a staple must try! I recently got the sweet potato latte and it tasted exactly like a sweet potato but with a sweeter dessert spin. I also get americanos here and the blend is nice and not too acidic. PRICE: $$ ATMOSPHERE: Homey cozy feel. A great place to study with lots of seating and outlets. It's chill and laid back you can see all ranges of ages coming here to hang out or grab an after dinner dessert. There's a back room as well that you can use if free or put a reservation on. Make sure you keep your receipt because it has the bathroom code and wifi password on it. I also enjoy coming here because their later hours. SERVICE: Service is great! Friendly and will bring out your coffee, food, or dessert for you read more

Cafe Noir - Honey Bread - Cafes Near Me - Federal Way, Washington

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I've been here a time or two but I don't think I'll come back. We popped in for dessert and the experience was simply okay. We ordered a Fruit shaved ice thing that was supposed to have mochi. It was a 2-3 person serving for $18. The fruit was super tart and there were only six pieces of mochi for two people. I strive to support small businesses but this was nothing to write home about really and I honestly don't think it's worth the $20. read more