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    Cafe on the Ave

    3.0 (549 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

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    CAFE ON THE AVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Good for working
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe on the Ave

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    Pork Bulgogi Bibimbap
    Louise F.

    Really interesting korean fusion brunch place! Definitely a college vibe, reminded me of places I used to eat back in college. And very college priced too. And college portioned. The plates were like double the size of my head. We got a bibimbap and creamy chicken mara pasta. The bibimbap wasn't really a bibimbap but made a nice bulgogi slop bowl basically. And it was nice that there were so many veggies in it. The pasta was definitely asian fusion pasta. Really has that creamy taste you get from having pasta in korea or japan in the places that have an asian interpretation. We ate until we were stuffed to the brim and still had leftovers. Probably didn't help that I ate the garlic bread too but it was also good. Unfortunately during the meal a crazy person came in and started yelling at people and the restaurant had a difficult time keeping him out but what are you gonna do about that I guess

    We forgot to take pics until deep into Korean chicken. So tasty and crispy.
    Cristin G.

    Ok that was fun! Went with the UW student kiddo who loves this place, I can see why. Order at the counter, friendly and helpful staff. HUGE portions and boxes for take-home meant we have great meals for lunch tomorrow, too. Casual place for students, parents, and anyone in the UW area who's hungry for a big meal (or split one!).

    Korean Fried Chicken
    Natalie N.

    pretty good asian fusion spot in u district. as you can tell by the name, it's on the ave. open til at least midnight every night and open later on friday and saturday. the first time i visited, i only got a decaf latte. i recall the decaf tasting good and my friend and i just kinda parked at the place and yapped for awhile. it seems like a good place to do that at, as it's very very spacious inside. i tried it again during the cherry blossom festival and got an alcoholic drink. the drink, while very pretty in pink, was not good. wayyy too much syrup, it was almost entirely sugar, and, i love sugary drinks, but this was too much. because of that, i've never been back for alcoholic drinks. most recently, i went here with a friend because we wanted chill cafe vibes to work on some projects, but it was a sunday and evening time so most cafes were already closed. we got half a korean fried chicken with the honey garlic and sweet n spicy sauces. it was actually well-made, i was surprised. the portion was generous, which was an added bonus. everyone that works there is very nice. i think if you need a place to study or work or just chill out, this is a good place to go. it may be kind of a mixed bag in terms of quality, but you can at the very least get good coffee here.

    Chicken Pesto
    Mei Jie W.

    Located in a very central area on the ave, this cafe has a nice variety of food, cafe drinks, and lots of seating. I saw many people studying while eating. The portion is very generous. I got the pesto pasta with chicken. It didn't say it would come with garlic bread so that was a nice surprise. The chicken was so soft and tender and well seasoned! They garnished it grated mozzarella and basil. I also got an ice latte and it was really good too. You order at the counter, find a seat, and they'll give you a number plaque. They'll bring you your food, but for drinks you'll have to get yourself at the counter when the buzzer goes off.

    Ginger tangerine
    Oris B.

    The place has a casual dive bar-meets-café atmosphere. The staff were friendly and made me feel welcome. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite hit the mark, though perhaps other menu items are better. It's a bit of a gamble what you'll get.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ On the other hand, it's a great place to study or journal.

    Photograph for my review of Cafe On The Ave.
    Luther N.

    THE END OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AS WE KNOW IT! Last night, I stopped into this restaurant because it was my birthday andI didn't want to go to Wallingford or Capitol Hill for a meal. I told them and asked if I could be offered anything. Sure the guy said only it had to be under $5. He then said, "...we're not giving you a $20 meal free!" I could have enjoyed a plate of bacon, eggs and pancakes since I just turned seventy-five. So I took a coffee and purchased a brownie. The coffee was eventually brought out, but without any napkins or spill protection. At least it was the decaffinated that I ordered, so I said "Cheers!". I did leave with my coffee in a cup like at Starbucks, but if I had thought I could expect this kind of lame customer service, I could have gone there! Seriously, it reminded me of being back in the midwest, int he days when a person of colour could go into a restaurant but had to take the food or drinks outside. Well, so it goes but I will never go back into the Cafe on The Ave. again. Right now, I despise this place as much as Starbucks, and IHOP doesn't look bad at all after this! Luther R. Norman, Former Teacher and World Traveller...

    Green Tea Frappe
    Diana C.

    The menu is customizable for vegetarians but a bit more difficult with dairy free options, especially the drinks. The kimchi fried rice has dairy and it can't be removed unfortunately too. Got a drink and it was fine. The servers were polite and efficient. The ambiance is kinda like having breakfast or lunch in a dive bar with lots of natural lighting, which was fine. Very popular student hangout.

    Tomato Basil
    Kacey T.

    I am a regular at cafe on the ave. I love their tomato soup, it was buttery and super thick. It was also a good portion size. Cafe on the ave was super busy that day so I had a hard time studying there. The service was pretty quick. I will always be a supporter of this restaurant and I love all the seating and music Yas .

    Red velvet hot chocolate
    Noopur D.

    I very much appreciated the menu options here! I wanted something a bit lighter to eat and a sweet drink to accompany. I liked that they had "on the go" options so I got the veggie sandwich and the red velvet chocolate. The sandwich was pretty good, nice amount of flavors and vegetables. The hot chocolate was absolutely delicious, I really loved the comforting creaminess and the red velvet flavor was SO well done - still dreaming about it! My friends got the waffle and Benedict. Both were so good too. Service was really good too and all the staff were really sweet. We also enjoyed the big seating area!!

    Menu 1of6 (6/21/24)
    Marie B.

    Clearly I've been under a rock. I've walked by or driven past this corner spot on at 42nd & The Ave in Seattle's University District. It's been around since 2003! We had a brief power outage in North Seattle/Shoreline, so to escape the warm temps, The Homie recommended hanging out at Cafe on the Ave (6/21/24). Great business hours: 7am to 11pm Mondays - Thursdays & Sundays. Fridays and Saturdays 7am to 2am. Nice assortment of seating: two tops along screened open windows which allowed for a nice breeze, covered patio seating, bigger tables to allow for group meet ups, book club, gaming, etc. There's quite the variety of menu items and even a small bar area for 21+, essentially something for everyone. I had an Arnold Palmer and The Homie enjoyed an iced London Fog while onsite. Well worn, comfy college cafe vibe.

    watery ahh gyudon

    I just ordered the worst gyudon I've ever had in my life and I'm not even exaggerating. This is up there in terms of the most disgraceful things done to Japan since WW2 like man, take this off the menu PLEASE if you're gonna do it this awfully, JESUS!! LOOK AT MY PICS BRUH, GYUDON IS A RICE BOWL NOT A SOUP BOWL, LOOK HOW WATERY TS IS. this place is cookedddddd

    Kimchi Fried Rice
    Shachi S.

    One of my favorite spots in udistrict! I love the kimchi fried rice and the basil pesto pasta. Recently tried the tomato basil soup and it was so creamy and delicious! The portions sizes are generous too! Value for money

    Amazing cafe workers!

    It was a dark and stormy night, yet when I entered this cafe in the wee hours of the evening, I was greeted with the radiant sunshine of human kindness from these two lovely young ladies. Not only is the ambiance and quality of food here fantastic, but the workers here are extremely kind and beautiful :) I had a great experience and continue to come back! Thanks Zoey and Konnie for providing excellent service and always remembering my order/name

    California Croissant

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    4 months ago

    Food is awesome, i love their service and ambiance! Karaoke is always fun and the staff is really nice

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    Tilikum Place Cafe

    Tilikum Place Cafe

    4.3
    (2.4k reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    What a secret gem of a place! Just tucked in from a bustling Denny street!…read more We started out with some cappuccino and iced latte, and they were lovely. They served the coffees with a little shortbread cookie, and these little details really elevated the whole experience. Also, the cappuccino was so foamy, and it hit the spot immediately. The breakfast menu was also fantastic. The TPC Breakfast plate included sausage, potatoes, bacon, bread, and some scrambled eggs. There also was an option to add Beecher's cheese on the eggs, and I'd say it was totally worth it. Most importantly, the Dutch baby was as good as they'd advertised. It comes out on a piping hot skillet which kept the dessert warm till the end of the meal. The service was very quick even though they were entirely booked out for the time we were there for. I appreciated the patience from the servers and their helpful directions in picking the menu items. I will warn you that we had to reserve our spot months in advance. This is probably because the restaurant is great but pretty limited in seating space. However, it was definitely worth the wait, so don't be discouraged. I highly recommend trying it out at least once. All in all, highly recommend! Please go try Tilikum Place Cafe!

    We tried all three Dutch babies - classic, sweet, and savory - and they didn't disappoint. The…read moresavory-sweet combo was the highlight, especially if you enjoy contrasting flavors. The baked eggs, however, were just okay - nothing particularly good. The ambiance was cozy and nice, right in downtown Seattle. However, be prepared: the wait can be long, and once you're done, they'll need the table, as there's usually a line. Overall, it's worth a visit - just make a reservation and come for the Dutch babies. I was told there are seasonal Dutch babies so try again sometime in June maybe. Rating: 4/5 Standout: Savory Dutch Baby

    Photos
    Ambiance of the dining area
    Ambiance of the dining area
    Salmon sandwich
    Salmon sandwich
    Sweet dutch baby - strawberry

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    Sweet dutch baby - strawberry
    Fulcrum Café

    Fulcrum Café

    4.0
    (241 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $

    Fulcrum Cafe is a small but cute coffee shop in the Denny Triangle area of Downtown Seattle…read more When we visited, Fulcrum offered a great menu of fancy speciality coffee drinks and an amazingly lovely pastry selection. Unfortunately, they were not offering breakfast sandwiches on the day we visited, which was a large part of their food menu. The service was fast and friendly. This place does have a bit of a fancier vibe, so we opted to order and go since our kids were with us. They do have cute little seating options inside and outside- always a perk! We just ordered a drip coffee and a pistachio cream latte. The Pistachio Cream latte was amazing, but we wished it had a tad more pistachio flavor. The drip coffee was good. Worth the visit if you're nearby!

    Fulcrum Coffee is an absolute gem. My husband ordered their brewed coffee, and he loved it--rich,…read morebold, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of bitterness. He drinks his coffee black, so flavor really matters, and this one delivered. It was smooth, complex, and honestly the perfect start to our day--it had him energized and ready to take on anything. I went with the "Sunggle Me Sesame" (espresso, toasted black sesame sauce, brown sugar syrup, and oat milk), and it was phenomenal. I'm not usually a fan of sweet drinks, but this was beautifully crafted--not overly sweet, just a perfect balance of nutty, toasty, and slightly sweet flavors. It felt unique, comforting, and incredibly well thought out. Overall, such a standout coffee spot with creative drinks and exceptional quality. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Great ambiance!
    Great ambiance!
    Cortado
    Cortado
    Pumpkin Spice Latte

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    Pumpkin Spice Latte
    Shaker + Spear

    Shaker + Spear

    4.4
    (1.3k reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    While visiting Seattle for a few days, I made reservations at Shaker + Spear and wasn't quite sure…read morewhat I wanted to order. I noticed the salmon on the menu and decided to give it a try since I was looking for something a little lighter. I am so glad I did. Without exaggeration, it was the best salmon I've ever had. The fish was cooked perfectly, and the sauce and accompanying ingredients brought everything together beautifully. Every bite was outstanding. Beyond the food, the atmosphere was fantastic, the service was friendly and attentive, and the bar offered a great selection of cocktails and spirits. If you're visiting Seattle or looking for a great dining experience, I would absolutely recommend Shaker + Spear. The salmon alone is worth coming back for.

    Shakers and Spears has a warm, welcoming vibe, and the service was genuinely friendly. The kind of…read morebrunch spot where you feel taken care of. The Dutch baby was the real winner: chewy, and puffy golden edges, blackberries, candied nuts, and a fruit drizzle. That was the most memorable thing on the table. The fish sandwich was fine but a little underwhelming. Crispy bacon and a generous salmon fillet, but the bun came out cold, which threw off the whole bite. At around $25, that detail matters. The most disappointing thing were the Fries, which were on the harder side. Tables are tight, so plan for elbow-to-elbow seating. Worth it for the Dutch baby. I'd order differently next time. Food was 3 stars, but 1 star for our server.

    Photos
    Welcome note..
    Welcome note..
    Mussels
    Mussels
    Grilled Tiger Prawns*

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    Grilled Tiger Prawns*

    Cafe on the Ave - coffee - Updated July 2026

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