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    Cardoon

    4.7 (62 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Cardoon Photos

    Business Info

    CARDOON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cardoon

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    Reviews With Photos

    Andrew T.

    Absolutely love this coffee shop! They have a beautiful ambiance and environment and although it is pretty small, we are usually able to find a seat and I love getting work done here. Their their drinks are definitely the highlight and I really love their seaweed latte. They also have some alcoholic drinks and some really nice pastries and service is always really fast and polite. It's in the perfect location if you're spending a day in downtown Ballard or going to the locks nearby. Unfortunately there isn't much parking but we are usually able to find parking in the neighborhood or just pay for street parking up front

    Oat milk latte
    Greta S.

    Now this was a very nice latte.. triple shot, oat milk, 12 oz! I also ordered a dish with purple rice, tofu skins cooked in a very spicy tomato sauce. I could only eat half... richard finished it for me. Ohhh their pickled items were so yummy... soft salty pickle flavors. Loved it-- would order that as a side if they offered it on the menu. Rice dish was a good vegan option. And probably better with a beer than coffee lol We had just walked over from Fremont, but several other folks were in there working away while drinking the coffee. The staff was super friendly!!

    Jennifer H.

    I have tried this cute coffee shop a few times now, and can say it is one of my favorites! I love the variety of sweet and savory food they offer, and the coffee is great. I always get the caramel seaweed latte, which might sound strange but don't knock it til you try it! I really enjoyed their breakfast sandwich on a previous visit. The roll it came on was so good. Last time I decided to try the savory sausage toast since my friend said she liked it. This was a winner! The thick sliced toast is coated in some custard and topped with roasted veggies and sweet-ish Chinese sausage. Yum! They also offer a variety of sweet pastries. I would recommend the lava cookie!

    Seaweed latte
    Isra A.

    Solid latte, really good grasp on creative flavor profiles, and the coolest concept cafe in Ballard! Cardoon is a German-Chinese fusion cafe with rotating single origin coffee. The service is great, staff are super friendly and willing to answer questions. Space is limited- some outdoor seating, some cozy couch/chair seating inside, a bar, and a long table in the back so I wouldn't plan on an extended hang here, but the good news is that it's near the Nordic Museum and the Ballard locks so take your latte to go and walk around the area! I will have to go back to try the food and the shanghai fog!

    Lava cookie
    Ella H.

    I am writing this review for the Lava Cookie. It is so delicious. I have never had a better cookie anywhere in Seattle, and I love chocolate chip cookies. The licorice caramel flavor addition makes for a warm and complex pairing. I love this cookie. I cannot wait to have another. Their coffee is also very good; though I did not try any of their specialty drinks. They are extremely creative and unique!

    Water and straws
    Lyee C.

    A cozy coffee and small bites location, with fun twists on your usual coffee fare. I went here while visiting Ballard, as I heard it has the best cookies from a friend. Some outdoor seating, some seating inside too. There's free Wi-Fi and power outlets, so it looks great for hanging out for a while or getting a few emails in. There's a self serve water station too. I got the Shanghai fog, which was great. Like a London fog, but with Asian notes.. reminded me of a bubble tea, minus the boba and that it's hot. My friend got the cookie and seaweed latte. You can somewhat taste the seaweed, but it came off as more salty than anything else and didn't enjoy it. The cookie was fanatically baked, and had a hint of something spicy (I think it's like gingerbread, but my friend placed it as cardamom). Fun place, would go back to try more of the fun flavors or as a comfy spot to wait a while. Just be sure you're in the mood for an adventure with the flavors, as all the items on the menu looked adventurous!

    Lindsey N.

    One of my favorite coffee spots in the Ballard area. I would totally be here more often if their hours weren't so limited. They have amazing drinks. A really cool cozy and modern ambiance and the service is great. It seems like they are a bit Asian inspired in their regular menu, but I also saw some Ukrainian baked goods available so it's really cool to see the different options they have here Even their standard lattes and teas are amazing. So you really can't go wrong with an order here. It is on the main Street though so parking can be difficult parking can be difficult. Plan ahead or just circle around until you can find somewhere on the street

    Arlene S.

    I think I've found one of my favorite coffee shops. I ordered the rose cardamom latte, savory brick toast, and streuselkuchen. The drink tasted just as good as it looked. The barista created beautiful latte art and the flavors were well-balanced. I had cardamom lattes in the past where the spice was too strong and overpowering, but this one was just right. The savory brick toast, topped with Chinese sausage and chili oil, was very unique. The chili oil added a nice kick, though I wish it had a bit of salt. The crumble cake was also good with strawberries in the center. I really liked the ambiance of the shop and would love to come back with a friend to enjoy delicious coffee and snacks while catching up.

    Seaweed latte, oolong tea latte
    Green A.

    Wow this place quickly became one of my favorite coffee shops in Seattle! We got the seaweed latte and oolong latte - both were heavenly and so good! The flavors are not too strong or sweet - it's perfectly balanced and delicious! There's not too many seatings but still cozy and nice. Will definitely return!

    Laura R.

    Everything we tried was delicious. The bratwurst was perfectly made with a well-balanced flavor. The honey cake was by far the best I've ever had--made fresh since it's only offered on weekends. The rose cookie had a unique aroma the only wish for this item is the type of sugar they use can change. The seaweed latte was a flavor I've only discovered here. It was interesting, worth trying, and definitely a drink I'd reorder.

    Marie R.

    What a cute coffee shop in Ballard! I stopped by on a Sunday morning before work and there were a few people there already. I got the seaweed latte and was surprised by how distinctive but subtle the seaweed taste was! The space is so cute that I could see myself just hanging out there, maybe read a book. They have some good items as well so I will try them next time!

    Seaweed latte
    Calista C.

    Came in on a Sunday morning - it was super busy but there was still some of the limited seating available! Overall very cute cafe, perfect for a morning coffee date and walking distance from the farmers' market! We ordered the Shanghai fog and the seaweed latte for dine in and were served one in a to go cup and one in a real mug... unsure why that happened. The seaweed latte has a very strong seaweed taste (a little too much imo). The Shanghai fog was DELICIOUS! very light tea taste with their osmanthus syrup. Their food and bakery treats looks very good as well, some with definite Chinese inspo.

    Savory toast with iced coffee
    Jessica S.

    Love that they have sweet and savory toast on the menu that are not just French toast or avocado toast. The menu is as unique and vibrant as the people that work there. I arrived at a very quiet time and within an hour, all of the seats were taken. Rightfully so - there are awesome spots to plug in and work at your computer, or look out the floor to ceiling windows at passerby's. I did not love my coffee (maybe the syrup just wasn't for me), or I would've given them 5 stars. Will definitely be back for Sunday honey cake.

    Savory brick toast, sichuan sauerkraut

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    2 years ago

    Service was great and the food was delicious. Everyone my husband and I talked to was very personable and passionate about their offerings.

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    2 years ago

    The coffee was fantastic and the bratwurst was delicious and an interesting combination of German and Chinese fusion. Strong recommend!

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    Great food (German-Chinese inspired) and excellent coffee. Friendly staff and cozy space. A true neighborhood gem!

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