There are places you enter because you are hungry and places you remember because the food was…read moregood. Cube Ramen in Lacey is the second kind. The noodles have bite to them. They hold against the teeth the way good noodles should. The broth comes through, then the pork, and then the marinated egg with its dark, quiet flavor. It is more authentic than the ramen you buy at the Asian grocer and take home to make yourself. There is something different about a bowl made by someone who knows what the bowl is supposed to be. The room was not what you might imagine when you think of ramen. It was somewhere between a teriyaki place and a sandwich shop. The building was full of businesses and the room belonged to the building. There was nothing wrong with that. A man does not need much from a room when he has a good bowl in front of him. The waitresses understand this. They come by often. They look at the table and see what is needed. Water. Another thing. Anything that is not quite right. They take care of it. That matters. It is a good bowl of ramen, and they take good care of you while you eat it.

This place was pretty good! Kinda out in the middle of nowhere but fairly close to Cabelas…read more The Shrimp Tempura was delicious. The Agedashi Tofu was good too. The Miso Ramen was good yet lacking ingredients. Could use a little more. I will remember this place for the future.

I absolutely love it here. I come often during my lunch break from work. The staff are so lovely,…read moreand the food is always delicious! They have a cute flower aesthetic within their restaurant which is so lovely. Definitely get the pho, you won't be disappointed! Their fresh spring rolls are always a hit as well!

Solid Vietnamese restaurant. I really enjoyed the Bahn Xeo-the fresh vegetables and herbs made it…read morevery refreshing. My dining partner liked his chicken vermicelli. Portions were generous. We probably didn't need the spring rolls-but they were tasty. Friendly staff.

Loved it! Small place in small town. Udon and sushi both tasted fresh and genuine…read more Cant wait to try more options off their menu!

Disappointed Service…read morewas good So many good ratings and sadly I did not enjoy my food at all. I purchased the yakisoba and the golden California roll. Did not enjoy either. The flavor profile of the yakisoba is not good. There is even a smell to the food that is off-putting. The roll, it wasn't crunchy. It mainly had one overwhelming flavor that took away from all of the other flavors in the roll. Their online presence is very frustrating when trying to find an accurate menu. In house they have a QR code that you can take with you. That is nice. Unfortunately I am throwing out $40 of food/tip as it is not edible imho. I love sushi but I'm not inclined to return.

We have dined here several times while we were in town. The employees were friendly and served the…read morefood fairly quickly after ordering. The portions were huge and delicious! However, one of the ordered dishes was a bit spicy and very greasy...there was a bit of oil left in the serving dish. Overall, we will visit again when we are in town.

After looking at the reviews I went to Lime Leaf for a Thai dish food fix. Ordered chicken with…read moregravy 25a and spring rolls. First the spring rolls were ok leaned a little chewy but the peanut sauce was good. The chicken i was not a fan. It came in a large piece so the presentation was great. However the chicken was overcooked and the breading fell off at the first bite. The gravy had zero flavor I did order 1 star and maybe that was my mistake. If I came back I would order a higher spice level. Maybe today was an off day because others seemed to love it.

Amazing authentic Korean comfort food…read more Food is always so delicious staff is friendly and welcoming, area is clean. We have tried: - Seafood pancake - veggie pancake - chicken bulgogi - spicy pork bulgogi - spicy squid bulgogi - beef bulgogi - all the banchan And everything is a 5/5, soooo good. Service is great they're always friendly. Now, the ONLY downside is their ridiculously expensive prices . ($20+ per dish) We still go here but just not as often due to their prices. Besides that, I highly recommend this place.

Yummy food but oh so pricey! I ordered takeout through the…read morephone for my first visit because I was interested in the lunch specials that were offered. Unfortunately, I was looking at an outdated menu on Yelp, so the spicy tofu soup is no longer on the lunch specials, AND if you want a "lunch special," it needs to be specified when placing the order. I assumed that because it was lunch time, I would be paying the lunch pricing? That wasn't the case when I arrived. Parking seems to only be on the same side as the barber shop (which i think is connected to the restaurant as well?). When I walked in, I didn't really check out the place. Seems like a classic no-frills Korean restaurant. An ajumma (아줌마) appeared at the register after a couple seconds (lol that is the first description that came to mind). I informed her of my phone order and she brought out the food and rang me up for around $55? I was thinking, yikes, that's a steep price for a spicy tofu soup and a lunch special of the galbi and mentioned it to her. She told me that the portion made is not the lunch special and next time, make sure to specify that over the phone if I want the Lunch special or dinner portion. She clarified, while acting out the mannerisms, of customers that would complain about the Lunch special, because they would want a dinner portion instead, so she just places general orders as the dinner portion. (I can already imagine the Karens she must have received for her reaction, which is understandable, but at the time, I was just slightly irritated since I was hoping to pay a cheaper price.) I am assuming after this experience, there is a difference in portion size for the lunch and dinner pricing.. Besides the miscommunication, I can at least say that the food was prepared quickly since it was ready by the time I arrived at the restaurant (about 15 mins after I placed the order?). With the outcast weather, I was craving some soondubu, and Seoul Garden definitely delivered! The tofu portions were generous and the broth was the right amount of spicy where you can taste the flavor but it is not overwhelming. I was not expecting so many complementary sides either! They paired very well with the rice and galbi, which was thoroughly marinated in a delectable glaze. Even though I was initially frustrated that I received the dinner portion, I calmed down after eating the galbi. My son and I actually ended up devouring it.. the food was so good, I totally forgot about the pricing at the moment. Just keep in mind though, this place is not advertised as KBBQ, so you're paying for individual plates/dishes/orders that should already be cooked. I would only recommend this restaurant if there are certain staples you really enjoy (i.e. you're only craving bulgogi but don't want to go out to eat or grill it), because it is arguably just as expensive as KBBQ. But if you're a foodie that can afford it, I'd suggest stopping by to try it out yourself! :)

Reviewing for just the ramen since I haven't tried anything else on their menu…read more My son and I were craving ramen a few weeks ago and we've been trying out different ramen places to compare. We're down the street from Zen and decided to give their ramen a try. Parking is easy to locate but can be a bit crowded since it's in the same lot as Dutch Bros and a couple other shops. When we first entered, we were greeted by an employee (and the Naruto statue at the front hehe). It was fairly empty when we arrived since it was on a Friday around 4ish in the afternoon. You have to pay first when you order. You'll be provided a number placard to place at a table of your choose when you dine in, and your food will be brought to you when it is ready. Drinks are also self-serve (for soda). We decided upon water cups but it's at the same station as the sodas. There is a menu at the cash register for quick ordering if you know what you want (when you walk in, it's on the left). The employee also directed us to a menu with pictures and descriptions of each item (when you walk in, it's on the right). The place definitely has Japanese vibes for the interior decor with its oaky/wooden furniture and warm lighting. Our ramen arrived shortly after we seated ourselves. We both ordered similar spicy ramen, which ended up tasting fairly good. My son really enjoyed his ramen since he liked the level of spiciness and taste of the broth (spicy enough to taste the flavors and feel the heat but not enough to hurt). He also liked that the ingredients were balanced (not an overabundance of just ramen noodles). I did enjoy my ramen as well and shared similar views. My only criticism would be that the ramen options seemed very simplistic and many ingredients were similar, so it didn't feel like much variety. My son and I actually ordered two different kinds of ramen, believe it or not, but from the photos, they look almost identical. There's also only the option of tonkatsu or shoyu broth, regular or spicy. The soft boiled egg was delicious but it would have been nice to receive a full egg instead of just half. They are generous with their chasu portions at least, with its big slices. Not as tender compared to other places I've been to, though, but still tastes good. We enjoyed our experience here though so I can at least say that it's worth trying out the ramen. Not so sure about the sushi burritos but maybe we will consider for next time.

Came in on a Sunday night, and the place was busy in the best way. I was craving ramen, and since…read morethey're the closest spot to us, we decided to stop by. The staff is very friendly and checks in on you throughout your meal, and the ambiance is great - fun decor and good music. The food is solid for the price, and the portion sizes fill you up. I always order the Zen Ramen with and extra egg (duh). I do with the broth were a bit creamier, but that's just my preference. And if you're looking for an appetizer, you can't go wrong with the pork buns!

As someone who is very, very picky when it comes to Thai food, I can honestly say this is one of…read morethe few Thai restaurants in the area that I genuinely enjoy and the ambience is not too bad. I understand that many Thai restaurants have to adjust their flavors to accommodate international taste buds, and I completely understand that. However, this place has a handful of dishes on the menu that actually taste like home and for me, that says a lot. There is something about finding those familiar, authentic flavors that immediately brings you back. Not everything has to be completely traditional for me to enjoy it, but when I find dishes that remind me of the Thai food I know and love, I definitely take notice. Among the many Thai restaurants I've tried, this is one I continue to come back to.

We stopped by Esan Zap today for lunch with our daughter and sister, and as usual, it did not…read moredisappoint! This was our third or fourth time eating here, and it has become our go-to whenever we're in Olympia or Lacey and craving Thai food. We were the first table of the day, so we were greeted and seated right away. I also have to mention that the restroom was spotless and smelled nice, which is always a good sign when you walk into a restaurant! I get the same thing every single time...the chicken yellow curry, which they call "My Woman Curry." I still find the name hilarious and interesting! I always order a spice level 3, and for someone who loves spicy food, it's exactly what I want. It's spicy enough to have a kick but still packed with flavor. Not the kind of spicy that just burns your face off and overpowers everything else! My sister-in-law got the duck curry, which she absolutely LOVES, and she ordered a level 2 spice, which she says is perfect for her. Sean got the same curry as me, and our daughter got the beef Pad Thai with a level 3 spice. For an appetizer, we shared the chicken satay with peanut sauce and the cucumber salad that comes alongside it. That cucumber salad is so good! It has a delicious marinade that pairs perfectly with the spicy food and gives you that cool, refreshing bite in between. The service is always friendly, the restaurant is clean, and I really like the decor and atmosphere. It's just a great little spot for a flavorful Thai meal. If you're in the Olympia/Lacey area and craving Thai, definitely give Esan Zap a try. We'll keep coming back!

The ribs were really good really good sides as well. Great service. I will definitely be back!read more

Solid affordable meal. The spicy garlic tofu rice bowl had good flavor and texture. My dining…read morepartner liked his chicken bibimbap with egg and Korean side dishes. Basic interior with about half a dozen tables. Friendly staff.

Singaporean food is one of our favorite cuisines, so we were pleasantly surprised to find a…read moreSingaporean restaurant in Olympia. We stopped by for a late weekday lunch. They're a small shop setup to mainly handle takeout orders, but there are 2 - two-tops on the inside and 2 - two-tops on the outside as well. The food: Laksa - I love Laksa, but it's just so hard to find in the US. A lot of ingredients and seafood go into this thing. This version hit the spot. Seafood, coconut, spices, and a little bit of a kick. Chicken Rice - Our dish came with a healthy portion of rice, 4 slices of chicken, and cucumber. The staff let us try both the ginger sauce and the chili sauce. Chicken was tender and flavorful. Nasi Lemak - I could have just eaten the coconut rice, fried omelette, and sauce. Those went so well together. The dish also came with a chicken drumstick and some small salty, crispy fish. Since they're not setup well for dine-in customers, food is served with plastic bowls and utensils, which is a non-preferred way to eat some of these dishes. The owner is very friendly and talked to us a bit about the food and the restaurant. He's Singaporean and learned some of the recipes from his grandmother. The store is run by his family and I think it's great how they treat tourists and locals. Overall, really happy with the food and our visit here. If you're missing Singaporean food or you're looking to try something different and flavorful, this makes for a great stop in Olympia.

Hole-in-the-wall restaurant selling SE Asian street food such as Nasi Lamak, Laksa and chicken and…read moredrunken noodle. The daughter working in the front is very nice - she told me it's a small family business that's been around for about 3 years. Most people get takeout, as there are only 4 two-people tables (2 inside and 2 outside) available for sit-down. Food: Laksa was decent, came with shrimp, clams and fish balls. Tge broth has a kick, but is not as creamy as I like; my friend liked the Chicken Garam Curry she got. Portion is quite small, but reasonable for the price (under $15). We also got Chicken and BBQ Pork puffs to-go, and had it for breakfast the next morning.

The food is delicious, the spicy chicken teriyaki is just the right spice, the chicken fried rice…read moreis enormous and a good selection of beers. What makes this place special is Aaron. He's friendly, helpful and as jests gently upsells. He really knows his product and his smile is contagious. I have never been let fidd we n by this restaurant.

I ordered takeout here on a Sunday afternoon through Doordash Pickup for my first visit. I called…read moretwice over the phone, hoping to place an order through this method, but no one answered; went straight to voicemail both times. Just a bit frustrating since I know Doordash charges more.. I also didn't want to place the order at the restaurant because I was so hungry and wanted to grab & go :( I was really craving pho and I liked their menu, so I took the chance and ordered both a regular-sized Meatball Pho (pho bo vien) and their Pho with Steak/Flank/Tendon/Fatty, which seems to be their "pho dac viet." On their menu, the price is listed as $15.99 for a Regular size and $17.99 for a Large. I paid $17.99 for each through Doordash for the regular-size, excluding the almost $4 of tax and bag fee.. Thankfully, I live nearby, so it was just a few minutes to drive over. It's in the same busy parking lot as Safeway and McDonald's but it's more on the opposite side, so I never realized it was in the same lot. Plenty of parking, at least. When I entered, the restaurant had plenty of seating but only a few tables occupied, which made me wonder why they didn't answer their phone.. I know I'm being petty over a few dollars but I just want to get bang for my buck. The inside looked nice and cozy, and I think would be a lovely place to enjoy a bowl of pho on an outcast/rainy day otherwise (if I didn't just want to go straight home lol). I was instantly greeted by a friendly employee that asked if I had a takeout order and escorted me over to a small table, where it was already neatly bagged and ready for me to retrieve. Now, the FOOD. I will say, it was absolutely delicious! Everything was organized and packaged well, so nothing spilled on the ride home. The pho was a good temperature: hot enough to cook the steak, but not overpowering enough to burn your mouth. The regular size still provides ample portions, so both my kiddo and I ate half for lunch, and our other half for dinner. I specifically asked for no beans sprouts with my order, so I do like that they provided enough for my son while still following my instructions. I am not too picky about my pho broth, but I can at least say, the broth here was not watered down. If anything, it might pack too much flavor and might deter some customers, but for me, it was savory and divine! I still had to add my obligatory hoisin and Sriracha sauces, so it might not be the healthiest, but i don't care, I slurped up everything! I usually post images of my food on social media [stories], and actually had a friend ask what the soup was because it looks really good. Some people have a finer palette for "good" Pho but for me, pho is pho as long as it is flavorful and there's a fair amount of MEAT! They offer moderate portions here so I can't complain, and everything was satisfying enough when eaten with the broth. 4 stars because they didn't answer the phone but my son and I devoured everything, so we can at least advocate that the pho is worth it! I'd recommend trying out this restaurant at least, especially if you consider yourself a pho connoisseur (or even a newbie to pho!).