I have been to the Harbor Cafe dozens and dozens and dozens of times, and I LOVE it! I go because the food is delicious, competitively priced, of superior quality, with lots of variety, and the owners are wonderful people. I have tried many items on the menu, and I really like them all. The pork loin special on Tuesdays is one of my favorites as is the noodle bowl. The pot roast, Thai green curry, panang chicken, and swimming angel are all delicious. Rut and Judy (the owners) really take special care when preparing your food. The ingredients are fresh and delicious, and the food is prepared very well. Give it a try! read more

It was a cold and rainy day. The rain felt like little tiny daggers because of the wind. I had to walk the 2 blocks to get here because of all the wonderful reviews I've seen on here. I go to counter to order, and the super-nice lady gives me some napkins to help dry me off. I loved that tiny little gesture because it said so much about the service in this wonderful, hidden mecca of yum. I ordered the chicken curry, and was super impressed with the low price. The price was amazing, but it came to me so quickly - and was a pretty hefty portion for such a low price. Oh, and was it yummy - the chicken was tender and the rice was cooked perfectly - the veggies were also perfect. I will definitely be back; and next time I'm trying the swimming rama! read more

Food 4/5 Service 5/5 Location 3.5/5 Value 5/5 A DT mini-Gem serving both American and asian food. Looks like the owners of this place rented out a lobby area of the bottom part of the building and serve reasonably priced food with terrific service. Service - As many have already mentioned, the owners here are incredibly warm and friendly people. Reminds me of my grandmother, how attentive and caring they are. Food / value - Won't go into long detail about the food, which is pretty good (4/5?) but honestly in that immediate area you can't find value like this other than Umma's lunch box or sandwich places at that price. Very reasonable lunch in DT. Only one out of probably 2-3 places immediately in that area where you can have a very nice lunch for less than $10. I would come back any day of any week. read more

The place isn't hidden away in a cranny like some of the other reviewers have mentioned. Then again, I did find it on yelp first, so maybe I'm biased. I came in on a Thursday so I went with the green curry, which I found was lacking... in curry. The dish itself was quite delicious, and the lady stressed the white/lean meat. I also decided to get the pulled pork burger, which for a Thai place, was surprisingly good. I don't plan to give this place 4 stars for a pulled pork burger, so I will be back to try another daily special. The lady and the staff are quite friendly. She remembers your name the first time (quite possibly, to see what you said about her on Yelp :P), however, I did not get a chance to observe her calling other patrons by name, but I imagine it is an impressive feat. Protip: If you don't want to pay for parking and are with a friend, call ahead, then park in the 3-minute parking out front that no-one parks in, and have your friend pick up the meal. They even offered to come out to the street and drop it off, if you are by yourself and can pay by cash. read more

Harbor Café - Green curry chicken - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I've been going to Harbor Cafe for 18 years, and dollar for dollar, it is the best lunch in downtown Seattle. After eating their home cooked meals, you feel better. The Wednesday pot roast is off the charts and stands up to any other venue, regardless of price. One of the few places left where you can sit down and eat your lunch...at no extra cost. They're all set up for Covid, so try them out, you won't be disappointed. read more

I've worked in this building since March and only just now "discovered" Harbor Cafe. First off. Big mistake for waiting so long. I LOVE this place. I went to try their pot roast special (on Wednesdays) and honestly it felt like I was at home eating my mom's pot roast that she labored over all day. I went back the next day for a breakfast sandwich - Julie was so nice, she remembered me! For the same price as a starbucks breakfast sandwich, this one was just so fresh and hit the spot. Had lunch AGAIN today and tried the crispy fish. The fish was crisp, not oily, and seasoned perfectly. I would eat here every day if I could afford it. Harbor Cafe is one of those places you almost don't want to tell people about but after getting to know Julie and Chef Rut - it would be a disservice to keep this gem from the world. read more

I would rate this place based on taste and portion! Tastewise, i would say 4.5-5 out of 5! Foods are amazing. But if you are like me and care about big portion, i would say it's a 3 out 5 place! It's pretty good for light and yummy lunch, but not if you starve. read more

Tiny little hole in the wall, family run, with amazing food. I work in the building and eat here at least once a week. They're only open for lunch, so sometimes I get order dinner too and take it home. LOVE these guys. read more

This cafe is tucked away inside an office building, and it's a great place for a quick lunch. I work close by, although I've only been here a couple of times during my lunch break. I've had the curry noodles, which is quite simple yet very tasty and filling. The owners are super friendly, and the service is quick. This place is a no-frills quick service Thai cafe. You won't find everything you're looking for if you're craving Thai food, but they have some great homestyle food. read more

Curry. A big beautiful plate full of delicious curry. Yum! I've heard of this place for years but never had the joy of getting to dine here. Well, I finally made the plunge with a co-worker and it is divine. First off, the pricing is incredible. I really do not have any budget for extras but this was a great surprise to find something affordable for lunch. Also, the portions are enough for two! Even better. The staff are incredibly sweet and remember the regulars. The service was quick. They have a nice little area to sit at but the only downside, it needs an overhead fan or something because jeez it was hot. The food itself is flavorful and really well done. I had been craving delicious comfort food and having a warm curry with enough spice and real veggies made my day. Definitely a great downtown lunch treat! read more

Best thai food in seattle. No fact shit here. Just amazing delicious flavors. From 2 owners who have I've seen making this place a st in pke in seattle for over 20yrs. Slw as ys a lunch fav read more

I've walked by this place many times, seen the sign, and wondered what was inside. A friend suggested that we meet here for lunch. I'm always down for a new place. I looked at the Yelp reviews and felt immediately encouraged. Yes! This gonna be good. The lady at the counter was friendly and it wasn't busy since we were there before the 12pm rush. We ordered then walked across the tiny hall to the seating area. It wasn't really what I expected, even after reviewing the photos but chairs and tables are all I need. I had the chicken noodle soup. The noodles were okay but the broth was very bland. My head whipped around looking for some seasoning and all I found across the room was soy sauce and sriracha. I added both to the soup but it didn't help. Sriracha is simply not the right seasoning, nor is soy sauce. :-( The chicken was tender but lacked flavor. I believe they let it boil out. My friend let me taste her crispy, fried white fish and while I think it tasted good, the portion was very small for $6.95. Unless I get a direct recommendation on a dish from someone I know, I'm not sure I'll be going here again. read more

Five stars. BLAM. No contest. No dissent. I absolutely adore this place and I absolutely adore the people who run it. They treat their regular customers like family which is something you don't get usually. Especially downtown. Now. Let's be honest here. This place is kind of weird. It's in a strange location: it's at the back of the lobby of an older downtown building in what looks to be an area that was specifically converted to be a restaurant. There are no windows. There is absolutely no way you'll be able to get over the idea that you're essentially sitting in a lobby, eating some of the best food downtown has to offer. But that's okay. It's very tidy, very clean, and I bet you no matter the hour you'll find at least th of the tables full of happy eaters. Let's continue to be honest: Harbor Café has a strange menu and a strange style. It's mostly Thai... but on Mondays, they have a spaghetti special. On Wednesdays, it's pot roast. I can't really explain that so I won't even try. It is worth pointing out that each day of the week, they have a special. it's the same every week. Pasta on Mondays. Lemongrass beef on Tuesdays. Pot roast and mashed potatoes on Wednesdays. Thai green curry chicken on Thursdays. And panang chicken curry on Fridays. I'm huge fan of Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The panang curry especially is seriously criminal. So frickin' good. It's the best Thai food I've ever had with Phayathai running a close, close second. So, yeah: the thing about this place, other than how awesome the owners are, is that the food is ridiculously good. Everything is very, very fresh. The vegetables are all crunchy, colorful, and delicious (so much so that I sometimes order extra vegetables). Everything is cooked perfectly. I go here about once a week and I have never had anything that wasn't unassailable. Aside from the specials (and I highly recommend them), they do have a full menu. This is where the 'Asian fusion' thing comes in to play. It's mostly Thai-themed but they dabble in other cuisines such as teriyaki and, I think, yakisoba. I highly, highly, HIGHLY (OMG I AM SO HIGH BUT NOT REALLY BUT YES LOL) the crispy salmon and/or white fish. It's fantastic. They also have, and this is where the deli part comes in, salads and sandwiches. I can't imagine coming here and just getting a sandwich or a salad but I'd be surprised if they weren't at the same quality as the rest of the food. There is a lot of pride and love in this restaurant. It's hard to not feel it. But there's also a lot of humility. It amazes me that Chef Rut pushes out such great food of such great variety and still displays such gratitude for the customers who come in to share in the manifestations of his recipes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm getting all emo about it but Harbor Café is the real deal and I am violently loyal and maybe even slightly verklempt. If you happen to be in the area, give this little place a shot; I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed and I can guarantee you that they will be honored and grateful to have you. Go more than a couple of times and I can also guarantee that they'll remember you. This may not be Shag but you tell them Akiva sent you and nothing will happen except they might be happy that I sent business their way. I better end this review before I start crying tears of joy. PANANG CURRY THIS FRIDAY. MEET ME THERE AT 11:15. read more

You know how out-of-towners always ask where the "locals" go in an attempt to avoid tourist traps? And you know what they really want is to be told that a tourist trap isn't a tourist trap, so that they can feel free to go to the restaurant at the top of the Space Needle or whatever, not so that they can find out what the best places locals regularly go to. Which is kind of a roundabout way of saying that Harbor Cafe is one of those absolute gems of a place that's little and local and perfect. It might not be the most impressive, but the food is solid and tasty, the tables are clean, and it's just perfect for the middle of the typical downtown worker's day. Plus, it's usually pretty easy to get a table in their dining area - though all bets are off on Thursdays, which is their ever popular green curry chicken day. I haven't had that dish myself, but their regular chicken curry is a solid example of a Japanese style curry. Decently priced for the amount, too - the curry usually makes two meals for me. Go a few times, and the owners will remember you. Yesterday, I was told "You're one of my new friends!" as I stopped by for the chicken noodle bowl (awesome Asian-style soup, rice noodles, lots of garlic). Not a reaction you're going to get at most places, and abosolutely charming for it. So tell your coworkers about it if they're looking for a new lunch spot. Chances are they'll be charmed by the no-frills good food. Just don't tell the tourists - wouldn't want to ruin the atmosphere. read more

Tucked into an office building, this little Thai restaurant is tricky to find. Go inside the building, into the lobby, past the directory sign, and you'll see it. The food was pretty good but the prices were even better--nothing over $8. The noodle soup I had was pretty bland, but I tried my boyfriend's Thai curry noodles and it was fantastic. And the service? Sweetest people in the world. I felt like I was at home. You really can't get more mom-and-pop than this. read more

This is just a wonderful place. The owners/staff are friendly, cool, and seem to have a charming 80's appeal to them. o.0 ;) The gentleman even seemed to be rockin' a subtle mullet. The space is clean, simple, neat, and organized. I had the day's special which was ok. I'm betting there's probably something here that you'll really like, and I'd return to find out. Also, a sufficient condiments and water tray, and keyed bathroom. +1 on the 3 evenly-spaced historic photos on the wall. read more

It's kind of hard to pin down the type of cuisine here since there's such a variety of things they serve (pot roast, teriyaki, swimming rama). If I had to sum it up I would say decent tasting homestyle cooking with an Asian emphasis. The "savory yellow curry" with chicken tasted like something my Mom would make. It was a fairly spicy curry similar to a Japanese style curry but less sweet. The pulled chicken is cooked separately and mixed into the curry. I would have preferred if the chicken was stewed together with the curry. Overall, it wasnt the best I've ever had in a restaurant but hearty and comforting nonetheless. read more

People, people! This is what I'm talking about. Put your monocles down. Take off those fancy pants. Come to the Harbor Cafe and enjoy simply great food prepared by sweet people. The value is tremendous. This is like a Thai version Shopsin's (NY reference) but without the agita and the intimidating menu. The owners are right there. The food is out of sight; especially the Swimming Angel. They have healthy options like extra veggies and brown rice. Sure, the kitchen is across a hallway. Yes, the bathroom is down the hall. Of course this isn't fine dining. You know who's got two thumbs and doesn't care? This guy. read more

Did I eat at the same place that everybody else did? I mean, I'm sure that the owners are complete sweethearts and that they're trying their heart out here, but I didn't walk out a fan of this place. I'm sure that other people that have written reviews on here singing their praises are saying, "Great! More for me," and honestly, I think I'm completely fine with that. I had the Swimming Angel which a lot of people on here recommended. The chicken tasted very similar to what I've had in Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup. The spinach tasted like frozen spinach recently microwaved. The yellow curry at my table seemed to have a great deal of curry powder with not enough sauce. I feel bad submitting this review as I really wanted to like this place. Unfortunately, though, I just couldn't get into it. read more

I've been coming to Harbor Café for two years now. It's a tiny little hole-in-the-wall in the lobby of the 1411 Fourth Avenue building, owned by Chef Rut and his wife, who are very friendly people and treat their customers well. I've never had a bad meal here, although a meal wouldn't generally fill you up because of small portions. They aren't that expensive, though. There is a special item every day of the week. My favorite is the Friday panang chicken special -- delicious chicken curry with a pleasant kick served over rice! I also enjoy their chicken noodle soup a lot. The broth tastes clean, and they give you a lot of rice noodles. They could certainly put more chicken in there, too, though. My coworkers keep raving about their Thai curry noodles, so I need to try that next! read more

Harbor Café - Panang - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If you work in downtown Seattle, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. It's in a pretty unobtrusive area of the block, right next to an e-Trade office, and you wouldn't know it was there, but for the blue shingle you can see from the sidewalk. What will you find there? There's no other place I'm aware of in the area that provides a similar experience. Two inveterate restaurant folks, with serious cooking chops, serving up perfect lunchtime comfort food, primarily with an Asian bent, mostly to-go, but with some seating in the adjacent space as well. The daily specials are terrific: Monday chow mein, Weds pot roast (like home-cookin' pot roast with fresh mashed potatoes and pan drippings, with veggies), Friday panang curry are my stand-bys. Other favorites are the soups and the thai curry noodle bowl. And it's very reasonable: under 8 bucks, including tax, for a hearty plate of meat, veggies, and a starch (rice, potatoes, noodles) depending on the dish. Oh, and the thin, crispy chocolate chip cookies are great as well. They are quick, efficient and friendly as all heck, and they know probably half of the patrons in the place, because it's primarily frequented by regulars. You should become a regular too! read more

Harbor Cafe is my favorite lunch spot in Westlake. It features affordable prices and homemade quality food. It's a friendly place. When I walk in, Judy greets me by name. If it's not Thursday, I order yellow curry. They offer specials Monday through Friday. My favorite special is Green Curry Thursday. You can order food to go, or grab a seat. Harbor Cafe is a great lunch spot for people who work downtown. It's not fancy, but the food is predictable and satisfying. read more

OK, this is important: YOU CAN GET JUST ABOUT ANYTHING WITH TOFU INSTEAD OF MEAT. My only concern about this place was that few options were vegetarian, but now I know this secret and this place is all the better for it. Also, the soups are incredible (though they are made from chicken stock). Hey, I'm only vegetarianish... read more

Do you ever turn on the TV and see a sitcom cast sitting in a restaurant where the owner knows everyone's name, is really nice, and will even let Fonzie's band put on a show to raise money? The place exists, with the exception of the band part. Harbor Cafe, tucked away on the west side of 4th ave is home to some of the nicest staff, best food, and most reasonable prices in Seattle. I rarely leave work for lunch, but I know that if I do and I go to Harbor Cafe, I can get some really good food (served sit-in or to go) for a reasonable price. Personally, I'm a little torn between the yellow curry and the swimming angels for the top spot on my list, which probably justifies a little more research. The seating is like an enclosed food court, you can pay with credit cards or cash, and the woman behind the counter always thanks you for coming in and tells you to bring your friends-she's super sweet and you can't help but fight the feeling that you're leaving your grandmother's from your weekly visit. In all, a pleasant experience, good food, and affordable pricing--. read more

Chef Rut & Judy make the greatest Thai/noodle/Asian dishes on the planet. They will customize any order to your personal liking and taste. Their location has sit down comfort & reminds me of a cozy coffee spot, only with spectacular food. Bring your appetite & easy on the wallet! I love this place. Make sure to try the Swimming Angel - Absolutely Delicious! read more

Harbor Café - Harbor Cafe Best Bkf/Lunch in Downtown! - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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First, let me say, finding breakfast downtown is oddly difficult. We happened upon this as it was just down the street from our hotel. It's not fancy and is located in the lobby of an old hotel, wish I could remember the name. Found it because f their sidewalk sign. We all enjoyed our breakfast. The real treat were the owners, could not have been more friendly, engaging and showed a great sense of humor. read more

This was nice find thanks to yelp. The place is tucked in the lobby of this office building. We were greeted promptly, directed to the menu and recommended the daily special which was lemongrass beef. You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table that you select which is located across the hall. My buddy ordered the special and I had the crispy white fish. Both served on rice with a sauce and was very tasty. The meal was light in the sense you don't get too much and it doesn't sit like brick in your stomach. Good if you are on portion control. All their dishes were in the $6.95 ballpark. So all in all, their service was great (the greeted you on the way in and thanked you on the way out), the price is reasonable, the food tasted good but was a little lacking in quantity. I would come back again but only when I am not absolutely starving. read more

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For seven bucks, the Panang curry exceeded my expectations. Wonderful flavor and viscosity. I only wish there was more, because I'm still hungry! Note: there isn't any signage outside of this business complex. Just follow the people walking in and out with food... You'll figure it out. Nice that it's right near work! read more

Loved the vibe! OK I'll admit I love cafe-style, 25-person office building eateries, but this one is special. The chef is semi-famous, and the prices are under-this-world (most everything is $6.95 or less). Beware though: closes at 3pm. Most items on the menu comprise in a broad sense,of protein + vegs in a sauce on rice. Many tasty variations! I had the traditional "swimming angel". Very tasy toppings; the rice (jasmine) was lumpy. Very friendly staff/owners. read more

My Favorite Lunch Place EVER! I have been to this restaurant nearly every single week for the last six months or so, and I always have the noodle soup. (Yes, I'm totally addicted.) The soup is hearty and nutritious (they use no-hormone/antibiotic chicken, rice noodles, lots of veggies and no MSG) and it lets me avoid all of my ridiculously varied food sensitivities (in fact I was originally told about the place by a patient with lots of food allergies). The place is wonderfully clean (I'm picky), the food is incredible, and the service is amazing - the owner Judy, always remembers me and what I like (as she does with many of her other customers - probably because she has so many regulars). This is my favorite little hole-in-the wall lunch place. Every friend I've brought here (many) loves it and always ends up bringing other friends. Yes, the soup is that good. Oh yeah, they have other food too, someday I might have to try it, but I'm just too hooked on the noodle soup! read more

Food is really good. I had the Swimming Angel. Service is fast and friendly and you can tell they all love their jobs. My food arrived in less than 4 minutes. Inexpensive too. My lunch was $9, including a drink. It's in kind of a hidden dungeon. You walk through the building entrance, down a mysterious hallway lined with torches, and then like magic, it's a freakin Cafe! But it's not, it's a freakin Thai restaurant! The decor is no-frills. I mean it, not one frill. But it doesn't matter because the food is so good and gets there so fast and the folks are so friendly. Great place for lunch. read more

Reading the reviews, this place might seem to be a bit overyhyped? It's a no frills place with great tasting simple thai food, cooked and served very quickly for take-out or dine-in, and affordably priced at $6.95 for most dishes. Based on the strength of Yelp reviews I ordered the crispy fish and my friend ordered the swimming angel. They are generous with the rice, so I had plenty left, and the fish was great, but I wish they'd put on a bit more of the veggies. Her dish was great, loaded with chicken, and she ended up with leftovers. It's kind of a weird location, at the end of a hallway on the bottom floor of an office building. Definitely appears a bit cold and uninviting, but oh well. The owners are super friendly and seemed to know everyone's names when they came in. I'll be back eventually, I'm sure of it. read more

Wanting to give Harbor Cafe a higher star rating I came back on a Thursday and went for the green curry. And is was SOOOO GOOOD! The curry was spicy but the amount of rice was enough to cool that fire. I do wish that the chicken was a little more tender but it is OK the way it is. And the amount of veggies is right on...not too much and not too little. My coworker recently came here and tried the pot roast and said that it was really good. I also am intrigued to try the Friday special Panang Curry. Friendly staff and good food for a very good price. I am hooked! read more

I'm going to have to buck the trend here - Harbor Cafe is good, 3 stars is good from me, but it's not great. It's very returnable though. So don't take this the wrong way. It is nestled back in a little hallway, and the name, "Harbor Cafe and Deli" hardly conjures up visions of Thai food. I love Thai food, but I wouldn't have gone to just another nameless deli. I would never have found it in the first place had it not been Yelped so highly. I had the Thursday special, green curry, and it was tasty. Had a thickened gravy as compared to what I am used to, with almost chicken medallions rather than the "strips" of chicken I see so often. Also with a slightly eclectic mix of veggies too - some carrots, celery, and even corn in there with the green beans and bell peppers. All of it tasty. But it really didn't knock my socks off. The chicken was tender, the sauce had good flavor, and the veggies were good. Could have used more heat though. And maybe a little more basil flavor. I will probably be back. The price is right, everyone is MEGA friendly, and I want to try the Swimming Angel, as I have a weakness for peanut sauce. read more

I really wanted to give this place a better review. It has that eccentric, kind of "this is different" vibe. People are friendly. The food though is just OK for me. I am on the fence as to whether I think it is well prepared. There is a little bit of homemade feel to the Chinese chicken soup. The broth is light but good (I prefer it to pho), the sprouts and cilantro, as well as that browned onions really add depth to the soup. But I think the chicken is quite overcooked and hard, bland. The noodles taste like they weren't cooked properly and there is a certain flavor and texture in the noodle themselves that detract from my enjoyment of the soup. I know I sound way picky, but that's because I grew up eating my mom's chicken noodle soup regularly. If the noodles aren't cooked correctly, an important part of the dish, the rest of the dish really suffers. read more

You walk into this place and it feels like you're eating at a friends house who has a mom that's an awesome cook. The staff are all very nice and helpful people who take pride in their jobs. The food was awesome, I had the "Swimming Angel" with Tofu instead of meat. Normally anytime I have almost any Asian food I'll grab some sriracha sauce and add it to the dish, but here it felt like that would just ruin the food's great taste. The only strange thing about this place that kept it from the five star rating was their silly tiny water cups. You get this big plate of food and then a shot glass to put water in. I found it amusing more than anything really. read more

I definitely need to go to nicer-than-normal hole in the wall more often. It's kind of a mix of sorts of food and I tend to get them same thing everytime - Swimming Angel (Chicken, spinach, peanut sauce over jasmine rice.) Sounds simple enough but it's delicious. There curry is yummy, too. They also have tasty looking crab cake salads, pork sandwiches, salmon, and daily specials. And they even have brown rice! Also, the portions aren't too overwhelming so you don't feel like a heffer when you get back to work. Definitely a nice hidden gem. read more

Great place, friendly owners. I had the swimming angel for lunch & it was great, so I came back for the pot roast. They made it for me ,special, even though it wasn't on the menu until the next day. If you want quality food that is equal to any expensive restaurant for under 10 bucks then this is your place! The owner has been on Nat Geo and some other TV shows. He's often taken on VIP corporate jets as the head chef. The other review is correct. The map for this place is wrong. It's on 4th between Pike and Union. Look for the blue sign sticking out. Enter the breeze way and walk to the back. The restaurant is small, but don't let it fool you. The locals know this place is awesome. They're only open from 8:30-3pm I believe and I don't think they are open on weekends. Great food and cheap in an expensive area. You wont regret a visit to this hidden treasure. read more

Harbor Café - Swimming angel...it's chicken with a great sauce. - Thai Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Reasonable lunchtime place with decent prices. Wouldn't complain about anything in particular but wouldn't compliment much either. All in all, not the most memorable place. read more

Wow lunch in downtown for under $7! Not too bad :) This place is a nice hole in the wall to grad lunch in downtown. They cook up a menu of Thai food, each day having a special dish. I tried their lemon grass beef (Tuesday special) and it was good, soft and tender beef over a bed of rice. Good portion too! I'll be stopping in again to try the other dishes. read more