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    Manic Meatballs

    3.9 (218 reviews)
    ModerateScandinavian
    Closed • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Manic Meatballs Takeout or Delivery

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    MANIC MEATBALLS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Manic Meatballs

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    Allan A.

    With a name like Maniac Meatballs how do you pass without stopping in? Only minutes off I 5. The dine in area is not fancy but it is clean. Had a Maniac mini. 3 Swedish meatballs over egg noodles and baked beans. Good, filling lunch. Staff was friendly. You can see them getting ready to make some more meatballs. Looked freshly made, not frozen.

    menu
    Beth G.

    Good hot meal that is like home cooking, very filling&delicious. Service was fast and friendly. I only went to drive through, but might be nice to dine in sometime. Very close to military base.

    italian and korean meatballs
    Pear H.

    The manic meatball itself was big, flavorful, and had a really good sauce. The Italian meatball tasted just like you'd expect, classic and delicious. The chicken apple meatball wasn't really my thing; the texture felt a bit off. But the Korean meatball was my favorite, spicy and super tasty The sides were solid too. The shells and cheese was creamy and good, the coleslaw had a nice flavor with no bitterness, and the mashed potatoes were smooth and tasty. Definitely worth trying if you're into creative meatball flavors and comfort food sides!

    Mini manic meal
    Sharin F.

    Now look, I love supporting local business. Especially in this economy. The price of everything is high, so going out to eat is a true treat. I was very excited to try it due to the weather and this just seemed like the ultimate comfort food. I found them on Yelp and checked their social media to see what the hype was about. They do have 4 stars after all. Long story short, I was quite underwhelmed. 2 manic meals, a mini manic meal, a meatball sandwich and lingonberry lemonade was just under $67 with tip. We also purchased merchandise in cash. I might try again closer to peak times, but I'm in no rush. 2 out of 5. Best items: Lingonberry lemonade, mashed potatoes. Full stop. Long story long below. Parking is not bad as they have a dedicated lot that has about 7 spaces and a drive thru. The lot doesn't accommodate for the capacity of the establishment, but it was completely empty when we came. Staff is friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and made the menu clearer with explanation. The place is clean, tidy and eco friendly. It boasts fun decor finished with cute merchandise for sale. A little confusing because the overall theme looks very Viking, but the rubber ducks merchandise doesn't tie in and they sell Italian meatballs. I don't know. I'm here for the quirk with no judgment. The most underwhelming part of this place is the food. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it can't improve and don't have a goal of dissuading anyone from trying it. The issue is, the advertisement of the food on social media doesn't actually reflect the quality of what I actually received. For reference, they close at 8 and I arrived about 5:30. The food looked old, the meatballs without sauce looked dry and two toned (showing which part sat in the juices), the shells and cheese was horrendous looking and the cucumber salad was soup. We decided to still give it a try since we drove over half an hour. My manic meal with potatoes, manic balls and bacon wrapped balls for an upcharge of $3 came with two sides. The server couldn't even serve me shells and cheese, because it was literally a big block of congealed noodles with what looked like dehydrated noodles stuck to the top. To alleviate this, she opened another dish containing a white sauce that had a film on top and looked burned down the sides. She then took two ladles of this and put it in the shells and cheese in an attempt to rehydrate and break it up. To no avail, I asked for cucumber salad instead. The cucumber salad was sad limp cucumbers floating in a vat of juice with onions that she was literally fishing out until I changed my mind again and asked for green beans and baked beans. Green beans came out fresh and severely undercooked. Baked beans were the only other side that didn't have a film I could see aside from the Cole slaw and weren't my favorite. I wanted to try the deviled eggs, but given how the other sides looked, I didn't want to run the risk of getting sick. Bacon wrapped meatballs were soggy with raw parts of bacon and 2 of my manic meatballs were undercooked in the middle and dry on the top. Low key impressive. The mini manic with applesauce and Italian meatballs won out. The meatballs had a good sauce/good flavor and weren't dry, but the applesauce was described as an apple smothered in cinnamon with no sweetness or acid. The Italian meatballs sandwich was good, but soggy (probably due to travel time), but not bad. The lingonberry lemonade was good and I'd pay $6 for that again. Take a gander and see for yourself. I recommend coming close to opening or during peak times for freshness.

    Leftovers from my Swedish meatball sandwich meal with fries, pasta shells, manic sauce, and lingonberry sauce
    Danielle L.

    My mom and stopped by here on the way to Oregon for her birthday. We had only ever had their bacon wrapped meatballs at the fair, so wanted to try the restaurant. Everything was great! My mom got mashed potatoes, Swedish meatballs, gravy, green beans, and cucumber salad. She said she'd get the exact same things next time. I got the Swedish meatballs on the sandwich with gravy and sour cream drizzle; for my sides, I got fries and the shell pasta. I also got lingonberry sauce and the manic sauce. I mixed both sauces and added to my sandwich, which was delicious! I'd get the same things next time, but probably get the cucumber salad instead of the fries. The cucumber salad was so good, tastes pickled! Definitely will stop by again if we are in town.

    Carolyn D.

    Like many people, I saw this place on Tiktok and knew I had to try it, as a fan of Ikea's Swedish Meatballs. I got the regular Manic meal with manic meatballs, mashed potatoes, green beans, and shells and cheese (their version of mac and cheese I suppose). I was a little disappointed that my meatballs were a little tough, like they were a bit overcooked? My boyfriend got the Italian meatballs and he did not have this issue. Otherwise the meatballs paired nicely with the gravy and mashed potatoes. The green beans were okay - some pieces were cooked more than others, and simply seasoned. I wish the shells and cheese had more flavor and salt, but I still liked it. I think the amount of food you get for the price is pretty good. It was $12 for the meal but they do offer a happy hour type of deal where you can get $2 off. The meatballs with both of the sides can easily fill a person up. The service was pretty nice. I've heard some nice stories about the manager/owner when people have seen them. The employee that served us was very friendly. I don't think this is worth going out of your way for, but if you're in the area I would try it.

    Manic Meatballs Shells And Cheese (V) Cucumber Salad (GF, V, VV)
    Nicole C.

    What a disappointment. Food was cold, there was no flavor, particularly on the shells and cheese. I think my 5 year old nephew could make better mac and cheese. The meatballs were dry and a bit hard. The best part of the plate was the cucumber salad which is just sad to have to say. The place felt dirty.

    Exterior
    Helene L.

    Quality food, low key, delicious. * meatballs were good- we like the manic meatball over the chicken and apple (milder flavor). * kids loved the mac and cheese (in my opinion a little plain) *Green beans cooked to perfection, though a little greasy. * flooded fried, their version poutine! Yummy! Service: Purchased online and pick up - easy. - like how we can customize our meal. - wish we could have purchased only the flooded fries, but their system required me to add meatballs (request business to add option. "No meatballs"). Ambiance- cafeteria like. Large space with tables. Parking: plenty available. Recommend: if you're feeling like some Scandinavian food or not, this is a great place!!

    What a delicious meal from Manic Meatballs! Loved the deviled eggs, cucumber salad, mashed potatoes and most importantly the meatballs!
    Alden C.

    After going to a Yelp event and experiencing Manic Meatballs there as one of the food vendors we made a special trip to go to their physical location since we enjoyed what we had at Yelp so much. Steve and I were not disappointed and we really enjoyed our trip and meal at their restaurant as well! I got five meatballs, mashed potatoes, cucumber salad and two deviled eggs for my meal and it was all so very good! I kind of look at Manic Meatballs as Swedish Meatballs like you would get at the cafeteria at IKEA but Manic Meatballs is significantly better! Great food!

    Bacon Wrapped Meatballs
    Ray A.

    We have driven by this place many, many times going up and down I-5. Imagine my surprise when I realized it was actually called Manic and not Maniac Meatballs. Regardless today would be the day we finally pay it a visit. So worth the stop! First off fast friendly service with an easy menu. Good choices but not overwhelming. The restaurant was nice, clean and offered not only a good meal but merch as well. My boy just had to get a rubber duck. As for the food, it looked like the best and from what we were told one of the most popular deal was the combo. So 6 meatballs, gravy, choice of carb, mash tatters, noodles or rice and a choice of 2 sides. I chose baked beans and deviled eggs with rice and manic meatballs. Serious good balls and gravy! Plus gravy and rice is such a good combo. Put a fried over the top and it's practically a loco moco with meatballs. We also got the bacon wrapped balls on a stick which was yummy! Needless to say we will be back to sample everything else the next time we are in the area.

    Us clowning around with Carrie (owner)
    Paul K.

    We love this place! While at Manic Meatballs for a Yelp event for Women Run Businesses, we purchased 4 of the dessert balls. We had a couple of the Oreo Balls and a couple of the Coconut Balls. The Oreo Balls were chocolatey and good and my favorite was the Coconut Balls. The Coconut Balls taste a bit like the Mounds or Almond Joy candy bars, so if you like those you will love these. We were told they are from a family recipe so that is also very special. We also learned that Manic Meatballs now bottles and sells their unique take on fry sauce (Lingonberries added!). I tried some and it is pretty yummy. Also, a portion of money from each bottle of their fry sauce sold goes to charity. Absolutely love to support small local businesses. Even better as this one is women owned. Thanks Manic Meatballs!

    Enjoying the people and Manic Meatball's hospitality at another awesome #YelpElite event!
    Debra B.

    On the drive along I-5 between Tacoma and Dupont, just south of Lakewood, you can't help but notice the big blue building with bright yellow letters on the west side of the freeway. This former bank building, long abandoned, was resurrected and transformed into a family restaurant by Carrie Stalder and her husband, Chad. The bank's vault has been converted into the walk-in refrigerator. Oh yeah... did I mention they took this leap of faith in the middle of the pandemic? It was bad timing, but Carrie's passion, enthusiasm, and commitment have allowed this humble restaurant to take root and flourish. The building caught our eye several times and we finally got off the interstate and stopped in for lunch one day. Most recently we enjoyed a Yelp Elite Event, hosted by Carrie and crew who fed us a delicious meal! At the Yelp Elite event we learned that the Swedish meatball recipe was handed down by Chad's late mother, a Swedish immigrant. They have grown a thriving dine-in, take-out and catering business. Carrie is Chief Maniac who runs the day-to-day operations of the restaurant and catering business, while Chad works his day job and also develops and tests recipes in their home kitchen. You want some meatballs? They've got plenty to choose from: classic Swedish meatballs in house made gravy, savory chicken apple meatballs, Impossible™ meatballs, which are 100% Vegan, gluten-free, and delicious, and specialty meatballs which change monthly. The Manic Meal comes with 6 meatballs (mix-and-match) served on your choice of mashed potatoes, egg noodles or rice and served up with two sides; they have many great sides to choose from, but we had deviled eggs & cucumber salad which were fantastic. We also sampled their seashore fries and bacon-wrapped meatball, and house made lingonberry lemonade. They also serve meatball sandwiches and yummy chocolate coconut balls and brownie balls for dessert. The food, service, and atmosphere all come together to create fun place to eat or to stop by and grab a hot meal to bring home.

    Game

    Drove 2 hours to come here after seeing their social media. Food did not disappoint! Best baked beans I've ever had and everything else was good too. Staff was friendly, eating area is open, clean, and comfortable. Had games available to play so we sat and played Yahtzee after eating. Great spot.

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    6 months ago

    Friendly staff. Fresh. Exactly what I expected.i would come back again. A++++++++++++++

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    Thanks a billion Monika!!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Manic Meatballs

    Are the meatballs gluten free or is there a GF option?

    Hi! Yes…our impossible meatballs are gluten free. We also have a number of gluten free side options, including cucumber salad, coleslaw, deviled eggs and more!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Freya - my friend's short rib hash

    Freya

    4.5(42 reviews)
    38.4 mi•Ballard

    Everything you'd want in a museum cafe. Definitely had Scandinavian flair. We opted for the Pork…read moreTenderloin smørrebrød and the Salmom Gravlax. I was thinking I would prefer the salmon but hubs and I shared both. The Salmon Gravlax had creamy dill as a base, topped with pickled red onion & dill. Very tasty, very satisfying. Hubs was enjoying the pork, and once I tried it, I could see why. The horseradish aioli was the exact combination with the pork tenderloin. I think it was our favorite of the two. This was a great option after visiting the museum. Very enjoyable morning!!

    An amazing cafe right inside the entrance to the Nordic museum (no admission necessary)! They serve…read moreunique Scandinavian food like smørrebrød and pickled herring alongside staples like avocado toast and drip coffee. I LOVED my Stockholm steam (black tea with cardamom syrup, nutmeg, and steamed milk). Comfort in a cup. The star of the show was the Rømmegrøt, a Norwegian sour cream porridge. It tasted very rich, creamy, sweet and just slightly tangy with a velvety smooth texture. The generous toppings balanced it out perfectly and it was served in a beautiful Fortessa bowl. The presentation elevated the deliciousness. The staff also cleaned up a broken plate knocked down by a little girl and handled the situation with kindness and grace. Freya reminds me of the cafe Off the Rez at the Burke museum: a beautiful tribute to the museum's heritage and a way for visitors to experience its culture.

    Photos
    Freya
    Freya - Lava chocolate chip cookie

    Lava chocolate chip cookie

    Freya - Autumn Salad

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    Autumn Salad

    Scandinavian Specialties

    Scandinavian Specialties

    4.4(104 reviews)
    39.2 mi•Ballard, Loyal Heights
    •$$

    It's a small shop and largely knick-knacks, but there are some real gems here:…read more 1. they have the best selection of pickled herring I have seen anywhere in the United States, and it's good-quality stuff. 2. they have Karelian pies that taste correct, and bring back fond memories of Finland. Better than any other ones I've had in the US--I just wish I'd asked for them to not heat it up.

    I was requested to stop here on behalf of The Homie (3/19/26). He wanted to check out some specific…read moreFinnish items. And as for me, I always like to stop in and wander indie international grocery sites. Scandinavian Specialties is located on Crown Hill in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. There are a few parking slots adjacent to their building and also accessible via Metro bus. Nice, bright, clean site with well organized shelves and display areas. Easy to navigate and wander. Welcoming and upbeat service at the front register. The retail side of had a nice selection of jewelry, knives, socks, knitwear and sweaters, household decor, chocolates and other sweets, packaged and canned goods, frozen and refrigerated items. There's also an adjacent cafe area. The menu is visible above the front counter register. The Homie ended up selecting a bag of salted licorice (local), cloudberry jam (rare, imported), and Finnish bread cheese (Juusto, domestic from Wisconsin). He was happy with his finds and hopes to return to dine at their onsite cafe. *Scandinavian: Denmark, Norway, Sweden *Nordic: the above and Finland

    Photos
    Scandinavian Specialties - Retail by cafe area (4/2/26)

    Retail by cafe area (4/2/26)

    Scandinavian Specialties - Cake (Verdens Beste Kake) in honor of Norwegian Constitution Day (17 May) 2023.

    Cake (Verdens Beste Kake) in honor of Norwegian Constitution Day (17 May) 2023.

    Scandinavian Specialties

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    Byen Bakeri - Praline cake

    Byen Bakeri

    4.3(367 reviews)
    37.5 mi•Queen Anne
    •$

    An EXCELLENT bakery - delicious breads and treats made from Northern Europe recipes and unlike…read moreanything you will find around PS. There are sweet things but they are not so sweet that your tongue wants out. There are savory things made to perfection and breads that are dense and delicious. Sandwiches are among the best around and the coffee drinks are first rate. Friendly staff that is happy to answer questions. Get there early for best selections because just like the European counterparts, waste is minimized, quantities are limited, and if you don't get up in time, it is your own fault. Easy parking and an appropriate atmosphere. PS don't miss the poppy seeds.

    The best spinach and cheese croissant!!! The cheese wasn't too overpowering or too salty. The…read morecroissant was on the denser/chewier side rather than airy, which is how I prefer it! This was the perfect pastry for an easy and light breakfast. It wasn't too oily at all. I came in the morning around 8:30am and later again near 11:30am and it seemed like they had different pastries at the different times! The croissants were near sold out by 11:30am, and they had brought out their puffs. I need to to try the jalapeno cheddar cheese puff next time! The drip coffee was so delicious. I would love to come back to ask if they offer refills for free or at a discount. There was a good amount of seating, but I'm not sure if you could study/work here because I didn't pay attention to if they had wifi/outlets/a bathroom. I walked, but it seemed like there was a decent amount of street parking nearby.

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    Byen Bakeri - Wedding Cake

    Wedding Cake

    Byen Bakeri - Thumb print

    Thumb print

    Byen Bakeri - Almond coffee cake

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    Almond coffee cake

    Café Hagen - Churro cruffin

    Café Hagen

    4.4(653 reviews)
    35.9 mi•South Lake Union
    •$$

    What a delectable meal after a 4 hour bus ride Came here…read moreafter dropping off our bags at the hotel, since it was just a 5 minute walk away. We came in around 1:45pmish and it wasn't crowded. They had an amazing selection of pastries, though I didn't try any. I got their Caramelized Banana Latte to satisfy my sweet tooth, and it wasn't too banana-flavored nor too sweet; the black sesame in it balanced it nicely. I also got the Urban Pesto, which was SO yum. I was little skeptical of the focaccia - sometimes I find it to be too puffy, and thus hard to eat the sandwich - but this had a lovely panini press on it that made it easy to eat. The in-house herby cheese in the sandwich made each bite just that much more delicious. The staff was also super nice and accommodating to my parents' requests and questions. Can't wait to come back to try their other food and bev options!

    After having lunch across the street, I decided to check out Cafe Hagen SLU (7/21/26). I had…read morevisited other Seattle locations on upper and lower Queen Anne. I appreciated that this location has both spacious indoor and outdoor seating. Despite being busy, this was not packed with ample seating still available and not cramped. Nice chill vibe with good music, healthy foliage and pleasant indoor decor, with a reasonable unidirectional service line. Tempting pastry case with savory and sweet choices, the usual bevs, as well as, cocktails. Vibrant place to visit solo or meetups with others. The 16oz iced mokka (mocha) I had was well crafted. Both counter folks were personable and welcoming. I was able to sit at a two top and remain cool during my brief visit on that hot Tuesday early afternoon. They've been an indie (Cafe Hagen/Freya) that has expanded to many locations: here in SLU, two on Queen Anne, downtown on 5th, at Dexter, the Waterfront, Freya in Pike Place Market and Nordic Museum in Ballard, plus sites over in Bellevue and Kirkland. Support local!

    Photos
    Café Hagen - Interior

    Interior

    Café Hagen - Delicious quiche

    Delicious quiche

    Café Hagen - Facade

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    Facade

    Manic Meatballs - scandinavian - Updated October 2026

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