Imagine sitting in the sun or just enjoying a bright grey sky, overlooking the sound with the beautiful Seattle skyline as your backdrop. You pick up a Sexy Tofu Taco and POW!--a party on your taste buds. Maybe you decide to try a slider with marinated pork, and POW!--Aloha! If you've never had Spam, I highly recommend trying it here. Start with a Spam slider or the Musubi--Marination is sure to change your mind about Spam in a can. This iconic spot remains an essential part of Seattle's culinary landscape. The best view in the city paired with consistently fantastic food makes Marination Ma Kai a must-visit for locals and tourists alike. The attention to detail, the inviting atmosphere, and the creative fusion flavors ensure that every visit feels like a delightful culinary adventure. Here's to many more years of mouth-watering dishes and memorable musubi moments! read more

Came here for dinner last night around 7pm. They were out of quite a few things but we still managed to find something we liked. We both had wanted to try their spam musubi but they were out so they made a spam musubi bowl. I had the luau plate with marinated beef, & my friend had the loco moco plate. The beef was pretty good, it's basically bulgogi. The loco moco was also good, the gravy on it wasn't too salty and the combo of everything was good. I also had the P.O.G. Drink which was good. Overall it was a decent experience. They have great outdoor seating options and a beautiful view of the water and Seattle. Service wise you order at the front and get a buzzer. We waited in line for a little while, but not too long. Would definitely come back to try some other stuff. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place was very good, I had their fish and chips and it was superb, I would say coleslaw can use some sauce but maybe it's the way they service it. I simply added their kimchi tartar sauce in there it was bomb. Definitely recommend to get your fish chips here over any other location on Alki. Their breading actually stay on their fish not like some other location not to far away. Inside is clean and simple with great view of Seattle!!!! read more

Marination Ma Kai - Fish 'n' Chips - was fire - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

3.5 stars rounds up to 4. Despite the positive reviews I've seen online on social media, Marination Ma Kai is just mediocre. As a warning, their galbi is more like bulgogi and not LA Galbi. My sister and I had the galbi luau plate and galbi kimchi fried rice, and were both slightly disappointed by the quality. The meat was a tad dry, and my kimchi fried rice needed some sesame oil and additional flavor. The prices here are quite fair, and the service is great but as an Asian person living in Southern California, this was not remotely close to the best Hawaiian or Korean fusion food I've ever had. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Luau plate - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This review is for the catering! Marination catered a hearty breakfast spread to our office. I tried a couple items - the Portuguese sausage sliders (on fluffy Hawaiian buns, yum!), tacos, guava yogurt and macadamia nut granola, and sweets. The savory and sweet items were delicious. All the baked goods were home made: the muffins, coffee cake, granola ... and everything had incredible tropical fruit flavors. Now I definitely want to go to the actual location! read more

Marination Ma Kai - Items from the breakfast catering: kalbi beef & egg taco, Portuguese sausage sliders, sunrise Granola & Guava Yogurt - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

For the location this spot is at, I'm surprised they don't charge more. But I sure am grateful that they don't and keep the pricing fair. It's a great spot by the water taxi where you can get food for your family and not feel like you're getting robbed by the menu. read more

Salty like I just drank a gallon of ocean water. Just enjoy the waterfront city view and music (old school hip hop). The food is photogenic and more affordable (~$10-13). But... I couldn't finish it... The aloha fries were so salty, it was near inedible -- I couldn't taste anything else. The fries were oversalted and the pork was even saltier. The luau plate with the "secret menu" protein of katsu was a miss. The katsu was very dry and tasted like it had been frozen for awhile before being fried. The macaroni salad tasted americanized (not the classic Hawaiian style) and a bit too tangy. The cabbage slaw was unseasoned. Not sure if we got a bad cook that day but it is definitely overhyped. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A worker door dinged me and created a big dent in my door :( and they said no one did it. Unfortunate, even though the food was great!

Have eaten here several times after scuba diving nearby and the food is always fresh and delicious. The staff is great, and they have helped me navigate the menu with my dietary restrictions! read more

With an unbeatable view of the Seattle skyline across the Sound, Marination Ma Kai is positioned for instant success. Previously, only Salty's commanded such a magnificent vista paired with a desirable dining destination on the Alki peninsula, but their dominance has at last come to an end, with the emergence of this affordable, and incredible, alternative! Parking is limited, both in available spaces and duration, but Salty's modus operandi is ostensibly grab-and-go system; queue up, place your order, wait for your number to be called, pick 'em up and head on out, with goodies in tow. Despite a small dining area within and a spacious, illuminated patio area without, Marination Ma Kai lacks the capacity to contain the endlessly amassing hordes of eagerly expectant edacious epicureans, swarming and spilling over onto the surrounds docks and boardwalk. In short, you'll have to fight for a table. You'll also have to give Marination Ma Kai a little grace, especially near the end of the day, as certain items tend to run out of stock during their busiest times. We were unable to order the spam musubi, the taco salad or the fish tacos during our evening foray, the lack of musubi being a tremendous disappointment for my wife. However, we were able to pivot to an order of kalua pork sliders, kalbi beef tacos, and for our kids in tow: the fish sando, miso ginger chicken and rice, a cheese quesadilla, and some fries with Nunya sauce. A lucky turn on the patio made a table on the patio available to us, so mom and the kids locked it down, while I ordered us a Jalapeno Fizz and a whiskey mule for is grown-ups! Kids fare aside (serviceable, but not particularly compelling to percipient palates), this is how "fast food" should be: humble, delicious, filling, a little familiar, and a little on the wild side. Of course, kalua pork on Hawaiian sweet rolls is a perennial staple, but that Nunya sauce gives it a pleasant kick and ties everything together, including the abundant slaw. Similarly, the fusion of Korean kalbi beef in taco form is a genius collision of worlds that I have gushed over ever since first discovering it at a Koi Fusion food cart back in Portland. Toss some pickled jalapenos on there, and that mysterious Nunya sauce (seriously...what is it? Nunya business, I guess!), and you have savory, sweet, spicy and sour in equal measure, for your eating pleasure! As to the fish sando, our oldest devoured it before I had much chance to analyze it, which is high praise in itself, but leaves me in the dark as to its particular charms. Our cocktails were simple, strong and solid, served in plastic cups, a little pricy for the amount of alcohol involved, but likely a wise choice, considering just about everyone leaving here has to drive away. Service, where it was offered (as there are no actual servers to speak of in a joint like this), was remarkably pleasant, with everyone seemingly in a good mood, knowledgeable about their station and products, and keeping the line moving at a good clip. Despite this (rather welcome) lack of human interaction/interruption, on a warm spring evening (as was the case during our visit), the encroaching sunset and that aforementioned stunning skyline (even prettier after dark) are the only true companions to share this dining experience with, other than those you bring with you. But with great food, close family, and unbeatable ambiance, what more could you ask for? Well, besides some spam musubi... read more

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Visited Seattle and came to this restaurant for the views and the food. Was disappointed by the food - not much flavor and dry. The views were great and I loved sitting outside enjoying the weather. I didn't love having to wait in two lines - one for the food and another one for the drinks containing alcohol. I'd come back for the scenery but maybe try other menu items. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Kalbi Lū'au Plate - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Location / cocktails a must!! The food? Heavy and nothing special. Too much grease used on chicken sandwich read more

Marination Ma Kai - Chicken sandwich - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Vibes food views I would give this place a 10/5! Come here on a sunny day and you won't be disappointed. You do have to wait in line a bit to order your food but it's so worth it. Big outside patio with plenty of seating. We got the Aloha Fries, Lu'au Plate with Kalua Pork, Spam Masubi, mango and guava juices, and shaved ice and it was all so amazing. The juices are a tad expensive but sooo delicious. Shaved ice is huge. We couldn't finish it between two people. Recommend sharing the Aloha Fries and Lu'au plate so you get to try the best of both worlds. You won't regret it. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Aloha Fries and Lu'au Plate with Kalua Pork - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Despite the reviews I think this place is just okay. The view is amazing. It's situated right next to the water taxi that takes you downtown I came here after running a 5k race and was starving. I was glad that it's not a formal sit down. You'll order at the counter and they'll buzz you when your meal is ready which was pretty quick. We got the kalbi tacos, loco moco and a side of mac salad. - kalbi tacos was okay a bit salty - Loco moco was definitely kinda dry and the rice was mushy and gravy was on the saltier side as well - mac salad it wasn't my favorite It's a decent place to stop by to grab something quick to eat after a 5k when you're hungry and you can enjoy the view. Though it is pricey; I don't think I'll be coming back any time soon. read more

A local friend brought me here for lunch on a beautiful Friday, we sat outside and enjoyed the sun and yummy Hawaiian fusion food. My friends ordered the taco salad with chicken and the kale salad with chicken, both enjoyed. I ordered the two fish tacos and spam musubi - the tacos were small but flavorful, and the jalapeño crema was not nearly as spicy as I was afraid it could be, so overall delicious! And of course the spam musubi was great. The kitchen seemingly forgot about my food but it was brought out quickly when I asked. Bookmarked for next time I'm in town! read more

This is a great stop for Hawaiian inspired dishes. Parking is available in the lot just outside, or street parking. It's not huge inside so can get a bit crowded, but they do have outdoor seating for when it's nice outside. You order at the counter and then find a seat when available. Flavors were pretty good, although portions were not huge. The water views including views of the Seattle skyline cannot be beat. read more

A Hawaiian-Korean fusion restaurant that is situated perfectly to observe the Seattle skyline. Would recommend going around sunset to see the sun glisten on the skyscrapers in downtwon. There's an on-site parking lot. You order at and the front and sit wherever there is seating available. ..... ALOHA FRIES: 3/5 fries were overdone, and even with all the toppings they did not help cover the fact that the fries were overdone LUAU PLATE LUNCH WITH TOFU: 4/5 an intriguing combination of textures and flavors, honestly taking a bit of everything can create that perfect bite read more

Marination Ma Kai - Aloha Fries - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The ambiance is beautiful and is 10/10. The service is fast and very kind. The food was good but I would say that the fish tacos needed a lot more fish and I was kind of disappointed. The kimchi fried rice was delicious and had a decent amount of bulgogi. My bf really liked the pork slider compared to the spam slider. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Fish Tacos Kimchi Fried Rice Hawaiian Mac Salad Sliders - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wonderful food and vibes, just be prepared to wait if it's a weekend! We took the ferry to West Seattle, and Marianation is right off the dock. On a busy Saturday morning, we waited around 30mins to order, but the food came out pretty quickly. Kalua Luau Plate: juicy pork, awesome mac salad and slaw too! Fish & Chips: wonderfully crispy fish and fries, comes with miso ginger tartar or nunya sauce, we paid extra to get both! The tartar was great, though the nunya sauce was pretty salty. We also got a spam musubi and a malasada, both were good, if you want a little something extra! There's quite a lot of seating, pretty on par with the rate that the line moves at, so it's not too hard to find a table. I think the prices are fair, and the views are unmatched, so I'd definitely recommend! read more

Marination Ma Kai - kalua luau plate - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I'm giving Marination 4 stars mainly because their prices are outrageously expensive for what we got! So the plate in the picture below costs us $75 and some change. The Kalbi beef tacos were out of this world but the musubi was salty (maybe consider low sodium spam), the Mac salad was so/so I've had better. The vibe was just right. Overall, my experience was okay if I were to go back there it'll be for the Kalbi beef tacos! read more

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I love Marination Ma Kai!! Always a must visit whenever I'm in West Seattle. The service is quick and the employees are always friendly and very helpful with the menu. There's plenty of seating available indoors and outdoors, and with the restaurant being right on the water, you have a gorgeous view of the Seattle skyline while you dine. I usually get the sexy tofu luau plate, and they're very nice about subbing out their signature slaw for an extra scoop of Mac salad without additional charge. I've also tried their kahlua luau plate and the aloha fries, and everything is always served fresh and yummy. This location also serves alcohol, and my friends and I ordered a round of their frosé to try once. The actual alcoholic content in the drinks was questionably existent, but it was still nice to enjoy by the water and as we walked to Alki beach. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Sexy Tofu Luau Plate, Kahlua Luau Plate, Kahlua Sliders, Frosé - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Good tacos, great fries. Very fresh food. Loved the kale salad and added chicken to make it a meal. The tacos come in 2 packs. And I needed two 2-packs (4 tacos) for a meal. Wanted fish, but they didn't have so got the miso chicken. It was pretty good, though really wanted the fish tacos! The fries were really crispy and crunchy. Very good. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Finally had the chance to try this beautiful spot in west Seattle and I absolutely loved it! It's in a gorgeous location on the water so you can enjoy the Seattle skyline view with your meal for free. I got the 4 piece tacos with their chicken, kalbi, and pork. I loved all of them and their included toppings, but the kalbi was definitely my favorite! Their kimchi fried rice is also delicious. Love this spot and will definitely be back! read more

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BEST spam masubi! All their food is great and drink are delish. Shaved ice is a kid fav. Fun's spot to stop in after a run or bike ride. Lines can get a little long at peak hours with tourist and during summer. Staff is friendly and can't beat the location on the water and the view of the city. read more

What an incredible place. Like having a small piece of Hawaii on the mainland. Musubi worth eating. The loaded Hand - cut Fries and fish sandwich were also delicious. Just on the other side of Elliott Bay. Seats are limited but worth the wait read more

Marination Ma Kai - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This was just ok in my opinion. It's a little overpriced for most part. A busy place but it does move. We ended up getting the fish sando and the aloha fries. The fish sando was literally a fish fillet type sandwich. For $12 I think it's pricey. There was nothing really special about it. I was expecting it to come with a side or something but it was just a sandwich. The aloha fries was better in pricing but it was a little too salty for my taste. I originally wanted the loco Moco but after seeing what it looks like and how small it was, I'm glad I didn't. We also got the coconut malasada and it was pretty good. The Coconut wasn't too strong but the texture of the malasada was pretty good. read more

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This is going on my list of "spots to bring people when they visit Seattle"! Beautiful view, chill atmosphere and the aloha fries with the kalua pork were exceptional! We also got the 4 pack sliders with half spam and half kalua pork... solid with good flavors. Next time I might swap out the sliders to try something else. Lots of outdoor seating with lots of cute puppies to look at (super dog friendly). It was fast and efficient and a great stop if you are taking the ferry from west Seattle. read more

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Hype wasn't too real on our visit. Felt like this place was overrated and overhyped. Together, we got the Fish n Chips, Kimchi Fried Rice, Musubi, and a few Luau Plate Lunches (Kalua, Kalbi, Spicy Pork). Maybe those aren't the best things to pick as I see the sliders and tacos being extremely popular, so keep in mind this review is mainly for those items. First, we were underwhelmed by the size. As UW students, we're a bit spoiled with a decent Hawaiian food truck on campus that serves great Kalua Pork. Potentially compared this experience to that which is what made Marination so underwhelming. Anyways, the meats felt pretty dry and we weren't provided sauce so we had to go inside to ask. Slaw was mainly cabbage and also dry. Mac salad was standard, more of a typical mac salad that's wet rather than the dry mac salad you might find at a poke shop. I prefer the latter, but the former is great as well and the mac salad here wasn't bad. Rice is normal too, I mean how can you go wrong, right? Furikake sprinkled on top was great though and enhanced the rice so honestly, probably the star of the show for the Luau plates. If I'm ever near Alki beach, maybe I'll try something new? Probably won't be thinking of coming back for the Luau plates or travelling to Alki just to eat here, though. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The view of the city was great from the restaurant! Pork Katsu: The pork was dry, but the sandwich as a whole was good. The house-made "BULLDOG" tonkatsu sauce was tangy and delicious - it really brought the whole sandwich together. Luau Plate Lunch (Kalua Pork): I didn't like the plate at all. The pork was really dry and salty. The mac salad and signature slaw were bland. The slaw on the plate was different from the one used in the katsu sandwich - I preferred the tangy slaw in the sandwich much more read more

Marination Ma Kai - Luau Plate Lunch and Pork Katsu - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Marination Ma Kai is one of my favorite restaurants. Besides the amazing view, their "local" Hawaiian food is delicious and also unique. My absolute favorite combination is the Kimchi Fried Rice with Miso Ginger Chicken, topped with some "Nunya sauce." I could eat this every day if I could! Their tacos and sliders are also delicious and classic. You really can't go wrong with these. This is the ideal spot to go to if you want picturesque dining with a touch of aloha. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Most winning combination: Kimchi Fried Rice with miso chicken and a side of nunya sauce and small Mac salad - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Good service and short wait time. Delicious tofu with a flavorful sauce. Would have liked to try more of the menu. read more

Marination Ma Kai - Tofu Sliders - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Solid, casual lunch spot with waterfront view. Line moves fast so don't be intimidated. Plenty of seats inside and outside. The chips in fish and chips were especially fried well and seasoned. Fish tacos were small but for $7 it was solid. Surprisingly the standout was the coconut chia popsicle that I got back in line for. They had flakes of coconut on it that was still crunchy. Got a spam masubi Togo for my flight and it if saves pretty well. read more

Some of the best views of the Seattle skyline and the food & drinks are soooo yummy! I had the kimchi fried rice, gobbled up much more than i could fit, it was so good and still had leftovers. The service is walk up and order at a counter then seat yourself, so don't be taken off guard, kick back and enjoy watching the beautiful Emerald city. read more

A very tasty menu: YES. Rustic, yeah I guess, perhaps not tidy would be a better verb to use. The table I wanted to use was dirty. The rest were filled with people eating and drinking. One, was a long table, so my sister and I sat there. The order came up as soon as we sat and Kim ran off to get the food and napkins we'd be needing. She ordered a taco salad. But I don't recall what protein she chose. My order was one each of the meat proteins offered. Beef with a name I don't recall and never heard of, carnitas, shredded chicken and I guess pulled pork. Each were good, but until I tried the beef I have to claim were indistinguishable. Just very tasty, particularly the crema that was flavoring the cabbage slaw which was startlingly delicious. Perhaps the highlight, if that's possible. Denise the lady who took our orders was great and helpful when I had questions while we were ordering. I arrived knowing I wanted fish tacos, but was informed they weren't on the menu anymore. When I completed my meal I needed ONE more, but they were sold in fours. So naturally, I didn't do what I should have done, and just been content, I ordered 4 more. The one I ate when we returned to my sisters place a couple miles back near Avalon, which was again fantastic. But when I finally returned to my residence when I'm in Seattle (aka mom and dads) I was forced to bust back into the remaining ones because tomorrow they'd be no good. Now I'm a bit stuffed but I'll rest content knowing that had I waited till I might've been more hungry, I'd be very disappointed when they were inedible. Logical, right? I'll be returning next time I'm in Seattle I expect. Perhaps that'll be before I fly home Tuesday. read more

Marination Ma Kai - 4 double corn shell tacos - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Restaurants on Alki Beach have some of the best fish and chips. Marination Ma Kai has some of the best fish and chips AND Hawaiian food, a beautiful view of the water, and its own parking lot, so there really is no excuse not to visit! There was so much good stuff on the menu, my fiancée and I could barely choose. After "narrowing it down", we finally decided on: aloha fries, fish and chips, fish sando, kalua pork sliders, and a miso chicken luau plate. The aloha fries are a Hawaiian twist on loaded fries. Loaded fries are always a bit hit and miss for me, but I am pleased to say that the aloha fries rocked!!! The kalua pork and fried egg on top are enough to practically be its own entrée if you want, and the kimchi sauce gave it such a nice spicy and a little sweet kick. The fries themselves were AMAZING. They were so good I started abandoning the aloha fries to just eat the plain fries that came with the fish and chips. They reminded me of Dick's fries but crispier. They leave a lot of the skin on like Dick's fries, but they're also double fried, so they're super crispy. The seasoning and texture on the fries were so perfect, I didn't even need to dip them. They were literally perfect already. But I did end up dipping them because otherwise it would've been a waste of their house-made miso tartar sauce, which was SO GOOD. The fish in both the fish sando and the fish and chips was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Seriously some of the best fried fish I've ever had. The fish and chips are seriously a must-try, since you get 3 of their best items: their fried fish, their fries, and their house made tartar sauce. The luau plate definitely hits the spot for a Hawaiian food craving. The rice is topped with furikake, and it comes with slaw and mac salad too, what more could you ask for? The sliders were bomb as well. But the fish and chips were definitely the star of the show. The holy trinity of fish, fries, and sauce. Lastly, can't forget to mention the beautiful view. We went at night, so we got to see Seattle all lit up right across the water (see attached pic). It was heavenly. read more

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We were looking for a place on the waterfront. This place is prefect for that. You see the Seattle skyline and its super pretty. Amazing View of the Seattle Skyline. Food: I loved the kimchi fried rice with spicy pork. The Fish sando was great too. The pork sliders were okay. We also got Frose which was too sweet and not great. Service: Its a self serve place. You order on the counter and pick it up when the buzzer goes. Not much wait time so it was okay. Finding a table can be a task though. In-all: A decent place, most of the stars for the View. read more

The location is great! It's right there as soon as you walk off the ferry/water taxi. They have a cute little seating section right by the water. We got fish tacos, aloha pork sliders, spam musubi, and coleslaw. The fish tacos were okay. They tasted better when you add the jalapeños. My friend and hubby split the sliders and they really enjoyed them. The slaw was just cabbage not slaw haha. And my hubby is a fan of slaw and enjoyed the spam musubi. Nice little snack before exploring alki beach. We also enjoyed a few cocktails. We got a mule, the alki pog, and a mai tai. The pogs were strong. I enjoyed the mule. Refreshing. The views the best part. read more

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Very casual food shack with a bar facing downtown Seattle's waterfront. We ordered from a window & got called when food was ready. Lined up at the window for a cold drink. Picnic tables on a patio & facing Seattle. There was someone spraying tables clean . They serve Hawaiian shaved ice, tacos, bar bites ... read more

Marination Ma Kai - Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I ordered the pulled pork combo. Rice, coleslaw and pulled pork. I paid extra for an egg. The food was awesome. No qualms there. But the pulled pork portion I ate in 3 bites. Super disappointed. I was actually shocked. The meal was worth about $5.99. Not the $17.99 I was charged. They need to step it up. read more

Well darn, never ever thought I'd be giving one of my fav lunch spots a 2 star review. I've always had such delicious food here in the past, but sadly not today. I ordered fish tacos and fries. The tacos look pretty, but the fish was, well, fishy. The sauce helped to mask the off flavor, but it was still there. Usually a sign fish not being as fresh as it should be. Marination's fries have always been high on my list for favorite fries in Seattle, and so I always order a side of them. But today they were overcooked and more laden with oil than usual (you can see how dark the are in the photo). Staff was great and service was super fast. Not sure what happened to the food today, but huge disappointment. Hopefully it was just a one off.... read more

Marination Ma Kai - Fish taco & fries - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington