Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Marination

    3.9 (398 reviews)
    ModerateAsian Fusion, Korean
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Marination Takeout or Delivery

    Marination Photos

    Business Info

    MARINATION ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Marination

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kalbi Beef Lūʻau Plate
    Joriene M.

    Kalbi Beef Luau Plate ($13) - This was a filling meal that transported me back to Hawaii! I liked the flavor of the beef but I was looking for a little more sweetness and spice. Still recommend trying though!

    Wade G.

    Busted up this meal before leaving Seattle. Great spot. Spam Burrito was great, Breakfast bowl was perfect, felt more Hawaiian with every bite

    Malasada
    Amber N.

    The tacos with the miso ginger chicken were delicious; they had a great balance of flavors. The tots were crispy and seasoned well. The malasada was fluffy and sweet.

    Kalua Pork Lūʻau Plate

    Weird seeing reviews claiming bad price to size ratio. This is downtown seattle, there are very, very, very few places you can get full for under $15. Kalua Pork luau plate is a steal at $13. This place is very consistent and while its not going to blow your mind, consistency and a good price are kind of unicorns when it comes to Hawaiian food. 5 stars because I'm assuming the yelp algorithm doesnt reward anything less, 4.5 stars (B to B+) really.

    Mel P.

    Was excited to try Marination after someone recommended it while on a work trip. The food was very standard. The only thing that really stood out were the pocket tots. Portions are pretty small for their pricing and nothing notable in taste. The workers were very nice though! I wouldn't drive out of my way to grab food from here.

    Sexy Tofu Lau Plate
    Ciara L.

    Me and my friends wanted a fun lunch so we came here. It's located very close to the Spheres. I was in the mood for Hawaiian food and had to eat pescatarian so I saw they offered tofu and was excited to try. The sauce felt really salty. The Mac salad was pretty good. The parking situation is that there's street parking that you'd have to pay for or a garage which I think you'd pay for. Took about 5 min to get our plates. Service was nice. There's a long table inside that's bar seating styled or tables outside. Ambiance was alright- the music was pretty fun.

    Kalbi Beef Lau Plate
    Prasiddha H.

    Had a chance to try Marination for lunch today and it was a good experience. This is a good spot for takeout, especially if you are craving Korean style food. The service here is fast and ambiance is very casual, typical takeout store style. For my food I got the beef luau plate which came with rice, Mac salad and a salad. Very flavorful and well portioned, definitely worth giving it a try if you are in the area!

    Kalbi beef taco salad, with a fried egg ($13 plus $2 for the egg).
    Candice F.

    Quick dinner stop and ordered a kalbi beef taco salad, with a fried egg ($13 plus $2 for the egg). Too much dressing and the kalbi beef is uninspiring. I definitely make better at home. Disappointing considering the average reviews here.

    Spam musubi, Mac salad, taco 2 pack & mango lemonade
    Lizzy C.

    Met up with a friend of mine while in town at Marination. Its like a Hawaiian fusion spot. I thought where else can I get Hawaiian style tacos. And man this place was good. I had one taco that was kalua pork and one that was kalbi beef with a side of mac salad and of course spam musubi. Musubi is one of my favorites as a Hawaiian. The kalua pork was really good but the kalbi beef was excellent. They did a great job with the Mac salad being traditional style. They make the lemonade and bottle it which was so good. The restaurant is small and has counter service but offers out door dining. We grabbed a table right out side and enjoyed the breeze and catching up with a friend. The whole experience was nice. I would definitely eat here again if im in the area. If you like fusion, hawaiian food or tacos this places is a must try.

    Emily T.

    Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. I appreciate they have outdoor tables since we had our pup with us. The wait time was pretty long, but I think they had a really big third party order ahead of us. Food: + I was pretty sad because we ordered the fish tacos and they last minute told us after waiting almost 20min that they ran out of fish, so I ended up getting the beef and tofu. Tofu taco was better than the beef in my opinion. + tater tot with pork and sauce - this was just ok. Kind of bland. Tots were crispy but the sauce didn't affect much just salty and the pork was also salty. Might taste better if the sauce was a little sweeter to balance. + mango lemonade - kind of pricey and pretty sweet. I actually think this would be refreshing paired with some sparking water for a fizzy lemonade. Overall, the food was just ok for us. A bit on the pricey side for what we got.

    Kimchi fried rice
    Justine K.

    We walked in and we're able to order on a tablet kiosk. We came here towards the end of the day and they ran out of galbi beef so just something to keep in mind if that is a dealbreaker for you. We went with the kimchi fried rice and luau plate with spicy kuala pork. The spicy kuala pork had a bit of a kick to it but it wasn't painfully spicy. The kimchi fried rice was just okay, nothing special. This location felt super casual with its bar and stool seating inside - great for a quick meal.

    Vinh M.

    I went here with a friend for a quick lunch on a Saturday. You order up at the counter and if you get any spam musubis, they're next to the register. Seating consists of some inside window seating, and several tables just outside the restaurant. Since it's in downtown, you'll want to street parking or find another means of transportation. I got their kalua pork dish along with a spam musubi. Flavors hit the spot here, especially with the kalua pork, which definitely had a small spicy kick to it. Very well-seasoned, and happy that both the rice and the bun were perfect palette cleansers. Kind of minor, but their macaroni salad was tasty too. The spam musubi was all right but added more meat that I wanted since the portion size of the kalua pork was somewhat small. I was still full and satisfied with the food, and their flavor profiles are done right here. Highly recommend for some delicious and quick food!

    Luau plate w/ kalua pork, taco salad w/ tofu
    Gillian A.

    Best thing here was the friendliness from the staff. Food was rather below-average. Luau plate w/ kalua pork: kalua pork was bland and a tad dry. Mac salad had no flavor either. Taco salad w/ sexy tofu: overuse of soy sauce on the tofu making the tofu very salty. Saving graces were the tanginess of the pickled jalapeños and the Nunya sauce to help combat the saltiness. Pocket-size tots: decently crispy but I didn't taste much seasoning. Spam musubi: assembled well (didn't fall apart) with on-point rice consistency, but spam piece was a bit salty.

    2 Aloha Sliders Aloha Tots Mac Salad (large)

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emily T.
    776
    1185
    2338

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 5
    Love this 7
    Oh no 3

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Delicious food, crafter cocktails and an amazing view! Love that dogs are allowed in the back patio again.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Very nice and the staff was excellent. I ordered the tofu tacos. Fast, friendly and food was fresh. Definitely recommend!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    It was ok. Very unauthentic and white washed but edible. It reminded me of a school lunch.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Marination

    You might also consider

    Paju

    Paju

    4.4
    (431 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Paju serves unique, delicious, high-quality Korean food with small but significant ingredient…read moreadditions/changes that I haven't encountered anywhere else, and I'm hooked. The menu and experience differ between lunch and dinner, and this is my lunch review. Simply put, lunch is much more casual and affordable than dinner (You order lunch scanning the QR code at the table). If you're on a budget, you can eat lunch here for less than $20. I went here for lunch twice during my business trip last month and here's what I ordered: - Seafood Tofu Soup - $17.50 - A seafood soondoobu (순두부) with a generous helping of soft tofu, shrimp, mussels and clam, served with rice. Delicious, refreshing and not spicy-I bet they could make it spicy if you asked. I enjoyed the texture from the cabbage bits. - Seolleongtang (설렁탕) - $15.50 - Oxtail bone broth served with potato starch noodles and brisket, comes with salt and green onion already added(typically doesn't at other Korean restaurants). High-quality ingredients and flavor, a great comfort food with a generous serving of brisket. - Shaved ice dessert (빙수) - $9.00 - A great combination of cinnamon, ginger cream and fried rice puffs. Delicious and different than other Korean shaved ice desserts I've had that typically have red bean and overly sweet ingredients. If you're on the fence about coming here, maybe try out lunch first. Lunch is more casual, affordable and simpler than dinner, but is delicious and high-quality. You should come here for dinner too, and I'll post about my dinners here soon.

    Dinner from late 2025 Paju in South Lake Union is slick…read more That is the first word that comes to mind thinking back to this meal. There is elevated, and then there is Paju-elevated. I dislike the more common 'elevated' where a restaurant makes changes such as swapping meat cuts from traditional recipes to something wagyu without any added thought or creativity in the process. Not at Paju. They are Koreans elevating Korean dishes. The dishes are refined and well-honed. Their creativity shows they know what they are doing. Plating is thoughtful. The restaurant itself is modernly elegant, great for date nights. Note the restaurant is quiet and elegant; perhaps they have a private room for loud celebrations. Staff was helpful with my questions. Food was available in a timely manner. The Food: Octopus, $27 - 5 Stars Served with smoked trout roe and dashima beurrie blanc sauce, this dish is visually attractive and absolutely delicious! One of our top dishes of the night. Paju Fried Rice, $27 - 4 Stars Cooked with kimchi, bacon, squid ink, and quail egg, this dish is one of their most popular dishes. I find squid ink to have a subtle earthy type of sea-umami flavor. The bacon and kimchi are a touch stronger in this combination. It's a good dish, but amongst our five dishes, this one ranked the lowest. Mushrooms, $23 - 5 Stars Served with parmesan cheese shaved so thin it's translucent, white kimchi, and truffle aioli, this dish is the bomb! Excellent for the mushroom lovers, it might convert mushroom haters, too. Lol. Another top dish of the night. Branzino Gui, $51 - 4 Stars Served with four banchan, this dish stands out for its execution - impeccably grilled and plated. The fish is very tender and perfectly cooked. I do think it is a bit plain for the price. Branzino is fairly common in different parts of the world. Ranked 4th for the night. Duck - 5 Stars Duck breast is served with a slice of duck and pistachio pastry plus four banchan. The duck is super tender. The pastry is clever utilizing other bits of duck meat. The simple sauce is very important, adding flavor to the pastry. Also delicious.

    Photos
    Paju
    Mushroom
    Mushroom
    Tofu with Dungarees Crab

    See all

    Tofu with Dungarees Crab
    Daeho Kalbijjim and Beef Soup

    Daeho Kalbijjim and Beef Soup

    4.3
    (489 reviews)
    9.6 mi
    $$$

    These folks probably need another great review like Elon Musk needs an increase in his allowance,…read morebut fairness demands that I not keep silent regarding my enjoyment of this restaurant: THE ROSES: Ample dedicated parking. The staff is gracious, prompt, professional, and - I hope no one objects when I say this - rather attractive. Generous portions and reasonable prices for what you're getting. The food is nothing sort of legendary - bold flavors and dishes have the perfect balance of sweet, heat, savory, and umami. THE THORNS: None significant enough to mention. NEITHER ROSE NOR THORN: It is important to note that this place is insanely popular with the area's Korean community. The restaurant is quite busy Thursday thru Sunday, and significant waits for a table are likely. Monday thru Wednesday is your best time for going and getting a table without a wait. The price of some dishes, like their signature offering, Kalbijjim, might give you a pause ($80+). It is important to keep in mind this is made to order, and one serving can easily serve four regular appetites. If you're just a couple, you're definitely going to be taking this home with you. This is not a bad thing, as Kalbijjim is one of those dishes that is even better the next day and doesn't suffer from reheating. THE VERDICT: Daeho Kalbijjim is extremely popular, and it's not hard to see why. The execute authentic Korean cuisine pretty much flawlessly with efficient and charming service. What else to you want in a restaurant? Highly recommend. Just try not to go on the busy days.

    I wanted to give this place a second chance because I know a lot of people really enjoy it, but…read moreunfortunately my experiences were underwhelming. As i always say go try it for yourself. The first time I visited, the quality of the meat cuts didn't impress me, and the soups lacked depth of flavor. I'm not talking about needing more salt--the broth itself just tasted flat. When you're paying close to $30 for a bowl of soup, I think it's reasonable to expect a higher level of quality and care to ingredients. The second visit was a mixed experience. To be fair, I was in the wrong. There is a clearly posted policy stating that your entire party must be present before being seated. My group was about seven minutes away, and since I had already checked in on Yelp and there were only two parties ahead of me with no one physically waiting, I asked if I could be seated and order while I waited. I had already been standing inside for about 10 minutes. I was told that although tables were available, seating me ahead of the other parties on the waitlist would be unfair. I understood the reasoning, but she had also asked prior for my order. Her explanation left me confused so i sheepishly said I understood the policy. She already seemed upset by the time i had gotten there. Sometimes we have off days i get that. This place is clearly hit or miss, I've got friends who absolutely swear by it. For me, though, it wasn't anything special and didn't justify the price. If you're looking for Korean food in the area, I've had better experiences with higher-quality dishes elsewhere, especially in Lynnwood.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Signature braised beef
    Signature braised beef
    Haemul (squid and shrimp bibimbap)

    See all

    Haemul (squid and shrimp bibimbap)
    Lil Pocha

    Lil Pocha

    4.3
    (20 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Visited here very hungry after bouldering for a couple hours. They keep it nice and warm in here…read morewhich I loved (I noticed a lot of Seattle restaurants don't turn on heating :')). It is set up like a cute korean style bar with small round tables which make sharing easier. They have a pretty good selection on their menu and we ordered a couple of items to share. The Rose Ttoekbokki with cheese was very yummy, but it kinda tasted like pasta with rice cakes instead of spaghetti. I think that is the point of this dish, so if you want a more traditional spicy flavor then get the other ttoekbokki option (spicy rice cakes). We still loved this one and the rice cakes were so chewy and delicious. The cheese corn was very yummy and exactly what you would expect. It pairs perfectly with the other dishes. My friends also shared the Seafood ramen and Beef bulgogi. They liked both dishes. One of our favorite things were the side dishes actually! The tofu was so yummy, and the bean sprouts were so crunchy and well seasoned. We even asked for extra! The only aspect that makes it difficult to come more often is the price point. Since the dishes are so big and shareable, it is easy to split amongst a group, but it is a little less affordable to come here for dinner and drinks.

    A cozy little Korean bar! There aren't that many tables, but I enjoyed this vibe. Service was quite…read morefast on Saturday evening. We ordered: -Fish cake soup: pretty good, the soup had a good depth in flavor and I liked the variety in fish cake. Perfect for a rainy day. -Tteokbokki: was a bit spicy and the rice cake was chewy and cooked well. I've had better sauce though. -kimchi pancake: wasn't our favorite. Was a bit too thick and had too much batter - I like these to be more crispy and thin. Overall, a fun place for a casual Korean bar food.

    Photos
    Beef jeon
    Beef jeon
    LIL PO chicken
    LIL PO chicken
    Potato croquette

    See all

    Potato croquette
    JangAn Sullungtang

    JangAn Sullungtang

    4.8
    (211 reviews)
    14.3 mi
    $$

    Do yourself a favor and skip the collagen powder you take as a supplement, and have a bowl of the…read morereal deal! My family and I weren't able to finish our bowls on a pick-up order and the soup solidified (as it should) in the fridge overnight. That should be everything you need to know about the quality of sullungtang this place offers. Otherwise, the place is clean and comfortable, the service is routinely good and the kimchi is fire.

    I'm a firm believer that the smaller the menu, the better the outcome. JangAn Sullangtang is a…read moreperfect case study here: hyper-focused on their namesake ox bone broth, with a few limited sides. I went with the brisket option. JangAn puts diners in the driver's seat, meaning that seasoning your soup is up to you. This might sound intimidating, but every table has a guide printed out, and the servers proactively offered advice as they brought out my roiling bowl. This method of personalization complements the beauty of seolleongtang, which seems to deepen as you eat it. Warmth, seasoning, and time gradually coaxes more richness from the bowl, so take your time and enjoy the process. One special shout out for the banchan. You'll get both Kimchi and Kkakdugi (raddish) with your meal, and both can be refilled freely. I think you'll want to, because it was among the best I've ever had. They sell it to-go as well, and you can bet I took advantage. Overall 5/5

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Kimchi- radish and cabbage
    Kimchi- radish and cabbage
    JangAn Sullungtang

    See all

    Kimchi House

    Kimchi House

    4.3
    (341 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    This spot is a hidden gem in Ballard. It's not the best Korean food I've had but definitely has all…read morethe comfort food you need for a cold day if you don't want to drive far out to fed way or Lynnwood. Seafood pancake was crispy and paired well with the dipping sauce. Banchan was on point but galbi was a bit on the sweeter side + had a bit too much fat and soondubu tasted more like kimchi jiggae. Overall tho, fair prices & good selection of Korean comfort food!

    Solid place to grab Korean food in Ballard, despite it being one of the only Korean restaurants in…read morethis area (that I'm aware of). Have been in a few times and have had a solid experience each time. Fairly small place and not THAT many tables. You order at the counter and then sit down. It's self serve for water, silverware, and complimentary barley tea, which is nice. Both times the customer service when ordering was fine but not super friendly. I was the one saying "hello" first and saying "how are you?" before the cashier said anything. Kind of awkward/standoffish but not a dealbreaker when the food is good. Most recently I had the kimchi jigae, which was relatively spicy, even when I asked for less spicy (and they said they could accommodate). I'd say it was like 2-3 stars. Flavor was great though and it was a decent portion (for $17) and satisfying. Also, a pretty wide range of menu options, despite it being a small place. There were 4 complimentary banchan dishes (napa kimchi, cucumber kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, and fish cakes). Note that I don't think there are free refills like other places... maybe you can ask but I didn't see anyone doing so. For 1-2 people, it's a relatively generous amount. Also, only certain dishes come with the banchan, so be sure to read the menu carefully if you are wanting the banchan.

    Photos
    Order at counter
    Order at counter
    Jjampong
    Jjampong
    Kimchi House

    See all

    Hae-Nam Kalbi & Calamari

    Hae-Nam Kalbi & Calamari

    4.0
    (388 reviews)
    8.5 mi
    $$

    Under new ownership. This place was very welcoming and the staff informed us of the new ownership…read moreand menu items upon seating us. The service was great and the waiter explained many of the new dishes to us herself. The food came out very fast after ordering and though there were several other tables full of groups, they also got their food out quick as well. The noise level is moderate, but the high walls on the booths and the partitions between the larger seating area and the table and booth section helps to buffer the noise pollution between the areas. The La kalbi was very flavorful and cooked to perfection. The dish came with a side bowl of rice and assorted bon chon. You could share this dish between a group of 2-3 or individually order it and be fulfilled.

    Hae-Nam Kalbi recently had a grand opening, which has been since April 2026. I heard there are new…read moreowners and wanted to check it out. I have dined here before so the interiors isn't too different just small changes. Let's jump to the food- I ordered the galbitang and it came with 10 different banchan. Which is a nice surprise since some restaurants aren't as generous in the banchan. The galbitang was so flavorful for a "clear" soup and the meat was tender. It also included a good portion of meat. I've tried galbitang at other places, but there was an umami that many didn't have. All the banchan were flavorful too, I thought the kimchi had a good balance as sometimes it can be a bit on the saltier side. Service was great too, the sever was friendly and checked often. When I went, it was just me then a couple arrived. There was a delay with their order so she provided some mandu on the house while their order was being prepared. Once they received their order, I heard the couple tell the sever that everything was very good multiple times- their food did look good! I recommend checking this place out especially with the new ownership. Menu looks similar from previous owners, but will for sure go back and try something else!

    Photos
    Hae-Nam Kalbi & Calamari
    LA kalbi
    LA kalbi
    Army stew, Budae Hot Pot

    See all

    Army stew, Budae Hot Pot

    Marination - asianfusion - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...