Been here two times now and both got takeout. I absolutely love this place! They have some of the…read morebest Chinese food in the area and big portion size. I love that they focus on northern Chinese cuisine instead of the same old Chinese food in the Seattle area!! The restaurant itself is super homey and small, truly a great family ran business!

Little Duck a small restaurant with what seems like a pretty robust takeout operation, and a…read morerelatively large menu. Seating is somewhat limited, and if the restaurant is busy and you come in with a large (like more than 4) group you're probably SOL. Most of the tables are two tops, and half of them run along a shared bench on the side of the restaurant and are quite close together. There are maybe six inches of space between those tables, so even being nowhere near the thickest person I know, I struggled to squeeze in and out of the bench seating. Anyway, once you squeeze into your seat, you use the QR code on the table to both browse the menu and place your order. You can add to your order once you place it, which I found necessary since I didn't realize at first that you have to order white rice separately. It's $2 a bowl, which is a choice, but everything else is so reasonably priced it's hard to stay mad about it. We had the shredded tofu skin salad, egg and chive, dry fried string beans, mapo tofu, and vegetable egg noodles. And a bowl of white rice. For two very hungry people, we left stuffed and had one lunch's worth of leftovers. Tofu skin salad was good, but a little sweet for my taste. Egg and chive is simple yet very tasty and filling! Dry fried string beans are excellent. Note they are a vegetarian version, which I appreciate. Mapo tofu here is nearly perfect, my only qualm is that it's a little bit on the oily side. I messed up and ordered the one with meat, which I eat but my husband doesn't. Oops! But more for me. You can order the meatless ones for those of us who are veg. The vegetable egg noodles are good, and a huge portion, although not that special in my opinion. Tastes kind of like if mushu pork was noodles. I will definitely still get the dry fried string beans and mapo tofu next time, but will probably try some dumplings and other vegetable dishes as well.

If you're a UW student and need something filling under $15, this is it…read more I've tried the udon (solid), but the real move for me is the gyudon. Thin-sliced beef over rice with a slightly sweet flavor, topped with pickled ginger--it's simple but hits every time. Portions are generous, and I almost always leave way too full. Setup is super casual: grab a tray and move down the line cafeteria-style. No frills, but fast and efficient.

I've loved u:don from my college days and now, 3 years later, I still find myself coming back for…read moremeals whenever I'm in the area. The speed and efficient service can't be matched when you're on a schedule, and the food is delicious. You can chow, grab your own water, and bus your own table without any additional interaction after purchase. I love these noodles with the roe and tasty sauce. Can't wait for my next visit!

Ambiance: The restaurant has plenty of seating available…read more Service: The service was friendly and quick. The menus can be brought up via a QR code, and you order directly from your phone. Food: The food is delicious! My husband and I shared the hand pulled noodles, and you can taste the freshness!! The noodles were so delicious! The wontons (not pictured) were also really good!

What a unique experience. You order online through their menu…read more Many choices to choose from. The dumplings were fantastic. Service was good. They bring your food and fill drinks and then you go to the counter to pay. Can't justify a 25 or 20% tip so 10% is appropriate for the level of engagement. I will certainly go again.

I am a fan of ramen, and Slurp Station Aburasoba has been listed as a top ramen place to try in the…read moreSeattle area. We decided to swing by on a Saturday around 3PM and had no wait time to get seated. It is a first come first serve seat yourself anywhere restaurant - nice and casual. Ambiance is relaxed - when we visited, we were the only diners in the restaurant at the time. Interior decor is cozy with a self service ice and hot water station. Service is fast, we were able to get our food in about 8-10 minutes after ordering. Ordering is done through scanning a QR code menu. They also have a physical menu at each table that you can reference - the physical menu also has directions on how to mix your bowl of ramen with vinegar and oil. I got the Jumbo Shoyu Based Aburasoba for $19. First, the bowl itself - the noodles are chewy and the flavorful broth cling to them very nicely. Love the bamboo shoots, they have a crunchy texture in additional to a mild and sweet contrast with the hearty broth. The broth is a deep savory fragrant flavor from the shoyu and has a very creamy and luxurious mouthfeel. Personally, for a jumbo bowl, I was expecting a much larger bowl that what we were given. I would say that the bowl was still a standard ramen bowl size with maybe a quarter portion more noodles than a standard ramen bowl. I wasn't a fan of the chashu though, it felt tougher than chashu I've had at other ramen restaurants in Seattle, and there also was a gamey flavor that was pretty off putting. This was unfortunately as chashu usually plays a large part of making ramen bowls amazing. I think the restaurant definitely opened in the best area in Seattle for the type of goal its filling. Perfect for hungry students near the UW area to get their fill of flavorful ramen noodles. If you are craving ramen and are in the University district, I think that these bowls should satisfy most people. Personally, I'm glad that I tried them, but I'm not sure if I would revisit.

Very solid and affordable aburasoba (brothless ramen) tucked away near UW Ave. I've seen this place…read moreon my social media for awhile and I pass by this spot everytime I visit campus so I thought id give it a try this weekend. Very limited parking spots in front of the restaurant, mostly paid street parking otherwise. Casual ambiance with QR codes on the tables that you can scan to order your food. We ordered the shoyu based aburasoba (~$15 before tip) and it was delicious! The noodles were springy/chewy and the chashu added so much flavor to this dish. You can also add vinegar and chili oil to really elevate the dish and it paired so well with the other toppings and noodles. The other items like the salt based aburasoba also sounded interesting so I'll have to try that next time. I am already craving this as I'm writing my review and wish I tried this place out sooner!

Great ramen and short wait! I got the vegetarian miso ramen and it was delicious. It's a hearty…read moreportion size and the broth was lovely. They also have free packs of handmade noodles by the ordering kiosk that you can take home. A very cute restaurant I'd recommend if you're walking around in the Fremont/Wallingford area.

I've been to the Cap Hill location and thought it was ok, so I came here hoping this location would…read morebe better. The space is definitely bigger. We sat outside because it was a beautiful day. No one said hello when we walked in. Ordering is completely humanless at a kiosk. The workers do come out to bring your drinks and food to you. We bussed our own table at the end. There was no way to tip at the kiosk so I'm guessing that's why the service is very minimal, which makes sense. We got: Mapo Tofu Ramen- I like mapo tofu. I like ramen. The presentation was beautiful. But somehow, the flavor of this fusion was just... ok. It had way too much salt. It tasted much like mapo tofu even with the numbing spices and all, but it didn't taste anything like ramen. I can't really explain it. It just didn't flow well. In summary, unappealing as a ramen, too salty. Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich- This was delicious, but not enough chicken! It seemed like a third of our chicken patty was the crispy breading. Very disappointed in that. Also, the creamy sesame sauce it comes with, while delicious, didn't really go with the flavors of the sandwich. Sake- Don't remember what kind but I think it was a simple one. Came out in a sake set (the little pitcher and two cups), which was cool. Lychee Beer- Onmgah this was good, but it was like juice. A little too sweet. But hey, great for people who like a sweet fruity beer. So... I definitely like the space here better than Cap Hill. Food & drinks were overall a mix of delicious and ok.

One of my favorite spots near u of w, ygf malatang is a pay-by-weight hot pot restaurant (currently…read more$15.99/lb) where you fill up your bowl with your favorite ingredients, weigh and pay, and then grab your food when your number is called. ​The selection is incredible and everything tastes super fresh. They have tons of veggies, meats, shrimp, various tofus, tempura options, and an impressive variety of noodles in different sizes, shapes, and textures. For the base, we opted for the traditional spicy beef broth, but they offer a few other broth selections as well as a dry option. They also have a huge sauce bar where you can build your own dipping sauces, plus free orange slices! ​On top of the great food, I love that they commissioned a local artist to create a beautiful wall art piece. Best part is your meal includes a mini Hokkaido milk ice cream cone at the end, which is such a nice treat. No service besides paying the cashier.

This spot was delicious! As a huge Malatang fan, the base was perfectly spiced and flavorful. Only…read moredownside is that it may get expensive quickly. However, I left nice and full! The service was speedy and accommodating. I appreciated the post meal ice cream you receive after trading in your receipt. The ambiance is spacious and clean. A bit on the older side, but does the job. Will be back!

This is in the UVillage. We were seated pretty quickly. Orders the Black Garlic Ramen and the…read moreSalmon-ikura bento box. The food was tasty and the portions were good. Staff were friendly and attentive. The restaurant was busy but the noise level wasn't too bad. Tables were fairly close to each other but we were able to have a conversation without having to raise our voices. I would come back to try more items on the menu.

I've been kind of wanting to go to a Japanese restaurant with a good amount of options for a few…read moredays, and decided to head over to Santouka. I haven't visited in a long time. I went in during dinner time on a Sunday and the place was like 85% full. Service was still prompt. I saw the seasonal cold noodles but still felt a pull for warm ramen because it was a chilly day and everyone else was eating warm bowl. But in the end I realized I just want ramen noodles whether it's hot or cold so decided to try something new! The seasonal citrus shio hiyashi was a hit! The noodle remained chewy the whole time because it wasn't in a hot broth, which was the exact texture I wanted from ramens. The jalapeño sauce on the side was pretty spicy so I only put a bit in the ramen half way, but it was a good way to switch things up. And it's not like freezing cold so you have no worries of freezing your butt off from eating it on a breezy summer day in Seattle. I highly recommend giving it a try for something new! I was also impressed with the service. I ordered nitamago with my ramen in the beginning and it never came. I noticed the egg was missing when I was half finished with my dish, but I was getting full so I thought I'll skip it for now and just inquire about it when I ask for check. During the checkout, the staff apologized and kindly gave me a discount. He went about it in a very thoughtful manner and it was quite a pleasant experience.

Tasty!! The chef and owner puts so much effort and time into this tasty hole in the wall…read more Apparently he'll drive to LA to pick up ingredients and sauces he gets directly from China (??). Lots of young Chinese people vying for a taste of home. Scan a QR code on the table, and wait patiently for your food. It comes out in one go, so the faster you get your order in, the faster you get your food (a little queue action). If you order more food later...be aware it'll take a while to come. That aside, we got 4 dishes, a cold app, and rice for all between 5 people. We leaned toward less spicy for the dishes, and I didn't think anything was overly salty. - Sliced beef and ox tongue in chili oil - cold dish, my fave, don't be scared of the name!) - Braised beef with taro - generous amount of beef, taro, bathed in a tasty sauce you could mix with rice - Mapo tofu - tender cubes of tofu in a not too oily slurry sauce (also great for mixing with rice) - String beans - tasty, with tidbits of preserved veggies for extra umami - Eggplant with century egg - not spicy, not the prettiest dish, but quite tasty There was a sizzling dish a party next to us that smelled delectable. Would also recommend the yu-Xiang eggplant (slightly sweet), or the chicken gizzards next time. Pay at the front. The kitchen is open, so the smells from cooking waft into the seating area, so just be aware you might smell like delicious Chinese food after leaving. $120 for 5 ppl (tbh 6 because one member of our party ate hella).

This is my first time eating at the relatively new (at least to me) Spicy Hunan Kitchen Restaurant…read morethat used to house the old Rocking Wok Taiwanese Restaurant in the Wallingford neighborhood for a number of years. What drew me into try Spicy Hunan Kitchen is their shiny and new, well-lit sign. They always say not to judge a book by its cover. Well, in this case, that also applies to the shabby interior. It can definitely use some updating, but it seems clean enough and I'm mostly interested in the taste and presentation of the food. Maybe they will be able to make some upgrades to the interior once they've established themselves and draw in more business. Not to say they aren't doing well. I ate there on a Monday evening and I couldn't help noticing how busy they actually looked. There were several to go orders and a revolving door of customers and delivery people picking up food, plus several other people like me staying to dine in. They have a decent sized dining area. The service was good and friendly. They have laminated menus to look at and you place your order using a QR code pasted on your table. Since I'm not that familiar with Hunan-style Chinese food, photos of each dish would be nice to get an idea of what it looks like. Some of you might be wondering what Hunan cuisine is. Hunan cuisine is also known as Xiang cuisine. It is one of the Eight Great Traditions of Chinese cuisine renowned for its hot and spicy flavors, fresh aroma, and deep colors. It is distinguished from other spicy cuisines like Sichuan by its use of fresh chili peppers, which provide a direct, "dry and spicy" heat, as opposed to the numbing "mala" of Sichuan peppercorns. The standout dishes for me at this restaurant are the Scallion Pancake appetizer which was so tasty and perfectly crisp on the outside, the Signature Stir-Fried Pork (Xiao Chao Rou) which taste so addictive and exceptional at medium spice, and the Mashed Eggplant w/ Century Egg & Chili which paired wonderfully with the Signature Stir-Fried Pork. The other dishes I ordered were good, too, but in my opinion these were the dishes that will keep me coming back and that I highly recommend. Spicy Hunan Kitchen is a nice addition to the Wallingford neighborhood and adds more interesting choices and diversity to the list of restaurants there. It is a diamond in the rough that deserves our patronage and support. Please stop in soon, keep an open mind, and enjoy the adventure. As I like to say, "Dare to try something new!" Dare to try Spicy Hunan Kitchen!!!