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    Paju

    4.5 (423 reviews)
    ModerateKorean
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order Paju Takeout or Delivery

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    PAJU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Paju

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    Reviews With Photos

    Fenny C.

    Went to this place for a birthday celebration. Parking: pay street parking or you can park at Amazon obidos/Rufus parking garage. Free parking after 4pm weekdays, all day on weekend. Reservation: opentable. Cc required to reserve. Dresscode : jeans and totally relax attire Restroom: men and women restrooms. Kinda smell funky. We ordered: Paju Fried Rice - Squid Ink, Kimchi, Bacon, Smoked Quail Egg $27 = 7/10 *perfect texture of the fried rice. Cauliflower - Almond, Sesame Seed, Mint $19 = 8/10 *beautiful charred Dry Aged New York Steak 14oz - Served With Our Seasonal Banchan $58 = 5/10 *it is because it was cooked well done, and the server didn't even ask us how we would like our Steak cook. Branzino Gui - served With Our Seasonal Banchan $51 = 5/10 *it tasted burned and overcooked, it was dry Seafood Jeon - perilla Leaves, Bonito Flakes $27 =3/10 *it was super oily, I think they dip fried it, we cannot taste any seafood or any substances. Mushroom -Parmesan, White Kimchi, Truffle Aioli $23 = 8/10 *we like it, great flavour Octopus - Dashima Beurre Blanc, Smoked Trout Roe, Yuja $27 = 8/10 *crispy on the outside, tender inside Yellowtail - Naengmyeon Broth, Lemon Verbena, Turnip $24 = 7/10 *refreshing Bingsu - Sujeonggwa, Ginger Cream, Misugaru $11 = 5/10 *kinda taste like hot tamale candy Barley Palmer - Boricha Tea, Yuja, Spakling Water $10 Overall it's ok. Service is not the friendliest. And again the server doesn't even ask about how we would like our Steak done. Disappointed.

    Squid ink fried rice.
    Elizabeth L.

    Modern Korean done beautifully, located in South Lake Union. Outstanding dry aged steaks, cooked over open flame. Get the Paju squid ink fried rice and roasted cauliflower. Excellent cocktails. Menu is well organized and features a few standouts in each category. Will definitely back for the bulgogi and seafood pancakes. Fantastic service. Love the vibes. Staff is passionate about Korean cuisine and knows their food inside out.

    Yellowtail (10/10) $24
    Tien N.

    Delicious food, great service, amazing ambience! Love the fun, cozy vibes of Paju with its open kitchen and wood-fired grill. I went for dinner with a friend and it was perfectly enough food for 2. The following was ordered and ranked! - Gochujang Margs (8/10) their most popular cocktail - Yellowtail (10/10) delicious naengmyeon broth with lemon verbena & turnips - Seafood Jeon (10/10) super crispy, great seasoning, light and batter not too heavy - Paju Fried Rice (9/10) squid ink, bacon, kimchi fried rice was amazing - Dry Aged Painted Hills Farm Ribeye Steak (9/10) cooked to perfection, comes with tasty banchan - Bingsu (10/10) super light, great way to end a meal, ginger cream complimented the sujeonggwa and misugaru Meal came out to $300 for two (plus a glass of Syrah wine) and it was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend taking your date to Paju to try contemporary Korean cuisine!

    PJ R.

    If you have not started a "Visit Seattle" list, THIS is your reason to. Paju is in the thick of the tech district of Seattle with a glowing view of the Google logo and a stone's throw from Amazon. The vibe inside is intimate, modern, and immaculate. In addition to several adult libations, there are a handful of non-alcoholic cocktails on the menu, which always gets a restaurant extra praise from me. The servers were incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and the specific ingredients within each dish. We had an allergy at our table and the servers were able to steer us in the right direction without having to ask the kitchen. First, get the Yellowtail and make sure you have all the broth it comes in. They give you a spoon for a reason! Second, don't freak out about the octopus. If you have never had it before, this is a perfect place to try it. It's smokey and slightly crispy on the outside due to the wood-fired grill they use to cook it, and beautifully tender on the inside. It's served with a citrusy beurre blanc sauce and adorned with smoked trout roe (think savory popping boba). The cauliflower was tender and had a nice char that nicely added to the flavor in addition to the creamy almond sesame sauce. I knew the ribeye with banchan was going to be my choice before I even got there. It did NOT disappoint. As if the meal could not get any better, the piece de resistance for me was the Bingsu. A bowl of sheer joy that started with a delicate cinnamon snow and crunchy puffed rice pieces for added textural complexity AND flavor. Dig to the base which was the lightest cream that was not quite mousse, not quite foam. A spoonful of all of the components of the dessert was pure transcendence. They are known for this dessert and it is earned, It is clear the chef and owner leaves his heart and soul on your plate. His passion for food and culinary art shines in every bite you take. This place should be on a Michelin watch list, no question.

    Poke bowl
    Emily H.

    Most people come to Paju for dinner, but don't sleep on the lunch menu! I've eaten here a few times and have tried the Poke bowl, Seolleongtang, Fried chicken, and Kimbap. The poke bowl is the star of the show! It comes with lots of lightly marinated tuna and salmon, veggie toppings, and a bed of rice; the flavors are perfectly balanced, and the portions are just right. The Seolleongtang is savory and delicious, served with plenty of sliced beef and chewy glass noodles. I don't know if they changed the beef recently, but it is not as soft as it used to be, which is a bummer. The salt level tastes good, but I always end up thirsty after having this soup, so keep that in mind if you're sensitive to salt. The fried chicken is crispy and tasty! The kimbap is good as well, pretty average to other Korean restaurants I've tried.

    Squid Ink Kimchi Fried Rice
    Nicholas O.

    Drinks: Started with the Paju Vesper; balanced, smooth, not too strong. The Jasmine Spritz was a favorite; bright, lemony, and super refreshing. Oysters: Perfect acidity from the vinegar, complemented the fresh oyster beautifully. The gochujang added sweetness, though a touch overpowering. Octopus: Perfectly cooked; tender, flavorful, and full of umami. The citrus beurre blanc and herbs made it well balanced. Cauliflower: Perfect char with smoky bitterness balanced by creamy almond and mint. Grated tri-color cauliflower on top made for a fun presentation. Fried Rice: Creative with squid ink. Smelled incredible but needed a bit more salt for punch. Standard kimchi fried rice. Branzino: Flaky and tender with crispy skin. Banchan paired nicely; not a fan of beets personally, but overall great dish. Service: Very friendly and great staff. Slight delay in spacing between 2 dishes, but great service overall.

    Little Gem
    John C.

    I was in Seattle for a half-day seminar, and this restaurant was near my hotel. I checked reviews on Yelp and Google, and looked at the recommendations on Eater, and all of them had high praise for Paju. So naturally, I got reservations. We arrived for our dinner reservation on time, and were immediately seated. The space is quite nice, but what really stands out is the stack of firewood near the entrance. It looks a little out of place until you find out they use a wood-fire grill to cook. We ended up sampling the following: - Little Gem: Good. Sort of like an easy-to-eat version of a Caesar Salad. It was inventive, and a good starter. - Octopus: Excellent. This was another level. They managed to make sear the edges to give it a nice crusty texture, but the centre was still tender, and the beurre blanc and roe was incredible. Fine-dining quality dish. - Mushroom: Very good. Magic combination of mushroom, cheese and white kimchi. - Bugak: Very good. Tasted as good as it looked. Another great inventive dish. - Paju Fried Rice: Excellent. When I thought I've had fried rice in every way possible, I didn't think there would be another way to deliver it. I was wrong. They did. It tasted or felt like nothing I've had before, and I loved it. - Ribeye: Excellent. Preparation is perfect, and outdoes most steakhouses. Perfect crust full of flavour. Perfectly even medium-rare. Banchan was very good too. - Bingsu: Very good. Again, a different take on a common Korean dish. It's creamier, and has bits of ginger that makes every bite pop. Impressive. - Basque Cheesecake: Very good. One of the lighter Basque cheesecakes I've had. The cabbage kimchi seems off-putting, but it works. Service was very good. We were helped by two people with very different personalities. Once was more traditional - very polite and professional. The other was quirky, and had a fun sense of humour. They definitely contrasted, but thought they were both equally good. Overall, an excellent meal. Excellent and creative food, great service, all at a fairly reasonable cost. I'm already planning my next reservation when I return to Seattle.

    Yellowtail in the front, cheesy corn, and some meat bowl
    Jo Y.

    My friend and I went to Paju on a Thursday night. I made reservations for 2 at 6pm. One of the waitress is really sassy and likes to crack jokes. I'm not really into it but sure. Happy hour ends at 6 so my friend who got to Paju early was able to secure some happy hour dishes, some of the dishes are HH exclusives. We got the meat and rice bowl and the cheesy corn for HH and then we just got the yellowtail small plate from the main menu. Everything was fine, nothing crazy. Average nice, expensive restaurant in South Lake Union. It started to get busy after we left. It came out to $42 per person for just those 3 items.

    Mushroom
    Sameer K.

    The interior is good. The street view and some SLU is good. The environment is nice. The staff was polite and nice. The quantity of food was good. But the taste was ok. Mushroom was decent/good. Not great Paju fried rice was just ok. Honey Bee was good in taste; but not worth the $$ FYI, there is 3% service fee. And for party of 5 there is a service charge of 20%. And ALL 20% IS KEPT BY THE HOUSE. NOTHING for the staff.

    Pear and pork
    Justin C.

    Paju is a nice happy hour spot in South Lake Union area. Flavorwise I would say everything is very cohesive and it's a nice modern take on korean food. It definitely has that upscale feel to the food. The portion sizes are smaller shareable bites. They are really good at balancing textures and flavors in their dishes. I would definitely say to expect to spend a little bit more since they're shareable plates. Staff: nice (4/5) Sanitation status: (5/5) Paju Fried Rice (5/5) The fried rice was good. It had a nice squid ink flavor and the raw yolk added a nice touch when you mix it in. Octopus (5/5) The octopush was phenominal. The yogurt sauce that went with it with saltiness of the fish roe was amazing. It was grilled quite nice and had a good char on it. We ordered this again, it was a table favorite. Seafood Jeon (5/5) The seafood Jeon was interesting it had the sauce and toppings you would normally see in an okonomiyaki. It was good and savory and had a good amount of seafood. Mushrooms (5/5) The mushrooms were divine with a fine heaping of cheese. They were sauteed quite nicely and had carmelized flavor. I would definitely order this the next time I come back but I am a big mushroom and cheese fan. Pork and Pears (5/5) This dish was really good the pork was caramelized and came with some breadcrumbs to add more textures. It was sweet and savory and could be paired with a crisp pear. It was such a good balance of flavors.

    Squid Ink fried rice
    Helen W.

    I had this place on my list of to try and was happy that I had the opportunity to visit. Overall the food was good, however I wasn't thrilled about the cocktails. The one thing that I really enjoyed was the squid ink fried rice. We came on a Friday night without reservations but the place wasn't busy at all. Service was ok.

    Chocolate mousse
    Yurim Y.

    Paju is a city located in northern part of South Korea. It is also a lovely restaurant in Seattle that serves modern Korean food. We are lucky to have such a place to eat in Seattle. Bill the chef and owner worked at the two Michelin star restaurant called Junsik in NYC. I've been there at least 5 times. His experience and creativity shows in the food artistry and quality. The dishes are unique but has the essence of some traditional Korean dishes and ingredients in a new modern way. I finally got to try them in their new location. I don't know why I waited so long. The new location is beautiful and much bigger than their previous location in Queen Anne. This is how I like to eat, small shareable dishes. It's a must place to eat in Seattle. Really we are lucky to have this place in our city.

    Veper on Happy Hour Menu
    Wendy K.

    Saving a star for full dining. dropped in a few nights ago was going to an event and needed to waste sometime so ordered a couple items off the happy hour menu. The cheesy corn and I asked the bartender what the popular drink was she suggested the vesper. She also suggested the house-made rice chips to go with the corn. Everything was delicious corn comes out piping hot and sizzling in a cast iron pan. the vesper was a beautifully balanced cocktail ice cold would definitely get that one again and was $2 during HH. I dealt mostly with the bartender during my visit can't say enough about the service friendly helpful and didn't make me feel rushed but still attentive. The space is beautiful, very open lots of windows. Much of the final touches to dishes are done in an open area in front of house which is cool to see. Excited to visit with a group pf people to try more of the menu and have an actual dinner.

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    Page 1 of 11

    Paju Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Paju

    Good for well behaved kiddos?

    Good for solo diners? Is there bar seating?

    Does the restaurant really not offer takeout?

    Right now they're offering a limited take-out menu.

    Is the menu gluten free friendly?

    I would think so...a lot of it is rice

    Any good vegan options? I see some potential on the surface but sometimes I've seen veggies with fish sauce or animal ingredients.

    I'm afraid not. I think virtually everything on the menu contains at least one animal product. Chef Bill told me in the early days of the restaurant that they can make accommodations to dietary restrictions if you call in advance so it's worth a… Read more

    Is there banchan, Korean side dishes?

    Not the traditional ones you may be used to. I have had fried in house made seaweed chips as a side. They have only been open a few weeks and making changes as needed. Accommodating kids tastes as well. Definitely worth a trip in.

    View All 8 Questions

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    Chan Seattle - Happy Hour - Pork Sliders

    Chan Seattle

    (1.2k reviews)

    $$$

    Downtown

    Ella was amazing! We had a big party and she made the whole dinner seamless. Food was delicious as…read morewell. Thank you again!

    Outstanding taste rooted in Asian flavors, and modernized. Excellent choice to celebrate an…read moreanniversary or special occasion. We were greeted warmly by our host, Steven, and seated earlier than our reservation. He and his colleagues was attentive and hospitable through the meal. The steak tartare was excellent with the sweetness of Asian pear paired with the earthiness of beef. The black cod sauce was addicting and balanced between sweet and savory, and the cod was flaky. The hanger steak ssam was blended at the table and had great richness and body with the beef. The sharpness from the cod sauce helped even out the buttery rice. The ginger crème brûlée was unique. The crème delivered the ginger in a bold, but not overpowering way. The caramel sauce and ice cream cooperated with all the flavor. Not too sweet It has been a long time since experiencing an "elevated" Asian meal as corny as it sounds. If you're into internet memes, then the charge is having a succulent Korean meal. Possible improvements: standard size plates instead of tapas style small plates (though I understand heir intent was for family style sharing). Additional table linen or plates to place your utensils because a small plate can't hold a fork, spoon, and chopsticks while you take portions from the main dishes. Conjoined to the paramount hotel, not sure what the parking situation is like since we arrived via light rail. Definitely would recommend if you're in the area.

    Daeho Kalbijjim and Beef Soup - B2. Daeho Kalbijjim - IG: @nelson_eats

    Daeho Kalbijjim and Beef Soup

    (481 reviews)

    $$$

    5 Stars. Service…read morePromptness Kalbi Tang Thats it. Well, the Suyuk is a very solid choice also and so it Bibimbaps. The crowds are less heavy now and yelp joining the waitlist is super convenient. Although today's waitlist join said it would take 16-33min to be seated, I got the text that table was ready within 3 minutes. We were still en route and made it within 15 minutes but were removed from the waitlist because we didn't answer the 3 minute call. Nonetheless, we only waited 10min for another table. The dining area that is nearest to reception can get "cold" particularly the corner, we sat there once and your elders will not like it. Today we got seated there again and decided to wait for the other side where the AC wasn't full blast. Its all chill. Friendly, accommodating staff. The food comes fast, like Din Tai Fung. The cost too, is like DTF. Overall, its good, but not worth the higher cost, but the service and cleanliness make it a combined 5 Star. The Kalbi Tang is the star, a must get every single visit.

    We made a reservation at 6:30pm for dinner, and I'm so glad we did because the restaurant was…read morecompletely packed with a line out the door!!!!! Convenient parking right in front and tons of seating inside. Great selection of banchans! I loved their radish kimchi. We ordered: 1 Kalbi teokbokki- the portion was quite smaller than I expected , but I really liked it. Just wished there was more tteok. 1 Daeho kalbijjim (mild) with added cheese and corn- this was a lot for our group of 4, we ended up taking some to go. The meat was tender, the flavoring was a little salty for my liking. 1 Daeho naengmyun- sooo yum and refreshing bites in between all the meat. The noodles were chewy and the portion was great for sharing. Great spot to eat at. Staff are quick and reservations are definitely needed unless you're willing to wait lolll.

    Lil Pocha - Jjajang rice

    Lil Pocha

    (20 reviews)

    Capitol Hill

    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.

    Kimchi House - Pork Belly

    Kimchi House

    (341 reviews)

    $$

    Ballard

    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.

    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!

    Paju - korean - Updated May 2026

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