Make sure to call in and pre order if you want to get the fried catfish!! We were driving up from Portland to Rainer and they were able to accommodate our big group of 21 people with great service and our food came out fast too which was super impressive! We did call 3 hours ahead to let them our time of arriving and pre ordered the 2 large cat fish and paid over the phone ( it was about $400 roughly with tax for 2 Large catfish order) The food tasted amazing and received a lot of compliments from the elders in our group and that's saying a lot. Try to call them in advance because I think their hours are wrong, we thought they closed late on Saturday but it turned out they closed at 10PM! Theres a parking lot in the back which is nice. Highly recommend dining here the restaurant looks like a low key spot inside is very homey and their food is packed with flavors. I will be back! read more

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Classic! If Bourdain liked it, so will you! Authentic with the Buddha with offerings, greeting you as you walk in. A little confusing where the restaurant is since it also has a BBQ Take out annex in the same lot. Not handicap friendly but if you can make it inside, it will be worth it. Food was fresh, plentiful and delicious. Enough food to share or take home leftovers. Helpful staff to make suggestions and clarifications. Will need to come back to try other items. read more

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Have been here 25+ times in the past 15 years. Have always been happy with the quality that comes out this kitchen. Recently I visited to try the rice plates and was not disappointed. One of the best places to get a rice plate on MLK read more

Rainier Restaurant - Combination Rice Plate with Grilled Pork Chop - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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**Visited 7/8/2024 We had visited Rainier Restaurant with a large group of 21 - we had called ahead and was able to reserve two large tables for dinner as well as two large fried catfish. Highly recommend calling ahead if you want a catfish! * The restaurant itself seemed a bit small, but I could be wrong as there were two different areas for dining in. Though the decor was a bit outdated, the food was pretty dang tasty. There's a private lot for parking and it's quite spacious. Our staff was seemed quite stressed with our large party, and seemed to be either upset or irritated while serving our orders (he had given an order for one table to the other table, and didn't inform us until 10 minutes later)- granted, it was a hot day and we did have a fairly large group. OKAY THE FOOD: * CALL AHEAD FOR FRIED CATFISH The food was pretty good, the catfish was perfectly cooked/ fried - it was still juicy yet had the crispiest outer layer. We had also ordered fried intestines, fried/ crispy noodle, and a salad. All of which were tasty and great portions. Their thai tea was good, though it was on the more basic and average side of the taste spectrum. Definitely give this spot a try if you're wanting a traditional family style meal with a fried fish, rice paper wraps with veggies, and different entrees. read more

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Was so excited to try this spot after hearing so many good things! Came with a bunch of buds and ordered a smattering of things - salt and pepper chicken wings, clams in some thai sauce, morning glory, rice paper rolls with beef, and wide rice noodles in some sort of gravy with vegetables. Unfortunately I don't know the names of many of the dishes because my friend did all the ordering, but everything was really good! Surprisingly one of my favs was the morning glory which was made super well. The sauce that came with the clams was delicious, and I totally couldn't just dunked a bowl of rice in it and eaten that. The rice paper rolls with beef were super good although we did have to order extra beef since we had a larger group, and there were only a few pieces of beef. We wanted to get the fried catfish, but the only one they had was 8 pounds which was way too much. Vibes were very hole in the wall asian lol which is how you know it's good! read more

Everything is good but the dish stand out the most for our family is bún riêu. We love the service make us feel like home. Give it a try when you're in Seattle. read more

I think ownership has changed hands a few times but the most recent changes seem to have brought new modern looking plates, which was nice for aesthetics! Food was mostly on point, and my friends that I brought enjoyed everything. The bun rieu was light on flavor but otherwise one of the better ones I've had around Seattle and pretty packed. The vietnamese coffees were much too sweet (even for my friends with sweet tooths) and thai teas tasted really artificial. Com Bo Luc Lac pretty decent (it used to be slightly better and more flavorful with possibly more meat but it's still decent). Banh Xeo was beautiful and huge with a mountain of herbs which we loved. Grilled razor clams were overcooked (dry and really chewy, and shells were so charred that they disintegrated upon touch - couldn't pick up by shell, only meat)- but otherwise would've been such a nice dish. Stir fried flat rice noodles with gravy was good, light on flavor, but at least a well portioned dish. Missing the usual protein in it though. Overall would return, it is one of my favorite spots for vietnamese and while it has been inconsistent the past few times I've been, nothing replaces this spot with the vast vietnamese menu of dishes to try. read more

Rainier Restaurant - com bo luc lac - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Decided to have a light dinner at this long- time family owned restaurant. The restaurant is well- known in the area for family- style seafoods and some exotic dishes with game meat such as goat. The restaurant was full and bustling at 7pm on a Saturday night, but staff were attentive and kind. We noticed Manny's pale ale on tap, something that already makes this restaurant special. Looking around, we saw families with hot pots, seafood dishes, and soups. We decided on local Manila clams and the DIY wrap for the fresh veggies with a glass of Manny's for good measure. We were underwhelmed by the dry meats and wilted cilantro on the salad tray. It was definitely not one their specialty dishes. Clams were good, but could use a lot more lemongrass. Their menu was extensive, so we'll have to return again to try more of their specialty items such as escargot, frog legs, some seafood offerings and maybe some goat. read more

Rainier Restaurant - Banh hoi tap cam: rice noodles with various specialty meats, shrimps, and egg roll served with cucumbers, herbs, lettuce, and rice paper. - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Very good food! Fast and friendly service as well. I had the number 8 lunch special which was superb. Would highly recommend and will be a place I return to. read more

Before this restaurant was very good I've been here 17 years ago with my family when I was a child and now I wanted to see what this restaurant is like but unfortunately it went all down hill, I would give this a 0 if I could. My boyfriend order a beef short rib and a young coconut.. waiting time was alright about 30min. The beef short rib was really hard and chewy, the rice was really dry. Young coconut was good but they didn't slice the inside of the coconut for us, we ask the waiter to do it but he said no you have to do it with a spoon yourself, really rude! I order a crab soup, it was very hard and salty. Overall this place is really expensive and the service is terrible. The worst place I ever been too. The best place to go to is called Hoang lan it's like 2 min from this place. I promise you guys the food there is way better but it's not a big menu. read more

I had no idea there is an upper level, and I booked for two people and got placed on 2nd floor. We had the place to ourselves and it was quiet and perfect to catch up with my gf. Enjoyed the meal a lot. Just a perfect way to end Christmas Eve. The server was sweet and hopefully he enjoyed the nice tip for the holidays. read more

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Rainier BBQ is where I go when I want Vietnamese food. I still have not found a better place for Vietnamese food. I was introduced to this place by Vietnamese people and they all enjoy coming here and I am never disappointed. It is a whole in the wall restaurant and not a place you would think has very good food but boy was I wrong. read more

Surprised to meet the new owner of this well renowned Vietnamese restaurant in South Seattle and it still hits the spot. I can see they have reduced the menu from the all extensive one and you can tell they are focusing on the quality of the food. They did warn us that the signature fried Catfish would take about 20-30 mins and it came out so good! We also go the beef salad with on choy which is another of their signature dishes that was fresh and well seasoned. The restaurant still has that similar vibe it's always had with focus on the Seahawks and supporting the local team. The beers on tap are cheap and go well with the catfish like you would be having in Vietnam. read more

Rainier Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We ordered takeout from here for Christmas evening. Service was quick, the employees were kind + helpful, and the food was pretty good. We ordered the house special chow mein, fried chicken wings, and sweet sour pork. I'd say the fried chicken wings were the biggest hit for our group -- crispy and good seasoning. Pork had a lot of bones in it, making it a bit difficult to eat. They carry both Vietnamese and Chinese food, and I would definitely come again to try some other things on the menu! read more

The noodle soup was delicious and if you ask for a side of shrimp paste it adds more savory and salty taste to the meal! This place has a parking lot which makes it more easily accessible. I will definitely want to come back to try the other foods on the menu. read more

Rainier Restaurant - 59. Crab Noodle Soup - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tasty/flavorful/large portions; helpful/knowledgeable staff; basement local - have to walk down steps... we'll return for Gr8 Vietnamese food! read more

Rainier Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My friends and I really wanted to try the fried catfish spring rolls, but when we got there we did not order it, as they only had a larger catfish meant to feed 6 people! They advised us to call ahead and reserve a smaller catfish in the future. I wish we knew! We ordered these items instead: 3A. Grilled Sweet Snails - they were overcooked and way too chewy 5a. Grilled Conch Scallion - these were a hit 8A. Coconut Milk Snails - delicious! Banh Hoi plater for 3 - I appreciated how fresh the veggies and herbs were Lemonade Plum Soda - my favorite! I enjoyed the food and I'd love to come back. read more

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The food is delicious and delightful (especially the catfish dish)! I really appreciate the excellent service and the owner's willingness to accommodate my requests. Lovely newly designed menu. There's also plenty of parking. read more

We came on Mother's Day as a party of 14, and while we understand it was a busy night, the service was extremely disappointing. We were handed the check while still waiting on four dishes -- two in-person and two to-go orders. It was clear they were very short-staffed. We were served the catfish special first, but then waited over 40 minutes for any other dishes to arrive. In total, we were there for over 2.5 hours just waiting for our food to come out little by little. To make things worse, the meal was very expensive -- just two catfish plates with three noodle veggie trays, and eight other dishes came out to $220 per family, excluding the 4 dishes that we did not get (split between three families). A 20% auto gratuity was added on top. Unfortunately, the experience didn't match the price at all and half our party were hungry as we left. We won't be returning. My constructive criticism is that you should be hiring more workers for more on demand nights, to prevent the workers from being overworked and unsatisfied customers. read more

The food here is always amazing! Delicious aromas, perfect presentation and we always eat every bite. The service is always nice.

I really love coming here. It's one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants, like top 3 favorites. Everything I've gotten here is so good and always so well made. I don't think there's been anything that I haven't enjoyed. Pictured is the hot pot I got not too long ago and I thought it was great. I've also had the crab soup, pho, bun bo hue, summer rolls, Hu Tieu, and so many more items the numerous times I've been here and it's all be so delicious. I always recommend this place to people who will be in the area and want some good Vietnamese food. I will say the place looks a little scary at first and it's definitely a hole-in-the-wall feel but the food is so worth it. The servers are usually awesome. Some are awesome and go above and beyond and others are run of the mill. We've never had a problem with anyone when we've went here. I just really recommend this place. A have a ton for Vietnamese friends who also enjoy this place and consider it one of the best and most authentic spots to eat at. My partner took his dad here not too long ago and he really enjoyed the food and experience. I really encourage you to try this place! read more

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The ambience was a little sketch. I'm not sure if there was AC in the upstairs room that we were in, so it was pretty warm. Despite this, you can get a reservation the day of and get amazing Asian food for a completely reasonable price. There's all kinds of stuff that if you are adventurous, you may not have eaten this kind of food before. I was a group of people so I tried things that I had before, and I was pleasantly surprised... Other than the pig feet. I didn't quite get that one! I would totally eat here again. read more

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Second time trying their food (the first was takeout, this time dine-in), and both experiences were great! I love Vietnamese food, so was really excited when my friend recommended Rainier BBQ. Definitely a more lowkey spot, so don't come expecting ambiance, but everything I've tried so far is great. Service was also friendly & attentive. My favorite dish from both times is the beef with ong choy - I love the sauce and how they shred their ong choy, such a labor of love. Their fish sauce chicken wings are great, perfectly crispy, great, but not overwhelming fish sauce flavor. The lemongrass sauce with the bo luc lac was delicious. We also got the razor clams, which were good, but not my favorite out of everything. The table next to us got the giant fried catfish & it looked amazing; can't wait to try that next time I'm in town! read more

Rainier Restaurant - Fish sauce wings, beef ong choy, shaking beef - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food always on point with a big group! This time we ordered luc lac, balut, salt pepper squid, honey walnut shrimp, fish sauce wings, frog legs, on choy, bung, broken rice kalbi, and catfish soup. Been here a handful of times! read more

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The fried catfish is good here. I recommend reserving it over the phone in advance, though be warned that it is ready upon arrival. So coming late to your reservation isn't advised. We got the 8lb split between 8 people. There's actually not as much meat on the fish as it looks. We also got the meat salad, crab asparagus soup, and another meat dish. The crab asparagus soup was sweeter than I would have liked. read more

Rainier Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I was craving something soupy this cold Seattle night so my boyfriend and I made our way to Rainier restaurant! On the menu I saw many different soupy and noodle dishes including pho, bun bo hue, canh chua and so much more but my eyes were immediately drawn to hu tieu dac biet that came out flavorful, hot, and full of toppings including fish cakes and shrimps! The chives and soybean sprouts brightened up the dish and provided freshness and textural difference! My boyfriend wanted to eat something lighter which the restaurant delivered as well with summer rolls and morning glory salad which he notes was light and fresh! The beef in the salad was tender and seasoned well. Additionally the sauces that came with the summer rolls and salad were a good pairing. The servers came quickly and checked in with us often! Lastly it had a friendly and casual environment. I would definitely come back to try their other dishes. Maybe the catfish because I've heard great things about it! read more

Rainier Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Found a hair in Rice dish at the restaurant. Ate it when home has stomachache and diarrhea. Notice there flies flying around and my daughter try to kill it. NOT GOOD read more

I got the beef short ribs rice plate which was ~$18. Good Vietnamese restaurant. Short ribs were tasty and not too salty. read more

Rainier Restaurant - com tam - short rib - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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One of the best Vietnamese meals I've had! You must try the fried catfish with all the fixings - it's really finger-licking good! That fish skin is super crispy! read more

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I've been to this restaurant under numerous different owners. I just went with the fourth owner for the plate of nation special. The quality is still really good. The spring rolls have both shrimp and pork, which you should know in case you're not used to having pork in the spring rolls. The sweet-and-sour soup which is flavored with pineapple is delicious. My dining companion doesn't like seafood so we had it with tofu. I would normally recommend getting it with the fish though. The caramelized pork over rice is delicious. The servers were nice. We were seated quickly. read more

Rainier Restaurant - Plate of nation, special: caramelized pork belly with egg, spring rolls, sweet-and-sour soup (tofu) - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Rainier Restaurant: A Hidden Gem for Vietnamese Cuisine in Seattle Rainier Restaurant has quickly become my favorite Vietnamese spot in Seattle. The parking is ample, and the entrance is conveniently located downstairs. Note that you cannot access the restaurant by going up the outside stairs. My group of friends and I ordered a variety of dishes, and each one was delightful: Bun Rieu: This dish had a nice tomato crab flavor, though it didn't particularly stand out. Bo Luc Lac (Shaking Beef): This was probably my favorite dish of the night. It had a great smoky beef flavor and was perfectly cooked. Seafood Soup: A nicely balanced, mild soup with plenty of seafood and okra. Beef Salad Special: Pretty good, but not great. Shrimp Fried Rice: A standard shrimp fried rice with good flavor. Fried Catfish: This was the dish I came for, and it did not disappoint. Although we didn't get enough cilantro in our herbs, the catfish was cooked very well. It was nice and tender, and the crispy skin paired perfectly when wrapped in the rice paper roll. The prices were reasonable, and the draft beer was only $5. If you're looking for a comforting, family-style Vietnamese restaurant, give Rainier Restaurant a try! read more

Came here with a party of 14. We ordered quite a bit but here's what I can remember :) Fish Sauce Chicken Wings Rainer Beef On Choy Shaking Cube Beef Grilled Sweet Snails Scallion Grilled Asian Razor Clam Grilled Squid Sate Riced Cracker Baby Clam Bun Rieu Pho Sizzling Viet Crepe Roasted Veal Huge catfish Food was lovely and quite flavorful and the service here was solid. Enjoyed all the dishes we ordered as we all had a good time. My favorite was probably the smoked roasted veal, the Rainer beef on choy, and the shaking cube beef. read more

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Ssshhheeesssshhhh this place is great! Ordered takeout Lemon Chicken Rice dish plus egg rolls and was not disappointed! A generous amount of chicken and rice, fantastically seasoned, with a pleasant, fresh salad. I dunno for sure, but someone's grandmother wants you to eat right! Service was awesome as well. A recent change up in management left a gap in Yelp (GrubHub) ordering. Warning: They don't use it anymore, just Uber. The person there helped me out with getting things squared and got my order placed and ready in under 15 minutes - wild work! Great stuff, looking forward to coming back! read more

This spot is just what I was looking for ... open late. I ordered the Catfish clay pot to say it was delicious is an understatement. My tastebuds, tummy and time were satisfied. read more

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This is a Vietnamese restaurant that we frequent a lot . I love the snails dishes here and the price is reasonable. The Vietnamese food is pretty authentic and we love to dine in as well as do take out almost once a month from here . The staff here is pretty friendly and I feel like the service is good :) . read more

Rainier Restaurant - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My first experience here was about five years ago my dad and I walked in an were kind of ignored no on looked up or welcomed us, we left with out even trying to order or get seated. Flash forward to yesterday totally different experience. The person who welcomed us was the same person that serves and too or order. When I walked in with my friend we were quickly greeted and told to grab a table. We knew we wanted the catfish they're known for Ca Bong Lau Da Gion. We were told the smallest that day was 5lb. We said fine we would have leftovers. I want to say our fish came to about $76 which would be about $15.20 a pound market price for the day. The other dish we ordered was the Crispy Noodle Combo Mi Xao Gion Thap Cam which I believe was $16. The noodles came out first with the platter of sides for the cat fish. The noodles we so good shrimp, squid, mushrooms, bok choy and cartots and I think with maybe chicken or pork. Was nice snd hot and the noodles were so crispy! Would definitely order this again as well as the catfish. The seasoning and flavors are spot on. The catfish is so crispy, you can use the rice paper wraps to make rolls or the lettuce for lettuce wraps its the combination of the fish, sauce and fresh herbs that really make the dish. Messy but worth getting in and enjoying the dish! Staff was wonderful helpful and very informative and took great care taking our pic and switching out plates for us. Also splitting the fish for us in two containers and bags to take home. looking forward to returning with my family. read more

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This is one of my go to restaurants as it is just down the hill from my house. We eat here at least once a week. They have so much variety, you can go family style with their famous Ong Choy Salad or whole fried catfish to name a few of my favorites or order a bowl of pho or any of their other noodle soups. My favorite is the bamboo noodle soup with a duck salad on the side, the dressing is so tasty, it will blow you away. We also like the pork & shrimp crepe...you get a ton of fresh veggies & herbs to wrap the crispy crepe up in. The servers are young but very friendly, they make us feel so welcome since we are regulars. The restaurant is like a hole in the wall but those are often where I find some of the best tasting food. read more

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One of my favorite Vietnamese spots in Seattle! I love coming here for Viet dishes I can't get everywhere. I especially love the ong choy salad, crispy whole catfish (for special occasions), and deep fried quails. Tip: if you'd like a fried catfish, call ahead and let them know when your party will arrive. We called a day before and when we arrived everything was set up and the fish was still nice and hot! read more

Thai tea perfect and the pho was excellent thank you. Been coming here for about a couple months and its service is always so greeting as well as welcoming. Feel at home. Satuu read more

Rainier Restaurant - THAI ICE TEA Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Such a hidden gem in Seattle for Vietnamese food. We came for their specialty fried catfish spring rolls and it did not disappoint. The fish was crispy, flavorful, and the fried garlic with scallion oil on top is such a nice touch. It is DIY spring rolls, so it comes with a plentiful plate of all the fixings. The dipping sauce is a traditional pineapple sauce, sooo good. read more

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