Loved it. The service was great and the food was excellent. I walked here from my office for a quick lunch. The owner was very kind and food was served quickly. Fish was fresh and portions were generous! The only thing that I'd stray away from is sitting at the high top next to the window. The people watching quickly became a bit unpleasant. Other than the location, it was great! Highly recommend! read more

Red Bowls - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Red Bowls is a Seattle spot, serving a menu of Japanese/Korean inspired 'red' lunch bowls. It has been open for almost 10 years, serving the downtown crowd both cooked meat and fresh fish. The fish quality was very good, and with the generous portions, making Red Bowls a popular stop. It's a very small back of house, with a one-person kitchen and adjoining register area. The proprietor was genuinely friendly and efficient handling mostly takeout orders and handing out premade phone-ahead orders. I was a lot less decisive, ending up ordering two bowls giving a decent sample of their ingredients. My wife and I dined-in, taking advantage of the street facing counter to finish as much food of the food as we wanted. Both bowls came out really fast. Samurai ($19.95) - chef's choice of fresh fish, topped with fresh avocado. It was a thin layer of steamed white rice. Because it was a raw fish bowl, the varied mix of steamed but then chilled vegetables (lots of cabbage, broccoli). The amount of fish was very generous and of good quality. Both a large dallop of wasabi (soy sauce on table) and some really zingy pickled ginger, gave the bowl enough saltiness/sourness for my taste. Chicken and Beef Meat Bowl ($16.95) - mix of good bulgogi beef and OK teriyaki chicken thighs, on top of a similar steamed chilled vegetable mix and warm rice. It was a generous amount, and we brought most of it home. Drinks are of the bottle/can variety, but a Coway filtered water dispenser is provided for self-serve which was greatly appreciated. We had plenty to bring back, so put the leftovers in my backpack to continue with our day. As we heading back later in the day, decided to bring back to our daughter a fresh, uneaten sashimi bowl. We stopped in about an hour before their closing time (they close at 15:30), but by that time, were out of the Samurai. The proprietior recognized me and knew I was disappointed, but also he seemed a bit pleased to know I had liked that bowl so much. read more

See all

My coworker who used to live in Seattle said we had to come here. I was hungry so I find r think much of it, but boy was I impressed! The ambiance is unassuming. Not much decor. Service is efficient and to-the-point. No frills decor and no frills service. Food, however, is amazing bang for your buck. It's yummy, fresh, and a lot! Big portions, good quality, and good prices. read more

See all

holy cow. has to be some of the freshest tuna and salmon i've ever had. customer service was fast and friendly. definitely will come back here!! read more

Red Bowls - radical bowl - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

In Seattle for work and decided to get sushi. I love mom & pop shops and this place HIT THE SPOT. There was a line which to me is a good thing; they got orders in/out so quick. I probably only waited 3-5 min. I got the Samurai bowl and yall this bowl is girthy af. The salad they have underneath the bowl is delicious, sweet, savory and citrusy dressing that pairs well with the fresh cuts of fish. I wish I walked down to the pier to enjoy it but the phoenix girl in me couldn't handle the cold lol. I will definitely be coming back every time I come to Seattle (which is often lol). Support your local business!!! read more

Red Bowls - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I went all out and tried the Samurai bowl-- and WOW it was so delicious and filling! It was filled with a generous amount of seafood, including several kinds of tuna, salmon, octopus, and white fish, as well as rice, steamed veggies, avocado, and tamago. Everything was fresh and tasty. Such a nice simple delicious meal to have during my quick visit. Service was good and the food came out pretty quickly. It's not the most aesthetic place, so I find it to be more of a takeout spot, but I appreciate that they have plenty of seating to dine in. These bowls don't look huge, but I probably could have made 2 meals out of mine. Since I didn't have access to a fridge for leftovers, I ate it all in one sitting and then crawled my way out of the restaurant. read more

Red Bowls - Samurai Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Amazing lunch spot in downtown Seattle! Fresh dish, big portion, and a variety of options. The owner was so friendly and saying hi to regulars. What a sweet and neighborly feeling! Limited seating inside so I took it out. The like could look long but it actually moves pretty fast. read more

Red Bowls is a solid lunch spot for anyone who works in Downtown. You will most certainly see a long line during lunch hour, but the service is quick here. There are some indoor seatings here, but most people order to-go. I always get the Alaskan Bowl which comes with salmon, imitation crab, steamed vegetables, and rice (it used to include avocado). The portion is huge, and one bowl keeps me full for the day. Aside from poke, they also have warm bowls (bibimbap, udon, cooked fish bowls, etc.). read more

Red Bowls - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Solid lunch spot! The service was incredibly fast, I was in and out of there in what felt like under 1 minute. I got the Alaskan Bowl which cost $16 after tax. The bowl is a generous portion of food, with salmon, crab, avocado, and lots of greens and some rice. Everything is super well seasoned and tasted fresh. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Red Bowls - Alaskan bowl - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Be prepared to give your order while waiting in line. Friendly guy who takes your order wants you to get your food quick! I had the Samurai. Hearty portions. Very delicious. Will return for their hot food choices. read more

Red Bowls - Samurai - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Before going back to California, I asked my boyfriend to grab me a chirashi bowl from here for me. One of our friends recommended this shop in downtown and had to check it out as my boyfriend worked in downtown! It's located where the FedEx and 7-Eleven are located in the Central Building. There's only street parking around which is very difficult to find. They're also only opened during M-F lunch times... so it's relatively hard to find the time to go unless you work in or near downtown or have one of the days off. I got the Samurai Bowl which came with a variety of protein (salmon, tuna, crab, albacore, whitefish, tako, tamago) and vegetables (avocado, daikon, cabbage, broccoli (SUPER WEIRD HONESTLY)). The fishes weren't bad! There wasn't that freshness to them but the cuts were HUGE. The entire bowl itself was too much for me to finish. I didn't really like the whitefish much as it had the most fishy flavor. Ironic thing to say LOL. The only thing that really threw me off was the broccoli in the bowl.... why was there broccoli? And cabbage? I was so confused LOL But aside from that, the entire bowl was delicious! Overall, this shop was a great place to grab lunch from as the prices weren't too bad and the portions were big! Would love to come back to try their other bowls in the future. read more

Red Bowls - Samurai Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great family run small restaurant serving excellent quality and value for a Seattle area business. I have been here several times for take out for the fish bowls (Hae Dop Bap or Samurai usually) and the quality, serving size and service have been top notch. The owner is always there and knows his regulars. This is probably my most visited restaurant since I discovered it. read more

Love their spicy tuna and spicy salmon bowls! I've worked off and on near Red Bowls for over 15 years and it's always satisfied. Plus the service is friendly and hilarious. read more

Located in the heart of downtown, just a couple blocks from the courthouse and city hall. This place has some traditional Korean dishes. I opted for a bi bim bap bowl with bulgogi. Called in my order about 10 minutes before I walked to the restaurant. It was there ready for me to pay for and zip right back to the office. This dish was served in a deep bowl with a container of the traditional gochujang used to mix into the dish. They even gave me an over easy egg on top to mix into this bowl of comfort food. I appreciated the healthy serving of bulgogi and vegetable mix. The gochujang sauce was on point from how I'm used to having it. Other places will either water it down or leave a thick paste that doesn't mix well. Overall great authentic bowl that I grew up eating. read more

Red Bowls - Bulgogi bibimbap bowl - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First Yelp review ever. Hands down the best lunch spot in Downtown for quick, easy, HEALTHY, and fresh food. And LOTS of it! The owner/operator knows his regular's order by heart (even mine, which isn't simple). I usually get the Samari, half veggie (because I love rice), no Tako (because I prefer more fish), and avocado (which he usually hands out for free). Almost a full pound of fresh fish served on top of a bed of rice and fresh veggies. The space is small and efficient. Food comes out within a few minutes. With a line out the door every single day, you can expect to wait no longer than 10 minutes start to finish. read more

Visit this restaurant second time after 4 years, since 2019. Owner of the restaurant is as friendly as before. We ordered Alaskan and Seattle in the noon and dined in. Obviously due to remote work and pandemic, it's less busier than 4 years ago. During our stay, there are 7 or 8 customers coming and taking out. There is no line in the lunch hour but the food quality is as good as before and the size as large as before. Services are super fast and we feel good at this restaurant in the downtown with only 4 tables. We ordered Alaskan Bowl and Seattle. They tasted fresh and good. read more

Red Bowls - Top Seattle; Bottom Alaskan - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've enjoyed the generous amount of fish in a bowl! It was perfectly marinated. I would like to come visit again read more

Surprised this was basically the lone surviving small Asian restaurant that survived the pandemic by my office building and happy that it did because it's still a solid place to get lunch at work. Crazy enough, a line still forms outside! Somethings don't change I guess.... Well sort of. The prices have gone up since the past 3 years, but that's expected. The food is still the same. Although when I ordered my usual Alaskan bowl with no rice, it tasted kind of funny. Not sure why, but maybe it's just this one time. Still a very popular place in downtown Seattle for lunch. Price is reasonable I guess. And food is decent. Love the bibimbap and love the raw fish bowls. Wait time can vary. Expect 10-15 minutes, on average, to be in line and have your order taken. read more

Red Bowls - Alaskan Bowl with no rice - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

They are only open for lunch, but very fast service and good bang for your buck. They do make you order fast to help get through the lunch rush so I got a little flustered/was shocked, but please with what I got. They had some tables to sit at. Small space for prep and such but may try again Uc downtown for lunch and in a hurry read more

Red Bowls - Alaskan bowl - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The Samurai bowl was such a steal and had fresh fish! The staff were efficient and friendly in grabbing my order during a really busy lunch hour! Hands down recommend this place if you're in the area. read more

Finally paid a visit had been on my friend and my list of places to try for awhile she was treating me to lunch for my birthday and we decided to walk from work. We both had the Samurai Bowl. Generous amount of fish. Liked that they use cabbage enjoyed the textural crunch and kept it from having too much rice. Everything was fresh. There is a sesame dressing on the cabbage and broccoli which are under the fish and the rice is on the bottom. Would definitely come back if I'm near maybe try one of the hot bowls in the winter. Service was quick and friendly. read more

Red Bowls - Samurai Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Lunch hour rush is real. Although the line moves fast, be prepared to wait atleast 15-20mins for your turn. I ordered the tofu bibimbap. Quite tasty and affordable. They have around 4 tables for seating. More of a grab and go kinda place. read more

Both my husband and I had a day off so I took this opportunity to try this place and it did not disappoint! We went for the samurai bowl and a California roll. For the price, I expected a small bowl with a few pieces of fish, so I was super surprised when I saw how much fish was in the bowl and how heavy it was. The samurai bowl is basically a chirashi bowl but with veggies and some kind of sauce in the rice. The fish is not as flavorful but when you mix everything together it is delicious. I think my favorite part is the veggie and the rice and the sauce, it was a good combination. California roll - this is probably the ugliest California roll I have ever seen but in a good way??? The roll itself is just rice and crab salad, and then they put huge slices of avocado on top of each piece. You can tell it is hand made as each piece was different from each other and it also seemed a little rush. However the flavor was good and it almost felt like a home cooking Overall, I'm so glad to finally try this place, hopefully I can come back to try other food or they extend their hours so it be easier for me to come here. read more

Red Bowls - California roll - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

This place is so great. Worth the price. There's a ton food given, and it's all really really fresh. Most reviews already say that, so I'll go ahead and highlight how helpful and informative the staff is. They are also super accommodating with requests. I am glad to have found this place and will continue to return time and time again to try their expansive menu. Fast service as well! read more

Red Bowls - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Visited Seattle again from LA just to try another dish here. I tried this in 2021 for the first time, it was so GOOD. Wanted to try again in 2022 but it was closed because it was Thanksgiving holiday. Finally got another bowl in 2024. Owners are supper kind and the food is just perfect. Don't miss it read more

Red Bowls - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Friendly, cheerful staff, with great options for bowls. You can get fresh or cooked fish, spicy or not spicy, etc. I love the radical bowl since it comes with so much fish, fresh cabbage salad, and added vegetables. Other places just add a bunch of rice to make it look large, but Red Bowls does it right. read more

Delicious Korean/Japanese place with super fast service. The prices have gone up since the Yelp menu photos were posted, but not complaining since you get a large portion of fresh fish, tasty vegetables, and plenty of rice in the bowls. Went for the pacific bowl and will be coming back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Red Bowls - Pacific bowl - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is by far my favorite lunch option in the downtown area. Some would label Red Bowls as a "poke" restaurant, but it's really a Korean raw fish shop. I highly highly recommend the red (gochujang) salmon rice dish without the veggies. The owner is also a great guy and memorizes hundreds of orders from their return customers. 5 Stars: this is a MUST TRY Seattle restaurant. read more

Red Bowls - Red Salmon, no veggies, add tamago and avocado - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was so happy that I found a delicious asian/Japanese place close to my building downtown! Definitely come before 12pm because the lunch rush gets pretty busy and there's usually a long line by then but the line goes by fast! I love the mom and pop feel of the place and all the different variety of rice bowls they have. I have only had the Alaskan bowl a couple times (fresh salmon, crab meat and veggies over rice) but am planning to try their other meat bowls like the bulgogi one next time! This will definitely be one of my go-to asian lunch spots during the week! read more

I'm so glad this place has survived through the hard times of the pandemic. I will say the portions have gotten a little smaller but it's still a lot of food for one person. The man that works here is so nice as well. I really recommend it to anyone returning back to the office in downtown Seattle that needs a solid, delicious lunch place. read more

Red Bowls - Chicken Katsu bowl with free egg - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

As someone who came from Southern California, I was expecting a small bowl with rice on the bottom and pay $15 for it. What I got is really surprising. I got a big bowl of beef, steamed veggies, and eggs AND THE LID ISNT CLOSING. The owners heated extra rice for me and my friends because they saw how many of us here and wanted to make sure we are full and satisfied. The owners are really polite, kind and they are the kind of people who does this to feed others. 10/10. We love you! read more

Red Bowls - This is cowboy spicy bowl: beef, steamed veggies and eggs! :) - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is still one of the few family-owned businesses holding strong through covid, etc. And for good reason. Ultra fresh poke at a reasonable price that only a restaurant filling in order after order can afford. The salmon poke has generous servings and the quality is always consistently top-notch. It was my go-to back when I was working in the area, and wanted to take something back to the office for lunch. read more

These red bowls are HUGE-really large portions, but that didn't compromise on the quality or taste of the food! It was really yummy! I had a hard time choosing what to get. I ended up getting the Cowboy-spicy bulgogi beef, not actually too spicy. Love how it is filled deep with veggies but topped with tons of meat. I also tasted the salmon bowl which was amazing. Big, fresh piece of fish! You really can't go wrong with any! The garden ones looked good too if that is what you like. When I went the line was out the door, which the locals validated usually happens every day, but the line went by quick. Don't let the busy look deter you! Nothing fancy about the restaurant, not quite a hole-in-the-wall, but not meant to be a sit down restaurant. A perfect place to stop in and grab a bowl on a short lunch break! Quick and easy, and very good! read more

Red Bowls - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Red Bowls is a great spot for a quick lunch downtown. It's definitely a favorite among downtown workers which is obvious by the line that is often out the door during peak hours. I usually wait and come closer to closing time, but even if you come during lunch rush you won't have to wait long. Their system is efficient and they get through orders impressively quick so don't let a line deter you! They have seating inside but I've always grabbed my food to-go. I've tried various bowls including their raw fish, bulgogi, and udon - everything has been good! Their fish tastes fresh and their bowls are so big that it usually ends up being two meals for me which is nice, you get a lot of food for your money. The owner works the counter taking orders and he is really friendly and often cracking jokes with the customers. This is a business I enjoy supporting! read more

Delicious food including poke bowls, vegan dishes, and Korean cuisine with quality, fresh fish and other ingredients. This place is one of the most reasonably priced places I went while visiting Seattle and they don't skimp on your order!! My Hae Dop Bap was filled to the brim and so filling. I got a hefty amount of salmon and tuna, but I liked how the bowl was proportionate with rice, gochujang (Korean hot sauce), and vegetables. I also got the tempura udon which came out steaming hot and was still warm when I took it home - it was so refreshing to eat with my Hae Dop Bap! There are tables to dine in, but they have speedy service if youre looking to take out. Check their business hours before you go on because they're only open on the weekdays from 10:30 am - 4 pm currently. read more

See all

Unfortunately I did not get to try the food because the owner-proprietor was having such an inappropriate conversation with two other customers that I decided I would not be patronizing them. It had to do with making light of someone overdosing, dying and then using his body to either feed or lure wild animals, to not let them "go to waste." In hindsight, my only regret is not making more of a scene. Other than that, I like patronizing local mom-and-pops with simple counter service. read more

When I have troubling deciding where to go for lunch, Red Bowls is an easy choice to fall back on. A little mom-and-pop shop in Downtown Seattle, Red Bowls features a variety of rice or veggie bowls with different proteins, from beef to fish. The restaurant is a popular choice for the professionals in the area, so the key is to go before or after the lunch rush. But even with a slight line, the owners move through orders with lightning speed. My go-tos are as follows: - Seattle Bowl - A combination of cooked salmon, veggies and rice. This is a good alternative if you're looking for a non-sashimi dish! - Alaskan Bowl - This bowl is the complete opposite of the Seattle Bowl with raw salmon, crab meat and avocado on top of a bed of veggies and rice. The fish has always been fresh when I've gone. - Unagi Bowl - And lastly, this bowl is great if you like unagi, as it comes with a generous helping of cooked eel with veggies and rice. Red Bowls accepts cash and card, but if you pay with cash, you are offered a free bottle of water. Prices are also typical for the downtown area, with bowls around $10-11 each. This restaurant is a great choice if you're looking for a fast and filling meal on-the-go. :) read more

Red Bowls - Alaskan Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Had the Samurai bowl. Great value for money; fresh fish and plenty of it. It's my new favorite poke place.

I was visiting my friend in Seattle for a couple days back in early March and we decided to try this place for lunch. When you walk in, it's small and unassuming but right as we started eating, a huge rush of people came in and a line formed around the restaurant (seemed like most of them were regulars which is always a good sign!!) We ordered the udon and california roll to share and my friend got the alaskan bowl (salmon and crabmeat) and i got the radical bowl (tuna and salmon). WOW the fish was so fresh and they were so generous with the portion. As you can tell from the picture, the bowl is mostly fish in large chunks also with free avocado!! For around $10 a bowl, I thought it was a very great value. Compared to other poke places, the bowls were light on the sauce which I personally prefer. Combined with the steamed veggies, I felt like it was healthier than the typical poke bowl (-: And there are no complaints for the udon and california roll either - both good! The udon soup complemented my poke bowl well especially in the chilly Seattle weather It's been months but I still think about this restaurant - if I lived in Seattle, I would 10000% come here probably AT LEAST 1x a week. It's owned by a lovely Korean couple and they were very sweet (-: read more

Red Bowls - alaskan bowl (top), udon, radical bowl (bottom) - Japanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This hidden gem in Seattle downtown is such an amazing place, that I'm kinda mad at myself for discovering this place too late. This small restaurant run by Korean family offers such great options ranging from simple classic Korean dish like bibimbap with many topping options to FRESH fish bowl like fresh salmon bowls. I really can't emphasize how they've never failed to leave me at awe with their amazingness in QUALITY, QUANTITY, PRICE and SPEED OF THE SERVICE. I've tried 3 dishes at this place so far, and all of those times, I was amazed at them. 1. QUALITY: 5 stars / 5 stars All their food choices are so nutritious, satisfying proper amount of protein, veggies and a bit of rice. They're always freshly cooked, with the part they can prepare in advance greatly prepared and kept fresh. For instance, I've never had a poke bowl with this fresh and great quality fresh fish anywhere in Seattle. Their food is never too heavily seasoned, keeping the original taste of each ingredient, yet marinated just enough to keep everything in harmony. 2. QUANTITY 5 stars / 5 stars Each bowl comes with decent amount of rice, great amount of veggies, and EVEN greater amount of protein at your choice. I'm amazed at how they never cheap out on their ingredients. I've never felt like I had space left on my stomach when having their food ( in a VERY GOOD WAY!) 3. PRICE 5 stars/ 5 stars Honestly, I think they deserve every single penny of what they charge us, if not more. Given the quality and quantity of their food, the price is more than amazing. I tend to tip more because I think they deserve more, but all of their bowls are in $10's. 4. SPEED OF SERVICE 5 stars / 5 stars HOLY MOLY. Their kitchen is so well organized and speedy, you don't need to wait more than 5 minutes after you order to get FRESH food. Most of the time I went there, I didn't even need to wait 2 minutes to get my food. If i could give more than 5 stars, I DEF would. I'm a bit sad that they're only open during lunch time and closed on the weekends, because honestly I'd go for both lunch and dinner if they were open. 100% recommend this place to anyone who likes healthy, delicious, amazing food!!!!!!! Will 100% return! read more

See all