Really cool place to go! Great service, delicious food, unique drinks and overall pretty darn nice! My two cents- Little overrated! Food is unique and good but mismatched! They have an extremely limited menu! Roughly 8 items of food in total and not all things go together. We loved the Naan! It was super fresh! The dal was standard dal! The chicken was off the charts great and flavorful! The kale had an after taste so the server didn't charge us for it but the presentation was fantastic! My drink was delicious! They only had one dessert option! That shows you how limited the menu is! The place has no ambiance! It's a hole in the wall dive bar feel! Extremely small! The service is fantastic! Gabriel was awesome! Loves his recommendations! The location has parking issues and is in really shady part of Seattle! Will I be back? Most likely not! Food is good but it's just not enough to make me wanna be back! read more

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Everything was great, and I would go back again. Each dish was creative and delicious (3 of us shared 5 dishes plus dessert), the cocktails were lovely (3 of us tried 3 different kinds), and service was efficient although not necessarily warm, kinda just business-like. read more

Rupee Bar - Sri Lankan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Incredible service with even an even more incredible dining experience. The cocktails were outstanding too! The prices were more than reasonable. Ambiance is compact but inviting. I highly recommend this as a repeat place to keep coming back to. read more

A lovely evening with unique food and drink options that leave me thinking fondly of Sri Lanka. BEAUTIFUL PLATES AND TASTY BITES. We snagged a seat by the kitchen window and every plate that came out looked picture perfect. Our melon paneer plate had such a great chili oil. The fried chicken came breaded in tons of spices that smelled and tasted incredible. The kale salad was basically served over mango lassi and was another example of how this restaurant used citrus as a way to lighten up a dish. Plus, the mint tamarind chutney was such a fresh pairing with it all. And our naan was not what I expected - I suppose it was less bready than I've had at Indian restaurants. THE DRINKS AND BAR. The drink menu was pricy, though they served some unique options. We got the coconut whiskey which was nice and smooth with a strong coconut flavor and citrus element. The Last Night in Negombo was being ordered by others at the bar, so we gave it a try and it was good if you like tumeric, lime, and black pepper - all the ingredients are exactly what you'll taste. A UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE. We dined here on a Saturday night and were asked for reservations which we did not have. We ended up sitting at the bar even though we saw open tables all around us throughout the night. Still, we were happy to be in this beautifully decorated room with friendly and attentive staff. There was also outdoor seating which had some fire elements and looked lovely as well. We had no problem finding street parking either. read more

Amazing!!! The food was absolutely phenomenal. Highly recommend the soft fluffy naan, mutton rolls, the bhel puri, and the Kerala fried chicken. The cocktails were excellent as well. Super cute interior but keep in mind that it is a small space. There were 5 of us and the servers were very accommodating but it was definitely a squeeze. The tables inside fit 4 comfortably but if you have slightly more than 4 people I recommend sitting in the outdoor covered area that has heaters. Already excited to come back here! read more

Excellent food and cocktails with beyond perfect service. I've never had a bad time here. My only regret is not coming more often and I'm getting annoyed that they're becoming hard to book. I hope they keep it up and grab more space we can fill! read more

This was such a wonderful date night experience. The ambience is very intimate and sensual with beautiful mood lighting. The food was excellent (I'm writing this review months later, so please excuse the fact that I don't remember what I ordered). Portions are definitely on the smaller side and meant to be shared. Prices are also a bit on the higher side, so this will have to be more of a treat experience and not a lazy day type of dinner place. read more

Great atmosphere, inventive menu, servers well versed in all the ingredients and flavor profiles. Great cocktail menu. FYI HH menu starts at 4pm opening, main menu rolls out at 5 read more

Pleasant experience overall. I was able to get a quick appointment for Wednesday night one day before. You need to call and put down your credit card for the reservation. We had mutton rolls, dhal and naan, fried chicken and deviled prawns. Two of us were so full after just eating the dhal naan and mutton rolls. They changed their menu a bit, I missed the pork ribs and cod curry. Drinks were amazing. We. had the swizzle and deja vu. Our server was also very nice and cordial. Overall, I do recommend this place. read more

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Hard to find fault and easy to find amazing. Food is wonderful, full of balanced nuanced flavor. It feels more like home/comfort food than the usual fusion play you see nowadays and that is a good thing, but it still definitely has a foodie/chef pedigree, this is not your home cooking unless you have a top chef at home. Service is pretty good for a place so busy and the indoor and outdoor decor and ambience is charming, hip and nicely understated. Drinks are good too. read more

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I saw a video of Rupee Bar on TikTok and had to try it! It's a modern twist on Indian food and I enjoyed my experience. Location/reservations: This place is located in Ballard and only open for dinner at the moment. Highly recommend getting a reservation since this place is always busy. We were out for a walk and put our name down as a walk-in in hopes the wait wasn't too long. Came back after 45 minutes to be seated. Decor: Loved the decor in this space and how they carried that same look and feel to the outdoor space. Such a clean modern look with dark and earthy elements and dim lighting. What we ordered: Bhel Puri Deviled Prawns Naan Black Cod read more

The food was phenomenal. The drinks were complex and delicious. One of the best meals I've had out in a while. read more

Ordered the naan $4, dhal curry $4, chickpea and carrot curry $12, bulgur salad $10, eggplant curry ($forgot price). Basically tons of options for vegetarians. If I was to be honest, their naan, and dhal curry and bulgur salad were the best dishes. I loved that salad! I felt the chickpea and carrot curry was a nice flavour but felt too unfamiliar in taste for me to enjoy. The eggplant curry was flavoured with very strong dried masala, which made it quite tough to eat - it was more of a deconstructed curry. Drinks were great. The ambience is fantastic and the service is very friendly. They have some outdoor seating and indoor seating is limited capacity. read more

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Great food - love their $4 plates! The service was top notch and the patrons made sure we were comfortable. We sat outside and loved the cozy fireplace. read more

Rupee is an awesome place to meet people and for food fun and ambience. I went there on a Saturday night and was still able to get in table for one. I recommend the cod and naan bread. read more

This small and quaint neighborhood bar and restaurant has a solid selection of satisfying fare ... the drinks are very well curated ... the fried chicken & deviled prawns are a solid choice ... the naan was made to perfection... it's worthy of another try !!! read more

Checked out another neighborhood spot for take out during quarantine. Only about a 15 minute walk from home. Looking forward to dining in this place when things are lifted. I've seen others posts of how great the space is inside. The meal traveled well on the way home. I had asked a friend Torrie N what her favorites were. I went with the naan love how it is light and crisp. For protein I went had the curry rubbed pork ribs and added the pickles and chili sambal. Both service on the phone and the take out window was friendly. Heard great things about the fish curry from another Yelper Marie B. And looking forward to checking the fried chicken only offered on Sundays! read more

Rupee Bar - curry rubbed pork ribs, pickles, naan and sambal - Sri Lankan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Newly opened Sri Lankan / Indian inspired bar in town? Sign me up! Came here at about 5 PM and boy it was packed! The place is relatively small, and can seat approximately 28-30 people (including bar seatings). We waited for about 20 minutes, not bad at all! We started off with drinks. Would recommend cinnamon garden for a light and refreshing kick-start to your meal. Doctor's order reminds me of piña colada, pretty good! *Naan & Dhal Curry Since the naan came by itself, we decided to pair it with dhal curry. The naan was decent. The dhal curry was subtle but had enough flavor to spice up the naan. The texture resembled those of paste (not a bad thing). Good, but not a dish I would recommend *Pork Curry Ribs Tender and fell off the bone! Make sure to eat them together with the gotu kola (Indian pennywort) on the side! Flavorful dish but wished the seasoning was slightly bolder! Recommended! *Kerala Fried Chicken My favorite dish of the night! Lightly breaded and well-seasoned! Drizzle it with zesty lime and savor it with amu miris (green chilli) aioli to create a sensational flavor bomb! As others have mentioned, portions are smaller and dishes are meant to be shared. A good chance to try multiple items. Service was great and attentive. I agree with one review stating that the food in general could've used more spices to create bolder flavor. The food here is milder than most Indian/Sri Lankan food I've had. However, it all comes down to personal preference. Check it out if you haven't! Would come again if I'm in the area but not one of those places I'd go out of my way to dine at. read more

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Saw some reviews that have similar comments as mine so I know I'm not alone. To set the stage; I am of Indian heritage but grew up in Bahrain and had Sir Lankan nanny's. So, this type of food lives in my veins already. I've lived in America for two decades so I also recognize how food evolves when it comes here. Given that, I expected a "nod" to Sri Lankan/ Indian food and with the hype I was hearing, some culinary surprises too. I was disappointed not to find more flavor at Rupee Bar. The best item we had was the naan - best I've found in Seattle. Everything else lacked the deep flavor development you find in Sri Lankan and Indian food. ~ Papadam: Was fine. A little over-browned. ~ Coconut and Chili Sambol: Had decent flavor but not enough heat level. ~ Naan: Fluffy, chewy, crisp on the bottom. Just fantastic. But over priced. ~ Mutton Roll: Great texture, but despite being one of the most rich meats - no flavor! The texture made it out second favorite item however. ~ Kerala Chicken: Good, Solid crust. Nice and crispy and juicy inside. ~ Cauliflower: Good. ~ Fish Curry with Black Cod: Fish needed crispy skin, it was soggy. The rest of the fish was tender however. The curry was completely lacking and was not enough for the dish. Cocktails were not strong but all sounded interesting on the menu. Wish they had more of a punch and flavor. read more

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Very unique new restaurant serving Indian Tapas. The food was delicious! I absolutely loved the Kerala style fried chicken and the mutton roll. The bhel puri (which come served with curd - something I have never seen before in India) was skippable. The cocktails were really good too. The only reason I reduced a star is because I felt the portions were way too small and pretentious and definitely overpriced. The menu also seems to be randomly put together. They have naan, which doesn't pair with anything else on their menu. Nobody eats naan with dhal or pork ribs or fish curry. (Being an Indian myself; I can vouch for this) Also you can expect a long wait time! We had to wait for more than an hour for a table. The restaurant is really small. Not suitable for groups larger than 4. read more

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I was pretty torn about how to review this place. Here's why: We tried almost everything on the menu. Whatever we ordered tasted delicious, especially the mutton roll. The cocktails were nice too - i tried the saffron road and then whatever the server recommended). That being said, it was all pretty expensive considering the tiny portions (we had to order 3 mutton rolls in so 6 of us could try it). Plus, we waited about 45 minutes extra even after we had our name down for a certain time. Finally - while the food was great, it was not Sri Lankan at all (except maybe the dhal). Adding something like "appams" might make it closer to authentic. I might try and give this one more shot maybe with a smaller group, to change my mind. read more

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A very average place with just small bites. Went there last night with couple of friends and didn't like the food at all. Everything was okay, not even great. We were so bummed as I read such great reviews and dropped in. We ordered almost everything on the menu and nothing was worth the hype. Kerala Fried Chicken is the only decent dish from all the things we ate. ~Naan- Wish it came with a small dish of its own. One cannot jjst eat the naan, it has to be eaten with something. We had ordered Dhal to go with it, was so lacking the flavour. ~Bhel Puri- This had more of the yogurt than the actual flavour of the rice crispies, which is called moori. ~Mutton Roll- Apart from the crispy layer on top, the meat was over cooked, hardly any spices and the taste was bum. ~Deviled Prawns- As dar as I know no one garnishes the dish with its shells. The dish was very small, the shells were more than the prawns all together. ~Pumpkin Curry- This was more of paste than the curry. Hardly any pumpkin pieces or the paneer as it was mentioned was in there. Just some paste with curry leaves on top. ~ Fish Curry- The curry base was good with the tangy flavor, but the fish was just blah ~Pork Ribs- Few yelpers raved about it, so it was one of the first dishes which we ordered. The meat was over cooked, no spices at all, the taste was bland and just didn't like it. Drinks were good. We ordered Doctor's Orders, a nicer cousin of Pinacolada, Cinnamon Garden and Indian Tonic. The menu says lots of Indian/Srilankan spices, but they hardly used it in the food. Sad that we drove all the way from Eastside to Ballard to end up this way. Most of their menu is small bites ONLY. There's no entree food here. read more

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The design of the restaurant is really nice inside and outside on the patio. The dishes are small and meant to share, everything we had was amazing! The cocktails are very nice. Make a reservation ahead of time! Have to order a lot to get full so gets pricey, but great place to come for a date or on occasion. read more

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One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Intensely flavorful, fresh, unique. Service was knowledgeable, personable, kind, it's also one of the better interior design jobs I've ever seen in a restaurant. Appropriate music volume, gorgeous bar, it's a very small place, but much like its food, it packs a punch in memorability. Food Order: Naan (Mint Tamarind Chutney) Pumpkin Curry Mutton Rolls Kerala Fried Chicken read more

Loved it! Would definitely return to try the other dishes. Indian tapas is the best description. Drinks - unique and amazing! Often times these can be pretentious/ cool without delivering on flavor. This wasn't. Cool twist on old fashioned Food - Kerala fried chicken was the highlight! Tender, expertly flavored and fried - mutton roll was delicious as well! The sauce it came with is perfect dipping for the naan - fish curry cod was good. Not sure I'll order it again, the other two dishes stood out more - the bhel puri is a good appetizer! Refreshing, crunchy - dessert was good as well. Would like to see a couple more options eventually Finally, service. Very warm and friendly. All in all, would definitely return. read more

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Don't that 2 hour wait fool you from not eating here! It's so worth the wait! We came in on a Friday night for Date Night, and were absolutely blown away by the service, food & drink, and ambiance. We got seated after only 1 hour in a corner seat of the bar top, which was nice and intimate. Our server, Sid, was awesome and very warm and welcoming, and was fast to recommend some of his favorite on the menu. We ended up getting to drink: Saffron Burrows: Best drink I've had in a long time!!! It had an unusual combo of mezcal, and Italian saffron herbal liqueur (strega), mango, lime, & a few saffron strands. Surprisingly, the saffron still wasn't too overpowering. The drink was well balanced, and strong, and I want to order 5 more of just these drinks! Doctors Orders: This one was pretty dang good too!! It was like a pina colada with a kick! It had roasted pineapple rum, Swedish punsch, clove, and egg white. It was perfectly balanced, and went down easy. Last Night in Negombo: my husband got this decadent drink with coconut milk, turmeric, gin, lime and black pepper. It's like the alcoholic version of golden milk. My husband enjoyed it! King Coconut: This was by my husband's favorite drink of the night!! It's like an elevated Old-Fashion with hints of Coconut, and my husband could of easily have 10 more of these. And to eat we got: Naan: It was good mixed with the tamarind cilantro chutney, but otherwise pretty forgettable, unless you want to eat it with the curry on the menu Mutton Roll: for 8 dollars a pop, I would expect to get at least 2 mutton rolls and these were super tiny. Veering away from the portion size, the mutton itself was tender, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The tomato sambol went well with it Kerala Fried Chicken: This was another favorite on the menu! It was crunchy, well-seasoned, and the daikon & amu miris aioli went well with the whole dish. Deviled Prawns: this was my least favorite dish of the night. The prawns itself were cooked ok, but so so so salty and no enough spice on it. I also am not a fan of eating shells, even if they are crisped up on the top. This dish disappointed me for sure. Pork Curry Ribs: BEST DISH OF THE NIGHT. I'd order 10 plates of just this, and that saffron drink above, and my night is made. Definitely a must order (if you eat meat/pork). The meat literally fell off the bone and was so tender, juicy, and flavorful. The freshness of the gotu kola on the side really complemented the ribs nicely. Overall, super excited about the new addition of Rupee Bar to the neighborhood! I'll surely be back soon! read more

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This is one of the best meals I've had in Seattle for a long while. Everything we ordered was delicious through and through. The King Coconut cocktail was absolutely delicious as well. Will come here again! read more

Discovering a "Sri Lankan/Indian" inspired restaurant & bar opening a couple of blocks from my home definitely got me excited, but I reserved judgment given almost every other place in that category ends up being a disappointment (I am from India - and I avoid all restaurants who claim that cuisine as I can do a far better job at home - anyhow, digressing). I walked in Tuesday's evening at 5pm - and the place was almost at capacity but well staffed at the same time. This places is more about craft cocktails and small plates, and definitely has the Friday night with a small group of close friends/date night vibe going for it. The cocktails menu was so well designed - how it's served to the key taste/flavor elements being called out showed great attention to detail (I am always asking my server please make sure my vaguely named drink is neither sweet or served in a tall glass). However, Ballard has a few amazing craft cocktails around - so what about the small plates? Wow they do a good job - on the money! Think Kedai Makan meets Sochi or smth, except right in my backyard hoo yeah! I tried both the mutton roll and the Kerala fried chicken, and I couldn't find flaws in them. Will be going back to try out everything else. read more

Rupee Bar - Kerela Fried Chicken, Crazy Jumper - Sri Lankan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A small cozy awesome place , food and drinks were amazing . Super friendly staff. Having reservation is recommended but they have plenty pf bar seating area too. read more

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My wife and I try new restaurants very often. Rupee Bar makes a strong case for our favorite spot. Amazing food, great cocktails, excellent service. A bit of a snug fit, but makes for better vibes for 2 people. And the vibes are immaculate. This place is the whole package. read more

Seriously - you must... even if on a wait. Cool vibe, fantastic, palate challenging menu & of course the cocktails. Never a disappointment - continues to remain on our 'again' list. read more

This place is AMAZING! The flavor on each dish was unique and so tasty! The place is small and intimate but perfect for a double date! The staff was awesome, made great recommendations and the drinks were BOMB! I would for sure go back! For 4 people, we ordered the entire menu and it was perfect for sharing all of the amazing dishes! Low GHEE, this place is second to NAAN! : Pumpkin Curry - Pepitas and soft cheese : Deviled Prawns - Crispy shells and dry curry : Kerala Fried Chicken - Ami miris aioli : Pork Curry Ribs - Tamarind glaze : Dhal Curry - Coconut and mustard : Tandoor Cauliflower - Eggplant and currants : Thali Salad - Chickpeas, beet and papadum : Black Cod Curry - Turmeric and herbs read more

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It was really delicious! Small portions though. I'd say close to $100 per person if you wanted to be full.

This is the best addition to Ballard in a long time. Love the food, the vibe, the menu, the service. Omg I love this place, I hope it stays around forever. read more

Rupee Bar - Interior of rupee - Sri Lankan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is really cool! Get a reservation so you can sit outside. It's a bit noisy inside. The menu is a tad hodgepodge but every item we had was perfectly executed. I also loved both of my cocktails. read more

The standout of our four-item order was the mutton rolls - wow! I'm not entirely sure what the fried 'skin' of the rolls consist of - at first bite I almost thought it was firmed mutton fat, but that was just because of the explosion of flavor that hit me from it. It's chewy and kind of mochi-textured, rather than the standard crunch of an egg roll or the light bite of, say, a mozzarella stick. We also got kale salad (refreshing, pepita-filled, creamy from the yogurt), chickpea carrot curry (the only 'miss' of the order, not curry at all, just chickpeas surrounded by mushy grated carrots), and the dal. Now, this dal - I have a recipe for dal I've been using for years at home and have never considered straying from it. Rupee Bar's dal made me actually whip out my phone while I was eating it and Google 'Sri Lankan dal with mustard seeds' so I could change it up! read more

The fried chicken is outstanding, as is the chai. The chili sambol is spicy so if you cant handle spice avoid that and you'll be just fine. The staff are so kind! The ambience is lovely both inside and outside. It can be quite loud (people talking inside and cars driving by outside), obviously not the restaurants fault just keel in mind if you are sensitive to noise. read more

The food is tasty , a bit below my expectation . Still good. The flavor for most dishes are there although I wish they cooked the lamb longer read more

@rupeebar you really nailed it. The first bite of soft, pillowy naan with dhal curry reminded me our mothers' cooking. Curry ribs, thali salad were delicious with the familiar flavors inspired but not married to one cuisine. The tomato chutney that comes with the mutton roll, amu miris aoli inspired me to try my hand at creating the same taste. "Gotukola" was better with watercress and green onions. When I was little, I remember being told to eat the curry leaves because it's good for you. At Rupee I ate the crunchy curry leaves without anyone having to remind me:) Liz thank you for bringing Sri Lankan flavors to Seattle. Your food will make people curious about a cuisine that was previously not known in PNW. Loved the G&T with house made tonic and the saffron drink. there are many more to try. The place is gorgeous. The wood work, tiles, lighting and even serving plates show how much thought and effort went into this. And the restroom is a must see. Congratulations guys! read more

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Rupee Bar was amazing. They serve a fusion of Indian subcontinent food that is well spiced and appeals to both Indian and American taste buds. They technically claim to be Sri Lankan, but most food seemed Indian. Kerala is not in Sri Lanka lol. Dhal Curry and the Kerala Fried Chicken were amazing starters. Fish Curry was what we had for mains and we also got some naan. Overall everything tasted so good, my only complaint would be that portion sizes were pretty small and prices are quite high. Not the perfect combo. read more