I was feeling under the weather and my hubby wants to take me to eat congee to help me feel better. We were kinda skeptical since it's about 45 mins away from our home but we trusted Yelp and made our way here. Not going to lie, we almost changed our mind and was going to go to Unbien across the street. However, we were determined to try this place and I'm glad we did! It was really filling and definitely hit the spot. I am not a congee fan but it was really fulfilling and delicious. The thai iced tea was reasonable. My hubby was also impressed with the food. We would totally recommend this place. There are seats inside and outside the establishment so that was nice. read more

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I admit I was led here by the NYT. It was very good, but not spectacular. The question is: would I find any congee spectacular? They do a good job with the congee itself, which has a great texture and subtle flavor. I believe they basically use the same congee for all the dishes, with various toppings applied. While the scallions and such are fresh, the choice of blue crab means they're not using local seafood, which is a bit odd. Wild boar, olives, etc were fine but nothing special. So, I'd say to go knowing that you're getting really good congee itself, but that the toppings are not the star of the show here, nor are they cooked in. read more

Food was good but the woman working was really rude to everyone. Thats fine I can handle it, but she made my sweet mom feel super bad and uncomfortable just for asking if something had an ingredient she was allergic to, and then left stuff off her order with no mention of it, only offering a refund with no apology when my dad walked inside to ask. Idk it just really bummed me out to have lunch ruined because my non confrontational parents were made to feel bad for expecting very basic service. read more

This place is very hyped up and I was excited to try it! There is plenty of street parking and this place is shockingly close to the pier. Not much indoor seating but plenty of patio seating (not good for big groups, best for groups of 1-2 people). I really only wanted to try the Thai congee and that did turn out to be the best one. This is a fusion place and prices are a little high (considering when we make congee at home, it's pennies for the rice itself). They do cook the congee well (the consistency is a nice texture) and we got it with youtiao (chinese donuts). Also tried a five spice tofu and a crab meat one. The thai one by far had the most flavor and came with 4 huge peeled shrimp which I thoroughly enjoyed. The Chinese donut was good to soak up the congee. Overall, it was a warm comforting meal and I'm glad to have tried it. Price point is a little high for congee, but that's probably just the Seattle climate now. read more

Secret Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'd really only call this place in Ballard near Shilshole Bay "secret" because as I parked my car using street parking around the vicinity and walked to the opposite side where Happy Crab and this place is, my foodie friend and I simply walked past it a couple steps and THEN realized we walked PAST it... it was either the heat on the Saturday noon we went or their Secret Congee sign outside was obscure. Also it took about 49 minutes to get from here to Seattle, while I had to go through a ton of weekend I-5 bottlenecks and traffic chokepoints. All seating from the inside to the two outdoor patio sections was taken when my friend and I got here but cleared up a lot the longer we stayed. The menu is available near the front door and above the counter where you place your order. Staff provide you water at the counter once you place your order, and napkins and chopsticks are self-serve though you get a soup spoon when you get your congee. Speaking of which, there's a good number of varieties of congee here! They're not like the congee you get from dim sum restaurants but there are some interesting takes, from regular chicken to blue crab congee. Other items include youtiao (crispy fried dough) and century eggs, along with drinks like That iced tea to go on the side as well. When I first went here with another friend around 2020 or 2021 when it still shared space with Drunken Chicken back in Wallingford, I got their spicy tom yum shrimp congee in a relatively large compostable bowl and sat at the outdoor patio overlooking Wallingford Ave N and not thinking about the pandemic's hold on everyone's sanity. Funny enough, I got the same tom yum congee for this visit, only I'm sitting in the dine-in area after someone JUST left a table in the fully occupied seating here. This take on congee has 5 pieces of shrimp, ginger, scallion, tom yum sauce and shrimp paste, and a nice chicken bone broth. This is a spicy dish, but the two of us didn't think it was unbearable. Shrimp is fresh and tangy along with the rest of the broth, and there were several pieces of chili peppers in our dish. There is a strong lemongrass taste possibly coming from the tom yum sauce itself but I loved it a lot more because of that! Jasmine rice is cooked in the right consistency as congee, and shrimp was not bogged down by the seafood-like aftertaste that comes from improperly flavored seafood. Friend and I pretty much finished everything inside the bowl except for the chili peppers themselves. I see the recipe and overall look has not changed from 5-6 years ago! I just wish I had gotten some youtiao so I could dip it in my congee and make it complete! Most things here are self-serve, and you do need to bus your own table. Trash, recycling and glassware are all organized near the front counter and labeled clearly for the most part. They also have one unisex restroom appropriately labeled "secret lavatory" on the door. This was a far drive but something I've wanted to try again since having it during a rough patch in the pandemic. Even for those not really into congee, don't pass up on this place even if it is considered a little "secret" because of the location! read more

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Delicious. Filling. Hits the spot. Nice to sit on the patio and enjoy the weather. The shrimp in the fish are huge. I really enjoyed my meal and emptied the bowl read more

Secret Congee - Tom Yum Shrimp Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tried the Tom Yum congee with fried Chinese doughnuts. Flavor wise, it was good the broth had a nice tangy, savory kick and the toppings were solid. The doughnuts paired well and added a nice texture. That said, the congee itself was only warm instead of hot, which took away from the experience a bit. It was also thicker than I personally prefer. The location definitely lives up to the "secret" name it's tucked away on a corner and you wouldn't really know what they offer unless you walk in. The vibe felt a bit rough around the edges though there was a large puddle at the entrance and noticeable cobwebs on the ceiling. Overall, it was decent and worth trying once, but not somewhere I'd go out of my way to revisit. read more

Secret Congee - Fried Chinese doughnut & Tum yum congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This spot shouldn't be a secret any longer! Love their unique take on a simple, humble dish. Secret Congee makes an elevated version of the classic congee. Their congee is topped with things like Tom Yum Shrimp, Garlic Blue Crab, Thai Meatball, Five-Spice Braised Tofu, and even specialty items like Wild Boar, Halibut, and Geoduck! They use jasmine rice cooked in chicken bone broth, and it's so comforting! I had the Garlic Blue Crab Congee, and it came with lots of lump crab meat, along with fried garlic, sliced ginger, chopped scallion, white pepper, and soy sauce. So yummy, and more mild in taste compared to some of the other congees. If you want something super flavorful and with a kick, try the Tom Yum Shrimp Congee. It has wild gulf shrimp, fried garlic, cilantro, ginger, scallion, tom yum sauce, shrimp paste, and white pepper. Whatever you do, you must add on some of their Youtiao Crispy Fried Dough! It's a like a Chinese donut and goes great dipped into the congee! Highly recommend adding on an egg as well--you can get it soft-boiled or even as a chopped century egg! Go early because they can sell out before closing! read more

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You're not gonna get such unique congee like this anywhere else. Came on a perfect day for congee: gray, drizzly, and chilly. Ordered the tom yum with an egg and the garlic crab with an egg, both of which have such unique flavors and hit the spot on such a day. At around 2pm on a holiday, the wait for a table was not too bad but took a while to get the dishes out. The owner was also hanging out and chatting with the customers. He's always such a delight to talk to and always has a smile on his face! read more

Secret Congee - Garlic Blue Crab Congee Tom Yum Shrimp Congee Youtiao Crispy Fried Dough - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tom yum congee? They sell out if you go late. It was good. Price was a bit steep for a congee but it came with big pieces of shrimp and the shrimp was made very well. Since we were on a food hunt, we shared a bowl of congee and it was filling. I was skeptical about creative congee mostly because I grew up eating different types of traditional porridge and didn't think it's worth to spend 15-20 bucks for a creative one. I might come back once in a while. read more

This place was great! The Thai tea was affordable and deliciously sweet. The congee was both hearty, savory and the contrast in textures were good. This was the case for both the mushroom and the tom yum congee. It's order at front and bus own tables and a small place near the water which was nice for a walk afterwards to digest the food. read more

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This was the congee I didn't know I needed. This unassuming little restaurant tucked away in a plaza corner is easy to miss, but its good speaks volumes. As implied in the name, they specialize in congee. I ordered the shrimp tom yum congee and was blown away. I would never think to combine such flavors, but it went so well together. A perfect bowl of comfort. My partner got the blue crab congee and it was filled with crab pieces. It didn't have as strong of a flavor as the tom yum, but it still hit the spot. We paired it with youtiao for the best pre-hike brunch. Initially, we sat outside after ordering from the counter, but was able to find a two-top table indoor and the congee was ready and waiting for us. read more

Secret Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Congee has always been my go-to comfort food during winter. We came here on a cold Sunday around 11:50 am and got lucky-- a table was finishing, and we had no wait. We ordered the Tom Yum shrimp congee and the crab congee, and both were packed with rich, comforting flavor. The spice level on the shrimp congee was spot-on--warming without being overpowering. We also ordered the fried dough, which was great on its own or dipped into the congee to soak up all that flavor. The portions were generous, and we were completely full by the end. There was a steady line of people waiting throughout lunchtime. Seating is available both indoors and outdoors. I would definitely recommend this place! read more

Secret Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The congees here are quite expensive but delicious. I tried the tom yum, blue crab, and beef and kimchi congees. The garlic blue crab one had a good amount of crab in it but the flavor was average and something you can easily put together at home. It also had too much ginger. The beef and kimchi congee was good but the tom yum really outshined the others. It was the most flavorful one and had so many jumbo shrimps! I loveeed the tom yum coconuty flavor. The youtiaos are a must get to eat with your congee. They weren't that crispy/fresh but still delicious to eat with the congee. The food came out really fast as well! I'm not a fan of the seating situation here though. You order at the counter and then bus your own table if you can find one. There's very limited seating inside and it's always so busy. When I sat outside it was cold and the steel chairs didn't help. There are heaters but it doesn't do much unless you stand close to it. read more

Secret Congee - Tom Yum Shrimp Congee, Garlic Blue Crab Congee, Slow-Cooked Beef and Kimchi Congee, Youtiao Crispy Fried Dough - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is soooo goooodddd!!!!! Even better since the weather been so cold. Staff were friendly and the foods is fire!! Its been two yeats since the last time we're here; and its still as good as i remember it. They added a deck in the front for outdoor seating which is awesome. Small place with small menu is a good sign that its a special place. Just love it. What we got today: Tom yum congee 5/5 This is one of our favorite. Always hit the spot. So good!!! Classic chicken congee 5/5 Always good! The good ol classic. Chinese fried donut 5/5 Please please get this. Chinese donut and congee is just the perfect pairing. So so so good. Go to secret congee; you'll like it. Trust me. read more

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Well I said in my first review that S/C never disappoints, I'd say today was definitely a misstep for lunch. I don't see the owner onsite as much as I used to lately and today the normal generous garnishes that used to colorfully adorn the plate were gone too, just a pinch of ginger and some green onions thrown on. Also the meatballs were WAY salty and just lacked that home cooked depth they used to. It was the busiest I've seen the restaurant today yet the food was lacking from past vists. Didn't help that bus tubs were stuffed full and the staff just seemed overwhelmed by the pace today. read more

Secret Congee - Braised Pork Belly Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I was sorely disappointed with this place. It had never been on my list, but a friend wanted to try. I grew up eating congee as it's a common Cantonese dish, so I have a high standard for it. I ordered the Wild Blue Crab Congee, which was expensive and small - not filling at all. I understand that the price I paid for is for seafood, but if I had to again, I'd rather have congee at a Chinese restaurant or make it at home. It's not worth the price. I also went on a very busy day and there is already limited indoor seating. Luckily, it didn't rain outside, but it was very chilly and there is also limited outdoor seating (without heating) as well. You order inside before you find seating, but it was never clear to me if you had to bus your table or not. The cashier gave me a cup when I ordered and said they'd bring out a water pitcher. They never did. Secret Congee is located in Ballard, near Shilshole Bay. It can be difficult to find parking and it does feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. read more

Secret Congee - Garlic Blue Crab Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

It's no secret that this is my fave place to get congee. I mean where else can you go to get congee?? Besides make it at home or go to a few Asian restaurants for basic congee w/ century eggs. Secret Congee has elevated flavors with a twist on their congee. I was so eggcited to try & it was definitely a warm & comforting meal, especially during the cold weather in Seattle. What caught my eye was the shrimp tom yum congee. I'm a sucker for tom yum so I knew I had to order this! Wow, shrimp was plump and flavors were on point. I also wanted to try their beef and kimchi congee, wild halibut congee + add-ons of fried chinese donut & chopped century egg. It's a must order paired so well with your congee. I would say shrimp tom yum was my number 1. The staff were very friendly and offered great recommendations. Limited seating. Fast service. Apparently they have a sister restaurant called Ginger Scallion. I'll have to check it out next time I'm in Seattle! read more

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Food was really good. I had a tom yom congee with century egg. I also had the fried donut. It was large portion and they definitely had a lot of large shrimp which was very good. Fried donut was nice and crispy and not greasy which was great. Service was really fast which I was surprised based on some of the prior reviews. I went on a Sunday morning and was in and out. Food came out like in 5-10 min. Place is not fancy and the price was a little expensive for congee($20), but it was really good and a good size portion. So I would definitely come back. read more

The food is fantastic. Parking... decent. My only issue was seating. Great service and good vibes all around.

Congee here is sooo yummy! The two of us shared two congees: 1. Blue crab congee 2. Tom yum congee The blue crab one is lighter, you can really taste the seafood. Feels like a great option if you are sick or want something with its original flavor. Tom yum is super new flavor to me. The flavor is strong but goes well with congee read more

Secret Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Congee it favorite comfort food so imagine how excited I was when I discovered this place. I've tried blue crab, shrimp tom yum and scallop congee. Everything has been consistently excellent. My favorite has been shrimp tom yum; it's like a flavor explosion and not spicy at all. Don't forget to add a soft boiled egg to your congee. I learned the owners are Thai which didn't surprise me because I'm also from Thailand where there are mom and pop congee restaurants everywhere, but this place definitely elevates the congee experience. They even offer condensed milk on the side to go with Chinese donuts because that's how we eat it back home. Efficient service. Cozy ambiance. It's a bit of a drive from where I live but definitely worth a trip. read more

Secret Congee - Garlic Blue Crab Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Friendly cashier and quiet location. Congee was filling and flavorful, reasonably priced. Minor signage/design improvement would elevate the interior experience! read more

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The congee was hearty and great on the cold day, but I did find this place to be expensive for what you get. As someone who grew up eating congee, I kept feeling that you can just find a better deal in international district or making it yourself. The location isn't ideal for me and it's pretty small and they sell out so I recommend going early if you want to try it! read more

Secret Congee - Garlic Blue Crab Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

A cute hole in the wall! My first time trying congee and I really enjoyed it! I got the basic chicken option with the fried dough. I was surprised but how flavorful the congee itself was! I will definitely be back to try out some of their other options. read more

Secret Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Very hearty, flavorful and delicious! Getting the fried dough on the side is a must. They din't have the braised pork when we went, so there might be limited options, but the tom yum shrimp was 10/10! The portions are big, too. There is some seating inside and lots outside. read more

Secret Congee - Tom Yum Shrimp Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Congee came out super quickly, it's a small space and it was busy but I didn't have to wait to sit down. LOVED the Thai iced tea and sitting on the patio was very cozy on a rainy day. I liked the crab congee a lot, definitely glad I got the soft boiled egg. Kind of wish I got the chicken since chicken congee is a favorite comfort food of mine but something to try next time :) read more

Secret Congee - Garlic Blue Crab Congee Soft-Boiled Egg - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Tucked away in Ballard is Secret Congee. Congee is savory rice porridge dish. However, here at secret congee they are serving up more than your standard congee. Their menu offers amazing selection of different flavor combinations of congee. I ordered the halibut congee and the beef and Kimichi congee. Both delicious and warmed the soul. You also can't forget the Youtiao crispy fried dough! Easy to find Street parking is available. No direct bus routes to the restaurant. The closest stop is a 17 min walk away from the restaurant. The restaurant is located near the Puget Sound as well as parks including the famous Golden Gardens. Inside seating is limited, however they do have heated outdoor seating that can sit larger parties. Super friendly staff! It was our first time and they helped us order the congees. read more

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Very good service, pretty small establishment, sat by the door and was pretty cold every time someone walked in. Food was really good, never had congee this good i feel like. Cozy meal that paired very well with the chinese donuts. I thought the donuts were really well done. Overall the taste was much better than i expected and very good meal! read more

Secret Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I think the congee here is special because of the fresh seafood but the taste doesn't impress me that much and the price is a bit high in my opinion. My husband tried the tomyum flavor and I think it's better than other flavor on the menu read more

Secret Congee - TomYum Congee and Chicken Congee with a thousand-year egg. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I wouldn't recommend this place unless you wanted to feel queasy for the next few hours...They were having a collaboration pop-up for a dessert place I wanted to try & this restaurant had been recommended by a colleague before. I just never got the chance to try it, so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone today. This restaurant is a few minutes from golden gardens, but the parking lot is very limited; it fits maybe like 5 cars? We were able to find street parking though so it was fine. Upon entering the restaurant, it was very tiny and made me feel claustrophobic inside. It fits like 6 people inside between the cashier counter & front door; on both sides are tables so you're in people's eating space. There's 4 two-tops and 2 four-top tables in the entire restaurant. Outside has about 4 more additional tables, but not as many heaters. They don't have a system on seating or a time limit, so if you want to dine in, you just wait around for someone to get up & hope to snag it before someone else does. Everything I wanted to eat was sold out (tom yum shrimp & halibut) which was a little irritating but the cashier recommended me the garlic blue crab congee as the next best savory dish. I took her suggestion then my cousin also ordered the classic chicken congee & youtiao crispy dough. Garlic blue crab congee: no garlic flavor and extremely plain congee base. Was said to be cooked in chicken broth, but that wasn't apparent. Garnished with ginger, green onion & a pretty good portion of blue crab compared to what I was expecting. Had to throw in a lot of spice and soy sauce to make it palatable for myself. Classic chicken congee: textural nightmare. Very plain tasting congee and had shredded chicken breast on top with ginger & green onion. The chicken was too dry and on top of the thick congee it was not enjoyable to eat so we didn't finish it. Youtiao crispy dough: nothing special. Not bad, but skimpy for $4. Was about 1 donut cut up or 2 small ones if we were being generous. If you're going to be a congee spot, chicken congee should be on lock at the very least. I've had better congee at home or at Mikes Noodle House in the ID which is cheaper too. My cousin & I also don't prefer thick congee, the texture/taste reminds us of 3 day old congee your mom leaves or when you let the pot sit out so all the water dries. Service is also nonexistent after you order at the counter, you get your water cups there too then feel rushed to eat as people stand around you. Then when you factor in the high price with the quality of the food, it's not worth it. read more

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I love that we have a restaurant dedicated to congee! They have lots of unique flavors and toppings to put a fun spin on congee. I got the beef and kimchi congee and really enjoyed the savory and slightly spicy flavors. I also tried some of the tom yum shrimp congee - I was surprised that the Tom yum flavor really came through! We also got a side of youtiao which is always a great complement to congee. I did feel like the food was a bit pricy, but would still recommend trying this place for those curious or just really congee. read more

Secret Congee - Slow-Cooked Beef and Kimchi Congee, Tom Yum Shrimp Congee, Youtiao Crispy Fried Dough - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The best congee in town! Service is always friendly and fast! The vibes here are very comfortable and homely. I want to try all the different congees. My favorite is shrimp tomyum so far! read more

Secret Congee - Beef and kimchi and shrimp tomyum - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was craving congee. It is a huge to the stomach and a heartfelt food. Not a huge menu, but everything is congee. Different toppings, but everything is great. I lived their braised pork with kimchi. It was the first to be gone. Then, I would say the Thai with prawns, third yhe meatball one. Good portions for a single person. Place is small. Just a few tables inside and some more outside. Even when those are covered, some wind might be felt. Staff is very patient, and friendly. I believe they don't accept cash. Parking wasn't difficult. I would ask if you are planning on parking next door? Tip: there is one highchair. Ask for it :) And bus your own table. read more

From the street, it did not look like a restaurant we were glad we went early. It was wet but we managed to snag a table inside. Whoa! Quite a variety of flavors and I can't completely closed out my bowl and had half of a shared dish. Not what I expected from a congee place but I need to head back to try some additional flavors. I am a fan. read more

This place is definitely a hidden gem on the waterfront and a cozy locals spot. The smell as soon as you enter reminds me of a nostalgic home cooked meal and the food was definitely a comforting cure to homesickness on a gloomy day. The chicken in the congee was done very well and almost tasted like yellow chicken, overall great flavor balance with the ginger, scallions, and white pepper. The hojicha was also very nice and not too sweet but sugar at the front to add sweetness to your liking. I can't wait to come back and try other variations. Would absolutely recommend this place. read more

Secret Congee - Chicken congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've followed this place from Wallingford to Ballard. I love the introduction of Taiwanese food to the area! This is a classic for me. I love having it on a rainy day. The pricing is a bit high for congee but a good selection of toppings. read more

Secret Congee - Slow-Cooked Beef and Kimchi Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm happy we got to try this place after hearing about it so often! We came on a Sunday morning and it was pretty busy (as expected). There was plenty of parking on the street, but the place is really small, so be prepared to wait for a table during peak dining times. The service was very friendly and fast. We ordered the shrimp tom yum, five spice braised tofu and the beef & kimchi. All three were very flavorful and the ingredients tasted of quality and freshness. You can also order different toppings such as soft boiled egg, century egg and crispy noodles. I really enjoyed this place because of the variety of different toppings that are included in the staple menu items. I personally ordered the beef & kimchi, and the beef was very tender and delicious! I would recommend ordering the youtiao crispy doughnuts to either eat on the side or in the congee. It's a little pricey for $4, but it comes in a basket that you can share. read more

Secret Congee - Asian Fusion Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Small cozy spot with easy and quick service. You seat and clean the table up yourself. I feel like you can't really go wrong with congee. I like the options and was satisfied with my meal. The portion size was pretty good too. read more

Food is tasty and amazing. Service is chaotic and when they are busy it takes a long time to get you good but they always seem to be short-staffed and running around! Best is to get the food to go since their place is small, has a few tables and always busy. If the weather is nice, there are tables outside. read more