Gastrolust

I posted this on Examiner earlier today, as I prepare to transition from their Asian Eats Examiner to their more general Restaurant Examiner. Thought it might be an interesting recap to share here…
It’s been about five months since I wrote up my top five Asian restaurants in Seattle. Since I’ll soon be changing my writing [...]

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Happy anniversary, Monsoon!
While the Banhs are celebrating the success of their new Bellevue restaurant (Monsoon East), they’re also commemorating the occasion of opening their Capitol Hill location ten years ago today: February 21, 1999. And you’re invited to the party!
Head on over to Monsoon (Capitol Hill location only) tomorrow (Sunday, 2/22) between 5pm and 10pm, and you [...]

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I’ve been to quite a few pho places in Seattle, and I’ve finally found one that surpasses Than Brothers as my favorite.
The simple-named Vietnam Restaurant is, in many ways, typical of other pho joints in town: cheap bowls of pho, cream puffs, bright lights, indifferent service, and nasty bathrooms. But just as recently [...]

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Saturday’s a super day to go to the University District for some shopping at the farmers market. And when that day happens to be dreary, I always find myself in the mood for some soup. Than Brothers is my default for fighting dreariness, but for variety’s sake, I decided to give nearby [...]

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When out-of towners come to Seattle and ask where to eat, I often direct them to Vietnamese restaurants. I think our city is special for that. We’ve got great pho joints, Vietnamese delis, regular restaurants—and that’s just in the Little Saigon/International District.
Eric Banh and sister Sophie are building a little Vietnamese empire outside of the [...]

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My relentless search for the best banh mi in the city recently took me to Seattle Deli. But, surprisingly, they were out of BBQ pork, and that’s the filling of choice for my challenge. No problem, though, as you can throw a stone and hit a few more Vietnamese delis from that spot. I ventured [...]

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When traveling the country and trying to avoid the Cheesecake Factories, Cracker Barrels and Claim Jumpers that clog the arteries, we get excited whenever we see a Martin Luther King street exit. The same can be said for exit 157 off I-5 in Seattle, where, just to the north, you’ll find a diversity of delicious [...]

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Several years ago, we gave up on Tamarind Tree after some absurdly inept service (dishes came out of order – or didn’t come at all – and the waitstaff were cold), enjoying instead the consistent sweetness and goodness of Green Leaf. But in a moment of unfaithfulness, after hearing recent rave reviews, we decided to [...]

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The current economy means tough times for the restaurant industry. While we witness many restaurants closing shop, a few are eyeing expansion—including Monsoon.
First, a bit of menu expansion at the Capitol Hill location, with the recent introduction of the “Alive @ 5” happy hour. Weekdays from 5 to 6:30, a five-dollar bill buys you a [...]

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In the past month, I’ve been lucky enough to eat at such places as Rover’s, The Herbfarm, Inn at Langley, and Crush. As much as I enjoy these fine dining experiences, I’m not pretentious; I can be just as happy, if not more, at a hole-in-the-wall joint in the International District. Such restaurants typically have [...]

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