Made In Kitchen
Categories: Vietnamese, Asian Fusion [Edit]
Neighborhood: International District725 S Lane Street
Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 625-0909
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sun 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
56 Reviews for Made In Kitchen
A nice laid out Vietnamese/Chicken fusion. Nice decor, clean consistent service. Value wise is good however the taste of food does fall short a bit. With Green Leaf down the corner, its difficult for us to justify coming down to MIK. Rave reviews in the Seattle Magazine, however hype can not be lived up to.
My first impression was this is another wannabe overpriced chic Asian fusion restaurant. Actually, I was not that far off. Service is very good, but the kitchen was very slow with our food, which took over 30 minutes. Prices are on the steep side, and the portions are relatively small. Good decor and very clean.
We had the shrimp spring rolls, the beef pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), and the flan and fried banana for dessert. The spring rolls were fresh and tasty, but a bit anemic. The pho was unimpressive and a little heavy on the MSG. If pho is what you crave, then you're better off going to any Vietnamese pho restaurant instead (where you'll get your food in less than 5 minutes). The desserts were disappointing and needed more sweetening. Why they put crushed ice on top of the already bland flan bewilders me. The fried banana was relatively tasteless.
I might come back to try out some other dishes, but not for a while. They might generate more business (and I might be back sooner) if they had a happy hour menu, which they are currently lacking (the waitress had a good laugh when I asked).
I must make a final comment about the name, "Made In Kitchen." It sounds like someone with poor grammar came up with this name (or maybe it was translated from Chinese). Am I the only one who thinks so? It ought to be called "Made In The Kitchen" or "Asian Kitchen" or something else.
Nice decor and clean, and yet still very cheap.
Tamarind Lemonade is super yum, nice contrast.
Spring roll was meh, pretty much what you expect but below par.
Curry duck was nice and tender, falling off the bone. Rather lacking in any additional veggies or flavors though.
Beef salad has super tasty marinated beef, lots of peanut and great crispy garlic.
Vegetarian tofu and mushroom plate was lame.
Each of the dishes was rather imbalanced ; I think it would be better to get more dishes and share. I feel like this place could really shine but you have to order just right.
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Not the most authentic vietnamese food I've tasted granted that the owners & waiters are all chinese and not vietnamese. A lot of the dishes are influenced by chinese cooking but nontheless edible. I'm not a huge fan of MIK but the service is good and the decor is really nice and you don't see a nice & clean chinese/vietnamese very often.
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This place wasn't exactly what I had expected. It is certainly nicer in atmosphere then many of the International District places. However, the service was shockingly slow even though they weren't busy. The food wasn't all that great, though certainly edible. I'd probably go back here for lunch again if I though there was any chance to get in and out within an hour.
I went once and was not impressed. I left, very disappointed.
I went again and had a much different experience.
I ordered noodles with sauted vegetables. I got noodles with green onions and bean sprouts. So, okay, bean sprouts and green onions are vegetables. But it's not what I expected. And when they came to check on us to see how our food was, I told them as much. The took my plate back and then brought me a new one containing noodles and vegetables- this time it was broccoli, carrots, bok choy, green beans and more. Much better.
Until I found the chunk of plastic.
You may be wondering at this point why I gave them a four star review. Let me tell you why:
After the brought me the new dish, everything tasted great. After I found the plastic and told them, they not only offered to make me a new dish-again (which I declined, being mostly full), they comped my dinner. Expected, of course, after what had happened, but even so some places won't. And to finish it off, the owner came over and apologized over and over AND brought a delicious dessert, unasked for and free. Hence, four stars.
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Don't buy the hype... as far as the food goes there's nothing extraordinary here.
3 Stars for not totally sucking, great decor, the 5 minute Asian gang brawl right in front of the entrance AND for the racial profiling when two Anglo cops pull over an old Asian man who was obviously playing the "I'm late for my underground Mahjong tournament" card.
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Very very good. As close to wagamama as I have found in the U.S. Very nice presentation. Good selection on the menu. Awesome place to have a nice lunch.
i eat in the ID probably once a week so when a new client of mine invited me to try her parents new restaurant, i said i would check it out. i thought it was going to be a little hole in the wall, mom and pop shop. i was shocked. for the international district, i was blown away. this restaurant does not look like the rest of the ID restaurants with beautifully displayed seasonings on the wall.
i ordered the pork kitchen combo # 2.
all i can say is OMG.
seriously.
the grilled pork was cooked to perfection. it was so flavorful. even the rice was cooked perfectly -- very fresh.
after living in dc for eight years and eating really authentic vietnamese food on a regular basis i have been disappointed with seattle's vietnamese food until MIK. i thought the quality of this food was better than tamarind tree and green leaf.
my partner who is japanese american thought the food was incredible and could not stop raving throughout the meal.
very nice job MIK.
we will be back, and often.
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one of my favorites in seattle! I booked this place out for an event and the owners were so accomodating and wonderful. this place consistently delivers yummy food, friendly service, and doesn't break the bank. smartly decorated and would make a great date place.
the menu has majority vietnamese dishes but lately there are a lot of thai dishes ... yummy yummy. my favorite of the moment is the salmon curry. you can never go wrong with the crab fried rice (not on the menu but just ask for it), black and white sesame tofu, bun rieu (crab tomato based) noodle, ... and so much more! There's not an item I've been disappointed with yet and I've been here over 25 times!
tip: small free parking lot across the street except during baseball or football games on the weekends.
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The food was awful. Avoid the Free Range Chicken Soup (Pho, but not really) at all costs. A complete rip-off.
I had heard good things about this place so I thought I'd give it a try. Bad idea. The service was clueless and rude, I was overcharged, and the food was mediocre. It seemed more chinese than vietnamese (I think it's chinese owned). Anyway, stay away. Green Leaf is a much better bet.
Lots of lovely Vietnamese-inspired fusion. The restaurant's interior looks far more upmarket than its location suggests and there's even an option for a Japanese-style table to make people feel more Asian. *cough*
Overall, very nice interior, delicious food, great portions, good looking waiters/waitresses. Don't leave without trying the Vietnamese coffee, it's one of my favorite things on this Earth.
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I love this place. It's pretty good, although nothing TOO unique. Although the interior design is pretty unique for an Chinatown restaurant. I had a really great lunch here about a year ago; it's Vietnamese cuisine mixed in with a little American and a hint of Chinese. I was really full afterwards...
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Very inviting restaurant! I have this thing about neon signs...but I'll just let it go. Though, it was a little bright for my liking. I prefer dark restaurants so my date can't see me spilling all over myself while trying to shove food in my mouth with chopsticks! But, overall, it was very warm and welcoming.
The service was amazing. I couldn't really tell who our server was, because it seemed as though everyone was waiting on us. They didn't hestiate to ask us how everything was and make sure we had everything. When we were leaving a girl who was bussing a table next to ours said thanks and goodbye. I was surprised how nice and polite everyone was. It's rare to find such great service in Seattle, especially in the I.D.
The food was great. The only things I didn't care for was that their vegetarian dishes didn't sound as good as the ones at had at that "other" Vietnamese place. Sometimes, I don't want to eat 3-4 dishes with meat. Also, they didn't have as good of sauces as that "other" place too. AND they did have a lot of dishes with seafood - which I don't care for. BUT, overall, the food was great. It was really fresh and tasty. Most of the dishes didn't NEED a sauce because they were already perfectly seasoned. The food made us totally full, for under $30!
I'll definitely be back - and hopefully with some friends so we can go sit on floor pillows in that cool private room!
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What do you get when you serve Vietnamese food, made with Chinese preparation, served with Japanese presentation and with decor and ambiance to please Caucasians?
P.F. Nguyen?
Nope! It is "Made in Kitchen"! (Or "Made in the Kitchen" for you non-asians or linguistic purists. )
In Seattle's I.D., this place is an anomoly for its stylish contemporary design, cleanliness, and excellent presentation. The 2 neon signs say "Vietnamese Cuisine" which it mostly is (also some Thai , Japanese and other southeast asian influences); However, on the menu there is only English and Chinese on it, with the only Vietnamese reference in Vietnamese being Nuoc Nam sauce and La Lot beef.
So you have heard of Asian Fusion food, which usually is a mix of Italian or California cuisine with asian noodles and flavors. This is Asian Food that is more Pan-Asian, incorporating a mix of Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Singapore and Chinese influences.
There are a lot of Lemongrass "Kitchen" dishes (all under $10, except combos under $12), Noodles like Pad Thai (Shrip $12, Chicken $9.5) and Stir Fried Udon ($12), soups (Vietnamese Sour Catfish Soup $10 or $14) and Salads (Goi du du - Papaya Salad $7.5)
If you are not a purest snob, or a first generation imigrant from Asia, you will probably enjoy this place. The food is good, the service needs some better organizing and training of staff, but the overall experience is good. There is a full bar, and this place is pretty big. I went on a Sunday evening (6:30pm) and it was 2/3 empty. It does acknowledge Yelpers with a window sticker.
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Oh, MIK-ey, you're so fine,
You're so fine, you blow my mind...
Mmmm, sweet sweet peanut sauce + delicious fish + fried tofu + noodles + good company - nice but confused staff = an all around good meal.
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One word. Pork. The Tuscans may have their Cinghiale Three Ways, but the gods at Kitchen prepare pork that's out of this world.
Start with the Saigon Meatball Treasures. These are skewers of pork meatballs, formed with succulent shrimp at the core. Grilled until a bit seared on the outside, these tender, divine morsels are the perfect starter. Pair with your favorite drink and sit back and chat and enjoy the trendy, modern interior.
For the main course, the Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chops cannot be beat. While the dish may share the same name as the ones in Vietnamese establishments in the area, these chops aren't like the dry-grilled ones that you are served there. They arrive at your table hugely moist, flavorful and tender, with just enough juicy sauce to flavor your accompanying rice. Three to an order, they're fabulous!
Feeling particularly hungry or eating family-style? Give the Braised Pork a try. But be forewarned - this isn't for the faint of heart (both figuratively and literally)! What you will receive is a very traditional Chinese dish in which cubes of streaky pork (imagine cubed bacon) have been braised (http://www.m-w.com/dic...) in a dark, rich, slightly sweet soy sauce mix. It may sound a bit gross but the flavor is amazing. And picking out the lean parts is always an option.
There are, of course, other kinds of dishes on the menu, but I found them to be rather uninspired. The Duck Curry was decently flavorful, but the duck was dry-dry-dry. The flavor of the Chicken Rice was mild - something that authentic Chicken Rice should never be.
4 Stars - Pork! It's what's for dinner!
*Several people have suggested that I should have included MIK in my Tamarind Tree - Green Leaf review. In point of fact, I had been tempted, particularly since I had eaten at all three within the span of several days. But upon reflection, I decided to keep this review separate. Apart from decor and some items on the menu, MIK is more Chinese than Vietnamese (a fact that borne out by the menu and staff).
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We came to MIK for dinner last night, and our conversation went like this:
Me: You can order whatever you want for entrees, but here is what we're going to have for appetizers. We will have the Black and White Fried Tofu and the Crispy Imperial Rolls.
D: Um, ok.
I love how that conversation was more like a statement rather than suggestion. But if you have been there as much as I have, then you know that those two dishes are a must have.
The service is great and the owner, Alice, always visits with patrons to make sure that they are having a good dinning experience.
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Lovely lovely. Eating here brought to mind some of the home cookin' I've had from people who have lived in asia. Food that was made in their kitchen!
The imperial rolls (I forgot to put in some mint!), seafood curry, and fried tofu were great and lacked the heaviness that I've had in many other asian-styled places.
The aesthetic in here is quite beautiful. High ceilings and a modern and stylish decor really makes it a special experience to dine here.
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A friend took us to this restaurant as it had favorable reviews on Yelp. We did really know what to expect, but when we arrived; the restaurant was very welcoming and busy. We were seated promptly and service remained attentive despite a large group behind us. There were some interesting dishes and innovative twist on basic traditional Vietnamese cuisines. My fianc and I were pleasantly pleased about the presentation of each dish and everything was pretty tasty. However...let's face it, regardless how much you dress up fish sauce, it's still going to stink. It's hard to fancy up Vietnamese cuisine, but they seem to do it quite well.
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As far as the ID goes this place is definitely a cut above. I mean, normally when I walk into a restaurant in the ID I have one of my chinese speaking friends order and I would NEVER want to look into the kitchen of some of these places. But, Made In Kitchen is totally different, the places is new, modern, and seemingly very clean. The food is reasonably priced and very tasty.
And despite the fact that the coconut juice actually came in a coconut (seriously I was expecting it in a glass) I really enjoyed the experience and I'll definitely be back. Oh and I must say the stir fried udon noodles were surprisingly tasty.
Oh I have one minor complaint, the ceramic cups that they serve the tea in conduct heat a little too well and as a result its really tough to hold them when the tea's hot.
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Honestly...I've never had a bad meal here. It's not the type of restaurant you'd expect to find in the ID but I'm glad my parents did! The restaurant is warm, inviting, and decorated beautifully. I even give the restrooms 5 stars! Ok, moving on, the food is de-li-cious. You seriously can't go wrong just closing your eyes and picking something off the menu. Personal favs are: the kitchen rolls, glass rolls, black & white tofu, flank steak salad, grilled pork chops (with a fried egg!), and any kitchen plate. Also, don't forget to choose a refreshing beverage such as the lychee sake.
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My hubby and I were trying to go to Green Leaf, but there was a big herd of people standing out on the sidewalk. We just happened to drive by Made In Kitchen and it looked so nice we had to give it a try instead. I had never seen or heard of the place before... crazy! The place is huge compared to a lot of the teensy places in the I-district, so it was easy to get a table at 7:30 on a Saturday night.
The menu covers all the usual Vietnamese fare, but they write it only as a description in english, which can be a little confusing. I mean, come on, you must have been living under a rock if you don't know what pho is by now (here it's called "noodle soup"). I was impressed with their wine list... they had about 20 wines by the glass.
Our server was very, very nice, but not very attentive. I didn't get to order a second glass of wine, bummer.
We shared a combo plate of skewered pork and some kind of fried roll and the catfish in a clay pot. The pork and roll were good, similar to what you'd have at other Vietnamese joints. The catfish sounded and looked so delicious, but oh man! It was kinda boring, like sauce out of a jar. It was a real let down.
The highlight was def the dessert. Sweet sticky rice and a banana with coconut milk, sprinkled with peanuts. Heaven! I would go back just for that.
The ambience was very nice... sorta hip belltowny feel to the place. I'll have to go back and try it again. Might be a good place for a group considering how big it is and the reasonable prices.
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Ambience is great but the food is just ok. This placed can get busy at lunch but I think the HK cafe next door(closed on Tues) has much better food. They do have some nice soupy hot pot dishes at dinner that are worth trying. Other than that, this place does not have enough tasty food to warrant the beatiful decor.
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I had the pleasure of visiting Made in Kitchen last night, while visiting Seattle from San Francisco. While I didn't have the chance for a full-on dining experience, I was there for a (fun and yelpy) event, so was able to sample some of their Vietnamese-fusion cuisine. And from what I tasted - spicy fried rice, shrimp and crab, fresh tofu - I had enough of a tease to know that I'll be coming back.
The space is modern and inviting, and there is a private back room that would be great for a small dinner party. All of the staff - from the waitstaff to the bartenders and of course the owners - were super friendly, and that really made the night flow. I got the feeling that MIK is the sort of place that, after one visit, you're pretty much feeling like a regular.
I am still trying to figure out the name of this place but in its quirky, broken English sort of way, it's memorable and it works.
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This place has pretty nice decor, it's spacious and has a warm modern asian aesthetic.
Made in Kitchen has the best egg rolls (they call it Imperial rolls) I've ever had. They have shrimp, & crab meat in them, made fresh and they serve it with fresh lettuce wrap and other fresh veggies.
I usually get their version of chicken noodle soup and pour in their entire side serving of spicy chili sauce.
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The lovely people at Made In Kitchen hosted our Yelp Elite party last night, so I'll disclose that my review may be somewhat biased by the appreciation I have for the very warm owners for their hospitality and graciousness.
Let's get down to business. Not being from Seattle, I invited some friends to meet me, and when I told them where, I was met with some skepticism. So, I was prepared for the neighborhood to be somewhat rough and tumble. But, NO. I mean, seriously, people, this is considered a sketchy part of town? What is this, Pleasantville?
The space is really well done, with a very authentic southeast asian asthetic -- open, minimalist, beautiful teak, colorful and yet understated. Warm and natural.
The food was devine. I have spent time in SE Asia personally, and the flavors in the food took me back. Chili, lime, lemongrass, fish sauce. The shrimp/crab imperial rolls in particular kick ass.
And, finally, the warmth of the hospitality. In many years of world travels, I've decided that people from SE Asia, bar none, are the friendliest and most genuine people on our planet. Yes, this sounds over the top, and I won't mind if you call BS on this overly effusive commentary (partly effected by the fact that I think my liver is still working processing those mojitos). The people at Made in Kitchen are just plain nice. It's family owned and operated, and they bring that family-spirit to their work. Being there feels like you are guests in their home.
Thanks again, Alice and Ahmid and family.
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I just got back from a delightful dinner here.
Two of us ordered very similar noodle dishes (so similar that they looked exactly the same)... as it turns out, they *were* identical ... but the confusion was quickly remedied, and Sarah got her extra meat skewers... WHEW!!! We were worried.
The service was lovely. All the ladies were very attentive, and super generous with the Jasmine tea...good stuff!!!! I broke down and ordered a yummy Vietnamese drip coffee... slurp slurp, mmmmm.
They even comped us dessert. The description could use a little work, but I'm sure there was something lost in translation... I don't think it's likely that I'd purposely order "gravy cake" for dessert (actually... I might...just out of curiosity), but it was free... and covered with coconut cream and sesame seeds (not peanut butter sauce like we were told.... bummer!! We were rather intrigued at the thought of peanut butter sauce on a gravy cake!) Anyhow, we never did figure out what the gravy cake was actually made of. It was nice though. I like it when desserts aren't overly sweet. It went well with my coffee.
The price was very reasonable... especially for dinner (my entree was $8 and coffee was $3). Happy belly *and* happy wallet!!!! Hurrah!
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I came here for my birthday and I made reservations for 13. At first the host thought I had said 3 but after repeating 13, it was finally written down. The day before my dinner a hostess called and left a message confirming my reservations (that's nice of her) of 12 (ok.....I called back to correct her on 13 again). I had wished I could reserve their lovely japanese style room so me and my friends could have some privacy but unfortunately it only can fit 8 people. :(
They ended up setting us up on towards the back with a long table which was all nicely decorated. Their interior decor was soo nice and their restroom has cute sinks with rocks laying at the bottom on the drain. Their plates and cups and chopsticks were very modern style. The waitress poured us our ice water which everyone kept on guessing what it had tasted like... pine..? wood?... turned out to be lime in her pitcher... but we swear there's a twig in it b/c it definitely tasted "piney".
Everyone enjoyed what they ordered which CAN be family style but doesn't look like the dishes we ordered were meant for it. I ordered this Made in Kitchen combinations with shrimp cake, imperial roll, meatballs stuffed with shrimp, and vermicelli noodles. The only thing bad was that the waitress had given me the wrong dish 3 times before getting it right... and it only happened to me (the bday girl).. funny. Overall the service was great and they were on top of things when my order was wrong.. everyone loved their dishes except for maybe more crab meat on my friend's crab glass noodles.
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It's pretty nice inside and looks a little upscale. It's pretty new and very clean inside. It kind of gives off a warm feeling due to the orange color and the candle light.
The food is a mixture of asian cuisines and is not this or that. The first time I went in, I was a little confused by the menu. There seemed to be a lot of appetizers I was interested in, but not entrees that would knock my socks off. I was thinking it would be a great nibbles place, albeit somewhat expensive.
After a couple more visits I found some entrees that are actually pretty good. I think they adapted their menu a bit, also. I like their short ribs and their cubed beef dish, but didn't care for some of the hot pots or even their phad thai.
The hostess and owners are very friendly and outgoing, but the last time I went, the service wasn't that good. There was a long period for them to clear the table and receive the bill. But, these things happen from time to time.
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Pros: Great food and Amazing ambience. Very clean restaurant.
Cons: Bad location for business, but great for parking.
Unlike many yelpers who hand out 4/5 stars like Santa Claus on Xmas day, I hesitate to give many. Why? Alot of places don't deserve that distinction. In order to get a high rating from me, the following factors must be present: Great food, ambiance, and service. If this is lacking in any way (especially food) then I'll hesitate to give a good rating. Made in Kitchen is one of those places that makes the cut.
Why? The food is not only authentic, but it's flavorful. Besides being flavorful the folks at MIK have figured out how to balace flavor and oilyness (a thing alot of Vietnamese restaurants havent' figured out yet). If you like your veggies, and order a cold dish, make sure you do the 2 dollar deal where you can get more veggies (lettuce, Thai basil and rice paper) to make interesting spring rolls yourself. MIK rocks.
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It was miserably cold, raining and Green Leaf was closed due to Chinese/Korean New Year... the bf nixed the idea of Schezuan Noodle Bowl (he's got a thing for ambiance) so we walked a couple of blocks down to Made In Kitchen. The ambiance he was seeking: check and I think that's difficult to find in the ID. Service: good, immediately had tea and water on the table (and the tea was oh so warm after walking in Seattle's nasty February elements). Food: kind of a mixed bag, but maybe part of that was due to my ordering ignorance. The vegetarian spring rolls were good, the shiitake mushrooms pretty much made the roll, accompanying peanut sauce was meh. Bf went with the pork chops based on our server's recommendation and I ordered the clay pot spicy chicken, to which the server said was "excellent." Yes, the sauce was excellent, I guess I was turned off by the little balls of skinned chicken which were very sinewy and bony, almost like a round chicken wing but yet I couldn't determine which part of the chicken these actually came from. I thought when something was braised it would fall from the bone rather than have me wrestling with it to remove the small pieces of meat in a not so ladylike fashion. I know I would have loved this dish if the chicken had been a) boneless or b) fallen off the wee sized bones as other braised dishes have.
We were sent out a complimentary dessert of the flan with caramel, which was a nice touch. I would definitely go back, the decor was modern and soothing, service was steady and I know enough now that I will stay away from wee sized chicken bones unless I am watching the Superbowl!
This is a great new place. I was an early adopter of the Tamarind Tree but all the good press and that place is OVERRUN. Hipsters piled up six deep. So far MIK has been a little easier to pop into. Great food. A wicked good couple of curries (singapore chicken curry was really interesting). Good pork chops, good 'kitchen rolls'. I wish they had Tiger beer but clearly that's a nit. Service is occasionally spotty (probably the first time I had trouble getting rice in a Vietnamese place) but they gave us free flan! I mean who can beat free flan! Nice people, good place. Tamarind Tree out, this place in.
As one of my good friends said... "it's in the International District... No, the good part!". Once you find the understated entrance and go inside you're greeted by a very warm, cozy and yet minimalist, beautiful asian interior. Stained concrete floors, bamboo, rocks, wood and water, when done well, always make my day!
Having been there twice so far I am still amazed at how great and different all the food is. They seem to find a way to tweak even the most popular asian dishes into something extrodinary. The prices are well in line with other upscale asian eateries and the staff has been nothing but friendly and attentive.
My only disappointment came when I found out they only have beer and wine, no full bar. Oh the tragedy! That's OK though, I like dancing with my cocktails and I don't think they would appreciate me throwing down right there in their beautiful space.
I highly recommend this one any time you want a great dinner or date night with fantastic asian inspired food - and hey, the best part... it's family owned and operated.
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The vegetarian options on the menu didn't really intice me so I went for some seafood options. Luckily for me, Made in Kitchen doesn't mess around with their seafood. The crab meat was quite good and the prawns were quality. The claypot catfish was really good (except for picking out a few bones) and the crispy imperial rolls were probably some of the best I've ever had.
Also, the portions were huge. I left utterly stuffed.
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Made in Kitchen. Made in Heaven.
The decor is gorgeous. Asian modern. Minimalist but warm.
The food is amazing. Make sure you try the Imperial Rolls. Messy but sooo worth it. Maybe not on a first date, but any other time - grab a piece of lettuce, tear up the mint and basil, add a few bean sprouts, and use that to wrap up the little deep fried spring roll. Dip in fish sauce, lift to mouth, be so overjoyed by the taste that you don't even notice fish sauce running down your wrist and sprigs of basil hanging out of your mouth. Sexy? No. Tasty? Yes.
The rest of the food is extremely well prepared. Asian fusion highly skewed towards Vietnamese cuisine. The Lemon Grass Chicken was very flavorful without being greasy. The Black & White Tofu appetizer is also to die for. Cubes of tofu, deep fried, and seasoned to perfection, no need for a dipping sauce even. It's that good.
And what would you expect to pay for a dinner this good? Let's just say the bill is about the same as any other Asian restaurant you would go to in the ID. Cheap!
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I went to Made In Kitchen because it was recommended by a Yelper. Good for you, Yelp! May your employee's stock shares grow a billionfold. And by the way, I dropped a ton of dough in there. Yeah I did so. Why? Because I ordered pretty much everything on the menu that didn't have meat in it. And there was not a single dish that did not rule.
My suggestions: If you haven't had freshly fried tofu, your life is not complete. Go to MIK tonight and order the Black 'n' White Fried Tofu*. Get the vegetarian spring rolls, too. They put some kind of magic in them that makes 'em deelish. I think it might've made me taller, too. If you haven't had lychee nuts yet, get a lychee nut soda. Don't forget to eat the lychee nuts. They're not just for looks.
Ooh ooh ooh! Wait! And you know what else? They make a really good flan. I mean like the best I've ever had. And I used to have a girlfriend who was from Barcelona who made a prize-winning flan, but I mean, hey - hers was a rubbery yellow fez covered with 40-weight oil compared to MIK's flan. Do I kid? No, I do not.
*Name of dish is approximate. I can't remember the actual name.
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Thanks to Michelle B. for throwing the most awesomest party at MIK, I had a chance to made an ass out of myself...in front of the wonderful owner. But anyhow...
I want to thank all the wonderful staff last night. Thank you for making our night awesome!
Made in Kitchen is probably one of my top choices when in the ID. The friend and I loved it so much that we went back within a week after our first visit.
Great decor. Modern with a touch of Asian. CLEAN. Cookies for you if you can find a place in the ID cleaner than this! Service is impressively superb. You'd have to do a lot to make the staff feel "troubled". They do try till their last breath to cater to you, and everyone else. They have a great way of dealing with indecisive patrons like myself. Took me 10 minutes to look through the menu and concluded with nothing, the server than suggested me with this deliciously good soup with fresh crab meat and other heavenly goodness. Now excuse me for my Chinese translating skills again. They served the soup with "Lai Fun" which are often cooked incorrectly. Or worse, people claim it's Lai Fun but it's not. Which, in both cases, pisses the hell out of me. They did a good job keeping my mouth shut because it was so good!
And this one time at band camp...I couldn't like decide between noodles and like baguette for my duck curry. The server like got me both! like OMG!
p.s. Price is surprisingly, ID price.
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"I'm sure its around here somewhere." My friend reassured me, as four of us made our way south on foot, still clutching our half-filled plastic cups of Franzia wine left over from making the rounds at Pioneer Square's First Thursday Art Walk.
"Are you sure?" I asked back. "I mean, we've pretty much cut all the way through the ID. I don't think there's anything between here and Georgetown, except warehouses. Oh, wait! What's that open sign?"
"I bet that's it!" And it was!
Having successfully found our way to Made in Kitchen, we were all delighted by the decor. It's a very clean and new looking restaurant. Well designed without looking like its trying too hard. (With river rocks in their sinks, and urinals.)
As for the food, it was solid, if unexceptional. I enjoyed