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Bako
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
606 Broadway E(between Mercer St & Roy St)
Seattle, WA 98102
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
(206) 829-8958
- Hours:
Tue-Thu, Sun 4 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Eric L. said: "Having frequented the original Henry's Taiwan In I-District, I was surprised to see this new location literally a few doors down from the original. The only difference is, this new location opens till much later in the night, to…" read more »
61 reviews for Bako
Review Highlights
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"...about the perfectly smoked scallops resting on sweet onion..." In 4 reviews -
"Then we had the 8 treasure rice." In 4 reviews -
"...squid-shrimp with fresh pea pods in a potato birds nest." In 1 review
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61 reviews in English
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Review from jacques h.
Seattle, WA
5/20/2012
I've been here 3 times now. The cocktails are very good and the food is good, too. I love the pork belly. I would not consider this to be a Chinese restaurant...more like american-asian fusion. The service this last time could've been better but was not bad. The drinks as I've mentioned before are very good. I love the Manhattans. They had a bartender there who was excellent and had the highest standards. I think he is gone now, but i hope his polish rubbed off on the others.
This place has not been busy and I'm not sure why. It's good, cool, very unique and reasonably priced. I recommend giving it a try. -
Review from Vanessa A.
Seattle, WA
5/9/2012
Our server, a Vanilla Ice lookalike, was friendly enough. The sashimi was really good and so was the pork belly appetizer. Congee was a bit bland for my taste but my partner really enjoyed it. Rolls were good but not memorable and neither were the other few dishes. Pearl dumplings were small and not that tasty. Definitely not worth $8! Singapore noodles were really lacking, like they forgot the curry altogether. I've had a lot of Singapore noodles and I didnt think that was one you could screw up. Treasure rice wasn't bad but nothing to write home about.
We might come back for happy hour but definitely not for the regular menu. -
Review from Eric M.
Seattle, WA
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wanted to like Bako, really I did, it has alot going for it:
-The very cool, "W"-like decor
-the open kitchen where you can watch the chef prepare food
-the awesome bar with bartenders in unique uniforms
-the location on North Capitol Hill's "restaurant row" near Altura, Poppy & Olivar
-The appealing menu of seemingly authentic Chinese cuisine
Where did it go wrong you ask?
The place was practically empty except for a photographer taking pictures of the food and interiors plus the owner was there so one would think the servers would be on their "game"....think again. Our server knew very little about the menu and had to check with someone regarding questions about food ingredients and preparation. Because we could see the kitchen so well, we watched as the senior chef instructed a trainee how to cook...our meal. Why would you train someone on a live customer?? Isn't that what "soft openings" are for? We were ignored for long stretches and had to flag down our server when we needed anything. The owner, steps away chatting with bartender, did not bother to say hello notwithstanding an Asian face at our table (girlfriend!); the food, very average prepared Chinese and fusion food at VERY high prices. The gai lan was adequate but you can get better for less in the International District. The Singapore Noodles were a disappointment, too saucy and remarkably, not much flavor. I will give a thumbs up to the scallops, they were prepared well and the con gee was good.
I get what the owner is trying to do, it's "Mr. Chow" in Seattle. Train your staff, cooks better and off hours, be more present and interested in your customers (think Barolo, think Michael Chow) and work on your food. Just being a good bar will not carry the day. I'll wait to hear on Yelp if things get better before I go back. -
Review from Doug S.
4/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I work in the International District and am well-versed in delicious Asian restaurants and markets. I go out to lunch way too frequently while at work because I'm a huge fan of all the great food that is literally across the street and next door to me in all directions. When I'm back home on "the Hill" it rarely occurs to me to consider going out for dinner for Chinese food. Bako, however, fits the bill when my friends make the call for Chinese food for dinner.
I've been here twice, now, and have had a great experience both times. The last time I was here I started with a cocktail, ordering the Manhattan (with rye whiskey). It was prepared deliciously and served with a brandy-soaked cherry. Very delicious.
There were a few menus that my friends and I ordered from, mostly because we were eating dinner rather early (6:15). We decided to share our entrees and small plates (do this, it's the best way to try a lot of delicious food) so we ordered a few of appetizers off the Happy Hour menu, as well as a couple of entrees to split among 3 people. The appetizers were divine, especially the pork belly (who doesn't like pork belly?) and the tofu tomato salad.
We split 2 entrees: the sweet and sour chicken and the shrimp ginger scallion noodles was OUT OF THIS WORLD! If you like spicy and ginger, get this! It was incredible flavor.
Fantastic service rounded off the experience and gets the 5th star for my review. -
Review from Shu T.
Seattle, WA
5/2/2012
The food is below average but the drinks were great! Disappointed that the only chinese fusion place in Seattle sucks
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Review from Thu-An N.
Seattle, WA
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not a bad place to check out, the bartender, drinks and appetizer were pretty delicious. The bartender was very friendly and helped us with choosing an appetizer to munch on while we sipped on our delicious drinks.
I gave it 4 stars BC of the customer service and delicious food but didn't give the full 5 due to price. It was kind of pricy for something so simple but I'll admit was good. The potstickers were ok but the Man Tou Buns were pretty tasty -
Review from Jennifer C.
Seattle, WA
3/18/2012
A couple of friends joined me at Bako a month or so agao and I believe that if our service had been a bit more "with it" I'd be giving the place four stars. The dining room is just gorgeous, with a shimmering tapestry print on the walls and creamy white leatherette benches. And while perhaps the menu is more "Chinese-inspired" than traditionally Chinese, I thought the food was quite good. Both the Pearl Dumplings and the Man Tou buns were hits at our table and I thoroughly enjoyed the tender shellfish and comforting rice porridge of my Smoked Scallop Congee.
Our server just seemed a bit scattered, though. After asking for our drink orders (I requested a non-alcoholic spritzer...Dragon-something, I think) she returned to the table a few minutes later with my friend's beer and a la Groundhog Day asked me again if I would like anything to drink. There were a couple of other similarly odd moments during the meal. The kicker, though, was that the server ended up running my friend's debit card for the wrong amount, and then managed to double-charge her when she attempted to correct the error. This had to be resolved after our departure with a phone call to the restaurant and follow-up with the bank. Kind of a nuisance, but I'd give the place another try as that kind of situation I would hope is an abberration. -
Review from Shan H.
Seattle, WA
2/24/2012
Being Chinese, I'm incredibly picky about the Chinese food I eat.. I mostly stick to the International district, but living on Capitol Hill for 5 years, I thought I would go to Bako since it's only 2 blocks away... TOTALLY IMPRESSED!
This is not the divey, strip mall, golden dragons all over the ceiling kind of place (like my parent's own restaurant in MN). It's the kind of restaurant that I (2nd generation Chinese) would open up. Classy, amazing decor, interesting food, and great drinks. -
Review from Ian B.
Seattle, WA
4/28/2012
Delicious if small menu. The XO Sauce Bok Choi has to be tasted to be believed. Creative Chinese. Solid bar and a fun bartender. Not unreasonably priced for the neighborhood. What more could you want? I definitely look forward to coming back and seeing if it can keep it up!
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Review from Paul I.
Seattle, WA
2/10/2012
Bako fills this bizarre niche of trying to pass off as authentic Chinese while catering exclusively to non-Chinese people.
The atmosphere feels like a New American place. Big plates and glasses, well dressed wait staff, and a drinks menu. I felt a bit out of place. It *definitely* didn't feel like a Chinese restaurant. Perhaps a Chinese Bisto, although I've never quite figured out what a Chinese Bistro really is.
The menu seemed believably Chinese. It has things like won ton and clams. They also had pork sliders ("Man Tou Buns") which we tried. The sliders seemed almost deep fried. The taste wasn't bad, but they were greasy.... almost like they popped the buns in a deep fryer to get them toasted. BTW... the "Man Tou" isn't man tou at all (which is plain steamed Chinese bread). It seemed more like brioche.... maybe it was the deep frying.
The won ton was a bit scary. I've eaten won ton that my mom makes as well as several restaurants. I always critique won ton on the size and quality of the filling (yeah, broth and noodles help too). The won ton are small... about the size of Maltesers. That's tiny compared to cheapo Seattle won ton place standards. The other MAJOR problem with the won ton is the mystery meat. Usually there is some shrimp. These won ton had none. Usually it's pork. These won ton had.... something that was kinda grey. I'm assuming it's meat, but only because I know what it's supposed to be. It didn't really taste like anything. When I don't understand what I am eating, I tend to lose my appetite. I mainly just ate the veggies on the dish, which were actually pretty good, unlike the won ton, which I'm not sure qualifies as food. Taco Bell's meat is more convincing than their won ton filling.
We also had clams. The clams allegedly came with rice. At a normal Chinese restaurant (the kind that Chinese people would eat at), this dish comes on a big ol' plate with rice on the side. After diving into this dish for a while, I was wondering where the rice was. I assumed they forgot. Eventually we realized that the rice was on the bottom... bathing in a half inch of sauce.
I usually try to finish whatever food is ordered, but eventually I had to stop. The rice with the clams was basically not edible. The won ton wasn't convincing. We ate the "man tous" and I ate the veggies and the clams themselves. Everything else was pretty much a waste. It's a shame. -
Review from Ken H.
Seattle, WA
2/12/2012
Being Chinese does not help me make an unbiased-evaluation of restaurants that tries to serve upscale Chinese food to mostly non-Chinese people. But, after hearing from friends that the chef here is from Monsoon - I decided to come try it out.
Plus, it is about time that more Chinese restaurants open up on Capitol Hill. so I wanted to support them.
However, as much as I want to like this place, Bako feels like it is trying to be everything and in the end being mediocre (except for the decor, I guess). And, like the other recently opened Vietnamese restaurant Ba Bar, strikes me as another failed attempt at making Asian food hip and upscale while maintaining what truly makes Asian cuisine shine.
Perhaps I am just not used to seeing the type of food that I enjoy and grow up with (and know how to cook them) being offered in a less flavourful, watered down version but at double/triple of the prices that you can get them for at China town/International District.
Anyways, I did enjoy my Treasured Rice (a fancy name for fried rice served with a fried egg). they used wild rice too which is a nice touch. It just doesn't feel like it is worth $11 as a dish. I guess I am too Asian huh? lol.
The drinks are so so, I can't even remember what I ordered now. Anyways... One more to try (Lucky 8). -
Review from Sherwin T.
Seattle, WA
12/17/2011
Was over the moon (pie) by the prospect of a Chinese restaurant opening up on Capitol Hill - until the not-so-favorable reviews by professional critics and friends started coming out. Resolved that the space Bako occupied would be a black hole in the north Cap Hill dining scene for me...and that I'd have to wait for Lukcy 8.
My attitude changed, though, upon discovering a chef from the Monsoon brand was taking over - so me and the man went last Friday. The space has really, really beautiful elements about it - the baby mint green stools, the projected bamboo wall, the golden-red wallpaper, and their cocktail menu, which uses photo edges to present each offering in a mini-flip book (I appreciated the delicacy and commitment it took to make these menus).
Given that my man is in the 'industry,' we went on and on about missed opportunities for more seating along the windows (since window-seating on Broadway is a valued commodity in restaurants) and beneath the project-o wall. We also discussed how the scale of some elements were off (and quite disconcerting) - the bar, a showpiece in the space with the exposed brick wall behind it, the marble(?) counter, and the warm and detailed wood facade, was overwhelmed by the massive stainless steel kitchen infrastructure. We then identified a successful execution of an adjacent bar+kitchen layout: Staple + Fancy.
So on to the eats! Our server assured us that the food quality had improved - and for the most part we would have to agree. Our meal started off grand with the Pickled Daikon + Apple salad and Pearl Dumplings. The star here was the salad - great combo of sour-ish and sweet, flavorful sauce, and - overall - a great light dish to open with.
For our entree course we decided to order the Tea Smoked Scallops, Seasonal Greens with XO sauce, and the Treasure Rice. Things started going downhill with the scallops - the dish was beautifully composed with delicious taste combos (I'm a sucker for scallops+pea shoots+a puree). The major failure was that the dish was between cold and luke warm. I wanted to see the scallops searing and hear them popping as they approached our table. Instead of asking them to redo the dish completely (since we'd eaten 1/2 of it), we simply asked the kitchen to "heat it up". Sadly, when the scallops returned - they had been re-plated, but were still the same temperature. WTF?!
My other HUGE gripe concerned coursing. Any Asian (and most non-Asians too) knows that the crux of any meal is rice. Bring the rice out first, and the other dishes should follow. I didn't anticipate this sequence changing at a Chinese restaurant. As it were, we got our not-hot-but-tasty scallops first. Finished them. Got our greens second. Finished them. Concluded our dinner with the rice. WTF?! My trauma over concluding with our Treasure Rice prevented me from enjoying the last two dishes fully.
People of Bako - please, please, please serve your rice before or with the other components of your patron's meals.
I want to like Bako cause it's fancy Chinese on Capitol Hill with cocktails! Unfortunately, my first experience there was a mixture of highs and lows. I haven't written them off completely, but suspect next time I'll order takeout or visit for a drink. -
Review from Amber G.
Seattle, WA
2/3/2012
I'm out $90 and my stomach is growling.
I was really looking forward to trying Bako. And while the decor is beautiful, the food, drinks, and service are really lacking. As my boyfriend put it midway through our meal: "Looks 10, Dance 3."
Right off the bat, I ordered the specialty cocktail, which was a Jack Rose, my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, this one was not good. They insist it was fresh lime juice, but all I could taste was Rose's lime (or plastic lime juice) and maraschino cherry - absolutely no applejack flavor to be found.
My spirits (no pun intended) were somewhat raised when the pork belly small plate came out, though the pineapple was colder than I was expecting it to be. Sadly, this was to be the high point of the meal. My second cocktail, a dirty Sapphire martini, smelled and tasted exactly as you would expect aftershave to taste. I'm not sure how that happened - too much or not enough vermouth, maybe? I took one sip and sent it back, only to watch my waiter and bartender taste it and obviously react as if I were crazy. Hi, I can see you! Whether you agree with me or not about the tastiness of my drink is up to you, but maybe try to refrain from visibly ridiculing me to the ladies at the bar because I did not enjoy my Aqua Velva martini.
The smoked sea scallops were passable, but not memorable, and our final course, the Singapore noodles, were so salty I couldn't eat more than two bites. I ate the prawns and left the rest on the table.
I am more than willing to spend a lot of money for a good dining experience. In fact, I have spent twice and three times as much as I did tonight in other restaurants. What does bother me is dropping $90 after tip and going home hungry. I won't be back to Bako, and it's a shame, because I was really hoping it would fill the Chinese food hole in Capitol Hill. -
Review from Amy B.
Seattle, WA
4/30/2012
I always have a nice time when I come here. The service is friendly (if a bit slow-paced), the drinks are good, and the food is tasty. I really like the pearl dumplings and I liked the mushroom hot pot (which wasn't on the menu last time I was there - I hope they bring it back!) I don't know anything about the authenticity of the food, but I guess my ignorant taste buds don't care if it's authentic or not.
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Review from Gene D.
The moment I heard chef Chris Michel (Spring Hill, Monsoon Restaurants) joined this kitchen, I made a reservation.
I could regale you with stories about the perfectly smoked scallops resting on sweet onion puree and the amazingly refreshing Daikon salad. Instead let me tell you about squid-shrimp with fresh pea pods in a potato birds nest. Sublime, delicious and warmed my biscuits! Wow.
Small dishes, quite generous for two, with much care going into visual presentations.
Have I mentioned the Lafitte Manhattan cocktail? Ok, now you know.
Speak with Mr. Wong or Dee about a full experience here. -
Review from Mairead R.
Seattle, WA
10/21/2011
Bako nailed their decor but the food is off.
The best item I sampled was the Oxtail Man Tou Buns. Meat was greasy but delicious and served up on three overly crisped butter glazed buns with slices of gingered cucumber. Not a total miss but room for improvement.
Green bean salad felt like something reheated from a potluck. While I appreciated the generous serving of green beans, this dish wasn't fully thought out. Unlike most classic green bean sides at chinese restaurants (think garlic green beans at Wild Ginger), this dish didn't present crisp cooked green beans with garlic or julienned veggies, which is fine. But the combination was gross. Generous helping of oily green beans with large slices of carrots, chunks of red pepper, and full parsley leaves. The mess was peppery and spiked with the odd string of ginger.
The worst item was the Singapore Noodles, which were billed as noodles with wild american white prawns, russet potato, bell pepper, and wood ear mushrooms. It was a mess of flavors that didn't overlap served up as a brown, brackish mess. I couldn't finish more than a few bites.
I'll go back to try again but it won't be for awhile. -
Review from Yumiko K.
10/27/2011
Bako is a super swanky bar that happens to serve Chinese (Cantonese) food. The decor is aesthetically appealing, and the staff was courteous.
As for the food, the menu had some interesting items. My boyfriend and I ordered stuffed tofu, shrimp chive potstickers, and squid & scallop noodle as well as peach dumplings for dessert.
Everything looked beautiful; however, the portion size was perfect only for nibblers. (I am a gorger aka human dumpster.) I could have eaten the entire dinner all by myself before breakfast. Also, I wish the food was a bit warmer as everything was barely lukewarm.
I must mention that Guy the Bartender was such a charming character! (His mustache is simply mesmerizing!) He is well-traveled and has very interesting stories to tell you. I did not order any cocktails, but he was mixing up some beautiful drinks.
If you go to Bako, sit at the bar and chat with Guy! -
Review from Hai Yen N.
Seattle, WA
10/15/2011
I had the most awkward dining experience of my entire life here; never have I felt more confused or anxious on a dinner out. Three different people came by to take our drink order. Every time we started settling into a conversation, another person would come by to ask us something else. We just didn't feel relaxed!
We ordered the shrimp and chive potstickers which tasted good but should not have cost $8 for a serving of 5 smaller-than-average pieces. The Singapore noodles were severely disappointing. There was too much sauce, the shrimp tasted undercooked, and large scary strips of ginger were hiding among the noodles waiting to assault your tastebuds.
The cocktails are what bumped this review up to three stars. They were inventive, expertly mixed and the cocktail menu was well-presented and even a little poetic. Just come for drinks and you'll probably have more fun than I did. -
Review from S Y.
Seattle, WA
3/3/2012
First of all my parents own a chinese restaurant. Second this is a Hong Kong inspired fusion restaurant with a theme from In the Mood For Love. Get to know HK restaurants beyond dim sum and you'll appreciate the owner's interpretation of HK food.
We ordered black bean clams. Nice and salty with onions and red peppers with black beans.
Hot and sour soup: awesome. tasted star anise (five spice) and it was the size for 2. It was spicy from white pepper and sour from vinegar; the way it should be. The fusion part is the 5 spice.
Pork belly with scallions: Amazing! Comes with apples and I really like meats with fruit. Sauce tasted like hoison sauce and vinegar.
Manhattan: make sure to ask about the cognac soaked cherry. This is the bartender's grabdfather's recipe.
Talk to the owner Keeman. He can explain his story behind his restaurant. -
Review from Brian C.
Seattle, WA
10/31/2011
The restaurant pitches itself as a fusion restaurant. Unfortunately, the only thing it fused was a combination of poor service and high prices.
the food isn't bad -- it's definitely more palatable than a lot of places. however, I was severely disappointed by the restaurants attempt at modernizing and glorifying the classics. Their approach removes the essence of what makes these dishes good.
Take the oxtail man tou buns for example. The restaurant crisps the exterior of the buns by pan frying them. They look perfect until you sink your teeth into them. Honestly, with every bite I felt that golden exterior scrape the skin off my hard palate. A far cry from the supple, and chewy buns that I've grown up on.
For this style of food, you're better off going to a Cantonese restaurant in the international district where portions are larger, the food is tastier, and the price is cheaper. -
Review from Jon J.
Seattle, WA
11/6/2011
Bako is a very nice looking build out. A bit noisy but typical for Seattle. We were sat immediately on a busy Sunday night. The food and drink menus both looked interesting. We ordered drinks and two appetizers while we waited for our third party to arrive--but only after waiting approximately 20 minutes for any server to come to the table.
Drinks took a long time to arrive at the table, but were made decently. Unfortunately the food service was a disaster. One of the main course dishes arrived with little explanation as to the status of the other dishes. We flagged the server down to ask where the appetizers or other main fishes were? The server had assumed we didn't want them. You didn't ask?
So what about the other two main course dishes? Apparently the kitchen was "backed up", so our other two dishes came out 10-20 minutes after the first. No offer to bring the one person at the table who had no food something in the meantime until we asked.
We were also told by the server that the dishes were 'small but suitable for one person' as a main course. The tea smoked scallops (at $15 the most expensive item on the reasonably priced menu) arrived at the table--3 scallops, a bit of sauteed greens as decoration, that's about it. Not main course size.
The last dish was removed from the bill, which was appropriate given the experience.
My recommendation to the management: You are attempting to run a fine dining restaurant in a town that has a high bar. You need to add staff to your kitchen and ensure that someone is properly expediting. It is ridiculous to have the host/manager hovering over the tickets on the line. Additionally, your servers need to better understand guest expectations.
I won't be back-and won't recommend-until I hear these issues are addressed. -
Review from Mei-I F.
Seattle, WA
2/5/2012
Everything looks pretty here, but that's about it. The ambiance is nice, decor is beautiful, service was friendly and the food is definitely something to look at but not so tasty. The menu looks great on paper but it was disappointing. That's the death of a new establishment so I'm not so sure Bako will last the year. Who cares what it the food looks like - just make it taste amazing so we can rave about it. We ordered nearly half the menu and it was either too salty, not tasty or the combos didn't work. Our one memory was the very cool giant ice cube in the cocktail so you get an extra star for the cube. Run to the I.D. or better yet, head to Vancouver BC!!!!
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Review from Sammi T.
Seattle, WA
3/4/2012
My fiance and I moved into the Capitol Hill neighborhood January of this year and we quickly became regulars at Bako's bar. Although, I am increasingly becoming fond of the chef's cooking as well.
It's not hard to find someone to sing Guy's (the head bartender) praises, and the man deserves it. Not only can he make a mean cocktail, his service is prompt, warm, and entertaining. What more can you ask for in a bartender? My favorite cocktail is a Manhattan, and Guy's grandfather's recipe makes it all the better. He even barrel-ages his own cocktails--ask him about his Agin' Cajun and Jean Harlow. And when you're contemplating on what you want for your fourth or fifth drink of the night, just let Guy do the deciding for you--you won't be disappointed.
The food also deserves some highlighting. So far, I've tried the Man Tou Buns, Wun Ton Noodle Soup, and the Honey Walnut Prawns. The Man Tou Buns featured succulent char siu pork with pickled daikon in pillowy clam-shell buns. The Honey Walnut Prawns were good with just the right amount of dressing. As for the Wun Ton Noodle Soup, I was impressed with the broth--it was hearty with a nice hint of star anise, and the dumplings were flavorful.
Check them out, and if you see a Chinese American woman with braces sitting at the bar clearly enjoying herself feel free to say hi. -
Review from Tony F.
Seattle, WA
10/8/2011
The place was nice, however thats really the end of the good things I have to say. The service was bad, they had tons of people running around but only one clueless waiter. The drinks were over priced, overly sweet, and small, nothing original there. Poppy, Cannon, and Babar have really kicked up the tasty, creative cocktails.
We had the oxtail appetizer...it was just ok, a softer bun (not deep fried) and some more of the coleslaw would have been nice. We also ordered the Singapore noodles and the flavor was bland. it was curry angel hair pasta noodles, would have been better as a chow mein noodle, and no curry. The pork was in it very good, but the prawns tasted very fishy and the end trails were left in some of the shrimp.
Then we had the 8 treasure rice...which i found too rich to really enjoy. The poached egg still had some clear in it...kind of gross. The flavor was nice, but this dish would have been amazing with white rice and some scrambled egg. the hill is missing a place to great fried rice and they almost have it here. Maybe they should allow you to pick how you want your egg and your rice.
I was expecting a Chinese restaurant with quality ingredients and not overly sauced, but was open to anything and ended up very disappointed. I think they have an opportunity to fix some menu items and switch out some of the wait staff....this could be a great place. -
Review from Emelia H.
Seattle, WA
12/2/2011 1 photo
My husband and I went to Bako on its second night and the service that evening seemed pretty on the spot. We were greeted and seated right away. The decor, beautiful and graceful! There were 2 servers attending to our table that night, one server specialized in the drinks that Bako had to offer, and the other specialized on the food menu and specials for the evening.
While we didn't order any specialty mixed drinks, the beverages that we had (beer/lager on tap, and iced tea) were delicious! I am still thinking of that iced tea now! We ordered the ManTou buns, the 8 treasures rice, and their Cantonese Chicken. The ManTou pork buns were yummy and delicious, as was the "slaw" mixture that accompanied it. The Cantonese Chicken, was okay. It is very similar to some traditional Chinese Chicken dishes that I have had in the past, but I was just not a fan of the flavor and texture of this dish. The 8 Treasure rice was tasty, and had a very "comfort-food" like quality. The three dishes were quite filling, and we even had enough for leftovers the next day.
Going to Bako is a splurge though, but definitely a worth-while treat! -
Review from Peter R.
Seattle, WA
10/11/2011
I'm 43, I've never in my life experienced a better bartender than Guy at Bako. What a shock that was. He has been around. I've been drinking Martinis for years but tonight I feel like I had one for the first time.
The food was very good! It is important for Americans to know that 99% of the "Chinese Food" we eat here... is not really Chinese food. Bako has some great fusion-innovations that closely align with traditional Chinese food, well worth the visit.
For those who say it's "bland" - that is because you are use to the "nuclear waste" served at Panda Express and other American - Chinese Restaurants. You would be so disappointed eating food in China... ! ;-) -
Review from Aidana L.
Seattle, WA
2/21/2012
We were so hungry when we came in. The Menu was tiny, not may options to choose from, so we just got chicken. It was dry and tasteless. Decor is really cool though,so one more star just for that. I am sure the bar is better, cuz there were some people hanging around there while in the dining area there were no one but us. We were so excited to try their food, but at the end, we left hungry.
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Review from Marci M.
Seattle, WA
1/15/2012
My husband and I ate at Bako last month for the first time. We loved our dining experience -- great food, beautiful decor and good service. It was hard to decide what to order based on the number of interesting items on the menu. We ended up sharing the pearl dumplings, singapore noodles and treasure rice. All were very good. I plan on going back soon with some friends to try out more dishes.
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Review from Amy K.
1/22/2012
Was really disappointed with our experience here. We popped in for a drink during snowpocalypse 2012 and found the decor stunning. We were greeted I believe by the owner (who was super friendly) and told we could grab a seat wherever. Our server is the reason for the 2 stars. I wanted a glass of wine. I looked over their selection and 2 of the reds on the list were not distinguished by varietal so I inquired about what they were (but our poor, poor server didn't know what varietal meant so I dumbed it down and asked what type of grape they were. The blank look on his face eased up somewhat.) At first the server said one of them was a chardonnay. Um, no, I am not asking about the whites. It took awhile to receive an answer and even longer to get our drinks delivered. The bartender is supposed to be da bomb but JP saw our server mixing his specialty cocktail. Don't make a big deal about your bartender if he's not going to be the one making the drinks (and no, they weren't slammed). Overall had a poor experience here with the service.
The menu looks interesting so I would give it a shot. I like to support local businesses and am hoping the food might be better than the service we had that night but with the reviews being mixed I can't be certain.
The space is gorgeous and this could be such an incredible place on the hill to grab a bite and a drink. Maybe they will get things turned around. -
Review from Steven L.
Seattle, WA
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love the ambiance, the beverages and the food. My favorite are the Man Tou Buns (savory & tender with a little bright surprise). I also enjoyed the Treasure Rice. This isn't your typical bar, so don't expect your drink to be delivered mere minutes after you order--they take time to craft a cocktail that will excite, wow and leave you wanting more.
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Review from Alexander R.
Seattle, WA
10/13/2011
Great drinks.
Food was a little meh. Some good flavors, but overall a little bland. And I promise, I don't eat nuclear waste. I'd go back, but I wasn't too impressed. Except for with the drinks. -
Review from Carole H.
Seattle, WA
1/1/2012
A disappointing experience.
I want to love Bako. It's a beautiful space and I like the concept. I visited shortly after they opened and was very excited by their potential. The food was quite good for the most part. I absolutely adored the shrimp and chive dumplings. The dumplings reminded me of the food I grew up on--home style Chinese cooking. The black bean clams were on their way, needing a little work on the balance between black bean and rice. The stuffed tofu was needing a little development on the mechanics/texture side but the taste was on the right track. That night, the service was really great and the management seemed genuinely interested in customer feedback.
However, I don't know that I will be going back again.
Last night's experience lacked in almost every way. The service was rather unenthused even though the house was at best 1/2 full. Yes it was New Years Eve and we all dream about who we will be kissing at midnight but hopefully we can restrain those kinds of thoughts until after the meal. Just a suggestion...
The food was, for the most part, a miss. The aforementioned, drooled over shrimp dumplings had lost their delicate shell, this time arriving dark in color and soggy. The crisp and bright shell was completely missing. Luckily the shrimp filling was still the same.
My dining partner strongly suggested that we order the ginger scallion noodles she had enjoyed on a previous visit. They arrived, but inedible (at least for me). A plate of uninspired thinnish rice noodles appeared, which tasted like they had been soaked in dark soy sauce. They were devoid of any ginger flavor, sodium ladened and an unappetizing glob of a mess. The next morning I'm still thirsty from all that salt.
Fortunately we encountered the smoked scallop congee, which was quite tasty, the flavors were spot on and the scallops were cooked perfectly. I loved the contrasting textures.
I don't think I have it in me for a third visit. The ID is just a stronger draw, even sans the fancy trimmings. There, you get what you pay for. -
Review from Chairman L.
Seattle, WA
10/16/2011
If you are looking for a place to have an evening or late night drink accompanied by small dishes of food then this is the place for you!
Unfortunately Bako marketed itself as a full-menu restaurant and not as a bar / lounge.
That means we expected heaping portion of Chinese food. But with the high-price tag we also expected the food to be unique and borderline exotic.
That was not the case.
The food was just okay. Not bad and edible. It's not exactly a meal for the emperors and empresses. More like home cooked meal of a skilled Chinese momma!
Thus depending on what you like this may or may not be the place for you. It was definitely not a place for us, especially the negative comments where coming from individuals whom were a Taiwanese, a Chinese and a Malaysian-Chinese!Comment from Keeman W. of Bako 10/17/2011
I'm so sorry you felt misled. Our mission at Bako has always… More » -
Review from Mike C.
Kent, WA
2/4/2012
We went into Bako for their drinks, and ended up getting some of their foursies happy hour food. To start, the craft cocktails were awesome! And Guy the bartender gave us a little history behind each of his creations. This man really knows his alcohol. I recommend having a manhattan or a floridita!
I also had the char siu buns and bacon wrapped shrimp dumplings off the hh menu. They were delicious! I ended up staying and eating off the dinner menu too. The hot and sour soup is like none i have ever had. Everthing was awesome!
This place is great for all occassions, date, with friends, or just for drinks. I will definately recommend this place to friends. -
Review from Josh S.
Seattle, WA
11/7/2011
Realllly!! Let's Just start out and say Its a Beautiful Space and the Decor is stunning! Its so much nicer then the Run down bldg that used to occupy this block. I went with 3 Friends on Sunday Eve and It was a Bit Busy, However that did not Really matter as the service was really Good. -:) Ordered 3 appetizers and have to say that the Won Ton soup was Excellent!!!
We all ordered Entrees as well and some in our party had Beautifully mixed drinks. My Entree was Huge, I had to take it Home and the price was Low!
I thought that the pricing for Cap Hill was Good, Lets talk at how much it costs to open and renovate a space and Build a Kitchen and Hire staff and Buy and serve Food, so for the other Reviewers who have put this place down and so on, I disagree with you. There are lots of crappy places to eat all over this city and there are really good places. Complaining online does not change things or Improve a Business, It just makes it so that other people do not wanna go. I say Give this place a Chance and Next time you feel really dis-satisfied take it to the Manager/Owner.
I think too many people are Passive-aggresive in this city and can not really speak there mind!
I will for sure be back, I thought Portions were great, Food was Tasty and I had a Great time with my Friends. -
Review from sasha F.
Seattle, WA
11/9/2011
HA! I think Jeff G. and Jon J. must be either ex-employees (or one employee) writing malicious reviews or really snotty/arrogant pseudo critics- Yelp is full of them.
I've been to BAKO twice since they opened including the night they both claimed to have been there and their reviews couldn't be further from the experiences I've had . Both times, a busy Friday night as well as last Sunday our server was attentive, helpful and a pleasure. I had the Daikon cakes (yes they were a bit small) but followed them up with the 8 treasure rice. I added a little chili sauce because I like my food spicy and the kitchen provided it quickly without making a fuss. I had to take part of this dish home with me. I don't drink alcohol but I know the drinks there are fantastic from friends who've told me. I know what I like and most people applaud me on my choices when we dine out. I'd like to give BAKO 5 stars but the menu needs more offerings for me to try. I'll likely be back again! -
Review from Lynn S.
Seattle, WA
10/8/2011
You know you've found something special when on its third day open, a new restaurant is already full and buzzing with energy. The space itself is sleek and complete with a welcoming and attentive staff. The drinks are thoughtful and inventive and complement the wonderful selection of food on the menu. All the dishes are traditional Cantonese with a fresh twist. I highly recommend the beautifully toasted oxtail buns, the pork-filled pearls, and the eight treasure rice served with the most perfect poached egg placed gently upon it.
This place is top notch and a welcome addition. We will be back often! -
Review from Donna C.
Bremerton, WA
11/10/2011
We were there for the first soft opening and it was fabulous! They were just getting their feet under them, but the food, drinks and decor were wonderful. Now I hear they've got a fabulous new chef who has in just a few days, corrected most of the food concerns that have been voiced here. If you haven't been there...GO! You won't regret it. If you been before...please return! You won't be disappointed! Bon Appetite!
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Review from Tom C.
Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA
10/11/2011
Opening week- slow, non friendly service with bland tasting food. Had to wait 15 just for drinks (beer), and it wasnt even that busy. The restaurant is small but laid out well. Nice decor, but needs much work with the food and service.
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Review from Capitol H.
Seattle, WA
10/23/2011
As people keep commenting:
On decor - they nailed it.
For drinks - very well done if a little pricey for this end of the Hill.
The food - no, it's not chicken fried rice, egg rolls, General Tsao's chicken or other Americanized Chinese food. That said, it's still not very enjoyable. Even if the food adheres to whatever it's traditions are, it should still be enjoyable.
We had the dumplings which were tasty and good. I had the hot pot chicken. The cutlets were mushy from being in the pot with the sauce too long, and the quality of the chicken was fair to middling at best. Honestly just not a very enjoyable dish.
It wouldn't hurt them to enlarge the menu a little or start trying things that at least have a better flavor. I hope they survive since it's near where I live, and I'll go back for drinks for now. But that grade of food just isn't going to make the cut for long around here.
