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Made In Kitchen - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Asian Fusion Vietnamese, Asian Fusion [Edit]
725 S Lane St(between S 7th Ave & S 8th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98104
Neighborhood: International District
(206) 625-0909
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
nancy c. said: "It has been a while since I ate at the restaurant itself, but lately my work has been ordering delievery to us and it reminded me how much i enjoy their food. I only order their House Special Noodle Soup which i believe is #15 on the…" read more »
55 reviews for Made In Kitchen
Review Highlights
"...the crab or shrimp crispy imperial rolls, don't forget the..."
(in 6 reviews)
"...course, the Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chops cannot be beat."
(in 3 reviews)
"the chunks of crab meat are a nice edition and rarely found..."
(in 6 reviews)
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55 reviews in English
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Review from Myra R.
Renton, WA
10/7/2008
Chilled lychee sake! YUM not too strong, quite refreshing to be honest.
The fried shrimp rolls and fresh spring rolls are cheap and good appitizers!
I LOVE the grilled pork chop w/ egg.
The ambiance of the restaurant is very trendy. spacious. good w/ groups or small intimate dinners. Always clean! They have street parking which is always hard to find but they also have a lot aval across the back side of the building; it's posted on there entrance way!
prices are very low.
Try the tomato rice, duck curry (spicy), and the iced coffee as well!!!
Wait staff is always really friendly and they are very polite.
They have early hours so be careful! -
Review from Michelle B.
Seattle, WA
10/4/2006 3 photos
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! -
Review from Helen W.
Seattle, WA
4/26/2007 ROTD 8/26/2007
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. -
Review from Ray Z.
Paradise, WA
8/20/2007
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). -
Review from Nish N.
1/26/2007
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. -
Review from Kevin S.
Seattle, WA
2/11/2007
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.Listed in: Everything in the…, Good Eats - Seattle
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Review from Thaddeus G.
Seattle, WA
10/30/2006 ROTD 3/29/2007
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. -
Review from Ian S.
4/25/2007
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.Listed in: Big Deal Fancypants Dressup
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Review from Wanugee N.
Pleasant Hill, CA
9/17/2007
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.Listed in: Wanugee! Vietnamese, Wanugee! Seattle
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Review from Brad P.
Redwood City, CA
1/26/2007
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. -
Review from Lindi C.
Portland, OR
10/15/2007
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! -
Review from Lydia P.
Seattle, WA
2/15/2007
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! -
Review from Tyler H.
Seattle, WA
12/8/2006
"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 my pork skewers, egg rolls, noodles and baby bok-choy. But, another friend was less amazed by his curry. And another friend was given a different wine than she had ordered.
But, the owners definitely impressed us by giving us all free desserts. A mix of coconut milk, beans, ice and what appeared to be shredded gummy worms. Interesting stuff, to say the least. But, a nice gesture to welcome us on our first visit.
I think the thing that perplexes me the most is its location. I mean, if this restaurant was in Bell Town or, say, Bellevue, I think it would be seriously kicking ass and taking names. But, it seems odd to put an upscale Asian Fusion restaurant in the outskirts of a part of town known for its sheer volume of cheap, authentic Asian cuisine.
Still, an enjoyable experience. If you can find it. -
Review from Karl H.
Kirkland, WA
3/12/2008
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. -
Review from Damon D.
San Diego, CA
1/26/2007
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. -
Review from Tim O.
Seattle, WA
10/3/2007
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. -
Review from Sheila L.
4/23/2007
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. -
Review from Jen G.
Seattle, WA
11/21/2006
High expectations based on rave reviews + dinner party comprised of a sommelier, self-professed food snob, militant vegetarian, former chef/food scientist, this other lady and a Yelper = formula for disaster.
From the beginning, Made in Kitchen didn't even have a fighting chance at making the grade, which is too bad, seeing as I'd really hoped it would impress the pants off our out-of-town guests, and in the end, the food was only marginally good.
But that's not to say that the staff at Made in Kitchen didn't TRY to impress us. We were seated in one of their private rooms, where we had to remove our shoes. The room was awesome, as it allowed us to actually have a conversation without needing to shout over loud restaurant noise. Each time a server would enter the room, they in turn had to remove their shoes, too. It seemed laborious and overkill, but them's the rules there.
The staff (and I say "staff" because we had at least three different servers) realized early on that we were going to be a difficult group to please, especially when the sommelier announced that we were from San Francisco (only partially true, seeing as Roth and I are not from there, and what does that even mean, that we should be treated differently?), and the server went, "Oooh, aaah," and nervously scurried away.
Because there were just so many choices on the menu, and we were all interested in different items, we just started shouting out what we wanted, kind of haphazardly, without any regard for what other people were ordering. Before we knew what happened, our table was loaded with fresh spring rolls, chicken wings, fried tofu and vegetables, noodles galore, lemongrass chicken, a whole duck. It was really quite the smorgasbord, and nothing really complemented any of the other items.
This was probably where we went wrong, not ordering the right things on the menu. Based on previous reviews, I'm convinced there are fabulous items we glossed over, partly because we were so distracted by our conversation, and partly because we just didn't coordinate our ordering.
Regardless, everything we ate was just ho-hum. Nothing seemed extraordinary - many of the sauces were bland, the crab noodle dish seemed to be without any crab at all, and the duck was simply boiled to oblivion. Sensing our group's disdain, and probably because lots of wine drinking made some of group member's more vocal about their displeasure in the food, they served us complimentary custard at the end. A nice touch, but unfortunately, the gesture was lost on our group.
I felt bad, because the servers really tried to please us. There was never a moment when we were without a filled water glass or cup of tea. But ultimately, the food speaks for a restaurant, and it just wasn't worth the trek down to the International District.
*I wanted to give this place 2.5 stars, so I rounded up in this instance, hoping it was just an off night* -
Review from Sylvia L.
Seattle, WA
1/26/2007
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. -
Review from Monte C.
Seattle, WA
8/18/2008
When i evaluate restaurant i also have a tendency to compare across board. In terms of food quality, taste, and value,
Service = great
Ambiance = one of the nicest in Chinatown, like the high ceiling, Tamarind Tree is close in this department
Food = This is where Made in Kitchen fails to impress, even with all the magazine articles
Price = $$
Crowd = All range
Personal Favorite = high ceiling, close to I5 north on-ramp (does that count?)
Worst = wasn't impress
Meal for two = 40
Final Say = Green leaf, Tamarind Tree -
Review from June N.
Seattle, WA
11/27/2006
So very close to my house that it could very well be that go to place whenever I don't feel like cooking for guests.
I was here last wed. with my mom who is a vegetarian and she loved it. Aside from having to share a meal with a vegetarian, I thought most of the dishes were good and the price was more than decent. The meat dish which was skirt steak or something or other with bell peppers and red onions were not bad. I was a little disappointed with the tomato (ketchup) fried rice...I didn't order it, but was leaning towards it until they explained what it was.
It is what it is, clean and very Asian modern. It's a very moderately priced place that I hope does well and stays around for a long time. I look forward to dining there again w/o my vegetarian mom in tow. -
Review from tyler r.
3/31/2007
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. -
Review from nancy c.
Seattle, WA
2/18/2008
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. -
Review from Derek P.
Seattle, WA
12/20/2006
"Made in Kitchen"... I spent a few minutes staring at the sign as soon as I walked through the door wondering if something was missing from that title. Unique I guess.
My friend pointed out that the server who waited on us for lunch was the same waiter that we had had at Blue Ginger on the Eastside. I have a feeling that he recognized us. Service was great. The nice Chinese finger trap looking chopsticks thing was interesting. Unfortunately the waiter slipped the doo dad away before I managed to test whether or not my pinkie would get stuck if I wedged it inside.
Food presentation was exceptionally spot on. Not entirely sure why the restaurant chose to harvest half a farm worth of lettuce and cucumbers to serve with the Crispy Imperial Rolls. Regardless, the entire meal was great and Made in Kitchen is definite must for anyone looking for lunch.
* The Fresh Young Coconut Juice didn't have enough sugar. I've never tried, but I imagine the sugarless coconut juice tastes similar to sweaty water. (Definitely need more sugar) -
Review from clint w.
7/21/2007
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. -
Review from Richard Y.
Seattle, WA
11/17/2006
Good food with great decor. They have beer and wine, but no liquor, so be warned. Great place for a date. The wait-staff is young, hip and good natured , but miscommunications are likely.
When my friend asked to make a suggestion, the waiter looked either confused or genuinely offended and left. He came back a little later with a pen and paper, and asked "How do you spell suggestion?" -
Review from Val R.
Kirkland, WA
7/11/2007
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. -
Review from Jack B.
Seattle, WA
2/25/2008
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. -
Review from Henry y.
Seattle, WA
8/13/2007
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. -
Review from Rick L.
WA
3/16/2007
The first time I walked by this place I thought to myself...really?...I mean...REALLY?? I know the ID is going thru some transformation but this place would do much better in the Belltown area. Only after reading some yelp reviews did I decide to try it out.
ok, let me preface this review..I am not a big fan of pan asian/fusion restaurants. Maybe because I can't stop picturing that sign that says...Chinese, Japanese, Doughnuts, and the BEST Gyros in town!! (i really saw a place like this) This one could have got 4 stars from me but 3 it is...here's why.
So yes, it's Asian minimilistic design, which is nice. Nice high ceilings make it definately feel different from your normal ID fair. I went in March 07...and white xmas icicle lights in the inside...REALLY?!? take em down, ya might get another half star from me :p
I ordered the white/black tofu appy, the imperial rolls, and a beef salad. The tofu dish came out looking promising. nice presentation, hot, and good firm texture on every bite. but what it came down to was it was only really furkake flakes on deep fried tofu and the plate was drizzled with sriracha and a mango puree. the flavors were strong, but they really didn't work that well for me...the tofu was salty, the mango is sweet and the sriracha is hot so I know what they were going for but really all I tasted was the salt.
The imperial rolls were pretty good. Just a twist on your typical fresh rolls found at most Vietnamese restaurants. BTW, this places tended to be mostly based on SE Asia, Vietnam mainly. the chunks of crab meat are a nice edition and rarely found so this was a treat.
lastly, my beef salad. first impressions were the flavors were excellent if not a bit on the sweet side. the beef was very tender, and they don't skimp on the portion either. Oddly, the one thing they do skimp on was the lettuce?! then by the time I ran out of lettuce, I found what looked more like a plate of soup as the dressing was pooled at the bottom making it simply too sweet to finish. I'll try and ask for less dressing next time and that will help tons.
Overall...not a bad try, and it's a welcome addition to the ID. what I fear is if these places take off, the entire price range for food in the ID will rise. Green Leaf, even Tamarind Tree are better choices in my opinion but if you don't want just straight Vietnamese, give this place a shot, it's worth trying. -
Review from Christopher B.
Seattle, WA
3/27/2008
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. -
Review from alexa c.
Oakland, CA
9/15/2008
I had a lovely experience at Made in the Kitchen. We had a decent sized group so there was loads of food circulating the table. Sometimes larger groups tend to be difficult but not this one. Everyone was extremely pleased with the food, service and ambiance and I'm sure the staff appreciated our happy group.
The portions were quite large and reasonably priced. The service was perfectly friendly, accommodating and full of smiles. I had the Fresh Spring Rolls, Chinese Broccoli and Peppered Tofu, all of which were delicious, fresh and flavorful!
The ambiance and decor were lovely, the staff was super sweet and the food presentation was lovely. Everything here was just wonderful! -
Review from Magdalene T.
Sammamish, WA
3/19/2007
I've always been wary of anything *fusion* but decided to give it a try cos the photo on yelp looked like it at least had nice ambience.
We ordered fresh spring rolls (3 out of 5), shitake mushroom appetizer (4/5), spicy seafood salad (4.5/5), pork chop rice (4.5/5), pad thai (4/5) and tofu,mushroom over noodle dish (4/5).
So all in all, not bad at all. The food seemed fresh, well presented, reasonable prices, good service, nice atmosphere. Its not something to die for but I'm glad I tried it. -
Review from tom n.
Placentia, CA
4/3/2007
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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Review from J D.
Seattle, WA
10/2/2006
Judging by the giggles and the droopy eyelids and the fact that it was Friday night and he was about 19, I suspect our waiter was stoned, but when he forgot to bring one of our appetizers the lovely manager bought us a free round of drinks, (we hadn't even complained), so everybody was happy. Kids will be kids, I always say.
Anyway, Made in Kitchen has a clean modern decor and it smells good. My fiance and I, being, as we are, pretty charmed by the succulence of the shrimp out here, ordered a dinner reminiscent of the much-over-quoted and never all that funny Bubba Gump "shrimp is the fruit of the sea" speech. We had shreemp skewers, papaya salad (with poached shreeemp), shreemp curry, you get the picture.
Anyway, great restaurant. Check it out. -
Review from Adam C.
9/1/2007
Another restaurant tipped off to me by Yelp.
My friend and I had to pick our chins up off the table after the little old lady who walked us through the menu stepped away from the table. She was so... put together, so spunky, so funny, so enthusiastic, so cute! I hope that the woman I marry is like her when she's that age. First crush of the evening.
Then I fell for the hostess, Tian, I believe is her name. I felt like a creep, I couldn't help but look her way every time she walked by.
The food, however, I'd have to go more with "like" than "love".
We had the Black & White tofu, Imperial Rolls and Lemongrass Pork Chops. The tofu came first, was hot, crunchy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. The dipping sauce reminded me vaguely of something from Frites... it was tasty, if devoid of any nutritional value. The rolls were tasty again, a bit difficult to eat, but my friend and I aren't afraid to make messes in front of each other. The pork chops were tender though really greasy. They seemed to be slathered in butter or something. I didn't sense much lemongrass flavor, but they were enjoyable. I had a ca phe sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee) which tasted a little watered-down.
Overall, good food, not astounding, butterfly-inducing hostesses, though both of the ladies went home before I could chat them up as much as I wanted. I'd return though, to try more, and to chat with the staff again :) -
Review from kristen b.
San Francisco, CA
10/18/2006
So, we went here on our last visit to Seattle. We didn't know what to expect since our friends told us to meet them at "this new Asian-Fusion restaurant". We were pleasantly surprised when we walked in. The place is really cute. As we waited for our friends, we had some drinks at the bar. The tall Korean looking bartender guy served up some great soju-juice drinks, light on the juice. The different juice flavors were really yummy, something like asian plum and peach, among others.
We thought the portions would be smaller, so we over-ordered. The portions turned out to be really generous. The fried tofu appetizer was really good. The waitress mentioned that it was a new dish they were trying - it's one they should definitely keep on their menu. The spring rolls were also great, served with the traditional sides of lettuce, mint leaves, and dipping sauce. Yum.
I can't remember all of the dishes we ordered, (we had 6 people and about 10 dishes), but I do remember the spicy eggplant was yummy as was the duck curry dish. The hot and sour soup was nice and spicy. If you're afraid of spicy, don't try this one. Be sure to try their desserts too, the flan was really yummy. This place seems great and I have a feeling next time we're back in Seattle this new little Asian-Fusion gem won't be our little secret anymore. -
Review from Kiran C.
Seattle, WA
7/9/2007
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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Review from Meredith K.
Seattle, WA
1/20/2008
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. -
Review from Charlie D.
Seattle, WA
11/10/2006
Holy cow...this place is so spectacular, amazing and astonishing!! How did I miss such a great restaurant when it was right under my nose? I swear I have walked pass this place a least a million times and never stop by..damn do I feel dumb!!! Spring rolls are one of my most favorite foods on this planet and their shrimp spring rolls are f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!! You also can't go wrong with the crab or shrimp crispy imperial rolls, don't forget the spicy dipping sauce. For the meal I got myself the grilled prawn skewers and found myself in heaven. The service was great and the atmosphere is soothing. I am a die hard MIK fan now...and you should be too.
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