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Marination Mobile
Categories: Restaurants Food Stands Restaurants Hawaiian Restaurants Asian Fusion Food Stands, Hawaiian, Asian Fusion
132 N Canal St(between N 1st Ave & N Phinney Ave)
Seattle, WA 98103
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 2 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
278 reviews for Marination Mobile
Review Highlights
"Kalbi Tacos and Kimchi Fried Rice," I said."
(in 53 reviews)
"Spam sliders = incredible culinary deliciousness."
(in 42 reviews)
"My friend and I split the spicy pork tacos (YUM."
(in 20 reviews)
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278 reviews in English
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Review from Rodney C.
Seattle, WA
1/22/2012
The best part about eating out is going to places where you get to eat foods you can't make yourself. Marination Mobile's is one of those places for me. Their inventive tacos (kalbi beef & spicy pork are my favs) have a nunya sauce that is so tasty. Yes, that's right, it's "nuya" business what they put in it.
And being the spam connoisseur that I am, I absolutely love their spam slider (in addition to their "aloha" slider with Kahlua pork). If you can stand the heat, PLEASE squeeze some Siracha sauce in your Aloha Slider. Makes it mmm mmm good.
But of ALL their dishes, nothing beats the kim chee fried rice. No... don't dismiss it right away you Kim Chee haters. It isn't the same as the fermented cabbage you dislike. It's fried rice with a twist - a little spice and LOTS of flavor. And add some meet for a small add'l fee.
I've taken many a person to Marination Mobile and I haven't had one unhappy friend. Even the picky food eaters. Give it a try sometime - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! -
Review from Ce Y.
1/10/2012
This gets 5 stars for an amazing price to taste ratio. For $2.25 you get your choice of taco or slider filled with the amazing meat of your choice, topped with a bit of slaw and an accompaniment for optional flavors see below. No frills, just simple fresh amazingly tasty little treats.
1. kalua pork slider : sweet, savory, succulent melt in your mouth pork with their nunya sauce and slaw - It goes all so well together, a bit of crunch (slaw), a bit of savory and sweet, with a tiny kick and a creamy base all tucked inside a fluffy soft bun.
2. spicy pork taco : a little sweet, a lot of spicy, and oh so much flavor. they add a little sesame lime accompaniment , which you can add if you like - I did love the tang with this combo of flavors.
3. miso ginger chicken taco : you can actually taste the miso, the ginger, and chicken and it all works so well together! the accompaniment with this was thin slices of pickled jalepeno which added a subtle but flavorful kick that really makes this pop.
4. hawaiian mac salad : ok skip this, nothing special - mayo, mac, carrot and cold spam pieces. I wish I opted for another taco now instead of this side dish.
Now that I am done stuffing my face, I need a nap! Enjoy! -
Review from Shawna S.
Bellevue, WA
12/8/2011
My story begins incredibly hungover.
Actually I supposed it begins the night before when I chose to mix every liquor under the moon on a work night. Getting older, but not wiser. Regardless, I was hurting the next day at work and thankfully the boss man requested that I deliver some paperwork on the eastside. Prior to this request I was gazing through Yelp and my eyes and tummy came to an excited conclusion that Kimchee Fried Rice is exactly the cure to my pounding head. I had read about Marination Mobile in one of the Seattle Mag's and it seemed that my fellow yelpers were as enthused as the article was.
The Mobile was conveniently located right off the onramp to I-90 and easy to find. Lucky me. I waited briefly in line, it's looks more intimidating than it actually is, and received my prize. Not only did I grab the Kimchee Rice with a Perfectly Fried Egg, I also committed to a SPAM Slider. And I'm OH so glad I did. Both items hit the spot. The SPAM slider was quirky and comforting and the rice provided all the salty, carby, deliciousness I needed to get me through the day. My only note is that I would request extra Kimchee next time, I honestly can't get enough of the stuff and there could be more in the rice considering it's name.
Caution: Driving hungover while attempting to eat rice is not necessarily the best of ideas but I lived to tell this tail. -
Review from Maureen E.
Kent, WA
2/3/2012
Love this lunch truck! Wish they came to Belltown more than once a week. Delicious tacos & sliders, I'd recommend the pork, beef or tofu - not crazy about the chicken. I also enjoy the Kimchi Rice Bowls. Just wish they cooked their rice a tad more (w/a bit more water) - Rice is not supposed to be al dente. Lastly - 5 stars to their crew - very friendly, they remember your name and they work so hard to get the orders fulfilled as quickly as possible.
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Review from Annie H.
Seattle, WA
1/26/2012
I absolutely love the idea of this place (being Korean, getting kimchi in anything from a food truck is exciting) but every time I go, it's hard not to be disappointed! The kimchi fried rice has been consistently salty and undercooked (I threw half of it away last visit--pretty unusual for the fatty in me) and I honestly don't think there is anything special about the sliders or the tacos. If I had to recommend anything here it would be the kimchi quesadilla. But next time I'm craving fast food with a Korean twist I'll make the trek to Omabap in Bellevue.
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Review from Kevin O.
1/16/2012
Marination mobile is one of my favorite food trucks in Seattle. The one thing I don't understand is why the food trucks are so darn expensive in this city and Marination is no different. I mean your overhead can't be that high. But back on track, the food at marination is pretty frickin good. Kalua pork sliders, chicken and tofu tacos and Kimchi fried rice are definitely the ways to go here. I'll be back.
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Review from Aaron W.
11/16/2011
(Unfortunately, on my visit, they didn't have any Nunya Sauce...apparently they had run out or something)
I ordered a miso ginger chicken taco and a spicy pork taco ($2.25 each; $4.50 total). Each taco starts with two 4" corn tortillas, adding the meat of your choosing, topped with their Nunya Sauce (not this time, though), and their house-made tangy slaw. The tacos came with a small lime wedge and some pickled jalapenos.
The pork was marinated well and had a nice hint of spice. The chicken wasn't bad, but I expected a bit more flavor (considering miso and ginger were involved).
The slaw was also OK. It seemed like just a bit too much was put on each taco. Either that, or I would have liked more meat. It's a meat/poultry taco topped with slaw, not a slaw taco with a side of meat/poultry.
The absence of the Nunya Sauce made a huge difference. Each taco could have really used the Nunya Sauce for extra flavor and presentation. Perhaps next time, I'll be able to try the sauce and get a true taste of what the food is like. I can see the potential the meal has with the Nunya Sauce included. -
Review from Michael S.
Seattle, WA
1/11/2012
I dont normally leave reviews but I had to take a second to comment on my new favorite food truck. The food is great and its surprisingly quick! Put it on your list!
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Review from Celeste T.
Seattle, WA
11/21/2011
Such good fusion tacos! I had a chicken taco and a tofu taco, and they were inexpensive, tasty, with wholesome ingredients. What else can I ask for?
I look forward to going back to try one of the rice bowls. -
Review from Alex L.
Seattle, WA
1/7/2012
I was a bit nervous about trying the Marination Mobile but my brother was flying in and was insistent we try it. I got the SPAM slider and the kimchi quesadilla and was hooked.
The sliders (both SPAM and aloha are 2.25) are on dinner rolls and have well-sized portions of meat with the perfect amount of toppings and sauce. The quesadilla was a different sauce, but just as good. I went back with another friend the next week, and he ordered the kimchi fried rice with spicy pork ($5 for the rice +2.50 for meat, as you can mix and match your meats and dishes), which was the most amazing combination ever. It's cabbage, rice, spicy pork all tossed in kimchi sauce with a fried egg on top. I always crack the yolk, reach down for the pork, and make sure to get a good bite of rice while I'm at it.
That was my regular meal until I started going with my wife. She was adventurous enough to try the 'tacos around the world' - one each (is 2.25 ea) of the kalbi beef, spicy pork, and ginger chicken tacos - and a few of their seasonal dishes. Their noodle salad was good while offered, as was the spicy tofu.
In short I have yet to have a dish here I did not like. They are cash only, and the lines get crazy at lunchtime, I'd recommend early/late meals on marination day.
I haven't tried their brick & mortar yet (Marination Station - http://www.yelp.com/bi...), but I have had food from different Marination Mobile carts and the quality was consistently awesome.
It's easy to spend a lot of money very quickly, I'd recommend skimming - make sure and limit yourself to one or two items at a time. I got into it after the first time and would drop $30+ a lunch - it was all that good! -
Review from Justin H.
10/7/2011
I absolutely love this food truck. We go to the West Seattle location on Saturdays and if I don't go here for a while I start to get the shakes. The Korean BBQ/Hawaiian fusion jives really well and it is unlike anything else I have found in the Puget Sound area.
My favorites are: Spam sliders (this is a must order no matter what), Kalbi tacos, miso chicken tacos, and of course the Spam and mac salad.
It is on the pricey side, but I feel it is well worth the price. -
Review from Olivia S.
8/17/2011
I'm always in need for some aloha fixing... but after giving marination 5+ tries I just couldn't do it anymore...
Kimchee fried rice.... is WAY WAY salty... presentation is awesome but there is just TOO much salt in that bad boy... does not compare to the kimchee fried rice on the island, sorry to say. Taco's are just OK, nothing spectacular... the meat is salty but it lacks flavor, salt does not make it flavorful..
Quesadilla is actually not bad with kalbi... I really like their pickled jalapenos.... and spam sliders are good.. slaw is light.
It's gotten a lot of rave but I'm just not... impressed I have to say.. -
Review from Seth M.
Maple Valley, WA
You might have heard of this truck before, because it won this award called "The Best Food Truck in America" by Good Morning America. Now, I'm not sure how legit GMA is in rating food trucks, but I can tell you, they got this one right.
Marination Mobile has some very good food.
I decided to order two of their tacos (ginger chicken & Kalbi beef) and then their spicy kalua pork slider. The ingredients were fresh and well balanced. Perfect amount of meat and coleslaw on both the tacos and the slider. The pickled jalapenos were a great touch to the dish.
Well worth the pub that they have received. Now I have to go back and grab some of their Spam sliders. So angry at myself for not ordering them the first time.
***UPDATE***
Went back to try the Spam sliders...wow. Who knew that Spam and Nunya sauce were made for each other like ponchos and fat people. I love Spam, but this takes it to a new level.
When you visit here is what you order:
2 Sweet and Savory Kalbi tacos
1 Spam slider
1 Kalua Pork slider
(I'm not that impressed with the ginger chicken taco, but it's probably because it's sitting there next to all this other food like the weird kid in school) -
Review from JoAnne S.
Seattle, WA
12/13/2011
I ate there once and never again....It made me violently sick. Unless you like praying to the porcelin bus I would stay away, far, far away.
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Review from Zachary Sam Z.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 6/5/2011
So I was putting together my street food list, and I was surprised by how low my rating was for Marination Mobile! What was I thinking!!!
I've been back many times since my first trip, and these guys really make some amazing food. One of my favorites is to get the kimchi fried rice. Usually, I get it with some sort of meat - otherwise, the kimchi flavor is just too strong, and I end up only being able to eat half of it.
Runner up favorites are (surprise, surprise) the tacos and the sliders. The aloha slider is yummy, but I actually like the spam slider better. And you can't go wrong with any of the tacos - so try them all!!
As food stands go, one of my favorites.Listed in: Hit the Streets!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/25/2009
I'm apparently developing enough of a reputation as a Yelper that my friends are keeping their eyes… Read more »
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Review from WhereMonkey T.
Long Beach, CA
8/20/2011
Eight items on the menu, Monkey tried five. GRUB!!!
Monkey favored the Kalua Pork Sliders & Kalbi Beef Tacos.
Get some when it comes to your end of town. -
Review from Robert K.
Updated - 6/20/2011
Went back a 2nd time to give it a fair shot. My review still stands. I will say pricing is pretty fair. Though I never dedicate any weight to customer service, the staff is very friendly. Won't go back, though I will go if a friend wanted to visit.
Dishes: Kalbi Taco, Kalua Pork Slider, and Kimchi Fried Rice
Kalbi Taco: Kalbi had sub-par marinade, too much sauce, overall average.
Kalua Pork Slider: pork was pretty dry though it had a decent smoky flavor and overall average.
Kimchi Fried Rice: Kimchi still sucks, rice was super dry, and I couldn't even finish it, not because of the quantity but because of the taste.
Only dish I would get is the tacos and/or sliders. Both are WAY over-rated but edible, you can definitely get better sliders elsewhere and not sure where else you could get this kind of taco (I'd rather go to a taco truck).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/29/2011
Food taste is just average. Wait time is ridiculous unless you go early like I did. Pricing is fair.… Read more »
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Review from DeAnne E.
5/17/2011 1 photo
West Seattle had a community garage sale day. I came here and stood in line with 15-20 customers at the 35th & Graham location. I ordered 2 miso ginger chicken tacos. The gal at the register was really friendly. I waited no more than 10 minutes for my food. I brought my food back to my car. I noticed customers were eating their food while sitting on the grass right off of Graham St. Customers who had trucks pulled down their tailgate and sat on the edge while eating their food. I decided to eat my food on the edge of my car too.
A gal from the neighborhood was walking towards her car which was parked in back of me. I guess I distracted her because my food caught her eye. She walked up to me and asked what I was eating. I told her what it was and where I got it from. Then she told me that she always sees people there but has never tried it. She asked if it was good. I told her I didn't know (I didn't take my first bite yet!). She told me that she had to run an quick errand but when she returned she wanted to know if I liked it or not. She took off and I ate my tacos. It was delicious!
As soon as I finished my tacos she was back. I told her it was excellent and I took off. -
Review from Mitch N.
Seattle, WA
5/2/2011
One of each taco (except tofu), a spam slider, and a kim chee quesadilla. Price wise, I thought it was a bit high. But I can let it go. This is the food truck craze, and there is a bit of hype around this, so the price is what it is.
Taco wise, I felt there was a tad too much sauce and didn't come out hot. Also the slaw is far from korean tasting. It should have been more of a spicy slaw and not the slaw that was in it.
The spam slider is where I get the cost part from. This was too much coin for just one slider. We're talking spam here people, pork by-product, and not grade A pork. It was okay, if anything, the piece of spam should be PROPORTIONATE to the piece of bread it's being put on, not smaller than.
I have nothing to say about the kim chee quesadilla. It was unmemorable.
All in all, in terms of food truck ratings, it's a solid 7.5. In terms of cost, I'd give it a 6. In terms of representing Hawaii and Asian food, I'd give it a 5.5. This isn't true to Hawaii. This is catered to Haoli's. -
Review from kim t.
Seattle, WA
12/29/2011
Mouthwatering good!
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Review from Shari d.
Updated - 5/20/2011
The food is still good but the prices have doubled since I have last been here. I really like this place but sadly because of the price hike I have downgraded the rating to 3 stars.
I ordered the Spam Sliders and when I went here over a year ago it was 4 sandwiches for $2.00 and now they are $2.25 each. I thought perhaps they would be bigger or something would be different than before but alas...they were exactly the same. Still yummy but not worth $2.25 each.
The beef taco was good, the sauce added a hint of spice that I really liked but again...$2.25 each isn't worth it.
I would eat here again if I was in the area because I like supporting local businesses and the food is tasty but I don't think I will be suggesting it as a place to go if I am asked, "Where do you want to eat?"1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/19/2010
2 words...SPAM SLIDER. For $2.00 you get 4 bite sandwich consisting of a soft bun griddled on the… Read more »
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Review from an t.
5/19/2011 1 photo
Its been a while I have missed you my friend.
Sun was out its Thursday you know what that means! Big blue is close by and what better time to stand outside and enjoy the sun while waiting for delicious food. I gotta say Nick Cage got nothing on me. this food was gone in 30 sec!
Devoured every yummy morsal. Got the miso ginger chicken tacos. Great flavor nice sweetness. And the Slaw ads just the right about of tang to balance it.
And what else did I get you already know. Spam sliders. Don't need to say anymore. -
Review from c s.
Fairfax, VA
8/14/2011
Possibly the best mobile food ever! The spam sliders are amazing and the kimchi fried rice with a sunny-side up egg on top is comfort food no matter what your native culture...
I can't speak to their current prices, but the last time I hit up Marination Mobile, I was able to stuff myself for around $8.
The only downside-it's popularity means painfully long lines...they also have a habit of running out of stuff fairly early. This is solid 4-star dining al fresco and worth going out of your way for during lunchtime(if you're unemployed or work nights)... -
Review from nathan r.
5/25/2011
Interesting... that's what kept coming to mind. Not, WOW or OH MAN- just...huh.
Look, I don't know what the prices were, but I don't think they are unreasonable for the tacos or the sliders...but, meh...
I can't forsee myself looking up where they are other than knowing where they are on Saturdays...and Saturdays I usually make my own tacos...and they are more than meh to me... -
Review from Kalani G.
Seattle, WA
7/12/2011
Everything is so right on about Marination Mobile. They definitely took a page out of Portlands food cart success and translated that to Seattle. I love their takes on island favorites like spam sliders or kalua pork sliders. I always am craving their kimchi and rice bowl withe egg on top. My advice to you if you're throwing a party is to get these guys to drive down and cater. You will be loved by all whom you feed. Forever.
God I hope they introduce malasadas into their menu as dessert. -
Review from Mikal W.
2/16/2011 5 photos
My Korean spidey senses nagged me long enough, I packed the family in the car and we drove up to Seattle. I got the Twitter app open to see where they were located that day, target was located and we locked in! It was the perfect day to have to stand in line for 20 minutes.
I was very skeptical as to everyone in line either had skinny jeans on that made them look like an 80's band showing off their downstairs mix up bulge, or had crazy gauged ears. It wreaked of trendiness. I didn't care, I was here for some Korean grub and darn it I was gonna get it! The fellow patrons were fine, we had good conversations and harmoniously sighed at the magnificent smells coming from the truck.
Let me break down what we got:
-Kalbi taco's-5 star
-Kimchi fried rice-3 stars
-Spam Musubi-3.5 stars
-Kimchi qusadilla- 3.5 stars
-Sliders- 3 star
-5 stars for being Korean food ;)
My favorite was the Kalbi taco's, it was a beautiful flavor with the caramelized onions and sweet and tangy beef and cold Asian slaw. God had his Korean hand in making this treat. I had high hopes for the kimchi fried rice but it was pretty bland, the kimchi was not at a great age for it and it just really lacked a depth of flavor. The spam musubi was good, the only issue was the bread was a little on the dry side.
I tried real hard to like the qusadilla, it had good flavor but cheese and kimchi? Wait, those are the two loves of my life, I thought opposites were supposed to attract, well sometimes you just gotta let go, which the cheese needs to be dropped from that relationship. To me the sliders were just OK, our bread was overly dry but I am assuming that is not always the case.
I so badly want to give this place a 5 star for sheer Korean awesomeness, they definitely deserve a 5 star in the creativity department. They are definitely one of a kind, I however wouldn't give up my first born to get food here, I probably wont go out of my way to hit this place up too often. It is fun and exciting and mostly about the experience.
Korea got Seoul! -
Review from Curtis C.
San Mateo, CA
4/22/2011
I love food and nothing beats the excitement of waiting in a long line for some delicious food out of a truck. I was ready to experience this US renowned glorified taco truck. This was going to rock my socks off. When i got the food, it was "meh" and unfortunately did not live up to the hype.
I got a combination of the sliders, tacos and fried rice. Out of all the different types, i think the tacos were definitely the best. The spicy pork tacos were good. The fried rice had too much kimchi rice and not enough of anything else and the sliders were on the dry side.
The line moved quickly and the lady taking down my order was great. The location in Fremont can be hard to find but plenty of grass seating near there.
Overall, i thought it was ok for the price i paid but not put on a pedestal like everyone else Yelping about it. -
Review from Shera G.
Seattle, WA
4/24/2011
Marination came into my neighborhood last year (SLU). I tried it because of it's super long line and aggressive foodies bustling in the rain with no umbrellas to get to the line at 11am- I figured something was up. I did not get the memo of arriving early to this food truck- getting the Paseo's like reputation. If you don't get there at 11:00 in SLU on a Monday you just might be waiting in line while the masses of PemCo and Amazon employees arrive to take their lunches early.
At my workplace we started taking our lunches at 11 on Mondays to beat the lines:)
Very clean foodtruck, very nice staff, extremely consistent quality, reasonable prices.
*They recently posted a sign that due to fuel costs some menu items were going up by 25 cents. No biggie. If they raised the pork sliders to $10 I might just have to buy one to have the pulled pork and sweet roll melt in my mouth. Yum!
Only caution: For people on a salt restricted diet- not a good option
the tacos- esp kalibi beef are muy salty! -
Review from Nikki O.
Seattle, WA
5/22/2011
Like any good Seattleite, I love eating at Marination. I think they have great food that is unique yet simple and there's enough to choose from without being overwhelmed. When available, I will always get a Torta and my staple is kalbi beef tacos. Perfect food out of a mobile location.
I'm sorry to have to throw a wet blanket on all the stellar reviews, because I agree with all of them. But...
Marination is way too expensive. $2+ for one of their tiny tacos or sliders is astronomical in my opinion. For a little chicken, beef, pork, spam, or tofu and an ounce or less of slaw... it's not worth it in my opinion. They're also now charging $1.50 for a 12oz soda. I used to catch Marination on a regular basis, but now it's become a just a treat. It just doesn't interest me anymore when I can get a MUCH more filling lunch for MUCH cheaper at a local deli or take-out joint.
But, some people can afford it regularly and love it enough. -
Review from Amie S.
Seattle, WA
1/3/2011
This food truck not only rules because of super-deliciousness, but it also gets major points for pricing, and most importantly: ORGANIZATION.
Sure, there's a huge line. Why wouldn't there be? But Marination handles it quickly and efficiently, passing out orders as fast as they can (which is actually pretty fast), and helping everyone in a friendly and courteous way.
I've tried the chicken, beef & pork tacos, and the pork sliders (I don't dig on the Spam, but my boyfriend loves their Spam sliders also). The spicy pork tacos are my favorite, with the chicken tacos coming in at a close second. I love whatever they're putting in the sauce, and the cabbage-y toppings are the bomb. Toss on some Sriacha - which they have in bottles outside - and you're good to go.
Bonus: it's actually pretty CHEAP. If you've only got $5, I recommend heading to wherever Marination is parked and grabbing a couple of tacos or sliders. At only $2 each, you can get a tasty snack that will satisfy your foodie cravings.Listed in: Cheap Seattle Eats!
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Review from Brady D.
Seattle, WA
12/13/2010
The person who decided it was a good idea to put delicious Korean style meats in tacos should be given the same doctor that has kept Dick Cheney alive all these years.
I've had pretty much everything on the menu from the kim chee fried rice to the sliders to the kalbi beef tacos and it's all insanely tasty, cheap, and fast. If you ever get a chance to have their BBQ pork torta (unfortunately it's a special thing only) you'll have experienced something I would ask for as a last meal on death row.
If you haven't been there track them down, get or steal at least $10 in cash, and get it in your gullet.
If you hate your mouth do not go to the Marination Mobile.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Kern C.
Union City, CA
9/17/2011
Tried almost the entire menu. All four types of tacos were very good and tasted tangy with the orange color sauce, not your everyday taco, it was unique for sure. I had the sliders (kalua pork) it was also tasty as the cabbage and sauce made the flavor kick my tongue. We took our order to go, we were on our way in no time. I recommend this establishment totally.
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Review from Brandon L.
Lynnwood, WA
2/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
After all the hype from friends and word of mouth I decided to make a trip out to one of the locations on my day off. I can honestly say that Marination was well worth my 20 min drive from Lynnwood to Fremont. I remember the day I went it was pouring down rain, so lucked out and there wasn't a line and I didn't wait long for my food at all.
I tried the kalbi beef tacos and the kimchi quesadilla. Both were delicious. I've also heard very good things about the sliders, which I kind of regret not getting so I'll have to try on those on my venture. You can't beat the prices here either. -
Review from J A.
Seattle, WA
8/4/2011
One hyphenated word: OVER-RATED!!!
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Review from Sarah M.
3/14/2011
I didn't realize just how popular this little truck was!
My parents rented it out for our pre-luau wedding party at their house and it was so much fun! Because it was ours for the night, it was nice being able to go up to the window, order whatever we wanted, and not have to pay for it. Nor did we have to wait long for the food to be cooked. (Thank you, Mom and Dad.) :)
I had never heard of this truck before but was surprised when I saw it in Lynnwood in front of Best Buy and then again when it came to the parking lot where I work!
The food here is SO good and really reasonably priced. The miso chicken tacos, kalbi beef tacos, and kimchee rice are awesome!
I had to wait in line for an hour and you know what? I have no regrets. Totally worth it. -
Review from Richard U.
Seattle, WA
11/18/2010
Asian fusion in a truck!
Our burgeoning food cart scene here in Seattle has some bright spots. Like other food trucks in the city, it does not have a fixed site so you must track it down or know its rotation in order to partake. I tracked them down to their Safeco field location on Edgar Martinez and Occidental. MM is primarily a Hawaiian/Korean mix of tasty sliders, tacos and bowls.
Here is what I have sampled:
SPAM sliders: say no more...SPAM! in slider form! you had me at..SPAM. Served on a warm hawaiian bread roll. yummy and worth it.
spicy pork taco: nice and spicy/sweet think daeji bulgolgi in taco form.
Much more to try but haven't got to yet. Like a lot of the mobile food trucks, the hours are totally inconvenient to all except whoever happens to be in the immediate vicinty during lunch. Open only between 11am and 2pm, I rarely get a chance to be available to feed during their narrow window of operation. I hope the food cart scene here in Seattle finally takes off so places like this can justify staying open later!Listed in: Seattle street food scene
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Review from Jamie J.
11/14/2010
Amazing food that can come to YOU? It's basically a kitchen on wheels...! ummm... yes please. Sign me up.
After much hype about Marination, I went on a Friday - where it parks in front of Safco Field. There was a super long line, and it was cold out. In my head I was saying: "this better be worth it." Boy... was it ever worth it! I missed the ambiance of a sit down joint where I can take my time to eat, but you want to scarf this food... it is that good! YUMM.
I ordered the chicken tacos, which were just OK to me. I also had the Steak Tacos, which was freakin' heaven. I honestly don't like steak very much (I know I know, weird). This steak was falling apart in my mouth, and was rich in a very deep yet sweet sauce. It was the best thing that I had at MM. Of course I ordered one of the pork sliders... it's kind of their thing at Marination, I'd say. It was really good! Holy cow. The flavors are so rich and complex. They pair sweet, with spicy, with salty, with robust. I mean, everything you would want in a good bite... Marination delivers. I love the touch of cold fresh veggies on a warm bit of juicy meat. Something about that warms me from the inside out! (I know, I know - food makes me too excited).
Is it worth the wait? YES! And it's not even expensive. So, order one of everything and I promise you won't be disappointed.
Marination... pleaseeee park outside of my apartment complex... how about once a month? We can work something out (wink)!Listed in: The College Student's Address…
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Review from Patrick L.
Renton, WA
12/12/2010
I have been wanting to try their kalbi tacos ever since they first opened, but just never made the extra effort to seek them out. I went to the very first mobile chowdown, but they were sold out of them within the first hour or so. I ended up trying other food trucks at that event instead. Given that experience, I should've known better when I finally checked it out at their post in West Seattle on 35th. Of course, when I got there, they were already sold out of both the kalbi and ginger chicken tacos. So, I was forced to order some other stuff instead, and was very disappointed.
The kalua kimchi quesadillas were anemic. paper thin and cut up into 4pcs. The outer 2 pieces contained nothing but cheese. Even the 2pcs in the center only had a couple tiny strands of pork and kimchi. I literally had to open it up to make sure they didn't accidentally make me a cheese only quesadilla. I definitely recommend against ordering that. especially for $5. I also tried the aloha sliders, which were tiny but appropriately priced at $2 apiece. They were decent, and although the pulled pork wasn't dry, it could've definitely been more moist (and I don't mean wet and messy).
This wannabe Kogi (the original Kalbi taco truck in LA) just didn't live up to the hype for me. Everyone hipster self-proclaimed "foodie" seems to rave about it, but this wannabe Kogi (the original Kalbi taco truck in LA) just didn't leven come close to the hype.Chalk it up to high expectations, but I was far from impressed, in fact I was severely letdown. I will prob hit it up again at some point to try once again to order the kalbi tacos that made them famous, but chances are it'll be awhile. -
Review from Kate C.
Seattle, WA
5/18/2011
I go to Marination Mobile every Tuesday when they park in Belltown. I love this place! I look forward to lunch every Tuesday!
The staff is so nice and usually they remember my name. I tend to stick to the tacos, but everything on the menu is amazing
Sometimes the lines are a little outrageous, but if you get there at 11 or so (and don't mind a taco brunch) the wait is only 5 minutes...and totally worth it.
My favorite thing on the menu are their sexy tofu tacos. -
Review from Faith Y.
9/22/2010
Kimchi and cheese is a match made in hell. The quesadilla was just all kinds of wrong and trust me, I have an unhealthy appetite for both those ingredients. They were just never meant to meet, marry or melt into one another. Ick!
Other than that, Marination Mobile is Korean-Mexican fusion fantastica gold. It's the only food mobile that I follow avidly on Twitter and I cheered for them when they won Good Morning America's favorite food truck. The lines are always always going to take your entire lunch hour but then you can inhale soft, squishy spam sliders and kalbi beef tacos like there's no tomorrow.
Seems like such a simple concept: marinated meats + tacos/buns but who says simple is bad? They've only rolled over to lower Queen Anne a handful of times but please please please if you're reading this, consider making it a regular hot spot. I promise I'll get the entire office hooked.
