cindy w.'s Profile

If you're a fan of Japanese desserts and savory treats, trot over to the East Village to this local fav spot: Panya. Can I say it's also a BARGAIN?!
Located around the corner from St. Mark's Book Shop and Sunrise Mart, this cute bakery/cafe serves up the best treats that would cost more in a Japanese restaurant. My favorite? Japanese Curry for $6.50 which would cost about $9-$10+ elsewhere, $2.75 for a Egg Salad sandwich, .99cent onigiri (rice) balls, etc.

Since I walk past here everyday on my way to school, I always pick up an easy lunch or breakfast and coffee. FYI, bring cash, its a $10 min. purchase here.

ChikaLicious Bow Chicka Wow Wow! That's my mouth reacting to the party that ChikaLicious Desserts delivered. Damn. Folks, I have found the best cupcakes and Strawberry Shortcake in New York City and it's here in the East Village. Wow. I don't ever want the party in my mouth to stop but I'm gonna get fat if I come here regularly.

Pro's - ChikaLicious has the most amazing coffee flavored cupcake ever. For $1.50 the price ain't too bad, the portion not too small or big. Creamy (not stiff) frosting and a moist cake to bite into -- with a surprise! coffee chocolatey center. Whoa...I like!
Strawberry Shortcake was moist, creamiest whipped cream, and a light cake -- if you're a fan of light desserts (think Chinese cakes), you'll love this. If you like big Southern-style super sugary desserts, shoo off.

Con's -- Long lines! But worth the wait. The place is really small so if you want to eat, get take-out, go to a park or your apt. and stuff your face down in privacy.

PS: This small bistro-like dessert cafe is RIGHT ACROSS the street from the posh Dessert Bar. Same owners, much confusion! Difference? Much smaller price + wait!

Affordable Pan Asian lunch in the East Village/NYU corridor. $8 gets me an entree, an appetizer? Not too shabby, Cafetasia, you've got my lunch money when I wanna splurge! The place has nice, modern decor and cafeteria-table seating so you might be plunked down next to strangers. The entrees range from Chinese, Viet, Thai, Malaysian which is great for undecided hungry folks. I've tried the Massamum Curry and the Laksa -- both are well worth it! I'm a sucker for crab rangoon and I always order it here too. Good Thai Iced Tea.

I'd recommend it if you are in the neighborhood.

You want tasty, late night American diner fare without pretensions? Check out West 5 in West Seattle's Junction neighborhood. After moving from Queen Anne (away from the excellent 5 Spot cafe), my BF and I needed a replacement -- behold West 5! Thank you for being open till midnight, budget friendly, and having the BEST mac-n-cheese that tastes home-made. The servers are friendly, professional, and unobtrusive.

Must-try's? Mac-n-cheese! It's worth the 15min. wait and arrives HOT, topped with a crusty shell, and tasty. The Turkey/Bacon sandwich is awesome and so's the meatloaf sandwich (with BACON). The potato salad side is also very good. All this for $10 a plate or less? Dear god, this place is not friendly to your arteries but it's oh so good going down your gaping maw.

I'm definitely coming back but this time, with my STRETCHY PANTS!

If you want a quaint, unique quick bite in the U-District, I steer my friends to the Ugly Mug just off UW. Located in a hide-away Victorian storefront, it's easy to overlook but the lunch food is s-a-t-i-s-f-y-i-n-g. Like, I'd kill someone for a sandwich, get me one now! Mmmm...'I think you just saved my life' good.

Perhaps because their baked goods include breads but every time I get hungry for a sandwich I think of the Ugly Mug because their sandwich combos were all really tasty. I especially like the community atmosphere and how polite and friendly their cafe servers were. Really nice and that makes the difference during someone's hectic day.

Come to Thoa's Restaurant for the Happy Hour. Happy Hour munchies are budget friendly and their dinner menu is impeccable. The chef who runs Chinoise Cafe in QA also runs this place. I can't speak for the drink specials but the Happy Hour menu is awesomely satisfying. Try the curry puffs, coconut shrimp, mini burger/fries, spring rolls, most range from $3-$5. You could graze here forever.

Their dinner menu is great! I am a huge fan of their coconut curry chicken which includes sweet potatos -- surprisingly sweet + currylicious. It's what keeps me coming back (along with those Happy Hour appetizers). It's right across from the Four Seasons (swank!) and the waterfront views from the couch table seating is amazing on a clear day (just click on my pics in this posting). It's always my favorite place to drink and eat when I'm in downtown.

Sinful, sinful, sinful! Do NOT take a friend who's dieting here. She will curse you as she stuffs her face with gourmet cookies, cupcakes, and cakes downed with cups of sugary coffee.

Macrina Bakery is the the ONLY real bakery in Upper Queen Anne. It's also E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E. $4 for a red velvet cupcake? Mind you, it could feed 2 but unfortunately, for this Southern girl, I had better red velvet cake at the QFC in lower QA for only $2.  Otherwise, you must try their cookies which are worth their money (and less painful on the wallet). The apricot chocolate cookie is crazy delicious and the variety of breads they sell are dizzying.

Blue Moon Burger disappointed me. If you want juicy, tender burgers, go over the Fremont bridge and try Stells. I'd even prefer a Wendys meal over Blue Moon Burgers.

My BF and I showed up and were promptly serviced by a friendly cashier/server. He ordered a bacon cheeseburger and I ordered chicken tenders and garlic fries. Bacon cheeseburger was serviceable but nothing to write home about. The chicken tenders? Man, they arrived fried but completely dried out -- in the sense, that they tasted like cardboard. Even the honey mustard and ketchup couldn't save them. I ate half and realized these were wasted calories with no benefit of tastiness. The garlic fries were a major disappointment. What we got were a pile of fries with chopped garlic bits dumped on top with some parmesan powder sprinkled on. The fries were not infused with garlic flavor nor was the parmesan noticeable except when it made a mess. I've had better at a county fair back home.

Save your money, go to Stells.

Bellevue scores with a modern, hip interpretation of a Japanese noodle bar that is great to take friends out after work to de-stress and eat.
Dig the Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chairs? Love photography? What about food presentation? If you recognize all 3 then you'll like Boom Noodle. It doesn't hurt that the food is pretty decent. Also, this place emphasizes communal seating (think cafeteria seating) so you'll be up close with nearby patrons.

My BF had the kimchi ramen and gyoza while I had curry rice with chicken katsu and curry korokke.  Boom Noodle nailed Japanese curry and portions were generous where I could take my meal home for leftovers. Curry korokke was decent (and had creme fraiche as a dipping sauce!?). My BF enjoyed his gyoza (which were meh to me) and the kimchi ramen had delicious pork chunks of meat (rather then ground pork) in it that was delicious to chew into. He complained that the broth was overwhelmingly salty. Table service was fast, prompt, and on a Friday night had plenty of food runners running around.

Dessert menu looked interesting but sadly, we were too full to go back for more. I would definitely come back again!

Can I haz Seattle burger?
Stells = Nom, Nom, Nom. Wipes meaty drool from chin. Repeat.

Juicy, thick burgers. An extensive menu that includes non-burger items for other meat lovers. Burgers for less then $6? And you don't have to wait forever? And the server will politely deliver it to your table, unasked?
Sold, sold, sold. Its the best burger place in Seattle (I haven't tried Red Mills yet!) and the price is great for the quality food you get.

You must try the onion rings (w/ ranch on the side). They might be the best onion rings I've had in America. I also was curious and ordered their Grilled Cheese sandwich on thick bread. Yum. Its the closest I've had to a Cuban grilled cheese sandwich (which is pressed Cuban bread with thick slabs of real cheese). Stells is a great place, the workers friendly, and the place is clean.

My thighs won't thank them but I'm going back for more!