King Noodle - Seattle

My experience at this small restaurant was marked by its robust takeout and delivery business, which contributes to its consistently busy atmosphere. While the servers are not overly attentive, they are responsive when needed. The food is served as it's prepared, and it was truly delicious. We enjoyed several dishes, including a flavorful noodle soup with an amazing fish broth, tender beef tenderloin with a very good sauce served on lettuce, homemade chive and pork dumplings that were large and well-stuffed, and a spicy pork and pickled cabbage noodle dish, which we rated a 4 out of 5 on the 'white people scale of spicy'. The normal noodles were also very good, and the pickled vegetables were a delightful topping.

I came here and had a wonderful experience warming up with delicious food, perfect for a drizzly Seattle day. The noodles here are entirely customizable, allowing you to choose your broth, toppings, meat, and noodles, and every combination is delicious. I’ve never had a bad combination here. This is also my favorite spot for dumplings – they’re so huge too! The place is pretty generous with portion size. I’ve also tried the congee here before and enjoyed it. This is also the place to go for HK milk tea. Everything comes out piping hot and fresh, and I’ve never had a disappointing meal here. The customer service is a little cold, which might be why this spot isn't more popular given its central location and the quality of the food. However, the food definitely outweighs any issues with the service.

King Noodle offers customizable noodle and congee options. I enjoyed the two different noodle types I ordered via takeout; the food arrived swiftly and accurately. When dining in, the complimentary tea is a nice touch, especially during the colder months. However, the dine-in experience has significant drawbacks regarding cleanliness. The restroom entrance is directly facing the dining area, which is not ideal. I regret bringing a friend here due to several cleanliness issues, including stained cups with a brown residue. While we could have left, it was a poor decision to stay. I suggest the restaurant provide more guidance to servers on explaining menu options to less adventurous eaters. Overall, I would opt for takeout or dine alone, but I would not bring friends or family who are particular about cleanliness or adventurous eating here again.

My experience at King Noodle in Seattle was a great find. The homemade dumplings were incredibly tasty and clearly made with care. I also had the beef brisket noodles in chicken broth with vegetables, which was warm and comforting on a cold day. It is a family owned spot with food that really hits the mark. A wonderful place to stop for a hearty meal.

My visit to King Noodle during the Seattle Original Night Market in Chinatown was deeply disappointing. We were drawn in by the appealing display of ramen and dumplings, but the experience quickly soured. Despite it being a small, busy spot, we were not greeted, and the server simply pointed us to a table. The menu descriptions were vague, making ordering difficult. From the outset, we felt unwelcome and judged, likely due to our visible queer identity and mixed racial background. This feeling was amplified by constant stares, giggling from other patrons, and the server's silent treatment. When the food arrived, it was visually appealing but lacked flavor. The soup broth was lukewarm and bland, the chicken base weak, and the dumplings were mediocre. Our discomfort grew with each dish due to the judgmental atmosphere and the server's lack of engagement. A spill from my soda added to the embarrassment, especially with the giggling from nearby diners. When I sought assistance, the server provided minimal napkins and only partially cleaned the mess, leaving a puddle under our table. To compound these issues, the pork dumplings we ate were discovered to be completely raw and undercooked inside, leading to stomach pain and suspected food poisoning. This experience was traumatizing, leaving us feeling drained and upset. The combination of stares, giggles, silence, rushed service, bland food, and unsanitary conditions made for an unbearable evening. We will be requesting a refund as this experience was far from worth the cost.