Eat, Play, Run

International District: Crawfish King

Living in the ID, sometimes you want a meal that isn't served with rice. Not often, but it does happen.

I've now been to Crawfish King at least a half-dozen times. They're nothing if not consistent. The food is served is served fairly quickly and it's pretty good (and cheap).

I always order the same thing... one pound of crawfish, medium heat, served prepared in the garlicky "House Special" sauce. The "Rajun Cajun" sauce, with is more authentic, however, is also good. The crawfish is excellent and the sauce is finger lickin' good. Just make sure to wash your hands after you eat, or rubbing your eyes could be quite painful. Oh, don't be afraid to tie on the silly bib. Your shirt will thank you later.

For a starter, I've settled in with a cup of gumbo w/rice. OK, even when I don't want rice, I eat it anyway. I order the gumbo at high heat. I wish there was something between the medium and high, but high is OK. I'm not a gumbo expert, but I like this a lot, too. I'm guessing the gumbo is better in New Orleans, but if I was served this in the French Quarter, I would not be disappointed.

I've tried the catfish po boy and the shrimp po boy. Neither of them did much for me. The fries were terrible.

I tend to be full after the gumbo and crawfish, so I've yet to try the cobbler or beignets. I guess I need to make a return trip...

International District: Kau Kau

The International District, which used to be called Chinatown, is an area rife with Chinese barbecue joints. It wouldn't be a "Chinatown" without pork and duck hanging in the window.

My favorite Chinese barbecue restaurant in the city is Kau Kau. Outside of its standard Chinese menu, featuring barbecue, that you can eat dining in, Kau Kau offers up a great to go counter where the butcher(?) will cut up your meat and drop it into a container to take out.

I think I've tried all of the takeout offerings. I've settled on two dishes as my favorites: the barbecue pork and the roasted pork. The duck is OK, but I find it a little too oily.

The porks, however are perfect. The barbecue pork, cha shu, is excellent. I like the firmness and texture of the meat, and the sweet "skin." Dipped in hot mustard, it's the ultimate appetizer or side dish. The roasted pork, siew yuk, is pork done right. The crisp, salty skin off-sets the tender, oily meat.

If you go to Kau Kau, and I highly recommend it, don't leave without trying the roasted pork.  You won't regret it.

International District: Green Leaf

I have to admit, Vietnamese isn't my favorite type of Asian food. In fact, it ranks at the bottom. I guess this is my list:

1. Japanese (in particular, sushi)
2. Korean
3. Chinese
4. Thai
5. Malaysian
6. Indian
7. Vietnamese

That said, when in the mood, a steaming hot bowl of Pho can really hit the spot.

Tamarind Tree is probably the best Vietnamese  food in the city. But, it can be a serious pain to get a table. I've never been when it isn't packed. On the other hand, Green Leaf is just a block away from my apartment, and while crowded, you can still usually walk in and get a table.

I always start with the bahn xeo, or pancake, w/shrimp and pork. You're supposed to break off bits and wrap it with lettuce, cilantro, basil and mint, which they give you on a separate plate, and dip it in the fish sauce. However, I prefer just dump the green stuff on top of the pancake, add some fish sauce, and attack with chopsticks. I know, very uncouth. But when I eat it the "right" way, it takes way too long.

I prefer the Pho with the raw beef. At some places the broth is too watered down. But here, the broth is light, but still has some substance. If you don't like raw beef, which gets cooked in the broth, they have something for everyone. Though, I'm not sure if they serve a vegetarian broth... so maybe they don't.

Anyway, Green Leaf is definitely the best Vietnamese food in the ID. If you're hankering for some Pho, I highly recommend it.

Favorite Places: Samurai Noodle

Currently in New York, Japanese noodle houses are all the rage. While the thought of paying $13 for a bowl of ramen may seem ridiculous to Northwesterners, the truth is, the ramen served at places like (personal fave) Ippudo and Momofuku Noodle Bar, is not the ramen you made for 25 cents a package in college, and quite worth the cost.

Moving back to Seattle, I was afraid I would have a hard time finding a nice pork-based ramen. However, it turns out there's a great noodle house just three blocks from my apartment, Samurai Noodle, located outside of Uwajimaya on 5th Avenue.

I've only ordered one type of ramen, the tonkotsu (pork), so I can't give an in-depth review of the restaurant. All I can tell you is that I keep ordering the same thing because I love it. The broth is rich, pork-goodness. The sliced pork melts in your mouth. The noodles aren't spectacular, but they're good enough. At just $6.95 a bowl, I consider this a bargain priced meal.

When ordering, I recommend the ultra-rich broth with firm noodles. To prevent the noodles from becoming soggy, unless you live close, you should eat in the restaurant (if you can get a table... good luck with that) or take it around the corner to the Uwajimaya food court.