By Tan Vinh / The Seattle Times
If you’re wondering why parking at Westfield Southcenter has gotten harder, it’s because Black Friday-like commotion has set in over the debuts of a famous noodle chain and a dim sum parlor.
We have more details on those mall openings below, but first, two big updates: Triumph Valley’s anticipated opening in Shoreline could happen as early as this month, pending the completion of some minor construction, management said. The Renton location is a critically acclaimed dim sum hall, and its encore should be the buzziest North End opening this fall.
On the Eastside, famed Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio’s latest restaurant La Mar will debut in downtown Bellevue on Oct. 14.
Diners should be stoked for those two October surprises.
Until then, here’s more on the buzz surrounding Westfield Southcenter, and our list of 23 other new restaurants around the Eastside and the North End.
South End
Marugame Udon, the Japanese chain that’s all the rage in Southeast Asia and Hawaii, makes its Washington debut at Westfield Southcenter. The lines have been long, with fans waiting at 11 a.m. for the signature Nikutama udon beef soup, and tempura shrimp and chicken. The 80-seat counter service, fast-casual spot makes a handful of different sauces and broths to pair with its handmade noodles, though most fans get the “BK,” essentially a dashi-umami rich broth. Marugame Udon is the talk of the town. It’s already plotting a second Washington location for next year, though management remains mum on which lucky city the chain will be expanding to. This udon chain is the biggest coup for Westfield Southcenter since it landed Din Tai Fung seven years ago.
Marugame Udon also gets a new mall neighbor in Mr. Dim Sum, where classics like siu mai and har gow shrimp dumplings are offered. Other favorites include the fried chives-and-shrimp dumplings and the rice roll with XO sauce. This mall restaurant is unusual in that it serves dumplings and other dim sum dishes all day (Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday until 8 p.m.). Chinatown restaurants usually offer dim sum only during brunch or until 3 p.m.
For an old-school steakhouse, hit Ables Steakhouse in Burien, which grills T-bones and a handful of high-end cuts over an open flame. All classic steakhouse staples are served, from Caesar and a blue cheese salad, to sides such as scalloped potatoes and creamed spinach.
North End
In Edmonds, the 40-seat bistro Bangkok Boulevard serves khao soi coconut noodle soup and pad pong karee or stir-fried curry soft shell crab. The Thai restaurant also pays homage to the Bangkok pushcart staple guya jab soup with rice rolls.
Five miles north is Chada Thai Lynnwood, which cooks chicken in various ways from deep-frying to charbroiling. Or if you prefer curry, there are 10 variations. Nearby, at Alderwood mall, J.sweets showcases Japanese confections.
In Shoreline, the Korean chain Sorimmara adds Chinese tingling mala flavors to comfort food such as tteokbokki rice cakes and Spam fried rice.
Eastside
Mercer Island
A much-talked-about Eastside debut, Allister runs an eclectic menu of classics tweaked with French-and-Asian flavors, including potato puff pommes dauphine, albacore crudo and roasted chicken with charred scallion rice. The drink list looks like it could’ve been cribbed from some East Village speakeasy, with popular New York City tipples like the Clover Club and the Oaxacan Old Fashioned. Allister is experimenting with a late-night menu that runs until 11 p.m. from Sunday-Thursday and till midnight on Friday and Saturday. Its cheeseburger made with Mishima reserve wagyu beef might be the most indulgent late-night bite.
Allister isn’t the only newbie who believes this sleepy city needs a jolt. A half-mile south is The Crawlspace Gastropub, which plans to stay open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The gastropub is also organizing a late-night bar crawl on Oct. 24, with Allister and Asa Gathering. Crawlspace serves a fusion of Mexican, Korean, Hawaiian and Latin American flavors like a chicken sammie with garlic Buffalo sauce and kimchi slaw, a flat iron steak with avocado chimichurri and a Hawaiian butter mochi a la mode with caramel.
Bellevue
Fans of conveyor belt sushi, this is your lucky day: Sushi Omiya Factoria comes to The Marketplace at Factoria.
Along historic Main Street, Jocovine focuses on the sea: crabcakes, seared scallops and different pastas paired with salmon and shrimp. The bistro also fancies up the Philly steak with filet mignon, roasted balsamic onions, chili aioli and havarti cheese on a toasted bun. For the undecided, there’s the surf-and-turf route.
A mile northeast sits the Lebanese grill Tanoor with its lamb and beef kebabs, though a fan favorite is its dajaj mishwi, or chargrilled garlic-lemon chicken.
At Kelsey Creek Center, Tasty House serves Szechuan cuisine, including favorites such as boiled fish filet, mapo tofu and stir-fried rabbit in spicy peppers.
The Bravern gets two sweet tenants, HeyTea, which specializes in cheese tea drinks, and LeTAO, which does Japanese Hokkaido cheesecakes.
In Lincoln Square, the Korean-Detroit pizza counter KODE does East-meets-West pizzas, with bulgogi and kimchi toppings and sauces like spicy gochujang over the thick crust made famous in the Motor City. The mall also gets a Great State Burger. On the third floor sits the game-and-entertainment center Mirra, which serves tacos, sliders and flatbread pizzas.
And for those who abide by the clean, healthy-living mantra, Lincoln Square features the nonalcoholic bar Club Seltzer and EatDirt; the latter preaches fresh-and-local with salads, sandwiches, juices and bone broths.
Kirkland
Longtime Eastsiders have been waiting for this: Rimini by the waterfront comes from the family who started Montalcino Ristorante Italiano in Issaquah. The Northern Italian-inspired restaurant has 60 seats and live music. The menu ranges from short rib ravioli al cognac and wild boar Bolognese, to family-friendly options such as sausage rigatoni and pasta meatballs.
Ezell’s Famous Chicken opens its 18th branch, in Kirkland. A mile south of that, Pinckney Cookie Cafe does a dozen different flavors including its signature brown butter, brown sugar bourbon spice cookie.
Woodinville gets Sushi Koushi, and 5 miles north, Bothell gets the grilled chicken chain Port of Peri Peri.
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