This Seattlest broke the news two weeks ago at the Gastrolust site, but new details have emerged: Din Tai Fung is targeting September or October to open its second restaurant in the States. This beloved dumpling house, based in Taiwan, will dole out dumplings and more on the second floor of Lincoln Square in Bellevue. more ›

Remember when we lauded Joule restaurant's chicken liver mousse popsicle? It was part of the "Chick-a-licious" menu of the Urban BBQ Series that Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi put together every summer. (See their Facebook events page for a preview of this year's BBQ tour, which will take diners from Oaxaca to Sicily to Phuket, and more.) The addition of chocolate made lots of people new liver lovers. more ›

One: We read this pretty awesome review of Thai Simple Curry and decided we had to check it out for ourselves. Then we decided we had to share our review in the same format. more ›

The March issue of City Arts, now on the streets, features an eye-opening Dish-Off. Two chefs must each prepare a dish interpreting Gnarls Barkley's "Blind Mary," a song about a guy who loves a girl because she's blind and doesn't know he's ugly. more ›

We found ourselves downtown one day, an unusual thing, and walking by a little Asian eatery called Red Bowls, we saw Matthew Amster-Burton's little "Out to Lunch" review posted. more ›

Many will be mystified when they see this mass of "string" in the bakery. Some think it looks like a little mop head, absentmindedly shoved in the showcase. We, admittedly, were mistaken the first time we saw a Mont Blanc. It was at a Tokyo bakery, in the shadow of Mount Fuji. How is a ball of pasta considered dessert, we wondered? And why are the Japanese so crazy about this concoction? more ›

In some ways, this is a downtown battle of batters and preparation. But in a bigger sense, this is a battle between Le Mont Saint-Michel and Liege, as we compare Mobatta's crepes and Sweet Iron's waffles. more ›

Seattlest favorite Bamboo Garden has been shut down by the authorities! The Bellevue-based restaurant was closed for a litany of health code violations. more ›

Each month, City Arts' Dish-Off challenges two chefs to prepare a dish based on a song. This month's may be the most provocative to date. more ›

It was one year ago that we were craving eastern European dumplings known as pelmeni, giving them a try at Café Yarmarka. The menu listed beef, pork, chicken, turkey and lamb options, but while we liked the many options, we found the pelmeni a little mushy and bland, and the sauce lacking in kick. We longed for the dumplings we'd eaten at Pel'Meni in Juneau, and wondered whether they were available in Bellingham. more ›

Aside from the meat ball, pork blood, pork intestine, and quail egg you might see floating on the surface, know that below is some organic fermented tofu, a.k.a. "stinky tofu." You'll know something's brewing, as the smell will hit you as soon as the fiery pot hits the table. more ›

Belgian band Hooverphonic is on the sound system and a Uruguayan-inspired flat iron "chivito" is on the plate. Life is good at the "progressive American" restaurant Sip, which just opened an outpost in downtown Seattle. more ›

It's no secret that we're fans of Kisaku. So much so that we've been reluctant to go elsewhere in Seattle for sushi, as we're always disappointed. more ›

For the year's final Dish-Off in City Arts before the year-end playoff issue, a steak house and an oyster house interpret Uncle Kracker's "Steaks 'n' Shrimp"--the most risque song in Dish-Off history. It was interesting to see how two chefs from traditional restaurants interpreted lyrics that end, "I'm all about today and I'm-a die that way...bitch." more ›

We've reported about lots of amazing plates in Dishin', many coming from the monthly "Dish-Off" in Sound magazine. The Dish-Off concept continues, as two restaurants interpret a given song as food, but the venue has changed, with Sound magazine now merged with City Arts. And with that merger, chefs now prepare just one plate each instead of multi-course meals. more ›

Dishin' has been reporting on Sound (now merged with City Arts) magazine's "Dish-Off" all year long. Two of the top "Dish-Off" chefs of the year are teaming up for a dinner that will showcase the best of Spain and France. more ›

Dishin' is typically about a single dish, but this week we give you a heads-up about an upcoming confluence of dishes. more ›

When we were growing up, television told us that "Wednesday is Prince spaghetti day." No Prince spaghetti in sight for us this past Wednesday, but plenty of Italian food. Seven plates (plus salumi, olives, dessert, and the oh-so-wonderful lardo lollipops) at the back room of Salumi for lunch, followed by seven fabulous courses at Serafina - as well as a sneak peek at Cicchetti, the new Venetian-inspired bar that will serve small plates. more ›

Proving that there's a hamburger (and a pizza, and a Chinese dumpling) and related experience to suit everyone's taste, the recent writeup of Lunchbox Laboratory reminded this Seattlest of a less-satisfactory visit to Scott Simpson's place earlier this same year. more ›

This week marked the first Battle in Seattle, featuring Chef David Hahne of host restaurant Enotria against Chef Takashi Ogasawara of Rain Modern Infusion Cuisine. In this crudo versus sashimi competition, the secret ingredient was salmon, and both chefs plated up three courses for a panel of judges (this Seattlest among them) and a rather raucous, sold-out crowd. more ›

Phillies fans may be celebrating the return of Pedro Martinez, but we're celebrating the rise of Pedro Ximénez. Also known as PX, Pedro Ximénez is the name of a Spanish white grape, as well as an intensely sweet and dark dessert sherry. more ›

Over in Bellevue, just a bit off the beaten path (really, just a bit) is a wine bar that's serving up some excellent sips and dishes in a contemporary, European atmosphere. Grand Cru Wine Shop & Bar anchors the Ten20 Tower (a luxury apartment complex), and is well worth seeking out. more ›

Portland, how did this food-lover overlook you for ten years? We took the train down, which was a pleasant, relaxing experience--except that the last couple of miles or so took about about 20 minutes due to work on the tracks. No big deal, except that instead of arriving at 1:50 p.m. as planned (perhaps even earlier), we were late and unable to get to Park Kitchen ahead of its 2 o'clock closing time, even though it's mere minutes from the station. Instead, we rolled the luggage through Chinatown to Ping, where we picked out a few Asian eats for late lunch. And then rolled our way to our first hotel. We were told it's too far to walk, but walking was good exercise after being on the train, allowing us to get our bearings and enabling us to ogle some food carts with jealousy. more ›

Question: What's better than a taco truck? Answer: A Korean/Hawaiian taco truck. Exactly one month ago, we gave you the scoop on Marination Mobile, just as it was about to open. Today, we're back to tell you that Marination Mobile is simply marvelous. more ›

Taco truck! El Camion is conveniently parked in front of the Home Depot on Aurora Ave, and we knew that a couple of cheap tacos could tide us over. And when we order two tacos, you should know by now that likely means one tongue and one tripe. (Unless we go for crazy for cabeza—the beef cheeks.) Quick wait at the window, place the order, sit at one of the umbrella-ed tables, pick up upon being called, add salsas (they have a good variety) and some radishes and jalapenos to the plate, and then back to the table to squeeze some lime and enjoy the al fresco dining. Close your eyes, and you’re in Mexico. more ›

Dishin' disappeared for a week because we were on a feeding frenzy down south. In just a few days, we hit Ping, Bluehour, Biwa, Ken's Artisan Bakery, Ten 01, Departure, Andina, Broder, Nostrana, Sahagun, Pix, Pok Pok, the amazing Saturday Farmers Market (Pine Street Biscuits, Two Tarts, Tastebud, and more), Tanuki, Beast, Voodoo Doughnut, and Kenny & Zuke's. Oh - and a few other snacky places. All this to say that we're ready for some Seattle comfort food, which might mean a bowl of wontons and/or sui kau at Canton Noodle House. more ›

Dahlia Lounge pays homage to authenticity, turning congee into comfort food that somehow feels right at home next to that monkey bread and eggs Benedict. more ›

Build it, and they will come. That's the advice we'd like to give to The Signature, the new Vietnamese restaurant that replaced Moxie in Lower Queen Anne. more ›

We've been from Spiga to Spinasse, Bizzarro to Barolo. Good Italian eats all. But we found our favorite bowl of pasta at Cantinetta. We didn't choose it ourselves. Chef Brian Cartenuto was sending out samplings from the menu, per our request. That's the perfect way to go when you're commitment-phobic, and allows you to discover dishes you'd never considered eating before. more ›

We should have seen it coming. The folks at Fresh Bistro, the new West Seattle restaurant from Herban Feast, throw fresh into all that they prepare. more ›