parking garage teriyaki

One of the things I love about downtown Seattle is its way of putting restaurants in really weird places. Down random alleys is child's play. I'm talking, like, the basement of a labor union (technically, that's belltown). Underneath a bank of america. Or my favorite, upstairs in a parking garage.

Community Grocery & Deli is one isle of a convenience store, about six little tables left over from a western movie set, and a kitchen. It's called a deli, but they serve teriyaki. The doors open, from inside some random parking garage, directly on some stairs, which in turn lead right up in to the middle of everything. There are no windows. At the counter is a little old asian dude that doesn't speak any english. It's fantastic.

The food is good for a parking garage. What sort of surprised me is that 'good for a parking garage' is a little above average for Seattle teriyaki places. I don't go out of my way for it, but when I'm in the area I love to stop in. It's my second favorite parking garage restaurant.

[where: 1102 5th Ave, Seattle, Washington, 98101]
or [where: 415 Seneca St, Seattle, WA ]
[map] [outside.in]

Mai Phim Thai Restaurant

Mai Phim has it all: blaring Taiwanese pop, waitresses that sound like anime characters, and most importantly, good food. It's an unassuming little place near the market.

Exterior

It's menu is typical of Thai restaurants. Swimming Rama, Phad Thai, Pad Kee Mao, curries, etc. I had the Panang curry with chicken. I asked for spicy, and it was just right. It made my lips burn, but the flavors still shone through.

Panang Chicken Curry

My lunch companion had soup. The Tom Kah Kai with coconut milk and mushrooms. I got to try some, and it was very tasty as well.

Tom Kah Kai

It is a bit of a hole in the wall. Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Interior

Oh, remember the Thai Pop music? I took a video, just for you.

And so we come to the conclusion. Was it good? Definitely. Was it reasonably priced? See for yourself.

17 something. That's awesome for two people

Update
I was listing the wrong location. The place pictured above is the one on Pike. The one on Columbia is good too though.

[where: 213 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101] [map]
Other location: [outside.in] [where: 94 Columbia St, Seattle, WA 98104] [map]

Ivar's

Have I not talked about Ivar's? Bad food blogger! Ivar's is great summer food. The kind that feels like vacation. Probably because you're literally in a mob of tourists for the duration of the ordering and purchasing process.

It's just fish and chips. And clam chowder. And other kinds of fried fish.

Salmon and chips

It's a little pricey. For bits of salmon (3 pictured, oops), chips, and a drink came to $12.50. This puts it outside the everyday lunch range maybe. But on a fantastic day like today, I'll make an exception.

Order of Salmon and chips

The one on the waterfront is right by the fire boats. The seagulls come and demand their tribute. I didn't get a great shot of a chip catch, but here's an expectant luncher.

Seagull catching chips

Some gulls scream at you for food. Jerks. This one asked nicely.

[where: 1001 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98104] [map]

Phở & Bubble Tea Express

Phở is Phở; there aren't any huge surprises here. The hot and sour veggie adds some variety, with it's extra spice and pineapple chunks.

The perfect meal is a small phở and a Vietnamese sandwich. The thing about getting take out phở is all the packaging. Each one of these items came in it's own plastic bag. I try not to do this too much, because each time I do it feels like I'm punching the earth in the kidneys.

But the soup is gooood. Yum. But no hot sauce makes frowny emoticons float in front of my eyes.

Coworker got the pork vermicelli, which I though was weird. It's a phở place dude. Phở!

But he seemed to like it. I had to knock him down so I could get this picture while there was still some left.

The place is your typical hole in the wall phở place, stuck in what appears to be an old mexican deli. Or something, I don't know.

The thing I'll never understand is, what's the deal with the astro-turf stage counter?

There's tons of phở in Pioneer Square, and you're only a few blocks from the ID. I keep going back to this one for the sweet and sour veggie. It's good.

calls it Pho Ha.
[where: 90 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98127] [map]

Nielsen's Pastry

The pastries are great at Nielsen's, obviously. Somewhat surprisingly, the sandwiches are really good too. I usually get the tuna salad sandwich, because you have to get there really early for the chicken. I'm not a morning person. One day I'll have one, even if I have to stay up all night.

Anyway, down to the pictures. First up, my favorite pastry, the cheese and berry danish.

cheese and berry danish

The have all kinds of stuff, some of it depends on the season. Like this hot cross bun from Easter time.

hot cross bun

And here's the sandwich. Look at that bread. There sure is a lot of it.

tuna salad sandwich

Nielsen's is an unassuming little place, in the bottom of some crappy condo building. But that's no reason to not stop by. Just get there early.

Nielsen's exterior

[where: 520 2nd Ave W, Seattle, WA, 98119] [map]

El Sabor De Oaxaca

Good, inexpensive, home made Mexican. My coworker, CG, has spent time in Oaxaca and vouches for the authenticity of El Sabor De Oaxaca, though they do have some americanized stuff too (veggie taco salad anyone?).

I've been there several times now. It's always good. Portions are reasonable but not huge. Nothing will set you back more than $10. Over all a good lunch place on week days.

The last time I was there they were pushing their Burien location really hard. I don't make it down there very often, or... ever. But the way the counter lady described it I think I want to go. Fresh hand made tortillas and everything even more authentic. CG says they use rosted grasshoppers as condiments in Oaxaca. I wonder if they do in Burian.

Sorry, no pictures this time.

[where: 217 James Street, Seattle, WA 98104-2211] [map]

Tat's Deli is the cure for east coaster homesickness

Whiz, hots and onions! For a displaced east coaster like myself there's no place better for a taste of home. Even the accents are right.

Everything about the place is east coast sub shop. It's a whole in the wall with crappy linoleum tables and uncomfortable chairs. The menu is huge, but everybody orders the cheesesteak. The proper cheese is 'whiz', and they have it in industrial size cans.

Enough talking. Just look at this:

Yeah, it doesn't get better.

Actually, I go for the chicken, which is a nice concession to the "health conscious". Not that I am, I'm just not big on beef. But the supposed health benefits of chicken over beef are my excuse to get a side of fries.

That's old bay on the fries. It's good. Try it, you might like it.

Also, there's hots (ie, pickled hot peppers) and onions on there. That's the business. Can't praise it enough. New favorite place.