Made In Kitchen

Chilled lychee sake! YUM not too strong, quite refreshing to be honest.
The fried shrimp rolls and fresh spring rolls are cheap and good appitizers!
I LOVE the grilled pork chop w/​egg.
The ambiance of the restaurant is very trendy. spacious. good w/​groups or small intimate dinners. Always clean! They have street parking which is always hard to find but they also have a lot aval across the back side of the building; it’s posted on there entrance way!
prices are very low.
Try the tomato rice, duck curry (spicy), and the iced coffee as well!!!
Wait staff is always really friendly and they are very polite.
They have early hours so be careful!

I had a lovely experience at Made in the Kitchen. We had a decent sized group so there was loads of food circulating the table. Sometimes larger groups tend to be difficult but not this one. Everyone was extremely pleased with the food, service and ambiance and I’m sure the staff appreciated our happy group.
The portions were quite large and reasonably priced. The service was perfectly friendly, accommodating and full of smiles. I had the Fresh Spring Rolls, Chinese Broccoli and Peppered Tofu, all of which were delicious, fresh and flavorful!
The ambiance and décor were lovely, the staff was super sweet and the food presentation was lovely. Everything here was just wonderful!

When i evaluate restaurant i also have a tendency to compare across board. In terms of food quality, taste, and value,
Service = great
Ambiance = one of the nicest in Chinatown, like the high ceiling, Tamarind Tree is close in this department
Food = This is where Made in Kitchen fails to impress, even with all the magazine articles
Price = $$
Crowd = All range
Personal Favorite = high ceiling, close to I5 north on-​ramp (does that count?)
Worst = wasn’t impress
Meal for two = 40
Final Say = Green leaf, Tamarind Tree

The food was awful. Avoid the Free Range Chicken Soup (Phở, but not really) at all costs. A complete rip-​off.
I had heard good things about this place so I thought I’d give it a try. Bad idea. The service was clueless and rude, I was overcharged, and the food was mediocre. It seemed more chinese than vietnamese (I think it’s chinese owned). Anyway, stay away. Green Leaf is a much better bet.

Don’t buy the hype… as far as the food goes there’s nothing extraordinary here.
3 Stars for not totally sucking, great décor, the 5 minute Asian gang brawl right in front of the entrance AND for the racial profiling when two Anglo cops pull over an old Asian man who was obviously playing the «I’m late for my underground Mahjong tournament» card.

Lots of lovely Vietnamese-​inspired fusion. The restaurant’s interior looks far more upmarket than its location suggests and there’s even an option for a Japanese-​style table to make people feel more Asian. *cough*
Overall, very nice interior, delicious food, great portions, good looking waiters/​waitresses. Don’t leave without trying the Vietnamese coffee, it’s one of my favorite things on this Earth.

one of my favorites in seattle! I booked this place out for an event and the owners were so accomodating and wonderful. this place consistently delivers yummy food, friendly service, and doesn’t break the bank. smartly decorated and would make a great date place.
the menu has majority vietnamese dishes but lately there are a lot of thai dishes … yummy yummy. my favorite of the moment is the salmon curry. you can never go wrong with the crab fried rice (not on the menu but just ask for it), black and white sesame tofu, bun rieu (crab tomato based) noodle, … and so much more! There’s not an item I’ve been disappointed with yet and I’ve been here over 25 times!
tip: small free parking lot across the street except during baseball or football games on the weekends.

Very inviting restaurant! I have this thing about neon signs… but I’ll just let it go. Though, it was a little bright for my liking. I prefer dark restaurants so my date can’t see me spilling all over myself while trying to shove food in my mouth with chopsticks! But, overall, it was very warm and welcoming.
The service was amazing. I couldn’t really tell who our server was, because it seemed as though everyone was waiting on us. They didn’t hestiate to ask us how everything was and make sure we had everything. When we were leaving a girl who was bussing a table next to ours said thanks and goodbye. I was surprised how nice and polite everyone was. It’s rare to find such great service in Seattle, especially in the I.D.
The food was great. The only things I didn’t care for was that their vegetarian dishes didn’t sound as good as the ones at had at that «other» Vietnamese place. Sometimes, I don’t want to eat 3 – 4 dishes with meat. Also, they didn’t have as good of sauces as that «other» place too. AND they did have a lot of dishes with seafood — which I don’t care for. BUT, overall, the food was great. It was really fresh and tasty. Most of the dishes didn’t NEED a sauce because they were already perfectly seasoned. The food made us totally full, for under $ 30!
I’ll definitely be back — and hopefully with some friends so we can go sit on floor pillows in that cool private room!

Oh, MIK-​ey, you’re so fine,
You’re so fine, you blow my mind…
Mmmm, sweet sweet peanut sauce + delicious fish + fried tofu + noodles + good company — nice but confused staff = an all around good meal.

What do you get when you serve Vietnamese food, made with Chinese preparation, served with Japanese presentation and with décor and ambiance to please Caucasians?
P.F. Nguyen?
Nope! It is «Made in Kitchen»! (Or «Made in the Kitchen» for you non-​asians or linguistic purists.)
In Seattle’s I.D., this place is an anomoly for its stylish contemporary design, cleanliness, and excellent presentation. The 2 neon signs say «Vietnamese Cuisine» which it mostly is (also some Thai, Japanese and other southeast asian influences); However, on the menu there is only English and Chinese on it, with the only Vietnamese reference in Vietnamese being Nuoc Nam sauce and La Lot beef.
So you have heard of Asian Fusion food, which usually is a mix of Italian or California cuisine with asian noodles and flavors. This is Asian Food that is more Pan-​Asian, incorporating a mix of Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Singapore and Chinese influences.
There are a lot of Lemongrass «Kitchen» dishes (all under $ 10, except combos under $ 12), Noodles like Pad Thai (Shrip $ 12, Chicken $ 9.5) and Stir Fried Udon ($ 12), soups (Vietnamese Sour Catfish Soup $ 10 or $ 14) and Salads (Goi du du — Papaya Salad $ 7.5)
If you are not a purest snob, or a first generation imigrant from Asia, you will probably enjoy this place. The food is good, the service needs some better organizing and training of staff, but the overall experience is good. There is a full bar, and this place is pretty big. I went on a Sunday evening (6:30pm) and it was ²⁄₃ empty. It does acknowledge Unilocalers with a window sticker.

One word. Pork. The Tuscans may have their Cinghiale Three Ways, but the gods at Kitchen prepare pork that’s out of this world.
Start with the Saigon Meatball Treasures. These are skewers of pork meatballs, formed with succulent shrimp at the core. Grilled until a bit seared on the outside, these tender, divine morsels are the perfect starter. Pair with your favorite drink and sit back and chat and enjoy the trendy, modern interior.
For the main course, the Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chops cannot be beat. While the dish may share the same name as the ones in Vietnamese establishments in the area, these chops aren’t like the dry-​grilled ones that you are served there. They arrive at your table hugely moist, flavorful and tender, with just enough juicy sauce to flavor your accompanying rice. Three to an order, they’re fabulous!
Feeling particularly hungry or eating family-​style? Give the Braised Pork a try. But be forewarned — this isn’t for the faint of heart (both figuratively and literally)! What you will receive is a very traditional Chinese dish in which cubes of streaky pork (imagine cubed bacon) have been braised (
) in a dark, rich, slightly sweet soy sauce mix. It may sound a bit gross but the flavor is amazing. And picking out the lean parts is always an option.
There are, of course, other kinds of dishes on the menu, but I found them to be rather uninspired. The Duck Curry was decently flavorful, but the duck was dry-​dry-​dry. The flavor of the Chicken Rice was mild — something that authentic Chicken Rice should never be.
4 Stars — Pork! It’s what’s for dinner!
*Several people have suggested that I should have included MIK in my Tamarind Tree — Green Leaf review. In point of fact, I had been tempted, particularly since I had eaten at all three within the span of several days. But upon reflection, I decided to keep this review separate. Apart from décor and some items on the menu, MIK is more Chinese than Vietnamese (a fact that borne out by the menu and staff).

It’s pretty nice inside and looks a little upscale. It’s pretty new and very clean inside. It kind of gives off a warm feeling due to the orange color and the candle light.
The food is a mixture of asian cuisines and is not this or that. The first time I went in, I was a little confused by the menu. There seemed to be a lot of appetizers I was interested in, but not entrees that would knock my socks off. I was thinking it would be a great nibbles place, albeit somewhat expensive.
After a couple more visits I found some entrees that are actually pretty good. I think they adapted their menu a bit, also. I like their short ribs and their cubed beef dish, but didn’t care for some of the hot pots or even their phad thai.
The hostess and owners are very friendly and outgoing, but the last time I went, the service wasn’t that good. There was a long period for them to clear the table and receive the bill. But, these things happen from time to time.

We came to MIK for dinner last night, and our conversation went like this:
Me: You can order whatever you want for entrees, but here is what we’re going to have for appetizers. We will have the Black and White Fried Tofu and the Crispy Imperial Rolls.
D: Um, ok.
I love how that conversation was more like a statement rather than suggestion. But if you have been there as much as I have, then you know that those two dishes are a must have.
The service is great and the owner, Alice, always visits with patrons to make sure that they are having a good dinning experience.

Lovely lovely. Eating here brought to mind some of the home cookin’ I’ve had from people who have lived in asia. Food that was made in their kitchen!
The imperial rolls (I forgot to put in some mint!), seafood curry, and fried tofu were great and lacked the heaviness that I’ve had in many other asian-​styled places.
The aesthetic in here is quite beautiful. High ceilings and a modern and stylish décor really makes it a special experience to dine here.

I came here for my birthday and I made reservations for 13. At first the host thought I had said 3 but after repeating 13, it was finally written down. The day before my dinner a hostess called and left a message confirming my reservations (that’s nice of her) of 12 (ok…I called back to correct her on 13 again). I had wished I could reserve their lovely japanese style room so me and my friends could have some privacy but unfortunately it only can fit 8 people. :(
They ended up setting us up on towards the back with a long table which was all nicely decorated. Their interior décor was soo nice and their restroom has cute sinks with rocks laying at the bottom on the drain. Their plates and cups and chopsticks were very modern style. The waitress poured us our ice water which everyone kept on guessing what it had tasted like… pine. wood… turned out to be lime in her pitcher… but we swear there’s a twig in it b/​c it definitely tasted «piney».
Everyone enjoyed what they ordered which CAN be family style but doesn’t look like the dishes we ordered were meant for it. I ordered this Made in Kitchen combinations with shrimp cake, imperial roll, meatballs stuffed with shrimp, and vermicelli noodles. The only thing bad was that the waitress had given me the wrong dish 3 times before getting it right… and it only happened to me (the bday girl). funny. Overall the service was great and they were on top of things when my order was wrong. everyone loved their dishes except for maybe more crab meat on my friend’s crab glass noodles.

I just got back from a delightful dinner here.
Two of us ordered very similar noodle dishes (so similar that they looked exactly the same)… as it turns out, they *were* identical … but the confusion was quickly remedied, and Sarah got her extra meat skewers… WHEW!!! We were worried.
The service was lovely. All the ladies were very attentive, and super generous with the Jasmine tea… good stuff!!! I broke down and ordered a yummy Vietnamese drip coffee… slurp slurp, mmmmm.
They even comped us dessert. The description could use a little work, but I’m sure there was something lost in translation… I don’t think it’s likely that I’d purposely order «gravy cake» for dessert (actually… I might… just out of curiosity), but it was free… and covered with coconut cream and sesame seeds (not peanut butter sauce like we were told… bummer! We were rather intrigued at the thought of peanut butter sauce on a gravy cake!) Anyhow, we never did figure out what the gravy cake was actually made of. It was nice though. I like it when desserts aren’t overly sweet. It went well with my coffee.
The price was very reasonable… especially for dinner (my entrée was $ 8 and coffee was $ 3). Happy belly *and* happy wallet!!! Hurrah!

As far as the ID goes this place is definitely a cut above. I mean, normally when I walk into a restaurant in the ID I have one of my chinese speaking friends order and I would NEVER want to look into the kitchen of some of these places. But, Made In Kitchen is totally different, the places is new, modern, and seemingly very clean. The food is reasonably priced and very tasty.
And despite the fact that the coconut juice actually came in a coconut (seriously I was expecting it in a glass) I really enjoyed the experience and I’ll definitely be back. Oh and I must say the stir fried udon noodles were surprisingly tasty.
Oh I have one minor complaint, the ceramic cups that they serve the tea in conduct heat a little too well and as a result its really tough to hold them when the tea’s hot.

The lovely people at Made In Kitchen hosted our Unilocal Elite party last night, so I’ll disclose that my review may be somewhat biased by the appreciation I have for the very warm owners for their hospitality and graciousness.
Let’s get down to business. Not being from Seattle, I invited some friends to meet me, and when I told them where, I was met with some skepticism. So, I was prepared for the neighborhood to be somewhat rough and tumble. But, NO. I mean, seriously, people, this is considered a sketchy part of town? What is this, Pleasantville?
The space is really well done, with a very authentic southeast asian asthetic — open, minimalist, beautiful teak, colorful and yet understated. Warm and natural.
The food was devine. I have spent time in SE Asia personally, and the flavors in the food took me back. Chili, lime, lemongrass, fish sauce. The shrimp/​crab imperial rolls in particular kick ass.
And, finally, the warmth of the hospitality. In many years of world travels, I’ve decided that people from SE Asia, bar none, are the friendliest and most genuine people on our planet. Yes, this sounds over the top, and I won’t mind if you call BS on this overly effusive commentary (partly effected by the fact that I think my liver is still working processing those mojitos). The people at Made in Kitchen are just plain nice. It’s family owned and operated, and they bring that family-​spirit to their work. Being there feels like you are guests in their home.
Thanks again, Alice and Ahmid and family.

I had the pleasure of visiting Made in Kitchen last night, while visiting Seattle from San Francisco. While I didn’t have the chance for a full-​on dining experience, I was there for a (fun and Unilocaly) event, so was able to sample some of their Vietnamese-​fusion cuisine. And from what I tasted — spicy fried rice, shrimp and crab, fresh tofu — I had enough of a tease to know that I’ll be coming back.
The space is modern and inviting, and there is a private back room that would be great for a small dinner party. All of the staff — from the waitstaff to the bartenders and of course the owners — were super friendly, and that really made the night flow. I got the feeling that MIK is the sort of place that, after one visit, you’re pretty much feeling like a regular.
I am still trying to figure out the name of this place but in its quirky, broken English sort of way, it’s memorable and it works.

Made in Kitchen. Made in Heaven.
The décor is gorgeous. Asian modern. Minimalist but warm.
The food is amazing. Make sure you try the Imperial Rolls. Messy but sooo worth it. Maybe not on a first date, but any other time — grab a piece of lettuce, tear up the mint and basil, add a few bean sprouts, and use that to wrap up the little deep fried spring roll. Dip in fish sauce, lift to mouth, be so overjoyed by the taste that you don’t even notice fish sauce running down your wrist and sprigs of basil hanging out of your mouth. Sexy? No. Tasty? Yes.
The rest of the food is extremely well prepared. Asian fusion highly skewed towards Vietnamese cuisine. The Lemon Grass Chicken was very flavorful without being greasy. The Black & White Tofu appetizer is also to die for. Cubes of tofu, deep fried, and seasoned to perfection, no need for a dipping sauce even. It’s that good.
And what would you expect to pay for a dinner this good? Let’s just say the bill is about the same as any other Asian restaurant you would go to in the ID. Cheap!