The Kingfish Cafe

We’re going to miss you! Please open your new restaurants to be asap!
Food: incredible as always.
Staff friendly as ever, despite the insane amount of business.
Goodbye and good luck! :)

I have to say I’m disappointed that I have to give this place 2 stars, but the service was just terrible. :-/​Stopped in on a Thursday night, the two of us sat at the bar — alongside just two other people, and only about 3 other tables that had their own server. Our bartender was nice. but just wasn’t on his «service game» that night, or so it felt like. He didn’t know the menu, he read us the specials from a far off of a tiny piece of paper, and when it was time to order — they were out of the first thing we picked. Would’ve been nice to know that beforehand. He then made up a dish that «was like the one they were out of» but it wasn’t on the menu, it was a really awkward exchange. Someone else brought us our food, and then it was like our time was up with the bartender and he was busy with the two other people sitting at the bar. I love good food, but i’m all about the service. I was so unimpressed I might not even attempt to go back.
Side note: the food actually was pretty good. The crawfish pasta, yum. Hush puppies, order them. Ribs. kinda rich. Collard greens, pretty tasty.

Well, VERY disappointed that KC is closing in just a couple of days, given that my first opportunity to try it only arrived this past Monday!
My sister has been telling me for at least a decade about KC, and it has been on my list to try but only bumped up to the top as soon as I heard last week of the closing. I had Monday off from work, and it was MLK Day which I found very fitting. I headed over to get there a little early for their 4pm HH, expecting a bit of a wait. I had a friend who was joining me and I figured I’d save him time in the line. Things were pretty quiet at 3:30pm so I went over to Hello Robin and Cone and Steiner to browse. Came back around 4 to realize (based on the paper sign posted on their door) that they were not going to be open for lunch or HH, instead opening with their dinner service at 5. At this point, I was the second party in the line and could see folks starting to stream towards the restaurant, so I figured i’d better stay where I was… at least it was not raining. Good decision, as by the time the restaurant opened at 5, there was a line down the block and around the corner– at least a hundred folks and it was clear that many of the people had no chance of a seating that night!
So FOOD. What can I say… lip-​smacking, finger-​licking excellent. My friend and I ordered two starters and two mains to share. With the expectation that it was our last chance to try it, and we could always box up any leftovers.
Starters:
«Hop and Jump”– what’s not to like about fried frog legs?
«Sho’Nuff Fried green Tomatoes”– served with the lightest hush puppies I believe I have ever had!
Mains:
«My Way or the Highway Buttermilk Fried Chicken”– everyone told me to order this, from the regulars in the line to our server. My friend was a bit apprehensive as everyplace he’s been told he MUST order the fried chicken has been a disappointment. He was pleased as punch with this fried chicken though, let me tell you! Crispy outside, moist inside, and extremely flavorful.
And the accompanying collard greens were excellent though the mashed potatoes were cold.
«Hppin’ John Griddlejacks”– which weren’t my favorite item, but a nice change from all the fried food.
Dessert:
We got a giant slab of their chocolate cake with coconut frosting and I took most of it home for sharing. Excellent!
Drinks:
Their pomegranate lemon drop was tasty and delicious!
AMBIANCE:
Everything they say is right… this really does feel like someone is welcoming you into their home (with the regulars on a first name basis with the owners and staff), and you have to forgive the wait-​times with that kind of expectation right?
SERVICE:
Slow, it took almost 2 hours from the time I was seated to get our starters. We were warned by our server though at how backed up the kitchen was. But we didn’t really mind, the restaurant had a festive and celebratory ambiance… and it gave my friend and I a chance to catch up after a long time.
I’m sorry KFC is closing, but look forward to the sister’s next location… only next time I’ll be sure not to wait so long!

Meh… not happy with how slow the service is. How do they ever get anything done in there? It took 2 hours for my group to be seated and another 30 minutes to get our meals. By that point, i just told them to pack my lunch to go.
I realize that the south has a different pace, but maaaaannnn, does this restaurant not fit in with most peoples’ lifestyles.

I definitely understand their change in business model with the close, but my friends and I waited here for hours only to be told when we sat down that they were out of virtually everything. Now, that makes sense that they would be out. But why seat us at all? Why look at everyone gathered by the door and not make an announcement that food was low or gone? They knew hours before we sat down that they were out of food, or at the very least that they didn’t have enough for everyone who had been waiting. To let us continue to wait is such a bad look. They were conversing with and shuffling us, all the while letting us wait for food that they knew they didn’t have!
Further, they let the waitress do the dirty work of telling us all the food they didn’t have. Smh. Disappointed doesn’t cover how we felt. I won’t be patronising their new endeavours based in this experience.

I’ve eaten at Kingfish many times, but the past year or so, it’s been geographically too far out. With the news that the café would be soon closing its doors, I decided to bring the family for one last hurrah. With visions of fried catfish dancing in our heads, we arrived at about 5:40pm. The place still smelled delicious…
… and that was end of anything good about the night’s experience.
The restaurant was filled over capacity and about a dozen people waiting in line. I talked to the hostess who explained that their waiting list was full and they would NOT be adding anyone else. We were was given 3 options: either wait around and hope someone would drop off the wait list in an hour; come back around 9pm; or get a carry out order in about 40 minutes at 6:30pm. Since my family had already driven out of the way to eat here, it seemed like our best option would be to go for a walk and then get carry out order. It seemed rather strange, but I unwisely ignored my instincts (must be the smell of catfish and chicken) and listened to the assurances of the hostess that if we were patient, we’d be able to get our carry out order.
Long story short, I waited patiently until 6:30pm and the hostess sent me to talk to a chef at a side counter who was confused about the situation and told me they had changed their minds and that carry out would no longer be available. No apology for the change, no apology for the now useless loooooong wait. So we left, unserved and hungry.
I can understand Kingfish might be overwhelmed with this sudden surge in business, but you can’t string along customers with wait times or change your mind last minute without notice or apology. But hey, maybe kind of poor service is a factor in Kingfish’s closure. What a sour taste after years of good memories.
Guess I’ll have to find a new place to get my catfish. :/

NOT CLOSED YET — closes officially on 1÷25÷15 though.
Grabbed a table for lunch by 11:45am (lines in foyer and outside sidewalk formed shortly thereafter) today. Cannot believe that The Kingfish Café, longtime neighborhood anchor on 19^th Ave E, will be closing, definitely had to stop by pronto!
Kudos to the slammed line crew and wait staff dealing with lunch orders, takeout orders, and all the folks waiting for a table.
We waited for 35 minutes, but it was fascinating watching the two men working the line crank out order after order after order, pack takeout boxes, bake off pot pies in the oven. A total culinary ballet.
Inhaled the generous bowl of gumbo ($ 10.95) in about 10 minutes — trio of plump prawns, Andouille sausage, tasso ham, okra in a spicy, delectable sauce all atop fluffy white rice and delicious cornbread. OMG — sheer perfection!
I suspect the restaurant will be consistently packed until the last day (1÷25÷14). So get there while you can and pack your patience. The end result is so worth the wait.
Wishing the owners and staff at The Kingfish Café all the best.

Heartbroken to learn this place is slated to close next week. Kingfish café has been a family favorite for nearly 20 years. I can’t believe this is the end.
The beautiful dining room, the delicious hoppin john griddle jacks, the endlessly delicious brunch, perfectly shaken cocktails… all will be sorely missed.
Best wishes to the folks at Kingfish. You’ll be missed!

Came here for dinner on Christmas Eve while on vacation because it was one of the few places open!
FOOD:
— potato and corn chowder (bowl) — cream based and very rich! Had good sized chunks of potatoes in it and a good sharing size
— fried green tomatoes with hush puppies — the hush puppies were good and the fried tomatoes had a good flavor to them
— crab cakes — nice crisp with good amount of crab, although I thought there was too much sauce on top
— gumbo — blah. Rice was hard and not appetizing
— fried chicken — chicken was dry but the greens were slightly spicy and cooked well
— pork chop — too heavy! Smothered in sauce
SERVICE:
Friendly but slow. The time between appetizers and entrees was soooo long! And it was hard to get our server’s attention
VENUE/​PARKING:
Place is cute and homey. Parking was okay to find along the street, but I think because it was Christmas Eve.

The Kingfish Café was fantastic. The food was delicious and the service was excellent!
We came here for brunch and ordered the chick n’ waffle and the French Creole eggtorte after a bit of debate since everything on the menu sounds delicious. Both of them were so good. We definitely picked the chicken clean. The chicken was extra crunchy with great seasoning on the outside and and juicy on the inside. I could have definitely eaten more of those wings. The waffle was melt in your mouth buttery. The eggtorte was rich and flavorful. The tomato coulis and the andouille sausage gave it a nice kick. The prices for the food are reasonable and definitely worth it.
The service was great. Everyone was really friendly, and we were well attended throughout the meal.
We will definitely be back for the other items we were debating on.

This place had amazing food!!! Wow !! One of the best chicken and waffle plate that I have ever eaten!!! Totally worth going… :)
I also didn’t have to wait much for the food and service was great!

Located about 15 minutes away from the downtown Seattle area.
I was curious to give this restaurant a chance for being owned by retired NBA basketball player Gary Payton after reading an article about former athletes restaurants to try.
The restaurant was a slight challenge to locate. Didn’t recall neon lights to spot restaurant driving in a residential neighborhood. Parking was a slight struggle on the street adjacent to the restaurant.
Décor was a southern and inviting. Restaurant was not large but could fit a few large groups.
Greeted and seated promptly by the staff. Staff was friendly to provide water. Suggestions and order including fried chicken with greens, appetizer, and two drinks.
The drinks were first to arrive. Both were on the sweet stiff. The food came in an efficient manner. Chicken was moist and golden. The cooked greens and appetizer were properly seasoned without needing to water refills. Water refills were systematic and paced. Meal was more than filling for two people.
Good: well priced and sized southern meal, service, and drinks.
Bad: signage to locate but word of mouth is enough to always has business.
Overall worth the trip out to visit the restaurant. Four stars.

One of my favorite places to go for lunch in Cap Hill. And that’s saying a lot. In a sea of above average eateries, Kingfish stands amongst the kings.
We love their fried chicken salad, gumbo, and mac n cheese. The service is good but the food is just damn yummy. It is heavy but oh so comforting. It’s a good place to take out-​of-​towners for brunch.

So, an overall nice meal with a few downsides. First, they don’t take reservations, which meant 30mins wait outside in the street as there’s no waiting area inside.
Second, service was hit and miss.
Food was good, the fried tomatoes in particular. The gumbo was okay (maybe I’m spoiled by memories of New Orleans).
I would dine here again if I were in the area but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it.

When I have a hankering for good, old fashioned southern comfort food, this is the place. From My Way to the Highway Fried Chicken, Sho’Nuff Fried Green Tomatoes, with jalepeno jelly, hushpuppies, mac and cheese, creamy mashed potatoes and collard greens, Kingfish does simple comfort food just right.
I adore the atmosphere of Kingfish. Small and quaint, you walk into Kingfish and instantly feel transported to a simpler time in the deep south. If you order one of their amazing cocktails, big surprise, it comes in an adorable mason jar. Try the Two Sistas Cocktail with Stoli vodka, Peach Schnapps, peach nectar, and a squeeze of lime. Yum.
Overall a great experience from start to finish is had each time I visit Kingfish. Though you can most likely expect a pretty decent wait, it’s always well worth it if you want to get your comfort food on!

If you’re like me and are coming here for the delicious looking mac and cheese that you see in all the photos, please note that ‘objects are larger than they appear.’ lol, SERIOUSLY! I was not expecting that huge of a hunk of mac and cheese. It was absolutely wonderful though and definitely large enough to share between two people if you both already ordered something else.
I also got an order of the crab and catfish cakes, which I thought were amazing. The tartar was some of the best I’ve ever had. I would definitely got back for that.
Now… As for the rest of my meal, I really can’t praise it in the same way I would the mac and cheese. I got the buttermilk fried chicken, which to be quite honest, was horrible and I would gladly choose KFC over this chicken any day. Even with smothering it in ranch, I was dissatisfied. They gave me 3 huge pieces which was way more than I was expecting, but I didn’t even finish the first piece being that it was so gross. If you’re new to eating friend chicken, then hey, this might be okay for you. But as someone else said, Ezell’s has this place beat by a long, long shot.
My friends and I all had tons to take home, so the portions are a really good and large size. I wouldn’t say everything we got could be shared, but if you’re like my friends and I and can’t decide whether the steak or chicken sounds good and you both want one or the other and can’t decide, you can definitely get by with sharing.
The hostess could work on smiling and just being friendly in general. When we arrived, she simply said, «For 3?» Then pointed to our table, walked in front of us, put our menus down, and left. Hm… I guess that’s fine. She didn’t say anything other than that or smile. Kind of off putting when she’s the first one you’re dealing with. However, to our surprise, the very cute tatted and pierced waitress we got was so sweet and more than welcoming. We also had a nice busser who came by while we were finishing up and helped pack our food and made sure we were taken care of.
I still have those catfish and crab cakes on my mind, so I’ll be back. If anything, make sure you try those and the mac and cheese. That I can assure you won’t be disappointed with.

Ate lunch here last week and sat outside along the lovely side street garden seating. While ambience and service were lovely, the food was not so hot.
My friend and I both ordered the salmon sandwich. My friend told me his sandwich was greasy and heavy. I only ate the fish out of my sandwich and it was overcooked and dry, and had way too much tartar sauce glopped atop.
I wish the food had been better — I may come back for dinner to try other items.

I’ve been looking all over for a great southern restaurant for a while now. Based on Unilocal’s recommendation, I thought I had found the perfect place.
Taste: ²⁄₅
First off, I should note that I had really high expectations coming in because of all the great reviews on Unilocal.I had the fried chicken, and the lady had shrimp and grits. The chicken was definitely underwhelming. Didn’t have a good crispy or flavor skin like great fried chicken should have, breast was dry, and drumstick was undercooked (little bit of blood still left near the bone). The dish was screaming for a gravy. Collard greens were a little bit on the salty side as well. On to the shrimp and grits, the shrimp was actually pretty good, and the grits were nice and chunky. It completely lacked a sauce or another flavor component to bring it all together. The dish ended up tasting pretty bland. Cornbread with the jalapeño jam was yummy though.
Service: ³⁄₅
A little bit on the slow side, but waitstaff was a-​okay. Upside was that there was a bus boy that made sure that our waters were always topped off.
Décor: ³⁄₅
The restaurant definitely had a old time southern flair. However, we were seated on the left side of the restaurant, where the kitchen was. There was little to no ventilation, and it ended up being pretty hot, humid and uncomfortable.
Value: ²⁄₅
This place is pretty expensive for what you’re actually getting. I think for two after tax and tip came just a hair under 50 $. We left not feeling completely satisfied. I wanted so badly to love this place, unfortunately it came well under our expectations. If there was a half option it would be closer to 2.5 stars.

One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle! The owners are excellent women and the service is always good. I love everything in the menu but be aware, they serve big amounts of food. The mac and cheese and the rice and beans always on my table. The restaurant is not huge and is always busy, but I don’t mind waiting because it is worth it. It is in a great neighborhood and I can’t wait to visit again, but this time for brunch.

I took my partner and our daughter here for Father’s Day since TiaLouse Petite had a long line OUTSIDE of their restaurant. We were bummed, but settled for Kingfish since this was always on our list of places to eat.
We arrived and noticed the place was fairly small. We were a little worried because we had a stroller with us since we didn’t want to carry a heavy car seat around the block. We checked in with the hostess and she told us the wait would be 15 – 20 minutes so we decided to stick around.
We waited for almost an hour… and we were pretty much HANGRY at that time. We couldn’t blame the staff though. Since it was Father’s Day, we figured it was busier than normal (Not sure if they are always this busy).
Since we already looked at the menu while we were waiting for our table, we knew what to order. We got seated, ordered drinks and our food right away. I decided to order the crabcake dewey with herbed hollandaise with a side of grits and one waffle. My partner ordered the chick’ N waffle, a side of bacon and a side of biscuits and gravy.
It didn’t take long at all to receive all of our food. We both looked at it and knew we were going to have a really good meal. I was disappointed with the grits because I thought it would have all the works like the entrée size, but it was just plain grits. We added gravy from our biscuits & gravy dish to give it some flavor. The crab/​salmon cakes were moist and delicious. I loved the poached egg on top. It’s absolutely my favorite way of making eggs. My waffle was soft and delicious as well. Our biscuits & gravy was good too. We weren’t a huge fan of the biscuit, but we loved the flavorful gravy. My partner gave me a bite of his chick n’ waffles and boy… was that chicken good! He said he was so satisfied he wanted to cry (LOL).
For the 2 cocktails and orange juice plus all of the food we ordered, our bill wasn’t that much. I wish the wait wasn’t so long, otherwise, we would had given them 5 stars. I hope the wait next time won’t be long like this because we want to try out their dinner options!

I went to dinner for the first time here with two friends in March. I’ve been meaning to write this and am super happy to do so! Go eat here! Now!
This ultra charming, southern restaurant will fill you with wonderful, happy, tasty home cooking. I didn’t have any idea how the portions were going to be, so I got a salad and an order of the mac & cheese. Holy cow, was I surprised. My salad was really great with fresh greens and just the right amount of dressing. The mac & cheese would have been a meal in itself. It was a chunk of baked heaven deliciousness which I could not finish and took home because I was not going to waste it. I had their lemonade which was obviously homemade and although on the tart side, was quite refreshing.
My friends had been there before, and they both really loved what they had. I don’t remember because of how awesome my own meal was.
Our waitress was pleasant, warm and interested in making sure we were doing well and were taken care of. She checked on us often, refilled drinks without asking or having to be asked, and inquired about how we’d like the food brought out since we had ordered things oddly — i.e., I ordered a large salad with their huge chunk of pasta unknowingly.
We were seated at a table near the window facing the street behind this super thick velvet curtain with my back to the restaurant, so I have little to tell about the ambiance or décor. The front door kept sticking open by patrons not bright enough to close it behind them, and the big curtain was a nuisance, although I imagine it’s there to have some kind of barrier between the freezing outside and the tables when that door stays ajar in the colder months.
Parking is a gamble with finding something on the narrow street parking which is rare on Cap Hill.
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ambiance: 3
Parking: 2

Just had my first visit for brunch! It was time to fuel up after running a race and my first thought was brunch at King Fish! I’ve always wanted to try it, and I wasn’t disappointed!
Great spicy bloody Mary’s and a decent price at $ 6. We were so hungry we ordered three entrees to share between us. The crab catfish cakes, chick n waffles and good glory grits. My most fav was the chick n waffles, only complaint would be I prefer my waffle browner. Excellent chicken!!!
Now I need to come for lunch to round out the meal trifecta!

The single best piece of cake I have ever had in my life was served to me at The Kingfish Café. Their monstrous slab of red velvet cake is surely made with unicorn tears. The cream cheese frosting was rich, moist and decedent, and every bite that I said was my last never in fact was. I finished off that giant hunk of cake. No crumbs left behind. The only problem is I presume to be ruined for all future red velvet cake experiences.
My fried chicken dinner was tasty, the mac and cheese was overrated, and the wines are all on tap. Service was incredibly friendly. All of that might be important to some, but really… that red velvet cake. Our time together was too short, and I will taste you in my dreams.