What to See in Seattle International District

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a beautiful site. A tankful of koi fish, nice colorful koi. 🙂 The atmosphere is appealing with its pink tablecloths and wicker furniture. Well lit, too.

There’s both an ice cream case and beverage case by the front entrance. Convenient.

The menu here is varied and reasonably priced. Portion sizes are ample and taste is delicious. I had their noodle soup with chicken, to go. Service was great.
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2. Wing Luke Asian Museum

407 7th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98104
206-623-5124
This Seattle museum is known as the only pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the country. It is nationally recognized for its award winning exhibits and when one steps inside this site, one can see why. If Asian history is of interest to you, this is the place. The exterior is very well kept and welcoming. Once inside, it’s total fascination and a way to get lost in time for awhile. The exhibits are well maintained and easy to see.

This is a cool place for museum lovers and a must see in the International District.
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3. Kau Kau BBQ

656 S. King St.
Seattle, WA 98104
206-682-9988

They are known as ‘the best pork bbq in Seattle’. What a great atmosphere! In the front is the takeout area. Go straight through the walkway and you enter a beautifully decorated dining area. Here, the furniture is of redwood and looks just exquisite. Plenty of room, too.

$5 lunches and $9 dinners…can’t beat that. It is so pleasing to see the menu on the wall, well lit and easy to read.
What I loved the most, though, was the HUGE pacu fish in the tank by the front window. There is a history about this fish and donations for its upkeeping are welcomed here. You’ve got to see it. 🙂
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4. Vegetarian Bistro

668 S. King Street
Seattle, WA 98104
206-624-8899

This is the prettiest menu I’ve ever seen! Watercolor paintings are on each page and provide such a relaxing way to view the menu. Plus, the prices are very affordable.

Besides the appealing to the eye menu, the menu variety is good, too. They offer $3 dim sum lunches. The Steamed Veggie Dumpling is delicious. Other recommended dishes include the Pumpkin cake, radish cake (yes, that is right), and a curry pumpkin pot. They also offer a veggie banquet here. In fact, there are so many choices – it is hard to decide!

The atmosphere is one of elegance and simplicity. It is a pleasure being in here. There is plenty of room to maneuver and the ambience is superb.

The owner is friendly and I enjoyed talking with him and the staff. I could see the passion for his business. Plus, he helped me learn about the menu offerings.
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5. The Gossip Espresso & Tea

651 S King St
Seattle, WA 98104
206-624-5402
This is a great environment and one of the more modern looking establishments in this area. It is airy and wide open, well lit, lots of windows. Plus, the bubble tea is one of the best prices around. Service was ‘with a smile’ and very welcoming. Every time I have walked by this place in my International District tour, it has been packed.

They have a nice variety of drinks to choose from. Prices are reasonable.
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6. Yummy House Bakery Inc

522 6th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98104
206-340-8838

This is the freestanding store. I wanted to see how the prices and variety differ from the store at the Uwajimaya location.

When I was there, the variety was impressive. Of course, the prices were extremely affordable. I had their Mango pudding….out of this world! I just loved the chunks of real mango I found in it. So tasty!! They even added some freshly made whipped topping for me and made it look extra pretty. 🙂 There is a bit of inconsistency here, though. The first time I had the pudding, it was orange like a mango and just delicious. The second time I had it, it was yellow and tasted kind of oily. Hmm.. The baked products are ALWAYS scrumptious, though.

The atmosphere was well lit, clean, and welcoming. The product-filled display cases were fun to look at. The staff were a joy to talk with and loved sharing the diversity and sites of interest found in the area. There is alot of enthusiasm and genuine helpfulness in this Seattle storefront.
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7. Mon Hei Chinese Bakery

669 S King St
Seattle, WA 98104
206-624-4156

This is reported to be the oldest Chinese bakery in Seattle. There was a large assortment of goodies to choose from in here. All the prices are very reasonable. Alot of $1 items. I like seeing that! It was hard to decide what to buy!
Their chicken bun was good – as was the bbq pork, and both make a convenient ‘hand food’ to enjoy while partaking the rest of the Seattle International District. It was so fresh and tasty! I liked the fact that there was not alot of filler inside the bun, just chicken or pork.
Service was very friendly and made me want to come back again.
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8. Uwajimaya

600 5th Avenue S.
Seattle, WA 98104
206-624-6248

This is a definite must see and visit! Located in the International District of Seattle – Time slips by when I am in here. Whenever I am in need of Asian cuisine, this is where I go. The produce section is phenomenal, offering a variety of both ‘traditional’ and ‘novel’ items. Everything looks so fresh and is pleasantly displayed. There is a vast assortment of unique items that make one want to learn more about them.

The meat department has an interesting assortment of prepackaged various animal parts (feet, tripe, ears, etc). This, plus the standard cuts. They all look fresh.

The seafood department has fish tanks full of live critters – geoducks(in season), tilapia, etc. They are fun to just watch for awhile. This is the first time I have seen anything like this. It is a pleasure to see during my International District visits.

The variety of green tea available in the grocery section is mind boggling. Plus, the associates are knowledgeable about what’s recommended and why. The grocery section, in general, is impressive with its assortment and diversity.

In addition to the grocery store, there is a gift store, a food court, deli, and a baked good section. The variety is fantastic and too diversified to mention here. One has to see it to experience it and appreciate it.

Plus, the pricing is reasonable. I have found the service very competent, friendly, and knowledgeable.

The exterior is well maintained and provides paid parking. The interior is well lit, spacious, and welcoming.
Overall, this store is a MUST SEE when visiting the Seattle International District.

9. AA Pacific Herbs
610 South Weller Street
Seattle, WA. 98104
206-340-6411

There is alot of jarred foods and herbs in this store. In fact, there is so much the place appears rather cramped. All the merchandise was labeled in Asian. Anyone who does not speak Asian would be in trouble in this store.

The owner is knowledgeable about his products and business and was a joy to talk with – when I could understand him.

10. Seattle Chinese Herbs
6951 M.L. King Jr. Way S. #105
Seattle, WA. 98118
206-760-1989

In addition to a variety of both traditional common and herbal medicinal herbs, this pleasant store offers ointments, teas, and a variety of foods. They carry herbal patent medicines and ginsengs, also.

The atmosphere is kind of cramped, but is well lit. Products are well presented and properly labeled (in English and Asian).

11. Pho Nuong Vietnamese Grill
2826 Martin Luther King Dr. Way S.
Seattle, WA. 98104
206-760-5775

This International District eatery offers the most unusual and exotic food around. For the food adventurous, it is a must enjoy! They offer an open grill where customers can enjoy kangaroo, venison, alligator – to name a few. They also offer ‘regular’ food like sizzling hot pots and platters. That is just a sampling. Their menu is extensive and it is hard to decide what to order.

The atmosphere is pleasant, comfortable, and with room to maneuver in. Prices are reasonable. Food is tasty!

12. Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant
418 Eighth Avenue South
Seattle, WA. 98104
206-340-1388

This popular International District eatery is known for providing delicious authentic Vietnamese food at very reasonable prices. Green Leaf has received accolades from numerous Seattle publications. They are noted for their atmosphere/decor, service, and prices.

The menu is extensive. The atmosphere and ambience simply wonderful. They provide catering and delivery services, also. Let us not forget their wine and beer selection, either. It is impressive.