4. Restaurants

Kimchi Bistro

219 Broadway E, Seattle, WA, 98102
  • (206) 323-4472
  • Store is closed

Kimchi Bistro Menu

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  • Jeffrey H.

    I love Korean food. I feel like I'm getting such a great deal when they bring out all those free little appetizer dishes. Today I had the biggest craving for some Korean chow when a friend mentioned the Kimchi Bistro behind Hana on Broadway. I was surprised because I had never even heard of it or seen it before! Kimchi Bistro is inside the building that Hana is in, on the group floor. It's not the busiest location since you don't really see it walking down Broadway, but it is delicious nonetheless. The portions are generous - for $10 you can fill your belly completely. I had the Kim Chi Ji Gae. I'm a big fan of Kim Chi and it was basically a big hot bowl of spicy kim chi. I loved it. (I wouldn't suggest it for anybody who doesn't like kim chi, of course.) My partner ordered the Bul go gi hot pot, which was huge and very tasty. I also ordered the Korean sushi roll for $7. It came in what would be a double portion at any other restaurant - 2 full rolls of 7 or 8 pieces each! All for $7! What a deal! We could hardly finish it. The service was very quick and the staff was all Korean and super friendly. Kimchi Bistro is a great Korean restaurant, and, as far as I've seen, the best bet for authentic Korean food on Capitol Hill. From beginning to end you feel like you're getting your money's worth and more.

    (5)

  • Jason L.

    Ordered the Dol Sot Bibimbop. It came out sizzling, had good balance of vegetables, and portions were good. On the other hand, the side dishes were pretty shabby (see one of the pictures). I'll have to try the bulgogi next time. It's pretty hard to judge a Korean restaurant with just Dol Sot Bibimbop. The servers did not automatically try to speak Korean to me, which is a plus. And my water cup was filled frequently.

    (3)

  • Jimmy N.

    Very good bi bim bap. The lady that works there is nice albeit very insistent on how you are supposed to eat your meal.

    (4)

  • David E.

    What a cute little hole-in-the-wall place! Very good service, and obviously family run. In short, my kind of place! The food is not the best Korean I've had in town - gotta go up to the northern reaches of Aurora for that - but this place is near work, so I'll definitely be here much more often. Try something with Kimchi in it, or one of the rice dishes.

    (4)

  • Lala M.

    Shared spicy pork bulgogi and grilled octopus, both awesome.

    (4)

  • Tonya N.

    Pretty good... cute cute restaurant in a little mall on broadway... Nice people working there. The tofu soup was fine, and the bulgogi was huge with lots of veggies. It felt healthier than other Korean places and the sides were delish. Overall worth a try if youre in the mood for it.

    (3)

  • Lily H.

    I have so much love for this place. Their kalbi is the best and cheapest I've ever had; the meat sizzling and juicy and glorious in every way. The portion was so huge I couldn't finish it in one sitting. Their dohl soht bi bim bap is laden with fresh and delicious ingredients and they even give you the appetizers when you order take out. My uncle said their soon doo bo was the best he'd ever had. The space is very tiny, though, and it fills up fast during lunch and dinner. I either come early or late or get take out to get my Kimchi Bistro fix. I have to say, though, this is the best service I've ever received from any Korean restaurant I've ever visited. Just like at Madison Market when the clerks figure out you're not a member, I'm used to being given the shaft once the staff at Korean restaurants figure out I'm Chinese, not Korean. The owners here are always super friendly and smiling; it's like eating dinner at your aunt and uncle's house where you're fed until you think you can't possibly take in another bite, only the food is so delicious that you find you can.

    (5)

  • Jake L.

    I don't know anything about the best, but it's my favorite Korean food on the hill.

    (4)

  • Bry B.

    Hungry?! No need to WAIT. Excellent service. Best bibimbop on THE planet. Reasonably priced. Seriously; there is not a better plc to get a great dosolt stone pot meal.

    (5)

  • Brian P.

    Tofu stew was very nice, if a bit bland. Banchan were lacking -- no dried squid or anything fancier than a few pickled cabbage items. Prices were terrific, but the ambience was lacking. The whole place was a lot of bamboo tucked into the back corner of the building. Fortunately for me, company was superb, which is probably buoying this review... ;-)

    (3)

  • Bako B.

    This place has turned Korean food from an occasional treat to a regular comfort food for us. It's so damn good. I've tried nearly everything on the menu, even the udon soups, and haven't failed to be amazed each time. But, like most reviewers, I recommend the dohl soht bibim bob. Hot to the bitter end, and the stone's magic rays will cure your cancer!

    (5)

  • June B.

    This was not authentic Korean food. The ban chan was dry and old looking, the pajun was so deep fried it looked like a freakin' elephant ear, and the dol sot bimbimbap was shiny from all the grease (you didn't think it was possible, right?). Worst of all, was the kalbi; I've never had such fatty kalbi in my life. It was like Korean McDonald's...total disgrace.

    (1)

  • Sarah S.

    KImchi Bistro is the ultimate combination of health and comfort. Their Dohl Saht is my favorite thing on the menu, and their tea is great on a rainy Seattle day. Their Kimchi is AMAZING. My food always comes quickly after I order. It is a little crowded, but that only adds to the cozy atmosphere. The only complaint I have is that their table service is pretty terrible. I'm always seated fairly quickly, but after that I've been solidly ignored until I got their attention, sometimes even having to go up to the counter to give my order. Last time the woman even acted offended that I'd stopped her on her way back from another table. It just goes to show how delicious their food is that I keep going back. Often.

    (4)

  • Erin S.

    Headed up to Kimchi Bistro for a little bulgogi and was rather disappointed with the offerings. For around $15 we were given some rather sad assortment of banchan (limp, flavorless sprouts - among other things) along with a pile of pan-fried (read as: not grilled) bulgogi laid upon a bed of uncooked cabbage. The baechu kimchi was good - but it's hard to screw up something store-bought. Definitely no in-table grill, which made me sad. The service was very good; waiter was friendly and attentive. In the end - the food wasn't bad, but certainly doesn't deserve the rating the Yelpsters of Seattle seem to be giving it (nor the price). If you're in the mood for bibimbap, try Tofu House on 42nd & University Way and if you're looking for Korean BBQ you'd be better served sticking to the farth North (Old Village Korean Restaurant on Aurora and 152nd) or South (Kokiri Korean Restaurant on Pacific Highway in Federal Way).

    (2)

  • Vi K.

    Yaaaay!!! I love me some Korean!! Kimchi Bistro is great! Small cozy, tucked away in a tiny strip mall on Broadway. It's intimate locale definitely is appealing. The food is quite delicious for the price. I usually get the dol sot bi bim bap and the bulgogi is pretty tasty. Tons of good veg dishes and the side dishes are to die for! Not bad for the price!

    (4)

  • Jen Y.

    I now know what Americanized Korean food tastes like. Banchan: Not delicious. The kimchi was TERRIBLE. Haemul pajeon: overcooked, with red bell peppers and broccoli, wtf? Mandoo guk: Dumplings were stuffed with weird vegetables. Yuck. Kimchi chigae: Meh. Also with red bell pepper and broccoli (again, wtf?) Such a disappointment.

    (1)

  • Morgan H.

    Fun hole-in-the wall restaurant. Friendly and efficient staff, decent variety. Space is a little rough around the edges but that's part of the whole experience. The food is great- rich and contrasting flavors. Recommend the tofu dohl soht and the veggie pancake. The Korean beer goes well with the food. Dinner for two with beer was under $30- a great value.

    (4)

  • Henry R.

    Overall this place is preat great. Food is very tasty, very nice small setting, freindly lady working the front, and a simple menu. I had the spicy pork and it was very flavorfull. I well say though, it really wasn't spicy, but it was very delicious.

    (4)

  • Mags L.

    I agree that, up North, there are quite a few delicious Korean restaurants. But, I'm happy to report that you need only venture to Capitol Hill to find good Korean food. This place is a small and hidden, but I like it that way. It means that there's usually seating without a wait. The dohl soht, in particular, is delicious.

    (4)

  • Billie Wayne B.

    This place is kind of my new favorite. I get the soon doo boo everytime. I keep saying I've never had bI bim bop and I really need to try it, but the soon doo boo is just so damn good! And where else do you get like 8 little plates of extra food complimentary with every meal?! Delicious little plates of extra food, at that. And then there's one really really nice waitress, and one that's, well, kind of mean. But it's like a fun game to see which one you're gonna get!

    (4)

  • Eugene O.

    Update: I'm revising my review because the gentleman/owner gave us free kihmbap (korean sushi) to try out as it was their new menu item. This place rocks, I absolutely love it!!!! I had a great time here today, as I always do. I've come here so often in the past couple of months that I can be considered a regular. The food is very well-prepared - I always order a beef soon dooboo or the dolsot bibimbap. Sometimes when I'm feeling under the weather, I'll order the duk mandoo guk - it makes any cold or flu feel better, like nothing else can. Prices are cheap - most of the non-hot plates are under $10. Service is great - not 100% attentive because the place can get busy with only one waiter/waittress. But, they make an effort to please no matter how occupied they are - and sometimes it's the effort that matters the most.

    (5)

  • baka t.

    Very Tasty. I have probably tried close to 75% of the menu and was never disappointed. A weekly lunch spot for me during my time in Seattle. I prefer the lunch size price and portion over the dinner. Wonderful staff and service. Hidden gem of niceness in Seattle. Glad to be back in Chicago, But I miss you Kimchi Bistro oh so much.

    (5)

  • Jackson L.

    My friends and I have been coming here for probably 6 months now, usually after a night out on the town. Let me say, having a the Soon Doo Boo (Tofu Pot Stew) is just what the doctor ordered. They've also got lot's of other dishes ranging from Kalbi (beef short ribs), BiBimBap (mixed rice dish in a hot stone pot), to the Haemul Pajun (seafood pancake/pizza) that are very good. Everything is served with Korean side dishes and rice in a steel bowl (which burns your hands if you try to pick it up) Pricing is very decent for a Korean food so close to downtown Seattle. The service used to be less than par when we first started going there, but they've got a new, younger waitress there now and she's stellar. Must try!

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    Cheap, solid, flavorful. Good to know it's in the neighborhood.

    (4)

  • Maureen K.

    Call me stupid, but I had a hard time finding this place. It's in the complex where Hana is located, but go through the double doors and past the cell phone shop in the back. Prices are on the cheap side for korean food. Nice assortment of banchan (pickled side dishes). I thought their kimchi could have been spicier and tangier, but it's still pretty good. My fiance, the kim chi virgin, found it to be good and not overbearing. We ordered the bibimbap and udon soondubu soup. Both came out sizzling and boiling (respectively) and were delicious. We stuffed ourselves silly, then decided to "walk off" the calories b/c we were so full. One hour later, we were still walking...

    (4)

  • Laura P.

    Fair warning. My numerous design flaws inevitably show up at the table. I will shamelessly order too much and/or randomly sing cheesy songs that play on the radio. Tonight both happened until it hurt. I have got to love a place like Kimchi Bistro that lets me act ridiculously and doesn't give me the boot. The dumpling thread got me in the mood so that was first up. Maybe the sign that this place isn't strictly authentic is that they are labeled "gyoza", but whatever. We got our dumplings, banchan, and entrees in quick order. We barely touched our food when I realized that we haven't eaten Korean food in at least four months. That means we've been negligent in scallion pancake consumption. Before my husband could stop me, I ordered one. I do not regret it. It was the thickest seafood pancake I have ever seen. I was deliriously happy and about to slide out of my seat. At some point, my husband gasps "Oh god!'. I thought that he hit his limit. No, it was Lionel Ritchie's Suddenly coming on. Normally I don't eat a lot of banchan. Call me a banana, call their banchan Westernized but I was all over it. I start singing "Suddenly, life has new meaning to me", feeling like I've avoided certain dishes for no good reason and Kimchi Bistro showed me the errors of my ways. Chicago's Hard Habit to Break comes on and now my husband is laughing. A few other cheesy songs play and he mentions all we need is Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton Islands In the Stream. I stop laughing. That (much like this review) is NOT funny. Thankfully, my stomach has its limits. By the time that Bette Midler's Wind Beneath My Wings came on, I was good to go and slightly in pain. You know that part at the end, when she goes "Aaaah, Aaaah, Thank You"- I just pushed back my chair and bolted out of there. No smile or thanks to the great waitstaff who filled our water and tea cups at appropriate intervals. How mean of me.

    (4)

  • Kimberly C.

    Small, hole in the wall type of place. Not fancy, but still nice. I was craving Korean food. This place satisfied my craving. The server was very nice. We ordered the kalbi ribs, bbq beef, and to be honest, not sure the name of what the third dish was, but it had beef, veggies and an egg on top. All the sides that came with it were good, and so was the fried gyoza which we got as well. Our lady re-filled the little sides without us even asking her first, so plus for her! I thought we'd have leftovers, but eating with two college guys, there wasn't any food left in sight. I do like the neighborhood this place is in as well. My first time eating here while visiting Seattle, and I'd come back again.

    (4)

  • Camille L.

    It's somewhat difficult to find a great Korean place in Seattle but I absolutely adore this place. Galbi is fantastic! Heck everything is great! Sure you're smell like charcoal and marinated beef as you leave - is that really so bad though? :-)

    (5)

  • Brant P.

    Delicious Korean right near my place. The very fact that they appear to make their own udon noodles (or at least get them super-fresh from somewhere) sold me. The sol doht was great, although I'd prefer them not to pre-cook the egg before cracking it on top. The side dishes are good, and the kimchi is delicious, with a nice spice to it. The kimchi radishes are delicious as well. The staff is very friendly, if sometimes very busy. All in all, a great little neighborhood spot.

    (5)

  • r h.

    kimchi bistro is proud to be illegally and unconscionably using banned styrofoam packaging materials. i have loved their food in the past, but have no desire to give them any more of my money. shortly after my review in june, i went back, and had leftovers for the first time. when they brought them to me in styrofoam containers, i asked why they still had styrofoam since the voters of seattle banned it back in jan09. the waiter/owner made some excuses that he didn't know it was illegal, that they had lots of stock, and that he was really surprised, yada yada. my gut told me he was acting a bit shifty but i figured i'd give them the benefit of the doubt, and try back in a few months to see if they'd mended their ways. i was just in again, and lo and behold, they have a giant wall of styrofoam containers just into the kitchen. the lady asked if we wanted a table for 2, and i said that no, i couldn't eat there since i can see they are still using these containers. the waiter/owner guy came around a corner and said "fine, no problem, leave. just leave" this shows a blatant disregard for their customers, the environment, and the law. i'm all for disregarding the law, but not the environment or your patrons. just say no to kimchi bistro. their customers just said no to styrofoam, and they don't care. SMC 21.36.084 Prohibition on use of expanded polystyrene food service products. Effective January 1, 2009, food service businesses shall be prohibited from selling or providing food, for consumption on or off the premises, in expanded polystyrene food service products...

    (1)

  • Jessica W.

    Food is super authentic and service is great. Love coming here on a cold day and paying very little for my meal. Satisfying and cheap!

    (4)

  • Randji A.

    This is the one restaurant I'm always trying to get my friends to go to. It's authentic Korean food served fresh and fast with friendly service, and thankfully no tablecloths. Located behind Hana, in a pretty small space, but I enjoy rubbing elbows with the local Korean kids. I always seem to order Bi Bim Bob with tofu, sans the beef. Just like 1996, weird.

    (5)

  • Helen K.

    I don't know what my luck is with asian places. Why is it that the asian restaurants in WA suck compared to Cali? I only went here because my little friend Michael was in the mood for rice and spareribs. I don't really like Korean food to begin with, just because I've had really bad experiences. The Kim Chee wasn't even spicy, and I got the Kim Chee Soo Boo Doo (sp?) something, basically it had soft tofu, kim chee and pork in it. Unfortunately there wasn't any pork and the broth was just blah. The side dishes were on the bland side, and the rice portion was very small, my baby niece can eat more rice than what they give. I didn't try the bi bim bap-but the person sitting at the table to the right looked like she was enjoying it. I won't be back.

    (1)

  • Don T.

    No offense to Hana but I walk right past it now that I've found Kim Chi Bistro, which is located in the same plaza. The service here is super friendly, and even better, the food is delicious. A consistent theme, if you want to call it that, is that everything comes out of the kitchen volcanic. The soup is boiling. The bibimbap is sizzling in a rock. You have to appreciate a place that despite its humble appearance still brings some showmanship and flair to its food. Prices range around $10 or less. One discrepancy among the other reviews was in regard to alcohol. This place does serve alcohol. In particular, Hite beer along with Soju.

    (4)

  • katie s.

    This place is about as good as mia madre's. Except that she doesn't charge me for eating at home. I love the dohl soht. They cook the egg just the right way so that the egg yolk is soft and mixes with all of the other ingredients. My brother always orders the Beef Bulgogi plate - a little on the sweeter than most side, but good. My bf ordered the chicken bulgogi - also sweet but more spicy hot than the beef... however he had one bite of my dohlsoht and has now started to order his own. I've also had the pag-jun and it's pretty good. Not as good as the entrees mentioned above tho. The teensy bistro is small and transports you back to Seoul with the newspaper print on the walls and random knick-knacks everywhere.

    (4)

  • Bob C.

    I have a take-out from this place today...haven't eaten the food yet, so am not commenting on that.. But I want to warn you-all that they charge extra for the take-out containers....$2.50 for 3 containers!...the lady at the desk said it's because the now-required biodegradeable containers are "so expensive," but I can't imagine they cost nearly that much. It seems like a rip-off to me...this should be part of the overhead cost of a restaurant and not passed on to customers. I have had take-out from other places in the past few months and have never been charged for the containers. Is this a new trend? If so, I hate it!

    (3)

  • J C.

    I need to go back and have a sit-down experience! What I like about this place is that it's tucked into the back of the building. It's all small and wooden. Reminds me of an old school bath house, ha! What I LOVE about this place is that my mom was craving Korean food after a long fasting period, and she said this place was awesome. She ordered from there again a few days later, so I know it wasn't just the "I've-had-no-food-for-days" thing.

    (3)

  • Ms J K.

    For those out there seeking "real Korean food" this is NOT the place to go. The seasoning was overwrought with sugar, the decor is dirty and the place an overall poor representation of the culinary wonders of Korea. Since you cannot give less than a 1 star rating, I begrudgingly have to give a 1 star.

    (1)

  • Stella K.

    on a recent trip to seattle, my sister and i did some foodie research on yelp to find a korean restaurant in the city. we both thought we might crave some korean food and since kimchi bistro got such high reviews we decided this would be our korean stop. the weather was chilly and cold so it was perfect to enjoy some good chijae/stew with bap/rice. i ordered the kimchi chigae and my sister ordered yukejang. the yukejang came out looking like dwenjang chigae and for a second my sister and i were confused because usually yukejang is red because its a spicy stew. when she fished around in it, it had all the ingredients of yukejang just the color was different. my kimchi chigae looked like kimchi chigae but taste wise, it was the worst kimchi chigae i ever had in my whole life. the kimchi was not shin/fermented kimchi which is what it is usually made out of and there was cucumber, broccoli, and a ton of sliced onion in it. the chigae tasted very sweet and oh so very wrong. also the rice was very hard rice and not the sticky, chewy kind. the yukejang on the other hand tasted okay just not the spiciness my sister was looking for. overall the worst meal of our entire trip to seattle.

    (1)

  • Yoon S.

    The waitress is so sweet and friendly and the food is great. Spiced just right! very cute little spot.

    (4)

  • George F.

    In essence, this is some terrifically above average Korean food. After saying that, I think only Koreans would understand how much of a compliment that actually is. The star system is somewhat deceiving. In this case, it is solidly dependent on what you're ordering. What's good is the soup and bi bim bop. The yook gae and soon doo boo are some of the best that I've had at any Korean restaurant. The bi bim bop is solid and their kim chee isn't that bad, either. And again, "not that bad" is another terrific compliment for those who know how bad kim chee can be. So, if you're in the mood for some authentic Korean barbeque, you're better off heading north or south to one of those places. But if you want a simple meal with great service for not a whole lot of cash, you should definitely check this place out. I eat here almost every week.

    (4)

  • Julia C.

    kimchi bistro is pretty delicious for central seattle korean. my experience with korean food is limited to the delicious, but distant north seattle locations. I usually stick to beef or pork bulgogi, but at the urging of my company i tried bibimbot for the first time. boy, am i a fan! bibimbot is a basically a rice bowl served in a HOT! stone pot that cooks the ingredients and keeps them warm throughout the meal. the dish not only smells great, it looks gorgeous. a blanket of rice is topped with an arrangement of beef bulgogi and four varieties of kimchi which is crowned with a fried egg and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. i definitely recommend this place for fair portion-size, relative in-expense, and tasty korean food with terrific service.

    (4)

  • Andy G.

    This place was exactly what I was hoping it would be. Small, cramped, affordable and full of delicious Korean food. We ordered Bulgogi, Bibimbap and a soup and all three were amazing. The Bulgogi was flavorful and crispy, but I was a slight bit disappointed they don't let you crack and cook your own egg. The Pork Bulgogi was so tasty, while the soup was good, not great. All for about $30 and loved the giant Hite beer. Definitely will be back.

    (4)

  • Bridget L.

    I'm no Korean food expert, but I do enjoy this place! I always get the dohl soht with the crispy rice, egg on top, and side of sauce to mix around. Their sauce is sweeter than others I've had, but it still makes a nice addition to the dish. If you are hungry, get the homemade dumplings for an appetizer. You won't be disappointed. The side dishes are also a delicious plus!

    (4)

  • David V.

    I've been living on Capitol Hill for the past 2 years and I gotta say that this IS the place to go to for some Korean food...even though my Korean friends say it tastes completely different than what you get in Korea LOL. Anyway, I LOVE the Dohl Soht with the Korean sauce (which is basically Bi BIm Bap on a hot black bowl) and the Korean pancake (He mul pa jun - spelling?). The kimchi is OK, you can ask for a refill of them if you want to.

    (4)

  • Yvonne D.

    SO I went here with a couple of my friends, we ordered a bunch of food, bi bim bap, some tofu soup, and some other dishes. Let just start out by saying that I didn't think the food was that bad it just doesn't taste like Korean food at all, it tastes kindda odd to me, not that it's bad, just not what I've always thought Korean food would taste like... Anyway yeah I don't think I would come back here.

    (2)

  • Occam W.

    I've been here a few times and gotten the dohl soht bibimbap every time. It's good and cheap and I like that it's a little hard to find... off the beaten path.

    (4)

  • Maida C.

    Kimchi Bistro is my place to go when I'm in the mood for Korean, especially dohl soht bibimbap, and don't want to head north to Shoreline or Lynnwood. Service is good and the food is tasty.

    (4)

  • Alex S.

    Love the intimate atmosphere. Helps ensures great quality and fresh foods. Everything is delicious and authentic of course with a few creative twists. Their veggie tempura is SO YUMMY! But I always go of the Bi Bim Bop and some Sea Food Soon Do Boo (sp?) . Not to mention they have an awesome alcohol selection! Food is very consistent and this has been the only Korean Restaurant I regularly go too.

    (5)

  • Emma W.

    Even though the place is a little small and cramped, the workers there are extremely friendly and eager to seat you. I've been here a couple times. My friends and I LOVE the Bi Bim Bap and the Hot Pot Bulgogi. You get your money's worth of food, and I highly recommend trying it if you haven't already. They're very nice about splitting checks for big parties also!:)

    (5)

  • Ken H.

    mediocre Korean food - I ordered a bulgogi plate which came out mostly with shredded cabbage with a little bit of grilled meat sprinkled on top. I thought, ok, whatever, this is their 'lunch' plate portion, which was $9 (not that cheap either), and then came the bill, they charged me $12! (the dinner plate portion!). When I questioned the lady about the pricing, she said: 'oh sunday we server dinner plate portion all day long'... What the... for the kind of food quality, the price, and the service, this plate does not deserve your business. I wouldn't have been there if the restaurant in front of it (Hana) was not open on Sunday for lunch...

    (1)

  • Shannon M.

    Cheap and fine, but not the most subtle or authentic Korean food I've had. I remember the bibimbap being pretty good, but on my most recent trip I had duenjang jigae (spicy tofu soup) and wasn't thrilled. The banchan (side dishes) are decent but both the radish and cabbage kimchi were not spicy and oddly sweet. Not bad for a Korean craving when location and cost are a major factor (most of the really good places tend to be really far north).

    (3)

  • Michelle F.

    I was skeptical of the reviews here... do the Cap Hill hipsters REALLY know Korean food, or do they just THINK they know it? Hmm.... If my rating were based on food alone, I would give it a 3.5 or 4 star. But the venue itself could use some love. It's dusty and cramped, and... well, I just don't like the idea that a giant gob of dust could fall off and land in my food, is all. The food is quite tasty. Unlike many Korean restaurants, the foods made "spicy" aren't done with the sauce that makes everything sickly sweet. Bravo - points scored for that. The fish roe bi bim bap was most excellent. Points for that, though points docked for the stone pot not being hot enough to crisp the rice at the edges. The green onion pancake was one of the best I've ever had. Great ingredients, good portion. The only downside was that it was very greasy. Had it not been so greasy, I would seriously go to fisticuffs with people to get the last slice. Tasty! The appetizers / condiments that come out before your food have a solid variety. Personally, I like a few more spicy options, but that's me. You could feed me hot burning coals and I would thank you for it. Overall, good service, great food, dingy venue. I would go back.

    (3)

  • Peter D.

    This place is really small and popular which means having to wait awkwardly and shuffling around every time the door opens as more people squeeze in. Despite the wait, the waitress got our orders while we were still waiting, so our food arrived soon after sitting. The food hits the spot, pretty much what I expected. I got the Soon Do Bu with beef and tasted authentic. The appetizers are always great and they offer to refill if you want. They don't advocate you just lounging around after you eat. I did feel kinda rushed towards the end of the meal, but understandably so. Also the prices are great especially for being in Cap Hill.

    (4)

  • Alex W.

    OMG - My partner and I crave their bulgolgi... The flavor of the food is delicious and I would've given them 5 stars but I am giving them 4 stars because they have pretty slow service (2 out of the 3 times I've been here I was waiting for 5-10 minutes before anyone talked to us). I highly recommend going for lunch since their portions are similar sized but a lot cheaper. Don't be turned off by the hole in the wall vibe - it'll be worth it!

    (4)

  • Anuj K.

    OK. Maybe my standards for Korean food are different because I grew up in California, but the Soon Do Boo (tofu soup) and Ban Chan here was not anywhere close to the marvelous spicy soups and asian flavors I had in Los Angeles. Maybe it's an unfair comparison. I did like the seafood pancake a lot, but it was very greasy and fell apart very easily. I didn't try any of the bulgogi dishes so I can't comment on that.

    (2)

  • Nancy C.

    My usual spot to eat when im schooling! Its so good, sorta a hole in the wall feel. Ive always had great service and amazing food. I LOVE green tea with brown rice! And they always refill my constant empty cup. Im the type of gal who doesnt try new things too often so I usually stick with the must have soon du bu (combo), either spicy pork or short rib. Usually one soup and main course is enough for me(yes I eat alone sometimes, it doesnt bother me). OR if im starving, mackerel is cracking too! I think one day, I mean one day that I have this feeling of trying something new, it may just be the bimbimbap. Chinese girls love them some rice! (atleast I do.. Empty rice bucket baby!!) Oh gosh im craving korean food as I review this place..

    (5)

  • Geoff D.

    Not a review. This place is back open after a several-month hiatus, but the Yelp team appears to have created a new profile page for it here: yelp.com/biz/kimchi-bist…

    (3)

  • Eli W.

    I'm not Korean, but I've had a lot of Korean food. Including eating at restaurants in Seoul, no big deal. So I believe I have a good measure as to what is good and what is bad Korean food. Kimchi Bistro has some positives and some negatives, but is overall a master of mediocrity. Their side dishes are alright, a little more variety, quality, and larger servings would make it good. Their main dishes are also okay, but like some Yelpers have mentioned prior, the bulgolgi and teji bulgolgi is mostly lettuce than bbq meat. What I would recommend: Seafood Pancake Soon Doo Boo (spicy tofu + meat soup, you choose what meat) Dohl Solt Bi Bim Bop (mixture of rice, veggies, and meat stuck in a sizzling stone/cast iron pot) At the end of the day, Kimchi Bistro is, as far as I know, the only Korean Restaurant in Capitol Hill. The lack of competition encourages the place not to have to go above and beyond which results not in a bad place to eat, but one that is not especially good either. I wouldn't say this is an exceptionally good representation of how good Korean food really can be, at all.

    (3)

  • Rhan K.

    Great food at a great price. The lady who runs the place is super helpful (pointed me in the direction of the closest Korean grocery store) and the food came out quickly. The dishes were delicious and their beer selection was decent. The kimchi was a little sour (old) but I'm not the biggest kimchi fan so I'm okay with that. The prices are decent and there were plenty of seats. I am sold. This is my place to go to for a little Korean food at the end of a long day.

    (4)

  • Jun W.

    best, if not, the only korean place on the hill. The food is good and cheap. Love the tofu soups and dohl soht. If you're not familiar with korean food, they usually offer you complimentary sides. Yum-o if you like pickled food

    (4)

  • Jena E.

    I burned myself on the stone bowl due to impatient gluttony several times! It was awesome! I ate until my pants hurt, and I was still scraping the crusty rice from the bottom. The mungbean pancake was like ... I compare it to the first time I ever had nachos. The vegetable tempura and homemade kimchi were also 5^5 stars. Everything that came out of the kitchen sizzled like a mother. Appetizers are $8 - $12 and entrees are $10 - $16. Our waitress rocked. She was running from table to table and SO happy to see us! I never ran out of water. They're closed the fourth Wednesday of every month.

    (5)

  • Diane M.

    The place is very small, but cute. There is little decor and not at all fancy. As I came with a friend, there were several couples and friend groups, as well. It seemed like the "hang out" restaurant. We both ordered the "Flying Fish Roe Dohl Soht" and it was really great! They were left clean!! Of course, always use the provided spicy sauce to experience a little bit of the Korean cuisine. Although, I must add, I have to ask for a spicier sauce every time. I love my food super spicy, or else :O I'm not too sure about the kimchi dishes. Some were good but one or two was .. okay. I do think I'll give this place another try. The ajumma working there seemed so sweet!

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    Love, love, love Korean food. Especially kim chi. I finally made my way to this place for lunch with some co-workers visiting from Korea. I figured they are the best judges to bring to tell me how this place is. I ordered the Bi Bim Bap (Dohl Soht) and it was delicious! My dining companions ordered the kim chi dohl soht, ox bone soup, and fried fish dish. We also had a couple orders of the squid pancake to share. I loved the crunchy and soft textures of the pancake with the bits of kim chi and toothsome squid. They all commented that it was good (slightly sweeter than in Korea) but it was exactly what they were craving having been in Seattle a couple of days and needing a taste of home. The plates of sprouts, radish kim chi, cabbage kim chi and other nibbles are one of my favorite parts about Korean food and this restaurant provided a good assortment. The space is small and very casual. The service is quick and efficient. Perfect for a quick and inexpensive lunch.

    (4)

  • Jamie J.

    Talk about hidden. Another one to chalk up to Yelp! I would have never found this place on broadway if it wasn't for yelp. I almost got lost trying to find it, walking up and down the street. But once we found it, I was really delighted at how small and quaint it is. I went with my family and we had great, unique meal. The Bi Bem Boop (sp) seems to be the big hit, so of course I got that. It was a sizzling, popping, hot pot. I loved the sticky rice at the bottom and the egg right on top. It was totally unexpected and something that I've never seen nor tasted before. Yumm. They also bring you little dishes of kimchi and other goodies to eat on their own or throw in your hot pot. I love a meal that is involved like that. And when it tastes so good, you can't stop eating it, you know you've hit the jack pot. The prices are good and the service is spot on as well. The menu details health benefits and info about the food items so you're not looking like: huh? All in all, great meal. Good environment, and fun location - if you can find it. Bi bim boop me all day!

    (5)

  • Long P.

    A cute place tucked away in the very back of the Alley building on Broadway. Get the DOHL SOHT BI BIM BOB (hot pot version) and BEEF BULGOGI. Yum Yum Yum.

    (4)

  • Vi L.

    Pa jun! Kalbi! Bulgogi! Soon doo boo! It's a party!!!! Super delicious food, ultra friendly service, unpretentious atmosphere. And so quick to serve! (ok, i'll stop using exclamation points.) Love the food as much as the folks, tastes like i'm sitting in a korean household having sunday dinner but like every day of the week. can't wait for a table? call in 10 minutes in advance and get your grub to go. drop what you're doing and head over there right now.

    (4)

  • Tanya Z.

    While the food is delicious and we were somewhat of regulars there, this weekend I watched 3 roaches climb up and down the wall as I was eating, and sadly, my love affair with this place ended. I'm sure the roach thing isn't unique to this place, but I don't need to SEE them as I eat.

    (2)

  • Linda C.

    :( The pluses: Very nice staff Good service Cozy space The food was pretty *meh.* Soon dubu didn't have much tofu in it. Sides were average. The pancake thing was OK. Bi bim bap was lukewarm... All in all, an average meal. The fact that it has a four star rating on Yelp says more about the subpar expectations for Korean places in Seattle than the food...

    (2)

  • Jordan C.

    Incredible Bibimbap and everything else! The Oxtail beef broth, flying fish roe, and the rice cake appetizer (forgot the name) are absolutely excellent. My wife and I have gotten a number of different things, and have never been disappointed by any of it. Small, cozy, absolutely delicious restaurant that you cannot miss.

    (5)

  • Aubrey E.

    Mmm, I love this place! I didn't really have that much experience with Korean food prior to eating here, but everything I've tried has been delicious! I do wish they had different Banchan sometimes, but I like the ones they have well enough, and their BiBimBap and Dohl Soht neve get old--just the perfect mixture of favors, simple, yet satisfying.....it's great comfort food, and I especially like the crispy fried egg on top. Take out is super easy--you can get a good meal to go for about $9, and you can be in and out in 5 minutes--less, if you call ahead to order. Eating in is nice as well--it's a tiny little family owned place, an honest to goodness hole in the wall--and, I've heard some people complain about sanitation, but other than being a little poorly lit and old, and a little cramped, it's seemed clean to me. Service is friendly--they don't have drinks on tap, so it's bottled/canned or ice water, but that's fine with me. Portions are excellent for the price, as well. I eat here at least once a onto, if not more.

    (5)

  • Stephen W.

    Solid Korean food, but I'm not a huge fan of the kimchi here. It's more vinegar heavy than balanced or spicy.

    (3)

  • Howard L.

    sides suck, bi bim bop just edible. small, not comfortable at all. I think it's the only korean restaurant on cap hill? im not sure. could be why the ratings are so high. Or maybe because the saturation of yelpers that like to support the local restaurant but there are so much better out there. *sigh* another falsely rated restaurant......

    (2)

  • Cherie D.

    The food is delicious!! This was my first real Korean restaurant and they set a high bar. Food comes out fast, hot and with no fuss. The service is silent but deadly.

    (4)

  • Angela M.

    The ladies who work here are SO. DANG. NICE. The food...it tastes good. My complaints would be: there are only 6 banchan. This is not very many and they were not refilled. The bulgogi is a beef and vegetable stir-fry. The menu depicts (and I was expecting, as it's more traditional) thinly sliced, grilled strips. I was sad. While the service here is monumentally better, I'd recommend Korean Tofu House's food over Kimchi Bistro. Better yet, make the trek to Federal Way. That's where the *truly* divine Korean chow is to be found.

    (3)

  • Samantha G.

    Usually I go crazy over banchan but the banchan served here didn't taste fresh. I also wasn't a fan of the slaw dish. We ordered a variety of dishes but everyone's favorite was definitely the bulgogi hot pot and the bibimbop dolsot. The flavors of both dishes were really good and I love how hot the dishes stayed. The dduk poki was alright but I felt there could have been a little more fish cake. My sister didn't like the jap chae because she said it was somewhat dry but I personally thought it was ok. The kalbi was a total rip off. There were probably 8 pieces and it was sitting on top of a bed of lettuce to make it look like there was a lot of food. Its not the greatest korean restaurant but I would go here once in awhile.

    (3)

  • Xander S.

    I love this place. And given the number of people here, despite being completely hidden behind other places on Broadway, so do others. The food is authentic, filling, and the owners are very friendly, albiet a bit shy, it seems. Every meal I've had here reminds me of the best food I've had in Korea, and you can't go wrong. The kalbee, the soon dubu, the seolengtang, the banchan, they serve it perfectly. And it's all pretty cheap! I also love how they've decorated the place, with classical Korean text and props that resonate of Korea. Good job guys! Just a warning though, I suspect they may be deliberately staying hidden, because the place is SMALL. Seriously, if these guys put up a sign on Broadway, they're gonna get slammed, once people realize how awesome this place is. Next time, my family visits, I'm taking them here.

    (5)

  • Richard U.

    This is a pretty tiny restaurant. Its cozy and the service is friendly. I have gotten the soon doo boo (soft tofu soup), kalbi and grilled mackrel. Overall, food is decent but not outstanding. I like the soups the best. Mackrel was a huge portion but not as tasty as I have had elsewhere. Banchan is also pretty decent. As I am addicted to Korean food and this is the only place in Cap Hill/First Hill I will be back!

    (3)

  • Aaron S.

    Very glad that this place opened again. Had no where to go for a few months to fulfill my craving for Korean food. Happy to resume..

    (5)

  • Hai Yen N.

    Cheap and delicious! A tiny little hole-in-the-wall towards the back of the office complex on Broadway that also houses Hana and Pilot Books upstairs. I almost always order the kimchi pot stew with pork and tofu or the dohl soht bi bim bap which is rice, various veggies, thinly sliced beef and a fried egg served in a hot stone pot which gives off "infrared rays for health and vitality." Just go then you can be in on this joke, too. Almost forgot to mention all rices dishes are served with an assortment of delightful kimchi including the classic cabbage along with daikon, potato, and napa cabbage. Ah kimchi, one of the simple pleasures of life.

    (4)

  • Diana L.

    Forward: I'm not Korean. The only "authentic' Korean food I have ever been exposed to was in Japan (by the hand of the oppressors), so how authentic could it have been? This is purely a white girl's opinion; if that doesn't bother your bibimbop sensibilities, read on. I have just cut away a healthy chunk of my monthly income via my impending divorce, so my attitude around dining out has changed a little. Before: I want caviar pie NOW - I will run over my mama on the way to Steelhead to get me some. Oh, and no - this ice water will not do! Big bottle of Pellegrino please! And can I have a couple dozen oysters with this? And the fatty liver of a poor little goose? And bring some for my friends at the next table! I'M RICH BITCH! Now: Top Ramen is awesome if you add some sesame oil, veggies and Siracha sauce. If I eat it on the patio it's totally dining out. I think I'll reuse this lemon wedge in my next glass of water too, there has to be some pulp left in it. I wonder if they have any Lucky Charms at the food bank? So. When I do throw caution to the wind and dine out, it better be cheap as hell, lots and lots of food, and if there's a freebie or two all the better. Kimchi Bistro drops SIX BOWLS OF KIMCHI the moment your ass hits the chair FOR FREE. GRATIS. If it's not like Janeane's mama makes it, I could give a rats ass - FREE IS TASTY. Portions are HUGE and SIZZLE upon request.

    (5)

  • Simon R.

    We went there for dinner tonight. I'm not an expert regarding korean food, but it was awesome! We got the Bi Bim Bap, Pajeon and Bulgogi to share. I'm a visitor from Switzerland, but if I lived here in Seattle, I'd go there often. The temperature of the food could've been better though (it got cold very fast). That's why I only give four stars.

    (4)

  • Carlie B.

    It's ok. For salty spicy food it somehow managed to be fairly bland at the same time. The bibimbap bowl wasn't hot enough to crisp up the rice and the egg on top was fried hard. NO fun. They did get me a runny egg when we pointed it out. The service was good, and the food was fast. So, if you have the craving for Korean, it might do the job.

    (2)

  • Thear K.

    I don't understand how this place got 2 hundred and something reviews with four stars. Worst Korean BBQ service ever. The waitress there started huffing and puffing right when we walked in and decided to give Kimchi Bistro a try. And when we ordered she started huffing and puffing again. I don't know if she has an attitude problem or she was fatigue. Also, the food here didn't deserve all this attention. Please listen to me and not go by the ratings. You'll waste your time and money.

    (1)

  • Tim R.

    This place was pretty good! I first stumbled upon the Bistro while waiting in a horridly long line for Table 219 one cold, snowy day. We ended up waiting out the line, but the discovery of KB planted a seed deep in the recesses of my brain.....the place where the memories of my Korean roommates in college first exposed me to the delectable world of Korean food. Ever since, a subtle yet ever-growing craving for Korean cuisine began to grow. Finally, my wife and I made the plunge and ventured to Kimchi Bistro despite the conflicting reviews. In the end, we walked away stuffed and satisfied. Here are some specs. First off, the place is tiny. This is by no means a reason to avoid it, but keep that in mind if you are with a large group. And sure, the restaurant looks a bit run down, but that doesn't stop the food from being good. We felt like we were sitting in a little mom and pop shop, and the somewhat secluded location was actually kind of nice to me.....kind of like finding a little nook away from the hustle and bustle of Broadway. Anyway, we had the potato noodles and bulgogi plate. The portions were generous for both and came at reasonable prices (the bulgogi was about $12 while the noodles were about $10). The token sides were good, but I have to agree with the negative reviews of the kimchi.....it was watery and bland. Still, the entrees were good and definitely worth the price, though not anything to write home about. Though this is nowhere near the best Korean I have had, it is still a great place to go for a quick fix at a good price. I live on the Hill, so I will definitely be returning.

    (3)

  • Nick C.

    If you enjoy a home cooked meal without having to cook yourself, this place is for you! While it's on Broadway, it's tuck in a little secret corner, but you can see their huge sign during business hours. Friendly waitress, good food. Ask for no spice you can't take the heat, their mild is probably 4 (out of 5) in other places.

    (4)

  • Geebi B.

    I am a Korean American from Bay Area. I used the yelp to find this place and checked it out because the rating was good! and oh boy, yelp never fails! First of all, i love the ambiance of this restaurant! It was so fun to pick out the cultural objects hanging in the walls. then i ordered Soft Tofu soup and was very impressed with it's flavor! I eat this soup almost every Korean restaurants i go, but never had it cooked with crab meats! WOW so good that i am going to start cooking with it now! The service was very quick and friendly. The owner knew regular customers by their names and was very attentive!

    (5)

  • Crystal B.

    Yummy ba bim bop and fast. Always sizzling hot.

    (5)

  • Sean B.

    YESSSS, this place is like going home! I absolutely love it! The space is quite small, but I think that makes it feel all the more cozy and authentic. Our waitresses were also super friendly, they seated us quickly, even with a relatively full house. Super affordable, with a fantastic menu. The food was also made quickly, and OMGYG - it was amazeballs 2010! I haven't had Korean food that delicious in ages! If for some reason you have to wait or want to kill time, there's also a super cool bookstore upstairs you should check out.

    (5)

  • Vivi C.

    I really like the atmosphere of this restaurant, it's small and cozy! It's right by the school and I love coming here when it's raining. The sizzling pot really gets my body warmed up. I am not Korean so I do not know what "authentic" Korean food is. I have never experienced bad service here either. One of my major complaint here is the portion size. I came here for dinner with my family one night and we decided to order spicy calamari as a dish to share. The calamari was delicious in my standards but their was barely any squid in it! It was drained in spicy sauce and lettuce. I was expecting a lot more for $12! My mom also ordered the tempura udon which wasn't enough to fill her up. It was her complaint for the night. The bowl was pretty small and after a few slurps she was finish with her bowl. One main reason I love coming here because of the bibimbap. The sizzling hot bibimbap comes in a good enough portion leaving me with no complaints. I'll be coming back but probably for lunch instead, since it is a little cheaper. The service here is also a hit or miss. I can see it is a family owned business, the lady in charge of serving the customers seems really over work. Sometimes she's in a decent mood and sometime she's in a crappy mood.

    (3)

  • Paul B.

    Loved this place when I came the past few times...but then came back after a long while and the food quality has dropped to 'moderate.' The banchan (side dishes) are pretty average quality, the prices have been hiked up I think, and the flavor is very bland for all dishes. Can't believe I loved this place so much. What happened?! The only good thing about this place is the ambiance. Soooo Korean. Like you're in a shack or something in one of those ancient-themed Korean dramas.

    (3)

  • P S.

    Happy to have Korean in Capitol Hill but this place can try harder. No spinach in the bibimbap???? Family owned was great to see

    (3)

  • Arnnie S.

    I've heard so many good things about this place from Yelp and from friends, so my expectations were high. Sadly, even with a lowered expectation this place would still suck. Look, I live in Lynnwood and we have great Korean restaurants. First off, there are only six types of banchan. Second, the pictures do not match what the actual food is. Third, the service sucks. Two tables that arrived after me received water and utensils before me. The food is bland and this place doesn't deserve to be rated in the same breath as Kawon or Hoosoonyi.

    (1)

  • josh C.

    Dohl Soht Bi Bim Bob was amazing. The woman working there was very sweet, apparently I wasn't doing it right so she came by and asked if she could stir it for me because my rice was sizzling on the bottom. To her credit once she stirred it up it tasted amazing! Food was great, service was great, and affordable. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Jordan S.

    This is a serious five star! I really wish I lived closer to Kimchi Bistro. It's really well priced, delicious, and authentic. I went in and found a small hole in the wall restaurant. I love these kind of places. Not too many tables, only three or four employees... Real small and friendly feeling. Service is immidiate. You walk in and it's impossible for someone to see you. Pick a table and you'll get the obligatory water right quick. The menu is simple, traditional Korean dishes; bibim bap, jji gae, dduk bok yi and others. My girlfriend and I got the kimchi pancake to start with because I love them. It was sick! It wasn't like the HMart ones. This had all kinds of stuff in it, squid, peppers etc etc. I got kimchi jji gae and Britt got the bibimbap. Both were awesome. I'm a huge fan of Asian cuisine andam very critical when it comes to quality in preparation. This met all my standards. Brittany is Japanese and she even qualified this as great food. You'll do yourself a favor in coming here. All of our food including a couple Hite brews and tax and tip was thirty bucks. Definitely good ish!

    (5)

  • B T.

    Kimchi Dohl Soht is the perfect cure for a rainy Seattle day. 6 mini dishes with every entree. Yes sir.

    (4)

  • Laura S.

    I have never tried Korean food before, so I have no basis for comparison, but I ordered the Bi Bim Bap Dol Saht, and it was delicious! What a wonderful mix of flavors! I ordered the dinner portion, and it is easily enough for me for two dinners or more, and at a fabulous price. I ordered take-out, so I can't comment on the service. I can't wait to go back and try out more dishes!

    (5)

  • Tom N.

    I'm so happy there is a korean bbq place around the seattle central area. So far I've been going there for 2-3 times a week and the lady is very friendly. It seems like a family owned restaurant and I tried almost every single food. I would recommend all the meat plates, where it'll be steaming off, the ki-energy bowl and the delicious egg pancake with calamari and kimchi. The ki-energy bowl is something... I remember one time I went there twice in one day. P.S. Thank you korean bistro, I finally got used to kim chi :)

    (5)

  • Grace L.

    PRO: They put broccoli in their soon dooboo. I love broccoli. Bite-size miniature trees swimming in my soup... CON: Their kimchi. Given that the place named themselves after this popular napa cabbage dish, you would think it would taste better...

    (4)

  • Nicolle C.

    Awesome kimchi selection served before the meal. I ordered the Dohl Soht, it was fantastic and large enough to take home half. Was so good it brought me out of a few year's hiatus from writing reviews on Yelp. Really, THAT good. Looking forward to tomorrow's left overs.

    (5)

  • Michael W.

    Nestled in a two story mini shopping center, way in the back, Kimchi Bistro delighted me fancy. Bi Bim Bop (original) was tastier than other places I've had and they serve it up with all the traditional freebies to wet your appetite - kimchi yum. Also, tasted the grilled mackerel and some spicy beef brisket soup which was off the hook. The downside - the place is small, so don't think about any large sit downs. Thanks Narisa for the intro to this place! A close Korean joint near home.

    (4)

  • Amanda J.

    Full disclosure - I have had a very limited sampling of Korean food in my life.... But, I am an amateur expert in deliciousness, and when completely foreign flavors taste as good as the ones at Kimchi Bistro, I'll make it a regular in my dining-out rotation. Came here on a Friday night a couple of weeks ago with my boy, and we were both a little cranky and hungry. Korean beer and an assortment of yummy side-dishes that came out mere minutes after we were seated helped to quell that pretty quickly. (The bean sprouts and kimchi were my favorites.) He got a steaming hot bowl of yummy soup (I even got to sample a couple of spoonfuls!) and I had the bi bim bap hot pot, which the menu promised would come out on a stone hot plate teeming with infrared waves that would restore my ki-energy. I have no idea what ki-energy is, but the food did come out hot and tasty and definitely reduced the crankiness to zero. The service was also extremely efficient and incredibly friendly. Bonus points for being in an adorable tucked-away building on Broadway that I may never have checked out otherwise. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Dayhawk K.

    Like many great restaurants in Korea, Kimchi Bistro occupies a small space, down a covered alley, away from the busy street. This unassuming joint belies the quality of food that flies out of the kitchen at great pace. And that may be where the temperature of the stone cauldron (, Dohl Soht) suffers a bit. We were greeted as soon as we opened the door and offered seating and menu. Iced water was standard fare, but Korean tea was readily available for the asking. Regulars shuffled in and out, and newcomers received a warm welcome. The next time we are in Seattle, Kimchi Bistro is at the top of our list to revsiit. We plan to go down the list of scrumptious comfort food on the menu. We would gladly wait longer though for great food.

    (4)

  • Carmen G.

    It's all about the portion. And Kimchi Bistro gives it to you. I had the Bulgogi Lunch Plate -- came out sizzling with a variety of side dishes. Service was quick. Kamsamnida (Thank you).

    (4)

  • Jon G.

    Do not get the tempura combination. Couple of shrimp, lots of squid and a few pan jun (pancakes). It was way over cooked and really bad. Sul Lang Tung was average. I really didn't like that they put pepper in it. I've never had with pepper in my Sul Lang Tung and it threw the whole experience off. Just give me salt and pepper on the side please. The Dul Soot Bee Bim Bop was just okay as well. Side dishes were untouchable. As in I wouldn't even touch them because they look pretty old and not yummy. You have to go down the little alley to find it...it isn't on the street.

    (2)

  • Chris T.

    I'm Korean, and it's pretty rare for a Korean restaurant to impress me. With that in mind, I have to say this place has the BEST kimchi I've ever tasted. And fortunately for us mere mortals, you can take home a little container of divine pickledness for around $5. If you want your socks blown off, go with the Dohl Solt (for health nuts out there, it's one of the healthiest on the menu). If you're uber Korean or want to get a little crazy, when noone's looking, toss in a whole dish of kimchi into the Dohl Solt, and mix furiously. 5 hours of blissful food coma insures. The place is very casual and low key - a real cave in the wall. Again, order the Dohl Solt.

    (5)

  • EJ L.

    I'm a Korean from NYC where a good number of korean restaurants scatter over NYC, Queens and Pal Park. This place is a solid 3.5 stars for price and food. Sure you don't get a variety of banchans nor decor. That's why foods are priced so reasonably for a restaurant in Capital Hill. The restaurant is small but clean and cute in a casual way. I like the wall paper with Chinese characters - that's how it was in the old days in Korea. Food is solid. I had a spicy beef soup with udon noodles in it. The soup tastes a bit different than what I"m used to but nonetheless it was tasty and good. Their do-sol-bibimbop looks so yummy too. I have to go back for it. My bf got the chicken galbi (not my usual choice) and the sauce was good. I was so tempted to get more dishes as everything seems reasonably priced. I'm happy to find a place to get my Korean fix close enough without having to venture out to Lynnwood or Federal Way.

    (4)

  • Nathan F.

    We had a wonderfully surprising good meal. Total hole in the wall with a wonderful ambiance. Everything was delicious. The vege tempura was a fav. The yellow fish, too. Eat. Drink. Be Happy.

    (4)

  • Elaine W.

    This is one of those places that I will frequent again and again and again. I've taken numerous friends, my cousin, my brother, my brother's friends, my boyfriend, my best friends...you're getting the point here...because this place is really good. I love their Sizzling Hot bi bim bop since it comes in a cast iron bowl and is literally scalding (sizzling) hot when it comes to the table. I even stick my face on top of it first and pretend I'm getting a steam facial, I have a feeling my boyfriend is sick of that joke by now. We're even taking a friend there tonight so at least someone will laugh at my bad jokes.

    (5)

  • Jamie T.

    well I just moved here a year ago and I was really excited that I found a Korean restaurant on Cap hill! Yay! right? Well this is where it started to go wrong. The woman working was very nice, it seemed like a family owned restaurant and she looked like she could be the owner. It was a very small and cozy place and really hard to find. the service was good, the ambience was somewhat homey but the food was just bad. I'm used to my mom's home cooking so I might be a little harsh here but I will not be coming back. My bf on the other hand said it wasn't bad, but what does he know about Korean food?! hehe

    (1)

  • Rick H.

    They've reopened after many months of being closed. I've never expected premium service at a Korean restaurant, but it used to be OK and the food was above average. Last visit, after being seated, nobody stopped by for probably around 20-30 minutes. I understand being busy, but it would be nice if somebody even acknowledged us. Ordered our food, the lady ran off. Our food got dropped off and nobody checked on us the entire time until we were almost done. I mentioned we could use some more banchan side dishes. There were 3 of us eating, so I thought it was fair to get a little bit more. Got a weird look and she didn't say a word, but did bring more dishes out. The dolsot was not as hot as before or not enough sesame oil. Texture was very underwhelming (rice was not crispy on the bottom). Would have given this place 3 or 4 stars before, but awkward/slow service and shrinking portions makes me think 2 stars now.

    (2)

  • Aaron F.

    There's nothing more exciting yet depressing than discovering an amazing restaurant blocks from the home you've lived in for years. The last time I'd had korean before eating here was regularly in the korean district of New York City 2 years ago. I walked into Kimchi Bistro with low expectations, and they absolutely exceeded them. Now, most people will tell you to try Bi Bim Bop the first time you eat Koren. Actually, you want the Dohl Solt ($8 lunch, $9 dinner), the same ingredients delivered in a sizzling stone pot. The dish is made up of white rice, vegetables, marinated beef, and is finished with an egg cracked on top. The food continues to cook after it's delivered, which makes the rice a little crispy; you mix it up and the egg yolk sinks into everything creating a tasty texture. I have had many cravings for Korean over the past two years, and am very happy to have finally found the real deal here in Seattle. The banchan, small dishes of marinated vegatbles they give you with every dish, was excellent. Usually I find these somewhat on the weird or spicy side, but I appreciated that they had been americanized a bit. I was surprised to be served 6 plates when I was dining alone. The restaurant is a small space inside on the right side of the first floor of the strange complex on broadway. It had a feeling of being in Korea. The man running the restaurant, who I assume is the owner, was extremely friendly and helpful. Lunch specials are available 11am-2pm daily. But with regular prices in the $10-12 range, the $1-2 off for lunch isn't a huge difference. My total for lunch (Dohl Solt with 6 banchan) was a whopping $8.80 with tax. And the portions are beyond reasonable - I definitely ate too much. Note: this is a place for a low-key authentic meal. Very small place, so don't expect a fancy restaurant. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Madeline M.

    I entered a wounded soldier. And left a new woman. Tofu Dol Saht. Is it.

    (5)

  • Anne N.

    The restaurant is small but it's cozy. To be on the safe side, it's probably best to keep your party to a maximum of 4 people. Besides that, the place is terrific. The menu offers everything from bulgogi to savory soft tofu soup... My favorite? A dish of jap chae (stir fried glass noodle with lots of veggies) and some hot pot bulgogi (unlike the tofu soup, the soup base isn't spicy). Lunch portion is $7 and dinner portion is $10. Compared to other korean restaurants, this place is a lot cheaper.

    (4)

  • Daisy B.

    You can't teach an old dog new tricks, nor my Irish partner to try to eat something other than steak and potatoes. Well, unless he's outnumbered by out of town guests who like to get their Korean food fix. The 4 adults had the Bi Bim Bap (2 had it Dol Saht--sizzlin' hot). I don't know anything about Korean food, but it was tasty and inexpensive. We shared two large bottles of Hike. Service was a with a big smile and very friendly and fast. Not sure when I'll get to go again. Guess I'll have to wait for our next round of visitors.

    (4)

  • Patrick L.

    It's a good place to get authentic Korean food. They have a limited menu with simpler dishes and soups, but they're tasty, and are still served with the traditional pan chan (those side dishes). The place is tiny, but the service is great. It's nice to enjoy authentic Korean food without the usual authentic Korean attitude and poor service you get at most Korean restaurants, which is most apparent when you or anyone in your party isn't Korean.

    (3)

  • Ginger C.

    They make the best Bibimbap! Yum! After traveling in Korea I really missed good Bibimbap and was delighted when I found it here. Sweet little tucked away restaurant!

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    Yummy, affordable food in Capitol Hill. I usually don't think of Capitol Hill when I want food. Most of the choices on the hill are either too expensive and hyped or dive food. At least to me. So when our friends led us to this place I was so pleased. It's a small place so don't expect a ton of room. If you are bringing a group, you might want to make reservations. I say this after witnessing a bunch of hipster jerks waltz in and demand a large table and pout about waiting. I would have slapped them and told them to eat somewhere else with their attitude. Aside from dealing with some of the entitled clientèle, the service was great and the food was so tasty. The tasty egg appetizer was incredible. I can't remember the name but it's easy to pick out. And all the food was cheap too. A definite stop when you want some quick, cheap food that doesn't suck.

    (4)

  • Kim C.

    One of my recent wonderful discoveries. This hidden little gem is in the same building where Hana is. I had Kimchi jigae which came with rice and side dishes. Very tasty (and healthy, in my opinion). It's wonderful in that now we don't have to travel all the way up north to get decent Korean food. The lady who served us was very nice too. Should definitely check them out if you're in the area.

    (3)

  • Rosetta L.

    I am a picky Korean foodie, and this place totally gets a thumbs up! Seafood pancakes chock full of seafood, dol soht bi bim bap was great, and a dumplings rice cake soup almost like my mom's. If my stomach could handle it, I'd order more. Must go home and deliver this Korean food baby and come back for more another day...

    (4)

  • Chad Y.

    Cute little Korean restaurant on Broadway. Food is pretty decent and don't take your friends who know Korean food or they will be disappointed. It definitely is a cute place to check out and enjoy some decent/quality food. Which in my book is sometimes hard to find on Broadway.

    (3)

  • Kel K.

    I had the Kim Chi Pot Stew w/ Pork and Tofu! Absolutely Fabulous. Good service. Great food. I CANNOT wait to try something new next time!! Did I mention...I got it to go! It was still totally amazing! I paid a grand total of $7.70.

    (5)

  • Jessica F.

    I love eating at Kimchi Bistro. The service is great, the owners are so nice and friendly. The house special, bi bim bap is really delicious and I love the Kimchi Jigae (Hot and spicy stew). Pretty much everything is good though and if you go for lunch, the prices are really affordable. Dinner is mid-range in pricing. There is better Korean in Pierce Co. for sure, but it doesn't get much better than this if you are looking for Korean right in town.

    (4)

  • Ivy L.

    I've been giving 4 stars a lot lately, but this one deserves a 4.5, I'll explain the other .5 later on. Jenn, her mom and I went here the day after Thanksgiving while we were going to Broadway. The place is like a nutshell, comfy, cozy, and small, which I like. I didn't enjoy the smell as much, but the food was great! I ordered a soup, which was boiling hot once it got to me. The rice was amazing and the potato shrimp was the best thing in the world! I love how they just put condiments on the table. So cute! I just wish that there was a restroom attached to the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Emily M.

    I'm usually very skeptical of a restaurant that advertises with huge photos of their dishes on a sidewalk sandwich board. Usually the photos are stock photos, and the reality does not live up to the beautiful representation. However, this place wildly surpassed my expectations. The food at Kimchee Bistro is absolutely, 100% delicious and affordable as well. We went on a Sunday night and got seated right away. We had the bi bim bap as well as the soft tofu soup, and they were both among the best I've ever had. The atmosphere is totally cozy/homey. Thank you Kimchee Bistro - you are now on our short list of Seattle eateries to go again and again!

    (5)

  • Pete M.

    Revisited this place recently with a bigger group of people and it is so great for the price. Basically any of the hot pots are amazing. The food comes out so fast and is piping hot which is nice as the weather gets colder. The Dol Soht is so awesome. Also the bul go ki hot pot is recommended. The side dishes are delicious, spicy, radishy - everything they should be. Also tried the korean sushi roll which was a big portion for the price; it was a good call for an appetizer to share. Basically, this place won't hurt the wallet and will stimulate the taste buds. That's usually a good combo.

    (5)

  • Tracy T.

    My neighbor (who I'm hard pressed to ever mention a restaurant she hasn't been to) took me here and I'm very thankful as it's unlikely I would have stumbled upon it on my own. Little teeny tiny place at the back of the Broadway Market. You must get the Bi Bim Bop Dohl Sot. It's basically a sizzling hot iron bowl with rice (that gets deliciously crispy on the outside), extremely tender thin slices of beef (a little sweet like Korean BBQ), sauteed veggies and a fried egg on top. You're supposed to mix everything together. OMG the flavors were insane. Every bite was amazing and I didn't want it to end. The portion was so large that it was enough for 2 meals. Cost $9, so very affordable. We also got the Seafood Pancake to share, which was really good as well. Barely made a dent in that though as it was a little heavy and we already had so much food. Neighbor got an udon noodle soup dish with thick noodles. Amazing as well and it came with about 7 or 8 little side dishes of various cabbages, veggies and (you guessed it) Kimchi. Would highly recommend this place! Just make sure you go hungry.

    (5)

  • Sam H.

    The food is pretty good. Also with the meal you get a bevy of little side dishes, such as kimchi, potatoes in sauce, bean sprouts and so on. The service tends to be pretty good. The atmosphere is nice being tucked back into the building, giving it a nice cozy feel.

    (4)

  • Bunneh L.

    I'm bumping this place up to 4 stars now that I've been coming here regularly (the only Korean restaurant on the Hill). Their kimchi and other banchan are better now! Also, try the kalbi tang (short rib soup)--very clean tasting, yet with full beef flavor. Another great dish is the daenjang chigae (Korean bean paste stew)! Their soon dubu is decent but they put some very non-traditional ingredients in it (broccoli and red bell pepper--WTF?). The kimchi chigae is alright, but nothing special, so try the dishes I mentioned above and you're all set!

    (4)

  • Jude O.

    I have been jonesying for Bi Bim Bap since my Korean college roommate took me out for it in Philadelphia in 1990. There is a Korean food shortage in Seattle, but in any town this place would be a solid price-performer. Nice little joint, good kim chee. (I recommend the Kim Chee Bi Bim Bap.) I can't wait to hit it again. The ambience is your basic Cap Hill broadway joint: nothing to write home about, not gross, not really first date material. A word on finding it: it's a tucked in the back of that little market area on Broadway. Hanna Sushi in this front.

    (4)

  • Mida P.

    I came here twice and I only ordered the "hot pot bul go gi" which is pretty good. My husband tried the kal bi and the bul go gi and he said he preferred the bul go gi over the kal bi any day. They will serve you hot tea for free if you ask for it. The only gripes I have about this place is the rice portion is really fricking small!

    (3)

  • Angie B.

    I would give this 5 stars, but I haven't had a lot of Korean food, so that would be premature...let's just say this, based on my experience today I will be trying more - probably at Kimchi Bistro. Went at 12:30 p.m., still full at nearly 8 p.m. SO GOOD. Hike beer wasn't a bad touch either. Great, fast, friendly service. Yummy, filling, delicious food. Banchan is my new best friend!

    (4)

  • Te R.

    soooo goood. soooo goood. get their bibimbub in a stone pot. so cheap and so good. enough said.

    (5)

  • Ela H.

    Holy bibimbap! This dish, served sizzling hot (literally, you can hear it) in a large cast iron bowl is so good, I find it a struggle to order anything else. (Called "dohl soht" when hot.) And I rarely do. However I was struck down with a bad cold last birthday and friends got me out for a birthday lunch so I went with the Soondubu, a bubbling hot kimchi soup. And every last slurp was spicy, tangy, and flavorful. This is inside an interior arcade of Broadway. It's teeny tiny, with cafeteria-style tables and chairs; the bathrooms are outside the restaurant and down the hall, which is annoying.... But the server is super friendly.

    (4)

  • Shirley Y.

    I'm obsessed with Korean food right now... kimchi, dolsot, bulgogi, soft tofu soup. Yummm..... Kimchi Bistro is an affordable and convenient Korean food fix if you live in downtown. I enjoyed everything I ordered but it doesn't live up to Old Village in Shoreline. There wasn't as much variety in their small dishes, the bulgogi pieces were small, and the tofu was almost nonexistent in my kimchi soft tofu. If I have a craving and need Korean food NOW, Kimchi Bistro will do the trick. Otherwise, I'd rather drive down to my old stand by in Shoreline.

    (3)

  • Michael F.

    The food is very tasty- all of it. Zesty, flavorful Kimchi. Here's our problem with this place. It isn't clean. Sitting at a table next to a wall is not a good idea. The walls are very dirty. Odd little bits of stuff stuck to them, and various other signs of use. There is a definite lack of the owners attention to details. Always makes me wonder about the kitchen. Despite this, the food is quite good.

    (3)

  • Suor K.

    I love the bi bim bap here. Really hits the spot on a cold Seattle day. Always seems to be busy for a small space, which says a lot.

    (4)

  • Oliver S.

    I went here again this weekend, and I'm amazed at the consistency. For fun, we ordered 5 new dishes that we had yet to experience. We had: Fried Mungbean patty Kimchi Pot Stew Flying Fish Roe Dohl Soht Spicy Calamari Plate Chicken Bul go gi If you're into Beer, I would try the Hite. It's delicious. 5/5 dishes were delicious. The flavors spanned the spectrum from sweet, savory to spicy. The portions were plentiful and the Banchan was endless. Our waiter was overly hospitable. Great place for food and conversation!

    (5)

  • Suzi P.

    If you're looking for affordable, yummy Korean food in Seattle, Kimchi Bistro in Capitol Hill is where it's at! The little restaurant is tucked away off of the main street of Broadway, and it is home to some of the best dohl sot (bi bim bap hot pot) you'll find in this area. The dohl sot comes sizzling fresh in a hot pot, and it is a layer of rice topped with beef bits, a fried egg, and veggies. There is also an assortment of about six pickled Korean veggies (mostly kim chi varieties) served. It's delicious and easily makes a full one-person meal for about $10. I haven't tried anything other than the dohl sot, but have heard good things about the kimchi soup and other dishes. The staff is Korean and very efficient at seating you and bringing your order out at quickly as possible. The bistro is quite small and tends to fill up and get busy during peak business hours, but on the plus side, you can call in your order, and they'll have your bi bim bap ready to go in under ten minutes.

    (5)

  • natalie n.

    Note: this is too preliminary of a review since I haven't sampled enough dishes yet. What I tasted was decent enough -- it was sort of a cold night so we had the sahlungtung, soondooboo, and dduk appetizer. Tasted better than anything I ever had in u-district, but perhaps not up to par with some places farther away. What I actually wanted to stress was -- this place had the best service I've ever experienced in a Korean restaurant, ever. That may sound racist, but I've been feeling a bit neglected and mistreated all around Lynnwood and Shoreline's restaurants. The waitress here was so prompt, polite, and warm that, lame as it sounds, I actually had a dream about it that same night. A happy dream about eating Korean food where the waitress made sure I would always have enough water to drink with my food.

    (4)

  • Dub N.

    Has a "homestyle" korean taste to everything if you know what I mean....This isn't high end yakiniku or special anything. The price is fair there were 2 workers there for about a 20 seat area. One of them was the cook. I would walk away if it is busy here. Oh yah the tables are too close to each other, to give you an idea, I could lie my head on my neighbors shoulder if I wanted to.

    (3)

  • Jenny H.

    THe first time I wanted to try this place, it was packed! So I decided to go elsewhere but insisted on coming back to try it. Well I finally got to try it and it was just OK. My boyfriend ordered the bi bim bap and I got the bolgogi or whatever you want to spell it. The bi bim bap was really good I have to say. Full of flavors and the portion was huge. The bolgogi was more on the "I can make better" side of the dish. The dumplings were good but the side dishes not so much. Maybe I'll give this place another try.

    (3)

  • Kunhyuk K.

    As written by many latest review, this place just doesn't deserve the 4 stars. Very average (or below average) dishes, with less than average service.

    (2)

  • Ana D.

    A Korean mega-babe took me here. She knew all the super secret awesome K-dishes. Among the amazing ones were: Chap Jae: Delicious glass noodles with beef I think. A little greasy, but the best things are, right? Chi Ji Gae: My new favorite thing!!! It's this Kimchi soup with tofu and pork. You know, the kind that makes your nose run and your heart warm. It's weird reading these hot & cold reviews, I guess I'll have to come back again and reassess... but when I was there the waiter was very accommodating didn't rush us out even though it was past closing time. They serve Hite here (Korean Lagar) and Soju (although this is a bit more expensive). Konbei bitches! P.S. Do NOT use the bathroom. It smells like piss and junkie vomit, which normally wouldn't bother me too much, but when I'm trying to get my grub on...barf. But what was I to expect from a bathroom on Broadway?

    (4)

  • Hawkstothesuperbowl G.

    GREAT food. GREAT service. Been here over three times and every time has been great. Every person who works here has been so nice and great. Price is fairly moderate for what it is. The wait isn't too bad either. My only issue with this place is it is SO tiny. I think they have upstairs seating but since I've never seen it open, I'm not really sure. Definitely recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Avitania B.

    When my empty tummy craves dol sot bi bim bap and I don't want to make the trek to Shoreline for tasty Korean eats, I head to Kimchi Bistro. It can get a little crowded in this little restaurant, though I've never had to wait for a table; the seats are packed together so you may have to squeeze in to fit. It's worth it, though. Within mere minutes of ordering, my scalding stone pot filled with rice, veggies, kalbi and egg is placed in front of me. The dish would be better if the veggies weren't heavy on the vinegar/salt, the dol sot pot was just a *smidge* hotter (so as to get that yummy crusty rice at the bottom) and the banchan weren't so bland. Still, I woudn't thumb my nose at a meal here; it would be good even if it wasn't the only Korean joint on Capitol Hill. Oh, yeah, and if you're not in the mood for bibimbap? Try the hot pot bulgogi soup. Yum yum gimme some.

    (4)

  • Niall S.

    Absolutely love this place -very friendly family owners, quality food, great prices. Easily one of the best places to eat on Broadway / Capitol Hill. I'm still working my way through the menu. The Dohl Soht is usually too good to pass up, but the Beef Bulgogi and Mung Bean pancake (an appetizer you could share with 4 people) are also great choices.

    (5)

  • Will M.

    Where to start, this is my favorite asian place in all of Seattle. Now I'm very picky about Korean food because I lived in Japan for awhile and a good friend of mine grew up in Korea. He was always making awesome dishes and got me really hooked on Bi Bim Bap. It's a simple and wonderful dish. So back to the review. A good friends of mine took me here on a cold, rainy day in Seattle and I must say I would've never noticed it on my own. It's a hole in the wall place, only a few tables and it's definitely family run. We set down was given water and the menus and I was in paradise because they use traditional menus! I of course ordered some Miso soup and Bi Bim Bap. In case you don't know Miso is the best thing to drink on a cold day, warms you up on the inside. They got the food to us quickly and I love how it's served in a super heated stone bowl so the rice is sizzling while you eat it. :) Great Staff, great atmosphere, great food!!!! If you stumble across this place you must try it because you'll be back!!!

    (5)

  • Agnus R.

    DolSoht is Gods gift to the world. It gets pretty packed during dinner time--but I'll throw as many elbows as I need to to get at my sizzling stone pot of amazing. The staff is efficient and purposeful and really helpful. Eat here.

    (5)

  • Nabiha H.

    I love this place! I always order the Bi Bim Bap Dohl Sot, which is delicious and only $9. The service is fast and the staff is friendly and attentive. I end up coming here every other week whenever I want something that tastes homemade but I'm feeling lazy.

    (5)

  • Katie S.

    This place is solely responsible for my new found love of kimchi! They even brought me another small dish of it after I ate the first one. Im a fan of the Bulgogi and the Bibimbap. But really I am all about their kimchi...

    (4)

  • Sherilyn T.

    ONE WORD: AMAZE-BALLS. (or is that two?) The family who owns the restaurant is super sweet, and always accommodating. Every time I come here, I get sad after my food arrives (quickly) because I realize after I eat it, there won't be any more :( Their bibimbap is yummy and doesn't have crappy filler veggies like some places use (hate when bibimbap is drowning in lettuce?!). Parking = boo, but it IS Capitol Hill, so find street parking or park in QFC (about 2 blocks down) and just buy something to get your parking validated.

    (5)

  • Monserrat J.

    It's a small restaurant with great food and great service. The bibimbap, Korean pancake, and soups are very delicious. They have never let me down. I highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Dae Y.

    Me being from a proud (non-communist) North Korean bloodline, it's not like korean cooking I'm used to, but it's good stuff. I had the yukae-jang and dduk-bbokki and it was pretty darn good. Prolly more like 3.5stars imho, but I round up. It's very true that this place is cozy and warm. I will go back!

    (4)

  • Zachary Sam Z.

    I consider myself a pretty adventurous eater, but I have to say that I just haven't developed a taste for whole prawns with the shell still on. So I made a mental note a while back to avoid seafood at Korean places, since usually it means whole shrimp. When I came in here, I was craving kimchi. I asked the waiter what was in the combination hot pot. He said, "beef and seafood." All I heard was, "beef and not kimchi." So I replied... "Can I get the combination, but add kimchi?" Let me just say that the dish was very good. Just the right amount of spicy, and a nice mix of ingredients. Avoiding the prawns-with-shell-on was only a minor inconvenience (and my own fault for not ordering what I actually wanted). But as soon as I tried my companion's Dohl Soht Bi Bim Bob, I knew I had gotten the wrong thing - because that dish was *amazing*. I will be getting that each time I return from now on. And since the service is so prompt, there's every reason to come back often.

    (4)

  • Gnome E.

    Small, seemingly family operated, hole-in-the-wall type establishment. I ordered the spicy soft tofu soup with vegetable. The dish also came with six small dishes of various pickled and marinated vegetable (including kimchee of course) and a small bow of rice, all of which were pretty good for what I paid. The soup came out in a cast iron bowl bubbling hot. I was a bit disappointed that it didn't have egg inside but considering how much I paid I really shouldn't complain. Everything was pretty tasty but nothing really blew me away, besides the bill; 6 small dishes of sides, 1 hot boiling bowl of tofu/vegetable soup/, 1 small bowl of rice, 1 pair of disposable wooden chopsticks and a ice cold cup of water all for $7.70 (including tax). My only real "complaint" was that the server was really unfriendly. I think the only time she seemed to soften up was when she dropped the bill. Though, when I dine in at places like this one I'm not choosing to eat there for the customer service. I wouldn't object to eating there again but, based on my one dish, it's nothing I would crave.

    (3)

  • Edward C.

    Dolsot bibimbap. Yum. Get it on a cold, rainy day, and feel your innards warm with Korean goodness. Okay, that sounds really dirty, but the hot stone bowl with the delicious stuff all mixed together just makes me feel soooo good on the inside. I would comment on the other food, but all I really ever want to get is dolsot bibimbap. I also think that it should be vegan if you get it with tofu and without the fried egg on top. Or at least I hope it'd be vegan. Because if it's not, then it's probably not vegetarian either... (Can anyone confirm this?)

    (4)

  • Anondah M.

    They improved the small complimentary dishes. I liked that, but Soon Doo Boo soup quality went down. And the service wasn't great. As a non native English speaker, I felt the Korean old lady's pain, but just because her English doesn't work sometimes to native speakers, it does not mean she can have an attitude toward people who did not understand her. Yelling does not help any situation...especially in customer services. Also, when we pointed out the prawn in my soup tasted moldy, she took the bowl, sniffed it, and took it away without saying, "Sorry" or any word. We did not say, "Hey, you guys gave us a bad food, we are not paying for that!". We said, "Just to let you know the prawn was moldy....but everything else was good!". And of course, we paid full-price and even tip to the bad customer services. Lady, if you want to keep the business there, you have to learn manners and maybe should take some ESL courses...like I did.

    (1)

  • Sara D.

    This place is tucked in behind a sushi joint and a few other restuarants off of Broadway. I've been looking for good Korean BBQ, and this place has been awesome for lunch. Although they don't have the actual BBQ pits, the food is excellent and the assortment of kimchi is wonderful. I like the Bi Bim Bob in a sizzling hot pot, and the sliced grilled pork.

    (5)

  • Jackie L.

    I had the best time here. It was actually my first time trying Korean food at this place so we werent sure how to eat the meals. But the lady that served us taught us what to do with the food and how to eat it. The food was delicious! and i say the price is so worth the quantity given in each plate. five stars for great service and food!

    (5)

  • Wendi F.

    Kimchi Dohl Saht every single time... I can't help myself, I gorge on everything after mixing my egg in, and I can't stop till I can barely move, and even then I still have leftovers. I love the hole in the wall gem in hiding feel, and the shy politeness of the staff here. This is one place I can and will go to every single time for my Korean fix. I even come here alone, and I am not a fan of eating alone in public. Try the pot stickers as well, they are delicious as is the pancake! they are my absolute favorite appetizers! don't let the little six dishes intimidate you, try everything. savor the different textures. They are blessed compliment to anything ordered!

    (5)

  • Kami H.

    I LOVE Bibimbap. And I was really excited to try out a new place. I live so close and had walked past a million times but never stopped. I got the kimchi bibimbap and it was fantastic. Very flavorful and not overly spicy to start with which I like because I can bump it up on my own terms. The sides that come with it were also tasty. I came in for dinner and it was 10 bucks for the bowl but portions were huge and I left extra satisfied. Thank you Kimchi Bistro for a very pleasant experience. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Valerie W.

    Not super impressed. After thinking of trying this place out...and then passing it by...I should have stuck to my gut. However I did indeed try it out as I was craving some spicy eats. The service is fine and the place is small. Prices seem a touch high for the quality. The ban chan (is that what it's called?) small bites before your meal comes out...eh. I've had much better. It was mostly bland. The cucumbers were OK. Cabbage with soy on it!? That just seems a bit cheap. Not to complain though if it's free. We ordered the Bulgolgi and Spicy Octopus. It came out rather quickly which was pretty awesome. What was not awesome was how darn chewy the octopus was. Like couldn't eat most of it chewy which means it was overcooked likely. Also side note EXTREMELY spicy if you get some of those bottom juices under the cabbage. My nose was sweating. Sadly for $13 it was not good. The bulgolgi on the other hand wasn't too bad. Decent enough flavor although much of the meat had too much fat on it. For a shared beer and 2 meals we spent around $40 and left unsatisfied. Lack of flavor overall. Should have gone for the typical Bi Bim Bop. I would probably not come back here.

    (2)

  • Sanie K.

    Love this place!!! I was always really hesitant to try the food and even just to walk in because its tucked way in the back of the building and the sign out front looks fairly tattered - but as soon as I walked it it was a complete 180 of what I expected. The food is FANTASTIC, full of flavor, and a good selection of kimchi on the side. I get so many things in one meal its like a little journey of eating different things. Everything felt like it was cooked and seasoned to perfection. Even the take out/take home containers are top notch, durable, and microwaveable. The staff is super friendly and I saw the some diners asked the waitress about some traditional-looking decorations and she was more than pleasant answering his question and mingling. When I left the whole front/kitchen waved and said goodbye to me - SO SWEET. This is definitely my new favorite place to eat on broadway!

    (5)

  • Leela S.

    This place may be worth it for lunch, but the dinner prices go to the moon and back--and the food doesn't. I had a spicy tofu stew (the name eludes me). It was decent, but certainly not worth a price in the teens. Again, I'd probably have been okay with the lunch price, but I don't see myself coming back here for dinner again. Service is prompt and polite, which is a nice touch. Their location is a bit tucked away and hard to find (hint: they're way inside the building), which I'm sure doesn't help business. However, I personally will head a few blocks down Olive to Bluestone the next time I want Korean food as I find the (consistent) prices much more reasonable.

    (3)

  • Kim S.

    This place looks like it belongs in Korea, which is perfect if you are feeling nostalgic. I had the bibimbap and panjhun, and it was delicious! Not as spicy as In Korea but I get I have terrible heart burn, so I didn't mind. Anyway, don't be worried about the weird location, sure it seems sketchy but it is worth your time!

    (5)

  • George B.

    OK yesterday I stumbled upon this little gem. We were famished and Charlies on Broadway closed (yesterday) and there were few alternatives. Next door to Charlies is the little mall with the tattoo shop on top and the tobacco shop near the rear; Kimchi Bistro is just beyond the tobacco shop on the ground level. We entered the restaurant and the smell of Kimchi was in the air. We were seated right away and given menus. We then got tap water. The waitress/cashier was young and pretty. The cook looked like her Korean mother. There were three other people in the place, each eating solo. There are pictures on the menu, which was nice. I can't remember the names of the dishes because I'm somewhat new to Korean food. That being said here is a description: I had a bowl of veggies and rice with firm tofu and a sunny side up egg. I was instructed to stir everything with a spoon then eat with the spoon. everything else was to be eaten with chopsticks: It came with a bunch of little bowls of various goodies, like cabbage with a sweet teriyaki dressing, kimchi, spicy pickled radish, some kind of cabbage and tofu chicken tasting dish, etc. It was all so good. My man had a spicy pork dish which came on a stone plate and a hot bowl of something, which came in a stone pot. I also had a bottle of soju, yummy Korean rice wine (20% alcohol) that you drink in the form of shots. If you're new to Korean food, just try everything. It's really good. If you have picky (annoying) friends or kids, I would recommend an alternate place, but if you have cool friends or kids, or it's just you, 100% worth coming here. Did I mention the prices were AMAZING (low) ?!? Great Value!

    (5)

  • Jenny D.

    Eating Korean food is my forte. I can eat it all day any day. Don't underestimate this place by its exterior. It may be a small restaurant but it knows how to serve good Korean food! I've only had the Dwaen Jahng Ji Gae and the Kimchi Dol Sot Bimbimbap. Both were extremely tasty! The Dwaen Jahng Ji Gae is a fermented soybean soup with shrimp, tofu, zucchini, and some other vegetables that I probably can't remember! The Kimchi Dol Sot Bimbimbap has been my favorite so far. The sizzling sound of it coming out is amazing. You know it's going to be nice and hot and when you mix your egg too...just watch all that yolk drizzle away onto everything else. They will also give you hot sauce for you to put on as much as you like. Even if you don't like spicy food, just squeeze a bit for that kick! Overall, good Korean food that's pretty cheap. Server is really attentive as well. Would come back again for sure!

    (5)

  • Ngân L.

    Best KimChi soup I've ever had. Though the place is a bit small, the food is great. Good for casual lunch

    (5)

  • Zachary P.

    Incredible Korean food, incredibly cheap, approachable with a nice server. Subtract one star given it could have been a bit cleaner but damn the food was good and such a deal. If we're back in this neighborhood we'll be back.

    (4)

  • Alisha O.

    What a disappointment. I really didn't like this. I ordered the yook gae jang to go. The service was very nice but the food was a total miss for me. Bland and I swear less than an ounce of meat. And who puts soup in a box? What a mess!

    (2)

  • Lydia N.

    Decent food. Most of it is right around $10, so your actual bill will be closer to $12 (contrary to the $ rating). I got the soon do bul (tofu soup) and found it perfectly warming for coming in from a rainy night, but it was pretty one-noted in terms of flavor. It tasted like they used quite a bit of MSG and didn't have any fresh seafood flavor. I was super thirsty afterwards too. There was only a white rice option and the ban chan (side dishes) were forgettable. The kim chi was ok - not super spicy or pickled, just salty. Service was fine but my biggest annoyance came with the takeout container. I had finished about half my tofu soup by the time I ate the rest of the rice (again, the soup was pretty salty) so I asked to have the rest of it packed. It was packed, but in a Chinese takeout container which, while being waterproof as a container, is not watertight at all. It was placed in a plastic bag, so most of the soup spilled and held up in the bag. Overall it was the most stripped down Korean restaurant I've been to. I've had better meals at restaurants in Korean grocery stores.

    (2)

  • Annie M.

    First off, the service was great. The waitress was nice and attentive to all her customers. The food was flavorful- and really hot! I got the bibimbap dohl soht and it came out sizzling :) music to my ears. My friend got a tofu soup I think. All the sides were also pretty good. Would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Nancy L.

    Awesome Korean food! The potstickers were amazing. The food was fresh and fabulous and the service was excellent . I highly recommend this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Brittany B.

    Whoa Kimchi Bistro. You have really stepped up your game. I heard there was a new Korean joint on the hill and checked it out. Their their dish was comparable, but they packed their Bi bim bap with so many veggies that it was a real toss up when I craved this delicious dish. On a Sunday, my partner and I were craving Korean and by default, we wound up back at the tried tested and true Kimchi Bistro because it was open. Kimchi: you blew my mind. You have retained your delicious flavor and texture, but you packed the Dohl Soht (forgive my spelling) with a very impressive amount of veggies. Well done, Kimchi Bistro! I will never stray again.

    (5)

  • Ninette C.

    Korean tofu soup is the ultimate in comfort food. I came here on an especially cold winter evening and knew that's what I wanted. I really like the way the menu is laid out with bim bim bap and then several varieties, noodles and then varieties, tofu soup and then the varieties and so forth. I selected the tofu soup with seafood. As usual, the meal came with Korean appetizers. The soup also came with a rice to dip into the soup. This soup immediately warmed me up! It was tasty and filled with veggie, tofu and seafood goodness! I know this isn't traditional but my only thing would be that I wish brown rice were an option. Blasphemous I know. I will be back to Kimchi Bistro for more tofu soup and then other dishes in the summer!

    (4)

  • The Anh N.

    Very Good actually, the beef cuts weren't quite impressive, but it's side dishes are decent. Everything you order comes with sides, and they really need to work on the sides to make it more savory.

    (4)

  • B J.

    8/6/14 Came for late lunch. Way to hot for the hot Dohl soht (bi bim bop in a hot bowl. Had the regular room temp bi bim bop. I like that they cooked my sunny side egg runny (you need to request for you that are salmonella-phobic!) Service was very friendly and doting in refilling teas and Kim chee. Very personable cute server mashed the meal experience so pleasant. Love that you can still get all you can eat Kim Chee. And people, you don't have to think Korean is all spicy and smelly. This place has created really fresh tasty Kim Chee specialities. My faves are the marinated carrots, marinated fish cakes, and bean sprouts. Also, request the Korean chili paste (Gojuchang) to spice up any dish. Love adding halfway through to change up the flavors. Also, it's an acquired taste, but ask for barley tea- hot or cold. Oh, and it looks like chairs were reupholstered, but torn seats sporadically and the seat covers are cleaner. Yea! Love the food. My lunch today with tip was under $12.

    (4)

  • Abbygail E.

    Came here with a couple friends and ordered the Dohl Soht Bibimbap with beef. My friend described it to me as the Korean version of a salad (haha) and it was great! The vegetables were fresh and still crisp, the seasoning was perfect, and it arrived sizzling in a stone pot. I'd recommend it to anyone. Seriously, food should always sizzle when it's served. This place is like the definition of a mom and pop shop because it's so small with minimal furnishing but it's like eating in someone's home. I felt like I got an added personal touch when one of the women (maybe one of the owners) saw me looking at my food and came by to tell me to mix all the ingredients together to get the best experience. Reminded me of my grandmother! Kimchi Bistro can be a little hard to find but I believe the trek is worth it. Come here for the yummy, homey food and the personalized service.

    (4)

  • Heather S.

    Tiny, cute little Korean restaurant peacefully tucked in between other businesses. The tofu soup was great. I also ordered a seafood pancake which was okay. I definitely recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Emily Y.

    Love this place, been coming for years. Good service and great food. The bulgogi is my go to dish!

    (5)

  • Eva M.

    Love this little hole in the wall family-run restaurant in the Broadway Alley and have been a patron for years. Faves include the Dohl Soht and Soon Do Bo.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    -Only dinner price on sunday -looked like 1 lady was running the show- cashiering, delivering beverages/food -sullungtang: broth was very good. true korean flavoring. the bad... the beef was chewier than it should've been -spicy chicken bulgogi: too sweet

    (2)

  • Ryan D.

    We were craving for some Korean and a friend of mine had recommended Kimchi Bistro up on Cap Hill. I had originally thought the restaurant was at its own place, but no it is inside a small building mixed in with a few other restaurants and stores.. It is a little hard to find so one would have to look for it to find it. The signs they had were small. The place was small but doesn't feel cramped. We were greeted and seated right away even though the place was almost full. There wasn't much on the menu, but it did hit the right items for the typical Korean cuisines. I had ordered the Kimchi Jjigae ($9 for dinner) which was a stew like meal made with kimchi and other ingredients, such as scallions, onions, diced tofu, and pork. For appetizer I had ordered Tteokbokki ($7) which is made from soft rice cake, fish cake and sweet red chili sauce. My sister had the original bibimbap ($9 for dinner), and a friend of ours had the beef bulgogi ($13 for dinner). All items came out very promptly and was very decent sized. I was not expecting a decent sized plate with the meals. With the meals came small plate items such as kimchi, salad, seaweed, etc. Everything was very good! While there are better places to grab Korean food, Kimchi Bistro is definitely a go to place when in Capitol Hill area. Just remember the place is tucked in, so look hard for the signs!

    (4)

  • Cynthia X.

    Pretty good Korean restaurant in Capitol Hill, but I don't think I had much other options for Korean in the area anyways. I ordered the beef tofu soup, and it was pretty standard. A good amount of tofu, with little bits of beef here and there. Its comes with several small side dishes. However, the quality of the complimentary side dishes was not very good. This must be their cost saver, but for the reasonably priced dishes, I'll take it. Wasn't a huge fan of their kimchi either, slightly too sour and watery for my taste / kimchi that I'm used to eating.

    (3)

  • Jared B.

    This is a fairly good "hole in the wall" that I wouldn't have discovered if it weren't for my friends pointing it out. I have only gotten the babimbap, and I rarely eat in the restaurant. That said, I've never been a big fan of the service here, and if the dining area is full it can definitely feel a little claustrophobic. Dingy is a word that comes to mind. The food itself is good and I love a good heap of protein and carbs after riding my bike all over the Hill, but //rant incoming// every. single. time. they hassle my group over how many plastic bags we want for our takeout orders. We fell for their trick a few times, DON'T SAY ONE BAG! They decide that if you only want one bag, you only want one order of kimchi! Even if your group orders multiple items that come with it. And they get real passive-aggressive about you daring to ask for your own bag for your own food if they know you came in with someone else also ordering. If ya'll didn't short us the kimchi, we'd get just one bag, it's your own fault! UGH. //rant over// I can't say if the dishes are authentically done since I lack the culinary experience, but it's not full of just sugar and salt, they use some real spices that tastes unique enough and good enough for me to return. My friends have tried other dishes and let me sample some of theirs, everything seemed like it was worth ordering but I really only come here for the bibimbap. The price seems a little high for the value received. But, I still come back here since there aren't other options for this style of cuisine. And as long as you don't want more than one bag, the staff is borderline polite.

    (3)

  • Julie B.

    I just moved here so when a friend told me about this place, something he called "a local secret," I was excited to try it. It COMPLETELY lived up to his hype! I had the bibimbap and it was one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. I had just eaten at the super fancy Shilla downtown a day before, and this place is SO much better! It's a tiny little place, very cozy. The alcohol is overpriced, but the food came out so fast and so yummy, I didn't notice the lack of drinks. A friend who had lived in Korea for 7 months said this is the most authentic place she's seen outside of Korea since she left.

    (5)

  • Alexa T.

    I'd only recommend Kimchi Bistro if you're in Capitol Hill and need a quick meal. The food came really fast and it was hot, but if I hadn't been so hungry I wouldn't have been pleased. Jap chae was soupy and barely had any noodles or meat. Mainly it was onions and cabbage. Dol Soht bibimbap was OK but didn't get that crisp though we left it untouched almost the whole time. Seafood soon doo boo only had one shrimp and not too exciting. Grilled mackerel was the winner. Salty and crunchy grilled tips. The end.

    (2)

  • Sonia A.

    After 2 PM they charge twice as much, saying its dinner prices!!! You'll only catch that if you look at the small fine print on the menu. $19 for a plate at 2:15pm is excessive . Otherwise , it is great food.

    (2)

  • Dispari S.

    Very good food, authentic experience. Everyone at our table ordered different things and I tried most of it. I like the spread with the kimchi and zucchini. I had the dwaen jahng jji gae which had a great broth and a good mix of veggies. Wife had bi bim bob. One of our guests had the bul go gi plate which I did not actually get to try, but it looked good. Other guest had the gyoza, which I liked a lot and would probably get on a future visit. Also the pricing was very cheap and I was quite happy with that.

    (5)

  • Brian K.

    Great food. We got some chicken dish- WHEWW HOT SHIT, literally. But worth it. Place is like plane cafeteria, middle school al over again. They just don't really care to make it look cute inside. I don't mind tho BC iin here to sweat out the chicken I'm ordering. Solid food, solid service, solid prices

    (4)

  • Kristin C.

    You know that peculiar, quiet rage you get when you are served a meal and it's not remotely close to the picture or any standard found at similar restaurants? You know it...your body kinds of tingles and every time you bring your soup through a bland broth only to bring up almost no tasty bits, your brow furrows and a small part of you dies? THAT HAPPENS EVERY TIME HERE!!! I could hold all of the pieces of tofu in one spoonful both of the times that I ordered soup. The pieces of pork were similarly disappointing and couldn't even fill the spoon when I deliberately fished them all out in anticipation of writing this review. I know people need a quick fix for Korean every once in a while but this place is not good and the food is actually bland. BLAND KOREAN FOOD??? ***It's worth noting that I never use all caps. It's the only way I could write this review without saying some really mean things.

    (1)

  • Jude O.

    I enjoy ethnic cuisine particularly Korean food and this hole in the wall was a surprising find. Went there for lunch on a sunny weekend with a friend. We decided on "lets-order-half-the-menu" style. Had the 'gogi' + galbi with several sides: rice, gochujang, japchae, kongnamul and kimchi anchovies.I know...that much food! What first impressed me was that they produced quality food at such speed. But then again, it wasn't that busy..yet. Although the place felt slightly dingy, which may make some dismiss it. It's quite homely,the food's superb and it's right in my neighbourhood! I say win-win!

    (4)

  • Ly H.

    I was a bit iffy when I walked in because the room was completely empty. I ordered the Dohl Soht and admired the cozy decor of the paper lined room. The area quickly filled up and the buzz of the dinner crowd heightened. My dish came out steaming hot and the waitress told me to put sauce into the dish and stir it up when I was ready to eat. I totally forgot her instructions and began to eat the food wrong, it was still really good. My friend looked at me weird and I remembered what the waitress said. After stirring it up, the Dohl Soht tasted like a dream! I was stuffed and had to keep myself from eating more just because it was so delicios. When I ate the leftovers the next day, I knew I would be coming in for more.

    (5)

  • Jennifer T.

    Amazing as always! Korean BBQ is always my weakness! You should come here. It's a bit hidden but it's well worth it! If you don't want to go all the way to the north or south, come here!

    (5)

  • Jessica L.

    It won't win any points on ambiance but it's not about that. What this place is all about is really traditional food. We followed the advice and went with the Dohl Soht and were very happy we did. It arrived in a hot pot with 6 different kimchis, some we loved and some weren't loved. We will be back and might just go right back to this dish it was that good!!

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    Here's my cabbage test: Does this food have cabbage in it? Y/N If the answer is Yes, I'm not really excited about eating whatever this food is. And from what my friend Nina told me, almost everything we were served failed my cabbage test, so I feasted on gyoza at the Kimchi Bistro. Kimchi Bistro gets 4 stars for the excellent gyoza and excellent atmosphere. At Kimchi Bistro I didn't feel like I was in the USA...which is an awesome feeling to have considering the place is in my neighborhood. Kimchi Bistro gets bonus points for thriving in a hard-to-find location. You have to go out of your way to find the Kimchi Bistro.

    (4)

  • Brittany H.

    This place has amazing food. Staff was very nice and helpful. Clean little hole in the wall. Bim Bi Bob was amazing, first time having it and now I'm hooked. Will definitely be back and bringing friends there. Check it out!

    (5)

  • Drew H.

    We stopped here from our yelp recommendation after visiting the Seattle Asian art museum. Service was very good wasn't that crowded on the weekend prices were fair and we all liked the food.

    (4)

  • Thu M.

    Well, name all the Korean restaurant in Seattle and Portland area and I've been to almost every of them. Just 3 phrases: - average food - tiny tiny size with not so cheap price - bad customer service (any who asks for refill on the side dish, which is super tiny!!! I'm a skinny short Asian girl and that's not even enough for me to eat)

    (2)

  • Rachael G.

    Came Kimchi bistro with friends. We ordered like family style. We had Dohl shot bibimbap, spicy pork, grilled mackerel and seafood soon doo boo (not sure name of that. it was hot tofu soup). Dohl shot was aaaaaaaamazing!!!! All vegetables were crispy and very fresh. Spicy pork with cabbage was perfect combination. They melted in my mouth. Grilled mackerel was unbelievable. I love grilled/fried fish. I always order fish plate when I go to the Korean restaurant. But their grilled mackerel was best of the best. The fish was cooked as golden yellow color and it's texture was crunchy. Seafood soon doo boo was flavorful and tasty. Stone pot kept warm till our dinner finished. This restaurant is located inside building. Hard to find it. But it worth it. Can't wait until next visit to kimchi bistro! Yammmmmmy .

    (5)

  • Joop V.

    I like this place quite a lot. The service is pretty good here. Food portion is pretty large and the it actually tastes quite good in my mind! The food is a little bit more..maybe $15 a plate, but if you come during lunch (and not dinner or weekend), the prices should be quite affordable (although probably smaller in portion). I don't have too high of a standard for Korean food..but for once in a while when I have craving and don't want to go too far to search for a good place, this is probably my go to spot. It's nice and well hidden back in a building. The restaurant is small and quiet enough for you to sit and enjoy your meal...plus I always appreciate the banchan snacks that they provide regardless of what you order, too.

    (4)

  • Mickey K.

    The banchan isn't as good as other places and the soon doo bu we ordered came out relatively fast but was overly soupy. There wasn't that much vegetables or tofu. The seafood soon doo bu had only one shrimp in it. We left hungry, and I don't think we'll be coming back here any time soon.

    (3)

  • Misty S.

    Today i got a seafood tofu soup and seafood pancake. The seafood tofu soup was spicy and yummy. If it was made with a bit more red pepper paste, I would have given it one more star. To my surprise, the seafood pancake was thick like a pizza and the taste was just okay.

    (4)

  • Patty T.

    The place is now CLOSED! I was told by the guy next door that the owner just returned to Korea. What a wasted 20-min trip to check it out :(

    (1)

  • Karen L.

    Update: I felt like having spicy beef soup (yook gae jang), so I decided to give it a try. It was not spicy. Yook gae jang is supposed to be spicy but it wasn't. BUT, it was delicious. It had beef, green onion, onion, hot pepper, mung bean sprout (if I recall correctly), and sweet potato noodle (called dahng myon in Korean). I'm almost certain that they used the same broth they use for their Light beef soup (sul rong tahng). That's why it was good. The light beef soup broth is very flavorful because it's supposed to be boiled for a longgg time. And the result is, amazing broth. It's very smart that they use the same broth for yook gae jang if my guess is correct. And of course, their sea food pancake was delicious as always.

    (4)

  • Stanlo S.

    Kind of mediocre Korean food, especially given the price, saved by the fact that there isn't much else in the area. I've had the dolsat bibimbap, kalbi, and spicy pork bulgogi and all of them taste fairly low quality. In my opinion, it's a combination of poor ingredients and not being cooked properly. The banchan is just alright, though better than nothing. It doesn't stand on its own without even being compared to other Korean restaurants. I'm quite disappointed since it was closed for so long and I was eager to have some good Korean food nearby. The service has always been fine. It's at the end of the Broadway alley on the right if you have trouble finding it. You can get some Korean dishes down Olive at Chopsticks (e.g. kalbi, bulgogi) and while they're not as fancy and without banchan, they're cheaper and a bit better.

    (2)

  • Bishan C.

    Their Bi Bim Bap is different than the one I had in China town area. I should go and try some others from there in the future.

    (3)

  • James W.

    Well exceeded my expectations. The tofo soups were phenomenally good. Also, the seafood pancake was really, really good. Crispy, thick, and full of veggies/seafood. They could use a few more side dishes.

    (4)

  • Katie L.

    Honestly this place is ok. it is just a convenient place to go to on broadway where there is Korean food what I love so much. All the meat is ok and half of it is filled with onions; Everything is pricey for it's portions. The server is always not smiling and angry.. Makes me not want to come back.

    (2)

  • Sylvia W.

    Food here was something my Korean aunt would make, if I had a Korean aunt. Server was helpful in her recommendations. Dumplings were homey in texture, made me smile. A little too much egg in the gogi soup broth (like, there were at least two). Liked that the bibimbap has the sauce on the side in squeeze bottle as we were eating family style, so each person could individualize the spice quotient. Banchan was good, wasn't sure if we should ask for seconds. GET the seafood pancake, real chunks of squid. I would go back for this item alone. Price points for quantity and quality of food was a plus, made me think I was in International District versus pricey Capitol Hill. Definitely a keeper spot.

    (3)

  • Patrick O.

    I have no idea why the restaurant decided to open a new yelp page, even with the negative reviews because they were closed for a long time due to illness, they still have a fantastic rating of 4-stars with 313 reviews. Honestly, I feel this is Yelp suicide! As for the food, it's as great as it's always been. I was sad when they closed so long ago due to family illness and feared they'd never open again, but they did and it's the same folks as before. I don't know what all this "remodel" talk is about, everything is the same. The tables, the menus with stickers of new prices, and the newspaper covered walls are all still there. This place serves up the best bibimbap in all of Seattle and surrounding areas. You might have been disappointed by them being closed for so long, but give them another shot and see for yourself that nothing has changed, except this stupid new yelp page.

    (5)

  • Wind H.

    The douk bookee ( rice cake ) my friends had was terrible. The rice cake was overcooked, the dish had only a few rice cake and fishcake but lots of onion. Worst korean dish ever!

    (1)

  • Jim M.

    I ordered Pork Bulgogi, which is supposed to be a very spicy meat dish you eat by rolling up in a lettuce leaf with rice. The very best pork bulgogi (or taji-gogi) should be spicy enough you can't eat it unless you roll it up with rice. Their pork bulgogi is more like a beef bulgogi with the meat changed out. It had a pleasant, mild flavor. Their kimchi is pretty mild too. Kimchi Bistro is the perfect Korean restaurant for anyone who's never been to Korea. If I hadn't lived there I would have given it four stars.

    (2)

  • Krishna S.

    Cheap korean food in capitol hill. I typically get the pork bulgogi which ends up being a lot of food. My friends and I go pretty regularly since the food is really good and it isn't that expensive, especially during lunch. It is probably my favorite restaurant of the ones on Broadway. The place also doesn't tend to get too busy so it isn't a big deal to try and find a table.

    (4)

  • Jen H.

    I haven't eaten here yet, I am very excited to try it but when I showed up today they were closed. They are closed on Wednesdays! This would have been good to know before driving here and paying for parking.

    (3)

  • Beebop R.

    Im Korean. Not from Korea. But still very Korean. And Ive had good and bad from all over. Kimchi Bistro was good. WAS. Really. But ever since their return from their mysteriously long haitus its been not so good. Like, Im talking fast food Korean food. And its not just the one time I went. Its been the last 5 times Ive been. Consistently lazy and mediocre. Its like they just dont care as much. Ban chan is just ok. Its not bad. Its not great. The DolSot has been just MEH lately and very little bulgogi (like scraps) and a very sizzle-less hot pot. The Yoo Kae Jang also tastes just OK. Its supposed to taste LIVELY but its just tired. All I can say is YOU CAN DO BETTER. Because you did. And people like you. And we need good Korean food in this part of Seattle.

    (3)

  • Kristen L.

    Before I begin, I feel obligated to disclose that I am not Korean. I don't like kimchi and have a very low tolerance for spicy foods. My boyfriend, who is Korean, always attempts to get me to try new dishes when we go to Korean restaurants, but despite his recommendations, I generally end up ordering dolsot bibimbap. The bibimbap at Kimchi Bistro is my favorite! For $9 I get a huge bowl of beef, veggie and rice goodness complete with side dishes. The bibimbap has a different flavor that I can't quite put my finger on. It's almost tastes like in addition to sesame oil, there's a hint of a sweet mayo sauce-- like the type you would find at a Japanese sushi restaurant. I could be totally wrong on the mayo, but this seasoning is what sets Kimchi Bistro's bibimbap apart from its competitors.

    (4)

  • Rich P.

    Overall good place for Korean food. They forgot about our drinks but the food was good, so you can't really complain.

    (4)

  • Leslie B.

    I really enjoy this place! The staff is nice and the food is really reasonably priced (which is great for us broke college students) and you get your food with in 10 minutes! The food has really amazing flavors, but I feel like they could beef up on their banchan. I like their beef stone pot bimbop the vegetables they used were really fresh and flavorful but their rice didn't get that crunchy, and I left it alone for about five minutes. Overall this place is worth checking out.

    (4)

  • Basil H.

    I went for lunch on a Sunday and didn't realize that there is only dinner pricing on Sundays, so I got the dinner-sized portion, which was huge. Other than this confusion, the overall experience was pretty good. I got a lot of meat and vegetables for what I paid. I was super hungry when I went, but the dinner portion could definitely feed two moderate eaters. I am not a fan of raw onion, so the amount of raw onion kind of turned me off, but the meat was delicious enough to offset this. I'll have to come back again to try the lunch-sized portion.

    (4)

  • Dayna M.

    More affordable than other Korean places in the area. Unassuming little place. The tofu soup was very flavorful and tasty. Bibimbap was delicious. Kind and attentive service, will be back. My sole complaint is that they place soup into a paper container for takeout which makes a mess and wastes food.

    (4)

  • Danno D.

    Very good food, friendly service, great prices! Small, but cosy and welcoming. The perfect out-of-the-way Korean food nook for rainy days!

    (5)

  • Jin K.

    The food here is on the sweeter side. I noticed it's catered for the western palette. The real unfortunate part of my experience was the rude and terrible service. I am a fair person when it comes to reviewing food quality and taste but one thing I cannot stand is rude service. I will go back to a restaurant if my food experience was poor. I feel food should be given a second chance. However rude and bad service is an absolutely unforgivable.

    (1)

  • Tim C.

    This is a great tucked-away Korean restaurant with tasty food. I tried their bibimbap, which is basically a bowl of rice, vegetables, and meat, mixed with some spicy Korean chili sauce. I was happy with it. My wife ordered the tofu soup with seafood, which tasted even better than my bibimbap, and definitely hit the spot on that cold day. My only issue was the quality of the mini side dishes they served (kimchi, pickled cucumbers, etc.). They weren't terrible, but there were definitely lacking. The kimchi was probably the only thing I liked out of all the side dishes, and even that was sub-par. :( Everything else about this place was great, though. The service was friendly and prompt, and the prices were reasonable. I'll definitely be back whenever I'm in the mood for Korean food.

    (4)

  • Lily S.

    I asked several people about this place and they all said the same thing, which was, "It's not quite as good as the place in the Olympus Spa, but it's pretty good for capitol hill." And so we went, wondering how it would be. SO. PLEASED. My soft tofu soup, while not as spicy as the *other place's* soup, was fantastic, chock full of tofu, kimchi, and delicious broth. The bibimbap was also really good - just the right amount of spice, rice, meat, and veggies. If you're really hungry, order the tempura veggies b/c they're worth every freaking bite. We'll definitely be back - especially now that we know it's walking distance from where we live!

    (5)

  • Amne N.

    I'm in love!!! Kimchi Bistro was my first real expereince trying Korean food (not that fushion mumbo jumbo) My table shared the Hae Mul Pah Jun (korean pancake with dipping sauce) and had the Kimchi Dhol Soht for the entree. When my bowl arrived at the table, my eyes lit up and was the highlight of my day (plus I was VERY hungry). Had an amazing first here and won't be my last!!

    (4)

  • Magdalena B.

    it's a good cozy place to have korean food! i recommend you guys to have the rice cake ( ddeokbokki ) and the bimbimbap , you won't regret it

    (4)

  • Jen T.

    WHACK! I was super excited to hear that there was actually a non teriyaki korean restaurant in downtown seattle area. Walking in, the aroma smelt legit and I was excited to see that their menu offered more than the usual! You can always tell in a korean restaurant how good the food is by their panchan ( little dishes) As they brought these out...the panchan was not fresh and was super bland. the kimchi was SUPER bland...i was already worried at this point. I ordered the mandu-gook. Dumpling soup. The dumplings were not cooked all the way- it was doughy, I had to spit it back out. Gross....and to make matters worst...the tofu in the soup was sour...meaning it was bad....what a disappointment. :( I didnt even finish more than a fourth of it. We left and went up stairs for some tacos. what a bummer. :( I will continue my search for a good korean place in the downtown area...

    (1)

  • Zuoyou G.

    I like the Kimchi Bibimbap. The container is a real hot stone bowl rather than a plastic bowl. And the sides are pretty good.

    (5)

  • Gabrielle G.

    BEST Korean food I've eaten. I always get the flying fish (tobiko) bibimbap dohl sot. definitely worth the extra $ just for the hot pot because the rice is nice and crispy. Not too fishy, and I'm always full afterwards.. everything I've tried at Kimchi bistro is soo yummy, I've also had the kalbi (REALLY GOOD), the korean pancake, and gyoza. GREAT service, the people are really nice.. and even though it's a small mom and pop store, I never have waited too long to get a seat, even with a group of me and my friends.

    (5)

  • Alexandra S.

    I haven't been to many Korean restaurants in the Seattle area YET, but if there are places with better food than kimchi bistro, they still aren't adorable, cheap AND five mins. from my place in cap hill ;) Seriously delicious satisfying food! We tried the kimchi dohl sat, which is delectable AND has cool sound effects! Apparently the sizzling hot pot it's served in releases infrared heat that improves the chi energy of your food. Well, I could use all the good chi I can get, but in the meantime, it's yummy, guys. If I were dining alone and could only get one thing, it would be hard to pass it up. Luckily I went to kimchi bistro with my boyfriend, so we tried a number of other dishes :) The spicy grilled calamari was oh so tender and perfectly piquant. Speaking of good energy, the dumpling soup broth could have healing powers I think. The dumplings themselves were kinda like ricotta ravioli (that was a bit strange) but in another review says they have it with crab? The kolbi ribs were finger lickin' good, so I hope it's ok that I abandoned my chopsticks for these ;) We also had soju and a large Hite beer, which were delicious compliments to the meal, and made toasting so much funner! This is also really one of the cutest little treasures on Broadway, with family owners whom I heard calling regs by name. I like the wallpaper and the little touches. Service is friendly and attentive! Also, it's not gonna break yer bank. We only paid $80 w tip for a meal that made us feel like, opulence, we has it.

    (5)

  • Jasmine R.

    I eat here an honest 2-3 times a week, I love it so much! It's home-style Korean cooking, which in my opinion is better than upscale. The service is very friendly, fast, and it's family run. I've come to love the food and people here, it's all around fantastic! My favorite dishes: Flying Fish Dohl Soht, Tempura Udon, Seafood Soon Doo Boo, and ALL the side dishes!

    (5)

  • t h.

    bi bim bop= AMAZING! gyoza= oh MY god! I will def be back.

    (5)

  • Trevin C.

    I read Yelp review and also heard great things about them anecdotally from friends so just had to try this place. The food is inexpensive for what you're getting, but I found it to be sub-par in terms of quality and taste. While I'm ripping on this place, I can't suggest a reasonable alternative since every other Korean restaurant I've tried in Seattle has also been less than stellar. Maybe you can suggest a better place?

    (2)

  • Marie V.

    This has to be one of the best Korean restaurants in the area. Delicious kimchi and side-dishes, excellent appetizers (like the gyoza or mungbean and seafood patty), choice entrees (dol sot bibimbap=sizzling hotpot rice bowl, bulgoghi=marinated beef, kalbi=marinated short ribs), and tasty Korean beer. Great for groups, couples, or solo diners.

    (5)

  • Jung Sun M.

    Hmmm, well, I can't say I'm terribly impressed. Hubby and I were craving Korean food and when things came down to the last minute (and after reading the reviews) I suggested this place. We're always looking out for great places to eat. With high hopes and expectations we trekked up to Capital Hill and nearly passed Kimchi Bistro as we spied the menu board of Kimchi Bistro tucked inside a building. Right away hubby and I got that familiar feeling of Seoul as we searched for hole-in-the wall places to eat. The interior is small, but comfortable. We got there around 6pm and the place wasn't all that busy. There were a few people eating in, and later as we ate, a couple guys came in for take out. Anyway, the waitress was friendly and helpful as I asked about serving sizes. (Friendly service is always a bonus especially concerning Korean eateries). I asked for barley tea, and she was quick to get it. Hubby had Hite Beer. When the pan'chan came it was not all that exciting. There wasn't any variety and the taste on a few items were off. Like one was pickled radish, but it was too sweet, and the kimchi had a, well, a different after taste and not spicey at all. We ordered pork bulgogi (one of hubby's favorite dishes), and the portion was small for what you have to pay for dinner price. And it tasted too sweet. The pork was just slivers of meat, not nice big pieces that you have to tear apart with fingers or chopsticks. And the bibimbop (I forget which one) was suggested for good serving size for two people. The sauce wasn't at all spicey, AND it was far too thin. I'm not sure how fresh the ingredients were either.... The service is really friendly but the food is blah. So I've not found a good/great Korean resturaunt in Seattle yet, which is disappointing. At least two of my top contendors are closer to home up north on 99.

    (2)

  • El S.

    I like this place a lot. I'm not an expert on Korean food, nor do I think this is the best I've had, but for being in the middle of Capitol Hill, it's always fresh, tasty, and a pretty good value.

    (4)

  • Katy H.

    Kimchi Bistro is my favorite Korean place in Seattle. Inexpensive, friendly, delicious, and tiiiiiiny. I'm a big fan of getting the mackerel with a Hite.

    (5)

  • Jemima B.

    I've tried a few Korean places since I moved here, but this place is still my favorite. Sure, it's always crowded and your water is rarely refilled, but I can't find bi bim bop I like better anywhere else. The trick is to stir it really fast as soon as you get it so you don't get the rice all crunchy on the bottom.

    (4)

  • Gai S.

    Yummy inexpensive and interesting food. A hidden gem of a family restaurant. Everything is great and it's about $8 or so for a full meal.

    (5)

  • Wyatt F.

    Great job! Love this place super secret.

    (5)

  • Kate M.

    I'm no expert when it comes to Korean food. My previous experiences with kimchi have unfortunately been limited to grocery store, prepackaged slop that tastes like rotten cabbage mixed with 7-up, garlic and sock. Yum! So needless to say I was hesitant to try Korean food in it's full, hand prepared glory. But, hey! Friends swore up and down that I'd love this place and I'll try anything twice.... Thank god I did! I'm thoroughly addicted to Kimchi Bistro's food. I think about it at night. Even the kimchi! Everything I've ordered here has been beautifully prepared, spiced to perfection and served by genuinely friendly people who appreciate your business. If you're hungry, try the dohl sot. It's loaded with veggies, rice and beef, with a sizzling egg cracked over it! Freakin' dream come true for an empty stomach. The best part has to be the side dishes. Five or six delicious little appetizers to try while you wait for your food, and when you're done, they bring you more. What's not to love? Bring your friends to this cute, cozy little slice of heaven. You won't regret it!

    (5)

  • Mathew C.

    This place is pretty dang cute. "Beefood" Soon Dubu on the menu just below "Seefood" Soon Dubu? I mean come on, its gloriously cute. The waitstaff is awesome as well, extremely attentive while still being polite and not pushy. But you know I can't give a restaurant 4 stars for being cute. No way, cuteness don't get you 4 stars. This place gets four stars because it's cute, the waitstaff is great, AND i have cravings for the food. OH THE FOOD! I will think about the Bi Bim Bap while at work, and i'll turn bites over and over in my mind, and my mouth will water and after work, i know straight where i'm going. I like the Bi Bim Bap Dol Soht (spelling?) becuase its crispy and tasty and hot. I like the beefood Soon Dubu because it was a major player in curing my last hangover and i like the seafood pajun because its FRICKAN GOOD. I haven't had the Udon, cause i'm allergic to wheat, but Brian (sorry do you know Brian?, I don't think so) anyway, Brian said the Udon was mighty tasty. And i haven't tried most of the other dishes...yet. I do agree with Nao S. that the Tofu Soon Dubu was a little thin, but the beefood one was awesome. SO what did we learn here: 1) go to kimchi bistro 2) order the beef, or maybe the seefood. I wouldn't know about the seefood. 3) enjoy Why did i not give it five stars? well honeslty the setting is alright, but not great. But that is the only reason. I struggled with this. I love the food, and the service and the price. If the setting was just a little nicer, or the music a little better, it would have been 5 stars. That said, the setting does probably scare a few people off, which leaves all the more yummy tasty, korean goodness for me.

    (4)

  • Won M.

    I grew up in Korea eating Korean food. This place is absolutely horrible as far as Korean food goes. Soups lack the depth that all Korean soups should have. It tastes watered down and lacks greatly in flavors. The Ban Chans (side dishes) are extremely blend and lacks the complexity and the kick of traditional Korean flavors. I am usually not too polarized on my review but I have to say this place is no good. I have been there three times. Once to try it, second time to give them a chance and third to make sure I was right. One positive is the location. Located right in the heart of Broadway it is a good place to get some food, not very good food that is. I apologize for my strong opinion but honestly it is not very good Korean food.

    (1)

  • Sennet C.

    Authentic. Delicious. "the-bomb-dot-com". Everything from location to selection on the menu makes this a genuine hit for me. By location, I don't necessarily mean Cap Hill, but down in the back of that building, at the end of a corridor. It had a really cozy feel to it.

    (5)

  • Jim C.

    Not the the greatest place to be if you're searching for Seattle's best Korean food, but for the convenience of being in the inner-city, the affordable prices, and the friendly service, Kimchi Bistro is worth the visit. Having bibimbap in a hot finger-burning stone pot with rice charring to a nice crisp is always part of the experience, but another cool variation is to order the bibimbap to go and head across the street to Cal Anderson Park for a relaxing summer picnic. They'll even pack up a container of the small side dishes for you. You'll be the envy of all who passes by.

    (4)

  • Mark D.

    Fast. Friendly. And great tasting! This will definitely be a new favorite place for us.

    (4)

  • Jeff L.

    I gotta admit, this place really is tucked away even for Capitol Hill. It wasn't busy when we went on Saturday (I doubt it ever gets really busy from the looks of it) but we enjoy our meal. Service was excellent but the food was awesome for the price especially at lunch. Advice: Go there for lunch but don't have too high of an expectation for being in the top korean restaurants.

    (4)

  • Suresh S.

    Love this place. Like many Korean restaurants, KB provides a range of small plates to nibble on before your main course arrives. I always like the Bimbimbap and for a dollar more you can get the heated stone bowl with it too, which is even better (Dolsot). The Soon Doo Boo Jjigae (the two Js is not a typo) is also quite good here. Ambience? The smallness of the restaurant and its minimal decor actually makes for a nice ambience. The only thing I thought was sub-par here was the Korean Sushi. Way worse than the sushi that my law school friend Jihwan Park would bring that was made by his wife. That stuff was delicious. There's a Korean place in federal way whose name escapes me that I think is even better, but if you're not up for a drive, Kimchi Bistro is the place to get on a little "ahnyoung Haseyo!"

    (4)

  • Laura K.

    Imitation americanized Korean food. Regular cabbage is a cheap cop out that is rarely used in authentic Korean cuisine. The employees will also talk shit about you assuming that you can't understand what they are saying. Watch out because someone is always listening.

    (1)

  • Ajit S.

    The restaurant is relatively small, and not prominent in its building. Service was efficient and unobtrusive. Ordered a Dol Soht Bim Bi Bop. While not the best Korean food I've ever had, it's still quite good (the selection of banchan, those little side dishes served with the meal, are also pretty solid).

    (4)

  • Lizzie M.

    Girls just want Bi Bim Bop, o-oh girls just want Bi Bim Bop! la la la Maybe it's me and my general newbie status in the realm of Korean food, or maybe it's Kimchi Bistro, but I am wowed every time I come here. I order the steaming hot pot of Bi Bim Bop and no less than SIX cold side dishes come almost immediately. The only one I feel confident naming is the kimchi, which might hurt tomorrow, if you know what I mean, but it's soooo worth it. The Bi Bim Bop itself comes out in a clay pot type thing with yet another six or so things on top of gooey, melting white rice. You can hear the thing sizzling; it's like Rice Crispies for grown-ups. (I think the egg is for fertility, so, uh, wear protection later.) The waitresses I have been served by are gracious and sweet, and they always check back to make sure you are doing okay. I cannot believe there is still a place where I can enjoy so much variety of flavor and still get out of there for under $10. I had to take off a star for the bathroom situation. They are located in that one squirrely Broadway building behind Aoki and you need to exit the restaurant and have a key to use the bathroom. I guess that's okay except for the fact that the door doesn't have a deadbolt, so customers from other restaurants are likely to come barging in on you hovering over the cocaine-dusted throne. (I warned you it was squirrely.) Other than the bathroom; don't expect ambiance, but do expect to be wowed by the food and served kindly and promptly.

    (4)

  • Jennilee B.

    It never ceases to amaze me how much I love Broadway and having this place in the heart of Broadway makes me love it even more. So I now have developed an affinity to Korean food, and for the last 3 months I've been traveling afar for my addiction. Lynnwood and Federal Way to be exact. BUT TRAVEL NO MORE thank-you-very-much. Last night's craving of soon doo boo (a delightful concoction of tofu, vegetables, beef, and a spicy broth served in a sizzling pot ) was satisfied. I couldn't have asked for fresher vegetables, silky and flavorful tofu, and the perfect amount of beef (actually amazed by how generous they were with the beef). YUM! This was the first time I had Job Chae, (a melange of vegetables, clear noodles, and beef served in a sweet/salty/ sauce) and I must admit- I'm hooked on that too. Inexpensive fare, great service, fresh AND delish. I must warn you though- this place is sinfully addicting.

    (5)

  • Naoko S.

    I only wish their Tofu Soup (Soon Dubu) is better. I love hot spicy soup with tofu and (especially) some seafood in it. But it tasted so,,,,thin. I have a little hope that some days it's better but I'm afraid to try it anytime soon. Someone please tell me if you know who has good Soon Dubu. Please. Five stars if the soup was good. Everything else was good! The seafood pancake!! so good! & the service was friendly.

    (4)

  • N J.

    This place is great. It has a very homey feel to it, and the food looks homemade. Their gyoza aren't cookie cutter perfect, and I love it! It's not the best Korean food I've ever had, but it's up there. There is no BBQ for you to grill your own stuff, so don't go expecting that. Chill atmosphere, friendly service, and yummy food. What more could you want? Oh, and they serve beer. :)

    (5)

  • Glenn K.

    KCB is the best Korean in Seattle short of Lynnwood or perhaps Federal Way. This is not saying much, as Seattle has a heart-breaking paucity of Korean food, at least compared to LA or San Francisco. The banchan (side dishes) are good and plentiful with free refills (crucial!), and kimchi made from radish as well as cabbage, only sometimes overripe. The best dishes for a vegetarian are the soondubu (spicy but not quite as sinus-clearing as I would like) and the dohl soht bibimbap; the egg as one reviewer noted is perfectly undercooked, so that the dish is only finished when you mix up all the sizzling ingredients. The service is, by Korean standards especially, almost suspiciously good. Another reviewer complained about the green onion pancake being greasy but, for a dish like this, that can only be a compliment. It's not exactly traditional to serve it deep-dish style, but I don't mind... My only complaint is that I wish there were more noodle dishes and that the restaurant hosted Korean gang-members until 1 a.m. (closes at 9 p.m.) but this is after all a bistro not a full-scale restaurant. Prices are excellent. I almost gave this a 5 but worry that grade inflation is already a huge problem on Yelp (everything has 4.2 stars!)... and come to think of it, it really isn't a five, which should be reserved for the orgasmic, not the simply good.

    (4)

  • Tom Y.

    AMAZING is the word. I have been searching for a good Korean place to dine at for the longest time and the Korean-owned Teriyaki places on the AVE simply couldn't live up to the standard. Little do I know that Kimchi Bistro that's just around the corner of my apartment is sooooo delicious! First off, there's not a lot of Korean restaurants in Seattle that offer small side dishes with meals anymore. Therefore, I was genuinely surprised that you get at least 5 side dishes here as long as you order an entree (maybe even less?). So far I've tried their Bulgolgi which is absolutely tender, juicy and everything you would expect of Korean BBQ beef. Another thing I've tried is their tofu soup with brisket, which is also awesome. Just spicy enough and the soup is yummy as well for those who enjoy hot spicy soup. I can't wait to go back and try other new stuff, such as the Korean pancake. :)

    (4)

  • Eugene C.

    Definitely not traditional Korean food. Everything has a very "scrounge-up-whatever-you-can" taste. Their Spicy Tofu Soup tasted nothing like any I had ever had before. Their ban chans (side dishes) were just not good. I don't want to squash a Korean restaurant in Seattle, when there are already so few of them. Unless their menu and recipes have changed recently, I would steer clear of this place.

    (2)

  • Cathy S.

    Rejoice! The original owners have claimed back the restaurant, and the food is good again. ;) If you haven't been in lately, it's time to give it another try. My fave thing on their menu is the dol-sot bibimbap. It's a traditional korean dish served in a hot black stone bowl. You have the rice, topped with a medley of sauteed bean sprouts, cucumber, spinach, carrots, shitake mushrooms, zucchini, and marinated beef, with a fried egg on top. Add some korean hot/sweet sauce, mix it all together...and devour it while it still sizzles. Their ggakdugi (the radish version of the kimchi) also rocks my world. I think their beef bulgogi is pretty good, but it's a bit sweeter than what I'm used to...

    (4)

  • Joel S.

    Kim Chi Bistro is one of my favorite places on Broadway. Not that Broadway way anything amazing to offer these days. But whatever, Kimchi Bistro would be great no matter where it was. Its family run, and the service is always quick and friendly. The decor is simple yet warm and inviting. The food is delicious. Get the Dolsot. Its a mix of rice beef, egg and veggies that is served in a sizzling stone pot. (To preserve the Chi, or so they say.) top this off with an assortment of kimchi that come with every meal and you will be more than satisfied. But not bloated. But the thing that made me enjoy this place the most, was to look out in the hallway and see the 70+ old grandma/cook squatting down to play catcher while her grandson practiced pitching his fast ball.

    (5)

  • D J.

    Small family owned restaurant. Exceptional Customer Service, smile greeting excellent. Very Polite ..great people. The food is excellent, very Americanized but its Yummy..dont go expecting authentic home cooked Korean or u will be disappointed..if they sold real Korean in Broadway the place would go out of business..BELIEVE ME . the only draw back is that the tables are too close to each other...otherwise..Please do enjoy this awesome restaurant.

    (4)

  • Stacy M.

    I enjoy this restaurant when I want good food and I don't want to pay a lot. The food is good, but not great. The service is a little lacking and they will ask you to leave if you linger too long and there is a line at the door. Since the restaurant is so small, it's a good idea to keep your party to 4 or fewer. I always order the same thing - Yook Gae Udon. I could probably make it at home just as well, but stopping in to Kimchee Bistro saves me a trip to the grocery store and about an hour of cooking. Plus, the food is served piping hot (or still boiling) so it's great for a cold, rainy day.

    (4)

  • Aki D.

    the Dohl Soht and veggie cake is the best. Also I love the their Bi Bim Bop, so tasty. Eating there in the raining day is the best. Enjoin the hot soup and bi bim bop when it 's freezing out side. Man, I just love it. However, the place is too small, and it's hard to find a parking place.

    (3)

  • Jana D.

    The food here is delicious. The service is good because it's quick, it's friendly and it's not fussy. Their Bulgogi noodle soup is amazing! Perfect cold weather food.

    (5)

  • elle b.

    This is a casual and bare-bones little place, with about 8 or 9 tables. The ladies that run the place are super nice, and they always seem to have the TV on. The soon doo boo here is so tasty that I've never bothered to try anything else. I keep meaning to branch out, but I always get the veggie version, which is tofu, zucchini, and shitake mushrooms in spicy broth, served in a sizzling hot pot. It's $6 at lunch, $8 at dinner, and comes with rice along with four or five bowls of flavorful side dishes. Great cold-day comfort food, and such a deal. It also comes as seafood and beefood versions. How adorable is that?

    (4)

  • Jean K.

    If you're having a craving for Korean food, this is a good bet. These ladies are so sweet. Hopefully they will teach me how to make their gak tu gi. The dol soht bi bim bap always hits the spot and if youre in the mood for kimchi jigae youll be happy. Their bulkogi is better than their kalbi (which tends to be too fatty) and their pajun though greasy is gooood. They dont go overboard with the ban chan but you can always ask for more which is great. Usually two kinds of kimchi and if youre lucky youll get the soy/sesame fishcake something or other in addition to a few other things.

    (4)

  • Shawn M.

    So what if this is the third Korean outing I've had in less than a week, my headline says it all: "Skip the intervention, I'm too far gone, addicted to new food experiences!", and my Korean food experience has been a good one so far. Today's Dolsoht Bibimbap at Kimchi Bistro was great, as were all of the Banchan (side dishes), perhaps a few less than what I had at Hae Nam and Old Village, but plenty enough. My only minor comment (possible complaint) is that compared to the first place I went (Hae Nam), the rice here wasn't nice and crispy crunchy on the bottom of the hot pot, which 'might' be because I ate it too fast, or maybe the pot wasn't hot enough, not sure so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt as it was 3:30 and I hadn't eaten all day! The service was quick and the atmosphere in this tiny out of the way place was pleasant, I'll definitely go back whenever I'm in Capital Hill.

    (4)

  • Nhung D.

    The food here is okay. I have tried their kimchi soup which is filled with onions, zucchini and bell peppers. I guess when I ordered kimchi soup I was excepting kimchi and lots of it in my soup, but this was not the case. The broth was bleh, not rich and flavorful like other korean places like Kawon. Their side dishes are horrible and they give you very little rice with your food. The bathroom is also very gross, so if you can help it, do NOT use their restroom. Cringe On a happier note, they are super nice!

    (2)

  • Rico G.

    Went here tonight, and I know I'm going back. I live on Cap Hill, so having a Korean place in the hood is great. I ordered the bi-bim-bap, and they were happy enough to substitute tofu for beef. The food came no more than 10 minutes later. As I enjoyed my dish I noticed a few things: 1) the egg on top was a bit runnier than I would have liked, but I can deal. 2)The hot pot wasn't as hot as in other Korean restaurants, so the rice on the bottom of the pot wasn't crispy, which is part of what makes it good. and, 3)It was excellent. I enjoyed it, and I'm definitely coming back. The few problems that I noticed were cancelled out by the overall deliciousness. Oh, and it's pretty well priced.

    (4)

  • Jerry L.

    Tucked behind my usual go to sushi place is Kimchi Bistro. It's rare to find a good Korean tofu place in central Seattle, so whenever I have a Korean food craving, I come to Kimchi Bistro for a quick fix. The tofu is 'eh', so I normally order the Bi Bim Bop (Korean Mixed vegetables with rice). I'm not into the burnt rice, so I order the regular. (Apparently, it's tastier in a black pot and the rice is allowed to crisp) The Bi Bim Bop was flavorful, filling and hits the spot. The side dishes were more then adequate. In a quick fix and if your not wanting to drive very far, Kimchi Bistro is the place to go.

    (3)

  • Jai S.

    Not too many Korean restaurants in Seattle, but this one is damn good! Very reasonable prices, good variety of banchan, and the main dishes are made by real Korean folks who know how to cook.

    (5)

  • Leaf W.

    um yum this is the only Korean place i have ever been to...but...it's my fave food now because of that. they can make alot of stuff into veg friendly food!

    (5)

  • J K.

    Quaint little Korean joint.

    (3)

  • Joshua G.

    i go here fairly frequently with my friends and i enjoy it. if you live in the neighborhood, this is a great place because its a good family run business. the food is healthy and its cheap. it has a pleasant atmosphere and good lunch prices. i would not bring people here as the mecca of seattle's best korean food. rather, it is cheap and easy and convenient.

    (4)

  • Suzanne P.

    So good that it's addictive! I highly recommend supporting this awesome little place. It's far from swanky, but the food is terrific and the prices are low. It feels like sitting down to eat with family.

    (5)

  • Alec S.

    I can't complain about this hole-in-the-wall type place in Cap Hill, tucked away in an arcade behind Hana. Excellent prices, super-friendly staff (clearly a family-run affair) and of course delicious Korean favourites make this place a winner in my book. Recommendations: Hae Mul Pa Jun (seafood pancake), any of the bulgoghi plates, and the ubiquitous Bi Bim Bap. Great value, and any of the entrees is guaranteed to fill you up, so be prepared to box it up if you order appetizers on top!

    (5)

  • Lincoln U.

    Their bibimbap is excellent and crackling hot. Avoid the grilled saba though, it can be a little stinky and burned.

    (4)

  • Hannah C.

    I would give this place a 2 stars because they're nice, but over all the food was a Korean food abomination. I ordered the Beef BBQ and it came with hardly any meat but lots of rice. The Kimchi was too garlicky and stale. The spicy beef vegetable soup was just too horrid to hold down. I could have even cooked that soup myself. I would not recommend this place. If you want good Korean food, go to the one in Lynnwood. Too bad I forgot what it's called.

    (2)

  • Adam H.

    Great hole in the wall wide range of Korean food. Super friendly service and reasonable prices.

    (4)

  • S B.

    Great little hole-in-the-wall for some good Korean food.

    (4)

  • Adine L.

    aw, i forgot about the little kimchi bistro! it was the only place i remember being able to get korean food in seattle when i was living on capitol hill. i agree with everyone, solidly good korean food. not the best i've had (and trust me, i'm korean so i know), but better than most in seattle. i think i've had the bibimbap and the bulgogi there. both were great, and the lady who works there is very sweet. i judge most korean places based on how good their kimchi is, and considering this place is called "kimchi bistro", i expected theirs to be the best! well, nothing compares to mom's kimchi, but theirs was acceptable. i would definitely eat there again, so that's gotta tell you something, right?

    (4)

  • L C.

    Had the dohl soht and devoured the banchan. Their banchan flavors are geared toward the sweet side, while I prefer the more sour. Still good, nonetheless. The dohl soht wasn't special or better than anything that I've ever had, but did satisfy my craving for korean food. The waitress was super attentive and my bill was very reasonable.

    (4)

  • James M.

    If you eat meat just get Bi Bim Bap (Dol Saht). It's a huge bowl and it's been delicious every time I've gotten it. I'm almost afraid to get anything else for fear that it won't be as good. The free mini-appetizers are always fresh-tasting and really add value.

    (4)

  • Buckwheat J.

    I've been eating here since it opened, and by now I have worked my way through pretty much the entire menu, and I have yet to be disappointed. It's always great, right on par with some great places in SoCal. Bi Bim Bap is always a good place to start, but the seafood pancake and any of the bulgogis are excellent. No bad choices here.

    (4)

  • Chris F.

    My Korean friend said I absolutely had to try the food at the Kimchi Bistro. She asserted that usually she cooks Korean food for herself, and the only time she goes out to eat it is at this little hole in the wall place on Broadway. I had never had Korean food before and I must say I found it enjoyable. While she conversed with the waitress in Korean and I stared stupidly at the menu, we enjoyed various pickled dishes, kim chee, and a fantastic beef and cabbage dish that I forget the name of. To top it off we had a big ol' Korean beer (Hite I believe it was called). The ambiance is great, it's basically mom and pop working in the kitchen. Friendly waitstaff, quick and reasonably priced. I'd definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • crystal y.

    It is a kind of hole-in-the-wall place right behind Hana on Capitol Hill. I don't know very many good Korean places in Seattle (without having to go either North, South, or East), and decided to try with a few friends. It's not the best Korean food I've ever had... I feel like some of the sides were not as flavorful as I've had them before. The Kalbi was a bit on the sweet side for me and the Soon Dubu fell a little flat of my expectations.

    (3)

  • Knate C.

    I don't know from Korean food. Honestly, this was my very first experience with said cuisine. And can I say, for losing my Korean food virginity, this was the equivalent of losing it to the perfect mix of the girl-next-door and the insatiable vamp. It was completely comfy, super friendly, irresistibly tasty, perfectly spicy and has made me a huge fan. I don't know from Korean food, but I know from good first experiences, and I can't wait for seconds.

    (4)

  • eric L.

    this afternoon my friend MJ sent me a picture of her totally delicious looking korean breakfast. she was having the fanciest bibimbop i had ever seen (sauteed garlic shoots!). i was jealous and had to have some bibimbop of my own. as dinner rolled around i searched yelp desperately hoping to find a korean joint in my new hood (just got here) and found the reviews for kimchi bistro. i decided to give it a try. i walked there fully expecting to get an order to go, but was pleasantly surprised by the bunigi and had to stay to eat my dohl sat out of an iron bowl. they were totally cool seating me solo and didn't make a big deal of it, which is nice ok, first the bad, the banchan are Not Good. the kimchi was bland and dare i say watery and many of the other dishes were disappointing in their own right. but i didn't have to suffer through them long before my big iron bowl of yummy came, and damn was it Good. every thing in there was prepared perfectly. and the bowl had just enough oil in the bottom to fry up a good crust of rice, which is why we order the stuff in the first place, right? i will note that the others are right and their beef is prepared a bit sweeter than most, but it was still delicious. all that and they don't charge you for tea. you'd be a fool not to spend a (very) little of your money here.

    (4)

  • Kara B.

    Great Korean food with stellar service?? Holy cow I finally have been to a place that has both! I love whole-in-the-wall joints and this one hits the spot. Their food has never disappointed me and the family that works there are very hospitable. When my parents come to visit we always like to go here so my dad can get his fill on kalbi. Do you know how hard it is to find decent kalbi in this town? This place is a true gem.

    (5)

  • Elena V.

    I just had to give a quick shout-out to this place. Just came back from a great dinner with great service. There was basically one woman literally running around the small, full restaurant, tending to everyone. Despite the fact that there was only one lady, everything ran as smoothly as if there were 10. We had a very short wait for our food, and still, she was apologizing for the wait and thanking us for our patience. You can tell that these people care about their work and their customers. The bibimbop was great, too.

    (5)

  • Lindsey D.

    I love Dol Saht Bi Bim Bap and was having a hard time finding a place near me. Enter Kimchi Bistro. If it wasn't for a friend taking me here I may never have found the place, or if I did, I might not have entered. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired. I'll admit that I've only ever had the Dol Saht on my 5 or 6 visits but it's always been good.

    (4)

  • Amanda F.

    delicious, even as a takeout order--which is pretty awesome considering that it's all about eating with tons of plates in front of you at a korean restaurant. i got bibimbap, and my husband got spicy calamari. yum! the place is really small and cozy, but i like that. we will be going back to experience the in-house service.

    (4)

  • Judy Y.

    The seafood soon-dobu had hardly any seafood. I didn't know broccoli was supposed to be found in it as well?

    (3)

  • Lisa W.

    The Dohl Saht bibimbap (served in the hot stone pot) is SO GOOD. It's delicious, super filling, enough food for two. The food stays hot until it's gone. Very satisfying. The service is always quick and happy, and the restaurant is itty bitty and adorable. One of my favorite places on Capitol Hill!

    (5)

  • Abby W.

    The only Korean restaurant I really like in Seattle, and it even has good prices!

    (5)

  • jil r.

    The food here is average...but since i can't live without korean food for long, sometimes i step back inside this little joint and give it another shot. it takes away some of my longing for soon doo boo, and for spicy side dishes, but it does not compare to the restaurants north and south of seattle. i kind of think of it as if i opened a hamburger joint in Seoul. You might come in longing for some beef on a bun, but you wouldn't say it's the greatest burger you ate (or even close!).

    (3)

  • cameron x.

    It's so nice to see a korean restaurant around in Cap Hill especially when you can't shake a stick without seeing a pho/thai or tired teriyaki place. After you're worn out shaking that stick you'll find the food here is good. I always love the Bi Bim Bap Dol Saht (hot pot version). Of course, it is not the most authentic korean since there aren't any grills but you'd need a korea town here and there isn't one son, so one deals. I recommend eating in because you get more ban chan (korean tapas) and the eats tastes better on a plate instead of the styrofoam takeout. Go! Give the Pad Thai and Teriyaki a rest and live a little.

    (4)

  • nancy c.

    one of my favorite spots I eat at once a week! it's a small walk away from home, it's inexpensive, food is good and service is nice. things we've ordered and are tasty and worth ordering: dol soht (rice, meat, pickled veggies and fried egg in a hot stone bowl) gyoza (the skin is thin and not thick) dok bokki (spicy rice cake with veggies and fish cake) kim chi jigae (spicy hot kimchi and pork soup) doen jang jigae (fermented soy bean soup with beef & veggies, not spicy) daeji bulgogi (spicy pork) things we ordered that aren't so good and don't recommend: pajun (green onion pancake) -- greasy! tip: if you want hot tea, ask for it else they'll serve you cold water.

    (5)

  • Chelsea M.

    I'll start this with--I've only had Korean BBQ once before this experience. Man, was I missing out! I went to lunch with a friend who stated he had a craving for this place, and off we went. I honestly was a little skeptical when we walked in--this place is small, and there's a lot of hustle going on around me. Not really my fav situation, but whatever I'm in excellent company and I get to eat. I ordered the beef short ribs, my default Korean food, because I'm scared to try anything else. Well, I would have...had it not been for certain circumstances. If I had been among GIRL friends, I would have. I was not so brave this day with my male companion. He knew what was up ordering ... whatever he got but it looked good. I was impressed! The beef short ribs were ten times better than the other bbq joint I'd been too. I'm sad neither of use ate the ten million side things that come with it, but neither of us knew what most of them were...other than a lot of pickled things. I would definitely recommend this place for lunch; it's cheap and tastes great!

    (3)

  • S C.

    I really like their haemul pajon and they get 4 stars for that. As for other stuff, it's not really Korean food. Actually, even their haemul pajon isn't that authentic. But as the owner herself told me before, they can't sell the real stuff on Capitol Hill and expect to stay in business. Very friendly service and good price. Of the two "Korean" restaurants that I know in Capitol Hill/downtown area, I'd still go here over Shilla.

    (4)

  • Ass Man Z.

    I'm with these folks...if you're looking for good Korean BBQ (and who isn't?) this is the place to go. The place was filled with actual Koreans and that's a good sign. I can't really tell you what I ate there, but it was delicious!

    (4)

  • G B.

    We go there regularly to satisfy our 3-year old daughter's bi bim bop cravings. The food is reliably exquisite & service is super efficient. The place is small, so do wait outside while we finish, thanks.

    (5)

  • George V.

    You might miss this place since it's almost the last restaurant in the back of The Alley (2 story building that's like a mini mall). Pretty good Korean food and also quiet and cozy eating as well. I was here with a friend around 7:30pm or so and though we noticed Hana (Japanese restaurant) was had a line Kimchi Bistro was almost deserted.

    (4)

  • Ann M.

    i'll go if i HAVE to...but not high on my list

    (2)

  • Mohammed R.

    As much as I love this place, I only give them three stars because they do not listen to their customers. I ask for Bi Bip Bom with chicken or seafood, and they can not make it. How come the other places can!!! I ask for brown rice, and guess what!!! They do not have it either. What is so hard about having brown rice? Ok, the good part, good prices ranging from 9-13 $ for dinner. Pretty good food. Usually, speedy service.

    (3)

  • Jinny K.

    Finding a good Korean restaurant in King County is like trying to...you get the picture. Since I don't have a car, I don't really have a desire to venture out to Federal Way/Tacoma or Shoreline/Lynnwood/Edmonds for the "good" stuff, but Kimchi Bistro is the perfect solution. The waitress/hostess is accommodating and always so friendly. The food is simple and agrestic, as is the decor. The quintessential mom-and-pop shop offers all the dishes to bring me back to state of childhood nostalgia. Sure, not everything seems "authentic" from minor differences in ingredients, but they are appropriate modifications. Their bulgogi/kalbi sizzling plates, Dohl Soht Bi Bim Bap, and Pah Jeon are probably best-sellers and shouldn't be missed for Korean-food novices, as it is the best way to "ease" into this cuisine. If you're down for some spice (Korean and Sri Lankan food are rumored to be some of the spiciest cuisines in the world!), try the Yook Gae Jang, Soon Doo Boo, or Kimchi Jjiggae--I think the spice levels are adjustable though.

    (5)

  • h w.

    we decided to go here because i was having a bad day and was craving korean. i had read some reviews and was a little nervous. i had the dolsot bibimbap and it was pretty good. it definitely satisfied my craving. i would come here again so i can try some other stuff.

    (4)

  • Tara C.

    It was my first Korean Restaurant, so I thought it was great! I felt as though I had been invited to dinner in their home.

    (4)

  • Dlite X.

    The place is pretty good. The place has a nice southern Korean style vibe. It's the only Korean food joint on Broadway and in cap hill that I know of. Price is a good price too. I always get the broth entrees. The bi m bop is alright but I wouldn't says its hella bomb. Food comes fast! :) Could give more kimchee. But all in all it's a nice LITTLE place to eat out too. Don't bring a big group.

    (4)

  • Lauren H.

    I used to love this place so much. Today I came back for the first time since they closed, and I was so disappointed. Bad service as always, but the bibimbap and banchan (both great in the past) were bland and so sub par. The bibimbap had barely any meat and all the pieces were miniscule. There was also a ton of creamy sauce that overpowered everything. If the bibimbap was bad, I don't even want to try any of my other usual favorites. So bummed, guess I'll have to find a new place to get my Korean food fix.

    (2)

  • Jenny Y.

    The food was ok, nothing too special or different from other Korean restaurants. The good part about it is that the food came out really fast!! Service was ok, typical Korean restaurant service.

    (3)

  • Julie V.

    Their Kimchi Dohl Sot is deeeeelicious. Spicy and sizzling. A definite place I have cravings for. I've been here a few times and haven't gotten anything else because it's so good!

    (4)

  • Justin B.

    Not the best or the worst Korean spot in the city, but for the price it's not bad. I tend to stick with the tofu soup that comes out of the kitchen in a bowl like it's lava. The small side dishes are meager at best. God forbid should you ask for a refill of one of these items... The owner gives you the hairy eyeball like you're stealing money from her. Just smile lady, yeesh. Anyways, the Kalbi beef isn't too bad although it is probably one of the most expensive items on their menu. The tea isn't bad either. Other than that it's not all too memorable of a spot. It does enough to get the job done.

    (3)

  • Danielle C.

    This is a cute Korean place in a shared mall plaza. It is next door to the Japanese Hana restaurant. At Korean restaurants, I look forward to the panchan (Korean small side dishes) that come in the beginning of meals. I love the items like broccoli in some mayo sauce, kimchi, and the fishcakes. Unfortunately, the panchan they had here was very limiting and most cheap vegetables. The kimchi was okay but I've had better kimchi. My friends and I got a couple of dishes. We liked the kimchi ji gae (kimchi stew) - it was fairly spicy and had a nice kick to it. The bowl was pretty small, so it makes for a good appetizer to share among your friends. I got the kimchi dol sot bowl for myself. It is the beef rice bowl that has burnt rice on the bottom, mixed with egg and veggies. I was very disappointed with how the burnt rice came out. There was only one tiny tiny section in the entire bowl that actually had charred rice. The rest of the rice was very oily at the bottom but it came off the sides of the bowl too easily! I like it best when you kind of have to scrape off the rice from the sides because it is charred. HOWEVER the saving grace was that at the bottom of the bowl they had put in that sweet sauce (mayo based?) with the veggies, so the sauce was pretty good, but very unexpected for a dol sot bowl. The galbi was okay, a little sweet. My friend thought the galbi was a little dry though. We also tried the dduk bokkee (Korean rice cakes with fish cakes) - the rice cakes are cylindrical so you get a big chunk of rice cake each time you eat it. The sauce was okay, a little sweet. I liked the flat fish cakes and I wish it was one of the panchan sides! Each dish is about $9-$16 (meat being more expensive). It's not the cheapest but it's also not that expensive either. Be prepared for long waits on weekends. Anyway to sum up: I'm very disappointed that the dol sot rice was not more charred, but the interesting flavors of the other dishes kind of made up for it. I would warily come back.

    (3)

  • Matt T.

    Closed! Let me be clear. We love this place. It's (no exaggeration) one of our absolute favorite places in Seattle. But now for the third time in about a month, we've made the hike over here for lunch only to find it closed. Twice during the week and once on a Saturday. No sign on the door. No notification. Just dark; lights out. I hope they will open again soon.

    (1)

  • Adriann D.

    Great service with a smile! Delicious food with 6 small plates that came with my main entree. I love when I can order Kim Chi. Good prices.

    (4)

  • Arthur K.

    Being in Seattle, your choice for Korean food is pretty limited & usually not very good. Unfortunately, the same is true of this place. One redeeming factor is that the service is better than most Korean restaurants, but that doesn't fill a craving for good motherland cooking. The bibimbap has a weird sweet taste to it that I wasn't expecting. Also the jjigae that they serve here tastes more like Korean ramen soup base. It's a common short cut as jjigae can take quite a bit of time to make properly, but is quickly noticeable by people who eat Korean food all the time. I just wish I could find a good Korean place near the heart of the city.

    (2)

  • Pui S.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Dohl Soht Bi Bam Bob... LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Tempura Udon Hard to find this place at first because I was looking around the area (tourist, you know).

    (5)

  • Kyle T.

    This cozy little restaurant has great bibimbop served in a hot stone bowl, perfect for cold and rainy days. Tip: Add some of the red sauce, condiments, and then mix it all together in the bowl. (It won't taste nearly as good if you don't do this.)

    (5)

  • S R.

    This place has some pretty yummy entrees. Service can be hit or miss, but never really bad, just indifferent sometimes. For the price, you get a decent amount of food. It is consistently good. Recommend!

    (5)

  • Martin C.

    Found this small hole-in-the-wall hidden at back of a hallway past the Americana a week ago while exploring the area and have been meaning to go back ever since. Finally had the opportunity to eat dinner there tonight. They have different pricing for lunch & dinner & thought the entrees & appetizers were too expensive, so I chose a bi bim bap (Triple B) instead. They seem to specialize in Triple B & mine was served w/6 banchan; pretty standard stuff except for the raw but seasoned sliced cabbage wc was a little unusual. The Triple B was a little on the small side but tasted good & for $10 it was a reasonably priced meal. I also ordered a large Korean beer (Hite) for $5.50, which including tax & tip put the meal at near $20 wc is pretty typical of the cost that I've bern spending for meals in Seattle. Service was quick & efficient. The food came out fast & they did not pressure me to leave. However, they did pick up the plates so quickly that it gave me the impression that they wanted to clear the table for the next guest ASAP. Even so, if you've got the desire to eat Korean food in Capitol Hill you should do ok at the Kimchi Bistro.

    (3)

  • Neha M.

    Everything is great! But Bi bim bap and Seafood pancake deserve a special callout. Kimchi preparation is good too, although you wouldnt find the same spread as Redmond's Seoul Hotpot. It's a little hard to spot since its inside the complex. Loo out for Hana japanese restaurant and it's in the same complex. I have never encountered crazy wait time here, so that's great too. Prices are decent and so is the quantity. Health-o-meter = 4/5

    (4)

  • Appy R.

    I came here every Sunday for dinner during the ski season (often 10 minutes before closing), and the women here are so wonderful - always serving a great meal in the midst of cleanup. We usually get the rice bowls, and soft tofu dishes - which are great. If you ask nicely, they'll refill the banchan as well. Whether they take reservations or clean the joint is really a mystery I'm not interested in solving, but the food is great and that's all that matters after a long day on the mountain.

    (4)

  • T C.

    This is my favorite Korean place in the city. It is a cute little hole in the wall that you cannot see from the street. I love their Dohl Soht, Kimchi Jji Gae, and Hae Mul Pah Jun. The waitress is very nice and always refills my appitizers when I run out.

    (5)

  • Coleena S.

    Their bi bim bap is the bomb. I came here Saturday before I went to work and well would you look at that only two days later I returned for more! The place is very small, hidden in the back, but it's an amazing hole in the wall secret! On the weekends you'll see people standing outside in the hall waiting for a table, it's really very good! The Korean pancake (I got the veggie one) is also very good, big enough to share between a few people.

    (4)

  • Yeji S.

    Is it just me or does the Central Seattle area lack good quality Korean restaurants? My friends and I were in the mood for some Korean Soon Doo Boo (soft tofu soup) and since we work in Capitol Hill, the only option within walking distance from our office was Kimchi Bistro, so we thought we'd give it a try. The place is super small, I was smashed up against the wall with the table hitting my belly, already not a great start. Not too long after we placed our order, the banchan (side dishes) came out very quickly, plus points for that! Then the main act of the show came out; that piping, red, hot silky tofu soup steaming up my face with all it's sexiness. I got excited to dive right in and after the initial taste, I was sadly a bit disappointed. The soup was lacking in flavor and tofu!! Points definitely deducted for that. Our banchan quickly depleted since I was with 3 hungry men, so I asked the server for a refill on a few of the side dishes, which is normal in Korean restaurants that serve these, but once I asked she gave me a pretty mean stink eye. Oh well, at least she still gave us refills right? Whatever, still minus points for poor customer service. Overall, my experience was just MEH... I'll most likely go back and give it another try if I'm craving some Korean soon doo boo on a work day. Here's to hoping they'll either bump up their food quality/service or Capitol Hill gaining some new Korean restaurants. Both would be fantastic!

    (2)

  • Arry Y.

    Great place for Korean food for when you (or me) are in a bind. All the food is pretty good. Bibimbap, the soups, ... it's all decent. It's in the back of Broadway Market - so you have to go in towards the back, behind Hana's. Ask for "bohreecha" or the traditional Korean tea.

    (3)

  • Casey G.

    This is one of my favorite places! Its really small, and could be hard to find but it's so worth the effort. The portions are huge, and on top of that you get about 5 different small plates of kimchi and rice with whatever you order. Its so much food! The Mungbean Pie is something I tried on a whim and its amazing. This is the type of place I just order something random on the menu and it always ends up being really great.

    (5)

  • J W.

    This place is good for Capitol Hill. It's a hole in the wall, the prices are reasonable and the food is tasty. We ordered the Kimchi Ji Gae, Soon Doo Boo and mung bean pan cake with octopus. It was all well done and we will be back again.

    (4)

  • Alice K.

    As a Korean South Seattleite without easy access (no car) to better native fare located painstakingly further up north in U-District and Shoreline or south in Tacoma and Federal Way, I came to this place out of desperation. In short, it delivered what I craved at the time, though I knew to compromise my expectations low in advance on each occasion (their banchan as an example). To my surprise, the haemulpajun (seafood pancake) had a brittle, flaky, and crusty exterior much like tempura batter (my experiences tend to lean heavily on the doughier side) with plenty of vegetables and squid bits. Interestingly, the dipping sauce is also tempura sauce - different, but worked for this tasty recipe. Though it was the best thing I've been served here, it's hard to justify the $12 price on this; these pancakes are normally served the size of large pizza and KB's ran more along a stingy small 8". The nakjibokkeum (spicy octopus stirfry) was simultaneously disappointing. The sauce was tasty, but definitely leaned towards the sweet side. I'm used to it having much more heat, and KB's is honestly best described as a mildly spicy sweet coleslaw with sparse pieces of octopus tentacles: I'm talking about a 5:1 shredded cabbage to mollusk ratio. I'm also used to the sauce being far more reduced, where it's more syrupy, almost sludgy even, but this was rather watery and thin. I can't say much more for the soondoobu (spicy tofu stew). I had the beef version and while it's common for the meat chunks to be tough and grisly, this was too much so. I had a sad chewed-up pile of rejects by my bowl when I was done. No sniffle-inducing heat on this either. Everything tastes quite homemade, which is great for nostalgic purposes, but the quality falls short of what I would deem "restaurant-worthy". This is food acceptable in a home kitchen (though most Koreans, including myself, are often blessed by parents who are far better cooks), but after three ho-hum shots, I think I can be patient enough to treat myself better next time.

    (2)

  • Pixel C.

    I love this place. I might be their biggest fan of their grilled mackerel and their bulgolgi. Their barley (?) tea that they serve is just fantastic. Warm with a really nice sweet and nutty after taste that really compliments their menu. Great place for lunch or dinner. I used to eat here all the time right after Japanese class, so this place will always hold a special place in my heart.

    (5)

  • T D.

    Been here and supporting this place for lots of time but I hate the service here. The old lady seems always mad at customer. We came here with 4 other people then one of us didnt order food. So, she took our menus back with a weird/neg attitude. Come on, treat your customers nice please.

    (2)

  • Chet F.

    The wife and I dig this place. I really enjoy the spicy pork bulgogi, and she LOVES the Kalbi (spare ribs). Both are loaded with flavor and have pretty good sized portions. Lunch is definitely a good deal as the menu is a few dollars less. With your entree you are served around 5-6 different types of Kimchi and rice. I do admit that the majority of the Kimchi's are a bit bland and boring. Just dump on some more Sriracha! The last time we tried the pancake, which I personally didn't think it was all that good. Especially since it was served after we were already eating our main. Also the same with the Tempura Vegetables- they were more of a shredded veg hash brown type item. Not bad, but salty and a bit much at $8. The main server can range from present to "why are you in here?" 4 stars for being a decent Korean joint only a few blocks for out apartment.

    (4)

  • Calvin Y.

    According to the Dohl Soht Bi Bim Bob's description, the sizzling hot stone pot emits infrared rays to restore Ki energy. And boy does my Ki energy feel full! Well, actually... I'm not completely sure what my Ki energy is, but I do know that my stomach is full with delicious Bi Bim Bob (rice, spinach, bean sprouts, carrots, cloud ear fungus, and beef). What I like about Kimchi Bistro is that they have the perfect ratio of rice to all the pairings. As well, the sauce is delicious --- spicy with that hint of much needed sweetness! The prices are very fair -- most dinner entrees cost $8-9 (some cost more... depending on what you get). The side dishes are nice (potatoes, kim chi, spicy pickled radishes, bean sprouts, cabbage with fish cakes). PS -- They're also closed every second and fourth Wednesday of the month... which weirdly enough is always when I crave Korean food.

    (4)

  • David A.

    Not particularly the best example of fine (or tasty, even) Korean dining but it does have the distinction of being the only respectable Korean restuarant in central Seattle...and it's mad cheap. If you're craving Korean and can't get to Shoreline, Federal Way, Lakewood (or the U-District for that matter), go here.

    (3)

  • Jen B.

    Not too shabby but I'm prejudiced because I'm from South Tacoma (Hoo Soon Yi!), where all the great Korean businesses are. Plus, Lynwood is up there...ok. Squirrel! So when I found a restaurant near me, I reluctantly gave it a try. Maybe it's the name- kimchi just sounded so American. Enough ranting, off to the food: Banchan- Eh. Definitely had a better selection. Plus, bring me mo biatch! I shouldn't have to ask for more if necessary. I've had the dol saht(?) bibimbap, soondubu, scallion pancake. It's not that it isn't good, it's just ok. Plus, the service is sucky (slow & inconsistent). There it is...

    (3)

  • Ashley H.

    There's not many Korean restaurants in Seattle and luckily this place isn't bad. I've tried a lot of the soups here, which were all pretty good and the kalbi is good. The prices are fairly cheap too. I did however find a fly in my soup before, so that kinda freaked me out. It's happened once out of the many times I came here. The place is tiny and probably not the tidiest place, but food is cheap and good.

    (3)

  • John T.

    Wow, "BAD BAD BAD" BIG MISTAKE!!! The food is EXTREMELY TERRIBLE!!! Im not joking with u guys. When u go to the restaurant, it is all about foods.. But this place will not get ur money worth. I ordered ToFo seafood soup n rice cake. How dale of them had me fool...There's not a single seafood in my soup n the ToFo were "broken" apart into small tiny pieces!!! The soup taste jus like HOT water with added spicy...The soup is VERY PLAIN with no flavors at all. I swear to god!!! The Korean small dishes come along with the meals before dinner was a JOKE!!! Why, bcoz the portion is very very small...nothing like the pictures about. I dunno they change hands or different chefs. My principle is a good chef behind the kitchen suppose to be ACCOUNTABLE what they served to their customers...especially we pay for it!!! may b u can say hey its free n what do u expect huh?!...RIGHT, what about has no flavor jus sweet n spicy for every single dish. Rice cake stri-fry under app...DONT order it!!! Why, coz ur getting only "5 pieces" of rice cake for the entire plate n it cost $9. YES I COUNT IT!!! I work hard for my money n so do u guys...RIGHT?! Nowaday, we're not even expect get more than what we get...But at least get what we pay for. End up, me n my family didn't finish at all n went to HK bistro in Chinatown for "Hot pot" instead. We missed our movie bcoz of that place!!! Hey ppl, if u guys dun believe me at all, then PLEASE try Stone Korean or any other Korean has 4 star rating compare the taste n the quality to see what im talking about. By the way, I really have NO idea how are ppl giving this place 3 stars. May b all they care jus service?! If so, let me ask u...ur not hungry, then y are u going to restaurant for? P.S. hey guys, if you really like Korean Food, I highly recommend you guys go to Sam Oh Jung on Hwy 99 Lynnwood, or So Moon Nan Jib in Federal Way.. reasonable Price and quality food!!

    (1)

  • Whitney F.

    Kimchi Bistro is not the best Korean food, but it is a totally serviciable neighborhood resturant. They recently remodeled their dining area so it is less "hole-in-the-wall" looking, although because of the small size of their seating area I normally just order their food to-go. I really like the bibimbap - for $10 it is a great portion and always delicious. I wish they had more banchan and that it had a bit more flavor (over-all it is very mild, none of the strong fermented kimchi flavor I want). The service is not especially doting, but whenever I have managed to engage the staff in conversation they have always been very friendly. They are not going to check up on you often during the meal - the staff prefers to gossip behind the counter or in the kitchen. Don't feel bad flagging them down if you need something.

    (3)

  • Pedal E.

    I did love the food, actually, but when a patron asks if there is MSG in the food it's best to tell the truth. After eating here, I had a reaction that had MSG written all over it, so I called them to ask about it again. At first, the woman said it did not, but when pressed, she replied, "well, yes, it has SOME, but not very much." !!! Bummer to find out the hard way.

    (1)

  • Elizabeth L.

    2.8 stars. Mediocre Korean, but convenient location on the Hill vs. Lynnwood/Fed Way. Had the kimchi tofu soup, which was sub-par. Visit Chan in Pike Place Market for tastier Korean.

    (3)

  • Eric M.

    Kimchi Bistro is back open, same crew and as good as ever! This is the type of "hole-in-the-wall" type of place you love to find and it takes some looking. It took a cover shot of their wonderful Bi Bim Bap on the Seattle Times Magazine for me to realize they were in Capitol Hill. It's tucked in a back corner of a "via" right next to a greek baker that only opens at night. (that's another story) I rushed right over and have been a regular ever since. They don't do Korean BBQ, I note some hard core Korean food fans lament that. But what they do, they do well! I love their vegetarian Bi Bim Bap with tofu and an egg on top. I also like their mackerel, it's not too salty and it's a huge portion for the modest price. The tofu soup is good, it's not Hon Soon Yi good, but there is a formula one must calculate: Drive time & Convenience vs. Quality. Korean Bistro rates very high if you use this formula. Otherwise you are driving to Shoreline for better. The spicy chicken is a bit on the sweet side but still enjoyable. The appetizers they serve before the meal (included) are always interesting and good. Don't forget you can order refills of the free starter apps (Banchans) for those of you who complain they are skimpy. Finally, the service is welcoming and friendly except for one grumpy server who you can spot by her scowl. It's almost comical because everyone else is having a good time. Parking is tough because it's Capitol Hill, here's a tip: Park at the QFC 1.5 blocks away on Broadway and buy something/anything at the grocery and get validated parking up to 1.5 hours!

    (4)

  • Hannah L.

    I've got nothing to compare Kimchi Bistro's food to (unless you count Revel, which I don't), as it was my first visit to a Korean restaurant. But I've walked by countless photos of bibimbap plastered on various windows around Seattle and always wanted to sample some, and I appreciate any cultural cuisine that loves cabbage and radish as much as I do. So take this with a splash of chili sauce.... Our table had the original bibimbap and the dolsot version both (the latter comes sizzling in a hot pot, the former closer to room temperature in a serving bowl). I fail to see how any traditional American comfort food could rival egg, beef, rice, vegetables, and swirls of sweet chili sauce all mixed tastily together and supped up with chopsticks: the mix of tastes and textures is clearly addictive. When I need a warm hug from the inside, I'm heading here for an $8 bowl. If you have spice-averse and unadventurous eaters with you, I think this meal will convert them to slight adventure, as you entirely control how spicy it can be. The kimchi plates (they serve about six with your order) were fine: my two favorites were of course the cabbage and radish, which were quite simple and relatively plain (intentionally so, and not in a bad way: few things are nicer than the light crunch of cabbage drizzled with a tiny bit of sauce). I didn't fall in love with them as I did with the bibimbap. But I think that's because I tend to prefer fresher-tasting food worlds with more emphasis on herbs and spices (I love Japanese and Vietnamese food, but still can't find a way to like Chinese - even Sichuanese!), not because they weren't good. I see that there are spicier soups on the menu, so on my next visit I plan to test out one of those to see if that's closer to what I love. In the meantime, this is an excellent, inexpensive spot to enjoy very friendly service and a nice bowl of utterly satisfying comfort food!

    (3)

  • Zachary S.

    I come here at least once or twice a month. I can't say I'm a Korean food aficionado - so I can't properly rate the authenticity of the dishes here - but regardless, it's delicious. Their BiBimBap has a flavor that I haven't experienced at other korean restaurants, and it truly adds to the hearty-ness of the meal. The octopus appetizer is great (though quite filling and greasy), along with the fish cake/rice cake appetizer. I don't understand why other reviewers think it's dirty inside. It's super cozy, small, and tucked inside a little mini-mall of shops, but I wouldn't call it dirty. In fact it adds to the experience! Definitely come here if you're looking for a warm meal to lift your spirits in Seattle's coolest months.

    (4)

  • Cathy M.

    Craving Korean food one cold night and landed myself here. The soon dobu was hot and savory. The bbq meats are a little pricey at $15-20 bucks but I got the bulgogi anyway. At those prices I could get AYCE somewhere else. Satisfactory.

    (3)

  • Jill K.

    This is my standard for comparison for Korean food. No I haven't been to LA or Korea, so there you go. But I do love kimchee and spicy hot food. (If I don't sweat or cry, I'm disappointed.) I love this place. I love the wait staff. I love the tiny crowded venue. But more than anything I love the Soon Doo Boo. My husband loves the dohl sat bi bim bap. (Sorry if I misspelled that.) We both love the seafood pancake. The banchan are a real treat. Ate here a lot when we lived in South Lake Union. Now we're in Oregon and we miss this place terribly.

    (5)

  • Tara O.

    I love this place. It's quaint and the service is fast. The food is good and not fusion. The KimCh Jjigae is my favorite. The parking is difficult here as it always is on Broadway. However, if you are in walking distance or willing to take a bus or drive around for awhile to look for free or just pay for parking, I think this Korean restaurant is worth it,

    (5)

  • Nancy O.

    I learned to like Korean food when I lived in Honolulu, but in the meantime I'd become a vegetarian and had avoided restaurants that seemed very "meaty". I stopped by this one one noon, and was pleasantly surprised. The bibeem bap, with tofu and no egg on top, was yummy but, I thought, pricey. I have been back several times, and though it is consistently good, I still think the price ($11.00) is too high considering I get it with no meat.

    (5)

  • Bigfoot ..

    The spicy octopus was great! $12 a meal.

    (3)

  • Corey S.

    First time at the kimchi bistro and really enjoyed the food! The place looks a little run down but the food was great and portions were relatively large! The server didn't say much to us and didn't seem to excited to have customers at 4PM. When we paid the bill, we didn't get an itemized receipt which was kind of suspicious to me. Would recommend this place for the quality of the Korean food - not the atmosphere and service.

    (3)

  • Jens J.

    Snug describes KImchee Bistro. It is a true marvel how they managed to squeeze in so many tables. Obviously a very popular spot. People were waiting for a table after nine o'clock on a Tuesday evening. I remember back when the world was young (read that as the late-90's) that this location housed a very decent and cheap Pan-Asian eatery that we came to frequently. Kimchee Bistro is also a reasonably inexpensive restaurant, with most menu options going for less than $10. However, the menu was fairly limited. Service was smiley. JP ordered himself a bottle of the Korean Hite Beer, which he enjoyed. It appeared to be the equivalent of a pilsner or lager. For a side dish to be shared, we ordered the mungbean seafood pancake. JP requested the Spicy Octopus for his entree. I don't remember the name of my dish, but it had "sizzling hot" in parentheses next to it on the menu. Overall, the food dishes, including the ban chans (petite appetizers), were okay. The mungbean seafood pancake had a nice crispy appearance (it looked like a pizza!) and pleasing pieces of octopus. Kudos for the octopus being cooked to just right doneness. However, I was kinda lukewarm about the tomatoes in it. The dipping sauce was okay, but mostly just tasted like soy sauce. JP's spicy octopus seemed just like kimchee as far as flavor and spiciness went. He said he liked it, but didn't eat very much of it. My "Sizzling Hot" was appealing to eye. Served in a iron hot pot, it was rice, bean sprouts, grated carrot, bulgogi beef and a certain green (I don't know what it was but it was not lettuce, chard nor cabbage) all topped with a fried egg. When my dish was served, the waitress indicated that I was to blend the pot's contents. I can see doing that, but I wanted to enjoy the ingredients separately, not all mashed together. Imagine my surprise when the waitress came back a minute later and grabbed my spoon and attempted to start stirring the ingredients together. I had to tell her to stop! Because the dish was under $10, I can't protest too much, but I was surprised by the lack of beef in the pot.

    (3)

  • Dana S.

    Kimchi serves up solid Korean food. The menu isn't huge and the decor is minimal, but the bi bim bap was tasty, the sizzling pot was pot-lickingly delicious, and I'm always a sucker for the little tasty dishes you get with the meal.

    (4)

  • Emily L.

    I've had much better Korean food, but my standards for the Emerald City--5th whitest in the US at 66%+--have sadly slipped lower and lower as I grow farther from my LA roots. Not many choices for this everything-vore :( FOOD: The seafood soon du bu tasted fine, but lacked in ingredients. 2 shrimp, some bits of octopus, and broccoli? And where was my egg, to break raw into the boiling pot and cook underneath what tofu I did have? Banchan was hit or miss. The kimchi had an off, sour taste, and I could have done without the shredded cabbage with just a little dressing. The spicy radish slices, sweetened potatoes, mung bean salad, and seasoned cabbage were good. SERVICE: Sure, everyone's running around really busy, but after you catch their attention, your needs are met quickly. I don't mind being flexible in seating either, having been asked to move when a larger group came in, but be aware this place is small! The wait for my table of 2 at 8 pm on a Tuesday night was 10 minutes. Overall, I really do want to support this family owned restaurant and will be coming back... but maybe only because it's the ONLY Korean restaurant in Cap Hill.

    (2)

  • HouseboatGirl S.

    With no intention of sounding duplicative of other reviewers, I'm also not sure why this place has such high ratings on yelp. 1) Food was completely average. I paid $16 (not including tax and tip) for a Kalbi plate of ribs on top of a huge bed of tasteless cabbage (the cabbage provided the appearance that you were getting a lot more meat than was actually the case). For this type of meal in this type of restaurant, I would expect to pay half as much. 2) The restaurant itself was a bit dirty and divey. Don't dare ask for the gross key to go to the gross bathroom out in the shared mall hallway. 3) The waitress probably spoke very little English, but she did manage to say goodbye to us as we left. Similar to cab drivers, I think that was her small attempt at customer service to make sure we came back. Otherwise, we didn't get much friendliness beyond that. But, I can't harp on this too much, because of the language and cultural differences influencing it. Sorry if I sound harsh, but we specifically came here based on reviews on yelp. I want to make sure that either the restaurant cleans up and provides reasonable prices, or have this review just provide future customers with fair warning.

    (1)

  • Diane L.

    A hole in the wall if there ever was one. I love this place - it always hits the spot when I'm craving korean food. The bi bim bap is delish and the stews are all also very flavorful and perfect for the cold weather! Everything comes out bubbling hot and the service is always friendly.

    (4)

  • Kim E.

    When Faith Y. first brought me here to try it out, at first I was incredibly skeptical. Walking in through some random indoor back alley already made it feel like a recipe for disaster. Thankfully, I was wrong. Their Dohl Soht Bi Bim Bob is simply amazing (I'm sure you've read as much from other reviews). I've also tried their bulgogi and kimchi jjigae and I must say, they really hit the spot on these cold Seattle nights. Om nom nom. The place is a little cramped and parking around Broadway can be a nightmare but this place is definitely worth a visit.

    (4)

  • Heather H.

    Good things come in small packages.......and places. The bistro is small, hidden, and absolute yummy perfection for its spicy hearty Korean food. I've been here at least 3x times and its always had a steady stream of customers inside. The waitstaff are basically a "mom and pop" set up. Always greeting on hand and prompt to place you in a seat you may find yourself having to make a squeeze into. Get any of soups (soon du boo) or BiBim Bop and you will certainly end up with a delicious spicy mixture of tofu, meats, and veggies pipping hot! You can't beat a fresh and healthy and hearty mix of spices. The bistro may be hidden on broadway but is certainly worthy of an adventure to find.

    (5)

  • Ozzie L.

    Had the soon doo boo and im not Korean, but ive had some great Korean food and this place is certainly not there. Edible, but so is Jack in the box. Really dissapointed

    (2)

  • Coy T.

    Sorry, I really don't understand how this place gets 4/5 stars. Maybe it's because it's the only Korean joint on the strip which leaves little competition to differentiate what good Korean food ought to taste like. Maybe coming from the Bay Area and being spoiled by excellent authentic Korean BBQ. Let's start with the side dishes. Could tell right away when only 5 dishes and one of them is shredded cabbage with some kind of soy sauce vinagrette and the others were an off-color of what it should be, especially the kim chi! It was almost too sour and tasted watered down-not even hint of spicy same with radishes. And the bean sprouts were darker and stale. Beef sun doo koo was lacking in flavor and kalbi too fatty and too chewy. Maybe should have tried the Bi bim bop. Really hate giving bad reviews but some of worse Korean food I've ever had. Thank goodness the beer was good. Extra star for average service.

    (1)

  • Johnny W.

    The end is nigh! Of my time in Seattle anyway, and after narrowing my massive list of bookmarks down to something actually feasible in my remaining month here, I decided to get on it right after the Yelp EE today. So along I came, with a handful of Yelpers. Two of us opted for the soon doo boo, while the others all went for the dohl soht. Overall, solid and hearty Korean food, where spicy is actually... well, reasonably spicy. Prices and portions are both pretty standard for Korean food ($9 for the dinner soon doo boo), with separate prices (and serving sizes too, I'd imagine) for lunch and dinner.

    (3)

  • Diana C.

    Someone asked me to clarify since I'm apparently contradicting myself... Here's my explanation. I wanted to like it, and there are a lot of things that make it a nice place to go and eat, but I'm Korean and the food doesn't live up to my standards. Would I eat there again? Maybe if I'm in the area and craving Korean food. Otherwise most likely not.

    (2)

  • Annie D.

    Can't attest to the other menu items, but their Korean BBQ (kalbee) is overpriced. My dinner time bill was over $20 after taxes. For about 5 skimpy ribs that were mostly bone and fat, not meat. Granted, Korean BBQ in general is expensive but I've been to Korean restaurants in the Seattle area that are cheaper and provide larger portions. Quality-wise, it tasted good so I can't complain about their technique. But the price still was not just. I can't believe I paid that much. The prices change at lunch and dinner. The sides they provided were abundant in variety, but skimpy as well. The fish cake platter, for instance, literally had two tiny strips of fish cake. lol Korean restaurants are not particularly abundant in the city limits of Seattle. Best options are in the south and north end suburbs, or in Lynnwood (the best Korean restaurants I've experienced are there).

    (2)

  • Johnson T.

    This place is hands down my favorite Korean place. I've tried nearly every one of their hot pots and boy, they are delicious. Great, especially when its rainy or cold outside, it hits the spot. Prices are fair for the amount of food you get. The service is good, the servers are pretty friendly and the food comes out in no time. My ONLY dislike about the place is, its small. It's not really the place to bring a huge group too maybe 5 or 6 at most. Other than that I love Kimchi Bistro and would definitely recommend of anybody that wants Korean food.

    (5)

  • Katy H.

    What a cute and cozy place! Recently my boyfriend and I found ourselves nearby and starving. We ducked in for a quick bite and had a really lovely, really filling meal. I recommend you call and make sure you're there during their lunch hours. If you're there after their lunch hours the prices sky rocket. We ordered some great dishes per my boyfriend's recommendations. (I've only eaten Korean food a full times so I was glad my boyfriend could help as he's Korean and is loads more familiar with the cuisine.) The kal-bee was great! I've had beef short ribs before and these were among the best I've had. We also shared a seafood pancake called a haemul pajeon. This might have been my favorite dish. I'm a big fan of the Japanese-style called okonomiyaki, so I was really hoping to enjoy the Korean version. It had octopus, and squid in it and was really tasty. With our orders came rice and various banchan (small dishes of pickled veggies). Just writing this review I'm thinking about how I need to go back soon! We left with tons of leftovers, so while we didn't make it there in time to pay for the lunch special, at least we had food to take home for dinner!

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    Just found out about this restaurant hidden away in building right on Broadway. I ordered the hot Bi Bim Bap and it was delicious! I can't wait to return and try the seafood pancake. I highly recommend you try out the Korean Bistro!

    (5)

  • James F.

    I had the hotpot bulgogi and it was very good! good portions great price, love all the little kimchi sides that they give you with your meal. The meat was extremely flavorful and overall very hearty. The seafood pancake was delicous. The reason i only give it three stars was that at 9:30 the server came to our table and said, "okay were closed now, thanks" even though we werent even done with our food. I get it, we were having a late dinner, but if you plan on kicking people out at 9:30 you should say that your restaurant closes at 9, not 10. But still worth it for the food.

    (3)

  • Sin-Yaw W.

    Yelp said this is the only Korean Tofu place near my place. AND it is highly rated by fellow yelpers. Why not? We are craving for Korean Tofu. It is tugged inside a complex, decor is relatively cheap, and lighting not very appealing. If not for yelp reviews, my instinct will be to walk away. Well it was raining and we are committed for Korean Tofu. I am glad that we entered. The Tofu clay pot was wonderfully done and delicious. The beef short ribs are fatty, sweet, smoky, and finger-licking good. Korean restaurants are known for their extravagant appetizer dishes. This one is on the skimpy side. All those pickled vegetables were good, but there were only about 8 or them for three of us to share. Overall, I would still recommend this place. But Capitol Hill offers many worthy competitions so I don't think my frequency will be too high.

    (3)

  • Jessica R.

    This isn't the best place for Korean food in Seattle but it is probably the only decent Korean restaurant in central Seattle. I took my Korean mother here and she was disappointed with this restaurant. Her exact quotes were, "if we were in Tacoma, this restaurant would probably close down." I was thrown off by the fact that they served calarmari....odd.

    (3)

  • Faye A.

    I took my hubby to Kimchi Bistro last week. He's such a picky eater and he's never tried authentic korean food before...so I was like what the eff? The restaurant is inside a building on Broadway. The place is small but cute and the decor is very korean...I dont know how to explain it but it's just what I imagined it would be. I used to watch a lot of korean drama. Anyway, we got our kimchi and other complimentary dishes first. We ordered Kalbi (short ribs) plate, bibimbap (the one in sizzling hot stone pot) and rabokki (rice/fish cakes). The hubby loved his short ribs. My bibimbap was delish and healthy. The rabokki was good too but I wish they made it spicier. Overall...delicious food! I will give this place another try.

    (4)

  • Maria N.

    I used to have a self-imposed moratorium on any Asian restaurant with "pan-Asian" or "bistro" in the title, but very enthusiastically broke it for dinner at Kimchi Bistro. I think this beats out Korean Tofu House as my new favorite Korean restaurant. We started out with the seafood pancake as appetizer, the boys ordered bibimbap and I opted for kalbi short ribs. Of course, these dishes were preceded with the plethora of side dishes (pickled radish, kim chi, cabbage salad, sprouts, etc). All of the sides were very fresh and flavorful. The seafood pancake was also very good, although I prefer larger seafood chunks in mine (their's has a higher batter:seafood ratio than I would like). The boys downed their bibimbap before I even had a chance to try more than a small bite, but it looked really good. Our waitress (possibly the owner?) was very sweet in showing the boys how to mix-up the bibimbap and making sure they didn't forget the hot sauce. And holy moly. My kalbi was freakin' delicious. Fantastic flavor thanks to a nice ribbon of fat around each slice--it was the right amount of chewy fat and tender meat. They sell the big bottles of Kirin, which is a great complement to all the fatty wonderfulness. My only complaint--and it's not a real one--where's the purple rice?? NOTE: As many people mentioned, this place is a little pricey for dinner. I do agree, but didn't mind paying more for great food and great service.

    (5)

  • Victoria C.

    I've been coming here for the past four years and have never been disappointed. It's a hole-in-the-wall place with not many tables, but the awesome food makes up for the lack of space. PROS: 1. Great food! Granted, I only ever get the stone pot bibimbap, so my opinion is only valid for the one entree, but still. So tasty! The perfect amount of food--white rice, meat, veggies, and an over easy egg on top. The little side dishes of accent foods (not sure what to call them...condiments?) were also very tasty. 2. Great service. It's kinda hard to miss guests cause the place is so small, but still. They sat us down right away, gave us water, etc. And the food came so fast! CONS: Too small of a place to house so many eager, hungry people. We were eating and there was a line out the door. I felt bad. But not bad enough to rush through my delicious meal.

    (5)

  • Faith Y.

    Their Dohl Soht Bi Bim Bob (why does Korean looks so crazy when spelled phonetically?) is some of the best I've ever had outside Gramma Y's home cooking. A giant black stone pot is brought to you and you can hear the crackle and sizzle of the rice getting crispier. The rice is topped with a tantalizing rainbow array of veggies: carrots, greens, mushrooms, marinated beef - so pretty that I had to look away when I smashed it all together. A cacophony of colors makes for a deliciously healthy and hearty meal. So much that I had to take half of it to-go. Which by the way, stinks up your fridge like no other. There's a reason kimchi refrigerators exist, Korean cuisine is POTENT. Side dishes weren't terribly impressive but standard including radish kimchi and various pickled veggie whatsits. But I demoted one star because the first time I came here, 45 minutes before the hour they said they closed, they refused to seat us even though there were customers still inside. Um. If you mean you want people OUT by that time, bring your closing time an hour ahead!

    (4)

  • David M.

    Best korean walkable from anywhere downtown. No real competition here, if you want Korean in the city this your best option. It's good in its own right too.

    (4)

  • Ulises H.

    I'm ashamed to admit that I've been making Korean BBQ for over a year now based on a recipe I got from maangchi.com So imagine my excitement when I walked into a Korean BBQ restaurant for the first time. I was filled with anticipation, wondering if my homemade stuff could match up to a top rated joint. Turns out, it far exceeds it. Maybe because I like to buy organic and fair trade groceries and a lot of the vegetables at Kimchi Bistro tasted pretty bland--I thought maybe that's how they keep their prices low...but for a lunch for two (Rib and Pork dishes) and one large beer, our bill was $36. Also, I wish the server was fluent in English.

    (2)

  • Marilyn V.

    I had been meaning to try this place out to get bibimbap and I was not disappointed! The location is small, but it definitely added to the coziness this place gave off. The waitress (or owner) was really nice and very attentive to her guests. The meal came with small side dishes which was a pleasant surprise. I got the bibimbap in the stone bowl and the serving size was pretty big. I didn't feel that it came with enough meat, but plenty of vegetables. I ate just about everything and still wanted more! The prices were very reasonable, I will definitely be coming back for more bibimbap and to try other dishes. Yelp says they close at 10pm on Sundays, but they really close at 9pm! (I came here around 9pm on Sunday only to be disappointed and turned away.)

    (4)

  • Ashwin R.

    This place is legit- around 8 tables or so, tucked into some building that also has a mexican place and some other asian food options. The kimchi bibimbap was great- the kimchi was spicy, the rice was moist and sticky, and the fried egg on top was not overdone. I appreciated that this was more of a local spot, as their signage is quite hard to see and I had not heard of them until looking for Korean food on Yelp. I will definitely be returning.

    (4)

  • The Church Lady M.

    Does anyone know what's going on with this place? It's been closed for the past 3.5 weeks, with a handwritten sign on the door that says "Sorry closed. We'll be back next week."

    (1)

  • Jenn W.

    Tasty! It's a bit hole-in-the-wall, but it was definitely legitimately Korean. I ordered the kimchi dohl soht bi bim bap, which was really, really good. Perfect sweet and saltiness, and a good amount of kimchi. They gave it to me with red sauce, which I might have used a bit of if I weren't sharing. My sister got the seafood soon doo boo, which was good too. Minuses were that there were only shrimp, and no clams at all. Not that seafood-y, but still good. They didn't serve the rice in a clay pot, which was kind of disappointing. They only gave one small bowl of rice with the soon doo boo, which I thought wouldn't be enough. (It wasn't.) Lastly, we got a kalbi plate. The sauce was sweeter than usual, but the meat was crazy tender and fatty. Deliciousness. Not too oily and no onions, which I liked. The sides that came with the soon doo boo (assumption) were kind of lame, too. No fish, only cabbagey marinated things. No noodles either or seaweed, that made me sad. What was there was good, but I still missed my fried fish. Definitely will come here again if I'm ever in Seattle craving Korean food. I can only hope that they're still there in the future! (I hope they find a new place because it's a bit shabby...)

    (4)

  • Pudding P.

    I have eaten here at least 30 times. The delicious yet cheap bibimbap (esp the dohl soht) alone is enough for me to rate this place 4 stars, and is why this is my favorite place to grab dinner in Capitol Hill. I don't think this is a great place to eat Korean BBQ...just stick with the bibimbap. The dining area itself is very small and often cramped--when the place is full (and on the weekends it always is) you will be rubbing elbows with other tables. The interior could probably use some upgrades as it looks old and a bit run-down. Still, love this place.

    (5)

  • Cmarie W.

    I'm Korean and I must say, this food is EXCELLENT. Bi Bim Bap Bulgoki are typical choices, but the Jap Chae app is great and they give you an entree amount. If you like to broaden your horizons, anything else on the menu (squid, soup, pancakes, etc) will be awesome choices as well. One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Kamie K.

    If you want a quick Korean food fix, Kimchi Bistro is the place to go! I like the tiny size of this cute and clean little quick stop. The banchan is small but sufficient for two. I like to go with one person, not a huge group. I usually get Bi Bim Bap which is very tasty. Give it a try next time you and girlfriend want a delicious treat!

    (5)

  • Joyce J.

    I came here for dinner with a friend who never tried Korean food before and she enjoyed this place. We both ordered the dol sot bibimbap. I love the variety of vegetables that this place puts on bibimbap. I dislike places with bibimbap that only feature carrots and cucumbers for example. The stone pot kept the rice warm until the end, which was perfect for a cold night. The side dishes were not very exciting but I am glad that they do serve side dishes, as I consider them the best part of a Korean food experience, especially when they are good. Definitely worth a try.

    (4)

  • Nina B.

    The best Dhol Soht in Seattle. MMMMM try it!

    (5)

  • King C.

    Buyer beware! Kimchi bistro has deceptive marketing practices. Show up for a weekend lunch, and they'll charge you the dinner price. This information is not clearly marked on their menu. Don't expect the wait staff to be apologetic about the pricing miscommunication. In my case, the wait staff was defiant about charging the dinner price for lunch, and she walked away huffing and puffing. TERRIBLE.

    (1)

  • Whitney P.

    I appreciate that it's not easy to find good Korean food in Seattle away from Aurora, but I probably would not return to Kimchi Bistro. The service I had on my visit was effective at my most generous, and I found the dishes deviated in flavor from more authentic Korean dishes I've had in more Korean-populated cities. The bi bim bap was very sugary and the kimchi wanting in spice somehow. However, if you are jonesin' for some Korean on the hill and no other type of food will do, this place will satisfy your craving.

    (3)

  • Nyapet S.

    NOT CLOSED ANYMORE! Just happened to be in the neighborhood so we went to check on Kimchi Bistro again (we've been doing this on a weekly basis) and found the door open and people inside. It turns out the owner was visiting Korea and had a medical emergency while there. But he has since recovered mostly and has returned to reopen the restaurant which will open tomorrow, Sept 3! Sweet!!

    (4)

  • Frankie O.

    I really like Kimchi Bistro. The reason I give it three stars is because, for some reason I always leave feeling as if i'm not fully satisfied. If you are like me, and get paranoid after ordering because of a concern that your food will arrive not quite hot enough, you will LOVE this place. All of their dishes are served on out-of-the-oven HOT cast iron bowls and platters. I think my slight dissatisfaction about this restaurant is that many of their dishes are served with very little of the meat protein you choose, even with the tofu. It's just not enough to make me %100 happy.

    (3)

  • Heather M.

    Best freaking bi bim bop I've ever had.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Kimchi Bistro

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