MSG150: Seattle International District Lunch Food: Korean

Today a platoon of ten veteran and virgin MSG150 lunchers marched in to do battle once again with the noodles, soups, and noodle soups of Seattle's International District. Our mission was lunch at the alluring Red Lantern, the new, upscale tenant of the space that was previously occupied by Golden City. Although many of us mourn the passing of Golden City's $3.95 lunches we were all excited to discover what the Red Lantern has to offer.

Red Lantern, Seattle
Address: 520 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA, 98104
Cuisine: Chinese: Cantonese, Korean
Average rating: 3 chopsticks
Lunch date: 6/10/2011 @ 11:35:00
Time taken to be seated: 0 minutes
Time to take order: 5 minutes
Time for food to arrive: 15 minutes
Total lengh of meal: 60 minutes
Chopstix quality: Smoothed Wood
Do they use MSG?: Depends on the dish
Where is the owner/chef from?: The owner is from Shanghai, and his wife is Korean.
Number of tables: 25
Number of occupied tables: 6 (24%)
Number of business lunch tables: 2 (33%)
Number of "local" tables: 4 (66%)
Healthcode Score: 30
Links: Yelp!, Urbanspoon

Luncher: Emmett

Lunch: Cham-Pong Noodle - $11.95
Rating: 3 Chopsticks

Emmett's Review

Red Lantern "Contemporary Asian Cuisine" looks saucy and delicious like General Tso. They go with modern interiors, sexy hot red / black motif. They have sexy hot Stella Artois behind the bar. It's also well lit, the tables are comfortably sized, the chairs are sleek on my bottom.

You're going to like the corn tea the first time cause it tastes like corn on the cob was soaked in your tea. After a few visits it starts to get annoying cause it tastes like corn on the cob was soaked in your tea. No matter, it's still drinkable, and though I wish it were plain black it pairs nicely with spicy food. Like corn.

I had the super spicy Cham-Pong Noodle, which looked appetizing and was also a winner because it came first. There were quite a few shrimp, some tiny bay scallops and a couple of mussels, along with some greens, cabbage, and tasty noodles. This was a spicy soup, and it didn't need any extra hotness. I enjoyed it nonetheless; though it would have been a better choice for a chilly January day, it works well on a chilly June day.

I also had bites of Adam's Kimchi Fried Rice, and Geary's Chow Mein. Alex's Garlic Beef also delivered.

This place hurts your pocket book somewhat as they charge quite a bit more than the neighbors. Now closed Noodle King was a block away and served the same dish a full three dollars cheaper. It stings a bit when bargains are available so close nearby. I'll definitely come back but won't put it full-on in the lunch rotation.

Luncher: Adam

Lunch: Red Kimchi Beef Fried Rice - $6.95
Rating: 3 Chopsticks

Adam's Review

The Red Lantern is to Golden City as butterflies are to caterpillars. Red Lantern has been beautifully remodeled and has a very nice modern feel to it. Golden City was a great little restaurant with a little more 80's feel to it. I'm going to throw this out there though: Golden City fit better with my budget and tastes.

The food at Red Lantern is good. I had the Red Kimchi Beef Fried Rice, which had some great flavors sprinkled throughout. My pile of red-colored rice came in a large pile on the plate with a very nice looking fried egg on top, and lots of beef and kimchi sprinkled throughout. I enjoyed the meal, and even took a box for leftovers. As I was approaching my "must stop eating line," I noticed I was applying increasing amounts of hot-sauce to keep myself interested in the dish. I don't know if that means the rice was lacking something, or if I just like really spicy food. I tend to avoid introspection.

One very nice benefit, was that the server offered to split the check. This is a big benefit if your group of coworkers/friends do not go out for lunch together frequently... because none of you will have cash. Overall, a decent experience with decent food.

Luncher: Geary

Lunch: Beef Chow Fun - $7.95
Rating: 3 Chopsticks

Geary's Review

Unlike many of the other ID family restaurants, the Red Lantern has an upscale, modern decor. They are also one of the few restaurants in the ID with beer on tap, although they only have Stella. We arrived early and the place was almost empty. The waitress and owner were friendly and welcoming.

The roasted corn tea was completely new to me. It had a pleasant nutty taste. Although, can you really just soak anything in water and call it tea? Who's makes the tea rules? Let me know so I can report this place.

The menu is heavy on Americanized Chinese lunch classics but there are a few items that appear more authentic. I skipped the Thai Rice Noodle (Phad Thai?) and chose the ever popular Beef Chow Fun. The H&SS was nice and pungent. B+. The Chow Fun was a slightly above average version of the classic dish with wide rice noodles, tender well seasoned beef, crisp spouts, green onions, and a healthy coating of oil. I enjoyed bites of other's dishes and the quality seemed good overall.

The Red Lantern is a nice place with friendly service and beer on tap. It would make a good setting for a business lunch or lunch date. However, the price to value ratio is a bit too high for weekly lunches when there are better cheaper options near by.

Luncher: Al

Lunch: General Tso's Chicken - $7.95
Rating: 3 Chopsticks

Al's Review

Best General Tso’s in the ID, but pricey for lunch. 3 chopsticks.

Luncher: Rob

Lunch: Kong Pao Tofu - $6.95
Rating: 3 Chopsticks

Rob's Review

Yay! The MSG150 train is rolling again! Glad I was able to be there for the reboot. I had just returned from six weeks in Europe, where I avoided almost all Asian cuisine, aside from some Indonesian in the Netherlands, and was looking forward to lunch in the ID. So while I was sorry to find out Golden City had closed (quite some time ago, apparently), I was interested in finding out how Red Lantern was doing in its place. The interior was definitely spiffed up, and the lunch menu included a couple tofu dishes, including kong pao tofu. My last attempt at the kung pao tofu didn't work out well, but since it was on the menu here I had higher hopes. The H&SS was very decent, with black pepper added, which I thought added a fine complementary kick. The kong pao was nicely presented, the flavor was pretty good, the sauce not too starchy, and the hot peppers easy to pick out. Not too spicy, but that was okay. Felt pretty full at the end, too. So yeah, it was all right. I'd go back if other people are going.

Luncher: Yanqing

Lunch: Red Kimchi Beef Fried Rice - $6.95
Rating: 2 Chopsticks

Yanqing's Review

What I had was OK comparing to the other Chinese food in the International District. But, I have fairly high standards in terms of Chinese food because that’s what I eat every day. The lunch menu selection is boring. The only positive thing I have to say is the atmosphere is good against the competition in this area.

Luncher: Alex

Lunch: Garlic Beef - $7.95
Rating: 3 Chopsticks

Alex's Review

The lunch menu was mostly American-style Chinese food. I ordered the garlic beef lunch special which came with a bowl of sweet and sour soup. While ordering we were served a corn-flavored tea. I found it very pleasant and really enjoyed it. This was a nice change from the traditional jasmine tea.

Next came a bowl of hot and sour soup. The broth was pleasingly thick and the julienned veggies were plentiful and cooked just right. The flavor was surprisingly weak. I really had to search to find the distinctive flavor that is typical of hot and sour soup.

The garlic beef came out next. Nice quality strips of meat served on a bed of strips of lettuce. The sauce was not too thick and you could see and taste the little chunks of garlic and other seasonings. It was very tasty without being overpowering. No fortune cookies were served but I won't hold it against them.

The restaurant itself was nice, with simple and modern decor. Our waitress was very nice and took good care of us.

Luncher: Mark

Lunch: Yushan Tofu - $6.95
Rating: 3 Chopsticks

Mark's Review

Lunch began with a slightly clever but mostly uninspiring corn tea, all the corniness of a corn chowder without the tasty chowderyness. The soup was well spiced and nicely gooey. My meal, the Yushan Tofu, was mildly spicy and relatively sweet, with broccoli cooked to a good medium level of softness. My water glass was never more than half empty before getting filled again, but we were a big party and the place was mostly empty, so that is not particularly surprising.

Luncher: Mariya

Lunch: Red Lantern Green (Vegetables) - $6.95
Rating: 3 Chopsticks

Mariya's Review

Good selection of veggies and fairly tasty even though the dish is not spicy. Pricey for what it is.

Luncher: Ken

Lunch: Ja-Jang Noodle - $11.95
Rating: 4 Chopsticks

Red Lantern Photos

Red Lantern

Frontal Assault

Red Lantern Menu

H&SS

Crab Rangoon

Cham-Pong Noodle

Cham-Pong Noodle sides

Ja-Jang Noodle

Beef Chow Fun

Kong Pao Tofu

Red Kimchi Beef Fried Rice

Yushan Tofu

General Tso's Chicken

Garlic Beef

Red Lantern Green (Vegetables)

MSG150 Lunchers

Blue & Pink is no longer in business. It has been replaced by Henry's Bento.

Wishes can come true! Back in January when the MSG150 route took us past the Historic Chinatown Gate (HCG) we had to skip the Blue & Pink Korean restaurant since it had apparently closed down. We hoped that it was just temporary and tried fruitlessly (and somewhat ineptly) to solve the mystery, but to no avail. However, last week on our way out to Sea Garden we noticed that our hopes had become reality. Blue & Pink is back! So today we executed the biggest backtrack in MSG150 history and showed up at the base of the HCG for a Bibimbab love-in.

Blue & Pink, Seattle
Address: 502 S. King St, Seattle, WA, 98104
Cuisine: Korean, Teriyaki
Average rating: 4 chopsticks
Lunch date: 4/4/2008 @ 11:54:00
Time taken to be seated: 0 minutes
Time to take order: 0 minutes
Time for food to arrive: 21 minutes
Total lengh of meal: 51 minutes
Chopstix quality: Nice Wood
Do they use MSG?: No
Where is the owner/chef from?: Seoul, South Korea
Number of tables: 8
Number of occupied tables: 4 (50%)
Number of business lunch tables: 3 (75%)
Number of "local" tables: 1 (25%)
Healthcode Score: 0
Links: Yelp!, Urbanspoon

Luncher: Adam

Lunch: Pork Bulgoki - $10.95
Rating: 4 Chopsticks

Adam's Review

This is one of our standby restaurants... and we were really disappointed when it was closed. We found that they had closed their doors because of the construction of the historic Chinatown gate, and only just recently reopened. I've had a hankerin' for their "Well-Being Stone Bowl Beebimbob" for 4 months now, and couldn't wait to order it. Unfortunately, the PayScale Sales team beat us there, and there weren't any stone bowls left.

Being forced to try something else, I went with the Pork Bulgoki. This was some swine cooked with a sauce and some veggies. The dish didn't appear to have any kim chi in it... but there was a hint of fermented-flavor in the dish. This was a new dish to me, so it was fun to eat, but I would definitely stick with the Stone Bowl Beebimbob because its a total experience when you're eating out of a bowl that can (and does) fry an egg. The price ($10.95) definitely prices it out of the normal lunch spectrum, but a good solid Korean dish for lunch + snack

This is one of the only Korean restaurants in the International District, and is definitely worth visiting.

Luncher: Emmett

Lunch: Bibimbob - $7.95
Rating: 5 Chopsticks

Emmett's Review

Me and Korean food - we go way back. I think my first experience, like many, was in college. It was a beautiful spring evening in North Carolina. The smell of flowers was in the air. The time was right. My college roommate, who is Korean, set up the encounter. It was Kimchi soup, or something like that. It was... awful. But then again, the first time often is.

Fast forward ten years or so, my coworkers and I discover Blue and Pink. Blue and Pink, or Booo Pooo as I like to call it, replaced Saigon something or another that was famous for their two dollar sandwiches and upset stomaches they caused. I quickly became a big fan of their Bibimbob. On a summer day it's ridikulous. It's kind of cold, with the greens, sprouts, rice, mixing with the hot beef, and tasty red sauce. An egg cooked easy, and layered over the top. I get hungry just thinking about it. Then one day they throw the "Stone pot Bimbibob" on the menu. What is this? The same, only 1000x times better. They put the aforementioned ingredients in a piping hot ceramic bowl, that literally cooks the food at the table while you eat it. The rice gets crunchy, the egg touches the edge of the pot and instantly scrambles. It's fun to watch, more fun to eat. I've also had their kimchi, which is quite good.

This visit, they had run out of stone pots for the bibimbob. No matter, I'm happy with the regular as well. The service here can be on the slow side, but they never rush you. They took about 20 minutes to bring me the Bibimbob, which is very slow. They serve tea in a large cup, not some dinky thimble like many other places. I've had many other dishes. Their mushroom fried rice - delicious. Their gyoza is decent, and the Bulgogi has a nice flavor.

Vegetarians have options as well. Steve - my vegetarian friend, immediately dismissed this place quickly when I invited him out. However I persisted, and made him a convert and evangelizer of their Bibimbob, though he does it without meat.

Easily this is one of my favorite places in the ID.

Luncher: Geary

Lunch: Beef Bulgoki - $10.95
Rating: 4 Chopsticks

Geary's Review

Blue & Pink took over the the spot that was previously occupied by Saigon Gourmet. You can still see the "ET" poking out from behind the Blue & Pink sign. The space has two entrances, one into the cozy dining area and the other into the kitchen and what used to be Saigon Gourmet's walk-up $2 sandwich (bahn mi) counter. The fried egg & tofu bahn mi was a long time staple of the pre-MSG150 MSG150 crew. Today there is no sandwich counter just a short menu of Korean favorites and teriyaki standards.

I have had a number different dishes at Blue & Pink, but I come back for the "Well-Being Stone Bowl BiBimbob". Bibimbob (or bibimbab, or 비빔밥) consists of hot white rice, namul (marinated vegetables), beef and a lightly fried egg in a super heated stone bowl. It is served with a large spoon so that you can stir it all together. As it is stirred, the molten hot bowl finishes cooking the egg. As you eat from the top, the rice mixture that is still in contact with the bowl is seared into brown crispy goodness. Today, however, we learned that Blue & Pink only has seven stone bowls. We also learned that the only other party in the restaurant, a table of seven of PayScale's finest sales folks, had already been served the seven stone bowls. Once I regained my composure I chose the first item on the Korean section of the menu as a back-up: the Beef Bulgoki.

The bulgoki was a huge portion and a bit spendy for a lunch entree, but it was delicious. It consisted of thinly cut strips of beef cooked in a tangy sauce with bits of cabbage and other veggies. It is fairly meat heavy, but luckily we were served four vegetable sides (or banchan) to share: kimchi and various namul. They were all crispy and tangy and a nice complement to the bulgoki. The pea vines and kimchi were my favorites. Welcome back Blue & Pink. You were missed.