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Capitol Hill food+drink | More izakaya and ramen? Kukai Capitol Hill coming

(Images: Kukai)

(Images: Kukai)

10443068_695595740490356_2040236340962179394_oEarlier this year, CHS made a big deal about the nine — count ’em! — Asian-flavored food and drink projects pending around Capitol Hill. In the time since, the Hill prepared to add a tenth with the news that Vancouver BC’s Suika izakaya bar family is behind a new project to E Pine. Turns out, one in the wave we haven’t said much about is also going to be part of what will surely be the next Capitol Hill food trend to be identified by glossy magazines everywhere — it’s izakaya time.

The international Kukai Ramen & Izakaya chain’s Pacific Northwest footprint will expand in 2015 with the addition of a new location in the new Three20 Apartments building at 320 E Pine. A representative for Kukai has confirmed the project but said the owners were currently focused on a new Thornton Place opening and weren’t ready to say more about their Capitol Hill ambitions.

You can also find a Kukai in a Bellevue “strip-mall” where Seattle Mag was most interested in the noodles:

Each bowl of ramen I tried was quite satisfying, including the smoky, almost bacony tonkotsu (pork) broth served warm with dipping noodles (tsukemen, $10), and the citrusy yuzu shio ($11), with a slice of tender yet still firm grilled pork, yu choy (Chinese greens) and tender bamboo shoots. But it’s that tender egg that sets Kukai’s ramen above the others.

As in Bellevue, Yichen Ting is behind the planned Capitol Hill edition of the Japanese chain. There are nearly 20 Kukai — or Kookai, as it is known there — in the country.

Turns out, there’s also soon to be one in Beaverton, Oregon.

In Bellevue, a bowl of ramen runs you from $8 to $11, small plates like chicken wings or geso karaage (deep fried squid tentacles) run $6.50. Who knows what you’ll pay in Beaverton!

Kukai Capitol Hill will join the Suika project and six-months-old Shibumi in the izakaya hype wave CHS is trying its damnest to start. Or you can give that old ramen hype wave you were trying to start another push and file this along with Broadway’s Samurai Noodle. Maybe Kaisho — the Boom Noodle replacement — can help you make the case for either. Or both.

There’s no public opening date for the new Kukai yet. You can learn more at kukai-ramen.com.

Capitol Hill food+drink notes

  • Troveand all of its noodles, Korean BBQ, beer bar goodness, and frozen custard — opens Sunday (though you’ll see some pre-opening partying in the meantime). Hours are Sunday – Thursday 5 – 10 pm, Friday & Saturday 5 -11 pm.
  • "Cinnamon basil & corn cookie ice cream w/ strawberry meringues" (Image: Poppy)

    “Cinnamon basil & corn cookie ice cream w/ strawberry meringues” (Image: Poppy)

    Popular Poppy pastry chef Matt Bumpas is moving on. He’ll be “focusing on a personal project & hope to have ice cream focused pop-up w/ Ethan Stowell pastry chef Dionne in next few months,” Bumpas tells us. “We’re sad to see Matt move on, he’s done a terrific job with our dessert menu and he’s been so fun to work with,” Poppy owner Jerry Traunfeld tells us. “I will announce his very talented replacement soon.”

  • Rione XIII will be selling Roman Street Pizza by the slice in front of the restaurant on the afternoon of Sunday, September 14th between noon and 2pm. Slices will be available to go or for dining in. All proceeds from the afternoon will be to benefit Children’s Hospital.”
  • Our neighbors in Madison Park welcome two new restaurants this monthBeach House Bar & Grill takes over the old Madison Park Conservatory space while a former pizza joint is becoming Bella Viet Café.
  • Meanwhile, from the Green Leaf family, Alicia Fusion Bistro has opened in Leschi.
  • E Pike-headquartered Caffe Vita Is opening coffee bars in Belltown and West Seattle and launching a Brooklyn roastery.

    (Image: @leftofcentervil via Twitter)

    (Image: @leftofcentervil via Twitter)

  • We’ve hyped it a few times but good to see more love for Cafe Pettirosso’s Monday bake sales:
    There are cakes (such as ginger with marion berry buttercream pictured above), muffins, Danishes, cookies, quiche, strata, stromboli, monkey bread, scones, and most importantly, homemade Twinkies.
  • Canon has created its own reservation system and charges for no-shows.
  • Cafe Barjot is now open until 4 PM — later hours are coming: “The better news is that by the end of the month we will be open until 10pm week nights (except Mondays) and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, serving dinner and a full cocktail menu.”
  • Broadway’s The Confectional has shuttered its retail operations but continues to operate a bakery at the location. Its Armory and Pike Place Market locations are still open.
  • Nue coming to 14th Ave.
  • Trendspotting: Coffee Invades The Seattle Retail Scene
  • September is the month to dine at these microseasonal gems
  • Part of the reason Central District Chuck’s fits right in:

Hi folks,

Now that Chuck’s has become such a popular destination, it’s time we had a talk about your kids and dogs in the shop. It has come to our attention that some of our customers have been made uncomfortable by the lack of control of both and we’d like to take this opportunity to lay out our shop policies.

Dogs are welcome as long as they are well-behaved and on a leash at all times. Dogs that are barking in the shop will be asked to step outside. Any dog not on a leash will be required to either be leashed or leave. This is for the safety of your dog, other dogs, our customers, and our staff.

Kids are always welcome in the shop, because after all, being a family-friendly place is what made Chuck’s what it is today. However, unsupervised children can cause a stressful and uncomfortable situation for both our customers and our staff. Children should be kept under the direct supervision of their parents at all times, both inside and outside the shop. This is for their safety, as there is a lot of commotion and it can be very crowded at times.

Thank you for your cooperation with these policies and we hope to see you in the shop soon!

  • The latest culinary delights for you home chefs are available at Central Co-op:

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Manny
Manny
9 years ago

I had this ramen last week and it’s the best I’ve had in Seattle so far. Very psyched. Sorry to say this Samurai Noodle.

Joe
Joe
9 years ago

The Confectional lasted longer than I expected. I tried it not long after it opened, and once was enough. I never saw any customers in there, so it seems like my impression was a common one. I hate to see any business fail, but I hate mediocre cheesecake more. I wish the Pacific Dessert Company was still around, but Dilettantes meets my needs for a dedicated dessert place, and there are plenty of good restaurants at that end of Broadway with dessert menus of their own.

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[…] More izakaya and ramen is coming to Capitol Hill. Kukai will open on E Pine. […]

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[…] reported on the Seattle plans for Kookai (as the chain of 20+ restaurants is known in Japan) last September. Kukai Capitol Hill joins […]