On the run with a bun... sounds like an escort service but for those of us who have given up lust for gluttony, it's eat it and beat it; takeaway, take out, treats on your feets... Here are a few of our favorite grind counters, grunt trucks,and handover holes-in the wall:
Hallàva Falafel
Crazy shwarma in Georgetown with shaved beef and lamb, beets, spinach, romaine lettuce and curry sauce stuffed into a warm, soft pita. And falafel Bill O'Reilly couldn't dream of... packed as it is with beets, spinach, romaine, salted cucumbers, sauteed peppers, pickle, tomato zucchini spread, tahini, tzatziki and (of course) falafel. Hugely generous portions, and owner/operator Rick Baker has both senses of humor and service. He's parked in front of the Corson Building at 5609 S. Corson from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, or it could be parked in front of the 9lb. Hammer, most Friday and Saturday nights.
La Crêperie Voilá
707 Pike St. Kiosk #1
From this street window out of the Convention Center, come Breton style crêpes folded, wrapped to ride, and ready to eat on your hind legs. Choose from a huge list of stuffables: proscuitto, Emmental, spinach, ratatouille, roast chicken, lox, Chevre, and more. Also Parisian dessert crêpes with such delectables as chocolate ganache, homemade custard, strawberry, dulce de leche. And flaming crêpes sauch as Crêpes Suzette, Bananas Foster, or apples with Calvados. Consuming the flamers should be done in the small seating area: Beating feet down the street with flaming eats in post-911 downtown Seattle is not recommended.
Pike Street Fish Fry
Pike & 10th on Capitol Hill, Seattle
Food provocateur Michael Hebberoy has filled a perfect little hole in a
Capitol Hill wall with a fish & chips joint celebrated in Gourmet magazine, and Food & Swine. Nothing frozen: he butchers whole fish
on the spot and batters 'em in a thin, transparent tempura-like batter, fries 'em up and hands 'em to
(photo: crispy smelt)
you. And what fish! No tasteless hake from Slade Gorton's factories
around here: catfish, ling cod, albacore, sturgeon, halibut were on the
menu last time we were there --also those silvery plague of poor people
everywhere: smelt. Fabulous are the battered-and-fried lemon slices
that go with every fish order and dipping sauces such as tartar,
preserved lemon aioli, smoked chili mayo, salsa verde, and curry
ketchup. The frying is hot and clean -- fries are dark as milk
chocolate. It's located underneath a rock & roll club and well
serves the Capitol Hill drinking class at all hours. You must walk
there... parking is never available anywhere nearby. We're think of
buying in the area so we can visit more often.
~
Mee Sum Pastry
Pike Place Sanitary Market
1526 Pike Pl. (at Post Alley)
Seattle classic: huge baked and steamed humbows; pork sticks, roast
pork,and potstickers. The baked beef curry humbows with the sugary
tops are unique.
~
Danny's Wonder Freeze
Pike Place Market (across from the Donut Robot)
Corn dogs can be more than a punch line! All you need to know is that
Danny hand-batters each and every corn dog to order. You can get a
corny kielbasa, and tofu (!) too.
Arosa
1310 Madison St.
(also 3121 E. Madison St. Madison Valley
Hans is gone, but the Swiss quality survives. Specialty are the raised Swiss snack waffles (or vaffles
as Hans used to say). They're crisp-edged and caramelized with deep
square pockets, subtly scented with cinnamon and barely sweetened with
honey.
Skillet Street Food
This sure ain't fast food... it's evolved cuisine. These nomadic
chefs from good cooking schools and fine restaurants have bought old
Airstream trailers, installed full commercial kitchens and go out to
local office parks, public events, farmers markets and serve
"impeccably executed and seasonably relevant
bistro style food." And bless 'em. They're rumored to be coming
attached to a building, and cutting a window in it from which to push
food... soon. They appear all over town on a schedule you can find here. Here's a recent menu:"
- ~The burger, grilled kobe “style” beef, cambazola, bacon jam, arugula, brioche, handcut fries
- ~ Dungeness crab cake, po’ boy, slaw, lemon zest aioli, FF or pasta
- ~ Fresh pasta salad, peas, sorrel, reggiano, toasted bread crumbs, (grilled organic chicken, option)
- ~ San marzano tomato basil soup, crostini
- ~ Sweet tea, infused with lemongrass and ginger
- ~ Poutine, herby gravy, white cheddar, herbs
~ Chocolate cake, slow roasted local cherries, whip cream
Kudos to Skillet Street Food. Finally, someone found a way to put the Kalakala to good use.
Posted by: Lazy Murrow | July 13, 2008 at 06:24 AM
I have eaten at La Crêperie Voilá and it is excellent! My favorite is chicken, spinache and goat cheese. It has been awhile since I have been there. I need to make another trip. Thanks for the reminder.
Posted by: RedmondDem | July 13, 2008 at 09:07 AM
HOOD, I've lived here all my life, lived on The Hill for most of it, and I didn't have a clue about Pike Street Fish Fry, right under my nostrils? Praise you and Damn thee, Hood....fried smelts in dipping sauces sounds good. Does he do a good slaw? I always liked The Sloop in Ballard.
Posted by: Wild Bill | July 13, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Wild Bill, it's new. It hasn't been open for very long.
I've always wanted to eat at that creperie.
MH, can you review Joe Bar and talk about the changes at B&O Espresso next? Those are two places I enjoy. I need to try the food at Joe though. Their espresso prices are a bargain.
Posted by: Canuckophile | July 14, 2008 at 11:57 PM
canu,
we noticed the B&O sign on Broadway in our last foray along Broadway - but I don't think either of us have been there for so long that changes would not be obvious.
The best we can imagine about Joe Bar is that they have something good going on - packed on a late Saturday afternoon? Teaming up with Matt at the Corson Building? Sounds like there is more than espresso to be found there.
Posted by: wta | July 15, 2008 at 08:28 PM