Pleasantly surprised by the freshness and quality of sushi. Huge menu selection from udon to ramen to chirashi bowls and all were artfully crafted and flavorful. Loved the salmon battera and yuzu sparkling soda. About a 30 minute wait due to limited seating inside but they do take reservations too.
BTW, I also ate the UNI & IKURA B.B. NOODLE, but was too hungry to take a photo. :( For starters, definitely get the cocktails with egg whites. It might seem daunting, but it feels like a creamy foam on the drink (I don't know if that sounds bad to some, but it tasted delicious to me). Overall, it reminded me of drinking in Japan because the alcohol flavor wasn't overpowering compared to many places that serve cocktails (I'm sensitive to the taste of alcohol, as you may have noticed), but I could still feel the buzz! If I wasn't driving, I would have ordered another one. The UNI & IKURA B.B. NOODLE was a bit heavy for me, so pairing it with a drink or a side dish was the best way to enjoy it. I also wanted to be adventurous, so I chose to eat tako wasabi. It did open my nose a little bit, but it was something I would order again. It had a slightly fishier taste than when I tried it while it was still moving in Busan, but then again, this is Seattle, so I shouldn't complain. The salmon bowl was good, as the salmon was rich, and the pickles cut through the richness of the salmon. I wasn't a fan of the salmon roe, but overall, I loved the experience and would definitely take my friends and family here for a special occasion.
I was intrigued but I can't say I'm impressed yet. Rondo is owned by the same folks as Tamari Bar (which I love) so I'd love to come back and try more dishes. Since I was by myself this time, I only got to try the Bara-Chirashi Donburi which was elegantly plated and packed with a variety fresh seafood. It's a bit pricey for not a lot of food so I was left a bit hungry after and ordered the ice cream with hojicha sauce. Learn from me and order appetizers or another dish for a fuller meal. The staff was super friendly and very prompt in taking orders and checking in. I really enjoyed the bar seating and getting to watch the chefs prepare the food. This is a great spot for an easy weeknight dinner and most parties got seated without a wait. Primarily street parking in this area. I believe there's some paid retail parking in The Lyric garage attached to this building.
Wow! My family and I had a great experience at Rondo. The food was authentic and delicious! Great variety, good quality ingredients and presentation. Service is courteous and fast. Ambience is a bit noisy, so not necessarily a place for a date or intimate conversation. (Some tables are shared). Definitely a place we will visit again!
4.5/5 - I love rondo simply because of its katsu curry. The katsu curry is 5 stars for me, but everything else does not live up in comparison. However that katsu curry is so good, I make the trip just to eat it. I think it is the best katsu curry in Washington. The katsu is so crispy and the curry is very flavorful. I like that they give you garlic chips to add to the flavor. So if you go here, you know what to order. You'll be raving too after. The restaurant lacks seating for big groups, but the aesthetic of the restaurant is nice. Since some of the seating is blocked from view it can be hard to get the attention of the waiters, but they are all usually friendly.
Rondo is a Seattle favorite and a must whenever I visit family & friends here. Their menu is expansive, and I love the variety of yummy things we can get. Some favorites to help your ordering: -Tako Wasabi (raw octopus) $6 -Uni Shooter $9 -BB Noodles ($10 or &28 w/ uni & ikura) -Curry ($12 or $19 w/ tonkatsu) -Bara Chirashi Bowl $29 People may gloss over the raw octopus but it's amazing! It's got a nice chew to it, and tastes so refreshing with a little kick of wasabi. It's really cheap at $6 and a nice small dish to share with 2-3 people. I'd also highly recommend the BB noodles that were surprisingly very good, not something I'd expect to eat at an izakaya - it felt like a Japanese/Italian pasta. Lastly the homemade curry - which is packed with an array of flavors including ground beef/pork, veggies, caramelized onions, chicken broth, and more spices. It's got a rich and deep flavor and is so delicious! One area of improvement is just the temperature of the food - we felt like the hot food came out a little more lukewarm than we would prefer during our last visit. Overall, I still love this place and am looking forward to coming back!
The best bite of the evening was the popular creamy uni croquette, a must try for a reason. It was Seattle restaurant week during our visit and my friend tried their special, which included their deluxe bara chirashi sushi, assorted sashimi, and a uni wagyu handroll. The handroll was surprisingly just okay. I ordered the All About Seafood bento which similarly included the mixed chirashi and sashimi but also came with grilled fish (mackerel) and a piece of uni croquette. Their fish quality is great, I loved their bits of buttery salmon and crab in the chirashi. Their uni and seafood creamy udon is yummy and worth a try, consistent with other uni udons I've had in LA and Torrance in California. Overall good for the price and diverse menu. Skip the spicy tuna crispy bites and their soft serve. Their cocktails are pretty strong. Waited about 30 minutes on a Saturday night. Food comes out quick.
Super yummy food! Everything tasted amazing! Great service! I recommend coming here right when it opens because it got crowded fast! Super cool spot with a nice vibe. Loved the decor. Enjoyed our time at this place and would come back!
Rondo is one of my favorite spots in the city! The sashimi is fresh and delicious and I love the variety of dishes you can order. The drinks are great and refreshing, and their parfait and panna cotta are soooo good. It's a fun spot on Broadway and the ambiance is like what you would expect at a Japanese izakaya. Highly recommend!!!