There have been plenty of post-Covid openings and we certainly have not been able to get to them all. This month we are trying to catch up on
that, at least a little. And, as our exploration continued, this edition ended up with a post-Spanish Empire theme.
Another Beacon Hill Gem (Guam)
The gastronomical district of Beacon Hill has extended a few blocks further South with Familyfriend, 3315 Beacon Avenue South, (no phone, no webpage, just Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/familyfriend20671/. Familyfriend has only been open since last December, but it was apparently a successful popup before that. They already have a loyal following and have generated a lot of buzz including being named one of the New York Times 50 Best Restaurants of 2024. It is easy to miss on the outside (almost invisible signage), but very nice on the inside. We went to check out the Guamanian menu and we admit we were not sure what we would be presented with in that cuisine (other than the smash burger for which they have received a lot of their publicity). Based upon their menu (and discussions with our friendly server) Guamanian is a hybrid of many culinary influences, including Filipino, Spanish, Korean, and Southeast Asian.
We sampled a wide variety of their offerings including the corn chowder, the empanadas, sope, the fried chicken plate and the smash burger. The corn chowder, one of their signature menu items, had both flavor and texture. This is definitely a must try item on the menu. The empanadas (beef) were flavorful and slightly spicy. They were good, but not a destination selection. The sope is mustard greens and kale stewed in coconut milk with turmeric and served on a scoop of corn. The flavors were hard to distinguish, but it was very interesting and worth a try. The smash burger (we had a double) was very good. We are not prepared to say it is the best in town, as some reviewers have claimed, but it is definitely worth trying.
The fried chicken plate is one of their featured entrees, but it was our only disappointment. It came on a plate with a variety of salads (macaroni, pickled cabbage and red rice) like a plate lunch. But the breading on the chicken was extremely thick, almost like armor, and the chicken was a bit overdone. We liked the salads and rice that came with it, but, unless this was a fluke, we would avoid that dish.
And, we had dessert: bunelos manglo (typhoon donuts), fried champagne mango dough served with a peach sauce. Good, but not a destination item in and of themselves.
We had been warned to expect lines (and they do not take reservations). We found no line for midweek early evening dining. We sat immediately and
had prompt service. We chose to sit inside with some lively music, something between blues and reggae; they have outdoor dining in back (not on Beacon Avenue). Be warned, they have a number of up charges (such as charging $5.50 to
split the soup for a family style dinner) that added up on the bill. Overall, we will probably return when we are in the neighborhood on a weekday (to avoid lines) but may not make it as much a destination location as, say, Homer a few blocks to the North.
Back to Capitol Hill
(Mexican/Latin)
Around the corner from Lark in the location previously occupied by a Heritage Distillery tasting room, Koko’s Restaurant and Tequila Bar, 1201 10th Avenue, 206.900.7113, www.kokos-restaurant.com, opened their Seattle branch of the Latin restaurant about four months ago. (They have been established in Seabrook for about four years.) They are open for lunch/brunch, happy hour dinner and late-night happy hour. We checked them out for lunch, a time of day when parking is more available in that neighborhood. The lunch/brunch menu is reasonably priced for the proximity to downtown, but the drinks are downtown priced.
We tried the Koko’s enchilada (with chicken) and the breakfast burrito (also with chicken). Between the two, the enchilada had much more flavor. The burrito was very (make that extremely) filling, and quite appropriate if you are hungry and have a big appetite. Between those two we would re-order the enchilada and we will go back to try more items on the quite ample menu.
We tried one of their featured drinks, the Frida Margarita, with pineapple, coconut, prickly pear agave nectar and lime juice. It was beautifully presented, complete with shredded coconut and edible flowers as a garnish. This was slightly sweet, but very enjoyable as a sipping drink that lasted the entire meal. We will plan to order it again when we return.
Koko’s is very worth trying if you go when parking is not an issue or get there other than by car. We plan to return to try more items on the menu and probably for happy hour.
And a New Philippine Restaurant (on the Road in Southern Oregon)
Ashland, Oregon is both a destination location and a stopping point for those driving further South on I-5. Harana Café 4, 116 Lithia Way, 541.708.0430, https://www.haranacafe.com/, opened late last year in Ashland offering Philippine cuisine (to complete the post-Spanish Empire tour) only a block downhill from the Shakespeare Festival (so, obviously, a convenient location if you are planning to catch an evening play afterwards). Although open less than a year, Harana has already been featured in Food and Wine, Taste Ashland, Oregon, at These Global Restaurants (foodandwine.com). It is worth noting that Ashland has a sufficient dining scene that even the New Yorkers publishing Food and Wine have noticed it. Harana is right in the heart of Ashland, but it is inconspicuously marked; you have to know it is there to find it. It is a small, very informal location with both indoor and outdoor seating with the latter in a covered breezeway (good for all weather you are likely to experience in Ashland).
We tried the Chicken Adobo and the squash and coconut stew, accompanied by their house margarita and their house iced tea both of which were flavored with calamansi, a cross between a kumquat and mandarin orange. Both dishes came with a generous scoop of rice and house pickles on the side. The chicken adobo was flavorful, and a bit salty. The mushrooms in the dish were not too plentiful, but we had no other concerns about the dish. The squash and coconut stew, a vegan gluten free dish, was mild in terms of spice but flavorful and our gluten free diner plans to order it again next time. We accompanied these dishes with their house margarita and iced tea. Both were flavored with calamansi, a citrus hybrid between kumquat and mandarin orange cultivated in the Philippines that gave both a distinctive (and good) taste. The mezcal is quite forward in the margarita. They have a surprisingly long list of liquors and
other alcoholic beverages for its small size. So, if you want some sake before the show, this is the place to stop.
Harana is moderately priced (in a town that often has downtown Seattle pricing). It is open only for dinner, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. They do not take reservations, but one can take their food to go if you arrive too late for the limited seating. The owners are very friendly and hospitable and Harana is certainly worth a try if you are in Ashland and we intend to return to try more of their menu next time we pass through Southern Oregon.
Dining Out is brough to you by Christopher Howard with the assistance of friends and family who like to dine out. Send comments and suggestions to chh@f2t.com or 206.669.5956. Many of our reviewed locations have come from reader suggestions, so, please keep sending them.
