WinPower's Guide To South King County Restaurants
This message is a little sad because we are losing one of our favorite employees. Hillary Gonzalez has worked with us throughout High School for the last few years after school and during the summer. She has been instrumental to keeping our trains running on time and making sure the office runs smoothly. She will be missed.
We bonded over many things. The mariners, music and food mostly. We thought we would send her off by taking one more tour over her last Summer of all the incredible little restaurants we have found while doing our work in South King County. We brought a camera and Hillary’s appetite. She can pack a lot in her for her size. You can see what she thought of all these places in the videos below.
We will miss you, Hillary!
Lucky House
317 E Smith St, Kent, WA 98030
https://www.yelp.com/map/lucky-house-chinese-restaurant-kent
If you’ve been to Din Tai Fung or the other more upscale Dim Sum places, you know how great Dim Sum can be. That said, it’s a little fussy. This place is a down home, no fuss, get you your dim sum and get out quick place that crushes. Trust us, the food is incredible. They come to your table the minute you get there. In 2 minutes, you are eating some of the best Chinese food you’ve ever had. Oh, and the best Gyoza you’ve ever had. Can’t recommend this more highly.
Grill City
1368 Southcenter Mall, Tukwila, WA 98188
https://www.yelp.com/map/grill-city-tukwila
OK. This is not at all what or where you would expect it. There is a grocery store in Southcenter Mall. Yes, you read that right. There’s a grocery store at the mall. It’s a Filipino grocery store with a Filipino food buffet in it. And it’s fantastic. Chicken Adobo, all kinds of fish, and if you want, you can buy a full pig (Lechon) for $400.
Taqueria Casa Mixteca
452 SW 153rd St, Burien, WA 98166
https://www.yelp.com/map/taqueria-casa-mixteca-burien
We fight in our office about where the best Mexican food is in South King County all the time. It’s incredibly competitive but this place is definitely at the top. It’s in a little strip mall (as all good South King County food is) in Burien. Mole, Pork in a verde sauce, burritos, pollo asado, they’ve got it all here and it’s delicious.
El Taco Maestro
14820 Tukwila International Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98168
https://www.yelp.com/map/el-taco-maestro-tukwila
When Hillary was learning to drive, we drove from SeaTac down the IB to here. This little taco truck in Tukwila that we think is the best taco truck in South King County. Again, some tough competition but this one tops our list.
East Indian Grill
31845 Gateway Center Blvd S, Federal Way, WA 98003
https://www.yelp.com/map/east-india-grill-federal-way
We love this little Indian restaurant in Federal Way. We love getting clients in the 30th Legislative District because we know we are going to stop for great Indian food. East Indian Grill is also in a strip mall, but, the giant chandeliers will have you feeling like you are in a palace.
So Moon Nan Jib
33324 Pacific Hwy S #203, Federal Way, WA 98003
https://www.yelp.com/map/so-moon-nan-jib-federal-way
You really need to bring a few people when you go because you have to hit a certain amount of money (I think $60) before they let you barbecue at your table. Even if you don’t hit that amount, you get small plates of delicious Korean food in a meal that you will not soon forget.
Dee Des Moines Thai House
21630 7th Pl S, Des Moines, WA 98198
https://www.yelp.com/map/dee-des-moines-thai-cuisine-des-moines-3
There is a lot of good Pad Thai and Pad See Ew out there but there are very few places in the Puget Sound that can do the Northern Thai cuisine well. This is one of them. Seriously, get in your car and go down to this little house not far from the Des Moines Marina and try the Khao Soi. It’s a curry-based dish with pickled cabbage, curry, noodles and your choice of meat or tofu. If you haven’t had it, wait for a rainy day and head down to Des Moines and try it.
Cemitas Tepeca 2
21624 Pacific Hwy S, Des Moines, WA 98198
https://www.yelp.com/map/cemitas-tepeaca-2-des-moines-4
Sandwiches the size of your head! This place is one of the few places in South King County to grace the Seattle Times food section (https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/its-easy-to-figure-out-what-to-order-at-cemitas-tepeaca-2-in-des-moines-the-majestic-namesake-sandwiches/). You can see why in the video below as Hillary tries to eat a sandwich that will take the afternoon to nap off. These are delicious. We did get Senator Das one during her campaign. I think she ate half of it and saved the rest for later.
Pho Lily
14611 1st Ave S, Burien, WA 98168
https://www.yelp.com/map/pho-lily-burien
This is another tough decision. There is so much good Vietnamese food all over South King County but we think this is the best. It’s right off 509 near the Fred Meyer in Burien. The Pho is perfect every time. The spring rolls are incredible The sandwiches are excellent. Even the Lemonade is exceptional. We vote this the best Pho in South King County.
Dochi
Inside of Lam Seafood Market, 17348 Southcenter Pkwy, Tukwila, WA 98188
https://www.yelp.com/map/dochi-tukwila
This is a little stand in the Lam Seafood Market in Tukwila that makes delicious mochi donuts! It's a cross between a Japanese rice cake (aka "mochi") and a classic American fried donut.
These Mochi donuts have a bubble ring shape that is designed to be easily
tear-n-shareable!
Paparepas Venezuelan Food
21224 84th Ave S Kent, WA 98032
https://www.yelp.com/map/paparepas-venezuelan-food-kent-4
This was a new one we heard about and had to try. Traditionally, arepas are made by soaking and pounding dried corn in a pilón—a large mortar and pestle. The moist pounded dough would then be shaped into cakes and cooked. They are little cornmeal cakes with meat and cheese. Yes, they are exactly as they sound, delicious.
Antigua Guatemalan Restaurant
120 Washington Ave North Kent WA 98032
https://www.yelp.com/map/antigua-guatemala-restaurant-kent
This is another little hard-to-find strip mall hideaway with some delicious Guatemalan dishes. Hillary tried the Churrasco Chapin and a Horchata Smoothie.
Located in the heart of Kent, Washington, they characterize themselves as a restaurant with tradition, color, and above all the true Chapin flavor that Guatemalan diners love so much. They have a variety of typical Guatemalan food accompanied by handmade tortillas.
Kikey’s Mexican Restaurant
15607 1st Ave S Burien, WA 98148
https://www.yelp.com/map/kikeys-cafe-burien-2
Kikey’s is a cool, new Mexican breakfast and brunch place in Burien. It’s only open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features some Mexican breakfast classics like Huevos Rancheros and Chilaquiles Divorciados and some great fresh fruit juices.
Spice Bridge: Taste of Congo
14200 Tukwila International Blvd Suite 141, Tukwila, WA 98168
https://www.yelp.com/map/spice-bridge-tukwila
Angela, who shares office space with us, tagged along on this trip to help us navigate this Congolese restaurant for the first time. We all tried the chicken mayo which is excellent but one of the more filling meals we had. We also had some very fresh fruit juices here. The cool thing about this place is there are rotating restaurants each week including Ethiopian, Cambodian and Vietnamese. It all looks worth going back and trying!