Casual-chic stop for ramen, donburi bowls, and izakaya-style snacks, plus Japanese cocktails.
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.
Visited a month ago
Huge Nut Allergy Warning: There are almonds in the chili oil, and peanut oil is used in some of the shoyu ramen dishes. The spiced ground pork in some specials also contains a peanut sauce. There are a surprising number of nuts for a Japanese place, so I advise caution!
Time to Food: 8 minutes (appetizers) to 25 minutes (Ramen, remade once, explained below)
We had a 30 minute wait around 7:30PM for two people. The seating is cozy and snug, but the decor is very attentive, with coat racks even being provided.
Service was extremely considerate. Once I explained that I had a nut allergy, the staff came by and checked on things several times. There was a miss in that they normally top a shoyu ramen with peanut oil, which they had to remake for me. Then they also had to recreate it without the ground pork since that also had nuts. I got a free ice cream as an apology for the wait, which I found very considerate.
For two people, we ordered:
-Mr. Pork Ribs (5/5): Incredibly fall off the bone tender with a very flavorful balsamic puree. Recommend lightly brushing the ribs with the slice of lemon. I even ate the spring mix afterwards and it was great with the pork sauce. It is a little sweet, almost like a honey glaze.
-Tonkatsu Curry (?/5): My friend gave this an 8/10, but I could not try it after discovering the chili oil had almonds.
-Modified Shiye's Red Shoyu Ramen (4.5/5): I can't judge this fully, as I had to get it modified without the peanut oil and ground pork which also had peanuts. The shoyu broth was a little light and bland with a heavy soy emphasis once I got toward the bottom - I think the peanut oil would add just the right amount of complexity here. The pork and noodles were 5/5 amazing. Pork was very tender, and the noodles had the perfect size, firmness, and chewiness. Maybe some of the best ramen noodles I've had in years. I could see this being a 5/5 with what they are envisioning.
-Matcha Ice Cream (5/5): Very reminiscent of Somisomi's soft serve texture. It's very good and easily sharable with 2-3 people. It's vanilla ice cream with a matcha sauce and it's delicious.
Overall, stellar food and great service that were very considerate towards my allergy. I'd warn anyone with a nut allergy to be careful here but you will be in for a great meal when all is said and done!
Visited 2 months ago
Honestly, they nailed it. Unpretentious and delicious Japanese food. It’s a small space with an open and active kitchen. They have great systems in place and the pace of everything was quick, but not pushy. Great for casual meetups, a blind date or small parties. Definitely not the spot for big groups or small children. Can’t wait to come back and try some other dishes.
Visited 7 months ago
Stopped by for SRW dinner last night. Had the Wagyu Hanba-Gu Teishoku ("set meal"). Had never had a Hanba-Gu (hamburger steak) with demi-glace, but had seen the dish many times in YouTube videos. Rondo's was like a very succulent Wagyu meatloaf topped with a tomato/mushroom/onion demi-glace sauce. So rich and juicy! It came with fried oysters and an intriguing potato salad mixed with kabocha squash. Lastly, the dessert was a pumpkini & kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) soft serve.
Visited 3 months ago
My visit to Rondo Japanese Restaurant on June 27th was an absolute treat, especially as we were there to celebrate a good friend's birthday. The menu selection we tried was nothing short of delectable. Starting with the Tokyo Shoyu Oxtail Ramen, which had a rich and flavorful broth that perfectly complemented the tender oxtail. The Creamy Seafood Udon was a delightful surprise, creamy and packed with fresh seafood. Rondo Fried Chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and just what you crave in a fried chicken. The Crispy Salmon Bites were another highlight, perfectly cooked with a satisfying crunch. The Curry Donuts were an inventive and delicious blend of sweet and savory, and the Tori Whiskey Soft Serve was a uniquely delightful twist on dessert with its subtle whiskey flavor. Lastly, the Black Sesame Cheesecake was rich and packed with nutty flavors, making it a perfect finale to our meal.
Additionally, the service was exceptional—our server was super attentive and polite, making our dining experience even more enjoyable. She truly deserves a shout-out for her outstanding service. This place is a must-visit for anyone looking to explore innovative Japanese cuisine in Seattle!
Visited 7 months ago
Omg! I am super happy to find this place. We love japanese food, and we are looking for places that serve a different variety of japanese food. Rondo has amazing array of menu. I wanted to try everything on the menu 😋 We ordered Hokkaido kaisendon that they serve before 2pm. It has uni, crab meat and amaebi, among a few other sashimi. It comes with amazing yuzu sauce and fresh grated wasabi. We also ordered uni and seafood creamy maze udon. The uni was fresh and delicious. Very satisfying. The portion is small mind you. But I suppose you get to try other stuff without being too full.
Rondo also has happy hour menu from 2-5:30 pm. See my pics. And they have soft serve ice cream and other interesting desserts. We had the matcha parfait. The place is super cute as well, with retro japanese decor. Love this place! 6 ⭐
Visited 6 months ago
Good izakaya vibe and so much variety on the menu! I had a hard time deciding what to get but landed on the mazemen, traditional bento, and spicy ahi tuna bites. Believe it or not, my favorite was actually the mazemen! Would definitely come back here to try other things.
Visited 3 months ago
Another restaurant from the same people who brought Capitol Hill Suika (now closed). It is the most similar in menu and spirit to that establishment, with flavorful ramen, tasty curry, fresh sushi, and inventive cocktails. Almost everything I have ordered was delicious and has a lovely presentation. I believe the value is there, despite the typical Seattle restaurant prices.
My favorite things to get are the battera sushi, the curry and donut app, the noodles, or a fun special.
This place always has a special menu with rotating seasonal items. Lots of fun opportunities to come back and try new things.
Cons:
- The menu is very confusing. The font choices and layout of both the virtual and paper menus take time to decipher. Something about the hierarchy and organization of information on their menu is not effortless to read. There are also multiple menus and how they overlap also takes some studying.
- It's sometimes hard to get a table.
Visited a month ago
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.
Visited a month ago
First time in Rondo. Their wagyu salad was superb! Their pork katsu was served along with salad, salad dressing, katsu sauce, sesame seeds you can grind on the bowl, miso soup. They also have high ball and some sours as well. Felt like I was eating in Japan. If I came back to Seattle, this will definitely be one of the places I would eat at.
Visited a month ago
I've been coming here for close to five years now and have enjoyed each and every visit. Look no further for delicious Japanese food that the staff pours their heart into to give you the best dish, both flavor and presentation wise. Honestly it's all good, you can't beat their curry!
Visited a month ago
Yes.
Visited 2 months ago
Visited 2 months ago
I had the wagyu creamy udon. Definitely was creamy and delicious.
Visited 2 months ago
Flavors for all of the dishes are absolutely amazing, presentation is done well, and prices are good. Everything is extremely well done, will be happy to come back again.
Visited 2 months ago
Visited 2 months ago
Met a friend for lunch here. I really enjoyed the ramen and atmosphere. Will definitely return.
Visited 2 months ago
Food is decent overall but seating arrangement and atmosphere is uncomfortable. $9 for the rainbow uni shot with a half of a penny size portion of uni is criminal. Service is forced with no sincerity and some don’t even want to be there. Beers and sake came after we finished the appetizer. Good for one visit maybe
Visited 2 months ago
Huge Nut Allergy Warning: There are almonds in the chili oil, and peanut oil is used in some of the shoyu ramen dishes. The spiced ground pork in some specials also contains a peanut sauce. There are a surprising number of nuts for a Japanese place, so I advise caution!
Time to Food: 8 minutes (appetizers) to 25 minutes (Ramen, remade once, explained below)
We had a 30 minute wait around 7:30PM for two people. The seating is cozy and snug, but the decor is very attentive, with coat racks even being provided.
Service was extremely considerate. Once I explained that I had a nut allergy, the staff came by and checked on things several times. There was a miss in that they normally top a shoyu ramen with peanut oil, which they had to remake for me. Then they also had to recreate it without the ground pork since that also had nuts. I got a free ice cream as an apology for the wait, which I found very considerate.
For two people, we ordered:
-Mr. Pork Ribs (5/5): Incredibly fall off the bone tender with a very flavorful balsamic puree. Recommend lightly brushing the ribs with the slice of lemon. I even ate the spring mix afterwards and it was great with the pork sauce. It is a little sweet, almost like a honey glaze.
-Tonkatsu Curry (?/5): My friend gave this an 8/10, but I could not try it after discovering the chili oil had almonds.
-Modified Shiye's Red Shoyu Ramen (4.5/5): I can't judge this fully, as I had to get it modified without the peanut oil and ground pork which also had peanuts. The shoyu broth was a little light and bland with a heavy soy emphasis once I got toward the bottom - I think the peanut oil would add just the right amount of complexity here. The pork and noodles were 5/5 amazing. Pork was very tender, and the noodles had the perfect size, firmness, and chewiness. Maybe some of the best ramen noodles I've had in years. I could see this being a 5/5 with what they are envisioning.
-Matcha Ice Cream (5/5): Very reminiscent of Somisomi's soft serve texture. It's very good and easily sharable with 2-3 people. It's vanilla ice cream with a matcha sauce and it's delicious.
Overall, stellar food and great service that were very considerate towards my allergy. I'd warn anyone with a nut allergy to be careful here but you will be in for a great meal when all is said and done!
Visited 2 months ago
Visited 2 months ago
Visited 2 months ago
Visited 2 months ago
Visited 2 months ago
Visited 2 months ago
I had the pork ribs. There's a reason it's the most popular item. You won't regret it. Service was good. The neighborhood is bad. Space is tight inside. I would definitely go back.
Visited 3 months ago
Visited 3 months ago
ONG the ramen was literally to die for 🤤
Visited 3 months ago
Visited 3 months ago
Visited 3 months ago
Visited 3 months ago
Rondo continues to be one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Consistently good service and cooking. My favorite item is the Ton-Katsu Teishoku, which is a complete meal on its own with pork katsu, rice, cabbage, pickles, soup, sauces, and seasonings. Very yummy.
Visited 3 months ago
Great! Friendly staff, yummy food!
Visited 3 months ago
Visited 3 months ago
Visited 3 months ago
Visited 3 months ago
Stopped by for SRW dinner last night. Had the Wagyu Hanba-Gu Teishoku ("set meal"). Had never had a Hanba-Gu (hamburger steak) with demi-glace, but had seen the dish many times in YouTube videos. Rondo's was like a very succulent Wagyu meatloaf topped with a tomato/mushroom/onion demi-glace sauce. So rich and juicy! It came with fried oysters and an intriguing potato salad mixed with kabocha squash. Lastly, the dessert was a pumpkini & kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) soft serve.
Visited 3 months ago
Good izakaya vibe and so much variety on the menu! I had a hard time deciding what to get but landed on the mazemen, traditional bento, and spicy ahi tuna bites. Believe it or not, my favorite was actually the mazemen! Would definitely come back here to try other things.
Visited 3 months ago
I've given this place two tries because of the good reviews I've seen, but both did not live up to my expectation. The food portions were small for the price. The nigiris were ordinary: piece of fish on rice, no particular toppings to give them special flavors. The sashimi pieces were fresh but small. The chirashi bowl fish pieces were tiny and the pickled radish was out of place. The $10 deposit per person for the reservation was stressful. Service was mediocre - slow, with no introduction or "hello," just "what's your order?" With all the great options around, doubtful that I will be back.
Visited 4 months ago
Visited 4 months ago
It's good but unfortunately not as good as the Japanese food I get in Vancouver BC, especially for the chirashi bowl. Black tantan noodles is decent.
Visited 4 months ago
Visited 4 months ago
Decided to try this place on a whim and had a wonderful experience. Joseph was our server, super respectful, friendly, and made us laugh, highly recommend him. Food was also wonderful anf accomidating to vegetarian and vegan diets. Also a very relaxed atmosphere. Definitely try if you're on the fence!
Visited 4 months ago
The food is good, but if you are dining with other people, they do not bring everyone's food out at the same time, which is such a shame and a huge No-No. You guaranteed will be sitting there watching the other person eat for at least a good five to ten minutes until you get your own.
Visited 4 months ago
Visited 4 months ago
I love Rondo, and I always togo once a month. The wagyu is super flavorful, so I get the bowl with it, uni, and other seafood. Their uni croquettes are amazing.
I didnt really enjoy their recommended pork rib appetizer though it is a bit dry although the sauce is great.
Visited 4 months ago
Don't get deceived by the pictures. Uni is a hit and miss. I ordered the "5-kinds" chirashi, it did not come with uni. Very skimpy on the sashimi and it is not a full size and even rice portion is very small. Service is ok.
Visited 4 months ago
Visited 4 months ago
Very good food and staff are very friendly and aware
Visited 5 months ago
TLDR: loud music interrupted conversation, service was lackluster, some dishes are VERY overpriced and you may leave hungry.
I want to start by saying I have had better experiences at rondo. We dropped in for dinner on Sunday 9/29 and we reserved a table and were placed in the corner near the front. We took some time to catch up but had difficulty over the loud club music that was playing. We waited longer than we expected for the waiter to return to take our order - and we also asked the music to be turned down because we were having to shout over each other. (we had a speaker above the table). The waiter never checked back in on that request and we still found the music to be too loud. The food came out piecemeal with quite a bit of time between the first dish hitting the table and the last persons. The most disappointing part of the meal for me was ordering the chicken karaage curry. This dish is $17 and I was shocked at the lack of food when it came out: one mound of white rice, a ladle of curry, and what amounted to 3 chicken nuggets. We also ordered some sushi which was fine. I left the meal, splitting the bill with a total of $40, and I left hungry, which is just not okay at the price point imo. We were also disappointed to see the “Klondike” bar desert go :(
Visited 5 months ago
Visited 5 months ago
Visited 5 months ago
Visited 5 months ago
High quality fish and other Japanese classics served by quick and friendly staff. They went out of their way to accommodate my mollusk allergy even with the “chef’s choice” sashimi offerings. Pricing is competitive for the quality. The lunch specials and bentos are a great deal.
Visited 5 months ago
Visited 5 months ago
I love this spot! Great food, great vibes!
Visited 5 months ago
Visited 6 months ago
Visited 6 months ago
Good but ... not ... great.
The service was spectacular! Very prompt and attentive.... checked on us frequently and made sure we had everything we needed!
The whiskey flight was bomb! Delivered promptly. The pours were ... kiiind of small... so ... I dunno... for $16... seemed kinda... skimpy.
I liked that they have bamboo dividers in between tables. It doesn't feel like a COVID precaution... feels more like an intimate experience type... feel!
The bibimbap was also kinda lame. It did NOT come with a few of the things advertised. The menu said it came with corn... it did not. There was one other item as well that it did not come with... but I can't remember what that was and I don't see it on the menu so I'll let it go for now. Although... they DID add some rare, seasonal squid on top... which... had I been more into a raw seafood type of mood... I might have enjoyed... but ... today... ehh??? Not was I was looking for.
Overall good, but ... not what I was expecting.
Visited 6 months ago
Rondo is the best Izakaya in Seattle! Authentic, fun and tasty.
Visited 6 months ago
Visited 6 months ago
Food is kinda interesting and drinks were okay. Service here was good however I'm not sure if I'd recommend this place/I'd come back here again.
Visited 6 months ago
Always a go to place if I would like to eat JP food, high quality food and nice services. Space is a bit narrow though
Visited 6 months ago
Great food, all the veg had options are delish
Visited 6 months ago
I got the curry katsu, 5 different sashimis, and chirashi donburi. They were all soooo gooood
Visited 6 months ago
Very unpleasant experience. They won’t tell you about the “service fee” that is a pre-calculated 20% tip added to the total price and still asked for extra tip. We don’t mind giving extra tip but at least inform us about the service charge when paying the bills.
Visited 6 months ago
Sashimi is so fresh and yummy.
Visited 6 months ago
Best happy hour and fun specials
Visited 6 months ago
Visited 6 months ago
I never expected to have such great Japanese seafood in the States
Visited 6 months ago
Visited 6 months ago
Omg! I am super happy to find this place. We love japanese food, and we are looking for places that serve a different variety of japanese food. Rondo has amazing array of menu. I wanted to try everything on the menu 😋 We ordered Hokkaido kaisendon that they serve before 2pm. It has uni, crab meat and amaebi, among a few other sashimi. It comes with amazing yuzu sauce and fresh grated wasabi. We also ordered uni and seafood creamy maze udon. The uni was fresh and delicious. Very satisfying. The portion is small mind you. But I suppose you get to try other stuff without being too full.
Rondo also has happy hour menu from 2-5:30 pm. See my pics. And they have soft serve ice cream and other interesting desserts. We had the matcha parfait. The place is super cute as well, with retro japanese decor. Love this place! 6 ⭐
Visited 6 months ago
Honestly, they nailed it. Unpretentious and delicious Japanese food. It’s a small space with an open and active kitchen. They have great systems in place and the pace of everything was quick, but not pushy. Great for casual meetups, a blind date or small parties. Definitely not the spot for big groups or small children. Can’t wait to come back and try some other dishes.
Visited 7 months ago
Great spot for happy hour! $10 for a beer, sake, and some small appetizers, can't think of a better deal in cap hill. The uni croquettes and oyako handroll were delicious. The tonkatsu curry was incredibly flavorful, the cutlet was perfectly cooked! Only slight disappointment was the spicy tuna donburi. The sauce was delicious but there was such a small amount that the rest of the dish besides the tuna was very bland.
Visited 7 months ago
Visited 7 months ago
My friends and I planned a Seattle trip and lined up many things to do and eat. The highlight of our food tour was Shiro Sushi's omakase, and while good, it didn't have as much of an impact or memorable as Rondo did. We passed by Rondo a few times each way walking the Seattle streets and one day we wanted to try their Hokkaido soft serve. We walked in naively thinking we were only getting treats, but ended up ordering, their happy hour menu almost in its entirety. The ten-bero set (beer, sake, appetizer sampler) was such a good deal, then we somehow ordered a few additional appetizers, shooters, and a bara chirashi. We weren't even hungry, but the food was excellent. Most of us in the group have been to Japan and our comparisons were undistinguishable. Rondo is definitely a hidden gem in Seattle, and I wouldn't hesitate to go back next time. Gochisosama deshita!
Visited 7 months ago
Ordered Raman and some sushi rolls, they were good. However, we noticed some bugs flying around in the restaurant, plus the server didn’t have bandwidth for overcrowded customers.
Visited 7 months ago
Visited 7 months ago
Visited 7 months ago
Rondo Japanese is a fantastic restaurant to go to for any occasion. It’s atmosphere is so fun with plenty of seating and an awesome giant TV screen to watch old school anime shows. It also offers lots of great small dishes for any large friend and family’s gatherings or big dishes for a big meal. Their food is so good and so addictive that you’ll want to keep coming back every time. All of it is made with top quality ingredients and served directly to your table so you can enjoy it hot and fresh. I highly recommend getting any of the chirashi bowls because they have some of the best and freshest fish in them. Also the karaage is deliciously crunchy and super juicy and tender on the inside so definitely don’t miss out. They have all types of awesome dishes for all people, meat lovers, vegans, etc. Doesn’t matter what kind of dish you order, whether it be croquettes, ramen, you will definitely love it.
Also, their service is so great and friendly! They are willing to describe each dish with care and detail, and look happy to serve you. The staff never fail to make sure your meal is a great one!
So, I highly recommend that you head to Rondo for a great meal, you won’t forget it!
Visited 7 months ago
Visited 7 months ago
Never add water or ask us if the dish is good, all they did is take away our drink
Visited 7 months ago
Visited 7 months ago
My visit to Rondo Japanese Restaurant on June 27th was an absolute treat, especially as we were there to celebrate a good friend's birthday. The menu selection we tried was nothing short of delectable. Starting with the Tokyo Shoyu Oxtail Ramen, which had a rich and flavorful broth that perfectly complemented the tender oxtail. The Creamy Seafood Udon was a delightful surprise, creamy and packed with fresh seafood. Rondo Fried Chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and just what you crave in a fried chicken. The Crispy Salmon Bites were another highlight, perfectly cooked with a satisfying crunch. The Curry Donuts were an inventive and delicious blend of sweet and savory, and the Tori Whiskey Soft Serve was a uniquely delightful twist on dessert with its subtle whiskey flavor. Lastly, the Black Sesame Cheesecake was rich and packed with nutty flavors, making it a perfect finale to our meal.
Additionally, the service was exceptional—our server was super attentive and polite, making our dining experience even more enjoyable. She truly deserves a shout-out for her outstanding service. This place is a must-visit for anyone looking to explore innovative Japanese cuisine in Seattle!
Visited 7 months ago
People with dietary restrictions should beware. The food was very good, but the menu is incredibly misleading and dangerous for anyone with dietary restrictions. A large chunk of the menu includes “Rondo curry” which is a pork and beef sauce. It doesn’t say anywhere on the what Rondo curry is until page 2, where it is listed as a standalone dish. You have read till that page to find it, then put two and two together to figure out that the standalone dish is used as an ingredient in all the other dishes. We ordered the curry donuts, which are served with Rondo curry, and thus the vegetarian in our party unknowingly ate a bowl of meat curry. We realized after the fact and told our young female server that the menu was misleading. She said she’d let the manager know, but there was never any follow up. Not only did it go against the vegetarian’s religion to eat pork and beef, but it also could’ve made him sick. We were still charged for the dish.
That aside, if you don’t have dietary restrictions, the food is great. The cocktails, curry donuts, noodles and poke bento tasted great. Unfortunately we could not eat a whole lot more there since almost everything else had the Rondo curry sauce with beef/pork and couldn’t be substituted for a non beef/pork sauce
Visited 7 months ago
Good food and lively atmosphere. Would recommend a reservation for a group
Visited 7 months ago
My friend brought me here and I was amazed at how good the food is for the price. If you like Japanese food, make this your next stop. The food had so much flavor. The katsu curry is my favorite. They also make great ramen and other food's! Also, serve drinks here with a happy hour from 2pm to 5pm. Daily food specials and drink specials as well. Do not sleep on this place you will regret it! Also parking in the garage is free if you eat here.
Visited 7 months ago
Visited 8 months ago
Great food with very legit flavor! In particularly, I really enjoyed the kaisen-don, which was the lunch special that day. However, I wish the portion sizes were just a bit larger for the price; for example, note in the picture how there is only one small cut of each piece of fish ($28).
Visited 8 months ago
Was super disappointed. The overall vibe and menu are fun, but the service was spotty and not particularly friendly or helpful.
Each person in our group got their food at different times--meaning there was 15 minutes before the first person was served and the last person got their food. The music was too loud and we couldn't hear each other. The curry was really good but the other dishes were just okay--an appetizer, a salmon special and a poke bowl.
Visited 8 months ago
A little bit busy. The place was small, but the food was good. Though, I only had one dish, a specialty called something Beef Cream Udon.
Visited 8 months ago
Visited 8 months ago
Visited 8 months ago
What a great place! Such a cool vibe walking in, very diverse menu, awesome service and good food. 4 people at our table and everyone loved they dish with a consensus of everyone wanting to come back. So many dishes and cocktails I want to try. I got the Deluxe Bento and everything in it was great. Also tried their veggie sushi roll was refreshing and loved their Yuzu gin and tonic. I highly recommend this place.
Visited 8 months ago
Super creative menus! Love it
Visited 8 months ago
Visited 8 months ago
Love this place. Visited with my mom and we are all very satisfied with what wee ordered. Sashimi are fresh, grilled salmon tasted really well. Happy Hour price is very reasonable. Would love to visit again
Visited 8 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
Been several time and food is always a joy and a treat.
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
I ordered the Chirashi bowl. The portion of fish is very small. The way of how they cut the fish looks like the fish is leftover from here and there. Moreover, the seafood are not very fresh. The tuna is the worst one. The sushi rice is so disappointing, it is very dry and hard, not fresh. It doesn’t have a yummy taste of the rice, instead there is an artificial taste, like dishwash soap or something like that. Don’t get tricked by the photo of how they place the plate or bowl!! The taste doesn’t match with how it looks.
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 9 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
Terrific spot! Kinda hard to get a seat without a reservation tho.
Visited 10 months ago
Pretty delicious....bento deluxe was the hit..Wagyu side was so so but overall a good dining experience
Visited 10 months ago
Had the original bb ramen noodles and the tonkatsu teishoku. Both were seriously delicious. The flavors were so perfectly balanced that I had to stop talking to really concentrate on every bite. Even as I was coming to the end of the meal I was actually having to explain to my partner why I wasn’t saying much. When the dessert was delayed due to the ice cream machine “acting up”, various people on the staff apologized 3 times. All other service was excellent including accommodating a change to our order 5 min after ordering. Will be back every time we visit the city.
Visited 10 months ago
Food was great, classic BB Noodles were awesome. Only downside side was the loud music.
Visited 10 months ago
Very delicious and great service.
Visited 10 months ago
Very nice service and beautiful presentation (bara shirashi donburi pictured here)...but I got food poisoning for three days after so I would not recommend, or at least stay away from dishes with raw fish. The ursin tasted very strong so it may be the culprit.
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
santa Barbara Uni rolls = -1 /5 . The uni was so bad. It tasted worst than sushi kura. It was bitter and not creamy at all. It had a strong bad after taste. I will stick with Hokkaido uni.
The ribs were my fav 5/5. The meat fell off the bones.
Okinawa soft serve was good. It had some yuzu syrup. It is nowhere as creamy as Hokkaido milk soft serve but does the job.
The tuna crispy rice were yummy. The tuna was not fishy! The ramen was interesting flavored, little on the salty side.
Bathrooms were super clean. There are two gender neutral bathrooms. The one I used had a diaper changing station.
The doors were opened randomly so at times it was freezing with the wind blowing.
There are coat hooks near the table but there is not much space for other stuff as it is a small space.
Visited 10 months ago
We had a reservation for 5 pm on Saturday. When we showed up, we were told that only community seating was available, not the standard table we were promised with our reservation. When I pointed out that there were 4 tables available for 2 people, we were told they were for later reservations coming in… unclear why they were being prioritized over us or why we were able to reservation if a table was not available.
Visited 10 months ago
Had a great Tokyo ramen!
Very friendly staff.
Parking is a bit of a challenge in this area, but there are some spots for the restaurant customers available in the underground garage just around the corner. Just make sure to leave the parking before they close the doors at 8pm.
Visited 10 months ago
I love the food here and the staff are really friendly, but the last 2 times I’ve come here I have felt rushed. Both times I was informed that there was a reservation at the table I was being seated at in an hour and I would need to finish my food and leave before then. In the most recent instance of this, the bar area was completely open and I asked to sit there. I don’t think the host heard me and directed me the table with the future reservation instead. The meal was great as usual but I hated thinking about eating fast enough while I enjoyed it.
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
This is probably the worst Japanese food i've ever had in Seattle. Not authentic, badly seasoned, highly overpriced food. Two small donburi together is asked for 50$, how could a mediocre place like this charge that high? This is a robbery.
Visited 10 months ago
Visited 10 months ago
It's been over a year since we visited this restaurant and I came with friends earlier in the week after work. I got the bara chirashi don and was pretty disappointed by how hard shrinkflation hit this place. 29$ gets you two thin, small pieces of wagyu no bigger than my pinkies, a literal thumbnail size piece of uni- not even a full bite- and maybe 3 small pieces of sashimi for three types of fish. The wooden dish it was served in looked moldy and unappetizing. I left feeling hungry. My friends who got ramen and katsu had a satisfying amount of food served to them, but it feels like Rondo is now really skimping on their pricier seafood dishes. I'm probably just going to stick to dedicated sushi restaurants where I know I'll get a full meal worth of food.
Visited 10 months ago
The vegan ramen was awesome!
Visited 10 months ago
Rondo was amazing. Went for lunch and had an interesting bento box. I can't remember the name as it was on the lunch special menu, but had 6 sashimi, mini hamburger patty, bolognese sauce over rice, and a couple more items. It sounds a little weird but was really awesome! The quality of the sashimi in the bento box and in an appetizer ordered was extremely high!
Another review mentioned the bento box being served in a plastic tray even though it was dine-in. This is true, but definitely not something that I think had a negative aspect at all (and it's a nice tray) and matches the vibe of the restaurant, it's an izakaya not a formal dining room. Thoroughly recommend!
Visited a year ago
Last time we ate here about 2 years ago, they had very few vegan/plant-based options. Now, however, I get to enjoy their vegan noodles, chirashi or sushi roll that are all so good, while my husband gets a fix for his seafood craving. Thank you for upgrading to a more inclusive menu!
Had to remove one star off as some of the dishes are a bit salty to my liking
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Good music really adds to the atmosphere!
The yakiniku short rib from the bento was outstanding. All the meats were cooked to perfection; juicy, tender, savoury.
Creamy udon was creamy with a salty and savoury kick.
Recommend: Rondo Deluxe Bento, Uni & Seafood Creamy Udon
We ordered the Yuzu Chocolate Tart for snacking/dessert. Initially very bitter, but I grew to like it a bit. Would definitely order something else next time I visit.
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
We came here in between picking up our rental car at the airport and checking into our Capitol Hill airbnb. Food was really good, they have everything from Ramen to sushi. The chicken karage was very tasty. Service was very prompt. Yummy! Would have liked to try the Ramen.
Visited a year ago
Used to be our go to spot, but the quality and service has gone down significantly. We ordered miso soup for the table and my husband found a piece of plastic in his soup. Our server was not apologetic and only took off one 2 dollar soup from the order even though the rest of our soups were from the same pot. The bento box was served to us in plastic take out containers even though we were dining in. They used to serve them in proper dishware - why would we eat in if we're going to get to eat off of flimsy plastic trays. They also do not give exactly what is stated on the menu (we were supposed to get short ribs, but we were given a croquette). This is fine, but our server didn't communicate this to us which we thought was strange. Will not be coming back. We're sad that we've lost one of our favorite spots in cap hill.
Visited a year ago
Food:
Got katsu curry, so tasty! I absolutely loved the onion pickles, very sesame oil forward. Corn karaage was so delicious, juicy and without dry, hard corn skin, which I expected base on previous experiences fried corn. I loved the seasoning for that. Absolutely delectable appetizer. I also ordered the deluxe parfait hojicha flavor. So tasty, I loved the different layers and my favorite one was the corn flakes at the bottom, providing some nice texture with the mix of the pudding/syrup/ice cream. Only tea available is genmaicha, a nice, fat tea bag with loose tea in a pot, so tasty! Partner got chirashi donburi, really liked variety and freshness of the seafood. He also really enjoyed the wasabi.
Atmosphere:
Sat at the counter. Chairs with no or small back, no bag hooks but I carry one with me so no issue. Loved the atmosphere/decoration, loved that there was old school anime playing on a projector. Playlist on point! Close to the light rail station, so convenient. Could see that parking would be challenging in this area.
Service: attentive, helpful. It was cool being able to see the chefs/cooks as we ate, so skilled!
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Tried Rondo Japanese Kitchen for their daily happy hour (2:00-5:30pm). Service was friendly and prompt. Credit/Apple Pay only.
- Ten-bero set ($10.00 USD) - Sapporo beer (16 oz), Hakushika junmai sake (5oz) and 3 kind appetizer. Great deal, can’t beat it.
- Hakushika junmai sake ($4.00 USD)
- Taro mule ($9.00 USD) - light, easy drinking. Good ginger flavour.
- Rondo 224 curry ($10.00 USD) - chili onion pickles were tasty. Curry was excellent.
- Rondo premium bento box ($16.00 USD)
- Yuzu sauce soft serve ($5.00 USD) - added shiratama ($1.50 USD), plain jane. Soft serve itself was fantastic, yuzu sauce was legit.
- Black sesame burnt basque cheesecake ($7.00 USD) - not too sweet but wanted more black sesame flavour.
- Hoji-cha tiramisu ($7.00 USD) - the roasted tea flavour really shined through. Delicious.
Pricey but decent izakaya fare.
Visited a year ago
This place is the perfect stop for tasteful food in a vibrant and active space. Love the cultural infusion throughout and never had a bad meal or less than fantastic service here!
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
some of the best japanese food on the hill! fish is very fresh; their ramen and bento boxes are also delicious. on the pricier side but you pay for quality! friendly and fast service.
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
We had a big party, but they still took care of us, and managed the time we were slotted for a big party. The food was amazing! I would definitely come back!
I definitely see the worth in the price, the quality is really good and reminds me of when I was in Japan! The aji Tama curry was really delicious and hit the spot. The only thing I would critique was the crispy salmon bites are not “bites” but work well if you are able to cut them in half. They are loaded!
Also Yuzu Highball was like Japan!
Visited a year ago
katsu curry = 5, don't get ramen
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Always a great meal- especially the ramen and bento box
Visited a year ago
Delicious food and great atmosphere. The music can be a bit intense at times but I love it. Keep coming back because of the food, flavors and quality are some of the best around.
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
I loved that a movie with Totoro was showing near our table♡
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
A fine small Izakaya with a good selection of mostly small plates, all well crafted and tasty.
Visited a year ago
I don’t know if I got the servers name right, but a gentleman named Tee was super attentive! The ox tail soup is to die for! It was super savory, rich and probably the best soup I’ve had 🤤
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
Had a great time, food was inventive and tasty, fun atmosphere.
Visited a year ago
Pretty solid Japanese spot in Cap Hill with a big menu that will have something for everyone. Typically has a small wait in my experience. Good atmosphere, but servers are usually running around and very busy so hopefully they consider hiring more staff to lighten the load.
Last time I went, they had a creamy wagyu udon which was so decadent and so delicious. It was a daily special but I hope to see it on the menu again next time I go.
It's not the best Japanese food you'll have ever, but it is a really solid choice that I would definitely recommend to others.
Visited a year ago
I don’t think paying $20 for a bento in a plastic box to be dined in the restaurant is worth the value. Food is basic.
Visited a year ago
Visited a year ago
- 18 sushi photos
- 200 sushi reviews
- 4.5 Sushi Rating
- Reservations: +1 206-588-2051
- Menu Website: https://www.rondojapanesekitchen.com/
- Sushi Address: 224 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102, United States
- Sushi Map: 47.6207211, -122.32051469999999
- Japanese restaurant
- Ramen restaurant
- Sushi restaurant
- Sunday: 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
- Monday: 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
- Thursday: 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
- Friday: 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
- Saturday: 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
- Outdoor seating: Available
- Delivery: Available
- Takeaway: Available
- Dine-in: Available
- Fast service: Available
- Lunch: Available
- Dinner: Available
- Solo dining: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible seating: Available
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet: Available
- Alcohol: Available
- Beer: Available
- Cocktails: Available
- Comfort food: Available
- Happy-hour drinks: Available
- Happy-hour food: Available
- Small plates: Available
- Spirits: Available
- Wine: Available
- Brunch: Available
- Lunch: Available
- Dinner: Available
- Dessert: Available
- Seating: Available
- Toilets: Available
- Casual: Available
- Cosy: Available
- Trendy: Available
- Groups: Available
- Tourists: Available
- Dinner reservations recommended: Available
- Accepts reservations: Available
- Usually a wait: Available
- Credit cards: Available
- Debit cards: Available
- NFC mobile payments: Available
- Credit cards: Available
- Free of charge street parking: Available
- Paid parking lot: Available
- Paid street parking: Available
- Parking: Available