What’s for Dinner – Quarantine Edition

I’ve been the QUEEN of delivery this past couple of months during quarantine. I’ve had amazing drool-worthy meals and some not so great meals. Here is a list of my top 6 local favorite restaurants outside of Seattle –

The Dolar Shop – Bellevue, WA

Quarantine or not, this upscale Chinese hot pot restaurant is easily becoming one of my favorite restaurants in the Bellevue area. The Dolar Shop serves all the traditional hot pot fixings you’re used to but they take it to another level with unique dishes like adding premium meats (wagyu beef), durian pancakes, and house-made mung beans. The service is also the most incredible – everyone is so kind and helpful, the staff treats you like it’s your first time visiting the restaurant, every time. For example, the last time I submitted a delivery order my promo code wasn’t working on the website. I called the restaurant for assistance and they actually Venmo’d me the difference! Upon arrival the food was all individually packed and prepped on a piece of lettuce for decoration. I appreciate the time they put into making every delivery special and because of these reasons I’m a life-long customer!

Here are my favorites to order –

• Tomato and Oxtail Broth
• Dolar Shop Spare Rib Broth
• Napa Cabbage
• Soft Tofu
• Beef Tripe
• Quail Eggs
• Boneless Beef Plate
• Selected Beef Plater – boneless short rip, boneless beef plate, beef tongue, and wagyu cubes
• Fish Roe Balls
• Sweet Corn
• Pork Wonton
• Mung Bean Noodle
• Banana, Egg, and Raisin The Dolar Shop Pancake

P.S. – They sell burners and pots to-go!

Renton Bistro – Renton, WA

One of my new favorite Vietnamese restaurants! I’m Vietnamese myself so I’m pretty picky when it comes to this category. Renton Bistro has a HUGE selection and is so authentic. Let’s face it, there is now a “Pho” restaurant (with only pho on the menu) on every corner with it becoming a popular hangover cure over the years but this selection is pages and pages beyond Pho like bun rieu (tomatoes in a prawn broth), lau canh chua (pork tamarind based soup), and bum mang vit (duck and bamboo noodle soup). My hands-down favorite food on the menu is their Banh Beo – steamed rice batter topped with shrimp, green onion, caramelized onion, and fresh ginger fish sauce (I hope you’re drooling too). It’s a hard dish to find in this area plus the fact that it is done so well makes this my favorite. It typically is a hard menu item to order to go, but they’ve made it possible so I can enjoy these at home.

Here are my chart-toppers from Renton Bistro –

• Com Tam Suon Heo Nuong – Grill Porkchops with special broken rice
• Goi Ga – Chicken Salad
• Banh Beo – Steam rice cake
• Bun Rieu – Shrimp, Egg and Tofu noodle soup
• Banh Xeo – Vietnamese Crepe or Pancake
• Bum Mang Vit – Duck and Bamboo Noddle Soup
• Goi Xoai – Mango Salad

Arashi Ramen – Tukwila, WA

This restaurant is a new find for me. I’m even pickier when it comes to choosing ramen. I have even traveled to Japan on the hunt. What I look for is a thick and creamy broth with tons of flavor (garlic is a plus) that leaves your mouth still drooling when you’re done eating. Clear broth just won’t do it for me. When I saw pictures of the ramen at Arashi Ramen, I knew I’d have to try it and WOW, their ramen and chashu pork does not disappoint! Plus their take out containers are neatly separated and all compostable (something us Seattlites appreciate when having to separate the trash).

This is what we order –

• Spicy Miso Tonkotsu
• Black Garlic Ramen
• Shoyu Tonkotsu
• Honey Garlic Karaage
• Karaage

P.S. – They deliver alcohol…

Metropolitan Grill – Seattle, WA & Delille Cellars – Woodinville & Kirkland, WA

The Metropolitan Grill is one of the best steakhouses in Seattle in my opinion. Although I’m a sucker for steak, their wine selection is even juicier. I mean, who doesn’t love the perfect pair? The restaurant has even started a wine club. They are doing delivery with a twist! They’ve created oven-ready dinner WITH drinks. I took advantage of these steals when they recently teamed up with Delille Cellars (my favorite winery in the Woodinville area) to create a “Date Night Takeout At The Met – Seattle Edition”.

Here is what came with our meal –

• Crab Cakes
• Wagyu Filet Mignon with a Green Peppercorn Demi-glaze
• Roasted Wild Mushrooms
• Lobster Mac & Cheese
• Strawberry Shortcake with Fresh Macerated Strawberries and Chantilly Cream
• A bottle of 2017 Delille Cellars D2, Columbia Valley, WA (YES PLEASE!!!!)

Din Tai Fung – Tukwila, WA

This Taiwanese dumpling house is amazing to order delivery from because if you head to the restaurant it’s typically a 45+ minute wait to be seated no matter what day or what hour. Every item on the menu is PACKED with flavor! In fact, there is NOTHING you can order on the menu that would be a bad choice. It is quite an obsession for most living in the Seattle area. Although Din Tai Fung is known for its Juicy Pork Dumplings, I have too many favorites to choose just one dish.

My favorites to order (but everything else is amazing too) –

• Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao
• Shrimp & Kurobuta Pork Shao Mai
• Pork Chop Fried Rice
• Hot & Sour Soup
• Shrimp & Kurobuta Pork Wontons with Spicy Sauce
• Shanghai Rice Cakes with Shredded Kurobuta Pork
• Sautéed String Beans with Garlic

Boiling Crawfish – Kent, WA

Boiling Crawfish doesn’t exactly fall under the “delivery” category because they don’t deliver, however, this hidden gem south of Seattle is 100% worth mentioning as one of my favorite restaurants (and the quick drive). The seasoning isn’t the only yummy thing about the restaurant but also the serving sizes! When you order 1lb of mussels, YOU GET 1lb of mussels (not 0.5lbs of shells and 0.5lbs of shells with meat). I love that they allow you to choose your spice level and give you even extra seasoning to take home. The takeaway packaging is even simpler, it’s already cooked and double bag with extra gloves! All you have to do is dump your seafood into a bowl and Bon appetite. Trust me, the picture speaks for itself –

Here is my order –

• Mussels – 1lb
• Snow Crab – 1lb
• Shrimp (Head-On) – 1lb
• Sausage
• Potato
• Corn
• Side of tater tots (sorry not sorry)

It has been my belly’s pleasure doing this restaurant research for you all 😉

Comment below if you’ve tried any of my favorite restaurants and tell me what you think!