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Green star Tamarind Tree (International District)

1036 S Jackson St Suite A
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 860-1404
Website

This upscale-feeling but midscale-priced International District restaurant serves fresh, authentic Vietnamese dishes, as well as interesting drinks. Of note: the awesome seven courses of beef. Also: the durian ice cream (though if you don’t know what a durian is, you probably shouldn’t order it). Make a reservation—this place is very popular—and also consider checking out the owner’s other restaurant, Long Provincial Vietnamese Restaurant & Jelly Bar downtown (the happy hour is a screaming deal).
Hours: Fri-Sat 10 am-midnight; Sun-Thu 10 am-10 pm
Categories: Bar, Restaurant

Restaurant Details

Bar Details

The Stranger's Reviews of Tamarind Tree

  • Recommended! Jan 28, 2010

    What happens when you spend a day consuming breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner, and drinks based solely on the recommendations of random people on the street? Lindy West, David Schmader, and Bethany Jean Clement put their stomachs' fate in strangers' hands.

    by Bethany Jean Clement, David Schmader, Lindy West

  • Tamarind Tree Nov 11, 2004

    Eating Beef in a Blue State

    by Bethany Jean Clement
  • Write your own review of Tamarind Tree »
 
 

Average Rating:
  • 4.09000/5 Stars.
Reviews/Comments (11) RSS

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The Seattle Pho-Natics 11

The Seattle Pho-Natics club visit!

"The Seattle Pho-Natics" club!!! Our club arrived at Tamarind Tree in the afternoon. Parking was a bit of a struggle. Here is what we thought of this restaurant:
Interior: The inside of Tamarind Tree was VERY clean, modern and plenty of seating. They have an INCREDIBLE outside area where you can sit as well, even for larger groups. They have a "wall of water" outside which is very cool! The bathrooms were very clean as well! The building is air conditioned which is great when having a bowl of hot Pho! They do have a full bar as well which served great drinks including multiple martinis, a lychee martini, and a killer mojito!
Service: The service was slow, and this is one of the reasons our club decided to only give 4/5 stars. It took a really long time to even get our drink orders. The staff was friendly. We had 10 people, but the service could of been alittle quicker.
Broth: The broth was very good! Not too salty, just the right amount of condiments such as Thai basil, lime, sprouts and jalapeno.
Selection: The menu is amazing. Not only can you have pho, but there are a lot of items listed on their menu. Their appetizers are very good. The Tamarind Tree Rolls were a big hit with all of us! There is a great selection of Pho as well. They have everything including Tofu, and also a chicken Pho which was really good and not dry at all! The dessert menu was fantastic! The "Coconut gelatin" dessert was really good! It was coconut juice gelatin that was served inside a whole coconut shell! Very nice presentation and great taste!
Price: 2 sizes, small and large. $6.50 and $7.50. They take credit too.
Location: In the International District of Seattle. The parking was really bad. A very small area, for a fairly large restaurant.
Score: Based on our club, we give Tamarind Tree a 8/10. The two reasons: 1. bad parking 2. slow service. Otherwise we will definately come back to Tamarind Tree! Great place, we would recommend this restaurant to anyone. Sean H. Seattle Pho-Natics.
More...
Posted by The Seattle Pho-Natics on July 12, 2009 at 11:10 AM · Report
10

Wow, fresh, delicious food. I recommend the lemongrass beef. Three ostrich egg-sized orbs of flavorful ground beef are roasted on lemongrass stalks. I've never tasted anything like it. Also, be sure to order one of their cocktails and sit outside- it's too dark inside.

Posted by Misty Brown on July 24, 2008 at 10:31 AM · Report
9

They're talking about you!

Being Vietnamese myself, I would consider myself pretty knowledgeable about Vietnamese food. When Tamarind Tree first opened, I was going there at least once a week. I put up with the bitchy and knowitall hostess and owner only because the food is moderately good and cheap. The waterboys may not speak english but bless them, they are responsive and polite. I told everyone about Tamarind Tree and now I wish I hadn't. I've heard the hostess talk a lot of crap about non Vietnamese speaking customers. Many of the servers (though not the waterboys!) are rude and improfessional. I love their food (even though the quality is starting to descend) but I refuse to put up with their crap. Go there if you don't mind the hostess/ servers/ manager's blantant disrespect for the customers.
Posted by IcmCHAU on February 2, 2008 at 6:27 PM · Report
8

excellent food & good prices

the food at tamarind tree is very creative and always very fresh. My wife is a chef and very particular and tamarind tree is her favorite restaurant in seattle. Often it is crowded, and parking can be a bit tough but well worth the wait. Virtually everything on the menu, which is extensive, is good. Many vegetarian selections, as well as meats: beef, pork, chicken. The satay skewer appetizers are always a good pick. The service is good and the interior is clean with a nice ambience... despite what the exterior of the building might suggest! Also, they make many great exotic drinks also reasonably priced!
Posted by surfrat on August 16, 2007 at 8:45 PM · Report
7

TAMARIND TREE

1036 S. Jackson St., (206) 860-1404 The best part about the Tamarind Tree is sitting outside in the “terrace” during the colder months, roasting yourself under the heaters. No seriously, the terrace is great in the summer too, decorated tastefully with bamboo plants and waterfall elements, and it definitely makes one forget that you’re really on the edge of a parking lot in a Seattle strip mall. The food is consistently good, although weekends tend to be frazzled, as this place is popular. My suggestion? Go there on a weeknight and have a feast. And a feast you can have indeed, as this restaurant serves consistently good Vietnamese food at ridiculously low prices. May I suggest the Tamarind Tree Salad Roll for starters and oh! don’t forget the Lemongrass Tofu, so pungent and delicious it melts literally into your mouth. By the way, there’s also the Turmeric coconut rice cake topped with shrimp or the many rice dishes accompanied by various meats or fish…and there’s even escargot meatballs (for your French friends) and hearty, traditional Pho noodle soup. If you are looking for an elegant, romantic place to dine during a week night, and where the bill can float around $20 per person, this is the place to go…again and again
Posted by Pixette on July 19, 2007 at 2:01 AM · Report
6

Hidden Treasure

You would never know that an oasis of calm and deliciousness is hidden in a run down shopping center which is part of why The Tamarind Tree is such a delight. Delicious food and beautiful atmosphere, this place is a must. From fresh spring rolls bursting with yummy vegetables to steaming pho to seven courses of beef (I kid you not, seven courses of delectable meat!) to a full bar, I love this place.
Posted by Ms. Sizzle on July 17, 2007 at 3:12 PM · Report
5

Good Food

It's hard to come up with something original to say. The variety is great, 4 or 5 pages of choices all good. I love the vegetarian crepe. The drinks are super.
Posted by juanita on July 17, 2007 at 2:15 PM · Report
4

My favorite

Tamarind Tree is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Every part of a meal here is wonderful; the drinks, the meal and the dessert. My favorites are the Mojito, fried spring rolls, the 7 Courses of Beef and the fried banana cake for dessert. The ambience and interior are really nice and so is the little patio, even if it is in a parking lot. I highly recommend this restaurant, although it can be a very long wait for a table.
Posted by stella12345 on July 11, 2007 at 9:05 AM · Report
3

Great food, excellent value

Lovely surroundings and great cocktails put this above other Vietnamese restaurants in the area. The true star on the menu (for carnivores, at least) is the Seven Courses of Beef -- outstanding quality and more than enough for 2 at a price you might expect for 1. They don't take reservations, but the inevitable wait is worth it.
Posted by nonfamous on May 31, 2007 at 4:08 PM · Report
2

Very pleasant surprise

I had not noticed this place driving around the neighborhood, but it's popular. I was very pleasantly surprised by the great use of flavors and the decor. The tree rolls and mango salad were the highlights. A bean sprout and veg noodle dish were not as exciting, but that's pretty foreseeable. If exciting food and nice decor (by Vietnamese restaurant standards) get you excited, then I would say this is a romantic spot. And, after two passion fruit crush drinks, you're not going to notice the noise and instead will probably be part of it. I hate to open the box on this place any further, but the prices are great and it's not easy to find great Vietnamese with decor that your parents would find acceptable (dozens of cats in the grungy parking lot notwithstanding). I will certainly be back soon.
Posted by veg lasagna on May 29, 2007 at 12:37 PM · Report
1

Best higher end Vietnamese

The menu is huge and daunting and not everything is great... but your chances are good. The Tamarind tree rolls are a good appetizer, the fish in the pot (you can just order it that way), the veg. dishes, the Pho - all great. The prices are excellent. The cocktails are surprisingly good and they keep adding to their list - you should definitely have one. The place itself is very nicely decorated and the table distances sufficient so you don't feel like you went out to eat with the people next to you. It's too noisy and crowded to be romantic but pleasant nonetheless.
Posted by Charles on May 27, 2007 at 7:50 PM · Report

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