Modoo Banjeom — Restaurant in Bothell

This is for the Bothell location next to the Starbucks. This is the only location of the chain restaurants that offer the jjajangmyun and jjanpong. To be clear, this is a Koreanized Chinese restaurant. Much like teriyaki is a Koreanized Japanese restaurant.

There is parking in front of the storefront and a parking lot.

I came to the location as the word has been going around that this is the best location for Koreanized noodles. And it is, but there are some cavots.

I had the tea, and it was luke warm, and they only offered green tea rather than the barley tea that should be served traditionally. If you're in the know, the tea a restaurant serves says a lot about what you're going to eat. The FAIR food rating post outside as you walk in also did not help this restaurant.

The atmosphere was like walking into a teriyaki restaurant. The cooking area shared the dining area, so I didn't enjoy trying to have a conversation while listening to the cook chattering in the background. This was especially distracting.

The jjajangmyun or black bean noodle is good. There could have been more sauce and ingredients, but the noodles were good and met expectations. The jjanpong was great, with plenty of shrimps, and the soup was good. The tangsuyuk or fried pork nuggets were served with the sauce on the side. The sauce was good, but the pork was very bland, and I had to double-check that I was eating pork. Generally, it tastes better when there is some fat on the pork with this dish.

The to-go boxes and bags were high quality and great, but the fact that you have to pack up your own food was not great, especially if you're expected to tip 18-20%.

Midas 4-stars for the best jjajangmyun and jjanpong in the Seattle and Eastside. This restaurant definitely caters to more of the Americanized patrons. Midas 3-stars for the miss on the smaller details and the feel of a regular...

Modoo Banjeom offers a delightful array of Korean-Chinese cuisine, with generous portions and commendable service. This restaurant has become a local favorite, especially for its black bean noodles (Jjajangmyeon) and seafood noodles (Jjamppong), which hold a special place in Korean culinary tradition and evoke nostalgic memories for many Korean-Americans.

Dishes: Black Bean Noodles (Jjajangmyeon): These noodles are a beloved staple in Korea, often considered a comforting soul food. At Modoo Banjeom, they lean towards the sweeter side, catering to specific taste preferences. Seafood Noodles (Jjamppong): This dish boasts a rich and flavorful broth with an abundance of seafood, making it a standout option on the menu. Fried Rice & Sweet and Sour Pork (Tang-Su-Yuk): These dishes are decent, but not the highlights of the menu.

Service: The staff at Modoo Banjeom are efficient and well-prepared to manage the busy hours, ensuring a pleasant dining experience even during peak times.

Ambience: The restaurant offers a casual dining atmosphere, reminiscent of typical Chinese eateries in the area. It's a cozy spot to enjoy a hearty meal.

Additional Information:

Parking: The parking lot is shared with other stores and often crowded, but it is free of charge.

Price: The prices are average, offering good value for the quality and portion sizes.

Restroom: Clean facilities, though there is no diaper changing station available.

Overall, Modoo Banjeom stands out as one of the best Korean-Chinese restaurants in the area, especially for those craving authentic Jjajangmyeon and Jjamppong. While the fried rice may not be a top recommendation, the excellent service and nostalgic flavors make this restaurant...

I walked in on a Friday and placed an order to go. I mentioned a couple times in this interaction that I cannot have shellfish as I am very allergic.

The server put in a note to mention my allergy, and I paid and left for a quick errand. When I returned, the server came to me, and mentioned that it was not possible to make that dish without shellfish.

Eventually, I decided just to ask what they could do without shellfish, and that would be fine instead. After three more trips between the kitchen and myself, the server finally had a plan. I ended up with something resembling chicken Fried rice, which was near flavorless and bland. The taste of the food is not my complaint, unfortunately. I was thrilled that they worked with me to be able to serve me something…

The part that I was not thrilled with was the massively unpleasant allergic reaction I experienced within two hours of eating the food. I am sad to leave this entirely poor review score, because the server was very nice, however the staff needs to know the menu better if they are going to keep people safe. I will not return here. Please just be very careful if you’re sensitive to anything and intend on...