Da Wa 다와 — Restaurant in Lynnwood

To speak of this establishment and its delectable array of food, is to write, with all honesty, about a tale of the Korean Fried Chicken that will be an experience by which all other chicken will be judged. I will convey that it was the most excellent of all that I have ever sampled. For my selection, I chose the Spicy and Fried Chicken dynamic duo (D4). While the chicken was donning its robe of crunchy goodness, the pleasant server brought a refreshing bowl of pickled white radish that was not over powering, but a delightful companion to our fare. My wife enjoyed the Kimchi Fried Rice, which I took a tentative bite (I am not a connoisseur of Kimchi), and was very much surprised at how the simple rice dish amazingly treated my palate; the mild spice flavor was not what I expected and would highly recommend it as a shareable side. When the chicken made its appearance, I was astounded at the heap of meat that lie before me; a single order portion will easily feed three to four hungry souls. Mustering the courage to tackle what I could, I steeled myself with a limited expectation. I can only say that the expectation I set was wrong; no... it was beyond wrong. I was as wrong as one who would be in error by denying the laws of physics. The chicken spectacularly met, exceeded, and destroyed my expectation. I partook of the unsauced version first... The crispness of the batter was a symphonic masterpiece of crunch, yielding to hot, tender, juicy chicken beneath. It was not heavy or greasy, but light and crackling in my mouth. And yet, as another marvel, the spicy sauced version was not diminished in any manner, but had the same crispy texture as the unsauced. But... oh... the sauce! The sauce, I say! It hit me at first with spice and bite; but while the heat was sudden, it pleasantly lead to a perfect sweetness that left you craving more and trying to sop up as much as possible with each morsel.

The dining experience now ranks as one that I will relish and regale to any soul that yields an ear, and even those that won't, the tale of the best KFC in the world.

Bravo, Da...

Update: If you are really willing to refund me, it would have been done on that day, rather than insincerely mentioning it after I posted a review. I am not short of the meal money; it's left for your rude and careless servers to go to school.

Extremely poor service: On Christmas afternoon, I drove forty minutes to reach this restaurant, arriving at 5 pm just as they opened, with only three or four customers inside. After waiting for twenty minutes, the server handed me two already sealed takeout bags, claiming these contained all of my dishes. Upon returning home, a forty-minute drive, I discovered the main course missing (only 3 dishes in total). I made numerous calls to the restaurant, but no one answered. I had to spend another forty minutes driving back to the establishment. As soon as I entered, the server attempted to shift the blame onto me, claiming I had overlooked one dish. I was genuinely angry, but courtesy restrained me. The server completed all the packaging work in the kitchen without doing so in my presence. When handing the bags to me, the server had already sealed them, making it inconvenient to open and check. There were only 3 dishes, I believed it would be difficult to overlook, so I didn't inspect them on the spot. Little did I anticipate that counting to three would be such a challenge for the staff at this establishment. I fail to understand how this could be my responsibility. Apart from attempting to shift the blame onto me, there was no compensation or apology. I spent a total of 160 minutes driving alone on Christmas Eve, waiting for 20 minutes. This marked my first Christmas alone in the...

Solid Korean spot with flavorful dishes and cozy group vibes If you’re craving Korean stir-fry or fried chicken, Dawa is definitely worth a visit. I’m giving this place 4 out of 5 stars.

Ambiance: 4/5 The restaurant has a casual and cozy atmosphere, perfect for small group gatherings or a casual meal out. It’s a comfortable space with warm lighting, though nothing especially unique in terms of decor.

Authenticity: 4/5 The flavors are bold and true to Korean comfort food. Their K-style fried chicken is a customer favorite, and though I didn’t get to try it this time, it’s definitely on my list for next visit. The dishes feel home-style with a good representation of classic Korean flavors.

Flavor: 4/5 Everything we ordered was delicious and flavorful. The mixed tofu soup, while comforting, leaned a little too salty and surprisingly didn’t include an egg, which is typically standard for that dish. Protein portions in the other dishes felt a bit on the lighter side, but overall taste was satisfying.

Cost: 4/5 The prices are fair for a Korean restaurant in this area. However, with the smaller protein portions, it didn’t feel like the best value for what you pay.

Service: 4/5 Staff was friendly and food came out at a reasonable pace. No major complaints, but there’s room for improvement in attentiveness and checking in with diners mid-meal.

Final Verdict: 4/5 Dawa is a solid Korean spot with flavorful dishes and a relaxed vibe. While there were a few small misses, I’ll definitely be back—especially to try their famous fried chicken next time. Great place for groups or casual dining...